14 32 1900 http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/32cce29d1ff688d57b6468d30b0a85e7.pdf e2e995744ec53190fc8b6f188f6816a9 PDF Text Text Sea-Land's New D-7 Sails on Alaska Run Seafarers will crew the Sea-Land Anchorage Aug. 15 for its first northbound sailing from Seattle to Alaska. The new D-7 is the first of three vessels set to replace four 1944-vintage C4X ships currently serving the Alaska market. The ships, built in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., have a capacity of 706 40-foot equivalent units. When all three are on line it will increase Sea-Land's cargo capacity by 90 percent. The vessels cost about $60 million each and the Sea-Land Tacoma and Sea-Land Kodiak should be sailing by November. Each vessel carries a 21-man crew. See Page 6 Official Publication of the Seafarers International Union• Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District• AFL·CIO Vol. 49, No. 8 August 1987 Drozak-Use American Ships and Crews Charter of U.S. Ships Could Solve Gulf Problem If the U.S. government offered "genuine" U.S. tankers with U.S. crews to Kuwait, Iran, Iraq or any other Persian Gulf country, the tanker war and a dangerous Gulf confrontation could be avoided. Such a plan has been offered by SIU President Frank Drozak. (See full text of letter on page 3.) The reftagging of the 11 Kuwaiti tankers has been literally and figuratively running through mine fields. On the first trip with U.S. Navy escorts, the tanker Bridgeton was hit by a mine and suffered damage. Ironically, it was the Bridgeton which was forced to lead the convoy because she was able to withstand more damage if hit again than the U.S. warships protecting her. In Congress and around the world, the plan has drawn fire from several sources. Late last month bills to prohibit U.S. escorts and to deflag the Kuwait tankers were introduced in both houses and have a host of cosponsors. U.S. allies have refused to help out in minesweeepig chores. American planners did not foresee the need for minesweeping and when the convoy took off, no American minesweeping ships or helicopters were available to clear a path. The United States has legitimate goals in the Gulf and in protecting the sea traffic there, Drozak said. But ••the policy undeniably tilts toward Kuwait and Iraq and thus risks making the United States a belligerent," Drozak said. He said a major dilemma facing the U.S. in the Gulf is what to do if Iran attacks a U.S. ship. "What will be the next American step in escalation? Iran is no military match of the United States, but a military confrontation between the two countries only plays into the hands of Court Upholds SIU Plans in Sonat, Dixie Pension Case The SIU has won an important case against two inland companies which have refused to bargain for their licensed employees. A federal district judge in Baltimore ruled the Union's Pension Plan has a right to deduct past service credits toward pensions when a company stops making contributions to the SIU Pension Plan. The court upheld the Plan's right to take away the past service credits (a credit toward a pension for the years an employee worked with the com(Continued on Page 9.) Inside: Trade Talks Threaten Jones Act Page 3 S~afarers Man Famous Schooner Page a Inland Tug & Tow News Pages 9-11 SHLSS-20 Years Later Pages 13-18 the Soviet Union, which has long coveted the role of Iran's 'protector.' It also thwarts a strategic objective of our last two presidents: to normalize relations with a post-Khomeini regime and prevent Soviet hegemony," he said. ''Little in the administration's history of inconsistent lurching and tiltings in the Iraq-Iran conflict gives anyone confidence that these issues have been carefully considered in the re flagging policy,'' he said. The plan to charter U.S. tankers to any country in the Gulf would be evenhanded, he said. •The United States tankers and the United States Navy protecting them would be strictly neutral. This option would guarantee the freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, leave no vacuum for the Russians and help stop the tanker war, thus containing the Iraq-Iran conflict,'' Drozak suggested. He also said that such a policy would make U.S. objectives clear and reduce the risk of attack on both commercial and U.S. Navy ships. Earlier this month 0nly two ships had been reftagged, but four others apparently were close to sailing the Gulf under the American flag. A combination of Iranian naval exercises and the lack of minesweeping capabiJty has slowed the original schedule of sailings. WWII Seamen May Gain Vets Status DOD Wrong in Denial The 90,000 surviving merchant seamen who served during World War II are a step closer to receiving the recognition and benefits they have sought for 42 years. The government erred in denying veterans benefits for the aging sailors, a federal judge ruled last month. The ruling came in a suit filed by various seamen's organizations, a trial during which the SIU testified for the aging merchant sailors. .. I think it's a wonderful, but long overdue victory. About 250,000 seamen served during World War II and 160,000 have died without their government recognizing their efforts," said SIU President Frank Drozak. The suit centered around the denial of veterans benefits by a special Department of Defense review board. It was set up in 1977 to process applications from various groups who contributed to the war effort but were not in any of the armed services. The Department of Defense Civilian/Military Service Review Board has heard 64 cases and granted veterans status to 14 groups. The groups range from the civilians who defended Wake Island to telephone operators and dieticians in World War I. When the review board was created, it set up various guidelines to determine if certain groups could be granted veterans status. Despite the fact that merchant sailors had a higher casualty rate than any branch of the service besides the Marine Corps, and about 6,000 seamen were killed by enemy action, they have been constantly turned down for benefits. The judge, Louis F. Oberdorfer, ruled that merchant seamen have an equal or even stronger claim to benefits than many of the groups already granted veterans status. He said the guidelines were applied inconsistently by the review board. (Continued on Page 4.) �President's Report by Frank Drozak mine exploded in the Persian AThatGulf last week. in itself was not too surprising. Despite the administration's line that we were just an honest broker trying to keep the sealanes open, the United States had for all practical purposes become an active participant in the Iran-Iraq War the moment it announced that it was going to redocument 11 Kuwaiti tankers under the American registry. Tensions had been running high in the area for weeks; the editorial pages of this country's newspapers were full of stories predicting that the Iranians would try something. The only thing unusual about the mining-and to most people, it was a real shocker-was that the administration had apparently failed to make any kind of contingency plans in case something like this happened. knows it, whether or not his advisers have told him, the maritime industry is in desperate straits. As a result of the cuts that have been made in the maritime budget over the past six years, it is not even certain if there will be a maritime industry. " ... Many industries have been victimized by the administration's inability to foresee the consequences of its own actions ... '' To many people, this episode seems to sum up many of the worst aspects of the Reagan presidency. During the past six years, the administration has acted as if it were more interested in its own rhetoric than in the consequences of its actions. This is not only true of the Persian Gulf, but of unfair trade, deregulation, OSHA and the growing budget deficits. Many industries have been victimized by the administration's inability to foresee the consequences of its own actions. Maritime, for example, was told that the president placed a "high priority" on the American-flag merchant marine. That was the public relations end of it. Yet the reality has been quite different. Whether or not the president In this atmosphere, victories have been hard to come by. Yet thanks to the support of this membership, and the hard work of our legislative staff, there is some good news, though it is always tempered by the knowledge that we are in a life and death struggle for survival. Earlier this month, for example, 55 senators co-sponsored a resolution by Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) demanding that the administration take maritime off the bargaining table in the free trade talks that are being held with Canada. We're not yet home free on this issue, but at least Congress has made its position clear. In effect, what the Canadians are asking the administration to do is to gut this nation's entire system of cabotage laws. And with this administration you just don't know. The thing that bothers me most about the administration is that it refuses to accept input from the people and industries being hurt on a grassroots level. Maritime and other industries were talking about unfair trade long before the issue reached the crisis stage. Yet no one in a position of authority would listen. The same thing is true of the Kuwaiti reflagging. It will have severe adverse effects on the commercial viability of the Americanflag merchant marine and the sea-lift capability of this country. Yet our input has not been solicited. The SIU-AGLIWD has not gotten to where it is by ignoring reality. We have always looked the issues squarely in the eye, and because of this we have been able to grow. Even now, when the maritime industry has declined by more than one-third over the past six years, we have been able to sign up new work. * * * During the past three years, the SIU-AGLIWD has signed up 58 new vessels representing more than 800 new jobs. No other maritime union can make this claim. Yet we have a problem. Some of our members don't want to sail on these vessels. They'd rather grab a SeaLand vessel or a coastwise run. But let me be honest with you: any member who is counting on commercial work for his job security is out of touch with reality. The long-term trend in the maritime industry is clear. There will be fewer vessels and smaller crews. Work will be less physical and more technical. And a growing percentage of jobs available to American-flag seamen will be onboard military vessels. In the short-term, at least, there is no escaping this trend. Anyone who fails to upgrade his skills and to gain military clearance is buying a one-way ticket to the unemployment line. In the future, there will be fewer jobs, fewer maritime unions, and very little commercial work. Members who fail to take jobs onboard military vessels are not only jeopardizing their own job security, they are jeopardizing the job security of each and every other member of this Union. I'm not one to mince words. It's a hungry world out there. If we don't man these vessels, someone else will. And in the process, they will gain whatever benefits that come with manning those jobs. And those benefits include continued employment for all our members, the ability of our middle-aged members to protect their pension rights, and a chance for our younger members to become licensed officers in record time. Stewards Complete Recertification This group of recertified stewards completed their training this month. Pictured above are William Burdette, Roger Griswold, Maxine Peterson, Jonny Cruz, Milton Yournett, Dallas Taylor, Gerhard Schwarz, Richard Geiling, Alan Hollinger, David Boone, Donald Spangler, Udjang Nurdjaja, SHLSS Vice President Ken Conklin and SHLSS Steward Department Director Laymon Tucker. Official Publication of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic , Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, August 1987 Vol. 49, No. 8 AFL-CIO Executive Board Frank Drozak President Charles Svenson Editor Mike Hall Managing Editor Max Hall Deborah Greene Associate Editor Associate Editor 2 I LOG I August 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 addi~ional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Spnngs, Md . 20746. �---Sl)e Ne\tr fJork Sime11 SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1987 Letters Let Them Rent Whole Tankers, Not Just Flags To the Editor: President Reagan's decision to reflag Kuwaiti tankers is founded on three legitimate policy objectives: (I) to preserve freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf; (2) to avoid a vacuum that the Russians could fill thus furthering their longtime objective in the region, and (3) to stop the tanker war, thereby limiting the Iraq-Iran conflict. These are laudable goals. But the policy undeniably tilts toward Kuwait and Iraq, and thus risks making the United States a belligerent. If Iran retaliates against the reflagged tankers, United States Navy forces or some other target, what wilJ be the next American step in escalation? Iran is no military match for the United States, but a military confrontation between the two countries only plays into the hands of the Soviet Union, which has Jong coveted the role of Iran's "protector." It also thwarts a strategic objective of our last two presidents: to normalize relations with a postKhomeini regime and prevent Soviet hegemony. Little in the administration's history of inconsistent lurchings and tiltings in the Iraq-Iran conflict gives anyone confidence that these issues have been carefully considered in the reftagging policy. That it was initiated without a formal intelligence assessment-and that, in the name of freedom of navigation, it tilts against Iran, which has been responsible for only about half as many tanker attacks as Iraq-simply compounds its deficiencies regarding the three United States objectives. Congress is caught between two unacceptable choices. It can allow the reftagging policy to proceed despite its flaws and dangers. Alternatively, if its stops the reftagging, it risks undermining the president by creating an impression of withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, which would provide a major opportunity for the Russians. What can be done to make the best of a bad situation? There is another option that accomplishes all three objectives, while avoiding the tilt toward Kuwait and Iraq, thereby reducing the risk of provoking Iran and making the United States a belligerent. That is to offer to charter genuine United States-flag tankers with United States crews, of which there are an ample number available, to both Kuwait and Iran, to Iraq and to any other country in the region. This would be an evenhanded policy. The United States tankers and United States Navy protecting them would be strictly neutral. This option would guarantee freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, leave no vacuum for the Russians and help stop the tanker war, thus containing the Iraq-Iran conflict. Even if Iran did not accept the offer, a policy that made our intentions and objectives clear would reduce the risk of attack on our ships and the need for subsequent United States escalation. That United States-flag commercial vessels have been operating in the area throughout the war without serious incident makes it likely that American lives would be far less at risk in this scenario. The provocation is not the presence of United States ships. American ships have served the region more than 40 years. Rather, the provocation is the thinly veiled reftagging scam that rents our protection to one side at the expense of the other. Doubts about whether the United States will in the end really respond to an attack on the reftagged vessels as if they were genuine American ships only heightens the prospects for confusion, miscalculation and escalating hostilities. Undeniably, this plan would put more American seamen (28 as against I per ship) at some risk. But American crews are already vol- untarily taking that risk in the Persian Gulf. The additional numbers would be small, particularly compared with the number of Navy personnel now being put at substantially greater risk. The use of genuine United Statesflag tankers would cost slightly more than using multinational refiagged hybrids. But the expense is insignificant and, after all, renting the United States Navy should not be free. This is probably the best alternative in a bad situation. It could be the most constructive thing the United States has done in the sevenyear history of the war. FRANK DROZAK President, Seafarers International Union of North America Camp Springs, Md., July 22, 1987 T-AGOS Crew Slams Reflagging Like most seafarers, the crew of the USNS Indomitable, a T-AGOS vessel, sometimes falls behind on the breaking news when at sea. But while these SIU members say they have only heard "bits and pieces" of the Kuwaiti reftagging plan, their response to it shows they fully understand the dangerous precedent it sets. Here is their letter. "Being at sea for extended periods of time, we have been hearing only bits and pieces of President Reagan's plan to reftag Kuwaiti tankers, but what news we have received has greatly disturbed us all. To our understanding, these ships will be under the American flag, with crews of foreign nationals-something which would set an extremely dangerous precedent, which might well end up being the final nail in the coffin of the American merchant marine. "Since the Reagan regime took power (under a promise to fortify and rebuild the merchant marine), both the industry and the American seamen seem to have been.assailed on all fronts-the Jones Act is under constant attack, Alaskan petroleum products are sought for foreign trade, laws reserving government and foreign assistance cargoes are only sporadically enforced. And now, of all things, our own government is endorsing the manning of American ships with crews of foreign nationals. If this terrible precedent is allowed to take place, we wonder where the betrayal will stop. Can we look forward in a year or two to a whole fleet of ships which nominally fly the American flag but don't have a single American onboard? We mightjust as well suggest that we reflag five or six American frigates under the Kuwaiti flag and let them protect their own tankers. The same common sense logic which dictates that we man our own navy and other military forces with American citizens demands that we expect nothing less for our merchant marine. "The SIU crew of the USNS Indomitable has a universal feeling of dread and despair concerning this attack on our livelihood. As Union brothers and sisters, we are bound together to protect our common needs and common interests. We are most anxious to learn what action our Union is taking to keep this most atrocious sellout of the American merchant marine from becoming reality. We are counting on your leadership to let the self-serving politicians and the American public know how we feel. Give us action before it is too late." Canada Wants Jones Act Opened Trade Talks Draw Fire From U.S. Maritime Industry American shipping on the Great Lakes has been in the doldrums for the past several years. Today there is a move afoot which some say could finally kill U .S.-ftag shipping on the Lakes and all coastwise shipping: opening up the Jones Act to Canadianftag shipping concerns. The concern is so great that more than 120 U.S. maritime-related companies and organizations (including the SIU) have written all Senate members urging that the Jones Act be kept strictly American. In addition, 213 House and Senate members have co- sponsored a resolution calling on President Reagan to reject the Canadian proposals. The controversy began when U.S. and Canadian negotiators began talks earlier this year to resolve many of the trade problems between the two countries. Canadian negotiators proposed a so-called "North American Jones Act." Under the plan, Canadian ships could be allowed to carry oil and other products from Alaska to the lower 48 states, cargo between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland and other shipments between U.S. ports on the Lakes. Under current law, domestic coastwise shipping is reserved exclusively for U .S.-flag ships. The plan ''threatens to dismantle longstanding U.S. maritime policy essential to our shipyards, inland tug and barge industry, the Great Lakes fleet, the offshore oil and gas service industry and both our international and domestic maritime fleets," said the letter to senators. In addition to opening markets to Canadian shipping, the trade talks also have suggested that U.S. maritime programs could be open to Canadian interests. Currently U.S. ship owners, in the domestic trade must pay added tax if the ships are repaired in a foreign yard. That provision also could be struck down. The letter from the 120 industry groups noted that the U.S. falls dangerously short of sealift capability now, according to a presidential report. If the Canadian proposals are inclutled in a trade package, they would further weaken the nation's defense. "Considering the advantages Ca(Continued on Page 26.) August 1987 I LOG I 3 �DOT Offers New Program Reaction Mixed to New Operating Subsidy Plan A new plan offered by the Reagan administration to reform the operating differential subsidy program (ODS) has met with mixed reaction within the maritime community. But praise for the plan has been faint at best. The new plan would base a ship owner's subsidy on labor costs only. Current ODS payments are based on a variety of costs, including labor, insurance, maintenance and repairs not covered by insurance. The formula for determining the wages-only subsidy has drawn fire from several groups. Under the current program, subsidy payments are guaranteed for the life of an ODS contract, usually 10 years or more. In the administration's proposal, subsidy payments would be authorized for 10 years, but the appropriations must be approved each year. That type of payment makes long-term planning uncertain, critics of the plan said. The favorable reaction to the program has been limited to the fact that for the first time in seven years, the administration has offered something in the way of a promotional program for the U .S.-flag fleet. Since taking office, the administration capped the current ODS program by not allowing any new contracts. The construction differential subsidy plan for shipyards was scrapped. There have been constant battles over cargo preference. While the maritime industry has suffered under these cutbacks, the administration has offered no alternatives. At least this new ODS program is a start, some say. But most observers hope that Congress will modify the plan. Other aspects of the program: • A cap on the number of subsidy ''grants,'' as they would now be called, available to each company. Those already receiving subsidies with fewer than 10 ships in operation (this would include Farrell Lines and Waterman Steamship Corp.) would be eligible for up to 10 ship-year subsidies a year. Ten ship-years is the equivalent of operating 10 ships under subsidy for one year or one ship for 10 years. The idea is to allow the smaller carriers to grow within the program. Subsidized carriers with more than 10 ships would be limited to 20 shipyear subsidies. Unsubsidized lines entering the program for the first time would be limited in the number of ship-year subsidies they could receive to the number of ships in their fleet during the two-year period prior to enactment of the bill, and no more than 20. • All carriers also would be allowed to sell or swap subsidies, thus permitting them to cash in on their subsidy assets or acquire more subsidy than they are otherwise entitled to receive from the government. • All existing trade route restrictions on subsidized carriers would be eliminated. In the future, subsidized lines could deploy their ships wherever they want, an idea consistently opposed by some of the smaller carriers who fear they'll be pushed out of their niche markets. • The payment system would be changed in an effort to improve the carriers' cash flow. Instead of paying at the end of each voyage, the government would pay companies semimonthly. • No subsidy would be paid for the carriage of government cargoes reserved for U .S.-flag ships, such as military cargo or Food for Peace ship- ments. It appears that the carriers would have to discount the rates they charge for such cargoes to reflect subsidy payments expected on the voyage. • Subsidized carriers would be allowed to operate foreign-flag feeder vessels, but the capacity of the latter could not exceed the capacity of the company's U.S.-flag operations. There would be no review process, as there is currently, to ensure the foreign-flag ships do not compete with any subsidized services. • Current law shielding unsubsidized domestic operators from competition from subsidized carriers would remain unchanged. The l~tter could trade between domestic points only with special approval from the secretary of Transportation. Existing services, however, would be grandfathered, a provision favoring Sea-Land Corp., currently an unsubsidized operator with both domestic and international services. • Ships built in foreign shipyards would be eligible for subsidy and for government preference cargo immediately on being brought under the U.S. flag. Oct. Blast Killed 4 NTSB Faults Yukon Safety Three different safety-related factors led to the blast aboard the Ogden Yukon (OM/) last Oct. 28 which killed one SIU member and three other crewmen, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study reports. The three problems cited in the NTSB report were: the operator's failure to "establish and enforce" safety procedures for performing hot work; the chief engineer's failure to ensure that all tank vent flame screens were installed and maintained properly, and the failure of the refining company to supply the ship with fuel oil of the proper flash point. The report said that flame cutting was being done above the starboard fuel oil storage tank before the blast. The chief engineer told the NTSB that neither he nor his assistant made any particular safety inspection of the area and that he did not discuss any safety procedures with the welders. He further testified that no fire hoses charged with water were laid out for use and that no one was designated as a fire watch. In addition, the NTSB found that the flame screen for the after vent on the fuel storage tank that exploded was missing before the accident. The report said that if the vents had been checked for flame screens before any work began it "may have prevented the fires and explosions. Also, the NTSB discovered the Yukon was carrying the wrong fuel, with Safety problems led to the fatal blast aboard the Ogden Yukon (OMI), a government report says. a very low flash point. Normally the ship used No. 6 fuel oil with a flash point of more than 150 degrees F. The Yukon was loaded with oil which had been contaminated by oil with a lower viscosity and a flash point as low as 22 degrees F. Vet Fight Brings All Seamen Together If, 42 years after World War II, merchant sailors are finally given the same benefits as military veterans, no one knows exactly how many of them are alive today to take advantage of the recognition. But there is one thing this crusade for veterans benefits has brought about and that is unity-unity between the various maritime unions. For at issue is something that affects not only SIU members who served during World War II, but sailors in the other maritime unions as well. Anthony Nottage of Cypress, Calif. is one SIU pensioner who has personally telephoned his congressman, Rep. Robert K. Dornan, to express his views regarding H.R. 1235, the Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act. He also has written letters to 44 other congressmen 4 I LOG I August 1987 in California as well as both state senators. The 69-year-old pensioner sailed as chief electrician from 1943 to 1971 and was part of the Murmansk run to Russia. Nottage was on the Samuel H. Walker when it was sunk by German torpedoes. He also served in the merchant marine during the Korean and Vietnamese wars. ''There are only a few of us oldtimers left," Nottage writes in his letters for passage of H.R. 1235, "and I believe this bill is 40 years overdue.'' And Otis L. Bouchie Jr., who retired from the NMU in 1966, has gone on a personal crusade for passage of the bill. Bouchie, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps (and therefore already has veterans benefits), nonetheless feels the need for all U.S. merchant mariners who served in World War II to be recognized. And so this 74-yearold Alabaman who has ''a lot of friends in the SIU'' writes 30 letters a month' 'to senators, representatives, cabinet members, mayors, governors, other maritime unions, trade unions and anybody else who might help H.R. 1235"-with just one theme: recognition for World War II merchant seamen. The NMU pensioner has been pleased with the response he has received so far, about 90 percent, but continues to press forward in his writing campaign. Bouchie, whose larynx was removed five years ago due to cancer of the larynx and who now speaks through a mechanical voice box, says he has a lot to be thankful for. And his personal crusade for benefits for all merchant mariners would be one more thing to add to his list. The Yukon was towed to Japan after the explosion and sold for scrap. Vets (Continued from Page 1.) The suit -concerned two groups of seamen who had been denied benefits. The first were seamen who participated in the many invasions during World War II; the second, others who sailed during the war. The judge said seamen who joined the invasions performed military duties under military control. He also said the denial of benefits to other seamen was not supported by the review board's decision. After Oberdorfer's ruling, he ordered both sides to return to court this month and present recommendations on what remedies would be appropriate. The government has not said if it will appeal the case. The judge could order veterans status for invasion force seamen or all World War II sailors. He could also order the review board to redraft its guidelines. Most of the war-era seamen probably wouldn't take advantage of college tuition funds or home loans. But many would qualify for veterans medical benefits, if those benefits are awarded. �In its monthly series of interviews and reports, "PROFILES" will highlight key government officials instrumental in shaping national and maritime policy. Rep. Connie Rep. Wally Herger More~la A C THIRD generation rancher and independent businessman, Wally Herger (R-Calif.) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the second congressional district of California Nov. 4, 1986. ONNIE MORELLA (R-Md.), elected in 1986 to the lOOth Congress, represents Maryland's eighth congressional district, which covers the most populous portion of Montgomery County, a wealthy and overwhelmingly Democratic area just outside Washington, D.C. Although a freshman in the U.S. House of Representatives, Morella is no newcomer to elective office. The former airline reservations clerk turned college English teacher decided to enter politics 17 years ago. She worked for the Montgomery County Commission for Women, served eight years in the Maryland House of Delegates, to which she was first elected in 1978 and re-elected in 1982, and won a stunning victory this past fall to capture the seat vacated by four-term Democratic congressman Michael Barnes. In Annapolis, she was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Law Enforcement and Transportation. With a bachelor of arts degree from Boston University and a master's degree from The American University, Morella is an educator by profession. She is currently on leave from Montgomery College where she has taught since 1970. Rep. Morella calls herself a moderate, a liberal in the tradition of her long-time friend, retired Sen. Charles McC. Mathias, who actively campaigned for her. And her agenda, she says, is one of "enlightened social policies balanced by fiscal conservatism.'' She supports aid to the contras (but adds that there has to be accountability) and supports "Star Wars" and Medicaid funding for abortions for some poor women. A Catholic, Morella has consistently voted pro-choice and is against mandatory drug testing. The second congressional district includes all of the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba as well as portions of the counties of Lake, Napa and Nevada. Rep. Connie Morella "I vote my conscience," Morella said. "I think constituents want a representative who votes independently." Although Rep. Morella wasn't appointed to her preferred committeesHouse Ways and Means and Appropriations-she serves on minor committees that matter to her constituents. In the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, she is the ranking minority member. She also serves on the Science, Space and Technology Committee and on the Select Committee on Aging. Morella is not afraid to stand up for what she deeply believes in. "I think I have, with all lack of modesty, an extraordinary, strong eight-year record for issues that I care deeply about," she said of her years in the Maryland House of Delegates. "Civil rights, women's issues, budgetary issues . . . You make a mark by sometimes introducing good legislation that the majority picks up and then you end up being the co-sponsor.'' She hopes to play a similar role in the House of Representatives. Certainly, the Republican congresswoman will be watched very closely as names are being tossed out as possible opponents for her seat in 1988. Ten of the 12 counties in his district are major timber producing areas (the 1986 national Christmas tree on the Capitol grounds was grown in Siskiyou County), so it is appropriate that Herger serve as a member of the House committee on Agriculture. What is more important to SIU members, however, is that he is also on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee (chaired by Walter B. Jones, D-N.C.), and could be an important ally in future maritime legislation. The representative, who was elected vice president of the freshman Republican class of the 100th Congress, also was chosen secretary of the California Republican Congressional Delegation. He majored in Business Administration at California State University in Sacramento and served three terms in the California State Assembly. There, he was on the Ways and Means Committee and was vice chairman of the Agriculture Committee. Rep. Herger holds a number of strong views regarding the defense of this nation. He stands behind President Reagan in his support for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). ''For the past 20 years," Herger states, "the Soviet Union has increased its strategic nuclear capability, while the United States has significantly slowed its development ... Therefore, implementation of SDI would reduce this dangerous Soviet nuclear superiority and would Rep. Wally Herger push us closer to the long-term goal of elimination of nuclear weapons. In a similar vein, Herger supports a limited chemical weapons program and believes that the U.S. should not be bound to comply with the unratified, expired SALT II treaty. He also believes that the United States, as a nation, must make a full commitment to pursuing all the facts about our servicemen still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and has indicated that he "will strongly support efforts to locate and bring home American MIAs. '' Savings Bonds Protect Futures -----Around the New Orleans Hall----- ~~.I ..• One of the SIU's first organizers, Buck Stevens (right) had chance to renew his Union ties in New Orleans recently. Shown with his grandson (center) and Rep Nick Celona, Stevens goes over plans for an upcoming Port Council meeting. ·. .· ,.__:.~. When the new standard agreements were ratified recently, Bosun "Scotty" and New Orleans Port Agent Ray Singletary took time to study the new contracts. August 1987 I LOG I 5 �'T Anchorage Sails- The Sea-Land Kodiak will be the third of the new D-7s. The bow has been strengthened for the ice encountered on the Alaskan run. Kodiak, Tacoma Wait For Final Touches at Sturgeon Bay Yard Chief Cook George Gibbons on the Anchorage as it left its Wisconsin shipyard. This is the view from the Anchorage's bridge as she steams toward the Sturgeon Bay Bridge into Lake Michigan. The Anchorage crew was flown into Green Bay, Wis. to take the ship from the Lakes to the West Coast. Above is AB Bill Sider at the airport. The latest technology includes this computerized navigational steering (below) on the bridge of the Anchorage. Steward/Baker James Anchorage. on the QMED Joe Graves (above) at breakfast in the crew's mess. SI A Michael Bubaker (below) finishes up the lunch dishes. Recertified Bosun Dave Atkinson takes a break on the third deck rec center aboard the new Anchorage. The Tacoma will be the second D-7 for Sea -Land. 6 I LOG I August 1987 Wright �Area Vice Presidents' Report Great Lakes by V.P. Mike Sacco I will be heading back East later this month to attend the triennial convention of the SIUNA. It will be an important convention. For one thing, the maritime industry is confronted by serious problems. In addition, next year marks the 50th anniversary of both the SIUNA and its Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. Both organizations were born of the wreckage of the old International Seamen's Union, a loose federation of autonomous maritime unions formed in the latter part of the 19th century. Under the leadership of Andrew Furuseth, the ISU was able to achieve many important victories, including passage of the Seamen's Act of 1915. Yet the ISU was never able to recover from an ill-fated strike called in 1921. By the time the Great Depression rolled around, it was on its deathbed. The election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 ushered in a new era for both the United States and the labor movement. For the first time ever, organized labor moved to center stage of American politics. Passage of the Wagner Act of 1935 presented the labor movement with many new opportunities. Yet like the country from which it sprang, the American labor movement was not monolithic. It was split along regional, economic, ethnic, racial and philosophical lines. And so it was with the labor movement. Trade unionists everywhere argued about the merits of John L. Lewis' call to industrial trade unionism. Traditionalists like AFL President William Green rejected this approach. The waterfront was not immune to these developments. Indeed, one of the primary reasons behind the formation of both the SIUNA and the SIU-AGLIWD were the philosophical differences that existed between the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (which broke away from the AFL in 1935). The AFL represented a certain type of trade unionism. Craft-oriented, intensely patriotic, it concentrated on bread and butter issues. The CIO, on the other hand, stressed social issues, political action and mass organizing. Harry Lundeberg, the secretarytreasurer of the Sailors Union of the Pacific, was a strong believer in AFL principles. In order to counter the rising influence of the CIO-affiliated National Maritime Union, which was formed in 1937 by Joe Curran, Lundeberg requested and received AFL charters for both the Seafarers International Union of North America and the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic and Gulf District. While the AFL maritime unions had a strong presence on the West Coast, they were all but non-existent on the East Coast and in the Gulf. To counter this inherent structural weakness, Lundeberg established the Atlantic and Gulf District of the SIU. From its inception, the A&G District incorporated the principles of both industrial and craft trade unionism. Like the NMU, it was established along industry-wide lines. As Lundeberg had planned, the newly-formed A&G District gave the AFL a secure base on the East Coast. This, in turn, transformed the SIUNA into a viable national organization, a worthy heir of the old ISU. There is no guarantee of what will happen in arbitration. Yet it is exceedingly important for these tug and barge companies to understand that we will not back down from a fight. Any company that tries to abridge the rights of our members will have to pay a high price. The bankruptcy proceedings have had far-reaching consequences. For one thing, seamen working for the company have had to line up with the rest of the company's creditors in obtaining contributions to their pension and welfare plans. The shipping companies that remain in business on the West Coast are trying to fill the void left by U.S. Lines. Sea-Land, an SIU-contracted company, is interested in picking up four U.S. Lines vessels which had been on the U .S.-Hawaii-Guam run. Sea-Land's bid to procure these vessels had been opposed by Prudential Insurance, one of U.S. Lines' largest creditors. Earlier this month, however, Prudential withdrew its objections to the acquisition, which bodes well for Sea-Land's efforts to buy out these vessels. West Coast Report by V. P. George McCartney W Gulf Coast by V.P. Joe Sacco T HE contract between the SIU and Radcliff Materials has been extended while the two sides try to find ways to bridge the gap that separates them. Problems remain. For one thing, the astronomical increase in medical costs is affecting the industry. As reported in previous issues of the LOG, the SIU is trying to contain these costs. It even instituted a bonus program under which it awards members 25 percent of the monies saved when they alert the welfare plan of unnecessary billings. The SIU has always been willing to work closely with any company that respects the rights of our members. In Louisiana, for example, we are monitoring the actions of the legislature as they pertain to the shell-dredging industry. For the past six year , there has been a war on the rivers of this country. Tug and barge companies have tried to take on the maritime unions. We have taken a carrot-and-stick approach to this attack. We will go out of our way to work with those companies that respect the rights of our members. At the same time, we will leave no stone unturned in fighting those companies that don't. Just recently, for example, the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals partially overturned a ruling by Judge Morey Shears in regards to National Marine. The judge ruled that the company's refusal to arbitrate its differences with the Union over the sham sale to Compass Marine constituted a breach of contract. The matter must go back to arbitration. HEN today's trainees celebrate the SIU-AGLIWD's lOOth anniversary in the year 2038, they can say that they entered the maritime industry during a period of profound change. Everywhere you look on the West Coast, there are signs of change. There is an intense rivalry among the West Coast ports to make themselves more competitive. Intermodalism is more than a buzz-word out here: it is something that has already happened. And Wilmington, with its ready-made market of 12 million people, is leading the way. Sea-Land and APL, two of the largest carriers out here, are in the process of connecting their port facilities to rail lines. They are deadly serious about "one-stop" shipping, which they see as the future of this industry. Throughout history, there has been an innate connection between trade and the maritime industry. Things are no different today. The increasing importance of the Pacific rim countries to the American economy is having a profound effect on all aspects of American life. In a sense, the maritime industry provides a microcosm of this trend. The growing trade between the United States and the countries of the Far East has far-reaching possibilities. But as long as East Asian markets remain closed, the benefits provided by this trade will all be one way. Still, things look decidedly better in that respect than just a year ago. Pressure brought on the Reagan administration by the maritime industry and organized labor is having some effect. Taiwan, for example, has promised to relax restrictions on its intermodal transportation industry, which has been closed to American operators. That's not to say that things are good. Even the toughest and most committed American-flag shipping company can find itself in the same boat as U.S. Lines, which last year was forced to file for Chapter XI bankruptcy proceedings. U.S. Lines had been the largest American-flag shipping company in existence, and it had a legendary name in the industry. East Coast by V.P. Leon Hall F a two-week period last month, it seemed as if everyone in New York was either listening to or talking about the Iran-contra hearings. The hearings ended on an anti-climactic note. What, after all, could top Ollie North's declaration that he would go "mano-a-mano" with Abu Nidal, or George Shultz's chilling reminder that "nothing ever gets settled in this town." Still, I predict that the hearings will have a subliminal effect on the 1988 elections. If nothing else, they underscore the importance of putting people into power who respect the proper function of government. The spectacular revelations coming out of the hearings have all but obscured an important national development; planning for the 1988 elections is well under way. Strong grassroots political organizations will play a pivotal role in deciding who becomes this country's next president. With the hard-learned lessons of 1984 under its belt, labor should be well-positioned to make a difference. In New York and elsewhere, representatives from the SIU are meeting with their counterparts in other labor organizations to see how they can better coordinate their efforts. While the labor movement has not yet endorsed anyone (and it is possible that no consensus will emerge), the bridges that are now being built are extemely important. In New York, the SIU joined other labor organizations in hosting "get acquainted" meetings for the Paul Simon and Michael Dukakis campaigns. The SIU, like every other national union, has so far refrained from enOR (Continued on Page 11.) August 1987 I LOG I 7 �The Falls of Clyde: A Little Taste ·of History The steering station aboard the Falls of Clyde. TT was quite a sight watching the Falls Lt Clyde hoist anchor at Pier 7 and pull into dry dock in Honolulu Harbor's Pier 41. Towed by tug for the mile-long trip, the 109-year-old Falls of Clyde is the last four-masted square-rigged merchant ship afloat. The oldest oil tanker in the world, it is also the last of the first fleet of Matson ships. The Falls of Clyde was the first ship to carry the Hawaiian flag, Jan. 20, 1899. Needless to say, volunteers to help in the June 26 move were not hard to come by. Steve Baker, former SIU member and now 3rd mate on the Charles L. Brown, and SIU Patrolman/Recertified Bosun John Ballentine supervised the operation as SIU members and other experienced hands donated their time, energy and skills just to be a part of this historic event. :~\~\, . SIU crewmembers board the Falls of Clyde and prepare to launch. They are (I. to r.) Port Agent Tom Fay; Patrolman and Recertified Bosun John Ballentine; Steve Baker, 3rd mate on the Charles L. Brown; Jim Holland; Erowin Udan, and Gary "Doc" Trentz, corpsman for T-AGOS. Photos by Cathie Ballentine AB Chris Delamer readies the heaving line. AB John Bloodworth pulls in the spring line. 8 I LOG I August 1987 Gary "Doc" Trentz tried his hand at a little deck work. �~m~-~"'~~~~- .., s . I ;:$ tug/tow arge/dredgel ~~~~~·~-~~·@:=:=~~=:=:::~r.tii~~Wfil;;mro~::;&;-t.:!ffu:°'"'ft~ Court Upholds SIU Plans in Sonat, Dixie Pension Case (Continued from Page 1.) pany before it signed a contract with the SIU) in a case involving employees of Sonat Marine and Dixie Carriers. Both companies have refused to recognize the SIU's right to bargain for its licensed employees, claiming such workers are so-called "supervisory personnel.'' Along with the refusal to bargain, both companies stopped making contributions to the Plan for the licensed workers. The Plans, the court said, may reduce the benefits payable by cancelling past service credits when an employer stops making contributions or when the Union is decertified. The decision does not affect anyone who retired before contributions were stopped. It also does not reduce any service credit for the years the employee worked under an SIU contract. But it could mean some employees would not be eligible for early retirement or they could have the benefits reduced to a lower level. Licensed inland members who were faced with Sonat's and Dixie Carrier's refusal to recognize the Union as their agent had three choices. First they could have gone to work for any SIUcontracted inland company and retained their past service credits toward pension benefits. Second, if they retired before the companies stopped making contributions to the Plans, they would have retained their past service credits. But if they accepted the companies' terms and returned to work without a contract, the past service credit was eliminated. The SIU is still fighting for its rights to represent licensed workers, but the court battle could drag on for years. On the Midas, You Otter Get to Know Gumbo McAllister Scheme Leads to Strike A series of unfair labor practices and grievances at McAllister Brothers Towing Co. in Norfolk, Va. has led to a strike there by SIU crews and pickets at two other McAllister operations. In Baltimore and Philadelphia SIU members have honored the picket lines set by the striking Norfolk workers. The SIU has charged McAllister with unfair labor practices and circumventing the contract in a scheme to remove tug captains with docking pilot licenses from their equipment. The SIU has filed unfair labor charges with the NLRB and grievances have also been filed in Norfolk. The contract with McAllister expires Sept. 30. Not quite old enough for his standard shellfish diet, Gumbo gets a feeding from the Midas' crew, (I. to r.) Cliff Robertson, Buddy Prinks, Charles O'Brien and SlU servicing team member Jim McGee. Ships pets come in all different shapes, sizes and species, but the crewmembers of Sabine Towing's Midas may have one of the more unusual--Gumbo the Otter. Baker Whiteley Committee Seneca Notice Attention crewmembers of the Tug "Seneca," Crowley Maritime Corporation. Anyone employed aboard the above-named tug since Dec. 15, 1986 is due a 2.24 percent Economic Price Adjustment (E.P.A.) under the terms of the military agreement. For any monies due you, please contact: Mr. John Schiemer Crowley Maritime Corporation Military Support Division Box 2287 Seattle, Washington 98111 Provide your name, rating, social security number and appropriate dates of employment. When negotiations begin for a new contract with Baker Whiteley Towing Co. in Baltimore, these four SIU Boatmen will make up the Contract Committee. They are (I. tor.) Engineer Joseph Zorbach, Capt. Louis Canavino, Deckhand Steve E. August and Mate Leon J. Mach Sr. August 1987 I LOG I 9 �Gerold Harris, cocktail waiter in the Main Saloon Curtis Carraby, waiter Waitress Tracey Anderson and bartender Ray Ringwald Steamboatin' 1987 Allan Hammond, busboy Karen Murray, cocktail waitress in the Paddle Bar Crew and staff members on the Mississippi Queen Mississippi Queen Matt Young, maitre d 'hotel In the crew galley: Bobby Werre, Eric Woods, Reggie Kaiser, Tom Thomson and Edgar Whelan. Bobby Werre, busboy 10 I LOG I August 1987 �In Memoriam Pensioner Landsdale J. Madere, 83, died April 29 of respiratory arrest. Born in Edgard, La., Brother Madere sailed inland as an engineer. He went on pension in 1969. Burial was at Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna, La. He is survived by a daughter, Joyce Morvant, and two sons, Lansdale Jr. and Louis. Pensioner Frank L. Pasaluk, 71 , died April 13. Born in Maryland, Boatman Pasaluk joined the Union in 1950 in the port of Philadelphia. He was active in the General Strike and the Isthmian beef and retired on pension in 1979. Surviving is a daughter, Dorothy Mastripolito. New Pensioners The following Inland members have retired on pension: Mobile Jack T. Fillingim Robert L. Odom Norfolk Perrin L. Cudworth Dispatchers Report for Inland Waters JULY 1-31, 1987 Port New York ......................... Philadelphia ....................... Baltimore ......................... Norfolk .......................... Mobile ........................... New Orleans ..... . ........ ... .. .... Jacksonville ....................... San Francisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilmington ...... ............ ...... Seattle ... . ..... ... . ........ ...... Puerto Rico ......... ......... ..... Houston .......................... Algonac .......................... St. Louis ... .. . ...... . . ... .. ...... Piney Point ........................ Tota s ...... ... ... ... .. ... . .. . . .. 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 ... .. ..... .... .. ....... .... Totals All Departments ... . ............ Government Services Division by V.P. Buck Mercer I N the commercial maritime industry , when a seaman violates the Ship's Articles while on voyage, he or she is "logged" and perhaps fired when the ship returns to the pay-off port. On occasion, the seafarer may face a Coast Guard hearing if the infraction is of a serious nature. Generally, however, the crewmember faces a labor-management hearing to deter- 0 2 6 28 2 1 4 0 6 0 0 7 21 0 0 77 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 17 0 0 0 2 0 10 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 2 2 0 23 0 0 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 29 15 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 1. 0 6 0 35 8 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 42 55 0 0 0 0 3 2 31 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 22 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 37 0 0 3 0 3 50 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 4 6 119 42 60 135 31 56 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 48 0 0 3 0 3 0 72 0 6 4 35 0 1 2 0 10 0 0 10 16 0 0 0 3 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 12 44 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 6 4 0 26 0 58 84 41 79 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 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 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 9 175 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 59 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 9 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 16 1 120 66 80 *"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. Area Vice Presidents' Report (Continued from Page 7.) dorsing any one candidate. We are seeking your input. Accordingly, the June issue of the LOG contained an insert discussing the candidates' views on a number of issues ranging from trade to social welfare to defense. *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C I mine further employment with the particular company. Once the ship pays off, however the crewmember is off the payroll. The disciplinary procedure for the Military Sealift Command, Pacific Civilian Marine Personnel is different. It is an expensive, long, drawn-out process that robs MSCPAC of the shipboard services of its mariners for weeks or even months on end. For example (and this is the rule rather than the exception), an MSCPAC seaman misses a day's duty for which there is no excuse. He will be written up by his supervisor. That paper then goes to the master of the vessel who supposedly gets the facts of the incident and writes more paper either penalizing the seaman anywhere from a reprimand (which seldom happens) up to 14 days suspension. He can recommend more than that, but that action must be taken by the commander, MSCPAC. If the seaman receives anything other than a reprimand , he is sent back to home port , at the expense of the government. That means a replacement must be sent to the ship, again at the expense of the government. The seaman who has been penalized and returned to home port is placed in the Marine Placement and Receiving Branch (POOL) at MSCPAC to await his fate. In the meantime, the seaman has the opportunity to appeal the decision of the master of the vessel or the decision of shoreside management. Before the appeal process becomes effective, the seaman will sit for weeks or months in the POOL on the payroll, before the suspension goes into effect. During this drawn-out process, shipboard services of the affected seaman are lost. At any given time, there may be 15 to 20 seamen on disciplinary actions, sitting in the MSCPAC POOL drawing wages. MSCPAC has chosen to use this same expensive procedure for years, even though the "log" penalty is in their Schedule of Penalties. While these seamen sit around in the MSCPAC POOL and draw wages, they cannot be assigned to a ship until they are cleared and replacement personnel cannot be sent to ships in many ratings because MSCPAC is not that deep in manpower. One would think that the PowersThat-Be at MSCPAC would recognize their expensive disciplinary problem and use the "log" process. U.S., China Sign Rescue Pact The United States and the People's Republic of China have entered into an agreement to cooperate in responding to distress calls at sea. Under the agreement, the U.S. and China will set up procedures and communications for requesting and rendering maritime search and rescue assistance and for joint operations when appropriate. The agreement also calls for technical cooperation and ex- change of information on search and rescue organization, plans and equipment. The cooperative agreement with China is the second such agreement negotiated by the U.S. The first, with Japan, was signed last month. Both are responses to the 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, which became effective in 1985 and which encourages bilateral cooperation. -----Artifacts Wanted----Military Sealift Command Headquarters is developing a historical display about the development of MSC from the Merchant Fleet, and MSC from 1798 to present. MSC is requesting any individuals or groups who desire to donate or lend personal or ship artifacts to please contact Mr. Carl Beuchert at (202) 433-0656. Items should be mailed to Military Sealift Command (M-OOD), Department of the Navy, Washington D.C. 20398-5100. August 1987 I LOG / 11 �SIU, MTD Host Boy Scouts In Labor Education Program B OY Scouts from 13 states across the nation were guests of the SIU and the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department for a two-week program of sightseeing, recreation and trade union education. The program, now in its second year, is sponsored by the MTD as part of a program to promote the trade union objectives of the American Labor Movement. The Scouts are recruited through the MTD's Port Councils, and offer young men and women in the Scout Movement two-week all-expense vacations in Washington, D.C. and at the SIU's Training and Recreation Center in Piney Point, Md. In Washington, the Scouts tour the headquarters of the SIU, the MTD and the AFL-CIO, and visit the Capitol Building. In Piney Point, the Scouts, several of whom are Sea Scouts, learn something of seafaring from the young men and women in training at the SIU school. Participating in this year's program were Brian Hite, Florida; Victor Paulus, Chicago; William Hutchings, Virginia; Chris Moritz, Ohio; Travis Corgey, Houston; Robert LeBlanc, Mobile; Eric Figueroa, Brooklyn; Dwayne Simmons, Detroit; Chris Alvarado, California; Shawn Lucas, Philadelphia; Art Mees, St. Louis; Reginal Rhea, New Orleans; Charle Seaman, Baltimore, and Paul Bensel, Columbia, Maryland. AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland greets Scouts in the Federation's headquarters. Alan Bosch, of the AFL-CIO Community Services Department, talked to the scouts about the importance of the Labor Movement in America today. Sea Explorer Paul Bensel Columbia, Maryland Scout Travis Corgey Houston, Texas Scout Chris Moritz Clay Center, Ohio During their two weeks at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, the Scouts learned the importance of education and training in the maritime industry. Scout Reginald Rhea New Orleans, Louisiana Scout Art Mees St. Louis, Missouri 12 I LOG I August 1987 Jean lngrao, executive secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, welcomed the Scouts to AFL-CIO headquarters. �A PROUD HISTORY ... SH LSS Celebrates 20 Years THEY STILL MARCH THROUGH PINEY POINT! P iney Point! After twenty years, the Seafarer's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship is doing what it does best-preparing personnel to crew American ships. From an idea that began at the SIU hall in Brooklyn, to establish training programs for entry rating and upgrading seamen, Paul Hall expanded it to various training schools at SIU ports nationwide. As the HLSS programs expanded to meet the challenges of advancing technology, it became necessary to centralize the training activities. Thus, in 1967, HLSS was finally consolidated on 28 acres of a former marina (which earlier served as a Navy torpedo test range) in Southern Maryland at Piney Point. In the years since the school was founded, SHLSS has grown to become the largest educational facility for licensed and unlicensed seafarers and inland boatman in the United States. The first SIU officials on the scene in 1967 realized that they had their work cut out for them. Frankie Mongelli recalled checking the foundations of the buildings and luckily not finding any snakes. The mosquitoes were so bad that after working outside, you almost needed a transfusion. Paul Hall seemed to be protected from them by his cigar while he directed work from a golf cart. The first trainees were given a lot of on-the-job training. They laid sidewalks, built docks and piers, l-IARRY LUNDEBERG 1101~ A FIGHTER F 1,57 EAMAN'S IGHTS ~ painted anything that didn't move and generally got things in SIU order. The men that were the first to march through are the ones that now lead the Union and most appreciate the accomplishments of the Lundeberg School. Mike Sacco, who instituted the food service program and was vice president of the school at one time, is now Great Lakes vice president. His brother Joey, who supervised the dredging of the school's waterfront, is now Gulf Coast vice president. Paul Hall, Earl Shephard, Frank Mongelli, Paul and Frank Drozak and other longstanding SIU officials have .had a close personal hand in the · development of the SHLSS through the years. Since those first exciting days of transforming Paul Hall's ideas into reality, the school campus has expanded to more than 60 acres on the waterfront of St. George's Creek. In those early years, when the operations at HLSS consisted of a course to help Seafarers get their lifeboat endorsements, there was at least as much building construction as there was teaching. But the vision of a unique edl,lcational institution was never lost. The dream was to build a school that served the educational needs of seafarers and the manpower needs of the maritime industries. Buildings went up and new roads went in to accommodate the rapid expansion of the educational programs. August 1987 I LOG I 13 �SHLSS Celebrates 20 Years • Trainees used to be housed in the small, simple H-barracks. ~You're well on your way to becoming an old-timer if you can remember this scene: the original entrance to the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. In the background is the old motel, which was razed to make way for the Mongelli Recreation Center . • PHYSICAL GROWTHBUILDING FOR LEARNING W hen the SHLSS Library, located in the former engine room of the schoolship CHARLES S. ZIMMERMAN first opened, many of the shelves were completely empty. Then in 1981, the Paul Hall Library and Maritime Museum was dedicated. Since opening, it has become one of the best sources of maritime labor research in the United States. There is a media center to provide students with audio-visual equipment and software, films, video and audio cassettes and slides. Also housed in the library are a television studio and video production facilities. All of the modern facilities of the library help the instructors and students in the pursuit of educational goals. Originally, the Vocational Education Department was housed aboard the cargo ship CLAUDE SONNY SIMMONS, and when the upgrading programs were first expanded, they were held aboard a refurbished barge. In 1977 a new Vocational Education building was constructed (the Logan Building and shop area) and soon thereafter, the Drozak building which houses academic classrooms and various offices. The largest facility on campus, which was constructed in 14 I LOG I August 1987 The Paul Hall Library and Maritime Museum stands at the heart of the Lundeberg School. Named after the school's founder, it houses an impressive collection of maritime books, audio-visual equipment and primary research material on the SIU and the maritime industry. 1984, is the Seafarers Training and Recreation Center. A far cry from the small simple H-barracks, and a 112 room dormitory, in which the trainees originally lived, the ultramodern center houses all of the Entry Level Trainees, Upgraders, and their families. In addition to 300 modern rooms containing closed-circuit cable TV, the Center boasts a conference center capacity, with a large auditorium, three conference rooms, bar and recreation areas, formal and informal dining areas, health spa, • The school has undergone a 20-year period of steady growth. SIU Secretary Joe DiGiorgio, left, talks with Frank Mongelli, the late vice-president of the Lundeberg School, about construction that was then under way. olympic-sized swimming pool, card and pool rooms. Most recently constructed is the SHLSS Simulator building which houses a multifunction bridge, deepsea and inland simulator system. .Most of the Union's top officials served a stint at the school. SIU Gulf Vice President Joe Sacco, left, helped dredge the school's port area. With him is former SHLSS Vice President Bob Matthews. Thanks to the fully modern and comfortable facilities at the Mongelli Recreation Center, Piney Point is now an easy tour of duty. �SHLSS Celebrates 20 Years .A, A group of seamen receive their lifeboat endorsement. A comprehensive educational and vocational program was developed to help seamen meet a rapidly- At far left is Tom Brooks, a former instructor at the school. .A, Former SHLSS President Hazel Brown congratulates SIU member Mack White on using the school's facilities to gain his High School Equivalency diploma. Since the school's inception 20 years ago, more than 1,800 members have done the same. The late Paul Hall, who founded the SHLSS, promoted the school at membership meetings around the country. ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL GROWTH T The curriculum at the school combines classroom training with hands-on experience. he school believes that the men and women who choose careers as professional seafarers or boatman must be provided with the knowledge and skills to keep pace with technological advances within their industries. As a result, the school has developed a total program for professional advancement as a boatman or deepsea mariner. By bringing together highly qualified educators in the specialized field of maritime training. Centralization made possible the rapid expansion of the school's vocational programs. As vocational education became more advanced and specialized, the need for academic skills to master the highly technical instructional manuals became evident. To meet that need, a reading skills program was established in 1970. The program proved to be a highly successful complement to vocational training, and the academic curriculum has since experienced the same rapid growth as the vocational programs. A landmark in the Academic Program was the graduation of the first student to complete the GED Program and earn his high school diploma. Since then, 1,805 additional people have earned diplomas through the high school equivalency program. Their numbers include men and women trainees, upgraders, employees, and retired seafarers. County, state and national educators visited the SHLSS when the school was designated a GED test center. At that time, director of Academic Studies was Hazel Brown, who later became president of SHLSS. Today, an expanded program offers Adult Basic Education, study skills and English as a Second Language. With such strong emphasis ac this time being placed on the educational needs of the seafarers, the very first Seafarers' Educational Conference was held at the HLSS in 1971. Coming from fourteen ports around the nation, 250 rank-and-file Seafarers searched for a new understanding of their Union and for solutions to their common problems. They came to study, to learn, to question and discuss the problems facing their Union and the industry. August 1987 I LOG I 15 �SHLSS Celebrates 20 Years I n 1972, the Lundeberg School recognized the need for trained personnel aboard the tugs, towboats, and barges of the inland and coastal waterways. Again, the school responded to this need, and today basic vocational training and a complete upgrading program in all licensed and unlicensed ratings are available to America's professional boatmen. The necessity for continual expansion of the educational programs in response to advancing technology was recognized in 1977 when a committee representing the American Council on Higher Education recommended college credit for the vocational courses which were offered at SHLSS. An affiliation between the school and Charles County Community College was established, and the two schools developed a higher education general studies programs for SIU members leading to an Associate in Arts degree. In preparation for a review by the Maryland State Board for Higher Education in 1983, a modification of the college program was required. It was agreed that CCCC would hire and control the A generation of inland boatmen · received their training on the Susan Collins. The late Bill Hall, who was SIU Headquarters Rep. and an instructor at school, congratulates this member of the graduating class. Hall helped develop the Union Education Program at the SHLSS. Janice Smolek, Director of Library Services, helps a young trainee with his studies . • A class of trainees is addressed by the late John Yacmola, who was the Union's national field coordinator and special assistant to the president. 16 I LOG I August 1987 Prospective members of the Steward Department gain valuable experience in learning how to serve and prepare food. �SHLSS Celebrates 20 Years The decline in the maritime industry has made competition for jobs more intense. The Union's commitment to education has maximized our members' prospects for employment. Shephard Falls was named after this man, Earl "Bull" Shephard, who was one of the Union's most beloved officials. He is seated under a picture of Claude "Sonny" Simmon, who like Shephard, was one of the founders of the SIU. At left is Paul McGaharn, one of the first instructors at the school. '· ""-. \ ..• faculty within SHLSS for the program, as well as develop and implement all courses. The conditions were proposed to the SHLSS Board of Trustees and accepted. With this agreement, A Nautical Science Certificate program was developed. This course of study would supplement the regular vocational and general education programs by providing post-secondary academic training in Nautical Science. By 1985, SHLSS had developed its own degree programs in Nautical Science Technology and Marine Engineering Technology. These programs received full approval from the Mary land State Board for Higher Education in November of 1985. Since 1985, much emphasis has been placed on preparing Seafarers for work with military contracted ship companies. The school has undertaken new programs for training SIU crews for the Military Sealift Command contracted ships. Included in this training is instruction on a twin pedestal sixteen ton Hagglund crane. This shipboard crane is the only one in shoreline service in the United States. Riding the crest of change, the Lundeberg School conducted the First Annual Sealift Conference in 1986 with Union, SHLSS, company, government and military representatives in attendance. The conference was designed to provide an opportunity to review the Sealift Training Program and discuss ideas and goals for all concerned within the Sealift community. The goal of the school is to provide Sealift training to all SIU members. Since an estimated 60 percent of the work available to SIU members will be in the military sector by 1990, the training for the military ships has become essential. Addressing the seriousness of this situation, Frank Drozak, president of the SIU, underscored the importance of the work of this gathering when he said, "I hope that this conference will be the beginning of a joint program between the shipowner, maritime industry and military to better prepare for the future . Time is running out. (The school and the SIU) must prepare now in order to have a future." Former SHLSS Vice .· President Bob Matthews, left, looks over a rare copy of Wright's Official History of the Spanish-American War at the school's library, which used to be housed onboard the Charles S. Zimmerman. The school's curriculum is geared towards employment opportunities in the maritime industry. Above, SIU members receive training in sealift support functions. The school's top-notch facilities have been an important selling point in signing up new jobs. Here, SIU President Frank Drozak shows Navy officials the school's Haaglund crane. August 1987ILOGI 17 �SHLSS Celebrates 20 Years A nd so, as the saying goes, "The more things change, the more they remain the same. " Seafarers are still working hard today in order to provide for themselves and ensure a livelihood for their brothers and sisters in the future. The establishment of the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship twenty years ago was the ultimate means to fulfilling this dream of providing fair wages, job security, and top-notch vocational and academic training for SIU members. Because of world politics and economics , the maritime industry has drastically changed in the past two decades, making the futures of seafarers and boatmen appear much less secure than in the past. However, the Lundeberg School, in conjunction with the SIU leadership, is addressing the maritime problems of today with a flexible, forward-looking, practical program; facing the problems head-on with a no-nonsense approach toward maritime industry growth, development and management. The Seafarers' Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship will help all of us to successfully navigate the stormy seas ahead and steer us onto a promising course for the future. Reflections on 20 Years at the SHLSS Sitting back and reflecting on the past twenty years of growth and development here at the Lundeberg School, it is supremely satisfying to see how far we have come. Many years of long hours and back-breaking labor, initially shouldered by the founders of the school themselves, have born fruit as evidenced by the impressive modern · ·:. ·>:·=~ . . facility which we enjoy today. .~·.<~ ~. ·.·~ ? ~ut, however beautiful a campu~ we can build, it all means nothing without f.·. :·: ·:..;·::~~~·:·_~:"'~·8 ·$... . havmg the stu?ents to benefit from 1t. The heart and backb~ne,_ the ve?' essence of t~==,:=::,:\{:}::.= . ::. · ··· ·· · ,:~. \=.:· the program, 1s the entry-level student. It was these enthus1ast1C recruits who first i t·,(';:h·· ·., ..:· ••~\\ilr :~:~:r:~:£:~~~~~::~:~~::i;:~~n~~:;~~:~~:~~~.~~::;::~:~~s today and are proud that through our past efforts, they can now enjoy the best in vocational and academic maritime education. Years back, as a young recruit in the Marine Corps, I learned respect for authority and the value of discipline and their importance in giving direction to my life. By instilling a respect for strength of character and leadership through discipline and hard work, we at the SHI.SS hope to do the same for these young men and women. By simply giving them a chance, guaranteeing them a job and building up their own self-respect and self-confidence with top-notch training, we ensure the continued growth and betterment of the SIU and the maritime industry at large. Paul Hall once said, "Never say that it can't be done until you try." We can do anything we dream of if we all work toward a common goal. That is, to develop the best trained and knowledgeable seamen to perform any assigned task on any ship in the most professional and safe manner possible. Who knows what the future holds for us. However, feel safe in the knowledge that we at the SHI.SS are ready and able to meet any challenge presented to us. i / Ken Conklin / ~~ President, SHLSS SHLSS HISTORY AT A GLANCE August, 1967 - The Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship opens; graduates its first lifeboat classes January, 1970 - Reading skills program established for trainees and upgraders who need assistance with vocational materials GED (High School Equivalency) program was instituted for eligible trainees and upgraders Training and program begun for Boatmen of inland and coastal waterways Alcohol Education Class offered, later expanded to include drug education, counseling and rehabilitation September, 1970 - 1972 - October, 1975 - .., 1977 1978 - - New Vocational Education and Shop buildings constructed (Charles Logan Building) New academic, office building constructed (Paul Drozak Building) A.A. (Associate in Arts) degree program begun with Charles County Community College GED program graduates its I, OOOth student 18 I LOG I August 1987 1981 June, 1983 - August, 1983 - January, 1984 - 1984 - 1985 - Paul Hall Library and Museum dedicated Developmental Study Skills class offered to SIU members one week prior to their scheduled upgrading course A six week Adult Basic Education (ABE) program begun for SIU members who want to improve their reading, writing, English grammar and math skills English as a Second Language (ESL) course begun for those SIU members who need to improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills Seafarers' Training and Recreation Center completed; SHI.SS Simulator Building constructed A.A. degree courses of study added in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering Program of training for Military Sealift Command begun �Steward Upgrading Courses 1987 Upgrading Course Schedule Course Programs Geared to Improve Job Skills And Promote U.S. Maritime Industry August 1987 - December 1987 The following is the current course schedule for August 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 p<>Bble. 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. Engine Upgrading Courses Course QMED • Any Rating * Sealift Operations & Maint. Fireman/Watertender, Oiler *Sea lift Operations & Maint. Check-In Date September 21 December 14 October 12 December 7 Completion Date December 11 January 8 December 4 December 31 Variable Speed DC Drive *Sealift Operations & Maint. September 21 November 2 October 30 November 27 Electro-Hydraulic Systems *Sealift Operations & Maint. November 9 December 21 December 18 January 15 Assistant Cook *Sea lift Operations Assistant Cook *Sea lift Operations Assistant Cook *Sea lift Operations Cook and Baker *Sealift Operations Cook and Baker *Sealift Operations Chief Cook *Sealift Operations Chief Cook *Sealift Operations Chief Steward *Sealift Operations Chief Steward *Sealift Operations & Maint. & Maint. & Ma int. & Maint. & Maint. & Maint. & Maint. & Maint. & Maint. Completion Date October 23 November 20 December 18 September 28 October 26 November 23 October 23 November 20 December 18 Celestial Navigation November 2 December 4 Radar Obsever December 7 December 12 Radar Obsever (Renewal) Open ended course, however, must notify SH LSS before entering this course. Sealift Operations & Maintenance Towboat Operator September 7 Inland Deck Shiphandling Simulator October 12 October 30 October 16 Recertification Programs Check-In Date Completion Date Steward Recertification August 31 November 2 October 5 December 7 Bosun Recertification September 21 November 2 Course October 16 November 13 November 27 December 24 January 8 February 5 October 30 November 27 December 11 January 8 October 30 November 27 December 25 January 22 October 30 November 27 December 25 January 22 Completion 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) November 2 December 14 Adult Basic Education (ABE) & English as a Second Language November 2 December 11 The Developmental Studies~ (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. They will be offered as follows: September 7 September 11 College Programs Check-In Date October 26 Course Associates in Arts Completion Date December 18 Don't Miss Your Chance to Improve Your Skills November 20 December 12 Check-In Date August 31 September 28 October 26 Course Able Seaman/Seallft Operations & Maintenance September 2 October 19 October 14 November 30 November 25 January 11 September 2 November 2 October 14 December 14 September 2 November 2 October 28 December 28 September 2 November 2 October 28 December 28 Check-In Date Course October 9 November 6 Deck Upgrading Courses Completion Date Adult Education Courses Towboat Operator Refrigeration Containers - Advanced Maintenance August 31 *Sealift Operations & Maint. October 12 Diesel Engineer - Regular October 12 *Sealift Operations & Maint. November 23 Check-In Date How? 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. Please send me the area(s) check~d below : * * * MATH Fractions Decimals Percents Algebra Geometry Trigonometry (Plane) (Spherical) D D D STUDY SKILLS Listening Skills How To Improve Your Memory How To Use Textbooks Study Habits Test Anxiety ENGLISH: Writing Skills Test Taking T aeries Grammar Books D Stress Management Writing Business Notetaking Know-How Letters D SOCIAL STUDIES Geography D COMMUNICATION SKILLS U.S. History 0 Basic Metrics Economics D Name Street City _ _ _ __ D D D D D State D D D D D D D D D D Zip _ _ _ _ _ .. Book No . Social Security No . Department Sailing In _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11 Cut out this coupon and mail to : Adult Education Department Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship Piney Point, Maryland 20674 Send it today! August 1987ILOGI19 - �ppl ow for a SHL S Up radi g C urse ......................................................................................................................................... Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamansh·p Upgrading Application Name (LaSt) Date of Birth --......------------Mo./Day/Vear (Middle) (first) Address-------------------n~=n--------------------- (City) Deep Sea Member D Telephone -~---.......-----­ (Area Code) (Zip Code) (State) Inland Waters Member D Pacific D Lakes Member D Social Security#_ _ _ _ _ _ Book#_ _ _ _ _ _ Seniority _ _ _- _ _ Oepartment _ _ _ _ __ Date Book Port Presently Was Issued _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Port lssued _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Registered In _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held ___________________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: D Yes Trainee Program: From _ _ _~~-to.----,-.,.---n----(dates attended) No D (if yes, fill in below) Last grade of schooling completed _ _ _ __ 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: D Yes No D CPR: D Yes No D Date AvaiJable for Training - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Primary Language Spoken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Am interested in the Following Course(s) Checked Below or Indicated Here if Not Listed DECK ENGINE D Tankerman D AB/Sealltt Special 0 AB/Sealltt Limited 0 AB/Seallft Unlimited D Towboat Operator Inland D Towboat Operator Not More Than 200 Miies O Towboat Operator (Over 200 Miies) D Celestial Navigation D MHter Inspected Towing Vessel 0 Mate Inspected Towing Vessel D 1st Class Piiot D Third Mate Celestial Navigation o Third Mate O Radar Observer Unlimited D Simulator Courae No transportation will be paid unless you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. 0 FOWT 0 QMED-Any Rating O Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Electronics) O Marine Electrlcal Maintenance D Pumproom Maintenance & Operation D Automation O Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operations D Diesel Engine Technology o Assistant Engineer (Unlnspected Motor Veaael) D Chief EnglnHr (Unlnspected Motor Vessel D Third Asst. Engineer & Original Second Asst. Engineer Steam or Motor o Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance o Hydraulics o Electro-Hydraulic Systems STEWARD O Assistant Cook Utility D Cook & Baker D Chief Cook D Chief Steward D Towboat Inland Cook •••= • ~ ALL DEPARTMENTS D Weldlng D Lifeboatmen D Seallft Operations & Maintenance ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT D Adult Basic Education (ABE) D High School Equlvalency Program (GED) D Developmental Studies (DYS) 0 English H a Second Lllnguage (ESL) O ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation COLLEGE PROGRAM D Aaaoclates In Arts DegrH D Nautical Science Certificate RECORD OF EMPLOYMENT TIME-(Show only amount needed to upgrade In rating noted above or attach letter of service, whichever is applicable.) VESSEL RATING HELD DATE SHIPPED DATE OF DISCHARGE SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DATE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Rev 5117 RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center, Piney Point, MD. 20674 ·························································································································~::::::::;;;.............'-i..\ 20 I LOG I August 1987 - �,..--------------------------~------------- On The West Coast San Francisco-A Look at a Busy SIU P9rt Patrolmen Gentry Moore (right) had a chance to service the steward department on APL's President Buchanan recently. Here (I. to r .) are Chief Ceok Moses Peacock, Assistant Cook Wah Gong Jue, friend and visitor A. Campenella and Moore. West Coast Vice President George McCartney gives his report at the monthly membership meeting. Dispatcher Tom-Tom Hum gives his monthly report to the San Francisco membership while Welfare Rep Gilbert Gasch acts as recording secretary. SIU VP Buck Mercer addresses the members at the monthly meeting. Chief Cook Steve Aikens (left) receives his first pension check from the SIU after many years of service. San Francisco Patrolman Gentry Moore presents the check. SIU Rep Raleigh Minnix mans the counter at the San Francisco hall. Last month San Francisco labor forces got together to celebrate "Bloody Thursday." Here (I. tor.) are SIU VP George McCartney, former SUP President Morris Weisberger and SUP VP Jack Ryan. Bloody Thursday is so named in honor of the two striking longshoremen who were gunned down and the many others who were wounded during the 1934 longshoremen's strike in San Francisco. August 1987 I LOG I 21 �- Shaping Up and Shipping Out They may not have had Jane Fonda around to whip them into shape, but the crew of the Gus Darnell (Ocean Shipholding) did their best to shape up and ship out on a recent trip. These pictures were submitted by AB Jim Elbe and taken during a run to the South Pole. The Darnell can double as a floating driving range. Here QMED John Anderson keeps his head down on an iron shot. It may not be the Boston Garden's parquet, but the deck of the Darnell doubles as a basketball court. DEU Jim August (left) and messman Charles Bryant get in a little one-on-one. AB Jim Higgins pumps up his biceps. AB Don Piasso jumps rope. He could row for miles and never get to the other side. QMED Mike L. Mefferd stays in shape using a rowing machine. 22 I LOG I August 1987 AB Chuck Whitehead finds a jogging path on the deck of the Darnell. During the dart games, AB Bob Adams finds another place to ride. �- While in LA Harbor, the OM/ Columbia gets a service call from SIU officials. From the left: Don Anderson, Wilmington port agent; J.R. Broadus, bosun; R.P. Vicari, AB; T.E. Anderson, AB; Dennis Lundy, SIU field rep, and Ali Mohamed, steward assistant. (Photo by Greg Thompson) OM/ Columbia LA stopover for Columbia ,, The OMI Columbia's steward department (I. to r.): Robert Gilliam, steward assistant; Liz Stazio, chief cook; Ali Mohamed, steward assistant, and C.R. Moss, chief steward. California Scout Visits SHLSS (Photos by Proud father-to-be Robert Pagan, AB, and his wife Lee. Dennis Lundy) Each port maritime council of the Maritime Trades Department, AFLCIO, is sponsoring a deserving boy or girl scout in their respective area to participate in a two-week vacation at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at Piney Point, Md. this summer. The Southern California Ports Council selected Christopher Alvarado of Carson, Calif. to be the recipient of the 1987 award. The Ports Council will pay for all air transportation and travel expenses, and the Seafarer's Harry Lundeberg School will pick up their stay at Piney Point. In addition, President Ted Kedzierski, Southern California Ports Council, presented a $50 check for pocket money to Christopher to spend during the trip. Eleven-year-old Christopher Alvarado is a member of Troop 205 of Wilmington, Calif. He was selected by Scout~aster Estaban Martinez and Connie Calderon of the Wilmington Teen Center in conjunction with MTD Field Representative Dennis Lundy. Ted Kedzierski, president of the Southern California Ports Council, awards 11year-old Christopher Alvarado with a two-week vacation to SHLSS. From the left are Dennis Lundy, MTD/SIU field rep; Connie Calderon, director of the Wilmington Teen Center; Fred Alvarado, father of the scout; Chris Alvarado; his sister Crystal; his mother Aurora, and Kedzierski. Bosun J.R. Broadus August 1987 I LOG I 23 �Help A Friend Deal With Alcoholism and Drugs I i Be~use would~'t GJ ij Addicts don't have friends. 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 fell ow 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 and counseling he needs. And he'll get the support of brother SIU members who are fighting the same tough battle he is back to a healthy, productive alcohol-free and drug-free life. The road is a long one for an alcoholic and drug user. But because of ARC, an addicted SIU member doesn't have to travel the distance alone. And by guiding a brother Seafarer in the direction of the Rehab Center, you 'II be showing him that the first step back to recovery is only an arm's length away. r-------------------------------~ I I I I l l I lI Addictions Rehabilitation Center I am interested in attending a six-week program at the Addictions Rehabilitation Center. I understand that all my medical and counseling records will be kept strictly confidential, and that they will not be kept anywhere except at The Center. Name · · · · · .. · · · · · · · · · · · · · .. · · .. · · .. · · · · · Book No. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · : I Address ........................................................ . I (Street or RFD) (City) (State) (Zip) 1 Telephone No. I : I l I Mail to: THE CENTER Star Route Box 153-A Valley Lee, Md. 20692 or call, 24 hours-a-day, (301) 994-0010 L--------------------------'·- -------------------------------24 I LOG I August 1987 �USNS Mercy Comes Home by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC The USNS Mercy came home to Oakland 5 Calif. July 13 to a place she's never been before and with a welcoming ceremony rarely accorded MSC ships. About 3,000 persons were on hand to greet the hospital ship after her 135-day humanitarian and training voyage that took the vessel to the Philippines and a few South Pacific countries. As the 894-foot white ship sailed underneath the Golden Gate Bridge , colorful flower petals were dropped onto her deck. A few minutes later, military cannons from the Presidio of San Francisco and Naval Station Treasure Island were fired in booming salutes to the ship and crew as a biplane with a "Welcome Home" banner passed overhead. Fire boats sprayed colored water into the air, and hundreds of red, white and blue balloons were released when the ship tied up at the North Marginal Pier at the Supp y Center, ending an historic voyage no one imagined less than a year ago. On hand for the ship's arrival was enough brass to sink the former 90,000 dead-weight ton tanker that was converted over a two-year period into this nation's first hospital ship in 15 years. All of the distinguished visitors, many of whom were flown out to the ship prior to her pierside arrival , had nothing but praise for the 72 MSC crewmembers and the 550 military medical staff. by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC A familiar face at MSCP AC the past 13 years who never worked for the command quietly retired in July. Wallace Henderson Jr., the blind vendor who operated the MSCP AC snack bar since 1974, closed his shop at the command to devote more time to his pastor duties at a local church. ''There's no better foreign policy than helping to improve the health of people in other countries," said the government' s top doctor, U .S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. "The United States stands tall today because of the humanitarian mission conducted by the USNS Mercy ." The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs , Dr. William Mayer, conveyed a message of appreciation from the president to the men and women of the Mercy thanking them for their service aboard the ship over the past five months. ' This ship represents the best of marriages between the civilian community and the armed forces,'' said Dr. Mayer, who oversees health care within the worldwide U.S. defense community. ''Getting this ship to the Philippines under a very tight schedule was a logistical challenge unlikely to be duplicated again." Until last September, the ship was scheduled to come to Oakland at the end of 1986 and placed in reduced operating status. That changed when President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines visited the United States late last summer. The U.S. government made arrangements to have the hospital ship, then under construction in San Diego, made available for a 1987 training and humanitarian voyage to the Philippines and the South Pacific. " What has happened in the past 10 months is a minor miracle ," said ADM James Lyons, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet who first pro- "I'm going to miss MSCPAC and all the people I came to know there over the years," said Henderson, smartly dressed in one of the many tuxedos he wore to work the past 4,400 weekdays . "I have a lot of friends here and everybody's treated me well but I'm tired and I want to devote more time to the church." Henderson's involvement with the Familes of crewmembers, and well-wishers crowd the pier at NSC Oakland as the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) makes its final approach. (Photo by AN Deborah Davis) posed sending the Mercy to the Philippines. ADM Lyons presented the Navy's prestigious Meritorious Unit Commendation to the ship, an award that's also going to the USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171) for her assistance to the Mercy during the hospital ship's recent deployment. Philippine Consul General Virgilio N anagas told the audience he was delighted to express his government's appreciation to the men and women of the USNS Mercy . "Your compassion will long be remembered by the Filipino people," he said, "and you've strengthened the friendship between our two countries." For Oakland, thearrivelofthe USNS Mercy was an event exceeded only by baseball's major league all-star game hosted by the city the day after the ship arrived at her new home port. Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson pesented keys of the city to RADM D. L. Sturtz, commanding officer of the Mercy's Medical Treatment Facility, and then to "Rear Admiral" Richard Hosey, the MSC master of the ship. When the mayor realized his mistaken title, he quipped, "Well, it's a promotion well deserved for the captain!'' The Mercy will remain at her permanent lay berth at NSC Oakland undergoing maintenance and logistical work in preparation for a post-shakedown availability in early 1988. church goes back to 1952 when he was blinded by a dynamite explosion in Oklahoma while working for a construction company. He was in the hospital for two months and was told he would never see again. "I took the news very hard initially," said Henderson, 54. "But then I became active in a church and that seemed to ease my pain." Henderson went to work for the Oklahoma League for the Blind, then came to California in 1966. While living in San Francisco, he took a job with the Lighthouse for the Blind making brooms. But Henderson wanted to get into his own business, despite his handicap. Frustrated in his attempts to find employment outside blind agencies, Henderson wrote a letter to the president of the United States. "I told President Lyndon Johnson that I didn't just want to sit around and draw blind aid or social security,'' said Henderson, a native of Jackson, Miss. "I told him, 'Mr. President, I want a job just like other folks'." President Johnson, impressed with Henderson's determination, made contact with California state officials. ' 'The next thing I knew, state people were calling me on the phone and knocking on my door," chuckled Henderson, who was eventually placed in a disabled business enterprise program that led to his ownership and operation of food concessions in federal buildings. At one time, Henderson operated five snack bars in San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. He eventually retained only his MSCPAC operation which he ran with his family. Away from the command, Henderson has kept busy the past several years with his pastor duties in Richmond and three live church radio broadcasts every week. Henderson· s also planning to take the first vacation he's had since 1974. Always philosophical, the MSCPAC vendor said he simply takes life as it comes. "Blindness won't end up hurting someone too much if a person has get-up and go," he advised. 'Tve known some blind persons who are bitter and just want to sit around all day. Others only want pity. But I tell everybody in our church, 'Don't pity "" me because you can't help me by pitying me. Tell me what I should do and how to do it and I'll go from there'." Henderson's simple message is a sermon he's been living much of his~ adult life. August 1987 I LOG I 25 �Deep Sea Victor Aviles, 72, died June 8. He was buried in Fajardo, P.R. ' Pensioner Angel C. Cimiano died April 3 of cardiopulmonary arrest and pneumonia. He was 86. Born in Spain, Brother Cimiano joined the SIUmerged Marine Cooks and Stewards Union and sailed in the steward department. He first sailed in 1920 and retired on pension in 1966. Seafarer Cimiano, who was cremated, is survived by a niece , Albertina Hernandez, of San Diego , Calif. Pensioner Domenic Di Sei died Feb. 21. He was 73. Brother Di Sei joined the SIU in 1942 and went on pension in 1976. His body was cremated. Surviving is a nephew, Anthony Di Sei, of Bangor, Pa. Jeronimo Hernandez, 87, died May 9 of a brain infarction and pneumoma. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Hernandez joined the SIUmerged marine Cooks and Stewards Union in l 957 and sailed in the steward department. Burial was in Rio Piedras, P.R. He is survived by his wife, Herminia. Pen ioner Louie E. Hudson succumbed to leukemia May 11. He was 60. Born in Alabama, Brother Hudson went on pen ion in 1986. Burial was at Lawnhaven in Theodore, Ala. He is survived by his wife , Bernice, of Mobile, Ala. Pensioner Alfredo Morell, 84, died May 16. Born in Ponce, P.R., he retired from the SIU in 1969. Seafarer Morell is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, and a son, Edwin, both of Ponce. Burial took place in Ponce. Harry A. Pruss succumbed to leukemia April 25. He was 53 and an active member at the time of his death. Brother Pruss joined the SIU in 1965 in Philadelphia, Pa. and sailed in the deck department. He first sailed with Interocean Management in 1964; his most recent ship was the Sea-Land Pacer. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Seafarer Pruss' body was returned there for burial at Resurrection Cemetery. He is survived by a brother, Leonard , of Toledo. Pensioner Blaine S. Rowe, 71, died June 20 of cardiac arrhythmia. Born in North Carolina, Seafarer Rowe retired on pension in 1977. Burial took place at Watson Cemetery in Lowland, N.C. He is survived by his wife, Alva, of Lowland. Pensioner Leroy C. Swiger, 70, died July 18 following an extended illness. Born in West Virginia, Brother Swiger sailed in the engine department, retiring after 28 years service. He was also a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. Seafarer Swiger was a member of Clarksburg Lodge No. 482 B.P.O.E. Elks and Meuse-Argonne Post #573 VFW. Interment was at Elk View Masonic Cemetery in Clarksburg, W. Va. He is survived by his mother, Blanche M. Wright Swiger; two sons, Boyd "Bud" of Weston, and Wayne L. of Deep Creek, Md.; one daughter, Cynda K. Wheeler of Mt. Clare; 10 grandchildren; one great grandson , and several nieces and nephews. Trade Talks Threaten Jones Ac (Continued from Page 3.) nadian maritime interests would enjoy in economic, promotional, regulatory and fiscal terms under such an agreement, no objective analysis could argue for the survival of a disadvantaged U.S.-ftag fleet and vital shipyard mobilization base in such a hostile competitive environment," the letter said. The industry and congressional - groups have urged U.S. negotiatiors to take all talk of opening the Jones Act off the table. Because the proposed trade treaty between the two countries is "fast track" legislation, the Senate will only be able to vote yes or no on the entire package and and will not be able to make any amendments to the treaty. There is an Oct. 5 deadline for the two sides to come up with a trade treaty. The following organizations have urged the rejection of Canadian proposals to open the Jones Act to Canadian shipping. Addsco Industries, Incorporated Aloha Pacific Cruises, Incorporated Allied Towing Corporation Amerada Hess Corporation American Hawaii Cruise Lines American Heavy Lift Shipping Company American Institute of Merchant Shipping American Maritime Officers Service American Pilot's Association American President Lines, LTD. American Steamship Company American Towing & Transportation Company, Incorporated American Waterways Operators Amoco Transport Company Apex Marine Arnold Transit Company Association of Maryland Pilots Avondale Industries, Incorporated Bath Iron Works Corporation Bay Houston Towing Company 26 I LOG I August 1987 - Bay Shipbuilding Corporation Bethlehem Steel Corporation Bigane Vessel Fueling Company Bob-Lo Company Bulkfleet Marine Corporation C.G. Willis, Incorporated Cape Fear Towing Company, Incorporated Capital Marine Corporation Cement Division-National Gypsum Company Central Gulf Lines, Incorporated Continental Maritime Industries, Incorporated Council of American Flag Ship Operators Crescent Towing & Salvage Company Crowley Maritime Corporation Crowley Towing & Transportation Company Curtis Bay Towing Company of Virginia Curtis Bay Towing Company of Pennsylvania Danahy Marine Service Delta Queen Steamboat Company Dixie Carriers, Incorporated Dunbar & Sullivan Dredging Company Edward E. Gillen Company Erie Navigation Company Erie Sand Steamship Company Express Marine, Incorporated Falcon Marine Company Farrell Lines, Incorporated G&H Towing Gastrans, Incorporated General Dynamics Incorporated General Ship Corporation Great Lakes International, Incorporated Great Lakes Task Force Great Lakes Towing Company Gulf Atlantic Transport Corporation Hannah Marine Corporation Higman Towing Company Ingalls Shipbuilding Division Inland Boatmens Union of the Pacific International Longshoremen and Warehousemen's Union Island Shipping Line Jacksonville Shipyards, Incorporated Joint Maritime Congress Kinsman Lines, Incorporated Keystone Shipping Company Lake Carriers Association Litton Great Lakes Corporation Lockheed Shipbuilding Company Luedtke Engineering Company Lykes Bros. Steamship Company, Incorporated Marine Contracting and Towing Company Marine Contracting Company Marine Oil Service, Incorporated Marine Transport Lines Marinetta Marine Corporation Maritime Engineers Beneficial Association District 1 Maritime Engineers Beneficial Association District 2 Maritrans Operating Partners L.P. Matson Navigation Company Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development Master, Mates and Pilots McAllister Brothers, Incorporated Medusa Corporation Metro Machine Corporation Moran Services Corporation Moran Towing and Transportation Company, Inc. Moran Towing of Texas, Incorporated National Maritime Union National Association of Dredging Contractors National Steel & Shipbuilding Company Newport News Shipbuilding Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation Peterson Builders, Incorporated Pilot Services Corporation Pringle Transit Company Puerto Rico Marine Management Incorporated Radcliff Materials, Inc. Rainbow Navigation Robert E. Derecktor of Rhode Island, Incorporated Seafarers International Union Sea-Land Service Incorporated Self Towing Company, Incorporated Sheridan Transportation Company Shipbuilders Council of America Southwest Marine, Incorporated STC Holly S. Company The following SIU members have retired on pension: DEEP SEA Baltimore Persing G. Ordansa Duluth John J. McGreevy Houston James R. Andolsek Norfolk Brantley L. Fowler Clinton M. Webb Philadelphia Paul Warhola St. Louis Howard J. Basley Seattle Alfred D. Allen Gerald Elegan Donald Murray GREAT LAKES William S. Gregel Steuart Transportation Company Taylor Marine Towing, Incorporated Textron Marine Systems The American Ship Building Company The Baker-Whiteley Towing Company The Great Lakes Towing Company The Jonathan Corporation Todd Shipyards Corporation Totem Ocean Trailer Express Trailer Marine Transport Corporation Transportation Institute United States Lines, Incorporated Waterman Steamship Corporation Western Towing Company Support SPAD �In Houston, SIU Hosts Conference on Drug Abuse When more than 300 deaths occur each year as a result of abuse of alcohol and drugs by workers-as they do in Texas-then something has to be done. When 18,000 of the 22,000 people serving probation for misdemeanor crimes in one Texas county are found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs or driving while intoxicated, then something has to be done. When Texas state taxpayers absorb a $13 billion annual loss in productivity due to alcohol and drug abuse, then something has to be done. That something came in the form of a substance abuse seminar sponsored by the West Gulf Ports Council in late June. Entitled "Labor-ManagementCommunity: Partners Against Drug Abuse," the seminar was held in the Houston SIU hiring hall and was attended by more than 95 persons, in- eluding a broad range of civic leaders. SIU Vice President Joe Sacco delivered the opening remarks at the seminar, which also attracted specialists in a number of fields who talked about the dangers of alcoholism and drug addiction. Included in that group was Rick Reismann, director of the Seafarers Addictions Rehabilitation Center. One of the subjects addressed was that of drug testing. While many arguments can be made against these tests, the Operating Engineers Local 450 announced its willingness to undergo pre-employment drug tests last September when nearly one-third of the South Texas local' s members were out of work. And the program appears to be working well for them. Drug-related deaths and disturbances also caused C.S. Bellows Construction Corp. of Houston to begin testing its employees a year ago, also with success. A lot more must be done, of course, to get to the heart of the substance abuse problem in this country and to get labor and management working together with the community. This seminar was a good start. ARC Director Rick Reismann addresses the West Gulf Ports Council seminar during a discussion of labor-management responses to the problem of drug and alcohol abuse. DRllGt; KILLi' IF YOU llAVE A DRUG PROBLEM,6ET 1-/EZPf CAL.L YOUR PORIAGe;Vr ORCON7:4CT YOUR UNION AlP/N£°Yfl:JINT. PO/rNoWJ7 re You Missing Important Mail? 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. ---------------------~-------------------------------------Date: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ PLEASE PRINT HOME ADDRESS Social Security No. Phone No. ( Area Code Your Full Name City Apt. or Box# Street Book Number 0 SIU 0 UIW State 0 Pensioner ZIP Other-------- UIW Place of E m p l o y m e n t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This will be my permanent address for all official Union malllngs. This address should remain In the Union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. (Signed)------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------J Krinsky amed Merchant School Superintendent Paul L. Krinsky was named superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy last month. A 1950 graduate of the academy, Krinsky has served as its deputy superintendent since April 1985 and holds the rank of rear admiral in the United States Maritime Service. Krinsky succeeds Rear Admiral Thomas A. King who became superintendent in 1980 and retired July 3. Following his graduation from the academy, Krinsky served as an officer aboard U.S.-flag passenger ships, including the SS United States. He also served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for three years. In 1958 Krinsky returned to the academy as an assistant professor. Since that time, he has held increasingly responsible positions at the academy, including director of admissions, assistant academic dean and assistant superintendent for academic affairs. In addition to his degree from the academy, Krinsky earned an MA in education from New York University and an MBA from Adelphi University. He has been awarded the U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal for Meritorious Service and has been recognized by the academy's alumni association for his outstanding professional accomplishments. August 1987 I LOG I 27 �CL L NP -Company/Lakes -Lakes -Non Priority Directory of Ports Dispatchers Report for Great Lakes JULY 1-31, 1987 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 18 6 DECK DEPARTMENT 0 37 19 0 7 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 23 6 0 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 19 3 0 28 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 Port Algonac .............. . .... 0 Port Algonac ................... 9 0 Port Algonac ................... 0 Port Algonac ................... 0 8 Frank Drozak, President Joe DiGlorgio, Secretary Leon Hall, Vice President Angus "Reel" Campbell, Vice President Mike Sacco, Vice President Joe Sacco, Vice President George McCartney, Vice President Roy A. Mercer, Vice President Steve Edney, Vice President **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 8 2 2 4 HEADQUARTERS 5 3 18 8 0 Totals All Departments ........ 0 61 22 79 0 28 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 . 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 Dispatchers Report for Deep Sea JULY 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 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs 5443 Ridge Rd. 44129 (216) 845-1100 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 52 6 8 15 10 40 36 27 22 35 13 13 33 0 1 311 6 2 4 4 3 5 14 5 4 7 2 10 9 0 4 79 3 0 0 5 3 3 4 14 8 2 0 11 0 0 0 53 48 8 6 13 18 27 33 20 15 29 10 11 33 0 2 7 2 3 3 5 1 13 8 4 7 1 10 9 0 1 273 74 3 0 0 4 2 1 2 6 1 0 0 10 2 0 0 31 8 2 1 2 0 4 6 2 5 12 3 8 2 0 1 93 3 14 18 13 83 43 60 34 61 24 13 63 0 1 19 4 5 7 5 8 14 9 10 10 2 14 11 0 7 0 0 0 3 2 6 7 18 10 2 1 4 0 0 0 56 523 125 53 2 1 0 4 0 5 3 2 4 1 0 7 3 0 1 33 65 5 6 10 14 45 47 35 24 46 10 3 40 0 1 14 86 0 0 0 2 0 4 2 4 2 0 0 8 0 0 0 22 49 1 9 6 5 34 20 8 2 1 0 0 4 8 86 20 35 6 14 26 0 7 4 8 1 17 1 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 9 0 2 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 22 3 7 7 8 30 20 11 4 21 8 4 22 0 196 6 2 2 3 2 9 5 3 2 9 1 11 4 0 1 60 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 6 0 1 0 13 1 0 0 25 169 16 0 4 2 8 17 13 36 19 25 8 0 1 0 0 1 6 6 2 7 0 22 0 0 6 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 6 0 1 0 21 0 0 3 14 1 1 4 8 10 13 26 11 18 2 4 10 0 0 26 4 5 5 6 32 31 16 9 25 7 6 22 0 2 5 1 2 6 1 9 4 3 4 4 1 13 2 0 2 2 57 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 0 2 0 12 2 0 0 23 351 5 3 2 5 7 10 8 4 10 2 10 4 0 2 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 4 3 13 0 3 163 59 35 122 7 0 1 1 0 1 3 4 2 6 0 21 1 0 1 48 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 10 0 2 1 0 4 1 10 8 6 2 76 2 0 1 0 3 292 48 5 8 13 6 18 12 24 21 20 14 114 9 0 13 15 2 1 9 6 43 6 21 16 11 1 172 6 0 12 0 45 2 3 9 0 28 13 86 22 39 15 6 24 0 0 212 1,484 610 432 3 0 0 5 4 12 3 16 1 1 1 157 3 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 166 Totals All Departments ...... 36 12 26 12 6 13 0 0 7 13 10 13 11 15 6 107 6 0 13 10 0 1 7 5 20 3 14 4 4 0 177 2 0 8 13 2 2 5 2 9 6 16 7 15 4 9 8 0 0 98 172 216 836 442 368 662 351 297 22 t 1 8 0 20 9 23 4 7 9 244 255 16 2 7 1 6 13 13 8 3 14 4 73 6 0 6 325 636 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. 02740 (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 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port New York ........ .. ..... Philadelphia ... . . . . . . . . . . . Baltimore ...... ......... Norfolk ................. Mobile ................. New Orleans ............. Jacksonville .............. San Francisco ............. Wilmington ....... ....... Seattle ................. Puerto Rico .............. Honolulu ................ Houston ............. ... St. Louis . .. .. ........... Piney Point . ........... .. Totals ................. HONOLULU, Hawaii 19 36 318 705 Medical Arts Building 55802 (218) 722-4110 0 74 123 27 9 DULUTH, Minn. PINEY POINT, Md. St. Mary's County 2067 4 (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 321 *"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. ST. LOUIS, Mo. 4581 Gravois Ave. 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON, Calif. Shipping in the month of July was up from the month of June. A total of 1,522 jobs were shipped on SIU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,522 jobs shipped, 662 jobs or about 43 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 212 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 5,604 jobs have been shipped. 28 I LOG I August 1987 510 N. Broad Ave. 90744 (213) 549-4000 �= Safeguard Your Shipping Rights 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. DU ES 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 sm 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. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 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 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. F 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 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 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. ~he proper address for this is: Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Autb 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 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 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 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 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 the equal rights to which he is entitled. he should notify Union headquarters. 11111111m11rn1111111n11111111111111un11111unu111un111111111111111n1111111n11111un11111un1111 patrolman or other Union official. 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 als~ 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 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 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 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. SP AD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contrihution may be solicited or received because of force. joh discrimination, financial 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 SPAD 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 ~ to Union records or infonnation, 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. August 1987 I LOG I 29 ..,._ - �•~aest of Shjps lleetjnas GUS DARNELL (Ocean Ships), June 21-Chairman Louis Diesso, Educational Director Jimmie Nicholson, Deck Delegate Charles Whitehead, Engine Delegate J. August, Steward Delegate Tom Barrett. No disputed OT. The crew thanked the ship's chairman for his help at the cookouts and for buying and installing a basketball backboard and ping-pong tabl~all on his own time. Elections were held aboard ship in which a new chairman (Charles Whitehead), a new secretary (Elston Tensley) and a new deck delegate (Jim Higgins) were voted in. On June 10, the Gus Darnell was engaged in a rescue mission of a sinking Malaysian vessel. Seventeen of the 20 victims were saved. Next port: Singapore. LNG LEO (Energy Transportation Corp.), June 14--Chairman Luther V. Myrex, Secretary H. Jones, Educational Director Roy C. McCauley, Engine Delegate Keith J. Amos, Steward Delegate Albert A. Fretta. No beefs or disputed OT. There is $33 in the ship's fund. The chairman spoke about the importance of attending upgrading courses at Piney Point. He noted that many different courses are now being offered and advised members to read the LOG to keep up with what's current at the school and in the maritime industry. He also stressed the need to continue contributing to SPAD to "help keep us working." It was suggested that the Union check into the movie problem: the same movies are being put onboard each voyage. A check also should be made of the shields and filters used for chipping. The ones onboard are not very good. There is an extra dryer on the Leo. It was suggested that it be put in use for the crew. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for the good meals and clean messhalls. Members were reminded that there is no smoking in the messhall during meals. It was also mentioned that if members eat in the rec room, they should remember to return dishes and silverware to the galley. Next ports: Himeji, Japan; Arun, Indonesia, and Tobata, Japan. OVERSEAS ALICE (Maritime Overseas), June 21-Chairman Steven W. Copeland, Secretary C. Loper Jr., Educational Director M.W. Roberson. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $150 in the ship's treasury. The chairman reminded the crew of the benefits of upgrading at Piney Point. It's going to take qualified seafarers to keep our military-contracted ships, he said, and only by upgrading can our members attain the necessary skills. The Overseas Alice now has a three-man steward department. It will take a little while to work everything out to satisfaction with this reduced manning. Until then, the crew's patience and cooperation would be appreciated. The educational director stressed the importance of contributing to SPAD. President Drozak should know that he has the backing of the SIU membership. And ..• ··: }·'''.,.:·. ..-.>~:· ., ~::}·"' __. W. Marsh, AB, scatters the cremated remains of Brother Melvin Francis Libby off the Overseas Harriette. 30 I LOG I August 1987 - only by donating to SPAD can the members help him "protect our jobs and benefits." Night lunch and fruit are at a premiumbut a problem has arisen in that it is all being eaten by the gangway watch at night rather than being saved for the crew. Next port: Subic Bay, P.I. OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (Maritime Overseas), June 28--Chairman R. Bradford, Secretary W. Evans, Educational Director Engine Delegate J.W. Badgett, Deck Delegate Harold Sebring, Steward Delegate C.E. Colston. No beefs or disputed OT reported. The bosun advised all "B" book members to take advantage of the upgrading opportunities at Piney Point. He also noted that the captain was not yet sure if the vessel had another charter lined up. On Friday, June 19, the cremated remains of Brother Melvin Francis Libby were put to sea by his Union brothers and officers aboard the Overseas Harriette (see photo on this page). Brother Libby, who joined the SIU in 1948 in the port of Norfolk and sailed as AB and bosun, retired Nov. 1, 1984. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Galveston, Texas. "The prayers of his beloved friend, Sally Oliver, and all of his friends go with him on his final voyage." A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. OVERSEAS JUNEAU (Maritime Overseas), June 21-Chairman Errol Pak, Secretary W. Wroten, Educational Director J. Fair. No disputed OT. There was a beef in the steward department regarding the elimination of the 1830 hr. and 0530 hr. launch. The steward department must catch the 0330 hr. launch to get to work on time and then must wait for the 2000 hr. launch to get ashore. Communications were received from headquarters in response to the members' questions about the SMU. A tape is being prepared to explain the SMU. It will be sent to all ships and Union halls. A letter also was received clarifying a number of beefs. The chairman is completing his relief job. He thanked the crew for their cooperation and reminded members that the SIU is in better shape than other maritime unions. One third of the merchant fleet is under SIU contract. And while some contracts may be preferable to others, all "A" books can still sail without any difficulty. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for the good food and service. Next port: San Francisco, Calif. PATRIOT (Ocean Carriers), June 7Chairman Jack Southerland, Secretary Jennifer K. Jim, Steward Delegate Manuel Castro. No disputed OT reported. Crew-members believe that a lot of repairs are needed to make working conditions safer aboard the Patriot. One specific problem onboard the ship is the water. It was felt that the water in the tanks should be drained and fresh water brought in from Bahrain. A number of crewmembers are being sent to the doctor complaining of sour stomachs due to the water. Another problem is the mail. Some crewmembers have not received mait for five months-and letters being sent out from the ship have not been received at the other end. Also mentioned was the fact that the crewmembers of the Patriot feel they should be compensated for traveling in a war zone. The USNS Stark was the Patriot's escort recently (three days before the USNS Stark was attacked). Members believe that they should be told they are entering a war zone and be offered the option of remaining aboard ship or being sent home. The steward department was given a vote of thanks for a fine job. Next port: Manila, P.I. PUERTO RICO (Puerto Rico Marine), June 14--Chairman Thomas D. Seager, Secretary J. Colts, Deck Delegate Jack Rhodes. No beefs or disputed OT. The chairman informed members of the 2 per- cent wage increase for the next three years. A memorandum of understanding was posted on the bulletin board for everyone to read. A vote of thanks was given to the chief cook who is getting off in Puerto Rico this trip. "We are all going to miss him and his cooking." SAM HOUSTON (Waterman), June 7-Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary G. T. Aquino, Educational Director L. Acosta, Steward Delegate Ralph Edmonds. No beefs or disputed OT recorded. The ship's fund is building; there is now about $100. Plans are being made to purchase a VCR to record movies and events of interest aboard ship when enough money is accrued. The bosun talked about the Navy ships and the need for qualified men to secure and hold onto these jobs. He also reminded crewmembers of the importance of donating to SPAD. The steward mentioned to all hands that an election year is close at hand and that now is the time to search for the politicians who intend to support a strong and healthy maritime policy. "We must at all cost get together as . a strong voting block to elect these men." A suggestion was made that consideration be given to the idea that when a seaman has reached 65 years of age and is vested with 1O years service in the SIU, he be allowed to retire with a base amount to increase with each year of service until the age of 65. The steward thanked members of the crew who helped kee·p the messroom and pantry clean. The steward department, in turn, was given a vote of thanks for their fine work. One minute of silence was observed in memory of our departed brothers and sisters. Next port of payoff: Norfolk, Va. SEA-LAND PIONEER (Sea-Land Service), June 28--Chairman Bob O'Rourke, Secretary Nancy S. Heyden, Deck Delegate Luis A Malave, Engine Delegate Bennie L. Spencer. No beefs or disputed OT. A message was received from headquarters stating that a settlement was reached with Sea-Land resulting in a 2 percent wage increase. The chairman commended the crew for a good voyage. Some questions were brought up concerning the extent of work a cadet is allowed to perform on deck and at what point a crewmember starts getting paid when he has to fly out for a job. The patrolman will shed some light on these questions at payoff. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. Next port: Elizabeth N.J. the Union for getting a new contract, especially "because I don't think that anybody wants to strike -this late in- the game." Members also were urged to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point for their own job security. Fresh vegetables will be put onboard in Port...,Everglades. A new refrigerator is needed in the messhall. The one presently aboard ship has never worked properly. An ice cream box would also be a nice addition since the refrigerator in the messhall will not keep butter or milk cold. The steward department was given a vote of thanks for a job well done. Next port: Port Everglades, Fla. WESTWARD VENTURE (IOM), June 28--Chairman George S. Vanover. Secretary Donald Frounfelter, Educational Director John Ross, Deck Delegate Michael Willis, Engine Delegate Joseph "Red" Kreb, Steward Delegate William M. Sharp. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck department. A motion was made to use $40 of the fund to buy blank tapes to record movies for the crew's library. There is currently $122 in the ship's fund. Additional ways to increase the fund was discussed. _ A memorandum and a letter were received from headquarters in reference to the new contract. A vote of confidence and thanks was given to the steward department for their efficient service and fine meals. Next port: Anchorage, Alaska. Official ship minutes also were received from the following vessels: ADONIS AMBASSADOR ARCH ON ATLANTIC SPIRIT AURORA CONSTITUTION INGER LAWRENCE H. GIANELLA MOUNT VERNON VICTORY OAKLAND OMI COLUMBIA OVERSEAS MARILYN OVERSEAS NATALIE PANAMA PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON SAN JUAN SEA-LAND ADVENTURER SEA-LAND ENDURANCE SEA-LAND EXPLORER SEA-LAND EXPRESS SEA-LAND LEADER SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE SEA-LAND INNOVATOR SENATOR USNS BARTLETT Personals MC&S Reunion SEA·LAND PRODUCER (Sea-Land Service), June 28--Chairman Harry M. Fisher, Secretary C. C. Holling Ill, Educational Director P. Thomas, Deck Delegate S. Collins. No disputed OT reported. The Producer will pay off in New Orleans this voyage. A patrolman is expected aboard and will answer all questions at that time. The secretary expressed his gratitude to Port There will be an MC&S Reunion at Doyle Park, Santa Rosa, Calif.Sept. 13, 1987-12 noon 'til ?BYOB-Pot Luck-Bring pictures! Date Deep Sea Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point .............. Tuesday, September 8 ................ 10:30 a.m. New York ............... Tuesday, September 8 ................ 10:30 a.m. Philadelphia .............. Wednesday, September 9 .............. 10:30 a.m. Baltimore ................ Thursday, September 10 ............... 10:30 a.m. Norfolk ................. Thursday, September lO ............... 10:30 a.m. Jacksonville .............. Thursday, September 10 ............... 10:30 a.m . Algonac ................. Friday, September 11 ................. 10:30 a.m. Houston ................. Monday, September 14 ................ 10:30 a.m. New Orleans ............. Tuesday, September 15 ................ 10:30 a.m. Mobile .................. Wednesday, September 16 ............. 10:30 a.m. San Francisco ............ Thursday, September 17 ............... 10:30 a.m. Wilmington .............. Monday, September 21 ... . ............ 10:30 a.m. Seattle .................. Friday, September 25 ................. 10:30 a.m. San Juan ................ Thursday, September lO ............... 10:30 a.m. St. Louis ................ Friday, September 18 ................. 10:30 a.m. Honolulu ................ Thursday, September 17 ............... 10: 30 a. m. Duluth .................. Wednesday, September 16 ............. 10:30 a.m. Jersey City ............... Wednesday, September 23 ............. 10:30 a.m. New Bedford ............. Tuesday, September 22 ................ 10:30 a.m. �'Thanks For the Help ... ' I would like to thank all of the people at the Seafarers Welfare Plan office for all of the help they have given to me and my husband, Antonio Dos Santos. He is a diabetic and has a great deal of trouble with his eyesight as well as other problems. Through the years, the people at our Union have been wonderful. I don't know what I would have done with this help from the SIU. Once again, thank you. ....,...:..rs To The ~ Editor Mrs. Antonio Dos Santos 'Concern for Pensioners . . .' 'Proud of the Union . . . ' Because I am receiving my pension and supplemental checks without any problem, it's now my turn to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of you who take time to see that we pensioners get our checks no matter where we are. This all goes to one basic concept: your concern. I want to thank the Seafarers Welfare Plan office and those employees that helped expedite my claims with regards to the benefits due on behalf of my husband.... I want to thank you for helping me and also for sending me condolences. My late husband was so proud of the Union-and so am I. Very respectfully yours, (Mrs.) Placid.a D. Viloria Houston, Texas Sincerely, Marco L. Crespo Cuenca, Ecuador Washington R e p o r t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (continued from Page 32.) made possible the mass exodus of American shipping companies overseas. One of the primary reasons behind the decision to grant EUSC vessels War Risk Insurance was the historically close ties between the United States and the countries of Panama, Liberia and Honduras. Yet , like Nicaragua and Iran, which were also considered to be "client" states of the United States, there's trouble in paradise . Between them, Panam · e · account y o all American-owned but foreign-flagged vessels that are classified as being under "Effective U.S. Control." The question arise : will these vessels be available to the United States in case of an emergency? Trouble in Liberia There is great internal opposition to the present ruler of Liberia, Sgt. Samuel Doe. While the United States is on record as supporting democratic reforms , many opposition figures still re ent the United States because of the abuses of the Americo-Liberian elite that once ruled Liberia. Up until 1980, Liberia had been ruled by the descendants of American slaves who returned to Africa. They constituted roughly 1 percent of the total population of that country. When Sgt. Doe staged a coup in 1980, he pledged to maintain close ties to the United States despite his differences with the previous regime. The human rights abuses of the AmericoLiberian elite have not faded from people's minds. Moreover, Liberians of native and American descent alike remember this country's segregationist past. Trouble in Panama Despite its potential for trouble, discontent in Liberia remains below the boiling point, thoughjust barely. Every day, however, brings the people of Panama closer to civil war. There is widespread discontent with General Manuel Noriega (called cara de pifia, or pineapple face, by his countrymen), who took control of the country in 1980. Human rights violations are widespread. What's worse, Noriega is putting his political henchmen in positions of authority in the Panama Canal, which is just starting to revert to Panamanian control. And unlike Marcos of the Philippines and Chun of Korea, he is not susceptible to American pressure. When the United States ambassador protested these human rights violations, Noriega pointedly met with the Cuban ambassador and decried ' 'American interference.'' Sewage Sludge A bill requiring that vessels used to transport. sewage sludge products be built in the United States was passed by voice vote in the House of Representatives. The bill, H.R. 82, was introduced by Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N. Y.) after a Customs Service judge ruled that the transportation of ewage sludge to a deep water dumpsite was not subject to the provisions of the Jones Act. In response to objections raised by operators who had relied upon the Coast Guard ruling when deciding to build four waste carrying vessels in foreign shipyards, a grandfather clause was added that would exempt those four vessels from the domestic shipbuilding requirements of the act. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate. Trade By a veto-proof 71-27 margin, the Senate passed a trade bill aimed at restoring America's competitive edge. The Senate bill is generally considered to be less stringent than its House counterpart, H.R. 3, which was passed earlier this year. Still, President Reagan has threatened to veto the legislation if it isn't watered down to suit his tastes. Both the House and the Senate bills contain provisions giving the Federal Maritime Commission tools to counter unfair maritime trade practices, but the Senate bill is more limited in scope. Like H.R. 3, the Senate bill contains a provision which calls for the negotiation of trade agreements that would allow U.S. companies to transport autos to the United States from countries that export 50,000 or more vehicles to the U.S. each year. Differences in the two bills will have to be ironed out in joint conference. Canadian Free Trade Talks Two hundred-thirteen members of the House of Representatives have agreed to co-sponsor legislation introduced by Rep. Walter B. Jones (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine Committee, which calls upon Congress and the administration to reject a Canadian government proposal to open up the domestic commerce of the United States to Canadian vessels. Representatives from the U.S. and Canadian governments are meeting to iron out a ''free trade'' pact which would eliminate most, if not all, so-called barriers to "free trade." President Reagan has put these negotiations under the ''fast-track authority,'' which means that if both parties reach an agreement before Oct. 5, then Congress cannot amend the agreement. All it can do is to vote the treaty up or down. Maritime is reportedly high on the list of topics being discussed. What the Canadians seek is a "North American Jones Act.'' Yet most maritime officials believe that generous Canadian support to its maritime industry, coupled with favorable exchange rates, could further depress an already crippled industry. "The Jones Act remains the cornerstone of this nation's maritime policy," said SIU Lobbyist Frank Pecquex. ''To weaken it is to invite disaster." Breaking the Strikebusters The SIU is supporting enactment of H .R. 285, a bill which would prohibit nonimmigrant aliens from working on American ships or aircraft when American workers are striking. There is a loophole in current law which effectively allows U.S. companies to employ foreign nationals on their ships and airplanes to break up a strike. Passage of this legislation would, for example, protect the rights of American and resident alien fishermen. Unregulated Fishing Vessels Two interrelated problems plague the American fishing industry: safety and insurance. In an effort to revive this badly-depressed industry, the SIU is supporting enactment of H.R. 1841 and H.R. 1836 with modifications, which seek to impose mandatory safety features on virtually all unregulated fishing vessels. Although they take different approaches, both bills recognize that there are serious problems confronting this nation's fishermen. Both bills seek to increase the availability of liability coverage by upgrading the level of safety onboard America's fishing vessels. August 1987 I LOG I 31 - �I l Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO Washington Report While Washington didn't exactly grind to a halt last month, most people had their t. v. sets and radios tuned in on the Iran-contra hearings. There were visible reminders everywhere that something out of the ordinary had occurred. For one thing, "Ollie North" haircuts and t-shirts became popular among the young conservative set. Persian Gull - The Iran-contra hearings wound up earlier this month. Events in the Persian Gulf, which had almost been forgotten in the shuffle, returned to the forefront with a vengence. In scenes eerily reminiscent of 1979, Iranian militants marched and chanted in the streets of Tehran. And once again, the United States, which has spent hundreds of billions of dollars beefing up its defense budget so that it can procure the most advanced weapon money can buy, was being humiliated because its conventional military capability is woefully inadequate. The first of the reftagged Kuwaiti tankers, the Bridgeton, was hit by a mine. While no one claimed responsibility for the incident, most military experts believe that the mine had been planted by Iran. Ironically, the United States has no minesweepers in the immediate area. And the minesweepers that it does have back in the States are all of World War II vintage. New ones are on order, but they have not yet been built. Special helicopters were scheduled to be ''rushed" (the operation was expected to take several weeks) from the United States to the Persian Gulf to enhance this country's mines weeping capability in that area. Still, the helicopters were a less-than-ideal alternative to ocean-borne minesweepers. For one thing, without landing rights in a nearby country, these helicopters are vulnerable to attack. And unfortunately, no country in the Persian Gulf will grant the United States landing rights, not even Kuwait, whose ships we are supposed to be protecting. Thatcher Says No The administration's Persian Gulf policy has proven to be extremely controversial. Both the Senate and the House voted to delay the reflagging though by margins that were too small to sustain a veto. And Great Britain, which was the only European country to support to the United States when it bombed Libya, graciously, but emphatically, turned down the administration's request for minesweepers (Great Britain has the world's most modern). Said one unnamed British official, "We don't want to be dragged into a maritime Vietnam." ''The recent course of events raises serious questions about the wisdom of allowing our sealift capability to fall below a certain point," said SIU President Frank Drozak. "For instance, it doesn't take too much imagination to figure out how our NATO allies would respond if we asked them to provide us with sealift support in case Israel were attacked. 32 I LOG I August 1987 August 1987 Legislative, Administrative and Regulatory Happenings "If the West Europeans, who have a vested interest in keeping the sealanes of the Persian Gulf open, can refuse to provide the United States with badly-needed minesweepers during an international emergency of this magnitude, they would almost certainly refuse to help resupply Israel. ''Short of a Soviet attack on Western Europe," said Drozak, "is there any scenario under which our NATO allies would back up the United States with anything more than polite words? And ifthere isn't, how credible is our sealift capability in theaters outside Western Europe? "For years," said Drozak, "defense planners have said that America's sealift capability could be augmented by "EUSC" and NATO vessels. Yet increasingly, that seems more like wishful thinking than anything else." Drozak Letter In a letter to The New York Times, Drozak outlined an alternative policy to the one now being pursued by the Reagan administration. ''Congress is caught between two unacceptable choices," he wrote. "It can allow the reflagging policy to proceed despite its flaws and dangers. Alternatively, if it stops the reflagging, it risks undermining the president by creating an impression of withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, which would provide a major opportunity for the Russians. 'There is another option that accomplishes [American objectives in the area], while avoiding the tilt to Kuwait and Iraq, thereby reducing the risk of provoking Iran and making the United States a belligerent. That is to charter genuine United States-flag vessels with United States crews, of which there are an ample number available, to both Kuwait and Iran, to Iraq and to any country in the region. ·This would be an even-handed policy. The U.S. tankers and U.S. Navy protecting them would be strictly neutral. This option would guarantee freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, leave no vacuum for the Russians and help stop the tanker war, thus containing the Iraq-Iran conflict." Coast Guard Authorizations The House passed a $2.8 billion Coast Guard authorizations bill that could have important ramifications for the maritime industry. While the House defeated an amendment by Rep. Charles Bennet (D-Fla.) to prohibit the redocumentation of the 11 Kuwaiti tankers, it did pass by a 222-184 vote an amendment that would delay the reflagging 90 days or until Sept. 30, 1987. While that vote was seen as being largely symbolic, a potentially important amendment offered by Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.) was attached to the legislation. Biaggi's amendment would require that all officers and unlicensed seamen on U .S.-ftag vessels be U.S. citizens-regardless of the port of departure. This, in effect, overturns the Coast Guard's interpretation of a 19th century maritime law which allowed the reflagging to occur in the first place. Another amendment, offered by Rep. Rob- ert W. Davis (R-Mich.), requires that radio officers serving on U .S.-flag vessels be U.S. citizens. The Coast Guard authorizations bill also contains a "Buy American" provision offered by Rep. James A. Traficante Jr. (D-Ohio), which would prohibit any Coast Guard vessel, and any major component of the hull or superstructure of a Coast Guard vessel, from being built in a foreign shipyard. It also sets a 50 percent U.S.-made minimum for components. Veterans' Benefits Finally, good news for our old timers who served in World War II. A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the secretary of the Air Force used "vague, unstated and inconsistent" criteria in denying veterans' benefits to merchant mariners who served in that conflict. "Although Congress gave the secretary discretion in adopting appropriate legislation," said Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer, "it assuredly did not license the secretary to publish one set of criteria and apply another.'' A quarter of a million civilian merchant seamen sailed during World War II, of which approximately 90,000 are still alive. During the war, these people suffered the second highest casualty rate, after the Marines. Since 1977, 14 of 64 groups that applied for active military service status have had their applications approved. According to Judge Oberdorfer, merchant seamen met many of the same criteria that those groups met. The secretary of the Air Force, said Oberdorfer, tried to differentiate seamen from these groups on the basis of criteria not mentioned in Section 401 of the 1977 law authorizing the Department of Defense to evaluate requests for military benefits. ''By making decisions based on unpublished criteria," said the judge, "the secretary frustrated the purpose of the implementation of the regulations and denied plaintiffs a fiar opportunity to present their case.'' Judge Oberdorfer ordered the parties to file a supplemental memoranda by Aug. 5, "addressing more fully what remedy, if any, is appropriate in light of the conclusions stated Trouble in Paradise Few people outside the maritime industry fully appreciate why the SIU and other maritime unions were so concerned by the reflagging of the Kuwaiti tankers. The following quote from a story by Journal of Commerce reporter Chris Dupin puts the matter into proper perspective: "A highly regulated industry that often bemoans the lack of a coherent maritime policy, shipping is quick to exploit quirks in laws and regulations.'' The most notorious of these "quirks" was the "Effective U.S. Control Doctrine (EUSC)." After World War II, the United States offered War Risk Insurance to American-owned vessels registered under the Panamanian, Liberian and Honduran flags. This (Continued on Page 31.) � 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 August 1987 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SEA-LAND’S NEW D-7 SAILS ON ALASKA RUN CHARTER OF U.S. SHIPS COULD SOLVE GULF PROBLEM DOD WRONG IN DENIAL COURT UPHOLDS SIU PLANS IN SONAT, DIXIE PENSION CASE LET THEM RENT WHOLE TANKERS, NOT JUST FLAGS T-AGOS CREW SLAMS REFLAGGING TRADE TALKS DRAW FIRE FROM U.S. MARITIME INDUSTRY REACTION MIXED TO NEW OPERATING SUBSIDY PLAN MTSN FAULTS YUKON SAFETY VET FIGHT BRINGS ALL SEAMEN TOGETHER THE FALLS OF CLYDE: A LITTLE TASTE OF HISTORY STEAMBOATIN’ 1987 MISSISSIPPI QUEEN U.S., CHINA SIGN RESCUE PACT SIU, MTD HOST BOY SCOUTS IN LABOR EDUCATION PROGRAM A PROUD HISTORY SHLSS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS REFLETIONS ON 20 YEARS AT THE SHLSS LA STOPOVER FOR COLUMBIA USNS MERCY COMES HOME TRADE TALKS THREATEN JONES ACT IN HOUSTON, SIU HOSTS CONFERENCE ON DRUG ABUSE THE SIU IN WASHINGTON PERSIAN GULF DROZAK LATTER VETERANS’ BENEFITS THATCHER SAYS NO COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATIONS TROUBLE IN PARADISE 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 8/1/1987 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, 8 1987 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/2ddbe7a35623972c4863cbf90295bf23.pdf 08d2693326ac2242db076fc859900ae4 PDF Text Text Offic:ial Publication of the Seafarers International Union• Atlantic:, GuU, Lakes and Inland Waters District • AFL-CIO Vol. so, No. 8, August 1988 Special Report New FOG Operations Mount Another Threat To U.S.-Flag FleetJones Act Bent by OK to Foreign Buy Of U.S. Barge Line SIU Fishermen In New Bedford OK New Pact Flags of convenience (FOC) and the cheap foreign labor which goes along with them have been threats to the U.S. merchant marine since the end of World War II. At one time referred to as ''fink-flags'' or runaway flags, these registries in Panama, Liberia, Cyprus and dozens of other countries siphoned American ships and American jobs. They continue to do so decades later. With U.S. ships and seagoing jobs at an all-time low, these vultures are not finished. On page 3 read about the two newest threats to the U.S.-flag fleet. This time there is a new twist. An American maritime consultant has set himself up as an expert and offers a ''one-stop-shop'' for U ~S. shipowners to find a foreign-flag registry. He claims to have 32 flags to offer. In an even stranger scenario, U.S. taxpayers are footing a large part of the bill for a former U.S. territory to become the newest flag of convenience operation. On top of that, one of the key players in its set-up is a close friend and major fund raiser for the George Bush presidential campaign, the Associated Press reports. In a related development, foreign interests are threatening the Jones Act. A Japanese company has purchased a U.S. barge company, and the Coast Guard, despite being made aware of the lack of U.S. citizen owners, approved the operation. The Jones Act was designed specifically as protection for American ship companies operating in our domestic trades, with no subsidy whatsoever. This matter is now in court. Read about it on page 3. Bellatrix-An Example of SIU Job Security It took almost three years, but a strong united front by SIU fishermen in New Bedford has paid off. The last group of SIU-crewed fish. ing boats has won a new contract. Bulletin Fishermen working on some 2.5 boats. whose owners are part of the New Bedford Seafood Producers Association (SPA), ratified a new contract Aug. 8 said SIU Port Agent Henri Francois. "We were able to reach this agreement because everyone in the Union stood united. This settlement is fair to both sides. Now we can all work together to get this industry back on its feet,•• Francois said. In December 1985 SIU fishermen struck over a number of issues which couldn't be resolved through negotiations. As the strike wore on in the nation'~ busiest fishing port, more than 50 contracts with independent boat owners were reached. But the SPA representing about 25 boat owners dragged its feet. "Now that this is settled," said SIU President Mike Sacco, ''we can get on with organizing more fishing boats in New Bedford. I'm real proud of the sacrifices every· body made. n See page 5 for an earlier-written story. 1 1 1 The Seafarers who crew the USNS Bellalrix (above) are just another example of the highly trained and prof~ional .men and women the SIU provides for a large variety of ships. Currently Seafarers crew more than 60 ships with military functions; those ships provide jobs and job security, This picture was taken by Seafarer Le.<l· Farrell in Mobile, Ala. For more photos of Seafarers, see page 15. Inside: Seafarers In Banner Freedom Page 6 SIU Files Charges In Kuwait Charter Crewing School Plays Host to Scouts Page 4 Tough Coast Guard Drug Rules Proposed Page 11 AIDS-Protect Yourself Page 4 Page 16 �President's Report by Michael Sacco The Rover Crew - A Credit to the U.S. e have always maintained that American ships, registered under the United States flag, are a vital asset to the nation in many, many ways. Aside from the essential role the privately owned fleet, manned by citizen seamen, plays in times of national emergency and in the carriage of cargo in peacetime, there are other distinct benefits from a big presence of U.S . merchant ships on the high seas. Not the least of these benefits is that of the prestige that comes from having the U.S. flag visible in ports in every section of the world. Our friends and our enemies should know that America has all of the equipment-in this case ships flying our flag-that is the mark of a world power and the number one trading nation. In addition to making the flag visible throughout the world, American ships and seamen are continually involved in humanitarian acts and heroism as they ply the seas. A case in point, and one that gives me great pride, is the attention given recently to our own SIU crew aboard the MV Rover operated by Ocean CarR riers. While the Rover was en route to the Philippines several weeks ago, it spotted a small vessel adrift with 24 Vietnamese men, women and children aboard. For several days the refugees were drifting without food or water. The Rover drew alongside and the Americans boarded the stricken vessel with emergency provisions. When the Rover's W engmeer determined that the boat's motor was beyond repair, the refugees were brought aboard and cared for until the vessel's next port of call in Bataan, the Philippines. This act was commended by the United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees, JeanPierre Hocke, in Geneva, Switzerland, who hailed the company, the master and the crew "of the MV Rover which has again rescued refugees, and in doing so has carried out the to capture a larger share of cargo transport is intensifying among the nations of the world. Wherever you look, the third world countries, the lesser developed nations, and the traditional maritime nations are hard at it. All are guided by what they deem is their national interest. China, for example, is on a real push. The China Ocean Shipping Co., which is a stateowned fleet, carries 80 percent of China's water-borne com- of payments. The Australian effort is the result of three-way cooperation. Management is investing in the ships, the Australian maritime unions have trimmed manning scales and set maximum crew sizes, and the government is giving 7 percent of the purchase price to buyers of new or used ships. No matter how well-intentioned or determined management and the unions were to get Australia back in the maritime " ... As long as some governments deem it in their national interest to provide various supports to their own shipping, it is essential that the United States develop and implement a realistic policy that will assist our own shipping to compete in a contest that is otherwise stacked against us ... " best traditions of the sea.'' The owners of the Rover were cited by Commissioner Hocke for the previous res<;ues performed by Ocean Carriers' vessels and crews. And Anne Kane, manager of marine personnel for Ocean Carriers, told me that ''This is not the first incident of personal involvement by SIU members nor do we suspect it will be the last." The SIU crew on the Rover, its owner and officers have one again brought credit to America's merchant marine, and we salute them for it. Food For Thought Hardly a month goes by without evidence that the struggle merce. Figures published recently show that in 1961 the company had 25 ships totaling 229 ,000 dead weight tons. Today the line has 600 ships of over 13 million deadweight tons. The government's support is a primary reason for the company's spectacular growth. It has grown because it undercuts rates very substantially, aided by the Chinese government, which is determined to have a major merchant marine. Now Australia, whose shipping industry has been steadily dwindling, is stepping into the <;on test for cargo, with the first of a new group of ships with which they intend to compete. Among the reasons for the move is the determination to stop the drain on the country's balance 0111cu1 Pub cation of Augu t 1988 picture, it would have been impossible without the government's very positive participation. As long as some governments deem it in their national interest to provide various supports to their own shipping, it is essential that the United States develop and implement a realistic policy that will assist our own shipping to compete in a contest that is otherwise stacked against us. That's why we must continue to make every effort to convince the legislative and executive branches of the government of the urgent need to revitalize U .S.-ftag shipping. Keep that in mind as -·w e prepare to go to the polls in the national election in November! e Seafarers International Union of orth Amcnca A a~ c Gu I, La cs and lnlan<J Waters Orstnct Vol 50. o B AFL..CIO Executive Board Michael Sacco President Charles Svenson Editor Mike Hall Managing Editor Max Hall Deborah Greene Associate Editor Associate Editor 2 I LOG I August 1988 Joseph Sacco Joseph DiGiorgio Angus "Red" Campbell Executive Vice President Secretary Vice President John Fay George McCartney Thomas Glidewell Vice President Vice President Vice President Roy Mercer Steve Edney Jack Caffey 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 Autn 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 , MO. 20746 . �Pick a Flag, Any Flag U.S. Company Opens 'One-Stop' Flag Shop An American maritime consultant has given a whole new meaning to "convenience" shopping. He offers some 32 foreign-flag registries for ship owners who want to flee the U.S. flag, taking their ships and jobs with them. U.S. companies now operate about 400 ships under foreign flag, about the same number they operate under the Stars and Stripes. But if Julian Padilla has his way, even more American seafaring jobs and ships will be lost. Padilla claims to have drawn on a family background in the foreign registry business to open the so-called International Shipping Bureau in New Jersey. Padilla, who is chief executive officer of the company, says he has 90 foreign representatives. He says his company is designed to help U.S. firms in deciding to shift part or all of their ships to foreign flags. According to The Journal of Commerce, he has set up shop to serve what he's betting will be a growing U.S. market for potential "open registry" operations. He says his operation may well be the first such one-stop "open registry" operation in the United States. Foreign registrations in this country usually are handled by an attorney who specializes in shipping matters, who is often familiar with only one of the countries of registry. The growing interest worldwide in less-costly operations has generated a competition among various countries offering ship registration opportunities at lower cost and with fewer obligations on the owner than in his home country. With the virtual shutting-down of subsidies and a shift of U.S. government policy toward competition and less help from the federal government, the 28-year-old Padilla thinks the time is ripe for his venture. The requirements of the 32 different countries offering this sort of flag sanctuary do vary. He said the plethora of requirements make a decision about choice of flag both difficult and important. There are a variety of special requirements and even some restrictions attached to most of the flags of choice. Foreign flags, in general, can permit an operator to cut costs immediately by 30 percent to 75 percent, principally by using far less costly foreign crews, he said. There are fees and taxes that also vary. Tax laws in the United States in recent years have removed some of the previous advantages enjoyed, but many other onerous U.S. requirements are avoided. ''This is just outrageous,'' said SIU President Mike Sacco. "I guess with the lack of any meaningful maritime program in the last eight years, you shouldn't be surprised when the vultures start circling.'' No one denies, in the short term, that FOC operations are cheaper. "But you get what you pay for,'' Sacco said. He cited the low level of training and professional expertise of many of the cheap foreign crews. "You call safety regulations onerous standards? If you examine accident statistics, you'll find that poorly maintained ships and poorly trained crews play big roles," Sacco said. There is always one part of the equation these 'flag-busters' forget. Do they reaJly believe that U.S.-owned, Liberian-flag ships with Malaysian crews can be counted on in case of a national emergency? Recent studies from the Merchant Marine Commission on National Defense and by other federal agencies all point to a large shortfall of ships and crews if the U.S. ever needed to gear up for an emergency. Today, the U.S.-flag fleet is barely above the 400 ship level. Because fewer ships mean fewer job opportunities, there won't be enough trained seagoing crews to man reserve fleet ships. "If dollars were the simple bottom line, there probably wouldn't be many U.S.-ftag ships today. But with the right combination of good management, the most professional crews in the world and a solid national maritime policy that recognizes the vital need for the U.S. merchant marine, I know, and shipowners know, the American merchant marine can compete with anyone,'' Sacco said. U.S. Tax Dollars Help Barge Line Takeover Puts Fund Latest FOG Registry Jones Act in Jeopardy If you asked most American taxpayers where their tax dollars wound up, few would have any idea that part of their tax bill goes to the Marshall Islands where it's used to lure Americatl merchant ships away from the U.S. flag and tax laws. The former American territory gained its independence from the U.S. in 1986 but maintains close ties to the U.S. which contributes to the Marshall Islands' $76 million annual budget. The i:shrnd:ii cover a tohtl of 70 :'iquarc miles in the Western Pacific. This small group of island:1 is using part of its budget tc set up the latest Hag of convenience registry in the world. It's using its ties with the U.S. and the possibility of U.S. Navy protection for Marshall Island-flag ships as a lure to ship owners. In addition, the Associated Press reports that a close friend and campaign fund raiser for George Bush played a key role in setting up the registry. The chief negotiator of the compact wiu Fred Monroe Zeder II, a close friend of Vice President George Bush, a Bush campaign fund raiser and frequently reported to be in line for a top job in a Bush administration. Zeder s son Howard Blood Zeder is wearin8 two hats in the Marshal1s registry, heading it as the republic's maritime commissioner and serving as an officer and partowner of the private company that is operating the registry. Neither Howard Zeder nor Peter Watson, a Washington lawyer who 1 1 1 1 speaks for the Marshalls about the registry, will reveal the arrangement's financial details or even how much Zcder is being paid as maritime commissioner. When the federal government negotiated the pact with the Marshall Islands. two congressmen tried to include a provision that would have made such arrangements an illegal conflict of interest. But the Reagan administration-with Fred Zeder as its point man- managed to scuttle the proposal in the House Interior Committee. For a small nation, a ship registry is big business. akin to a motor vehicle registry, keeping computerized re~ords 1 shuffling papers and having relatively low operating costs. The Marshall Islands, a former U.S. Trust territory with an annual budget of $76 million, is stressing its political stability and the compact with the United States in its efforts to break into the ship registry business. The 1.5-year compact requires the United States "to defend the Marshall Islands . . . and their people from attack or threats thereof as the United States and its citizens are defended.'' Watson says that in trying to get shipowners to switch to a Marshalls flag, the republic "is making no representations to anyone it would be entitled to U.S. defense rights." However, he said it is providing copies of the compact to shipowners, allowing them to "make their own interpretation.·' Howard Hills. a State Department lawyer who helped Fred Zeder (Continued on Page 7.) A Japanese takeover of an American barge line may put a serious crack in the Jones Act, which could open the door to foreign ownership of U.S. domestic shipping companies. In May, the Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB) was purchased by two Japanese companies. CGB is engaged in two businesses. First is the storage. transportation and sale of grain. But it is also a barge line which uses about 635 barges and seven towboats , according to court records. While much of the company's barge fleet is used to move its own grain, it is also a ••tor-hire" barge line which transports coal. ores, steel, sand, grain, salt and other products. That is where the conflict comes in. The Jones Act, the cornerstone of American domestic shipping, requires that any company which transports cargo between any two U.S . destinations be owned by U.S. citizens. The one, narrow exception allows a foreign-owned company to transport its own product. In other words, if a foreign-owned automobile company wished to ship some of its cars made in an American plant, it could use its own ships or barges. But it could not hire out those ships to transport any other goods within the U.S. Restrictions on foreign-ownership of shipping lines are spelled out in the Jones Act, and more recently, in the 1980 Vessel Documentation Act. The U.S. Coast Guard is charged with issuing or denying Certificates of Compliance in such cases. In this case, despite the overwhelming evidence that CGB would continue its operations, both to transport its own grain and to operate as a "forhire" barge line, the Coast Guard refused to investigate the case before issuing a compliance certificate. Another barge company, Ingram Barge Co ., got wind of the takeover of CGB. It alerted the Coast Guard in April and asked for an investigation if CGB requested a certificate of citizenship compliance. Ingram supplied the Coast Guard with evidence it said showed CGB's intention to continue to operate its fleet of boats and barges as before , i.e., to move its own grain and to hire out its equipment to move other products. That is in clear violation of the Jones Act. However, the Coast Guard refused to investigate the situation and issued the certificates in May. That was when Ingram went to court seeking an injunction against the Coast Guard action. The fear among domestic ship operators in this case is that it will open the door to foreign competition in a trade that is reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens and companies. Among the issues of concern are: • Harmful precedent in alJowing an obvious violation of U.S. Vessel Documentation laws especially in view of the U.S./Canada FTA dispute and the ongoing GATT negotiations. • The refusal of the U.S. Coast Guard to investigate the validity of claims made by the purchaser regarding citizenshipship requirements for the Certificate of Compliance. The Coast Guard has stated they will investigate after the fact if potential inaccuracies are alleged. The refusal to investigate before issuance is apparently in violation of Coast Guard regulations. August 1988 I LOG I 3 �i-i---------..--------------------------- -Fink Ship Breaks Down at Sea SIU Charges Seamen Denied Jobs Due to Union Ties In a blatant case of anti-union bias , two Houston, Texas companies, a ship manning agency and a ship management firm refused to hire qualified seamen because of their union affiliations, the SIU has charged. The Union filed its charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Offshore Personnel Inc . and Gleneagle Ship Management Inc. The action came after both companies placed ads in Houston and Galveston newspapers seeking qualified seamen. It is believed the two firm s were hiring crewmen for the newly-chartered tanker Maryland. The 268,000 deadweight ton vessel was one of three ships recently bought by Belmont VLCC II. The ships were acquired from Marad. Belmont has agreed to charter one of the ships to Kuwaiti interests for 24 months. Marad announced its approval of the chartering by Belmont to Chesapeake Shipping Inc. Chesapeake is the company established to operate 11 tankers Kuwait reftagged under the Stars and Stripes last year. Under U .S. maritime Law, the Maryland, or the other two tankers, must carry a U.S. citizen crew. Gleneagle crewed the 11 reftagged tankers for Chesapeake and provided the captains and radio officers for those ships. Offshore Personnel Inc. provides maritime workers for various companies. When the ads appeared in the Houston papers, more than 20 Seafarers contacted Offshore Personnel and Gleneagle seeking employment. They were told, the Union claims in its NLRB charges, there was no chance they would be hired if they had any union affiliation. Offshore employees told the SIU members that if they were union members they would not be hired, the Union has alleged. One Seafarer was told outright that he was I 00 percent qualified for the job, but because of his SIU membership , he couldn't be hired, according to the NLRB charges . Also, Offshore employees allegedly told the SIU members it was under the shipowner's instructions to bar any crewmen with union affiliation. However, they would not identify the owner. In the case of Gleneagle, SIU members submitted employment applications, but none received replies, despite meeting qualifications. The Union has charged both companies because it believes both were seeking crewman for the Belmont tankers. Both newspaper ads were worded the same and sought the same qualifications. The Maryland, renamed the Ocean Wizard, was crewed and sailed from Portland, Ore. earlier this month. However, it suffered engineroom difficulties about 800 miles offshore and was towed back to Portland. Also in the shipyard is the former New York, renamed the Ocean Challenge . The other tanker owned by Belmont is the former Massachu- setts _ " We're convinced our people were not hired simply because they belonged to the SIU. Why anyone would be so blatantly anti-union is hard to figure out. If you were crewing a ship, where is the best place to find professional and qualified seamen? The maritime unions, of course,'' said SIU President Mike Sacco. Sacco said the SIU will vigorously pursue the charges against the two companies. The case is the latest chapter in the Kuwaiti reflagging story. The reftagging battle started last summer and dragged into this past spring when a federal court ruled against the maritime unions. By using a loophole in U.S . law , Kuwait reftagged its ships last summer, but was only required to carry an American captain. Later an American radio officer was added to the crews. Unions and other maritime groups lobbied Congress to close the loophole , based on 19th century maritime practices. The bill was passed and signed into law. But the Department of Defense, under the claim of "national security" reasons , waived the U .S. crewing requirements for the reftagged ships. Later a suit was filed seeking to overturn the waiver, but that , too , failed. Shortly after, Kuwait hinted that it might charter U.S. tankers , a path suggested last year by the SIU. Sea-Land Subsidy Bill Introduced Legi~lation which would grant operating subsidy eligibility to 12 foreign-built Sea-Land ships was the subject of a recent Senate hearing. The bill. S-2-'IO. introduced by Sen. Daniel K. lnoyue (D-Hawaii), would allow Sea-Land's 12 D9J ships .;urrcntly operating in the Pacific trades to become eligible for Operating Differential Subsidy (ODS) payments. It would not however, grant subsidy; that would be up to the Maritime Administration. Operating subsidy paymenb arc normally limited to U.S.-flag ships built in U.S. shipyards. However, in the early 1980s a window was opened for a short time where American carriers could build ships abroad and still gain subsidy payments. Sea-Land is the only m~jor U.S. steamship company which operates vessels in the foreign commerce without subsidy. The major opposition to the sub1 sidy bill came from s~a-Land's competitors and the Reagan administration. The recent announcement of the formation of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Shipping Co. (A&P) and the proposed chartering to A&P of 24 vessels by Sea-Land generated some criticism of the bill. Robert L. Hintz, chairman of Sea-Land, said passage of the bill is "vitally important to Sea-Land remaining competitive in foreign commerce_ 11 He said the subsidy would cover only the 12 D9J vessels, which were built in Japan and Korea in the early 1980s. He said Sea-Land has no plans to seek subsidy on its other ~hips operating in the Pacific or in the Caribbean. The company's 12 Atlantic class ships are eligible for subsidy. Hintz said Sea-Land, '"despite the cooperation of our sea-going unions" in reducing operating costs, is at a cost disadvantage competing with foreign-flag carriers and with its major Pacific rival, American President Lines. He noted that the two U.S.-flag companies have many similarities in the areas they serve and the size of their fleets. But APL receives about $60 million annually in operating subsidies_ But representatives from APL, Crowley, PRM, Central Gulf Lines and Marad labeled the bill ·'special interest" legislation which would benefit only Sea-Land. While all agreed they could support legislation which would make subsidy available to all U .S.-tlag, foreignbuilt vessels, they opposed this legislation because only Sea-Land would benefit. APL President Timothy J. Rhein testified that while Sea-Land was building its D9J ships at lower costs and with fewer operating restric- tions in overseas shipyards, APL was building its ships in American yards at much higher costs. He estimated that APL spent about $23 million more per ship for its comparable C-9 class vessels built in a U.S. yard. In addition, he said the operating restrictions placed on subsidized firms make it much more difficult to compete. "Sea-Land made its choice not to be subsidized: now it believes it made the wrong choice and seeks to be subsidized . . . It seeks this special legislation which in effect would reward Sea-Land for having built the D9s abroad at roughly the same time that APL was building C9s in the U.S. at a far higher cost,'' Rhein said. Most other witnesses called for Operating Subsidy reform which would incl ··de all U .S.-flag companies and allow the acquisition of vessels overseas. All Seamen Face Drug Tests Coast Guard Issues Tough New Drug Testing Proposal The Coast Guard has issued a set of stringent drug testing proposals which could subjer;t every member of the U.S.-flag meri;hant marine to regular random drug testing. The rules are expected to be administered and paid for by the maritime industry, and the first -year i;ost has been pegged at $62.3 million. While the new rules are at the proposal stage now , maritime observers expect the regulations will be adopted with little change by the Coast Guard . Interested parties have until Sept. 6 to submit comments. The SIU currently is preparing its comments on the proposals. ((The Union has always taken a strong stand against drug and alcohol abuse. We have also stressed rehabilitation. The key is to curb substance 41 LOG I August 1988 abuse without violating peopte•s rights," said SIU President Mike Sacco. Following are some key points to the proposed rules: •periodic drug testing-as part of required examinations , pre-employment testing. random sampling programs , post-accident and reasonable-cause testing. Mandatory alcohol testing also would be required in post-accident and reasonable-r;ause situations. • implied consent provision-any mariner accepting employment on a U.S. merchant vessel on which any individual is required by law or regulation to hold a license, certificate or merchant mariners document is deemed to have given consent to be tested. Refusal or failure to submit to sampling is considered a violation of regulation and will subject the individual to suspension or revocation of license or document or termination of employment. •suspension or revocation-of license or document, denial of employment, and denial of job applications for illicit drug use and ineligible for seagoing employment until successful completion of rehabilitation and reissuance of license or document. However. employees who are identified as having used dangerous drugs on the job are not required to be afforded an opportunity for rehabilitation or to be retained or rehired. • rehabilitation-is recommended for those individuals who are detected as drug users for the first time. If an individual has a second confirmed (Continued on Page 5.) �25 Boats Vote Long New Bedford Struggle Could End with Contract OK SIU fishermen on some 25 boats in New Bedford are voting on a contract proposal which could finally lay to rest several years of troublesome negotiations in the nation's largest fishing port. The crewmen are working boats owned by Seafood Producers Association (SP A) members, an owners group. In late December 1985, fishermen struck in New Bedford over a number of serious issues including the way each boat's catch is divided between crewmembers and owners, documentation of crew expenses and work rules. The strike resulted in improved conditions for fishermen working on independently-owned boats. Currently more than 50 fishing boats owned by non-SP A members are under SIU contract; most signed contracts in the spring of 1986. But a series of court battles, National Labor Relations Board hearings and foot-dragging negotiations marked the battle with the SPA. "We kept at it and because of that we are pretty close to returning to normal here," said New Bedford Port Agent Henri Francois. Balloting should be completed by early August, Francois said. If approved, the SIU-fishing fleet would be close to pre-strike numbers. In addition, Francois said organizing of independent boats is continuing. ******** On a lighter note, the Portuguese community recently celebrated Day of Portugal on June 10. PortugueseAmericans make up a large portion of SIU members in New Bedford. The festival, "a little bit like the Fourth of July," Francois said, was marked by music and speeches and rides on SIU fishing boats around the harbor. Several hundred persons attended the·event, and the SIU helped organize the celebration. The .Am~ona is a SIU·contracted vessel in New Bedford. Above is Capt. Armando Estrela. SIU on T. V. "Portraits of American Labor," a television series celebrating the heritage and contributions of the nation's working men and women , will air this fall on The Learning Channel , a national cable network. Starting Sept. 11. "Portraits of American Labor" will air every Sunday evening from frOO to 6'.30 EST. The SIU is sponsoring two of the segmcnh. Entitled "Whither the Maritime Industry. Part I and Part II,'' they are scheduled to air Oct. 16 and Oct. 23, respectively. The 11 half-hour programs will touch on topics such as how unions are combatting drug and alcohol abuse on the job, how unions use television advertising to get their message across, and the leadership role of unions in coping with a rapidly changing economy. Check your local cable guide for listing of air dates and times in your area. ' The Sea Siren was one of several SIU-fishing vessels involved in the celebration of the Day of Portugal. Hundreds of people gathered at New Bedford's fishing piers to celebrate the Day of Portugal, June 10. Many SIU members played a big part in the day's festivities. MV American Eagle There is an economic price adjustment (E.P .A.) due any crewmember who was employed aboard the above named vessel between July 1, 1987 and June 30. 1988. Please submit verification of employment to the Contract Department at Union headquarters to process the additional monies due you. AMERICA WORKS BEST WHEN WE SAY... Drug Testing (Continued from Page 4.) positive test, he will be subject to suspension and revocation of license or document. regardless of rehabilitation options. •marine employer- would be required to have a blood and urine sampling and shipping kit. Evidential breath testing (EBT) devices also are required onboard a vessel at all times, operated by trained and qualified personnel. Marine employers must ensure that appropriate vessel personnel receive formal insLrudion in specific subject areas prior to being considered qualified operators of EBTs and in the practical application of the proposed requirements. Personals Michael R. Palmer Shipmates J. R. James Lee Rogers Mkhael R. Palmer would like to hear from any ex-shipmates and friends. Please write to him at 113974 Rain-2, Route 2 Box 500, Angie, La. 70426. Please send a postcard to Pete and Betty Burris at 44 Greenmeadow Drive, Timonium, MD 21093. They'd like to hear from you. August 1988 I LOG I 5 �Seafarers -Play an Important Role in Banner Freedom Anchored off of Port Townsend, Wash., the crew of the SIU-contracted PFC Dewayne T. Williams was ready for a payoff. The Williams had just finished hauling troops and material from Korea, deploying them at Indian Head Island Naval Depot and then reloading for a trip to Florida. The exercise, dubbed Operation Banner Freedom, involved more than 6,000 military personnel and several SIU-contracted ships. These pictures were taken by Seattle Field Rep. Neil Dietz. PFC Dewayne T. Williams Bosun Linwood Rich After the trip from Korea, Williams' crewmen are ready for payoff. Pictured are (I. to r.) Utilityman Fernando Vega-Mercado, AB Alvin McCants and Patrolman Bob Hall. Crewmembers unload their personal gear before boarding the harbor launch. .. , The deward department is headed by Steward Cheryl Plyle.-·Crnz (rlght) 1 with able help from S/A Lisa Ham- iltQD. Tony Mohammed works 6 I LOG I August 1988 abo~rd the Williams as a pumpman. �Old Uberty Ship Finds a Home in Baltimore Dozens of current and retired Seafarers, along with many members of other maritime and shipbuilding unions, have volunteered to tum a rusting, 46year-old Liberty Ship into a maritime museum in Baltimore. LIBERTY SHIP! A spokesman for the group said hundreds of people, from as far away as Iowa, have volunteered their time and money for the project, but more help is needed. The goal is to refurbish the Brown to the point where it can serve not only as a maritime museum and a monument to those who sailed Liberties in World War II, but also to the point where she will steam again. The John W. Brown, built in Baltimore in 1942, is scheduled to be towed from a Norfolk, Va. shipyard to Baltimore in early August. The ship will be rededicated at a special Labor Day ceremony in Baltimore. The only fully operational Liberty Ship is the Jeremiah O'Brien in San Francisco. Several times a year volunteer crews get her under way for trips around San Francisco Bay. Sponsored by Project Liberty Ship, the effort to acquire the John Brown has taken several years. In 1985 the Brown, which participated in the invasions of Anzio and southern France, was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. But no space could be found in New York to berth the former New York City maritime high school. The Brown was built at Bethlehem Steel's Fairfield Shipyard and named after a founder of a shipyard workers' union. She was launched on Labor Day 1942. For more information on the John W. Brown, contact: Project Liberty Ship c/o Marserv Inc. 744 Dulaney Valley Court, Suite 14 Towson, Md. 21204 In 1986 Marad agreed to transfer the vessel to Project Liberty Ship. The Brown was towed to the James River Reserve Fleet, where it has been since. Earlier this summer a group of Baltimore volunteers helped get the Brown into shape for the tow to Baltimore. SIGN ON NOW! (301) 583-9137 A Toast to our Merchant Seamen He travels many a nautical mile Sometimes away from home a very long while. He visits lots of countries and see lots of things Can't wait to get home for there he is king. His days are real busy but the nights get lonely He lies in his fo'c's'le thinking of his one and only. There is lots of good food, movies and t.v. And on special occasions they will have a party at sea. Now as they start home they are all real happy Washing up clothes and getting ready. Marshall Islands (Continued from Page J.) steer the compact through Congress, says that "Marshall Islands vessels fall within the class of vessels which. like U.S. vessels. are entitled to U.S. protection ... we seek to protect U.S. vessels every· where in the world." When the compact was pending before Congress, the House Interior subcommittee on public lands approved tough conftict-of-interest rules for implementing the legislation. The rules would have prohibited any U.S. official who participated in compact negotiations and imple- Ar Yo As they tie up the ship they are looking arond For a friend or a loved one or a ride into town. So let's drink to our Seaman who's a real different breed Just hand him a sea-bag ... that's all he will need. By Sue Wright Pasadena, Texas77540 (Written in memory of my brother-in-law Ross F. Lyle and my cousin Carl (R.C.) Harcrow. Both deceased merchant seaman with many years service.) gl 0 ant We want to make sure that you receive your If you are getting more than one copy of the copy of the LOG each month and other important LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your mail such as W-2 Forms, Union Mail and Welfare address, or if your name or address is misprinted Bulletins. To accomplish this, please use the or incomplete, please fill in the special address address form on this page to update your home form printed on this page and send it to: address. SIU & UIW of N.A. Your home address is your permanent address, Address Correction Department 5201 Autb Way and this is where all official Union documents, W-2 Forms, and the LOG will be mailed. Camp Springs, Maryland 20746-9971 ----------------~-------------~-----------------------~~---Date: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ PLEASE PRINT HOME ADDRESS mentation -and their immediate families-from benefiting even indirectly from U.S. dollars flowing to the Marshalls under the compact. The prohibition was opposed by the administration and was dropped before the legislation was approved by rhe full Interior Committee. I0t1e~ieoonts 1 .,, a. Social Security No. Phone No. ( Area Code Your Full Name Stroot Apt. or Box# Book Number D State City SIU D UIW O Pensioner ZIP Other-------- UIW Place of E m p l o y m e n t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thi• wlll be my permanent address for all official Union mailings. Thll addren should rem''" In the Union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. (Signed)----------------~ --------------------------------------~------------~-------~ August 1988 I LOG I 7 �... SIU Boatmen in Mobile SIU boatmen have been crewing inland equipment in the Gulf area for decades, and Mobile is one of the important Gulf ports. SIU Patrolmen Al Caulder and Jeff Libby were in Mobile recently and took these pictures of SIU members working for Higman Towing, Crescent 0 . .. • "!:-... !-!- • • • . . 0 • ••• A • ::;:~',:t:'·'.,i• ;~ The Dr. E.W. Brown is another Higman boat. Pictured on deck are Mike Molina, a pilot; Al Caulder, SIU Rep, and Tankerman David Carriere. Towing and Pilot Services. The patrolmen were on hand to keep the members informed about Union business and to take care of any questions or problems the crews may have had. Eric Simon is a boat handler for the SIUcontractcd Pilot Services in Mobile, The continuing drought in the midwest will cost the tug and barge industry more than $150 million by September if conditions don't change. Already inland operators estimate it has cost them more than $60 million in additional expenses. While some rain fell in mid to late July, raising water levels on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the effect is expected to be temporary as August and early September are the traditional dry months. The extra costs, according to the American Waterways Operators (A WO) association, comes from slower transit times, reduced tow sizes and drafts and delays on parts of the rivers while channels are dredged. Normally a barge load of com can be towed from Minneapolis to New Orleans in about 16 days. Today the trip takes 32 days. ''For an industry just now emerging from the savage depression of the early and mid-1980s, the drought is a sledgehammer blow, many companies might not survive,'' said Joseph Farrell, AWO president. Marad Administrator John Gaughan said if the drought persists, ''we may need to find a way to provide a broad-based equitable formula for temporary cost relief to the inland waterway transportation industry.'' "It might start to get more critical in September," said Joe Clayton, a Mississippi River pilot, "If it doesn't move by then you'll see some screaming. And there ain't a hell of lot anybody can do about it." NOTICE National Marine Service Ex-Employees A settlement has been ~~ched with National Marine Service. All ex-employees with two (2) or IDQTe yean Qf service immediately prior to the lay-off in October 1985 are to contad in writing: SttretaryTreasurer Joe DiGiorgio, Seafarers International Union, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs 7 Md_ 20746 and pro• foll<>wing information. I-Name. l-Mailing addr~. vide the ~ial Security No. 4-Book No. 5-Job classification. 6--Perivd worked for National Marine Service_ You must have at least 125 days of service in each of the two consecutive years prior to the lay-oft in October 1985. Note: After all of the information is compiled, the Union will be able to determine the en• titlement, if any, for benefits. Benefits will be calculated on the basiS of the number or years of uninterrupted senice with National Marine. 8 I LOG I August 1988 Tug Industry Say~· Drought Could Cost $150 Million Deckhand Charles Saranthus works for Crescent Towing. �Mobile Inland Deaths Ron Amick, 34 St. Louis, Mo. Died June 24, 1988 Joined Union 1987 Reuben Berry, 72 Chesapeake, Va. Died June 12, 1988 Joined Union 1961 Aubert Windley, 64 Chesapeake, Va. Died June 6, 1988 Joined Union 1973 Karl Dlabich, SS Baltimore, Md. Died January 20, 1988 Joined Union 1956 William Meekins, .81 Columbia, N.C. Died May 11, 1988 Joined Union 1955 John Morgan, 87 New Point, Va. Died May 23, 1988 Ronald Pauley, 73 Glen Burnie, Md. Died May 5, 1988 Joined Union 1956 Cabot Alexander Cabot, 87 W. Palm Beach, Fla. Died July 10, 1988 Joined Union 1960 Williain Caldara, 79 Galveston, Texas Died October 1, 1987 Joined Union 1967 Onboard Higman Towing's Karl G. Andren are Deckhand Calvin Elliot, Capt. Steve Elliot, SIU Rep Jeff Libby, Tankerman Tom Nolan and Deckhand David Evans. Zein Ahmed Zein, 63 Seattle, Wash. Joined Union 1980 Buford Rogers, 76 Orange, Texas Died May 17, 1988 Joined Union 1970 Thomas Ryan, 86 New Brunswick, N.J. Died May 2, 1988 Joined Union 1960 GREAT LAKES John Werda, 53 Alpena, Mich. Died June 6, 1988 Joined Union 1953 Albert Tatum, 68 Buena Park, Calif. Died June 4, 1988 Dispatchers Report for Inland Waters JULY 1-31, 1988 *TOTAL REGISTl:RED All Groups Class c Class A Class B 0 0 7 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Port New York ........................ . Pnilac1e1pn1a ... ........... . ....... . Baltimore , ...................... . . NorfolK ......................... . Mobile . ................... ...... . New Orleans ............ . . .. ...... . JMk5MVi lie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Francisco ..................... Wilmington ....................... Seattle ............... . ..... . . .. . Puerto Rico .. ...... . .... .. ....... Houston ................ .. . . ..... . . . . . Aloonac ......................... . St. Louis ....................... . . Piney Point .... .................. . . Totals .. .. . ..................... . 2 2 0 4 2 0 0 0 2 16 1 0 0 7 0 0 11 0 75 1 13 0 14 0 0 4 0 2 0 34 Port New YorK ........................ . Philadelphia ...................... . Baltimore ........................ . NOrfOIK . , .......... , .......... , .. Mobile .......................... . 0 1 0 4 0 New Orleans ..................... . . 0 Jacksonville .. , . , .. , , . ............ . 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 15 Sitn Fnmcisco .. . Wilminoton ............... . ... .... . Seattle ................... .. ..... . Puerto Rico ....... . ..... .. ...... . . Houston ......................... . Algonac . , , ...................... . St. Louis .. . ..... . ..... ... ...... . . Piney Point .. .. .. ................ . . Totals .............. .. ... ....... . Philaoelphia ...................... . Crescent Towine, a long-time SIU-contracted company 1 operates in Mobile. Pictu.-ed above is Englnee.- Mike Ya.-brnugh. Support SPAD Baltimore ... .... . ............... . . Norfolk ......................... . Mobile .. . ....................... . New Orleans . ... .. ... ... ..... ..... . Jacksonville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San FranciMo ..................... . Wilmington .............. . ........ . Seattle .......................... . Puerto Rico ..•.•.................. Houston ........... . ............. . Algonac ... .... ... . .............. . St. Louis ...................... . . . 0 0 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 5 49 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 9 9 17 21 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 2 0 0 3 0 14 0 31 1 0 57 1 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 Totals All Departments ............... . 99 17 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 4 7 38 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals .......................... . . ........... . Class B 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 Pin@y Point . . . . . . Class A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pon New York . . ................... .. . . TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 48 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 2 19 0 0 128 0 0 0 1 1 0 45 0 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 14 0 0 48 5 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 16 c 0 0 0 0 0 1 21 0 15 0 0 4 0 5 0 46 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 36 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 12 0 3 0 47 0 15 20 34 223 76 66 1 0 0 1 o 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 13 0 0 1 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. August 1988 I LOG I 9 �FALCON DUCHESS (Seahawk Mgmt.), June 22-Chairman Leo Paradise, Secretary C.N. Johnson, Educational Director LP. Wright, Deck Delegate John A. Neff. No beefs or disputed OT. Brother Wright reported to the crew that SIU President Frank Drozak passed away. He added that Drozak will be missed by the many men and women who had the privilege of sailing and working with him. The chairman noted that the crew payoff would be on June 26 and that it has been a smooth voyage with everyone getting along very well. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. FALCON LEADER (Seahawk Mgmt.), June 15-Chairman Joseph Caurso, Secretary Veronica Ercolano, Deck Delegate Joseph Elkins, Engine Delegate Paul Moran. The crew of the Falcon Leader, stationed in Diego Garcia, send their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Brother Frank Drozak. They also took up a collection as a gift to the American Cancer Society in Drozak's name. The chairman noted that members appreciate the prompt reply to their previous beefs. A microwave and toaster have now been installed. And a dart board is up. A scoreboard is on the way. It was suggested that a CPR and first aid course be taught aboard ship. There was also some discussion about the provisions (or lack therof) that are available to the ship in Diego Garcia. LNG GEMINI (Energy Transportation Corp.), June 2~hairman Eugene Bousson, Secretary Dana Paradise, Educational Director Aaron Thaxton, Dei;k Deleg~te Anthony M. Heincldt. Engine oe1eaate Ramon Ali, Steward Delegate HMty Daniels. No b@@fs or disputed OT. The crew was s~dd@n@d to h@ar of the passing of Presid@nt Frank Droz:ak. Flowers were 5ent for th@ funeral services, and all members hope that the Union continues with his efforts to keep the U.S. merchant fleet alive and prospering . The chairman stressed the importance of donating to SPAD and also asked memb@rs to support the ship's fund by participating in arrival pools. There is $89 left in the fund . A suggestion was mad@ to mak@ th@ AB green tickets' base pay equal to the low@st rat@d man in other oepartments. Some members also w@r@ wonaerlng why there were no pool parties. Also expressM was a desire for a more even di$tribution of reading materials received and for the cleaning of tM crew lounge to be shared by all departments. A vote of thanks was giv@n to the steward department for a job well done. And a sp@cial vote of thanks wa5 given by the steward to S/As Mark Kalmus, Catherine Kohs and Andrea Conklin. Their performance was excellent this trip. " Mess halls wer@ n@v@r less than spotless and topside was as cl@an as a w@IL It's been a plea5ure to sail with people who care about their jobs, and th@ extra effort really shoW$. " Next ports : Himeji, Japan and Bontang, lnoonesia. GROTON (Apex Marine), July 3Chairman Nell Matthey, Secretary Marvin Deloatch. Educational Director J. Shuler. No beets er disputed OT reported. Tne chairman reported that the 5hip Will pay Off in Stapleton, N.Y. on July 4. He stated that the ship received a telex regarding th@ n@w raise effective July 1, which was good newa. He alao stressed the importance of contributing to SPAD. A motion was made and ~econd@d that permanent member5 shoulo be able to reclaim their jobs in their home pons when returning back to work from vacation . The members would llKe this motion to be considered when the snipping rules are revised. Next port Sta· pleton , N.Y. NEDLLOYD HUDSON (Sea-Land Service), May 29-Chairman John Sorel, Secretary Lee de Parller. Educational Director Erik Bain . Some disputed OT was reported in the deck and steward depart· 10 I LOG I August 1988 ments. There is $130 in the video film fund. The chairman noted that although this is a new ship and a new crew, everything is going as well as can be expected. Most of the problems are being ironed out, and it helps having a lot of oldtimers as cre\'.lf. Members were asked to be ready for customs inspection in Felixstowe, England. "They count the used tea bags ... Declare everything including your dentures, and Delegate Antonios Trikoglou, Engine Delegate William Cachola, Steward Delegate Virgilio Rivera. No beefs or disputed OT reported . The crew of the Puerto Rico wants to welcome Brother Mike Sacco as the new SIU president. "Good luck to him and his working team." The ship will lay up July 16 in San Juan for seven to 1o days. The steward asked that everyone return their extra linen before the lay-up. All of the ship's movies will be kept locked up in the crew recreation room. The bosun, electrician and chief steward have the keys. Members will have to sign out movies and be responsible for them. A vote of thanks was given to the entire steward department for the fine food and good service. The At 1300 hours on May 29, 1988, onboard the Overseas Natalie (Maritime Overseas), the ashes of SIU member Nathan Evans were committed to the deep during a brief service. Evans, who was 75, died March 26. Bosun John Frazier and AB Patrick Ray were the urn bearers; Chief Mate Ronald Ward conducted the service. make sure you have the right amount of teeth listed." The secretary said that this is a major election year, and all members should be aware of what is at stake. "After seven years of famine, we face a difficult election in order to put in office those who will support a credible national maritime policy that will rebuild the U.S. merchant marine and preserve and expand the cargo rights so that our job security will be strengthened. Your SPAD donation is more important now than at any other time in our existence. This election can either maKe or break our steadily declining industry ... The eoucational director stated that no training films, either from Sea-Land or Piney Point, are aboard ship, and that he hopes to receive some next trip. Many other minor items were discussed, and the crew is working together in harmony to work out the kinks in this new ship. Next port: Charl8ston. S.G. OVIRSEAS JUNEAU (Maritime Overseas), June 22-Chairman Errol Pak, secreta.ty Tom Marshall, Deck Delegate/ Treasurer Jim Crane. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck department concerning sanitary. The chairman offered his condolences on b@half of the entire crew to the family of Frank Drozak. He further noted that, thank5 to Drozak and the other SIU leaders, shipping has been good for SIU members, with 12 more ships being aaaea to Sea-Land fleet work. All is going smoothly aboard the Ovt1rseas Juneau. It especially helps that the Juneau has a top SIU crew; all are experi@nced members who know their jobs. The educational director remindsd members that upgrading Is very important-in fact it is the key to the fUture! There is $81 in the ship's fund. A motion was made and seconded to repeal the 8-months shipping rule (SAB action 327) . The chairman explained that this was only on a six-month trial basis. Next port: San Francisco, Calif. PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON (Waterman) , June 18-Chairman MarK T. Trepp, Secretary P .L. Hunt, Educational Director Ralph Griffon, Deck D@legate Thomas Bonner. Bosun Trepp held one minute of silence in memory of Brother Frank Drozak. He r@minded all hands of the benefits that Orozak worked so hard to obtain for all seafarers , and noted that he will be missed by all. Donations were received from the officers and crew for flow@rs in memory of the late SIU president. Next port: Portland, Ore. PUERTO RICO (PAMMI), July 24Chairman Nick Kratsas, Secretary Jose Calls, Educational Director Tagliaterri, Deck Puerto Rico will head out to San Juan and then Baltimore, with payoff scheduled for Aug. 9 in San Juan. SEA·LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), June 18-Chairman Leroy Temple, Secretary Norman Johnson, Educational Director Frank Hall. Disputed OT was reported in the engine and steward departments. There is $100 in the movie fund . The members of the Sea-Land En terprise expressed their d@ep regrets at the passing of Brother Frank Drozak_"May he rest in peace." A payoff is scheduled In Oakland, Calif. June 22. There have been some serious problems aboard ship with the chief mate. These will be referred to the patrolman at payoff. The educational director stressed the need to upgrade your skills at Piney Point. Many jobs have been secured for the membership by our leaders, and we need qualified men and women to fill these jobs. Attending courses at Piney Point Is pain less. The Union pays for trans· portatlon costs as well as room and board. " All you have to supply is the desire to l@arn and better yourself." SEA·LAND LIBERATOR (Sea-Land Service), June 5--Chairman Bob O'Rourke, Secretary C.M. Modelles, Educational Director W.0. Barrineau. Some disputed OT was reported in the engine department and will be taken up with the boarding patrolman at payoff. The chairman talked about the working conditions in the ship and stressed the need for all members to report any hazardous conditions they may find while working onboard the vessel. He also encouraged all eligible members to take advantage of the upgrading courses at Piney Point and to render their support to SPAD, "one of our main tools in fighting our enemies in the halls of Congress." The educational director reminded crewmembers to read all issues of the LOG in order to keep current with what's happening in the SIU and in the maritime industry. Payoff is scheduled for June 9 upon arrival in Oakland, Calif. SEA·LAND PATRIOT (Sea-Land Service) , June 12-Chairman John W. Curlew, Secretary Adrian Delaney, Deck Delegate James Haines, Engine Delegate Frank E. White. There was some problem reported in the engine department with the engineers doing the work of the QMED. This problem has been brought to the attention of the patrolman and the Union on many occasions, and all members at the meeting agreed that the matter should be resolved as soon as possible. The bosun asked that all crewmembers report any safety or repair items since there is no repair list posted. The steward brought to the attention of the crew the lack of portion controlled items aboard the vessel. Among the many items not onboard was soup. This is the second voyage that soup has not been put on the ship. Also, many of the prepared items were not included in the stores. These problems will be brought to the attention of the patrolman and the Union. "On June 16, the United States ensign was flown at half mast from 0800 hours until sunset in honor of SIU President Frank Drozak, on the day of his funeral." Official ships minutes also were received from the following vessels: AURORA SAN JUAN ITB BALTIMORE SEA-LAND DEFENDER GREAT LAND UIG LIBRA NEDLLOYD HOLLAND OMI HUDSON OMI WABASH OVERSEAS CHICAGO OVERSEAS HARRIETIE OVERSEAS MARILYN OVERSEAS VALDEZ PRESIDENT TAYWR ROBERT E. LEE SEA-LAND EXPRESS SEA-LAllD HAWAII SEA-LAID INTEGRITY SEA-LAND PACIFIC SEA-LAND PRODUCER SEA-LAID VALUE SfNATDR STONEWALL JACKSON LNG TAURUS ULTRASEA Monthly Membership .Meetings Port Date Deep Sea Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point .............. Tuesday, September 6 ..... ........... 10:30 a.m. New York ............... Tuesday, September 6 . . . ... .. ........ 10:30 a.m. Philadelphia .. .. . . . .. ... .. Wednesday, September 7 .............. 10:30 a.m. Baltimore ..... . ..... . .... Thursday, September 8 ................ 10:30 a.m. Norfolk ........ , ........ Thursday, September 8 . . .. - .. . - ..... . . 10:30 a.m. Jacksonville ..... . .. .... .. Thursday , September 8 .... _.. . ........ 10:30 a.m. Algonac .. . . . .. . .... . . . __Frid~y , September 9 .................. 10:30 a.m. Houston . . . .... .. . . .. . .. . Monday, September 12 ................ 10:30 a.m. New Orleans . .. ..... . .... Tuesday, September 13 ........ . ....... 10:30 a.m. Mobile ................ , . Wednesday, September 14 . . .. . . . ...... 10:30 a.m. San Francisco ............ Thursday , September 15 .. . . . . . ........ 10:30 a.m. Wilmington .............. Monday , September 19 . . .. . . .......... 10:30 a.m. Seattle ......... . . . ...... Friday , September 23 . . ............... 10:30 a.m. San Juan .... . ...... . .. .. Thursday , September 8 ........ . ....... 10:30 a.m. St. Louis .. ... . .. .. .... . . Friday , September 16 ... . ............. 10:30 a.m. Honolulu .... .. . .. .. .. _.. Friday , September 16 ................. 10:30 a.m. Duluth ... . .. .. _.. .. . .. . . Wednesday, September 14 ............. 10:30 a.m. Jersey City . .. . ........... Wednesday, September 21 ............. 10:30 a.m. New Bedford . . .. . .. .. .... Tuesday, September 20 ................ 10:30 a.m. �SIU/SHLSS Hosts MTD Award scouts T he SHLSS, in conjunction with the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, was honored to host another fine group of Award Scouts chosen to participate in a two-week program of trade union education, recreation and sightseeing. Initiated three years ago, the program is designed to promote the trade union objectives of the American Labor Movement. Chosen through the MTD Port Councils, the Scouts are offered a twoweek all-expense paid vacation in Washington, D.C., using the SIU's Training and Recreation Center in Piney Point as a home port. The 17 boys and girb from 12 different 5tates, including one scout from Hawaii, weathered the ovvressive heat and humidity in true Scout fo:shion. Their three days of touring Washington included visits to SIU headquarters, the MTD and the AFL-CIO. Capitol Hill, and the Smithsonian Museum, in addition to the usual visits to our national monuments. The group and their two counselors were also treated to a trip to Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium and Harbor Place. The Scouh learned much about maritime life. not only in the SHLSS tradition, but also in the regional, Southern Maryland tradition. Their excursions to local historic points reminded them constantly of the intimiate binding of St. Mary's county history to that of ships and the water. Having been given the rudiments of knot tying and navigation by several SHLSS instructors, the Scouts were treated to a tour of St. Mary's waterways on two of the school's boats: a rescue boat, and a 28ft. cabin cruiser. Applying their newly acquired navigational knowledge, each of the Scouts was given a chance to be helmsmanmotoring past various points of interest along St. George's Creek, St. Mary's River and Patuxent River, and disembarking at Old St. Mary's City. They arrived just in time to view the historic replica of the pinnace, DOVE, which originally brought the first settlers to Maryland's shores in 1634. For a unique diversion, the Scouts were given a quick lesson in "chicken necking," that is catching blue crabs-a favorite regional pastime. After returning to the SHLSS grounds from their touring, the Scouts had much to keep them entertained at the Training and Recreation Center including use of the game room, spa, tennis courts, swimming pool, and the arts and crafts center where they fashioned a number of attractive items to take back home with them. Staying at the SHLSS and being exposed to the trainees and upgraders gave the Scouts a taste of what the seafaring life is all about and how the Union fits into that life. No doubt, their experience through this MTD program has made a lasting imvres- At AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington, D.C. sion. Congratulations go to these exemplary young people: John Norman, Florida: Ricardo Hassan. New York; Raymond Tanabe, Hawaii; Bernard Rogers, Louisiana; Christian KowaJko, Pennsylvania; Scott Hill. Texas; Travis Corgey, Texas; Kevin Nolan, Illinois; Michael Willis, Illinois; Christopher Wells, Virginia: John Below, Ohio; Timothy Hendrix, Missouri; Cindy Fu. California; Courtnee Scoggins, Maryland; Cara Butterworth, Maryland; Nakeesha Arrington, Maryland; Aura Lande~, Maryland. Counselors were: Ms. Barbara Ezelle and Ms. Kathy Roberts. Christian Kowalko at the helm of the D-2 ~ ~ Travis Corgey, Ricardo Hassan and counselor Kathy Roberts enjoy a relaxing moment in Arts and Crafts. A visit to Southern Maryland is not complete without the traditional crab feast. ~ Far left: the group posing in front of the historic replica, DOVE. August 1988 I LOG I 11 �Retired Visitor • • • .... ~ After 12 years of service as chef for the SHLSS galley, LeLand "Buck" Buchan retired. Pictured left to right; Don Nolan, Buck Buchan, his wife Virginia, and Ken Conklin-SHLSS Vice President. A close friend of the SIU, Father Manion, toured the SHLSS facilities with SHLSS V.P., Ken Conklin. TMT, Trailor Marine Transport, .A a Crowley Company, is sending T.M.T. Class 7/6/88 Eddie Gall, Charles Collings, Tom Gildersleeve, John Gildersleeve (instructor), James Anderson, James McAnany, James Grosse. men and women to the SHLSS for a two-week course in truck driving. The course, being taught by John Gildersleeve, gives the students experience in basic truck handling and also the specialized technique·s of loading and offloading trailor barges-simulating the type of facility operations used by TMT in Philadelphia. Course work also includes night time operations, and working with the Haaglund crane, loading and unloading 20 and 40 ft.containers on and off the truck beds. So far, two groups have graduated and a third group is just now beginning its training. M.S.C. Lifeboat 7/5/88 Left to Right, Ben Cusic (Instructor), Neal Doucet, Paul Thomas, and Dianne Lupton ·.(l Hydraulics 6/20/88 1st RQW Left tQ Right, Clayton Everett, Melvin Layner, Joe Saxon, John Day, Hermus Patrick, 2nd Row, Bill Foley (lnstnadfJr), JQhn Tn;mt, P1ml Titus and Charles D. Polk Upgraders Lifeboat 7/5/88 Front Left to Right, A. Mullings, J. M. Owens, 2nd Row, Melvin W. Hite, L. Timothy Stent, Wendell Jones, Ben Cusic (Instructor) Recertified Steward~ 7/7 /H 1st Row Left to Right, Jennifer Jim, Klm Dormody, R. Mora, :Znd Row, Kenneth m1gan, Willh1m Sharp, Michael Meany, Ilavi<I Edwar~s, '8ack Row, Floyd Payton, Mu· bame<l Sani, Steve Apodnca, Kim DeWitt, Franklin Roh· ertson QMED 6/20/88 ht Row Left to Right, J, W. Bass, Frederic S. Rubin, Jr., Phil We§t, Mike Clapshaw, Guillermo O'Neill, 2nd Row, Mark D. Field, Craig V. Bell, Robert Lientak, Mark Li\wrente~ Bill Waddell, R. D. Thomas, 3rd Row, Jon Beard, Pete Sanchez, Bob Richer. ~:\X-~4 12 I LOG I August 1988 Canadian Chief Cooks 6/13/88 1st Row from Left to Right, Joanne Semaon, Steve Calivocas, Bernadette Abel, Robert Wright, Andrew Cumberbatch, 2nd row, Mark Gawley, Barb Wall, Helen Hill, Susan Titan, Denise Mailhot, Roy Hoffe Sealift 7/11/88 Kneeling Left to Right, Eric Perez, Neal Doucet, Darwin Hand, 2nd Row, Harry Alongi (Instructor), Danielle M. Gettys, Larry Flores, Curtis Phillips, 3rd Row, Owen Richards, James W. Donahue Ill, Clyde Hall, Francis E. Ostendorp, Sheng·Jen Hsizh Able Seaman 6/20/88 1st Row Left to Right, Christopher D. Janics, Gheorghe Savencu, T. Abulencia, John Sanchez, H. Morante, J, Negron, lnd Row, B. Spencer, Donald Smith, Scott Grider, Les Stringer, Richard L. Volkart, Mark W. Carpenter, 3rd Row, Donald Rezendes, Charlie Williams, Kassim Shaibi, Martin Ramos, Ali A. Mosad, Ken Heller, Mohsin Ali, Jake Karaczynski (Inst.), 4th Row, J. Jan-Etten, Carl Vincent Paige, William Ray Capps, Leonte Cordova, Jeff Engebretson Lifeboat Class #428 7/5/88 1st Row from Left to Right, Bill Kovach, Joseph Daigle, Vincent Larimer, Rick Thaxton, Henry C. Hall, Eric J. Perez, 2nd Row, Ben Cusic (Instructor), Steve Condron, Warren Cobbs, Melvin Knox, Bruce Auman, Demetrius L. Crump, Bill Beamer, William .G. Pitts, R. Theodore Block, Donald T. Cunningham, Harry Massa, 3rd Row, Alex Simmons, Mark Thomas, Mitch Godwin �,.. 1988 Upgrading Course Schedule Deck apgrading Courses Check-In Date Completion Date Able Seaman September 19 October 31 October28 December 9 Radar Observer Unltd. September 12 November 7 September 23 November 18 Course Programs Geared to Improve Job Skills And Promote a.s • .Maritime Industry July - December 19.8 8 *Minimum number of students required for radar class to be held is four (4). Radar Refresher/Renewal The following is the current course schedule for July 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; St~d Department courses; Adult Education courses; All Department courses and Recerri.6.01tion Programs. Inland Boatmen and deep sea Seafarers who are preparing to upgrade are advised to enroll for class as early as ~ible. Although every effon will be made to fill the requests of the members, the classes are limited in size - so sign up early. Radar Recertification Open-ended, 1 day (Contact Admissions Office for starting date) *Minimum number of students required for Celestial Navigation class to be held is five (5). August 22 September 19 October 17 November 14 December 12 Lifeboat LNG - Self Study Safety Course 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. Open-ended, 3 days (Contact Admissions Office for starting date.) September 2 September 30 October 28 November 25 December 23 (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. PLEASE NOTE: All members are required to take firefighting when attending SHLSS. Engine (Jpgrading Courses Check-In Date CuurH " Recertification Programs Completion Date Flreman/Watertender r. Oller R~frlgeration Systems Malnt. £. Op. August 22 OdQber 3 September 30 November 11 Refrigwated CQn~-~ Malnt. August 8 September 2 Course Steward Recertification Bosuns Recertification Pumproom .Maint. & Operations August 1 September 19 September 9 Octuber 28 Variable Speed DC Drives September 5 October 14 E:lec:tro-Hydraullc Systems NovembM 7 December 16 Automation NQvember 21 December 16 Welding rfovember 21 December 16 Hydraulics OdQber 17 November 11 Third Ant. Engineer/Steam or .Motor Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for Starting Date) *All students in the Engine Department will nave 2 weeks of Sealift f'~mllhulzatlon Check-In Date Completion Date September 26 November 7 Adult Education Courses Check-In Completion Cuurse Date Date For students who wish to apply for the GED, ESL, or ABE classes in 1988, the ~ourses will be six weeks in length and offered on the following dates: High S<:hool Equivalency (QED) August 29 October 31 October 10 December 12 August 29 October 31 October 7 December 10 Adult Basic Education (ABE) i!lt the end of their regular course, English as a Second Language (ESL) Steward Upgrading Courses Completion Date Check-In Date Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office The Developmental Studies Class (DYS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. Developmental Studies (DVS) (Offered prior to the Third Mate & Original Second Mates Course) for starting date)* Cook and Baker Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for $tarting date)• Chief CQQk Open·endM (Contact Admissions Office for starting date)"' Chief Steward Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office tor starting date)* *All students In the Steward Program will have familiarization at the end gf their regular c;;our$e. 2 weeks of Sealift College Programs Scheduled for 1988 Check-In Course Date Associates in Arts or Certificate Program August 8 Odober 17 Completion Date September 30 December 9 August 1988 / LOG / 13 �.......................................................................................................................................... i S af rers Harry Lundeberg Sc ool of Upgrading Application Name (first) (Last) eama .... ..,: h"p Date of Birth (Middle) , " /,. Mo./Day/Year Telephone _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ (City) (Zip Code) (State) Deep Sea Member O (Area Code) Inland Waters Member D Pacific D Lakes Member O 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 O Yes D No Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: O Yes Trainee Program: From _ _ __ ___ to No O (if yes, fill in below) Last grade of schooling completed _ _ _ __ (dates attended) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: O Yes No O (if yes, fill in below) Course(s)Taken _~---------------~----------------- Do ycu ncld 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 Cours@(s) Ch@cked Below or Indicated Here if Not Listed DECK o o Third Mate Raaar Observer Unlimited ALL DEPARTMENTS o STEWARD ENGINE 0 AB/Stalm 0 Towboat Operator Inland D CtlHtlal Navigation D Mut•r lnsp•d•d Towing Vessel D 1$1 Class Piiot (organized self study) Welding 0 FOWT o OMED-Any Rating O D D O D 0 D D Llfeboatmim (Mm•t ba t11kan with 11nothar cour9e) 0 0 No transportation will be paid unless you present original receipts and succ@ssfully 0 D V~rlabl& Sp••d DC Orlve Systems {Marine Elgctronics) Marine Elec:trlc:al Malnhmanc• PUmDroom Malntenancv &t Operation Automation Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operations 01...1 Engine Technolooy Assiotant Engineer/Chief EnginHr Un ln&pected Motor vessel Orginol 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer Steam or Motor Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance Hydraulics Electro-Hydraulic Systems complete the course. D Assistant cook Utility D Cook and Baker D Chief Cook o Chief Steward O Towboat Inland Cook COLLEGE PROGRAM D Associates in Arts Degree O Certificate Programs ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT D Adult Basic Education (ABE) 0 High School equlvalency Program (GED) O Developmental Studies (DVS) O English as a Second Language (ESL) D ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You mu$f 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 SIGNATURE ~~~~~--~--~~----- DATE ~--~--------~~-~ RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center, Piney Point, MD. 20674 ..-..................................................................................................................... ~.-.-.- ~ev. 2188 14 I LOG I August 1988 ....... ----~::::;,...,.-. \ �From coast to coast and around the world, Seafarers work and participate in many activities, from politics to charity to union solidarity. Here is just a sample of recent photos that members and officials have sent to headquarters. The LOG welcomes all pictures and will try to use as many as possible. So if you have taken any photos you think we could use, send them to the LOG office. Honolulu The dredge Sugar Island is working in South Amboy, N.J. Above, dragtender Luis Green keeps an eye on discharging operations. South Amboy, N.J. In Honolulu when members of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists were on strike recently, SIU members from Honolulu showed their support on the picket line. Port Elizabeth, N.J. Here iS nart Of the SIU-crew on the Sugar /Siana: (I, lQ r.) Dragtender Bob La Pointe, Ncssmon Jomes Steward. AB Grif McRee, Cook David Strickland and AB Ed Broadus. San Francisco The International Longshoremen and Warehomemcn's Union held a memorial service July 5 to mark 66 810ody Thursday," a 1934 maritime drike where two strikers were shot :and killed and several others wounded. This year, SIU Vice President George McCartney b~iime the fird SIU official to speak at the services. He stressed solidarity and unity among labor unions and welcomed the lLWU back into the "House of Labor." That union's membership recently voted to affiliate with the AFL°CIO. When the Sea-Land Quality hit Port Elizabeth, it was time for payoff. Pictured above is part of the "Quality" crew: (I. tor.) Bosun B.G. Williams, Chief Cook Brantley Young, DEU Ed Padilla, Engine Delegate Chris Beaton, Electrician Dennis Baker and AB and Deck Delegate Jimmy Ocot. August 1988 I LOG I 15 �·Protect Yourself Be SAFE-You Don't Have to be an AIDS Victim Editor's Note; This is the second in a series of articles about AIDS and its impact. The LOG is publishing these articles in an attempt to educate Seafarers about this deadly disease and to help SIU members and their families reduce their risk of contracting AIDS. These articles are written by Dr. Elizabeth Reisman as part of the Seafarers AIDS Forum for Education (SAFE). Reprints of the first article and this one are available by writing to: AIDS Information Office Dr. Elizabeth Reisman SHLSS Piney Point, Md. 20674. "SET A SAFE COURSE" LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT AIDS Man has always been the victim of infectious diseases and epidemics. Yet, today we find ourselves in a state of shock while we muster our forces to fight what seems like the greatest epidemic the world has ever known, AIDS. For many of us this is the greatest epidemic we have ever known. Others, however, can clearly remember other devastating epidemics during their lifetimes, such as tuberculosis and polio. The Battle Against the Spread of AIDS The field of medicine has come a long way in its ability to control the spread of infectious diseases. The 20th century has brought us important tools. These include an understanding of infectious diseases (their causes, how they are spread, and how to prevent their spread), antibiotics, and vaccines. These great advancements have certainly improved the public's health. Unfortunately, these advancements have also given us a false sense of security about infectious diseases-that we have nothing to fear from infectious diseases-that we have conquered the old and shall conquer the new. Herpes was the first clear challenge to this notion. And today we are even more surprised and challenged by AIDS. Few realize how great a challenge this disease poses due to hs uniyueness in nearly all aspects of its activity. AIDS is a newly recognized disease (1981) caused by an unusual virus, a retrovinrn. There are at least 17 different types of AIDS viruses, most of which ar~ found in Afri.;a. The antibodies which the body produces in response to the AIDS virus are unable to fight off the AIDS virus and protect the body from future attacks from this virus. Many people infected with the AIDS virus feel well and experience no symptoms of AIDS. yet can pass it on to others. Others infected with the AIDS virus experience severe damage to the immune system (the body's defense system), unusual infections (opportunistic infections), unusual cancers. and damage to the brain and nervous system. Now we have no vaccine to protect the body from the AIDS virus and no magic bullet to kill the virus in those who are infected. Neither a cure nor a vaccine are expected in the near future despite great efforts in these areas. Smaller advancements are being made, however, in the treatment of opportunistic infections in persons with AIDS and prolonging the lives of AIDS victims. Today the best and the only means which we have to use in the fight against the AIDS virus is education-education about the nature of the di:sea:se, how it is passed on from one person to another, and how it c;an be prevented. We could stop or dramatically slow the spread of the AIDS virus by educating people and by people changing what they do to prevent infection with the AIDS virus. HOW THE AIDS VIRUS IS NOT SPREAD Many other infectious disectses are passed on by casual contact, such as coughing. sneezing or close contact. Such diseases are hard to prevent simply through education and prevention. We all know how hard it is to prevent the spread of a cold or chickenpox. AIDS, however, is different. After nearly seven years of studying persons with AIDS, nonsexual family members who have lived with and cared for AIDS-infec;ted individuals, and health care workers treating AIDS patients, we have learned much. AIDS i:s not passed from person to person by casual. :social contact (e.g., sneezing, coughing. hugging, touching. shaking hands, using swimming pools. sitting next to an infected person, using public toilets, eating at restaurants, etc.) at work, school or other public; plac;es. The AIDS virus is not passed to humans by insects. Although we do know that malaria and yellow fever are passed to humans by mosquitoes, studies have shown that mosquitoes do not pass the AIDS virus to humans. In addition, you will not get AIDS from donating blood since new. sterilized equipment is used each time a person donates blood. Since the spring of 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for the presence of antibodies to the AIDS virus. and the donors have been closely screened. When donated blood shows AIDS antibodies. the blood is thrown out. The blood in the blood banks today is as safe as our current technology can make it (Surgeon General's Report) and far safer than it was before the spring of 1985. 16 I LOG I August 1988 What You Need to Know About Condoms 1. Avoid natural membrane condoms. These are made from lamb intestines. They have small holes which let the very small AIDS virus pass through but not a sperm which is much larger. 2. Only latex condoms should be used. Latex condoms will greatly reduce the chances of infection with the AIDS virus. There is no guarantee, however, that the latex condom will provide 100 percent protection. 3. Not using a latex condom is guaranteed to be risky. 4. The more a user knows about how to use condoms and the more often a user uses a condom, the more effective the condom will be at preventing infection. Failures of condoms to prevent pregnancy are often due to the incorrect and inconsistent use of condoms by the user. 5. Don't make excuses not to use a condom. 6. Buy American brand latex condoms and take them with you on the ship. Condoms sold in the U.S., whether American made or foreign. must meet FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standards. Foreign made condoms sold in foreign countries otherwise do not have to meet these high standards. Some foreign made condoms have failed the FDA leakage tests which prevented their sale in the U.S. 7. Use a latex condom only once. 8. Read the package directions carefully. Follow the directions so the condom is used correctly. 9. The purpose of the condom is to prevent contact with possibly infected semen or vaginal secretions, therefore, use the condom from start to finish. 10 • .The condom may break without some lubrication. For lubrication use only K-Y jelly (waterbased) or contraceptive (spermicidal) cream, jelly, or foam. 11. Don't ever use oil-based jelly or creams (such as petroleum jelly, hand lotion, or oil). these will damage the latex and lead to condom breakage. 12. Condoms containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9 may provide added protection because the spermicide kills the AIDS virus. Condoms can be bought already containing the spermicide or you can apply the spermicide yourself to the inside tip and around the outside of the condom. 13. The vaginal use of a spermicide containing 5 percent nonoxynol-9 (cream, jelly, or foam) with a latex condom will provide the greatest protection. 14. Store latex condoms in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat. Sunlight and heat will break down the latex and lead to condom breakage. 15. Latex condoms placed in a hip pocket should be replaced every month because of the body's heat. 16. Damaged and old condom packages should not be used. Check the package for the expiration date. Do not use after that time. 17. When a latex condom breaks, the woman should immediately insert a spermicidal cream, jelly, or foam containing 5 percent nonoxynol-9 into the vagina. 18. Latex condoms are also believed to prevent many other sexually transmitted diseases. The safety of donated blood in foreign countries, however, varies dramatically. One should not assume that donated blood in a foreign country is tested. This is an important question to ask before receiving blood in a foreign country. A second imponant question to ask is, how important is the transfusion of blood to my recovery? In a life-threatening emergency one may have to risk receiving potentially infected blood to survive. The financial costs of testing donated blood for the AIDS antibody are too great for many poor, developing countries. HOW THE AIDS VIRUS IS SPREAD We have learned that the AIDS virus can be passed from one person to another in three ways: 1) sexual contact between heterosexuals (men and women) and between homosexual or bisexual men; 2) direct transmission of infected blood or blood components into the bloodstream through an opening in the skin or injection with a needle; or 3) infection of the newborns of infected mothers occurring in pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. How to Prevent the Infection with the AIDS Virus How can AIDS be prevented? 1. Know the facts about AIDS. 2. Stop high risk activities or stop doing things which increase your chances of getting infected with the AIDS virus. 3. Continue or begin behavior which lowers your chances of getting infected with the AIDS virus. Don't use IV drugs or share needles and syringes since they may be infected with the AIDS virus. Say .. no" to all mind-altering drugs because they alter judgment and may lead to activities which increase the chances of getting (Continued on Page 17.) �SIU Stewards on the Matsonia Onboard Matson Line ships, an historic West Coast company, Seafarers man the galleys . The Matsonia , recently refurbished and overhauled, was in Los Angeles Harbor at the end of June when photographer Dennis Lundy took these pictures. ~ In the galley are Chief Cook George White (left) and Assistant Cook Justo V. Lopez. Billy Sisto is the offi- ..... cers' B.R. on the Matsonia. Part of the SIU Steward Department on the Matsonia includes (I. to r.) Ruben P. Siclot, crew messman; Justo V. Lopez, assistant cook; SIU Reps Jesse Solis and Mark Federici, and Chief Steward John Wriggins. (Continued from Page 16.) infected with the AIDS virus. Seek treatment for your addiction if you can't say .. no" to drugs or quit. This is an impDrtant sien of addiction and indicates the need for treatment. Contact your Pon Agent for referral to the Seafarers' Addiction Rehabilitation Center if you are in need of treatment. If you are Mt reMy for treatment of your addiction and you use IV drugs , don't share needles and syringes. Use only sterilized needles and syringes. Dispose of needles and syringes carefully out of the reach of children and where other~ cannot be injured and accidentally infected. Use caution whM selectirt~ A. plc'lce to &et ears pierced or to get a tattoo . Go only to a reputable establishment which uses only sterilized equipment. The reuse cf needles which break the skin present a possible risk of infection with the AIDS virus. To prevent infection with the AIDS virus through sexual i;onta~t, individuals must take greater responsibility for how they act sexually. Abstinence (no sex) is the only way to be completely protected. A monogamous relationship (one s~xual oartner) of at lea.st five years or more is ~enernlly considered safe assuming neither partner has been infected with the virus. both partners have been and continue to be absolutely faithful, and neither partner uses IV drugs. Those who decide not to be abstinent and who do not have a long-term monogamous relationship should look at their sexual practices to lower their chances of infection with the AIDS virus. The following are recommendations Which will make sex _.safer: n 1. Be selective about who your sexual partners are. -Avoid casual se~. -Take time to get to know potential sexual partners before c;;onsidering a 5eXUill rellltionship (ask them questions about their sexual histories , previous sexual partners. drug use . AIDS antibody test results etc.) , but remember that many lies have been told in the bedroom. -Don't have sex with multiple partners (more than one) since the more partners you have, the greater your chances are of getting infected with the AIDS virus. Remember. however. that you may get AIDS from just one partner and just one sexual experience. -Avoid sex with persons with AIDS, persons with a positive AIDS antibody test, IV drug users, persons with several sex partners, persons who engage in anal sex, or other persons believed to be at high risk for infection with the AIDS virus, or the sexual partners of any of these persons. You c;;annot 2. 3. 4. S. tell if a person is infected with the AIDS virus simply by looking at him or her. -Avoid sex with prostitutes in the U.S. and throughout the world. The AIDS infection rate among prostitutes in the U.S. and the world is very high , reaching as high as 80-90 percent. Use latex condoms carefully according to their instructions to prevent contact with semen and vaginal secretions. Latex condoms are believed to greatly reduce your chances of getting infected with the AIDS virus when properly used but may not totally eliminate this risk. Avoid oral-genital contact . Avoid practices which injure body tissue, such as anal sex. Anal sex is risky both with and without a condom. Ask yourself whether this sexual experience is worth _dying for. People who believe they are at risk for having been infected with the AIDS virus should not donate blood , semen or body organs since such a gift may be infected with the virus and infect another person. People at risk for infection should recognize that if infected they could unknowingly pass the disease on to others. Therefore , they need to take precautions (such as using latex condoms) to protect others from contact with their body fluids (especially blood, semen, cervical and vaginal secretions, and breastmilk) until they decide to be tested and know for certain that they are not infected. Women who believe they are at risk for having been infected with the AIDS virus and who want to become pregnant should consider having the AIDS antibody test since an infected mother can pass the virus on to her baby. The stress of the pregnancy on an infected mother may also cause the mother's disease to progress more rapidly to AIDS. Women who choose to become pregnant by artificial insemination should be certain that the donor has been tested. Although AIDS is a devastating epidemic, AIDS is a preventable disease. We do not have a cure or vaccine, but we do know how to keep from getting infected with the AIDS virus. If we don ' t learn how to keep from getting infected and change how we act, we may lose the most precious things we have , our lives and our loved ones. Anyone who has concerns regarding AIDS is encouraged to contact the following resources for assistance: State and Local Health Departments across the U.S.: U.S. Public Health Service AIDS Hotline-800-342-AIDS: National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hotline, American Social Health Association- 800-227-8922. August 1988 I LOG I 11 �Marines Invade Pacific Northwest With the assistance of a Maritime Prepositioning Ship, the Pacific Northwest served as a mock invasion site in mid-June during a major exercise testing rapid deployment of Marines and their equipment. The MV Pfc . Dewayne T. Williams , filled with more than 600 tanks , trucks , artillery pieces and other equipment, sailed into Puget Sound June 16 for her role in "Freedom Banner 88 ," an exercise that involved 1,000 Marines and 300 Navy cargo handlers from Southern California. The objective of the exercise was to test the ability to offload cargo from an anchored ship and deliver it to the units ashore for use in combat operations. Supplementing the sealift load were C-14 lB and C-5 cargo planes bringing in most of the troops to McChord Air Force Base and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, airfields in the vicinity of the military reservation near the Indian Island Navy Depot where the Williams was anchored 700 yards offshore. ·The ship· s role in the exercise was The SIU-crewed Pfc Dewayne T. Williams participates in "Freedom Banner 88" exercises in the Pacific Northwest. very successful," said marine cargo specialist Charles McCoy of MSCO Seattle. "There were few problems with the offload. The Marines got their cargo as planned." Because the Williams is a commercial ship, it is subject to agricultural inspections like any private vessel entering the United States from over· Purses .ED1ptied, Hearts Filled In the Philippines, there's the official U.S. embassy in Manila where the American ambassador lives . And then there's Subic Blly Ltbout 50 miles northwest of Manila where many American ambassadors of goodwill reside. Composed of mOlny ~ivil ~ervice mariners , one former M SCPAC mas· ttr and hjs wife , the ambassadors in the latter category recently got together to strengthen the friendship between Americans and Filipinos by donating money and materials to build a day care center for the children of local fishermen. Over a three-month period beginning late last year. a 30-foot by 40foot buildini: was constructed to house about 120 children a day while their parents fished for a living in the South China Sea. The completion of the Matain Fisherman· s Association Child Day Care Center marked the first time in the history of Zambales Province that a building had been donated for community development. The driving forces behind the building were Josh Johnston and his wife Nellie. Johnston, a former MSCPAC master who's now a harbor pilot in Subic Bay , enlisted the aid of his former shipmates aboard several MSC vessels operating out of the Subic Bay area to make the project a reality. Money to purchase i;onstruction ma· terials, along with items no longer A Filipino crowd Qbserves the opening of a child day care center near Subic Bay. 18 I LOG I August i 988 1 seas. But through the efforts of McCoy, the Williams was able to have its agricultural inspection in Guam where the ship is normally part of MPS Squadron Three, thus avoiding a delay in an exercise that had been planned months before. "Freedom Banner 88" was directed by Rear Adm. Francis P. Donovan. commander of Navy Amphibious Group Three in San Diego. The Marines involved in the exercise were part of the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, headquartered in Twentynine Palms. Calif. The brigade already has equipment and supplies aboard Maritime Prepositioning Ships at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. useful aboard such ships as the USNS Spica, Kilauea, Ponchatoula, Passumpsic. Hassayampa, Misoillion, Navasota, Sioux and Catawba, were collected and donated to the fishermen's association. Skilled and unskilJed laborers , working under the supervision and coordination of Nellie Johnston, built the day care center. During the 90-day construction period, fishing boats donated part of their catch and the sale of fish to help buy rice and vegetables to feed the workers and their families. ''Life in the fishing village is grim, to say the least," says Johnston, a retired Naval officer. ''The people live in squatter shacks that most Americans wouldn't use as a tool shed. Their life is one of day-to-day existence without the amenities we take for granted." Donations of money to buy food, along with fish from the association, continue to help feed the children at the day care center who range in age from 3 to 7 years old. Last Christmas, through additional donations of cash and foodstuffs from MSCPAC ships in port at Subic Bay, more than I ,000 packages containing rice, oranges and apples, assorted nuts, milk, potato chips and hard candy were distributed to families in the fishing village. Under Mrs. Johnston's help and guidance. women from the village worked all day to put the food packages together. Other community projects coordinated through COMSCSEA last year with the cooperation of MSCPAC ship crews included the painting of three schools, the restoration of two churches, and the installation of lights for two basketball courts. "'We realize we can't take the weight of the world's problems on our shoulders ," says Johnston, speaking on behalf of his former shipmates and other Navy units in the Subic Bay area, "but we try to do what we can.• • MSCPAC News Briefs . • • . . . Capt. Peter Roder, who served as acting chief staff officer for MSCPAC from January until May when he was relieved by Capt. James Breece, retired from the Navy June 16 after 30 years with the service. In a low key retirement ceremony held at MSCPAC headquarters in Oakland, Capt. Roder admitted he knew little about the command when he went to work for MSCPAC earlier this year. But Roder, the former commanding officer of Naval Station Treasure Island in San Francisco, was a quick learner. By the time he left in June, he said he was impressed with the civilian mariners and the shore staff he worked closely with the past few months. A native of Michigan who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, Capt. Roder and his family intend to return to their permanent home in Virginia. (Continued on Page 19.) �(Continued from Page 18.) . . . MSCPAC mariners Loren E. Massey and Harry Kaspszak were each given LLMSC Mariner Award of Excellence .. citations and $2,000 checks recently for their outstanding service to the command. Massey, a chief engineer aboard the USNS Mizar, was given the award for his work aboard the scientific ship that has brought her up to a level that makes the ship meet her mission requirements with her own propulsion plant, as well as specialized sponsor equipment. Massey, an 11year employee of the command, has been described as a ''mission-ori;nted person who can't be satisfied with a mediocre situation.'' Kaspszak, a refrigeration engineer aboard the USN S Zeus, has demonstrated sustained superior proficiency in his job the past three years. Kaspszak has been labeled ''reliable, safety-conscious, loyal, and imaginative" by his chief engineer, J. Curtin, who nominated Kaspszak for the award. Noted Curtin, "In my 18 years of sailing as an engineer for MSCPAC, I've never seen a better refrigeration engineer and very few unlicensed engine department personnel who can compare with Kaspszak's performance.'' ... The USS Kirk was impressed by her recent underway replenishments with the USNS Kilauea in the Wes tern Pacific. In a brief message June 12, the Kirk said it appreciated the outstanding logistic support rendered by the ilauea. " Both CONREPS e one UNREP scheduled your ship were smanly and professionally e x ecutcd 1 11 said the de· stroy~r. '' Kirk looks forward to our next time alongside the Pacific Fleet's finest AE.'' . . . The USNS Pas.sump.sic became the first MSCPAC ship in almost five yc-.t to undergo an INSURV underwny mnt ·al inspection when she hosted an IN U V inspection team in June . The fled oiler's overall per• formance during the INSURV WM 1 ~onsidered excellent. 'The master, of- ficers and crew of the Passumpsic are commended for their performance during the INSURV inspection," said COMSCSEA's June 17 message to MSCPAC. "The energetic efforts of the ship are recognized and most noteworthy. The Passumpsic has set a fast pace for the rest of our ships to match.'' Preparations for the inspection made by LCDR J. Holland, Dale Krabbenschmidt, Jack Reich, Christine Zarate and Gene Welch of MSCPAC, along with MSCSEA's D. Shibuya, were also commended in the message. ... The MV Cape Ducato, broken out of the Ready Reserve Force last February to participate in Team Spirit 88, returned to San Pedro in late May and was turned back over to the Maritime Administration. Two FSS ships that also participated in Team Spirit 88-USNS Regulus and Bellatrixmade stops at Tacoma and San Pedro in May before returning to Mobile. . . . YN2 Carol Martinez of MSCO Honolulu used the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor as the site for her four-year reenlistment in the Navy recently. Martinez, an MSCPAC Sailor of the Quarter last year, received a flag that flew over the memorial. . . . The commanding officer of MSCO Alaska, Lt. Cdr. K. B. Chamberlain, along with operations officer Ron Kahlenbeck, attended a U.S. Coast Guard pollution response drill in Anchorage recently. A Soviet contingent was also present for the simulated oil spill drill. ... In early 1une 7 Oakland held its 13th annual awards ceremony honoring volunteers who work in the local community. MSCPAC s Sandra Jo n§on was cited as a volunteer Oakland Association Recreation Employee Service Director. ... Former MSCP AC Port Steward Raphael A. Silva, 63 ~ who retired from the command earlier this year with 45 years of federal service, died June 19 after suffering a heart attack. Silva and his wife were in Los Angeles on Father's Day to see their son Chris ordained as a minister. On the drive back to the Bay Area, Silva died near Patterson, Calif. A World War II veteran of the Navy who went on to stay in the service 20 years, he joined MSTSPAC in 1963 as a cook. A few years later he was promoted to steward-baker and then chief steward. Silva came ashore in 1984 when he was named MSCPAC port steward. A big, burly man with a booming voice, Silva frequently bragged about his son to his shipmates-and for good reason. As a member of the UCLA swim team, Chris Silva held an NCAA record at one time and nearly made the 1984 U. S. Olympic team. Over 30 former shipmates and co-workers of Silva attended his funeral and burial June 24 near San Francisco. Pulver, Tellez Win N.J. AFL-CIO Posts Edward B. Pulver, a member of the SIU since 1958, was re-elected by acclamation to a four-year term as secretary-treasurer of the New 1ersey term of a departing member. He was re-elected secretary-treasurer in his own right in 1980, 1984 and again this year. State AFL-CIO. Augustin Tellez was Currently a regional director of the also elected to the Executive Board. Delegates to the 21st Constitutional Convention, held April 11, also reelected State AFL-CIO President Charles H. Marciante to serve his sixth full term as president. They were joined by a 46-member International AFL-CIO, Pulver served as the area COPE director prior to his election as secretary-treasurer. He also serves on the Governor's Commission for Private Industry Committees in New Jersey and was recently appointed to the new state commission slate of candidates selected by the on employment and training. In addi- federation's nominating committee and tion, Brother Pulver serves as presi- elected without opposition to serve on dent of the Hudson County Central Labor Council and is a member of the the State AFL-CIO's Executive Board. Pulver was appointed by the Executive Board in 1977 to fill the unexpired national Executive Board of the Latin American Council on Labor Affairs. M•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••···················· SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Reservation Information Name'. ~~~~--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ S.S. It -------------------------BOOk# ________~ Address~------------------------------~~~~~~~ Telephone II Number in Party Date ot Arrival: i st Choice Your Holida.'Y at the SHLSS Vacation Center: What It Will Cost 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 2nd Choice 3rd Choice (Stay is limited to 2 weeks) Date of Departure Send to; Seafarer5 Training & Recreation Center Piney Point, Md. 20674 (Phone: 301-994-0010) 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. ................................................................................ August 1988ILOGI19 �CL L NP -Company/Lakes -Lakes -Non Prioritv Directory of Ports Dispatchers Report for Great Lakes JULY 1-31, 1988 "'TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac . ... . .... . . . ....... 0 11 7 0 4 4 0 5 3 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac .. ............ ..... Port Algonac ... . . ...... . ....... 13 0 Jack Caney, Vice President DECK DEPARTMENT 19 0 38 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 13 0 8 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 5 9 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 Port Algonac .. ... . . ... ... . .. . .. 18 Michael Sacco, President Joseph Sacco, Executive Vice President Angus "Red" Campbell, Vice President Joe DIGlorglo, Secretary **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 4 0 2 0 3 Thomas Glidewell, Vice President George McCartney, Vice President John Fay, Vice President Roy A. Mercer, Vice President Steve Edney, Vice President 2 0 HEADQUARTERS 0 Totals All Depanments ........ 0 0 32 33 56 36 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 . 7 7 16 10 • 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 Dispatchers Report for Deep Sea JULY 1-31, 1988 *TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups All Groups Class A Class B Class C Class A 48 8 3 6 14 8 5 43 Port Class C DULUTH, Minn. **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Reliefs Class A Class B 94 4 13 4 5 7 6 9 Class C DECK DEPARTMENT New York ..... . .. . .. . .. Philadelphia ...... . ... . .. Baltimore .. . ........ . .. Norfolk . . ..... ..... ... . Mobile . .. .. .... . . .. ... New Orleans .. ...... . ... Jacksonville .. . .......... San Francisco .... . . . ..... Wilmington ........... . . Seattle . ..... ... ....... Puerto Rico ............. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 11 18 13 34 21 31 18 41 23 Honolulu .... .. ..... . . .. . Houston . , .. .... . .. . 7 31 Piney Point . • ........ ... . Toh1l1 . ... .. ...... . ... , 0 6 J02 St. Lou i ~ ............... . Port New York .. . .. . .. . ..... . Pn11aoe1pn1a ............. . Baltimore ..... . . ... , , , , , NOrfOll< . .. ... .. ........ . MOtllle ... . . , , , .... , , , .. New Qrlg;ms ..... . . Jacksonville ..... . , , .. ... . San ~rancisco ........... . . Wilmington .. , .... ...... . Seattle ... .. .... . . . .... . filuerto Rico ........ ... .. . Hon{llUIU ' ' ' ' ' . ' . ' ' ' ... . Houston .......... . St. LOUIS ••••••• ..... Pin@y Point . .. ..... . . . .. , Totals . ........ ..... . 24 2 6 8 7 14 15 20 6 28 5 5 29 1 2 2 9 1 8 2 8 1 5 7 8 11 6 1 5 7 1 9 A4 2 3 2 0 9 1 3 5 0 4 0 9 4 1 4 15 6 242 80 55 73 21 0 7 2 11 0 3 7 17 7 19 13 i3 5 3 is 1 173 45 az 17 0 0 14 3 7 0 l 6 9 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 1 0 3 4 0 2 4 2 2 144 6 5 6 4 2 0 3 2 7 7 22 18 6 2 12 5 34 , 5 0 , 8 16 4 25 2 4 24 17 16 3 3 6 13 0 0 5 5 11 1 5 0 4 4 2 4 61 2 1 0 3 0 0 5 3 7 10 1 2 6 1 5 8 4 6 3 s ENGINE DEPARTMENT 4 0 1 0 1 0 B 1 1 0 2 4 2 2 2 4 1 6 4 0 6 44 9 2 , 0 2 0 3 1 0 2 2 9 1 4 4 3 7 3 7 2 0 0 38 0 g 2 0 3 28 17 23 16 70 57 49 30 66 29 9 45 0 1 506 54 6 6 11 10 31 43 30 14 39 2 0 9 9 1 0 7 7 0 3 3 0 3 3 1 1 11 4 Pn11aae1cn1a .••.. ... . . Baltimore ..... . .... ... , , NOrfOll< • , • , •• , , ........ . 0 0 Mobile ... . ... . ....... . . Ntw Orleans ...... .. , .. . . 15 Wilmington ............. . ,, , 5 9 3 16 1 13 0 s 0 3 Jacksonville • , . , . .. .. . San fomci3co ............ , Seattle . ...... . .... . .. , , Puerto Rico ........ . . Honolulu . ...... .. , , , , , , , Hou~ton ...... . ........ . St. Louis ........ .. . .. .. . Piney Point ... . ...... , , , , 1a1a111 .... ......... . 13 39 23 15 0 4 Fr~nclsco . ............ WilmingtM .. . ... , , , , , , , , Seanle ............... . . 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 0 35 11 2 2 15 18 2 5 10 0 13 0 1 2 6 5 3 12 5 30 5 18 St. LOUIS . .. , , .... ...... . 3 5 0 Piney Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 113 1 6 5 13 1a 9 12 5 55 5 5 1 139 0 4 0 5 5 2 0 14 0 5 24 13 1 9 3 16 11 0 18 0 1 1 0 n 2 2 6 1 3 57 17 1 2 1 25 Honolulu .............. . . Totals All Depa11men1a .... , . 4 11 4 55 s Totals . .. ...... .. . ... . . 0 0 155 Puerto Rioo .... . .. , , , , , , , Houston ............. . . , 4 3 0 0 0 4 118 Port New York .............•. Phila<lelohia . ..... ...... . . BJltimore .............. . Norfolk ............... , , Motllle . .. . . . .. .. .. ... . New OrleJns . . ... . Jacksonville . . ... , , . , . , , , . 2 9 1 0 1 4 2 9 1 ENTRY oePAATMENT 11 6 2 0 5 0 9 3 9 7 19 7 12 7 12 7 4 6 4 65 8 2 0 1 2 8 147 230 85 155 341 348 589 336 3 3 6 4 11 1 2 1 178 1 0 2 705 Medical Arts Building 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU, Hawaii 636 Cooke St. 96813 (808) 523-5434 0 3 1 8 2 17 HOUSTON, Tex. 1221 Pierce St. 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 3315 Liberty St. 32206 (904) 353-0987 93 45 JERSEY CITY, N.J. 99 Montgomery St. 07302 9 2 0 6 2 1 (201) 435-9424 7 8 1 2 2 6 g 6 4 1 2 MOBILE, Ala. 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 36605 (205) 478-0916 3 NEW BEDFORD, Mass. so Union St. 02740 (617) 997-5404 a10 5 77 0 2 30 NEW ORLEA S, La. 630 Jackson Ave. 70130 (504) 529-7546 6 0 1 39 5 3 2 0 7 14 1 29 6 3 8 0 76 17 35 5 2 6 27 1 3 12 0 7 10 4 43 0 4 1 8 0 0 5 1 SUWARD D~PARTMENT l'ort N@w York ......... . .... . San Class B Trip 5443 Ridge Rd. 44129 (216) 845-1100 2 88 0 1 119 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 25 4 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 4 5 4 5 3 9 12 4 0 17 2 0 6 3 0 0 2 39 5 33 3 6 5 5 12 3 1 10 5 5 12 29 13 36 7 18 11 15 10 33 17 5 1 132 5 0 7 77 12 218 0 15 7 10 0 1 ll 229 217 267 325 230 1,336 456 381 0 7 115 Third St. 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 2604 S. 4 St. 19148 (215) 336-3818 0 39 30 7 53 NORFOLK, Va. 15 &g 5 675 4 Ave., Brooklyn 11232 (718) 499-6600 2 291 2 NEW YORK, N.V. 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 4 •"Total Registered " means the number of men who actually reg istered 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. ST. LOUIS, Mo. 4581 Gravois Ave. 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON, Calif. Shipping in the month of July was down from the month of June. A total of 1,480 jobs were shipped on SIU·contraeted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,480 jobs shipped, 589 jobs or about 40 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by 8" 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 8,088 jobs have been shipped. 11 20 I LOG I August 1988 510 N. Broad Ave. 90744 (213) 549-4000 �Final Departures-Deep Sea ••• Edwin Alston Died July 5, 1988 John Cole, 79 Jerry Phipps Bellevue, Wash. Slidell, La. Raymond Anders()n, Died April 15, 1988 Joined Union 1937 Died June 11, 1988 Joined Union 1969 Roy Pritchett, 75 55 Sumterville, Fla. Died May 23, 1988 Joined Union 1970 Sing Dea, 66 San Francisco, Calif. Died May 30, 1988 Joined Union 1955 Mobile, Ala. Died June 21, 1988 Joined Union I964 Schueter Heimila William Schueter, 66 Orchard Park, N.Y. Died June 21, 1988 Erik Heimila, 73 Ronkonkoma, N. Y. Died June 25, 1988 Joined Union 1968 Johnny Johnson, 69 San Francisco, Calif. Died May 31, 1988 Joined Union 1942 Fegan Balderston James Balderston, 95 Burlingame, Calif. Joined Union 1946 Daniel Fegan, 70 Sparks, Nev. Died June 21, 1988 Joined Union 1956 Early Joyner, 79 Woodside, Del. Died July 9, 1988 Joined Union 1955 Harry Bammarito, 66 Glouchester, Mass. Died December 12, 1987 Joined Union 1980 Virginia Burley Strite Died April 28, 1988 San Francisco, Calif. Died April 28, 1988 Joined Union 1956 San Francisco, Calif. Died May 2, 1988 Joined Union 1951 Fleming George Fleming, 78 Springhill. FJa. \Villiain Lewis, 73 Hot Springs, Ark. Died June 6, 1988 Died June 10, 1988 Joined Union 1958 Joined Union 1940 Pedro Flores, 79 McDonal~ Newport News , Va. Herbert Died June 9, 1988 Joined Union 1947 70 San Francisco, Calif. Died June 9, 1988 Joined Union 1973 Rome Flowers, 84 Los Angeles, Calif. Died May 16, 1988 Joined Union 19.51 Bu~klOY mbeth G.-eenberg Evelino Zugna, 71 Trieste, Italy Joined Union 1946 Milton Thrash, 63 Lockesburg, Ark. Died April 16, 1988 Joined Union 1965 Quartararo Joseph Quartararo, 72 Stroudsburg, Pa. Died June 26, 1988 Joined Union 1957 Howard Ross, 63 Bald Knob. Ark. Died July 2, 1988 Joined Union 1960 Auldeon Sharp Hilario Misay Died May 27, 1988 Died February 23, Jack Shishido, 71 1988 Alameda, Calif. 1 Princess Ann, Md. Died December 5, 1987 Joined Union 1961 Thrash Harry Leng, 74 Loreto Bello, 77 George Waller, 73 San Francisco, Calif. Died May 11, 1988 Joined Union 1946 Antonio Pubill, 65 Sweden Died December 6, 1987 Joined Union 1957 Seattle, Wash. Died May 13, 1988 Joined Union 1951 Wallen George Wiley, 65 Pu bill Curt Larson, 82 V astra Frolunda, Gordon Barnard, 76 San Francisco, C Died May 8 Joi nion 1946 ~'A'!' William VanArkel, 86 Rotterdam, Holland Died May 3, 1987 Joined Union 1940 Jack E. Sweeny San Francisco Gustavo Vides New Orleans Pazely VanMillican, 71 Tampa, Fla. Died June 4, 1988 Houston R. White Jacksonville Joined Union 1943 Stanley Zebrowski Philadelphia Hubert Whaley, 67 INLAND Cecil R. Evans Jacksonville John Buckley, 65 New Orlean~ 1 La. Died June l4, 1988 34 Richard Miyahira, 75 Died May 14, 1988 Annapolis, Md. Died July 5, 1988 Honolulu, Hawaii Died-April 16, 1988 Joined Union 1950 Charles Shirah Died April 29, 1988 Joined Union 1944 Joined Union 1988 Joined Union 1939 Died June 10, 1988 Joined Union 1942 Los Angeles, Calif. Sidney Faucett Pensioners Arthur J. McGinnis New Orleans William L. Osborne Jacksonville DEEPSEA Thomas L. Arnutrl)ng Jacksonville Esper Perdi New Orleans James A. Hollen Houston Michael G. Kovenz Seattle Eusebio Rodriguez Santurce Mack Carruthers Enrique R. Gonzalez Houston Leon R. Curry New York Guillermo Grajales Santurce Robert J. Henninger Baltimore Joseph W. Istre New Orleans James M. Meekins Norfolk Stanley J. Paul Anthony Goncalves Nodolk Florian R. Clarke Baltimore Adell Gauthier Mobile Norman B. Nelson Algonac Seattle James Botana Jacksonville Philadelphia Norfolk James F. Shannon New York Charles W. Shores Philadelphia Donavan J. Hughes San Francisco Vincent McCloskey Peter A. Siems San Francisco Jacksonville John C. Ward Baltimore August 1988 I LOG I 21 - �Ship of Fools ''Oh sailors, sailors, why do you sail the ocean blue?'' "We sail in search of afar away land, though a barstool and bed would do. We turn to long days, and stand watch all night, with stars in the heavens burning so bright (we quietly pray for a guiding light). The Lord takes care of sailors and fools .. who work those ships like two/egged mules, and who don't know when those mighty storms will fall upon them. Some on the ship will cry infear, and others will laugh though death is near, knowing sailors and ships consigned to the deep will have Davey Jones there to lull them to sleep!" Leonard Ching receives his first pension check from Honolulu Port Agent Tom Fay (left). Ching sailed with the old Matson ships in the steward department. Charles "Sonny" Herrera GED Student, SHLSS. Personal William Seiderhoff Alexander Brooseuk (left) is handed his first retirement check by Wilmington Port Aeent Don Anderson. Brosseuk, who liYcJ in Long Beach, Calif,, sailed as QMED. William Brack (left) is handed his first pension check by New York Port Agent Kcrmett T, Mangram. Please contact Margie Hastings, 7001 96th Ave., Seabrook, Md. (301) 5779430, regarding a reunion of the Class of 1943. KNOW YOUR RIG s '. - ~ KNOW~. YOUR RIGHTS \ CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBL TIONS. Copie" of the SIU constitution are availahle in all Union hall~. All mcmher~ should ohtain copies f this FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atluntic, Gulf. Lake~ and Inland Waters District makes specific provi~ion for ~afeguarding the membership's money :md Union finances . The constitution requires a <SetuilelJ uuc.tit h Ceninnl Puhlic Accountants every three rnontns. wnich ure to be whmiued to the membership by the Sccrctary-Trcasurer. A quarterly finance committee of rnnk and file members. elected by the memhcnhip. nnlcn cu.mim:ition each quarter of tne finances o( the l.Jnion :ind reportl\ lully their findings and recommen<.lattons. Member(, of this committee may make dissenting rcporb, 81.'C<:ific recommend~tion!> :o1ml separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All tru!;t funds of the SlU Atlantic. Gulf, Lakes :.rnJ Inland Watfrs Disrricc are aumini~tered tn accoru~nce with the provi"ions of variom trust fund agreements. All the8C ugr~~nwnt!> ~pee if y th<:t.t the trustees in chur~c of these funds shall equ~lly com:ist of Union :rnJ management representatives und tneir alternate!>. All t;>xpemJitures an<l <lishuncmcnb of trust funds are made only upon approv::il hy :i majority of the trustees. All trust HmtJ fimmcbl recor<lx lire: i1Vilih1blc llt the headquarters of the various m.1st funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively hy the contracts between the Union ::ind the employcr5. Let to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contract:\ ilre posted and available in 411 Union halls . If you feel th~r\' has been any violation Of YOUr &hipping Or ~cniority righb as contained in the contracts netw11en the Union ~m<l the employers. notify the Scutarers Appeals Bmml tly certified nuiL return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Angw "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seiafaren Ap~ Board !lOI AUlb Way imd Brilllnniia Wlly Prince Georaes County Camp Springs, Md. l0746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to ybu at o.11 times, ~ilher \ly writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Apprnls Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU htills. These contracts specify the wage:s and conditions under which vou work and live aboard your i;hip or bo:At. Rnow you; contract rights. as well as your ohligaticns. such as filing for OT on the proper sheets and in the proper milnner. If. at any time, any SIU 22 I LOG I August 1988 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS constitution so a~ to familiarize themselves with its contents . Any time you feel any memher or officer is attempting to ueprive you of any comt1tut1onal right or ohligation by any methods such :t '- dealing with churgcs. trials. etc .. u'.i well us all o ther uetail!., then the memhcr '!O uffected shoul<l immediately notit"y headquarter'- . EQUAL RIGHTS. All memoers are guaranteed equal rights in employment an<l as memhers of the SIU. The~e rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts v..hich the Union has ncgotiutcd with the employers . Consequently, no men1her may he Ji<;enmi nateu against hecam.c of ruce. creed. color. sex and national or gcogrnphic origin. If any mcmher feels that he i<; denied the equal rights to which he is entitled. he should notify Union headquurters. 11111111u1111t111111nll111111lll1111111ll1111111H1111111111111111111111111n1111111111111111111111111111111 patrolman or other Union offi~ial, in your opinion, f:ails to protect your contruct rights properly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY -THE LOG. The Log has trnditionully refr~ine~ from puhlis.hing any article serving the political purposes or any individual in the Union. officer or mernher. It has al'\o refrained from publishing articles deemed hurmful to the Union or its collective membership . This cstublished policy hus been reaffirmed by memhcrship action at the Scptemhcr. I 9fi0. meetings in ull constitutional ports . The responsihility for Log policy is vested in an cuitoriul hoaru which consists of the Executive Boan.I of the Union. The Executive Board may uelegate, from among its ranb. one individuul to carry out this rc8ponsitiility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to he paid to anyone in ;.m~ official capacity in the SIU unless an official Union receipt is gi en for same. Under no circumstances should any memher puy any money for any re~1son unlcs5 he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment tie made without supplying a receipt. or if a mcmher 1'.i required to m~fkc a payment anu is given an otlicial receipt. but feels that he should not have hcen rcquircu to make such payment. this shoulu immeJiately he reportcJ to union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION -SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its ohjects and purposes including. but not limited to, furthering the political. social and economic interests of maritime worker~. the preservation and furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and hoatmcn and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such ohjects. SPAD supports and contrihutes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions ure voluntary. No contrihution may be solicited or received hccuuse of force. joh discrimination. financial reprisal. or threut of such conduct, or as a condition of membership in the Union or of employment. If a contribution is made hy reason of the ahove improper conduct. notify the Seafarers Union or SPAD hy certifie<l mail within 30 Jays of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund. if involuntury. Support SPAD to protect and further your economic. political and ~ocial interests. and American trnde union concepts. It at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has bttn denied bis constitutional right of acces.s to Union records or information, he should inunaliately notify SIU President Frank Drozak at Headquar1ers by certified mail, return receipt requested. The add~ iS 5201 Auth way and Britannia Way, Prince Georges County, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. �'And a Special Thanks to the Steward Dept.... ' June 30, 1988 The Crew of the USNS INDOMITABLJ!J ('ragas 7) Se/darers hlte.rnat1anal Union BBOB Jl'1rst Ave. Seattle, 'Wash.9BlBl From: ':Po: Ch1e:t Cook, James B. Willey S4B 4B 4839 Subj: SIU member s1n.ce 1970 Inland '~" If you have any more 18-year tug boat veterans like Jim, get them out here on the deep sea ships. They are a welcome change from the "can opener and fresh frozen" cooks that have been finding their way into the galley. The Crew S.H. Shields Ship's Chairman book #WB443 Gentlemen: We are writing in regards to Chief Cook James E. Willey who has been aboard our ship for the past 60-day voyage. He has recently shipped-out of the Seattle hall as a DEEP SEA "C" group steward department member. Mr. Willey is the most talented chef With whom we have ever sailed. We have found, as the trips are long and without port calls, that well prepared meals are the high points of otherwise repetitive and routine days. His inventive menus consist of homemade soups: vegetable, chicken, cream of celery, cream of potato, oyster and fish chowder (New England or Southern style). All his main entree vegetables, whether canned or fresh, are enhanced with other ingredients to produce an appealing flavor. His deep fried foods are always cooked in clean oil with a batter which produces that golden brown appearance. (Favorites being his special recipes for fish cakes, or banana fritters). Another favorite is his home made cakes, pies and Sunday morning baked specialities. The only complaints we have (crews always have complaints) is that everyone is getting too fat; maybe the finest compliment a cook can receive. Chief Cook James E. Willey (third from left) is an 18-year Inland veteran who recently shipped as C-card aboard the T-AGOS Indomitable. His culinary skills wowed the crew, and they sent the accompanying letter. He is pictured above with the captain, chief mate and Sea Mobility Inc. representative. Scouts Get Chance to 'Talk Union' at MTD 'A Personal Thanks • • • ' I w1sll. to tak.., thi~ time to pemonally thank you for the aid given me for my brother TraviB F. DMn during rus stay 1n Hlllllaven ConvaJaaoant ana. Nurslllg Home in Mobile. Without your help , I could not nave a.rtorclecl 1t. Thanks again, ancl ma.y <lod bless and ca.re for you. st.neerely, Beulah Dean Brooks Mobile, Ala. 'SIU Forward, Always .•. ' Seventeen young Scouts, both boys and girls, recently completed a two-week stay at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The program is sponsored by the Maritime Trades Department and the SIU. It is designed as a "learning" vacation. The all-expenses paid trip aives the Scouts a taste of the seafaring life, labor history, the union movement and chance to see the sights of the nation's capital. Above, SIU President Mike Sacco speaks to the Scouts about the SIU. Below, Robert Harbrant, president of the Food and Allied Service Trades Department, meets with the Scouts. I Wlsll to tha.llk the Seafarers Pension Plan and iM lea.derarup for sending me my pension check on time every month. Wltnout lt, my wife and I wouldn't be having the quality of llfe that we are enjoying now. I also would like to thank the Seafarers Welfare Plan for paying all of my medical billa tha.t Merucare a.oesn't pay. We clo not know what kind of llfe we woUla nave Without the help of the SID. We nave oome a long way since I became a member bMk 1n February 1944. I was always proud to have been a. member of a flne UIUon such as the Seafarers. When my wife and I gc to the pons to vote on November 8, we will keep 1n mllld aJl of the U.S. Publlo Health hospitals and clinics that the Rea.gan ad!runistratlon has closed down, denying us our health care that was rightfully ours !or many, many years. We W1ll vote for the party that will go to bat for the naionaJ maritime industry- and labor. Wiahing an pensioners and active members a good life. SIU forward, always. Sincerely, Johll. N. Ch1orra C-41 o Dougiassvtne, Pa. August 1988 I LOG I 23 �Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO Washington Report Democrats united behind a Dukakis-Bentsen ticket at an electric four-day convention which highlighted the themes that the party intends to use in this year's presidential campaign. Stressing his commitment to public service and ethical standards in government, Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis castigated the Reagan administration's record on drug abuse and foreign policy. He promised to focus his energies onjob creation, family care and economic growth if he is elected president in November. One of the highlights of the convention was the speech delivered by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson who urged Democrats to find "common ground." Saying that we are all "patches in a quilt," Jackson promised to campaign on behalf of the ticket. Aside from three relatively minor skirmishes over the platform, there were few controversies. While they maintained a relatively lowkey profile, unions affiliated with the AFLCIO sent a record number of delegates. The Democrats left the convention convinced they had projected a winning image. Both the polls and political commentators tended to bear this out. ''This is a party hungry for victory,'' said Tom Brokaw of NBC News. Polls had Gov. Dukakis and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) running 18 points ahead of Vice President Geor.ee Bush. Dukakis Touring Sea-Lanct•s massive container facilities in Tacoma, Wash., Dukaki:s accused the administration of squandering huge amounts of money in Pentagon scandal~ at a time when military commanders in Eurooe can't get equipment because the government has failed to maintain adt:quate sea-lift capability . Dukakis made a dramatic entrance. He rode a tug to a waterfront rally where he was 2reeted by interested members of the maritime community as well as Indian leaders who wanted to hear his views on matters dealing with their tribal claims. Dukakij al:so used the occasion to reiterate his SUJ'tmrt of a plant closing bill, which had passed bQth the House and Senate by vetoproof margins after it had been introduced separately from the trade bill. Commenting on that issue, the AFL-CID News said that Hefection-jittery Republicans [are appealing] to President Reagan to let the plant closing notification bi11 become law.•• Democrats and Maritime - Dukakis will release a detalled maritime position paper soon, according to reports from his <;amp. He has met with Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), chairman of the Senate Merchant Marine Subcommittee. The party platform adopted at the Atlanta convention did not deal with specifics on maritime. Earlier in the campaign, Dukakis said he was disturbed by the decline in the U.S. merchant marine and pledged to work with August 1988 Congress to develop a national maritime policy. International Registries The maritime industry has an important stake in the outcome of this year's presidential election. "Whoever is elected the next president of the United States," said Joe Sacco, executive vice president of the SIU, .. will determine the fate of the American-flag merchant marine.'' One of the most pressing challenges facing the maritime industry is a worldwide debasement of national registries. All over the globe, from the Far East to Western Europe, there is a move to relax existing national standards. Last year Norway unveiled a second national registry. Other European countries have been studying its development with interest. This past month, Japan's Ministry of Transportation recommended that domestic shipping companies in that country hire foreign crews to slash operating costs. Sea-Land Sea-Land is actively seeking support for legislation S. 2510, which would grant operating subsidy eligibility to 12 foreign-built SeaLmd ships. The bill was introduced by Sen. Daniel Inouye ( - awaii . Robert L Hintz, chairman of Sea-Land, said passage of the bill is LLvitally important to Sea-Land remaining competitive in foreign commerce." The subsidy would cover only the 12 D9J vessels which were built in Japan and Korea in the early 1980s. Canadian Diversion The diversion of American cargo through Canadian ports has once again become a matter of concern to officials in the maritime industry, according to reports carried in The Journal of Commerce. The Maritime Administration has reported that the value of American import and export shipments routed through Canadian ports hit a record high in 1986. Legislative, Administrative and Regulatory Happenings Drug Testing · The Coast Guard has unveiled a plan to test virtually all American seamen for drug and alcohol abuse. Interested parties have until Sept. 8 to comment on the proposal. The plan would cover all phases of a mariner's employment: pre-employment testing, random tests after employment, tests for those people where there is ''reasonable cause to suspect abuse'' and routine tests after accidents. ''The problem [of drug and alcohol abuse] in the maritime industry is increased by the fact that personnel often Ii ve onboard their vessels for long periods of time," said one Coast Guard official, who estimated that the use of alcohol and drugs contributed to 75 deaths between 1981 and 1986 and caused $6.5 million in damages. The SIU is going over the proposal and readying a response before the Sept. 8 deadline. Fishing Talks South Korea has promised to reduce tariffs on 16 different kinds of U.S. fish products by 1993, but has rejected U.S. demands to open up its domestic markets to other kinds of fish imports. The talks between the United States and South Korea were part of a larger effort to curb the $10 billion trade deficit that South Korea enjoys with this country. Minimum Wage Action on the minimum wage bill is expected before the end of this session of Congress. Meanwhile, the list of supporters grows long_er every day. The latest institution to back an increase in the minimum wage is The Washington Post, which noted that "as a matter of simple justice the minimum wage can and should be increased now.'' Dealing with the argument that' 'most people don't stay at minimum wage jobs for long," the Post noted that this ''looks through the wrong end of the telescope. It's true that most people on the minimum wage aren't poor. It's also true that an awful lot of poor people are at or near the minimum wage." S111ar Imports The Reagan administration has eased restrictions on the amount of sugar that can be imported into this country. This has caused a great deal of concern to domestic sugar-growing interests, including the Sugar Workers Union, which is an affiliate of the Seafarers International Union of North America. The administration took this step as a result of the drought in the midwest. Fifty percent of all domestic sugar comes from North Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan, all of which have been hard hit by the drought. The rest of American sugar comes from Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii and Texas. SIUNA members of the Sugar Workers Union are employed mainly in processing plants in California. 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 August 1988 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES THE ROVER CREW- A CREDIT TO THE U.S. U.S. COMPANY OPENS ‘ONE-STOP’ FLAG SHOP U.S. TAX DOLLARS HELP FUND LATEST FOC REGISTRY BARGE LINE TAKEOVER PUTS JONES ACT IN JEOPARDY SIU CHARGES SEAMEN DENIED JOBS DUE TO UNION TIES SEA-LAND SUBSIDY BILL INTRODUCED COAST GUARD ISSUES TOUGH NEW DRUG TESTING PROPOSAL LONG NEW BEDFORD STRUGGLE COULD END WITH CONTRACT OK OLD LIBERTY SHIP FINDS A HOME IN BALTIMORE SIU BOATMEN IN MOBILE TUG INDUSTRY SAYS DROUGHT COULD COST $150 MILLION NOTICE NATIONAL MARINE SERVICE EX-EMPLOYEES SIU/SHLSS HOSTS MTD AWARD SCOUTS MARINES INVADE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PURSES EMPTIED, HEARTS FILLED MSCPAC NEWS BRIEFS… PULVER, TELLEZ WIN N.J. AFL-CIO POSTS THE SIU IN WASHINGTON DUKAKIS CANDADIAN DIVERSION SEA-LAND FISHING TALKS MINIMUM WAGE SUGAR IMPORTS DEMOCRATS AND MARITIME Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/1/1988 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 8/1/1988 1988 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/6345ee6fa396516c6511de324829c253.PDF 968998285d2432b8ebb3a64b7530d715 PDF Text Text r ;:T- =!^?^"^^s.f;.:-,\ :^.$i;;i.''f-; /^••v::;^x:,"'-r:;-fU ::; -v/v^v :.^::':.!C^ ,^n ;' -•.-v- _;'• • •-• • V.K-'',?•''^ I •'• SEAEUCEMCS mm\ Volume Sis Number 8 Augusts 1989 V' Hormone-Free Beef on its Way to Europe SlU, Texas Ranchers Joii 4- •-••y--' :scn oocc- j,^ —i>o oaozo >-t -n-H7:o totn m-<0 0-«a: <• o 2>t-<X •H (/)•-•c.rmooo o o-i o oozo I o • I—<1—• N-.y-'yyi^-- CO Exemption Means Big Savings , / - \V^ w A / / U) ZO I > f o w Texas State Ag. Commissioner Hightower with hormone-free beef. " i: • CO a Velemns^ Pmperiy Tax BntA - Troops Train on Union School's Crane . T-T-M. Delpercio Jr., Director of Ship Operations, Maritime Administration W7J t y ^ IWHhoat the competence, professionalism and endurance of the ship's officen and crew fUs effort [operatioii Cobra Gold '89] would not hove met wHh success. .." ^^olonel L. N. Kinney, Military Traffic Management Command Transix>rtatioh i -y Terminal Command Far East -^^jM f,-V: -j- Lawrence Giandln] in the oraran management of the uessel, as well as the cooperative approach toward all of the vessePs safety and operational procet ... and mnintmMmce propam... exhHiits profenionalism of the high^ order." —^John W. Morrison, Senior Vice President, Oceaii Shipholding, Inc. "All of the crew was very courteous ... and provided exceptional service ..." —Alan and Betty Kruse Army personnel are trained in the handling of cargo using a Hagglund crane through an arrangement with the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The new commander of the U.S. Army Trans­ portation Center, M^or General Sam Wakefield, recently inspected the site where his troops learn to operate the 16-ton twin boom crane. Story on page 3. SIU crews continue to win praise for the quality of their services. The citations above, copies of which have been received by the LOG in the past few weeks, are excerpts from commendations awarded to Seafarers. For full stories see pages 5 and 6. • Page 26 = y• •y 'Syw, -y iyyiy-y.' "On bdbolf of lite Maiifc ili^inisMiifiOii, it ghws me great pieoswie to extemli my appreciation to your menri^ . The profesrionaihm they diqiiayed pn «i|hHation Solid Shield'89] was traly exemplaiy. . •; i >• m iinrsftife miumnneK SIU Crews Cited for Skills -;s6s^ •• ' y^y Kiil; . -T ^ yy; r';;- .• y./ y|. 'I y �^ Si; President's Report The cruise ship business continues to be an area of intense activity in many parts of the world, with the exception, of course, in the United States. More and more people are turning to ships as the place to spend their vacations and holidays, with Americans appearing to be the biggest customers. Other than the two SIUmanned cruise ships, the SS Independence and the SS Constitution, which are in the Hawaiian islands service, all deep sea passenger ship operations are exclusively foreign-flag. Yet more than 60 large foreign-flag cruise ships are operating in and out of American ports. And with new ships to come off the ways, others are being refurbished. One major operator. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, with vessels under Panamanian and other foreign registries sailing in and out of Florida ports, has just ordered a 2,600 passenger ship to be built by a French shipyard. The French government is subsidizing the construction with 26 percent of the cost. This will be the third in a series of new vessels for the seven-ship Royal Caribbean fleet. A 2,200-passenger vessel. Sovereign of the Seas, was put into service December 1987, another will be ready in March 1991, From the standpoint of the American passenger at least, many of these operations leave much to be desired. Some who sailed recently aboard one of the larger ships report that the multinational crew's unfamiliarity with the English language could be a real problem in a shipboard emergency. Of particular concern to them was the less than total seriousness which surrounded lifeboat drills. And that brings to mind the current beef resulting from an uncontrolled fire last year in the engine room aboard the Bahamianregistered SS Scandinavian Star operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the fire and issued a finding that the accident was caused by poor maintenance, inadequate crew training and the lack of emergency fire-fighting procedures. To protect the passengers sailing aboard such vessels, the Board has called upon Congress to enact legislation that would require foreign-flag passenger vessels operating from and to U.S. ports to comply with the same safety rules that apply to U.S. ships. The Board's proposals make sense, especially since the operations of the foreign-flag ships will take advantage of the lower standards governing their operators as evidenced by the employment of inadequately trained crews who are responsible for an overwhelipingly American passenger list. Already, as would be expected, there is opposition to the bill. The best all around answer—^the one which the SIU is committed ,.' -"i hM' :f t.L'frv. V'•' i,v5 •; •.••' '.•.'•-::v,''} •; ': ":>• .:.,v ' i • liid^ to ,1 I --•v.-i • ] ) I I ^ V A. tvO • . Chaage of Address Fom •pi:' ^ 41. I 'l- n :Si • ^ 21 • ••. : hfdtice .26 1 Dispatcher Report/Deep Sea 19 I' Dispatcher R^r^Inland .20 ' Dispatcher Report/Great Lakes 20 f Final D^iartures ^four• Rights...v.,.21; Ard ^^rectcnry. •... * ...-*........ •..... .'.i--.... .26 ,Letters'tbthe.Editor.....12Lundeberg School Application 27 Lundeberg School Course Schedule .27 inndeberg Schocd Graduates 16 I ..tJMiccting blotice . • *................ ...........20 '.^^nsioners 17-'18 iip.'.s. .IMhnuteS'.........«..«......». .'i..... 22—23 inHMi...'Hall DirectOiy .v...>19 Volume 51, Number 8 •v ' -i SEAFARCRSLOG _V:••;••.. .Vi-i'-.- August, 1989 LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 fAuth'he Way; (2amp Springs, Maryland 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Prince Geoiges, 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 F^sident Collective Bargaining, Angus "Red" CampbeO; Vice President Atlantic Coast, Jack CafTey; Vice President Gulf Coast, Thomas Giideweil; Vice President West Coast, George McCartney; Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters, John Fay; Vice President Government Services, Roy Mercer. Communications Department Director, Jessica Smith-, Managing Editor, Mike Hall; Associate Editors, Daniel Duncan. Max Hall and Deborah Greene. to pursue—is the development of a program that would put U.S.-fiag passenger ships into the cruise services, most particularly those that sail in and out of American ports. The Value of Training With the current focus on the quality of seamanship and training, it is very gratifying to realize that the SIU is on the right track in emphasizing the importance of the union's Lundeberg School of Seamanship. We are continually being reminded of the value of the school's courses of instruction that are available to all SIU men and women. For example, in this particular issue of the Seafarers LOG there are several items pointing to the professionalism, skills and seamanship that are the mark of trained crewmembers aboard SIUcontracted ships. These commendations of the crews involved are a credit to them and to the union's training programs, but there is another point that should not be overlooked and that is the importance of training and upgrading to each individual seafarer. Taking advantage of the school's offerings not only make a seafarer a better shipmate, it also enables him to do his job more effectively from the standpoint of his own personal safety at sea. And, of course, for the upgrader there is the additional benefit of increasing his earning power. So I remind all our brothers: and sisters to avail themselves of all that the Lundeberg School has to offer. It can be profitable. Paul HaU On August 20, Seafarers who were at sea enjoyed a holiday as provided in our union contract. It is appropriate that we remember the reason August 20 was set aside. It is the birthday of Paul Hall, who was bom on that day in 1915. Paul Hall made an enormous contribution to our union, its members, to the maritime industry and to the trade union movement generally. We do well to remember this unequalled fighter for the welfare of American seamen and their families. Union^s Training Program Goes on the Road to Hawaii In an effort to provide more convenient access to the member­ ship of the Lundeberg School's training and up^ding program, the SIU has instituted a program of instruction in the union's hall in Hawaii. The program is designed to up­ grade the many qualifying SIU members based in Honolulu and the far east by providing the Lun­ deberg School's resources without incurring heavy transportation costs. Lundebeig School instructor Jim Moore has been busy this summer teaching both an able seaman course and a lifeboat program. Fellow instructor Bill Foley ran a fireman, oiler and watertender class. Both Moore and Foley, who usually work out of the school's Piney Point, MD base, brought AB, Lifeboat and FOWT course resources to Hawaii. As a result of Bill Foley's FOWT class five SIU members have passed the necessary U.S. Coast Guard tests to earn their endorse­ ments. One student was able to earn four endorsements. "LotharWick got his endorsements for fireman watertender, oiler, refrigerator en­ gineer and junior engineer," Foley said. He had to take three U.S. Coast Guard tests in a row one day to earn all the endorsements. "Wick didn't think he had passed any of the tests," Foley said. "The tests have 50 questions each on them. He passed all of them and scored 98 out of 100 on one." Foley said the morale of those who upgraded was boosted when SIU member Clay McGiver used his newly acquired oiler's ticket to catch a job on a cruise ship. Foley, took advantage of the drydocked T-AGOS vessel. USNS Assurance, to give his upgraders an engine room tour. He silso took them on learning trips to the American Hawaii cruise ships dur­ ing the four-week course. Another five members have passed their USCG tests after tak­ ing Jim Moore's AB class, ac­ cording to SIU Honolulu Port Agent Fay. Like Foley, Moore took fiill advantage of the ships in the Honolulu area to allow the students to see the day-to-day workings of their new ratings. After the AB course, Moore began a lifeboat class with nine students. Fay said more Honolulu-based Lundeberg School classes are planned to begin after the first of the year. - vV' i; �-• . ;, ,:yy;U •o,,^ . • y»'"''•. •'.i^!- mim,m9 I- -'L^ ::• ' I a5:?| rll.., ^,il'»^'. . SlU, Texas Ranchers Team Up To Get Hormone-Free Beef to United Kingdom ..V . Midor General Sam Wakefield (second from left), commander €t the U.S. Army Transporta­ tion Center, inspects the Lundeberg School's vocational shop. With Wakefield are (L-R) BiU Eglinton, director of vocational education, a member d Wake­ field's staff and school Vke Pres­ ident Ken Conklin. ilfniy Trains Troops At 's School The new commander of the U.S. Army's Transportation Center, Major General Sam Wakefield, recently inspected the site where many of the troops under his command are trained—the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seaman­ ship. -r.-Afrlfis Fort Fustis, -VA fiedd^ quarters, Wakefield has a vast array of transportation equip­ ment available to his troops. But he doesn't have one thing the Seafarers School does, a Hagglund crane in top-notch condition. U.S. Army uses the school's Hag­ glund crane for training troops. m'V: That's why the Lundeberg School has put more than 100 Anny troops throu^ a two-week Hag^und crane course, said Maor (USMC Ret) Ken Conklin, the school's vice president. The Hagglund is one of the main types of cranes onboard dozens of ships which carry mil­ itary equipment. It is used to offoad caigo either in port or off­ shore onto a floating causeway. Along with the crane inspec­ tion, Wakefield and his party saw the school's vocational training classes in action, the Mai^wer center, the shiphandling simula­ tor, the adult education depart­ ment and the Paul Hall Library and Musernn. Among his duties at the Transpmtation Outer, Wakefield is the ccHumandant of the Army's TranspcMlation and Aviation Lo­ gistic Schocds, commander of the 'ransportation (Toips Raiment and cMef of transportation. A bold effort to get around the problem of a European ban on American beef got under way this month when 40,000 pounds of hormone-ffee Texas meat was shipped to the United Kingdom on the SlU-crewed Nedlloyd Hudson, a Sea-Land vessel. A dockside ceremony high­ tween the U.S. and Europe made vessel operations at Sea-Land in lighting the cooperative efforts no sense. "The 12 nations of the Houston, gave Corgey a lot of the European Community are the best of Texas A^culture Conuniscredit for bringing the groups to­ sioner Jim Hightower, state ranch­ customers that U.S. farmers and gether. ers, longshoremen, seafarers and ranchers have," Hightower ex­ "Nothing will serve the Amer­ plained. Sea-Land was held Just prior to ican merchant marine better than He noted Europe purchases ap­ sailing. The unusual cargo aboard the proximately $7 billion worth of Sea-Land vessel stenuned from a agricultural goods annually from beef controversy between the Eu­ the U.S. while it sells about $3.7 ropean Economic Community billion worth of goods to America. (EEC) and the United States gov­ Corgey said this is just a small part of the long range plans to ernment. Two years ago, the 12country EEC raised concerns over bring more caigo into the port of beef from cattle that had been fed Houston on American-flag ves­ artificial growth stimulants. sels. "We're developing new mar­ Citing the potential health risk kets all the time and you never of beef from hormOne-fed cattle, know where they may be found," on January 1 of this year the Eu­ he said. ropeans embargoed American beef, The Nedlloyd Hudson is one of and a market worth $145 million that type of common purpose," the four Sea-Land vessels serving a year was cut off from U.S. Savage said. "This is bringing an livestock producers. American initiative to the foreign the port of Houston. Corgey, Hightower and Savage Ranchers, feedlot operators, market place." were joined at a dockside press meat packers, truckers and ship­ Besides the original order, val­ pers, anxious to purvey U.S. conference the day the beef was ued at $100,000, Cox Packing products, combined efforts to pro­ loaded onto the Hudson by the Company of Texas has an option vide European consumers with producer/processor of the hor­ pending with TSW Meats, Ltd., hormone-free beef. mone-free beef, the European of London to supply an additional Hightower said Texas ranchers 372 metric tons of hormone-free buyer, and officials from the SIU, wanted a shot at the new European the ILA, the port of Houston and beef, valued at $1.5 million. export market. Through a series Hightower said a beef war be­ Sea-Land. of meetings with European trade offiaals, veterinarians, ranchers, feedlot operators and packers, certification procedures were de­ veloped which allowed sales of hormone-free beef to begin. The SIU worked with Hightower's office and Sea-Land during the negotiations with the EEC to bring together factions that are not always in agreement—^ranchers, labor and the American-flag ship­ ping industry. "This shows that by working at the state level of government, we can secure new markets," Corgey Jim H^tower, Texas commissioner of agriculture (at podium) is j<flned said. "State houses can produce by Dean Corgey, SIU assistant vice president (second from left); Jim cargo." McGee, SIU patrolman (third from left); Ed Savage of Sea-Land (se­ Ed Savage, senior manager for cond from ri^t) and officials of the ILA and the port of Houston. --i The SIU worked to bring together... rancherSy labor and the Americanflag shipping industry. Di;, , -#V NY WWII MERCHANT MARINERS WIN VETERANS' PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS Real property tax relief will be available on September 1 to hundreds of New York SIU mem­ bers who served in the merchant marine during World War II. Thanks to a bill recently signed by Gov. Mario Cuomo, Empire State residents who served in the merchant marine between Decem­ ber 7, 1941, and August 15, 1945, are eligible for veterans status. This makes them eligible for an ^proximately 25 percent reduc­ tion in real property taxes as as­ sessed by their home counties. According to Scott Moigan, leg­ islative aide to state Senator Serphin Maltese, the veterans status could significantly reduce the tax­ able amount on the homeowners' bUls. said. Proof of seatime during the SIU President Michael Sacco World War II period must be pro­ hailed the action of the New York vided when fillegislative body ing for the ex­ and expressed WHO: New York state residents emption. He the union's who were World War II merchant warned that not hope that other mariners frmn December 7, 1941, all counties in states would to August 15, 1945 New York follow suit. He have the local indicated that WHAT: Veterans status grantii^ option tax. the SIU would real property tax exemption The SIU has make every WHEN: As of September 1, 1989 been working conceivable effort to see hard with other HOW: File at local New York merchant mar­ that similar Prcqperty Assessor's Office with legislation is iner organiza­ intiof of seatime enacted in tions to pass other states. the bill, ac­ Individuals cording to SIU seeking the exemption need to Vice President lack Gaffey. He contact their local assessor's of­ noted that the bill was passed fice after September 1, Morgan Continued on page 9 v:I • M- iff J" m. �•• ' •' ''%ry"-: -••t II ''''''yV- ' " ' Trade Rep Explores Removal Of Maritime from Trade Talks •••- V.^s ' ' The maritime industry's efforts to remove waterbome transport from trade negotiations gained steam last month when the admin­ istration took the step of formally asking its trading partners to con­ sider removing the subject from the bargaining agenda. Another positive development was the introduction of a Senate resolution calling for the exclusion of maritime from the trade talks. A similar House resolution had 165 cosponsors before the Con­ gress adjourned in August for its summer break. A united industry coalition— including unions, operators and related businesses—has deter­ mined that inclusion of maritime services in a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) could wipe out the U.S.-flag fleet. Inclusion of marine transport in a trade agreement would under­ mine programs which set aside a portion of cargo for U.S.-flag car­ riers or laws which allow Ameri­ can vessels exclusive access to coastwide trade, the coalition has stated. The group recognizes that programs which are the underpin­ ning of the U.S. private shipping fleet could be negotiated away in the GATT trade talks. Complicating any international trade negotiations on waterbome transit is the role of the American merchant marine in matters of na­ tional defense. "Maritime services cannot be considered in the same light as other services, such as telecom­ munications, banking or insur­ ance. While those industries are certainly important to our national economy, they are not essential components of our national de­ fense and security," Senator John Breaux said when introducing the Senate resolution calling for the exclusion of waterbome transit from the trade talks. The General Agreement on Tar­ iffs and Trade is a multilateral treaty signed by 94 nations which regulates many aspects of inter­ national trade. It first came into being in 1948, and has been pe­ riodically updated through nego­ tiations among participating na­ tions. The present round of GATT talks, which are the first to address service industries, opened in Umguay in 1986. U.5. Adopis ILO Shipboard Standards For Foroiga Vessols Calling on U.S. Ports Foreign-flag ships calling on U.S. ports now must meet minimal liv­ ing and working condition standards set by the International Labor Organization. The new standards are part of the ILO's Convention 147. The convention, backed by the SIU, was ratified by the U.S. Senate last year and went into effect June 15. The U.S. Coast Guard has notified its inspectors on what the new intemational regulations call for. They will cite ships not in compliance with Convention 147. Along with the U.S., 160 other nations have ratified the conven­ tion. Each nation must enforce the standards on its own vessels and on foreign-flag ships which visit its ports. Convention 147 includes the fol­ lowing minimum seafaring standards: • AGE-^Establishes a mini­ mum age of 15 to be employed on a merchant vessel. • MEDICAL—Crewmembers must possess a valid medical cer­ tificate and update it even^. two years. • SAFETY—Sets require­ ments concerning placing of lad­ ders, safety nets, lighting, rails, ventilation vents, etc. • CREW ACCOMMODA­ TIONS—Sets minimal standards for sleeping quarters, sanitary fa­ cilities, etc. • HOSPITAL SPACE—Re­ quires a dedicated room with med­ ical supplies for the crew's needs. • CATERING—Sets standards for handling and storage of food. • REPATRIATION—Declares the seafarer's right to repatriation. • MANNING-i-Requires the vessel to carry and conform to the "safe manning" document issued by the flag state. If the vessel is not in compliance or no such doc­ ument exists, the inspecting state has the authority to detain the vessel. Convention 147 was first adopted by the ILO in 1976. But the United States has traditionally not ratified ILO conventions. In fact, out of 168 previous ILO declarations, the Coast Guard will cite violators. U.S. has only ratified nine. The Senate's action on Convention 147 was the first time in 35 years an ILO convention was ratified by the U.S. U.S.-flag ships will have little problem meeting these new standards. U.S. Coast Guard reg­ ulations on safety and equipment are much more stringent than those called for by Convention 147. Plus crews covered by U.S. union con­ tracts have wages, working and living conditions in excess of what the convention calls for. Last year when the Senate was debating the issue, the SIU sub­ mitted testimony in favor of rati­ fication. Uie union's statement shid oven the minimal standards would protect seafarers from "unscru­ pulous shipowners who engage seafarers from nations with sub­ sistence economies at very low wage rates." The convention would be the "first step in a long journey to eradicate crew abuse and. the lack of safety standards." '•'" ' StAfARERS LOG Japanese Seamen's Union Officials Visit SIU all. Pictured above are Tadahiko Nakamura, Washington liaison officer of the All Japan Seamen's Union (left); Hiroshi Yagita, a member of the union's Central Executive Committee; SIU President Michael Sacco and Takemi Nakao, assistant director of the AJSU's International Affairs Bureau. The three AJSU officials met with Sacco last month to discuss issues of concern to both unions. Maritime Groups Keep Eye On Oil Spill Liability legislation The maritime industry, con­ cerned that there be one single national standard for oil spill clean­ up standards, is monitoring liabil­ ity fund legislation currently proceedinjg through Congress. Because the Senate's compre­ hensive oil spill bill, which passed just before the August recess, al­ lows states to determine their own liability levels, maritime groups are working towards a House bill— and eventually a final piece of legislation—that would establish a federal standard. Twenty-four states have oil spill liability laws. Maritime groups hope the federal legislation will preempt these state rules in order to avoid endless litigation and delays over tiny differences in language. Prior to leaving for its August recess, the Senate approved a comprehensive bill on oil spills. When the House returns in Sep­ tember, it is expected to consider an oil spill liability bill reported out of the House Merchant Marine Committee. That bill, which has the support of the maritime com­ munity, proposes a single federal oil spill liability law. Other issues addressed by the Senate and House bills are: mak­ ing companies more responsible for paying for damage from pol­ lution and establishing a one-billion-dollar spill fund to be financed through a new tax of three cents a barrel on all domestic and im­ ported oil. US, Shipbuilders Seek to knd Unfair Foreign Yard Competition Four major shipbuilding nations have agreed to begin negotiations with the U.S. government which could lead to their elimination of shipbuilding subsidies. That ac­ tion could put U.S. shipbuilders back in competition with other nations. Carla Hills, the United States trade representative, announced last month that the governments of West Germany, Japan, Korea and Norway had agreed to begin negotiations on shipbuilding sub­ sidies. All four nations provide a wide range of subsidy help to their shipbuilding industries. American shipyards receive virtually no gov­ ernment help. Hills' action followed an unfair trade action petition filed against those countries by the Shipbuild­ ers Council of America (SCA). Such petitions are filed under Sec­ tion 301 of the 1974 Trade Act which allows the U.S. government to impose various economic sanc­ tions against nations engaged in unfair trade practices. When the SCA learned the four nations were willing to engage in serious negotiations about the matter, the organization agreed to withhold the petition pending the outcome of the talks. "We agree with Ambassador Hills that at this time the best approach to the serious problem of subsidization in this sector is to seek multilateral agreement to discipline shipyard subsidies," SCA President John Stocker said. No date has been set to begin the talks, but Hills said a solution would be sought within the next eight months. "I will review our progress to­ ward a multilateral agrement by March 31, 1990. If I believe, in consultation with the industry, that insufficient progress is being made in our negotiations, I will invite the shipbuilders to resubmit and I will initiate a section 301 investi­ gation and dispute settlement pro­ ceedings under the GATT Subsi­ dies Code," Hills said. I �AUGUST, 1989 SlU Crewmembers Perform Every year the military deploys units from all branches of the U.S. services and evaluates their ability to perform effectively as a joint combat force. SIU members played an important role in the exercise known as "Operation Solid Shield." Solid Shield '89, which took place from May through June, in­ cluded deployment of more than 10 m^or commands from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and pri­ vately operated vessels in the mer­ chant marine. SIU participation included the following: Obregon and Pless Known as "maritime prepositioning ships," two Waterman vessels, the SS PFC Eugene A. Obregon and the SS MAI Stephen Pless, simultaneously offloaded while underway. Crewmembers assisted in the building of a roll on/roll off discharge facility. The causeway allowed vehicles to be driven from the ship. Commander in Chief of the At­ lantic Command, Admiral Frank B. Kelso, told Obregon and Pless crewmembers, "Your hard work and long hours in both planning and execution have strengthened USLATLANTCOM's ability to function in response to a devel­ oping crisis." Captain Robert Glover, USN, Commander of MPS Squadron One, who participated in the ex­ ercise, said, "I wish to add my personal 'Well Done!' to all hands aboard Obregon and Pless. You put on a great show that was appreciated by the highest of com­ mand authorities." On a Personal Note Glover added, "... as one who was privileged to see the backbreak work and long hours put in behind the scenes by all of you, I can only offer my sincere admi­ ration and gratitude for your professionalism and dedication. It is truly an honor to be in the company of the best." Both commercial ships are char­ tered by the Military Sealift Com­ mand (MSC) from the Waterman Steamship Company. Siil^ y-\ liA-. Mohican, Fiickertaii State and American Banker The actions of SIU crewmem­ bers in Solid Shield exercises of the Cape Mohican, the Fiickertaii State and the American Banker brought praise from the Maritime Administration. In a letter to SIU President Michael Sacco, received last month, M. Delpercio Jr., director of that agency's Office of Ship Operations, said, "On behalf of the Maritime Administration, it 'i ,• 4S-. IVS' •• t "I I MarAd commends the SIU's 'highly trained personnel' gives me great pleasure to extend my appreciation to your members for their fine support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff exercise Solid Shield '89 . . ." Delpercio thanked Sacco for the SIU's "cooperation and efforts in support of the national defense by providing highly trained personnel during a military training and doc­ trinal test." Antares Onboard the Antares, operated by International Marine Carriers, the Lundeberg School's mobile training unit joined SIU crew­ members for roll on/roll off oper­ ations rarely performed by an SL7 crew. Lnndebo^ Schocri Mobile Unit Antares crewmembers rigged the side port and RO/RO ramp to a pontoon causeway section pro­ vided by the U.S. Army. Lunde­ berg School instructors Harry Alongi and Jeff Swanson assisted SIU crewmembers during the ex­ ercise. Alongi noted, "While in the ex­ ercise much of the off-loading is done by military stevedores, in an actual emergency operation civil­ ian crewmembers would begin the load on/load off operation on their own, utilizing theship's twin Hagglund cranes which are mounted Talcing a well deserved break from Solid Shield '89 exercises are Antares SIU crewmembers (from left to rigbt) AB Walker, OS Buzzard, AB S. Abrens and AB N. Hancock. •.-, in Military Maneuvers During the Antares Solid Shield '89 exercise, the crew rigs the side port and roll on/roll off ramp to an Army pontoon causeway section. Left, the causeway is proceeding towards the Antares. Top right, the causeway is moved into position along the RO/RO ramp. Bottom, once rigged, army stevedores begin their work. fore and aft." The final stage of RO/RO and LO/LO operations conducted by the Antares took place in Morehead City, NC. The crew backloaded all military cargo for its return to Savannah, GA. Lundeberg School instructoirs Alongi and Swanson reported that SIU crewmembers on the Antares did an excellent job meeting the unusual demands of the exercise. The accord on a new pact and an in-depth effort to seek longerterm solutions was announced by ILA President John Bowers, man­ agement's chief negotiator, An­ thony J. Tozzoli, president of the New York Shipping Association (NYSA) and David J. Tolan, chairman of the Carriers Con­ tainer Council (CCC) who also serves as senior vice president of labor relations of Sea-Land. "This agreement will give the industry stability while we under­ take a thorough search for ways to resolve the difficult issues that face all of us," they said in a joint statement. The study panel, called the In­ dustry Preservation Group, will consist of seven ILA members and seven management members. It will be named soon and will meet at least every month. The agreement requires local issues such as work conditions and rules concerning traditional cargo to be addressed in ports that feel the necessity before it takes effect. Master contract issues are wages, hours, benefit contributions and automation issues. The agreement covers ILA members working with employers associated with the CCC, the NYSA, the Boston Shipping As­ sociation, the Council of North Atlantic Shipping Associations representing the ports of Balti­ more, Philadelphia, Hampton Roads and Rhode Island, the South Atlantic Employers Negotiating Committee and Southeast Florida Employers Port Association. • . W:: ILA Extends Pact for One Year The International Longshore­ men's Association and manage­ ment have agreed to a new master contract and set up a panel to seek long-term solutions to serious problems facing their industry. The accord, which also requires that local labor issues be ad­ dressed on a port-by-port basis, essentially extends the expiration date of the current ILA contract from September 30, 1989 to No­ vember 30, 1990. The current provisions of the ILA master contract will continue unchanged, unless modified by the parties, for the 14 months of the new pact. The lone exception calls, for an increase of management's contribution to the fringe benefit plans. At the same time, a 14-member committee will be named to come up with ways to address the eco­ nomic and competitive challenges that face both the ILA and East Coast employers. The two sides have been nego­ tiating since last fall. Their indus­ try faces severe pressures from deregulation, automation and in­ ternational economic trends. "Each party—without excep­ tion—has come to the difficult but true realization that changes in contractual work rules are neces­ sary in order to preserve and pro­ tect the job security of the ILA members covered by this agree­ ment, as well as the ability of carriers, terminal operators, steve­ dores and others to operate in a financially sound manner," the agreement states. • -ysg • • iVM,,: i ' 13, It# �SB^WSS*-'-' SafAREKSm SlU Crew on tape Hem Cited By Colonel for ^Professionalism^ ,• V The SlU-crewed MV C^ Horn received a citation for its work during the recently completed ex­ ercise Cobra Gold '89. It was pre­ sented by the Military Traffic Management Command Trans­ portation Terminal Command Far East. The recognition, signed by Colonel L.N. Kinney, cited the crew's "competence, profession­ alism and endurance" in helping the military command make the operation, held from April 18 to July 24, 1989, a success. It also noted the crew's superb support of port offload and redeployment operations. The Cape Horn had been in layup for two years before InterOcean Management de­ ployed the vessel for the exercise. The ship carries a crew of 31. Pictured above with the Ship of the Year plaque are (front row, left to right) GSU Vincent Ortiz, GSU Martin Josephsen, DEU Mike Browne, DEU Rick Hegwood, AB Howard Hare (back row, left to right) Chief Steward Toyo Gonzales, QMED Ernest Lacunza, Chief Cook Clarence Jones, Bosun Peter Hulsebosch, AB Bryon Piersol, AB Tom George and Chief Pumpman John Anderson. Lawrence Glanella Crew Honored Pictured on the Cape Horn is Oiler Leon Fountain (left) working in the engine control room. The SIU crew aboard the Law­ rence H. Gianella (Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.) has been honored for its excellent work, reports Chief Steward Toyo Gonzales. The tanker was named the company's Ship of the Year. The efficiency and profession­ alism of Seafarers aboard the tanker earned the highest fleet recogni­ tion award given by the company. In a letter to the crew. Ocean Shipholdings Senior Vice Presi­ dent John W. Morrison, com­ mended crewmembers for their "enthusiasm and dedication." Gonzales, who serves as sec­ retary on the union's ship com­ mittee, also reports that the ship was recently outfitted with a Mod­ ular Fuel Delivery Systems (MFDS) by the Navy. The MFDS will allow the Gi­ anella to function similar to a fleet oiler, along with its other tanker duties while under contract to the military. API Crews Rescue 29 People Aboard A Bumiug Freighter and a Stranded Sailboat Two American President Lines ships participated in the rescue at sea of 29 mariners from three dif­ ferent ships in the Pacific Ocean. The SIU mans the steward de­ partments on APL vessels. :K.'.^:. •• -iL r • . " •. • • ']}•'•' !'• ./>' V ' '• •If:.:-:-.; * >. . . 'i'-^.•' '••.. W'.v- •- •' ..; Steward assistants Winston Walters (left) and Michael A. Williams prepare to serve crewmemhers on the Cape Horn. American Eagle Crew Wins Hearts of Travelling Family SIU crewmembers aboard the MV American Eagle went out of their way to help a military fami­ ly's trip home. After a three-year stay in Bremerhaven. West Germany, Major Alan D. Kruse was ordered back to the United States. However, his wife, Betty, had a medical t^[ • i y-. .r, Costango, Brown, Williams 'really know how to cook' problem which kept her from flying. Kruse asked for special permis­ sion to come back on a ship. He, his wife and their three daughters were assigned to the Pacific Gulf Marine vessel scheduled to leave Bremerhaven on June 15. "We were obviously apprehen­ sive about taking a family on a working ship, but we were very pleasantly surprised," said Kruse. "All of the crew were courteous. These men really went out of their way to allay our fears, provide needed information and prepare all our accommodations." Kruse, in a letter to SIU Pres­ ident Michael Sacco, said, "The steward section was especially helpful and provided exceptional service. Needless to say, the food was exceptional. These men really know how to cook!" The SIU members of the de­ partment were Steward/Baker Frank Costango, Chief Cook C. C. Williams and GSU Adolphus Brown. In referring to the whole crew, Kruse added: "They really made our voyage back to the U.S. a pleasant, one. We are no longer apprehensive about ocean travel and would gladly make the trip again." Garfield Responds Quickly On the morning of July 18, the President Garfield, on its way from Fujairah (United Arab Emirates) to Colombo (Sri Lanka), received a distress signal from the MV Sifnos Star. The Garfield's cap­ tain, John Schiavone, verified that the Sifnos Star was on fire and changed his ship's course to in­ tercept the burning vessel. Within two hours of receiving the distress call, the Garfield sighted the Sifnos Star with smoke coming from its after house. The captain of the Sifnos Star said the crew had been trying to snuff out the engine room fire for several hours, but to no avail. Fifteen members of the 23-man crew already were in a lifeboat waiting to be rescued. The 15 mariners in the lifeboat were onboard the Garfield in just over an hour. The remaining crew and captain of the Sifnos Star made their way to the President Garfield on a life raft. They climbed onboard the Garfield by using the starboard pilot ladder. The Gadield was on its way to Guam within four hours and 15 minutes after receiving the dis­ tress call. Lincoln, the Ship that Could In the other rescue, the Presi­ dent Lincoln was sailing to Guam on the evening of June 24 when crewmembers on the bridge ov­ erheard a Coast Guard radio re­ port of a rescue operation. It in­ volved a 30-foot sailboat out of San Francisco which was sinking, the Japanese car carrier Aries and the Panamanian MV Washington Rainbow II. A Coast Guard aircraft was in chaise of the rescue. Captain Norm Sollid of the President Lincoln notified the USCG his ship would be available if needed in the res­ cue. He was told that the Pana­ manian-flag Rainbow was launch­ ing a lifeboat and the Lincoln could continue on its journey. The Lin­ coln's crew, however, continued to monitor the situation. Twenty minutes later the motor on the Panamanian vessel's life­ boat quit after it had rescued the lone sailor from the crippled sail­ boat. The Japanese car carrier was asked by the Coast Guard to launch a lifeboat to rescue the sailboat's skipper and Rainbow crewmem­ bers who were stranded in the Panamanian flag vessel's lifeboat. The Japanese ship refused as the seas were too rough. The Lincoln was asked to return and help in the rescue. The seas were too heavy to launch a lifeboat, but the APL ship's crew lowered a ladder for the six stranded mariners after the President Lincoln was able to come alongside their lifeboat. In less than an hour, all six were aboard the Lincoln and it was steaming toward Guam. In both cases, the captains highly praised the efforts of their crews in these successful rescues. Officials at APL commended the fine action of the Lincoln and Garfield crewmembers, pointing out that both ships performed their rescue missions without incurring any injuries to personnel. �AU6m,im Dell Remembefed, Attor and Menhant Mariner Judge O.K.'s Ga6e Dell was one of the original "Dead End Kids." The 68-year-old actor, who died last year, was one of the original "Dead End Kids" when he was cast in the role of T.B. in the 1935 Broadway play "Dead End." That group of actors became the East Side Kids and later the Bowery Boys. Dell was with that ensemble until 1950 and played alongside such stars as James Cagney and Ronald Reagan. His acting career was put on hold in 1942 when he joined the merchant marine. McCartney was about 12 at that time, he recalled, and his sister was a friend of Dell's sister Ethel. They were neighbors in the New York neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen. "I remember when Dell came home from the Maritime Training School at Sheepshead Bay. He had on his new uniform. He looked good and was ready to go," McCartney said. DeU Becomes a Purser DeU spent most of the war ship­ ping on Liberty Ships throughout the Pacific. He became a member of the Staff Officers Association and sailed as a purser and phar­ macist's mate. He took care of the ship's pharmacy, and as a purser served as what would be called today the captain's administrative assistant. While DeU's acting career was highly successful, he always felt the puU of the sea, his son said. "That's what my father loved the most, he always wanted to go back to sea," Gabriel DeU remarked. When Gabe DeU shipped out on the Lyman Stewart, a Liberty vessel with a 40-man merchant crew, the captain was an author­ itarian "jerk" at first, the younger DeU remembers his dad teUing him. But during the course of the voyage, the captain feU and broke his leg and an arm. As part of DeU's duties he had to tend to the captain and they became good fnends, the son smd. Liked Food on Ships "He said he always liked the food on the ships, so he always made a point of getting tight with Pre-employment Drag Testing continuously and received praise for his comic roles. He also spent several years studying at the Ac­ tor's Studio founded by Lee Strasberg. In 1980, he received the Actor's Studio Award for his work. When DeU settled in California in the late 1970's, he stayed in touch with McCartney and SIU official Frank GUI and appeared at many union functions. "Gabe and Huntz HaU (another former Bowery Boy) attended a lot of our functions for the union and the MTD. They would help out anytime we needed them. He had a real special feeling for the union, the wateiffont and the sea," GUI said. Like tens of thousands of other young Americans who served in the U.S. merchant marine during the war, DeU never did go back to sea after his service. But those years in the Pacific gave him an expeirience he never forgot and fond memories he always carried with him. Several years ago, Gabe Dell wanted to go back to sea. But the former World War II seaman was in the midst of a successful stage and screen career. With parts in Oklahoma, Can-Can, a 1975 Tony nomination and his own television show. The Comer Bar, Gabe Dell's acting talent was in demand. On Maritime Day this year, Gabe DeU finally got his wish. SIU Vice President Geoige McCartney, Dell's sister Ethel and his son Gabriel scattered his ashes across the waters of the Pacific Ocean off San Pedro, CA. Gabe DeU the cook. ... He caUed it his warring vacation. I think he loved getting out of Hollywood," Ga­ briel DeU said. During the 1950's and 1960's, DeU was busy on Broadway and in films and television. He worked Pre-employment drug testing has become a way of Ufe for the men and women of the SIU. On July 21, U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan declined a re­ quest fix)m the SIU to fUe an injunc­ tion to halt implementation of the U.S. Coast Guam's drug testing pro­ gram. The law affects those American-flag companies employing more than 50 people. Judge Hogan's decision affects only the pre-employment aspect of the Coast Guard ruUng. No decisions have been made con­ cerning periodic, random, probable cause and post-accident testing. In June, the judge requested a 30-day delay in implementation because he needed more time to study other drug-testing decisions. . I'"--.' '4 -/ ••'•V ' '1 '"•-.r ' Murmansk Run Veteran Featured In News Artide on Famous WWII Battle in the Barents Sea The July 4, 1942 German attack on a 40-merchant-ship convoy was the subject of a feature story in the Longview, WA daUy news­ paper. More than 26,000 homes received a copy of the July 3,1989 Daily News in which Convoy PQ 17 survivor and retired SIU mem­ ber Fred MiUer was interviewed. Written by DaUy News reporter John McLeUand, the story was of particular interest in southwestern Washington because oceangoing commerce is a key factor in the economy. Longview, located 60 miles from the sea on the Colum­ bia River, hosts both a public and private port. In the article j Miller recalled a battle believed to have been part an Allied plan to lure the German Several were sunk after the breakup, and some survivors ended up in German prison camps," McClelland reported. Miller's ship, the Ironclad, a vintage WWI vessel, survived. Miller believes heavy fog saved the Ironclad. The article on SIU Pensioner Miller cites his merchant marine involvement in three other wars— Korea, Vietnam and Falkland Islands/Malvinas. SIU Pensioner Miller retired in 1984 after service on 104 ships. He and his wife Peg have lived in Castle Rock, WA since 1%1. low...one dropped a torpedo on the Christopher Newport, a new Liberty ship, just a little ahead of us," Miller recaUed in the inter­ view. Merchant Ships On Their Own The two-day battle left about 1,500 survivors, many of whom had to be rescued from the icy waters of the Barents Sea. When the action was over, the convoy's remaining ships were instructed to scatter. "Naval escorts were left behind, so the lightly armed mer­ chant vessels were on their own. Thh Day • Ann Undcn B2 •-if -sSH Fireworks # Fourth "Guns started firing aU around us, and the planes were flying low. 99 Merchant seaman recalls famous sea battle of 1942 • •yMalfcCWlMW CASTLE EOOC- To aiMjr poifte. Iht Fowtli U Jaly MMH COIMM nr«*«rtj labowr «low eoMlrjroWtaitorfoWT. Mllv.n. lAt koUtoy I mltk^ Oa Jalyo. IMI. Ma smhaat csfwa iMp VM artth CMvoy PQ IT— M( af ifea (tetu Uai «a* htt MiOMt ky Ctmu alrerafi w«rti >v V -WtkaWal the caaeay." HtUer aaya. TW car«B >u laafca, fMM. tapiaaieaaaai aifear tw lakaurtaai ae- Sr-sr • iaa.».lRWaa(Mfknkil947 fleet into range of its firepower. Miller says a video, "Suicide Run to Murmansk," has been made about Convoy PQ 17's role in the war effort. Although German aircraft were a common sight, the first sign of trouble on that July morning. Miller said, was the sighting of far more planes than usual. The convoy was carrying wea­ ponry, explosives and other sup­ plies for the Russian army, and was proceeding through the Bar­ ents Sea toward northern Russia, Miller said. "Guns started firing all around us, and the planes were flying ) aja. aaSuMy 4. caavay aKatai tbatrcaana aaa aaaar-Mt TTIaa^. kA Hp-ra w •' " V' • - !>,>v-~v'^»•••••'-i _ _ ^ ^ ^ "-AtIkaaaaa^'.«MaMartaWOf IWaHafBieiea.aa4iMalaeaeaifw nyiailM . . .Tkay(PETMIaaa •mr'.**. HLSSHSIBS tteraUMIaaaM|akMiala4li|a( tkakaUaralMaaitaSan Nt«Maaewl»*rty«klp.JaaiaUIUa aktad al na. U vaa a dtoaet ML WKk a (ta latanalaalaaa. Ikakattla laaM lo« daya. ha tayt. Taiyii. I aaSdar kaa I• lUa e^aajm^jadjff^^^ [.elaUQe QMB. Ua Mp. aMaaraaaTttalara•OT'iddttas wslgM wwfafS •alar, and lhara •arabadMa IMattag M aaa avtaaMgand tryMg — Ike fl«M «aa am. (ha aaa ^aOoaL aad Ika ro> laaiaMfMi^a Seal aad \ :?/)}• m aaealaaia aadad ap M Cat- 'taSucaM^lT M at Icaaiu lOMr aaya. U H waraat IM a kaawyleWallailedaeveralden^he kaee CapaopK)t7M«lMrFiadMhr-& rirKSss-jxiSssss "as'sj'ar---.-. byikaPiPM ''SretralplapaacnWad.aadaaM Uerw.wwwdieliwaSaw tt Um». u memaa me am etrnmr iki tlQiil aaiakii iT iiiiirKii-r eapila darMf (he aatlMr part a( We m.-Utar a% ifet HBrtni Oarpa SMpaplaiPaMbPaa«c. paaad,-ka laya HMaepr. w w Tin riWIaad fililaial Wwia (M ertalaaOlfMla WfciaiaMyapal Mar •an. Ma happwadla hana tta tta anMacUaa af The PIraaaa W #ap- ku ipfiiid wtaral Urtaa Mr eeiaraip'kaaiBia. haianartkMaw Pictured above is the newspaper article about SIU pensioner Fred Miller and his World War If exploits on the infamous Murmansk run. The article appeared in the Longview, WA Daily News. 1• '' 'v;-,' — ' MaMaaaaaaaaaaafaaovetaiaB- •- -• '• �• '? V a • '^'M' - SOfARtRS m Gov't Services Division Moves On Training and Work Rules Madiinisfs Thank SlU for Support Seafarers have been on the picket line at Washington's Nation^ Air­ port every day since the Eastern strike began. In early August, Lo­ cal 796 of the International As­ sociation of Machinists showed its ^preciation of the SIU's support in a surprise ceremony in front of the Eastern Terminal. "The SIU has shown us... what soUdarity and bndherhood mean." :!.:^ • •'•• •. • i'- Nick Celonai, Kney Point port agent, has been in charge of or­ ganizing the SIU's presence at National. Every day a ^oup of Seafarers arrives at the aiiport to join the pilots, flight attendants and machinists. In addition to moral support, the SIU members bring lunch for all picketers. On a steamy summer Sunday, Local 796 President Lee Russell gathered the two dozen picketers together. "The SIU has shown us in the last few months what soli­ darity and brotherhood mean. Your unflagging support has been an inspiration," he said. Russell then presented Celona with a plaque, an LAM T-shirt and an honorary membership card in the LAM, "The dues have been waived" Russell joked. Seafarer Tom Brooks (right) joined several dozen SIU members and hundreds of other union members at a Capitol Hill rally to protest Elastem Airlines* President Frank Lorenzo's action during the Eastem strike. "We will be here to the end. Remember, you always have a friend when you see the white hats," Celona said. Elsewhere on the strike front, three major consumer groups warned the flying public that Eastem plans to schedule "phantom flights" and pair inexperienced pi­ lots in the cockpit when it in­ creases its service. One in six flights that were set to begin in August were so-called phantom flights, the Aviation Con­ sumer Action Project, the Na­ tional Consumers League and Public Citizen revealed. Travel agents told the Atlanta Constitution newspaper those flights cannot be booked because Eastern simply put them on the schedule without the equipment or crews to fly them. m'M .v::-'^'. .T.l ' WJ::- t..'••, - >.. •' fci' •».-, 1?-^ r.ia'r.. • .-"• it' :x^- i? • Machinists Local 796 President Lee Russell presents the SIU with a plaque in appreciation for the many hours Seafarers have put on the picket line. On behalf of the SIU, Piney Point Port Agent Nick Celona accepts the plaque which reads, "In appreciation for your untiring and sincere support of the strike against Elastera Airlines." tl" mil-- Military Sealift Command Pacific division Captain J.S. Schultz (right) reviews the vocational upgrading programs of the union's Harry Lundeherg School. Pictured (left to right) with the Captain are Manpower staff members David Carter and Bart Rogers and Assistant to the Vocational Director Bill Hellwege. and academic programs will be­ The SIU's government services come available to SIU government division, representing civilian services division members in the mariners on MSCPAC vessels, is fall. putting the final touches on a mem­ Changes in work rules and over­ bership training and upgrading time regulations on MSCPAC ves­ program and is continuing its ef­ sels are also being addressed by forts to resolve issues regarding the union's government services work rules and overtime, reported division. Since Vice President Vice President Buck Mercer. Mercer's meeting in Washington, The union arranged for Captain DC with MSC chief Vice Admiral J.S. Schultz of the Military Sealift Paul D. Butcher, the union is di­ Command Pacific division to in­ recting its efforts toward resolu­ spect the Seafarers Harry Luntion to MSCPAC officials. deberg School of Seamanship lo­ Mercer reports that the situation cated in Piney Point, MD. Once is also being investigated by the the final details are worked out union's contract and legal depart­ with Captain Schultz Md MSCPAC ments, officials, the school's vocational Ten Former SIU Fishermen Con Collect WWII Bonds Representatives of the Seafar­ ers International Union of North America affiliate, the Fishermen's Union of America, have discov­ ered about a dozen Defense Sav­ ing Bonds, issued in 1942. Now, FUA officials are trying to track down the owners (see box). FUA President Terry Hoinsky said the $25 bonds were issued by the old Seine and Line Union of Monterey, CA to its members as a sort of bonus when unusually large sardine catches were occur­ ring. The Monterey union's member­ ship was composed mainly of Jap­ The names and 1942 addresses on the War Bonds found by the fishermen's Union of America are listed below. Please circulate. Any person claiming one of the FUA's bonds should contact Terry Hoinsky at the Fishermen's Union of America office, 529 West 9th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. Yumiji Higashi George Omokawa (Beneficiary Michio Higashi) 126 West 4th St. 237 PUchard St. San Pedro, CA Terminal Island, CA Kumakichi Kawt^chi |P.O. Box300 ;Bianarck, ND 'Vi|- ;f:i SIU Patrolman Al Caulder (right) eqjoys a light moment with striking Machinist Ron Lame during a recent fish fry held by the Jacksonville local of the lAM to thank those unions who have provided support during the Eastern strike. Lame is the father of AB Tim Lame, who !B«ils out of the port of Jacksonville. anese and Italian Americans, she said. But beginning in 1942, the vast majority of Japanese Ameri­ cans, especi^y on the West Coast, were rounded up by the U.S. gov­ ernment and sent to relocation camps under the mistaken belief that they posed a security risk to the country. After the war, Hoinsky said many of the Japanese American fishermen did not return to the Monterey area. She believes most of the bonds belong to people who did not return. She has been able to locate the owners, or their sur­ vivors, of four of the bonds. 'v Tomoharu Togawa P.O. Box 1204 Monterey, CA , ^>,^ 4 : jTakekichi Mukai & Tadashi Mukai |642 C Tuna St. iTerminal Island, CA Tom K. Watanahe 337 Wellington St. Monterey, CA ^Kinpei Nishihata ^ Eipei t Yamanichi ;213 D Cannery jTenninal Island, CA Joseph & Winifi*ed Zulyevic 430 W 10th St. San P^o^ CA r �!^f ,y . •' . "•••• ' V i' .Vi •v.v. : VvA—v,;;• '••, Aumi^im • r.-Ui';- Inquiring Seafarer •' Questkm: What do yoa think ot the new garbage regula­ tions? (Asked of Seafarers at the SIU union hall in Brooklyn, NY.) John Green, AB—It should have been done years ago. All ships should have a holding tank until the next port and then take it off. Sanitation on the ship should be main­ tained at ^1 cost. Danny Brown, Steward— Of course, it helps the environ-. ment, but it should have been done a long time ago. They should go after the barges that dump out at sea, they threaten sea life in a big way. I'm in favor of recy­ cling, and the bottle law cre­ ates more scrutiny for recy­ cling. I also think each department on the ship should take responsibility for their garbage. Separation is better for the environment and also better for the fishing fleets. We store everything in big drunis and everyone helps out in separating. Jose Soto, AB—It's a good idea to separate plastics from the garble. I see seagulls eating styrofoam cups which will kill them. Angeio Romero, Re­ certified Steward— I'm in favor of paving the environ­ ment from plastic pollution. But, in some cases, we're out at sea for 28 days until there is a port where we can drop off garbage. Then there is the problem of storing the gar­ bage for that many days. There is also the problem of finding the time to separate the plastic with only three men in the steward depart­ ment along with other duties we have to do. Angel Mercato, QMED— I'm happy to See that the garbage is finally being sepa­ rated. But everyone, even the people on shore, has a responsibility to the environ­ ment. Manufacturers of plas­ tics should make them bio­ degradable. Louis Rami­ rez, Bosun/ AB—I'm against kill­ ing sea life and if we all keep dump­ ing we're not going to last 20 years. We keep big drums aboard, paint them international or­ ange and dump the plastics in them. We can manage to store them for eight days and sometimes it is difficult to separate, but it is up to everyone to make it work. Bill Burke, AB—I think it is a good idea: I agree with the rul­ ing. But I hate like hell to go through the garbage and have maggots crawling around while separating plas­ tic and putting it into the trash compactor. Biodegrad­ able bags would help a lot. Jose Negron, QMED— It's a good idea in col­ lecting plas­ tics. But it should be more than plastics, bottles and cans too, that's waste too and they don't disappear for a period of time. They should do that too and hope they keep doing it and realize that they're doing the environ­ ment a favor by picking up and keeping it clean. Frank Rod­ riguez, Bo­ sun—I've been on tankers so we have been sepa­ rating plas­ tics for a long time. Now, especially going coastwide we always separate it. Espe­ cially these styrofoam cups because if they get pumped into the mains in the engine room we get nothing but problems, big problems. Jimmy Skubna, QMED—If it's bad for the environ­ ment then I agree that separating the garbage and storing it until it can be disposed of properly is the right thing to do. But the disposal on land should be done right. Also, maybe recycle the plastics by outside contractors thus creating new jobs. . '^- • Dng Testing Rules a ^Nightmare' Implementation of the govern­ ment's drug testing rules imposed on the maritime community late last year is a "bureaucratic night­ mare," said Captain Robert E. Johnston, Maritime Overseas Vice President of Operations in a speech to the July Washington, DC Pro­ peller Club meeting. Johnston, who combines 20 years of sailing experience with 20 years as a shipping executive, said the industry has received a great deal of cooperation from the U.S. Coast Guard, but the Department of Transportation portion of the new drug testing regulations are ex­ tremely burdensome. The regulations were promul­ gated by both the Department of Transportation and the United States Coast Guard and called for five kinds of drug testing of mar­ itime workers: pre-employment, periodic, random, probable cause and post accident. DOT'S portion of the rules cover how the drug testing is to be ex­ ecuted and the chain of custody for an individual's urine specimen. The procedures, which John­ ston noted were "ranuned down the industry's throat," have been extremely difficult to implement and the Department of Transpor­ tation has shown no willingness to work with maritime groups to­ wards solutions. DOT'S rules, Johnston pointed out, are the same as ones issued by the Department of Health and Human Services with one major exception. DHHS regulations, through an "equivalency clause," allow a group responsible for drug testing greater flexibility in complying with the intent qf the rules. When DOT issued its drug test­ ing regulations there was no equiv­ alency clause. Johnston called for DOT to put a "practical person" in charge of administering the program for that agency. While the regulations are being fought in court by the SIU and the Transportation Institute—^an or­ ganization representing ocean­ going, Great Lakes and inland waters commercial carriers—^the Judge assigned to the case has ruled that pre-employment testing could go into effect on July 21. Unless the lawsuit is successful, the other four types of testing are due for implementation on De­ cember 21 of this year. Gorbage Dumping Regs In Force New Coast Guard rules prohib­ iting the disposal of plastics at sea went into effect early this summer bringing the United States into compliance with the 1973 Inter­ national Convention for the Pre­ vention of Pollution from Ships, known as MARPOL 73/78. The section outlining procedures for disposal of garbage is known as Annex 5. The regulations represent the efforts of the International Mari­ time Organization, a United Na­ tions body, to eliminate entangle­ ment with plastic products or consumption of harmful materials by marine wildlife. In addition to ending the dump­ ing of plastic materials, the Coast Guard rules require ports and ter­ minals to have facilities for "ship­ board generated garbage." The regulations also instruct marine craft of any size or type operating on U.S. navigable waters to dispose of non-plastic garbage, including food waste, 12 miles away from land. Between three and 12 miles from land, non-plastic gar­ bage must be capable of passing through a one inch screen, a re­ quirement which in most cases' would require use of grinders. The Coast Guard will enforce the rules through on-the-spot in­ spections, letters of warning, as­ sessment of civil penalties, denial of entry to ports and terminals without adequate reception fa­ cilities and in the case of gross or willful violations, the agency will seek prosecution of those responsible through criminal sanctions. In the Federal Register, where the regulations were first an­ nounced, the Coast Guard said that some of the following factors will serve as evidence of compli­ ance: presence of equipment to treat ship-generated garbage, ad­ herence to a written waste man­ agement plan, absence of plastics, educational programs to train crewmembers of garbage handling procedures and separate space for garbage. NY Tax Break for WWII Mariners Continued from page 3 despite constant challenges from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Caffey praised the work of state Senators Maltese, Owen Johnson and Eugene Levy and state As­ semblyman Richard Connors in making the final push to pass the bill earlier this summer. He noted that the final bill received bipar­ tisan support. The new law adds World War II merchant mariners to the orig­ inal 1958 tax bill giving real prop­ erty tax exemption to members of the armed services specifically listed in the G.I. Bill of Rights. The new law applies to those World War II merchant mariners living in New York as well as those who may move to the state. It affects only the veterans them­ selves and cannot be carried over to the families, Morgan said. The law is designed to expire after 10 years. However, Sen. Maltese already has filed legisla­ tion to make the merchant mariner exemption permanent, Morgan added. . •> f'l- • •= • . �• . ... • ..=•> r'-. |:i;,••••• • • • v" y-••••<•/ . '•• •• '• ;•• - • [- J •,•••;*--*>'.->. SeAFMEItS £06 ,-.•:•; ''i;..'••''.k'li,-r 10 Seafarer and Artist Albert Guldry Takes Cue from Famous Impressionist Painter Hensthe •P- 4' iii .-g''f{ his family, including his two-yearold daughter Ashley. "She already knows who did the different prints and paintings in our house," he said proudly. Guidry urges fellow members to take advantage of the arts and crafts facilities at the union's Lundeberg School while upgrading or visiting. He plans to return to Piney Point in the spring to obtain his QMED rating. '• -y mwS. 'kv, i aa 4;-'.: .*• . 4 * •iJ :-r/.y i; - •• i. • A diarooal sketeh by FOWT Guidiy. ::::4 Af;p.«y ,• r.wyyi;p.s».; ' - -.t - -;' •' " •, :. f !r*i myf: Before meeting Hensche, Guidry painted the watercolor above. It is a copy of a painting by 19th century artist Vincent VanGogh. r.- .s"- iiiM :i.pf sil-t: i- y ^v-fr, • "Wm .-y::::--Vy::. .yp-'-r•-4 ir^i ••iS.J.O' ' L 1 -f-Tt r« i'.-'•>;];: r.i.:;.-V'.y •yLk -r;;:..y 'iA:,yyCy. ^ Albert Giiidry, an SlU member who ships in the engine department, painted the picture ahove after studying with Henry Hensche, one of America's foremost realist artists. Entitled "The Rose," Guidry used pastels to capture nuances of color. The words oil and water may refer to two items that do not mix when applied to most members of the SIU. However, these words take on an all new meaning when discussed with FOWT Albert R. Guidry, who is the son of the late Albert R. Guidry, an AB and SIU member of many years. Art has been an interest of the Metarie, LA SIU member since he began drawing at the age of 8. However, Guidry's enthusiasm was heightened when he saw a local television show featuring art­ ist Henry Hensche during Decem­ ber of 1987. "I had never attempted painting before, but I decided to do a watercolor that night," Guidry said. "It caught my attention and I wanted to meet him. I called the TV sta­ tion to see if they would give me his phone number. They told me he conducts art classes and gave me his number," he explained. It wasn't long before Guidry met Henry Hensche, a New Englandbased artist who winters in Gray, LA. The novice painter was im­ pressed. Hensche was 87 at the time Guidry met him. He did not expect him to be so "alert, co­ herent." They have been friends as well as student-pupil since. Guidry said that Hensche is a stem teacher. "He supplies me with confidence. Compliments are .#•#•..-•'y' '-a 4,54:;• a : a, : hard to get from him. It keeps me from getting a big head. But when a compliment comes, it means so much." Guidry, who joined the SIU in 1979, described himself as feeling "an energy" when he first saw Hensche's works on television. He said Hensche "radiates when he talks about art and it shows in his works." Guidry refers to Hensche as "America's last surviving impres­ sionist froni a hearty era.'' Instead of painting by using lines drawn by a paint bmsh, Hensche and his students create images by placing one color next to another. "Take care of the colors and the drawing will take care of itself," Guidry said. Several of Hensche's students have become successfiil artists with their works on display in New York and Washington. "As a student painter, I am tmly honored to be studying under a master colorist like Henry Hensche," Guidry said. "There is a kind of legacy which, in my opinion, is valuable alone for its American art history." Guidry will paint while he is sailing. He plans to work on sea­ scapes and ships. He will be using oils so he can continue his study of colors and light effects. He said he has the support of In a photo taken by Guidry, renown artist Henry Hensche sits in his studio surrounded by works in progress. yWlkym .'a-Wa 'WSi • • j;:,- Although a black and white photo cannot capture the colors and lighting of Hensche's work, the painting reproduced ahove demonstrates the i^ist's philosophy that "Painting is the science of seeing" and "impres­ sionism is simply a way of seeing" and not an artistic technique. �musf, 1989 •;-!« . :-'"-'-iS^l m .:-fM~3. ^ ..!^^' .-I f.. , JI -J .:... « •'. /'•>.'••' .... _ i. .I'ir •.-.- . •.. , ' 1 I, - -1 Scouts loam about Value of U.S. Shipping Through MTD Program A person^ toUr of the U.S. Capitol conducted by a U.S. con­ gressman was one of the many memories taken home by the 15 scouts who participated in this summer's annual Maritime Trades Department Award Scouts pro­ gram at the Lundeberg School. The two-week experience, now in its fourth year, offers Boy and Girl Scouts an opportunity to have an educational vacation. The scouts not only learn about the maritime industry and the labor movement, but they also get a chance to visit many of the historical sites and •- \ tourist attractions near Piney Point. One of the highlights of this year's visit, according to Girl Scout Leader Kathy Roberts of Balti­ more, was Congressman Lane Ev­ ans' tour of the Capitol. Roberts said the Illinois Democrat ar­ ranged permission for the scouts to be allowed onto the floor of the House. He explained the back­ ground and updated the group on some of the bills before Congress. The scouts spent several days in Washington including a day at the MTD and AFL-CIO head­ quarters. Jean Ingrao, secretary- Pictured above are MTD Scout program participants: (hack row, left to right) Peter Steigerwald, Jason Fay, (third row, left to right) Billy Bolner, Brian Geiger, Shane Pickard, Tony Brignetti, Sean Montgomery, Counselor Kathy Roberts, (second row, left to right) Counselor Jenny Gildersleeve, Rick Bagrasco, Joy Alejo, Kisha Ringer, Kelly McClung, Tom McCloskey, (front row, left to right) Travis Corgey, Michael Miller and Peter Robbins. As part of the MTD's program in Washington, Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) meets with the scouts on the steps of the Capitol. treasurer of the MTD, told them about the need for unions and the history of the labor movement. She also urged the Boy Scouts to acquire the American Labor merit badge. While at the Lundeberg School, the scouts worked in the arts and crafts department, created their own newscasts in the audiovisual department and tried navigating a ship in the simulator classroom. Lundeberg School Hosts 1989 Boy Stout Jamhoroo Participants When 14-year-old Boy Scout Ryan Zanca told his grandfather that his troop was planning to attend the 1989 Boy Scout Jam­ boree at Fort A.P. Hill, VA, he had no idea what might be in store. His grandfather, retired SIU of ficial Buck Stephens, arranged for the members of New Orleans Troop 35 to spend a couple of nights in August at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. Ryan and his father. Scout Leader Roy Zanca, had visited the school more than 10 years ago. They had prepared the scouts and leaders to sleep "JO to 12 in a room" in the old wooden bar­ racks. After making a 25-hour bus trip from New Orleans, almost anything resembling a bed would have been welcomed. However, what they saw at the Lundeberg School was more than any of them expected. "We were suiprised," said Ryan. "1 was three or four when 1 came here and 1 remembered the old cabins. Instead we got to sleep two to a room. It sure beats sleep­ ing in a tent." The scouts were able to partic­ ipate as visitors for two days at the jamboree. Troop Leader John Brown said he and several of the scouts attended a lecture at the Jamboree on the new merit badge on American Labor. "The scouts heard about the differences between negotiation and mediation," Brown reported. "We win work with some of our scouts to help them earn the merit badge on American Labor." Brown had high praise for the steward department at the school. "The people here have been ter­ rific. When we arrived for our meals, we thought were back in New Orleans." Troop Leader Brown said the scouts raised money for the nineday trip by working a concession stand year-round at the Louisiana Superdome and by holding several fund-raising dinners. •VV-V--'' • Members of New Orleans Boy Scout Troop 35 await the beginning of the August membership meeting. The scouts spent three nights at the Lundeberg School while attending the annual Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. HiU, VA. tTong-iliine Lundeberg School , __ -Jl; MEi-4 Retired SIU official Buck Stephens introduced the New Orleans Scouts to the Lundeberg School. Pictured above are Buck Stephens' grandson Ryan Zanca (center), his son-in-law Roy Zanca (left) with his father Vince Zanca (right). The Zancas represent three generations of Scouts. Limdehei^ School guards Frank Perry and Roland Weeden have retired after a combined 31 years of service. Perry was honored on the last day of his Ih y«u^ with a party in the office of fhe school's Vice l^vsidenL Ken CmikUn. Perry was presented with a plaque while his wife received a dozen red roses. Friends and colleagues of Weeden held an informal Center to honor the 15-year veteran with a |riaque,i • • V'i "T ! -- •<;, n:;, �raHSQfiiWwae*^w«sa>p* •• - > 12 ::••• • 'i'i.V.-v • •«' ---'1' •.-•-^•''•V^ samcRsm . WvK.3-,V- ••/..«.. I?: . Letters to the Editor MA^ President F.D. Roosevelt gal­ ley gang: Ciilef Cook EugenioDiego (left). Assistant Cook Michael Cal' boon and Steward/Baker Jesse B. Natlvldad. Kttt, ( WL^kmJ W h'- •' Pns. f. D, i§§smmh Cnm To the Editor: A vote of thanks is given to the steward gang who have made this a good feeder ship. Much of that credit and reputation goes to Eu­ genio Diego, chief cook; Michael Calhoun, assistant cook and Jesse B, Natividad, steward/baker. One outstanding menu was the Chinese dinner plate (fried wonton, egg rolls, fried rice and barbecue pork spareribs). Also, a superb July 4th menu and salad bar. !: C'• K"^'.• , L : •' , , ;• <1 The Officers: L. Kowalt J. Dulong A. Griffin R. Hatfield S, Lyon M. Splner R.Nei^ LSapp The SUP: N. Daniels J. Blackbnm J. Easier M.Sokaloff M. Mortensen W. Tie iV •':••--' TheMFOW: J. Sperling G. Cook C. Babhitt ^rV Hidfiei Ifeffirans ofMmeriai Weltomes Menkaiit Mariaen rip'. To the Editor: Recently, when I read the May issue of the LOG about the VFW not wdcoming Seafsucrs as brother veterans, I decided whenever I get requests from the different veteran organizations, I would first send them a copy of the VFW's posi­ tion, and ask how they felt. Enclosed is a copy of the letter received from Paralyzed Veterans of America. I A. L. Stqiriiens Violet, LA Editor's Note: The letter Brother Stephens received from the Par­ alyze Vetoans ci America (PVA) says: . -i :-. . i'; i-.' :• "... Since its inception in 1946, PVA has been serving the needs of the disabled community and/ veterans in particular in areas such as sports and recreation, job train­ ing and placement and insuring access to quality health care. We would not, under any circum­ stances deny any assistance we might be able to provide to a Merchant Seaman. "Ours is an organization that prides itself on upholding the same principles for which so many of our members sacrificed. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form. Through our programs in legislation and advocacy, we are constantly working towards the construction of a society where no person, regardless of his or her physical capacities, can be denied the basic freedoms and rights all Americans are guaranteed by the constitution. . ." It is signed by the organization's Executive Director, R. J. Bowell. PVA can be reached at 801 Eigh­ teenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. SlU Pnsioaer Jackson Has A Ward far Yaang Mambars To the Editor: I am writing this article for all the young men and women in the union concerning our welfare and benefit program. We have the very best program there is to have. In the past five years, they have paid out about $50,000 on my health care. I had a coronary bypass in 1985 and took my pension in 1987, although I still work some. The union has come a long way since the 1940's and 1950's. Also, shipboard living is a dream com­ pared to my early years of going to sea. We had no washing ma­ chine, noair conditioning and very little night lunch. We had low pay, no weekend overtime, no welfare program at all. I look back over the years and only see two union officials still working . . . who were there when I started and that is Red Campbell and Joe DiGiorgio. I encourage all members to sup­ port your union and things will get better and better. And I hope all of you have a great and goc^ life in going to sea. Jlmmle Jackson The Woodranch, TX MH W. ftwm IMmtf »» KemmAend tf HWbr IMok lead paint, the vessel looked like swiss cheese in no time. I was lucky to go to that school, because it gave me some knowl­ edge of shipboard life before I started my career at sea. Since graduating, I've met others who attended the school and worked onboard the John W. Brown. One guy was a second mate who I came across in Cochin, India. It was 1952, and he was only 23 years old—the school had been a big help to him in upgrading so quickly. The other thing I like about the May LOG were the pictures of members graduating from courses at Piney Point. Not only can the skills they learned be used on­ board vessels, they can also be used to earn money while on shore. I wonder—have our members ever realized where they'd be without the union's commitment to training its membership? I started sailing in 1951, and there weren't any training facili­ ties. Some merchant seamen went to private school to learn new skills, and they paid good money. This was done on their own time while they were on beach with no money coming in and families to support. If a member didn't pass a class, he had to ship out again Continued on page 26 To the Editor: 1 read the May issue of the LOG with great interest, especially the story on the John W. Brown. The ship was built in the United States during the "Big One" World War II. Mainly it served as a troopship but it carried vital cargo as well. When the war came to an end, the John W. Brown still perfomied a valuable service. I was a high school student when the vessel was given to the Metropolitan Vo­ cational High School on the lower East side of N.Y. to teach young adults how to become seamen. It's been over 40 years since my high school days, but whenever I read or hear of the John W. Brown it brings back fond memories. There was a spark of pride knowing we had a REAL ship to learn on with teachers who had served in the American-flag merchant marine. With the John W. Brown, we no longer had to learn from models, books, film or blackboards, we had the real thing. The students no longer wanted to cut classes or play hooky because we now looked forward to attending classes. We students started at the bot­ tom of each department. After we had used our chipping hammers, scrapers, wire brushes and red Huntar Brawn Shatas WWII Coast Gaard HanaraUa Disckarga To the Editor: ... I am enclosing a copy of my Merchant Marine discharge and my Navy discharge. What I would like to know is why they are so different... If you would like to use the discharges in the LOG you are welcome to. Hunter N. Brown Denu^lis, AL Editor's Note: Brother Hickman (see July LOG, Letters to the Editor) and Brother Brown have provided examples of two documents available to merchant seamen who saw active duty in WWII between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945. The U.S. Coast Guard Honorable Discharge, a copy of which has been provided by Brother Brown, is obtained by filling out form DD 2168 which is available at USCG offices. After issuing the Honorable Discharge to a qualifying WWII merchant marine veteran, the Coast Guard forwards the name of that individual to the Maritime Administration. The Maritime Administra­ tion issues a United States Merchant Marine Certificate of Service. This is the document Brother Hickman provided for the July LOG. Ikaaks to tha SWP To the Editor: Thank you so much for helping my husband Robert B. Stewart and me over the years. Sorry to be late with this note ... I broke my left hip, fractured left elbow and heel. Am on the mend. Thanks again. God bless the Seafarers. Eloise W. Stewart Pomona, CA Editmr's Note: The letter tdmve was originally sent to the Seafarers Welfare Plan. The SWP forwarded it to the LOG. fram thr AnnrH JFoms of Ibr.Snitril Sfatrs ofAinrnia HUHTER NORWOOD BROWH 15 /y^^^AUCTST lasued purauanc to P.L. 95-202 for aarvice lo tha *AMrtcaii Harchaot Marina In Oceangoing Service during ' ^ Period of Araed Conflict, Deceaber 7, 1941, to Auguat 15. 1945. • tu « m.. 1945 , Captain, U.S. Coaat Guard �MWusr, fm SnWARD CURRimUM TO Bl IMPROVED The SIU is planning to revise its steward department curriculum based on a report submitted by a select panel of SIU members, Lundeberg School faculty and in­ dustry representatives. The nine-member panel noted that the need for the updated class schedule has been created by rad­ ical changes in the manning of the steward department. "By per­ centage," the report states, "the one shipboard department to suf­ fer the greatest manning reduc­ tions has been the steward de­ partment." These reductions have been caused by a combination of factors including advanced technology, increased pressures from foreignflag operators, wage freezes, faster turnarounds, and a vastly de­ creased American-flag fleet. The review states that the Lun­ deberg School will modernize its classroom agenda to reflect the needs of the three-man steward department. With assistant cooks and cook/bakers no longer being utilized, there is a rapid advance from steward assistant to chief cook, said Don Nolan, one of the Alvarez Gets Pilot License SHLSS Vice President Ken Conklin gives Milton Alvarez his certificate signifying Alvarez's successful completion of the self-study pilot program. Determination, hard work and self-review have paid dividends to SIU mfeWber Milton AlVarez. The chief mate for Crowley said he owed it all to the SIU, the Lun­ deberg School and a strong faith in God. Alvarez, who lives in Puerto Rico, recently culminated his climb from the union's trainee program to tugboat captain when he grad­ uated from the marine simulator course and his pilotage self-study program. Alvarez graduated from the Lundeberg School in October of 1975. Within three years he had enough time as an ordinary sea­ man to qualify for upgrading as an able body seaman. By July of 1978 he had completed not only the AB course but ^so the LNG program. He went to work on LNG as well as Delta and Waterman ships as an able seaman. In October of 1981 Alvarez re­ turned to the school to get his fireflghting and quartermaster en­ dorsements. Soon, he passed the celestial navigation course. Alvarez's success story did not start off right off the bat. "By not placing a full concentrated effort on my studies, I did not pass the Third Mates exam," he said of his more difficult period, which in­ cluded a divorce. "In 1986," Alvarez said, "I ac­ cepted the Lord Jesus as my savior and this changed by whole life. I had lost all hope in my life. How­ ever, accepting the Lord gave me a new direction and perspective.'' In June of that year he was invited to study at the MEBA District 2 facility in Dania, FL. He passed the exam for his Second , Mateis license, then returned to Piney'Poitlt for his radiif endOfsfement. After that, Alvarez returned to Puerto Rico and applied for harbor pilot training. Within the year, he had finished the apprenticeship in all the ports. In 1987 he took a self-study course at Piney Point and received his First Class Pilot license and a Master Freight and Towing li­ cense. Concerning the opportunities he has been given, Alvarez thanked the SIU which "gave me a new incentive to better myself. I also want to thank God for my new direction in life and to ^ the members, instructors and union personnel who made this possible. "I also want to give special thanks to Ken Conklin for his forbearance and patience in deal­ ing with me throughout the years," Alvarez said. % committee members. "It is quite a drastic change to go from steward assistant to chief cook," Nolan added. "There no longer are any steps in between." Nolan, who is the SIU school's food service director, noted that the changes will have to be phased in during an extended period of time. The changes, before being implemented, will have to be re­ viewed by the school's instructors and SIU offlcieils. They also may require changes in the shipping rules. Nolan said SIU members in the steward department would be pro­ vided with up-to-date information on the review process and any changes in curriculum through the Seafarers LOG. The Lundeberg School cur­ rently offers a variety of upgrading programs for members of the steward department, including a recertification class for chief stew­ ards. The steward recertification course not only addresses depart­ mental skills such as microbiol­ ogy, nutrition, requisitidning pro­ cedures, menu planning and safety procedures, but also trains partic­ ipants in communication and lead­ ership techniques, as well as com­ puter familiarity and record keeping. Lundeberg School Vicq President Ken Conklin pictured with Valley Lee, MD fire chief Blair Swann. Firefighting Partners Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School Vice President Ken Conk­ lin presented a check for $1000 to Blair Swann, fire chief of the Val­ ley Lee, MD, District 2 Volunteer Fire Department. The annual donation is part of the continuing firefighting coop­ eration between the school's fire­ fighters and the Valley Lee vol­ unteers. The union's Lundeberg School trains all participants attending en­ try and updating courses in fire­ fighting techniques. VK::' »Evi••J ••'I 7v Two Trainee Classes Graduate Is J School Sponsors Electronics Champ Bruce Blevins (left) is the winner of the Maryland electronics competition of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. The Lundeberg School ^ helped Blevin get to the national finals this year. With him on a tour of the schotd's facilities are his father and instructor Russ Levin. Graduating from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship entry program are participants in Class numbers 440 and 441. Pictured above, after successfully completing their lifeboat classes, are; (top picture) (back row, left to right). Bill Summers, Kurt Monsanto, Robert K. Corbett, Derrick D. Gates, Mark A. Goins, Thom Kreutzer, Frank Schoening, Robert Moore, Henry Cole, Joel Whitehause, Enrique Silver Jr., Instructor Jim Moore, (first row, left to right) Scott J. Jones, Dan J. Knight, Tony L. Barnes, Janette Nobles, Stephanie Henderson, Albert Coale, William A. Griffin, Carlos A. Perez Jr. and Brian Lushia, (bottom picture) (back row, left to right) Instructor Bob Clinton, Benjamin Cannadate III, Bobby Kelly, Andre Zene, Chester Rickey,. Jeff M. Davis, William Calvin, Jeff Kuni, Ramon E. Perez, Instructor Jake Karacynski, (firsts row, left to right) Dan L. Johnston, Douglas M. Martinson, Almus Allen II, Dion Papas, Ray T. Brown Jr., Jaime Brown Jr. and Dennis Vallianos. '• -i"' • • -7 �StAFAROS lOG 1,-ifK.;- ONBOARD TMWC " n„» trip.o on a trip to service uji^ the photographs otbi this page and on 15- t -'rp '. • tA>..--I ••.i. -' 'i 'litaS ; I ' Bostm Seotty aailingforM^ 1 I 1 I 1 beb^ with Morris onboard SlU offioi^ ^^^^pFG Wil^ member WilUamB.Baii^lJ^®^jifeatsea ^SnS,S«onB.e«-itUne iwtostry. _ nchArman on ^trrst.Ser%-Crii bistimcon,^- administration Congress on bilateral should focus^te ,•.•/• i CS^Sut,butwegottheJob done." S"v?^Ss between each ^ fl^gs. percent for ve the union's in revolution did SSS.'K,-.'. •»••»• a-:«c have be™ Sycamore v the world, found he went and en'leSf ^tiS ashore. He joyed plfti^ tnHonesia to be his louuu ^^®^^cause of the oeaufound beaufevortte port tecausethe , favorite Wul and the tiful mountains ana u n rr.^. is well known the nnmtim- cont•"SctinSonto^jSot ., =si?s^-fe an exwho recalls lent teacher « ^Jated many Navy chief, b^ members in rrsSiS^Sd other seafaring skills. . v| - . M5f „«a^ on a lash barfie ® �15 fiS:,:--:^ ' z'^-; •-« i» is; 1. ',<• -'> m\ ¥¥ v¥ i. • :4' ^f • ••' •^'. ..v?C "... •'Si'"i-W SS « :tki< : . .##• tl'AV y¥0. ' i-"- . > ^'..zfe -KZ-;';3zzz?:r:,; l>z:. zzzm^ . Z' Z4| ^•:Z'v;ss-?zzs"-v , ". •..vZ,, ' >z'Zv^r^4i|Z ...•• --.v •>.,!?./.,«,• • - • •'• •!/ -, ¥M\ • • \. '. -?'. •-/ •-'•,• -V" IWOIA •1UJ« ssl v': - .s ifi'o--'"-' '0' GARCIA .'•>?>'• .Z' • zr>| ' < • '•:,;^^fe; ';:>Z. '• ••'zJ'/ZZ «,o«w vast array ofse life .^ island,^^^^arW >ortugaese a^und thej shaped ^ surroundingaee^ geogfrom i&e the outlhie of a raphy looks iiRe _ 't-V •^. - X-\ z'^i '"z-; -Z' ^• �I )i I ' I* SUFARBIS106 THe following wipers graduated on July 21 after coimpletihg the Lundeberg Schqol FOWT six-week course which included study of boiler engine room equipment, operating auxiliary equipment and thO starting and securing of main engines: (fourth row, left to right) Albert Guidry, John Copeland, Richard S. Willis, Cal Saunders, Pat Jarvis, (third row, left to right) Brett Lammers, Debbie Stalf, Tim Weber, Carmine Barbati, Steven Baret, (second row, left to right) Tim Kosturko, David Tillman, Michael Kovack, Mark Pinkham, Justo Esteresy Phillip D. Goudeau, Glenn Henderson, Scott Horn, (front row, left to right) C. Colon, Paul Hoover, Gil A. LaiBoy, Carlos Marcial, Gary Ben!^^ Andre Carriere. Graiduating on July 7, after completing an exercise to install new electronic radar and communication equipment on the Lundeberg School tiig—the Susan Collins—are MET class participants: (rearj left to right) Don Kirkland, Instructor Russ Levin, (front, left to right) Jeiry Johnson, Mark O'MMl^ Johnson and PP MagUire. 3: • r-'T K-'. Pictured above are studehff^^^uating on July 7 from the QMED class. Each earned QMED endorsements, any rating. Standing, by row, are (thirdy left to right) Jeffrey Robertson, Bert L. Seely, Troy D. Swiger, E.J. Mallory, (second, left to right) James C. Crawford, Jeri^ Lee, Jon Robb, John Lihdseyy Joseph Ortiz, Gary R. Danos, Jim Wiifl^o James Kula, Maunce Scott, J^osano Rolon, Jolw Wong and Jeanne Wright, ^RneeUnig are Ghailes Bete fleft) and Andy DUuHip. •.•'"'•J'-'..-' ; p Inarictors Bob CHnton (second row, left) and Jake Karacaynski (second row, right) taught abandon ship procedures, hypothermia preventiony heUcopter res^cue actions,^ and distress Shiphandling Class , wqt r Watchsiiii&#-^^ ^^sel^e^irtih I practiced by participants of the August 4 graduating Shiphandl'hg lifclass. Comi^ting the course by instructor Jim Brown (back row, left) fepnd computer operator Cheryl Burgess (front row, left) are (back row, ^Ibcginning with second jfrom left) David Caudill, Oliver Dofson, David ^fawkes, (front row, begmning Mrank Pivik and Milton Alvariz techniques, Gi^diiating on Jute row) Marcus Dawson (1^, Edis^ Cm beginnihg with second from left) ^ Rrrtiert^1^^ Arhiro^^^^^G Anthony Smifti, (front| row, left to right) Faye Price, Albert P. Kuever, Bob Mensching mid || RobertTurek. , ,iry'''^hriing second ft-om left) David Fawkes, Mitch M^ Oliver N. Dotson, (front row, beginning se<^nd from left) Tom Stagg, James BUtch mid Robert Grubbs. Joinihg the class are instructor Jun Brown (se^d row, left) J - „ u ^ I , J S-iS, - V^vli-^%1 3.-, 3-', • . , - • �- AUGUST, 1989 46 Seahrm Go On Pension Roll Forty-six long time union members from deep sea, inland and Great Lakes were awarded pensions for their years of service in the maritime industry. Some of the new retirees saw action in World War II. Others joined the SIU later and took part in many of the key beefs and organizing drives that shaped the modem face of the SIU. During their decades of service each contributed to the growth of the union. The SIU wishes all of the pensioners smooth sailing. Deep Sea ANIBAL ALBE Anibal Albe,65, joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of New York. He sailed in the steward department. Born in Puerto Rico, Seafarer Albe shipped out of Santurce on the San Juan, Guayama, Carolina and Arecibo, among others. Pensioner Albe makes Rio Piedras, PR his home. EDGAR C. ANDERSON JR. Edgar Anderson, 62, joined the union in 1954 in the port of New York. Bom in East Providence, RI, Brother Anderson completed the bosun recertification program at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in 1973. He also attended other upgrading courses in 1977 and 1978. Pensioner Anderson now resides in East Greenwich, RI. SAMUEL H. BEATTIE Samuel H. Beattie, 58, st^ed saUing with the SIU in 1948 out of the port of New York. Bom in Glasgow, Scotland, Brother Beattie shipped out in the engine department. Some of his early ships were the S.S. Alawai, the S.S. Puerto Rico and the S.S. Liberty BeU. Seafarer Beattie also served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, eaming a good conduct medal and the national defense service medal. He became a U.S. citizen in 1955. Pensioner Beattie graduated from the LNG course in Piney Point in 1979. Formerly a resident of Slidell, LA, Beattie now makes his home in Irvine, CA. DAVID M. BOARD David Board, 66, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Jacksonville, FL. Initially he sailed in the deck department and in 1983 switched to the steward department. Some of his earlier ships included the S.S. Potomac (Oriental Exporters), the Santa Emilia (Liberty Navigation), the S.S. Panama (Sea-Land) and the Loma Victory (Delta). p'if :;v-^ Bom in Cuba, Brother Board served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He shipped out of the port of Jacksonville, where he continues to reside. EUGENE A. BOUSSON Eugene Bousson, 65, first sailed with the union in 1%3 although he had worked as an AB since 1959. He became a full book member in 1964. In 1967, Pensioner Bousson became a bosun. Bom in Long Island City, NY, Brother Bousson served in the Navy from 1940 to 1952. He attained the rank of quartermaster. In 1976 Seafarer Bousson completed the bosun recertification program at the Seafarers Lundeberg School. He continues to live in Piney Point, MD. LIBARDO CIFUENTES Libardo Cifuentes, 65, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Houston, TX. He sailed in the engine and steward departments. Some of his first ships included the Mid Lake, Tamara Guilden and the Sacramento, and more recent vessels include those operated by OMI and Interocean Management. Bom in Colombia, Brother Cifuentes completed the assistant cook course at the Lundeberg School. He continues to reside in Houston. WAYNE T. COLE Wayne Cole, 61, started sailing in I96I. He joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of New Yoilc and received his "A" book in 1968. Bom in Sparta, WI, Brother Cole served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946 and in the U.S. Navy from 1949 to 1953. He upgraded his skills at the union's Lundeberg School in Piney Point. In 1980 he completed the diesel technology course and in 1985, the welding course. Pensioner Cole, who shipped out of the port of Wilmington, CA, makes his home in Portland, OR. JOSEPH DEJESSA Joseph DeJessa, 63, joined the union in 1948 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. Brother DeJessa is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served from 1944 to 1946. In 1961 he was certified to ship as a bosun. Seafarer DeJessa, who shipped out of the port of New York, resides in Bricktown, NJ. ROBERT BURNS Robert Bums, 62, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. Bom in Jersey (Tity, NJ, some of his ships included the Globe Explorer (Maritime Overseas) and the Robin Gray (Moore-McCormick). Brother Bums, who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, makes his home in Keyport, NJ. DAVID E. EDWARDS David Edwards, 67, joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans, LA in 1942. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Edwards completed the steward recertification program at the Lundeberg School in 1988. While aboard the Falcon Princess as steward/baker. Seafarer Edwards received a commendation for his excellent meals. Bom in Alabama, he ciirrently makes his home in Houston, TX. • JOHN FEDESOVICH John Fedesovich, 61, joined the union in 1946 in the port of Norfolk. He sailed in the engine department. Bom in Nashua, NH, Seafarer Fedesovich shipped out of the port of New Orleans, LA. He attended many upgrading courses at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, including the reefer program in 1983 and pumproom maintenance and operations in 1984. He also sailed on many of the LNG vessels, including the LNG Aries, LNG Libra, LNG Aquarius and LN(3 Gemini. Pensioner Fedesovich continues to live in Slidell, LA. LYNWOOD FITZGERALD Lynwood Fitzgerald, 65, joined the SIU in the port of Baltimore in 1955, Ithough le had been sailing since 1948 when he received his union work permit. Bom in Craigsville, VA, Brother Fitzgerald sailed in the engine department. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. Seafarer Fitzgerald also completed a number of upgrading courses at the Lundeberg School. In 1976 his QMED certificate and lifeboat endorsements were issued. He later went on to take courses in diesel automation, marine electronics and reefer and diesel systems. Pensioner Fitzger^d shipped out of the port of Norfolk, VA and makes his home in Craigsville. NORMAN GILLIKEN Norman Gilliken, 61, joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans, LA in 1960, although he had been sailing since 1952 when his union work permit was issued in the same port. He sailed in the deck department. Pensioner Gilliken was bom in Tampa, FL. Among his first ships were the S.S. Amber Star (Trojan) and the S.S. Raphael (Waterman). He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. Pensioner Gilliken makes Slidell, LA his home. JACK O. HAMBELTON Jack Hambelton, 56, joined the A&G in 1976 at the port of Wilmington, CA. He sailed out of the West Coast for many years with the MCS. In 1966 Brother Hambelton graduated from the MCS Stewards Training School (Pacific), and shipped out as a waiter, sailing with American President Lines. Bom in El Centro, CA, Seafarer Hambelton resides in Kingsburg, CA. THEODORE M. HENKLE Theodore Henkle, 62, joined the union in the port of New York. He shipped out of the port of Seattle, WA in the deck department, mostly aboard Sea-Land vessels. Bom in Oregon, Brother Henkle is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1945 to 1946. He continues to reside in Seattle. PARTHA E. JERNIGAN Partha Jemigan, 65, joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. Beginning in 1945 he sailed with Isthmian and continued sailing on that company's ships during the SIU's bitter organizing drive. When the union won its hard-fought campaign and Isthmian signed a collective bargaining agreement in 1947, Brother Jemigan became an SIU member. Bom in Florida, Pensioner Jemigan completed the 3rd assistant engineers,training at union's Lundeberg School. Jacksonville, FL was home port for Pensioner Jemigan, who lives in Pensacola. MANUEL S. LEDESMA MCS Pensioner Manuel Ledesma, 66, joined the SIU in 1956 in Honolulu, HI. He sailed in the steward department. A member of the SlU-merged Marine . Cooks and Stewards Union, Brother Ledesma was bom in Kauai, HI and presently lives in Honolulu. GEORGE F. MCKENNA George McKenna, 70, first started sailing in 1951 when he received his union permit in the port of Norfolk, VA. He sailed that year as an OS aboard the Charles Bullfinch. Some of his other early ships were operated by Victory Carriers, Waterman, Isthmian and Calmar. Bom in Westbury, NY, Brother McKenna walked the union's picket line in the I%1 Greater New York Harbor Strike. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. Pensioner McKenna now resides in Suffolk, VA. GEOFFREY MILLS Geoffrey Mills, 65, first started sailing with the SIU in 1952 out of the port of Philadelphia. That was the year he was issued a union work permit. He then received his full book in 1959 in the port of Baltimore. Bom in England, Seafarer MUls attended the firefighting course at the Lundeberg School in 1976. Formerly a resident of New York, Pensioner Mills now calls West Wales, Britain his home. M'y ':i -, -S#' . v f I ALBERT MITCHELL Albert Mitchell, 72, lived in New Orleans, LA when his union work permit was issued to him in 1947. He became a full book member of the union in 1955. Bom in Louisiana, Brother Mitchell is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1942 to 1945. Pensioner Mitchell now resides in Gretna, LA. T• •' JAMES T. MYERS James T. Myers, 65, joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of New York, although he had been sailing since 1951. Bom in Mobile, AL and a graduate of Spalding Business College, Seafarer Myers is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served from 1950 to 1956. Upon his honorable discharge, he began to ship out again in the steward department, first with Alcoa, then with Waterman and Maritime Overseas. Brother Myers attended a Lundeberg School conference in 1973 and received his lifeboat endorsement at upgrading courses in 1975. He also worked for the Sea-Land shoregang and was promoted to port steward in 1980. Pensioner Myers calls Kent, WA home. if • M-. ••'f '• '3- ^•1 •• -y- i'S' ••I • • •; ; ^rw- ANTHONY SGAGLIARDICH Anthony Sgagliardich, 67, began sailing with the union m 1%7 out of the port of New York. He sailed in the Continued on page 18 " •"¥ ,, S>', �111 SOfARBlSlOG '•»TrA*."#r»iWkt', -'- i.i, :n%: •;, • • Continued from page 17 engine department. Some of his early ships included the City Gateway and the Bienville (Sea-Land) and the Western Comet (Western Agency). Bom in Pola, Italy, Seafarer Sgagliardich attended the union's FOWT upgrading program in 1%7 and recertification classes in 1972. He also received his QMED certification from the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship and completed the LNG/LPG course in 1975 and the Marine Electrical Maintenance course in 1980. Brother Sgagliardich continues to reside in Brooklyn, NY. EDWARD SLANEY Edward Slaney, 65, joined the SIU in the port of New York. He sailed in 1966 as a cook aboard Seatrain, Hudson Waterways and Cities Service vessels. Bora in Norwood, MA, Brother Slaney had previously shipped with other unions, but said the SIU was by far the best. Seafarer Slaney resides in New Orleans, LA. MIKE STRAKA Mike Straka, 64, was first issued a union work permit in 1953 and received his full book in 1955 in the port of Baltimore, MD. He sailed in the deck department. Bora in Central City, PA, Brother Straka served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 and in the Air Force from 1949 to 1952. He lives in Mercer, PA. •' . V 'r^'-'v"-^''';' .<• r".. /t; 1 mm JOSEPH A. TAGLIAFERRI Joseph Tagliaferri, 63,joined the SIU in 1957 in the port of New York, although he had been issued a union port permit the previous year. Born in Baltimore, MD, Brother Tagliaferri sailed in the engine department. Pensioner Tagliaferri was issued a union picket card in 1961 for the time he put in on SIU beefs. Prior to his career in the merchant marine. Seafarer Tagliaferri was in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 19'52. He was a member of a cavalry unit in Germany stationed in the mountains to look for border crossers and black marketeers. Pensioner Tagliaferri still resides in Baltimore. fniand *lf ALVIN W. COOLEY Alvin Cooley, 65, joined the union in 1966 in the port of Mobile and received his full book in 1968. He sailed in the engine department. Bora in LeakesviUe, MS, Brother Cooley served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1954. He was employed by RadclifT Materials from 1963 to 1966 and later by Dixie Carriers. With a marine license. Boatman Cooley sailed as a pilot out of the port of Mobile. He continues to live in LeakesviUe. HYBART DEES Hybart Dees, 66, joined the union in 1965 in the port of Mobile foUowing three years in the U.S. Army. He sailed in the deck department, working for 13 years as a lever man with RadclifT Materials. Boatman Dees makes Atmore, AL his home. OTHO A. GUGLIOTTA Otho Gugliotta, 61, joined the union in the port of Baltimore and signed on with Curtis Bay Towing in 1953. He has a first class pUot and master rivers Ucense and sailed as captain. Seafarer Gugliotta attended one of the union's educational conferences and took the radar renewal course at the Lundeberg School in 1987. He continues to live in Baltimore. JAMES S. JAMES James James, 66, joined the union in 1972 in the port of New Orleans. Bora in San Antonio, TX, Brother James served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1952. In 1978 Boatman James was elected a winner of the Transportation Institute's towboat operator scholarship. He attended courses at the union's Lundeberg School in inland and ocean operations and firefighting. The next year he took an upgrading class in celestial navigation. In 1982 he completed the inspected towing vessel and quartermaster courses, and in 1986, the radm* observer program. He shipped out as second mate with Red Circle Transport, Crowley Towing and lOT. Seafarer James resides in Thonotosassa, FL. CHARLES W. MOORE Charles Moore, 65, joined the union in 1973 in the port of Norfolk, VAand was employed, since 1969, as a captain by NBC Lines. NBC Lines was bought by McAUister. Bora in Oyster, VA, Seafarer Moore continues to Uve there.. JEROME MOORE Jerome Moore, 70, joined the union in 1961. Born in St. George Island, klD, Brother Moore most recently sailed as a deckhand aboard the Papa Guy for Steuart Transportation Company. He makes his home in Piney Point, MD. JOHN D SPUEHLER John D. Spuehler, 62, of Jacksonville, FL, joined the union in 1976. He last sailed in March on a Crowley Towing and Transit vessel. Brother Spuehler also worked on such vessels as the Tug Crusader and the Sea-Land Charleston. He sailed in the deck department. JOHN STEINS John Steins, 62, joined the SIU in the port of Norfolk, VA in 1974. He sailed in the engine department. Bora in Buffalo, NY, Boatman Steins is a veteran of the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1966. He also is a former member of the United Steelworkers union. In 1973 Brother Steins signed on with McAllister Brothers and then with Curtis Bay Towing of Virginia as an engineer. He continues to reside in Norfolk. BILLY H. STUBBLEFTELD Billy H. Stubblefield, 63, joined the SIU in St. Louis, where he was also bora. A chief towboat cook. Brother Stubblefield served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. In 1977 he was a delegate to an Education Conference held at the union's Lundeberg School in Piney Point, MD. Pensioner Stubblefield is a resident of St. Louis. WALTER R. VICKERY Walter R. Vickery, 62, last worked in 1988 on a Mariner Towing tug. Brother Vickery began his career as a boatman in 1956. He sailed as a deckhand and AB for SlU-contracted companies such as Curtis Bay Towing and McAllister. Pensioner Vickery lives in Woodbury, NJ. CALVIN WAGNER Calvin Wagner, 63, joined the union in 1958 in the port of Houston, TX. Bora in Moulton, TX, Boatman Wagner hired on with G&H Towing in 1959. He also served with the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. Brother Wagner makes Webster, TX his home. FRANCIS O. WALLACE Francis O. Wallace, 64, of Mobile, AL, sailed as a chief engineer. A native of New Hampshire, he joined the union in Norfolk in 1971. SYDNEY WARMACK Sidney Warmack, 65, of Tampa, FL, retired as an AB. He last sailed on a Mariner Towing vessel in February of 1988. Brother Warmack worked on such vessels as the Navigator and the Seafarer. Pensioner Warmack also sailed as an AB in the SIU's deep sea division. Great Lakes SYLVESTER BLAZIK Sylvester Blazik, 60 of Kingston, PA, sailed as a wheelsman. Brother Blazik joined the union in 1960. He sailed on such vessels as the steamer Scobell operated by Erie Navigating. MESSAH) M. EUAHMI Messaid Eljahmi, 65, joined the SIU in Detroit in 1958. He sailed in the steward department as a porter. He shipped out of the port of Algonac. Bora in Yemen, Brother Eljahmi became a U.S. citizen in 1960. He lives in Dearborn, MI. DONALD GORDON Donald Gordon, 60, joined the union in 1961 in the port of Cleveland. Bora in Ohio, Brother Gordon served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1960. In I%1 he hired on with Great Lakes Towing. Prior to his sailing career. Seafarer Gordon was employed by General Electric as a lineman. Pensioner Gordon, who shipped out of the port of Algonac, makes Cleveland his home. ROSS GOWANS Ross Gowans, 65, retired as a wheelsman. Bora in Maryland, Brother Gowans joined the union in 1960 in Toledo, OH. He sailed on such vessels as the Saginaw Bay. Pensioner Gowans makes Saginaw, MI his home. ALLEN RENWICK Allen Renwick, 65, of Lakeland, FL, joined the union in 1%1 in Detroit, MI. A native of Romney, Ontario, Canada, Brother Renwick sailed in the engine department out of the union's Great Lakes division. .'V "V •.V VERNON W. SAVAGE Vernon Savage, 67, joined the union in 1963 in the port of Chicago and started shipping out with Hannah Inland Waterways. Bora in Jersey City, NJ, Brother Savage sailed both as an inland boatman and as a Great Lakes tugboat operator. He also served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1948. He now resides in Wadena, lA. JEROME H. SZMAGALSKI Jerome H. Szmagalski, 65, of Hammond, IN, joined the SIU in Detroit in 1967. Previously a member of the United Steelworkers Union, Brother Szmagalski became a tug deckhand. He worked on vessels operated by such companies as Hannah Inland Waterways and Great Lakes Towing. Railroad Marine THOMAS J. MCGREAL Thomas McGreal, 62, joined the union in 1960 in the port of New York. Bora in Astoria, NY, Brother McGreal shipped out in the deck dep^ment. Some of his earliest tugs were operated by NY Central, Penn Central and NY Dock Railway. In 1962 he wrote to government officials to ask for their help in opposing a railroad merger. In 1982 his daughter, Jane Frances, was the Charlie Logan Scholarship winner, receiving an award in the amount of $10,000 toward her college education. Seafarer McGreal continues to make New York his home. HilP YOU- lil •; . ' �sfef t .. AUGUST, 1989 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea ^Wahnn Unm ttmlory JULY 1-31, 1989 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New Yoric PhUadelphia, ^ B^tiinoFe; Norfolk Mobile New Orleans •^REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT I San Fiancisot^ i Yj^Umingtoii Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu tHdu^dif I St. Louis; I I^ey Poiirif Totals Port [ New^Vb^ I Philadelp i Baltimore^ Norfolk Mobile New Orleans I jack^bhyiiiir I San Francisi^ Ijyilniingtoi}^ Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu fHdus I St. Louis |^^.Poin3 Totals Port i New York I Philadelphia SBaltimpres] Norfolk Mobile New Orf^hns liacksonville I San Franci 0 1 1 3 76 0 1 26 5 1 7 0 10 1 0 4 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 16 6 1 5 0 8 15 6 2 1 0 2 1 : 1' 7 I 0 5 2 1 3 STEWARD DEPARTMENT teamiagtpn Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu iHouston |St. Louisy illSney Poini Totals Port New York Philadelphia llg^timore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans I Jacksonville - ^ i San Francisco MklOKi Sacco,/Vrsii/ffir JoKfdi Saceo, Executive Vice President Icie DiGior^, Secretary-Treasurer Angus "Red" Campiwll, Vice President of Contracts JackCaffey, Vice President TiiMnas GHdewdl, Vice President George McCartney, Vice President John Fay, Vice President Roy A Mercer, Vice President Steve Edney, Vice President 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 1^1202 (301)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOLULU ""V "V ':AZ' 636 Cooke St. Honolulu, HI 96813 (808)523-5434 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 50 Union St. New Bedford. MA 02740 ; (508)997-5404 cl NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)529-7546 NEW YORK . 675 Fourth Ave. , .. ,,, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 .-I NORFOLK ' ^ ' ^7 i. 115Thirtl St. Norfolk, VA 23510 * . y, .... (804) 622-1892 ^^ -'^PHiLADELPHIA- ' ? 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 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 458rGravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314)752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington. CA 90744 (213)549-4000 iJfetPgtp Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu . . pHouston 1st. Louis iEi§y-ioin) Totals Totals AH Departments Totals All Departments . .^ . • . . . L *"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 July was up from the month of June. A total of 1,386 johs were shipped on SIUcontracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,386 jobs shipped, 551 jobs or about 40 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 184 trip relief jobs were shipped Since the trip reUef program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 10,446 johs have been shipped. BIILMTU' '--irriTiiMr-r-'-'-'- ri - ^ tS": '..'p'f'.V >>•''-f- sssi "• • SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN l-(800)-CLAIMS-4 l-(800)-252-4674 ' v'- ,• '.y; 'iSt' •' y. ,y. SEJ '• M-AA •y. Vy' -; . ? , 'im > '."r 'i • 'v'-'ni.;. •M-''• 'U •I''- rA A'- 'y - A-A > ' "-kf • �Ms •,:"-it-l -»!».' ri- ¥, SOUrAREK m •;- ^'V'--' • - 20 MoiMfy Membeiship ' MeeHngs Deep 5ea, Lakes, lirfanif Mfotefs Dispatchers* Report for Inland Waters JULY 1-31, 1989 IfSSfel. 'wtV 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 Phil^elpl^ Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans IJacksonville •|Sah Ftanciscci IWilmii^on Seattle Puerto Rico Houston .•AlgOnao:;:®® St. Louis aPiney Pbirit Wk TOTAL SHIPPED AU Groups Class A Class B Class C •TOTAL REGISTERED AUGr Class A Class B Class C ^ - 0.: 0 0 19 0 0 fei-r'.. 0 . 0 2 0 0 0 K U VVft• - V, ; 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 12 0 0 21 DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 -0: V- 6o 21 0 12 • 0 1 0 I 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 kX—Q 0 ••:5 ^ ..•-.f ,0 0 0 - .0 0 0 4 43 • • 6 10 6 0 0 •••;' •' 0 :•. •0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 23 re: , 1 . - 0 •:fr '41 0 0 0 0 kSf 0 ;<! • 0 0 ^ 0 0 ........... 49 50 109 0 0 : 0 b 1 0 14 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 39 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 0 8 1 0 14 0 61 0 0 0 0 0 0 84 Piney Point Tuesday, September 5 New York Tuesday, September 5 PhUadelphia Wednesday, September 6 Baltimore Thursday, September 7 Norfolk Thursday, September 7 Jacksonville Thursday, September 7 Algonac Friday, September 8 Houston Monday, September 11 '« • New Orleans : . Tuesday, September 12 ; Mobile 5 Wednesday, September 13 San Francisco Thursday, September 14 WUmington Monday, September 18 Seattle , Friday, September 22 San Juan Thursday, September 7 ^. vr , St. Louis V F^riday, Septeflilwr 15 HoiDtd^ Friday, September 15 Duluth Wednesday, September 13' • ^ - ENGINE DEPARTMENT i*' ''-yy'" ' '.:''-:7 Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT yA. • Wednesday, Septemb^j^^pj^ New Bedford Tuesday, September 1^ v • flpp ;iv ®r : iih30 Ml, Jorto MobUe New Orleans NOTICE FOR AMSEA CREW T.W.AUDep«d«ol, «» 37 54 64 12 55 177 88 103 *"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. DIspatchefs' Report for Groat Lakes CL—CompanyAakes JULY 1-31, 1989 Port NP—Non Priority U-Lakes ••REGISTERED ON BEACH TOTAL SHIPPED •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups All Groups All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT Totab AlDapMMRs " 0 75 34 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. : , .( Crewmembers employed aboa,rd the vessels named below during the specified dates are due an Economic Price Adjust­ ment (EPA) as per Article II, Section 5(b)2 (page 15) of the AMSEA agreement. To verify employment, please forward copies of discharges or pay vouchers to the contract de­ partment at the union's head­ quarters, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Members writing the contract department should include a current address. Upon receipt of the employ­ ment verification, monies due will be processed and sent to the address specified in the letter mailed to the contract depart­ ment. MY First Lt. Baldomero Lopez 1/1/87 to 12/31/88 MV Second Lt. John P. Bobo 1/1/88 to 12/31/88 -n PFC Dwayne T. Williams 1/1/88 to 12/31/88 MV Jack Lummus 1/1/88 to 12/31/88 MV WUUam R. Button 1/1/88 to 12/31/88 .-•r,,•'•,•./• ymMyyi • k ':> • •.•.vr"-'- �"" V" Ji AUGUST, 1989 21 Kirksey Photographs Life Onhoord the Overseas Chicago SIU crewmember and deck delegate Alvin a crew meal. Chief Cook Charles Hall in the Kirksey photographed his shipmates on a re­ Overseas Chicago galley, QMED Charlie Pickcent voyage. ren dropping by the crew lounge to talk to Pictured in clockwise order are: AB's Eddie H^ and Young and during a payoff, AB Alvin Hall and Eric Young enjoying a moment of Kirksey (left), SIU Representative Joe Perez leisure, Chief Steward Clyde Kreiss preparing and Bosun E. Bronsting. fJi: \ PS F'| •4 /- •Jt ^^ ^ • • 'J.-- .• , 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 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 fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SmPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by 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; 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 urdess 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. Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafium Appeals Board 5201 Anth Way Camp Springs, Md. 20740 Full 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 are available inall 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 maimer. If, at any time, any SIU patrolman or other Union official, in your opinion, fails to protect your contract rights properly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—THE LOG. The LOG has traditionally refirained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union, officer or member. 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 September, 1960, meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for 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. 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. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guar­ anteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These ri^ts 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 ri^ts to which Ke is entitled, he should notify Union headquar­ ters. 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 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 candidates for 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 youreconomic, 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 be has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Mi­ chael Saccoat Headquajrters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Wayand Britannia Way, PrinceGeorges County, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. • 'v'4,-V p' Union Members Missing Maii Should Contact Headquarters To ensure delivery of the Seafarers LOG each month and receipt of W-2 forms. Seafarers Welfare Plan bulle­ tins and other communications from the SIU's head­ quarters, members should provide the national office with an up-to-date home address. The home address is considered by SIU headquarters to be a member's permanent residence. Other Changes—^Notify HQ SIU members who have changed their names should also notify headquarters. Individuals receiving duplicate copies of the LOG are asked to advise the union of this matter. If addresses or names are incorrectly noted on current mailings, contact headquarters. All of the above communication with the union's national office can be accomplished by filling out the form next to this article and mailing it to 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Maryland 20746, ATT: SIU Ad­ dress Correction Department. SIU members can also fill out change of address cards at any union hall. HOME ADDRESS PLEASE PRINT • '• : /'-S- Date;. This wilt be my permanent address for all official Union mailings. This address should remain in the Union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. Social Security No. Phone No. ( Your Full Name Street Apt. or Box # City • Active SIU Member Book Number _L Area Code State ZIP • SIU Pensioner Other V.' • I vA. , Please check one: • This is a change of address • This is a new request. I have never received the LOG at my home address • I am receiving more than one copy of the LOG '=1^' (Signed). . _ 'J . ."lA t �StAFJUtmiOG MDOmS (Apex Marine), April 9— Chairman Richard K. Wardlaw, Sec­ ret^ Grant Marzett, Deck Delegate Eric Ruiz, Sal Salazar, Steward Del­ egate G. Alvarez. Chairman noted it has been a long trip, three-and-a-half months, with several diversions. Everything is running smoothly with a go(^ SIU crew. Vessel will arrive in Gulf of Mexico around May 9 for a payofif, then on to Suez C!anal. There is $51 in ship's fiind. Deck delegate stated there has been quite a bit of confusion since new, non­ union chief mate came aboard in Singapore. Engine and steward de­ partments each had a man get off in Singapore due to illness. Replace­ ments were received. Problems to be looked into; when Adonis arrived in Taiwan—ship not cleared until five day^ later, watches broken and no shore leave given. Next port: Houston, TX. GilVESimr Mr (Sea-Land Service), April 2—Chairman Paul Butterworth, Secretary Terry J. Smith, Educational Director O.Duffy, Deck Delegate Irvin Glass, Engine Delegate Donald Bush, Steward Dele^te Fredrick E. Otto. No beefs or disputed OT reported by department delegates. There is $268 in the ship's movie fund. It was requested that a union official be present when Cus­ toms comes aboard in Felixstowe, England. As a safety precaution, en­ gine room crewmembers requested an eye wash station. Other sugges­ tions made: get -another washing ma­ chine in the crew laundry, get VCR cleaned, increase stores, fix heat and add a carpet in crew's rec room. Next ports: Charleston, SC; tort Everglades, FL; Houston, TX, and Jacksonville, FL. MOIDN (Apex Marine), April 30Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary Marvin Deloatch, Educational Di­ rector A. Gardner, Deck Delegate Macario Torre, Engine Delegate Alfred Gonzalez, Steward Delegate Michael Hammock. Chairman re­ ported ship will arrive in Stapleton, NY at noon on May 5 with payoff scheduled for arriv^. New captain will come aboard for next voyage. fi •"' :"• .yStv i • > •' ^ '"f ^ •rj UKMQUUaUS (Energy Transportation Corp.), April 30—Chairman J.W. Gamer, Secretary Alexander P. Reyer. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Bosun read from Marine In­ dex about lost jobs in maritime industry and stressed importance of contributing to SPAD as a way to fight back. Secretary urged members to work safely, stay alert and up­ grade whenever possible. There is $3,(X)0 in ship's ffind. On this voy­ age, fund has purchased a rice cooker and a microwave oven. Vote of thanks given to steward depart­ ment for a job well done. Next ports: Nagoya, Japan and Bontang, Indonesia. HfG MIES (Energy Transportation Corp.), April 9-—Chairman Robert D. Schwarz, Secretary Harold Markowitz. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Bosun discussed problems arising from crew flights on Japan Air Lines. Crewmembers unani­ mously agreed changes need to be made as JAL service has been very poor. Everything onboard is mnning smoothly. Steward asked for the co­ operation of crew in helping to keep mess halls and lounge clean by re­ turning glasses, plates and silver­ ware after use. Vote of thanks given to chief steward and his department for a job well done. Next ports: Osaka, Japan; Bontang, Indonesia, and Tobata, Japan. UK OPtKOn (Energy Transporta­ tion Corp.), April 23-^hairman Eu­ gene A. Bousson, Secretary Francis E. Ostendarp, Educational Director Engang Abi^n, Deck Delegate Leon Piero, Engine Delegate T.R. Van Pelt, Steward Delegate B.T. McEleney. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $440 in ship's fund. Educational director urged eli­ gible members to upgrade when pos­ sible. All communications read and posted. Next port: Nagoya, Japan. UK GBUK (Energy Transportation Corp.), April 16—Chairman Robbynson Suy, Secretary Doyle Corne­ lius, Educational Director Thomas Harris, Deck Delegate John O'Connell. Engine Delegate David Veldkamp. Steward Delegate Gregory Evans. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. There is $80 in ship's fund which is kept in captain's safe. Bo­ sun reported everything is going smoothly for dry-docking in Sakaide, Japan. He discussed new drug testing information received from ship sailed from Miami on April 14 bound for Trinidad. Extra riders picked up for tank cleaning and welding and the ship is returning back to USA. The OMI Charger is due to pay off in Texas City May 1, pick up a partial load and sail for Corpus C^sti. Secretary talked about drug testing rules. He ex­ pressed belief that new regulations are biased against U.S.-flag mer­ chant mariners since drug testing is not required for foreign-flag vessels. He encouraged all members with a drug/alcohol problem to go to ARC and not wait until it's too late. Edu­ cational director stressed need for union members to upgrade skills at SHLSS and to be ready to replace some of the older members, now re­ tiring. One minute of silence was observed in memory of departed brothers and sisters. Next port: Texas City, TX. OMf DYmCMEM (OMI Corp.), April 16—Chairman Carrol G. Heick, Secretary Don Collins, Educational ]ilK hUvwhig skips mkmlK an iasi a sanpUag of tko many mooHag npotfs Iho SIU ntoim oath moalh fnm hs ships anuad tho worii^ Shipsf adaalos an nviowod hf Hu Unoa's Coalntl Doparlaioal* Jhoso l issaos ngakiiig alioMon or an addroaod by Ihe Uaiou upoa l ntoi^^Jkoshsp^n^ headquarters. All communications received were posted for all to read. There has been no news yet about LNG crewmembers using American airlines instead of JAL. Crewmem­ bers unanimously agreed there has been general dissatisfaction with JAL, and LNG-assigned SIU mem­ bers should be flown on American carriers. Steward thanked crew for cooperation in returning excess linen to store room. Vote of thanks given to steward department for a job well done. UK VMKO (Energy Transportation Corp.), April 30—Chairman Luther Myrex, Secretary Robert H. Forshee. Deck Delegate B.T. Fleming, Engine Delegate Kevin W. Conklin, Steward Delegate Zein Achmad. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $145 in ship's fund. All communications have been read and posted. Chairman led a discussion on problem of drug testing and its effect on the membership. He went over the information sent out by union on AIDS and stressed impor­ tance of contributing to SPAD and of upgrading. Vote of thanks given to steward department for fine meals. Next ports: Tobata, Japan; Arun, Indonesia; Bontang, Indone­ sia, and Nagoya, Japan. mUOVD HUDSON (Sea-Land Service), April 10—Chairman John R. Neff, Secretary Raymond G. Connolly, Educational Director M.K. Over^aard. There is $190 in the ship's fluid—to be spent on movies for ship's crew. Report from headquar­ ters on drug testing read to crew. Discussion ensued. Concern ex­ pressed about cost of taking test a second time, especially for seamen who live a long way from their doc­ tor, clinic or union hall. Next port: Houston, TX. (OMI Corp.), April 30— Chairman H.B. Rains, Secretary N. Johnson, Educational Director G. Rodriguez. No b^efs or disputed OT reported. Currently there is no ship's fund since everything was do­ nated for movies. Chairman stated Director F.P. Durand Jr., Deck Del­ egate Errol Pak, Engine Delegate John R. Day, Steward Delegate Camilo Camarea. Chairman noted a few beefs in deck department re­ garding OT and personalities. Prob­ lems will be brought to attention of boarding patrolman. One QMED sent to the hospital in Panama fol­ lowing an accident. Otherwise, everything running smoothly. Chair­ man explained where SPAD dollars go and stressed importance of up^ding skills at Piney Point. Educa­ tional director said one look at Lundeberg school's course schedule in the Seafarers LOG shows the many kinds of courses offered at union's school. Secretary said programs at SHLSS give a seaman an excellent chance to get a good education and noted new look for the Seafarers LOG is welcome change. Secretary announced receipt of a bulletin from headquarters about drug testing. Several paragraphs read to member­ ship and it was posted for all to re­ view. There is W37 in movie fund. Suggestion made to check with pa­ trolman to see if cash draws can be made at sea before arrival in port. Vote of thanks given to steward de­ partment for excellent food and super cleaning job. Steward asked members to keep ship clean by using wall ashtrays for cigarettes only, not as trash cans, and reminded every­ one to place all dishes in sink with water. Next ports: Houston, TX and Long Beach, CA. OVlRSaS NSW www (Maritime Over­ seas Corp.), April 9—Chairman Mario Zepeda, Secretary O.A. Rob­ erts, Educational Director Ed Self. No beefs or disputed OT. There is $100 in the ship's fund. Recent Sea­ farers LOG received as well as a letter from headquarters on new drug testing regulations. Educational director urged all eligible members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Members talked about a raise in the pension plan and vote of thanks given to steward department. Next port: Mobile, AL. KUBGHUY (Sea-Land Service), April 16—Chairman Howard Knox, Secretary A.M. Mercado. Chairman talked about new drug testing rules and asked all members to discuss the matter with other crewmembers. Educational director noted good, new movies are needed aboard ship. In deck department, bosun reported two hours of disputed OT. Steward department covering for a sick mem­ ber of the galley crew. Under good and welfare, it was reported stack gas has come up again and some­ thing should be done to correct situ­ ation. ' ,v I aomr S. ISS (Waterman Steamship Corp.), April 9—Chairman Mark Trepp, Secretary G.T. Aquino, Edu­ cational Director B. Cooley, Deck Delegate E.D. Moll, Engine Dele­ gate William Parker. No beefs or disputed OT. Minutes from the last meeting read and approved. Bosun talked about never-ending need for SPAD contributions and how union must keep its position strong in Washington, DC. He said, if SIU loses out on union projects, all union members will be dead ducks. Steward talked about need for quali­ fied persons in all departments. He suggested each eligible member con­ sider going to Piney Point to up­ grade and increase potential earning power, gain useful knowledge and keep union staffed with qualified personnel. Steward thanked all hands who helped keep mess room and pantry clean and neat. He antic­ ipates a good trip to Alexandria, Egypt and will advise the Seafarers LOG of any interesting happenings along the way. One minute of si­ lence observed in memory of de­ parted brothers and sisters. Next port: Alexandria, Egypt, with payoff expected in June in Newport News, VA. SSM-IMNDMNOKHUeS (Sea-Land Serv­ ice), April 4-—Chairman John Lundborg. Secretary J. Wright, Educa­ tional Director A. Jaramillo, Deck Delegate J. Hendrix, Engine Dele­ gate J. Penrose, Steward Delegate J. Lubach. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $208 in the ship's movie fund. Letter from headquar­ ters on drug testing policy read and discussed. It has been posted on the bulletin board. Three written resolu­ tions and motions filed: union should go back to the old shipping rule of six months on a ship with a relief possible after 60 days, pension should be raised to $1,000 a month for 7,3(X) days sea time and incre­ ments be increased to $100 and maintenance and cure should be raised from present rate of $8 per day to an amount that would aJlow a seaman to keep up with the econ­ omy or at least keep bill collectors away. Under good and welfare, crewmembers discussed the washing machine. It was suggested it be checked to determine how to pre­ vent it from stopping in mid-cycle. Vote of thanks given to steward de­ partment for a job well done. Next port: Tacoma, WA. 5SM UND aUUSNOSR (Sea-Land Serv­ ice), April 24-—Chairman Glen James, Secretary George W. Gib­ bons, Educational Director Leon Acosta, Steward Delegate Arthur Rubinstein. A few beefs in deck and engine departments will be worked out with the patrolman. Aft wrench has not been working for some time, requiring everything to be done by hand. Crewmembers hope nobody gets hurt with lines until it is fixed. Men have been working on it, but with no luck. Chairman reported a good trip. Secretary noted some men will be getting off at end of voyage and he wished them a good vacation. Ship is trying to get back on schedule, docking Wednesday morning at 07(X). Payoff will be Continued on page 23 . ' -i' mr • �•'.V AUGUST, 1989 Continued from page 22 around 0900. Repair list has been posted. Vote of thanks given to crew for keeping messroom and pantry clean. Thanks given to Chief Cook Darryl Goggins for putting out good food. Next port: Elizabeth, NJ. SM-iMW EXKWIIM(Sea-Land Serv­ ice), April 16—Chairman M. Zimbro. Secretary E. Vazquez, Educa­ tional Director David Dukehart, Engine Delegate Johnny O'Neill. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman posted, a letter received from headquarters about Coast Guard's drug testing regulations for all seamen. Motion made to increase maintenance and cure from $8 to $20. Another motion made to in­ crease deck department by one more , able seaman and steward department by one more utility. These motions were forwarded to union's, contract office for evaluation. Vote of thanks given to steward department for a job well done. SSMMm MIMUKSea-Land Service), April 30—Chairman Lester Freebum, Secretary R. Garcia. No dis­ puted OT reported in the three de­ partments. Chairman noted arrival in Long Beach, CA was estimated for May 7 at 1700 hours. Educational director stressed importance of tak­ ing upgrading courses at Piney Point to upgrade skills. Deck delegate re­ quested a standby to cover gangway watches. Information on new drug testing policy posted in rec room. All crewmembers asked to pay spe­ cial attention to the notice. Three motions made: reduce the minimum time requested for application qf va­ cation from 120 to 30 days, welfare plan should consider the use of professional health care programs and return to six month rot^ ship­ ping. New mattresses and pillow cases put on list of needed items. Thanks for a job well done given to steward department. HSMS nHUDKBay Tankers), April 8— Chairman A.E. Weaver, Secretary E. Puryear, Educational Director J. Laratta, Steward Delegate Robert Elliott. Information on drug testing procedures received, discussed and posted. All members in attendance said they understood what was ex­ pected of them regarding dmg test­ ing. Chairman announced ship would arrive in Port Angeles April 9 at 2400, docking in Tacoma the fol­ lowing day. He noted demonstra­ tions were taking place in Tacoma. WhUe there was no threat to the Pollux, security was being tightened. No beefs or disputed OT reported in deck and engine departments. An in­ quiry was made concerning addi­ tional hours steward department members were piitting in to prepare the extra meals for military person­ nel aboard ship. Crewmembers re­ ported three TVs blew up due to a power surge following a loss of power. Of the TVs, one belonged to the ship, other two were personal and owners are asking for compen­ sation. Next port: Tacoma, WA. iir f»6f(Bay Tankers), May Chairman Mark W. Davis, Secretary James E. Lewis, Deck Delegate Jay C. Dillon, Treasurer C. Kirchhofer, Engine Delegate A. Stankiewicz, Steward Delegate K. Bragg. New Coast Guard mandatory drug testing rules announced to all members. Ef­ fective June 21, 1989, any crew­ members without a drug-free certifi­ cate will not be allowed to sign on. Clarification received from head­ quarters regarding shipping rules. Any class "A" seaman shipped aboard vessels is subject to rem^ aboard 240 days or one round-trip, whichever is longer. ••OfWilliefaOM), May 28— Chairman Errol Pak, Educational Director James Flynn, Deck Dele­ gate Jim Carter, Engine Delegate Dave Kopp, Steward Delegate E. Avila. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported in any departments. Some question of standbys not being called during previous trip. Issue re­ solved and further problems will be dealt with promptly. Educational di­ rector reminded members to rewind VCR tapes when through with them. Communications received concern­ ing mandatory drug testing proce­ dures on arrival in port which will be conducted by lOM. Vote of thanks offered to steward depart­ ment for being a good feeder. Chair­ man advised all hands that repair items should be addressed immedi­ ately. No need to wait for a union meeting to keep things in proper working order. Next port: San Pedro, CA. COWF IfBEViy(Cove Shipping), May 17—Chairman M. Galbraith, Secre­ tary F. Mitchell Jr., Educational Di­ rector William Beatty. No beefs or disputed OT reported in engine and steward departments. Chairman stated ship is due to pay off upon arrival in Houston. He talked about new drug testing procedures going into effect in June and reminded crewmembers that a seafarer who doesn't have drug-free certificate will be pulled off the ship. Bosun stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. I^mpman informed all members about safety in working areas and cautioned all hands to be safety-minded. If any unsafe condi­ tions exist, he said, it should be re­ ported to someone who can correct the situation. Avoiding accidents is of prime importance aboard SIU vessels. Several suggestions were made: have patrolman see if com­ pany can provide some kind of ar­ rangement to get crewmembers to drug testing location, have sailing board posted in accordance with contract on weekends and holidays. Vote of thanks given to steward de­ partment. Next ports: Houston, TX; New York, and Jacksonville, FL. mam aiUinOiKSeahawk Manage­ ment), May 20—Chairman J. Chefmesino. Secretary M.P. Cox, Edu­ cational Director R. Irula. No disputed OT reported. In engine de­ partment, however, a matter will be brought to the attention of union pa­ trolman concerning jurisdiction of engine room duties for unlicensed members. Clarification requested on issue of "all hands" for tank clean­ ing. Steward department delegate re­ ported galley refiigerator/freezer, which has been out of order for four months, is still not working. There was $220.05 in ship's fund until a purchase of movies and tapes wiped it out. Shortage of $64.95 was paid by steward. Donations welcome to help pay him back. Patrolman wiU request layoff slips for men at ship­ yard. Vote of thanks given to stew­ ard department for a job well done. GAlVBItm SinSea-Land Service), May 7—Chairman Donald Fleming, Secretary J Rivera, Educational Di­ rector C. Sullivan, Engine Delegate D. Bush. No disputed OT reported in any department. Beef in engine department, however, which will be taken up with patrolman. Chairman read letter to crew regarding conse­ quences of drugs and alcohol on­ board ship. He brought up new drug testing regulations which will go into effect June 21. Members were re­ minded about not dumping any plas­ tic overboard. Separate containers have been provided for plastic re­ fuse. Ship will pay off in Houston on May 15. There is $270 in ship's movie fund which will be transferred over to chief electrician. Secretary thanked deck and engine depart­ ments for cooperation aboard ship. Everything ran smoothly. Several items brought up which need atten­ tion: two smoking extractors needed for rec room and video needs clean­ ing. Steward department given vote, of thanks for a job well done. Next ports: Charleston, SC; Port Ever­ glades, FL; Houston, TX, and Jack­ sonville, FL. GOIDBI fNMIIfOffCApex Marine), May 11—Chairman Bernard Saberon, Secretary Kenneth Hagan, Educa­ tional Director F.J. Dukes, Deck Delegate Kenneth Park, Steward Delegate John Reid. Some literature received aboard ship on new drug testing regulations which will go into effect June 21. More information would be appreciated. Motion made for contract negotiating committee to consider raising clothing allow­ ance for tank cleaning. Other sug­ gestions made to help ship run more smoothly: repair ice machine, dish­ washer and reefer; purchase a new VCR, another washing machine and new chairs for lounge; unplug drains and ensure air quality in tanks is proper. Golden Endeavor is headed for New Orleans, Egypt and in July to a shipyard in Italy. GOtDBI MOmUKHiApGx Marine), May 18—Chairman B. Berberena, Secre­ tary L. Iturrino, Educational Direc­ tor M. Ruhl, Deck Delegate Tommie R. Benton, Steward Delegate Ste­ phanie Smith. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman noted there is a good gang onboard this trip. No money is in the ship's fund, how­ ever, members asked to start con­ tributing to a fund so movies can be purchased. miirMirD(IOM), May 1—Chair­ man George Vukmir, Secretary J. Utz, Educational Director Larry Hines. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported in any of the three depart­ ments. Chairman talked about SIU's pending court action with regard to Coast Guard's proposed drug-testing regulations due to go into effect June 21. He discussed problems that could arise for all seamen if new rules are allowed by courts. There is $40 in ship's fund. Two motions made: raise minimum pension to $1,000 monthly and, since a union member can stay aboard a ship for only eight months a year, rules for seatime should be changed in ship­ ping rules. Another suggestion agreed to by all hands was dental and optical plans should be raised to at least 60 percent for members and 100 percent for dependents. Next ports: Anchorage, AK and Tacoma, WA. MOnNVCApex Marine), May 27Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary Marvin Deloatch, Educational Di­ rector Alan Gardner, Deck Delegate Macario Torre, Engine Delegate Alfred Gonzalez,Steward Delegate Michael Hammock. All three depart­ ment delegates reported smooth sail­ ing with no beefs or disputed OT. Chairman announced ship would pay off on arrival at Stapleton, NY on May 29. Permanent captain, Charles Ducan, will return from vacation at that time. Chairman Matthey also stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. Request made for mem­ bers to consider ^hipnwtes (who may be sleeping) wheii watching TV. Keep volume low and door closed. Next port: Stapleton, NY. MHMCIOCPuerto Rico Marine), May 5—-Chairman L. Rodriguez, Secre­ tary Cassle B. Carter, Engine Dele­ gate O. Flores, Steward Delegate M. -r •'1,^ I' •••, Robles. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported, although it was noted the heater/air conditioner still needs re­ pair in some rooms and there are still oil fumes in other rooms. It was suggested that dampers be put in room air conditioning vents so air can be controlled. Letter received from headquarters pertaining to new drug testing program. Copies made and given to each department dele­ gate. Payoff will be in New Orleans on May 6. Suggestion made to see captain about having telephone hook-up by ship's gangway so crew can call ship and find out about sail­ ing time, especially in San Juan. Next port: New Orleans, LA. r# UUBOf mif(Liberty Maritime), May 7—Chairman William G. Cofone, Secretary/Steward Delegate Paul Burke. No disputed OT mentioned by three department delegates, but complaints raised about needed re­ pairs in engine room. Steward de­ partment would like clarification on working rules for its department. Chairman encouraged all eligible members to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. Secretary noted lack of new movies onboard. He expressed interest in finding out about gym access for crewmembers. Other items need attention: new washer/dryer, chairs for mess hall and pots for hot water. IMG amKOMKEnergy Transporta­ tion Corp.), May 21-^hairman John Davis, Secretary Francis Ostendarp. Educational Director Endang Abidin. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun Davis, who just joined the ship in Nagoya, Japan, reminded members to use care when disposing of plastic waste. Educa­ tional director stressed importance of upgrading skills at Piney Point whenever possible. There is $450 in the ship's fund. Next port: Arun, Indonesia. IMG UO(Energy Transportation Corp.), May 21—Chairman R. Cal­ lahan, Secretary R. Adams, Educa­ tional Director John Hoskins, Deck Delegate Bert Gillis, Engine Dele­ gate Cindy Herbert, Steward Dele­ gate Jill Prescott. No disputed OT reported. There is a general beef which should be brought to compa­ ny's attention. Ship is not receiving fresh fruit, juices and certain sun­ dries in sufficient quantities. Mem­ bers are running out of these items for as many as five days each voy­ age. Laundry powder has been gone for about five months and has been ordered three times—with no re­ sults. Present supply of sougee pow­ der and dishwashing detergent is about exhausted. There is $353 in the ship's fund. No news yet on new washing machine or toaster. Installa­ tion of microwave oven has been promised for next shipyard period in October 1989. Information on new drug testing regulations in Seafarers LOG was passed around for all to read. Chairman called for continued support of SPAD. He requested Captain Self send a special order for laundry soap and powder. Brother Hoskins recently upgraded at SHLSS and urged shipmates to take advantage of opportunities offered to better themselves, mentally and fi­ nancially. Next port: Himeji, Japan. MirfSea-Land Service), May 21- Chairman D. Manson, Secre­ tary Jonny Cruz, Educational Direc­ tor J. Shuler, Deck Delegate A. Voss, Engine Delegate F. Tiemey, Steward Delegate B. Winfield. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman led a discussion on bene­ fits derived by membership from supporting SPAD. Secretary re­ minded brothers that upgrading at Continued on page 25 • •i• :: 'm- -.1 •• .'i -'j: • !:§• II'' 'ii i I' "Ttv, .1 • ... • y.- - h. '• "• :• it!'. • .I , '••l .... '•i • I' t"4 • I • • la. ••""II 1i •. !'•. 1' I i5 • • . 1 • • .'i' If i- ... ' .i,-"l •i'l • i , ; •.-i �'V -i'f XX'X'X'N;pf;iXyf SEAFARERS LOG • )•«! >• ; • V if; ii' i d- • ;: ,•• M:. •-•E, f - .^ • i { k1'. h •rB !W I iS': ilt: • li ii: 9fg.:. •\3. Deep Sea HENRIK ANTON BJERRING Henrik Bjerring, 77, died February 28, 1989 in Larvik Hospital, Larvik, Norway. Seafarer Bjerring joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. Formerly a resident of Brooklyn, but more recently living in Norway where he was bom, Bjerring was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served from 1935 to 1939. Pensioner Bjerring's remains were cremated at Larvik Crematorium, with the um to be interred at Undersho Cemetery in that city. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid. WILLIAM OGDEN BOLLING William Boiling died at the Northshore Regional Medical Center in SlideU, LA on May 28, 1989 as a result of heart failure. He was 64. Bom in Norfolk, VA, Seafarer Boiling joined the union in 1944 at the union's hall in that port. He sailed in the deck department. Boiling was also a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1950 to ' 1952. Burial took place May 30 at Forest Lawn CemeteiV in SlideU. His wife, Dorbthy, survives him. JAMES CAMFFIELD ID James Campfield III, 47, died November 8, 1988 foUowing a heart attack. Bom in New Orleans, LA, Brother Campfield started sailing in 1959 as a messman. He was a graduate of the union's entry program in 1961, and received his probationary book in 1962 in the port of New Orleans. In 19^ his "A" book was issued in the port of New York. Seafarer Campfield sailed in the steward department and completed the Lundeberg School's steward recertification program in 1981. Some of the ships he sailed on include the S.S. Connecticut, the S.S. Delta Caribe and the S.S. Del Monte. A resident of Baton Rouge, LA, Brother Campfield was buried in Winnfield Cemetery in that city. He is survived by his wife, Martha. BOLESLAW DEROL Boleslaw Derol, 76, died June 27, 1989. Bom in Poland, Seafarer Derol was issued a union permit in 1947 in the port of New York. His fiiU book was issued in 1955 when Brother Derol was sailing as an FOWT. One of the first ships Brother Derol sailed on was the Seatrain New York. In 1961 he received a personal safety award for helping to inake the S.S. Seatrain Georgia an accident-free ship for the period August 1960 through January 1961. Derol attended the engineer's training school program at the Lundeberg School in 1967. He retired in 1979. Pensioner Derol is survived by his wife, Theresa. FRED J. DURHAM Fred J. Durham, 68, died June 20, 1989. Bom in Chamblee, OA, Irother Durham joined the union in 1947 in the port of New Orleans, LA. He sailed in the deck department. Seafarer Durham also was a veteran of the Army Corps of Engineers, serving from 1940 to 1945. Surviving is his mother, Fannie Durham. CLYDE GARNES Clyde Gamer, 81, died June 21, 1989. Bom m Randleman, NC, Jrother Gamer joined the SIU in the port of Norfolk, VA in 1947, but had been sailing since 1944. He sailed in the steward department, most recently as a chief steward. Gamer also served in the military from 1939 to 1943. He retired from the union in 1972. Seafarer Gamer was issued a personal safety award for helping to make the S.S. DeSoto an accident-free ship during the first half of 1960. He also was chief steward aboard the S.S.Arizpa when it received a certification of sanitation for its high standards of food service and sanitation. GENNARO ESPOSITO Gennaro Esposito died Febmary 26, 1989 at the C.T.O. Hospital in Naples, taly following a heart attack. He was 62. Brother Esposito, who was bom in Naples, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1975. He graduated from the Italian Engineering Institute in 1946 as a diesel naval mechanic. He had sailed aboard foreignflag vessels and belonged to a few foreign unions before arriving in the United States. Based on his experience with other unions. Brother Esposito was known to remark to fellow Seafarers that the SIU was the best seamen's union in the world. After joining the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York, Seafarer Esposito received his "B" book in 1971 and his "A" book in 1975. He graduated from the Seafarers Lundeberg School QMED upgrading program, from the "A" seniority upgrading program in 1975, the LNG course in 1979 and the 3rd assistant engineer program in 1984. In 1%9 Brother Esposito rebeived a commendation for his action in an emergency on the Buckeye Atlantic, and in 1973 he was complimented by the chief engineer for his proficiency, reliability and courteousness aboard the S.S. Shenandoah. Still an active member at the time of his death, Esposito was buried in Naples. He is survived by his wife, Rosa. BERNARD JACKSON Bemard Jackson, 56, died April 19, 1989 at sea aboard the Cove Liberty. Bom in Tanner-Williams, AL, Brother Jackson was issued a union port permit in 1951 in Mobile. That year he sailed the Alcoa Ranger as an OS. In the following year he sailed the Alcoa Pennant, the Alcoa Patriot and the Alcoa Pegusus, among others. He received his full book in 1957. Seafarer Jackson was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1954 to 1956. He graduated from the bosun recertification course at the union's Lundeberg School in Piney Point, MD in 1986. Surviving is his wife, Susan. EDWARD F. LAMB Edward F. Lamb, 70, died June 6, 1989. Bom in Philadelphia, PA, Seafarer ^mb joined the union in 1948 in the port of New York. He s^ed in the steward department. Some of his early ships included the Nashua Victor and the Joseph A. Brown in 1951 and the Sea-Wind in 1952. Brother Lamb also served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He retired on pension in 1968. JUAN MIRANDA Juan Miranda died of cancer May 7, 1989 at home in Hoboken, 4J. He was 55. Bom in Puerto Rico, Seafarer Miranda started sailing in 1966 as a galley utility aboard the Gateway City (Sea-Land) and the Westem Hunter (Westem Agency). He received his "B" book in 1%7 in the port of New York and took upgrading courses at the Lundeberg School the following year. In 1971 his "A" book was issued. Most recently. Brother Miranda worked as a factory machine operator at C&J Industrial Company in Secaucus, NJ. Burial took place at the Hillside Cemetery in Lyndhurst, NJ. Miranda, who was a widower, is survived by his niece, Naomi Colon. HUBERT E. MATHES Hubert E. Mathes, 69, of Monroe, NC, died March 9, 1989. Bom in Kanapolis, NC, Brother Mathes received his union port permit in 1946 in Savannah, GA, where he sailed as a 2nd cook. He continued in the steward department, becoming a full SIU book member in 1954 in the port of New York. Some of the early ships he sailed were operated by Bull Line, Seatraders, Seatrain and Waterman. Seafarer Mathes retired on pension in 1980. He was married to the late Viola Barrineau Mathes. Survivors include one son, Eugene William Mathes of Monroe, NC; one daughter, Michelle Langsdon of Charleston, SC; one sister, Margret Mical of Monroe, and two grandchildren. LESTER W. PEPPETT Lester Peppett, 70, died May 18, 1989. Bom in Natick, MA, Brother Peppett joined the union in 1943 in the port of Boston, MA. He sailed in the engine department. In 1976 Seafarer Peppett took the QMED upgrading course at the Lundeberg School and retired on pension in 1984. RAYMOND PROULX Raymond Proulx died of lung cancer on May 3, 1989 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Portland, OR. He was 74: Bom in Fall River, MA, Brother Proulx had been sailing since 1951. He was a member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards union until he joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of New York. Some of his early ships included the S.S. Lake George and the S.S. Cities Service. He retired in 1978. Seafarer Proulx was a wounded Army veteran, serving from January to November 1943. Burial took place at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. WALTER C. PATTERSON Walter Patterson, 88, died July 6, 1989. Bom in Dothan, AL, Brother Patterson joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Boston, MA. He sailed in the steward department. Some of Brother Patterson's first ships included the Williaiii Wirt, Citadel Victory and Alcoa Partner. In the early 1960s he sailed aboard the Orion Planet, Steel Architect and Steel Recorder. Seafarer Patterson went on pension in 1963. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1919 to 1923, and was discharged as a dental assistant. He then held a number of Civil Service jobs until joining the SIU. Patterson, who made his home in Pern, NY, is . survived by his wife, Adeline. FRITZ LOUIS RC iNZ Fritz Ronz, 72, died May 15, 1989 at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, CA bllowing a heart attack. Bom in San Francisco, CA, Brother Ronz joined the SIU in the port of Wilmington, CA. He was a former member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards union and had sailed continuously on West Coast ships dating back to ' 1936. An active member at the time of his death. Seafarer Ronz was cremated and his ashes scattered three miles off the coast of Long Beach. He is survived by his wife, Florence. DAVID R. YOTTER David R. Yotter, 64, died June 25. Bom in Leon, KS, Brother Yotter served nine months in the Marine Corps during 1941 to 1942. He then got his union port permit in 1956 in the Seattle port. Brother Yotter received his "A" seniority in 1961. He sailed in the deck department. Some of his early ships included the Young America and Wacosta (both Waterman ships) and the Pennmar (Calmar). Brother Yotter retired on pension in 1986. DANIEL F. CAREY Daniel F. Carey, 56, died June 17, 1989. Bom in Racine, WI, Brother Carey obtained'his union port permit in 1952 in the port of Baltimore, his probationary book in 1956 and his "A" seniority in 1959. He sailed in the steward department. Boatman Carey was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1953 to 1956. In the early '60s he was a diver and messman for the MA^ USAF CA 50-1816, a subcable ship operated by Pan American World Airways Continued on pi^e 25 �AUGUST, 1989 Continuedfrom page 23 Piney Point not only helps job secu­ rity, but enables Seafarers to be trained for any kind of ship the SIU gets. Educational director reported on new drug testing regulations and requested more information for crew. Shipboard vote was taken: 1 for testing, 10 against. VCR needs to be replaced, and a new radio is needed in lounge. AB Don Paccio gave steward department a big thanks for a job well done. Next ports: Boston, MA and Elizabeth, NJ. JWIWO SIM JWlKPuerto Rico Ma­ rine), May 7—Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary J. DeLise, Engine Delegate Peter McAneney, Steward Delegate Jackson Fong. Two hours disputed OT on delayed sailing was reported in engine department. Otherwise, everything is running smoothly. Notification was given to members on new drug testing proce­ dures which go into effect June 21. There is $381 in the ship's fund. Motion made to recognize Martin Luther King's birthday. Under Good and Welfare, recreation room couch and chairs needed, as is an iron and ironing board. Vote of thanks given to steward department for a job well done. Next port: Baltimore, MD. OMMIIICNBICOMI Corp.), May 29—Chairman Larry Kunc, Secretap' Donnie W. Collins, Educational Director Felix P. Durand, Deck Del­ egate Michael A. St. Angelo, Engine Delegate George F. Darney, Stew­ ard Delegate Camilo Camarena. No disputed OT reported. Steward re­ ported problems with company about getting needed stores—partic­ ularly fresh fruit, milk and vegeta­ bles. He also had a beef about gar­ bage disposal which was taken out more than three months ago and has [flilll Pepaitures not yet been replaced. Secretary noted new look of the Seafarers LOG and the fine articles. He re­ minded members to support SPAD—especially since President Bush has not made a move to help the maritime industry. Education^ director stressed importance of up­ grading. Union always needs rated members. Fifteen movies were bought in Houston, leaving $198 in movie fund. Next port: New York. 08U fflMtfOMI Corp.), May Chairman R. Darville, Secretary Secreta H. Scypes, Educational Director C. Durden. Some disputed OT reported in deck department. Chairman said he would talk with boarding patrol­ man about better mail service and getting new movies onboard. Same videos have been on ship for more than six months. He will^ check on getting money sent home, especially for unlicensed personnel who don't get off in time to go to post office to send a money order home. Secretary noted need for a permanent chief Shipboard Sketches by Ben Gnham Continuedfrom pe^e 24 and under contract to the SIU. He sailed both deepsea and inland, and retired on pension in 1983. ESCHOL HENR\ GRAHAM Eschol Graham died of lung cancer May 29, 1989 at home in Jacksonville, FL. He was 59. Bom in Hazlehurst, GA, Boatman was issued his "B"seniority in the port of Jacksonville, and his full book was issued in 1964. In that year he sailed as an engineer aboard the Steel Scientist (Isthmian) and as an oiler aboard the Robert Conrad. Seafarer Graham graduated in 1%7 from the engineers training program at the union's Lundeberg School with a 3rd assistant engineers license. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he sailed aboard such vessels as the MA^ Sugar Island (NATCO) and the Alice Moran (Moran Towing). A former member of MEBA D2, Brother Graham also sailed deepsea in 1984. A .resident of Jacksonville, burial took place at the Palms Memorial Gardens in Hazlehurst. CHARLES MAYNARD UMPHLETT Charies Umphlett died May 4, 1989 following a heart attack at the Plumblee Nursing Home in Plymouth, NC. He was 77. Bom in New Hope, NC, Brother Umphlett joined the union in 1968 in the port of Norfolk. He sailed in the steward department. He had previously worked for IBC • Co. and GATCO and was employed by IBC Co. at the time the company was organized by the SIU's Inland Boatmen's Union. Burial took place at Manteo Cemetery in Manteo, NC. Ruilroai Marine ANEUS OLSON Aneus Olson died of heart failure at the Hollywood Medical Center in 'lorida. He was 85. Bom in Sweden, Brother Olson joined the union in 1960 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck -department. Previously, he was a member of the Master, Mates and Pilots union. Seafarer Olson retired from the SIU in 1968 and most recently worked, as a construction contractor. Cremation took place at Goldcoast Crematory in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Surviving is his wife, Regina. WILLIAM R. STENG William Steng, 89, died March 29, 1989 at Kensington Manor in Sarasota, TL. Bom in New York, Brother Steng had been a member of the Master, Mates and Pilots firom 1920 to 1959. He joined the union in 1960 in the port of New Yoric, sailing in the deck department. Although he went on pension in 1964, Boatman Steng continued to send contributions to SPAD, once with a note saying.'Talking with fiiehds who belong to another union, I feel we SIU members belong to the greatest union of them all." Cremation took place at-Toale Brothers Crematory in Bradenton, FL. . He is survived by his wife, Mable, and a son, William Jr. cook on these ships. He said it would ease some of the load off the steward. Also, some chairs and a couch needed for crew lounge. Vote of thanks given to steward depart­ ment for some nice meals. Next port: New Orleans, LA. OIBBBIS Overseas),Ma^S—Chairman Daniel Laitinen Jr., Secretary Norman J. Duhe, Deck Delegate J. Hayes, En­ gine Delegate P. Vasquez, Steward Delegate P. Lambis. Some disputed OT reported in deck and steward departments. Chairman urged all eli­ gible members to take time to go to Piney Point to upgrade so they will be prepared for the jobs of the fu­ ture on all types of ships. By wait­ ing, a member will be left behind, he added. Secretary asked crewmembers, when leaving ship, to make sure rooms are clean for next occu­ pants. He said some kind of identifi­ cation card is needed for members going to a doctor or hospital so they will know of SIU's insurance cover­ age. Vote of thanks given to steward department for a job well done. Seahawk ManageChairman J. Rodrigues. Secretary Joseph Bennett Jr., Engine Elelegate Gary G. Pratts. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Everything is running fairly smoothly. Ship sailed short on stores, but all is going OK, accord­ ing to the secretary, with a very good crew of officers and unlicensed men. He thanked all crewmembers for cooperation. Prices in slop chest should be looked into. Vote of thanks given to steward department for a fine job. In its report to the Seafarers LOG, crewmembers noted the ship was in Gibraltar for 19 days being repaired—a great vacation spot! Next port: Houston, TX. While it Is the poUcy of the Seafaters LOG to print as many digests of ship's minutes as possible, occashmally, due to space limitations, will be omitted. Nona TO SHIP'S "Tltw is »• lliiilliiigl I Mvy yov seamen . In the late 1950's and early '60s, SIU member Ben Graham contrihuted cartoons to the Seafarers LOG. Graham, a deck department seafarer, dec­ orated any ship he was on with humorous drawings on shipboard living. Reproduced in this issue of the LOG, is one of his many cartoons. CHAIRMEN Please make sure the names of ail union representatives and delegates are printed legibly or typed on the Ship's Minutes Form mailed to head­ quarters. This will ensure the correct spelling of SIU members' names in the LOG'S Digest of Ship's Minutes. Bosun Thomas Seager Buried at Sea in June Final respects were paid to Bosun Thomas Seager by the crew of the Sea-Land Expe^ difion in June when the mem­ bers scattered his ashes in the Atlantic Ocean. Brother Seager suffered a fatal heart attack onboard the Puerto Rico Marine ship Mayaguez as it was doc^g in JacksonviUe on May 1, 1989. He had been sailing out of the port, of Jacksonville for several years. The deep sea veteran first sailed for the SIU in 1967 after serving in the Air Force. He upgraded to able body tankerman in the port of New York in 1971. During 1979 he served the port of Tampa as a repre­ sentative and organizer. Se^er returned to se^ duty and be­ came a recertified bosun in 1985. Bom February 3, 1940, in Pensacola, FL, Seager is sur­ vived by his wife Mary and The crew of the Sea-Land Expedition listen to Master J. Sier as be his mother Laura. delivm the memorial service for Brother Thomas Seager. 7 /A';!'' •/ �•:^' -. 1. .r... 26 SEAFARERS LOG SEAFARERS' PENSION PLAN 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Maryland 20746 (301)899-0675 SUMMARY OF ANNUAL REPORT . L' This is a summary of the annual report of the Seafarers Pension Plan for the year ended December 31, 1987. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Rev­ enue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are pro­ vided by the Trust. Plan expenses were $23,972,264. These expenses included $3,308,821 in administrative ex­ penses and $20,663,443 in benefits paid to participants and beneficia­ ries. A total of 18,776 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 $363,910,506 as of December 31, 1987, compared to $381,089,746 as of January 1, 1987. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $17,179,240. This de­ crease included unrealized depre­ ciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of plan assets at the end of the year and the price the plan originally paid for those assets. The plan had total income of $47,470,823, including employer contributions of $8,465,940, gains of $12,971,900 from the sale of assets, and earning from invest­ ments of $25,930,999 and other income of $101,984. Minimum Funding Standards An actuary's statement shows enough money was contributed to the plan to keep it funded in ac­ cordance with the minimum fund­ ing standards of ERISA. SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN NOTICE COBRA: Continuation Heaitii Couerage If you or your dependents lose your eligibility for health care coverage under the Rules and Regulations of the Seafarers Welfare Plan, you and your dependents may be eligible to purchase, at a premium. Welfare coverage direcUy from the Plan. If you find that you have lost your eligibility for Plan coverage, you must notify the Plan office immediately to find out whether or not you or your dependents may elect to continue your benefits under this pro^am. If you want more information concerning this progi^ you can call the membership services office. 1-800-CLAIMS-4 (1-800-252-4674) or write COBRA Program Seafarers Welfare Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Maryland 20746 NOTE: A detailed article explaining this program appeared in the April 1989 issue of the LOG. Your Ri^ts 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 are included in that report: (1) An accountant's opin­ ion, (2) Assets held for investment and (3) Actuarial information re­ garding the funding of the plan. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of Mr. Leo Bonser, who is Plan Administra­ tor, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746, (301)899-0675. The charge to cover copying costs will be $3.10 for the full annual report, or $.10 per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to re­ ceive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabil­ ities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and ac­ companying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administra­ tor, these two statements and ac­ companying notes will be included • as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge. You also have the legally pro­ tected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washing­ ton, DC, or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N4677, Pension and Wel­ fare Benefit Programs, Depart­ ment of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20216. Continued from page 12 so that he could save money to take the course over again. Some just gave up if they had trouble with a course. I was lucky because I had on-the-job-training with crewmembers who helped me gain the knowledge and skills I needed to get my endorsements. I will always be thankful to them. In particular, the third assistant engineer on the Steel Flyer did so much to help me that he deserves some kind of medal. Without him and other supportive SIU mem­ bers I could never had upgraded, especially since we didn't have the same kind of training facilities like the youngsters have today. Where would you all be without Piney Point? Be grateful that you have the school. Walker Karlak Woodside, N.Y. Editor's Note: Brother Karlak is a retired SIU member. LUNDEBER6 SCHOOL OPEN TO UNION MEMBERS FOR SUMMER VACATIONS The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship—^located in Piney Point, MD—has set aside rooms for SIU members and their families who wish to spend their vacation in scenic and historic St. Mary's County. The costs for room and board have been kept to a minimum, in order to provide union members with access to top notch vacation facilities without straining a family budget. A vacation stay is limited to two weeks. To apply, send the following application to the union's school. ROOM RATES: Member $30.00 per day Spouse $5.00 per day Children $5.00 per day MEALS Member $8.50 per day Spouse $4.00 per day $4.00 per day Children NOTE: No lodging or meal charge for children under age 12. r7 SLMARm TRAINING & RSCRLATION COmR ResenaHon Itthnnation I 1 I Name: _ [ S.S.#_ j Address: I I 1 I I I — ^.Book# Telephone # ^ Number in Party Date of Arrival: 1st Choice 2nd Choice Stay is limited to 2 weeks Date of Departure 3rd Choice Send to: Seafarers Training & Recreation Center; Piney Point, MD 20674; or call 301-994-0010 LEGAL Am The following list of attorneys is provided for the convenience of Seafarers who may have.need for legal assistance. Alabama John Falkenberry 300 N. 21st St. Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 322-1100 Simon, Wood & Crane 1010 Van Antwerp Bldg. Mobile, AL 36602 (205) 433-4904 Louisiana Louis Robein Gardner, Robein & Urann 2540 Severn Ave. Suite 400 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 885-9994 Kristi Post Canal Place One Suite 2300 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)524-6207 (504) 524-6208 California Les Ostrov Fogel, Feldman, Ostrov, Ringler & Elevens 5900 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 2600 Los Angeles, CA 90036 (213)834-2546 . John Paul Jennings Henning, Walsh & King 100 Bush St. Suite 440 San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 981-4400 Maryland Charles Heyman Kaplan, Heyman, (3reenberg, Engelman & Belgrad Sun Life Bldg. Charles & Redwood Sts. Baltimore, MD 21201 (301) 539-6967 Florida Frank Hamilton 111 Hamilton & Associates, P.A. 2620 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33609 (813) 879-9842 Massachusetts Orlando & Associates I Western Ave. Gloucester, MA 01930 (508) 283-8100 Illinois Katz, Friedman, Schur & Eagle 7 S. Dearborn St. Chicago, IL 60603 (312) 263-6330 Thomas Lakin Lakin & Hemdon, P.C. 251 Old St. Louis Ave. Wood River, IL 620950027 (618)254-1127 (800) 851-5523 toll-free Mkh^ Victor G. Hanson, P.C. 19268 Grand River Ave. Detroit, MI 48223 New York Howard Schulman 485 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10022 (212) 421-0017 Pennsylvania Kirschner, Walters & WiUig 1608 Walnut St. 10th floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 893-9000 Margaret Browning Spear, Wilderman, Sigmond, Borish & Endy 260 S. Broad St. Suite 1500 Philadelphia, PA 19102 (215) 732-0101 Texas Marvin Peterson 1200 Travis Suite 2020 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-4422 Vlrgliila Arthur Rutter Rutter & Montagna 415 St. Paul's Blvd. Suite 720 Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-5000 (313) 532-1220 Christopher Legghio Miller, Cohen, Martins &Ice 1400 N. Park Plaza 17117 W. Nine Mile Rd. Southfield, Ml 48075 (313) 559-2110 Washington Rob Williamson Davies, Roberts & Reid lOI EUiott Ave. West Suite 550 SeatUe, WA 98119 (206)285-3610 �AUGUST, 1989 27 - ' 1989 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE s ingine Upgrading Courses Check-In Date September 18 October 30 November 6 September 4 November 13 Refrigeration Maint. & Operations October 2 Diesel Engine Technology November 20 August 21 Hydraulics Welding October 2 ""All students in the Engine Department will have two (2) Familiarization at the end of their regular course. Course QMED—^Any Rating Fireman/Watertender and Oiler Electro-Hydraulics Marine Electrical Technician Pngnms Geared to ImpnvB hb Skills And Pmmote US, MarWaie Indushy 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: All members are required to take firefighting when attending SHLSS. Detk Upgrading Courses Check-In Completion Date Date September 4 October 13 October 30 December 8 Radar Refresher/Renewal Open-ended, 3 days (Contact Admissions for starting date) Radar Certification September 11 September 15 (follows Limited License course) November 13 November 17 Lifeboat August 21 September 1 September 18 September 29 October 16 October 27 November 13 November 24 December 11 December 22 LNG—Self-Study (This course is not offered as a separate course, but may be taken while attend­ ing any of the regularly scheduled courses.) Tankerman October 16 October 27 Simulator Shiphandling August 21 September 1 September 18 September 29 October 23 November 3 December 4 December 15 *Upon completion of course, the Sealift Operations & Maintenance course must be taken. Course Able Seaman Hew Course OU Spill Preventkm September II October 23 December II (First) Address(Cily) (Zip Code) Seniority CPR: • Yes No • Primary Language Spoken_ Telephone- 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.. " (Area Code) VESSEL DATE OF DISCHARGE DATE SHIPPED RATING HELD Book #DepartmenL • Yes • No U.S. Citizen: • Yes • No Home Port DECK • AB/Sealift • 1st Class Pilot • Third Mate • Radar Observer Unlimited • Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator inland Q Celestial Navigation Q Simulator Course Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: • Yes • No (If yes, fill in below) to (dates attended) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: • Yes • No (if yes, fill in below) ENGINE • FOWT • QMED—Any Rating • Variable Speed DC Drive ' Systems (Marine Electronics) • Marine Electrical Maintenance • Pumproom Maintenance & Operation Course(s) Taken- ' .• .-r • ' v- ' ' V > DATE- SIGNATUREL I Am interested in the Following Course(s) Checked Below or Indicated Here if Not Listed Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now HelcL Last grade of school completedL No^ Date of Birth- Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces: Trainee Program: From. No • Date Available for training 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. Social Security #- Completion Date November 6 Check-In Date Sei^ember 25 Course Bosun ReoNtification Firefighting: •Yes (Sireel) (State) Rerertification Programs • Yes Mo./Day/Year (Middle) Check-In Completion Course Date Date The Adult Education Courses for 1989 will be six weeks in length. High School Equivalency (GED) September 4 October 16 October 30 December 11 Adult Basic Education (ABAE) September 4 October 14 October 30 December 9 September 4 October 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) Octobier 30 December 9 The Developmental Studies Class (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. 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. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement: Upgrading Applkation (Last) 1989 AduH iducation Sdiedule September 15 October 27 Decanber 15 SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEBERG SCHOOL OF SEAMANSHIP Name- Compietibn Date December 8 December 8 December 15 November 24 February 2 ('90) November 10 December 15 September 15 October 27 weeks of Sealift • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation • Diesel Engine Technology Q Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel • Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor • Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance • Electro-Hydraulic Systems • Automation • Hydraulics • Marine Electronics Technician STEWARD • Assistant Cook Utility • Cook and Baker • Chief Cook • Chief Steward • Towboat Inland Cook ALL DEPARTMENTS • Welding • Lifeboatman (Must be taken with another course) ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT • Adult Basic Education (ABE) • High School Equivalency Program (GED) • Developmental Studies (DVS) • English as a Second Language (ESL) • ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation COLLEGE PROGRAM • Associates in Arts Degree • Certificate Programs No Iransportation will be paid unless you present original receipts and successfully comi^te the course. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center. Piney Point. MD. 20674 • .1 �. - •:• •-'• t,;':':t?r-"'^ir"-- SOFARm Runaway Julktt Paul D'Anjou is Missing tind ^lnilangered^ Editor^s Note: The Seafarers LOG has joined in a campaign with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help locate children who have run away or who have been abducted. Seafar­ ers who have information or who spot any of these children are urged to call the the National Center or the local authorities whose numbers are listed with each article. Julian Paul D'Anjou hasn't been home for more than two years. On July 30,1987, Julian, then 13 years old, escaped from protective cus­ tody in Montgomery County, MD. A week later, an adult friend of the family disappeared. Police suspect the two are together. on the case, but say they have few solid leads to Julian's current whereabouts. At the time of his disappear­ ance, Julian was 5 feet tall and weighed 120 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. His mother, Constance D'Anjou, says Julian has a small scar over hjs right eye­ lid. Before he ran away, Julian was a freestyle bicycling enthusi­ ast. Neither the police nor the Na­ tional Center have received any recent sightings. Earlier the Na­ tional Center received reports that the boy and the adult he may be with were spotted in the New England area and New York and Maryland, said Margaret Saun­ ders, a caseworker for the orga­ nization. Police also suspect they may have traveled to Montreal, Canada at one time. "Last fall, we had a report he might be in Montreal, we hired a private investigator, but nothing came out of it," Mrs. D'Anjou said. Date NlMlng: 07/30/87 Missing From: Rockville, Maryland Date Age at Db^ppeatance: 13 years old Birth: 05/06/74 Sem'Male .Race: White ii^|ht:5ft. Weigfat: 120 lbs. HahnBrafw^ > jtyeg. Idkmtii^dqg IQAMIIU^ David Vinjafnoories. Julian Paul D'Aiyou Julian has been listed as an "en­ dangered runaway" by the Na­ tional Center for Missing and Ex­ ploited Children. Montgomery County Police have been working ANVC^ Cent^ioir Ni^iiig ai^ 1-80(K843.5678 ' li ,*• "•,. •- •- . ; '• . V'-, . • • • -^V ^~J -• -i-- V- : ddld^ ,oR 301-946-7900. •... i Mi guages. Crook said. In addition, he has worked as a seafood bro­ ker, an accountant and as a real estate broker. Police believe he was employed at a fish processing plant in Croydon, NH last year. Mrs. D'Anjou said before Julian disappeared, Vinjamoories some­ times called Julian by the nick­ AFL-CIO Chief Affiims Workers' Rights encouraged by government, "seek to gain profit and power by de­ nying working people effective representation at the workplace and in society at large. "Harsh economic realities—the rapid mobility of capital across borders, the follies of irresponsi­ ble deregulation and the predom­ inance of a corporate financial sys­ tem defined by speculation and greed—threaten workers, thenfamilies and national progress," Kirkland added. Blasting corporate raiders, asset-strippers and influence ped­ dlers, Kirkland went on to say the trade union movement will work with builders, producers and cre­ ators to usher in a whole new era of productive and worthy enter­ prise. The AFL-CIO's number two man, Thomas R. Donahue, ex­ pressed grave concern for the un­ raveling of laws which have in the past protected the rights of work­ ers. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Donahue, in a Labor Day state­ ment, said, "Workers are told they have the right to strike, but that right is curtailed sharply by a con­ tinuing shift in the law." How­ ever, this and other legal obstacles have not diminished the labor ilfi' SHOULD CQNTACT 1989 Labor Day Message The captain of labor's ship said in a 1989 Labor Day message that unions shall "continue to assert the right to all workers to a fair share in the wealth they help cre­ ate." Lane Kirkland, president of the federation of American unions— including the SIU—known as the AFL-CIO, said the labor move­ ment also will work to "secure justice and dignity in the work­ place and throughout society." In a Labor Day statement to be , publically released on the first Monday of September, Kirkland, who is a former merchant mariner and member of the MM&P, noted the trade union movement has witnessed achievements resulting from a resurgence of solidarity at home and abroad. "From the steadfast support of AFL-CIO unions for their striking brothers and sisters at Eastern Airlines, to the courageous Polish workers who have gathered under the banner of solidarity to move the course of world history, work­ ing people everywhere are band­ ing together ... to improve thenlives and the lives of fellow citi­ zens," Kirkland said. These developments, Kirkland pointed out, come at a time when forces hostile to trade unionism. ^th an Indian cnide Child is CSrqdBi^^ was placed in a Det^tiPn Center by {^lice dien escqied from the furility. Could Be With an Adult Police and the National Center believe Julian is in the company of David Vinjamoories. Sgt. Les Crook of the Montgomery County Police Department's Youth Serv­ ices Division said Vinjamoories is an Indian male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 145 pounds, dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He is well educated, with an MBA and fluent in several Ian- I ^ Lane Kirkland movement's historic weapons of solidarity and determination. Donahue cited innovative strat­ egies employed by unions in or­ ganizing, bargaining and servic­ ing. The AFL-CIO represents more than 100 international and national unions made up of working people from all walks of life. In addition, the SIU, organizations of profes­ sional, construction, transport, in­ dustrial and public workers are members of the federation. name "Bubby." "Right now it's anybody's guess where they are," Sgt, Crook said. Mrs. D'Anjou, who now lives in New Hampshire with her two other sons, said if she could get a message to Julian it would be a simple one—"Please call. Let me know you're all right." 107 Years Of Labor Days The first Labor Day was cele­ brated on September 5, 1882, in New York City. It was organized by the Knights of Labor, a group active in the last half of the 1800's which considered itself "one big union" for all workers. The Knights of Labor called for observance of the day with festivities, parades and picnics. After a few years, the idea of Labor Day spread to other industriiil centers and finally became the national holiday that will be recognized this year on September 4. In many places across the coun­ try, the day will be observed the same as it was originally, with parades and picnics. Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the Ameri­ can Federation of Labor, charac­ terized the holiday in this way: "Labor Day differs in every es­ sential from the other holidays of the year in any country. All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day ... is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation." •,Mi/V', J. •;;/ •' • '.Tri./-'''.)- � 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 August 1989 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES UNIONS TRAINING PROGRAM GOES ON THE ROAD TO HAWAII SIU, TEXAS RANCHERS TEAM UP TO GET HORMONE-FREE BEEF TO UNITED KINGDOM ARMY TRAINS TROOPS AT UNION’S SCHOOL NY WWII MERCHANT MARINERS WIN VETERANS’ PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS TRADE REP EXPLORES REMOVAL OF MARITIME FROM TRADE TALKS MARITIME GROUPS KEEP EYE ON OIL SPILL LIABILITY LEGISLATION U.S. ADOPTS ILO SHIPBOARD STANDARDS FOR FOREIGN VESSELS CALLING ON U.S. PORTS U.S. SHIPBUILDERS SEEK TO END UNFAIR FOREIGN YARD COMPETITION SIU CREWMEMBERS PERFORM EFFICIENTLY IN MILITARY MANEUVERS ILA EXTENDS PACT FOR ONE YEAR SIU CREWED ON CAPE HORN CITED BY COLONEL FOR ‘PROFESSIONALISM’ LAWRENCE GIANELLA CREW HONORED APL CREWS RESCUE 29 PEOPLE ABOARD A BURNING FREIGHTER AND A STRANDED SAILBOAT AMERICAN EAGLE CREW WINS HEARTS OF TRAVELING FAMILY DELL REMEMBERED, ACTOR AND MERCHANT MARINER JUDGE O.K.’S PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING MURMANSK RUN VETERAN FEATURED IN NEWS ARTICLE ON FAMOUS WWII BATTLE IN THE BARENTS SEA MACHINISTS THANK SIU FOR SUPPORT GOV’T SERVICES DIVISION MOVES ON TRAIING AND WORK RULES TEN FORMER SIU FISHERMEN CAL COLLECT WWII BONDS DRUG TESTING RULES A ‘NIGHTMARE’ GARBAGE DUMPING REGS IN FORCE NY TAX BREAK FOR WWII MARINERS SEAFARER AND ARTIST ALBERT GUIDRY TAKES CUE FROM FAMOUS IMPRESSIONIST PAINTER HENSCHE SCOUTS LEARN ABOUT VALUE OF U.S. SHIPPING THROUGH MTD PROGRAM LUNDEBERG SCHOOL HOSTS 1989 BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE PARTICIPANTS STEWARD CURRICULUM TO BE IMPROVED ALVAREZ GETS PILOT LICENSE ONBOARD THE PFC WILLIAM BAUGH IN DIEGO GARCIA BOSUN SCOTTY BYRNE REVIEWS HIS FIFTY SEA-GOING YEARS SIU MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT DIEGO GARCIA KIRKSEY PHOTOGRAPHS LIFE ONBOARD THE OVERSEAS CHICAGO BOSUN THOMAS SEAGER BURIED AT SEA IN JUNE RUNAWAY JULIAN PAUL D’ANJOU IS MISSING AND ‘ENDANGERED’ AFL-CIO CHIEF AFFIRMS WORKER’S RIGHTS 107 YEARS OF LABOR DAYS 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 8/1/1989 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. 8 1989 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/ef4f622fb3f1d61c598c4825e1b96348.PDF 06d31cae0b00d8a447ca1aef2c85811b PDF Text Text • \- U.S. Merchant Fleet 3 Seafarers Respond To Mid-East Crisis Page iy W" • ;'fei •ZCD >H-. <AD -H> ooa3>2: e-i c/)Oo -n—i7\ rn-< O—ii. C_;-H c/5 2:o • »— 2!ri 3r . ; -I >-t •< 'J-! Ui cr I' is Issistleil .,1 m • V: f' •;! , •- '. -M' w'-'vf'•' •••; , • '.j,-i-..- •U The Navy has activated Its fast sealift vessels like the one in top photo, all of which are crewed by members of the SlU. After being loaded with materiel as shown in surrounding photos, the ves­ sels were destined for the Per­ sian Gulf. (Area map at left.) , I.. ,• • '.j '• r:sa f. .ft • . iS' ^:tm :' "jm ,- . J# 0 TA' • >•' . •• t,>. Attack on , ...v. . '<• • • ;l i-f 7.--: . •. ' '• • ' I, ' -••; ".->•••' A-.; �~ .•••;M' !- , ,--'^ ri"'-^ •••«.•-'!< 'S"-;'V .^'f-y-.j',y,i0.-..• 5 ..y; 5 -.,,;£^,( '4 •' " '••' •?•->'•-^'V • J V.;..- « J. .', rTT^-- -• i"? V.'-'f "^H'-''S^.'i,-V:-V .,••,•• ^ 'f .V . y V V-i' i V, f •.•>;-y y •! v 15,£-',4^ V. -Vv- V ', . ••••i {:,£/• . -' ''Z ^.. ";• • ^ ' '' •• - S i, y - rm'|- ^ Zr Making the Hard Fight h' The Congress has recessed until September, after a hectic session that included actions of major importance to seafaring people. Once again, events of the past months have demonstrated how critical it is for us to maintain a strong and efficient legislative presence on Washington's Capitol Hill. Topping the legislative matters we were concemed with was the farm bill on which the opponents of a U.S.flag merchant marine tried to attach amendments that would have weakened or eliminated the participation of our ships in the carriage of taxpayer-supported agricul­ tural export programs. Any one of the amendments, if adopted by Congress, could have sunk a substantial por­ tion of the commercial fleet; at a time, incidentally, when such action could have had a serious impact on the national security. '. Ix;:'f- j-: 1 V- r - i^' '•J Powerful Opposition Your union, of course, was deeply engaged in the fight to beat back the anti-shipping amendments, a struggle in which we had our work cut out for us. Lined up against us were the billion-dollar grain trading com­ panies, many of which have ties with international operations with owner­ ship and/or control of vast numbers of foreign-flag ships ready to replace American vessels. Lots and lots of Seafarers' jobs were at stake. After the attempts to float the anti-U.S.-flag shipping amendments were defeated procedurally in the House of Representatives, a lobbying assault was mounted by the grain dealers on the Senate side. The senators who supported their view debated vigorously and used a number of parliamentary tactics to hang anti-merchant marine amendments on the farm bill. They were defeated by a margin of two-to-one on the first attempt, 62 senators showing they clearly understood the potential dangers—^not only to shipping, but more importantly to the national inter­ est— to 34 voting for the grain people. Both the House and Senate ver­ sions of the farm bill now go to a conference committee to smooth out differences. SIU representatives played an important role in explaining the issues to the senators and representatives and their staffs—before and during the times the issue was under consideration. l^"AP.¥: •>: ^nl:v f.' r: .It. t... • -f .'w^ .-,.i I' ^ ^ u-M:- ^WiVhr;."V:''->-' t ;. V, •.'.' •••.'. vi :•; :|^:::"?.. •p:-'.;: "'• .4 i"T Thanks to these Senators We are expressing the gratitude of our organization to the senators, who like their counterparts in the House, were in the forefront of the fight to protect American-flag shipping and the jobs of Seafarers. Senators John Breaux, Democrat of Louisiana, and Thad Cochran, Republican of Mississippi, led the fight. They were ably and effectively assisted by several ardent and articulate advocates of a strong merchant marine, among them Senators Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland; Daniel Inouye, Democrat of Hawaii; Ted Stevens, Republican of Alaska; Paul Sarbanes, Democrat of Maryland; and Ernest Hollings, Democrat of South Carolina. (For a look at how the full Senate voted on the critical amendment, see page 4.) Thanks to Congress, our nation avoided finding its oceangoing fleet weakened at a time when the Middle East crisis requires the maximum logistical capability. The current situation is just one more piece of evidence that without an adequate, active merchant fleet, the United States can never act like a world leader. I hope this point can be brought home to President Bush and those around him. An Added Thought f." ;• ;• •f p;-.; :;•; This is the time for all of us to unite in support of the action of our government and its allies in meeting the crisis caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. But it should be a signal to those who have sought to weaken further U.S.-flag shipping that America must rely on its own registry of private fleets and American crews to respond to the national needs, as in the case of the current problem in the Middle East. A case in point is the recent farm bill, in which agribusiness interests touched off an assault on cargo preference, which, if successful, would have further diminished the ability of our privately-owned fleet to play its important role in times of conflict. But more on this at another time. Volume 52, Number 8 ^4'.••. ,: • : samtaaioe Double Hull Legislatiou Is Signed by President President's Report t: ' ^i-,v August 1990 The Seafarers LCXJ (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly bythe Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746; Michael Sacco, President. 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, Jessica Smith; As­ sociate Editors, Daniel Duncan and Max Hall; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Greene, Art Director, BillBrower. The president signed a bill August 18 that requires double hulls and double bottoms on tanker vessels operating in U.S. waters. The bill, which has been debated for the last year, also will limit the hours crewmembers can work in 24-hour and 72-hour periods, require double hulls on all tankers of more than 5,000 gross tons entering U.S. ports by 2015, create a $1 billion federal cleanup fund and demand detailed preven­ tion and response planning by all vessels and maritime agencies. Perhaps the part of the bill that will have the greatest effect on in­ dividual merchant mariners is the federal limits on the number of hours crewmembers can work aboard tankers. The National Transportation Safety Board listed fatigue and overworked crews as reasons for the Exxon Valdez acci­ dent and oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The March 1989 accident, the worst in the nation's history, became the impetus for enacting new legislation. The new legislation places the following limits on hours worked aboard a tanker. "A licensed in­ dividual or seaman may not be per­ mitted to work more than 15 hours in any 24-hour period or more than 36 hours in any 72-hour period ex­ cept in an emergency or a drill." Under the bill, work includes any duties, administrative or physical, associated with the vessel per­ formed on the tanker or on shore. Angus "Red" Campbell, SIU vice president for collective bar­ gaining, said such a provision will not affect any of the union's tanker agreements. "The Coast Giiard is watching out for the fatigue factor by including this," he noted. House and Senate conferees earlier had agreed to implement a complex 20-year formula to phase in double hulls on tankers and bar­ ges. The plan involves the size, age and hull construction and becomes effective in 1995. Most tankers must be fitted with double hulls by 2010. All new vessels of more than 5,000gross tons plying U.S. waters must be built with double hulls. A tax of 5 cents per barrel will be used to raise the $1 billion federal cleanup and compensation fund. The money would be avail­ able for cleanup purposes after the liability limits of the responsible party are reached. It also would make payments when the spiller is unknown or when the spiller and aggrieved party cannot reach agreement within 60 days. . ^ The bill creates new liability limits of $1,200 per gross ton or $10 million, whichever is greater, for tank vessels, including barges, of 3,000 gross tons or greater. The limit for those less than 3,000 gross tons is $1,200 per gross ton or $2 million, whichever is greater. For any other vessels, the limit was set at $600 per gross ton or $500,000, whichever is greater. The old limit was $150 per gross ton. Before adopting this formula and rejecting the international protocols, congressional conferees had agreed to allow state liability limits, if higher, to supersede the federal confines. The protocols have been opposed by the U.S. Senate, which has refused to pass them for the last five years. The federal liability limits are higher than those established by the protocols. Training Urged The bill calls for the secretary of transportation to conduct a oneyear study on the feasibility of a maritime oil pollution prevention training program at approved maritime training institutes. Since the Valdez accident, the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship has provided oil spill cleanup and containment classes to trainees and upgraders studying at the Piney Point, Md. facility. The bill also revises the Coast Guard's program for issuing, renewing and revoking mariner licenses and documents as well as providing the agency with access to the National Driver Register for records of driving violations by license applicants. The House and Senate passed separate oil spill bills during this session of Congress. Repre­ sentatives of both branches have been working on merging the two bills since the first of this year. Index to LOG Features Page COBRA Notice .22 Dispatchers'Report/Deep Sea . . ... ..'.......... IS Dispatchers'Report/Inland .... 16 dispatchers' Report/Great Lakes 16 Final Departures ................ 22 Know Your Rights 21 Lundeberg School Application . . • 23 Lundeberg School CourseSchedule ................23 Lundberg School Graduates . . . . • 19 Meeting Dates ...... . . . . . . IS Pensioner .... .......17 Personals ................ IS Ships Minutes ... .. ^ 18)21^21 Union Hall Directory .'. '...'16 •"'i-'S ';• �•'•;•••'. ••': v>'..*-' J-'•", '• ,.vv-i - '. rwv-, -• AUGUST 1990 The Iraq invasion of Kuwait SIU Issues Manpower Alert • '• U.S.-Flag Ships Depioyed in Gulf Crisis President Bush's decision to move American military forces into the Middle East propelled large numbers of sealift vessels into the area of conflict. Crewed by members of the Seafarers International Union and other American unions, privately operated ships under contract to the Military Sealift Command (MSG) I ' • i "til • and vessels in the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) were de­ ployed to take part in Operation Desert Shield, the Depart­ ment of Defense name for the Pentagon's response to the been called upon to man the eight Persian Gulf crisis. fast sealift ships, two aviation sup­ The president's action was port vessels, one hospital ship and provoked by Iraq's invasion a number of RRF carriers. These of Kuwait on August 2 and the threat of further Iraqi aggression directed towards Saudi Arabia. American forces in the Persian Gulf are in the process of being joined by a multinational array of troops and warships. • iV-"- :'. Worldwide Response The USNS Capella, one of the eight fast sealift ships crewed by SIU members, is boarded by U.S. soldiers on the way to the Middle East. Congress Defeats Preference Attack The United States Senate has beaten back attacks on the na­ tion's cargo preference laws by votes of 62 to 34 and 62 to 30, leaving intact the requirement that 75 percent of American govern­ ment-generated food aid cargoes be carried on U.S.-fllag vessels. The votes took place as the Senate was deliberating the 1990 farm bill just before leaving Washington, D.C. for an August recess. Prior to the Senate action, the House of Representatives enacted a rule that prohibited introduction during that chamber's floor debate on the farm bill of amendments attacking cargo preference. By a vote of 283 to 80 that instituted the rule, the House prevented any attempts from the floor to scuttle U.S. shipping interests. Both the House and Senate ver­ sions of the farm bill now will go to a conference committee made up of members from both legisla­ tive chambers. Because the leg­ islation passed by both branches of Congress was free of any anticargo preference amendments, there is little likelihood that the flnal 1990 farm bill will contain any language that will decrease the share of food assistance car­ goes allocated for transport on U.S.-flag vessels. Vote Two-to-One The first Senate floor fight on cargo preference was launched by Senator Steven D. Symms (RIdaho) who introduced an amend­ ment that would allow the Secre­ tary of Agriculture to waive U.S.flag shipping requirements on cer­ tain sales of agricultural commod­ ities directed for export. After a long debate in which Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D- Vi Md.), Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), John B. Breaux (D-La.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Ernest F. (Fritz) Hollings (D-S.C.) spoke on the importance of a strong Amer­ ican merchant marine, the Symms amendment was defeated by a vote of 62 to 34. (See page 4 for a list of each senator's vote.) Continued on page 4 Participants in the military en­ gagement against Iraq include Australia, Bangladesh, Britain, Egypt, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey. The Soviet Union has indicated its intention to partici­ pate in the action. The United Nations voted to impose an economic embargo on Iraq and occupied-Kuwait, effec­ tively cutting off any trade with those two countries. (See box on page 9 for chro­ nology of events.) As the scope of the military engagement in the Middle East increased and the demand for lo­ gistical support vessels and civil­ ian mariners mounted, SIU Pres­ ident Michael Sacco ordered a manpower alert throughout the union structure to assure that the need for seafarers would be met. Thus far, SIU members have Seafarers Meet Demands For Extra Vessel Manning As the demand increased for vessels to supply the stepped-up military operations in the Persian Gulf, the Seafarers International Union instituted a manpower alert to assure that all manning assign­ ments within the union's respon­ sibility would be met. In issuing the alert, SIU Presi­ dent Michael Sacco called on all union members to participate fully. He urged all Seafarers who cur­ rently are on the beach to inimediately contact the nearest union hall or the SIU's manpower center to register for employment. In ad­ dition, Sacco extended the same call to all physically-fit pensioners, as well as to inactive SIU mem­ bers. *SIU Proceeding Full Steam' In a communication to Captain Warren G. Leback, the head of the Maritime Administration, Sacco advised that the "officers, port agents, members and staff of the SIU have been notified to take all necessary steps to meet our role in the nation's defense strat­ egy during this time of national emergency." He said the union is MENTION ALL SEAFARERS Seamen with ratings are ur­ gently needed to meet cur­ rent manning obligations. Call the nearest union hail or the manpower office at 1800-SEA-CREW. "proceeding full steam to enlist all of our members and retirees into service. . ." The SIU's all-out effort in­ cluded suspension of provisions of the shipping rules that limit the amount of time certain classifica­ tions of seamen can remain aboard a vessel, combing lists of retired members, keeping all union halls open on weekends and late into the evening when necessary and maintaining an around-the-clock operation at the SIU's central manpower office. Shipping Rules Amended The shipping rules were amended through an emergency meeting of the Seafarers Appeals Board, a governing group consisting of repContinued on page 9 ships, activated for the Persian Gulf deployment, join other mili­ tary support vessels that remain fiilly manned throughout the year— such as prepositioning ships and the sealift tankers. Reports to the LOG from the union's halls around the country indicate that to date all vessels assigned to the SIU have been manned without a hitch and have sailed on time. Seafarers in Desert Shield Much of MSC's prepositioning fleet immediately was called on by the Pentagon to provide supplies to Operation Desert Shield. Insti­ tuted a decade ago to provide rapid response to a crisis, the preposi­ tioning ships remain loaded with equipment, such as tanks, and all supplies necessary to maintain military units. Many of the pre­ positioning ships, and their union crewmembers, are based in Diego Garcia, within six steaming days of the Persian Gulf. Seafarers are erewing MSC's fast sealift ships, which are known by their former commercial des­ ignation of "SL-7's." Converted into roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ves­ sels by the military, the former container ships carry heavy equip­ ment, ammunition, supplies and troops at a speed in excess of 30 knots. The vessels can reach the Persian Gulf via the Suez Canal from an American East Coast port in less than two weeks. The SIU has provided unli­ censed crewmembers for two aviation logistics support vessels, the SS Wright and the SSCurtiss. As part of the military's pre­ positioning ships, the vessels carry equipment for the maintenance of U.S. Marine Corps aircraft. RRF Ships Broken Out Additionally, SIU members are manning many of the vessels called out of the RJLF, the designation for former commercial vessels purchased by the government and left in lay-up unless activated for a role in the nation's defense. The Department of Defense confirmed that more than 35 ships in the 96vessel RRF fleet have been manned and are now participating in Op­ eration Desert Shield. It is ex­ pected that other RRF ships may be activated should the need arise. Members of the SIU's govern­ ment services division have crewed the USNS Mercy, one of the two hospital ships operated by the milr itary. With a crew of 70, the vessel has been deployed to the Persian Gulf. Continued on page 9 'Vvii' i 1^ mm mmmpm I i 4: ;';i i •1 I' -• , '-i i/sf • • -l <. : -• • rwf S ' I'4—r" V / •• V|V .'-v.'.-- �sanReitsm w, t" Congress Beats Back Attack on Cargo Preferenco ". • -'wi' • If yw'" Continued from page 3 liV; ,-"r'':C - \ Ij,;.. ®v'?lv;... ;f|||||,- > •Ki-i; •Hf. ' • !. 'f .•'. 'i; J ','.,- vV- Senator Charles Grassley (Rlowa) introduced the second amendment designed to torpedo cargo preference. Grassley, in his remarl^ to the Senate, attempted to portray Seafarers as being too highly paid by quoting from the June edition of the LOG which reported the results of the union's negotiations with SlU-contracted companies. Grassley sought to impose a rate limit that could be charged by U.S.flag vessels carrying governmentdonated agricultural commodities. The Iowa senator's bill did not seek the same kind of rate limit for foreign-flag vessels or for grain brokers. Another Iowa senator, Tom Harkin (D), added a proposal to Grassley's amendment that would have transferred the cost of shipping food aid from the Depart­ ment of Agriculture to the Depart­ ment of Transportation. Majority of Senate Unwavering The Senate, weary after a week of long debate on various aspects of the farm bill, immediately moved to a vote to table Grassley's amendment. In a roll call vote, 62 senators registered their approval of tabling the Grassley and Harkin proposals. Another 30 senators op­ posed the motion to table. The twoto-one vote in favor of tabling the amendments was an indication of the Senate's support for maintain­ ing existing cargo preference rules. The Grassley amendment fol­ lowed a lengthy debate in the Senate on the issue known as a Great Lakes set aside which dates back to the 1985 farm bill that in­ corporated a compromise between U.S.-flag shipping interests and the agricultural community. , Under the terms of the com­ promise, the maritime industry agreed to exempt certain govemment-backed agricultural export programs from cargo preference laws while the agricultural groups signed off on an increasing the level of government-impelled food cargoes to be carried on U.S.-flag vessels from 50 to 75 percent. One of the conditions of the 1985 farm bill compromise was the allocation to Great Lakes ports of a set portion of the government's food exports. The amount per year mandated by the 1985 law to be shipped from Great Lakes ports was set at about 240,000 metric tons per year of governmentgenerated food aid cargoes, close to 20 percent of donated agricul­ tural products. The program ended in 1989. Cargo for Lakes Debated Backers of the set aside sought a reinstatement of the plan under the 1990 farm bill arguing that not enough U.S.-flag vessels make regular calls at Great Lakes ports that could take advantage of the increased cargo allocated for car­ riage on American ships. Senators opposed to a reinstatement of the Great Lakes set aside said the measure had been a one-shot deal, giving the region an opportunity to make adjustments to the new law and now all American ports should compete on equal footing. A compromise on the issue was reached on the final day of debate on the farm bill. Introduced by Senator Breaux, who acknow­ ledged Senators Inouye, John Glenn (D-Ohio) and Alan Dixon (D-Ill.) as leading participants in toe efforts to resolve the issue, the amendment passed by voice vote. Breaux described the com­ promise legislation as providing for following arrangements: • Establishing a permanent waiver Of the three-year waiting period for re-flagged vessels to be eligible to carry non-bulk cargo preference from Great Lakes ports. • For five years, 50 percent of Public Law 480 title II bagged, processed or fortified cargoes would be awarded to the port with the lowest landed cost, even if such cargoes must travel on U.S.-flag vessels pursuant to cargo preference requirements. • For that portion, any addi­ tional cost of carrying this cargo on U.S.-flag ships would not come from toe Department of Agricul­ ture budget, the funds would be paid by the Department of Transportation, as presently re­ quired by law. • The current level of 75 per­ cent of government-generated food aid carried on U.S.-flag ves­ sels would be maintained. • The total amount that can be allocated under this special bid­ ding procedure would be set at 245,000 metric tons a year. • It does not set a ceiling on the total amount of tonnage that can be loaded at the Great Lakes or any other port. The legislation "allows the Great Lakes to participate in a very positive way in getting this addi­ tional business and at toe same time protects the other ports in Continued on page 13 Amendments Throughout the farm bill debate, opponents of U-S.-flag shipping at­ tempted to introduce amendments aimed at weakening or eliminating cargo preference. ITie two amend­ ments that would have crippled toe law that requires 75 percent of U.S. government-impelled food car­ goes to be carried on American bottomis were introduced by Sena­ tors Steven D. Symms (R-Idaho) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa). What follows is a breakdown of the Senate vote on motions to table Symms' July 23 amendment and Grassley's July 27 amendment. A vote in fovor of the motion to table 00 was supported by the SIU. A no vote (N) supported the giant grain interests. Four members of the Senate did not vote on July 23 and eight were not recorded on July 27. , '7< S ' "' - t£S.!i v: y-r. r,^4Sf .:' •' July23 July27 Vote Vote Alabama. Howell Heflin (D) Richard C. Shelby (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Alaska Ted Stevens (R) Frank H. Muikowski (R) Arizona f-: j-:f; Dennis DeConcini (D) John McCain (R) Y N Y N Arkansas Dale Bumpers (D) David Pryor (D) Y Y A Y California Alan Cranston (D) Pete Wilson (R) Y Y Y Y Colorado 5!- :->• •>- 'W- William L. Armstrong (R) N Timothy E. Wirth (D) Y A Y Connecticut Christopho-J. Dodd (D) Josqph I. Lieberman (D) Y Y Y Y Delaware WiUiamV.RothJr.(R) N N Joe Biden (D) Y Mississippi Y Thad Cochran (R) Trem Lott (R) Y Florida Robert Graham (D) Connie Mack HI (R) Y Y Y Missouri Y Y John C. Danforth (R) Christophers. (Kit) Bond(R) Georgia Sam Nunn (D) Wyche Fowler (D) Y Y Daniel K. Inouye (D) Daniel K. Akaka (D) Y Y Max Baucus (D) Conrad Bums (R) Y N J. James Exon (D) Robert Kerrey (D) Y Y N N Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N Kansas N N N N Y N Y N Louisiana J. Beimett Johnston Jr. (D) John B. Breaux (D) Y Y A Y Y Y Y Y Maryiand Paul S. Saibanes (D) Barbara A. Mikulski (D) Y Y Y Y A Y V Y Y Y Y Harry Reid (D) Richard H. Bryan (D) Y Y Y Y Lloyd Bentsen (D) Phil Gramm (R) Gordon J. Humphrey (R) Warren Rudman (R) N N N A Edwin Jacob (Jake) Gam (R) Orrin G. Hatch (R) Bill Bradley (D) Frank R. Lautenberg (D) Y Y Y Y N Y N Y Daniel Patrick Moynihan(D) Alfonse D'Amato (R) Jesse A. Helms (R) Terry Sanford (D) Y A Y Y N Y N Y Y N Y 'X N Ohio John H. Glenn Jr. (D) Y Howard Metzenbaum (D) Y David Lyle Boren (D) Don Nickles (R) Mark O. Hatfield (R) Robert W. Packwood (R) N N A N H. John Heinz III (R) Arlen Specter (R) N N Y Y Larry Pressler (R) Thomas A. Daschle (D) A Y N Y James R. Sasser (D) Albert Gore Jr. (D) Y Y Y Y Y N Y N A N N A Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y N Y N N • A N Utah North Dakota Quentin N. Burdick (D) Kent Conrad (D) Strom Thurmorid (R) Ernest F. (Fritz) Hollings (D) Texas New Mexico Peter V. Domenici (R) JefifBingaman(D) Y N Tennessee Y A A N N N N V Y •\r Y Y Y Y a Y Y Pennsylvania Minnesota David Durenberger (R) Rudy Boschwitz (R) N Y Oregon Michigan Donald W. Riegle Jr. (D) Carl Levin (D) N N Y N South Dakota Oklahoma Massachusetts Edward M. Kennedy (D) John F. Kerry (D) N N North Caroiina Maine William S. Cohen (R) George Mitchell (D) N N New York Kentucky Wendell H. Ford (D) Mitch McConnell (R) N New Jersey Iowa Robert Dole (R) Nancy L. Kassebaum (R) N Claiborne Pell (D) John H. Chafee (R) South Carolina New Hampshire Indiana Charles E. Grassley (]R) Tom Harkin (D) , N Nevada Illinois Richard Lugar (R) Daniel R. Coats (R) N Nebraska Idaho Alan J. Dixon (D) Paul Simon (D) Y Y Montana Hawaii James A. McClure (R) Steven D. Symms (R) Rhode Island Y Y Y 1 Vermont Patrick J. Leahy (D) James M. Jeffords (R) Virginia John W. Wamer (R) Charles S. (Chuck) Robb(D) Washington Brock Adams (D) Slade Gorton (R) West Virginia Robert C. Byrd (D) John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D) Wisconsin Robert W. Kasten Jr. (R) Herbert H. Kohl (D) Wyoming Malcom Wallop (R) Alan K. Simpson (R) Total vote on toe motion to table toe July 23 amendment: 62 yeas. 34 nays and 4 not voting. Total vote on toe motion to table toe July 27 amendment: 62 yeas. 30 nays and 8 not voting. �^ AUGUSf 1990 • M ' Safety Board Report Takes Critical Look at Causes of Disaster Fatigue, Undermanning Cited as Factors in Vaidez Spiii ' .'r ' • " ' Fatigue, an overworked crew and undermanned ship, alcohol abuse and inadequate Coast Guard controls are among the reasons the Exxon Vaidez ran aground, creat­ ing the nation's worst oil spill, ac­ cording to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report. The government's safety watchdog agency spread the blame for the March 24, 1989 accident, which dumped almost 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, among officers on the Vaidez, the Exxon Shipping Company, the Coast Guard as well as the local pilotage service and pipeline company. Several of the recommenda­ tions made by the NTSB study, which was released late last month, were adopted in the recent­ ly passed federal oil spill legisla­ tion. Among those incorporated are limits on the number of hours crewmembers should work during a day, a study on better response for oil spill cleanups and the ability to use the National Driver Register and other records for information relating to possible drug or alcohol problems before issuing merchant marine documents and licenses. Reviews Manning Standards Other recommendations based on the study of the accident listed by the NTSB included theelimina­ tion of personnel policies en­ couraging mariners to work long hours without concern for fatigue and the "commensurate reduction in safety of vessel operations," im­ plementation of a drug/alcohol policy to monitor mariners from going back to sea before treatment is completed and establishment of manning standards ensuring the crew reflects "all expected ship­ board operating situations and that procedures are in place for dealing with unusually high workloads at sea, such as tank cleaning and cargo handling operations in port." The study concluded that the third mate, who was placed in charge of the departure from the sound by Captain Joseph Hazelwood, was fatigued when he took over the navigation watch ap­ proximately 20 minutes before the vessel ran aground on Bligh Reef. It noted "there were no rested deck officers on the Exxon Vaidez available to stand the navigation watch when the vessel departed from the Alyeska terminal." .•f Size of Crew Key Factor . Reductions in the size of the crews aboard Exxon vessels pur­ sued by the Exxon Shipping Com­ pany precipitated the fatigue factor, the reported continued. The company's crewing policies did "not adequately consider the in­ crease in workload caused by the reduced manning," it stated. Exxon also "had incentives and work requirements that could be conducive to fatigue." The Coast Guard should have been more aware of the heavier workload forced on the crew when the manning scale was reduced, the study noted. "The Coast Guard was unduly narrow in its perspec­ tive when it evaluated reduced manning requests for the Exxon Vaidez because it based manning reductions primarily on the as­ sumption that shipboard hardware and equipment might reduce the workload at sea, but it did not con­ sider the heavier workload as­ sociated with cargo operations in port and the frequency of such operations." Alcohol Impairs Judgement The NTSB reported Hazelwood's "judgement was im­ paired by alcohol" while the vessel was making its way through the sound. It went on to cite neither the company nor the Coast Guard was prepared to test for alcohol and drug-related problems, nor had Exxon adequately followed through to monitor Hazelwood following an earlier alcohol rehabilitation program. (Hazelwood was found not guil­ ty of criminal mischief in a trial in Alaska in March. Of the other three charges for which he was tried, the Vaidez master was found guilty on just one misdemeanor—unlawful and negligent discharge of oil into Alaskan waters.) In other problems listed against the USCG, the board acknow­ ledged the lack of an immediate cleanup response, the poor monitoring and reporting of ice in the Prince William Sound and the .a'.. deficiency in maintaining an effec­ tive vessel traffic service in the sound. • ,+4 The NTSB noted the inadequate response by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company to the oil spill and the lack of an adequate plan to deal with a spill. The study also reported a local pilot should have remained on the vessel until it was clear of Bligh Reef, a policy in­ stituted after the accident. i' f ^ "'K. Reports from the NTSB often are used to help prevent other problems from happening by dis­ cussing why the accident being in­ vestigated occurred. Some NTSB reports have been used in courts because of the agency's reputation for providing very comprehensive investigations of the events. SHI, MMP, Sea-Land, Famll Object To tykes Scheme for How Subsidy A plan by Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. and the Marine En­ gineers Beneficial Association to transfer a portion of Lykes subsidy to a MEBA pension fund operation was met with opposition within the industry and maritime labor. The development occurred shortly after it was announced by the Maritime Administration last month that Lykes had applied for transfer of some of its Subsidy rights to First American Bulk Car­ rier (FABC) Corporation, which is wholly owned by the MEBA pen­ sion fund and headed by an official of that union. The strong opposition of the SIU to the proposed subsidy deal was set forth by the union's president, Michael Sacco, in a formal objec­ tion to MarAd. The SIU protested the use of taxpayer monies to sub­ sidize an operation that would compete head-to-head with unsubsidized, SlU-crewed Sea-Land vessels. If the transfer of Lykes subsidy goes to the two FABC ships, "the SIU will lose employ­ ment opportunities," Sacco told MarAd. Back Door Time Charter The union pointed out that the Lykes proposal amounted to no more than a phony charter opera­ tion. Instead of bareboat charter­ ing the vessels, a standard practice in the industry when a company is seeking to expand its fleet, Lykes is attempting to time charter two ves­ sels through the back door, the SIU said. Sacco noted that the Lykes/FABC application for the subsidy transfer is "so vague that it raises more questions than it answers." The SIU has asked the Maritime Administration, through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, to provide copies of documents, such as the time charter arrangements between Lykes and FABC, which are relevant to the Lykes and FABC application. Also objecting to the proposal to transfer Lykes subsidy rights to FABC was the International Or­ ganization of Masters, Mates and Pilots. The union, which represents masters and mates on Lykes ves­ sels, called the proposal an "un­ precedented subsidy assignment" that "totally ignores Lykes' con­ tractual relationship and obliga­ tions" to the MM&P and American Radio Association. Sea-Land, Farrell Object Sea-Land Service, another ob­ jector, pointed out that the trade route in which Lykes proposed to use the two FABC vessels is "al­ ready severely overtonnaged" which "argues against adding two more vessels to the four now employed" by Lykes in the north­ ern European subsidized trade route (TR 21). Farrell Lines argued that as a consequence of putting the FABC vessels on the northern Europe route, Lykes would move two ships into the Mediterranean trade. That run is presently served by U.S.-flag vessels operated by Farrell. The objections of the SIU, MMP, Sea-Land and Farrell were lodged with the Maritime Ad­ ministration, the govemment agen­ cy responsible for approving subsidy to U.S.-flag companies that meet certain requirements prescribed by law. MarAd an­ nounced the request by Lykes and FABC to transfer subsidy in the July 10 issue of the Federal Register. The agency solicited comments on the Lykes/FABC proposal and can now either rule for or against the petition or hold a hearing to gather further informa­ tion. - • y . '• •• Ill-Fated FABC Has History Of Problems The First American Bulk Carrier (FABC) Corporation, a two-ship operation to which Lykes is seeking to transfer a portion of its operating subsidy, has been a dogged with problems since its inception in 1979. The corporation was set up by the trustees of the pension fund of the District 1 Marine Engineers Beneficial Association. Initially, the trustees approved an invest­ ment in a shipping venture with a Belgian shipowner that would in­ volve a $7 million investment for a two-ship operation. After finding that no U.S. govemment monies were available for construction or operating sub­ sidy, the trustees and the European operator reincorporated FABC in 1981 and took advantage of an ac­ tion in Congress that allowed U.S.flag vessels to be built overseas during a brief period of time. In January 1982, contracts were signed with a South Korean shipyard for construction of two vessels at a total cost of $69.1 mil­ lion with 80 percent of the financ­ ing to go through a Korean bank. Later that year, the Belgian operator dropped out and the MEBA pension fund became the sole shareholder of FABC. The ship construction deal was renegotiated with the Koreans and the cost of each ship placed at $29.99 million with 80 percent of the financing spread out over an eight-year period. It is believed that the MEBA pension fund pledged $62 million in marketable Continued on page 6 ••• • '• I' i. •'M •: • '1 - �4^.'' "s, "r-v.:i.' .'-t ,'• •••->,-i. ••• ,•••-: '--w-. I'l -MIH j*r-TnwmuiM«i mm ,i^i— -._,;™' ••., ,••!-_ ,-—... - saeuim IOG :^'.t 51 Senators Urge President W):V ••• iS^-;n^ i::'. •I''''. ?!".' : •• V V.. '5 ;-:i •• :. t-i:ssv: #• •• *v..: /•^::-:.;" rv:v v,.:; . i':- ';•••••,-i. • ••. '• mr::.:, •• •'v~;4 • •,.- "'-• <. i: V:4> -• : • ;- • '^1"' lil. '-•• • "., A majority of the U.S. Senate GATT subject matter. has told the Bush administration The SIU worked with Congress that maritime should be excluded during 1988 to keep maritime out from the multinational trade of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade negotiations taking place in Agreement/Strong sentiment from Uruguay. both the Senate and the House The General Agreement on forced the Reagan administration Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a to remove maritime from the pack­ multinational treaty established in age. 1948 to end discriminatory trade The union has pointed out that practices, reduce trade barriers and maritime already is highly regu­ eliminate devices which would lated since it is the oldest form of distort free competition within the international trade. Worldwide world market. A total of 96 countries, including the Why the Maritime Industry Opposes ^ United States, subscribe to Inclusion of Waterhorne Transit in the the treaty. Current Round of GATT Talks Periodically, repre­ sentatives from the various • Endanger the Jones Act. The United forced to repeal existing nations meet to update the States may accords and iron out any cabotage laws barring foreign vesisels and problems. The present airlines from pixividirig services betvife^ negotiations, which began in two destinations in this countryv 1986, are scheduled to con­ t National Security With the clude by year's end. How­ posisihility of fofeign-flag shijps getting ever, many items remain on involved in ddniestic routes, there is the the agenda for discussion possibility of a grave threat to national and Hnal action. isecurity., The SIU has been active in • Eliminate Shipping Subsidies. The U.S. trying to keep maritime off could be forced to drop existing operating the table for discussion. The subsidies designed to help U.S.-flag car­ union has warned that any rier offset competition from low-\yage negotiated agreement deal­ foreign-flag Shipping that would not have ing with maritime could in­ to meet U.S. standards for manning or validate U.S. laws governing everything from coastwise trade to operating subsidies • End Cargo Preference. Protection for y.S.-flag shipping reserving set percent­ for U.S.-flag carriers. ages government-generated cargoes Resolutions reflecting the could be eliminated. opinion-of Congress have been filed by U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-La.) and U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (Dmaritime is subject to the overview N.C.) to ask the: administration to of the International Maritime Or­ have maritime removed. To date, ganization and the United Nations 51 of the nation's 100 senators Conference on Trade and have signed as co-sponsors to Development. It is regulated Breaux's bill. A total of 140 House domestically by the Department of members have added their names Transportation and the Federal to Jones'resolution. Maritime Commission. The SIU Since it came into being, GATT has stated it would be unwise to dealt exclusively on trade in goods. involve another multinational However, the inclusion of services agency in maritime, particularly in the current round of talks marks since it has no experience in the a dramatic departure from past industry. • Continuedfrom page 5 .'r. '" " t'-• 't r''5&AA*' '• "i • '' t . securities to obtain and secure let­ ters of credit on the loan, In late 1984, the Department of Labor, which had been investigat­ ing the MEBA pension fund, is­ sued a complaint against the group and its tmstees for violations of the law that governs retirement plans. The agency said the tmstees and the plan had been derelict in their fiduciary responsibilities by failing to undertake a marketing study before building the FABC ships, for not ensuring an adequate rate of return on the vessel investment and for exposing the fund to the risk of extremely large losses—in the •r.-l' ' ". 4 "Hi l-'N. 7". neighborhood of $60 to $80 mil­ lion. As the tmstees and MEBA pen­ sion plan were settling the com­ plaint in 1985 with the Department of Labor, the fund entered into a subcharter through its wholly owned subsidiary, FABC, of the two vessels to United States Lines. In November 1986 U.S. Lines filed a bankmptcy petition and the following April rejected the subcharters of the FABC vessels. The MEBA plan chartered the ships that same month to the Topgallant Group. The Department of Labor modified its agreement with the pension fund to allow a participat­ ing employer in the plan to sub- i Congressman Bonior Pays Visit to SIU Hali When he recently returned to his district and attended the annual "Pickerel Tourna­ ment" Parade, Congressman David Bonior (D-Mich.) stopped by the Algonac hall to visit with SIU members and their families who came to watch the parade. Pictured above are (left to right) Andy Goulet, SIU Great Lakes representative: Kirk Biishell, QMED; Bonior, and SIU Port Agent Jack Allen. In Response to Judge's Order, USCG Issues New Test Rules • ''I Pre-employment Drug Screening to Continue Pre-employment drug testing will continue for SIU members while the Coast Guard seeks com­ ments on its revised random dmg testing policy. The USCG was forced to come up with a new random testing policy after the SIU and other maritime agencies late last year won a federal suit against its im­ plementation. Federal Judge Thomas Hogan dismissed the original plan as being too "in­ trusive on the individual's privacy interests." Hogan stated the Coast Guard had failed to prove how all hands on ship, especially those in the galley, were directly related to the safe navigation of the vessel. The SIU has not decided how it will respond to the revised proposal. "We are going to have to study it to see what changes have been made," said Augie Tellez, SIU assistant vice president who has been monitoring the dmg test­ ing policies for the union. Tellez noted the proposal re­ quires those crewmembers listed on the certificate of inspection and those who are not listed but do the same type of work to be tested. It includes those who have specific From Start, FABC Has Been Dogged with Problems i:'4' -V Maritime Belongs Out Of GAU Trade Talks charter the two ships. By la\y, transactions between a plan and parties of interest are prohibited, so the agency's agreement was im­ portant to the deal. In early '89, the Topgallant Group was sold to Soudieastem Maritime Company, a Georgiabased shipping-agent. Later that year. Topgallant Lines of Savan­ nah, Ga. went into bankmptcy and the two ships were arrested because of action by the company's creditors. Although the MEBA pension fund tmstees voted last Febmary to advance up to $10 mil­ lion from the plan to fi^ee the ships, the vessels are still detained in Bremeihaven, West Germany. duties during lifeboat and fire drill exercises. The new proposal also slates for random testing any crewmember on a passenger vessel whose assignment is to assist pas­ sengers to safety, he continued. The Coast Guard hopes to im­ plement a random drug testing policy by the end of the year. Tel­ lez said tihe SIU will continue with pre-employment testing until it is advised otherwise. • The Department of Transporta­ tion, as the supervisory agency for the Coast Guard, issued extensive dmg testing regulations for mer­ chant mariners on U.S.-flag ves­ sels in November 1988. The mles required U.S.-flag operators to subject crewmembers to preemployment, post-accident, prob­ able cause and random drug testing. The SIU filed its lawsuit in December 1988 stiating the USCG, by its own admission, had little evidence linking drug use to maritime accidents. After several delays, preemployment testing began July 21, 1989. Just days before random testing was to start. Judge Hogan banned it. On January 8, the Coast Guard announced a six-month ex­ tension of pre-employment tests taken during 1989. Until then, mariners were obligated by govemment regulations to take pre-employment tests every six months. SIU members resumed pre-employment testing in June. • -I i �fti® A • ,;! • ^ lb' > •'• i/>-•;-ft •? • 'ft •' ft'.^ • :.. • American ' '•:!p|R|.iijirftftft|fttft|ft Steamship.• ;' Buffalo : •V'''%liiift;ft:|y1| , Roams Lakes i! w ftlii • ^ .41 • • '.'C Unlike most vessels that sail on the Great Lakes, the Buffalo has no set route she follows. The American Steaniship Company (ASC) self-unloader roams across the four lower lakes to deliver her loads wherever they are needed. The Buffalo can handle a variety of cargo. Among her loads this year alone are gypsum, sand, stone and coal. The vessel is one of the hewer members of the ASC fleet. She is the only one with teflon-lined holds. Algonac Port Agent Jack Allen said the teflon makes quite a difference when the hard-working crewmembers start unloading her. "It's a lot easier, especially for gyp­ sum, because it is slippery," said Allen. "This was a spe­ cial test case to see how it would work." Allen noted the ship is very versatile and considered one of the workhorses of the Great Lakes fleet vftftiillf •ft .ftf'ft Vftft-:,l:;'|#.ft': •^ft-^- 1 !• ^ •l-ft?: ••ft .'";. I#-.-- -- •'ft :• ft ''4. • •; ft ft: i "L^ jt ft.''' - '.'•••• •" ii" •ft-Kii:!.-' -"•ft'ft'-i ft;ft'-.'fti'ft-K fti . 4 -.ft ift^'4®: -ftft -m ftft'i -ftft.®?;' •#: ft 'ft^ M • • • iftft •ft 'fti®;•* r:)m'ftftfeftl ft^: -ftftftv ft 'ft; • ft' • ft: ;.ft®ftftift44'''ftft'ftftftft j^msn :• • ifWX 'A--'. ••-;.• ^ '•-'vS' �: .i,,v;-- sr,;- ;.vJ•• ;^: • • •''<•''•'.: VV/-'"• 'iiPr'-i^"-,iir ^ K vf'•*#* t • • ,-r , . itN^as ®®^ ® t Violet, ctotag®' n®"^a that the ; ;v«c-:'-- • , ^ ^ Petezte^f^i^^hfe steppe"' • sSsSS^^ a:aSS.B ine HiSfT; ?vfl ^ "V^ ^ • tj S,-:; fe,'> •:, •••:' <•<?;> • -V \<ii ^tohanc BlGHT-^^Ohio at^Xe a.^^'ssw Bettn®°* y �AUGusrmo •:M/ "STS- The Iraq Invasion of Kuwait SIU's Government Service Crews Aboard MilNaiy's Hospital Ship Readied for Persian Giiif Duty USNS Mercy Becomes Fully Activated Seafaring members of the union's government services division were called upon to man the recentlyactivated USNS Mercy, one of the military's two hospital ships. At the time the USNS Mercy was activated, the civilian mari­ ners employed aboard vessels op­ erating in MSC's Pacific Fleet al­ ready could be found crewing vessels in that command. (The civilian seafarers aboard MSCPAC vessels, which operate throughout the year, are members of the SIU Government Services Division, once known as the Mil­ itary Sea Transport Union.) Layberthed in Oakland, Calif., the USNS Mercy is designed to provide combat medical support. MSG describes the vessel, and her twin ship based in Baltimore, as large, acute care medical facilities. The vessel, which was con­ verted from its previous life as a tanker, was on standby alert fol- The hospital ship USNS Mercy Is one of many vessels crewed by the SIU's government services division. The vessel recently set sail for the first time In many years. lowiiig the San Francisco earth­ quake in October of 1989 but it has not sailed for several years. Most of the time, the USNS Mercy is manned by a skeleton crew and kept in reduced operat­ ing status. "Ihe activation of the vessel increases the manning to some 70 civilian mariners and also Chronology of Events In Persian Gulf Crisis ^ -."• ••''.' v' In Red iea^ U.N. declares Iraqi troops Invade and occupy ^ployed Kuvwiiti annexation void. Kuwait in a matter of hours. MarAd advises U.S.-flag vessels to s^y August 10 at least 12 miles off the Ir^i and Arab League condemns the inva­ sion 1^ a vote of 12 out of 21 and Kuwaiti coasts. President^ Bush some countries agree to send troops freezes Iraqi and Kuwaiti aglets in United States and tails ori litions to defend Saudi Arabia. Iraq's Sad^ dam Hussein calls for an Arab Holy of the world to condemn l^on. War. NATO claims an at^ck on The United Nations condemns in­ Turkey by Iraq would be an attecK vasion. Ameiritan battle groups dttthsw^ placed on aiert. SB;';AnaU8l:12ft-fe iKugasta Iraqi begirt in^ng on Saudi Bush orders ments of Iraqi oil and almost all Arabian border. U.S. and Soviet Imports. Union issue joint statement con­ demning Iraqi invasion. August 13 U.S. military planes land in Saudi August 4 Arabia at a rate Of one every 10 The European Community freezes minutes. An Iraqi tanker sails empty IF ah Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets and from a Saudi Red Sea port because I imposes an embaigo on oil Imthe Saudi government would not ports permit tugs to dock the tanker. August 6 August IS Turk^ agrees to close Iraqi pipe­ Saddam Hussein seeks peace with line. U.N. adopts sanctions that Iran by returning POWs and terri­ virtually prohibit all trade witii Iraq tory captured in a nine-year war. and occupied-Kuwait. U.S. govemrnent announces it will help enforce Augnstl? sanctions and deploys USS inde­ Bush calls up military reserves. pendence battle group to northern Saddam Hussein raises tiie titreat Arabian Sea. of worldwide terrorism. FAaguilT August 18 The U.S. begins moving troops to Iraq places foreign natidriais around Saudi Arabia as part of multina­ military targets, factories md in­ tional defense force. stallations as a "human shietd." U.S. warships fire rounds across iMilitstt the bows of two Iraqi inkers that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussitn an­ will not slop for inspection. nexes Kuwait. U.S. troops and air­ craft start arriving in Saudi Arabia. August 20 Great Britain announces its support Bush declares Americans bwng held for the multinational force. t^ Iraq as "hostages." The United Arab Emirates agrees to host U.S. August 9 forces. USS Eisenhower and task force hundreds of medical personnel. Both hospital ships are capable of becoming fiilly operational within five days. For the 894-foot vessel's current deployment, SIU crewmembers have beenjoined by Navy medical personnel. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 69,360 ton USNS Mercy carried close to 1,200 people in the ship's comple­ ment. As the vessel was about to sail, family members of the crew and medical staff assembled at the Oakland Naval Supply Center in what became a spontaneous good­ bye party. j::'V ] if Seafarers Meet Manning Meeds Continued from pt^e 3 resentatives of management and labor. Due to the contractual im­ plications of the current mobili­ zation, the SAB put into efifect the following provisions for the du­ ration of the current emergency; • The relief system for class A seamen who have acquired the necessary four months seatime has been waived, excluding perma­ nent ratings. Seamen in permanent ratings will stick to their desig­ nated rotations. • Class A seamen may remain aboard their vessels in excess of 240 days and Class B seamen may stay on for more than 180 days. Normally, the shipping rules re­ quire that Class A and B seamen limit the amount of seatime per year to 240 or 180 days, depending on the classification. This rule has been lifted for the time being. Pension Pay Protected In calling upon pensioners, the Board of Trustees of the Seafarers Pension Plan voted to allow reti­ rees to participate in the activation without interruption of their monthly pension payments. As a result of the trustees' action, re­ tired SIU members sailing on ves­ sels with a military support pur­ pose will continue to receive their monthly pension check in addition to the pay accrued by shipping. All union members currently on the beach, or pensioners inter­ ested in playing a role, or inactive Seafarers with ratings are being urged by the SIU to contact the nearest union hall or manpower office. The manpower center, which is open 24-hours-a-day, can be reached by dialing 1-800-SEACREW (or 1-800-732-2739). U.S.-Flag Fleet Activated for Gulf Continued from page 3 Seafarers aboard the sealift tankers, other MSG ships or some commercial U.S.-flag carriers also may find themselves taking part in Operation Desert Shield as it is possible that additional vessels will be called up. The union is taking steps to ensure that increased de­ mands for manning vessels can be met swiftly and efficiently. Trained for Rradiness SIU members for several years have participated in training ex­ ercises coordinated under the aus­ pices of the military in preparation for real-life operations such as De­ sert Shield. In addition. Seafarers upgrading at the union's training facility receive instruction on sealift procedures such as crane op­ erations, helicopter maneuvers and solid shield exercises, a process designed to safeguard a vessel in contact with chemical warfare. Underway replenishment pro­ cedures also are enacted and stud­ ied in exercises and course work through the Lundeberg School. Seafarers are asked to give special attention to cargo operations be­ cause much of the military's heavy equipment requires careful han­ dling. The union's school has a group of instructors known as the "mo­ bile sealift training team" who pe­ riodically board SlU-contracted military vessels to conduct sealiftpreparedness exercises. -m ' ; • 'V : xM 9^ ,,i : ' I*-! •' " �SEAFARERS LOG 8 LEFT—Patrolman Joe Perez (in cap) takes care of business during a union meeting aboard the Overseas Ohio. From the left are QMED John Miranda. DELI Phillip Watson, AB Alvin Kirksey, Perez, AB Stephen Sylvia, AB Daniel Eckert and GSU Windell Bloodworth. BELOW—Shore leave is over for QMED John Miranda and DEL! Phillip Watson who return to the Overseas Ohio after visiting Chiriqui Grande, Panartia. SIU Grew Works Hard To Keep Overseas Ohio Running Smoothly Deck department members (from left) Alvin Kirksey, Stephen Sylvia and Jerry Borucki get ready to tie up the tanker in Panama. AB John Gauthier and Bosun Jerry Borucki take care of sorne painting needed on the deck. Borucki provided these pictures for the LOG. SIU crewmembers are trained to handle most any situ­ ation arising at sea. Bosim Jerry Borucki proved that not only is he a very skilled member of the deck department, but he also is quite adept at using a camera. Borucld took his camera on a recent voyage of the Overseas Ohio to Panama. He provided the Seafarers LOG with these photographs of SIU crewmembers working aboard the tanker as well as the payoff in Louisiana. Everything was running smoothly aboard the Overseas Ohio, according to Joe Perez, SIU patrolman from the port of New Orleans. Perez recently met the ship as it was docked at Nine Mile An­ chorage, near Violet, La. The patrolman noted that the crew had plenty of work to keep them busy aboard the tanker. The few complaints he encountered were handled onboard with no problems, Perez reported. The Overseas Ohio, which is operated by Maritime Overseas Corporation, loads oil in Pan­ ama and unloads at various ports in Texas, Louisiana and Florida in the Gulf of Mexico region. QMED Jorge Bermeo, Third Mate Marshall Townsend and Second Mate Roy Pino handle a fire hose during safety drills aboard ship. ABOVE—^The galley gang of Steward Grant Marlett and Chief Cook Leticia Perales are ready to handle the crew's food needs. LEFT—AB Alvin Kirksey, AB Willie Chestnutt and Bosun Jerry Borucki inspect a life ring RIGHT—Preparing for a safety drill aboard the Ohio are Third Mate Marshall Townsend, AB Alvin Kirksey and QMED Jorge Bermeo. �AUGUST 1990 The Iraq invasion of Kuwait SIU's Government Service Crews Aboard Military's Hospital Ship Readied for Persian Gulf Duty USNS Mercy Becomes Fully Activated Seafaring members of the union's government services division were called upon to man the recentlyactivated USNS Mercy, one of the military's two hospital ships. At the time the USNS Mercy was activated, the civilian mari­ ners employed aboard vessels op­ erating in MSC's Pacific Fleet al­ ready could be found crewing vessels in that command. (ThjC civilian seafarers aboard MSCPAC vessels, which operate throughout the year, are members of the SIU Government Services Division, once known as the Mil­ itary Sea Transport Union.) Layberthed in Oakland, Calif., the USNS Mercy is designed to provide combat medical support. MSG describes the vessel, and her twin ship based in Baltimore, as large, acute care medical facilities. The vessel, which was con­ verted from its previous life as a tanker, was on standby alert fol- The hospital ship USNS Mercy is one of many vessels crewed by the SIU's government services division. The vessel recently set sail for the first time in many years. lowing the San Francisco earth­ quake in October of 1989 but it has not sailed for several years. Most of the time, the USNS Mercy is manned by a skeleton crew and kept in reduced operat­ ing status. 'The activation of the vessel increases the manning to some 70 civilian mariners and also Chronalogy of Events In Persian Gulf Crisis :v''' • :=• K" '... 1 • Iraqi troops Invade and occupy Kuwait in a matter of hours. MarAd advises U.S.-flag vessels to stay at least 12 miles off the Iraqi and Kuwaiti coasts. President Bush freezes Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets in United States and calls on nations of the world to condemn action. The United Nations condemns in­ vasion. American battle groups placed on alert. Augusta Iraqi troops begin massing on Saudi Arabian border. U.S. and Soviet Union issue joint statement con­ demning Iraqi invasion. August 4 The European Community freezes all Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets and imposes an embargo on oil im­ ports. August 6 Turkey agrees to close Iraqi pipe­ line. U.N. adopts sanctions that virtually prohibit all trade with Iraq and occupied-Kuwait. U.S. govern­ ment announces it will help enforce sanctions and deploys USS Inde­ pendence battle group to northern Arabian Sea. August? The U.S. begins moving troops to Saudi Arabia as part of multina­ tional defense force. August 8 Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein an­ nexes Kuwait. U.S. troops and air­ craft start arriving in Saudi Arabia. Great Britain announces its support for the multinational force. August 9 USS Eisenhower and task force deployed in Red Sea. U.N. declares Kuwaiti annexation void. August 10 Arab League condemns the inva­ sion by a vote of 12 out of 21 and some countries agree to send troops to defend Saudi Arabia. Iraq's Sad­ dam Hussein calls for an Arab Holy War. NATO claims an attack on Turkey by Iraq would be an attack on the whole of NATO. August 12 Bush orders Navy to halt all ship­ ments of Iraqi oil and almost all imports. August 13 U.S. military planes land in Saudi Arabia at a rate of one every 10 minutes. An Iraqi tanker sails empty from a Saudi Red Sea port because the Saudi government would not permit tugs to dock the tanker. August 15 Saddam Hussein seeks peace with Iran by returning POWs and terri­ tory captured in a nine-year war. August 17 Bush calls up military reserves. Saddam Hussein raises the threat of worldwide terrorism. August 18 Iraq places foreign nationals around military targets, factories and in­ stallations as a "human shield." U.S. warships fire rounds across the bows of two Iraqi tankers that will not stop for inspection. August 20 Bush declares Americans being held by Iraq as "hostages." The United Arab Emirates agrees to host U.S. forces. hundreds of medical personnel. Both hospital ships are capable of becoming fully operational within five days. For the 894-foot vessel's current deployment, SIU crewmembers have been joined by Navy medical personnel. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 69,360 ton USNS Mercy carried close to 1,200 people in the ship's comple­ ment. As the vessel was about to sail, family members of the crew and medical staff assembled at the Oakland Naval Supply Center in what became a spontaneous good­ bye party. 1. • Seafarers fi/leet ti/lanning Neetfs Continued from page 3 resentatives of management and labor. Due to the contractual im­ plications of the current mobili­ zation, the SAB put into effect the following provisions for the du­ ration of the current emergency: • The relief system for class A seamen who have acquired the necessary four months seatime has been waived, excluding perma­ nent ratings. Seamen in permanent ratings will stick to their desig­ nated rotations. • Class A seamen may remain aboard their vessels in excess of 240 days and Class B seamen may stay on for more than 180 days. Normally, the shipping rules re­ quire that Class A and B seamen limit the amount of seatime per year to 240 or 180 days, depending on the classification. This rule has been lifted for the time being. Pension Pay Protected In calling upon pensioners, the Board of Trustees of the Seafarers Pension Plan voted to allow reti­ rees to participate in the activation without interruption of their monthly pension payments. As a result of the trustees' action, re­ tired SIU members sailing on ves­ sels with a military support pur­ pose will continue to receive their monthly pension check in addition to the pay accrued by shipping. All union members currently on the beach, or pensioners inter­ ested in playing a role, or inactive Seafarers with ratings are being urged by the SIU to contact the nearest union hall or manpower office. The manpower center, which is open 24-hours-a-day, can be reached by dialing 1-800-SEACREW (or 1-800-732-2739). U.S.-Flag Fleet Activated for Gulf Continued from page 3 Seafarers aboard the sealift tankers, other MSG ships or some commercial U.S.-flag carriers also may find themselves taking part in Operation Desert Shield as it is possible that additional vessels will be called up. The union is taking steps to ensure that increased de­ mands for manning vessels can be met swiftly and efficiently. Trained for Readiness SIU members for several years have participated in training ex­ ercises coordinated under the aus­ pices of the military in preparation for real-life operations such as De­ sert Shield. In addition. Seafarers upgrading at the union's training .it - ; .r facility receive instruction on sealift procedures such as crane op­ erations, helicopter maneuvers and solid shield exercises, a process designed to safeguard a vessel in contact with chemical warfare. Underway replenishment pro­ cedures also are enacted and stud­ ied in exercises and course work through the Lundeberg School. Seafarers are asked to give special attention to cargo operations be­ cause much of the military's heavy equipment requires careful han­ dling. The union's school has a group of instructors known as the "mo­ bile sealift training team" who pe­ riodically board SlU-cpntracted military vessels to conduct sealiftpreparedness exercises. .. • A '•#, . ' . • • ill' "o-, .• " •' �'.•• .'&--^ Js^ 1".- > '• fijk ,rj - '.^ -"• ' ''- '- ' ••'• • ' '-ri-- J.Kji'V-;'. ^ iV f-.i. '*; •;!•", .i-v> • ••! '•••< I - . . :,' "*, 1-- - --/-.v.- . • - " '' - • ••. ..'••i ' SeAfARCRS £06 ;: •J. -• I. r,v •t • :' •:' •J A- • 1;, 'a r'r ' . If" WAW'i-: f^"• From Galveston and Houston to Corpus Christi, SlU-crewed G&H Towing tugboats are busy working along Ae Gulf of Mexico. The Texas-based fleet of 28 tugs handles shipdocking and barge staging in Freeport, Texas City and the cities listed above as well as moving oil rigs in the Gulf. The company has been an SIU contrac­ tor for approximately 40 years. Dean Corgey, SIU assistant vice president who also worked as an engineer for G&H, said the company's stable operation "pro­ vides job security for the SIU in­ land boatman along the coast." Many of the crewmembers of the fleet began their careers at the Harry Limdeberg School of Sea­ manship in Piney Point, Md. Ac­ cording to Corgey, several G&H employees have worked their way up to the wheelhouse and engine by upgrading through the school. "It's a highly trained fleet. They are skilled boatmen operating in some of the most sensitive and haz­ ardous waterways in this country. TTie G&H crews are a good bunch of guys," Corgey said. One of the highest priorities of G&H Towing is maintaining its safety record. Crewmembers con­ stantly are reminded of the right and wrong way to do their jobs. The crews of some tugs have worked several consecutive years without incxuring any job-related injuries. Corgey said the SIU train­ ing the members receive has a lot to do with these streaks. SIU Patrolman Joe Perez pro­ vided these photographs for the Seafarers LOG. •h -j'v-; VJ., AB George Champion, DEL) Robert Hardin and Engineer F. E. Vaughn get ready to go to work on the Trojan. The Jupiter crew—Capt. Sonny GIbbs, CE Ben Elmore, Deckhand Robert Coleman and DEL) Adam Simon in­ take a break. Chief Engineer Joseph Kleimann makes sure the Juno stays in top op­ erating condition. : '. 3'. • '..l y Ready to handle their next assign­ ments on the Titan are Able Seamen Rodney Mix and G. M. Collier. In the Judge's galley for a union meet­ ing are AB Mike McGee, Engineer Jack Croft, OS James Jackson and Capt. Larry Evans. Getting ready to set sail are OS Kevin easier. Master C. Benoit, AB J. Bovay and CE D. McDonald of the Gretchen. •;^• . 'V";• -r: • Though he blinks for the camera. Captain Bob Deckard keeps his eyes open to dock the Mark K. Relaxing after bringing in the J. Harris Masterson are Mate Paul Cornwall, DEU Brett Palmer, AB R. Gustafson, and Engineer T. Turner. The Marlin crew of Capt. Wallace Hogan Jr., Chief Engineer J. D. Lipscomb, AB James L. Boray and DEL) Steve Cornwall show their proud to be SIU. Taking a break after assisting a ship into the port area are Engineer Michael Fowler, AB Jan Weirauch and AB Phillip Jackson of the Mark II. Getting together on the bridge of the Titan are Capt. B. Cram, Asst. Eng. A. Diamond, AB R. Nix and AB G. M. Collier. Engineer Al Huntington heads for the bridge aboard the Frances E. Haden. Boatman Rickie bridge of the Trojan between runs. 'J Mark K crewmembers Robert Deckard (left) and Brian Smith (right) keep an eye on port activities. �'• • ..I • •/ y-"-' •: AUGUST 1990 . j" . Aboard the Frances Hammer i-, .ir". What started put as a 60-day relief for Chief Steward Rebecca J. Sleeper tumed into 90 very ex­ citing days aboard the Frances Hammer, as witnessed from the photos on this page. And although she says she never worked so hard in her life—it was also "the great­ est trip for seeing the world," she reported to the Seafarers LOG. Leaving from Jacksonville with a load of liquid lawn fertilizer for Odessa, Russia, the first stop for Sleeper and her fellow crewmembers, who appear in pho­ tographs on this page, was Istan­ bul, Turkey to pick up stores and mail. Then on to Russia and a backload to Romania, which Sleeper enjoyed best of all. "The people were so friendly, the music was festive and the food was very good." She even enjoyed the horsemeat dinner (but promised •'•• v yyvyiy#' • .T J. - 1 she wouldn't incorporate it into any of her recipes). The weather was gorgeous the entire time, "even in Russia," said the steward, a graduate of the Lundeberg trainee and upgrading programs. In Egypt, a side trip to Cairo got the ship's crewmembers a camel ride, and in Italy, a bus ride to Rome took them on a tour of the Vatican. There were other stops as well: Tangiers, Malta and Puerto Rico before returning to Jackson­ ville. But it's a lot of hard work for everyone involved in making such a long voyage—20 days just to get there—and a pleasant break, and probably the most favorite form of entertainment, were the shipboard barbecues enjoyed by officers and crew alike, reported Sleeper. • win. <;y ' %\. Camel riding Is quite an adventure for members of the Frances Hammer's crew. During a stopover In Egypt, some of the crew took a tour of Cairo and the great pyramids. From the left, the camel riders are A3 Royce S. Kauffman, Bosun Richard Wilson, Captain Richard D. Fasano, Chief Steward Rebecca J. Sleeper and Second Mate Donald E. Carden. 7.''m. • At- A;?'?''r •i:•i'4 • B''-" •,• f, ,7 'r 'A-.-A-r •A BBMr' Bosun Richard Wilson has the task of lighting the grill for the ship's barbecue. I' ; •3 . Chief Steward Rebecca J. Sleeper aboard the Frances Hammer as It sails through the Bosporus Strait. The mosques of Istanbul, Turkey are visible In background. Sleeper took the photographs that appear on this page, y i • '/s > l-l- " :: •vvyi;. •' ' 'V ... "C" ? Chief Cook Toyokazu R. Gonzales has his work cut out for him—turning this hunk of beef Into a tasty barbecue for officers and crew alike. :%• • i- •W-.-,. I . v.-• tV'-' i • •' •^1 • •;.r A...!'/# •A A-, - "pi It's dirty work up In the boilers, according to Chief Pumpman Richard Parrlsh, who takes a short break before cleaning up. • -ii". ••"•I ; - • f• A-j.. .vssSijai ; • Ap •'. If • •«-'a �• SOFUIBKS m • S unken marker buoys, clogged engine cooling water lines, increased drag and lower fuel efficiency are just a few of the problems facing Great Lakes shipping concerns that are caused by a clam-like critter that stubbomly clings layer after layer—to practically any hard surface. The zebra mussel, a non-edi­ ble, cream-colored mollusk with zig-zag stripes of brown, has disrupted navigation, ruined fishing nets and grounds, altered a delicate aquatic ecosystem, fouled beaches with razor-sharp shells and blocked raw water in­ take systems of many munici­ palities, utilities and factories. Over the next 10 years the prolific organism will cost users of the Great Lakes more than $5 billion in expenditures, esti­ mates one government agency that has studied the problem. One of the costs estimated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser­ vice will be incurred by opera­ tors who will spend more than $90,000 per vessel each year to coat each ship with a substance that will ward off zebra mussels which multiply at a ferocious rate. The agency believes that over a 10-year period, the coat­ ing of 67 lakers could cost ship­ ping companies in excess of $6Q million dollars. In the same study, the Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that redesign of water intake systems of nuclear power plants could cost $5 million each. In addition, annual maintenance and anti-zebra mussel treat­ ments will cost municipalities, utility companies and manufac­ turers millions of dollars. flushed." Seafarer Richard Gimpel, who works as a boatman on the Great Lakes, is also an angler. "I've fished the big lakes for more than 30 years and this is the worst threat to game fish populations that I've seen." The zebra mussel is capable of pro­ cessing a liter of water a day, consuming much of the plank­ ton and algae that have fed many Great Lakes fish. The prolifera­ tion of the pest has endangered many species of fish, particular­ ly the walleye, caught by com­ mercial and recreational fishermen alike. Threat to Shipping Other Lakes Seafarers report navigational buoys having been sunk by the weight of the zebra mussels. "These creatures are really a menace to shipping," summed up SIU Assistant Vice President for the Great Lakes 45 feet but can be found as deep as 300 feet, can be found throughout Europe and the Mediterranean; from Iran to Scandinavia. the invader rapidly will make its way into the Mississppi River American Steamship Com­ via the Desplaines and Illinois pany last year warned its mari­ rivers. New York's Finger ners in an article in the group's Lakes, the Hudson, Mohawk publication Soundings, "Clog­ and Allegheny rivers. ging is a potential problem for American Steamship Company. Pest Is Wildly Prolific It is possible that zebra mussels The pest is easily transported could cause blockage in ballast as bamacle-like growths on ves­ pipes or in cooling water strain­ sel hulls or in water which car­ ers. Blocked ballast pipes would ries the bivalve's microscopic result in reduced pumping larvae. Because the zebra muscapabilities... Blocked cooling isel can live out of water for 14 water strainers could ultimately days, it is suspected that plea­ cause the engines to overheat." sure boat enthusiasts moving Believed to have arrived to their crafts from one body of the Great Lakes in the ballast water to another run the risk of water of a European tanker in transferring the invader. Although indigenous to the 1986, the tiny zebra mussel, which usually does not reach Black, Caspian and Azov seas two inches in length, has rapidly of Eastern Europe, the zebra multiplied and now infests all of mussel extended its base as waLakes Erie and St. Clair and terbome commerce in Europe p^s of Lakes Ontario, Superior increased in the late 1700s. and Michigan and the St. Law­ Today the mollusk, which is rence River. It is expected that densest in depths of water up to Byron Kelley. The adult female zebra mus­ sel can produce 40,000 eggs per year, providing the water tem­ perature is in the 50 to 60 de­ grees Fahrenheit range. The eggs hatch into microscopic veligers which can actively swim as well as drift with the currents ensuring wide distribution. The mussel, which lives up to five years, tegins to form after eight to 30 days as a veliger. young mussel must anchor itself to a hard surface to continue liv­ ing. iniVASION OF THE ZEBRA MUSSa Damages Extensive Last year the hydraulic capa­ bility of the water intake pipe of Monroe, Mich, was reduced by 45 to 55 percent because of an infestation of zebra mussels which seem to have an affinity for the flow of currents through pij^s and other tubing. At one point, the city's intake system was cut off completely—a result of zebra mussel clusters and ice build-up, creating a serious threat to public health and forc­ ing many businesses to shut down for days. City officials also have noted a foul taste and smell in drinking water, be­ lieved to be present as a result of dead and decaying zebra mus­ sels. Lake Erie commercial fisher­ men report that mussels breed on the meshes and ropes of their trap nets, rendering them use­ less because the extra weight sinks t^m to the bottom. Boat owners are finding the hulls of their vessels thickly covered with dense masses of zebra mus­ sels. SIU member Jerry LaDuke, who sails as bosun, is an avid Great Lakes fisherman. The in­ festation has meant more work. "My boat has to be c^efully cleaned inside and out each time I pull out of a contaminated lake in preparation for going into an inland lake." To prevent block­ age in the boat's water intake system, he said "the outboard motor has to be thoroughly The small, striped mollusk is very adaptable, finding almost any surface Pictured above are zebra mussels clustered in a acceptable for attachment. Shown here is the effect of zebra mussels on water pipe. The mollusks rapidly build up—layer a car which was submerged upside down in Lake Erie for one year. after layer—clogging water intake systems. THE SPREAD OF THE ZEBRA MUSSEL: PAHERH & TIMETABLE STAGES OF GROWTH 9 EGG ^ microscopic VELIGER microscopic, 70 mm in length moves with water current POST-VELIGER microscopic, shell and oot appear, able to swim SEHLING microscopic. 200mm. secretes sticky threads ADULT grows to 4 cm. lives 3-5 years ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE ZEBRA MUSSEL CITIES SHIPPING RECREATION ZEBRA MUSSELS CLING TOBOnOM OF SHIP AND ENTER WATER INTAKES INDUSTRY ZEBRA MUSSEL SHELLS COLLECT ON BEACHES. MUSSELS ENTER WATER INTAKE VALVES OR COLLECT ONBOATBOnOMS ZEBRA MUSSELS COLLECT IN WATER INTAKE PIPES AND ZEBRA MUSSELS FORM IN WATER SUPPLIES. CLOG PIPES AND STOP PUMPS It secretes a tuft of sticky, elastic threads that allow it to clamp onto practically any sur­ face—including the shells of other zebra mussels—creating large colony clusters that have been known to reach greater than 100,000 per square meter. Not picky about what surface it will attach itself to, the mollusk has been found on every part of some sunken cars including fi­ berglass, cloth seats, glass, sheet metal, tires and plastic. No Solution in Sight Although the zebra mussel has very few natural predators, one species that preys on the mollusk is the diving duck. While the population of diving ducks has increased in several European lakes, no group on the continent has discovered a way to eradicate the mussels. Eu­ rope, which has faced a zebra mussel infestation for more than 200 years, still has no mecha­ nism for lake-wide control of the critters that is not deadly to other aquatic ecosystems. Earlier this year legislation was introduced in the House and Senate calling on the U.S. government to provide the means for research aimed at eradicating the nuisance mol­ lusk. While some chemical agents can combat the spread of the mollusk, their effect on humans and Great Lakes wildlife must be studied before they enter the food chain. State legislatures also are considering bills that will pro­ vide funding for zebra mussel research. The United States Coast Guard has established an interagency working group on the problem, bringing together representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Na­ tional Oceanographic and At­ mospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes governmental organizations are working closely with their Ca­ nadian counterparts to monitor the infestation and develop mechanisms for preventing an all out take-over by the invader. Just prior to its summer re­ cess, Congress approved a re­ search effort directed at finding ways to eradicate or control the enormously costly zebra mussel infestation of the Great Lakes. �AUGUSTim .••bSfe As Concern for the Environment Grows Ships* Ballast Water Coming Under Scrutiny • ' •'" , . .r-V" , ;1. "1 - "j'" , The disruption of delicate en­ vironmental ares by foreign wildlife species believed to have been discharged in ballast water has brought worldwide attention to the problem of ships involuntarily transporting unwanted alien or­ ganisms. The zebra mussel infestation of the Great Lakes, which it is believed will cost around $5 billion to control and combat, is an ex­ ample of how a European mollusk lurking in the freshwater ballast of a freighter was discharged in a foreign environment and quickly established itself, rapidly spread­ ing out of control in its new home. Two other European species found in the Great Lakes have caused concern with water users —the spiny water flea and the ruffe, a predatory species of perch. In California, fishermen fear Asian aquatic animals recently dis­ covered along the West Coast, and Norwegian authorities worry that its farmed salmon has been con­ taminated by toxic algae brought to the Scandinavian coastline by foreign vessels. Threat to Domestic Waters In Australia, where five foreign aquatic species have been dis­ covered in coastal areas, the government has introduced a voluntary ballast water exchange program. The Australians give vessels entering the country's ports three options: submit a certificate verifying the ship's ballast water and sediment are free of toxic or­ ganisms, exchange ballast at sea or treat the water or certify that the vessel will not discharge ballast water while in port. In addition, the Australian government has desig­ nated shoreside treatment facilities and approved discharge areas. The Canadian government, in consultation .with the United States, St. Lawrence Seaway offi­ cials, the maritime industry and fishing groups, has enacted volun­ tary guidelines for vessels entering the Great Lakes that went into ef­ fect in May 1989. Under this program, ships are requested to exchange their ballast off the continental shelf before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway. If this is not possible for reasons of safety, the ballast may be ex­ changed in the Laurentian Channel in the Gulf of St. Lawrence where it is believed that little mixing oc­ curs between the waters in the Gulf and Channel. Spot Checks Allowed The masters of vessels entering the Great Lakes are requested to provide St. Lawrence Seaway in­ spectors with a report on the origin of the ship's ballast water and the date it was brought aboard. The Canadian Coast Guard conducts spot checks to see if ballast water was exchanged at sea. Currently the Canadian Coast Guard is evaluating the com­ pliance record and effectiveness of this program. International attention on the issue is expected to increase. Ear­ lier this year the International Maritime Organization (IMG), the agency of the United Nations charged with shipping matters, took the first step in developing worldwide regulations aimed at decreasing the likelihood of the in­ troduction of foreign and exotic or­ ganisms in the territorial waters of any nation. IMO Gets Into the Act The IMG's Marine Environ­ ment Protection Committee (MEPC) will form a working group on the subject at its meeting in November 1990. The organization's goal is to collect re­ search from around the world and entertain proposed solutions that can be incorporated in internation­ al standards. Deep water ballast transfer operations and possible chemical treatments—including simple chlorination—are among the mechanisms to be studied by the group. In the United States, the Coast Guard has proposed a three-phase approach to the problem. In the first year, the agency advocates that a voluntary program for the Great Lakes be established to dovetail the existing guidelines of the Canadian government. The second phase would make the Great L^es program mandatory. In the third year, the Coast Guard would institute a national program that would designate procedures for ballast exchange or acceptable alternatives that would ensure the discharged water was free of foreign organisms. Phase-In Process The Coast Guard has asked for the phase-in process in order to study how mandating an exchange of ballast water prior to entering American water will impact on a vessel's safety and economic viability as well as its effect on the environment. Gf concern is the structural strength of a ship during such an operation because of the delicate balance a ship maintains between fuel, ballast, empty tanks and cargo. Additionally, with most bal­ last tanks made up of floors and girders and beams, the likelihood of contaminated water remaining aboard is very high. Removal of sediment, often brought on when ballast has been loaded in shallow areas, which also can contain or­ ganisms, is another aspect to be Studied. The U.S. Coast Guard also has expressed concern over in­ creased fatigue among crewmembers resulting from the extra work of discharging ballast at sea. Legislation pending in Con­ gress, known as the Non-in­ digenous Aquatic Nuisance Act of 1990, would require the promulga­ tion of Coast Guard regulations that would govern the discharge of ballast water on the high seas, out­ side the 200 mile exclusive economic zone prior to entering a U.S. port. The regulations will apply to all foreign-flag vessels and all U.S.-flag vessels except those operating only within the ter­ ritorial waters of the U.S. or con­ tiguous coastal waters of North America. Vessels engaged in Jones Act trades, which fall within this category may still be required to provide other methods of ballast water treatment. New Methods Reviewed The bill also suggests that ves­ sels using chemical treatn]ient of ballast water may be exempted from this requirement. However, new methods of ballast treatment may be substituted for discharge in the future if they are proven effec­ tive. Some of the ways that have been suggested include ultra-violet treatment and chlorination. Under the bill, procedures for random sampling of ballast tank water would be developed by the Fish and Wildlife Service in conjunc­ tion with the Coast Guard. The legislation as presented provides the vessel master the authority to put safety above the fulfillment of this procedure, but shipping groups believe that par­ ticular part of the bill needs strengthening arid Clarification. Hearings were held earlier this summer in both chambers of Con­ gress on the bill, which was intro­ duced by John Glenn (D-Ghio) in the Senate and Henry Nowak (DN.Y.) in the House. The legislation has not yet been considered by the full House or Senate. , -• » ' rV-A?." . Si- Ballast Water In Ocean Vessels /Is I Shaded areas represent Ballast Water BULK CARRIER >, • GENERAL CARGO CARRIER a . n. C n. IX ORE CARRIER TANKER W Chart Information from SEAWAY REVIEW Magazine/January-March 1990 Senate Bucks Preference Foes Continuedfrom page 4 basic opposition to a set aside. But it does allow the Great Lakes par­ ticipants to get a portion of the cargo that will allow them to in­ crease their opportunity to share in the Public Law 480 cargo opera­ tions," the Louisiana senator con­ cluded. House Addresses Lakes Concerns The House 1990 farm bill also contained language regarding an allocation of cargo to Great Lakes ports. The House version calls for a waiver of the three-year waiting period that liner vessels built or registered in foreign nations must go through before transferring to an American flag and a set aside for Great Lakes ports through 1996 to be reduced by 10 percent from the 1991 level each year after that. Bill Goes to Conference It is expected that the con­ ference committee for the farm bill will begin meeting when House and Senate members return from the August recess next month. After differences in language are ironed out and accepted by both chambers of Congress, the legisla­ tion goes to the president's desk for final approval. One of the areas of difference that will be discussed by House and Senate conferees will be the Great Lakes language. As neither the House nor Senate farm bill contained anti-cargo preference provisions, the issue is not likely to be raised during the committee meetings. However, SIU legislative representatives will be monitoring closely the actions of the conference committee to en­ sure the interests of U.S.-flag ship­ ping are not subjected to yet another attempt to weaken or kill cargo preference. ' -i • • '•y- .-V V;. V.-; • • .'ir b •r s.y , V"' T: -i -v''- ' .i i-.. \ f-,j. • �"ft •t.5 safARiRS m 14 AB Reiner's First Novei is a Biockbuster Thriller Book Portrays Life Aboard a Tanker inthel950s and 1980s i .,v^ •vt^ "*; 'i>.'. Mt- •' *' I »,,'i •m- '• it •>-.' • ;••''•:••'" ' -•'tu', Hi it •r--^ .;, •' • ••.•.••i;--i -« •>" . -• ' i - . •' ' y •••'', SIU member Larry Reiner re­ cently has published his first novel, Minute of Silence. The fast-paced adventure story was written while the AB was at sea. Reiner draws from his experiences as a union seaman sailing on non-union Cities Service vessels in the late 1940s during an SIU organizing drive and his 40-year career in the merchant marine, most of it spent on tankers. Reiner sets the first portion of his novel on the Concordia, described as "514 feet of ruststreaked hull thrusting forth like a pregnant whore. Stained, sullen and, showing her age, she was still well paid for'her services. But her owners expended on her only as much as necessary to keep her afloat." As the story unfolds, the reader senses that many crewmembers are motivated by allegiances formed during organizing drives directed at fink tankers. One crewmember describes those drives: "The closer to the NLRB election they came, the deadlier the contest was becoming. On the disputed ships, beatings, knifings and 'mysterious disappearances at sea' were becoming commonplace. And ashore, seamen suspected of being organizers were followed and attacked—sometimes killed. The body of one had been recently stuffed in a garbage pail close to the union building." It is not only the union sym­ pathizers who are haunted by the organizing driyes. "The company recognized the engineer's con­ tempt for anything that faintly resembled communism and he soon became an important factor in its struggle with the union The company provided him with funds to be used at his discretion to estab­ lish a police force throughout the tanker fleet." Tension mounts as more is revealed about each character and as the Concordia sails into a tropi­ cal storm rapidly reaching hur­ ricane strength. The second part of Minute of Silence opens in the '80s on a tanker employed in the Alaska oil trade. Concluding the book, in an afterword section, Reiner com­ ments on the history of the modem American merchant marine and the status of today's fleet. Author Knows Life at Sea Those who have sailed will feel at home with Reiner's setting and language. The author effectively captures in straight-forward prose the relationships and life aboard a ship. Here is a scene from the messroom: "Both 4 to 8 ABs were seated opposite the coffee lim, half as­ leep. The 4 to 8 fireman-watertender and oiler sat at the table behind playing cribbage. Stacey stripped off his rain gear, poured himself some coffee, and settled down at the after table next to the standby phone "Save for a word or two from the cribbage players, the five men sat there silently swaying from side to side as the Concordia rolled along J. in the building seas. "Reed, the night cook and baker, bmshed flour off his hands as he came in from the galley. 'Sure 'nough workin' herself into a nasty blow ain't she?' He poured himself some coffee and sat down at the table opposite the passageway to the galley. 'Any more news 'bout the storm?"' It is no wonder that Reiner can accurately present shipboard life and drama. At the age of 19, Reiner went to work on Missis­ sippi river barges, leaming to pump and getting a taste for the life of a seaman. Drawn to ocean­ going ships, Reiner visited the NMU hall, but found he"couldn't stomach" the NMU's bias to the left at that time. He made his way to the SIU hall, where he helped by doing odd jobs around the hall. Reiner's first deep sea ship was a non-union tanker operated by Cities Service. For a year and a half, Reiner participated in SIU organizing drives, guided by Paul Hall, Sonny Simmons, Keith Terpe, some of the SIU's leaders at that time. In 1951, Reiner became a full book member of the SIU. His sailing career was interrupted by a stint in the army as an infantryman and medic during the Korean war. Remembers Paul Hall Reiner describes the late SIU president Paul Hall as one of the biggest influences in his life. He recalled how Hall always gave him a helping hand. "When I came out vWWlrl -i'V-r.;- SIU member Larry Reiner is pictured on the Overseas Boston in 1983. While sailing, the AB spends much of his off-duty hours writing short stories about seamen and life at sea in the merchant marine. of the army after Korea, I went straight to the union hall. But as soon as I got there, I was greeted by two guys who answered my questions about whether Paul was in by slamming me up against the bulkhead. "Paul must have heard the com­ motion, because I heard someone say 'What's going on here?' I answered,'It's Larry Reiner.' Im­ mediately I was taken to see Paul. I didn't realize that he had recently had his life threatened and that the union was in a big beef. He asked how I'd been, did I need anything and then he peeled off a couple hundred dollars from his own mdney to carry me over until I shipped. That's the kind of guy he was, always looking out for us, no matter what was going on." Reiner's feeling for the union runs deep. In fact, his loyalty earned him a week in the brig. "In '51, after I'd just gone into the army to go to Korea, we were still stateside, someone handed me live ammunition, told us to break out the bayonets and took us to break up a strike. It turned Out the army was going to bust up a bunch of white caps, my own SIU brothers. I said, "Those guys are from my own union.' And I refused to par­ ticipate. The army wasn't too happy and they threw me in the jug for a week and threatened a court martial." Minute of Silence has captured the attention of one Hollywood film company and a New Yorkbased, mass market-oriented paperback publishing company. This fall, Reiner's book will te featured at an international book publishing fair in West Germany. The publication of Reiner's book coincides with several major tanker disasters—such as the Exxon Valdez and the Mega Borg. The publisher of Minute of Silence, J. Dwight of Integra Press, believes the book can play an im­ portant role in the current debate on tanker safety. "What Larry Reiner has to say about the state of the tanker industry will be noticed because he himself has actually sailed on those kind of ships and he knows the industry," said Dwight. The 268-page novel is available in hardback for $18.95 from In­ tegra Press; 1702 W. Camelback Road, Suite 119; Phoenix, Ariz. 85015. Shipping costs will be paid by the publishing company on books ordered before October. SIU members and retirees should note when requesting the book, their affiliation with the union, and Larry Reiner will autograph the book. �:f- • • •mi'' ••iiiiiiiimjuiiii'm" AUGUST 1990 15 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JULY 1^1, 1990 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville ? m San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu louston St. Louis iney Poiiii Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT '434 11 " , 0 ,^ , 2 9 '2. w-y .1 . 9 15 •' 14 • •„ ;.^„;;:,;35-^ 23 12 34 9 10 ,i 5'- 30 ^ 0 : 11 2 ^ 9 1 6 10 5 12 9 4 7 5 14 29 4 10 9 9 17 5 7 7 10 11 0 9 23 15 28 7 10 ' 3 3 8 4 5 6 7 0 10 85 83 8 0 3^ 66 4 1 4 13 46 10 ^ I 4 4 12 6 26 50 17 6 15 12 . 5 15 6 2 0 10 3 1 8 0 5 6 1 3 5 10 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port New York jiliiladelphia, .iBaltimorei Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco (ilmingiQh Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis c i'• "''""fit ..•'•Ml sewMe •••••> Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmih^pn Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Totals .m Friday, September 21: y San Juan Thursday, September 6 iSt. Louis Friday^ Sefiemiber 14 vsiaiii IhMWtain , Friday, September 14 y Dulnth.' Wednesday, September 12 Jersey Gify Wednesday, September 19 New Bedford Tuesday, September 18 Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimorg^ Norfolk * Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Pqinf Totals Piney Point Tuesday, September 4 New York Tuesday, September 4 Philadelphia y Wednesday, Septembers Balthnore Thursday, September 6 Norfolk Thursday, September 6 Jacksonville Thursdayv September 6 :rAlgonac '••Vy: Friday, September 7 Houston Mmktey, September New Orleans Tuesday, September 11 Mobile ;vii^dnesday, September 12 San Francisco j^llhursday, September 13 •MS .; Monday, September 17 JlneyJ yirS'i SepteiB&er ' AAembership Meetings; Deep, Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Pet^onals • AL ALEXANDER An old friend, Joseph Kaufman, is trying to locate you. Please get in touch with him at 320 South Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, tele­ phone (213) 276-2947. ' EDWARD A. LaRODA Please contact Mabel LaRoda, 1305 Pebbledon Street, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Vety important. 9 0 1 3 2 12 't"' 11 6 11 3 1 8 0 0 68 13 2 2 8 11 20 14 14 9 9 6 45 8 3 28 192 0 1 4 6 15 7 7 r 4 8 0 1 3 4 10 17 1 5 5 7 7 '6 DAVID MURRAY Please contact your sister or mother immediately. }y'-y9•r 4 -rV Q 0 1 10 5 1 5 0 0 213 60 124 0 141 BOBBY GENE McMICHAEL Please contact your sister, June Renfrow, or send your address. Very important! You can write her at 139 Meadowpark Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 or call (601) 582-0675. 4 3 37 2 12 Totals AU Departments 636 429 350 520 308 330 199 1,021 533 398 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. • **'1 '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 July was down from the month of June. A total of 1,357 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,357 jobs shipped, 520 jobs or about 38 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were liUed by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 199 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 12,735 jobs have been shipped. ,/ . I"'., '.' . • .. y oi' CORRECTIONS In the July 1990 issue of the Seafarers LOG, James Oehlenslager was listed in the Final Departures as having re­ tired in June 1987. Brother Oehlensla­ ger was an active member at the time of his death. In the July 1990 issue of the Seafarers LOG, George Costango thanked all his friends for their support during his recent illness. His address was listed incorrectly. Anyone wishing to send a card or letter may reach him at 500 W. 22nd Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. ^•1 �I, • u SaFARmiOG Dispatcheis' Report for Groat Lakes p: CL—Company/Lakes JULY 1-31, 1990 jv'.,••• -„ •»• r,'^ • • . : ••:-?•'•••:;-: '.K I. :;•; . NP—Non Priority DECK DEPARTMENT Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT ;|f, 6. 5 ! '0 '3 4 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port , -AlTMiESiii ^8 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port 0 Totals AU Departments 0 35 27 0 69 33 0 20 29 •"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. i::v; T-, • Dispatchors' Roport for inland Waters JULY 1-31, 1990 ' • President r MkhadSaeco &i^tary-Treasurcr JoMphDlGiarKio Executive Vice President JosqpliSscctf Yii» Pres&Ient Colfectivie Angus ''Red" Campbell Vis»^sident Attotte GdaSt Jack Caffey Vice President Gulf Coast Thomm Gilded Vice President West Coast George President Lakes a^ Inijand^'^tcrs .3ohiW«y: Vice PfMdent Goveninient SeiV^ : " :Rj^ A. Merow • ••• , *TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Ail Groups All Groups CiassCL ClassLClassNP Class CL ClassLOassNP ClassCL ClassLCiassNP Port • f-f?-. ?: t., • U-Lakes • 5^1 .-..'v.- ' ; ' ' HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way C^p Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algoriac, MI 48001 013)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Bialtimore, MD 21202 (301)327-4900 DULUTH 7()5 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218)722-4110 iifSh J 5 HONOLULU 636 Cooke St. Honolulu, HI 96813 (W 523-5434 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. '} • ^Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 MCKSONVI^ 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEYCITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 ' "1 .y MOBILE .. 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy^. > . MobUe, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 V, " NEWBED^ 50 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02749 ^ . (508)997-5404 . NEWORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. ^ ^ New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 W ' NORFOLK nSThiidSt. v.., ", }'•••. ft ,.•; , •-_•/=. •: •. U"V JT •' '; '/ " -.r t'-- -•• '* . 'V, v-/ Seattle Puerto Rico Houston Algonac ^ Stv Louis *iney Point Totals Port New York Philadelphia .• • • u u 0 0 71 WT ^ , •. ' 0 T - /'0' u o 0 0 11 5 0 0 0 . •I:' 2 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Norfolk Mobile New Orleans iJacksonville Ftrancisco mm Seattle -':^V - '.-•v.v ••iyx ,• Totals AH Departments 59 13 31 35 15 17 177 81 73 •"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Ilegistered on the Beach" meians the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. - 7^622-im'^ PHILADELPHIA I' ' 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 •: " (215)336-3818 I--: -• : PINEY POINT St. Mary's County ' ^ Kney Point, MD 20674 GOl) 994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415)543-5855 Government Services Division (415)861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos St; Stop 16 Santuice, PR 00907 a (809) 721-4033 v;.-.j 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. Vt^fanington, CA 90744 (213) 549-4000 . •„ " . > .v-'S| �'-•z'-i •" i)-' t'S. :'•: ;, f •: AUGusrim T 57«-. he Seafaiere Pension Plan an­ nounces the retirement of 21 members of the union this month. Of this total; 14 sailed in the deep sea division, five in the inland section and two in the Great Lakes. While several of the members served in the military or the SIU during World War II, Brother Wil­ liam Cofone was ship's chairman of a vessel that was damage'^ by an ex­ plosion during the Viemam conflict. He was working in the deck depart­ ment on the SS Robin Hood on March 27,1971, when a mine or bomb knocked a 27 by 19 foot hole in the ship's hull. Cofone reported no injuries to the crew in a letter to headquarters. Two of the members retiring were bom in foreign countries. They are black gang members Heriberto Miranda, who was bom in Matanzas, Cuba and Panagiotis Mykoniatis, a native of Athens, Greece. What follows are brief biographi­ cal sketches of all these Seafarers and others who are retiring. DEEP SEA CECIL P. AYERS, 65, joined the Seafarers in June 1971 in the port of New York. The Encino, New Mexico native served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945. Brother Ayers upgraded his engine department rating to QMED at the Lundeberg School in 1973. He calls Cypress, Texas home. SER VANO CASTRO, 62, joined the SIU in June 1963 in the port of New York. After serving in the Army from 1951 to 1956, the steward department member sailed aboard Sea-Land vessels during the early part of his career. Brother Castro still lives in his native Santurce, P.R. WILLIAM COFONE, 65, joined the union in September 1955 in the port of Philadelphia. A native of New York City, he shipped in the deck department and became a recertified bosun in 1975 at the Lundeberg School. Brother Cofone resides in the Philippines. HARRY J. DURACHER, 52, joined the Seafarers in July 1956 in his native New Orleans. Brother Duracher started his career in the galley, but switched to a posi­ tion in the deck department. He still calls New Orleans home. JOSEM. ESPANOL,64, joined the SIU in May 1960 in the port of New York. He was bom in Arecibo, P.R. Brother Espanol sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He has retired to Coventry, Conn. 77 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. LEOPOLD FAULKNER, 65, joined the union in February 1945 in the port of New York. The galley gang member was bom in St. Thomas, U S. Virgin Islands. Brother Faulkner now resides in New York City. WILBERT FRUGE,62, joined the Seafarers in January 1958 in the port of New Orleans. The Lake Charles, La. native served in the Navy from 1945 to 1947. Early in his steward depart­ ment career. Brother Fmge shipped on Mississippi Ship Company ves­ sels. He calls Houston home. HERIBERTO MIRANDA, 65, joined the SIU in May 1955 in the port of Miami. Bom in Matanzas, Cuba, Brother Miranda sailed in the engine department. He worked on South Atlantic & Carib­ bean Lines vessels early in his career. He shipped out of the port of Jacksonville, Ra. before he retired to Miami. HAZEL F. MORRIS, 64, joined the union in August 1956 in the port of New Orleans. He was bom in Pineville, N.C. and served in the Navy from 1944 to 1953, He sailed in the deck department. Brother Morris lives in Pittsburg, Calif. PANAGIOTIS MYKONIATIS, 65, joined the Seafarers in November 1968 in the port of Seat­ tle. He was bom in Athens, Greece and had sailed in the engine depart­ ment under the name of Pete Mikos. Brother Mykoniatis upgraded to QMED in 1982 at the Lundeberg School. He has retired to his native Greece, taking up residence in the town of Glyfada. FRANK RODRIGUEZ, 31, graduated from the Lun­ deberg School in December 1978. Bom in San Pedro, Calif., he sailed in the deck department. He ^hipped out of the port of New York. Brother Rodriguez assisted in several union beefs during the '80s including the ACBL strike. He upgraded to tankerman in 1982. He resides in Elmhurst, N.Y. RICHARD SCHEMM,65, joined the union in July 1953 in the port of New York. A native of Philadelphia, he served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. Brother Schemm worked in the deck depart­ ment and sailed from the port of Jacksonville, Fla. late in his career. He has retired to Port Richey, Fla. SIMON G. SHARGABIAN, 64, joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards in Oc­ tober 1968 in San Francisco, prior to the union's merger with the SIU. The Massachu­ setts native served in the Navy from 1943 to 1963. Brother Shargabian upgraded his steward department rating at Piney Point in I98I. He now resides in Spring Hill, Fla. •L. -1 KEITH A. LOPER,51, joined the union in April 1965 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. Bom in Ohio, he served in the Army from 1957 to 1959. Boatman Loper sailed in the deck department. He calls Chesapeake, Va. home. ' t GEORGE M. MILAZZO,60, joined the Seafarers in November 1964 in his native New Orleans. He served in the Marines from 1946 to 1948. The deck department veteran switched to the inland division in 1973 and worked on Interstate Oil vessels. Boatman Milazzo attended the 1978 educational conference at Piney Point. He resides in Covington, La. LEONARD A. POLK, 60, joined the SIU in May 1957 in the port of Houston. Bom in Walnut Springs, Texas, he served in the Army from 1951 to 1952. Boatman Polk shipped in the deck department on G&H Towing tugboats. He lives in Freeport, Texas. V-- GREAT LAKES 1 INLAND FLOYD J. KOENIG,61, joined the Seafar­ ers in November 1956 in the port of New Orleans. He served as a captain for Cres­ cent Towing. Boatman Koenig still lives in his native Grema, La. DAVID M. LeBARRON, 55, joined the SIU in July 1971 in the port of Detroit. Bom in Hancock, Mass., he served in the Navy from WILLIAMS. GREGEL,62, joined the union in 1944 in his na­ tive Cleveland. After serving in the Army from 1951 to 1953, he switched his membership from the A&G district to the Great Lakes division in 1961. Brother Gregel worked in the deck department on Great Lakes Towing vessels. He has retired to Wyandotte, Mich. BOBBY G. WILSON, 58, joined the Seafarers in August 1966 in. the port of Detroit. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Wilson still lives in his native LaFollette, Tenn. '-i. The response to last month's notice, asl^g members for any old union records, photos or other memorabilia they may have "filed" away, has already yielded some interesting items. If you would like to contrib­ ute to the Union's archives, send the material to the Seafar­ ers LOG (where it will be ciatalogued and then sent to the museum). The address is: 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. I- m •- f. LOOKING FOR MEMORABILIA OLIVER A. PITFIELD, 65, joined the SIU in Febmary 1967 in the port of Hous­ ton. The Biloxi, Miss, native served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. The deck department veteran upgraded to recertified bosun in 1986 at the Lun­ deberg School. Brother Pitfield lives in Houston. 1952 to 1956. Boatman LeBarron intermpted his deck department career for approximately four years to work as a patrolman in the port of Detroit. He has retired to Hillman, Mich. �iiiwfijlipli^ffl limiiiiiiii •iiiii iiiii ;J',?i£JiV '.r- ••tVvk-.^.. 18 Ships minutes are reviewed by the union's contract departnmit Those issues requiring anentjon onesolution are addressed by the union up^ receipt of the ships minutes. »|i' ';'.i::'. FIRSTLT. BALDOMERO LOPEZ (Amsea), May 30 — Chairman W. Johnson, Secretary M. Yournett, Educa­ tional Director Raymond Culpepper. Chairman announced everything going smoothly. He told members to look in Seafarers LOG for information on vacationing at Piney Point. He thanked steward department for job well done. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew elected treasurer to create ship's fund. Members asked contracts department for clarifica­ tion on travel reimbursement and when it should be paid. Next ports: Saipan and Guam. '' ' fe'..': rt?" SEALIFT CARIBBEANmC), May 10 — Chairman Paul G. King, Secretary R. R. Poovey, Educational Director Ross Hardy. Chairman stated all was going well with no complaints. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked that dryer be repaired. j|- CHARLESTON{Apex Marine), June 24 — Chairman Mark Ruhl, Secretary J. Gonzalez, Engine Delegate Carlos Bonefont. Chairman announced payoff would take place in New York and ves­ sel would lay up during July. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward depart­ ment thanked for job well done. Next port: Port Reading, N.J. 50, • ' "^-^1 If' „• ••L..*^ ••p '."K ' ••'• •.•. ••;• USNS Cfy>»(/PEA/Er(Mar Ship Operators), May 25 — Chairman J. Miller, Secretary R. Lee, Educational Director A. Mates, Steward Delegate Mark Stabile. Chairman stated there is need for more communication between union and ship. Educational director an­ nounced he had upgrading information from Piney Point. He said vessel needs - electrical safety program. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck and engine delegates. Crew noted purser was not providing daily news. Crew asked for op­ tion to be paid when signing off, even in the case of a member who signed on im­ mediately. Members also questioned how purser calculated draw. ' :• • GOLDEN ENDEA VOR (American Maritime Transport), June 17 — Chair­ man Ray E. Todd, Secretary Frank Ross. Chairman noted captain had used obscene language when referring to deck department. Secretary said everything was okay. Deck and steward delegates reported disputed OT. Engine delegate reported no beefs or disputed OT. Crew requested new linens and washing machines. GROTON{Apex Marine), June 9 — Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary M. Payoff Aboard Monarch Jacksonville Port Agent James B. Koesy, right, meets with members aboard the Goldeh Monarch. At left is Robin Cotton. QMED/Pumpman. i# • • - .3ii- Deloatch, Educational Director J. Shuler, Deck Delegate George Cruz, Steward Delegate D. Rodriguez. Chair­ man announced, ship to payoff June 16 in Stapleton, N.Y. He said he would ask boarding patrolman about new contract. He noted vessel would be in Baltimore shipyard in August or September. He reminded crew to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed GT reported. Steward department thanked for its fme food. Deck department thanked for keeping galley and mess clean at night. Next port: Stapleton. GROTONiApex Marine), June 25 — Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary M. Deloatch, Educational Director J. Shuler, Deck Delegate George Cruz^ Engine Delegate Luis A. Malave, Steward Delegate Dimas Rodriguez. Chairman announced ship would payoff June 29 in Stapleton, N.Y. He said he had received text from company that con­ tract not signed. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department for status of manning scale on ITS vessels. Crew thanked Steward Marvin Deloatch and Chief Cook Dimas Rodriguez for very good food. Next port: Stapleton. ITB BALTIMORE (Apex Marine), June 23 — Chairman J. S. Rogers, Secretary Al Holland, Educational Director J. Thompson, Deck Delegate Geoffrey Brecht, Engine Delegate J. Moreno, Steward Delegate G. Hyman. Chairman announced payoff set for June 24 in port of Stapleton, N.Y. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Stapleton. ITB PHILADELPHIA (Apex Marine), June 17 — Chairman V. T. Nielsen, Secretary Glenn C. Bamman, Educa­ tional Director Tom Herbert, Deck Delegate Richard L. Tomas, Engine Delegate R. Vasquez, Steward Delegate Hazel Johnson. Chairman announced vessel would pay off June 24 in port of New York. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $25 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked for job well done. Next port: New York. l./B£/77y SEA (Liberty Marine), June 18 — Chairman W. R. Dawson, Secretary R. DeBoissiere, Educational Director Maurice White, Deck Delegate Jean Savoce, Steward Delegate Norman Taylor. Chairman advised crew to respect local customs while vessel dock­ ed in Egypt. He said he expected vessel to return to Norfolk, Va. for payoff by July 9. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate reported beef concerning role of DEU. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Crew thaiiked Steward R. De­ Boissiere, Chief Cook Norman Taylor and GSU J. Smith for jobs well done. Crew also thanked deck and engine departments as best in SIU. Next ports: Alexandria, Egypt and Norfolk. LNG LIBRA (ETC), June 24 — Chair­ man Willie Mitchell, Secretary M. Ruggiero. Educational Director T. Curtis, Deck Delegate Stephen Hill, Steward Delegate Frank Martin. Chairman an­ nounced incinerator had been installed. He said crew must separate tin and glass from items that can be burned. He said crew wiper will handle trash box on star­ board side. He reminded crew to keep forward tunnel door closed. Educational director asked crew to be sure to clean rooms when leaving ship. No beefs or "t: SBffJUaRS LOG MA YAGUEZ(Puerto Rico Marine), June 10 — Chairman Allan A. Rogers, Secretary Jose Ross, Deck Delegate Ralph C. Taylor. Chairman announced vessel would pay off Wednesday, June 13. No beefs or disputed OT reported. bie Steams, Deck Delegate Ervin Bronstein, Steward £)elegate James E. Lewis. Chairman informed members Piney Point is available for family vaca­ tions as well as upgrading. He an­ nounced payoff set for June 24. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted gar­ bage room smells and is unsanitary. Crew reminded to clean up after eating and sort trash into proper containers. NEDLLOYD HUDSON (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 17 — Chairman John NelT, Secretary R. G. Connelly, Educational Director Mike Overgaard, Deck Delegate Charles Mann, Engine Delegate Terry Preston,Steward Delegate Robert Arana. Chairman talked with crew about new contract and about not having alcohol on vessel. En­ gine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Crew asked con­ tracts department to review increases in pension, cost of living, dental and medi- OMI WABASH (OMl Corp.), June 15 — Chairman Joseph Moore, Secretary Thomas M. Wybo, Educational Direc­ tor Major Smith, Deck Delegate Efstratios Zoubantis, Engine Delegate Jack Hart. Chairman noted some repairs have been completed while other are waiting to be done. He announced payoff in Portsmouth, N.H. Educational director asked company to expedite mail to vessel. He urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer stated $175 in ship's fund. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Steward department disputed OT reported. Crew noted things were settling down after leaving shipyard. Next port: Arun, Indonesia, ^possible. On ocmion, because otSpaeei V''" •> •"• jirt?.vr^i''':^''— "'^-" r Welding In Hawaii SIU members who sail out of the Honolulu hall are pictured with Lundeberg School instructor Bill Foley Heft). The Piney Point instructor worked with (from second on left to right) Charlie Cantor, Brian Ortiz and Wick Lothar on all aspects of welding. cal care. Crew also asked contracts thanked for its good food and variety. department to review possibility of per­ Next ports: Portsmouth and Philadelphia. manent members registering at home OVERSEAS MARILYN (Maritime ports. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. Overseas), June 23 — Chairman George OHf/CHARGE/? (OMl Corp.), June 15 Diefenbach, Secretaiy F. Payton. Chair­ — Chairman F. R. Schwarz, Secretary man said he expected to receive details Neville Johnson, Educational Director on new contract at any time. No beefs or Wiley Yarber, Deck Delegate R. disputed OT reported. Crew asked con­ Cooper. Chairman announced crew was tracts department to review dental waiting for telegram about new contract. benefits. Crew asked company to repair He said vessel will be running coastwise door locks as some do not close proper­ for next five years. Secretary asked mem­ ly. Next port: New Orleans. bers to be less wasteful and to place plas­ OFE/7SEAS 0///0 (Maritime Over­ tics where they belong. He urged crew to seas), June 25 — Chairman Richard help slow down destruction of environ­ Wardlaw, Secretary Earl Gray Sr., ment. Educational director urged mem­ Educational Director R. Durand, Deck bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School to Delegate W. Chestnutt, Engine provide maritime industry with qualified Delegate Robert Santos, Steward men. Treasurer reported more than $400 Delegate W. Bloodworth. Chairman in ship's fund and more than 800 movies relayed information from chief mate that onboard. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts depart­ after returning from Panama with load of ment to look into allowing permanent oil, vessel will sit at anchor for few days before getting new orders. No beefs or members to take emergency leave without loss of job. Crew noted ship disputed OT reported. Crew thanked union for Seafarers LOG which mem­ needs to be exterminated. Next ports: bers said they enjoyed reading. Steward Texas City, Texas and Port Everglades, Fla. department thanked for its fine work. Steward Felix Durand thanked galley gang members as being very efficient OMI DYA/AC//EM(OMl Corp.), June and cooperative. Crew concerned about 24 — Chairman Larry L. Kunc, details of new contract and still awaiting Secretaiy Donnie W. Collins, Education­ word on it. Crew asked to have slop sink al Director Paul E. Johnson, Deck fixed on B deck. Next port: Houston. Delegate Timothy J. Olvany, Engine Delegate George F. Damey, Steward RFC EUGENE A. OBREGON (Water­ Delegate Joseph C. Bush. Chairman an­ man Steamship), June 25 — Chairman nounced payoff set for July 7 in Long Jessie D. Foster, Secretary P. D. Hel­ Beach, Calif., then vessel will go into ton, Steward Delegate Albert shipyard in Vancouver, Canada with no Hendrick. Chairman thanked steward layoffs expected. He asked crew to keep department for high standard of cleanli­ ship clean by not placing food in ness and food quality. No beefs or dis­ ashtrays or leaving dishes in lounge. He puted OT reported. Crew asked contracts reminded crew when they signed on they department to look into increase in pen­ acknowledged drinking was not per­ sion payments. Next port: Norfolk, Va. mitted onboard. Secretary urged mem­ ROVER(Ocean Carriers), June 10 — bers to read Seafarers LOG and support Chairman William Lewis, Secretary SPAD. Educational director suggested Lori Fend, Educational Director members upgrade at Piney Point. Robert Bunch, Deck Delegate Solomon Treasurer announced $216 in movie Shields, Steward Delegate Kipp Nestle. fimd. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reported crew thank^ steward Members reminded gear locker on crew department for job well done! He also deck is not trash room. They also were noted crew's thanks to riding gang for asked to take better care of laundry helping to clean ship from shipyard in room. Steward department thanked for Italy whilp performing daily duties. He job well done. Next port: Long Beach. announced next payoff set for Singapore. OMI HUDSON (Om Corp.), June 17 — Chairman Carrol Heick, Secretaiy Bob^ Continued on pr^e 20 �iriim «SiS«iStt»' m -|«§ill •<-'€r .•CJ^-->«J musrim •M0m 19 ••ii-iiM •'• 'I'-l ii-;.i iV'-.ir Trainee Lifeboat Class 456—Recently graduating from trainee lifeboat class 456 are in the photo at left (front row, left to right) Ivan Stanton, Shane Buckalew, Jamie Rob nson, Michael Jackson, Washington Williams Jr., (second row) instructor Sheila Shug, Richard Suleski, Esteban Luke, Jason McGrew, Scott Kenneth Joseph and Geral Bowman Jr. ........MV ", • Marine Electronics Technician-—These course graduates received a background in analog and digital electronics with emphasis on shipboard circuitry and communications. They are (left to right) instructor Russ Levin, James Musker, Robert Adams, Ida Prange, Tom Elmer andr and Edward Granderson III. Limited Mates—-Graduating members of the limited mates class receive 'V VpKraiierai J^irt:uuai'~^jraauaws> UI um Ufjyiauuid mt^uucti uictod n luiuuo neu to rignt, front row) Arlee Morgan, Jose Feliciano, Charies Rogers, Michael Lefioy Brown, OIlie J. Polk III, Toby Jacobsen, Harry Rousseau, Roland M. Lopez, (second row) instructor Ron Raykowski, Silverio Avila,Joe Casalino, Eric Nobles, Ricardo Ramos, Bryan Allen, Rebecca Posgay, Todd W. Wilson, Thomas Fouike, Anthony /iu:.j —x TI I —Qgry Lamb, Nicholas Baker, Pablo Molina, Steven Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders—FOWT graduates receive training in engine room equipment and procedures, operating auxiliary equipment, watchstanding as well as firefighting and safety techniques. Those receiving the Thomas Flynn, (standing) Karl Leiter, Kevin DeSue, Roger Hammitt, Victor Mull, Demetrius Crump, Louis Mays, Ken Mulderig, Antonio Cubas, Calvin York and instructor Bill Foley. m �f •;}• Sfd^MfP • 20 Continued from page 18 Treasurer stated ship's fund at $87. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew received Seafarers LOG while in England. Members were urged to upgrade at Piney Point. New ice machine will be installed soon. Crew will receive subsistence as air condition­ ing not working. Next ports: Kuwait and Singapore. SAM HOC/SrOA/(Waterman Ship­ ping), June 16 — Chairman H. O. Leake, Secretary C. Rooks, Educational Director Russell W. Zeller. Chairman said crew still awaiting word on new con­ tract. He said crew should use money in ship's fund to acquire new movies and clean VCR. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked for its good food. Next ports: Norfolk, Va. and New Orleans. rejtorted good crew and good trip. En­ gine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Crew asked con­ tracts department for clarification if crewmember is off or not working on holiday, is he entitled to one day's pay. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (SeaLand Service), June 23 — Chairman L. E. Watson, Secretary F. H. Jackson, Educational Director G. L. Ackley. Chairman said he had not received specifics on new contract. Educational director reminded mentbers to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer noted $200 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Ship's radio has been missing since January when it was taken ashore for repairs. Vote of thanks issued to steward department. ?' i' j' \ East Meets West Lundeberg School Vice President Ken Conklin, second from left, joins the Hawaii union officials behind the counter. They are, from the left: John J. Arnold, safety director; Conklin; Roy Aldanese, Port Rep, and Tommy Fay, port agent. SEA-LAND ATLANTICiSea-Land Ser­ vice), June 17 — Chairman Willoughby C. Byrd, Secretary J. Rivera, Education­ al Director Richard Williams. Chair­ man reported all was running smoothly and vessel will pay off in Houston on June 25. Educational director reminded members to take advantage of education­ al opportunities at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported lounge needs two new chairs. Steward department thanked for Job well done. Crew thanked for keeping messroom clean. Next ports: Charleston, S.C., Houston and Port Everglades and Jacksonville, Fla. SEA-LAND CONSUMER (Sea-Land Service), June 4 — Chairman William Mortier, Secretary A. Romero. Chair­ man announced new coffee pot had been delivered. Treasurer reported $300 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new television as old one broken. Steward department thanked for its fine job. ••' •'" ' '?Y:' I SEA-LAND MARINER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 29 — Chairman A. R. McCree, Secretary P. P. Lopez, Educational Director J. R. Speckman, Deck Delegate R. McGonagle, Engine Delegate E. F. Gobch, Steward Delegate R. Davis. Chairman reported trip was one of worst he and fellow deck depart­ ment members had made. Secretary thanked crew for keeping lounge clean: Treasurer announced $97 in ship's fund for barbecue. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thaiiked by crew. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SGT. WILLIAM R. BUTTON (Amsea), June 18 — Chairman F. Rankin, Secretary K. White, Deck Delegate J. Ray, Steward Delegate H. Hollings. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked for breakdown of how EPA monies are adjusted and distributed each year. Steward department thanked for a job well done. Next ports: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Port Townsend, Wash. SEA-LAND DISCOVERY (Sea-hmd Service), June 10 — Chairman Harry Fisher, Secretary J. R. Collis, Educa­ tional Director S. Miller, Deck Delegate Pedro Torres, Engine Delegate Pedro Gago, Steward Delegate Roherto Es­ cobar. Chairman said crew was waiting to hear about new contract. Secretary reported vote of thanks given to steward department. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Ship will pay off upon arrival in Elizabeth, N.J. Next ports: Elizabeth and San Juan. AMERICAN CORMORANT(Pacific Gulf Marine), July 1 —Chairman Ver­ non Huelett, Secretary Susanne Cake. Chairman announced new dryer had been received. He told crew standard freightship and tanker agreements had changed, but the one for their company remains intact. Treasurer noted $65 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Seafarers LCXJs passed out to crewmembers. Bosun asked that more in­ formation other than LOG be sent to Diego Garcia. New toaster needed for crew mess. Steward department thanked for fine work. Second deck crew thanked for chipping in to keep it clean. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), June 17 — Chairman E. Cary Jr., Secretary R. C. Aghulos, Education­ al Director J. Ashley, Deck Delegate Thomas Schroeder, Engine Delegate Leonardo Papa, Steward Delegate E. Nicolas. Chairman stressed importance of practicing safety and fire prevention onboaid ship at all times. He also urged members to take advantage of courses Lundeberg School has to offer. Secretary BROOKS RANGE (lOM), July 2 — Chairman M. G. Gutierrez, Secretary Paul Burke, Deck Delegate A. R. Alwaseem. Engine Delegate Gehar Oghe, Steward Delegate Elizabeth Killian. Chairman announced vessel would pay off in Long Beach, Calif. He thank^ declcdepartment for keeping ship in good shape and steward department for working in Portland, Ore. shipyard for serving with many extra people aboard. r No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to review time needed to acquire vacation and pen­ sion. Next port: Long Beach. /WGE/? (Sealift, Inc.), July 4 — Chair­ man Stanley Jandora, Secretary Ralph Thomas, Deck Delegate Winston Dodson. Engine Delegate L. L. Holhert, Steward Delegate C. Griffin. Chairman said crew was waiting to receive specifics of new contract. He reported all going smoothly. He urged members to practice safety first and test tanks for suf­ ficient oxygen before entering. No beefs or disputed OT reported. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Marine), July 7 — Chairman William Dawson, Secretary R. DeBosissiere, Educational Director John Cooper, Deck Delegate Jean Savoce, Steward Delegate Nor­ man Taylor. Chairman asked for clarification of DEU role on vessel. He announced ship would be paying off in Norfolk, Va. Vocational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and contribute to SPAD. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Crew requested new dryer for crew's laundry. Crew thanked Bosun William Dawson and deck department crew as tops in union. Crew also thanked black gang as best in SIU. Special vote of thanks given to Chief Steward R. DeBoissiere, Chief Cook Norman Taylor and GSU James Smith for food and service Waldorf Astoriastyle. Next port: Norfolk. LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty Maritime), July 1 — Chairman G. Gather, Secretary Edward Tinsley. Chainnan said he had not received any word from headquarters about contract. He noted steward was sick for seven days. Treasurer announced $35 in movie fund. Deck and engine delegates reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Several crewmembers were getting sick because of cooking old food. LNG LEO(ETC), July 8 — Chairman James Garner, Secretary R. Adams, Deck Delegate John Graham, Engine Delegate Mark Freeman, Steward Delegate Alex Bonefont. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer noted $398 in ship's fund. Deck and engine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by steward delegate. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Nagoya, Japan. MA KAGC/EZ(Puerto Rico Marine), July 15 — Chairman Allan Rogers, Secretary Jose Ross, Educational Direc­ tor Kenneth L. Hart, Deck Delegate Ralph Taylor, Engine Delegate Mario Letman. Chairman announced payoff scheduled for July 18 in New York. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: New York. MOBILE (Apex Marine), July 1 — Chairman Antonios Trikoglou, Secretary William Rohles, Deck , Delegate Gregorio Ortiz, Engine Delegate Patrick McNamara, Steward Delegate Frank Tirado. Chairman an­ nounced payoff on July 2. He said every­ thing was running smoothly. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: St. Croix. saoKERSioe waiting to hear from headquarters. No disputed OT reported. Crew reported continued problems with stack gas caus­ ing members to have headaches and ir­ ritated eyes and sore throats. Crew thanked galley gang, especially Chief Cook Robert Arana and Steward Assis­ tant E. Verveniotis. OMI COLUMBIA (OMl Corp.), July 9 — Chairman Ernest Duhon, Secretary C. R. Moss, Educational Director Steven D. Bower, Deck Delegate Josefino Casugay, Engine Delegate Vernon Edwards, Steward Delegate Isidro Santiago. Chairman announced new standard agreement was posted. He said patrolman visiting ship on July 13 payoff would answer any questions. Secretary reported all was going smooth­ ly. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer noted more than $1,000 in ship's fund. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Crew wanted to know if they can have coffee break on tank watch. Crew reminded to return tools after using them. Members offered vote of thanks for new contract. QMI MISSOURI (OMI Corp.), My 10 — Chairman William Cronan, Secretary C. M. Davalie, Deck Delegate Jimmie Dufore, Steward Delegate Maicolm Thompson. Chairman stressed im­ portance of SPAD donations in interest of job security. He urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Next port: New Or­ leans. OVERSEAS BOSTON (Maritime Overseas), July 8 — Chairman Paul Grepo, Secretary Lincoln Finn, Engine Delegate O. E. Hines, Steward Delegate G. R. Lee. Chairman announced payoff set for Long Beach, Calif, where mem­ bers can ask patrolman about new con­ tract. Secretary asked crew to put food items away when finished eating. Educa­ tional director reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reminded to keep doors and portholes closed when air conditioning is on. Members asked if mail could be forwarded from port to port rather than receiving it monthly. Galley gang thanked for good service and food. Next port: Long Beach. OVERSEAS HARRIETTS (Maritime Overseas), July 8 ^ Chairman J. J. Wil­ liams, Secretary V. Sanchez Jr., Engine Delegate Wilhert Miller Jr., Steward Delegate Curtis Brodnax. Chairman said he still had no word where ship would payoff. He said everyone got along well and hoped the next crew also would. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate asked com­ pany to supply launch service to comply with galley working hours. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. OVERSEAS l/ALDEZ(Maritime Over­ seas), July 8 — Chairman Peter Platania, Secretary V. Pierre, EducaContinued on page 21 NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (Sea-Land Service), July 1 — Chairman Richard Darville, Secretary K. De\Vitt, Deck Delegate Herbert Thrower, Engine Delegate Manuel Rodriguez, Steward Delegate Frank DiCarlo Jr. Chairman reported offensive smell emanating from room drain. Treasurer announced $43 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. NEDLLOYD HUDSON (Sea-Land Ser- ^ vice), July 15 — Chainnan John Neff, Secretary R. G. Connolly, Educational Director Mike Overgaard, Engine Delegate Terry Preston, Steward Delegate Robert Arana. CJiairman talked with crew about drug testing and ban on alcohol ontoard. He said ship is A Familiar Face Rob Reiner, left, an upgrader and graduate of the Lundeberg School, gets a warm greeting from the school's vice president. Ken Conklin, when he was out in Hawaii. • Jgip ji.v, 'If �/.h, •: ••"''.X--.ri't»i'j^tf^V*« r r-' I'^j r-'•'• ••'••: '=•. •-'^ ^ yr\ '\^-, y.\^-,-:<r:'•-:• ~U t. •.-k:;-;,v.;-; r, • ContUmedfrom page 20 MMl I ' - -, : 1 tional Director M. Scinto, Engine Delegate Greg Linkous, Steward Delegate Gualberto Mirado. Chairman said new washers and dryer had been promised on three different occasions, but nothing has been done. He stated no dryer is working and washers are break­ ing down constantly. He said new mat­ tresses also needed in certain rooms and steward would order new ones or trade with those in extra rooms. He armounced two new ice machines were ordered and should be installed when ship pays off July 11 in San Diego. He advised depart­ ing crewmembers to clean their rooms. He added repair list had been completed and given to captain. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Captain armounced more than $300 available for new video cassettes. Next port: San Diego. PONCE (Puerto Rico Marine), July 1 — Chairman Donald Wagner, Secretary Joseph Kundrat, Secretary E. Frederickson, D^k Delegate William Carney, Engine Delegate Valentin Mar­ tinez. Chairman reminded crew of captain's order that no women are per­ mitted on vessel. He said ship will be on 28-day pay schedule. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew reported patrol­ man visited ship to explain new contract. Crew complained tiling of deck had not been accomplished as promised. Mem­ bers'asked to keep pantry and recreation rooms clean and to separate garbage. Next ports: San Juan and Jacksonville, Fla. ••Mii • ''"ji. • SEA FOX(Crowley Maritime), July 1 — Chairman Theodore Wallace, Secretary Walter Mosley, Deck Delegate H. Charles, Steward Delegate S. Anthoni. Secretary noted he had not received key to movie locker nor did he know how much money was in movie fund. Deck delegate reported beef about watches and work rules. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Members reminded they need drug card to ship. SEA-LAND CONSUMER iSea-Lmd Service), July 2 — Chairman B. Mortier, Secreta^ A. Romero. Chairman stated crew television still being ' repaired. Treasurer armounced $163 in ship's fiind. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Crew voted in favor of new contract, saying they were very happy with it. SEA-LAND DISCOVERYiSca-Land Service), July 8 — Chairman Harry Fisher, Secretary Jose Collis, Education­ al Director S. Miller, Deck Delegate Pedro Tbrres, Engine Delegate Sima Fadilla, Steward Delegate Roberto Es­ cobar. Chairman said he would talk with patrolman before payoff because captain will not make new pay scale retroactive. Secretary offered vote of thanks to all union officials, especially President Michael Sacco, for best contract in years. Educational director armounced black gang as happy with new contract as others on vessel. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for fine work. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J. and San Juan. ^-• •kk'k kk,:^k^kak,S;iS54<-ife SEA-LAND FREEDOM (Sea-Land Service), July 7 — Chairman Garry D. Walker, Secretary Clare Crane, Educa­ tional Director D. Compeau. Chairman advised crew of payoff on July 8 and Coast Guard inspection next day. He asked contracts department to look into sending letters to crewmembers when I time is up. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked company for smoke detectors in rooms and extension of fuel oil tank vents for health and safety reasons. Crew offered its best to Chief Electrician Danny Compeau who is retiring after this trip. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great barbecues. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND INTEGRITY (Sea-Land Service), July 8 — Chairman C. James, Secretary John Samuel, Engine Delegate Joseph Spell, Steward Delegate Charles Hall. Chairman asked those members with problems to bring them up during meeting. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew asked enough linens be placed onboard to take care of 35-day voyage. Crew asked contracts department to review increase in main­ tenance and cure. Steward department thanked for job well done. SEA-LAND NA VIGATOR(Sea-Land Service), July 1 — Chairman Salvatore Shriglio, Secretary John J. Alamar, Educational Director Kassem Ahdulla.' Chairman stated ship has had no com­ munication about new contract and pay raises. Secretary thanked members for keeping recreation room and crew areas clean. He announced the ship's fimd needs money for gas for barbecues. Educational director urged members to take classes available to members at Lun- deberg School.Treasurer reported 12 new movies onboard and $21 left in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT rqwited. Crew requested new television, book cases and curtains for crew quarters. Next ports: Oakland, Calif, Honolulu and Guam. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land Service), July 8 — Chairman J. A. Lewis, Secretary C. Gibson, Education­ al Director R. Risheck, Deck Delegate Frank Timmons, Engine Delegate Ronald Koski, Steward Delegate Mike Buhaker. Chairman announced every­ thing running smoothly. He thanked the galley gang for good work and reminded members to clean their rooms when they leave vessel. Treasurer noted $1(X) in movie fund. Steward delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and engine delegates. Steward delegate asked contracts depart­ ment to review OT for three-man crew. Crew thanked steward department for fine food. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. tf t i '• . -• '® .J* I? I-' •} SUGAR ISLANDER (Pacific Gulf Marine), July 10 — Chairman W. Davis, Secretary L. Frazier, Educational Direc­ tor C. Hall. Chairman thanked steward department for great service and all of­ ficers for clean operations. Secretary thanked Chief Cook Isaac Gordon for his fine food. Deck delegate urged mem­ bers to be careful and report safety viola­ tions. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Galley gang thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. Vj;>' Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitu­ tion of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific pro­ vision for safeguarding the membership's money and Union finances. The constitu­ tion requires a detailed audit by Certified Public Accounts every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by the Secre­ tary-Treasurer. A yearly finance commit­ tee of rank and file members, elected by the membership, makes examination each year of the firiances of the Union and re­ ports fully their findings and recommenda­ tions. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recom­ mendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accord­ ance with the provisions of various trust fund agreements. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these fimds shall equally consist of Union and management representatives and their al­ ternates. All expenditures and disburse­ ments of trust funds are made only upon qrproval by a majority of the trustees. All trust fimd financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust fimds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's ship­ ping rights and seniority are protected ex­ clusively by contracts between the Union and the employers. Members should get to know theirshipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or senior­ ity rights as contained in the contracts be­ tween the Union and the employers, they shoitld notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receijrt requested. "Hie proper address for this is: Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Sprites, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are avail^le to members at all times,eidier by writing directly to the Union or to die Seafarers Appeals Board. , V'. •••• v- "-i' CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU con­ tracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and condiUons 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 over­ time (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper marmer. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other Union official fails to protect theircontract rights properly, they should contact the nearest SIU port agenf EDITORIAL POLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG has traditionally refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposesof any individual in the Union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publish­ ing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This estab­ lished policy has been reaffirmed by mem­ bership 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. dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. • EQUAL RIGHTS. All members aire 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 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. 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 unless he is given such receipt, hi the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be m^e 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 pay­ ment, this should immediately be report^ to Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL AC­ TIVITY DONATION—SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation of fur­ thering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advance­ ment of trade union concepts. In connec­ tion with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elec­ tive office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, job discrimina­ tion, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of membership in the Union or of emplo)anent. If a con­ tribution 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 con­ tribution for investigation 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 con­ cepts. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitutimi are available in all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constituticMi so as to familiarize themselves widi its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to dqnive him or her of any constitutional fight or obligation by any tfiediods such as If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitu­ tional right of access to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. "- W : -•a?.. S • 'f'-'ri ' W' •.lib 1^ 1 Hie SIU has crated a new t-shirt design which is available to all our members on a first-come, first-served basis. The shirte fea­ ture the SIU logo in fiiU color on the front and "Politics is Porkchops** cartoon in blue on the back. They are American-made. Please fill out the applica­ tion below and mall It to: Joseph DiOiorgio, Secietary-Treasiuer Seafarers btemational Union 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 •••••••••••baaaaaaaaaaeeaaaaaaeaa :NAME ADDRESS • CITY, STATE, ZIP : s. s. # :BOOK# RATING •PHONE# ; T-SHIRT SIZE (circle one) S M L XL m- •' �/T- 22 SlAFARHtS LOG DEEP SEA MARK FITZPATRICK MICHAEL A. BORIS Hp, ||SS|?#^:.^ IP-, Michael A. Boris, 74, passed away June 9. A native of United, Pa., he served in the Navy from 1935 to 1945. Brother Boris joined the Seafarers in April 1946 in the port of Baltimore. He sailed in the steward department until he retired in June 1986. LLOYD CALLAWAY Lloyd Callaway, 73, died July 3. Brother Callaway was a charter member of the SIU, having joined in October 1938 in his native Mobile, Ala. He sailed in the deck department before he started drawing his pension in May 1982. JOSE DEHESA t'-p;';::: 'MP:.'-''-'• TfriVv Jose Dehesa, 88, passed away June 12. Bom in the Philip­ pines, he joined the union in December 1944 in the port of New York. The galley gang member was part of the crew of the SS Steel Architect to be given a safety award for keeping the vessel accident free in the first half of 1960. Brother Dehesa began receiv­ ing his pension in July 1968. Mark Fitzpatrick, 68, died June 23. He w^ bom in New Jer­ sey and served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Fitzpatrick joined the Seafarers in August 1947 in the port of New York. He sailed in the engine department before retiring in December 1986. JUAN GONZALEZ Juan Gon­ zalez, 87, passed away July 8. A na­ tive of Havana, Cuba, he joined the SIU in June 1950 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Gon­ zalez shipped in the steward department. He started drawing his pension in July 1968. WILLIAM H. HARRELL William H.Harrell, 79, died June 17. He was bom in Wind­ sor, N.C. and joined the union in May One hand for yon One band fOPtbe Shin "Look, Ma, no handsl" is cute when a child shows off, but not when an adult does It. Having both hands free may sound like a great Idea to get work done faster. But sdl It takes Is one fall from a ladder or down a flight of steps and no work will get done. Heuidralls are located where they are for a purpose: your safety. Use them. Leave the bal­ ancing acts for the acrobats. iels Ireflp ft Iftat wayf 1946 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Harrell was a mem­ ber of the black gang. He started collecting his pension in December 1975. LOWELL E. HARRIS Lowell E. Harris, 78, passed away July 13. The North Caro­ lina native joined the Seafarers in June 1947 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. Brother Harris sailed in the steward department be­ fore retiring in June 1972. DOMINGO JARTIN Domingo Jartin, 88, died July 8. Bom in Spain, he joined the SIU in June 1943 in the port of Boston. Brother Jartin sailed in the engine department. He started collecting his pension in December 1968. HOWARD LOVELLETTE Howard Lovellette, 58, passed away July 3. He was bom in Corpus Christi, Texas and served in the Air Force in 1951. Brother Lovellette joined the union in Octo­ ber 1955 in the port of New Orleans. His early years as a galley gang member were spent sailing on Cities Ser­ vice tankers. He started draw­ ing his pension in September 1989. ODDJANOLSEN Odd Jan Olsen, 67, died Oc­ tober 27,1989. A native of Harstad, Norway, he joined the Seafarers in January 1962 in the port of New York. Brother Olsen shipped in the engine department and retired in Octoter 1980. the galley gang and retired in January 1981. FRANCIS J. SYLVIA Francis J. Sylvia, 66, passed away July 5. Brother Sylvia was bom in Taunton, Mass. He joined the Seafarers in Febmary 1946 in the port of New York. He sailed as a QMED until he started collecting his pension in July 1985. INLAND MICHAEL L. COLLINS Michael L. Collins, 32, died June 15. The Au­ rora, Colo, na­ tive gradu­ ated from the Lundeberg School in Febm­ ary 1978. Boatman Collins up­ graded his engine department ratings at Piney Point in 1979, 1981 and 1983. He was an ac­ tive member at the time of his death. KEVIN HOUSLEY Kevin Housley, 30, passed away June 17. A native of Carbonale. 111., he graduated from the Lundeberg School in De­ cember 1979. He was noted in his class records as being "the type of student that gives the school a good name." Boatman Housley was an active member at the time of his death. JOHN NICHOLSON John Nich­ olson, 75, died Jime 21. Bom in Eng­ land, he joined the Seafarers in June 1957 in the port of Baltimore. Boatman Nicholson worked in the engine department for Cur­ tis Bay Towing. His wife, Mariel, survives him. GREAT LAKES EDWARD KWIATKOWSKI Edward Kwiatkow-ski, 65, passed away June 5. A na­ tive of Michigan, he joined the SIU during 1957 in the port of Duluth, Minn. Brother Kwiatkowski sailed in the en­ gine department. He retired shortly before his death. DARRELL L. WELLS Darrell L. Wells, 84, died June 30. He was bom in Illinois and joined the union in June I960 in the port of Detroit. Brother Wells sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He started drawing his pension in August 1970. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN ANTHONY FALAZOLA Anthony Palazola, 70, passed away June 10. After serving in the Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945, Brother Palazola joined the Seafarers in Decem­ ber 1961 in his native Glouces­ ter, Mass. He retired in November 1983. RAILROAD MARINE JAMES EATON SR. James Eaton Sr., 77, died July 7. The Illi­ nois na­ tive joined the Seafar­ ers in July 1960 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Eaton worked as a bar­ geman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad before he retired in May 1975. FRANK A. RADZVILA Frank A. Radzvila, 76, passed away July 2. The Pennsylva­ nia native was a charter member of the SIU. He joined in December 1938 in the port of New York. Brother Radzvila sailed in the steward depart­ ment before he started receiv­ ing his pension in Febmary 1983. GEORGE A. ROSHOLT George A. Rosholt, 74, died July 19. Bom in New Yoric, he served in the Army from 1945 to 1956. Brother Rosholt joined the union in Febmary 1976 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. He sailed in Seafarers Welfare Plan Notice COBRA: Continuation Health 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 premium, welfare coverage directly from the plan. 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 services office at: 1-800-CLAIMS-4 (1-800-252-4674) or may write to: COBRA Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. ft-*,-' (The April 1989 edition of the Seafarers LOG contains a com­ plete description of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Recon­ ciliation Act—or COBRA—program.) s' ; 1 �musrmo I ' '? ^ -'.:-. •'' ' :,• UP6IIADING C0UR5S SCHtDUU ;1iF -I" M Ai|nMs 4n SMimf to tovnm M OSb ftSUHuftm 4W to Amto toe tomiinii MwiNiM hAnftir ' l'" V^1 :-.i,iL'.;i iJ-,^i| ".-"• '11 Ji.. '-'vL, ., 's' , - -V5 , , •Cibiirse''''':'-''! . ••"v Check-In '/I'" ..'I''Date ; 1. Completion Date ;>a,bV. September 17 December 7 October 29 December? All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. •: Jhimprcmm Maintenance & Operatiens Oc^ December ? Marine ilectrlcai October 1 November 23 Diesel Engine Technology October 1 6ctober 26 Hydraulics October 1 October 26 All students in the Engine Dep have d two-M>eek Sealift Familiarization class at the end of their regular c<>urse; ...... . The Adult Educmion courses listed ait six weeks in length. Ched(-In Coitii^etioh Course Date .DUfe' High Sdiool Equivaleiicy (GED) October 29 Decendier 8 Adult Bai4c Education (ABE) October 29 December 7 English as a Second Lai^age (ESL) September 10 October 19 October 29 Decenrti«p7 Up§m^msX0iii^s Check-In Completion Coor^ Date Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker All open-ended (contact admissioins Chief Cook, Chief Steward office for starting date) All students in the Steward Program will have d two-week Sealift Famil­ iarization class at the end of their regular course. •~i : Completion Dale November 5 ; QMED-Any Rating Fireman/Watertender and Oiler •'life: PMUp§i^ ,., . i» .• Check-In :1:'.'"l;tafe •' September 24 fngm ilpipa^ Cranes • ••• . : -ilblillifeli' Check-In Comiil^on ^ f Course Date :-Date' Able Seaman September 17 Ocfariwr 26 November 12 December 21 Ail students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class pr^ i to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. Tlflriboabnan September 14 Octtdier 1 October 12 October 29 November-llil Nbvembnr 26 December 7 December 24 January 4 Ship Handling October 8 October 19 December 3 December 14 Radar Observer Unlimited Octiriber 1 Oct(d)er5 November ;K November 30 Limited License S^tember 17 November 23 Upon completion the Sealift Operations course must be taken. • I-r-i R^rtiHttAion Prognms Course Bosun Recertification September-December 1990 itlie fo the current course schedule for September-December 1990 at the Seafafers 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 ftr^ghting when attending the Lundeberg School. ; ':•._ K;, . ' Developmental Sbidies September 10 September 14 ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation Coiurse October 8 October 1<» •1^1 •iffl Umlebeig Sitbool SNf ^udf Comses •fc': Take advantage of the opportunity to increase your knowledge through the Lundeberg School's self study courses. The materials are prepared in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand manner. Please send the materials checked ttelow: W Sfdl tjmnhi Oil Spill Prevention & Contajbineiit (1 week) ••••v.':, ! •:>' I ' September 7 -- October 5 November 2 December 14 Upon completion the Sealift Operations course must be taken. Sept^ber 3 October 1 October 29 December 10 FULL 8-wedk Sessions August 6 tiirmigh Se|rtember 28 Name- §m§0i October 15 throui^ December 7 (Last) Date of Birth- (Middle) (First) Address. Mo./Day/Year (Street) r-f' • . . '^.- • •^-'•>^s^ • i | } \ fej I -,.1 I ,1 'V, I II UPGUUUNG APPUanON • ,•• •."'fib; ! (City) (Sute) Telephone. (Zip Code) (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. • No • • • ENGUSH: Writing Skills Grammar Books • Writing Business Letters • STUDY SKILLS Ustening Skills • How To Improve Your MemoryD How To Use Textbooks • Study Habits • Test Anxiety • Test Taking Tactics • Stress Management • NotetaMng Know-How • COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS 4 'vfe • Name. Address. Telephone T ) Social Security #. Cut out this coupon and mall to: .W",; Adult Education Department; Seafarers Harry Lundetierg School of Seamianshlp; Piney Point, Maryland 20674 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 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: If yes, which program: From • Yes GNo to Last grade of school completed. (dates anended) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: • Yes • No If yes, course(s) Taken Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? Q Yes • No If yes, how many weeks have you completed? Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement: • Yes • No Fireflghting: • Yes • No CPR: • Yes • No Date Available for training ——— — DATE. Home PorL Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held Primary Language Spoken • • • SOCIAL STUDIES Geography U.S. History Economies SIGNATURE. DepartmenL Seniority • Yes • • • • • Book#. Social Security #. U.S. Citizen: MATH Fractions Decimals Percents Algebra Geometry Trigonoinetry (Plane) (Spherical) —^— DECK • AB/Sealift • 1st Class Pilot • Third Mate • Radar Observer Unlimited • Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland • Celestial Navigation G Simulator Course ENGINE G FOWT G QMED-Any Rating G 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 G Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor G Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance • Electro-Hydraulic Systems • Automation G Hydraulics ID Marine Electronics Technician G G G G G STEWARD Assistant Cook Utility Cook and Baker Chief Cook Chief Steward Towboat Inland Cook ALL DEPARTMENTS G Welding G Lifeboatman (Must be taken with another course) •iV ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT G Adult Basic Education (ABE) G High School Equivalency' Program (GED) G Developmental Studies (DVS) G English as a Second Language (ESLI G ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation COLLEGE PROGRAM G Associates in Arts Degree G Certificate Programs No trwsportatiM wlB br paid RETURN COMPLETED APPUCATION TO; Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Unradu* Center. Fiaey Feint. MD. 20674 8/90 p' �m •i SEA^MOXeS • I ^ I l^'-": • -•"" ''>^._".-';"v.-. •r 1 r^l Volume 52, Number 8 ./Sil August 1990 4\[ P-'SV- -. ^•1. i n From Oklahoma City to Piney Point Seafarer Pedals Across the Country To Upgrade at Union Training School f:. w Iv,. jfe'sKtmp: ISliS r"&K5,i The St. Louis Arch—symbol of the Gateway to the West—provides a beautiful backdrop for the traveling Terry McKee and his bicycle. When Terry McKee rolled through the entrance gate of the Seafarers Hairy Lundeberg School of Seamanship, he did not realize the commotion he would create. McKee was the first person to pedal a Wcycle from Oklahoma City to Piney Point in order to upgrade his able bodied seaman's rating at the school. "The word was out the day after I arrived," McKee recently told a reported for theSeafarers LOG. "My roommate at the school asked me how I came in. I told him on my bike. He couldn't believe it and the next morning told eveiyone he talked with." Although he lives in Phoenix, Ariz., McKee started this journey in the Sooner State because his sister was getting married there. He flew with his specially equipped mountain bike, which is a lowriding, multi-geared two wheeler with thick knobby tires, to Ok­ lahoma City and proceeded along the old U.S. Route 66 toward Cin­ cinnati. McKee noted most of the high­ way made famous by song and television has been destroyed but parts of it still exist as a historical monument. In Missouri, the road disappeared altogether. "I like to travel the backroads when I can. Biking is great because you can see what you want to see and travel at yoiu- own pace." When he reached Cincinnati where he planned to stay a few nights, he called the school to dis­ cover his classes were delayed one month. Because of foul weather, he spent some extra days in Cincin­ nati, then took off east along the Ohio River. "T started reading the historical markers and discovered a lot of Civil War history. I never w^as in­ terested in it before, but I had the time SO I followed them." He spent a couple of days in Lewisburg, W.Va. while it played host to a Civil War reenactment, the first McKee had witnessed. "The people involved live, eat and dress just as the people did back then. It was fascinating." He pedalled across the Ap­ palachian Mountains, following the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Harpers Feny, W.Va. He also hiked down the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive in the Virginias to the Washington, D.C. area where he arrived Memorial Day weekend. In the nation's capital, McKee camped with the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club during their an- Help Locate This Missing Child Stephanie Smith J:''---.:?,v.I';:.;-; nual tribute to Vietnam veterans, POWs and MIAs at the memorial wall. The merchant mariner had the only non-motorized bike in the group. They made him an honor^ niember, dubbing him "Quiet Thunder." Finally, he made his way to Piney Point. The lengthy trip is nothing new for McKee. "I've always liked to travel. I've ridden off and on all my life. In high school, I had a car but I rode my bike to school." McKee claimed he is "a lazy person" be­ cause the only exercise he gets is riding his bike. He does not do any special routines when he is on a ship. "When I get home, I get the bike out and start riding. In a few days, I'm in shape to travel." McKee said each trip he takes is his favorite. Among his journeys have been trips up the Pacific coast into Canada, across the Rocky . Mountains and through Florida and some Gulf states. He said he likes to visit zoos and museums because of all the things he can learn. I His bike weighs about 100 pounds with the clothes, camping gear and water he takes. He travels between 50 and 100 miles a day. Last year, he logged more than 6,000 miles. He has been in several accidents where cars did not pay attention to his having the right of way, includ­ ing one in downtown Fort Lauder­ dale, Fla, where he hit the highway so hard it cracked his helmet and knocked him out. He is a firm believer in using helmets on bicycles and motorcycles. McKee's goal is to bike around the world. Thanks to his jobs through the SIU, he already has travelled in Europe and Japan. He does not take his wheels with him when he ships. "It's easier to buy a used one over there," he said. "Then I'll sell it. If I can't, I'll give it to some kid who would like it." His interest in travel led him to the sea in 1973. "Where else can you see the world, get your food and lodging free and get paid for it. I love it!" The National Center for Miss­ ing and Exploited Children is seek­ ing the help of Seafarers in locating 17-year-old Stephanie Smith. Smith disappeared May 31, 1989 from Cincinnati, Ohio. She stood 5 feet, 8 inches tall, had hazel eyes and curly brown hair ^d weighed 113 pounds when she was last seen. She is believed to be in the company of a 25-year-old male companion. Applications Avaiiable For Union's 1991 Schoiarship Program Hllsa Applications are now avail­ able at union halls around the country for the 1991 Seafarers Scholarship Program. Sons and daughters of Seafarers, as well as interested SIU members, may apply. ' Four scholarships of $15,000 paid in four install­ ments are open to dependents of SIU members. Seafarers can apply for two scholarships of $6,000 and one of $15,000, also to be paid in yearly incre­ ments. Completed applications are dueby April 15,1991. .SclM>lafship Prannm ' " "-i"i - " abefs and Their Oependeau •Jhii': 5'"'' Pick up scholarship applica­ tion materials at any union hall or by requesting a copy from: Scholarship Prograin Seafarers Welfare Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 In requesting the materials, give the name of Seafarer in­ volved and his or her book number. Also indicate whether the application is for self or de­ pendent, and provide address and telephone number. Anyone with information about the young woman should contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800)843-5678 or the Sharonville (Ohio) Police Department at (513)563-1147. For more than a year, the Seafarers LOG has published photographs of young people who are reported as missing by the Na­ tional Center. • V. '' ' 1 � 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 August 1990 Description An account of the resource Headlines: DOUBLE HULL LEGISLATION IS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT U.S.-FLAG SHIPS DEPLOYED IN GULF CRISIS CONGRESS DEFEATS PREFERENCE ATTACK SEAFARERS MEET DEMANDS FOR EXTRA VESSEL MANNING FATIGUE, UNDERMANNING CITED AS FACTORS IN VALDEZ SPILL SIU, MMP, SEA-LAND, FARRELL OBJECT TO LYKES SCHEME FOR NEW SUBSIDY ILL-FATED FABC HAS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS MARITIME BELONGS OUT OF GATT TRADE TALKS IN RESPONSE TO JUDGE'S ORDER USCG ISSUES NEW TEST RULES AMERICAN STEAMSHIP'S BUFFALO ROAMS LAKES SIU CREW WORKS HARD TO KEEP OVERSEAS OHIO RUNNING SMOOTHLY MILITARY'S HOSPITAL SHIP READIED FOR PERSIAN GULF DUTY SEAFARERS MEET MANNING NEEDS SIU CREW WORKS HARD TO KEEP OVERSEAS OHIO RUNNING SMOOTHLY SKILLED SIU CREWS KEEP G&H TUGS MOVING SAFELY SHIPS' BALLAST WATER COMING UNDER SCRUTINY AB REINER'S FIRST NOVEL IS A BLOCKBUSTER SEAFARER PEDALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO UPGRADE AT UNION TRAINING SCHOOL 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 8/1/1990 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. 8 1990 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/2279f9eae6e66f03c04326f92de9b0d9.PDF aa336cf8ecaac1f8ae2906da79f5a40a PDF Text Text ifea':; N*Y-'' ^-^'•' '.* K--' • A. S-~; ' 'f--\ • '•.' :\ H;.7tiV:.-C5:--ir.rJ : SEAFARERS ••• Mt. Pinatubo Blows, Bill Barring Seafarer Ships Striker Hit by Heavy Ash Page 11 Beplacement Goes to Senate; Labor Girds For Battle i Vu. inu} t- :;-• ••^4•-" v;.'.', 'vi- .• Stewards iach Pinnacle r Upgrading Page 10 2'<C>C)C ^hQt/3 ' •'4' V-:;- .' • • I'-f j Pages COOLU i": '•m-i Before the vote, House Majority Leader Gephardt announces support for the bill. O^-t/T .» ^-..•-::.'-^"#i; -y- HOUSE VOTES TO BAN SCABS »-o ;V August 1991 Volume 53, Number 8 o2r •-<KH • a'(/)>— :<>,-•:• -'- SlU Urges Fight :•( • •. ••'•'I'.' On llVorker Tax' Sessions on Benefits Are Found 'HelpfuV By Members, Families New Maritrans Pact -S Page 14 ZfMr'r •' '''•A.'" �.J'-'. i-~ \ v-'-' ,.:''f• , - ,. „,_. » —4«m ' •• • • ••^.i-V;&irSSas®fefc •'. i-ii" SUFmilSLOG President's Report •:?;'•• Jo: Unjust Taxation We in the Seafarers are particularly concerned about the burden that has been put suddenly on the backs of seagoing maritime workers who now are being taxed to go to work. We strongly object because the government on this issue is way out of line. Particularly, it has never been the practice in this democracy of ours to charge a person for the privilege of going to work. Now, because the government needs money, for the first time in the history of the United States, it is saddling American seamen with a so-called user fee for obtaining Coast Guard-issued documents or licen­ ses. In essence, the government has levied a tax on working people, on the very same individuals who currently contribute their fair share to the national budget in the form of income taxes. Studies from the Congressional Budget Office show that throughout the '80s, working and middle class Americans increased Michael Sacco the amount of taxes they pay while very rich individu­ als and corporations enjoyed big cuts in their tax rates. The tax cuts extended to big business and the wealthy throughout the 1980s have come bacl^ haunt us. The federal budget deficit has tripled since 1980 and stands today at close to $230 billion. (That debt figure would be even higher if the social security fund's surplus was deducted from the total budget.) The cumulative effect of the budget deficits of the '80s is a federal debt of close to $2.3 trillion. If one really wants to examine why the nation has such a huge debt, look at the results of the 1981 tax cut for the rich. By slashing the taxes of the most wealthy people in America and big business, the United States treasury has lost $171 billion a year. Under these circumstances, to tax merchant seamen for performing their jobs, for obtaining the best training and highest ratings and licen­ ses, is blatantly unfair. Additionally, to charge a fee for a service that the Coast Guard provides for the good of all American citizens, who on the whole depend on safe waterways, is contrary to the principles on which this nation was founded. The government makes a show of saying the user fee attached to documents and licenses is for services rendered by the Coast Guard. But, in fact, the funds paid by seamen for these items will not go directly to that agency. By law, the monies from the licenses and documents will go straight to the U.S. treasury. This levy for obtaining seamen's papers and marine licenses is nothing short of a revenueraising ploy by the very same government that got itself into the deficit dilemma. Jetting the burden of the federal debt on the backs of seamen is just another way to avoid the real decisions that must be made; namely, determining how to tax equitably in our society. We intend to fight this injustice to see that something is done to correct it. Entire Industry Hit Over and beyond the punitive nature of the user fee that will be charged to American seamen, the entire U.S. maritime industry has •p- ••it , '-•; been socked with a whole host of assessments by the government. The collective amount levied on the industry is substantial. It in­ cludes customs' duties and fees, charges for inspecting grain-carrying ships, a flat fee to the Department of Agriculture's plant and animal inspection agency, fuel surcharges, harbor maintenance fees, a tonnage tax, fees for Coast Guard inspections and examinatipns. We are con­ cerned about what this policy does to further aggravate the plight of the American merchant marine. It puts the industry at a competitive disadvantage. Instead of socking it to U.S. shipping, the government should be providing positive programs that recognize the value of a merchant shipping capability to the national interest. Not only are there jobs involved, but people must be encouraged to go into the shipping business, not discouraged. jii Benefits Conferences The sessions being held at each SIU hall on the medical, pension, vacation and educational benefits of Seafarers by all accounts have been worth attending. To date nine conferences have been held, six more remain. I urge every member, pensioner and their families to take part in the conferences that will be held in Baltimore, New Orleans, Honolulu, Jacksonville, San Juan and Algonac. Your participation mat­ ters. All comments and suggestions are being compiled so that we may analyze the needs of all Seafarers and their families. Paul Hall's Birthday August 20, a holiday for Seafarers working aboard SlU-contracted ships, marks the birthday of the man who headed the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District from 1947 until his death in June 1980. Paul Hall took over the helm of this union at the age of 32, nine years after it was formed by members of what was then a mori­ bund International Seamen's Union. Under Paul Hall's leadership, what started as a gritty band of some 500 seamen shipping from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts became a powerful organization representing thousands of American seafarers. In eve:ry situation—^whether it was fighting the commies on the waterfront or battling finky and ruthless shipowners, whether it was uniting the maritime industry in pursuit of national legislation to pro­ mote a U.S.-flag shipping capacity or extending a promising career path to a young person—^Paul Hall demonstrated a keen ability to under­ stand people and their motivations, a shrewd strategic sense from which came some very creative tactics. August 20 is the day Seafarers pay tribute to Paul H^l and his immeasurable contribution to the SIU, the labor movement in general and this industry in particular. ,••#1 JI OMI Star Rescues Four Refugees in 30-Mile Winds, 20-Foot Swells SIU members onboard the OMI Star overcame darkness and rough seas to rescue four Cuban refugees in the Straits of Florida, roughly 15 miles south of Key West. Recertified Bosun Robert Eugene All«i and ABs Paul Carolan,KdthTlHHiq)son and Gary Snodgrass took part in the res­ cue operation, Thompson which happened around 2:15 a.m. April 13. The four Cubans, men ages 2029, were clinging to a homemade raft when severe weather hit the area. They had left Cuba four days earlier, heading for the United States. The Cubans had traversed approximately 75 miles and had exhausted their meager supply of fresh water and CMapges. Already in dire circumCarolan stances, the ref­ .^' , ;. '>•'', 'i. /, ugees saw their situation become even worse when 30-mph winds and 20-foot swells kicked in. Cries for Help Heard AB Carolan walked onto the bridge shortly after 2 a.m. and heard people screaming nearby. He looked off the starboard side and saw one of the Cubans waving a flashlight, riding a raft which consisted of canvas tied over four tires. "They called me and the day­ men," Bosun Allen recently told a reporter from the Seafar­ ers LOG. "We got all the lifesaving equip­ ment and threw Allen them a rope. "It was a perfect throw, but the Cubans were in such a hurry they missed the line'. We turned and tried to get them again. This time we threw two lines, and they got them tied." One of the refugees sik)ke Eng­ lish, and he told OMI Star Crew- members they left Cuba "to start a new life," Allen recalled. "Things must be pretty bad over there. "They were really grateful we saw them. They were hugging and kissing everybody." Salt-Encrusted Refugees After the rescue, the steward department members set up a room where the salt-covered men could get clean. The galley gang then prepared a much-appreciated meal Volume 53, Number 8 for them. The Coast Guard picked up the four men two hours later. "Please put in a word for the good job SIU seamen did," Cap­ tain Jim Hevican told the LOG. "They did one hell of a job." Hevican said he was shocked the Cubans made it so far on their flimsy flotation device. "How they survived, I don't know. I can't believe it held up," he added. "They were all encrusted with salt, and they had sores." August 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) 8990675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Prince Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica Smith; Assistant Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jordan Biscardo, Max Hall; Associate Editor/ Production, Deborah Greene; Art^ Bill Brower. m �ijlllll 111 II AUGusrm r '-s House Passes Anti-Scab Bill In a 247-182 vote, the House of Representatives voted to make it illegal to replace striking workers with scabs. After an intense debate last month, the majority of House "If employees cannot mount ai members voted in sup­ meaningful strike threat, the fed­ port of the labor move­ eral labor policy does not work '•-.r' i.:'-'t-- :• .,.. II ^".11 J . '\, -i ;- . ,• •• • A paperworker who lost his job to a scab demonstrates outside the Capitol to rally support for the striker replacement bill. ment's position to close a loophole which allows em­ ployers to permanently hire without it. There is no incentive for the employer to make conces­ sions or reach agreement." individuals who have crossed a picket line to assume the jobs of striking employees, or better said— scabs. The legislation, known as the Workplace Fairness Bill, now goes to the Senate. A vote in that congressional chamber is ex­ pected after the Labor Day recess. Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin has indicated President George Bush will oppose the bill. The trade union movement is seeking enough congressional support for the measure to override a presi­ dential veto. Representative William Ford (DMich.), a driving force behind the House bill, H.R. 5, noted in his remarks to colleagues during a floor debate on the measure, "This right to strike was and is the key­ stone of our national labor rela­ tions program. Bill Rights a Wrong Keeping scabs employed after a strike ends is a phenomenon which began in the 1980s. While the loophole allowing employers to permanently replace striking workers was created by a 1938 Supreme Court decision known as the Mackay Radio ruling, few businesses employed the tactic until the decade of the Reagan admin­ istration. Many of the bitter strikes that have become synonymous with the 1980s were marked by the hiring of replacement workers. Most recently, the former owner of The New York Daily News, the Tribune Company, spent $24 mil­ lion toforce a strike, bring in scabs and replace its union employees. Continued on page 24 The Second Registry Gaffe—End of an Illusion • - 'i.\. •; ••*'.. There is a current of confusion running through the maritime industry these days that apparently is giving more than a few people second thoughts about the seriousness of the industry's concern about its plight. The bewilderment stems from a twist of circumstances after it was announced on May 20 that the United Seamen's Service, which maintains recreational facilities for seamen of all flags and services in 10 foreign ports, would be giving one of its annual awards to the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administrator, Warren Leback, for his contri­ butions to U.S.-flag shipping and international transportation, American seafarers and the United Seamen's Service. The award is called the Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS). A similar award will be given to the veteran shipping company executive, Charles Hiltzheimer, president of the SlU-contracted Puerto Rico Marine Management and a former head of Sea-Land Services and United States Lines. It was with no small degree of shock that the maritime industry and a congressional commit­ tee, at a hearing on June 19, heard Maritime Administrator Leback recommend considera­ tion of a "second registry." That consideration would mean, in plain English, opening up jobs on American-flag ships to foreign seamen. It drew sharp comment and questions from House Merchant Marine Committee Chairman Walter Jones and Congresswoman Helen Bentley. The Seafarers LOG ran a story condemning the Leback proposal in the July issue. No other criticism was evident from other sources. As the implications of the bizarre proposal began to sink in, those who still had illusions "I crown you Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Ruler of the Queen's Navee..." of Maritime Administration "friendliness" were knocked loose of their fantasy. For union sea­ men, the Leback second registry suggestion had particular meaning. This was something right out of a major oil company's book. That it would come from the prepared text of a gov­ ernment official whose mission and responsi­ bility is to promote the American merchant marine in the national interests, was nothing short of outrageous. Even among the administration's apologists in the industry there was evidence that Leback's revealing words were causing schizophrenic reactions. Example: In his organization's pub­ lication June-July issue, C.E. "Gene" DeFries, who now heads only the predominantly nonmaritime parent body of the Licensed Division of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, hailed the AOTOS award to Leback, saying "few individuals were more deserving." In the next issue of the Marine Journal, dated July-August, the publication ran several scare headlines and a story mentioning the second registry proposal. Nowhere did the DeFries publication criticize Leback for making the proposal. In fact, it clearly sought to absolve Leback of the guilt which is his alone for floating the ide^. Actually, the circumstance of "honoring" someone who thinks running American seamen off American ships might be a way to rebuild the U.S. industry is no reason to go off the deep end. After all, the award ceremony is only a means of raising funds. The honoree in ques­ tion was selected, not because of his achieve­ ments in promoting the American-flag industry but rather because his position as chief officer of the Maritime Administration could be used as leverage to sell tickets. There are at least a dozen people in the Maritime Administration whose devotion and performance in carrying out the duties of the agency makes them emi­ nently more deserving of recognition by the industry. It is to be expected that some will view this commentary as much ado about nothing, but while some segments of maritime may be com­ fortable in an evening of back-slapping makebelieve, seafaring workers must deal with real­ ity, lest they forget the values and principles on which their jobs and security rest. Samuel Gompers, a wise American who was the first president of the American Federation of Labor, stated it very simply for those who want to be honest with themselves: "Reward your friends; punish your enemies," he advised. Not the other way around. f• I f'-l f • 'h • •B:- 'fM-fx- - 'Vl �-.'V V V. SanRERS lOG Wages, ••II Seafarers working aboard Maritrans Partners L.P. tugs and barges ratified a new five-year contract which scores big gains in pay and adds a deck utility position to the crew complement of under-3000 HP boats. SIU members also voted to consolidate into one master agreement the three labor pacts which previously covered hours, wages and working conditions in the Maritrans, Mariner and Inter­ state fleets. The new agreement, which went into effect June 1 and extends until 19%, was ratified by the member­ ship by a 2.5 to 1 vote in May. Nearly 250 Seafarers sail in the Maritrans fleet of 48 barges and 39 tugs, the laigest U.S.-flag coastal marine transporter of petroleum products. The new pact reverses a decadelong trend of wage slashes and employer-union confrontations which has characterized collective bargaining in the inland waterborne transit industry. Under the new pact, wages will increase by 20 to 40 percentdepending on the job classification and vessel assignment—over the life of the contract. All benefit levels were maintained and the harbor towing fleet Seafarers were brought up to par with other Mar­ itrans SIU members in the area of pension credits. In addition to adding a deck utility rating to the manning scale of under-3000 HP boats, the po­ sition of apprentice-mate will now be within the Seafarers bargaining unit. Union negotiators sought and obtained a single contract encom­ passing the equipment of each Maritrans Partners L.P. subsidi­ ary. With one pact in place, crewmembers represented by the SIU sailing on Mariner, Interstate and Maritrans tugs and baiges will have greater bargaining strength, and management will have a more ef­ ficient personnel operation, noted rank-and-file Seafarers on the con­ tract negotiating committee. William *'B1IP* Lehew, a Mari­ trans tankerman who served on the bargaining group, called the agreement "a step forward." Le­ hew was able to compare this round of negotiations with the contract meetings held in 1985, when he also served on the bar­ gaining committee. "There was a lot of concern about the morale of crewmembers in these talks," he said. m' • v^' •ff'V It •'•.:'-•• :i'-|,:v' .•;/ :'-3'-, - . ^ iiS; ' ?•! . i-:' •f.- •••;:' •. •f- - -" ' '•Vtl .V ;f: mtc.V'- :• ' f( -:v-: • 'r^c. rt: • f #-• • 'fif; I Dedication to Safety The union and Maritrans, the parent company to the three fleets covered by the agreement, reiter­ ated a joint commitment to con­ tinued improvement of safety mechanisms and procedures. Shipboard personnel, as well as shoreside workers, employed by Maritrans are to strive for a "flaw­ less performance," according to the agreement reached by both parties. Throughout the negotiations, the Seafarers and Maritrans manage­ ment recognized the need for safe operation of all marine transport equipment. The accord was crafted Up in 3-Fleet Maritians Pact to ensure the company is able to meet and exceed the safety pro­ cedures incorporated in the na­ tion's regulatory regime as a result of the enactment of the Oil Pol­ lution Act of 1990. The SIU bargaining committee consisted of Maritrans fleet rep­ resentatives Lehew and Tankerman Steve Gardnier. AB-Tankerman Rick Lord participated in behalf of Seafarers on Interstate equipment. Mariner delegates on the negotiating committee were Tankerman Harold Acord, ABTankerman Greg Luce and Cook Pete Carlton. SIU Assistant Vice President Dave Heindel served as the lead negotiator in the talks. The contract was ratified by the membership. Serving on the vote tally committee were nine Seafar­ ers, three from each fleet. Mariner tallymen were AB-Tankerman James Brooks, AB-Tankerman Jeff Peterson and AB-Tankerman Frank Sessa. Interstate Seafarers were represented by Deck Utility Dan Van Sclver, Randal Goodlson, AB; and Thorn Farrell, AB-tankerman. Seafarers sailing aboard Maritrans equipment review the new contract with SIU Assistant Vice President Dave Heindel (standing). OS James R. GiifBtts, Tankerman Anthony Mykllch and Deckhand Vincent Moore were present for Maritrans Seafarers. The Maritrans fleet moves some 250 million barrels of petroleum and petroleum-products—-includ­ ing gasoline, jet fuel, home heating oil, crude oil, asphalt—a year. The company, which traces its origins to the last century, is a master limited partnership formed in 1987 when spun off by the parent Sonat Inc. Maritrans operates along the Eastern seaboard and Gulf of Mexico. In addition to transport­ ing petroleum and its byproducts, the company also provides light­ ering and ship bunkering services. Ausbalkms Bnbmk on Fleet IMwik^ Australian shipping interests representing maritime unions, shi­ powners and the government have coalesced to develop and imple­ ment programs to keep an active and growing Australian merchant marine in place. In an attempt to assess what other industrialized nations are doing in support of their national fleets, the key players in the Aus­ tralian-flag shipping industry are holding a series of meetings with sea-going unions, operators and government officials in Japan, the United States and several Euro­ pean countries. While in the United States last month, the representatives of the Australian Shipping Industry Re­ form Authority investigated American policy in the areas of shipbuilding, vessel purchase in­ centives, taxation arrangements, operating costs, cargo reservation schemes and the framework in which government, labor and management pursue common goals. In a meeting with the SIU and District 2 MEBA-AMO, the Australians asked for background on U.S. cargo preference laws and cabotage provisions. The overseas study mission of the Australian Shipping Industry Reform Authority is but one step in the process being undertaken collaboratively by Australian shi­ powners, maritime unions and government to reform the industry and make Australian shipping more competitive. The activities of the group follow a formal agreement among shipowners, the maritime unions and the government for accelerated reform. Adopting the motto of "keeping the fleet afloat," the Australian maritime interests have taken a series of steps in the past few years designed to reinvigorate its na­ tional shipping capacity. The partnership among unions. shipowners and government made it possible to reduce manning lev­ els from an average of 34 crewmembers in the early 1980s to 21 today, a 38 percent reduction. Government-supported training programs were instituted to coin­ cide with the manning cuts. Ship­ owners who reduced manning were given tax breaks to encourage new building. As a result, while man­ ning decreased, the number of Australian-flag vessels went up. This tax scheme extended to operators was a five-year depre­ ciation regime commencing the year before the ship was commis­ sioned. Additionally, in return for cuts in manning, a seven percent taxable grant was made available to shipowners for introducing new tonnage until 1997. Ships quali­ fying under this process may be depreciated for taxation purposes at a rate of 29 percent, under the prime cost method, starting the year prior to delivery. The reform authority notes that the restructuring process has increased confidence in the indus­ try, as evidenced by a recent in­ vestment in Australian-flag ship­ ping in excess of $1 billion for new vessels. Nine deep sea vessels currently are being built that will operate under the Australian flag. The addition of new vessels which have improved fuel effi­ ciency, greater carrying capacity and other state-of-the-art mecha­ nisms, coupled with reduced man­ ning, has dramatically increased the industry's productivity by 54 percent in less than a decade. Both operators and the unions have taken steps to consolidate. In 1986 the Australian National Maritime Association was formed to bring together Australian-flag shipping companies in one advo­ cacy group. The association today represents 90 percent of the Aus­ tralian fleet. The seven Australian maritime unions have merged into three ^organizations, and by the end of • this year there will be two Aus­ tralian maritime unions. In addition, Australian seafaring unions and shipowners are seeking to bring shipping on an even keel with road and rail transport, which is heavily subsidized in that coun­ try. Additionally, the groups seek reform of port operations, which they characterize as inefficient monopolies. fte f}'<:^®®'Sacco(left) talks with Patrick Geraghty (center), the head of Anthonv Pana*^nrt" group's assistant federal secretary, Anthony Papaconstuntinos, dunng their time in Washington. D.C. �•NijwglKlil T'iy!^--i. ~y;-:^y--' -••-• M SlU Hits 'Worker Tax' on Seamen Fees for Z-Cards, Licenses Could Cost $35 and $350 IK? #1^-' • f' . The United States Coast Guard has an­ nounced that seamen will be charged between $35 and $350 for the costs involved in the issuance of a merchant mariner document, li­ cense or certificate of registry. No date has been designated for the so-called user fee to begin because the agency is in the process of accepting comments and views on the proposal. The user fee for Coast Guard services is the result of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 passed last year as an attempt by Congress and the administration to reduce the federal budget deficit. As part of the Department of Transportation's revenue-raising mecha­ nisms incorporated in the legislation, a long­ standing statute which prohibited the collection of fees for the licensing of certain shipboard positions was lifted. Dissatisfaction with the user fee proposed was voiced by SIU President Michael Sacco, who felt that seamen were being discriminated against in what amounts to a mandatory taxation on employment. He said the issue of a "worker tax" was one for the SIU and the entire labor movement to attack vigorously. He pointed out that the user fe^ for obtaining licenses and Z-cards was noth­ ing more than a thinly disguised revenue-raiser for the federal coffer, done off the backs of workers who already pay income taxes as their share of the nation's taxes. Cause for All Workers Sacco said he would recommend this be a leading issue for the labor movement because all working people should be concerned about this inequitable and back door ploy to pump more money into the national treasury. "If seamen are now going to be charged an em­ ployment-related tax, what group of workers will be next?" he said. The Coast Guard's proposal for the user fees was issued on June 20. At this point, the agency is accepting comments from interested parties. As the LOG went to press, the SIU was in the process of formulating its response to the user fee proposal. Comments are due August 5. Highlights of the SIU's position will be printed in the September LOG. After the Coast Guard reviews the comments received from all interested parties and deter­ mines if any of the recommendations should be incorporated into the user fee scheme, the agency will issue a final rule-making in the Federal Register. At that point, seamen can expect to begin paying the charges assigned to merchant mariner documents, licenses and cer­ tificates of registry. While the Coast Guard may modify its pro­ posal, some sort of user fees will be put into place because such charges are mandated by law in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the Coast Guard based its projections of fees on what it costs the agency to process licenses, merchant mariner documents and cer­ tificates of registry. Of concern to all seamen is the Coast Guard's comment that it "will revise these proposed fees when costs change because of inflation, deflation, or changes in the way the services are provided." The agency cited the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 as one law which in its implementation might increase the cost of user fees. Fee for Seamen's Documents The Coast Guard proposes charging a basic $35 fee for a merchant mariner document with­ out a qualified rating; i.e., a wiper, ordinary seamen or food handler. A z-card with a qual­ ified rating—such as an AB, QMED, lifeboatman or tankerman—would cost a total of $135.. This figure includes a $35 issuance fee, a $60 evaluation fee and a $40 examination fee. Under the Coast Guard's proposed user fees, upgrading or sitting for a license will cost a seaman additional funds. If an ordinary seaman upgrades to AB, it would cost him $135, the total amount charged for evaluation of the application, examination and issuance of the new document. An upgrade from AB-limited to AB-unlimited would cost $95 since there is no examination involved. If a wiper upgrades to QMED-FOWT or QMED-any rating, under these procedures it will cost $135 for the process of evaluation, examination and issuance of the new document. The endorsements of lifeboatman and tankerman could end up costing a seaman a maximum of $135 if the special ratings are obtained at a separate and distinct time from upgrading to another position. . The cost of deck and engine licenses is divided into two categories. Generally, upper level fees apply to ocean and near coastal licenses for inspected vessels over 1600 gross tons. Lower level fees include first class pilots. Two Levels for Licenses According to the Coast Guard Federal Reg­ ister notice, upper level licenses will cost a total of $330. This fee includes a $70 evaluation fee, a $225 examination fee and the $35 issuance fee. Applicants for lower level licenses will be charged a total of $180—$65 for the evaluation, $80 for the examination and $35 for its issuance. The Coast Guard notes that the full exami­ nation fee proposed for both upper level and lower level licenses will not be charged when the seaman only needs a partial or limited examination or an open book examination for the renewal of a license. If the applicant is going for an original license. z-card or certificate of registry, he will have to pay an additional $17 charge for an FBI criminal record check which will be forwarded to the Coast Guard. The agency is in the process of determining acceptable methods of payment. Among the ideas on the table are credit card payments, checks, money orders, cash. The agency is considering penalties for failure to pay the fees. Origins of User Fee The notion that seamen should pay a fee for their seamen's documents or licenses has been bandied about since the early 1980s during then President Ronald Reagan's first term in office. When the Reagan administration engineered deep cuts in government spending and sought to institute a payment-for-service scheme for a variety of public programs, user fees for Coast Guard activities surfaced in the form of various budget and legislative proposals. The concept was offered as a part of the administration's annual budget each year throughout the 1980s but Congress consistently resisted the proposal. The SIU and the rest of the maritime industry worked diligently and successfully every year to block the enactment of user fees for Coast Guard services. Last year, in a quick and desperate move to meet its assigned revenue raising goals. Con­ gress swiftly tacked on Coast Guard user fees to the budget bill, known as the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. In short, user fees for Coast Guard services became law without going through the normal legislative process. As a result of the 1990 budget act, user fees will be established for Coast Guard services related to vessel documentation, commercial vessel inspections, vessel plan review and equipment approval, in addition to the issuance of seamen's papers and licenses. PROPOSED USER FEES FOR Z-CARDS AND LICENSES Evaluation Fee Examination Fee Document Without Qualified Rating Document With Qualified Rating $35 $ 60 License—Lower Level 65 License—Upper Level 70 $ 40 •1 $ 35 ; 80 ; 225 • Duplicate or Replacement Document or License issuance Fee I,i'ft.'.-- 35 Note: The Coast Guard is proposing an additional fee of $17 for an FBI criminal record check to be added to the evaluation fee if the application is for an original license or an original merchant mariner document. Source: Federal Register; Department of Transportation Coast Guard "User Fees for Marine Licensing, Certification of Registry and Merctiant Mariner Documentation; Proposed Rule;" June 20, 1991. SPECIAL NOTICE TO TANKER CREWS On tankers with the one man deck watch, the Bosun and A.B. Maintenance ratings may be required to stand watch due to inclement weather and heavy traffic. Because of the overtime restrictions imposed by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and for reasons of safety, they shall be assigned to a watch during cargo opera­ tions. During cargo operations, they shall not be covered i by the day worker rules in Article II, Section 39 and Article III, Section 10 Of the Standard Tanker Agree­ ment. Any questions regarding this should be referred to the contracts department at headquarters or to the nearest union h^ officials. •-v V •• 0 , V, ,, • '.Mi �SEAHUtERS m '^fs.: - ,ro, ,• , ;r.;: - ' - f I From the moment the 13th anV-Sj Great Steamboat Race from , :;t-r: | New Orleans to St. Louis began, there was no doubt an SlU-crewed ship would emerge victorious. That's because both the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen, the only overnight passenger paddlewheel steamboats left in America, are manned by Seafarers. This year, it was the Mississippi Queen that won the race. Part of the race involves compe­ tition between the crews. Among the winners of this year's events were SIU members Rick Larson, porter aboard the Mississippi Queen, and Amy Talbot, a cabin attendant on the Delta Queen. Larson won the luggage race, while Talbot tri­ umph^ in the maid cart race. •. Amy Talbot wins cart race. Mississippi Queen (top) leads Delta Queen in Great Steamboat Race. SlU-crewed Tug Leaves Competition in Its Wake it': Eventual winner Kristin Lee (right) pulls away from nearest competitor. V J-••'••'• ". w •'•i 1 • SIU wives Sandy Thornton (left, wife of Donald Thornton) and Kim Kelley (Timothy Kelley) enjoy race. i • SIU Vice President Byron Kelley takes turn at Kristin Lee's helm. SIU Deckhand Fred Kerns exults after Kristin Lee's victory. i Lundeberg School Treats The desserts prepared by Lundeberg School Executive Chef Romeo LupinaccI (center) and Seafarer Robert Miller sold briskly at a recent street fair bake sale in Washington, D.C. The SlU-crewed Kristin Lee, using only 80 percent of its engine capacity, blew away the competi­ tion at last month's Annual Inter­ national Tugboat Race on the Detroit River. The Kristin Lee, an OLS Trans­ port Company boat, was one of two-dozen American and Cana­ dian tugs which participated in the event. The race is part the weeklong Intemational Canadian Festi­ val. (The 3/t-mile wide Detroit River separates Detroit, Mich, from Ontario, Canada.) SIU members who crewed the winning boat are Mates Claude Sankey and Ron Nestle, Engineer Bill Hastings, Assistant Engineer Keith Roberge, ABs Danny Goleman and Fred Kerns and Cook David Weirsham. Former member Clark King served as captain on the tug, and other mem­ bers were onboard as guests. "It was fun, a break in the regu­ lar routine," recalled Assistant En­ gineer Roberge. The company permitted the members to invite their families aboard. Roberge was able to show his wife, Susan; two of his five children, Natalie and Jesse; and his mother and father what he does aboard a boat for the first time. "All the guests really enjoyed them­ selves," he added. "There's no competition be­ cause we have the biggest tug," Cook Weirsham said with a laugh. "When we take off at the start, we come close to sinking five or six other boats. "It's a good old time, nothing serious. It's a chance to show off your boat.... This year we had a beautiful day and the river was calm." Nearly a quarter-million specta­ tors lined the river's banks as the Kristin Lee finished in record time. The winning boat is 160 feet in length and has 3,000 horsepower. Other trophies were awarded to tugs which competed in smaller boat categories. "I think it's pretty lighthearted," said AB Goleman. "Quite a few people turn out, but the competition won't be serious unless they get the same (horse­ power) boats going against each other." f • •• While the Kristin Lee success­ fully defended its title, SIU Vice. President Lakes and Inland Waters Byron Kelley continued a personal winning streak of sorts—he has been onboard the last seven Inter­ national Race winners. "My father won the third of these races, back in 1953 or so," Kelley recalled. "In fact, I still have that trophy." The former ocean-going tug now pushes an asphalt barge on the Lakes. �• ' ': ^ : A-./--. ". AUGUST mi • -V Tl Coast Guard Issues New Random Drug..Test Rules Only shipboard personnel whose duties can be characterized as ex­ traordinarily safety-sensitive will be subject to random drug testing, it was announced in a final rule issued by the U.S. Coast Guard appearing in the Federal Register last month. Aboard most vessels, this will exempt the wiper and members of the steward depart­ ment from random urinalysis tests. The new rules mandate that all marine personnel employers have a random drug testing program in place by October 1, 1991. The Coast Guard has determined that the number of individuals to be submitted to random urinalysis tests by the marine employer should be "no less than 50 percent of all crewmembers on an annual baSIS. • •'V • ,--; •', •';" • t''' ' l.' jT>;--Vf-y The Coast Guard was forced to revise its original random drug testing procedures which were promulgated in 1988 because of a court case initiated by the SIU and the Transportation Institute (TI), an association of U.S.-flag shipping companies. In objecting to the government's drug testing program, the SIU ar­ gued that random testing was an invasive procedure that violated an individual's privacy rights. Furthermore, the union argued the government had no business in­ truding in matters that could be handled in the collectivej| bargain­ ing process. In December 1989, a federal district court ruled the Coast Guard had failed to show that a "war­ rantless, suspicionless search" was justified for all crewmembers since the agency had failed to demon­ strate a "clear, direct nexus . . . between the nature of the employ­ ee's duty and the nature of the feared violation." The Coast Guard had to return to the drawing board to develop random drug testing regulations that could be sustained under the constitution's Fourth Amendment which protects an individual's pri­ vacy interests and prevents un­ warranted search and seizure. Judge Thomas Hogan's ruling in­ vited the Coast Guard to develop revised random testing procedures that would identify a direct link between the crewmember's as­ signed duties and the safe navi­ gation of the vessel. Certificate of Inspection In the new rule the Coast Guard defines crewmembers with direct responsibility for safety as those who, for the most part, are listed on an inspected vessel's certificate of inspection (COI). Thus seamen performing the duties of patrol­ men, watchmen and lifeboatmen will be subject to random drug testing. Should a wiper or galley gang member be serving in any of these capacities, he or she would be included in the random testing pool. According to the new rule, if a seaman "fails a chemical test for dangerous drugs, the individual's employer or prospective employer shall report the test results in writ­ ing to the nearest Coast Guard Officer in Charge, Marine Inspec­ tion." Additionally, the rule states, "The individual shall be denied employment as a crewmember or removed from duties which di­ rectly affect the safe operation of the vessel as soon as practicable and shall be subject to suspension and revocation proceedings against his or her license, certificate of registry or merchant mariner's document. . ." Protecting Privacy Rights Originally, the Coast Guard is­ sued a final rule requiring preemployment, periodic, random, post-accident and probable cause drug testing for commercial vessel shipboard personnel on Novem­ ber 21, 1988. The SIU and TI went into court on November 29, 1988 and filed a lawsuit against the procedures. While the SIU re. mained committed to a drug-free workplace, the union's lawsuit ar­ gued that any program to deal with the problem should be equitable and respect the privacy rights of seafarers. On December 18, 1989, the Dis­ trict court enjoined the Coast Guard from implementing its random testing program as spelled out in the final rule while allowing the other four kinds of testing to pro­ ceed. Excerpts from the Coast Guard's Rules Governing Random Drug Testing Of Shipboard Personnel Federal Register July 6,1991 f;.''•••• Inspect^ Vessels Wipers "It [the final rule] requires chemical testing for dangerous drugs on a ran­ dom basis (random testing) of crew­ members on inspected vessels who occupy a position, or perform the du­ ties and functions of a position, re­ quired by the vessel's Certificate of Inspection; who perform the duties and functions of patrolrnen or watchmen; or who are specifically assigned the duties of warning, mustering, assem­ bling, assisting or controlling the movement of passengers during emergencies." "The Coast Guard agrees that the ordinary duties of a wiper are not so safety-sensitive as to require random testing. Generally, a wiper occupies an entry level position In the engine department. Is not required by the COI, and. Is closely supervised by other engine department personnel when performing safety-sensitive duties. In those few Instances where wipers are required by the COI, they have been determined to be essential to the safe operation of the vessel. Accordingly, the final rule requires only those wipers who are specifically required by the COI, or who perform some other 'operation' duty In addition to their duties as a wiper, to be subject to random testing." ii-' Harbor Pilots "The rule also requires random testing of crewmembers on uninspected ves­ sels who are required by law or reg­ ulation to hold a license Issued by the Coast Guard In order to perform their duties on the vessel; who perform duties and functions directly related to the safe operation of the vessel; who perform the duties and functions of patrolmen or watchmen or who are specifically assigned the duties of warning, mustering, assembling, as­ sisting or controlling the movement of passengers during emergencies." Non-COi Listed Personnel "The final rule requires that harbor pilots be subject to random drug test­ ing.' .V'J Steward Department "The Coast Guard does not believe that cooking and galley cleaning alone have a sufficient tie to safe vessel operation to warrant random testing. However those cooks on any type of vessel who have ordinary and routine duties ... that are directly related to the safe operation of the vessel should be subject to random testing." •V.-, ", I: , ;-. /, f.v '. , ., \ s'-i -r: ••'••!?• >;r •,^;;.:?', •.I'i"' Medical Services for New York Seafarers Rose Dammeyer (left) and her husband, Clifford, an SIU pensioner, review the programs offered by the union's designated medical provider in New York. Sonja Mason of the Methodist Hospital was on hand at the New York benefits conference, where this picture was taken, to advise Seafarers of the institute's services. A caption in the July Seafarers LOG, page 5, incorrectly identified Rose Dammeyer. f, • • "When crewmembers In addition to those listed on the COI are engaged at the discretion of the vessel owner or operator to perform the same duties as those crewmembers listed on the COI, these additional crewmembers must be subject to random testing for the same reasons as COI listed per­ sonnel. The Coast Guard could not, therefore, limit the random testing re­ quirements to only the crewmembers required by the COI. The requirement In the final rule that COI listed crew­ members be subject to random testing Is only a threshold requirement for testing crewmembers on Inspected vessels. The marine employer must Identify all other crewmembers who perform operations duties and ensure that they, too, are subject tb random testing." "A crewmember's assignment to an emergency duty on the passenger vessel's station bill Is not sufficient reason to require the crewmember to be subject to random testing. The Coast Guard's position concerning emergency duties Is that only those crewmembers who are assigned spe­ cific emergency duties which make them directly responsible for the safety of life of passengers should be subject to random testing. Direct responsibility for passenger safety must be assigned to and understood by a crewmember as a job function. Crewmenribers who may simply 'help out' In an emergency are not thereby subject to random testing. Of course. In an emergency, persons who are not otherwise subject to random testing are not precluded from providing assistance to passen­ gers that Is beyond their normal job requirements." •! y.- • ' i f -"y Passenger Ships ' ''\-. V •:x:- ••, .-: y,; •i ' Uninspected Vessels • '• ij.l,' t •-'i-i-,.j;':y On July 27,1990 the Coast Guard published revised random testing rules designed to meet the con­ cerns of Judge Hogan. The SIU submitted strong comments at that time pointing out the Coast Guard had failed to define the categories of merchant seamen that should be subjected to the invasive pro­ cedure of random testing urinal­ ysis because their duties were inexorably linked to the safe nav­ igation of a vessel. The final rule issued last month by the Coast Guard addressed the SIU's concerns and clearly out­ lined which crewmembers per­ formed duties tied to safety. • I : -ft' �•,,,'.'•;^•• • '••;•>,'•' •• ••;•'" '.'f,''f >-t/'>:y-):.':vV./'' /"y-y"- • . -- -» r •' » ^ 8 ^:' I i.; •" The name of the latest medical facility to become a Seafarers pre­ ferred provider organization (PPO) says a lot about its opera­ tional philosophy. Immediate Medical Care Cen­ ter, located in San Pedro, Calif, near the Wilmington SIU hall, is a no-appointment-needed facility which provides quality health care for Seafarers, pensioners and fam­ ilies. The center, open seven days a week, also promises something days a week," said Dr. Christopher Traughber, one of the center's phy­ sicians. Traughber is certified by the American Board of Family Prac­ tice and is a graduate of the Univer­ sity of California-Davis School of Medicine. Additionally, he is the medical director of the Peninsula Rehabilitation Center. Also working at Immediate Medical Care Center are doctors Dirk Ruffin and John Murashige, Wilmington Patrolman George Tricker (center) tours new clinic with members Rob Cabibi and Morty Tashmen. ••••'•.'• IV'"- li: •. •; ..•-' -i-; yir" Mrt'lr • ;•>-*.'• i' I -i • -• ..-'.ff ••. SaFARiRS 106 Seafarers Get Immediate Care at San Pedro Clinic ''''''' ' 'II • ' [-• ^•',K^'•• • • '•h^\•4-'rv>v,j.^;. -'r-i^^.-;.:; ... uncommon in many medical facil­ ities: little or no waiting time, re­ gardless of whether a patient is being treated for something as se­ rious as a fracture or as common as a cold. Seafarers began using the facil­ ity on July 1, after the Seafarers Welfare Plan contracted with Im­ mediate Medical Care Center. Since then, more than 200 mem­ bers have received treatment there. "I've been there twice, once for an annual (physical) and once be­ cause of strep throat, and they are a lot faster than the place wfe.used,. to use," said Chief Cook Curtis Phillips, 36. "The people are very pleasant and I got good treatment." "I got great service," said blackgang member Horst Baetjer, 53. "Everyone here is friendly, and I had no problems." The Immediate Medical Care Center, affiliated with Torrance Memorial Hospital, opened three years ago. Patients there are treated in private rooms, and the center is open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day of the year. "We're here seven both certified by the American Board of Family Practice. Many Treatments Available If a Seafarer in the Wilmington area suffers a life-threatening emergency, such as a heart attack or a major auto accident, he or she should go directly to Torrance Me, morial Hospital (or the nearest hos­ pital with blood banks, operating rooms and intensive care units). However, Immediate Medical Care Center provides medical ser­ vices for voluminous ailments and injuries such as lacerations, wounds, bruises, sprains, frac­ tures, sore throats, cough, fever, eye and ear injuries, minor bums, colds and flu, respiratory illnesses and intestinal disorders. On-site X-ray and laboratory fa­ cilities allow staff members to quickly process test results. More­ over, the center's dispensary issues many medications, saving Seafarers numerous trips to the pharmacy. The facility also offers immuni-. zations and health information for travelers, based on U.S. Depart- ment of Health reports. The parent facility, Torrance Memorial Hospital, has been an active member of the South Bay/Peninsula community for more than 60 years. It is a 330-bed hospital offering numerous ser­ vices and health programs, from weight management courses to first aid training and from emer­ gency care services to rehabilita­ tion. Progress Continues The Seafarers Welfare Plan's designation of Immediate Medical Care Center as a PPO represents continued progress in health care for Seafarers. Throughout the country, the medical plan is Con­ tracting with a preferred provider in each of the cities where an SIU clinic has been located. The PPO program was started to ensure that Seafarers and their families continue obtaining quality medical care and, at the same time, help the medical plan combat con­ tinually rising health costs. A pre­ ferred provider clinic or hospital is simply a medical facility which agrees to provide services to Sea­ farers and their families for a nego­ tiated reimbursement rate. Among the advantages of using PPOs: • Preferred provider organiza­ tion hospitals are among the big­ gest, most efficient and best-equipped in their cities. • When the hospital sees many Seafarers and their families using the facility, reasonable rates for services can be maintained. This allows the medical plan to Use these savings for the benefit of members and their dependents. • Use of these facilities allows the plan to monitor claims and make sure the hospital is offering services efficiently and maintain­ ing high standards of quality care. • Streamlined claims proce­ dures are in place for members and dependents using the facilities. • A facility becomes familiar with Seafarers and their unique needs. to date, the SIU has designated eight PPOs (see box). s• An attractive waiting area (above) and a modern medical treatment room (below) are part of the facilities available to Seafarers at the new San Pedro clinic. •-f.Vl-, !•' - Eight PPOs Designated for Seafarers ,; I'', f Further information on each of the clinics and medical care facilities listed below can be obtained from the SIU hall In each city listed. Philadelphia Seattle •'t' • i:'k-' Virginia Mason Hospital 925 Seneca St. Seattle. Wash. 98111 San Francisco f- • '%• ,% St. Mary's Hospital 450 Stanyan St. San Francisco, Calif. 94117 Honolulu Straub Hospital 888 South King St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 New Orleans Tulane University Hospital and Medical Center 1415 Tulane Ave. New Orleans, La. 70112 New York Methodist Hospital 506 6th St. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215 Methodist Hospital Healthmark Incorporated Clinic 2301 South Broad St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19148 Baltimore Francis Scott Key Hospital Johns Hopkins Ctr. for Occupa­ tional and Environmental Health 4940 Eastern Ave. Baltimore, Md. 21224 Wilmington Torrance Memorial Hospital 3330 Lomita Blvd. Torrance, Calif. 90509-2935 Irtimediate Medical Care Center 29409 S. Western Ave. San Pedro, Calif. 90731 Seafarers Support Mine Workers ^•'4 Thornton joins the picket line in support of the Mine Workers picKet line at Detroit Edison. The utility company was purchasing non-union coal. 'J �r-:- AU6US! 1991 •k.-i: ' '-f- Orgulf Tugs Riding High On Fuli Mississippi SlU-crewed Orgulf tugboats are plying the Mississippi River and its tributaries with full loads for the first time in several summers. Spring and early summer rains have kept the water level up, ac­ cording to St. Louis Patrolman Joe Sigler. "There has been no drought this year," Sigler reported to the Seafarers LOG. "The Mississippi is operating at fiill capacity." Two of the pushers taking full advantage of the river con­ ditions are the Omar and Robert N, Stout. The Omar, the smaller of the two, sails along the upper Mississippi River while the Stout oper­ ates between New Orleans and Moore's Landing, Mo., the staging • • •- Deckhand Randy Williams checks list while fellow Deckhand Tim Orange opens pallet of stores aboard the Stout. I-;;.''iff- QQQ|^ Kenneth Hightower checks reefer to plan dinner aboard Stout, area for Orgulf tugs. Both boats push barges loaded with grain. •i i. ty'' • V:-' "•i • •i*' Lead Deckhand Bryan Jones re­ views forms available aboard Omar. Cook Mable Davis is just about fin­ ished cooking dinner aboard Omar. Deckhand Jim Tomczak removes package for storage In Stout. Omar Deckhand Earl Simmons makes sure everything Is secure. Omar Assistant Engineer Selden Richardson takes soundings. The 115-foot, 4,700 horse­ power Doris Moran and Joan Moran are deep sea tugboats. pictured here are some of the Seafarers who man the ves­ sels for generally 30 days at a time. Assistant Engineer Ron Riggins aboard the tug Joan Moran. ;L; M 49 Omar Deckhand Nick Jones gets ready to enjoy a cup of coffee. Deckhand Danny Dally checks out Omar fire extinguisher. f¥W'l Aboard the tug Doris Moran (from left to right) are AS Ed Quinn, Assistant Engineer CharlesKremboltz, AS Terry LeJeune, Chief Engineer Charles A. Young, AS G.V. Hoffman, AB/Cook James Cosoro, Mate Ryan Riggins and Captain West Taylor: Chief Engineer Todd P. McDonough takes on fuel aboard tug Joan Moran. Joan Moran Captain Mark Berger (left) and Mate Louis Barra. Cook Douglas R. Hull takesbreather aboard the tug John Moran. �m.- mms: w • -- 'V" -n-'^®r SOFJUtERSm t'' 15 Stewanis Pmgress 'All the Way Up the Ladder' IS^p' :|tp: -, ''-J. ::; 'P Jv" • I;' • Fifteen members of the galley gang completed six weeks of inten­ sive education at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Sea­ manship to become the SIU's new­ est recertified stewards. Seafarer William Perry, who sails from Norfolk, Va., summed up the Lundeberg School program when he said, "I have come all the way up the ladder here." The grad­ uate of class 319 told trainees at the June Piney Point membership meeting, "I started off from the bottom and worked my way up. I took the opportunity to upgrade myself." The class members received ad­ vanced training in menu planning, leadership and communication abilities and computer operation that will be useful in executing their duties as the head of their department aboard ship. They took refresher courses in food preparation as well as firefighting, CPR and first aid. The group had classes review­ ing the union's medical and pen­ sion programs, learned about the SIU political and legislative oper­ ations and met with SIU officials. This part of the curriculum is de­ signed to assist the steward in his job as ship's secretary. One of the classes several of the stewards pointed out as being ben­ eficial concerned food handling and galley sanitation as presented by SIU member James Mann, Sea-Land Service's fleet commis­ sary manager and a Lundeberg School graduate. George Kenny, who sails from the port of New York, noted Mann's course "was what this pro­ gram is all about." The 15-year SIU veteran continued, "Mann told us an educated steward is a prudent steward. We should know more about our food products." Eleven-year member Zein Achmad echoed Kenny's woi;ds. "Knowing more about food han­ dling and inventory control will help. I leamed from it and want to know more." Newly recertified stewards gather around SIU President Michael Sacco. From left are (kneeling) Zein Achmad, Lonnie Gamble, George Bronson, (second row) Darrell Touchstone, Lucretia Anderson, James Chaney, Sacco, Ekow Doffoh, William Perry, Alvin Robinson, (back row) Ralph Alexander, George Kenny, Herbert Davis, Marvin St. George, Timothy Dowd and Alvin Johnson. Mann's course was not the only one singled out by the group. Achmad, while speaking at the membership meeting, praised Kate Richardson, a Lundeberg School instructor who worked with the stewards on the communication, leadership and computer skills. Others thanked galley instructor Ed White for his work with them. "I liked Ms. Kate; she was my favorite [instructor]," pg&alled Alvin Johnson, a 22-year member first with the west coast-based Ma­ rine Cooks and Stewards (MCS) then with the SIU following a 1978 merger. •V '"• -"• • •:"'. .'•t , ,1 "Ms. Kate is an excellent in­ structor in communications and computers," said James Chaney, who started his merchant mariner's career 25 years ago, also with the MCS. For Lonnie Gamble of Mobile, Ala., retuming to the Lundeberg School was very special. In May .••'.•••• -t - •';•. - .. Ttie more time at the keyboard, the more proficient William Perry and Lucretia Anderson's computer ski Is become. Instructor Roger Francisco (right) looks on. U:-.': i • 1967, he graduated from Piney Point's first trainee class. "This place is way better since the first days. I did not think then it would be anything like this." Gamble ad­ vised the trainees attending the Piney Point membership meeting "to t^e good advantage of this or­ ganization. It hias been helpful to me. Alvin Robinson, who began his career as a member of class 191 in 1975, stated in the June meeting which included a graduation cere­ mony for the stewards, "The whole routine at the school has changed. It is better for the trainees now." The New York Seafarer pointed out the bungaloes were gone and the trainees can mingle with the upgraders to learn more about the profession. Houston's Timothy Dowd noted his graduation as a recerti­ fied steward meant he had gone "from the bungaloes to the sixth floor." The member of trainee class 349 thanked the union for "the opportunity afforded me to at­ tend the school." He told the train­ ees, "Upgrading is where it is at." Darrell Toudistone was the fifth member of the group to begin his career at Piney Point. The Mo­ bile galley gang member recently completed eight months in the Per­ sian Gulf before arriving at the school. He thanked "the member­ ship for the opportunity to up- grade.' Marvin St. George told those at the membership meeting what be­ coming a recertified steward meant to him. "Here's a chance for me to improve my skills within the union to make myself proud, to do things for my family, to help my friends and to teach those—the younger ones who are in the union—to help them so that we won't lose the jobs that we have for us and for the future," said the steward who sails from Piney Point. Ekow Doffoh, from the port of Philadelphia, urged members to donate to SPAD. "It takes a fish to catch a fish and those big boys have got more fish than what we've got," Doffoh noted to the member­ ship. "But with our little contribu­ tion, we can do more." When George Bronson walked up to the microphone to address the membership, he nearly was over­ come with emotion. "I want to thank everybody for doing their job here, showing us leadership quality," he told the gathering. Lucretia Anderson was an­ other member of the class who started her career in the Marine Cooks and Stewards. She said she appreciated the refresher courses in first aid, CPR and firefighting, and "enjoyed meeting the new peo­ ple. My fellow stewards are a good group." Ralph Alexander, a 29-year veteran from the port of Seattle, thanked "everyone who had a part in the recertified steward program. Overall it was broaden­ ing." The man dubbed "Big Daddy Kane" by his classmates, Herbert Davis, provided two surprises at the meeting. First, he told members not to be embarrassed to attend the Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in Valley Lee, Md. to get help. "I went through that program five years ago. It did me wonders. You can benefit from it." Then Davis asked SIU President Michael Sacco to come to the mi­ crophone so the stewards could present him with a plaque "for all your hard work for keeping us afloat." Sacco told the stewards he would hang the plaque on his of­ fice wall. "Every time I read it, I'm going to think of you guys." He went on to say, "I'm proud to be your president and I'm proud to represent you no matter where I go because I know what I'm repre­ senting: the best seapersons in the maritime industry." ^v,^,r m^i-' ' '•" -•" Knowing tfiat food must look as good as It tastes, Herbert Davis, wfio sails from the port of Norfolk, intricately slices lemon for a dinner gamish. •- Stewards Robinson and Perry in U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. Ralph Alexander concentrates on mixing a tasty sauce. �L-'r.y •• • n AUGUST 1991 Ash Coating Blankets MSGPAG Ships inSubic Bay Members of the SIU Govern­ ment Services Division are assist­ ing the military in its efforts to clean up 18 inches of ash coating most of the Subic Bay Naval Base following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. MSCPAC Seafarers, who crew the Pacific fleet vessels of the Military Sealift Command, also have pulled duty in evacuation efforts con­ ducted in June and July. The volcano, located approxi­ mately 18 miles northeast of the military complex, continues to spout lava and ash almost two months after its initial eruption June 9. Crewmembers have dis­ covered a major problem with the volcano's debris is its tendency to turn into a concrete-like substance when mixed with water. Ash Turns to Cement "We tried to blast off the ash from the ship with water but it would only build into drifts," said Captain Pat Moloney, master of the SlU-crewed USNS Hassayampa. "Like sand, it would just mount up." Captain Leroy Gill, master of the SlU-crewed USNS Spica, re­ ported, "We cleared 842 tons of ash from the ship." He added, "Subic Bay looks like a desert. It was a scene of ash, darkness and rain pouring down from the sky. It was almost biblical." Recalling the explosion from the Mt. Pinatubo blows clouds of steam and ash during an eruption in June. The photo is taken from Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. volcano, Moloney noted, "It looked like a, snowstorm in the Subic area. Your eyes told you to be cold as you sweated in the heat." News reports stated more than 100 buildings collapsed at Subic Bay as a result of the volcanic ash, followed by typhoon winds and rains and earthquakes. SIU Government Services Di­ vision vessels carried thousands of people away from the affected area on the island of Luzon. Gill said the Spica alone took 321 people from Clark Air Force Base (at the foot of the volcano) as well as "four cars, 13 dogs and two embassy personnel" to the naval base at Cebu, 400 miles southeast of Subic Bay. After that, the supply vessel travelled to Sin­ gapore to bring back 300 tons of food, enough tofeed 25,000 people for three weeks. Other Govern­ ment Services Division-crewed vessels helping in the evacuation included the USNS Passumpsic with more than 190 evacuees aboard, the USNS Ponchatoula and Hassayampa which refueled ships shuttling people between Su­ bic Bay and Cebu. The SlU-crewed 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, a prepositioning vessel, delivered vehicles and equipment needed at Subic Bay to produce and store fresh water. The Lummus also supplied ready-to-eat meals to the stricken base. •u . : V 'I •y m• Ait-'-; .A - ; • T. : . -A • '..i I V"' .1: ^ ]/ ;••• M •> u- r y.i' y . -i':.:-' :ir 4. •J -I'- - r. I-.- ,v. ' ,f :i •y.,f fell;?-"'.: Although sailing 100 miles from Subic Bay, the USNS Hassayampa received a four-inch ash coating in one night. Ships anchored at the U.S. base reported up to 18 inches of ash. Clean-up efforts at the Subic Bay Naval Station have been hampered by earthquakes and typhoons. Captain Pat Moloney of the USNS Hassayampa and MSCPAC supplied these photographs. Buy/Ship American Amenriment Kept in Senate Foieign Aid Biii The Senate joined with the House of Representatives in passing a foreign aid bill that requires those nations receiving actual cash aid from the U.S. government to si^nd half of the funds on American goods which would be transported on U.S.-flag ships' Since the Senate and House versions of the foreign aid legis­ lation differ, a conference com­ mittee made up of members from both chambers will meet to write a common bill. This legislation is not expected to be presented to Congress until the legislators re­ turn from their Labor Day recess. President George Bush, through Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.), has said he is in­ clined to veto the package as it now stands. As in the House, the Senate killed an amendment offered by elected officials from the Farm Belt and Great Lakes states to eliminate the requirement that American-made goods purchased with U.S. foreign aid monies be shipped on American bottoms. The final vote was 55 votes in favor of the keeping the "ship American" provision, while 42 senators voted against U.S. shipping. Senator John Breaux (D-La.), who heads the chamber's Mer­ chant Marine Subcommittee, charged farm state senators, many of whom lined up against cargo preference, with employing a dou­ ble standard. "We subsidize our farmers . . . But I think that while we are subsidizing our farmers and our industries with cash transfer requirements, I see nothing wrong with subsidizing the maritime in­ dustry as well." The effort to sink the amend­ ment received bipartisan support. "This is one smdl effort for us to use American ships," Sen: Trent Lott (R-Miss.) stated. "It makes no sense for us to provide money and assistance, require that it be spent on U.S. goods but not in­ quire that it be transported on U.S. ships.' Others speaking out on behalf of the U.S. merchant marine in­ cluded Sen. Paul Sarbanes (DMd.) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). �12 •i'VJ^-:. '-'/:§i. •• -T V :.? r'r ' • "VM: .•"v; _• '-\';:,'IJ,'A, - "•, V'^'_ ••••I:?-' : •.•.- •'.'U«>-a,-- ^.- - —--5>^—r.i'&~ ' ' , :«Si|S saanepi m Bellatrix Crew Is in High Gear, Reports Wiicox ,- W". , ;•'••• ; • • . '•^-"_;;,si•^^ .- ^'•'^^^'-:;-V.. - - .. ..-• Operation Desert Sortie has kept the SIU crewmembers aboard the USNS Bellatrix as busy bring­ ing troops and equipment home as Operation Desert Shield did in sup­ plying the allied forces in Saudi Arabia. Assistant Cook Robert Wilcox reported in a letter and photo­ graphs to the Seafarers LOG that "the crew is glad to be doing its part" in the massive sealift of troops and heavy army equipment." The galley gang member who sails from the port of Mobile, Ala. noted the captain and crew of the fast sealift vessel received a plaque of appreciation from the com­ mander of the Army's 24th Mech­ anized Division upon the ship's arrival in Savannah, Ga. in the spring. "Bosun Thomas Bluitt commended the crew for its 'cando' attitude and professionalism in pulling together when the going got tough," Wilcox wrote. One of the examples of pulling together, the assist^t cook noted, was when OS Charles Moll had to be transferred from the Bellatrix to a tugboat near the coast of Rota, Spain because of illness. "All hands turned to to assist in the evacuation," Wilcox stated. "Galley personnel assisted with blankets and pillows and stood by to feed the crew after the evacua­ tion. Special recognition should go to AB Dave Crisp from Jackson­ ville (Fla.) for his constant atten­ tion to his fallen brother." The Bellatrix is one of eight fast sealift vessels that have served as the backbone for materiel transpor­ tation to and from the Persian Gulf theater. All of the fast sealift ves­ sels are under contract to Bay Ship Management for the Military Sealift Command. Each is capable of speeds up to 33 knots. Chief Cook Herbert Ladson keeps an eye on stove while fixing dinner. OS Darren McCabe chips on wall to prepare surface for painting. Saifsm Resairisis Can Get Benefits V®!' •' f'-4 "•' f'/' ,:<', m'-~" '• a - •' Chief Steward Clarence Coleman plans future meals for Bellatrix crew. Bosun Thomas Bluitt takes break from ship's vyork |n the galley. Assistant Cook Robert Wilcox pre­ pares vegetables for dinner. Relaxing in crew's mess is Junior Engineer Kurt Parker. Junior Engineer Raul Wolfe checks gauges in engineroom. It's coffee-break time for Junior En­ gineer W.C. Blakenship. r--,. \ ' i\-" • ''ilrl,' : f-' '.?• •: . U.S.O. Honors Merchant Marine Recertified Steward Alvin Robinson Jr. re­ ceives, on behalf of all merchant mariners who served in the Persian Gulf, a special ^aque of thanks from the U.S.O. during a picnic on the White House grounds after the National Victory Parade held in Wash­ ington, D.C. in June. Robinson, who march^ in the parade, sailed aboard the Califomia, an RRF veissel. AB David Crisp (on ladder) guides basket with OS Charles Moll from Bellatrix onto deck of waiting Spanish tugboat. S.f' Jiy -v' ' • SIU members who were called into the military reserves during the Persian Gulf conflict will maintain their welfare ben­ efits thanks to a recent ruling by the trustees of the Seafarers Wel­ fare Plan. Under normal circumstances, in order to be eligible for welfare benefits, a member must have shipped for at least 120 days in the previous calendar year be­ fore his or her claim arose. The trustees noted SIU members called into the reserves may not have completed 120 days of shipping during the 1990 calen­ dar year to fulfill their eligibility. The new policy adopted for these reservists allows theni to maintain the eligibility for bene­ fits they had at the time when they were called up provided the individuals ship out as Seafarers within 90 days of being dis­ charged from active duty. To be eligible for maintaining benefits, a Seafarer must present the discharge showing the date he or she was released from ac­ tive duty when registering to ship out with the union. If there is a question concerning eligibil­ ity, Seafarers should contact a port agent or the Seafarers Wel­ fare Plan in Camp Springs, Md. Here is an example of what the ruling means to a Seafarer who served as a military reserv­ ist in the gulf: A member who also is a military reservist is called into active duty because of Operation Desert Shield on Sep­ tember 1,1990. He has sailed 92 days in 1990 before being called up. He stays on active duty until June 15, when he is discharged. He goes to the union hall to reg­ ister and presents his military discharge. He catches a job and si^s aboard a vessel June 29. By being employed within 90 days of his military discharge, the plan v/ill pick up his eligibility at 92 days, meaning he will ne^ oitly 28 sailing days to mwt^ -eligibility for the coming year. �VT'V'"' ' "i:- VII/GUSr 799J 13 .-,-..:.^j£~4' vi.srT'-; "-.H r .•*,-»'i.-=^!»:= Bosun Carter Clocks in With New, Profitable Hobby teAilc- SIU member James Carter kids his shipmates about his latest hobby. "I always tell the captain and mates I've got my own busi­ ness and I don't even get dirty run­ ning it," Carter recently told a reporter from the Seafarers LOG. Carter's new "business" is mak­ ing and selling clocks, and it combines with another of his pastimes: pho­ tography. The 39-year-old re­ certified bosun is a self-taught cameraman clock and maker, and he Carter even has man­ aged to make those hobbies nomi­ nally profitable. Carter, who joined the SIU in 1971 and sails from the port of Wilmington, Calif., took up pho­ tography a few years ago, some­ what by accident. A shipmate had purchased an expensive array of camera equipment but decided to sell it. "The guy wanted to get rid of the equipment, and it was a re­ ally good bargain, so I bought it," Carter recalled. "I picked up some photography magazines, and that's how I learned." Earlier this year, one hobby led to another. While onboard the SeaLand Developer in Alaska, Carter and AB Dave Guerre watched with appreciation as 20 or so eagles landed on the ship. Carter took some photographs and, wanting to create a showpiece rather than just frame the prints, later got the idea to make a clock. "I bought a drill press and some other tools and just taught myself," explained Carter, currently sailing on the Overseas Ohio. "Now I buy the clock parts in quantity.... I use an 8-by-lO photo with a good frame, plus a drill to tap through the glass." He sells the battery-operated clocks for $30. Once Carter has gathered all the components, he can make a clock in about one hour. What is the most enjoyable part about this newfound hobby? "I don't get dirty and I don't have any trouble selling them," Carter said with a laugh. "It's clean work." • Iraqi Bunker Buster (A Canine Refugee) by Christopher Robert Chubb i (The Seafarer and poet sails as a steward assistant, • most recently aboard the Flickertail State.) By our Marines he was found. within the abandoned hunker of the sands. From outfit to outfit he passed. on down to Al-Jabayl, until he met the arms of one of our ship's Army Re­ serve cargo handlers, Barbara. Was he named Buster aboard the Flickertail State for SCUD BUSTERS? for SADDAM BUSTERS? by Barbara. Buster looks as if to say, "It's no matter. -I •i. Buster looks scared, for bombs and shells once broke about him. Buster looks sad. Buster looks frightened. Buster looks unsure, for things he feels are still of an unsafe future. The enemy surely never made him test for nerve gas, about the bunker of the sands, for he is flying home, with Barbara. Buster is flying to his new home, of children and love.. with Barbara. •mm myi Bosun James Carter creates his clocks In about one hour apiece. As the photos aoe'from shells. above show, some are framed photographs, others are made Where Is the Recognition? Looking Back Over 40 Years In all the "updates" in the prog­ ress of the war in the Persian Gulf, and President Bush's speeches and news conferences, no mention, to my knowledge, has been made of the valuable contributions to the war effort by the U.S. merchant marine. I happen to be a retiree who waited, like many of my peeers, for 43 years for my honorable dis­ charge for helping to man the ships during World War 11 Surely the efforts during all the wars in which Seafarers played a part should be recognized in one way or another, and the greatest of these seems to be veterans status as well as the wages they eam and the occasional bonuses for plowing through floating mines and the dou­ ble dangers of subs a^ air attacks at sea while delivering the goods to the war zones. Clarence L. Cousins Butler, Pa. Roaming the streets at age 14, looking for work so I would help my mom put food on the table. Jobs are scarce. Era—1930. Employers' excuses are because of the depres­ sion, being too young, not having a relative working there... Kids back then had a lot of street smarts, but very little education. Reform schools and other prisons welcomed them with open arms. A few years later and with more education, I joined the Seafarers In­ ternational Union. That was the best decision of my life. The SIU became the best friend this kid ever had. It gave me hope and a promis­ ing future. Now 40 years later, I look back with a heart fiill of ^atitude. . . With the SIU, there is arbitration and a contract protecting your job. There are paid vacations, medical care for you and your families, also the opportunity to advance your ed­ ucation ... so you can climb the job ladder for promotion and higher pay. When retired, there is a pension plan and medical benefits that will balance out your medicare... Some politicians would like to take away the worker's right to strike. If you have no right to strike, then you have lost your power to bargain. Unions have worked hard and have taken many blood baths to get the working people the good things they take for granted today. You can be young and strong today. When you are older there are many medical needs that come along the way. Now in my later years I can say, "Thank you and God bless you" to Paul Hall and the many labor leaders for the fore­ thought that has taken the working people out of bondage and has given hope and respect for all hu­ manity. .. Raoul Cabrera Philadelphia, Pa. I would like to take time out to give great thanks to the Seafarers Welfare Plan. I would like to say how good they handled my medical claims. They paid every cent to the hospital, doctors and all the medi­ cal bills—which were big ones. I would also like to say that the Seafarers Welfare Plan has been commended by our local hospital and doctors as being very much on top when it comes to taking care of claims. I've been in the union for a long time. They have always been great to me. I will say to the young and the old: stick by your union and you will never regret it. I am very proud of the Seafarers International Union. Robert G. Taylor Mathews, Va. , p r>.., !i.V , ~ ••• sft'' r :;s •ft • m'Wym m My'- 11 •I mm i" ,'t - 4?:f 'Stick by Your Union' Buster looks scared. Buster looks short, sandy haired, cute, and in need of love. ^1'/ If'? Letters to the Editor LOG-A-RHYTHM •"Si!* rl;4^ -mk M-Mm v-i- . �' - - "V. •31 ''-^' ' ;•' v:f:-;:u ;••;; •".;,,3' ^ ^•- •'• '.:'r..,,jik-'] -V. r-^-5 - •, ' • ' " V.};• y.;| :-c v;;' iitr.'atoKs»3^te>Wi^.a»3^ :. ;•- vt, - i-t wil' '^!''r-'-- "V >3 '•• . •t-'l- :-•••, .'. •..•-•• • ; ..' ;.-•'•••,''xj-? .;, ;-i.-.-.. I- •</-.• ; -• „../^y.,,.'L ^ SEMHKKS LOG i ' " '" ^' 1- Z''i.. .'• t-er-i'r'f'i " / - •-. /' , :.\ •• }-:jr--.4^.i ^•^^. v''" "^"A^ f '*' •.'X ;,. • >-•' V.y-' r. • i'l "••' ... ^ '•".»••):•..•.••' - - " •' •_'' AUGUST 1991 '• ' •' • - m 7^3, • • .01- • •:: sf'.l, .,-;''/":V-:'..I '/A . •• / iiliiii I Seafarers Give High Marks To Benefits Meetings • :V-' • •:• " '' icV-"- >'•'••••"''iK-"' '!. • . .''ycfc''"' • -.^V ••..-,s—'r-^fc..! - i.\ •-'•'"•".is?"'••. . • vc- .S , ".'.wa- • ' 'i'•.•<-•<!,;-.'v3y' '.. • yy'^iyy'yy' • •. ymmm , i, . . V'i -'r ..-• -'.7;. ••• . s 7'7:y''-'77;:-. vS'77- "'-:'77j'-.'''3.y "•• - .....V• "J:yp,y•;'.,:.. V; ^•' Six More Benefits Taiks Sciieduied for 1991 Ail Seafarers, pensioners and their families are invited to at­ tend. Contact the union halls listed below for exact times of each session. Date City August 8 Thursday Baltimore (301) 327-4900 September 10 Tuesday New Orleans (504) 529-7546 September 13 Friday Honolulu (808) 845-5222 October 10 Thursday Jacksonville (904) 353-0987 November 7 Thursday San Juan December 6 Friday Algonac (313) 794-4988 •7^Is V"'" ••' ' Curtis Phillips waits for his cholesterol test results in Wil­ mington with his wife, Pamela, and son, Curtis III. . V • :. Pensioner Billy Smith (center), his step-son. Seafarer Marino Vivas, Vivas' wife Jo and their twins Joseph and Alan at the Philadelphia session. • -m Pensioner Pat Levine of Philadelphia listens to the proceedings. i. -•f'3^ f J it.'. Retired Bosun Kenny Roberts was on hand for the San Francisco session. AB Ted Williams asks about the pen­ sion program during the San Fran­ cisco meeting. Doctor Seid, of the Seafarers preferred provider clinic in San Francisco, talks with pensioner Linda Ruiz during a conference break. V. W Roger Taylor and his son Matthew (kneeling), John Joyce (left) and Robert Soltz pose for a photo while attending the Philadel­ phia benefits session. Mt Retiree Frank Barone listens to the Bosun R.A. Sipsui asks about the presentation. procedure for submitting claims. AB Jose Schneider Sr. brought his sons, Jeff (left) and Joe Jr. to the Philadelphia meeting. *<; ,, 1'y '3"-ci-^^3S.' 1 " . i." •a- 1:3>;yyY.?^ ft;; i'': ^ r'sj'yy^" ••'• Black-gang member David Diamond and son Jack In Philadelphia. The filing procedures for an SIU pension were discussed at the Philadephia talk. Pensioner Harold Raid was one of the retirees at the Philadelphia talk. San Francisco-based Seafarers, pensioners and families listen to Seafarers Welfare Plan Administrator Nick Marrone. Dredge Captain Dick Roel, pictured here with his wife Monica and sons Richard (left) and Alex, is one of many Seafarers who brought family members to the Philadelphia conference. : •••3.. ••• M'- 7 :-:7;.377rif777l'iS?%7 .... Joining member Joel Miller for blood pressure testing are his wife, Gloria; daughters, Ginnifir, Jinna and Jena§; and son, Joel. The welfare plans' newly contracted PPO, Im­ mediate Care Center, provided screenings for the mem­ bers and their families at the Wilmington session. 1*3 • f^,-••'• p. i:.-..i,..w'j-". '7 •• Others wait their tum while Jovencio Cabab Jr. gets his blood pressure tested, Retired member Eddie Kassa hits the deck in the San Francisco meeting to ask about applying his World War II military service to his benefits' credits. ' • 3 ' 3 ^»S;r'::;| ; jp', During the Philadelphia talk, retiree Harry Smith asks a question. Galley gang member Ray Fasslar Is pictured at the San Francisco sesson. y,V- ' . '--y. ymfyyyyy-'- I::.] rte- H.,.. iiv: • • f''i'•.y.'^";>r.;".,-f. 'yyy./•• ^t . Seafarers and their families pack the Philadelphia union hall for the benefits conference. (809) 721-4033 delphia conference. Hundreds of Seafarers and their families turned out for last month's benefits conferences in Philadelphia, San Fr^cisco and Wilmington, Calif. Seafarers, pensioners and their families are encouraged to attend any of the six remaining confer­ ences scheduled for 1991. Infor­ mation on the benefits talks is available at all union halls. •••• m An Educated Membership "We're here because our peo­ ple are not taking full advantage of the benefits available to them," Seafarers Plans Administrator Nick Marrone said at the Phila- t-^ '.'•C-^.J.' fc • SIU members are responding positively to the 1991 series of conferences which are designed to provide a full review of bene­ fits available through the Seafar­ ers various plans. The sessions which began in May and wrap up in December, are open to all Sea­ farers, SIU pensioners and family members, and they coincide with the union's monthly membership meetings. In surveys taken at the first half-dozen conferences, mem­ bers consistently rated the pro­ gram well above average. On a scale of 0 to 4 (with 4 a perfect score), members gave the confer­ ences in Houston, Philadelphia, New York, St. Louis, Mobile, Ala., and Norfolk, Va. a mean score of 3.59. "They answered a lot of ques­ tions," said retiree Frank Barone, who attended the Phila­ delphia conference on July 10. "They explained a lot of things which some of the men here didn't understand before, like de­ pendent coverage and pension in­ formation." William Finhandler, who ships in the steward department and attended the conference in Wilmington, Calif, on July 22, described the program as "very thorough. I thi^ it's a good idea to verbally go through every­ thing, because people don't al­ ways take the time to read all the information that's available. I know I learned a lot." "We just wanted to leam more • about the coverage," said Monica Roel, who attended the Philadel­ phia session with her husband, dredge captain Dick Reel. "It's tough to find time to read the ben­ efits books, and anyway, things change. It's nice to know what's covered." ., , •• -:J. '7"'f'"''' • - ••"••'• AL �SEAFMttS LOG Wi. Dispatcheis' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16-JULY 15, 1991 Meetiags; Deep Sea, takes. Inland Waters TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C •TOTAL REGISTERED AU Groi Class A Class B Class C Trip eliefs ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Kney Point Tuesday. September 3 : . Monday, Obtober T Tuesday, September 3 Tuesday, October 8 Philadelphia Wednesday, September 4 Wednesday, October 9 Baltimore Thursday, September 5 Thursday, October 10 I'i . Norfolk iThursday, Septembe 5 sicfSIWl Thursday, October 10 Jacksonville Thursday, September 5 Thursday, October 10 ,. ' Algonac Friday, September 6 Friday, October 11 Houston Monday, September 9 Monday, October 14 New Orleans Tuesday, September 10 i Tuesday, October 15 Mobile Wednesday, September 11 Wednesday, October 16 San Francisco Thursday, September 12 Thursday, October 17 Wilmington Monday, September 16 Monday, October 21 Seattle Friday, September 20 Friday, October 25 San Juan Thursday. September 5 Thursday, October 10 St. Louis Friday, September 13 Friday. October 18 Honolulu Friday, September 13 Friday, October 18 Ouluth Wednesday, September 11 Wednesday, October 16 -Tvv;. • 1^' / I V 'z-y :',T /-JV '• Vj's Vfei'atfArj ;:v, I-:,!- Wednesday, . ^ Wednesday, October 23 New Bedford Tuesday. September 17 Tuesday, October 22 ' '4, y 'X- part's mmfks Starts 9t Personals HERMAN BYRD Please contact James Holtz at 1001 Texas Ave., Suite 500, Hous­ ton, TX 77002 or caU (713) 2241655. TO JAMES E. lORCHNER As announced in the LOG, upon your retirement, all the brothers and sisters of Ac SS Cape Clear send you the best of wishesand the hairiest of times upon your retitemenL Of all the years, all places and all the ships you*ve sailed upon and all the brothers and sisters you've met along this padi of life, we're sure there ate some fond memories of times gone by. Not only from the brothers and sisters of the SS Cape Clear, but also fioin and on bdialf of all the brothers and sisters in our walk of life, from our hearts, may God bless you with a long and pro^xrous life. .. New York 43 : 0 2 4 3 Piney Point Algonac Totals Totals All Departments 2 :nlMM&m 5 2 9 11 10 12 2 8 9 0 0 78 30 1 188 3 0 375 0 0 62 55 0 180 610 478 667 503 425 jl I mm yWzy 4 13 6 0 0 0 512 135 894 518 654 •"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 1,575 jobs were diipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,575 jobs 503 jolK or o about 32 percent were taken by seniority members. The rest were filled by and seniority people. From June 16 to July 15, a total of 135 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief proeram began on April 1, 1982, a total of 14,396 jobs have been shipped. w '•r; 13 ^ ssigSl �AUGUST 1991 17 '.-.V^-'^-ri ThB Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes! as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some vdilbe omitM. ; Ships minutes are reviewed iyy the union's contract department. Those Issues requiring att^tlon or resolution are addressed by the union uppn i^lfiUpf the ships minutes. CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), March 27 — Chairman Carlos Canaies, Secretary Michael Pooler, Deck Delegate E. Schaffhauser, Engine Delegate Mark Stewart, Steward Delegate Antionette King Canaies. Chairman reported those crewmembers with at least six months' time onboard will be compensated for travel expenses home. Educational direc­ tor noted ship missing certain light bulbs, told crewmembers to meet with department heads about any electrical problems in cabins. Treasurer listed $409 in movie fund. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew inquired about restriction to ship while anchored in Saudi Arabia. Crew commended captain and noted March 14 wedding of Canaies and King. Crew had hot received any is­ sues of Seafarers LOG since Christmas. Reported mail service quite slow. Crewmembers were reminded to sepa­ rate plastic from other trash. Crew thanked steward department. Next port: Ad Damman, Saudi Arabia. CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), May 26 — Chairman L.N. Jones, Secretary N. Evans, Educational Director BJ. Ball, Deck Delegate J.B. Groby, Engine Dele­ gate R.L. Rodgers, Steward Delegate J.S. Mendoza. Chairman reported cap­ tain thanked crew for good performance. Chairman asked everyone to donate to SPAD and keep rec room and mess clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department, asked everyone to minimize noise in passage­ ways. Next port: Houston. BALDOMERO LOPEZ(Amsea), May 13 — Chairman B. Johnson, Secretary G. Kenny, Educational Director B. Amost. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment for clarification on restriction pay and hazardous duty pay. Chairman an­ nounced payoff and upcoming ports. Ed­ ucational director expounded on importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $25 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew glad to receive Seafarers LOG. Crew informed headquarters of sugges­ tions for future contract negotiations. ' ' > l.i ''1 ', . • /•- c JULIUS HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding). May 26 — Chairman David Zurek, Secretary C. Miles, Engine Dele­ gate Randy Snay. Educational director urged members to upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported lack of launch service. Crew thanked gal­ ley gang for excellent work. V'- -ni .'U' ... CAPE FAREWELL (IMC), May 19 — Chairman John Thompson, Secretary V. Wallen, Educational Director James Hall, Deck Delegate Tim Fitzgerald, Engine Delegate Henry Hall, Steward Delegate Ruti deMont. Crew received message from headquarters clarifying base pay allotments. Crewmembers said they appreciate prompt reply and sup­ port. Educational director urged Crewmembers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported no money in ship's fund and noted company had not provided any movies. Deck delegate re­ ported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Steward delegate said outdoor barbecues,coming soon. Crewmembers asked all SIU ships to comply with dress code in dining areas. Crew reported air conditioning and heating system not working properly. Steward department was thanked for good meals and service. OMI CHAMPION (OMI Corp.), May 28 — Chairman Bernard Saberon, Sec­ retary Paul Burke, Educational Director Daniel Beeman, Deck Delegate Ken­ neth Hallman, Engine (Delegate Octavianus Pariana, Steward Delegate Ralph Edmonds. Crew asked for reply on restriction to ship in A1 Jubayl. Educa­ tional director encouraged everyone to at­ tend Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked con­ tracts department for clarification on if ^ 4 ivr •(••• : CHARLES L. BROWN (TransOceamc Cable), May 30 — Chairman J. Har­ rington, Secretary Brenda Kamiya, Ed­ ucational Director Boh Stearman, Deck Delegate Leif Thqrkvammen, Engine Delegate James Gruszeczka, Steward Delegate Gregory Rice. Chairman re­ minded crew that benefits team is work­ ing way from port to port holding seminars and will arrive in Honolulu September 13. He said lounge had new VCR and it should be treated with care. He noted piatrolman will visit ship at next payoff. Educational director said TV antenna has been repaired and is in good shape. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported by engine or steward delegates. Chairman read letter from pension plan concerning dates of pension increase. Crew suggested moving ice machine from galley to mess hall. Crewmembers were reminded that tank tops and cutoff shirts are not allowed in mess during meal hours. Next port: Honolulu. FALCON DUCHESS (SeahawkManagement). May 30 — Chairman M. Galhraith. Secretary Royce Bozeman, Deck Delegate Doug Hodges, Engine Delegate John Penrose, Steward Dele­ gate A. Falcon. Secretary asked con­ tracts department for clarification on steward department staffing. Educational director noted importance of upgrading - .••of..- Former Lundeberg School classmates Delonda Hill, steward assistant (left), and KimOasto, assistant cook, team up again as part of the galley crew aboard the Flickertail State. This photo was taken during the ship's recent stopover in Long Beach, Calif, following a run to the Persian Gulf and back. LNG AQUARIUS (ETC), June 2 — Chairman John P. Davis, Secretary MJ. Ruggiero, Educational Director Otis L. Sessions, Deck Delegate Paul Jagger, Engine Delegate Marcos Hill, Steward Delegate Frank Martin. Chair­ man reviewed SIU President Michael Sacco's President's Report in LOG on runaways. Chairman said members should submit articles to local newspa­ pers to increase awareness. Educational director noted upgrading helps both the individual and the union. Treasurer re­ ported $325 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers re­ viewed proper use of laundry facilities. Crew thanked galley gang for great Job. Next port: Tobata, Japan. LNG TAURUS (ETC), May 12 — Chairman John Japper, Secretary Fran­ cis E. Ostendarp, Educational Director Charles Mispagel, Steward Delegate Malcolm Holmes. Captain spoke to crew about disposal of plastics, also let crew know how ship's fund is being spent. Chairman wished everyone a good tour. Educational director said up­ grade whenever possible. Treasurer re­ ported $1,000 in ship's fund and roughly 500 videos aboard ship. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. NUEVO SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico Ma­ rine), May 20 — Chairman Manuel Silva, Secretary C. Seawell, Educational Director C. Gallagher, (Deck Delegate Robert Kirk, Engine Delegate Roberto Rodriguez, Steward Delegate B.T. McEleny. Chairman spoke about bills length of contracts. Ship needs fumigation to get rid of bugs. Crewmembers gave vote of thanks to steward department. OM/COL£/MSM (OMI Corp.), May 15 — Chairman Howard Gibbs, Secretary C.R. Moss, Educational Director C.T. ^ Kirchhoffer, Deck (Delegate N. Doucet, Engine Delegate G. Thompson, Steward Delegate Anthony Rivera. Chairman re­ ported payoff and layup in Portland, Ore. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Arm­ chairs need repair. Crewmembers were thanked for cleanliness. They extended vote of thanks to galley gang. OMI DYNACHEM(OMI Corp.), May 12 — Chairman Israel Bonefont, Secre­ tary C.N. Johnson, Steward Delegate Joe Clark. Chairman asked crewmembers to refrain from smoking during mealtime. Treasurer listed $93.68 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment to look into possible increase of op­ tical and dental benefits. Ship needs new ice machine and additional door locks. Crewmembers thanked steward depart­ ment for good Job. OMI HUDSON (OMI Corp.), May 19 — Chairman Leon T. Jekot, Secretary S. Wagner, Educational Director M.R. Williams, Deck Delegate Vernon John­ son, Engine Delegate C. Kirksey, Stew­ ard Delegate Randy Stephens. Chairman said ship still had not received word from company regarding extra dryer. He said crew would remain aboard ship when in drydock in Mobile, Ala. for 10-12 days. Deck and steward delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reprorted by engine delegate. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment to look into possibility of having legal dependents automatically covered by welfare plan. Ship needs new an­ tenna. Crewmembers thanked steward department. •: f • ' Continued on page 20 V ^ - ,> • Classmates Team Up Again Aboard Fllckertall State LIBERTY SUN (Liberty Maritime), May 13 — Chairman Perry Green­ wood, Secretary Jerome Johnson, Deck Delegate Lester Hoffman, Engine Dele­ gate Willie Franks, Steward Delegate T. Bell. Chairman asked departing crewmembers to clean rooms and tum in keys. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Engine del­ egate reported disputed OT. •• • .-.rv CAPE cob (OMI Corp.), May 12 — CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), April 7 — Chairman Carlos Canaies, Secretary Mi­ chael Pooler, Deck Delegate E. Schaffhauser, Engine Delegate Mark Stewart, Steward Delegate Antionette King Canaies. Chairman reported ship received issues of Seafarers LOG. He said electrician would \\ork on antenna. Educational director encouraged upgrad­ ing at Piney Point and SPAD participa­ tion. Treasurer reported $409 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Houston. AMERICAN EAGLE (Pacific Gulf Ma­ rine), May 12 — Chairman Bill East­ wood, Secretary Kevin Deegan. Treasurer listed $400 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew listed two water coolers inoperative, also said coffee maker needed repair. Crew asked contracts department for clarifica­ tion on war pay and restricted-to-ship pay. Crew thanked galley gang for good work. GOLDEN ENDEA VOR (American Maritime Transport), May 19 — Chair­ man Glen James, Secretary Louis Pion, Deck Delegate Carl Sands, Engine Dele­ gate W. Marshall, Steward Delegate Donald Meder. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked to keep lounge clean and requested ice machine not be locked by chief engineer. Crewmembers thanked galley gang for Job well done. before Congress which may revitalize maritime industry. He urg^ members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and en­ couraged donations to SPAD. He urged crewmembers and their families to at­ tend upcoming benefits conferences. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew asked wel­ fare plan for quick medical payments. Crew gave vote of thanks to SA Arthur Rubinstein. Chairman Jim Higgins, Secretary Ste­ phen Bates, Deck Delegate Roger Flaud, Engine Delegate William Har­ ris, Steward Delegate Ron Hall. Chair­ man asked for clarification on war bonus, gave thanks to galley gang for fine job. Secretary thanked deck depart­ ment for good work, with special thanks to former Bosun Ervin Bronstein. Trea­ surer listed $300 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew expressed great satisfaction with ship and work. OMI SACRAMENTO (Vulcan Carri­ ers), March 10 — Chairman Ray Gorju, Secretary David Der, Educational Direc­ tor V.L. Kirksey, Deck Delegate Larry D. McGanto, Engine Delegate Ronald Gordon, Steward Delegate John S. Fos­ ter. Crew reported it had not received short-wave radio or new toaster. Chair­ man noted ship due in Africa March 16. He recomended upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment. Crew received general reminder and warning about danger of AIDS. CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), April 15 — Chairman Carlos Canaies, Secretary Michael Pooler, Deck Delegate E. Schaffhauser, Engine Delegate Mark Stewart, Steward Delegate Antionette King Canaies. Chairman thanked head­ quarters for communications and Seafar­ ers LOGs. He said crewmembers received war bonus. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang: Steward/Baker Pooler, Chief Cook Danilo Soriano, SAs Edgar Colcol, Larry Bachelor, Roily Acosta and SA King Canaies. at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked headquarters to find out why company is not ordering re­ placements. Crew and officers extended vote of thanks to relief steward. ' •mt , �•• / ip " r-' -'TI—' :'r- '••X' SIAFARCRSLOG Dispatchers* Report lot Great Lakes CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes I NP—Non Priority JUNE 16-JULY 15, 1991 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 11: ••-•'• Unkm Wntloiy Port TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Ail Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP "P DECK DEPARTMENT 1 r-i > ENTRY DEPARTMENT Totals All Departments 0 61 0 0 0 0 : 0 81 13 0 52 28 59 *"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* Report for Iniand Wators JUNE 16-JULY 15, 1991 ti •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port #?' • TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT • W'M.-^ Totals I'I >' •• ••Mr-: ': yr ' I'O '."•' ' '." "' • . , fe': • 19 14 2 6 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port ' New York ! Philadelphi Norfolk Mobile New Orleans i' 1 •! laeksoriYrl San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico 'Slfli y.^lri/jv f ' - ^ ^1.- :• I / Totals All Departments 62 5 20 20 2 8 193 16 30 •"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?.' , .. Michael Sacco Secretary-Treasurer John Fay ;,:;':j|xdcutive Vice-'Priiident Joseph Sacco Vice Piresident CoUective Bargaining Angus ''Red" Campbell Vice President West Coast George McCartney Vice President Government Services Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Atlantic Coast ; ; Jack Caffey Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters ByronKdley Vice President Gulf Coast 5i-'y-;;Deiai' •Corgey'yyV • HEADQUARTERS I'-' A-V'J fj I -r''C 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC , 520 St. Clair River Dr. AJgonac, MI 48001 ; (313) 794-4988 ' • BALTIMORE 12J6:E.,, Baltimore:St, Baltiihore, MD 21202 (301) 327-4900 (301)327-4900 DULUTH ' , ,705 Medical. Arts PiuldingklSigltl: DuluthTMN 55802 " •. J (218)722-4110 HONOLULU 606 uw Kalihi i%.«uiui »:»ucci Street „ .... Honolulu. HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. ; Houston, TX 77002 ... ,5. (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 7013(L" (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK ' 675 Fourth Ave. ..... .. Brooklyn. NY 11232 • (718)499-6600 7-' . - . '-7-- NORFOLK ir 115 Third Third St St. Norfolk ,VA 23510 (804)622-1892 • PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St ' .2604.-s.:4:iti_,., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215)336-381^"*" ; V, . .PINEY POINT' ^ ""r P.O. Box 75 Ptney Point, MD 20674 (301)994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 , 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) 752-65(K): : ; WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (213) 549-4000 !ii SK'i-A.c',• ...A.'V'. X - 'VNyif^y ; �AUGUST 1991 T he Seafarers Pension Plan an­ nounces the retirement of 26 members this month. Nineteen of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, while seven sailed in the inland division. Deck department member Wil­ liam F. O'Brien has been a member longer than any of the others who are retiring. Brother O'Brien joined the Seafarers in 1943. . At 71, galley gang member Thomas W. Sims is the oldest of the new pensioners. Brief biographical sketches of these and the other new pensioners follow: 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. GREGORY KELLY, 65, joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of Seattle. A na­ tive of Canada, he shipped in the deck department. Brother Kelly resides in Califomia. DEEP SEA MIEKOJ. BERRY, 66, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1956 in the port of Mobile, Ala. A native of Mississippi, he sailed in die en­ gine department. Brother Berry has retired to Florida. EDWARD BROOKS, JR., 57, joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of New Orleans. He shipped in the steward depart­ ment and upgraded in 1977 at the Lundeberg School. Brother Brooks served in the Army from 1952 to 1956. He resides in his native New Orleans. J.C. BURNETT, 58, joined the union in 1958 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Burnett was a member of the black-gang. He lives in his na­ tive state of Alabama. ANTHONY DEBELICH, 64, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1948 in the port of New York. Bom in Ohio, Brother Debelich sailed in the deck department. He calls Co­ lumbus, Ohio home. JOHN J. DMOCHOWSKY, 66, joined the SIU in 1978 in the port of De­ troit. He shipped in the steward de­ partment. Brother Dmochowsky is a veteran of the Navy (1942-46). He retired to his na­ tive state, Michigan. LESTER FREEBURN, 66, joined the union in 1968 in the port of Wil­ mington, Calif. Bom in Oklahoma, he sailed in the deck department, and completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1981. Brother Freebum served in the Navy from 1942 until 1946. He lives in Pheland, Calif. SM r: DURELL L. McCORVEY, 63, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1946 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Georgia native sailed in the deck depart­ ment, upgraded frequently and be­ came a bosun after completing course work at the Lundeberg School in October 1975. He has re­ tired to Gibsonton, Fla. DON H. McKINNEY,63, joined the union in 1965 in the port of Detroit. Bom in West Vir­ ginia, he shipped in the deck de­ partment. Brother McKinney up­ grade at the Lundeberg School in October 1978 and is a veteran of both the Navy (1944-46) and Air Force (1950-59). He lives in Mon­ roe, Mich. PAUL J. MONAHAN, 69, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Chi­ cago. A native of Pennsylvania, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Monahan served in the Ma­ rine Corps from 1941 to 1947. He re­ sides in Ellenville, N.Y. WILLIAM F. O'BRIEN, 66, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1943 in the port of New York, in his na­ tive state. The deck department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School, including 1974 when he graduated from the bosun recertification program. He has retired to Brooklyn, N.Y. WILLIAM OMELANCZUK, 65, joined the union in 1954 in the port of New York. iBom in Newark, N.J., he sailed in the deck department. Brother Omelanczuk served in the Army in 1943. He lives in Largo, Fla. DON SHINE, 53, joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of Mo­ bile, Ala. Brother Shine shipped in the engine depart­ ment, and in 1978 he upgraded at the Lundeberg School. A veteran of the Navy (1959-63), he retired to his native state of Alabama. BILL L. SIDEROFF, 65, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1965 in the port of Seattle. Bom in Washing­ ton, he was a member of the deck department. Brother Sideroff served in the Navy from 1943 to 1962. He calls Seattle home. EDWARD SIN­ GLETON, 63, joined the union in 1955 in the port of New York. He shipped in the galley gang, and in 1960 received a safety award for his work aboard the SS Steel Voyager. Brother Singleton served in the Army from 1952 until 1954. He has retired to his native Mobile, Ala. HARRY A. SMITH, 63, joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania native sailed in the deck depart­ ment and in 1977 upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Smith served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He resides in Coatville, Pa. • THOMAS VEN­ TURA, 65, joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. A native of Pitts­ burgh, Pa., he shipped in the gal­ ley gang. Brother Ventura served in the Army from 1945 to 1947. He calls Tucson, Ariz. home. INLAND i, PAUL J. BROWN SR., 66, joined the Seaf^ers in 1966 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. Bom in West Virginia, he sailed as a chief mate. Boatman Brown served in the Army from 1943 to 1945. He lives in Florida. PAUL R. CALEBAUGH, 62, joined the union in 1946 in the port of Balti­ more. The native of Maryland shipped as a cap­ tain. Boatman Calebaugh served in the Army from 1951 until 1953. He has retired to Puerto Rico. VANDAL D. CRAIN SR., 62, joined the Seafarers in 1977 in the port of New Orleans. A native of Ha­ waii, he sailed in the engine depart­ ment. Boatman Grain resides in Bonifay, Fla. ' J: ••'i:" turn .-'•I' 4''a, -• !•>••• mmrm ' - •l. 'I.:-.•.-.I;. '• '• ;¥•••• — 'W' WALTER J. MOSKAL, 62, joined the union in 1977 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He was bom in Poland and, sailed in the gal­ ley gang. Boatman Moskal served in the Navy from 1948 until 1968. He lives in Virginia Beach, Va. NICOLA TAGUAMBURIS, 64, joined the union in 1963 in the port of Balti­ more. Brother Tagliamburis was bom in Greece and sailed in the black-gang. He has retired to Baltimore, Md. THOMAS W. SIMS, 71, joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. He shipped in the steward depart­ ment and from 1941 to 1947 served in the Navy. A native of Alabama, Boatman Sims now resides in Flintville, Tenn. •j-- . 'i ^ J:; JK: 4 EDWARD HATTAWAY, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1958 in the port of New York. He shipped in the deck department, Boatman Hattaway has retired to his native state of Georgia. JOSEPH F. SPIRITO, 68, joined the Seafar­ ers in 1957 in the ^ port of New York. Bom in Pennsylvania, he shipped as a chief cook. Brother Spirito served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. He lives in Jacksonville, Fla. -d. --A:.- •.-L JOSEPH FINLEY, 61, joined the union in 1960 in the port of his native New York. He sailed as a cap­ tain. From 1951 to 1953, Boatman Finley served in the Army. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. I ':.:i •• �iMi • ... • . ••. • !• . ,::£,v 4 'tA''-fi'-''^',.i.v •• • it yA. . • j"'.- • •• I '« r. *' i' . : •• ! •• ^ - V- SEAfAROIS LOG *- i •..n-5- V'^ '. Crew said not enough room in crew lounge. ''' Continuedfivm page 17 •--y'h\ -' f'.-f k '-•K MW'§4c-i/i f -4>m-- 0^£/7S£45>IHC77C (Maritime Over­ seas), May 8*— Chairman J.M. Zepeda, Secretary E. Hoitt, Educational Director Jack Singletary, Deck Delegate Tim Olvany, Engine Delegate Andrew Lopez, Steward Delegate R. Blum. Chairman announced payoff in Nederland, Texas May 11. Educational direc­ tor said seafarers should take advantage of opportunities at Lundeberg School. Deck and engine delegates reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported by steward delegate. Crew said lounge needs new furniture, asked for in­ formation about new drug testing law and also requested clarification about permanent jobs in deck department. Crew thanked steward department for good work. •V):. A •;••.• I .'• '•..' •' •,4'''.' .'.•"In-v •*P&:v^ •„ fk ' • u : '"C-., ' 'r-'' ::.i OMI MISSOURI (OMl Corp.), May 5 — Chairman C. Francum, Secretary C. Michael Davalie. No beefs or disputed OT reported. QMED Harold Whightsll left ship due to death in family. ' OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Maritime Overseas), May 11 — Chairman Al -Caulder, Secretary Carlito Navarro, Educational Director Mark Sawin. Sec­ retary said crew did good job keeping ship clean. Educational director re­ minded everyone to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate re­ ported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew said linens and mess chairs are inadequate, also mail is not ar­ riving in timely manner. Crew thanked, steward department for good work. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. /?OVE/? (Vulcan Carriers), May 12 — Chairman D. Ellette, Secretary E. Har­ ris, Educational Director C. Dunnavant, Deck Delegate M. Santana, Engine Del­ egate K. DeSue, Steward Delegate C. Johnson. Chainrian reported ship would be in Singapore long enough to take on stores, discharge slops and relieve some crewmembers. He said many safety items needed repairs. Educational direc­ tor stressed safety and encouraged every­ one to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer announced purchase of TV. Deck dele­ gate reported one AB hospitalized in Okinawa. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew discussed retirement and welfare benefits, as well as contract. SANTA ANAiOMl Corp.), May 12 — Chairman Daniel Laitinen, Secretary Carroll Kenny, Educational Director P. Walker, Deck Delegate David Fasan, Engine Delegate Lou Anderson, Stew­ ard Delegate Allen Van Buren. Chair­ man reported payoff May 13 in Georgia. Educational chairman emphasized impor­ tance of upgrading. Treasurer noted ship's fund kept in safe. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Chairman and stew­ ard thankqd crew for helping keep ship clean. Chairman reminded those signing off to clean rooms. Crew extended over­ whelming vote of thanks to steward de­ partment. SCAN (AMSEA), May 5 — Chairman S. Yaras, Secretary Keith Segree, Stew­ ard Delegate Harry Jones. Chairman en­ couraged upgrading. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew would like improved mail service. SEA-LAND ANCHORAGE (Sea Land Service), May 8 — Chairman Gary Walker, Secretary James Wright, Edu­ cational Director J. Ross, Deck Delegate Victor Peters, Engine Delegate William Pinkham, Steward Delegate William Bryley. Chairman atmounced payoff date and time, asked anyone signing off to clean room. No beefs or disputed OT reported. No communications received. Crew was asked to separate plastic from rest of trash. Crew thanked galley gang for good woik. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. RFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS (AMSEA), May 5 — Chairman Alvin McCants, Secretary William Bragg, Deck Delegate Mark Trepp, Engine Delegate Frank Jaworski, Steward Del­ egate Paul Domingue. Secretary re­ ported war bonus calculated and set to be paid at sign off. He said ship received LOGs regul^ly despite Persian Gulf war. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew was asked to help maintain lounge and other common areas, also keep ciga­ rette butts in proper place. Crew was re­ minded about separating trash. Steward department received vote of thanks ft-om crew and hardy "bravo-zulu" from mas­ ter and officers for outstanding perfor­ mance during Gulf conflict. Next port: Honolulu. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC (Sea-Land Service), May 6 — Chairman W.C. Byrd, Secretauy R.K. Ward, Educa­ tional Director John J. Ashley, Deck Delegate Francisco Rivera, Engine Del­ egate Juan Rodriguez. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. /?OVE/? (Vulcan Carrier), May 5 — Chairman D. Ellette, Secretary E. Har­ ris, Educational Director C. Dunnavant, Deck Delegate M. Santana, Engine Del­ egate A. Baredian, Steward Delegate R. Royals. Chairman announced crewmembers would receive 100 percent bonus for being in Persian Gulf. He re­ minded crew that shipping rules would revert to pre-war status. Treasurer said all funds were used to buy TV for unli­ censed crewmembers. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and steward delegates. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), May 12 — Chairman Roy Williams, Secretary H. Scypes, Ed­ ucational Director John Walsh, Engine Delegate V. Martinez. Chairman re­ ported he talked with captain about get­ ting new washing machine, also about adding person to steward department. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate reported need for additional help. Crew thanked galley gang for their efforts. Crew observed one minute of si­ lence for departed brothers and sisters. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. l§,h • Cape Farewell Gets Saudi Sendoff .i-:-''--. 'v'i- Crewmembers listen to Jacksonville Patrolman Anthony McQuay before the Cape Farewell sailed to Saudi Arabia. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (Sea-Land Service), May 26 — Chairman John Carnes, Secretary Norman Johnson, Educational Director Billy Waddell. Chairman thanked everyone for good trip. Said ship had a first-rate SIU gang onboard with no problems. Educational director thanked steward department and encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School, thereby increasing earning power. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers requested new mattresses, also asked contracts depart­ ment to explore possibility of increasing optical allowance and increasing dental coverage. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 24— Chairman J. Lundhorg, Secretary G. Bryant, Educa­ tional Director J. Jaramillo, Deck Dele­ gate Tim Smith, Engine Delegate R. Leyva, Steward Delegate H. Bourne. Chairman reported upcoming payoff. Ed­ ucational director reminded all members who will be on the beach in Seattle, Wash, to attend benenfits seminar and workshop July 25. Engine delegate re­ ported disputed OT. Deck and steward delegates reported no beefs or disputed OT. Crew suggested discontinuing the permanent ratings and returning them to rotary shipping status. Crew suggested changing the eight-month rule. Crew thanked steward department and re­ ceived thanks for helping keep ship clean. Crew pointed out drug testing con­ trol form must be signed by both collec­ tor and donor. Next port: Tacoma. SEA-LAND HA WAN (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 12 — Chairman and Secre­ tary Carrol Modellas, Educational Director D. Gorduis, Deck Delegate Fred Knappman, Engine Delegate S. Rollins. Chairman announced May 14 ar­ rival in Oakland, Calif, and payoff three days later in Long Beach, Calif. He re­ minded everyone to turn off TV after usage. He urged all crewmembers to up­ grade at Piney Point, report all hazard­ ous conditions while onboard ship and remember importance of SPAD dona­ tions. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Steward utility received standing ovation for keeping mess hall clean, crew also thanked rest of galley gang for job well done. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 12 — Chairman Oscar Wiley, Secretary D. Spangler, Educa­ tional Director S. Brown. Chairman urged everyone to read Seafarers LOG. He advised eligible crewmembers to up­ grade at Lundeberg School. Secretary told everyone to keep seatime up, also thanked crew for keeping lounge clean. Treasurer listed $30 in ship's fund. Stew­ ard delegate reported disputed OT both from current and previous voyage. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Crew suggested bridge chair be added for look-out who needs break during four-hour watch. Crew, asked for new washing machine and ex­ tended vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (Sea-Land Service), May 19 " Chairman B. Honlon, Secretary J. Jim, Educational Director S. Perdon. Treasurer listed $30 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave deck and steward departments vote of thanks for good job. SEA-LAND QUALITY (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 19 — Chairman B.R. Hobbs, Secretary J. Bennett, Educational Direc­ tor J. Fonville, Steward Delegate Bert WIntleld. Chairman reported good trip with no problems. He said chief engineer requests doors leading to outside decks be kept closed in order to keep inside house cool. Secretary warned members about dangers of drugs. Educational di­ rector said ship has educational movies onboard. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment for diligent work. Next port: Houstoti. • • , - At the Wheel In Saudi Arabia AB Timothy J. Dally does his part for Operation Desert Storm aboard the Green Valley in Saudi Arabia. Lough, Secretary Roscoe D. Williams, Deck Delegate Jack Alves, Engine Dele­ gate George Silva, Steward Delegate Leslie Propheter. Washing machine in­ stalled but not all thermostats have been repaired. Chairman thanked crew for good all-around work. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew said dryer needs repair. Crew thanked galley gang for good job. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 15 — Chairman Eddie Cain, Secretary Larry Lightfoot, Educational Director R. Clock, Engine Delegate G. Ackley, Steward Delegate Richard Garcea. Chairman reported payoff in Ta­ coma, Wash, on May 16. Secretary thanked crew for ship's upkeep. No beefs or disputed OT reported. All hands thanked Captain Robert Brooks for fur- , nishing ste^s at barbecues. Crew thanked steward department for good work, with special thanks to Chief Cook Manuel Basas in preparing his Oriental dishes. Crew wished AB Joe Violango happy retirement, thanked him for being fine shipmate. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land Service), May 5 — Chairman P. Glennon, Secretary F. Sison, Educa­ tional Director W. Hatchel, Deck Dele­ gates J.Smilari and B. Layko, Steward Delegate S.Thomas. Engine delegate re­ ported OT beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew comrhended galley gang for excel­ lent work. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEALIFTANTARCTIC (IMC), May 31 — Chairman Rick Davis, Secretary Michael Fields, Educational Director Fred Caltahiano, Engine Delegate Leo Payne. Chairman discussed correspon­ dence with Seattle port agent regarding unresolved need for new mattresses and galley repairs. He reminded crew about expiration of mariners documents. He welcomed new steward department and gave them vote of thanks. Educational di­ rector noted training films available in mate's office. He urged members to up­ grade at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $200 in ship's fund, said motion was passed to withdraw $100 for new mov­ ies. No beefs or disputed OT reported. STAR OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage­ ment), May 12— Chairman Gene Paschall, Secretary G. Marzett, Educa­ tional Director 1. Jackson, Deck Dele­ gate Charles Parman, Steward Delegate R. Jones. Chairman announced payoff set for May 20 in Houston. He said this was smooth voyage and also re­ minded everyone of importance of con­ tributing to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers scheduled to sign off were reminded to tum in lin­ ens and leave rooms clean. SEA-LAND SPIRIT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 21 — Chairman W.E. Continued on page 22 »SifSSSsiS;£-ia!:--, - ""'''-I ' 3 . • •• ' •.C:;''" i"--'-'/ • •' yuvi �AUGUST 1991 21 Seaffaier Question: What advice would you give to someone who is be­ coming a Seafarer? (Asked of SIU members at the union hall in Philadelphia, Pa.) Joseph Varano, Retired Wiper—As a matter of fact, I just gave some kid advice this morning. If you stick it out, it's good. It's a good opportunity. Just don't fool with drugs. George Roney, Able Bodied Seaman—Num­ ber one, don't go to any other union but the SIU, that's for sure. Number two, take advantage of the chances to upgrade. Number three, save your money! Also, don't take too much titne off be­ tween ships. Steve Mack, Steward Assis­ tant—Stick with it and up­ grade. It's good money, a chance to better yourself and a chance to see the world. Frank Barone, Retired Able Bodied Sea­ man—^It'sa good outfit, the SIU. Take ad­ vantage of the benefits you can get for upgrading. Plus, don't use narcotics, and abide by union regulations. JefTBeasley, Chief Cook—^If someone is going to be a Seafarer, he has to be sure that's what he wants. I'd say go for it. Save your money, that's the main key; I hear a lot of older guys say that. They made big money, but there are a lot of temptations. Jerry A. DeCola, Retired Messman—Get your time in and upgrade as fast as you can. Take advantage of our school. To be a good seaman is to be ded­ icated. Joe McGauley, QMED—Take advantage of the Lundeberg School, all the classes they have. Put an emphasis on safety. If they take advantage of the educational and safety stuff at Piney Point, they'll do very well. Peter Dudley, Able Bodied Seaman—^I'd say maximize your sea time and upgrade as promptly as possible. Kevin Merckx, Bosun—Plan on sticking With it. Reward yourself with some vacation time, and up­ grade as soon as you can. Harold Reid, Retired i3M£D—Num­ ber one, be able to make a good pot of coffee! Seriously, learn everything you can. Ask questions, because there's always someone who can help. •®fei Seafarer Honored as First Mariner To Give His Life in Desert Shield While many Americans re­ joiced at the remarkably small loss of life among U.S. forces involved in the Persian Gulf war, others spent Memorial Day remembering their loved ones who died in the line of duty. The family of Seafarer Mi­ chael Trimarco was one of those who remembered. Trimarco was the first U.S. merchant mariner, and one of the first Americans, to die when Oper­ ation Desert Shield began unload­ ing soldiers and materiel in Saudi Arabia in August 1990. The chief cook aboard the Advantage was killed instantly on the docks of Jiddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, when the truck in which he was riding was struck by another truck on August 20, 1990. Trimarco's mother, Phyllis Woolard, as well as his brothers, Blake and Craig, and sister, Gayle Peterson, attended the National Maritime Memorial Day service May 22 at the Washington Navy Yard. "It was a wonderful service," Woolard told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG from her Florida home. "It's about time maritime received the recognition it de­ serves." VI ...r-r- ; 1 V]trf'V:,f Michael Trimarco Vice Admiral Francis Dono­ van, commander-in-chief of the Military Sealift Command, pre­ sented Woolard with an Ameri­ can flag during the ceremony in honor and remembrance of Trimarco. "He loved his job," Woolard recalled. "He had a corkboard with a world map on it in his apart­ ment. He had a picture of every­ where he had been pinned to it." Trimarco, 29, started sailing in 1987 and shipped from the port of Piney Point. Bart Rogers, Seafar­ ers manpower director, remem­ bered him as "an excellent member and all-around good guy." •V ••-•.J,. i- -.4 ' •-'S:.'.hr- •• k VV -.n-: Aii'- ."VI'A'V '?• •4A V-.1v IVASS 1 . UPGRADE AT TilE NDEBERG School CDMTAfiTVoUl? UNIOM HALt BlRMOREhlbRMiaiON On Hand for Memorial Cruise Representing the SIU during the National Liberty Ship Memorial cruise on San Francisco Bay are (from left) AS Lyie Davis, West Coast VP George McCartney, Port Agent Nick Celona and FOWT Steve Biles. They are joined by Monsignor John Heaney (center). • '•I ,:i .'A;; , v.v./ A. m MSG Commander Francis Donovan presents Phyllis Woolard With an American flag in honor of her son. Seafarer Michael Trimarco, the first U.S. merchant mariner killed during Operation Desert Shield. Watching the ceremony are (from left) Trimarco's sister, Gayle Peterson, and brothers Blake and Craig. • "i �iffntaniiias: StAfAREKS LOG 22 % 'i' :• f I Ships Pig€^> Continued from page 20. •i:ir.'-. SUGAR ISLANDER (Pacific GulfMa­ rine), May 6 — Secretary M.K. Mueller. Educational director suggested upgrading at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported company agreed to replace microwave. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Honolulu. y-1 . "t , THOMPSON PASS (Inter-Ocean Man­ agement), May 19 — Chairman James Colson, Secretaiy Floyd King, Educa­ tional Director Steven Byerley, Steward Delegate Larry Lopez. Secretary thanked all departments for cooperation, and reminded delegates to collect union books. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. } '• f '-• f USNS ALGOL (Bay Tankers), May 12 — Chairman Doug Lawton, Secretary Leslie Downs. Crew discussed distribut­ ing videotapes to all departments so ev­ eryone may view them. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked for clarification regarding imminent danger pay. Crew thanked steward department for thorough painting and cleaning of ship's interior. k. fonso Dixon. Chairman announced change in OT rate. He reminded every­ one to separate trash, keep hatches closed and don't slam doors. Secretary inquired about danger pay. Jeff Hoff­ man was nominated for educational di­ rector. Treasurer listed $619 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. USNS WILKES (Mar Ship Operators), May 7 — Chairman Chris Compton, Secretary Ben Henderson, Deck Dele­ gate John O'Neal, Engine Delegate Dennis Riley, Steward Delegate Abdel Mohamed. Chairman said he would con­ tact contracts department regarding more timely provision releases by company. Secretary listed $169 in ship's fund. Edu­ cational director recommended upgrad­ ing at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Wilkes scheduled to begin re-crewing on May 8. Next port: Pusan, Korea. EQUALITY STATE aOM), June 9 — Chairman Willis Gregory, Secretary Ste­ ven Parker, Educational Director L. Daniels. Chairman read letter from head­ quarters which stated company has been made aware of needed repairs. He noted inost repairs had been done and two washers were onboard. Chairman ad­ vised members once again of captain's warning conceriiing shore time in Tur­ key. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Steward del­ egate reported beef. Crew was asked to minimize noise in sleeping areas and lounge, assist in keeping mess hall and rec room clean and properly dispose of trash. GREEN VALLEY(Waterman Steam­ ship), June 2 — Chairman W. Kratsas, Secretary C. Scott, Educational Director J. Burkette, Deck Delegate Hugo Dermody, Engine Delegate John Newhouse, Steward Delegate S. Scott. Chair­ man announced upcoming payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. •'iJv''''5i' i. iv }. • Crew Calls It a 'River Party' Enjoying the "river party" cbokout aboard the Cape Bon are AS Chris Wood, Wiper Robbie Moore, 2nd Mate John Ahern and AS Mark Hoiman. •V- -V: kym.my: 4 -11^- ' *1- f - A., * _' . USNS BELLATRIX(Bay Tankers), May 19 — Secretary Cairence Cole­ man, Deck Delegate Darrin McCabe, Steward Delegate Herbert Ladson. Members discussed need for TV and VCR in aft house, also noted lack of ath­ letic equipment. Chairman thanked crew for keeping work areas clean and also stressed importance of safety. Secretary thanked union for providing copies of Seafarers LOG at Suez Canal. Mucational director urged all members to up­ grade at Piney Point as soon as possible. Deck delegate thanked galley gang for job well done. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. Bosun and AB thanked crew and offi­ cers for donations to sick crewmember hospitalized in Spain. Next port: Wil­ mington, N.C. USNS CAPELLA (Bay Tankers), May 13 — Chairman Jim Dawson, Secretary M. Askins, Deck Delegate Robert Adams, Steward Delegate Barbara Por­ ter. Chairman reported ship is well-kept. Educational director encouraged every­ one to upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked for clarification on war bonus. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment and noted good trip and general sat­ isfaction among its members. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. USNS CHAUVENETiMar Ship Opera­ tors), May 2 — Chairman JefTFocardi, Secretary Vickl Barnbart, Educational Director A! Matos, Engine Delegate DaveJ^ooper, Steward Delegate Al­ LNG VIRGO{ETC), May 5 — Chair­ man Carlos Pineda, Secretary Robert Forshee, Educational Director Mark Freeman, Deck Delegate David Centofanti. Engine Delegate Dan Brass, Steward Delegate Ronald Aubuchon. Chairman discussed importance of using safety equipment and of taking advan­ tage of upgrading opportunities at Lundeberg School. Secretary thanked all departments for cooperation and smooth trip. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. All depart­ ments received votes of thanks for good work. OMIDYNACHEMiOMl Corp.), Jime 16 — Chairman Israel Bonefont, Secre­ tary C.N. Johnson, Educational Director Dean Kiene. Chairman said ship has 500 movies onboard. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Brother Ken Hagar suggested saving aluminum cans for re­ cycling. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. RFC EUGENE OBREGONiWaterman Steamship), June 9 — Chairman Thomas H. Bonner, Secretary Patrick D. Helton, Deck Delegate Gary J. Rhyne, Engine Delegate Maximo DIsIng, Steward Delegate Albert L. Hen­ dricks. Chairman reported good trip. Educational director urged everyone to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers noted water in new section of house runs only hot, and old section gets cool water for just a short period. Crewmembers were reminded no cash payoffs permit­ ted. SEA-LAND ANCHORAGE(Sea-Land Service), June 18 — Chairman G. Walker, Secretary J. Wright, Educa­ tional Director S. Brown, Deck £)elegate Adrian Janacek, Engine Delegate Wil­ liam PInkham, Steward Delegate Wil­ liam Bryley. Chairman announced payoff on current trip. He said all crewmembers who have day off may take it and get relief from shore gang dur­ ing Coast Guard inspection. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Information was read concerning Seafarers benefits con­ ference slated for July 26 in Seattle. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward de­ partment, especially the chief cook. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (Sea-Land Service), June 2 — Chairman Victor J. ArdowskI, Secretary A. Davis, Educa­ tional Director G. Evose, Deck Delegate James E. Crane Jr., Steward Delegate Terry Allen. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted good trips. SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea Land Ser­ vice), June 9 — Chairman Carrol Heick, Secretary C.F. Blanco, Educa­ tional Director David G. Gordlus, Deck Delegate Edward F. O'Brien, Engine Delegate Steve Rollins, Steward Dele­ gate Edmund Nicolas. Chairman dis­ cussed Seafarers medical benefits. He recommended upgrading at the Lundeberg School and donating to SPAD. He announced payoff upon ar­ rival in Long Beach, Calif. Deck dele­ gate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or stew­ ard delegates. Crew observed one mjnute of silence in memory of departed broth­ ers and sisters. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND KODIAK (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 12 — Chairman S. Gurney, Secretary A. Gething, Educational Direc­ tor J. Piper, Steward Delegate S.M. Thomas. Chairman reported everything to be shipshape. He gave vote of thanks to galley gang. Secretary announced up­ coming payoff in Tacoma, Wash. Educa­ tional director spoke of importance of SPAD contributions. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. SEA-LAND MARINER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 8 — Chairman L.E. Watson, Secretaiy Robert Castillo, Steward Del­ egate Mohamed Mpflehl. Chairman re­ ported pleasant trip with good crew and fine food. He thanked crewmembers for good job separating plastics. Secretary thanked members who helped keep lounge clean. Educational director en­ couraged upgrading. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Steward delegate noted problem with noise from air condi­ tioning vents. Crew was reminded to at­ tend benefits conferences in home ports or call or write to obtain information. Three crewmembers reported missing money or personal items. SEA-LAND NA VIGATOR(Sea-Land Service), June 2 — Chairman Werner Becher, Secretary J. Freeman, Deck Delegate Herb Greene, Engine Dele­ gate James Brown, Steward Delegate Bradford Mack. Chairman conducted discussions regarding union matters. Crew noted more potent roach killer had been placed onboard. Treasurer reported $60 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members reported need for additional laundry equipment. Captain and crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. Next port: Ta­ coma, Wash. or disputed OT reported. Officers and crew thanked galley gang for good work. SGT. MATEJKOCAK(Waterman Steamship), June 8 — Chairman Henry Bouganim, Secretary H. Bryan, Educa­ tional Director D. Downey, Engine Dele­ gate Robert Rester. Chairman reported smooth trip, thanked steward department for job well done. Secretary thanked crew for cooperation during tense days in Persian Gulf. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members signing off were re­ minded to leave rooms clean. SUGAR ISLANDER (Pacific Gulf Ma­ rine), June 10 — Chairman William J. Dean, Secretary Manfred Mueller, Deck Delegate Robert J. Frankel. Chairman noted upcoming benefits con­ ferences. Educational director encour­ aged members to upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked gal­ ley gang for excellent job. SEA WOLF (American Maritime Trans­ port), June 15 — Chairman Haman Riv­ ers, Secretary Samuel Raines. No beefs • -i . ULTRAMAR (American Maritime Transport), June 9 — Chairman Jerry Boruckl, Secretary Glenn Bertrand, Ed­ ucational Director P. ZahweskI, Deck Delegate Richard Thomas, Engine Del­ egate Eldridge Smith, Steward Delegate O. Esplnoza. Crew reported satisfaction with new lounge furniture, also thanked Seattle patrolman for quick, efficient as­ sistance. Chairman noted some disputed OT. Treasurer reported 300 new movies onboard. No beefs reported. Steward del­ egate thanked crew for keeping mess room and TV room clean. Crew noted need for new washing machine, new TV antenna and microwave oven. Crew thanked steward department. Crew ob­ served one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers and sisters. USNS CHAUVENET(Mar Ship Opera­ tors), June 1 — Chairman Jeff FocardI, Secretaiy Vickl Barnhart, Deck Dele­ gate Mike Stirts, Engine Delegate Dave Hooper, Steward Delegate Amerlcus Bell. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on availability of pre­ mium OT. Chairman spoke on imminent danger pay procedures. He congratulated steward department on great job clean­ ing inside ship and noted trash separa­ tion has been done well. Treasurer reported $621 in ship's fund. Deck del­ egate reported beef. No beefs reported by engine or steward delegates. USNS WRIGHT(AMSEA), June 16 — Chairman D. Yockey, Secretary L. Oram. Chairman gave infonnation about war bonuses. He reported he had made arrangements for posting of relief jobs. He thanked crew for good job and smooth voyage and announced payoff. Secretary reported slop chest over by $61.61, steward donated the money to ship's fund. Educational director encour­ aged upgrading and SPAD donations. Treasurer reported $76.72 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. f. SEA-LAND PATRIOT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 14 — Chairman Shawn Evans, Secretary Ray Garcia, Educa­ tional Director I. Samra, Deck Delegate Mike Tracey, Engine Delegate Ran­ dolph Llanes, Steward Delegate Wil­ liam Hare. Chairman announced service for AB Albert Ahin, who passed away in Hong Kong. He said new washing ma­ chine is on order, to be used for nonwork clothes. Secretary thanked crew for keeping ship in order. He urged mem­ bers to utilize facilities at Piney Point. Educational director advised members to watch safety videos and upgrade:. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for out­ standing chow. Next port: Long Beach, Calit SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (SeaLand Service), June 2 — Chairman R. Newhy, Secretary Edward Porter. No beefs or disputed OT reported. • .c' -.••i; Cookout on the Cape Bon Chief Steward Waymond H. Watson III gets the BBQ going aboard the Cape Bon in Saudi Arabia. : �AUGUST 1991 23 I'-si'iM : • • ^•::4 f • DEEP SEA LOUIS ALMEIDA Pensioner Louis Al­ meida, 90, passed away July 2 due to car­ diac ar­ rest. A native of Ecuador, he joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Al­ meida shipped in the engine de­ partment. He retired in December 1968. CURTIS R. BRANCH Curtis R. Branch, 28, died June 23. He was bom in Texas and joined the Seafarers in 1983 in the port of Houston. Brother Branch sailed in the deck de­ partment and was an active member at the time of his death. JAMES CHIANESE Pensioner James Chianese, 62, died July 1. The Brook­ lyn, N.Y. native joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of New York. Brother Chianese sailed in the blackgang. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975 and began receiving his pension in September 1988. STEPHEN A. COLESTOCK Stephen A. Colestock, 29, passed away June 13. Bom in Philadelphia, he joined the Sea­ farers in 1986 in Piney Point, Md. A graduate of the Lundeberg's School entry pro­ gram, Brother Colestock shipped in the steward depart­ ment. He was an active mem­ ber at the time of his death. GEORGE CURRY Pensioner George Curry, 81, died July 8. A native of Louisi­ ana, he joined the union in 1941 in the port of Boston. Brother Curry was a member of the galley gang. He retired in January 1972. PAUL CURZI Pensioner Paul Curzi, 73, passed away June 4. He was bom in New York and joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Curzi shipped in the steward depart­ ment. He began receiving his pension in December 1981. JOSEPH M. DUFFY Pensioner Joseph M. Duffy, 72, died May 11 due to liver fail­ ure. The Brook­ lyn, N.Y. native joined the union in 1959 in the port of New York. Brother Duffy sailed as a bosun and retired in October 1983. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. He was buried in Town of Catskill (N.Y.) Cemetery and is sur­ vived by his wife, Anna. ENRIQUE V. GALLEGOS Enrique V.Gallegos,52, passed away June 10. He was bom in Ecuador and joined the SIU in 1981 in the port of New York. Brother Gallegos shipped in the stew­ ard department and upgraded in 1982 at the Lundeberg School. He was an active mem­ ber at the time of his death. RUSSELL R. HENRY Pensioner Russell R. Henry, 76, died June 20. A native of Indiana, he joined the SIU in 1952 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Henry sailed as a bosun, and retired in December 1974. He also served in the Coast Guard from 1942 until 1945. FRANK HERNANDEZ Pensioner Frank Hemandez, 88, passed away June 12. Bom in Puerto Rico, he joined the union in 1945 in the port of Tampa, Fla. Brother Hemandez shipped in the galley gang. He began re­ ceiving his pension in February 1969 and is survived by his wife, Rafaela. ROY IDLEBURG Roy Idleburg, 73, died May 23. He was bom in North Carolina and joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Seattle. Brother Idleburg sailed in the engine department and last shipped in 1983. CLANTON JERNIGAN Pensioner Clanton Jemigan, 76, passed away June 15. The Georgia native joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of Savan­ nah, Ga. Brother Jemigan was a member of the black-gang. He retired in April 1978. GEORGE KANNENGISSER Pensioner George Kannen- was bom in France and joined the Marine Cooks and Stew­ ards in the port of San Fran­ cisco, before the union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Kannengisser began collecting his pension in September 1981. YAOF.KING Pensioner YaoF. King, 86, died June 9. A na­ tive of China, he joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. Brother King shipped in the deck department and retired in 1973. MAURICE LAVOIE Maurice Lavoie, 62, passed away June ,17. The native of New Hampshire joined the Seafarers in 1957 in the port of Boston. He sailed in the deck department and last shipped in 1984. EMMA LOBDELL Pensioner Emma Lobdell, 71, died May 22. She was bom in Massachusetts and joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1957. Sister Lobdell retired in April 1970. CARLOS MATT Pensioner Carlos Matt, 83, passed away June 18. A native of the Philip­ pines, he joined the SIU in 1940 in the port of New York. Brother Matt shipped in the deck depart­ ment. He began receiving his . pension in June 1970. FRED T. MILLER Pensioner FredT. Miller, 72, died recently. The Phila­ delphia native joined the Seafarers in 1941 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He sailed as a bosun and retired in June 1984. JOHN J. MITCHELL John J. Mitchell, 62, passed away May 21. He was bom in Brook­ lyn, N.Y. and joined the union in 1967 in the port of New York. Brother Mitchell sailed in the engine department. He last shipped in 1985. GEORGE R. NELSON Pensioner George R. Nel­ son, 62, died May 28 as a re­ sult of lung can­ cer. A na­ tive of Wisconsin, he joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of New York. Brother Nelson shipped in the black-gang and retired in May 1989. He is sur­ vived by his wife, Mary. RICHARD NEWELL Pensioner Richard Newell, 65, passed away June 11. Bom in New Mexico, he joined the Sea­ farers in 1948 in the port of Houston. Brother Newell com­ pleted the bosun recertification program at the Lundeberg School in 1974. He began receiv­ ing his pension in August 1984. GEORGE NEYREY George Neyrey, 67, died June 11. He joined the union in 1951 in his native New Or­ leans. Brother Neyrey sailed in the deck department. He last shipped in 1984. AUGUST FANEPINTO Pensioner August Panepinto, 73, passed away June 5 as a result of leukemia. He joined the union in 1946 in his native New Orleans. Brother Panepinto sailed as a member of the galley gang and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1977. He retired in January 1983. He also served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. Brother Panepinto is sur­ vived by his wife, Rosemary. HENRY PRINCIPE Pensioner Henry Principe, 68, died May 28 due to car­ diopulmo­ nary arrest. He Was bom in Wisconsin and joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Principe sailed in the engine de­ partment. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1976 and began receiving his pension in July 1985. WILLIAM RHONE Pensioner William Rhone, 76, passed away June 7. The native of Florida joined the SIU as a charter member in 1939 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Rhone sailed in the steward de­ partment. He retired in Decem­ ber 1975. KEITH R. RICE Keith R. Rice, 38, died June 3. He joined the Seafarers in 1970 in his na­ tive New York. Brother Rice shipped in the black-gang and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1971. He last sailed in 1983. JAMES ROBERTSON James Robert­ son, 20, passed away May 6. Bom in Missouri, he gradua­ ted from the Lundeberg School last year. Brother Robertson sail^ in the galley gang and was an active member at the time of his death. .'I,;":-! Jv" V' • . V.' • • EDWARD SINUSH Pensioner Edward Sinush, 67, died June 5. He joined the Sea­ farers in 1957 in his native Baltimore. Brother Sinush shipped as a member of the galley gang and retired in September 1987. He served in the Army from 1943 to 1945. ROBERT L. SMYTH Robert L. Smyth, 35, passed away June 6. A native of Michi­ gan, he graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1979. Brother Smyth was an active member at the time of his death. JOHN WASHBURN John Washbum, 44, died June 8. He was bom in Michigan and joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Detroit. Brother Washbum shipped in the deck department and last sailed in June 1989. GEORGE WEAVER George Weaver, 46, passed away June 21. A native of Texas, he joined the Seafarers in 1972 at the port of Port Ar­ thur, Texas. Brother Weaver sailed in the deck department. He last shipped in 1983. ALFRED YARBROUGH Pensioner Alfred Yarbrough, 75, died May 22. Bom in Seat­ tle, he joined the union in 1945 in the port of Boston. Brother Yarbrough sailed as a member of the galley gang. He began receiving his pension in Febmary 1974. BRANTLEY YOUNG Pensioner Brantley Young, 61, passed away June 14 due to re­ spiratory failure. The North Carolina na­ tive joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of New York. Brother Young sailed in the steward department and retired in Febmary 1990. He served in the Army from 1953 until 1955. INLAND DANIEL HENDERSON Pensioner Daniel Hender­ son, 61, died May 20. He joined the SIU in 1965 in • • • • i ./• • ; ^ . -f . •. i Iwi. •• •' -i-:- •.rv, " {; -M.; ' tm �• •: y- SeUFMOtS 106 House Enacts Anti-Scab Bill, Now Goes to Senate Continued from page 3 ^1:'' ...;.. t:',' y .'. . •«-:. -• ft:S: While the Daily News owners ended up selling the paper to a firm which settled with the unions, other tough disputes with many companies have resulted in thou­ sands of trade unionists losing their jobs. Eastern Air Lines, while headed by Frank Lorenzo, locked its em­ ployees out and hired .scabs to crew and maintain the troubled company's planes. Greyhound Lines replaced 9,000 union bus drivers with 6,000 scabs. Tied to Economic Strength Rank-and-file trade unionists, including thousands of Seafarers, mailed postcards to their elected representatives advising them of their support for the measure. Nearly a million postcards and mailgrams were received by mem­ bers of Congress in support of the bill to ban scabs. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt said the issue had ram­ ifications for America's status as an economic power. "America will regain its eco­ nomic strength only when we commit ourselves to becoming a high-wage and high-skill society. "It is what the Europeans have done. It is what the Japanese have done. And now America must do it as well. That effort does not end with passage of H.R. 5; but it is a very good place to begin . . . Clos­ ing this loophole would make our laws consistent with those of our advanced world trading partners, countries which are already as or more competitive than are we." The bill currently has 33 spon­ sors in the Senate. Labor now is focusing its grass roots campaign on building support for the meas­ ure among senators. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) backs H.R. 5 at a recent news conference. Joining him are other House supporters of thebill, Including Rep.Willlam Ford (D-Mlch.) and newly elected Whip David Bonlor (D-Mich.). V .i: ill}- Wi'i House Members Explain Their Support of the Striker Replacement Bill Marty A. Russb (D-lll.): By closing a loophole in labor law and banning company practices that have subverted the promises and protections of the National Labor Recovery Act, H.R. 5 will reaffirm the promise made to American workers more than 50 years ago when the NLRA guaranteed basic workplace protections. Joseph Moakiey (D-Maine): This legislation is critically important to American workers who in the past decade in particular have seen their hard-earned wages and benefits eroded by employers who are more concerned about mergers, leveraged buy-outs and short-term profits, than in achieving and maintaining a long-term economic growth through a productive, experienced and reliable workforce. Lane Evans (D-lll.); Replacement workers are less skilled, they are paid less and are less productive. Thus local businesses, local economies and local tax bases also suffer. James A. Traficant (D-Ohio): It has gotten so bad for the American worker, that while Congress will protect flag burners, they will not, in fact, allow Ameri­ can workers to carry a picket sign without the veiled threat that they are not only going to lose their Jobs, but lose them forever. Bernard Sanders (l-Vt.): The right to strike for better wages and better working conditions is a basic American right, but it is a right which means nothing if it means that you are going to lose your job when you exercise that right. Thomas H. Andrews (D-Maine): The decade that gave us jiink bonds, lever­ aged buy-outs and S&Ls also gave us PATCO, Phelps Dodge and Frank Lorenzo. To restore America's greatness we must first restore the rights and the dignity of the American worker. Pat Williams (D-Mont.): The most fundamental right of all working people is the ability to withhold their labor. That is a right that America's labor laws guarantee or at least purport to guarantee. The only reason we are here today is because the promise of our national labor laws is not being kept. Dale E. Klldee (D-Mich.): The right to strike without fear that you will be permanently replaced is an essential ingredient of labor-management relations. Workers should never be driven to despair. William L. Clay (D-Mo.): I believe that the permanent replacement of striking workers is legally indefensible and morally reprehensible. A policy that gives preferential treatment to management for failing to settle labor disputes at the bargaining table contradicts the principle of fairness, equity and justice. ... Since 1981 more than 300,000 Americans have been permanently replaced when they exercised their legal right to strike. Robert E. Andrews (D-N.J.): Economic growth occurs when it is inclusive, when everyone shares in it. ... For those who say that the country will not grow with H.R. 5, I say we will not grow without it. Major Owens (D-N.Y.): Common sense tells us that to be permanently re­ placed is the same as being fired. When one is permanently replaced, one does not have a paycheck. When you are fired, you do not have a paycheck. They are both the same. Douglas Applegate (D-bhio): President Bush said recently that it was moral and just that we give China most favored nation status so that they can send their slave labor-made products into the United States, made by people who have rio workers' rights, who have no benefits at all. He has got it backward. Josepfi P. Kolter (D-Pa.): Eastern Air Lines is a sad case of what can happen to a healthy company when legitimate employees are fired—I'm sorry, perma­ nently replaced — in favor of replacement workers. A1 Swift (D-Wash.): But to my mind this issue is simple: You are for real collective bargaining or you are not. Cardiss Collins (D-lll.): Just as we all oppose union-busting in Eastern Europe, so must we oppose it here. Dennis E. Eckart (D-Ohio): I have heard from too many constituents who no longer have jobs to believe that the use of permanent replacements is an anomaly. It's not an anomaly, it's an unfair weapon being used to break the spirit of hardworking everyday Americans. Howard L. Barman (D-Calif.): Tragically, the due bills have come in from a decade of Reaganomics, of takeovers, leveraged buy-outs and an entire range of economically and socially unproductive economic activities pursued by own­ ers and investors with no loyalty to employees nor stake in the community. . • 1, Charies A, Hayes (D-lll.): When organized labor wins these rights, all working Americans enjoy the benefits. Ted Weiss (D-N.Y.): Permanently replacing strikers hurts all American workers, union and nonunion alike. In the 10 years that American employers have used striker replacements, not coincidentally, real weekly wages have dropped al­ most 6 percent. As employers more frequently resort to hiring permanent replacements for strikers, they eliminate labor's mechanism for raising real wages. As a result, wages are dragged down for all workers, both union and nonunion. David Obey (D-Wis.): We are addressing (the bill) at a time when the average worker in this society, the average wage earner, has lost, in real-dollar terms, more than $1 an hour in the purchasing power of his wage. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.): Ronald Reagan's double talk and Frank Loren­ zo's scorched earth policies left 300,000 American workers unemployed. "Re­ placement" is just a fancy euphemism for "fired." Dennis M. Hertei (D-Mich ): What is worse than a family losing their livelihood? There is nothing worse than that. That is what this issue is here today. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.): This bill restores a fair and simple balance. Owners have the right to continue to operate during the strike, but not to fire the striking workers. Workers have one tool. They can deprive the owners of their produc­ tive labor temporarily in order to get a fair settlement, in order to get their fair share of the American dream. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): Today, all of our primary trade competitors, including Japan and Germany, have laws which prohibit the hiring of permanent replace­ ments for strikers. We all suffer the grave consequences of declining wage standards and decreased productivity when We deny workers the right to strike without fear of losing their jobs. (. m . Jolene Unsoeld (D-Wash.): A strike is the ultimate tool for workers in collective bargaining, and only used in a last resort when negotiations have totally broken down. It is designed to place an equal hardship on management and labor. Management loses profits and the workers lose their wages. This should pro­ vide an incentive for both parties to go to the bargaining table. But this balance becomes an imbalance when a company can effectively cease negotiations and then end a strike by hiring permanent replacement workers. :<rr- •• �•: 'i*' 1" • . • ••>..'• AUGUST 1991 Final Departures Continued from page 23 his native Philadelphia. Boat­ man Henderson sailed in the galley gang until he retired in March 1984. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1953. CLINTON McMAHON Pensioner Clinton McMahon, 78, passed away May 18. He was bom in ^Norfolk, Va. and joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of Phil­ adelphia. Boatman McMahon sailed as a captain and retired in January 1983. LOUIS MULLER Pensioner Louis Muller, 76, died June 7. A native of Texas, he joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of Houston. Boatman Muller began receiving his pen­ sion in December 1979. ;• >!£ •. RAILROAD MARINE EDWARD J. OTTEN Pensioner Edward J. Otten,90, passed away on October 14,1990, due to cardiac ar­ rest. Bom in New Jersey, he joined the union in 1963 in the port of New York. Brother Otten retired in May 1965. J i • ANTHONY WONDOLOWSKI Pensioner Anthony Wondolowski, 86, died June 28. The New Jersey native , joined the union in 1960 in the port of Nevy York. He sailed in the deck department and re­ tired in August 1963. ^1 I'" f. Burial at Seafarers Haven for Brother Ellingsen Brother Anders Ingeman Ellingsen is interred in the grounds of the Seafarers Haven Cemetery. Shipmates and fellow Seafarers attended the service in Valley Lee, Md. 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 Secre­ tary-Treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rank-andfile members, elected by the membership, makes examination each year of the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Mem­ bers of this committee may make dissenting reports, spe­ cific recommendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in ac­ cordance with the provisions of various trust fund agree­ ments. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds shall equally consist of Union and . management representatives and their alternates. All ex­ penditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust fund flnancial 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; 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 theircontract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for over­ time (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 ROLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from pub­ lishing 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 Septem­ ber 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon­ sibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the Executive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in the SIU unless an official Union receipt is given for same. Under no circumstances should any member pay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immedi­ ately 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 immediately notify headquarters. EQUAL RIGHTS. AH members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights ^ clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employ­ ers. 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 the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONA­ TION—SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes includ­ ing, but not limited to, furthering the politick, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boat­ men and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contrib­ utes to political candidates for elective office. All contribu­ tions 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 contribu­ tion 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 inves­ tigation 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. J?' Colestock Ashes Oispersed at Sea The ashes of Seafarer Stephen A. Colestock recently were spread upon the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, as was his request. Sisaiairers Weifiare Plan Notic^ COBRA: Continuation Health 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 premium, welfare cov­ erage directly from the plan. Seafarers who have lost their eligibility for plan coverage must notify the plan office immedi­ ately tofind out whether or not they or their depen­ dents may elect to continue benefits under this program. To obtain more information about this pro­ gram, Seafarers may call the membership services office at; 1-800-CLAIMS-4 (1-800-252-4674) or may write to: COBRA Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. (TheApril 1989 edition of the Seafarers LOG con­ tains a complete description of the Consolidated Omni­ bus Budget Reconciliation Act—or COBRA—program.) If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have bran 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 certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. :;#v ^4: " QL NOTICES RICO G.ELLIS GERALD KELLY Please contact the Jacksonville union hall con ceming checks for beef settlements. • • �'i.''i;.i«'!•><!»•Ill itiit<H'~^*?Wtji!b.giriaifei'1 mm u Lundeberg School Graduates Eight Classes f-; .' • If ' pj #'• SIAFARIRS LOG ^ •' ... v-'g; • ' • ? '- ' '" ^'-• ' -/V-' \ TA-:: r 'I ¥1 r. Trainee Lifeboat Class 47b—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 476 are (from left, kneeling) Robert Snay, Michael Moran, Robert Feltus, Wllfredo Velez, Melvin Howard, Paul Maltoza, Jayson Gingrich, Gerald Williams, Joseph Packnett, (second row) Gilbert Gardia, Brandon Greaux, Norman Contreras, Michael Van Kulken, William Owlngs, Hassan Saunders, James Brusco IV, Mike McClure, Rick James, Alfonso Camardella and Ron RaykowskI (Instructor). iiV • Trainee Lifeboat Class 477-—Recently completing the course require­ ments for graduation from trainee lifeboat class 477 are (from left, kneeling) Boris Armstrong, Stephen St. Lucia, James Hill, Vince Leblanc, Daniel Ekins, Richard Grimes, Shay Bassett, (second row) Sean Nolan, Todd McCiave, Anthony Rosa, Jeremy Murray, Escobar Cesar, Thomas Steadham, Eric Melle, Steve Estrela, Scoey Valencia, (third row) Charles Storm, Kenneth Bullet, Jerry Strlcklen, Joseph Rakyta, Bobby Upchurch, Keith Damon and Rory Orvls. iM" 141'•.;^: '•' -As ••. ''"f.'.>'' Hydraulics—Meeting the course requirements for the four-week hydraulics course are (from left, front row) Mark Freeman, John Quinter, Michael A. Stearman, J.D. Phillips, (second row) Bill Foley (Instructor), Benjamin Conway, Christopher Derra* Donald Morgan, Charles KIchak and Tony Yore. m:- Advanced Fireflghting-—Receiving the necessary classroom Instruction required for Coast Guard license examination are (from left, front row) Brad Burkart, Gary Smith, Nicholas GIbldes, Marian Hare, Bruno Kalmeth, John Smith, (second row) David Hood, Grif McRee, John Venables, Al Tinker, Douglas Blaslus, Byran Cummlngs (Instructor), (third row) Tom Grose, Alan DIdzballs, Wade Cocek, Danny Alleman and Rick Crowley. (Kr •'• • ' •"• 1]' |;v,;4;®r 4.' •':• if: Able Bodied Seamen—Graduating with their able bodied seaman's en­ dorsement are (from left, front row) James Malderr, Joseph Schneider, Kathy Chester, Ralph Porter, Paul Castillo, Abdols All, (second row) Abraham Murray, Bruce Perry, Ricky SImlen, Brian Wolfe, Paul Wright, Dannie Lancaster, (third row) Ben Cusic (Instructor), George Marions, Ray Jenkins, Paul Goddard, Curtis Dunlap, Edward Kebbo, Steven McBrlde, Nathan Collins, Armenlnual Thomas, (fourth row) Scott Kreger, Scott Heglnbotham, Fred Freeman and Scott Palen. Radar—Upgrading members of the deck department completing the radar course are (from left, front row) Melvin Santos, Tom Grose, (second row) Jim Brown (instructor), Steve Warford, Paul Standard, Hutch Galloney and Anthony Smith. l-,.;--;y.:;:; K ,'. • .' Upgraders Lifeboat—Receiving their lifeboat training certificates from the Lun^berg School on June 18 are (from left) Frank McCrary, Donald Burns, Ivonne Gonzalez, Robert Miller and James Ham. /(''...v..,;' Upgraders Lifeboat—Certificates of training were received by the July 2 class of upgraders. They are (from left, front row), Ron RaykowskI (Instructor), Lorrin Rodrlgues, James Maiden, (second row) Calvin Patterson, Anthony White, Robert Arneel, Paul Castillo, Bob David, J.R. Ewing, Robert Ralney, Miguel Acevedo, Paul Wright, (third row) Paul Grady, John Kalyna, Khamlsl Kayanda, Mike Hooper, James Watts, John Warner, George Keblls, (fourth row) Robert Hanson and Wesley Elliott. �/V' AUGUST 1991 27 1991 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE 0// Spill Course The following is the current course schedule for September-December 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 change to reflect the membership's and industry's needs as well as the national emergency mobilization in the Persian Gulf. Course Oil Spill Prevention & Containment (1 week) Upon completion, the Sealift Operations Check-In Completion Date Date September 16 September 30 October 28 November 1 course must he taken. " Steward Upgrading Courses Deck Upgrading Courses Check-In Completion Course Date Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker, All open-ended (contact admissions Chief Cook, Chief Steward office for starting dates) Upon completion, all students will take a Sealift Familiarization class. Check-In Completion Date Date September 2 October 11 October 28 December 6 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. Lifeboatman September 2 September 13 September 16 September 27 September 16 September 27 September 30 October 11 October 14 October 25 October 28 November 8 November II November 22 December 6 November 25 December 9 December 20 Ship Handling October 14 October 25 December 2 December 13 Radar Observer Unlimited September 2 September 6 October 28 November I December 20 December 16 Inland Deck Licenses September 30 December 6 Celestial Navigation November 4 November 29 Third Mate December 13 September 2 Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must he taken. Tankerman August 19 September 13 November 11 December 6 Course Able Seaman ~ " October 21 Completion Check-In Date Date September 30 December 20 September 2 October 11 November 11 December 20 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. November 8 September 30 Pumproom Maintenance & Operations December 6 October 14 Marine Electrical Maintenance December 20 September 30 Marine Electronics Technician October 25 September 30 Basic Electronics October 25 Welding September 30 December 13 Deep Sea/Inland Engineers October 7 December 13 Assistant Engineer (Deep Sea & Inland) October 4 Course QMED-Any Rating Fireman/Watertender and Oiler All students in the Enftine Department will have a two-week Sealift Familiarization class at the ettd of their repular course . December 13 ' > ; • 1991 Adult Cducafion Schedule Course High School Equivalency (GED) Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Second Language (ESL) ReceiHfkatiott Pngnms Completion Date November 4 Check-In Date September 30 Date of Birth. (First) (Uist) (Middle) Address- hf I'1-^. Mii./Oay/Vciir (.S(reel) Telephoned (Cily) (.Stale) (Zip Code) ' L (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. Seniority • No Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held Home Port. If yes, which program: from Last grade of school completed. 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? • Yes • No (dates attended) • Yes • No ^ Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? • 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 Date available for training Primary language spoken DECK • • • • • to Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? If yes, coUrse(s) taken r • DATE- SIGNATURE- Department • Yes Completion Date December 6 December 6 October 18 December 6 Book #- Social Security # ^ U.S. Citizen; Check-In Date October 28 October 28 September 29 October 28 •y,.. With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yours.elf 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 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name- ^ Mi 'V/ Bosun Recertification . /-• Engine Upgrading Courses .-T. fm'ourse :i •: Aw ' SHLSS College Program Schedule for 1991 FULL 8-week Sessions /' { —— AB/Sealift ls( Class Pilot Third Male Radar Observer Unlimited Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland • Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course • Marine Electrical Maintenance • Pumproom Maintenance & Operation • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation • Diesel Engine Technology • Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel • Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor • Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance Electro-Hydraulic Systems Automation Hydraulics • Marine Electronics Technician ALI. DEPARTMENTS • Welding O Lifeboatman (Must be taken with another course) ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT • Adult Basic Education (ABE) • High School Equivalency Program (GED) • Developmental Studies (DVS) • English as a Second Language (ESL) • ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation STEWARD ENgiNE O FOWT • QMED—Any Rating • Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Elec(ronics) • • • • • Assistant Cook Utility Cook and Baker Chief Cook Chief Steward Towboat Inland Cook COLLEGE PROGRAM Q Associates in Arts Degree • Certificate Programs 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 Isefore departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry l.undetierg Upgrading Center. P O Bos 75. Piney Point. MD. 70674 ll«) % '• k • '' ' M'iiJ 'sS �'<• " \\. . -r i^: 'f • - i.r--rrr ,•' • yn'-JU"- ' SEAEU^EMtS r.-: .f'7y •J '• 'fI fc-' ?'-,r •' ' t , • V '• ' '• i- f- >• ' • -•7. i V V r- i i . I -: ,• ' 1 '•' flJlv 'V -•^nrP:,: •'HM::/ :i "I •'" •" K:- ;!/. %• \ • •" t Early-Rising Cruise Ship Seafarers View ^Awesome* Eclipse "Awesome" was the one-word through the scientists' state-of-thedescription provided by SS Consti­ art optical equipment, said Rash. tution Waiter Max Horikawa after Tom Bean, another waiter witnessing his first solar eclipse. aboard the Constitution, reported "Breathtaking," echoed Keith that crewmembers and passengers Rash, an assistant waiter on the used special viewing devices sup­ same vessel. plied by AHC Horikawa and to watch the Rash joined 300 eclipse unfold. other SIU crewThe two-andmembers and ap­ a-half -year proximately 800 SIU member passengers on reported, "This July 11 to watch was the first what will be the time I ever saw last solar eclipse an eclipse. It in the United was fascinat­ States during the ing." 20th century. An Bean said equal number of he woke up crewmembers around 4:30 and passengers a.m., two also saw the Crewmembers and passengers aboard hours earlier eclipse from the the Independence were able to see this than normal, to decks of the SS view of the solar eclipse. American Ha­ set up a special Independence, waii Cruises supplied these photographs. buffet on the the other ship op­ ship's upper erated by American Hawaii deck. The total eclipse was sched­ Cruises (AHC). uled to occur between 7:28 and "Most crewmembers were able 7:32 a.m., so the meal was planned to watch it. Almost everybody to allow those who wanted to wit­ stopped what they were doing on ness the full passage of the moon the ship and joined the passen­ in front of the sun to get something gers," Horikawa said. to eat. Rash described the eclipse as "a "The whole ship was quiet for big dot in the middle of the sun." five minutes," Horikawa said, re­ He said many of the passengers calling the minutes the eclipse were scientists whose jobs take peaked. "Everybody was outside them from one eclipse-viewing to watching it." another. Not only did the scientists Jesus Pinto, who sails as store­ provide a great deal of expertise on keeper aboard the Independence, the natural phenomenom, but also said there had been a great deal of they brought with them highly so­ publicity on the ship and through­ phisticated camera and telescopic out Hawaii on the eclipse. He man­ equipment. Several Seafarers were aged to catch the tail end of the able to take a peek at the eclipse event. "It was dark when I got out- side, but as the minutes went by it slowly became light." The cruise ships were able to provide their passengers some­ thing those who stayed on the big island of Hawaii could not get — a clear sky for viewing. The island was the only place in the United States where the total eclipse would occur. However, cloud cover spoiled the event for the landlubbers. The Constitution and Indepen­ dence were maneuvered out of the cloud bank to a position some 30 miles off the Kona coast of the island and three-quarters of a mile apart where the skies were clear. As a result of the cloud cover over much of Hawaii, many pro­ fessional photographers hurried to the AHC ships. "A helicojpter landed on the deck to drop off pho­ tographers and cameramen before the eclipse," Bean mentioned. At the height of the eclip^. Rash said it was dark' enough for the lights of the Independence to be seen from the Constitution. Rash described the light created by the sun's blockage as that of a "real dark sunset" Both Bean and Horikawa said it was the best cruise either of them had worked in their two-and-a-half years aboard the "Connie," as both of them called the cruise ship. The Constitution and Indepen­ dence are the only two ocean­ going Ainerican-flag cruise ships in operation. The vessels, whose home port is Honolulu, circle the Hawaiian islands on seven-day cruises. Independence crewmembers gather on a smokestack for a good view of the eclipse. Help Locate This Missiag Child The National Center for Miss­ ing and Exploited Children has asked the Seafarers International Union to assist them in locating Arlene Joyce Haltiwanger, a 14year-old from Gainesville, Fla. The Center believes she is an en­ dangered runaway. Missing since October 14, 1990, the child may be accompa­ nied by two adult male compan­ ions. At the time of her disappearance, the brown-haired, brown-eyed girl was 5 ft. 1 in. tall and weighed 105 pounds. She has a tattoo of a heart on her lower left arm. Any individual with informa­ tion about Haltiwanger should contact the Center at 1 (800) 8435678 or the Gainesville (Fla.) Po­ lice Department at 1-904-3742483. Since 1989, the Seafarers LOG has published photos circulated by the Center for Missing and Ex­ ploited Children as part of a na­ tionwide effort to find young people who have disappeared. Arlene Joyce Haltiwanger � 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 August 1991 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES OMI STAR RESCUES FOUR REFUGEES IN 30-MILE WINDS, 20-FOOT SWELLS HOUSE PASSES ANTI-SCAB BILL THE SECOND REGISTRY GAFF- END OF AN ILLUSION WAGES, MANNING UP IN 3-FLEET MARITRANS PACT AUSTRALIANS EMBARK ON FLEET REBUILDING SIU HITS ‘WORKER TAX’ ON SEAMEN GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE GIVES SEAFARERS A WINNER SIU-CREWED TUG LEAVES COMPETITION IN ITS WAKE COAST GUARD ISSUES NEW RANDOM DRUG TEST RULES SEAFARERS GET IMMEDIATE CARE AT SAN PEDRO CLINIC ORGULF TUGS RIDING HIGH ON FULL MISSISSIPPI 15 STEWARDS PROGRESS ‘ALL THE WAY UP THE LADDER’ ASH COATING BLANKETS MSCPAC SHIPS IN SUBIC BAY BUY/SHIP AMERICAN AMENDMENT KEPT IN SENATE FOREIGN AID BILL BELLATRIX CREW IS IN HIGH GEAR, REPORTS WILCOX BOSUN CARTER CLOCKS IN WITH NEW, PROFITABLE HOBBY SEAFARERS GIVE HIGH MARKS TO BENEFITS METTINGS HOUSE MEMBERS EXPLAIN THEIR SUPPORT OF THE STRIKER REPLACEMENT BILL EARLY-RISING CRUISE SHIP SEAFARERS VIEW ‘AWESOME’ ECLIPSE 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 08/01/1991 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. 8 1991 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/fca120e068d6881322446cca9d51ccb4.PDF 1e707e60ef5497dde8d22c9f10698f82 PDF Text Text -'A. - ' I -. ^ ". 'A ,* - T' V '••*' f^ - , flgagrogSpKi^ OFFigjtt OKGAH Of THE SEAFARER? IMTtRNATIONAL UMIOM • ATUNTIC GUlf, UKtS AND INiAND WATERS PKTRia • AFL-CIO Volume 54, Number 8 SlU Fishermen Rally To Save U.S. Industry •:0^' m r' • d iny3H c u- d IT vC *N.U *VJ 00 Oco »-< z:o HH • "trM' I F-JF-vO U<UJO z:ujoitir<tcn^ec<*> to dHin tOZ'CV) W"" . co»- »- Q:>-tc/7UJ3: OF-t-ih- M intial contingent of SlU fishermen join commercial flsher- tlons strangling the Industry and penalizing those who earn their near and far to protest the rash of government regula- livelihoods on the sea. Several In Congress listened. Page 3. •01$ OC^O<>OC ^^jfymstoCrm EX'Fomgn Flag Ship O<t00C5" . • DOT Ship Plan BUI Goes to Houset Senate Page 2 Pages •:li The First 40 Years • tir-S' • Pages 13-16 J''- .. sf:.- �AUGUST1992 SEAFARBISLOG ilflSl; ':' •. 7": DOT SI# PUm BHIls President's Report A Winning Formuia '' ' '' • I •• •si . •;i •i • ' :• Anniversaries provide us with an opportunity to review where we have been and to look ahead to where we are going. In this issue of the Seafarers LOG we look at the union's education program—from when it was first set in motion 40 years ago in 1952 to the highly sophisticated training operation of today which is based in Piney Point, Md. In fact, it was 25 years ago, in 1967, that the Seafarers purchaseid the Piney Point facility with which all Seafarers are familiar. Whether it was at the Andrew Furuseth Training School, as it originally was named, or the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, as it was renamed in 1965, the Seafarers education program has provided this Michael Sacco nation with qualified, highly sldlled seafaring personnel. At the same time, it has given our membership a continuing opportunity to increase their earning power and job security. The Seafarers training program has assisted national sealift efforts, from the Korean conflict to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, by preparing hundreds of individuals to go to sea to meet the breakout of scores of ships serving the nation's security needs. The Seafarers training program has ensured that SIU members are fully aware of and able to work with new shipboard technology. Just as the needs of the industry and the ship operator have changed, so has the curriculum of the union's school. The Seafarers education pro­ gram was bom during the Korean conflict, when the need for seamen was high and hundreds of mariners had to be trained and shipped quickly and efficiently. During the Vietnam crisis, when a shortage of shipboard of­ ficers threatened the nation's sealift effort, the union's school, in conjunc­ tion with District 2 MEBA, assisted hundreds of Seafarers to prepare for their Coast Guard tests to obtain engine and deck licenses. As a result, many military officers of the time hailed the performance of the school in helping keep the nation's sealift operation going. In the '70s, when U.S.-flag LNG ships were being built, the Harry Lundeberg School was training Seafarers in the properties of LNG, the han­ dling of the substance and in all aspects of operating an LNG-carrying ship. Example after example can be cited as to how the Seafarers training program prepared seamen for changes in the industry, and this is covered elsewhere in the paper. In each case, the union has worked to provide the American shipping industry with the best trained workforce possible and has advanced the job security of Seafarers. The Future Holds Opportunities '.i-^; That is why, after looking back, when I look ahead I see many oppor­ tunities for Seafarers. I see those opportunities because the SIU is ready. Through our school and our training program, we can meet any of the needs of our industry—whether it is training in oil spill prevention and containment, or in sealift operations critical to the U.S. military's opera­ tions that have been contracted to the private sector, or in hotel and food service skills that are key to a cmise ship company. The winning formula of providing the most highly skilled seamen in the world to our contracted companies and providing a vehicle to the seaman to become the best that he or she can be, has seen this union and its mem­ bers through many rough storms that have hit the American merchant marine. It also has prepared us for the booming times; when national policy, national will or national security needs have caused a surge in ship­ ping. A final note. This month, the union and Seafarers at sea observe a holiday on the anniversary of the birth of Paul Hall, who headed the Seafarers from 1947 until his death in 1980. Last year the complex em­ bodying the Lundeberg School at Piney Point, Md. was named the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in his honor as he was a vigorous advocate of educational opportunities for Seafarers who would serve as skilled crews, second to none, on American ships in times of peace and war. Not only did Paul Hall have the vision to found the Lun­ deberg School, but he had the drive to make it a reality. August 1992 Volume 54. Number 8 ii.''\r.'. •I-'i •'• ' I Y. :• 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 offices. POSTMASTER: Send address chan­ ges to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica Smith; Assistant Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editor, Jor­ dan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower. J. (.".j '''-J' same House, Sau^ The maritime reform initiative proposed by Secretary of Transpor­ tation Andrew H. Card Jr. has been introduced to Congress in the form of a House bill and a Senate bill. On July 21, Representative Walter B. Jones (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, submitted the administration's package to his col­ leagues in the form of H.R. 5627, known as the "Maritime Reform Act of 1992." Joining Rep. Jones in moving the bill were Congressmen Robert W. Davis (R-Mich ), Jack Fields (R-Texas) and Norman F. Lent (R-N.Y.), the ranking minority member of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. Contingency Retainer Program Two days later. Senator John Breaux (D-La.), who heads the Senate entity concerned with maritime issues—the Subcommittee on Merchant Marine of the Com­ merce Committee—introduced a similar bill, S. 3047. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), the ranking minority member of the subcommittee, joined Breaux in moving the legislation. Both pieces of legislation reflect the administration's recommenda­ tions designed to enhance the com­ petitiveness of U.S. shipping in the world trades, which were unveiled by Secretary Card at a Senate Subcom­ mittee on Merchant Marine hearing in June. Included in Card's comprehensive plan are measures to assist U.S. sMp operators to acquire new tonnage as well as a contingency retainer pro­ gram which would provide up to 74 commercial but militarily useful U.S.-flag vessels with govemment payments not to exceed $2.5 million per ship for 1994 and 1995 and not,to exceed $2.33 million in 1996. The legislation proposes that in 1997 the payment per ship not exceed $2.16 million, in 1998 $1.99 million, in 1999 $1.82 million and in 2(XX) $1.6 million. The payments would be made at the beginning of each month in equal installments. Card, in submitting the proposed legislation, noted in a letter to Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.), that the contingen­ cy retainer program differs from the operating differential subsidy (ODS) program now in place. The contin­ gency retainer program envisioned by the administration is not based on wages. Additionally, operators will be able to acquire vessels worldwide and will be able to operate their ships Continued on page 9 Eight Ship Union Officers Concur With Thrust off DOT iWaritime Pian Welcoming the administration's maritime policy reform initiative in­ troduced in the form of a bill to the House by Congressman Walter B. Jones and to the Senate by Senator John Breaux, the presidents of eight unions representing maritime labor called for its speedy enactment. The: union presidents, repre­ senting both shipboard and dock workers, said in testimony submitted July 24 to the House Subcommittee on Merchant Marine that H.R. 5627, as the administration's proposals in legislative form have Iwen named, will increase the number of U.S.-flag ships and thereby expand employ­ ment opportunities for American maritime workers in all segments of the industry—shipboard, shoreside, and ship construction and repair. 'Full Force Of Contract' The joint statement—^signed by Dave Arian, International Long­ shoremen's and Warehousemen's Union; John Bowers, International Longshoremen's Association; Timothy A. Brown, International Or­ ganization of Masters, Mates & pilots; Henry Disley, Marine Bremen's Union; Gunnar Lun­ deberg, Sailors' Union of the Pacific; laymond T. McKay, American Maritime Officers, District 2 MEB A; Michael Sacco, Seafarers Internalonal Union; and Gordon M. Ward, District No. 1 - Pacific Coast District, VlEBA—hailed the administration's reaffirmation of the nation's cabotage laws and cargo preference program. The union presidents supported he bill s provisions that allow American ship operators to secure new vessels and the contingency retainer program. Their statement noted that the agreements made under such a program should have "the full force of a contract between the govemment and the operator." The importance of this is that "the operator will know payments will be made for each year covered by the agreement." Mutual Objectives Advanced Proposals "to revise vessel ac­ quisition, operation and tax policies so that United States ships are treated more like those of their foreign com­ petitors, without sacrificing impor­ tant American environmentaL economic and defense objectives" also are welcomed, said the union president's statement. Citing the increase in domestic construction of vessels for the coastwise and non-contiguous trades due to availability of capital con­ struction fund monies as called for in the legislation and other benefits to the U.S. shipbuilding industry and its workers contained in the legislative package, the union officials' state­ ment added, "We are extremely pleased the administration's proposal strongly reaffirms its com­ mitment to end excessive foreign subsidies which adversely affect American shipyards." In a reference to the opposition to the administration's bill which has been raised by some quarters of the shipbuilding industry, the eight presidents said, "We must not allow a disagreement over the means to Continued on page 9 ' '• • f'' r-r -'S' ;' -• ; •••• , �juumri992 SEAFARBtPLOG 3 Sill Members to Crew Reflagged LASH Vessel Seafarer-Contracted Companies Win 7 of 10 Military Sealift Command Ship Charters A vessel that will be transferred to U.S. registry in the near future will be crewed by Seafarers. The ship, now known as the Atlantic Forest, will be purchased and operated by SlU-contracted Waterman Steamship Cor­ poration in behalf of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC). The reflagging of the lighteraboard-ship (LASH) Atlantic Forest and ii& charter by MSC, as well as the award of contracts to nine other ves­ sels by the agency, was announced on July 27. Of those nine ships, six will be operated by Seafarer-con­ tracted companies. • The 10 MSC ship charter contracts total more than $420 million to seven U.S. companies. All of the charters issued by the agency, which manages ocean transportation for the Depart­ ment of Defense, are for 17 months with two 17-month renewal options. The charters represent MSC's on­ going effort to preposition military materiel in strategic sea locations in order to provide an efficient means for a rapid response in support of J' The 83-barge capacity vessel, the Atlantic Forest, will be purchased and operated by SlU-contracted Wateman Steamship Corp. and Is scheduled to begin a long term charter with MSC. The foreign-flag ship will be transferred to U.S. registry. America's armed forces in the event of a war, conflict or national emer­ gency. The chartering of the vessels ex­ pands the military's prepositioning program as called for in a congres- sionally-mandated mobility require­ ments study. Released earlier this year, the study analyzed the U.S. military's sea, air and land transpor­ tation capabilities as they existed during Operation Desert Shield^esert Storm and as they may be needed in future conflicts. Vessels currently crewed by of the industiy and their work. Pike Seafarers were among those named added, "Look at the fishermen in in the awards. The chartering of these Continued on page 9 Continued on page 12 Government Actions lading to ExtincUon Of U.S. Fishing industry, Warn Fishermen ings with their elected repre­ sentatives and heard from con­ gressmen who share their concerns in a moming session. "I've represented fishermen for many years from my district in Brooklyn," Representative Stephen Solarz (D-N.Y) said before the gathering. "I am here to help you and your cause." Representative Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told the group he was glad they came to Washington "to let others know what we already know — that the commercial fishing industry must be saved." Representative William Hughes (D-N.J.) added, "My door is open. I will do what I can to help you." Speaking for Representative Gerry Studds (D-Mass), who chairs the House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee, was former commer­ cial fisherman and Studds staff mem­ ber Jeff Pike. He told the group his background as a fisherman and his experience in QMED Kevin M. Martin captured the rescue efforts of the Faust crew on videotape. Washington, D.C. formed his belief Above, the stranded yachtswoman surfaces In the midst of her capsized trimaran. that fishermen must organize nation­ ally to gain recognition and to edu­ Seafarers aboard the MV Faust and no one else was injured. cate policy makers on the importance braved high winds and rough seas to Arthaud, well-known in European help rescue a French yachtswoman yachting circles, had been competing whose 60-foot sailing trimaran— in a trans-Atlantic, single-handed worth $1.8 million—had capsized race from the United Kingdom to 720 miles east of Cape Cod, Mass. on Plymouth, R.I. She said she was making 26 knots when Pierre I som­ June 16. AB Gerp^ Garrity and QMED ersaulted after hitting a pontoon that Glen Benoit were part of the five- was buried under a wave. Arthaud was knocked uncon­ man lifeboat crew which pulled Florence Arthaud from a life r^ next scious for several minutes, but the to the hull of the Pierre I. Chief Mate Emergency Position Indicating Steve Kayser, Third Mate Jim Radio Beacon (EPIRB) aboard her Siegfried and Second Engineer Tim vessel automatically engaged when it O'Loughlin also manned the Faust's capsized. The Coast Guard in New lifeboat in 10-meter seas and 30- York picked up the signal and then used another lugh-tech search and knot winds. rescue tool (the Automated Mutual Siegfried suffered bruised ribs and SIU fisherman Armando Estrela (right) explains to Senator Edward Kennedy the bumps to the head while securing the lifeboat, but he was not seriously hurt Continued on page 5 problems he and others have In acquiring loans to purchase required safety gear. More than 200 commercial fisher­ men from across the country in­ cluding representatives from the SIU port of New Bedford, Mass. as well as the SIUNA-affiliated Fishermen's Union of America based in Califor­ nia and the Alaska Fishermen's Union—gave up a day of work to protest government actions that have increas^ their out-of-pocket costs while reducing their catches and thereby their income. Chanting "Read our lips: no more regs!" and wearing t-shirts asking if America's fishermen are an en­ dangered species, the flshermen and their families let the elected officials of Congress know the concerns of the industry in a mid-day rally in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on July 21. Joe Branin, a commercial fisher­ man and a member of the Belford (N.J.) Seafood Cooperative who was instrumental in organizing the day's events, stated to the cheers of his fellow fishermen in the rally, "We're not here to listen to these people [legislators and federal officials]. We're here so they will listen to us." Besides organizing the rally, the commercial fishermen set up meet­ Faust Saves Yachtswoman .... �4 AUeUST1992 SEAFARERS UHS Sbums Dont Keep Presque Isle Crew from Cempleting Its Tasks j;i.' -th.\Ji-> •:• "-•• ' , -• • -i'. Porter Jim Beaudry wipes a dish as he cleans up after dinner. , ...... gasman Jeff Frankovich climbs down the ladder to the tunnel. The afternoon sky to the north and west is getting darker and darker as Lake Erie whips up a major thun­ derstorm to bash the Qeveland harbor area. Tied up at the ore dock west of the city is the SlU-contracted Presque Isle, offloading iron ore pellets to be used for the manufacturing of steel. Bosun William Root issues the orders to his crew to secure the deck for the storm. "I really don't have to say much," Root tells a visiting reporter from the Seafarers LOG. 'They know what has to be done to make sure the ship is safe." Crewmembers don foul-weather gear and scu^ about the Litton Corporation vessel inspecting it for any items that could be blown about in the storm. Below deck, operations continue to empty the holds. Gatemen Tim Johnston, Jim Vogan and Jeff pranfeoyich all keep an eye on the ^ offloading and keep the belts moving at peak efficiency. The noise of the self-unloader drowns out the thunder and pelting rain above. None of the members below even knows the storm has hit. In the engineroom, crcwmembers work with the engineers to fix any problems that occurred during the voyage from the Twin Harbors region ofDuluth,MinnySupCTiof, Wis. Oil is checked, parts are inspected and the engines are wiped down before the next voyage gets underway. Finally, the steward department cleans the galley after dinner is finished. Porter Jim Beaudry cleans the last of the dishes and checks the amount of coffee in the urns before he can get some shore time. The Presque Isle, weather permit­ ting, is scheduled to leave in a few hours. --:,r•V ;•? V' -i' • :i • "¥•••'- • .;*i: S-V I;.' -v'•J ' *•••• ••I Bosun William Root leaves the galley to retum to the deck. 4!' fe. ft' Wiper Walter SIpper listens to orders for his next job. An incorrect photo of Bosun Ti^ Tolentino was used dh page 20 of last month's IfK Tef-^'lSio^^" Eugenio Oya. �A ••" i«W^«J3Eietff-- - fT: AUGUST 1992 SEAFAGBtS ijOG Gauntlet Craw Rescues Hshermen Adrift for 21 Sharp eyes by Captain Elyah Seals and fast work by the rest of the SIU crew of the Crowley tugboat Gauntlet helped save the lives of three men who had been adrift in the Caribbean Sea for 21 days. Seals provided the Seafarers LOG with a written account of the rescue. The Gauntlet, towing the barge Miami, was making its regular run to San Juan from Jacksonville, Fla. when the cap­ tain spotted an object riding low in the water about 8:20 p.m. on June 30. However, the tug's radar revealed nothing so Seals tried to make contact via radio. When no response was received, the captain decided to turn the tug towaid the object because dark­ ness would fail soon. Chief Engineer Chris Swan The three men on the Maple were from the Commonwealth of Dominica, an island 340 miles southeast of San Juan. They told the Gauntlet crew they had left Dominica 21 days earlier on a fishing trip to Guadeloupe, approximately 30 miles north of where they started. The Maple's motor broke down off Guadeloupe and the vessel began to drift before the engine could be repaired. Finding themselves lost, the Maple crew attempted to sail to Puerto Rico but somehoW missed it. They were running out of fuel when the Gauntlet sighted the vessel 450 miles northwest of San Juan. Johnson and fellow AB Joseph Stephens broke out reported to the bridge to assist The crew of the Gauntlet, which rescued three men adrift on a craft, poses in the tug's galley. Seated extra mattresses and clothes Seals in keeping a visual sight- from the left are AB Ronnie Johnson, Captain Elijah Seals and Mate Kermit "Pete" Green. Standing 1 jomanv nrenared liauids ^ P, F ^ ing of the craft. AB Ronnie from the left are AB Joe Stephens, Relief Captain Tom Rostan and Cook Eddie Usmany. Jonnson and Cook Eddie Us­ many also became lookouts. Fore and aft spotlights were turned on as the evening was becoming hazy and ni^t would be without moonlight. Two miles away from the tug, the craft-—a sailboat—appeared on radar. Once close enough to realize people were aboard the craft. Mate Kermit *Tete" Green led opera­ tions on the deck to assist those on the and a warm meal for the Maple crew. When the Gauntlet ar­ sailboat. The crew also noted the Johnson and Usmany assisted in the rived in San Juan on July 3, the trio craft was being rowed toward the tug. rescue. Whpn the Gauntlet moved within The first Maple crewmember at­ from the Maple was delivered to im­ speaking range, those on the sail­ tempting to come aboard fell into the migration and medical authorities boat—called the Maple—were asked water when a swell separated the ves­ before being sent home to Dominica. Seals, commenting on the slim if they needed assistance. They did. sels. A life ring quickly was tossed chance that the sailboat ever would The Maple crew sought to come and the man was brought safely onto aboard the tug after being adrift for the Gauntlet's deck where he col­ have been found, said, "There must 21 days. While Seals maneuvered the lapsed. His other two shipmates have been a fourth member on the boat. It could only have been God." tug beside the Maple, Green, Swan, climbed aboard without incident. Faust Resell FmuRi YsaMsmmmtt Continued from page 3 Assistance Vessel Rescue System) to locate and dispatch the Faust, which was 26 miles from the Pierre I. Roughly two hours after divert­ ing, the Faust made radar con­ tact with the Pierre 1,7.8 miles away. Minutes later, Faust crewmembers spotted Arthaud near the Gerry Garrlty capsized craft. Despite the rough conditions, the rescue was completed less than an hour after in­ itial radar contact and less than six hours after the initial distress signal. Arthaud sustained no injuries. Faust crewmembers received a congratulatory letter from Coast Guard Vice Admiral Paul Welling, which read in part, "I thank the cap­ tain and crew . . . You responds instantly to our request." Welling also noted the speed and efficiency demonstrated in the rescue. Other Seafarers aboard the IMC operated Wallenius Lines car carrier during these events were Bosun Robert Leroy, ABs Vincent D'Amella, Robert Hanson, Robert Thresher and Harry Toadvine, Chief Engineer Kevin Harris, QMEDs Kevin M. Martin (who videotaped the rescue effort) and David Trickett, Chief Cook Thomas Smith, ^ Steward Julius Glen Benolt Henderson and The lifeboat heads back to the MV Faust after rescuing the stranded racer. The i Steward Assis- Faust crewmembers tried several passes due to rough seas and high winds. tant Griffin Carter. Labor Briefs Steelworkers Return To Work at Ravenswood Members of Steelworkers Local 5668 who vowed to last "one day longer" than the management lockout and its subsequent hiring of permanent replace­ ments or scabs at the Ravenswood (W.Va.) Aluminum Corp., returned to work under a three-year union contract on June 29. Negotiations between the union and a new management team resumed at the end of April. J* •tm Recently Published Studies Show Unions Help Economy A combination of studies released earlier this year come to the same conclusion: unions in America can help firms improve productivity, output and profitability and are key players in a high-wage solution to the nation's competitiveness problems. Edited into a book called "Unions and Economic Competitiveness" by Lawrence Mishel and Paula Voos, the studies provide new evidence that unionized companies have a better record of success than non-union com­ panies in improving innovation, output and quality. Arthaud (bottom of ladder) is tired but uninjured as she boards ship after the rescue. �•"^w* V!" ''• -''''"'i 6 •r :r::;,ir;gag^:. .•-' •- • •"•'f'.s' %'• i-•"•••• i "• •rf 7: •tVi- 'a s ••• •• • '• . • • Use of Benzene Exposure Protective Gear Taught to Seafarers at Lundeberg School Students at the Seafarers Hany Lundeberg School of Seamanship are learning about the properties of benzene and the equipment needed to protect themselves from the toxic chemical through various courses at the Piney Point, Md. facility. The school began training upgraders on the subject shortly after the Goast. Guard issued its benzene exposure regulations last year. The regulations are designed to protect mariners working on tankers, barges, tank vessels and other ships from harmful inhalation and/or skin con­ tact with the petroleum-based chemi­ cal. Part of Study .IP—•• •'it 'i Aueusrim SBinUffiRSllW Training for benzene exposure is part of the curriculum offered to upgraders taking the tankerman, pumproom maintenance operations, and oil spill prevention and contain­ ment courses. Under the government's benzene regulations, companies are required to supply crewmembers with the necessary protective gear for dealing with benzene. Instructors at the school teach stu­ dents how to properly don equipment like carbon-filtered-cartridge masks and how to get accustomed to wear­ ing them for work. Seafarers learn about the various kinds of masks— including model numbers, sizes, manufacturers—that have been ap­ proved by the federal government's industrial safety-monitoring agen­ cies. They also are made aware of the kinds of clothing designed to prevent exposure. The upgraders learn how to self-test their masks for proper fit before being placed in a smoke-fillec chamber for the ultimate exam. In one of the self-tests, known as the positive pressure test, the Seafarer holds the palm of his or her hand under the chin, thereby block­ ing off the exhalation valve and caus­ ing pressure inside the mask to build. If no pressure builds, the student determines there is leakage and the equipment should not be relied oh to prevent exposure. Conversely, the negative pressure test requires the Seafarer to cover with the palms of his or her hands the canisters which serve as the mask's intake system. If the mask collapses, the Seafarer knows there is a leak; if pressure is maintained, the protective equipment is ready to wear. The final equipment test utilizes a tube of irritant smoke. A student, outfltted in a mask, stands in a plastic chamber. The capsule of irritant smoke is released in the chamber. If the student feels nothing, the mask is doing its job. The irritant smoke test provides the most secure results, ac­ cording to Jim Shaffer, instructor at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. zene can cause lightheadedness; breathlessness; nose, eye and respiratory tract irritation; nausea and even unconsciousness. Chronic overexposure could lead to various blood disorders like anemia and leukemia, a fatal cancer of the blood cells. The Coast Guard regulations re­ quired all companies employing seafarers who may be exposed to the chemical to have an exposure monitoring system in place as of April 15. The federal agency set exposure limits at one part of benzene per mil­ lion parts of air (1 ppin) averaged over an eight-hour period. The shortterm exposure limit, which cannot be repeated more than four times a day, is 5 ppm averaged over a 15-minute period. Seamen must wait at least an hour between such exposure periods. Care to Be Taken Students also learn how to handle benzene. The toxic chemical not only is found as cargo aboard tankers and barges, but it also is used in cleaning solvents and solutions. Lundeberg School instructors note that as much care should be taken by a mariner in dealing with benzene when it is diluted as when it is fiill strength. Short term overexposure to ben­ In top photo, upgrader Leonard Papa becomes familiar with the process of donning a carbon-filtered-cartridge mask. The center photo shows an upgrader using the negative pressure test. Botton photo pictures a chamber filled with irritant smoke which is the last step in a Lundeberg School exercise to train Seafarers on the properties of benzene and the equipment needed to protect themselves. Chet Lupinacci Elected to Lead Prestigious Culinary Organaatien • Vv I? K •If Romeo Lupinacci, corporate ex­ ecutive chef of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, has received many awards throughout his culinary career. But the latest one left him "shock­ ed beyond my wildest dreams." Last month, Lupinacci was elected as one of four officers in the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque, an inter­ nationally known organization of 100 of the world's top chefs. Lupinacci, 69, replaces 86-year- old Louis Zthmary, who retired from the board of directors. Zthmary, owner of a four-star restaurant in Chicago called The Bakery, stepped down due to health reasons. Lupinacci said he was surprised be­ cause he has been a member of the organization for just two years, and "most of members have been in for a long time. They only take one or two new members a year, because the max­ imum number always stays at 100. "I never expected this. Just being . .Vv 7- Romeo Lupinacci (left) poses with Louis Zthmary who recently retired from the board of directors of the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque. a member is more of an honor and a privilege than I could hope for, and now to be an officer." Lupinacci, who has a recipe book forthcoming, also is president of four chapters of the American Culinaiy Federation, which has a total of As executive cfief at tfie Lundeberg School, Lupinacci (right) gives out some of his 158,()()0 members. Additionally, he culinary knowledge to his students. is president of the Professional Culi­ nary Seafarers Association and a past president of United Industrial Workers Local 31. The Honorable Order of the Gold­ en Toque meets twice per year. Its members regularly are solicited to give demonstrations and lectures at various culinary institutions throughout the world. �mnam AUGUST 1992 SEAFARERS LOG 7 13 SlU Stewanb Ace MuanceU Tniining • --m Thirteen Seafarers completed the steward recertification course at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Train­ ing and Education, bringing the total number of members who have graduated from the program to 432. Like its predecessors, the latest group, recognized at the July mem­ bership meeting at Piney Point, Md., passed the most advanced cur­ riculum available to SIU members sailing in the steward department. After finishing the five-week course, the recertified stewards said it is as challenging as feeding a hungry crew on a crowded RRF ship. From practicing the intricacies of ice carving and other skills needed in cruise ship galleys to learning the complexities of state-of-the-art com­ puters now being used with increas­ ing frequency on all U.S.-flag ships, the course is as rigorous as hoisting aboard a load of heavy stores, the stewards said. The course also includes ad­ vanced training in menu planning and leadership and communications skills. Refresher courses are given in food preparation, firefighting, CPR and first aid. Additionally, the group attended classes reviewing the union's medical and pension programs. Members learned about the SIU legislative operations and met with various SIU officials. The detailed presentations on the union's programs left the stewards enlightened and eager to share infor­ mation. "For me, the highlight was learning in great detail about the workings of the union," said 37-yearold Christopher Mosley, who graduated from the trainee program in 1980 and now sails from the port of New York. "Now I can go back to my ship and pass on this knowledge to other members." "The union is here to back you," Mosley continued, "but you have to want to do things for yourself. There's no other place like this school, and to the trainees, I'd say you get out of it what you put into it." Edward Herrera, 53, who joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1966 (12 years before that union merged with the AGLIWD), said he benefitted from the computer train­ ing. "They already have these types .... iix- The most recent class of recertified stewards is joined by two union officers. From left: Mark Scardino, Ron Mathews, Alphonso Davis, Donna demons, SIU President Michael Sacco, Ernest Dooms, Victor Acevedo, Ed Herrera, John Hanrahan, Jim Weed, SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco, Richard Ward, Edward Porter, Kevin Dougherty and Christopher Mosley. of computers on the APL ships, and Sea-Land has started using them, too," Herrera said. "You have to know how to use them for menus and requisitions." Another former MCS member, Ron Mathews, cited the school's ac­ commodations, classrooms and work environment. He said he was very im­ pressed with the facilities. "I didn't expect anything like this." Mathews, 50, joined the MCS in 1972. "The recertification course helped me in a lot of different areas," he said. mix of studies. "But the thing I liked best was being here during the SIUNA's convention [in mid-June]. Being able to see and hear where the union is going, well, it was great." Alphonso Davis, 38, joined the Seafarers in 1983 in the port of Honolulu and since then has upgraded four times. "That should tell you how I feel about this place," he said. "When you come out of here after upgrading, you're ready for anything." Like Hanrahan, Davis found the recertification course "well-struc­ ARC Program Saves Lives tured. I really enjoyed the computer During their graduation speeches, John Hanrahan and Richard Ward class and I think it's a great idea to received ovations after recounting include firefighting and CPR." "Firefighting and first aid training From left, John Hanrahan, Victor Acevedo how the staff at the Lundeberg and Ed Herrera prepare another meal. School's Addictions Rehabilitation will last you a lifetime," stated 33Center (ARC) long ago helped each year-old Mark Scardino. "That type of them combat their potentially fatal of training is extremely useful." disease. "I'd like to thank all the 'Helps Me be a Better Shipmate' people at the ARC," said the 29-yearErnest Dooms, a Seafarer for old Ward, who graduated from the more than a quarter-century, said he trainee program in 1981. "They was greatly enriched by the com­ helped me straighten out my life. munications courses. "They really This school changed me, and it keeps will help me deal with people better getting better." and help me be a better shipmate," Hanrahan, 35, said that "one of the said Dooms, 43, who joined the first benefits I got from joining the union in the port of New Orleans. SIU (in 1980 in the port of Baltimore) "The whole recertification course in was a transformation from a drug general was a great experience." abuser to being drug-free, thanks to While some class members dif­ the ARC." fered on what was the course's highRegarding the recertification course, Hanrahan credited the school Continued on page 10 with providing a thorough, useful • 'i't Ernest Dooms says recertification course makes him a better shipmate. Mark ScaKjino shows his eniusiasm for recertification course. Edwar^Portar deHly raadias loaves of garlic bread. Ronjame^^^^^ on feohnique Rioh^rt Wart m Li , �8 AUGUSri992 SEAFARERS LOG 1993 Seafarers Scholarship Program START COLLECTING PAPERWORK NOW Summer is in full swing—and April may seem like a long time away—but now is, in fact, the time to start thinking about collecting all the paperwork needed to apply for the 1993 Seafarers scho arships - Begun in 1952 to help members and their depend ents forther their studies and achieve their educa­ tional goals, the SIU Scholarship Program has selected a total of 217 awardees, some of whom are active members and others who are dependents o Seafarers. As in past years, seven scholarships will be awarded in 1993. Three of the awards are reserved for SIU members—one in the amount of $15,000 for a four-year scholarship to a college or university and two $6,000 two-year scholarships for study at a vocational school or conununity college. The other four scholarships are awarded annually to spouses and dependent children of Seafarers. Each of these four is a $15,000 stipend for study at a four-year college or university. The ever-increasing financial burden associated with studying at the college and post-college levels can be greatly eased by receiving one of these scholarships. The $15,000 college scholarships will be paid at the rate of $3,750 per year over a four-year period. The $6,000 awards are paid at the rate of $3,000 per year. But—no one can win if they do not apply. The first step in the application process is sending away for the 1993 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains eligibility information, proce­ dures for applying and a copy of the application form (see coupon on this page). • •-u. •:|r .-.•I',' HO IS ELIGIBLE? Seafarers and their dependents are eligible for the scholarship awards, but there are certain requirements that must be met. SEAFARERS who are applying for the scholarships must: EU Be a graduate of high school or its equivalent.. w• I!-. S--; V-. •••. .• :r:- ;• . ig|:|i; !|rvS ;e' "ft "'•'••" 'i'' r':, APPLICATION CHECKLIST Q Be a graduate of high school or its equivalent (although the application may be made during the senior year of high school). EH Be the child of a Seafarer who has credit for a total of 1,095 days of covered employment with an employer who is obligated to make con­ tributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to the date of application. EH Bo the child of a seafaring parent who has one day of employment in the six-month period preceding the date of application and 120 days of employment in the previous calendar year (unless eligible parent is deceased). • It should be noted that dependent children recipients who marry while receiving a scholarship shall not lose their award by reason of such marriage. •• '• ft."• ft ft •• r EH Autobiographical Statement • Photograph • • CertifiedCopy of Birth Certificate • High School Transcript and Certification of Graduation OR Official Copy of High School Equivalency Scores • College Transcript n Letters of Reference • SAT or ACT Results The application form, itself, is easy enough to fill out. What will take the time, however, is to gather all the other necessary paperwork. Schools can be very slow in handling transcript requests, so applicants must be sure to put their requests in to those institutions as soon as possible. The ACT and SAT exams are given approximately six times a year on specified dates. The applicant should be sure to take whichever exam is required by the college or trade school to which he or she is applying. Also, now is a good time for the applicant to start thinking about who should be asked to write letters of recommendation. EACH STEP OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKES TIME. BE SURE TO PLAN AHEAD. DEADLINES The completed application form and ALL items listed on the application checklist MUST be mailed and postmarked ON OR BEFORE APRIL 15,1993. CH Have one day of employment on a vessel in the six-month period The ACT or SAT test must be taken no later than immediately preceding the date of application. February 1993. This is necessary to ensure that the test results reach the Scholarship committee in time EH Have 120 days of employment on a vessel in the previous calendar year. for its deliberations. (Pensioners are not eligible for the scholarship awards.) Scholarship recipients must enroll in a college or DEPENDENTS who are applying for the scholarships univCTsity and notify the Seafarers Welfare Plan of their admission by August must be either a spouse (married to an eligible Seafarer or SIU pensioner) or an unmarried child. Recipients of the Dependents' Scholarships are expected to complete their All unmarried children of an eligible Seafarer or )rogram of studies during the four years covered by the award. pensioner (for whom the Seafarer or pensioner has Seafarers who receive a $15,000 award must complete the program within been the sole source of support during the calendar six years. Seafarers who receive $6,000 awards must complete their programs year immediately preceding the date in which a within four years. scholarship is made) must: • Be under the age of 25 and a full-time student enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree at an accredited institution authorized by law to grant such degrees. J* - • Scholarship Application Have credit for a total of 730 days of employ­ ment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the employer's behalf prior to the date of application. n Be under the age of 19 OR •.•• The application is NOT THE ONLY item that needs to be received by April 15. The ENTIRE application package must be mailed or postmarked by that date in order to be considered by the Scholarship Committee. The application package includes: FOR MORE INFORMATION Fill out the coupon below to get a copy of the 1993 SIU Scholarship Program booklet or pick one up at any SIU hall. Please send me the 1993 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and theapplicationform. Name Book Number. Address City, State, Zip Code _ Telephone Number This application is for:. .(Self) . (Dependent) Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. 8/92 L. . ' • •• 'ft ft -'ft-'-4 [ • ' • « �1%' MWiirfi 11,1111 m AUGusrmz ' '• y • SEAFARERS L06 v.- Seafarer-Contracted Gempanies Win 7 MSG Ship Charter Awards -, ;; - Continued from page 3 vessels by MSG assures these ships will continue in operation in behalf of the agency. Among these ships are Maersk Line Ltd.'s breakbulk RO/RO vessel, the Maersk Constel­ lation; Sealift Tankships Inc.'s breakbulk vessel, the Noble Star; American Automar's semi-submer­ sible vessel, the American Cor­ morant; Red River Shipping's breakbulk vessel, the Advantage. Additionally, Seafarer-contracted Red River Shipping was awarded contracts for two foreign flag con- tainer RO/RO ships that will be reflagged in the United States. Waterman's reflagged ship will be named the "Jeb Stuart," after the Confederate cavalry general, who lived from 1833 to 1864. Bom James Ewell Brown Stuart and nicknamed Jeb, the general served with Stonewall Jackson for a period and commanded all of Robert E. Lee's cavalry during the Civil War. The 47,500 dwt, 893-foot Atlantic Forest was built in 1970 and is equipped to handle 83 lighters. These 380-dwt barges allow the ship to load and unload in shallow waters. One ship chartered by MSG for its prepositioning fleet is the Maersk Constellation. 'i-' -i' • The 738-foot semi-submersible heavy lift ship, the American Cormorant, will be on charter to MSG for 17 months, with two 17-month extension options. DOT Maritime Reform Pian Goes Before House, Senate Continued from page 2 on any foreign trade route they choose. Those vessels can be operated in conjunction with foreignflag feeder ships. The bill calls for annual appropria­ tions for the contingency retainer program. It states that the owner or operator of the vessel—who must be an American citizen—will enter into an operating agreement with the Secretary of Transportation. retarvofTi Under certain conditions outlined in the bill, vessels receiving ODS funds could participate in the contin­ gency retainer program. The Advantage, a breakbulk ship, will be used to augment MSC's prepositioning program designed to meet the U.S. military's rapid response needs. Three USNS Mercy Cremnembers Recehre Medal tor Pacific Rescue Three crewmembers of the USNS Mercy were cited by the commander of the Military Sealift CommandPacific Fleet (MSCPAC) for their roles in rescuing two stranded fisher­ men off the coast of northem Califor­ nia on April 28. Carpenter Robert McCumsey received the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for his work in help­ ing snare John Wilks and Randell Fishbaugh from their capsized 42foot craft. MSCPAC Commander R.W. Addicott, in presenting the medals to McCumsey, Captain Rollin J. Bellfi and Chief Mate Jim Orsini, praised the trio, "Your prompt action and expert seamanship resulted in the rescue of two sur­ vivors from the sinking boat. I extend my personal congratulations for a performance far beyond the normal call of duty." The Mercy, a hospital ship crewed ^ civilian mariners from the Government Services Division, was on sea trials when it received a dis­ tress call shortly after 1 a.m. from the Coast Guard stating a fishing boat was in trouble. The Mercy was ap- iroximately 40 miles away and leaded for the scene. Radar and radio Icontact was made just after 3 a.m. Seas were between five and seven feet, and a heavy fog curtailed visibility. Navy personnel joined the civilian crew as lookouts on the 891foot hospital ship. A helicopter unsuccessfully tried to locate the fishing boat. At 3:30 a.m., Wilks radioed he had to abandon the fishing boat for his life raft. The Mercy slowed to twoto-three knots and made the rescue on its first pass. The fishing boat sank at 5:05 a.m. Following the rescue, Bellfi said, "I've got to say that my deck force, my engineers and our Navy medical cadre performed superbly. The en­ gineers slowed the Mercy down in­ credibly so we could safely rescue the two fishermen." Wilks and Fishbaugh later in the day were transferred to a Coast Guard cutter which took them to shore. The Mercy continued its trials before returning to its dock in Oak­ land, Calif, on May 3. Construction Incentives For any vessel enrolled in the con­ tingency retainer program, its owner or operator would have to make available the vessel or space on a guaranteed or priority basis to the Secretary of Defense during time of war, national emergency, or any other period deemed necessary in the interest of national security. The bills also allow the use of monies from the Capital Construc­ tion Fund (CCF), a tax-deferral pro­ gram to assist U.S.-flag operators amass the capitol needed to acquire new ships, to purchase ships anywhere in the world except from ships built in foreign yards found to be subsidized by dieir government. For the first time ever, the CCF funds also could be used for construction of vessels for coastwise trades and in­ land waterways. The legislation also establishes re­ employment riglrts for civilian mariners who leave kioreside jobs to man ships in a time of national crisis or war. Reports indicate the administra­ tion and key senators and con­ gressmen hope to enact the Department of Transportation's bill before the end of the year. The administration's maritime reform package presented by Card was instituted by a White House policy coordinating group comprised of the heads of government depart­ ments and agencies and repre­ sentatives of the military. Maritime Labor Favors BUI'S Goals Continuedfrom page 2 achieve the objective of ending foreign shipbuilding subsidies to destroy this opportunity to move on legislation that can help all segments of the maritime industry. "We are absolutely convinced no segment of our industry should be held hostage by or sacrificed for any other segment. Rather, we remain ready and willing to work with ship­ building labor, Congress and the ad­ ministration, to advance our mutual objectives in a manner which protects the jobs and livelihoods of all American maritime workers." The union presidents also en­ couraged the administration and Congress to "address the problems confronting the bulk and tanker ship­ ping segments" of the U.S. fleet. The statement suggested that a clarification was called for in regard to the proposed authority allowing increased utilization of foreign flag feeder vessels in the carriage of U.S. preference cargoes. "This legisla­ tion, intended to promote the United States-flag merchant marine, must not inadvertently result in fewer and shorter voyages by American ships, and the offloading of preference car­ goes onto foreign feeders for the predominant portion of a voyage," the eight union officials warned. The House subcommittee also received testimony from officers of U.S.-flag shipping companies in all aspects of the trade—liner, dry bulk, liquid bulk, Jones Act and interna­ tional operations. Representatives of the shipbuilding sector submitted statements as well. •i- �10 :r-' '.fe Lundeberg School Firefighting Training Pays Off, Says AB Johnson After 2 Fires . •' mK:y::lr¥X . V;-' r •' til' AB Kelvin Johnson recently was 23, when the vessel was discharging praised by George Pereira, chief HUMV's from G deck, a battery in mate aboard the MV 2nd Lt. John P. one vehicle caught fire. AB Johnson Bobo, for his "exceptional" work in extinguished the fire and notified the putting out two fires. chief mate. Training Paid Off "On April 20, AB Johnson put out Johnson said the training he a fire started by shipyard electricians received at the Lundeberg School left on 3 hold F deck. The fire was caused him well-prepared to handle the fires. by faulty wiring by shipyard "Each class really helped me. They workers. AB Johnson stopped the show you exactly how to proceed with, for example, an electrical fire before it could spread," Pereira fire," Johnson said. "They also said. The first fire took place near Jack­ teach you not to panic. My training definitely paid off." sonville, Fla., while the second oc­ "On two occasions, this AB has curred in Norfolk, Va. The second demonstrated efficient response to "could have been a lot worse than it emergency situations," Pereira said turned out to be," because the Bobo in a letter to Johnson and to Amsea, was taking on gas, Johnson ex­ which operates the Bobo. "On March plained. 'V- An Asset to the Union Bosun John "Red" Wilson added, "Johnson is an asset to the SIU. It's good to see our young mem­ bers doing exceptional jobs." Johnson, 26, graduated from the Lundeberg School trainee program in 1990. He upgraded last year. The Seafarer added he was surprised to receive the chief mate's letter. "I was just doing my job. I certainly wasn't looking for any recognition. That's just what we're trained to do." light, all agreed that the Lundeberg School provides first-rate training which prepares Seafarers to do the best job possible. "For people who want to go to sea, this is where it's at," said 54-year-old Jimmie Weed, a 25-year member of the SIU. "If you want the right training, it's here." "Piney Point has been really good to me," said Donna Clemens, who joined the Seafarers in 1983 in Honolulu. "I've been here four times, and the courses keep getting better. This one will help me deal better with the crew. I liked the computer cour­ ses, too, because some of us were lacking in that area." "All of the instructors really go overboard to help us meet our profes­ . f-\ Pictured here as a trainee, Kelvin Johnson has put his Lundeberg School training to good use. ^eafarerj HAVE TME^ SEATiywE? 'fhen Upgrade / ty, 37, a 10-year member of the union. "I can't say enough about how welcome everyone made us feel and how people helped us get the most out of each class." "I enjoyed everything, especially the trip to Capitol Hill," said 34-yearold Edward Porter, who joined the SIU in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1979. "I also enjoyed hearing the speakers at the convention." A frequent upgrader, 23-year SIU member Victor Acevedo said the course "definitely will help me do a better job." Acevedo, 49, added that he "learned a lot in each course. This setup at the school helps us become more and more efficient in our work." Reading Public Seeks AB Reiner's First Novel Crewmembers aboard the USNS Wilkes give Third Cook Abdel Mohamed a warm sendoff and praise his efforts to teach fellow galley shipmates the finer points of steward department duties. From the left are Mohamed, Second cook/baker Donald Thomas and Chief Cook John Gehring. it t-'- ' F- F 5« "AB Johnson is at the start of his maritime career and demonstrates exceptional qualities. He is an asset to the vessel," said Pereira. 13 SIU Recertifieii Stewards AMel Mohamed Honored Course at Piney Point By Shipmates Aboard Wilkes Complete sional goals," said Kevin Dougher­ Continued from page 7 .^' r>.'.- ?:•• ''':.' AUGusrms SEAFARERS LOG •..- I 'KV„ Longtime Seafarer Abdel Mohamed, nearing the end of his SIU career, recently received a warm sendoff from his shipmates aboard the USNS Wilkes. Mohamed, who sails as a third assistant cook, en­ joyed a retirement party given in his honor. Brother Mohamed is a native of Arabia and he joined the union 32 years ago. The 60-year-old Seafarer did a brief stint in the engine depart­ ment before finding a home in the galley gang. Kevin Dougherty, a shipmate of Mohamed's who last month com­ pleted the steward recertification course at the Lundeberg School, provided the photo for this article. It was taken during an oceanographic survey voyage in the Pacific Ocean. An Outstanding Shipmate Brother Dougherty also provided the following descriptions: "Abdel, ^fectionately known as I •> \ 'L • '•" 'Papa,' was an outstanding shipmate. This past May he completed twor and-a-half years on board the Wilkes as third assistant cook. "He taught countless union brothers and sisters the finer details of steward department duties, includ­ ing how to function cohesively within the department and throughout the ship. Additionally, he is an excellent cook, dedicated to providing quality fare and cheerful service to the crew. Well-Deserved Retirement "The crew, officers and scientists aboard the Wilkes took a collection for Papa as a token of our apprecia­ tion. He taught us many things and made our lives at sea much more pleasurable. Obviously, he will be missed. "We wish him and his family much joy and happiness. May he continue to find success and fulfill­ ment in his well-deserved retire­ ment." Seafarer arid author Latiy Reiner (left) is providing thousands of readers a gitrnpse of life aboard ships. Above, the AB signs his fast-paced novel about a ranker crew in adverse situations, "Minute of Silence," for a customer of Houle Books in Scottsdale, Ariz, last month. Reiner's book can be purchased for $18.75 from Integra Press, 1702 W. Camelback Road, Suite 119, Phoeriix, Ariz. 85015. For a brief period, when a Seafarer orders "Minute of Silence," the publisher will include a free copy of an anthology that includes one of Reiner's short stories. �:r',V',:: :••>•'. •I'-' - '. -•. v<V.••" jmisn992 ' V'-Tu , SEtFARERSLOG 11 • a- The engine department crewmembers aboard the Lopez include (from left) QMED Michael Stearman, DEU David Heavey, Electrician Chris Doyle, QMED Bill Andrews and QMED Bob Rudd- The galley gang aboard the Lopez is greatly appreciated for the quality of their meals, especially the desserts. They are (from left) Steward Assistant Michael Penro, Cook/Baker Maureen Kenny, Chief Cook John Hudak and Steward Assistant David White. Not pictured is Chief Steward George Kenny. In Lopa Unhm Meeting, Talk Turns to UpmaMig In top photos, three SlU-crewed prepositioning ships airchor off the Saipan coast. They are the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, the Sgt. Wiliiam R Button and the 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez. The last view of the series is from the bridge of the Lopez. In photo f rep^y^a^ve, the mast on the Lopez gets a fresh coat of paint from AB Mark DePalma (top), AB Ron Zurek (in chair) and Bosun Jeffrey Mortiz. Seafarers aboard the 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez were anxious to talk about upgrading opportunities available at the union's Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Maryland when an SIU representative visited the Amsea-operated vessel this spring. Based off the island of Saipan in the West Pacific Ocean, and shuttling between this part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Is­ lands to Guam, an unincorporated U.S. ter­ ritory also in the Mariana Islands, the Lopez is one of the military's prepositioning ships. Seafarers aboard, while meeting with SIU Rep Ambrose Cucinotta, went over the school's admissions process—including seatime re­ quirements and other qualifications—and the schedule of courses for the year. During the discussion, crewmembers who have upgraded at the Lundeberg School en­ couraged those in the entry level ratings to enroll in courses as soon as they are eligible. The Piney Point graduates spoke of the value of attaining higher ratings, thereby making their work more rewaarding and challenging while increasing their earning potential. The Lopez crewmembers mentioned that, besides the hard work and long hours in stark and unadulterated sun, duty aboard the Lopez was satisfying and never-ending, as the ship requires constant maintenance so that it can be ready at the drop of a hat to support a military operation. The prepositioning ships, under direction of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command and operated by private companies, are stock­ ed with all the necessary equipment and sup­ plies to support an early rapid deployment of an amphibious Marine expeditionary brigade. In speaking to Cucinotta, Seafarers aboard the Lopez, which is named for a Marine who fought in Korea and gave his life to shield his men from a grenade, complimented the ship's galley gang, saying they appreciated the quality of the meals, and in particular the home-made breads and desserts. �•IHL-. -'•"S=5t- K SE/WMERSLOG JUfeusrtsaz FSshennen Issue Warning: Gov't Regs Can KHI U.S. Musby •- T.g. , , ' ivT'' •• >:• 'Vs.*' • - •' • •Ji' : a K%_ • •-; • -. ' .'.• • • •'••••I. ••^• • •• X-,. a Seafarers from New Bedford as well as SlUNA-affiliated members from the Fishermen's Union of America (California) and the Alaska Fishermen's Uniori join with other commercial fishermen from North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey and New York on Capitol Hill to protest regulations hampering their industry. -C;-^ Continued from page 3 •| W ^r: • • r •' -—.Ti :y.' : i'£ t'; Congressman Studds' district. They are members of the Seafarers and look what it has done for them. They have goo health care plan and a good relationship with the congress­ man and the Mer­ chant Marine and Fish­ Rep. Stephen Solan eries Committee." (Before this year's redistricting, Studds represented the New Bedford area.) The New Bedford fishermen, all members of the SIU, also met privately with Senator Edward Ken­ nedy (D-Mass.) to discuss the state of the industry. Fisherman Armando Estrela explained to the Senator how he, like others, has not been able to obtain a loan using his boat as col­ lateral. "I was told I may not be in business next year. My boat is not a good risk." Estrela asked, "This is my life. How am I supposed to purchase equipment I'm told I need and I Joe Branin must have in order to fish?" Kennedy asked if the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the government agency regulating fishing matters, was providing any assistance. Henri Francois, SIU New Bedford Port Agent answered, "Out of a $231 million budget, all they have available is $1 million in grants. They do not help us with anything." Each fishermen's representative various government agencies and T h senator raised suggestions as to how the other decision-making b^ies can be promised NMFS can promote the American guided in making critical decisions to look fishing industry while balancing con­ regarding fisheries management and into the servation concerns. Fox stated he conservation, foreign competition and other matters on the conduct of all matter and would look into these matters. find a way elements that make up the industry. In concluding their day in to assist Washington, D.C., the fishermen, "Lacking such a mandate, at each the fisher­ who hailed not only from Mas­ and every turn, with each and every men. sachusetts, regulation or edict, another blow is California, dealt to the industry and continuing The Alaska in this manner, the industry will be New BedRep. Jack Reed and New no more. f o r d fishermen Jersey, but "Lacking such a mandaite, as we also met also North see today, it appears that the instru­ with Representative Barney Frank Carolina, ments of government are waging a (D-Mass), who in the redistricting of N.Y. and systematically punitive campaign congressional districts this year was Florida, against the commercial fisherman assigned the New Bedford area. voiced and his or her family. Frank told the fishermen he would their inter­ "With a mandate to sustain and personally est in con­ cultivate the fish harvesting sector like to tinuing the and with visit them Jack Caffey effort to coopera­ on the job raise the tion and to learn industry's participa­ more of concerns with elected representatives. tion from their in­ A statement handed out by the the com­ dustry and fishermen as they visited their mercial their con­ congressmen's offices summed up fisherman, cerns. An the concerns: "We. . . call on the inan August policy makers at the highest levels of dustry date was government to reaffirm the essen­ which set. tiality of the American fish harvest­ Henri Francois represents The ing industry and the American the best of Jeff Pike heads of fisherman to this nation's economy America each regional group of fishermen met and society as a whole. can con­ with NMFS Assistant Administrator A national consensus on the need tinue to make a significant contribu­ William W. Fox Jr., who heads the to maintain this sector is an indispen­ tion to the economic prosperity of the agency. The meeting was arranged sable foundation from which the United States." by Congressman Frank Pallone (DN.J.) because of his concern for the fishermen's welfare. Pallone sat in on this meeting. SIU Vice President Jack Caffey, Francois and Theresa Hoinsky, president of the SIUNA's Fisheimen's Union of America were among the dozen rep­ ^sing in the office of New Bedford's new U.S. representative, Barney Frarik resentatives (D-Mass.), are (left to right) Antonio Mendonca, VP Atlantic Coast Jack Caffey, Julio in atten­ Maia, ^ny Pereira, Antonio Afonso, Frank, Port Agent Henri Francois, Mario Granja, Jamie Santos, Firminio Pereira, Patrolman Eugenio DeSousa, Abel Ponte, Armando dance. Rep. Wiiiiam Hughes Estrela, Jose Neves and Theresa Hoinsky, president of the SlUNA-affiliated Fishermen's Union of America. •:41 �•iilfwsrt kdMJiJ.^i'f^.y... .'V^i • w<c<^mjag^'S!;iy!ag "Or-.;;;vi'it- AU6UST1992 SEAFAHBIS LOG 13 SIU's Training Program Marks 40 Years Paul Hall was a true bdlever in the fact that American seamen were the best in the world. As such, their security was uppermost in his mind at all times. It was his intense desire to solidify that security that prompted him in 1952 to start a training program that would provide means for SlU seamen to improve their skills and thus improve their earning power. In 1952, Paul Hall, then head of the union that is today the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland . Waters District, set in motion a series of classes to be conducted at several halls under the auspices of the Andrew Furuseth Training School. The name of the union's training operation was changed by Hall in 1965 to the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, in honor of the first presi­ dent of the Seafarers International Union of North America, who died in 1957. The courses initially were geared to meet the fundamentals of seamanship, primarily assisting ordinary seamen in preparing for the U.S. Coast Guard's lifeboat test The courses seem rudimentary compared to the sophisticated training pro^am of• Uie the school today, but their success at the time was such that the union quickly expanded the cuiriculum it offered its members. As time went on, in Paul Hall's mind, there began to develop a grand plan for a central facility in which seamen could train for entry level posi­ tions in the industry as well as to study and prepare to upmade their shipboard ratings. Hall envisioned a Targe facility that reflected a real maritime environment-an environment in which a seaman could feel at home. A search thus began for an appropriate facility and in the summer of 1967 it was announced that a former torpedo station in Piney Point, Maryland had been purchased for such a purpose. As the faciUty was raw, a number of officials were assigned to create a training center, com­ plete with accommodations, classrooms, cafeterias. Once housed in a single center, the school began perfecting its training agenda and institut­ ing an increasing number of specialized courses. In consultation and coordination with industry, the school's curriculum was adapted to meet the needs of the industry of the time as well as to meet anticipated clianges in shipboard technology. This process of cooperation, embodied in the school's governing board of trustees-made up of an equal number of management and union rep­ resentatives-continues to this day. The school begp to develop a reputation for being a seriouss effort in industry circles as wefl those concerned with education and maritime education in particular. The school's facilities at­ tracted many maritime groups to hold meetings As recently as two years ago, this same ability to provide the nation the manpower it needs during a surge in shipping once again came into Kor 0 don Desert Shield/Desert Storm. lie Lundel School increased the number of trainees^ from roughly 30 young people a month to 200. Classes for Seafarers to uj adetoABand FOWT ratings were held back to Back, and night study and weekend courses were instituted in order to speed up the process it takes for seamen A1967 (left) and a 1992 aerial view of the Lundeberg School illustrates the growth of the Seafarers training program into a modern, maritime educational facility. concerning the industry. The school's peaceful and private environment was found suitable for the Seafarers Welfare Plans Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, which has subsequently been renamed the Addictions Rehabilitation Center. Throughout its histoiy, the Seafarers training efforts have been markea by the nation's security and defense interests. Impetus for the develop ment of the first training courses came from the Korean conflict, a time when a shortage of mm-ine personnel had been created by a dip in shipping activity. During the Vietnam War, the acute shortage of licensed marine officers was addressed by the Seafarers training program, in conjunction with District 2 MEBA. A 1966 agreement between the two unions resulted in hundreds of Seafarers moving up to officer positions. Military officers commended the effort, noting that the transport of materiel to the Vietnam front was aided greatly by the joint training program. to achieve the higher rating. The union's man­ power center, housed in Piney Point, kept its doors and telephone lines open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Not only has the Seafarers training program assisted the nation, it has been geared to assist the American-flag ship operator. Whether a company's vessels ply the deep sea, Great Lakes or inland waters, the Lundeberg School has trained Seafarers to be the most qualified and skilled seamen available to a ship operator. The Lundeberg School's curriculum, constantly refined and tailored to the needs of the industry. also has anticipated upcoming changes in shipping and thus prepared Seafarers to confidently - jtiv work with new technology and new equipment. An example of this foresight was the union's training program in the handling of liquified natural gas j (LNG)" and all matters related to the shipping of the substance. The Lundeberg School's course was established while the LNG carriers were being built, thereby assuring the company a crews of Seafarers trained in the properties and characteristics of LNG and the factors involved in its transport by water. Prior to American Hawaii Cruises' initial voyages, which began in the eariy '80s, the Lun­ deberg School began training Seafarers in various aspects of passenger ship services. In the '70s, the Lundeberg School, the S U and Sea-Land prepared crewmembers for work aboard what were then its brand new S-L7s. More recently, as the military began sub­ contracting more and more of its sealift opera­ tions to the private sector, the Lundeberg School initiated a course to prepare Seafarers to work aboard these vessels. "Thus, since 1985, thousands of Seafarers have participated in Hagglund crane operations, helicopter exercises, forklift maneuvers, unrep:ana chemical shield exercises. In order to help Seafarers become highly skilled in their profession, the Lundeberg Sclhool assists the seaman in building the foundation to any course of study. Courses are available in English as a second language, study skills, basic math and reading, the GED, and other classes. In 1992, as the Lundeberg School at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education celebrates its 40th anniversary as a Seafarers program and its 25th year as a facility at Piney Point, Maryland, the institution continues fiill speed ahead. While the core curriculum offers Seafarers all that is necessary to begin a career in the maritime industry and to reach the pinnacle of their career ladder, no matter what department they ship in. the Lundeberg School also is meeting the needs of SlU-contracted operators as they face fac a world of changing and new government regulations and stiff world competition. SlU President Michael Sacco, in addressing a recent membership meeting at Piney Point, said, "We think the school has served a very, very useful purpose throughout its period of existence for the industry, for die nation, and most impor­ tantly, for the men and women on the ships. "However," he continued, "we do not intend to rest on our laurels. We are constantly working to see that the school stays up with the latest technological changes so that our people remain the best seafarers anywhere in the wor world, bar none.'' }rce behind the birth and development of the Seafarers SlU President Michael Sacco congratulates Bosun Claude Leycock, who 3n president of the SlU a training prograrh, opens the Lundeberg School at Piney Point, Md. in 1967. Fifteen years earlier, his recently graduated from one of the union's recertification courses. Sacco l}elief in training and education led to the opening of the union's first school in New York. notes the school will not rest on its laureis and is moving full speed ahead. 40 Years of Seafarer Training January 1966 As Vietnam War increases need for new licensed shipboard personnel, SlU and District 2 MESA offer program for engine depart­ ment members to earn licen­ ses. Jamniy 1992 First of three projected upgrading schools opens at hea^uarters in New York. This is partialiy a reaction to WWII and Korean conflict. May 1955 Andrew Funiseth Training School for upgraders opens at Mobile, Ala. union hall.Training also Is offered in New Orleans and Brooklyn. 1959 Additional training facilities are built in Brooklyn. N.Y., including lifeboat school and training for ordinaries and wipers. Seafarers Ap­ peals Board passes regulation offening all Seafarers oppor­ tunity to earn lifeboat tickets. November 1965 Union education program, known as the Andrew Furuseth Training School, is changed to the Harry Lundeberg School of Seaman­ ship, in honor of the SlUNA president and SUP president. September 1967 Rrst Lun­ deberg School students to upgrade under new reduced < seatime requireme luirements receivei^i FOWT certificates. April 1967 Coast Guard agrees to give lifetwat ticket examinations to Lundeberg School enrollees in the entry rating program immediately after completion of course work. July ly 1967 SlU President Paul Hall announces union's purchase of 28 acres in Piney Point, Md. Land will be used to expand facilities for training and upgrading. initiates full-scale lifet}oat train­ ing for all trainees. First six classes qualify for Coast Guard certificate. % �'^r\''•^v-.;V';';'^ '-iV.'' i?""-'i|j.—'/ ' •* •' ;• - • • ' -(=->^VirV ",'••••- -rr-.-. . •- •: ft-'' • - -'•- •. /li'/iii' •^'rvu--::-^' .- -. „•-., J'r ^ '5?% ' 111 . v-:4' : • ; i.'; V. I.'.;-•-> • :•*^"• xumm WiBietiiiatiy^ 14 AUGUST 1992 SEAFARBtSLOG -*'%? , Tj v-r-. • .fcmi • .• ••-• - - - Ill Their Own Words . Eleven Seafarers, former Seafarers and individuals associated vdth the SlU's training program offer their thoughts on the union's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship and its predecessor-the Andrew Furuseth Training School. '--'i-fc. *.t!''"- ,' '; • •- ' P' -fe- ^ V_'.v •"•"-,'.>••• • •.•••'" v>',v ../-i' • .-rp.: •• ^; •.,>•' . ;iv ; SalAquia Port Agent, Baltimore r-J3V';">-:i^'.:,W„:\;-:,'-^ .,. ••t: The truth is, I had an opportunity to make something out of myself because of the schooling provided V the SlU. I grew up in the old country, Sicily. My grandfather owned a fleet of fishing boats there. In 1949 my family and I immigrated to the United States. I was 10 years old and I didn't speak English. After high school, I joined the Navy. I spent four years there, then got out when 1 was 22.1 felt like the Navy was too confming. You weren't your own person and your destiny was already decided for you. Anyway, 1 worked at a shore job for a little while, but I realized I was meant to be at sea. I looked at the merchant marine and 1saw freedom and opportunities. 1 joined the SIU in 1962. It took awhile before1 realized the importance of upgrading, of education. One time, after a voyage to Vietnam, 1 came into the Baltimore hall to apply for vacation time. Tony Kastina and Bobby Pom^rlane (two of the SIU port officials there) talked to me about the value of schooling, and 1 gave it a shot In a short time 1 earned my third assistant's license. In 1973,1 became a chief engineer. 1 retired in 1988 but came back to help man New York tugs and also for the Persian Gulf events. My last ship was the USNS Harkness. Then 1 went to the Baltimore hsdl, because this is where my roots are.1 asked Mr. Pomerlane if 1 could help out, and now I'm the port agent. Who •• i •iiliii would have thought that 30 years later I'd still be here at the hall where 1 started? I'm lucky. And like Bobby says,1 didn't have anything handed to me. You have to work for everything you get For you newcomers, I'll tell you, everything is right there for you at our school. Take advantage of it, like 1 did. If 1 can do it, anybody can. The thing about the school is, it benefits everyone involved. In the long run, everyone profits. The trainees and upgraders are rewarded monetarily, plus they get an education no one can take away. And 1 think the people at the school feel rewarded by educating. That's what the school was founued for, because the more you educate your people, the better off everyone is. Our instructors-everyone at the school-are dedi­ cated. They aren't there just to get a check. And the companies know that when they hire an SIU seaman, they're getting the best-trained seaman in the world. Most of all, when 1 think about Piney Point and the SIU, I'm thankful. I'm thankful to the people who had a vision. Paul Hallsaw thefuture through education, and because of that, every single mem­ ber has the opportunity to aidvance himself or •herself. scholarship class, back in 1978; he also upgr^ed there several years later in the first class pilots course. In the fall of 1980 my brother Pat also attended the towboat operator course at the school. . „, ,, .L 1 first attended the Lundeberg School in the summer of 1981, in the towboat operator scholar­ ship program. What 1 remember most about my first days at Piney Point is that in every class 1 attended, the instructors wanted to know if 1was related to John and Pat Brown. Sometimes it's interesting to be a little brother — then again, sometimes it's not! ,. . 1 cannot overestimate the value of the traming 1 received during the towboat operator class, especially the boathandling aboard the Susan Collins and the CL-2. (God knows there is a special place in heaven for Captain Ben Cusic for putting up with all of those student drivers!) There might be faster ways to prepare for a Coast Guard license examination, but none that prepare you so well for the real world. My next opportunity to upgrade came in 1989, when 1 attended the third mate program. Being at Piney Point for l6 weeks gives one plenty of time to get reacquainted with old friends, and plenty of time to make new ones. Ron Raykowski put in a lot of extra hours to make sure we were ready for our Coast Guard exam. Thanks to him, 1 now have my license as second mate. In the spring of 1990,1 attended the shiphandling simulator class, where Jim Brown spent a lot of time "teaching old dogs new tricks." Believe it or ,not, Jim, some of them work! Ron Raykowski was also responsible for steer­ ing me toward the college program, and after consulting with Mrs. Mary Hartshorn, who advised me on the best course of action, 1 recently graduated with my associates degree in Nautic^ Science. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Don Mundell and Mr. Roger Francisco for their advice, guidance and friendship. 1 consider myself extremely fortunate to be a member in the S U, a union that not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. Anyone who does not take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Harry Lundeberg School is definitely missing the boat. If you have been in the industry for a while, you already know; and if you are just starting out, you will learn that technology does not stand still. The only way to keep up is to continually upgrade your skills. In my opinion, there is no better place for upgrading than the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship! Christopher R. Brown Captain, Crescent Towing; Licensed as Second Mate Donna demons Recertified Steward 1 joined the SIU in 1979 in New Orleans. Since then, 1 have been employed with Crescent Towing & Salvage as both a deck hand and captain. My grandfather, father and my three brothers all were past members of the SIU. 1first heard about the Harry LundebergSchool while 1 was in high school. My oldest brother, John, was a member of the first towboat operator Ten years ago, 1 was sitting behind a desk at Crocker Nation^ Bank in Chico, California. 1 had never heard of the Seafarers International Union and 1 had no idea what a merchant seaman did. In May 1983, fate stepped in. 1 took a cruise with American Hawaii Cruises on the SS Constitu­ tion. My brother, James Moore, was the third engineer and he suggested 1 apply for a purser's position. 1 did, but after not hearing from the company 1 decided to fly to the islaiirb and try a personal application. In October of that year, 1 joined the SIU in Honolulu and found myself aboard the Constitu­ tion as a deck lounge stewardess. 1 never worked so hard in my life, but 1 loved every minute of it. In order to meet Coast Guard lifeboatcertifica­ tion requirements, 1 attended the Lundeberg School in June 1984 for the first time. Six weeks later, thanks in part to the influence of Don Nolan and the upgraders, 1 decided to return and upgrade m^elf at the first possible chance. That opening presented itself in 1987, thanks to the sealift course. 1 jumped at the opportunity to attend the school to further the goals 1 had set for myself. Five months later, 1 left Piney Point with assistant cook and cook and baker endorsements. My first ship was the USNS Kane. 1 started as third cook and three weeks later 1 was in the chief cook's position. Hard work does pay off. In May 1989 I returned to the Lundeberg School for chief steward training. Then, this past June, 1 attended the recertified stewards course the A-plus of my department My career has moved along a positive path during the last nine years thanks to the Lundeberg Schom and the SIU. This is a union which offers its members every chance to advance. By the way, the SIU has become a way of life not only for me, but also for those most important to me. My brother is a chief engineer with MSC. My husband. Bill, attended the May 1989 steward recertification course. My daughter, Brandy, upgraded to cook and baker in 1988. Piney Point has not seen the last of this family of Seafarers. Ken Conklin Vice President, SHLSS 1 retired firom the Marine Corps in 1964, after 23 years of service. Then 1 started in the home improvement business in Virginia Beach. A feliow 1 knew from the Marines, Hunt Ker­ rigan, had been hired by Paul Hall to set up a training program. Hunt couldn't do it, but he told Paul he had just the fellow for the job and recommended me. In the spring of 1967,1 was interviewed by a committee consisting of Paul Hall, Al Kerr, Bull Shepherd, Hal Banks and lindsay Williams. They hired me to set up the training program here at Piney Point and I've been with the union ever since. They wanted to close the five schools we had then at different ports and coiisoUdate the training here. We moved here in August 1967. Since then, I've done every job on the base at one time or another. 1 think 1 know the base, system, students and discipline as well as anyone. 1 had been a drill instructor at boot camp for three and a half years, and this was the same idea. You take young people, mold them to what your needs are, then guide them along from ent^ rating up to a license. Working with young pe^'® is a big part of what attracted me to this job. The 'I • • tcm, AUGUST 1992 truth is, there's nothing wrong with the youth of today. It's just that we, as adults, don't have enough time to talk with them. 1 was a juvenile delinquent, and if 1 hadn't gotten a break, 1 would have gone to jail. But1 got a break and took advantage of it 1 see kids now and tell them they can do the same. You're going to run into a road block, and you can either go under, over, around or through. But don't quit You can do anything you want to do, if you want it badly enough. The reason I've stuck with it aU these years is, helping people. We're in the business of giving people an opportunity to better themselves fmancially, educationally, every way. But back to those early days. The original base was 28 acres, and then we purchased 34^additional acres. Working with Paul Hall was fantastic. He was an absolute genius, and he was determined to mve the youth of this century an opportunity to ship. Today, Democrats and Repubiicans alike tak about jobs, jobs, jobs. The SIU has been giving jobs to youth since 1953, without a penny from the government. The first class of trainees more or less was used as laborers. We found people who had plumbing experience, carpentry experience, and we buiit this place with the students. We told them that if you build a strong foundation, you can add whatever you want onto that. They realized their participation led to putting in docks, excavating and laying pipe. That was their heritage, and they had a genuine interest in the development here. 1 had no doubts about the long-term success of the school. At first, when we told people we wanted to weld together union education, voca­ tional education and academic education, they said it couldn't be done. Being thick-headed, we did it anyway. By 1970, we had instituted a GED program. Then we moved to college, and in 1985 we were able to issue associate degrees. Hopeftiily, before 1 retire, we'll have a four-year degree school here. There have been other changes. Trainees used to be ages l6 to 21, and today they're 18 to 24. They're more mature and more educated, and some have better ideas about what they want. The entry program itself was redeveloped by trial and error as we went along. There has been a tremendous increase in diversification of the upgrading programs to meet the technological changes on vessels. Today, with the TRC, we can sleep 1,500 people. If we had an emergency where we h^ to train a lot of people and flie shipping was avail­ able, we could have 1,500 work^g, 1,500 sleep­ ing and 1,500 going to classes. We're ready for an emergency. On that note,1 must mention what we did with Desert Storm and Desert Shield. We had the 58 ships to man, kept [the manpower office person­ nel] working 24 hours a day, and not one of our ships sailed short one unlicensed person.That was a tremendous achievement Another thing that's very important is the Addictions Rehabilitation Center. If we only save one person, the expenditure is worthwhile. And of course we save many. That's a terrific program with devoted instructors. Overall, you get a different type of education here. For one thing, there's less red tape than in public education, ^so, public schools use a bell curve, whereas we wor^ about every individual and make sure he or she is up to par. This is a place where you learn every day. 1 know we can expand to continually meet the needs of the industry. We also have to go hirther A^ith our academic ability. As far as construction, the only job we have left is finishing the steward lab. But the biggest thing to me is the satisfaction 1 get from helping develop the youth of today. -i; SBVARERSLGG school and its talented, dedicated staff. Now at ^e 23,1 have established a foundation which will mlow me to continue moving upward in the maritime industry. My goal is to become a third engineer, and pretty soon, with the guidance of our school, 1 will reach that goal. For this,1 say, thank you and may you celebrate many more happy anniversaries. Kevin DeSue QMED In honor of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship's 25th anniversary, it is a privilege for me to share with you my testimony about the SIU and the school. These two bodies have helped me to become the self-sufficient member of the maritime field that 1 am today. 1 was 19 when I entered the SIU in 1989 with the help of Qacksonville Patrolman) Tony McQuay, whose ^idance motivated me to attain the position which 1 currently hold. It seems like only yesterday when 1 was still a part of the trainee program, class 444, where 1 met a new family whose help 1 could never repay with anything but gratitude. At first, the other trainees were just as scared em Eckles IS at a rate of 25 to 35 percent per year, because of finances and insurance. And there aren't many around that offer more than a 28-day program. We average 17 to 22 residents. De^nding on that population, we have a recovery rate of 50 to 60 percent. But at a given time, we may have most or all of the people there because they failed a drug screen, not because they want treatment. Out of that population, we get 30 to 40 percent (recovery rate). That's success, because they're getting curious about themselves. What we're doing is raising the bottom so that they don't have to go aU the way down before they realize they have a problem. Compared to when 1 first went through the ARC, the prevalent problem today is drug use, rather than alcohol. There also is more emphasis on (individual) responsibility. But in some ways, there's no difference. Our residents are just seamen with a problem. What 1 like best about working here is being able to do something on a significant level for merchant marines, whom 1 have a 30-year invol­ vement with. 1 know what it's like to tiy and stay sober on a ship: It's a challenge. As for the future, we're on the cutting edge now and we're going to stay there.The entire staff is committed. ARC Clinical Director 1 always wanted to go to sea, and that's what 1 did. 1 joined the SIU in 1965 in Philadelphia. I'm "Nowadays, I believe you have to keep upgrad­ ing in order to understand the industry. It's a complex field that is changing every day." Carmelita Henry Cook and Baker ^ Kevin DeSue as 1 was. We were in awe, actualiy. Then we realized everything was set up for our benefit! 1 remember being impressed with the library and the training ships. And 1 couldn't believe how much food they had. 1 also remember how the school builds self esteem. As a trainee, when you put those khakis on, you're proud. . Now, every time 1 go back, there are better facilities and up-to-date courses. The thing about this schooi is, you don't have to he rich or briiliant or a certain color to get in. All you have to do is have some ambition. You're never denied anything at tlie Lun­ deberg School. If you need help and don't under­ stand something, the instructors help. They won't leave anyone behind. Frankly, 1 think it's die best vocational program in this country. The school benefits the industiy as whole. On a ship, you work. At the school, you learn. Put those two together and you're a better seamen. You learn how to properly treat equipment, ship­ ments and shipmates. Nowadays, 1 beiieve you have to keep upgrad­ ing in order to understand the industry. It's a complex field that is changing every day. 1 guess it's obvious that the Lundeberg School has a special place in my heart for the worldwide opportunity it has given not only to me but to many people. 1 know 1 never would have been able to accomplish any of my goals - wouldn't have reached this level of skill and profes­ sionalism - without the help of our prestigious a recertified bosun and a second mate. 1 went through the [Addictions Rehabilitation Center] the first year it was open, 1975.1 was in bad shape: 150 pounds, bleeding ulcer, blackouts. 1 had been losing jobs. Later, while 1 was on the beach, 1 became a certified addictions counselor, just to get a better understanding. Since then, I've earned a number of other degrees and certifications. 1 stay up on what's happening in the field, and I'm always on the go with different seminars and training. 1 started working at the ARC eight years ago, at the union's request It was a commitment because, like 1 said, 1 was a second mate and was making about $60,000 a year. 1 took a job which at that time paid about $ 15,000. But 1 wouldn't have worked in this field if it wasn't with merchant marines. 1 wasn't looking for another profession, hut going through the ARC program had turned my life around and 1 felt 1 could contribute. The center has come a long way. When 1 went through, [the counselors] were feeling their way. It was a six-week program. Now the program lasts six to 12 weeks, depending on the individual. Six years ago we expanded to include drug treatment We have all the state-of-the-art treatment modalities. For ex­ ample, we were one of the first two or three places in the country to impiement relapse prevention therapy. We're ahead of the game, especially when you consider that treatment centers have been closing • •• '• v- ' A..' 1 was bom in Philadelphia and have lived there most of my life. 1 have four loving children: Nikki, Malik, Jeana and D.J. My mother,Joyce, has supported me through an interesting career change. I've always enjoyed being near the ocean. Growing up, 1 dreamed of travelling around the world, and somehow it seems like I always had friends who sailed. But it took me a long time to realize that women can sail, too. Two years ago, 1 started my career with the SIU. 1 first sailed from the port of Norfolk and now ship out of Philadelphia. When 1 returned home after signing off a vessel, someone suggested that 1should go to the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to upgrade. 1 attended the school from March of this year through June. Being at the Lundeberg School made me real­ ize 1 had the ability to reach hi^er and higher goals. Up^ading provided not only education, but also confidence. It also greatly expanded my knowledge of the SIU, and what 1 learned is, this union has much to offer. The people affiliated with the Seafarers are very knowledgeable and helpful. In fact, 1 have met a lot of beautiful people through the SIU, and 1 thank them for their guidance. The doors are open, but it's up to each in­ dividual to take advantage of the opportunities. One of the best ways to do that is by going to our school in Piney Point to upgrade and eam your endorsements. Go there and do your best There's not another place like it i, 40 Years of Seafarer Training March 1973 The Lundeberg School, in conjunction with SiU-contracted employer SeaLand, develops a training pro­ gram for crewmembers of the company's new SL-7 ships, 33-knot super-containerships. 'I November 1970 The Maryland State Department of lEducation's Division of Cer­ tification and Accreditation determines that the Lundeberg School can conduct the QED test A, May 1973 Bosun recertiflcation course established at LundebergSchool. seamen for work aboard LNQ carriers under construction. Novemiier 1974 A first aid course is added to teach artifi­ cial respiration and application of emergency methods^ December 1974 SHLSS reading specialists offer course for students who speak Englishasa: January 1978 In recognition of excellence of training programs for t)oatman at Lundet)erg School, Coast Guard counts training time as on-thejob credit. March 1975 Vocational Department announces new shipboard automation course forQMEDs. December 1W5 CPR is In­ corporated into basic training program for towboat deck­ hands. : • January 1983 Installation of shiphandling simulator begins at Lundeberg School. School offers adult basic education. April 1977 New steward department courses are avail­ able for chief steward/cost ac­ countant, chef, second chef, third chef and steward assis­ tant and the recertification pro­ gram. January 1975 Alcohol education offered at SHLSS; later expanded to a complete Addictions Rehabilitation Cen- | ter. March 1974 Training in the "5*" -^ May 1977 A diesel engine course is instituted, reflecting the transition of the U.S.-flag merchant fleet away from steam engines. April 1978 Tran^rtation Institute Towboat Operator Scholarship Program at Piney Point graduates first class of SIU boatmen. April 1979 Recertified steward program is re-in­ stituted at Lundetrerg School. September 1979 First class of new recertified stewards graduates. April 1980 Piney Point cruise ship starts to prepare Seafarers for a new cruise ship operation to be known as American Hawaii Cruises. \ February 1983 Original third or second assistant engineer license preparatory course is offered. May 1983 Instmctlonin basic ' " and advanced computer processing and various software a^ications used on ships is offered by the Lun­ deberg School. A;..,. '•K-' -V, .r''- ^ , �16 AUGUST 1992 SE/ffARERSLOG bachelor's degree in business at Upper Iowa University. Words seem inadequate, but I'd like to thank the Lundeberg School, its people and all who are associated with their programs.I truly believe the time spent at the school was the firm foundation towards building a fine career. And the college program only en­ hanced the outcome of my goi. K •' it .^' Martha Dotterer Purchasing Agent Brian Knis Chief Engineer Jake Karaczynski Instructor, Deck dept. I wasliving in Brooklyn in 1975.At a party, I met a friend, Paul Leahy, who was SIU and had just come back from Russia. He told me about the Lundeberg School and about being overseas. The next day, we went to the union hall together. I picked up an application and got familiarized with the school through the union hall. Within a few months, I was a trainee in class 187. Later, I arrived at my first ship on Christmas Eve, 1975. 1 was a teacher here in 1977 for about five months, teaching the AB course. In 1981, I came back - this was in between ships - for the third mate course. While I was finishing that, I taught union education for a couple of hours a day. 1 came back again in 1986 and have been here ever since, mthough 1 had planned to be here just one summer. 1 had been shipping quite steadily and needed some time off a ship. Plus I fell in love. 1 last sailed as second mate on the Apex Mobile. Why nave I stuck with teaching? Certainly not for the money. Going from $12,000 a month to not nearly that much here ... You stick with something like this because you enjoy doing it. It's the students, the people who send you postcards or Christmas cards and say,"Thanks. You made a difference in my life." Without this school, seamen would be on thieir own. A one-week radar course, with living expenses, would cost someone $1,000, whereas here it's free. It's an invaluable ser­ vice to the industry. And the only way you're going to get ahead in the industiy is to upgrade. You can stay an ordinary seaman all four Ufe, or you can use the school and go Tom OS to captain of the ship. Every license 1 have, I got here. The school has done a good job keeping up with changes in the industry, keeping pace, anticipating and meeting neeas. For example, look at the shiphandling simulator. If you don't have one, you'll be out of business in short order. Many unions now are going ahead and buying them; they should have had them 10 years ago, when we put ours in. We're an unlicensed union, but we had the insight to purchase one. Ibis union and this school give you the option to start at the bottom and work to the top. It's amazing, because if you get a license, you leave the SIU. But that willingness to continually help and educate people is one of the things that really impressed me, and I took advantage of it. This school is a great idea for the in­ dividual and for the industry as a whole, and hope it's around for another 25 years. The future is in our hands. And I can tell you from experience, one of the best ways to ensure a better tomorrow is to take advantage of the chance to upgrade at our school in Piney Point During my senior year at Manistee (Mich.) Catholic High, I looked into a few different career options - among them, conservation officer and merchant seaman. At that time. 1978, the chance of getting a job as a conservation officer was si slhn because of state costcutting. So 1 looked further into the different maritime schools, finding them through a booklet I received from the Chamber of &)mmerce in Washington, D.C. That summer, I wasaccepted into the Harry Lundeberg School. In August, 1 drove to Piney Point to begin my first day as a trainee and a member of Class 263-A. Trainee life was enjoyable - demanding but educational. The discipline 1 learned then is the single neatest factor that led me to a long and briglit znt care career. I finished the trainee program on Novem­ ber 8, 1978 and received a Harry Lundeberg jacket for being in the top third of my class. Then I went to my first job aboard an American steamship on the Great Lakes. One year later, 1 switched from deck to engine department I set a goal: to work my way up the ladder to chief engineer before age 30. In September 1979 I signed off the Paul Thayer in Cleveland and proceeded to the Coast Guard office to write lor an FOWT ticket 1 passed. Then, after working as an oiler, 1 applied for the QMED course at Piney Point The course was extensive, covering ship­ board refrigeration, electrical, deck machinery, machine tool processing, miscel­ laneous systems and safety. 1 completed it in March 1982. Two yearslater, I earned a third engineer's license at the MEBA school in Toledo, Ohio. 1 continued upgrading my license and at that same time.:, 1 began taking college courses at the Lundeberg School. I'd work from April until January on the Great Lakes, then fly to Piney Point to continue with the college cour­ ses. It took three years of spending winters in Maryland, but on June 1,1989,1 received the first associate's degree in Marine Engineering Technology from the Seafarers Harry Lun­ deberg School of Seamanship. Those studies didn't stop me from pursuing my other goal, and in October 1989-at 29-1 passed all Coast Guard exams to receive a chief engineer's license for steam and motor vessels of unlimited horsepower. I'm 32 years old and still the youngest actively working chief engineer with Oglebay Norton Co., operator of the Columbia and Pringle lines.(With 14 vessels, Oglebay Norton is the largest companv plying the Great Lakes under the U.S. flag.) I'm also pursuing a Brad Wheeler Captain, USNS Algol I was living in a cabin in West Virginia when my neighbor brought me the news that I had been accepted into Piney Point I packed my car and headed to Mary and and a new career. I thought that devoting three months to the SIU training program and then being able to go to sea-travel and make money at the same time-sounded like a pretty good deal. That was in 1977. Fifteen years later, I know just what a good decision it was to go to the Lundeberg School. 1 not only found a new career, but also, in a way, found a new family. The SIU is a brother­ hood of fellow seamen who will support you and give you opportunities like no other or­ ganization I know. The only cost of this sup­ port to you is that you do your job well. When you become a full book member of the Seafarers, don't forget the cost in blood that was paid by our founding members. Their sacrifices give you the right and obligation to uphold the union's constitution and by-laws. Their determination and vision made the miracle of Piney Point possible. I started sailing as a messman on the SS Guayama. 1 am now relief Master on the USNS Algol. In between, I upgraded at every oppor­ tunity: AB, A-seniority, the LNG course, weld­ ing, college courses and finally third mate. I also taught at the school for one year. Piney Point truly was my second home, and I couldn't have advanced like that without the school. The chance to utilize a place like that, for free, is absolutely phenomenal. (A former student of mine at the school and fellow trainee grad, Alan Gobeli, now sails as chief mate aboard the Algol.) Think about it: How many institutions offer free training programs while providing room and board? I've always considered this a country of opportunities and the union falls right into that, supplying every chance for its members, even if they desire to go into other fields. There are so many people to thank-too many to list here, because the list includes all the members of the SIU and 02. Thank you, my brothers. But remember, there is much yet to be done. The support that we are able to give comes from the jobs we do. Do them well and we assure the future of our industry, our country and our brotherhood. Do them poorly and we shall see our future disappear like wisps of fog in the sun. My husband and I were working for Piney Point'lndustries, on this property, during the rchi 1960s. When the union decided to purdiase the property, my husband and 1 were asked to remain and keep an eye on the place until they got people here to really take over. We wound up sticking with the SIU, and I've been here ever since. We had the impres­ sion they would keep us, but I never thought I'd still be here today! I've had several different jobs here, and I have enjoyed the work. I also like the people area At first, I did lots of office work, making contacts for the union to hire certain employees whom they needed immediately. I worked the switchboard, one of those old-time switchboards where you had to put the cord in and flip a switch. Those first few months were pretty hectic. I remember seeing some buildings torn down, while others were painted and repaired. People still were planning the route the school would take. Originally, there was just the barracks unit here. Piney Point Industries had tried to make it into a marina-hotel setup. The marine area certainly was not built up like it is now. Over the years, all of the buildings have been im­ proved, and of course new buildings have been added. Twenty years ago, it still looked like a government facility. Today, it looks more like a college campus or an up-and-coming com­ munity. I think the change in the fai^ties reflects the change in the curriculum. The first groups of trainees needed a lot of polish. I think we're starting with a better product today. Of course, the first upgraders didn't know what to expect, and now the quality of the upgrading courses keeps drasti­ cally improving. This school is valuable to trainees because it gives them an opportunity to do something with their lives, to better themselves. They don't even have to have a high school educa­ tion, because they can apply for that here. I really think it's a great place for a young man or woman who isn't quite sure what he or she wants to do, career-wise. For upgraders, they also have a chance to better themselves and get ahead in the in­ dustry. I nope the school continues to grow and expand like it has these first 25 years. The changes so far have been for the better. The school is a help to the community, the trainees and upgraders and really the entire industry. 40 Years of Seafarer Training September 1983 Deck department Seafarers and en­ gine department Seafarers are offered ttie opportunity to achieve a two-year associate in arts degree in nautical science or marine engineering, respectively. tenance course covering un­ derway replenishment, vertical replenishment, crane opera­ tions, forklift operations and helicopter operations. June 1985 The school offers an array of self-study materials. July 1989 The Lundeberg School offers an oil spill prevention and containment course. November 1984 Radar obsen/er course covering inter­ pretation and plotting, advanced radar plotting, col­ lision avoidance and naviga­ tional exercises begins. January 1985 Reflecting in­ crease in military vessels being operated by private sector. Lundeberg School offers sealift operations and main- October 1985 Hydraulic systems aboard ships and the use of a Hagglund td deck crane are taught in a new course. July 1988 Lundeberg School instructors begin firefighting, CPR and first aid training aboard Delta Queen. December 1991 The basic and advanced fire fighting courses now include a simu­ Sepiefnber1990 Lundeberg lated exercise aboard a ship School offers advanced filled with a non-toxic chemical firefighting courses. smoke. 3 n .'Al- ^ • 'yw0rA: • * ' * �Hii mm. Nilto sssw rnssssssi^m^ ' i iiiwiiMiiiJ - "' A ' J :•• . -^!>.',--' ' SEUFMERSLOG AU6UST1992 17 iCj-_.'[ Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 — JULY 15,1992 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis .. Piney Point Algonac Totals Pbrt New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point 4 Algonac Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals • TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C •TOTAL REGISTERED Ail Groups Class A Class B Class C §• !'!• (t- 31 •0 '4 8 18 29 32 26 12 34 7 3 23 0 0 229 27 4 8 11 22 26 26 14 16 1 12 " 33' 1 • 11 3 233 -••• : i'3 ^ i-HtSffiw 9 6 13 20 8 11 12 4 13 12 1 2 1 130 13 14 16 18 26 12 26 9 3 19 0 2 . , 0 , 193 7 11 '-••-•1.; ••• 3 7 1 . 6 • 7 .• 9 3 13 15 18 11 24 7 ^ 15 14 6 24 10 5 10 8 10 20 0 0 3 3 11 4 13 '20 . ^ 15 4 2 1 5 25 3 0 2 1 82 174 159 22 •'M 32 0 ' 13 16 0 1 2 7 9 ] 12 18 ;?.• 2 12 3 1 9 1 1 1 95 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT 14 55 15 13 0 •1, 0 '6 1 . 18 2 1 9 18 1 5 14 40 3 13 15 43 6 622 52 9 4 19 24 0 •; 7 44 4 18 5 11 1 2 1 8 7 10 13 -•3:-Wf 14 40 18 0 0 :• 0 . V'""-: T 1 0 5 • 1 0 1 0 1 65 362 63 166 ENGINE DEPARTMENT p. 41 14 10 1 4 2 7 0 0 4 11 2 8 2 17 2 5 14 34 8 11 13 23 4 4 27 9 2 20 4':V.-:; • 14 7 1 19 5 7 ' 7 5 0 0 0 7 10 10 6 23 3 • • 8 11 T 2 5 1 >•••• 4 A:' 2 0 0 0 1 236 69 49 118 28 2 3 8 11 20 22 79 21 37 2 14 12 0 7 0 0 1 0^ • ^ 0 0 0 :-Q. ^ 1„ 4 1 4 5" 5" 0 1 5 7 2 14 5 2 7 2 4 0 3 ;a:;':'5,' 0 13 0 7 24 • . 1 ,••• 3 0 2 3 '• •:'\-7 3 2 1 n 0 0 0 1 3 0 52 10 ' 14 7 20 1 - - 7 0 2 • 1 :0 0 0 ' " d 1 3",J3 2 • 1 0 0 0 0 0 108 19 55 97 39 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 4 25 5• 34 46 0 1 T d 4 1 : • ^ 0 0 2 0 2 5 li 1 0 4 12 4 12 18 3 0 5 13 1 6 17 2 0 5 • 17 5 17 26 5 0 ' 2 11 14 3 0 15 6 17 25 vk;; . .- 25 0 ; 2 6 7 .-n> 8 9 0 2 • • •"T 3 11 7 8 : 13 0 1 7 2 3 3 3 0 165 40 10 142 37 4 6 / 1 4 27 6 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 21 0 • -5 •• 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 196 181 52 272 267 77 ; 14 11 .••-•T-'-: 0 0 2 1 5 4 12 8 17 6 i,;.:' 7 14 41 3 11 5 15 1 0 18 8 1^ 0 ;:'15'; 0 0 90 145 11 0 36 12 13 19 20 31 30 44 25 20 3 16 50 24:2 348 1 264 23 • 12 : ;.':T5 • 7 12 4 12 15 19 13 23 17 I':'33 16 24 18 10 0 0 4 13 16 17 ®:^o . • 2 20 .. 47 0 3 156 257 2 0 3 6 13 12 26 9 11 1 27 5 .• fc-' 5 • 21 3 2 8 2 12 , 60 9 15 8 6 8 0 0 0 157 ••7.4 1 0 9 2 4 0 165 6 4 1 1 21 4 0 9 0 70 86 3 14 26 26 33 45 65 31 18 6 50 45 4 30 4 486 104 7 2 28 19 42 19 53 17 24 7 158 16 1 8 1 506 o"' 13 0 277 24 10 5 11 19 33 43 16 22 25 4 11 29 2 996 1,032 1,256 327 242 520 437 523 754 610 Totals All Department * 'Total Registered" means the number or men wno aciuauy icgisicit^ iw. a..ipp...5 pw.. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. A total of 1 526 lobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1^26 jobs shipped, 437 jobs or about 29 percent were taken by «A" seniority members. The rest were fdled by «B" and "C" seniority people, ^[om june 16 to July 15,1992, a total of 242 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1,1982, a total of 16,984jobs have been shipped. :..'v , -- -.v.-'.— , September & October Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, iniand Waters Piney Point Tuesday, September 8 Monday, October 5 New York Tuesday, September 8 Tuesday, October 6 Philadelphia Wednesday, September 9 Wednesday, October 7 Baltimore Thursday, September 10 Thursday, October 8 Norfolk Thursday, September 10 Thursday, October 8 Jacksonville Thursday, September 10 Thursday, October 8 Algonac Friday, September 11 Friday, October 9 Houston Monday, September 14 Monday, October 12 New Orleans Tuesday, September 15 Tuesday, October 13 Mobile Wednesday, September 16 Wednes^y, October 14 San Francisco Thursday, September 17 Thursday, October 15 Wilmington Monday, September 21 IJ Monday, October 19 Seattle Friday, September 25 Friday, October 23 San Juan Thursday, September 10 Thursday, October 8 St. Louis Friday, September 18 Friday, October 16 Honolulu Friday, September 18 Friday, October 16 Duluth Wednesday, September 16 Wednesday, October 14 JerseyCity Wednesday, September 23 Wednesday, October 21 New Bedford Tuesday, September 22 Tuesday, October 20 -y - vl.- fllf-Sfi Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Corrections This photo was misidentified on page 16 in the July 1992 Seafarers LOG. It is actually Benjamin DeGonia, assistant chief bosun in the 500th trainee class at the Lundeberg School, leading the pledge of allegiance at the SIUNA convention. Rebecca Pouliot was in­ correctly iden- ' tifiedon page 25 J of last month's Seafarers LOG. K Pouliot is a cabin steward aboard the I SlU-crewed SS'i Independence. '-J!" -.K,- a �18 SEAFMeitSLOQ Auami992 Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Internatkmal Union Directory JUNE 16 — JULY 15,1992 CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes NP—^Non Priority Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Angustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining George McCartney Vice President West Coast •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups ClassCL aassL ClassNP :Sr •f-t .ty ir" -? . r-y; 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 606KalihiSt; Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 . HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. ;; Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, EL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99] Jersev 0 60 . 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT "p 7 'V • ' ' . . V • ' • r: . .V • Philadelphia, PA *19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301)994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415)543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave. Stop 16Vi SantUTce, PR 00907 (809)721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. Seatfle, WA 98121 (206)441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. SL Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON 510N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310)549-4000 0 13 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 7. ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 ^ 0 Totals All Departments 0 58 21 0 102 9 0 40 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. 26 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JUNE 16 Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Wa West Coast Totals Region Gulf Coast •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 7 4 0 20 ^0 \ A 0 8 0 ,0 0 0 >v- 0 , „ 0, 0 0 V 0 JULY 15,1992 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 2 45 0 3 "" 1 14 6 0 0 • ' 56 0 0 0 2 8 1 3 117 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 1 13 5 35 ; r- ; 0 5 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT tn awv - 0 . , ..O.—!, ... 0 0 L 0 Ini yvt ! !• 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 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups QassCL ClassL Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT Vice ftesident Government Services JackCaffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Keiley Vice ftesident Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast 'f TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups QassCL ClassL OassNP West Coast Totals 1 7 0 1 0 1 "0 2 0 I 0 0 Totals All Departments 35 2 18 15 2 3 200 24 * '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. 42 TO THE MEN WHO SAILED THE LIBERTY SHIPS... WATERMAN CREWMEMBERS ' AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE HISTORY SERIES I III* SIU members who are working or who have worked aboard Waterman's TAKX vessels (Pfc Eugene Obregon, Sgt Matej Kocak and Major Stephen Pless) should be aware of the following development. The Econmic Price Ad­ justment affecting wages, overtime and vacation rates will be implemented retroactively to January 1,1992. Members still worldng on these ves­ sels will see the increase in their paychecks. Members who shipped during that time but who have left the vessel should receive their checks in the mail by the end of July. The American Merchant Museum at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. is the publisher of a new series on the history of American passenger, pas­ senger/cargo and cargo ships and ship­ ping. Volume I, "The Hog Islanders," the story of 122 American ships, chronicles the building of the Hog Island yard in response to WWI. Volume B, "Caviar and Cargo," is about the C 3 passenger ships. These two books are currently in print and may be ordered from North American Maritime Books. The price for Volume I is $19.95 plus $2.50 for shipping; the cost for Volume II is $24.95 plus $2.50 shipping. Future volumes in the series will be entitled "Bauxite, Bananas, Coffee and Sugar" (the story of American passenger shipping in the Caribbean), "Prizes of War," (the story of 109 German mer­ chant vessels seized by the U.S. govern­ ment and put to war against their own country), and "The 535's and 502's" (which tells the story of 23standard built American passenger ships of the WWI era). An hour-long television documen­ tary to premier on public television, KTEH Channel 54, in San Jose, Calif, is in development. Entitled "The Men Who Sailed the Liberty Ships," the pro­ gram will be taped on the Jeremiah O'­ Brien, the Liberty ship moored in San Francisco and restored to her World War n condition by a crew of volunteers. The project's producers are looking for seamen who have photographs taken on Liberty ships during the war. They also would like to hear from mariners who sailed Liberties and have any uni: usual stories. ' Contributions to become a member I of the production team are welcomed. The producers, Maria Brooks and Don Watson, can be contacted c/o Waterfront Soundings Video Project, 4 Berry St., San Francisco, CA 94107, or phone (510) 451-9226. RETIREE COLLECTS PINS A retiree and Seafarers LOG reader has begun a collection of lapel pins and tie-tacs which contain emblems or logos of organizations, clubs, etc. He mounts them on boards and eventually plans to exhibit them in schools, social halls and even have his collection given to the Smithsonian Institution. Anyone who would like to send him their unwanted pinsshould wrap them in plastic bubble wrap or newspaper and send them to: David Peller, Blair House, 8201 16th Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910. _ hn -.1 '.r-., ' CROWLEY MARITIME CORPORATION MERGER TMT, ATL, CCT and other Crowley companies are reorganizing their cor­ porate structure on August 1,1992. The name of the new corporation will be Crowley American Transport, Inc. This merger will cause nosubstantive change in the organization's dealing with the SIU. 1 �T he Seafarers Pension Plan this month announces the retire­ ment of 21 members. Seventeen of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, while four sailed in the Great Lakes Division. At 76, John Panders is the oldest of the new pensioners. Brother Panders sailed with the SIU for more than a quarter-century. Brief biographical sketches of Panders and the other new retirees follow. DEEP SEA Willie Butts, 52, joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of New Orleans. A native of Alabama, he sailed in the deck and engine departments. Brother Butts upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School. He served in the Air Force from 1959 to 1962. Brother Butts lives in Lakeland, Fla. Vincent Carafa, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of San Francisco. Bom in Pennsylvania, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Carafa served in the Army from 1944 to 1955. He has retired to Sonoma, Calif. Yacob Hassan, 66, joined the union in 1971 in the port of Baltimore. He was bom in China and sailed in the deck department. Brother Hassan resides in Baltimore. Daniel Herrera, 65, joined the SIU in 1966 in his native Puerto Rico. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Herrera served in the Army from 1945 to 1947. He still calls Puerto Rico home. John Kane, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of New York. Bom in the Bronx, N.Y., he com­ pleted the bosun recertification course at the Lun­ deberg School in 1981. Brother Kane served in the Army from 1946 to 1947. He lives in Ocala, Fla. Everett Klopp, 65, joined the union in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. A na­ tive of Min­ nesota, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Klopp has retired to Vancouver, Wash. Pedro Mena, 62, joined the SIU in 1957 in the port of Baltimore. The native of Puerto Rico sailed in the steward and engine departments. Brother Mena upgraded at the Lun- 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. deberg School in 1976. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1951. Brother Mena lives in Miami. Wayne Linnette, 52, graduated from the Andrew Fumseth Train­ ing School in the port of New York in 1967. Bom in Norfolk, Va., he sailed in the en­ gine department. Brother Linnette served in the Army frOm 1956 to 1957. He resides in Norfolk. Nicholas Lomas, 63, joined the union in 1946 in the port of New York. Bom in Texas, he sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Boatman Lomas has retired to Tampa, Fla. Joseph Meyerchak, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1949 in his native New York. He completed the bosun recertifica­ tion course at the Lundeberg School in 1981. Brother Meyerchak served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. He has retired to Puyallup, Wash. Abdel Mohamed, 60, joined the union in 1963 in the port of New York. He was bom in Arabia and sailed in the steward department. Brother Mohamed has retired to Laguna Beach, Calif. John Panders, 76, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in the port of New York in 1966. He , was bom in Greece and sailed in the deck department Brother Panders resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. steward department. Brother Robin­ son upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1980. He served in the Army in 1946. Brother Robinson . still calls Greenville home. Edward Thompson, 61, joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of New York. He was bom in Pen­ nsylvania and sailed in the deck department. Brother Thompson upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1978. He served in the Navy from 1947 to 1951. Brother Thompson has retired to Seattle. Elvert Welch, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1958 in the port of New Orleans. Bom in Baton Rouge, La., he sailed in the en­ gine department. Brother Welch upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deberg School. He lives in Covington, La. Carl Wood­ ward, 65, joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of San Francisco. A na­ tive of Lamar, Mo., he com­ pleted the steward recer­ tification course at the Lundeberg School in 1980. Brother Woodward served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He has retired to his native Lamar. Christian Iverson, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1970 in the port of Frankfort, Mich. He was bom in Bear Lake, Mich, and sailed in the steward department. Brother Iverson served in the Army from 1945 to 1947. He continues to call Bear Lake home. William Jones, 66, joined the union in 1973 in the port of Cleveland. A na­ tive of Ashland, Wis., he sailed in the engine depart­ ment. Brother Jones served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. He lives in Superior, Wis. John Knopf, 67, joined the. Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Duluth, Minn. The native of Springville, N.Y, sailed in the en­ gine department. Brother Knopf has retired to Washbum, Wis. George Miller, 65, joined the SIU in 1964 in the port of Detroit. Bom in Pennsylvania, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Miller served in the Army from 1946 to 1949. He lives in Lewistown, Pa. John Stan, 65, joined the union in 1970 in the port of Detroit. He was bom in Bridgeport, Ohio and sailed in the deck department, i Jrother Stan served in the Navy from 1946 to 1950. He resides in Martins Ferry, Ohio. glli@ 051^ Gene Paschall, 66, joined the SIU in 1949 in the port of Tampa, Fla. Bom in Rock Island, Texas, he com­ pleted the bosun recertification course at the Lun­ deberg School in 1979. Brother Pas­ chall lives in Eagle Lake, Texas. James Robin­ son, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. A native of Green­ ville, S.C., he sailed in the liUL fletTem pamrio* toybirimiDN MerctentMarine mm • / "• • •• I, • �teuton...; 20 AUGUST1992 SEAFAOeOSLOG Know Your Rights ^cnb Hour ?|oUbap (^reetinpi 3fn tl^c ^cafarero 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 con­ stitution requires a detailed audit by Certified Public Accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by the SecretaryTreasurer. A yearly finance commit­ tee of rank-and-file members, elected by the membership, each year ex­ amines the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recom­ mendations. Members of thiscommit­ tee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. AU trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are ad­ ministered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agree­ ments. 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 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 avail­ able in all Union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in Ae contracts between the Union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt re­ quested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Teilez Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Caihp Springs, MD 20746 Last year, the Seafarers LOG devoted several pages in the December issue to print holiday greetings from active and retired Seafarers—as well as their family members—to friends, shipmates and loved ones. The feature was well received and, thus, the LOG is planning a similar feature this year. In 25 words or less (and in the neatest printing possible), write the message in the space provided below. All (legible) greetings that are written in the holiday spirit will be included in the December 1992 issue of the Seafarers LOG, if they are received in time. The deadline for receipt of the holiday messages is Friday, November 13, 1992. Send them by mail to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. After November 1, fac­ simile copies will be ac­ cepted. The fax number is (301) 899-7355. Forms also may be filled out in any union hall and turned in to the official at the counter—or may be given to the boarding patrolman at a vessel's payoff. '}• • "iT- MM. Holtbap Jleg^age (PLEASE PBUNT OR TYPE) To: From: Message: M---' : Full copies of contracts as refeired 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 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 estab­ lished 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. 'iV. • : '"if..:, Check the block which describes your status with the 5IU: • Active Seafarer D Family Member of Active Seafarer • Retired Seafarer D Family Member of Retired Seafarer Send your greeting to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. The greeting should be received at the LOG office by Friday, November 13,1992. 8/92 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 shouk any member pay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt In the event anyone attempts to re­ quire any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a pay­ ment 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 available in all Union halls. All members should ob­ tain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its con­ tents. 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 immedi­ ately notify headquarters. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employ­ ment 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, na­ tional or geographic origin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL AC­ TIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers^ the preservation and furthering of the American mer­ chant 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 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 con­ dition 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 sup­ port SPAD to protect and further his economic, political and social inter­ ests, and American trade union con­ cepts. ' V 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 Michael Sacco at head­ quarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. - -.r , • . Aj, K O �" }£?;-'• •' • '.:'iv;:':^/ vv • ;^v ;-V/>•::«'.'. ; •' v' i^'yticsss^aaw^aiiNe ''^'^•^aiWinii SSae^giS^!^^ AUGUST 1992 SEAFARERS LOG R. Risheck. Deck and engine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Digest of Ships Meetings IM' the Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some win be omitted. Ships minu^ 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. LIBERTY SPIRIT(Liberty Maritime), March 8 — Chairman Larry Manry, Secretary Steve Venus, Engine Delegate Perry Boyd, Steward iDelegate I. Gordon. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward department for fine chow. AMERICAN CONDOR (American Transport Lines), April 26 — Chairman M. McCardie, Secreta^ Carlos Sierra, Educational Director James Gaines, Deck Delegate Bob Miller, Engine Delegate Bryan Maddox. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Ship needs new dryer. Ship is in­ volved in transferring American forces from Philippines, including Subic Bay. PATRIOT (Vulcan Carriers), April 3 — Chairman R. Gibbs, Secretary W. Avant, Deck Delegate Willie Stanfleld, Engine Delegate Robert Scott, Steward Delegate Dwigbt Maeda. Chairman suggested mem­ bers upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang for good ser­ vice. SEALIFT INDIAN OCEAN (Marine Car­ riers), April 19 — Chairman Dave Zurek, Secretary T. Winiker, Educational Direc­ tor D. Davis, Engine Delegate Michael Ricci. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and sup­ port SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew mess needs additional chairs and new toaster. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. COURIER (Vulcan Carriers), May 24 — Chairman S. Yaras, Secretary Richard Bromage, Deck Delegate Jason Poss, En­ gine Delegate John Cronan, Steward Delegate Roy Royals. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for cleanliness of ship, menu variety and good food. OMIDYNACHEM (OMI Corp.), May 17 — Chairman Mark Davis, Secretary Steven Wagner, Educational Director Vin­ cent Deleso, Deck Delegate Raymond Snow, Engine Delegate Rick Ramirez, Steward Delegate Julio Guity. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked con­ tracts department for clarification on sailing board being posted. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. Next port: Houston. Dinner for the Crew 2. Rod Pence, AB aboard the OMI Dynachem, lifts a grouper as Chief Cook Julio Guity looks on. The fish was caught while the ship was at anchor in Cristobal, Panama. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (Sea-Land Set vice). May 17 — Chairman Wemer Becher. Secretary R. Spingat, Educational Director W. Stevens, Deck Delegate Mike Wiley, Engine Delegate A. Ahmed, Steward Delegate Thomas Kleine. Chair­ man conveyed thanks from chief mate to deck department. Secretary thanked crew for cooperation concerning special linen. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School, thereby help­ ing themselves get ahead. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent meals. 21 CHARLES L. BflOW/V (Transoceanic Cable), June 29 — Chairman J. Har­ rington, Secretary D. Lindwy, Education­ al Director W. Carroll. Chairman reported he would ask patrolman about cost of living adjustment. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Honolulu. SEALIFT CARIBBEAN (IMC), May 18 — Chairman W. Steele, Secretary Ivan Sails, Educational Director M. Vacca, Deck Delegate W. Dize, Engine Delegate August Rodil, Steward Delegate Stephen Adams. Ship has not received rubber gloves and boots. Dryer is defective. Educa­ tional director told members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. He suggested Seafarers be aware of dangers of AIDS. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew was reminded not to smoke during meal hours and not to wear tank tops in messhall. Ship has not received movies which coinpany is sup­ posed to supply. Next port: Norfolk, Va. GUS DARNELL (Ocean Shipholding), June 7 — Chairman Charles Mann, Secretary D. Smith, Educational Director John Anderson, Deck Delegate Greg Carlson, Engine Delegate Paul Barhadillo. Educational director stressed impor­ tance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate reported beef and disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang. USNS PREVAIL (USMMI), May 12 — Chairman Charles Booher, Deck Delegate Joe Murphy, Engine Delegate Bruce Korte, Steward Delegate Carl Warren. No beefs or disputed OT reported. AB R. LAWRENCE H. GIANELLA (Ocean Shipholding), June 2 — Chairman P. Hulsehosch. Secretary D. Cunningham, Educational Director D. Powers, Deck Delegate J. LaMotta, Steward Delegate BBQ on the Matthiesen SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 31 — Chairman Oscar Wiley, Secretary G. Bronson, Educational Direc­ tor Steve Bigelow, Deck Delegate Mathew Bevak, Engine Delegate David Bland, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Chairman discussed importance of upgrading at Lun­ deberg School. He reminded members to vote in upcoming elections. Deck delegate reported beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (SeaLand Service), May 17 — Chairman R. Moss, Secretary L. Ewing, Educational Director R. Johnson, Deck Delegate Wil­ liam Sharp, Engine Delegate Randy Snay. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 17 — Chairman H. Bentz, Secretary Paul Guzman, Educational Director John Halim, Deck Delegate Raymond Vicari, Engine Delegate F. IJlshait. Steward Delegate L. Hoffman. Chairman reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. He commended all departments for excellent work. Education­ al director explained importance of SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for excellent food and service as well as ship cleanliness. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND QUALITY (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 3 — Chairman Carmine Bova, Secretary TJ. Smith, Educational Director John Walsh, Deck Delegate Daniel Severinson, Engine Delegate Thomas Berry, Steward Delegate Francisco Monsihais. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew dis­ cussed importance of voting and noted that "Politics is pork chops." Crew thanked gal­ ley gang. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 24 — Chairman D. Brown, Secretiary L. Lightfoot, Educational Direc­ tor M; Miller, Deck Delegate Richard Young, Steward Delegate Gary Correy. Secretary reminded crew to wear hardhats on deck while cargo is being worked. All hands should use tunnels. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. VCR needs repair or re­ placement. Crew thanked steward department for fine meals. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 12 — Chairman Timothy Koehel, Secretary Terry White, Deck Delegate Mark Stevens, Engine Delegate D. Rhodes, Steward Delegate Saleh Nasser. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked Captain Brooks for superb barbecue and enjoyable work environment. Crew thanked galley gang for cruise ship cuisine, with special thai^ to Chief Cook Mohamed Shivly. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), May 3 — Chairman L. Watson, Secretary J.Johnson, Educational Director '•-••X ... BHHiB •rf, • ,• v-.'s Seafarers aboard the Richard G. Matthiesen enjoy a great barbecue en route from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Long Beach, Calif. This photo was sent to the LOG by AB George Jordanides. Austin commended galley gang for job well done, and crew seconded thanks. USNS WILKES (Mar Ship Operators), May 29 — Chairman Robert Russell, Secretary K. Dougherty, Deck Delegate Stanley Whitaker, Steward Delegate Cor­ nell Charleston. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Membership agreed this was un­ usually fine crew and thanks went out to all departments. Crew gave barbecue/retire­ ment party for Third Cook Ahdel Mohamed. USNS WYMAN (Mar Ship Operators), May 10 — Chairman L. Winst^d, Secretary D.St George, Educational Direc­ tor R. Clark, Steward Delegate Guy Prescott. Secretary reported ship running out of canned juices and milk due to problems with drinking water. Deck delegate reported beef related to water problem. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS (Amsea), May 10 — Chairman Alvin McCants, Secretary Donna Jean Clemoiu, Educational Director Geo Cruzen Jr., Deck Delegate John Davis, Engine Delegate Frank Jaworski, Steward Delegate Dwayne Landry. Chairman con­ veyed chief mate's thanks for excellent Coast Guard inspection. Chairman dis­ cussed drug and alcohol testing. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Repair list is posted. PFC JAMES ANDERSON (Maersk Lines), June 12 — Chairman Thomas Atwell, Secretary L. Mensching, Deck Delegate James Keith Jr. Educational director has upgrading forms available. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. AMERICAN HERITAGE(Apex Marine), June 12 — Chairman Jamie Miller, Secretary John Samuels. Chairman thanked crew for job well done. He asked captain about getting hresh milk and vegetables every couple of weeks. Educa­ tional director reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. All crewmembers ne^ new pillows and mattresses. M. Ketchem. Chairman reported he has ab­ sentee ballots for all 50 states. Deck delegate reported beefs. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers and sisters. GLOBAL SENTINEL(jTansOceanic Cable), June 5 — Chairman G. Diefenhach. Secretary Eva Myers, Educational Director J. Smitko, Deck Delegate Roger Reinke. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew was reminded to reduce noise in passageways. GUA YAMA (Puerto Rico Marine), June 14 — Chairman D. Murray, Secretary W. Williams, Steward Delegate R. Evoha. Chairman advised members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew lounge needs new furniture and new VCR. FRANCES HAMMER (Ocean Shiphold­ ing), June 18 — Chairman W. Petty, Secretary A. Banky. Chairman announced payoff. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. JULIUS HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding), June 21 — Chairman Ronald Dailey, Secretary F. Costango. No beefs or tUsputed OT reported. HUMACAO (Puerto Rico Marine), June 3 — Chairman R. Garay, Secretary J. Miller, Educational Director Virgil Bol­ ton, Deck Delegate Edward King, Engine Delegate Thomas Toomey, Steward Alejandro Serrano. Chairman announced payoff. Secretary reported to crew about longshoremen in Puerto Rico taking over crew lounge and eating all the night lunch. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew lounge needs new furniture and VCR. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: EUzabeth,N.J. INGER (Sealift, Inc.), June 28 — Chair­ man S. Jandora, Secretary Vincent Continued on page 22 'I "a- ., • • �f 22 Ships Digest Continued from page 21 Sanchez Jr., Deck IDelegate Kenneth Moore, Engine Delegate L. Reynolds, Steward Delegate D. Payne. Chairman thanked crew for good trip. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. ITB MOBILE(Sheridan Transportation), June 28 — Chairman Fred Jensen, Secretary Pedro Seiian, Educational Direc­ tor J. Zang, Deck Delegate Kevin Merckx, Engine Delegate Floyd Talley, Steward Delegate T. Quammie. Chairman thanked crew for smooth voyage. Educa­ tional director stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School and donat­ ing to SPAD. Steward delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. ITB NEW YORK (Sheridan Transporta­ tion), June 14 — Chairman Sonny Pinkham, Secretary R. Hicks, Educational Director M. Scinto, Engine Delegate L. Malave, Steward Delegate D. Rodriguez. No beefs or disputed OT rqwrted. Crew thanked steward department for good job. Chairman thanked crew for cooperation. Crewmembers this summer will be defending basketball title in thiee-cni-thtee "West Indies Shootout," won last year in ovotime by Pinkham, DEU T«n Moore and captain'sson. >1;-, t;": LIBERTY SUN (Liberty Maritime), June 28 — Chairman Robert Favalora, Secretary Frederick Washington, Educa­ tional Director Eddie Major, Engine Delegate Jerome Butler. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. LIBERTY WA VE (Liberty Maritime), June 28 — Chairman J,J. Leonard, Secretary C. Rollings, Educational Direc­ tor P. Boyd Jr., Deck Delegate Mark Wooley, Engine Delegate T. Mathews. Chairman relayed thanks from captain, who said this is best deck and engine departments he has ever had. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward department. Next port: New Orleans. ri;,p ,.• • LNG C4P/?/CO/?/V(ETC), June 7 — Chairman A. Waters, Secretary Francis Ostendarp, Educational Director Robert Hamilton. Chairman reported everything running smoothly. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Ship still needs refrigerators for crew mess and pantry. I* ••• [ v\7. • '; •• ' '-''i', ,.V- H:.' ' AUGUST 1992 SEAFARERS LOG LNG TAURUS (ETC), June 14 — Chair­ man Ulus Veach, Secretary Doyle Cor­ nelius, Educational Director Raymond Culpepper, Deck Delegate Joe Morrison, Engine Delegate Vincent Larimer, Steward Delegate Henry Daniels Jr. Chair­ man greeted new crewmembers and stressed importance of upgrading at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done, especially SAs V. Echeverio, B. Olsen and M. Taraha. GROTON (Sheridan Transportation), June 28 — Chairman George Diefenbach, Secretary M. Deloatch, Educational Direc­ tor R. Natoli, Deck Delegate Joseph Soresi, Engine Delegate Rodney Edmands. Steward Delegate Michael Ham­ mock. Chairman announced payoff. He noted importance of donating to SPAD and reading Seafarers LOG. Educational direc­ tor urged members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang for very good food. Next port: Stapleton, N.Y. 1st LT. JACK LUMMUS (Amsea), June 11 — Chairman S. Solomon, Secretary L. Oram, Educational Director L> Oram, Deck Delegate F. Christian, Engine Delegate S. Melendez, Steward Delegate E. Ellis. Educational director noted upgrad­ ing leads to better earning power. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done and thanked deck department for good job painting ramp. MOKU PAHU (Pacific Gulf Marine), June 11 — Chairman D. Ticer Jr., Secret^ J. Pratt, Educational Director M. Peck. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang. /74AfG£f7 (Vulcan Carriers), June 6 — Chairman William Mullins, Secretary M. Fields, Engine Delegate Gary Dahl. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. NUEVO SAN JUAN{FuetloRico Marine), June 15 — Chairman A. Camacho, Secretary A. Romero, Educa­ tional Director C. Gallagher. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed im­ portance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Crew observed one minute of silence in memoiy of departed brothers. OMIDYNACHEM (OMI Corp.), June 14 — Chairman Mark Davis, Secretary Steven Wagner, Educational Director Vin­ cent Deieso, Deck Delegate Rod Pence, Steward Delegate Julio Guity. Chairman reported smooth trip. New refrigerator was installed in crew messhall. Crew thanked Rod Pence for catching nice fish in Panama. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to seek change in de­ pendent medical coverage. Crew thanked steward department. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. OMI MISSOURI(OMI Coq).), June 21 — Chairman Carl Francum, Secretary Clyde Kreiss, Deck Delegate J. Saxon, Engine Delegate S. Castro, Steward Delegate J. Bemardez. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. OMI WABASH (OMI Corp.), June 4 — Chairman Ervin Bronstein, Secretary C. Miles, Deck Delegate T. Vines, Engine Delegate G. Garza. Chairman announced payoff. He advised crew about new SlU health clinic near Houston union hall, and said clinic staff is very professional. No beefs or disputed OT reported. The End of Another Voyage for the Nuevo San Juan 1,'^^ OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS (Maritime Overseas), June 1 — Chairman Bobby Riddick, Secretary R. DeBoissiere, Educational Director Ron Belcher, Engine Delegate Jack Singletary. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to eliminate permanent jobs. Crew thanked Steward/Baker DeBoissiere, Chief Cook Burt Winfield and SA John Moore for ex­ cellent job. Deck and engine departments also received thanks for good work. OVERSEAS WW4W (Maritime Over­ seas), June 14 — Chairman J.D. Foster, Secretary Freddy Hamilton, Educational Director Tom Koubek. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (Sea-Land Service), June 28 — Chairman R. Wil­ liams, Secretary H. Scypes, Educational Director Eddie Johnson, Deck Delegate R. Grubbs, Steward Delegate Jose Ortiz. Chairman asked everyone to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment for good cookouts. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. '• ? ' 7->* A recent payoff for tfie crew of the Nuevo San Juan took place in Port Elizabeth, N.J. Pictured above are (from left) AB/Ship's Chairman A. Camacho, Vessel Manager Tom Lord and Steward Assistant A. Colon. • ' • <Sw--'' - ... payoff. Educational director luged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew dis­ cussed importance of SPAD and how dona­ tions help send message to Washington, D.C. to keep a strong U.S.-flag merchant marine. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 10 — Chairman M. Willis, Secretary J. Johnson, Educational Director M. Sabin. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for good job. USNS INVINCIBLE (USMMl), June 8 — Chairman Albert Austin, Jr., Secretary G. Hamilton, Deck Delegate B. Booker, En­ gine Delegate H. Watkins, Steward Delegate R. Langley. Chairman reminded members to register at SlU hall within 48 hours of being paid off after a layup. Crew thanked galley gang for fine service. USTS PACIFIC (lOM), June 6 — Chair­ man Mark Trepp, Secretary Ray Brown, Educational Director Felix Durand, Deck Delegate J. Batorski, Engine Delegate J. Patino, Steward Delegate Billy Mitchell. Educational director noted bosun has absen- Preparing the Grill SEA-LAND CRUSADER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 24 —• Chairman Ben Berbereno. Secretary R. Emanuel, Engine Delegate R. Jackson. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done and tremendous improvement. Television and VCR need to be replaced. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), June 14 — Chairman Elex Cury, Jr., Secretary E. Douroudous, Educational Director J. Ortiz, Engine Delegate Bruce Wright. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew commended galley gang. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea-Land Service), June 7 — Chairman Carlos DeGracia, Secretary E. Vazquez, Education­ al Director D. Beeman. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. SEA-LAND MARINER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 19 — Chairman A. Eckert, Secretary P. Lopez, Educational Director G. Speckman, Deck Delegate L. Long, Steward Delegate D. Flunker. Chairman announced fire and boat drill. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported, but steward delegate needs clarification on OT. Crew was reminded to keep lounge clean. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND NA VIGA TOR (Sea-Land Service), June 21 — Chairman Werner Be­ cker, Secretary R. Spingat, Educational Director W. Stevens, Deck Delegate Robert Crooks, Engine Delegate A. Ahmed, Steward Delegate Thomas Kleine. Chairman thanked crew for good trip. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for fine food. SEA-LAND QUALITY (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 7 — Chairman Carmine Bova, Secretary T. Smith, Educational Director John Walsh, Deck Delegate Carl Sands, Engine Delegate Thomas Berry, Steward Delegate Francisco Monsihais. Chairman announced payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed donating to seamen's club in LaPorte, Texas. -7V i" OVERSEAS ALASKA (Maritime Over­ seas), June 21 — Chairman Carlos Spina, Secretary Florencio Nieves Jr., Education­ al Director Wendell Purrish Jr. Chairman announced payoff and urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), June 21 — Chairman T. Murphy, Secretary M. Meany, Educational Director G. Ackley, Deck Delegate M. Stevens, En­ gine Delegate M. Ferguson, Steward delegate S. Nasser. Chairman thanked crew for smooth voyage. He aimounced Chief Cook Jim Swart starts the grill for the Richard G. Matthiesen's cookout on the stem. This photo was sent to the LOG by AS George Jordanides tee ballots. He encouraged members to vote, donate to SPAD and upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. RALEIGH BAY (Sea-Land Service), July 5 — Chairman Carlton Hall, Secretary A. Robinson, Deck Delegate Kenneth Riley, Steward Delegate A. Willey. Chairman urged members to donate to SPAD and upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND ANCHORAGE (Sea-Land Service), July 2 — Chaiiman G. Walker, Secretary J. Wright, Educational Director K. Bertel, Deck Delegate Gregory Agren, Engine Delegate Ahmed Almuflihi, Steward Delegate Kassem Saleh. Chair­ man announced payoff. Educational direc­ tor reminded members to register and vote in elections. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea-Land Service), July 5 — Chairman Carlos DeGracia, Secretary E. Vazquez, Education­ al Director D. Beeman, Engine Delegate Jesus Vazquez, Steward Delegate R. Cosme. Chairman reported everything run­ ning smoothly. He discussed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked gal­ ley gang for good work. SEA-LAND RELIANCE(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), July 1 — Chairman D. Brown, Secretary G. Sivley, Educational Director E. Frederickson, Deck Delegate R. Young, Engine Delegate C. Akers. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment for job well done. �•"Ti I II inii^iM^F^^ **' •Ig,ii^"ivi_i;iiwwiiir •'iii^iii: iir-in-imwini-V Aueusri992 SEAFARERS LOG 23 Final Departures DEEP SEA AWADABUDULLA Awad Abudulla, S3, passed away January 9. He was bom in Arabia and in 1969 joined the Seafarers in the port of Bal­ timore. Brother Abudulla sailed in the deck department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975. y;--. JAMESP.AHERN James P. Ahem, 67, died March 7. The Massachusetts native joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Boston. Brother Ahem sailed in the deck depart­ ment. FLOYD BARNETT Pensioner Floyd Bamett, 74, passed away May 27. Bom in North Carolina, he joined the union in 1951 in the port df Bal­ timore. Brother Bamett sailed in the deck department. He served in the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1939. Brother Bamett retired in April 1974. SIGMIEREBOGGAN Pensioner Sigmiere Boggan, 75, died May 10. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Brother Bog­ gan sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He began receiving his pension in October 1976. JOSEPH CARENDER Pensioner Joseph Carender, 70, passed away June 24. The Ten­ nessee native joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Carender sailed in the deck department. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1945. Brother Carender retired in June 1986. JAMES C. COLLINS Pensioner James C. Collins, 69, died June 9. He was bom in Rockwood, Tennessee and in 1966 joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. Brother Collins sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1941 to 1946. Brother Collins began receiv­ ing his pension in April 1988. JOHN L. CORTEZ Pensioner John L. Cortez, 79, passed away June 7. Bom in the Philip­ pine Islands, he joined the union in 1960 in the port of Seattle. Brother Cortez sailed in the steward department. He retired in June 1978. JUAN CRUZ Pensioner Juan Craz, 76, died July 1. A native of Puerto Rico, he joined the SIU as a charter member in 1939 in the port of New York. Brother Cruz sailed in the steward department. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1945. Brother Cmz retired in August 1978. RAFAEL D'ANGELO Pensioner Rafael D'Angelo, 85, passed away June 11. He was bom in Italy and in 1945 joined the Seafarers in the port Of New York. Brother D'Angelo sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He began collecting his pension in August 1979. JOSEPH FONTENOT Pensioner Joseph Fontenot, 74, died June 6. The native of Louisiana joined the union in 1952 in the port of Houston. ' Brother Fontenot sailed in the steward department. He retired in November 1983. CLARENCE FREDDIE Pensioner Clarence Freddie, 73, passed away April 22. Bom in Louisiana, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1954 in the port of Wilmington, Calif., before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Freddie began receiving his pension in Febmary 1986. JOSEPH FURTON Pensioner Joseph Furton, 76, died June 9. He was bom in Michigan and in 1944 joined the SIU in the port of New York. Brother Furton sailed in the deck department. He retired in October 1980. VICTOR E. GARCIA Pensioner Victor Garcia, 67, passed away May 9. A native of the Philip­ pine Islands, he joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of New York. Brother Garcia sailed in the steward depart­ ment. He began receiving his pension in April 1988. EARL GAY Earl Gay, 65, passed away recently. The Pennsyl­ vania na­ tive joined the union in 1952 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Gay sailed in the steward department. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. RICHARD HENEKE Pensioner Richard Heneke, 65, passed away May 14. The Washington native joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of ^ Seattle. Brother Heneke sailed in the engine department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1974. Brother Heneke served in the Navy from 1943 to 1953. He began receiving his pension in January 1991. JOHN GRADDICK Pensioner John Graddick, 77, died June 28. He was bom in South Carolina and in 1945 joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. Brother Graddick sailed in the steward department. He retired in January 1980. CLEG HARRIMAN Pensioner Cleo Harriman, 72, passed away May 26. Bom in Virginia, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1967 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Harriman began receiving his pension in January 1982. DONALD HENDERSON Pensioner Donald Hender­ son, 72, died recently. A native of Portland, Ore., he joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Henderson, sailed in the deck department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1976. Brother Henderson served in the Army from 1944 to 1956. He retired in April 1986. ALBERT HOLMES Pensioner Albert Holmes, 72, died March 24. Bom in North Carolina, he joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Holmes sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He served in the Air Force from 1941 to 1942. Brother Holmes retired in December 1982. HAROLD MEEDER, Harold Meeder, 62, died June 4. A native of Kansas City, he joined the SIU in 1971 in the port of Houston. Brother Meeder sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1950 until 1964. WILLIAM G. KELLY Pensioner William G. Kelly, 63, passed away May 23, five days after his birthday. He was bom in Aberdeen, Wash, and in 1957 joined the Seafarers in the pott of Seattle. Brother KeUy sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1946 to 1949. Brother Kelly letiied in Novem­ ber 1991. PETER MENCIAS Pensioner Peter Mencias, 79, passed away May 24. Bom in the Philip­ pine Islands, he joined the union in 1968 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Men­ cias sailed in the steward department. He began receiv­ ing his pension in September 1979. JACK NELSON Pensioner Jack Nel­ son, 66, died June 7. He joined the SIU in his native Savan­ nah, Ga. in 1943. Brother Nel­ son completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He retired in March 1987. PAUL R. ROGERS Pensioner Paul Rogers, 70, passed away April 28 due to cancer. He was bom in Colorado and in 1967 joined the Seafarers in the port of Houston. Brother Rogers sailed in the steward department. He served in the Army from 1940 until 1945. Brother Rogers retired in Febmary 1987. He is survived by his wife, Wanda; two sons, Ronald and Russell; his daughter, Paula; his sister, June; seven grandchildren and a great grandchild. bom in Los Angeles and in 1952 joined the Seafarers in the port of Seattle. Brother Rudolph sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. Brother Rudolph retired in Oc­ tober 1988. HENDRIKSWARTJES Pensioner Hendrik Swartjes, 82, died May 29. Bom in Hol­ land, he joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Swartjes sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in April 1974. CHARLES E. THOMPSON Pensioner Charles E. Thompson, 64, passed away May 15. The na­ tive of Los Angeles joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1967 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Thompson began receiving his pension in Febmary 1982. RAPHAEL TORRES Raphael Torres, 21, died recently. He was bom in the Vir­ gin Is­ lands and in 1989 graduated from the Lundeberg School trainee pro­ gram. Brother Torres sailed in the engine department. He was an active methber at the time of his death. ALEJANDRINO VELAZQUEZ Pensioner Alejandrino Velaz­ quez, 65, passed way May 24. A na­ tive of Puerto Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. Brother Velazquez sailed in the deck department. He retired in October 1986. WILLIAM ROYES NGITWONG Pensioner William Royes, 86, died June 17. A native of Jamaica, he joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Royes sailed in the steward depart­ ment. He began receiving his pension in August 1971. Pensioner Ngit Wong, 65, died May 15. Bom in China, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco in 1954, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Wong retired in Febmary 1979. ROBERT RUDOLPH Pensioner Robert Rudolph, 65, passed away June 18. He was INLAND GERONIMO ESPINOSA Pensioner Geronimo Espinosa, 78, passed away June 1. He was bom in the Philippine Is­ lands and in 1961 joined the Continued on page 24 V- �•"•"•riiiiijfiTiii 24 tinal Departures Continued from page 23 union in the port of Philadel­ phia. Boatman Espinosa sailed in the steward department. He retired in June 1984. ROGER GARES Pensioner Roger Cares, 73, died May 23. A native of Pen­ nsylvania, he joined the union in 1973 in the port of Philadel­ phia. Boatman Cares sailed in the steward department. He served in the Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946. He began receiving his pension in November 1987. ORVILLE JOHNSON Pensioner Orville Johnson, 72, passed away June 12. He joined the Seafarers in 1957 in his native Baltimore. Boatman Johnson sailed in the deck department. He retired in April 1982. P' AOGUSri^ SEAFARBISIM TOMP.lVnLLER Pensioner Tom P. Miller, 78, died May 18. The Texas na­ tive joined the union in 1957 in the port of Houston. Boatman Miller sailed in the engine and steward departments. He served in the Army from 1941 to 1943. Boatman Miller began receiving his pension in August 1973. CHARLES F. MORRIS Pensioner Charles F.Mor­ ris, 77, passed away Decem­ ber 1. Bom in New Jersey, he joined the union in 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Morris, sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1940 to 1945. Boatman Morris retired in December 1979. CLAY SHERRILL Clay Sherrill, 63, died June 2. He was bom in Highland Park, Mich, and in 1972 joined the union in the port of Chicago. Boatman Sherrill sailed in the deck department. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seaman­ ship has revised its self-study correspondence courses. Currently available are lessons in English and mathe­ matics. The academic department will add other sub­ jects as they become aval able. Seafarers can take advantage of this opportunity to increase their knowledge by writing to the Lundeberg School. The materials are prepared in a straight-for­ ward, easy-to-understand manner. Simply check the boxes for the lessons which interest you, then clip and send the coupon to the address below. STEPHEN LENCHAK Stephen Lenchak, 64, passed away June 23. He was bom in Cleveland and in 1960 joined the union in the port of Detroit. Brother Lenchak sailed in the steward department. He served in the Army from 1955 to 1957. Please send the materials checked below: MATH • • • • • CARL ANDERSON Pensioner Carl Ander­ son, 73, passed away June 13. The Michigan native joined the Seafarers in 1953 in the port of Elberta, Mich. Brother Anderson sailed in the engine department. He , retired in August 1970. Fractions Decimals Percents Algebra Geometry Trigonometry • Plane D Spherical ^ , , (-.-If ..'kAr,,! .. INGUSH GREAT LAKES O • ATLANTIC FISHERMEN Grammar Books Writing Business Letteas ^... .rt. Name _ Address. SEBASTIANO PASSANISI Pensioner Sebastiano Passanisi, 77, died June 1. He joined the union in 1971 in his nahve Boston. Brother Passanisi sailed in the deck and steward departments. He served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. Brother Passanisi retired in December 1982. South Atlantic Port Council Holds Luncheon •i: .: 'Lun^eberg School Self Study Courses KONRADFROVAG Pensioner Konrad Frovag, 80, died May 1. A nadve of Norway, he joined theSIU in 1949 in the port of Detroit. Brother'Frovag sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in June 1976. Telephone^ Social Security#. Book# Rating. [ Ctd Old this coupon and mall to: ^ ^ I I • 1 Academic Department Seafarers Harry Lundebeg School of Seamanship P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 •'>V; 8/92 Congressman Meets with New Orieans MID ^ ' ""W.^ ,'• '^'V.' • • ^1"'••-••>•'>'/••"• '. '• :'?:•;=•• \ ;;' '' il^-. U S Representative Bob Livingston (R-La.) talks with New Orleans Port Agent Joe Perez (center) as retired SlU Vice President Lindsey Williams welcomes guests to the June 5 meeting of the Port Maritime Council of Greater New Orleans and Vrcimty. •:,f. SP The South Atlantic Port Maritime Council held its quarterly membership luncheon on May 20 in the Jacksonville, Fla. SlU hall. Featured speakers at the event were local legislative candidates. In the photo above, Patrolman Tony McQuay (center) welcomes Dr. Les Warren (left) and retired SlU Assistant VP George Ripoll. The galley gang who prepared the meal gather in the photo below. From the tejt. Jhey are ^farers Willie Grant, Richard Ward, Glenn D'Ambrosio and John Platts. J. ' i ••> •' Remembering Those Who Went Before • '• Retired Bosun Tony Palino (left) and SlU Vice President West Coast George McCartney flank Captain Dick Haugh of the SS Independence during the recent Maritime Memorial Day ceremonies aboard the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a restored Liberty Ship, in San Francisco Bay. Seafarers attending the event tossed a wreath into the sea in memory of their fallen brothers and sisters. The photo was provided by SlU member John Philips. -t •••• a :?;a •t' . •T •I - .^ips,: '" r • • - 'pfi:. i:': ... �a^afeaaa:w&r%grat.>.. i.^ SeAFAREUSLUG AUGUST 1S92 25 Connie's Galley Crew Aims to Keep Guests Happy General Napolean said it when he uttered his im­ mortal phrase, "an army marches on its stomachs." And people trying to catch a loved one have said it when they turned to the old adage, "a way to a person's heart is through their stomach." Galley gang Seafarers aboard the SS Constitu­ tion (nicknamed the "Connie" by crewmembers) recognize the simple principle that plentiful, exquisitely prepared food can be the key ingredient to a cruise ship passenger's good time. To this end, the steward department works around the clock to make sure no passenger goes hungry and no palate goes un­ satisfied during the sevenday voyage aboard the -.-V- fv"^, f,' ' I "-'4 . ; .-r-;- American Hawaii Cruises ship. Led by Chief Steward Patrick Olin, the galley gang must have a &eakfast ready for the pre­ dawn risers, then the regular breakfast must be prepared before lunch. While some of the crew works on the afternoon snacks, the final prepara­ tions for dinner—which has two seatings—must be completed. Finally, crewmembers prepare the after-dinner to midnight snacks before the whole thing starts over again. Olin noted to a Seafarers LOG reporter that there is never time to relax in the galley. "We always have a meal preparation in the works. It's a constant job to keep hundreds of people happy and satified." mww • • S'" - • >'^'0 '•M 'f Cook Julio Lambert slices prime rib for a passenger. Keeping an eye on the eggs is Assistant Cook Danny Nguyeu. j|;. Assistant Baker Mario Ramiro has pancakes hot off the griddle. •WW Watching over the galley operations are Executive Chef Hector Morales (left) and Chief Steward Patrick Olin. -•-u v Standing by an order is Second Cook Carlos LMadayag. ^ , No tears are Shed while Second Assistant Cook Mano Firme jr. Bennett oeels an onion, keeps delicious meals coming. K — ^ Mushrooms are needed in Second Cook Elhossiny EInaggar's recipe. elwI^rwiRrkfir Joseoh Walsh tinisnesmaRiiia«»iiu Sous Chef Ozzie Stoiber is one of the galley's many experts. Second Cook Jay Pichay slices bread for finger sandwiches. Dicirig a carrot is one task for Second Cook Djasni Mohamad. ' Showing his proficiency for cracking eggs with one hand is Chief Baker Willie Creer. �26 AimSTI^ SEAFARBKIOG Trainee Lifeboat Class 500—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 500 are (from left, kneeling, front row) Tfieodore Karabinas, Victor Serrano, Jared Tryal, Jerome Scola, Stepfianie Hendrick, Chris Kalinowski, (second row) Ben Cusic (instructor), Douglas Hau, James Lacy, Lorenzo Martin, Jason Simpson, Jerry Howard Jr., William Weeks Jr., Willie McFadden Jr., (third row) Kyle Tabor, Dave Hayes, Thomas Hurley Jr., Benjamin DeGonia, Mark Mullen, Michael Kozak, Jason Bonefont and Jerry Herman. X:. Able Bodied Seaman—Graduating with their able bodied seaman's endor­ sement are (from left, kneeling) K.C. Taylor (instructor). Otto Borden, Robert Baskin, Anthony Douglas, Grant Jones III, Obaid H. All, (second row, kneeling) Fred Lau, Jeffrey Robinson, Chris Stringer, Pasquale Giorgilli, Mark Lecik, David Penney, Fereuza Gifford, John Favero, (third row, standing) James McCarthy, Lawrence Neslein, Fred Cintorino, Dave Chesson Jr., William Boyd, Joe Carson, Barron Jackson, Kim M. Brown, Geronimo Rawlings, Warren Barroner, James Alexander and Russ Dasaro. Not pictured is Ron Mercer. Refrigeration Systems Maintenance and Operations—CompietKFmnrBoJon^^^^^^^^ finstmctSrBob Rudd Robert Sdwel'l Ed SaclSind JohnS (instructor). Bob Rudd, Robert Caldwell, Ed Sacks and John Kelly. Upgraders Lifeboat-Receiving their lifeboat endorsements, members of the '®"' kneeling) Osman Haslam, John D'Alessandro, Mark Cabasag, Gary Morrison, (second row) Ben Cusic (instructor). Chris Coggins, William Ware, Kenneth Myers, Dennis Shaw and Larry Calhoun. 11^ M':^: •='. • '•fri.'' ,', •t"v. h .• .'. Marine Electrical Maintenance—Completing the course leading to graduation from the marine electrical maintenance program are (from left, seated) Sheldon Greenberg, Dave Plumb, Mike Novak, Mark Dumas, (standing) Robert Stancavage, David Tillman, Lawrence Holbert, Eric ^^lzhuhn (instmctor) and James Brock. irefighting—Successfully completing the advanced firefighting curriculum on June 24 are (from left, front row) Byran Cummings (instructor), David Queipo, Mel Santos, Jeff Libby, Leroy Hopkins, John Smith (instructor), (second row) Lawrence Clark, Ed Johnston, Jose Marrero, Steve Thompson, (third row) Joe Young, Jay Phillips, Leon Johnson, Marc Taylor, (fourth row) Bill O'Neill, Bob Kiefer, Rick Bamhart, Leonard White, (fifth row) Craig Pare, James Watts and Bill Mustion. .• r- \, • •-• U.- ••• ,. f.'r f i- Upgraders Lifeboat—Members of the graduatinmireboat class on June 2 are (from left) John Watkins, Art Jonassen, Carmelita D. Henry, Kerry Tyrone Roby Sr. and Ben Cusic (Instructor). Marine Electronics Technician—Successfully completing the marine electronics technician course are (seated) Christopher Barry, (from left, standing) J.R. Hawkins, Robert A. Farmer, Scott Morris and Mark Rainess (instmctor)., Pumproom Maintenance and Operations—Graduating are (from left, kneeling) Wayne F. Gonsalves, Donald E. Morgan, (second row) Jim Shaffar (instructor), Jon Beard, Leonardo Papa, Tony Ripoll and Eric H. Sutton. �AUGUSTISfa SCWARBtSUm if- Hecerilllcetkm Prograuut • '.1" . Completion Date November 2 SlemrdUpitruOhmCourses Course As^tant Cooks Cook and Baker, Chief Cook, Chief Steward BeekgpgndkiBeeune$ Chedc-ln Ciunpletioii Date Date September 14 October 23 November 9 December 18 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Sealift Operations ca^ Maintenance course. Course Able Seaman Check-In Date Septinnber28 CfMUrse Bosun Recertilfieation The foUowing is Ae rarrent course schedule for classes beginning between August and De«n^r1^ a the Seafaiets Harry Lundebeig School of Seamanship loca^ a the Paul HaU Center for Marittme Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. T^e coui^ schedule may change to reflect the needs of the memberehip, the manume industry and—in times of conflict—die nation's security. IJS' • 27 Check-Di Comidetkm Date Date All open-ended (contact admissions dRice for starting dates) • • radlngCeurses Check-In Date Course- ' Completimi Date QMED-Any Rating Ship Handling ThirdMate August 31 November 2 September 14 November 16 August 3 Octobers August 31 August 28 October30 December 11 Tankerman October 26 November 20 Radar Observer Unlimited Celestial Navigatfon September 14 December 4 FiremanA¥atertender and Oiler August31 OctoberO October December 4 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Puniproom MainL & Gyrations August 31 October 9 Marine Electrical Maintenance August 17 October9 October 19 December 11 Refrigeration Maint. & Operations October 26 December4 Marine Electronics—^Technician I September 28 November 6 Marine Electronics—T^rhnican II November 9 December 18 Basic Electronics August31 September 25 Hydraulics August 17 September 11 November 23 December 18 Diesel Engine Technolc^ August 17 September 11 Welding October 12 November 6 Sqitemberll November 13 September 18 November 20 SaMfSpedaHf Courses Course Oil Spin Preventkm and Containment iV' . J" Lifeboatman I I^ -f-v ^ I ^ ^ Basic/Advanced Fire Fightiiig Check-In Date Completion Date August 17 August 31 October 12 October 26 August 21 September 4 October 16 October 30 August 3 August 17 August31 September 14 September 28 October 12 October 26 November 9 November 23 December 7 August 14 August 28 September 11 September 25 October 9 October 23 November 6 November 20 December 4 December 18 October30 October20 1992MuHeOucaikm Schedule mmuuNGAPPimAim Name Address (Fint) (Middle) Month/Pay/Ye (Stfeet) (City) (Stale) Deep Sea Member D . Telephone _L (ZipCode) Lakes Member D ' _L (AieaCbde) Inland Waters Member G SHLSSCellege Program Schedule tor 1992 FULL 8-week sessions August 31 October 26 October 23 December 18 With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You alsomust submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your department Md 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 Date of Birth (Lu«) The following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Please contact die admissions office for enrollment information. Check-In Completion Course Date Date High School Equivalency (GED) All open-ended (contact Adult Basic Education (ABE) admissions office for starting English as a Second Language (ESL) dates) Pacific• If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be process^. Social Security #_ SIGNATURE • Book # Seniority Department U.S. Citizen: D Yes D No - - Home Port_ - Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held , •Yes Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? If yes, which program: from DNO 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 Lifeboatman Endorsement? •Yes • No Firefighting:•Yes •No Date available for training Primary language spoken I am interested in the following course(s) checked below or indi­ cated here if not listed CPR:•Yes •NO DECK AB/Sealift 1st Class Pilot ThirdMate Radar Observer Unlimited Master Inspected Towing Vessel D Towboat Operator Mand O Celestial Navigation Q Simulator C:ourse • • • O D _DATE. G Marine Electrical Maintenance G Pumproom Maintenance & Operation G Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation G Diesel Engine Technology G Assistant Engineer/CTiief Engineer Motor Vessel G Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor G RefrigeratedContainers 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 & C:ontairunent G G G G G ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Adult Basic Education (ABE) High School Equivalency Program (GED) Developmental Smdies (DVS) English as a Second Language (ESL) ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation STEWARD G Assistant Cook Utili^ ENGINE G Cook and Baker • FOWT G ChiefCook O QMED—Any Rating G Chief Steward COLLEGE PROGRAM • Variable DC L/IIVC Drive vtuuuric Spe^ L/VG Systems (Marine Electronics) LI Towboat Inland Cook G LJ Associates in Arts Degret Degree 1lansporUUon will be paid inaccordance with the scheduling letter only If you present orighial receipts and snccessfiinycom­ plete the coarse. If you haveany questions,contact yonr portagent before depailing for Piney PoinL RETURN COMPLBTEO APPLICATIONTO: Seahuers Hatty Lundebag Upgrading Onler, P.O. Box 75, Pin^ Point, MD 20674. i;, : • • • -si: •§ �iii(i!!ii i||i iiiilif SEAEUIERS Volume 54, Number 8 1993 gU Scholarships Announced Seven scholarships wKI be awarded In 1993 to help members and their dependents further their college or university studies. Those InterestedIn applying should start collecting the necessary paperwork NOW! See page 8 for additional Information. J4M^U^ 1992 a Job Corps Bestows Top Award to Seafarer Porter -S3SS.i When James Porter reported last month to the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship as a member of class 502, it was the cul­ mination of 18 months of hard work that saw his efforts recognized with a National Leadership Award from the National Job Corps, a federal pro­ gram funded by the departments of Labor and the Interior to help young men and women between the ages of 16 and 22 obtain educational and vocational skills. While other Job Corps award win­ ners wore Sunday-best outfits. Porter marched to the stage in his khaki Lundeberg School uniform. "I'm proud of the uniform and what it rep­ resents to me. It was my goal and I achieved it," he told a Seafarers LOG reporter before taking part in the Washington, D.C. ceremony on July 23. when he entered the Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) Job Corps Center in January 1991. Earlier in his life, the 23-year-old had dropped out of high school to help his mother support the family. Even though he enjoyed working with his hands. Porter discovered he was not able to hold or acquire a construction job without a high school diploma. He got upset and let his weight climb to 360 pounds. About this time. Porter met a Job Corps recruiter who told him the pro­ gram could help him acquire a high school equivalency diploma (GED) as well as train him with a job skill. Porter left his Newport News, Va. home and headed for Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center where he met Bud Casto, its placement coordinator and instructor for building and apartment maintenance. Helped Support Family Casto took Porter under his wing. Becoming a member of the After retiring from a Fortune 500 Seafarers became Porter's goal as company, Casto returned to his home soon as he heard about the union state of West Virginia where he was asked if he would teach a skill to young men and women through the federally funded program. In the back of his mind, Casto remembered the Seafarers' 1959 summer-student program that gave him an oppor­ tunity to sail aboard an SlU-contracted vessel out of the port of Brooklyn. "I made more money in those four weeks than any of my friends who stayed home and worked all sunmier," he recalled. Seafarer James Porter (center) receives his National Leadership Award from Or. Michael Murphy (right) from the National Office of Job Corps, while Maryland Delegate Ulysses Carrie watches. One Vote Counts Showing off his achievement award to Bud Casto of the Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) Job Corps Center (left) and his mother, Evelyn Porter, is Seafarer James Porter. reported it to the national program. Since then. Harpers Ferry Job Corps center has recommended 27 men and women, including Porter, to the Lun­ deberg School. In fact, Casto's daughter Kimberly sails as a cool^aker. "When I met James, I encouraged him to look at the merchant marine as a career," Casto said. Porter added he was attracted to the SIU because of the travel, "plus I saw a couple of the pay stubs. You Can't beat that." But both noted, before he could enter Plney Point Recommended Piney Point, Porter had some work to Casto had kept up with the SIU do. and knew about die union's school in That work included acquiring a Piney Point when he started with Job GED, studying 2,000 hours in Corps seven years ago. He visited electrical and pipefitting courses and Piney Point, liked what he saw and losing 94 pounds, which Porter said he did by dieting and using Casto's boxing gym. "It wasn't a piece of cake which is something I had to give up," he added. However, Porter persevered at Job Corps. He studied, became a dorm leader, was placed in charge of several other groups at the old Civilian Conservation Corps site and was named a winner of the program's "National Leadership" award for his region. Finally, days before reporting to Piney Point, he was informed he had won the national award. "I just couldn't believe it when I heard," Porter stated. Number One Job Corps Student Not only did he receive the recog­ nition, but he "graduated as the num­ ber one student in the Job Corps program nationwide," Casto added. "That's out of 50,000 students. James is a prime example of what can be done through Job Corps with a goal like the SIU." Upon graduation from the Lun­ deberg School, Porter plans to enter the engine department. His goal is to become a QMED. Help Locale This Missing Chiid The first step to voting in this year's general elections on November 3 is registering with the local board of elections. In photo above, New York members obtain their registration fonns from SIU Assistant Vice President Kermett Mangram (seated, right) and receive assistance in filling them out. All SIU members and pensioners are encouraged to exercise their right to vote. .AihA- The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has asked the membership of the SIU to help locate Mary Elizabeth Green. Missing from Arden, N.C. since August 6, 1991 when she was 15 years old, Mary Green is con­ sidered an endangered runaway. At the time of her disappearance, she was 5 ft. 10 inches tall and weighed 155 lbs. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Mary Elizabeth Green has a scar on her back, a mole on her neck and a pockmark on her right cheek. She has a heart condi­ tion and needs medication which she does not have with her. Anyone having information should contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (800) 843-5678 or the Buncombe (N.C.) County Sheriffs Office, Missing Persons Unit at (704) 2778080. Mary Elizabeth Green � 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 August 1992 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES DOT SHIP PLAN BILL IS BEFORE HOUSE, SENATE SIU MEMBERS TO CREW REFLAGGED LASH VESSEL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS LEADING TO EXTINCTION OF U.S. FISHING INDUSTRY, WARN FISHERMAN STORMS DON’T KEEP PRESQUE ISLE CREW FROM COMPLETING ITS TASKS FAUST SAVES YACHTSWOMAN GAUNTLET CREW RESCUES FISHERMAN ADRIFT FOR 21 DAYS USE OF BENZENE EXPOSURE PROTECTIVE GEAR TAUGHT TO SEAFARERS AT LUNDEBERG SCHOOL CHEF LUPINACCI ELECTED TO LEAD PRESTIGIOUS CULINARY ORGANIZATION 12 SIU STEWARDS ACE ADVANCED TRAINING THREE USNS MERCY CREWMEMBERS RECEIVE MEDAL FOR PACIFIC RESCUE LUNDEBERG SCHOOL FIREFIGHTING TRAINING PAYS OFF, SAYS AB JOHNSON AFTER 2 FIRESABDEL MOHAMED HONORED BY SHIPMATES ABOARD WILKES IN LOPEZ UNION MEETING, TALK TURNS TO UPGRADING FISHERMAN ISSUE WARNING: GOV’T CAN KILL U.S. INDUSTRY SIU’S TRAINING PROGRAM MARKS 40 YEARS CONNIE’S GALLEY CREW AIMS TO KEEP GUESTS HAPPY JOB CORPS BESTOWS TOP AWARD TO SEAFARER PORTER 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 8/1/1992 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. 8 1992 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/e292809428653ca6dca8344e8aaf2e03.PDF e52bf181fcdde32369dc5a99350aa80e PDF Text Text . .^r-I :•'• -yv... • i - r' 'Ir# OFUCIAL ORGAN OF THE SiAFARIRS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATIAWTIC GUIF, LAKK AND INUND WATERS DISTRIG • AFKIO .i^W: •V Volume 55, Number 8 August 1993 m': ^ NAFTA Myth A Norwegian second registry vessel's loss of a highly dangerous cargo has touched off a bizarre sequence of events revealing the Mexican government's failure to protect the environment and labor standards. ••• :''5/s'iT' .vyi '•'&•'• ' O0P>^>,O;tJ ^ HCQ </i :;£;n (/>«"• iXJ -» HOO iy*--)2Z<y* 'vJlH^ </)"[> -omn-n.Z OH'—-H Mexican fishermen observe stricicen Betula which iies on its side, empty of its suifuric acid cargo. Reflagging Postponed AFL-CIO Pushes for Reform House Authorizes 1994 Funding For Maritime Agency Lawmakers Set Te Address Health Care Crisis Pages •' BeumaivReuters Pages ^ - Inland Shipping W" /ji. Delta Queen Takes Over By Giant Flood AHG Vessels 1^^ USNS Wilkes' Rescue Mission Is Flawless PaS»4 i-., ,r\ '• �AUGUST1993 SEAFARERS LOG President's Report Behind the Fancy Words AFL-CIO Presses for Reform MealBlr Care Crisie to Top Lawmakas'Agomla thk Fall There has been a big push on now and for the past couple of years to bring about a North American Free Trade Agreement. The an American household. The nation's policy-makers Medicare to 60. American lab^or movement is very concerned about this trade deal, The health care crisis has In presenting its proposals to will turn their attention to the as Seafarers will recall from reading the taken its toll on relations between policy-makers, the AJT.-CIO has Seafarers LOG and discussions at union meet­ nation's health care crisis next unions and companies. In 1990, noted that the U.S. system of month when President Bill Clin ings. The AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions an unprecedented 55 percent of health care in grossly unfair. "It believe the goverament-feanctioned opening of ton presents to Congress his plan strikes were provoked by punishes employers who provide for reforming the m^cal services Mexico to U.S. businesses will bring about an health insurance to their workers management demands for severe exodus of American companies from the U.S., system of the United States. by forcing them to, in effect, sub­ reductions in medical benefit The attention of lawmakers to exporting hundreds of thousands of American sidize the health care of those levels or elimination of health this issue is critical to the millions jobs to Mexico. The trade deal will formalize who are employed by firms that coverage. of working Americans who cur­ an arrangement that allows U.S. companies seek a competitive advantage by To cope with the runaway rently bear the brunt of a health to move to a source of cheap labor and to a refusing to provide such coverage," care system riddled with out-ofcosts of medical care, unions and nation with very few costly environmental control costs, to the 36 million stated AFL-CIO Department of the health care providers they Michael Sacco regulations. Americans who have no medica Employee Benefits Director Karen work with are implementing a Because it stands to gain immeasurably insurance—whether or not they Ignagni in comments to a congres- number of measures designed to from a transfer of American jobs and manufacturing capability to are working, and to the millions siond panel. keep expenses in check while Mexico, the Mexican government is pulling out the stops in a cam­ of senior citizens who retired with maintaining benefit levels. paign to convince the American Congress to sign off on NAFTA. Inefficient U.S. System promises of life-long health Among the programs used are The Mexican government has had all sorts of glossy brochures The current system "is replete benefits only to find those preferred provider organizations printed up which boast of Mexico's commitment to the environ­ with inefficiencies that have programs suddenly terminated by forced (PPOs) in which a single hospital ment. The slick material, printed on green and sky-blue recycled costs to rise sharply, and company executives who say or clinic is designated as the paper, is aimed at putting aside the fears of elected officials and millions of Americans who are American voters that a trade deal with Mexico is a bad deal for the they can no longer afford the ex­ fortunate enough to be covered by primary care giver, a utilization pense. review process in which permis­ environment. These fears are founded on the fact that the few The administration plan has health insurance have, as a result, sion must be obtained for a medi­ Mexican environmental regulations are much more lax than those been fashioned by a task force suffered the financial burden of cal treatment, lifetime limits on we have in the U.S. It stands to reason that a trade deal which en­ increased cost-shifting and reduc­ courages factories to move to Mexico, with its lack of regulations, leaded by First Lady Hillary tions in benefits," Ignagni added. the amount oif services received, can result in increased industrial pollution, endangering human life Rodham Clinton which me Studies show the burden of and health maintenance organiza­ throughout the first half of the and natural resources on both sides of the border. skyrocketing health care costs has tions (HMOs) which provide all The U.S. trade unions also have raised questions about how sin­ year. While the task force was at been shifted to America's of a patient's care for a set annual Work fashioning its own recom­ fee and cover little outside its set cere is the Mexican government's devotion to decent labor standr mendations, a variety of bills ad­ workers. Employer after parameters. ards. It has been argued that U.S. businesses may be attracted to employer has instituted systems vocating different approaches to Mexico not only for its low wages but also because Mexican In upcoming issues of the the problem were introduced in requiring co-payments from the workers do not have the same rights as American employees do to company's workers for continu­ LOG, the health care crisis and Congress. organize to make their workplaces more humane and fair. Do ing health coverage or maintain­ the various plans to institute a na­ Complicated Debate Mexican workers have the right to organize and form unions, the ing benefit levels. Deductibles tional system will be discussed. With many health care reform lave been instituted and in­ Next month, the LOG will report right to speak out freely and the right to join together in collective proposals in the hopper, and with creased. The net result is that on the health care reform action? The truth about the Mexican government's commitment to the many constituencies affected by lealth care costs now eat up close proposals which are being con­ environment and to decent labor standards is probably not going to he outcome of the debate— to 10 percent of gross earnings of sidered by lawmakers. be found in the very expensive materials prepared by American receivers of benefits, doctors, public relations firms. The actions of the Mexican government in hospitals, insurance companies, High Health Care Costs the case of the Betula, a sulfuric acid-carrying tanker beached off among others^the deliberations Spell Trouble for Nation in Congress on the future of Mexico's shores, may be closer to the truth. A more detailed ac­ count of this incident appears elsewhere in the LOG. But in brief, lealth care in the United States Studies of the nation's health care system show ominous if the press accounts are correct, Mexican fishermen, believing are expected to be long and com­ trends. What foilows is some of the information put forward in the debate on America's heaith care direction. that their livelihoods were threatened by a spill of acid from a plicated. grounded chemical tanker, put on a demonstration. The Mexican The AFL-CIO, the federation In 1991, more than 35.4 million Americans—or 14.1 percent of the population—had no medical insurance. The number government arrested them. It also was reported in the press that the of national unions in the U.S., today is close to 36 million. Mexican government insisted nothing had been spilled from the intends to represent the concerns of working people and their • Of those who lost health care coverage in the past year, half Norwegian second registry ship, while the salvage company said there was nothing left in the vessel's tanks. Something does not amilies in this debate. For were employed and the remaining ones lost their jobs. square here. decades a proponent of a univer­ The apparent cover-up of environmental concerns and the hush- sal and fair national system of • In 1990, total dollars spent on health care reached $655 billion, 12.2 percent of thenation's GNP, more than any other country up of workers' concerns by Mexican authorities is troubling. The health care, the AFL-CIO has in the developed world. Betula incident demonstrates that the American labor movement called on lawmakers to enact a has real cause for worry when it comes to a trade deal between the "bold legislative solution." • On a per capita basis, the United States spends more on governments of Mexico and the United States. It also shows that While not taking a stand on health care than any of its primary trading partners—40 per­ cent more than Canada, 90 percent more than Germany and all the fancy materials and studies put out by those who stand to one specific proposd put forward 125 percent more than Japan. gain substantially from NAFTA do not necessarily represent a by any representative of the ad­ good faith account of the American people's—or Mexican ministration or Congress, the • Since 1970, total health care expenditures in the U.S. have people's—interests. AFL-CIO is working to ensure gone up 60 percent faster than inflation. If the trend continues, that any program adopted by law­ by the year 2000 total health-related spending in the U.S. will Educational Opportunities makers does the following: reach $1.6 trillion per year. Each year scholarships are awarded by the Seafarers to three • Establish a nationd com­ the 1980s, health costs for households increased from 6 SIU members and four sons, daughters or spouses of SIU mem­ mission composed of consumers, • In rcent to 9 percent of gross earnings. For people over 65, bers. I urge any Seafarer or fomily member of a Seafarer who abor, management, govemment alth care on average accounts for 11 percent of annual plans to attend an institution of higher leaming to apply for a and providers to administer a household expenses. scholarship. single national cost containment Applications for the scholarships must be received by April 15, >rogram. This group would be • In 1990,55 percent of all strikes by workers were related to health care issues. 1994, and the names of those who win the awards will ^ an­ charged with limiting the rate of nounced in May of that year. There are many forms and test scores rowth of health care expendi­ • For companies with less than 1,000 employees, the cost of that must accompany each application, so it is not too early to start tures. health care rose an average 17.3 percent in 1991. compiling a submission. Yes, it can take some time to put all the • Outline a core benefit Soui^: Physldans for a NationalHealth Program. Public Citizen, Departmentof HealthandHuman material together. But a $15,000 four-year scholarship or a $6,000 package to which all Americans Services, Hewitt Associatee.AFL-CaO.BurMu of Labw Statistics. two-year scholarship can be well worth the effort! are entitled, no matter their health status, state of residence or employment history. For those August 1993 Volume 55. Number 8 not in the workforce, a single ederal program should be set up The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published to cover the unemployed. monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, • Develop ways in which Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 waste, red tape and unnecessary Negotiations still are under would not be rushed. Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) way as the Seafarers LOG goes to The negotiations began aperwork can be reduced by 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Prince >ress between the SIU and its several months ago between the emanding standardized claim Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing orms, a uniform health care in- contracted operators that are sig- SIU and the American Maritime offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the brmation system, practice nators for new standard Association, a group of Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. guidelines for physicians and a Teightship and tanker agree­ shipowners who contract with the 20746. national strategy to reform the ments to replace those that were union to provide unlicensed Communications Department Director aiid Editor, Jes­ way in which malpractice dis­ to expire June 15. mariners for their vessels. sica Smith; Managing Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate putes are handled. The union and the companies SIU Vice Presidoit Contracts Editors, Jordan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen; As­ agreed last month to extend the Augie Tellez noted the sessions are • Help solve the retiree sociate Editor/Production, Deborah A Hirtes; Art, Bill lealth care benefit crisis by old pacts, ratified in June 1990, proceeding well and promised to Brower. owering the age of eligibility for until August 15 in order that talks keep the membership informed. Contract Talks Continue For Freightships/Tankers �v-'-i 'W'- i'' - rfe^Siisi^'asasSejisis?^^ - AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 'VSSf-' 3 Hearings Reveal Uncertainty Over Maritime Peiicy Charies T. Mayden, Piasa Photographic Sen., Inc. The Alton Belle and Alton Belle Landing have become an island unto themselves, with water reachin 40 feet, an all-time high level. Rood Maud S^iplttg A congressjpnal hearing called to consider maritime legis­ lation underscored the deep frustration held by meml)ers of Congress and two of the subcommittee's witnesses over the apparent inactivity regarding a program for U.S.-flag shipping. Members of the House Mer­ chant Marine Subcommittee ex­ pressed dissatisfaction over the failure of witnesses from the departments of Transportation and Defense to offer specifics when quest io n e d T ho s e providing testimony on behalf of the administra­ tion said they have been thwarted in William Lipinski efforts to present a program because the Maritime Administrator has not been con­ firmed by the Senate. Subcommittee Chairman Wil­ liam Lipinski (D-Ill.) called the July 20 hearing on one aspect of the maritime revitalization pro­ gram offered by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Gerry Studds and Rep­ resentatives Jack Fields (RTexas) and Herbert Bateman (R-Va.) as well as Lipinski. The program, which was presented May 19 and consists of four pieces of legislation, is designed to offer and fund a 10-year, $1.9 billion subsidy program for U.S.flag ship operators and provide tax reform measures regarding these vessels. The package was introduced after the Clinton administration announced May 12 it would not propose any maritime revitaliza­ tion legislation before a Defense Department study on the need of the U.S. merchant marine for sealift is released in August. On June 28, Sea-Land and American President Lines (APL) an­ nounced they would seek permission from the Maritime Administration (MarAd) to reflag 20 of their U.S.-flagged ves­ sels. The companies had been threatening since early 1992 to take such action if no maritime policy was enacted. Called to testify on the Maritime Security and Competi­ tiveness Act (H.R. 2151) were Acting Maritime Administrator Continued on paged Regular river operations may seen any increased activities. locks reopen. not return to the Mississippi River "There does not appear to be The six vessels that are still in and its tributaries until fall as rain any increase in shipments of grain operation are the Dick Conerly, continued to fall in the upper mid- or coal since the flooding began, Jim Ludwig, Midland, Omega, western United States. noted Gordon Hall, vice presi­ J.N. Phillips and the Eastern Star. Record crests were expected dent/treasurer for the Lakes Car­ Sigler said Orgulf operations to hit Alton, 111., St. Louis and riers Association in Cleveland. may not get back to normal before other river towns in early August. The association monitors the traf­ late September. The Coast Guard and Army fic and loads carried by vessels on "This is even a tentative guess Corps of Engineers continue to the Great Lakes. If the rain doesn't quit, the locks prohibit any commercial boating "We have not been able to will never open up before the end activities on the upper Mississip­ detect any changes. And with all of summer for normal operations pi as well as the Missouri and of the flooding and bridges being to resume," the port agent stated Illinois rivers. washed out, it is hard to believe Paddlewheelers Keep Rolling While some of the locks which the railroads can handle it either. The SlU-contracted Delta handle barge traffic on the upper Hall added. Queen Steamboat Company Mississippi have reopened in plans to keep all operations flow­ Minnesota and northern Iowa, Seafarers in Alton ing despite the record high water tugs and barges still are not. able marks being set on the upper Mis­ Tackle High Waters. to transport grain, coal and other sissippi. Page 28 materials downriver. At the same The company re-routed two time, the navigable portion of the cruises on the big paddlewheeler Meanwhile, the victims along Mississippi Queen, replacing the Missouri River has been shut down between St. Louis and the banks of the rivers include St. Louis to St. Paul, Minn, and Sioux City, Iowa. That river may Seafarers who have lost their the St. Paul to St. Louis itineraries not reopen to traffic until late homes. More than a dozen SIU with Chattanooga, Tenn. to St. September, according to the members have homes under Louis voyages. The other SIUU.S. Senator Barbara in June that water. Army Corps of Engineers. crewed vessel. Delta Queen, has Mikulski (D-Md.) has asked the they were St. Louis Port Agent Joe Sigler President Bill Clinton has been unaffected by the river White House to verify informa­ going to reported receiving several calls asked Congress to grant up to $4 closure. Its cruises were tion she has received that the apply to the about Seafarers who work aboard billion in flood relief to the people scheduled for the Ohio and Cum­ Department of Defense advised Maritime and businesses affected by what Orgulf tugs losing their homes. berland Rivers during July. Sea-Land and American Presi­ Administra­ "So far, we have confirmed one, is being known as the "Great Below Cairo, the Mississippi dent Lines (APL) to replace their tion to re-flag but many people cannot be Flood of 1993." The House of widens out allowing faster disper­ U.S. flags with a flag of con­ 20 of their reached because ttiey have moved Representatives had passed a sion of the water through natural vessels. The $2.7 billion relief package in late and phone lines are down," he means such as evaporation. The venience from the Marshrdl Is­ companies lands. July, which the Senate was ex­ noted. Army Corps of Engineers also Sen. Mikulski had In a July 1 letter addressed to been pected to address in early August. controls the lower river and, if President Bill Clinton, the long­ threatening Orgulf Boats Tie Up Despite the lack of barge traf­ necessary, can channel as much A total of six Orgulf boats are as 30 percent of the water through time supporter of the U.S.-flag to do so since last year unless a fic on the Mississippi since flood­ merchant fleet stated she was "not maritime revitalization program ing began in May, Great Lakes still running the lower Mississip­ Continued on page 8 re-elected... tO see the U.S. mer­ became law. In May, members of shipping companies have not pi while 15 are tied up until the chant marine scuttled." She asked the House Merchant Marine and the president to support a Fisheries Committee introduced a maritime revitalization program, revitalization package through a calling it a "vital national security series of four bills. The box below contains the issue." text of Mikulski's letter: Sea-Land and APLannounced tion program. The House of Rep­ The House of Representatives U.S.-flag ships. approved a $621 million The amendment, offered by resentatives already is consider­ Dear Mr. President: I am writing to express my outrage and deep dismay at reports authorization bill to run the House Merchant Marine and ing a four-bill package that includes a lO-ye^, $1.9 billion that the two largest American-flag shipping companies have Maritime Administration Fisheries Chairman Gerry Studds subsidy program for vessels in­ decided to remove a number of their vesselsfrom the United States (MarAd) during Fiscal Year (D-Mass.), stated, "The Secretary volved in a maritime security flag1994. of Transportation may not ap­ fleet program as well as loan I was not re-elected to the United States Senate last November Added to the bill during debate prove the transfer of a Unit^ guarantees and incentives for to see the U.S. merchant marine scuttled by wonks and green on the House floor was an SIU- States-documented oceangoing U.S. shipyards. eyeshade types in the White House and the Pentagon. I believe our backed amendment that prohibits merchant vessel that is of 3,(X)0 The chairman added that Con­ national security depends upon our moving a maritime revitaliza­ the federal agency from granting gross tons or more (or that type of gress is "working as hard as we tion bill in this session of the Congress to keep our U.S.-flag fleet any re-flagging requests through a vessel the last documentation of can to come up with a com­ sailing. We need leadership from the White House on this vital the end of 1994. The amendment which was under the laws of the prehensive proposal. By the end national security issue. United States) to a foreign of next year, we will know passed by a vote of 388 to 41. lam informed that the Pentagon has given advice to two major registry under section 9(c) of the whether we will have U.S.-flag shipping companies to re-flag their ships with the Marshall IsThe MarAd bill includes funds to operate the agency, which is Shipping Act of 1916, as vessels on the high seas and a U.S. lands. The crews on these ships will come from all over the world. charged with promoting, amended, through December 31, shipyard capability to build those I appreciate our treaty agreements with our friends in foreign vessels." countries, but I lack confidence that foreign nationals will have developing and maintaining the 1994." Joining him in support of the the same commitment to place their lives on the line, if necessary, 'Buys Time' U,S. merchant fleet. The legisla­ amendment was Representative that our U.S. merchant marine have. tion, which now goes to the In presenting the amendment, William Lipinski (D-Ill.), the You have moved slowly and deliberately on your review of Senate for consideration, also Studds told his fellow repre­ chairman of the Merchant Marine maritime policy—I hope the administration will not move quickly provides funds to keep the Ready sentatives he was offering the Subcommittee. "It is vital that at now in the dismantling of the U.S.-flag fleet. Reserve Force vessels in a state of legislation "to buy all of us time a time when we are trying to I look forward to your response. readiness, for shipbuilding loan — the president, the secretary of preserve our maritime industry Sincerely, guarantees and for the operating transportation. Congress" to [s] Barbara A. Mikulski Contuiuedon page 8 differential subsidies for some complete a maritime revitaliza- ;..7 • •¥-' .> - '-yl. 1 •• •'.•.-I • im- Sen. Mikulski Seeks MariUme Commitment Amendment to Delay Re-Flaesing Adopted House Approves '94 MarAd Bill •••-,.g0''f>: " r 'v , , -- r •r'V'Vf-Vv-% •a !/• I'• • •\ . -a. -r 't �4 AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Delta Queen Takes Over Operations nendence and Constitution The jobs of SIU crewmembers sailing aboard the U.S.-flag pas­ senger ships Independence and Constitution are secure following a federal bankruptcy court's ap­ proval of the takeover of finan­ cially troubled American Hawaii Cruises by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company of New Orleans. The SlU-crewed Constitution {abOMe) and Independence (below) now The Honolulu-based court anare being operated by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company follow- nounced its decision on July 28. Ing a decision last month In federal bankruptcy court. Piliit Delta Queen, an SlU-contracted company which operates two paddlewheel steamboats on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, presented the only bid on the cruise ships and the busi­ ness associated with them. "We were successful in main­ taining these jobs for our mem­ bership," noted Augie Tellez, SIU vice president for contracts. "This insures that the Con­ stitution and Independence will continue running for years to come," added Tom Fay, SIU port agent in Honolulu. Seafarers who sail aboard the cruise ships held meetings on the Constitution and Independence on July 29 and at the Honolulu hall on July 30 to vote on a new seven-year pact with the Delta Queen subsidiary. Last month. Judge Lloyd King granted interim management of the two cruise ships to Delta Queen pending his decision. The judge had set a July 21 deadline for competing bids or any objec­ tions to Delta Queen, but none was received. The new company will be called Great Hawaiian Cruise Line, Inc. Delta Queen has an­ nounced its intentions to renovate both ships and upscale the pas­ senger cabins. "This transaction provides both Delta Queen and American Hawaii with significant oppor­ tunities for growth," stated S. Cody Engle, chairman of Delta Queen. "For Delta Queen, it rep­ resents ah opportunity® to almost more than triple the company's passenger capacity while remain­ ing focused on the business we know best. For American Hawaii, it represents a means of sustain­ ing and improving a unique product and franchise in the world's premier vacation destina­ tion." In June, Delta Queen had a steel-cutting ceremony as it began construction for its third riverboat, the American Queen, which is expected to start sailing by April 1995. She will join a fleet already served by the SIUcrewed Delta Queen and Missis­ sippi Queen. Inland Waterways Fuel TaxWithdrawn A proposed 50-cent-a-gallon inland waterways fuel tax has been withdrawn from considera­ tion by House and Senate con­ ferees who are negotiating the Clinton administration's economic policy. Early reports from the con­ ference stated the tax was removed in favor of increasing the national sales tax oh gasoline. The SIU, along with other maritime interests and energy users, lobbied heavily against the idea, stating the tax was an unfair burden on the inland waterways industry. The inland waterways tax was passed by the House of Repre­ sentatives as one means of lower­ ing the nation's deficit. Original estimates for the tax noted nearly $500 million could be collected over a five-year period. In its original deficit-reduction package, the House also ap­ proved a tax based on the energy content of fuel, known as British thermal units (Btu). The Btu tax was part of the Clinton administration's request to reduce the deficit by $500 billion. As with the inland tax, the SIU and others were successful in lob­ bying the Senate to have the Btu tax removed from consideration. Instead, the Senate approved a 4.3-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline. Because of the differences in the House and Senate versions of the legislation, a conference com­ mittee consisting of members from both bodies has been meet­ ing since mid-July to iron out the differences. As the Seafarers LOG was going to press, reports from Capitol Hill stated the conferees were trying to settle on a tax of between 6 and 7 cents per gallon. , ; • I- : IP. The committee is expected to an­ nounce its proposal in early August. Despite the indications that both the inland waterways and Btu taxes are dead, the SIU plans to monitor the negotiations for other ideas that may affect mem­ bership and maritime. Under the rules of a conference committee, the representatives and senators may pass all of what the House approved (which amounted to $72 billion in tax increases), all of what the Senate approved (es­ timated at a $23 billion increase), parts of either or nothing from them and create its own funding formula. None of the ideas is officially excluded fi-om consideration until the House and Senate have ap­ proved the final package, then the president signs it. Also under consideration by the conference committee mem­ bers are increases in income taxes for those individuals who make more than $115,000 a year and couples earning $140,000 an­ nually, a hike in the top corporate Houston Port Agent Jim McGee (right) recently spoke with Treasury tax rates, taxes on social security Secretary Lloyd Bentsen about the needs of maritime In the Clinton administration's deficit reduction program. benefits and much more. Federal Court Announces User Fee Lawsuit Schedule A federal court in Washington has released the pretrial schedule for action concerning a lawsuit filed by the SIU, four other maritime labor unions and five individual mariners against the U.S. Coast Guard and the secretary of transportation to stop collecting fees on merchant marine documents (z-cards). The suit, filed April 15, claims the "work tax," as it has been called because mariners are un­ able to work without one, is un­ constitutional and was calculated incorrectly by the federal agency. Besides the Seafarers, the other unions joining in the lawsuit which has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia are the Unlicensed Division of District No. 1 Marine Beneficial Association/National Maritime Union, District No. 1Pacific Coast District Marine Engineers' Beneficial Associa­ tion, the American Maritime Of­ ficers District 2 MEBA and the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots. Also joining in the fight are the Sailors' Union of the Pacific and the Marine Firemen's Union, both of which are affiliated with the Seafarers. The five individual mariners who are plaintiffs against the Coast Guard and Transportation Secretary Federico Pena include Anthony Primeaux, William H. Mulcahy, John Paul Hoskins, James C. Oliver and Perry O. Lawrence. Exchange Information Lawyers on both the maritime and government sides will have until September 23 to exchange information relating to the suit. This process, known as dis­ covery, allows both parties to know what will be involved in the case. Attorneys representing the unions and mariners already have asked the federal agencies in­ volved for any records, com­ ments received and other information that were used to for­ mulate the user fee on merchant marine ddcuments. Both parties in the suit then will have until October 22 to file for a summary judgment. This procedure is used when all the f^acts can be gathered on paper and witnesses are not needed to testify in a trial in order for the judge to make a decision. Legal briefs are prepared by attorneys for both sides explain­ ing the facts and the legal theories behind their reasoning of how the case should be decided. In most cases, lawyers for one of the two sides will ask for the case to be decided by summary judgment, but judges can notify the attorneys that such a request is expected. If a case is decided by sum­ mary judgment, a decision usual­ ly comes from the judge within six months. However, there is no time limit as to when a judge must announce the decision. Some cases have waited more than a year before the judge's ruling was declared. Should a summary judgment not be used in the work tax case, the court then would set a date for atrial. Argue Against Tax By seeking to declare the user fee unconstitutional, the unions and mariners argued that only Congress can pass a tax and the legislative body caimot transfer that authority to another branch of the government. The user fee originated in the 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. In­ cluded in that legislation was the, elimination of an 1886 statute that prevented the Coast Guard from collecting fees for licenses and certain shipboard positions. The suit contends the reason for removing the ban to collect fees on merchant documents was to raise money to reduce the deficit. The plaintiffs also claim the Coast Guard used inaccurate information in establishing fee levels. Although the Department of Transportation agency an­ nounced its fee schedule on March 19, it did not begin collect­ ing the work tax until April 19. The fees ranged from $35 for a duplicate z-card, license or cer­ tificate of registry to $272 for an upper level license. An ordinary seaman upgrad­ ing to able bodied seaman, for example, would have to pay $135 for a new document—$60 for an evaluation fee, $40 for an ex­ amination fee and $35 for an up­ dated z-card. �.-v. ..^->irr:j» Is • , I tM.. AUGUST1993 SEAFARERS lOG 5 ' fir: NIS'Registered Betula Grounded l: •S- Mexico's iiew-Foumi Green image Centradided by its Response To Suifuric Acid-Leaicing Ship '•:'<• • ••' -'"•V" ' Bizarre responses from the newspaper reporters that the Protesting the loss of a fishing Mexican government to claims o; Betula"s tanks were empty. Sal­ ground and their related incomes, sulfuric acid leakage from a vage workers found the deck the fishermen's cooperative grounded Norwegian seconc hatches of the 15 acid-carrying demonstrated on July 8, attempt­ registry vessel have raised anew tanks were open. ing to blockade the port and questions about Mexico's com "In my opinion there ain't demanding compensation. The mitment to high environmenta nothing there," Roy Dodgen of Mexican Navy (which has Coastand labor standards proposed as Titan Maritime Industries told the Guard-like functions) arrested 28 part of a package involving a New York Times as he looked at of the fishermen and issued or­ North American Free Trade the ship. Lloyd's List T&pori&d that ders for the arrest of 525 others Agreement (NAFTA). Beth Christ at Titan's Rorida of­ according to information appear­ The trade deal between the fice said, "All the sulfuric acid is ing in Lloyd'sList supplied by the governments of Mexico, the out of the vessel." environmental group Green­ United States and Canada was Salvage workers and repre­ peace. At the end of July, three negotiated by the Bush ad­ sentatives of the insurance com­ remain in jail, said a spokesman ministration and now claims the pany involved at the site of the for the Mexican Tourism Hotline. support of President Clinton. Bui shipwreck speculated that the In response to inquiries as to several congressmen have voicec ship, which had been beached on whether any government funds Crewmembers of the Eli Marie display "V" for victory and thumbs up doubts about the trade pact, citing June 29 and then struck by Hur­ existed in Mexico to compensate after hearing the shipping company would pay their back wages and the potential mass loss o ricane Calvin on July 6 and 7, victims of environment^ acci­ settle other grievances following a three-day strike in Baltimore. American jobs as U.S. factories becoming partially sunk, had lost dents, the spokesman for the flee south of the border to a land its acid cargo during the storm Mexican Tourism Hotline said he of cheaper, more exploitable and had dissipated in the sea. was not sure. labor and less stringent environ­ Fewer than 30 tons of sulfuric Lack of Information mental and safety and health acid were left in the hold, salvage The Mexican Tourism Hotline regulations. workers reported to Lloyd's List. spokesman was contacted as a To go into effect, NAFTA These July 13 statements of result of a press inquiry made to must be accepted by Congress. To salvage company and insurance the Embassy of Mexico in After three months of no pay After Morris asked about the food make the trade scheme more officials contradicted a statement Washington, D.C. The embassy and meals consisting only of rice on board, the captain blew up palatable to legislators, the ad­ issued on July 11 by the Mexican referred the press call to the and eggs, a Filipino-Indonesian stating, "What are you people in ministration and the Mexican Interior Ministry, a government Mexican Tourism Hotline. Press crew aboard a Norwegian second the United States concerned government are negotiating side department usually charged with calls placed directly to the press registry (NIS) vessel conducted a about their food, they have rice agreements on labor standards internal police and security mat­ attache of the Mexican embassy three-day strike for better condi­ and eggs!" ters. That agency said there had made by a Seafarers LOG and environmental concerns. tions after the bulker docked in At the same time, the Mexican been no leakage of sulfuric acid. reporter were not returned. No Funds Recdved Baltimore. Meanwhile, the third engineer government is spending millions Fishermen Arrested The Mexican Tourism Hotline SIU Representative Edd Mor­ had the chance to contact his of dollars on public relations ex­ Despite the Mexican spokesman said the Betula situa­ ris, who also serves as an Interna­ family in the Philippines, only to perts and sleek materials to government's assertions that tion had been contained by the tional Transport Workers discover that none of the money present an image of a nation dedi­ diere was no spillage of sulfuric Mexican government and that Federation (ITF) inspector, he sent home had been received. cated to the highest environmen­ acid, a local fishermen's coopera­ beaches frequented by tourists helped negotiate a settlement for The radio office displayed proof tal and labor standards. tive insists on the contraiy. They had not been in any way affected the 17 Filipino and three In­ that the funds had been wired.Mor­ Actions Belie Image point to dead turtles, a dead by the shipwreck. He said he had donesian crewmembers aboard ris contacted the manning agency pelican and dead fish as proof. no statement from the Mexican The June 29 grounding of the the Eli Marie, a bulk carrier offices in both Manila and its home Betula, a 1970 built, 10,033 dwt They also point to chemical bums government on the situation operated by Norway-based Gaard office in Singapore about the third chemical tanker, off the shore of suffered by their members who which he could issue to the press Shipping. engineer's request its Michoacan state last month, had ventured into waters near the and that he was not allowed to (By using the NIS, the Nor­ Although representatives in provided the Mexican govern­ beached Beru/a. release the one piece of informa­ wegian International Shipping both offices originally stated they ment an opportunity to live up to The government, on the other tion he had been sent from the registry, a company is allowed to had not received the telex, they its newly found green image. hand, says tests around the Betula Mexican Maritime Secretaiy. fly the flag of this traditional later said the wire was received The spokesman said he was Instead, the Mexican of sea water reveal normal maritime nation. However, the but they would not pass the government's response has been acidity. But Mexican authorities not sure whether there was a company operates under runaway money to the family because they shrouded in mysteiy. It insists the only ^gan testing 10 days after Mexican govemment investiga­ conditions such as using crew­ had not received any funds from sulfuric acid did not spill in the the ship ran aground off the tion under way of the accident members from anywhere around the company. However, a spokesman for the face of empty tanks. Its embassy country's Pacific coast. the world, avoiding taxes and The crew stopped work on in Washington, D.C. refers all Despite its statements that no Betula's operating company said bypassing maritime regulations.) July 10 to protest working condi­ press inquiries to the Mexican sulfuric acid had been spilled, the the Norwegian Maritime Direc­ Inhumane Treatment tions aboard the vessel. By the Tourism Hotline, which turns out Mexican government closed the torate has completed an inves­ tigation of the incident. Not only was food scarce on following day, they were on strike to be a public relations agency in area to fishing. the ship, but crewmembers with picket signs displayed on the Chicago. And its newly created reported inhumane treatment. dock and gangway. Morris con­ office of the attorney general for The third engineer, for example, tinued to make calls to the man­ the environment has had nothing discovered his mother was near ning agency, the Norwegian to do with the incident, among death and asked the captain for consul, the Philippine consul and other peculiar actions. permission to fly to the Philip­ others to resolveffiie situation. According to accounts in the pines to be> with her. He was Washington Post and the New Crew Wins Strike turned down. A few days later, York Times, the Mexican govern­ By July 12, Morris had con­ the third engineer found out his ment denied that the Betula, firmed with the shipping com­ mother had died. managed by Rotterdam-based pany that all claims would be paid Offloading Delayed through the manning agency in Alendal Tankers BV, had spilled • ;v5-'; ••-vv,',"'.;.if''.',,;,;'V any of the more than 4,000 tons of When the vessel arrived in Manila. An agreement between sulfuric acid which remained in Baltimore on June 18, the Eli the crew and the captain was Marie did not dock until July 7 at drafted and signed. Among the its stainless steel tanks when the Domino Sugar. During this time items agreed to in the document ship was first towed to sea. The decision of the Lazaro in the Chesapeake Bay, no shore were salaries and allotments Cardenas port authorities to take leave was granted. Crewmembers would be paid on time, a welfare the vessel to sea was made after asked to be paid or at least receive fund should be utilized, enough the chemical had leaked into one a draw, which the Norwegian provisions should be kept on of the pumprooms during offcaptain denied. After the ship first board the ship, and the captain floading operations on June 25. dropped anchor, the third en­ and chief engineer would not The vessel was towed by a harbor gineer took his $500 emergency harass the crew. tug, a line broke, the Betula The document was signed by cash and asked the radio officer to drifted and later came aground on have it wired through the man­ all the crew and officers and wit­ a sandbar 20 kilometers north of ning agency to his family to help nessed by Morris and a Baltimore Lazaro Cardenas. shipping agent representing the pay for his mother's burial. After the crew contacted Mor­ vessel owners. Tanks Mysteriously Empty AP by Joe Cavaretta Offloading of the sugar ris on July 9, he immediately ap­ \^exlcan fishermen and salvage workers believe 4,000 tons of sulfuric But workers, from the proached the captain about the resumed July 13. A few days later, acid from the Betula leaked Into the sea. The Mexican government American salvage company who situation. The captain said he did the vessel sailed to Boston to pick says none of the ship's cargo was spilled. were inspecting the tanks told the not want to discuss the problem. up a load of scrap steel for China. - rf. After Months of No Pay, NIS Ship's Crew Strikes - r-WI'. •v-s,fmj ti- "'•"! • • -i' -:-•••* iiif • L' V' 'r !i �• r-.-'' 6 AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG House Hearing Reveals MarMme Pelicy UnUer Review ''iSfe: „s*» V,";,rlr- The bill, introduced last month Unde man our RRF. This is a grave in place," Yim told Taylor. Continued from page 3 Senate rules, by Studds and Armed Services Although Herberger had his concern to us. It is an issue we are one senator Committee Chairman Ron DelJoan Yim and William J. Lynn, looking at in terms of re-flag- confirmation hearing June 23, with an ob­ lums (D-Calif.), is designed to in­ director of program analysis for ging. farm-state senators led by Conrad jection can itiate a technology development the Defense Department. Also When the subcommittee chair­ Bums (R-Mont.), Hank Brown place a hold program to provide a base for ad­ speaking before the panel was Dr. man asked Lynn if the Defense (R-Colo.) and Charles Grassley on a Paul Chapman, the author of Department had any contingency (R-Iowa) are holding up the presidential vanced shipbuilding, create a Trouble on Board about plans for the RRF if American admiral's confirmation in the nomination. market for U.S.-built double-hull runaway-flag shipping and the crews were not available, he said Senate Commerce, Science and former director of the Center for none had been drawn up. Transportation Committee. The Thomas Andrews Herberger is tankers and expand federal loan one of many guarantees for U.S. shipyards. Seafarers' Rights (See article on "The current plan is to rely on senators are using this tactic to get page 3). such Clinton appointees whose Parts of H.R. 2547 are expected back at Herberger because of the the (U.S.) merchant marine," H.R. 2151 Lynn added. strong support he indicated for final confirmation is being or was to be included in the Fiscal Year would amend Neither government witness cargo preference during his con­ delayed by such a move. 1994 Defense Department ap­ the Merchant was aware of a July 1 letter from firmation hearing. Burns, Brown propriations bill. Other Bills Progressing Marine Act of Senator Barbara Mikulski (D- and Grassley are frequent critics While the House subcommit­ 1936 by creat­ Md.) to Clinton stating "the Pen­ of cargo preference legislation. The Merchant Marine Invest­ ing a tagon has given advice to two (Cargo preference laws desig­ tee is expected to mark up—the ment Act (H.R. 2152) is awaiting Maritime major shipping companies (Seanate a certain process of preparing a bill for its action by the House Ways and Security Reet Land and APL) to re-flag their percentage of next assignment—H.R. 2151 late Means Committee after being Program. The ships with the Marshall Islands. govemment- in July, action on other aspects of reported out by the Merchant bill, if passed, impelled the maritime revitalization pro­ The crews on these ships will Joan Yim Marine and Fisheries Commit­ would permit come from all over the world. cargo be car­ gram has begun. tee. up to 90 U.S.-flag vessels operat­ She further noted in the letter that ried aboard The National Shipbuilding ing in international commercia she lacked confidence in foreign U.S.-flag and Conversion Act of 1993 trade to receive a subsidy for IC crews performing up to the same vessels. Such (H.R. 2547) has been reported out The final bill in the package, years. The payments would begin commitment as American laws have of the House Merchant Marine H.R. 2380, is before the Merchant in Fiscal Year 1996. The mariners. Herb Bateman been in effect and Fisheries Committee. It is Marine and Fisheries Committee Maritime Trust Fund Act (H.R. During his testimony before since 1954. 2380) provides the components the House subcommittee, Dr The policy began after World before the House Armed Services as well as the Ways and Means Committee. Committee. for funding H.R. 2151 through a Chapman pointed out that one o War II.) . 5 percent passenger ticket tax on the first things a company will do certain cruises originating in the when it switches flags is to U.S. and a $15 vessel container change the nationality of the tax on import and export cargo. crew. "This is the pattern around Receiving Presidential Attention the world," he said. "This is one In her prepared testimony, of the reasons for flagging out. SIU pensioner Fred Umholtz tended, he noted. He noted noticed an advertisement in the Yim announced, "Maritime "Many of the World War U when Nor­ personals section of his local mariners are still struggling for reform has received vigorous at­ way adopted Springdale, Ark. newspaper for veteran status, and it help^ to tention within the administration a second World War II seamen to meet meet and share our thoughts and and is still underactive considera­ registry, all once a month for coffee and to feelings on the matter," the retiree tion." Norwegian swap old sea stories. Yim praised the role that has said. crewmembeen played by the U.S.-flag mer­ "I thought I was the only "We invited eight local U.S. bers except World War II merchant seaman Navy armed guard veterans to chant marine in times of national the captain around this area, but much to my join us because they stood guard emergencies. "The active com­ mercial fleet also provides a base Helen Bentley and chief en­ surprise, discovered thk there on our ships," he added. gineer were were more than 60 just in the of seagoing employment for The veterans barbecued, American seafarers, who in turn replaced by lower-paid foreign northwest part of Arkansas and played bingo and horse shoes, but are available to the Department of nationals. "But then, in many of over 400 living in the entire the most important event was Defense and the Maritime Ad­ the Norwegian ships that have state," Umholtz told a reporter for swapping stories. Brother Um­ ministration lagged-out, now all of the crew the Seafarers LOG. holtz made prizes in his workshop crew from top to bottom are foreign." to "A number of the veterans are to give out to the winners of the Representative Thomas SUP sailors who really enjoy games. sealift ships, Andrews (D-Maine) commented. reading my issues of the including the "Now that I'm not sailing, We could find ourselves with Seafarers LOG which I brought have Ready a lot of time on my hands. I Reserve crews that might be very unsym- to the meetings, and they'd pass enjoy woodworking and have Force, during jathetic to the cause that the "rom one to another," he said. shop set up. I make things like crises," she Jnited States armed forces may According to Umholtz, the little toys, windmills and special Since retiring in 1987, Brother be engaged in—the very crews monthly meetings grew, and the Umholtz spends time in his shop said. we may be depending upon to seamen began planning for a mini-merry-go-rounds. I sell creating unique wooden crafts. "The use William J. Lynn them to people I know and give a of civilian deliver vital equipment to our arger scale reunion for the lot of them to my friends and merchant mariners on govern- armed forces." Arkansas veterans and their States. Representative Helen Delich amilies. The seamen decided to family," he said. ment ships in times of emergency A native of Elm Springs, Ark., "After the war, we carried Bentley (R-Md.) suggested that is one of the most cost-effective lold the event at Hickory Creek Brother Umholtz joined the German prisoners back to Europe the Defense Department recall and efficient%xamples of 'publicPark on Beaver Lake, just outside Seafarers on the last day of 1945 from prison camps," he said. private partnerships,' a new con­ what happened in Vietnam when Springdale. in Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. In 1951 he was drafted into the cept to many, but a well-tested foreign crews refused to carry Umholtz recently provided the Umholtz's first ship was the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean war supplies aboard fully loaded one for our national defense. LOG with photographs from the Williams Victory, a Smith and Lynn added in his remarks that ships to the southeastem Asia na­ second annual reunion of World Johnson vessel. He sailed in the conflict. In 1952, immediately the Defense Department "needs tion, forcing the vessels to be of­ War 11 merchant mariners living deck department. The vessel following his release from the sealift. The United States is a nation floaded and materiel placed on in Arkansas. The day-long picnic served as a troop ship returning Army, he revived his SIU career with global interests, and it depends other ships. She pointed out there on Beaver Lake was well at­ soldiers from Europe back to the and began sailing out of the port of New Orleans. on the deployment of forces fixjm were several instances when the He sailed with Delta Lines for U.S. bases to defend those interests same thing occurred during the recent Persian Gulf conflict. most of his maritime career but when trouble strikes." also sailed around the world with He pointed out the long-stand­ Senators Block Nominee Isthmian Steamship. ing policy "to rely on the [U.S.] In response to a question from "I must have sailed on about maritime industry to meet Representative Gene Taylor (D80 ships in all my SIU seatime. [Defense] requirements, to the Miss.) seekThere are so many that I lost extent that the industry can do so, ing specific count," Umholtz observed. and we intend to continue that goals for The deck department member policy." Mar Ad, Yim spent many years sailing to West Questions RRF Crowing replied the Africa and South America. "One During the questioning that of my favorite places was Brazil. agency has followed, Lipinski asked Yim if When I was with Delta I sailed on not been able the Maritime Administration a passenger ship and we took 47to implement could count on U.S. mariners to day trips to Brazil and back to any because crew Ready Reserve Force (RRF) Houston. We really got to know the person Gene Taylor vessels should U.S.-flag maritime the Brazilian people, and it be­ appointed by companies re-flag their ships and came a second home for many of Clinton to serve as Maritime Ad­ hire foreign crews. us," the pensioner recalled. "That is a difficult question we ministrator, Vice Admiral Albert Brother Umholtz spent the last are facing," Yim replied. "We Herberger (Ret.), has not been few years of hisSIU career sailing need to have seafarers who have confirmed by the Senate. aboard Sea-Land vessels: He jobs in peacetime in order to be "It is somewhat frustrating in­ ^'ensioner Fred Umholtz (right) joins other Arkansas merchant marine retired to his hometown of Elm available during times of war to ternally in, that our team is rtot yet veterans at the second annual reunion in Hickory Creek Park, Ark. Spings in 1987. Arkansas Merchant Marine Vets Reminisce at Day-Long Reunion 7 /• 7 �V r. ::m AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 7 :'M Wilkes Crew Completes Record-Breaklng Recovery MSG Vessel Rrings Up Sunken Survey Sled Sf- SIU crewmembers aboarc connection of the sled, the the USNS Wilkes participated in Magellan vehicle was brought a record-breaking salvage aboard and the ship's crew recovery on June 20 when the began the long process of bring­ crew brought up an ing the system aboard. The oceanographic seafloor survey Wilkes' deep sea trawl and system sled from 5,450 meters coring winch was used because of water off the south coast o of its ample pulling power and Hawaii. sufficient drum capacity for the The Wilkes, owned by the 20,000 feet of recovery pendant. Military Sealift Command Smallwood noted that (MSG) and operated by Bay several splices in the line were Ship Management, is a Nava difficult to pass through the Oceanographic Office vesse various blocks and fairleads,but OS JaeThrowbridgeand ABTom After hours of hard work by crewmembers, the spooling device Is which operates throughout the the wet and slippery kevlar was Skublnna lay back on a section of hoisted clear of the water. Extending downward Into the water Is the Pacific Ocean. squeezed carefully through nylon pendant being used to hoist recovery pendant leading to the deep ocean survey sled still oh the without mishap. The final 800 the recovery pendant on board, ocean bed. Wilkes Chief Mate Free feet of the recovery pendant was Smallwood supplied the Seafarers LOG with a very large diameter and had to photographs and information be worked separately. about the crew's efforts in "The sled cleared the water recovering the survey system. and was snaked on board after According to Smallwood,the dark of the second day—to the seafloor survey sled had been delight of a tired but dedicated lost by oceanographers when an crew," he recalled. attachment link parted. The "The record-breaking suc­ Naval Oceanographic Office cess of this salvage operation is sought assistance from the su­ a tribute to the skill and efficien­ pervisor of Diving and Salvage cy of the crew of this small who contracted Oceaneering ship," Smallwood added. Technologies, Inc. to operate The Wilkes sailed into the deep salvage remotely Honolulu with the sled on deck piloted vehicle Magellan 724 and wit^ a "broom at the yarjfrom the Wilkes. darm" indicating a successful "The operation was a tricky mission. Bosun "Skip" Yager one at such extreme depths and said of the operation, "Hey, we required the Magellan recovery just got the job done." Bosun "Skip" Yager signals crew to hold the line as the spooling device is hoisted to the deck's edge. vehicle to attach a 20,000 foot Crewmembers aboard the long recovery pendant of half- Wilkes received a commenda­ inch kevlar line to the downed tion from the commanding of­ sled. ficer of the Naval "While the sled was being Oceanographic Office at the located, hooked up and Stennis Space Center in Missis­ recovered, it was necessary for sippi for the sled's recovery. the Wilkes' ship control team to Among those listed by keep the ship within a few Smallwood as instrumental in meters of a position directly the recovery effort were Bosun over the sled. The ship has no Yager, ABs ^'Mac" Davis, Tom automated station-keeping sys­ Skubinna, "Jake" Jacobs, tem and the team used various Steve Herring and Andy combinations of engine, rudder Gutierrez; OSs Jae and bow thruster to keep the Tbrowbridge, Adam Taiucci ship in precise position in the and Matt Sandy. In addition to open sea for more than 30 hours Smallwood, the ship's officers during the hook-up and included Captain Steve Smith, recovery," Smallwood wrote in Second Mate David Ayer and' his letter detailing the event. Third Mate Wendi ImpellizOnce the crew secured the zeri. liiilfc: During the final moments of the 36-hour recovery, Bosun Yager carefully guides the deep ocean sled onto the ship's after deck. m The mkes retums to Honolulu with the sled on deck. "Broom at the yardarm," signifying a successful mission, is hidden among signal flags. The sled, more than 17 feet long, is ready for its return to Honoluju aboard the USNS Wilkes. �.fii.•?:'> t S AUGusrms SEAFARERS LOG \Expert Witness Tells Panel •II. Runaway Flags Mean Loss of American Jobs I Burma, the Philippines and other ter for Seafarers' Rights to advise . Dr. Paul Chapman, the former agency. All direct connection be- developing countries, but oncb port chaplains and mariners from director of the Center for around Ae world on what to do Seafarers' Rights, told members tween the owner/operator and the that seafarer signs onto of the House Merchant Marine crew is lost in the process, and the Panamanian-flag ship, he is con- when they faced serious problems Subcommittee they should ex only criterion for the operation is trolled by the Panamanian aboard vessels. Among the pect foreign crews to replace profit," Chapman told the panel, maritime labor code. The fact is troubles that have been faced by American crews when U.S.-fla: In this highly competitive in- that many of the 30 or more flag port chaplains visiting runawayships replace the Stars-anc dustiy, a downward spiral results, of convenience registries which flag vessels are lack of payment Stripes with a flag of con and an operator is constantly today register almost 50 percent for work performed, inadequate tempted in the pressure of com- of the world's ships have little or food, refusal to access medical venience. Chapman addressed the House petition to go a notch lower in no interest in enforcing their care and forced employment after Many main streets in the Midwest panel on the problems that occur standards. maritime labor code and no ad- a contract has expired. are covered by floodwaters. A Filipino AB can be ministrative capability of doing when merchant vessels re-flag "Without any legal protection He appeared as a witness durin^ employed for $300 to $400 a so. or meaningful union contracts, "The effect of this is that once the owner/operator is free to ar­ a July 20 hearing called to take month. A Chinese AB can be testimony conceming a U.S.-fla hiredforlessthan$100amonth. a merchant ship leaves port, it bitrarily ded with crew without maritime revitalization package Having lost all connection with moves beyond the control of any restraint," Chapman said. "Good offered by members of Congress the recruiting process and dealing legal regime. In effect, it moves management includes a high only with a hierarchy of ship into a legal black hole. Contracts regard for the dignity and work­ in May. The author of Trouble on management companies with can be ignored, and since crews ing conditions of workers, but we Board, a book about the problems various kinds of chartering proce- are often recruited where unContinuedfrom page 3 involving merchant seamen on dures, the owner/operator may employment is high and wages found that on as many as 20 per­ the Atchafalaya River and thus vessels registered to runaway not even be aware of conditions are low, crewmembers are often cent of the ships, the crews were prevent flood conditions in the flags, spoke to the subcommittee on board, or salary levels, or of reluctant to even voice their com- being abused and exploited. And less than a month after Sea-Lanc thestandardsthatarebeingmain-1 plaint except perhaps to a the number may be higher be­ Mississippi Delta. cause crewmembers are reluctant I chaplain." Alton Port Representative Tim I and American President Lines an- tained. He told the House members he to speak up, lest they lose their Kelley reported the Alton hall is nounced their plans to follow End of Tradition working together with the through on threats to replace the He noted if American com­ started the New York-based Cen-1 jobs.' Madison County Federation of American flag on 20 of their ves- panies take their vessels to off­ Labor toward providing relief for sels. shore registries, the effect could community members who have (Runaway vessels, also known )e disastrous for the United lost their homes and businesses as flag-of-convenience ships, are States. because of the Mississippi's those owned in one country, In this country, this would rising floodwaters, He noted the registered in another and crewed result in a loss of maritime hall has taken several phone calls by mariners from still other capability, the end of a career, of from Alton Belle crewmembers countries. These vessels are an expertise, which has helped for about fellow Seafarers who are dubbed "runaway" because they 00 years to shape this countiy. victims of the high waters where are attempting to flee respon"There is no crash course for the Mississippi and Missouri | sibility for taxes and regulations maritime officers. You go to from the owner's nation.) nVers meet. school and you spend 10 years at "We have begun the process of Abandon Nation's Mariners sea working your way up to notifying these union members Chapman cited as an example master. To lose part of our nation­ that we will do whatever we can what happened to Norwegian al competence would be tragic. to help them," Kelley said. crews when Norway decided to Chapman added that U.S. A source from the U.S. Army create a flag-of-convenience shipping companies would face Corps of Engineers reported that registry, le additional challenge of find­ heavy rain in the Missouri River "Initially Norwegians were ing Americans knowledgeable in Dr. Paul Chapman (right) discusses the effects of runaway-flag ves­ is backing up into the flooded hired as masters and chief en- naaritime to help run their firms, sels on merchant mariners with U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.). Mississippi toward Alton, gineers and the rest of the crew t has been suggested that in the Weather reports indicate that the were from foreign lands. But now ong run, not only will the ships Mississippi around the Alton area on ntany of the Norwegian ag out, but the companies them­ is expected to reach a crest of 40 second registry ships, all of the selves may move aboard. While pointing out that he has feet, an all-time high. Emergency officers and crew are foreign." crews are standing by, ready for Chapman, who now serves as not discovered a direct correla- Continuedfrom page 3 the Mississippi to surge top" instructor at the Bangor ;ion between ships' flagging out that we retain our maritime fleet, another record high at Melvin n^®®^°8'^^' Seminar in Maine, and standards on those vessels Lipinski told his colleagues. Price Lock and Dam, south of the ^tat^ that when shipping com- deteriorating, the author said, 'I think we have to take this Illinoistown. panies from developed nations 'That has been the pattem." He dramatic action in ,,order to obtain , J .1. switch to a flag of convenience. o Tered UIW the representatives an wyv ex- | j I.V|/XV/OVIltXiU V WO oil ... • m n Forecasters said they were businesses tend to stop deal- mple of how lower working and i beginning to detect a new pattern ing with manning agents. They iving standards take place. sentative Jack Fields (R-Texas) <1 nio..ir u«i«' concerning the amendment. in the rainy weather that has hung will contract with a ship manageLegal Black Hole Fields is the ranking minority over the Midwest for the better ment company which, in turn, A ship owned in Hong Kong member of the Merchant Marine part of six weeks. | subcontracts with a manning may have a mixed crew from | and Fisheries Committee. Other congressmen offered Rivers' Flow Irrevocably Changed their support. "We must do some­ thing to rebuild (the U.S.-flag merchant fleet) for the benefit of this country because in a time of David Bonior crisis it is absolutely necessary that they be prepared to support our efforts on the waters of the ment report on the need of mer­ world, wherever we need to chant sMpping for sealift. That deliver the goods to supply our report is expected to be released troops," noted Representative this month. The two shipping companies James Quillen (R-Tenn.). 'Comprehensive maritime followed through in June on their reform will enable (Sea-Land and threats to go foreign flag. SeaAmerican President Lines) to stay Land filed a request to lower the under the U.S. flag," added U.S. American flag on 13 of its ves­ Representative David Bonior (D- sels, while APL did the same for Mich.), the House majority whip seven ships in its fleet. APL also and a long-time supporter of the stated it would seek permission to U.S.-flag merchant fleet. "We fly a foreign flag on six vessels that will be built in German and need time to do that." Sea-Land and APL had South Korean yards. threatened togo foreign flag since MarAd representatives noted last year unless a maritime the request by the companies to revitalization program became re-flag 20 ships was an unusually law. Congress introduced its high number with which to deal AP (Earl Observation Satellite t^mp) These two Landsat Thematic Mapper images show the St. Louis area on July 4,1988 (left) and July legislation in May after the Clin­ at one time. Normally, the agen­ 18,1993 (right), demonstrating the dramatic contrast in the size of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. ton administration announced it cy handles re-flagging applica­ would delay its recommendation tions for one or two vessels at a Scientists say the flood will cause the rivers to take up new routes. until it receives a Defpnse Depart- time. Flood Slops Tugs/Barges ^iSSS•1^1 . ff'sif 'K. ''" ''': ' Reflagging Postponed MsarAd AuOwrtalkm BUI Passed 4S"'-" '4-"- ' :l-:3r '•• ,?l.. • -v ..y' �AUGUST 1993 SEAFAGERSLOG Gov't Services Member Named MSCPAC Mariner for 1992 An SIU Government Services to maintain its high degree of Division member has been named readiness. the Military Sealift Command"Mr. Castillo's knowledge of Pacific (MSCPAC) 1992 Marine the Tano propulsion and other on­ Employee of the Year for his board electronics systems is im­ work over and above the call of pressive," Walsh wrote in duty aboard the USNS Andrew nominating Castillo. "Due to his Higgins. knowledge, we've been able to Electronics Technician Her upgrade our propulsion system to min Castillo collected not only include the latest modifications the top award presented annually by Tano and determine the extent by the fleet, but he also received of previous machinery history. the unlicensed engine He alone has processed, recorded department's 1992 Mariner and implemented many Tano en­ gineering change notices. Award of Excellence. Walsh continued his praise for He was joined by AB/Maintenance Allen R. Glassford and Castillo by saying he "doesn't Steward/Cook Perfecto Basilic limit his knowledge and expertise as the outstanding mariners in to only his gear but repairs any each of their respective un­ electrical or electronic problem licensed departments aboard presented to him. His contribu­ MSCPAC ships. The annual tion to the USNS Higgins far ex­ awards recognize outstanding ceeded the scope of his job work efforts and achievements by description." individuals sailing in the unCastillo received a plaque licensed deck, engine and from Captain L.M. Pivonka, the steward departments as well as commander of MSCPAC, in deck, engine and medical officers recognition of his achievements. in the fleet. Concerns for Safety Always Available Unlicensed deck winner Castillo was nominated for Glassford also sailed aboard the both MSCPACs highest award USNS Higgins in 1992. The as well as the engine department AB/maintenance was praised as a recognition by Chief Engineer self-starter, a conscientious Thomas Walsh, who sailed with worker and a person concerned the electronics technician last with the safety of his fellow crewmembers. year. In nominating the deck depart­ Walsh stated Castillo worked long hours under unfavorable ment member for the award. First conditions and was always on call Officer Steve Rose wrote, to allow the Higgins, a fleet oiler. Glassford exhibits profes­ sionalism and dedication to duty in all assignments, especially in the area of damage control. His efforts with damage control aboard the Higgins contributed to the fleet oiler's recent evaluation of "excellent" for damage control and firefighting." While sailing aboard the Hig­ gins, Glassford served as fire marshal. In that role, he taught new crewmembers about the ship's damage control systems and the type of firefighting equip­ ment found aboard the oiler. Excellent Feeder In gaining recognition for his work aboard the fleet tug USNS Catawba, Steward/Cook Basilio was noted for his work in making the Catawba a top-notch feeder. "Mr. Basilio is both highly dedicated and professional in overseeing all areas of the steward department," wrote Cap­ tain Pat Huetter, master of the tug. "From baking zucchini bread to birthday cakes, he goes out of his way to respond to the crew's every request and need. He's al­ ways done a superior job for Catawba and MSCPAC." During his tour on the tug, the steward/cook received two straight "excellent" ratings during command inspections. Pact Insures Atlanta's Olympic Stadium Will Be Built by Union Workers The North Georgia Building Trades Council has announced an agreement with the Atlanta Stadium Contractors for a fair-wage agreement covering the construction workers who will build an 85,000-seat stadium as well as support facilities for the 1996 Olympic Games which will be held in the Georgia city. The agreement includes wage scales, employer-paid health care benefits and pensions, as well as mandatory training for all contractor and subcontractor workers. The council credited efforts by the Atlanta AFL-CIO and local public employee, industrial, service and building trades unions for acquiring the pact in the right-to-work state. The stadium project is expected to cost approximately $210 million. USNS Mercury Joins RRF; Leaves MSCPAC Fleet Seafarers Rally In Protest of NAFTA •:Vv "! J J ' . r J • ' •![ • " V".. m- y-¥ /-•"M Colorado Beef Processors Succeed After 10-Year Struggle to Gain Union Employees at the Monfort beef processing plant in Greeley, Colo, have voted for union representation after 10 years of anti-union coercion, intimidation and discrimination by the company. Workers voted for the United Food and Commercial Workers to represent them. The Greeley plant had been a union shop until it closed in 1980. When the facility reopened in 1982, Monfort refused to hire more than 250 former union members and kept the plant non-union until the recent vote. Mine Workers' Strike Continues Against Coal Operators Association More than 16,000 members of the United Mine Workers in seven states have left their mines as a strike against the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA) enters its third month. The selective strike against members of the association began on May 10. The Mine Workers are protesting the mine owners' refusal to bargain in good faith and other unfair labor practices. Job security is the key issue for the union members. The Mine Workers claim the companies are opening non-union mines while those where the union members work are'being exhausted. In the meantime, the union signed an agreement with four companies that broke away from the BCOA to form the Independent Bituminous Coal Bargaining Alliance. The pact covers 7,500 miners in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The union also signed agreements with two previously unorganized mines that employ 700 people. The a^eements were reached with Marrowbone SIU Government Services guished career with MSCPAC. Development in Mingo County, W.Va. and Wolf Creek Collieries in Martin County, Ky. Division members bade farewell Capable of carrying around 1,000 to the USNS Mercury, a roll- vehicles, the vessel was one of the New Contract Obtained In New England on/roll-off vessel that has been first roll-on/roll-offi-ships to Following a 24-Week Lockout Following a 24-week lockout, the workers at Bay State Gas in Massachusetts and New Hampshire part of the Military Sealift Com­ deliver supplies and materiel to ratified a new six-year contract on July 2. The Steelworkers Locals 12026 and 14930 as well as Electrical mand-Pacific fleet (MSCPAC) American combat forces during Workers Local 486 represent the workers. Operation Desert Shield in 1990. since it was built in 1976. The lockout began January 16 when members of Local 12026 rejected the company's contract offer. The ship was turned over to the The vessel was the only MSC Members survived on unemployment compensation after the Massachusetts legislature passed extended Maritime Administration RO/RO to operate with a benefits for locked out workers. (MarAd) to become part of the civilian crew. The unlicensed Ready Reserve Force (RRF). The crewmembers were represented Board Orders Tyson Mercury sailed into a New Or­ by the Government Services Labor To Honor Union Contracts leans sMpyard where it will be Division. Members of the Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) gained a victory No announcement has been prepared to join the RRF fleet. It against Tyson Foods when thechicken processing company was ordered by the National Labor Relations will join 11 other newly acquired made stating when the Mercury Board (NLRB)to bargain with the unions. RO/RO vessels in the MarAd will be leaving the shipyard or Regarding the Teamsters, the board found that Tyson—^as the successor of Holly Farms—^had where it will be stationed in the fleet. interfered with a union representation election involving approximately 200 long-haul truck drivers in The Mercury had a distin­ RRF fleet. Virginia, North Carolina and Texas. After taking over Holly Farms in 1989, Tyson unilaterally offered the drivers wages and benefits at the lower Tyson rates, thus bypassing the union. . The company threatened workers with plant closures and sale of their trucks if they voted union. The Discussing Maritime in Norfoik NLRB ordered the company to rehire 47 workers who were discharged because of union activities. In a case involving an Arkansas local, the NLRB ruled Tyson had illegally directed and controlled a decertification petition in a chicken processing plant in 1991. The board ordered Tyson to recognize the UFCW local and bargain in good faith. U.S. Senator Charles Robb (D-Va.) Is updated on the concerns of the U.S.-flag maritime Industry by Hampton Roads Port Council President Bernard Hopkins (left) and SIU Norfolk Port Agent Mike Paladino (right). 9 SIU members join with other trade unlonsts to protest the possible loss of jobs to Mexico should Congress approve the NAFTA treaty. Negotiations among the United States, Canada and Mexico are continuing. iS .• '"'Mr 1 W:-: VQi'" If:, I#.- �to AUGUST 1093 SEAFARERS LOG A S schools begin another year across the country, it is not too early to start i planning to apply for a 1994 Seafarers Scholarship. In 1994, as in years past, the union will be offering seven scholarships. Four of these financial awards are set aside for the children and spouses of Seafarers. Each of the four scholarships is for $15,000 to be used at a four-year college or university. The other three are for Seafarers themselves. One of the awards also is for $15,000 for use at a four-year institution of higher learning. The remaining two scholarships amount to $6,000 each and can be used for study at a community college or vocational school. Since 1952, the SIU has awarded 228 scholarships to its members, their spouses and children to help them reach their educational goals. From these ranks have come doctors, lawyers, teachers and many other careers. Some members have used the program to improve their own job skills as Seafarers. However, all of them took the same first step to win a scholarship. TTiat step was to apply for the Seafarers Scholarship Program booklet which contains the vital information necessary to apply. To receive a copy of this guide, send in the coupon at the bottom of this page. What follows are some highlights from the scholarship booklet. ELIGIBILITY For a Seafarer to be eligible to be awarded a scholarship, he or she must: • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent; • Have a total of 730 days of employment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welf^e Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to the date of application; • have one day of employment on a vessel in the six-month period immediately prior to the date of application; • Have 120 days of employment on a vessel in the previous calendar year. (Pensioners are not eligible for scholarships.) For a spouse to be eligible for a scholarship award, he or she must: • Be married to an eligible Seafarer or SIU pensioner; • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent. • • t Be under the age of 19 OR Be under the age of 25 and be a full-time student erurolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree at an accredited institution authorized by law to grant such degrees; Be the child of a Seafarer who has credit for a total of 1,095 days of covered employment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to the date of application; Be the child of a seafaring parent who has one day of employment in the six-month period preceding the date of application and 120 days of employment in the previous calendar year (unless the eligible parent is deceased). It should be noted that dependent children who win SIU scholarships and marry while receiving the award will not have to forfeit the grant by reason of such marriage. CHECKLIST (i- . • • • • Autobiographical statement Photograph j Certified copy of birth certificate / High school transcript and certification of graduation or official copy of high school equivalency scores • College transcript 7, . • FOR MORE INFORMATION Ask for a 1994 Seafarers Scholarship Program booklet at any SIU hall, or fill out the coupon below and return it to the Seafarers Welfare Plan. P lease send me the 1994 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and the application form. Name Address City, State, Zip Code Telephone Number This application is for: (Self) (Dependent) Letters of reference SAT or ACT results I All completed applications with all necessary information included MUST be mailed and postmarked ON or BEFORE APRIL 15,1994. The SAT or ACT test must be taken by February 1994 to insure the test results will be available for inclusion in the scholarship application package. For information on upcoming SAT tests, contact the College Entrance Examination Board at either Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540 or Box 1025 Berkeley, CA 94701, whichever is closest. For information regarding ACT tests, contact ACT Registration Union, P.O.Box 414, Iowa City, lA 52243. Scholarship recipients MUST enroll in a college or trade school and notify the Seafarers Welfare Plan of their admission by AUGUST 1,1994. Recipients who are the spouse or child of a Seafarer are expected to complete their course of study during the four years covered by the grant. Seafarers who receive the $15,000 award must complete the program within six years.Seafarers who receive the $6,(X)0 award must complete their programs in four years. Book Number Deadline for applying is April 15,1994. Items that need to be postmarked by that date for review by the Scholarship Committee include: • Scholarship application • / •• emember, it will take time to gather all this information. Plan ahead to make sure everything will be collected in time. Some schools can be slow in handling transcript requests, so applicants should ask for them as soon as possible. The SAT and ACT examinations are offered approximately six times each year on specified dates. Applicants should take the appropriate test required by the college or trade school he or she plans to attend. DEADLINES For a dependent child to be eligible to be awarded a scholarship, he or she must: • Be an unmarried child of an eligible Seafarer or SIU pensioner for whom the member or pensioner has been the sole source of support the previous calendar year; • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent, although applications may be made during the senior year of high school; • • R ft, ' ' I . I j Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program. Seafarers Welfare \ 1^ Plan, 5201 AuthWay, Carrip Springs, MD 20746. �SEAFARERS LOG 11 Seafarers Pull Together For New Boblo Season SIU crewmembers aboard the Boblo Island boats are geared up for another busy season of taking passengers from Gibraltar, Mich, to Boblo Island amusement park, located at the mouth of Lake Erie near Amherstburg, Ontario. Annual Boblo operations began Memorial Day weekend and will continue until Labor Day weekend when the boats will be laid up for the winter season. Four boats make up the Boblo fleet, and they are crewed by members of the Seafarers Interna­ tional Union, which has repre­ sented the Boblo crew since the 1940s. Crewmembers work the en­ gines, keep the passengers com­ fortable, tie up lines when docking, release lines when pulling out and properly maintain each vessel's in­ terior and exterior. The entire Boblo fleet's deck crew works together to get the job done each day of the season. The L.R. Beattie is the largest of the four boats with a capacity of300passengers. Crewmembers prepare and sell hot dogs and refreshments to passengers on the 45-minute cruise across Lake Erie to the park. Crewmembers also sell snacks and refreshments aboard the MV Friendship, which holds 120 pas­ sengers. The remaining two vessels hold 150 passengers each and are unique in that they are styled after the old Mississippi River boats. They are the MV Gibraltar and the MV Tecumseh. The Boblo boats operate every hour, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., picking up and dropping off passengers in both locations. Vf' -• "• • • • • -.L; A • •:>! -"L- Boblo crewmembers pose for a photo before beginning a day of transporting passengers across Lake Erie. They are (from left, first row) Deckhands Husein Hasser, Rochelle Carrington, Janice Stamper and Cheryl Stamper, Captain David Young, (second row) Deckhand Doug Shearer, Captain John Mickey, Deckhand ^sanOnufrak,Captajn Paul Lepage,_ (third row) Captain William Kampfert, Deckhands Craig Deckhand Cheryl Stamper flies the Boblo flag overhead while the Ciarrocchi, Joseph Murray and James Basham. r. u. Phillip Prentiss, X i-_ . r, . passengers await arrival at the island. S'y- Li. Crewmembers aboard the LR. Beattie gather on deck for a group photo. Preparing hot dogs and refresh­ ments for the passengers is the responsibility of food service worker Shannon Hall. Marlin Sails into Guifport Deckhands James Basham (left) and Dana Smith escape the rainy weather as their vessel leaves port for Boblo Island. Deckhands Rochelle Carrington (left) and Doug Shearer keep the decks aboard the MV Friendship keeping busy as both a Boblo captain and a union shop steward Is in shipshape condition. Juan Sanche2. Chief Engineer Donice l.xiwson (left) and Chief Mate Kevin Delattre take a break on the deck of the tug Marlin recently when, the Penn Maritime tug was doing hartxrr wbrk in Guifport, Miss. -"Li '"•/if '.'-V �:..i—.. 12 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST 1993 Mariiw Eleetnnlcs Comses Avallab^ at LwaMmy School Flashlights Md rags once were November 8 to December 17 There is no prerequisite for common tools of the trade for (For a complete list of the Lun­ Basic Electronics. The Lun­ Seafarers who sziil in the engine deberg School's current course deberg School recommends that department. But nowadays, schedule, see page 27 of this edi­ students complete an introduc­ thanks to automation and high­ tion of the LOG.) tory algebra course before taking These courses have been Basic Electronics, but this is not tech training, working in the en­ gine department means operating available at the Lundeberg required. test equipment such as digital School since 1989. As advances Basic Electronics includes a lot multi-meters, oscilloscopes and in technology continue bringing of reading and problem-solving automation to the maritime in­ Afternoons are spent working witfi logic probes. In light of this ongoing push dustry, Lundeberg School in­ basic circuits and learning how to toward newer and newer technol­ structors update the courses to troubleshoot them. ogy, Seafarers are encouraged to ensure that Seafarers remain the MET I and MET U are high- Seafarers who take marine electronics courses at the Lundeberg sign up now for an important best trained seamen able to hand­ volume courses which extensive­ School will work on high-tech equipment. phase of their training: the marine le this sophisticated equipment. ly cover electronic circuitry and The curriculum includes study electronics courses offered at the troubleshooting. Once a student passes these indorsement. No knowledge of Seafarers Harry Lundeberg of AC and DC theory, basic and courses, he or she should be able Morse Code is required. Both MET I and MET II start advanced electronic circuits, School of Seamanship. to sit for the Federal Communica­ with the study and use of transis­ The three courses—Basic digital logic, automation and For more information, contact tions Commission's exam for and end with a full tors Electronics, Marine Electronics troubleshooting. Plenty of handsthe Lundeberg School admissions General Radiotelephone knowledge of digital and analog Technician (MET) I and MET on training also is featured. office or your port agent. Operators License with Radar circuits. The courses include an The Basic Electronics course II—are particularly important to optional section which teaches QMEDs, as the courses will help was designed for those who have them move up in classification. little or no formal training in students how to use program­ Basic Electronics begins on electronics. As suggested by the mable controllers. Students who graduate fiom August 30 and lasts until Septem­ title, the course teaches the con­ these courses will be able to analyze cepts and theories needed to form ber 24. MET I takes place from September 27 to November 5, solid foundation for more ad­ low a circuit works and be able to Seafarers employed by Allied licensed assistant or chief en­ troubleshoot the circuit faults. while the schedule for MET n is vanced electronics studies. Towing Corp. recently completed gineer on uninspected towing special course covering en- vessels. The Allied boatmen "all said gineroom skills at the Paul Hall Tenter for Maritime Training and they found the course helpful and informative," said Allied Towing Education. The two-week Utilityman Port Captain Jeff Parker."I've been course was designed by Lun­ dealing with the school for 15 Boatmen from three SlU-condeberg School engine department years, and they're always helpful." tracted companies received their instructors specifically to meet Parker pointed out that inland able bodied seaman's endorse­ the needs of inland division mem­ seafarers often have very limited ment after completing training at bers who sail for Allied Towing. off their boats, so their train­ time the Harry Lundeberg School of The course first was given in ing needs are unique. That is why Seamanship. November, with students receiv­ the school and the company Seafarers from Upper Lakes ing both classroom and shop in­ worked together to create a Towing, Crowley and Maritrans struction. course which offers maximum in­ attended the special 3-week Seven students completed the struction in a relatively short course from June I to June 18, more recent course, which ended period. The course also will be The course was designed specifi­ in February. Classroom studies available for other members. cally for inland members to ad­ focused on diesel engine theory Seafarers who completed the dress their needs on America's and operation, with emphasis on class are: Wayne Woodland, waterways. different types of diesels. Leonard Paul, Wayne Potter, four There were 24 union members Shop work included welding, Frank Ingellis Sr., Norman in attendance who participated in hydraulic systems, pumps, Peters, John H. Reber III and the upgrading session. Taught by Lundeberg School Instructor Seventeen boatmen who completed the special AB course for inland electrical safety and use of Louie Payne. Lundeberg School electrical test equipment. Casey Taylor, they received ex­ members will be working on tugboats like these for Maritrans. Instructor Bill Foley taught the tensive, hands-on training as well A utilityman works as an un­ course. as written materials covering this winter when the Great Lakes firefighting and firsft aid, rules of freeze, thus bringing an end to the the road, water survival season. Reviewing Steward Recertification Appiications The 17 upgraders from (lifeboat), buoyage and boat and Maritrans was die third group to cargo handling. Six of those who upgraded to go through a Lundeberg School AB are employed by Upper Lakes training session this year from the Towing, which is based in the Philadelphia-based company. town of Escanaba, in the Upper "The people at Maritrans are Peninsula of Michigan. Upper glad to have a facility like Piney Lakes Towing is a .barge and tug­ Point available for upgrading," said boat company which transports Nick Grassia, inland port captain salt, iron ore, stone and coal be­ for the company. "Our boatmen got tween Lakes Michigan, Huron a lot out of this session. For those and Erie as well as from Lake who had never been to Piney PoinL Superior to Lake Michigan in In­ they were impressed with the diana Harbor. The six SIU mem­ facility and have expressed an in­ bers from Upper Lakes Towing terest in returning." who successfully completed the Maritrans tugboats transport June session are Francis Berube, petroleum products up and down Mark Carlson, Terrance De- the East Coast. The Seafarers who Menter, Joseph Racicot and sail for Maritrans include brothers Thomas and Jerry Richard Belote, William Belote, Stropich. The group drove in a Christopher Boyd, Paul Brown, van from Escanaba to Piney Dannie Card, John Coover, Point. Gregory Gibson, Richard Clyde Van Enkevort, an owner Feague, Mark Leadheater, An­ of Upper Lakes Towing, told a thony Myklich, Mark O'Neal, reporter from the Seafarers LOG, Edmund Putro, Ralph Ramsey, "I think the course was really Mitchell Roberts, Emmanuel good for the guys, and they came Roldan, Jimmie Stevens and back with nothing but great things Troy Zimmerman. to say. It became a necessity for Boatman Leonard Tyson their jobs to learn more and also took part in the course. He receive additional training. We sails for Crowley Towing. His Recertified Stewards (frotn left) Gregory Melvin of Jacksonville, Fla., Peter Schmitt of San Francisco Rosich of San Francisco review applications from fellow galley gang members for had a need and it became ap­ home port is Philadelphia. parent, so we sent the group down Crowley tugs pull roll-on/roll-off the 1994 steward recertification program at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. ol'" graduates from the program makes its recommendations to the contracts to Piney Point." barges between Philadelphia, The company plans to send ad­ Jacluonville, Fla., Lake Charles, departrnerft for the next year's classes. Galley gang members who are selected will be notified by the contracts department pnor to the start of the classes ditional SIU members to upgrade La. and Puerto Rico. AUied Boatmen Graduate Special UtiUtyman Course Boatmen from 3 Inland Companlos Complete Lundeberg Scheol AB Training y % �mm: ^aMfte ^e<itlcKX (ro^/tt) <^<^Je<l <tt ^en. t O-UAce^-altC 6<td(f„ ^eil<t ^edctxut, ^(<.i<^e<l, ^Id 4eT iH.<x(Aex, "DedUfAOi. "^wmite <i<x6Cl ei<y ct cAce^ MOA, (4ta4t leccHtitf (1^0^141 cAe I<it^t. (I<tc/i ^coH^ftccd. 1^ ^iA(xt4y cu<t<i- <i€*tt to^ Se<x^4txe4vi ^ Stee<4ei,txi /4d^iC<xt4i*tt ^euHie 'H><tt<UM.. Another peek into the Seafarers LOG family album shows us f: .1 a '• ' •'% '.: •Sf /./'rSV* 'M: ••I • :• --rV'. • vt'i:7/''''' • ••.. ud-; 'I? .:® • • • . i- f^ac^44X*c(Aclie 'P<\4it /f<^*tC "TH^c^u^uf •i^ou^ l<ttui ^ud iV4^ "TH-o^tCc^^ '<i ) reccHt <ieCdcic<x*t tAe dc<si^drU(u^ t<A4X4itcC, 'VCttcent ^^4X*H^ "TKCtZuouf-, 6^04i*t "^eSruct^cf 25, t ^93. • % i- Sxc^aHi^ct«^ c</iedeU*t<^ wxcad OH /4/trci 3 ette "TKCcAael Si<tiftoH ciHcC '7^e'ied<!i. '?C.o'di.4yi /4(f€A. "THccA^tel ducld <id <t 27KS^ <t64X4i%ti S<^. 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To quote from Merton again: "The bit to starboard and then come back to value of our activity depends almost en­ port on course for each other's stem. On the five occasions that his hap­ tirely on the humility to accept ourselves as we are. The reason why we do things pened while on watch, there was always so badly is that we are not content to do that moment of doubt just before the mast lights began to shift, indicating the what we can." In this context, I am the 8-12 ordinary movement to starboard. Thoughts race seaman. The first thing I will be doing through my head. When was the last each morning is the sanitary for the deck time their steering gear was checked? department. So far it has gone well. I For that matter, when was ours? Does Aboard the USNS Sealift Pacific have cleaned a head, a laundry room, the helmsman speak English? How long I arrived at the USNS Sealift Pacific swept and mopped the 01 and 02 level has that pilot been working this channel? to spend the next three weeks or so sail­ passageways and sougeed the main deck In the end, all went well. We transited ing as the ordinary seaman for the 8-12 and port passageway. I keep telling without any difficulties. It did leave me watch. The childish excitement and en­ myself that the important thing is to keep reflecting on the future plans that I hear thusiasm of the past two summers has moving (so that I am not mistaken for a some govemment leaders have for diis gone. In its place is a confidence that has pipe), and to do quality work. Those overgrown bayou. There has been talk of emerged from those experiences, demons, though, are still trying to get me dredging the channel deeper so that big­ mingled with the knowledge obtained to compete, but with whom? ger ships can swagger down the same through my studies. I feel comfortable narrow plank. What Time Is It Anyway? now with the pace of life aboard ship. At 0100 hours we reached the Hess We sat at supper this evening, the Refinery. All hands were called for In the few days that I was on another ship, Sealift Atlantic, I was assigned bosun, the 8-12 AB, the 12-4 OS and docking and tank preparations. Those of to start on the bridge and sougee the myselfi and tried to discern what day it us on the stem were not working yet as inside of the house. Questions raced was. "Is the day Wednesday or a team. There was some confusion but through my mind as to how much Thursday? Was the date the 19th or the we got everything eventually squared progress was expected of me each day. 20th?" Half of us agreed that it was away. Afterwards, we put out the One deck a day, two passageways, what Wednesday, and the other half thought it gangway and prepared to t^e on cargo. was it? What had the previous steward was Thursday. The alliances shifted, In 18 hours we had completed load­ assistant done? He had quit the day though, when we tried to figure out if ing. The sailinjg board said 2400 hours before. Was he putting out more than I that meant is was the 19th or the 20th. was the departure time. Exactly on time was, or was I winning this "race?" With the help of a calendar and the we began to take in the gangway and the If it was a "race," then who was I agreemeiit by all that we did leave lines. The tugs eased us away from the racing? I couldn't be racing anyone in Orange, Texas on Monday, we came to dock and pointed us south, back to the the department. There wasn't anyone the consensus that it was Wednesday the sea. else in the department. Was I "racing" I9th. In a 48-hour period, we had left for the steward's approval. Yes, that's Things had been happening so quick­ Orange, taken on a full cargo of jet fuel what I was doing. I was knocking myself ly and for such long periods. What had and wereoff the Louisiana coast heading out to get the approval of someone who seemed like two days had actually been for Beaufort, N.C. It seemed as though was already happy that I had not quit the only one. Through a number of delays, days had passed, but in fact it was only first day. I was seeking the approval of a we finally left Houston Ship Repair in 48 hours. A real mariner's tmth is that person who was just happy if I kept Orange at 10:00 a.m. After the break, I one would not know the present day, moving and did an adequate job. was stationed on the bow as watch. date or hour if the steward did not write I remember almost apologizing to There was very little traffic and no com­ these important facts on the menu each him that I did not get done as much as I munication to the bridge. I passed the day. If he or she reused a menu from had hoped. He seemed a bit bewildered, time watching very familiar waters pass Febmary, our table conversation would and reassured me I was doing fine. by, but from a tot^y different perspec­ be about the unusually warm winter we Last November, while on the SS Cape tive. were having. Chalmers, one of the fellows in the deck After I was relieved and had lunch, Grieving at Sea department was a real competitor. Most we began to ready the gear that would be of the time he was a loud-mouth, but necessary for butterworthing and tank Working as a port chaplain, I have when it came to hauling in lines, no one cleaning. This was thought originally to seen and heard many stories of seamen was fast enough for him. He would race be a simple task. The tanks had all b^n far away from their homes confronted to pull the hawser through the chock cleaned in preparation for the shipyard. with some tragedy and not being able to faster than anyone else. He would nearly It was thought that all that was necessary be present to either share in the suffering bust his gut, but he looked real good. On was a little extra cleaning and the tmiks or give support to those he or she loves. one occasion, I was the man at the chock. would be ready for cargo. Wrong! In all these cases, I have sympathized I was going as fast as I could, reaching After butterworthing for about an with the suffering sailors, but it takes a down and pulling the line with all I had. hour-and-a-half, the bosun descended joumey into one's own tragedy at sea to I was subconsciously competing with into the tanks to check out the situation. tum that sympathy into an empathy that him, and because he would try to take What he found did not make him a happy quietly bonds all seafarers. my position if I was not fast enough, I camper. This bond is the dark side of the typi­ hauled with all I had. I wasn't fast In preparing to leave, it became cal seafaring fratemity. The love of the enough! As I pulled back, he stepped in necessary to take ballast from the river. ocean, the insatiable desire for adventure front, and hand over hand, not moving a With the water came silt and mud. This and the psychological need to make the step, he took my position. settled on the bottom of the tanks and whole world one's home are just some The result of all this was that I had to be cleaned out by hand. Starting of the expressions of the mariner's per­ stopped hauling on the line. Oh, I looked about 1500 hours until 2100 hours, we sona. Behind this facade is the grieving like I was. I led the line forward to the washed, pumped, scooped, sponged and sailor who missed the birth of a child, the winch, but he was doing all the work. mopped the bottom of each tank. death of a parent or the wedding of a I pass on these reflections because I At this point, the bosun sent me aft to sibling or friend. have grown a little over the last two get cleaned up. The lights of Galveston When we left Hess Petroleum docks, years. Thomas Merton writes in his book Island were on the horizon, and it was it was a beautiful night. The weather was No Man Is an Island: "We insist on time to go back on bow watch. clear and everything pointed to a com­ doing what is not asked of us, because Bow watch in the Houston Ship fortable and smooth voyage to Beaufort. we want the success that belongs to Channel is really an exciting event. In I had called a friend in Beaumont on the somebody else." many channels there are traffic lanes or day of our departure to make sure that all On the Sealift Atlantic, I had been a some form of voluntary traffic control was well on the homefront. She assured success with the steward because what that keeps large ships from passing in me that all was OK, and I promised to he wanted was someone to stay and work tight quarters. Not in Houston! To sail get back in touch when we arrived. along with him. I was blind to that and this channel is to relive a bad western On arrival in Beaufort, I called home nearly knocked myself out striving to be movie. Two gun fighters swagger to receive the devastating news that my the world's greatest at sougeeing. On the toward each other on a muddy Houston bishop, Bernard Ganter, had undergone Cape Chalmers, the AB strove for the street. The only thing keeping their ex­ brain surgeiy for a malignant tumor the success that belonged to the whole team, pensive boots dry and clean is the plank day before. The day we had sailed, he and in the end brought about poor team­ that is suspended over the mud. They had announced to the diocesan staff that work and coordination. walk closer and closer to each other, he was ill and would be undergoing the So now gone is the childish en­ staring deeply into the other's eyes. At operation on Friday. thusiasm and anxiety that were there in the last moment they sashay around each This news shook me to the core of my my other voyages. In their place, I hope. other. being. He is a man I respect, honor and Father Sinclair Oubre is Port Chaplain in Beau­ mont, Texas and an SIU member. He sails during his time off. Father Oubre has kept a journal during his seafar­ ing voyages. Last Sinclair Oubre year, the Seafarers LOG published several excerpts from the diary. What follows are some additional glimpses into Father Oubre's life aboard ship. ^ Vr •/ I- ^• ^ '. love. I doubt that he has ever realized how much he has meant to me. In 1978, when he became the bishop of Beaumont, I saw him for the first time at a basketball game at my old high school. I was already studying for the diocese but feeling rather adrift as far as my commitment to the church in Beaumont. There was not a priest to whom I felt especially close or who seemed to be a mentor. When I saw him, though, I had a strong desire to walk up to him and kiss his Episcopal ring. I restrained those feelings and thank goodness for that because such an action would have embarrassed him no end and probably started our relationship off on a peculiar leg. Through the years, he has always been my promoter and supporter, no matter how untraditional my activities may have been. Whether it was taking fencing lessons or working as a summer intern for my congressman, he never raised objections or questions regarding the appropriateness of such activities for a seminarian or future priest. It was Bishop Ganter who en­ couraged me to accept the challenge of going to Catholic University of America. By his support, I not only received a top quality education, but I also was able to enter the world of politics and labor unions that still play such an important role in my life. When it became time to look for a graduate school, it was Bishpp Ganter who offered to send me abroad. In fact, he encouraged me to investigate schools in Ottawa, Rome, Innsbruck and Leuven, Belgium. When I decided to go to Belgium, he was there to give me his blessing. As I look back on those four years, they were probably the most im­ portant in my life. My early years as a priest were not fair sailing. In my first three assign­ ments, I struck out. In baseball I would have been sent back to the minors, but Bishop Ganter continued to support me. He never threatened me or took sides. Rather, he would just say that things weren't working out and he would find another place for me to work. Now he has fallen ill. I am sure that among those who criticized him most, there is anxiousness and apprehension. They fear that the one who comes next may not be as willing to endure their moaning, groaning, overblown egos and incompetencies. Like a ship's captain who is always the "Old Man" when things are going well and the "SOB" when they are rough. Bishop Ganter has been accused of being out of touch with his priests, and of being insensitive to their particular needs. He is also accused of micromanaging the diocese and not insisting that Aings be done a specific way. \^en parishes and the diocese would be tossed around by one tempest or another, he would always be looked to as the one who could steer the safe course for all concerned. In the end. Bishop Ganter is simply a man who carries the weight of many Catholic souls on his shoulders. He stands between the grassroots needs of each individual Catholic and the man­ dates and prescriptions that emanate from Rome. He does this with all the idiosyncrasies and weaknesses that any man possesses. He does it, though, with a faith that is based on the certain knowledge that in the end all is in God's hands. I have sailed to foreign lands and have taken in adventure. T^is, I thought, was the bond of seafarers, but this is only half. I have now been initiated into the silent half. I take my place with my other mates as we grieve. We grieve for that parent who died while we were away, that child who was bom, and that friend, that mentor who has fallen ill, all the while we were at sea. �AUGUST1993 5filFilir£il51IM; 15 Seafarers in Houston Volunteer to Help Children When Crowley Captain anc SIU Assistant Vice President SIU member Bert Thompson is Don Anderson commented on the not sailing, he is busy volunteer­ efforts of the union members: ing some of his time towarc "Brothers Bolton and Bowles are several charitable activities in the always willing to help out with Houston area. programs such as this. It is a ex­ Brother Thompson is one o: cellent procedure that feeds many volunteers for ICID CARE, hundreds of Houston's hungry a non-profit organization tha children. It's great that we in the feeds children who are going SIU can get involved." hungry on the streets of the city "This is a wonderful oppor­ due to many varying circumstan­ tunity that we have to be able to ces. help a generation of children who "They make and deliver food could be lost if help doesn't reach and sandwiches to children from them. There is a tremendous 18 years old down to infants. sense of fulfillment that words Some are homeless, some come cannot even describe. It is a great from single-parent families who way to put commitment in our can't earn enough money to sup­ lives," Thompson said. port their children and some are He added, "I have my church, complete families with strong SIU members Bert Thompson and Virgil Bolton study a map of Houston to pinpoint where the next food the SIU and my community. This family values but low incomes. deiiveries wiil be taken by volunteers to children who have no other means of getting a meal. is another reference point from They are all victims of our which I can draw strength." economy who are suffering be­ children return from school. They out and growing throughout center to do a little work on some Bom in Austin, Texas on July cause they don't have any of the are hungry because they haven't Houston. 'To deliver food is a of the refrigerators and other ap­ advantages life has to offer," eaten all day or their parents work rare experience. To see the kids pliances that were given to them. 17, 1936, Brother Thompson Thompson told a reporter from late and they are alone. It's hard responding to the open expres­ It was a one-day job but it felt joined the Seafarers in 1975 in the the Seafarers LOG. for a child to acquire an education sion of love is the most remark­ really good to help out," stated port of Houston and began sailing with G&H Towing. He served in Thompson first learned about or pay attention in school with an able thing," he added. Bolton. Both Bolton and Bowles the U.S. Army from 1956to 1959. KID CARE through his local empty stomach," he noted. are graduates of the Lundeberg He upgraded to Master Oceans in Seafarers Volunteer Help Braebum Presbyterian Church, According to Thompson, KID School refrigeration course for 1979 and began sailing with A building has been acquired when the group decided that they CARE was created approximate­ engine department members. Crowley in 1980. wanted to get involved in some ly eight years ago by a registered to use as a full time food distribu­ tion center. Renovations and type of community project. They nurse and her husband, Carol and learned that there are ap­ Hurt Porter. In the medical field remodeling iare under way and the proximately 300,000 children she was continually confronted demand for volunteers has never under 18 years of age going with "sugar babies," starving in­ been higher. Equipment and hungry and living below the fants that she would nurse back to household items have been donated to the center, and while poverty level. lealth with sugar and water until they are not always in good "We realized that we are miss­ food could be given. One of these Thomas "Tommy" Zee, a of SUP for 35 years and an in­ ing the mark as a society. TTie rabies died in Porter's arms while repair, they are needed desperate­ leading figure in the Sailors' stmctor for 15 years. Brother social agencies are not getting to she was trying to nurse the child ly. The new building has a very Union of the Pacific (SUP), Zee was also a member of Na­ the root cause," Thompson jack to life. large kitchen and areas for child passed away May 30 at his tional Association of Maritime reflected. "Carol came to the realization care and in-house classrooms. Pacifica, Calif, home after a Educators. that thousands of kids in Houston According to Thompson, KID stroke. He was 68. Prepare Food for Delivery In 1991, Zee contributed the Brother Zee was a longtime call board of the former pas­ Volunteers from the Houston were starving. She went out into CARE hopes to use tWs area for ship. President community gather twice each day he neighborhoods and found after-school tutoring for children instmctor in seamanship at the senger to make sandwiches and various these starving kids and began who need addition^ educational Andrew Furuseth School of Roosevelt of American Presi­ Seamanship, mn by the Sailors' dent Lines (APL), to the Paul hot foods to deliver to the cooking in her own kitchen. She assistance. children. Vans crewed with addi­ opened her doors to everyone and SIU members QMED Virgil Union of the Pacific in San Hall Library and Maritime Museum. Zee made the call tional volunteers take the meals ed children and families out of Bolton and Wiper Jim Bowles Francisco. Born in Philadelphia, he board himself while he was ler own pockets. She is truly a have volunteered time and efforts individually to each child. "In general, it is a meals-on- remarkable woman," Thompson toward fixing some of the used served in the U.S. Army from deck yeoman aboard the ves­ wheels operation for kids. We explained. equipment that has been donated. 1945 to 1947. He was a member sel. also deliver snacks after the The organization is branching "We went over to the new ReGnd SUP Insbvctor Tommy Zee Dies at 68 Bold Strokes AB Vicari Brightens Sea-Land Producer with Mural Like his career with the SIU, AB Ray Vicari's unnamed mural which adoms a bulkhead aboard the Sea-Land Producer began on a whim but blossomed into some­ thing special. "I had no idea what I was geting into," Vicari said with a augh while recounting his recent jainting project. "The bosun Jack Edwards) asked me if I could do some art work for the ship. I painted a monkey in a tree, and then I just kept adding to it." Vicari, 40, spent six weeks of ree time adding to the mural, which he estimates covers a 50bot area on the second deck. The scenes include beaches, trees, other ships, golfers, islanders, a jar bearing Vicari's name, and more—"different things you might see in Hawaii," he said. "It was a slow process, mostly jecause I had to have the right weather) conditions," Vicari added. "But the crew really got into it. They gave me ideas and constantly checked it out. "I think it adds something to the ship." don't have much of a background in art, and I'd never done a mural before," he said. "I dabbed in painting in high school, and I used to draw a lot, but that's about it." Nevertheless, the shipboard mural sparked Vicari's interest in art, and he plans to purchase ad­ ditional painting supplies for his time on the beach. "As I get older, I can see myself getting into it more. The only problem with ^ing to make a living as an artist is, you don't make any money until you're dead! A resident of Rancho Santa Margarita, C^if., Vicari said he joined the Seafarers partially on a whim and partly due to the sug­ gestions from his uncle, the late Seafarer Peter Vicari. "I really had no idea this is what I would do as a career," said the AB, who formerly operated a landscaping business in California. "But I love it. It's a good way to make a living." ^i^ile Vicari, who upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1981, plans to stick with shipping, he does not envision painting another mural anytime soon. "I don't have any more projects in the works," he said. "I've been working steady for al­ most two solid years. The Producer is a good ship with good people, but I'm ready for some time off." New Interest A graduate of the Seafarers Jarry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in 1978, Vicari said le is surprised at how well the mural turned out. "Honestly, I Brother Vicari's first mural, which started as a monkey in a tree, adorns a second-deck bulkhead aboard the Sea-Land Producer. I " �'-.y' 16 SEAFARERS LOG %• • •" Play Ball! m. MLm^ j '"- " ' AUGUST ms Seafarers Field New Team in Diego Garcia •n_' _i -r /-..i . 4.i_ _ A. I y* They made plenty of errors, (who supplied the team's Jerseys missed the cutoff man more than and caps), Saylors contacted the once and generally endured the league about having a team com­ struggles one would expect of prised of American seafarers first-year ballplayers. But for the (both unlicensed and licensed). Mariners Softball team, organized The league welcomed the earlier this year in Diego Garcia Mariners and allowed the team by SIU Recertified Bosun Rob not to have a set roster, because of Saylors, records were not all that sailing schedules for the vessels. important. All Games Played "We usually were competi­ Saylors reported that although tive, but the main point was to few practices were conducted provide another activity for our (they would have interfered with members," said Saylors, who the work schedule), and despite most recently sailed aboard the JEB Stuart. "We had a ball. It was the ships' participating in sea tri­ good exercise and everyone als, the Mariners did not forfeit seemed to enjoy it. Plus we got to any of their 14 regular season meet lots of other people, not only games. They also played in a few from the other teams but also tournaments. "Of course, there were times when \ye had no idea some of the locals," A graduate of the Lundeberg who was ashore until five minutes School in 1973, Saylors got the before game time!" Saylors idea to create a merchant noted. The co-ed league also has mariners' Softball team while he teams representing the British Because of work schedules, the Mariners did not have a set roster. But this group showed up for the team was watching local media Police force, U.S. Marine Corps, photo! Team members (both licensed and unlicensed seafarers) pictiired from left are (front row) Bosun coverage of the eight-team, slowU.S. Navy and others. John Higdon, Wiper Carlos Domingue, Bosun Rob Saylors, Mariner Brian Simpson and Charlie Wong, pitch league in Diego Garcia. Seafarer Carlos Domingue, manager of the local seaman's club, (back row) Jo Jo Santos, VondaBront, Chief Engineer Roger Marks, With help from Seaman's Club manager Charlie Wong who sails as a wiper aboard the Second Engineer Jim Sullivan, AB Tony Cheesebrow, Mike Dayo and AB Brian Redoute. Franklin Phillips, was the Mariners' pitcher during the team's inaugural season. (Oc­ casionally, in trying to make a point to an umpire or batter, Domingue would roll the ball across home plate.) During one game, the homeplate ump barked, "Illegal!" rather than "Ball," every time either pitcher failed to throw a strike. Domingue thereafter was known to his teammates as "Il­ legal," and he even had the nick­ name emblazoned on his jersey. Saylors said there are other ac­ tivities available for Seafarers working in Diego Garcia, such as bicycling, sailing catamarans, fishing, bowling and tours of other military vessels. "1 love it over there," the bosun said. "There's plenty of work, but there Bosun Rob Saylors, who provided the photos accompanying this are also a lot of fun things to do Wiper Carlos Domingue, shown here aboard the Franklin Phillips, during off hours." pitched for the Mariners softball team. article, tours a military ship in Diego Garcia. 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 con­ stitution requires a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by thesecretary-treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rankand-file members, elected by the mem­ bership, each year examines the fmances of the union and reports fiilly their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommen­ dations 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 their alternates. All ex­ penditures 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 avail­ able 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 writingdirectly 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 mem­ ber works and lives aboard a ship or boat Members should know their con­ tract 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 offi­ cial fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers . - -r-' ' , •' LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposesof 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 estab­ lished policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September I960 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 in­ dividual to carry out this respon­ sibility. 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 withoutsupply­ ing a receipt, or if a member is requir^ 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 inunediately be reported to union headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are available in all union halls. AU members should obtain copies of this constitution, so as to familiarize themselves ,with its con­ tents. 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 as dealing 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. Con­ sequently, no member may be dis­ criminated 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, further­ ing the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with im­ proved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advan­ cement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No con­ tribution may be solicited or received because of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of member­ ship in Ae 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 cer­ tified mail within 30 days of the con­ tribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if in­ voluntary. A member should sup­ port SPAD to protect and further his or her economic, political and so­ cial interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she has been denied the constitutional right of ac­ cess 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. "• -Kv-' i ^ i r.'. ..' •m .f>v5%Tu Ll-'ra :.r-, �Aueusrma SEAFMERSLOG Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 ~ JULY 15,1993 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Cla^C •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs ••H^GISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Oass A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT Port 3 27 21 4 10 52 47 12 32 27 New York 5 3 3 2 13 2 8 1 1 Philadelphia 12 0 6 7 16 2 6 1 8 13 Baltimore " 23 23 7 13 8 2 5 11 18 20 Norfolk 5 7 1 1 16 24 9 20 1 15 Mobile 5 26 36 42 •, 7 7 17 31 New Orleans 25 50 46 9 21 4 25 1 V T'% 5 28 Jacksonville 25 45 14 49 .• 7 18 12 1 5 23 San Franciscof 21 25 1 5 15 9 12-% 16 ^•y-yS' rntm.. Wilmington 18 12 46 56 0 14 18 20 6 25 29 Seattle 4 20 4 4 1 2 5 3 0 Puerto Rico 12 10 8 24 10 9 5 11 8 7 14 Honolulu 16 S%-%41 •••• 40 4 ^ 6 21 24 7 30 31 Houston =?.:• 2 : 0 4 1 0 0 0 • 1 1 2 St. Louis 1 2 •••r. -1:. . 1 0 2 1 2 Piney Point 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 Algonac 109 386 421 44 73 192 179 267 58 244 Totals ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port 30 6 39 2 .5..:;%%:^^" 21 4 ••?S>:%-i-;18' 27 21 New York O;-' • , % B::, , •;()•:%: •• 1 5 7 . • : • • • 4 : 1 6 4 Philadelphia y >::t 8 14 ••• : 2 •. 7 %--"^0--..% 9 9 Baltimore 5 16 11 6 2 8 1 2 16 10 Norfolk 17 18 1 0 2 5 7 0 15 10 Mobile 9 28 29 0 1 7 13 2 16 New Orleans 14 40 19 23 1 ~ 3 • 10 9 6 22 Jacksonville 13 6 29 33 1 5 10 ^ 1118 4 San Francisco 15 18 4 21 4 . 1 8 10 Wilmington 11 7 34 24 V 0 5 6 11^ 0 18 19 Seattle i 12 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 8 Puerto Rico 6 5 19 7 4 6 10 13 4 Honolulu •: 4 •• 24 32 '8'. 18 Houston 0 • • 1 2 . 0 • 0 r-B%';0-' •• •• I 2 St. Louis 0 13 3 0 1 1 0 5 1 Piney Point 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 •• 0 1 0 Algonac 71 257 301 22 41 104 100 35 190 162 Totals STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port -.3 O'v'%B%aT0-.^;' 28 >%B17..; 16 0 New York lld^e 14 7 ;%^ 14 3 2 2 : 1 1 Philadelphia 0 l\. :•• • 0 1 0 . Syi Baltimore 3 8 10 2 6 7 1 1 7 3 Norfolk 1 14 11 0 0 3 2 0 6 9 Mobile 2 17 11 0 2 8 6 2 ... 9 New Orleans 13 •^ 2 29 11 1 4 2 0 • 0 6 Jacksonville 15 ^•B.r%4..82 29 0 5 19 3 9 San Francisco 28 :8:V :'%T18 0 4 10 :2:M 0 6 Wilmington 11 3 10 37 0 7 2 12 2 4 19 Seattle 2 0 7 0 1 0 4 1 0 8 Puerto Rico 19 33 15 13 24 8 9 11 23 11 Honolulu 7 -':%2'. 17 0 .7 5 6 Houston 0 2 1 0 0 0 , -Ty0 St. Louis 0, &il.6. 0 •; 2 2 0 r; Piney Point 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Algonac V •' • -.-mr-' , , V< Totals 101 153 21 '< ^ 283 19 75 58 100 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 3' • o.:-;0:••• M9. 27 7 0 3 : Brr-U 0 2 B '.-M • 3 0 0 2 •%w%'^' 0 7 2 0 22 1 0 1 0 7 1 11 0 0 9 4 'M-7' 1 •-r? 0 • 9 39 0 0 5 7 9 3 0 5 5 16 0 0 11 4 6 0 0 0 2 10 82 0 34 3 4 • 1 • 0 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 I 0 0 0 0 0 131 96 0 164 39 171 44 Port 36 12 35 8 New York 8 2 0 Philadelphia 1 12 0 8 0 Baltimore 14 24 7 22 2 Norfolk 1 21 0 7 0 Mobile 20 34 5 14 New Orleans 7 14 40 6 18 4 Jacksonville 27 48 9 12 San Francisco 14 12 20 3 14 5 Wilmington 13 28 4 18 10 Seattle 12 15 4 8 0 Puerto Rico 146 71 99 49 5 Honolulu 9 29 3 20 ' 2 Houston 0 3 0 0 0 St. Louis 20 1 0 30 0 Piney Point 0 4 0 3 0 Algonac 314 443 158 260 57 Totals Totals All 1.057 1336 538 189 672 231 418 272 818 Departments 616 * '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 1306 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1^06 jobs shipped, 418 jobs or about 32 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and «C" seniority people. From June 16 to July 15,1993, a total of 196 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief pro­ gram began on April 1,1982, a total of 19,115 jobs have been shipped. • - sr J i; I - 17 . . September & October 1993 Membership tJMetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point Tuesday: September 7*, Monday; October 4 'changed by Labor Day holiday New York Tuesday: September 7, October 5 Philadelphia Wednesday: September 8, October 6 Baltimore Thursday: September 9, October 7 Norfolk Thursday: September 9, October 7 Jacksonville Thursday: September 9, October 7 Algonac Friday: September 10, October 8 Houston Monday: September 13, October 11 New Orleans Tuesday: September 14, October 12 Mobile Wednesday, September 15, October 13 San Francisco Thursday: September 16, October 14 Wilmington Monday: September 20, October 18 Seattle Friday, September 24, October 22 San Juan Thursday: September 9, October 7 St Louis Friday: September 17, October 15 Honolulu Friday: September 17, October 15 Duluth Wednesday, September 15, October 13 Jersey City Wednesday: September 22, October 20 New Bedford Tuesday: September 21, October 19 f ? •M -:: .3 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.mi Personals SHIPMATES OF JOSEPH RIPLEY Joseph Ripley would like to hear from his former shipmates aboard the OMISacramento which sailed to Riga, Latvia in February 1992. Ripley's address is 3221 Grey Dolphin, Las Vegas, NY 89117. FRIENDS OF JAMES E. HILL James E. Hill would like to hear from any mem­ bers who sailed with him. He may be reached at 2212 East Henry Avenue, A&B Building, Tampa, FL 33610. WATCH PARTNER WITH WILLIAM ROGERS Will the AB who was a watch partner with Wil­ liam Rogers aboard the William Hooper (Waterman Steamship) from October 7, 1981 to June 3, 1982 write him at 322 Lakeside Boulevard East, Waterbury, CT 06708. He lost your address. Notice •'Mnm .y • •: ATTENTION: Membership - Port of Seattle Virginia Mason Clinic will offer flu shots and blood draws for benzene tests on Wednesday, November 10, between the hours of9:00 -11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. at the Seattle hall, located at 2505 1st Avenue. Any member interested in using this benefit should call the hall between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on November 8 or November 9; (206) 441-1960. / In order to utilize this benefit, a member must qualify under the rules of the plan (includingproof of 120 days seatime in 1992 and 1 day of employ­ ment in the last six months). w �•••<^ - , 'V 18 •'K •i v. Seafarers International Union Directory Hi'i' B..J , •/ •• /•vv l - • -\v/ AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining George McCartney Vice President West Co oast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley. Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Co Vice President ulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way arings, MD 20746 Camp Sgr (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth.MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 PHILADELPHIA OMUl ^ 4 Stt Philadelphia," PA 19148 (215)336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania,FL 33004 (305)921-5661 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415)543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave. Stop l6Vi 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 510N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310)549-4000 •y r. /• / Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes •— JUNE 16 — JULY 15,1993 CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes NP—^Non Priority •TOTAL REGISTERED AH Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 0 21 2 0 9 6 0 0 • ' 0 9 10 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 49 3 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 34 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 10 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 ••REGISTEl^D ON BEACH Class CL Class L Class NP 41^ 0 18 0 ••Om 0 Totals All Departments 0 45 17 0 93 9 0 39 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. 33 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JUNE 16 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region 5 Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast 7 Lakes & Inland Waters ; ' y-iy" 22 West Coast 0 Totals 34 Region Atlantic Coast 2 Gulf Coast Lakes & Inl^i|3!^|^ West Coast 0 Totals 25 Region Atlantic Coast 2 Gulf Coast 0 A Lakes & Inland Waters 4 West Coast 0 Totals 6 W:' Totals All Departments 65 0 2 0 0 2 0 15 19 34 3 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 4 JULY 15,1993 2 2 n U 1 2 0 2 0 4 7 iM: 50 0 25 61 29 2 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 l- - ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Q 0 1 0 0 2 0 3: 0 0 2 1 6 0 3 72 32 45 9 41 4 99 2 3 0 1 6 0 4 / 2 5 0 35 0 3 0 5 . 0 0 7 0 6 13 3 0 o ' 1 13 2 Im 1 3 147 12 84 * "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. Corrections Mistaken Identity Northern Lights Sailed as Puerto Rico Before Heading to M^esf Coasf On page 28 of the July 1993 issue, the Seafarers LOG published a story on the Northern Lights, a roll-on/roll-off vessel operated by Interocean Management for Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE). The Northern Lights was beginning operations on a West Coast-run between Tacoma, Wash, and Anchorage, Alaska. In writing the histoiy of the Northern Lights, the LOG mistakenly used infor­ mation on the Northern Light, a Ready Reserve Force (RRF) dry cargo freighter operated by American Presi­ dent Lines. The Northern Lights, the vessel fea­ tured in the story, is the former Puerto Rico. It was delivered in January 1975 to Transamerican Trailer Transport. When Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. (PRMMl) was formed later that year, it acquired the vessel in December 1975. As a PRMMl ship, it was crewed by Seafarers. The RO/RO sailed in the Puer­ to Rico trade and made an occasional charter voyage to the Middle East. At the end of 1988, the vessel was laid up when PRMMl replaced its RO/ROs with containerships. In July 1991, TOTE purchased the leasing company that owned the Puerto Rico. The ship was overhauled, lengthened to 744 feet and renamed the Northern Lights before it sailed to the West Coast. The other vessel, the Northern Light, is a C-3 freighter that was built in 1961. As part of the RRF fleet, it sailed during the Persian Gulf conflict. The Seafarers LOG thanks James R. Shinners, vice president for vessel opera­ tions at PRMMl, for providing the his­ tory of the Puerto Rico. We apologize for any confusion the story may have created. The Northern Lights sails between Tacoma, Wash, and Anchorage, Alaska. Thd RO/RO vessel Is the former Puerto Rico. A photograph on page 10 of the July 1993 Seafarers LOG incorrectly iden­ tified two members aboard the LNG Aries as Chief Cook Udjang Nurdjaja and Wiper Victor Serrano, who are the menabers in the photo above. The cor­ rect identity of the Seafarers (in photo below) whose picture ran in the LOG last month is AB Bert Gillis and QMED Steven Hoskins. We apologize for the error. v •- 'h • �jumsri993 SEAFARERS LOG To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Well Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names and brief biographies ofSIU members who recently have become pen­ sioners appear. 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. T he Seafarers Pension Plan this month announces the retirements of 18 members. Twelve of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, while three sailed in the inland division, two in the Great Lakes division and one in the railroad marine division. Three of the retirees were bom in Pennsylvania, while two each were bom in Alabama and New Jersey. Texas, Michigan, Massachussetts, Louisana, Maryland, Georgia, Spain, Arabia, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Honduras ac­ count for one retiree apiece. Ten of the eighteen signing off served in the U.S. armed forces: six served in the Nav^, three in the Army and one in the Marine Corps. Nick Alexander had been an active Seafarer longer than any of the other new pensioners. He joined the union in 1947 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Brief biographical sketches of Brother Alexander and the other new pensioners follow. DEEP SEA NICK ALEXANDER, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of Galveston, Texas. A Texas native, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Alexander served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. He retired to Texas City. CARLOS COELLO, 65, joined the union in 1969 in the port of New York. Bom in Hon­ duras, he sailed as a QMED. Brother Coello upgraded at the Ltmdeberg School in 1986. He resides in Metairie, La. WARREN UESEGANG, 65, joined the Sea­ farers in 1967 in the port of Jack­ sonville, Fla. Bom in New Jersey, he sailed as a QMED. Brother Liesegang upgraded frequently at Piney Point. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1955. Broker Liesegang retired to Ft. Pierce, Fla. the Lundeberg School in 1975. He lives in San Francisco. COY HENDRICKS, 70, joined the SIU in 1950 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. A Georgia native, he sailed as a chief cook. Brother Hendricks served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He resides in Pinehurst, Texas. JOHN QUINTER, 57, joined the SIU in 1969 in the port of Bal­ timore. A na­ y •. . J*J n tive of 4 Reading, Pa., he sailed as a QMED. Brother Quinter retired to Jack­ son, Fla. V GLEN TENLEY, 65,joined the Sea­ farers in 1953 in the port of New York. A Pennsyl­ vania native, he sailed in the deck department. He upgraded at Piney Point in 1982. Brother Tenley served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 195?. He resides in Perkasie, Pa. HENRY GROMEK, 66, joined the union in 1950 in the port of New York. Bom in Bal­ timore, he sailed in the steward depart­ ment. Brother Gromek still calls Baltimore home. JAMES SIVLEY, 64, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Seat­ tle. A Decatur, Ala. native. he sailed as a chief cook. Brother Sivley served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1968. He retired to Demings, N.M. ALFRED ROY, 65, joined the union in 1967 in the port of Houston. Bom in St. OLMAN Martinville, MORALES, La., he sailed as a QMED. He 78, joined upgraded at Piney Point in the union in 1974. Brother Roy served in 1955 in the the U.S. Army from 1953 to port of Bal­ 1955. He still calls St. Martin­ timore. A na­ ville home. tive of Costa Rica, he sailed in the engine department. GUILLERMO DOMINGUEZ, 68, joined the Seafarers Brother Morales upgraded at in 1973 in the port of Yokohama, Japan. A native of Cavite, Philippines, he sailed as a chief cook. Brother Dominguez served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1965. He still calls Cavite home. LIONEL SHAW, 59, joined the SIU in 1970. in the port of San Fran­ cisco. A Mas­ sachusetts native, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Shaw upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1978. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1957. Brother Shaw resides in Shirley, Mass. INLAND GEORGE HERBISON, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of New York. A New Jersey native, he sailed in the deck department. Boatman Herbison lives in Guttenberg, N.J. ORRIE ODOM,62, joined the union in 1956 in the port of Mobile, Ala. An Alabama native, he sailed as a captain. Boatman Odom served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He retired to Atmore, Ala. GEORGE LeMAIRE, 55, joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. Bom in Pennsylvania, he sailed in the deck department. Boatman LeMaire served in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1954. He retired to Edgewood, Md. 19 •• •f' 'P': Holttiap ^eakon M Slukt !3rounti tfir Comer One feature in theSeafarers LOG that has been extreme­ ly well received over the past two years is the inclusion of holiday greetings in the December issue. Active and retired Seafarers—as well as their family members—are invited to send their greetings to friends, shipmates and loved ones through the pages of the LOG. The procedure is simple. In 25 words or less (and in your neatest PRINTING possible), write the message in the space provided below. All (legible) greetings that are written in the holiday spirit will be included in the December 1993 issue of the Seafarers LOG, if they are received in time. The deadline for receipt of the holiday messages is » *, Friday, November 12, 1993. At! * ! Send them by mail to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. After November 1, fac­ simile copies will be ac­ cepted. The fax number is (301) 702-4407. Forms also may be filled out in any union hall and turned in to the official at the counter—or may be given to the boarding patrolman at a vessel's payoff. . • . "A;. ''0. p. Holttia;* iltesikase (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE) M To: From:. Message:. GREAT LAKES MANEH AHMED, 64, joined the union in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Bom in Arabia, he sailed as a porter in the steward department. Brother Ahmed resides in Dearbom, Mich. RAYMOND KLINE, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of Aljena, Mich. A native of Roger City, Vfich., he sailed as a watchman. Jrother Kline calls Alpena • • ppyypyp P- liome. M- RAILROAD MARINE JOSE CARBALLO, 62, joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of New York. A na­ tive of Spain, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Carballo retired to Woodside, N.Y. Check the block which describes your status with the SIU: • Active Seafarer • Family Member of Active Seafarer • Retired Seafarer • Family Member of Retired Seafarer Send your greeting to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. The greeting should be received at the LOG office by Friday, November 12,1993. 8/93 •• •• • • �20 AUGUST1993 •'^A XAFAWISLOG -•» Chile Is Next Stop in Seafarer's Quest for Knowledge While in Singapore, he held a job Seeing the world is not unique they are experiencing to provision ships in the harbor. Gaveiek was able to explore for Seafarers. It comes with the "I noticed the foreign ships job for members of the deep sea his quest for information about had three different galleys when division. However, one deck urban planning after winning a we'd take stores aboard," department member has used his two-year Seafarers scholarship in pursuit of knowledge as a ticket 1982. The funds allowed him to Gaveiek recalled. 'The officers to see and learn more about the gain a bachelor's degree in urban had the nicest; they would eat people, conditions and geography studies from Cleveland State lobster. Then there's the one for University in 1984. (He had the unlicensed; they would eat of Planet Earth. James Gaveiek, a 1975 received one of the first associate shrimp. Finally there would be graduate of the Seafarers Haip^ of arts degrees in nautical science the one for the non-white crewLundeberg School of Seamanship from Charles County Conununity members; they would eat a low trainee class 187, is preparing to College in Maryland in 1981.) grade of fish. spend the next two years in Chile "Singapore has approximately Studied Pollution as a member of the Peace Coips. 500 ship movements a day, so I The Cleveland native con­ got to see everything from U.S. After attending an intensive tinued sailing as he worked on a and European supertankers to old three-month program to learn the master's degree in urban studies. and deplorable tramp freighters. language and culture of the South In 1989 he received a scholarship The jobs mariners do are the same; American nation, Gaveiek ex­ from the North Atlantic Treaty it's Ae conditions that differ." pects to be placed at the Univer­ Organization (NATO) to study sity of Bio's school of Gaveiek also taught 13-yearthe effects of petroleum pollution administration in Concepcidn to olds during his 10 months in Sin­ design a graduate-level public ad­ on the oceans. As part of his rer- gapore. "I was teaching general ministration program which will search into the topic, Gaveiek was science to gifted students," he train urban planners and city one of the first Seafarers to said. "I couldn't get them enough graduate from the Lundeberg managers. School's oil spill prevention and materials." "The Peace Corps has told us Upon returning to the United not to go to Chile just to lecture containment course. States earlier this year, Gaveiek ap­ The following year, Gaveiek and teach others," Gaveiek told a plied to the Peace Corps, as one of reporter for the Seafarers LOG. presented his pollution paper in many applications he filed to con­ "Tliey told us to be ready to leam. Brest, France and received his tinue learning more about people master's degree from Cleveland I am looking forward to it." and conditions in the world among The 39-year-old will be State. After sailing for a couple of his "more than 1,(XX) requests for among 28 other Americans com- months, he headed to Sri Lanka to scholarships and jobs overseas and jiising the first Peace Corps team start work on his doctorate. He in Chile in more than 10 years. was not able to complete it be­ in this country." Within six weeks, The group is composed of en­ cause of the civil war that was his application was accepted and he vironmentalists, small business taking place in the island nation was making his plans to leave. operators and urban p»lanners. All southeast of India. "The last time I took any Spanish of them will be living with From Sri Lanka, Gaveiek was 25 years ago when I was in James Gaveiek, pictured here at the Lundeberg School in 198^^111 amilies so they can "leam better worked and studied in Hong secondary school. I know I'll have and quicker" about the culture ^ong, Singapore and Malaysia. to work on it." teach in Chile later this year as a Peace Corps volunteer. New Book Traces Life of ^Emancipator of American Seamen* When Arnold Berwick was 14 years old, his father was in a Sari Francisco hospital. Despite the fact that he was recovering from an accident, he told his son to take a look at the patient across the hall because he is "a good Norwegian ... name is Andrew Furuseth." Thus began the fascination Berwick has maintained for the man who was the founder of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific and who almost singlehandedly pressed for passage of the Mer­ chant Marine Act of 1915 which provided basic civil rights for American mariners. This interest reached its culmination when Berwick's biography of Furuseth (The Abraham Lincoln of the Sea) was published earlier this year. The fast-reading book describes the San Francisco waterfront when Furuseth began his efforts to help his fellow mariners in the late 1800s, his work on behalf of merchant mariners through legislation and organized labor and his friendship with Senator Robert LaFollette that finally secured passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1915. the true discoveries came when the daughter of a fellow Nor­ wegian who had lived at the San Francisco Norwegian Club presented him with a photograph of the young maritime labor leader. LIfelohg Fascination No one knew the photo even existed because Furuseth was famous for not wanting to sit for a portrait until a merchant mariner's bill had passed Con­ gress and was signed by the presidenL Berwick said. It is believed the photo was taken in the 1890s when he first traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for "In San Francisco at the Nor­ wegian Club, there hangs a pic­ ture of Andrew Furuseth, but no one really c6uld tell me anything other than he was a sailor and had something to do with unions," said Berwick, who recently visited the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. to do research on a book about Furuseth's suc­ cessor at the SUP, Harry Lun­ deberg. "I decided if my father said I should see Furuseth, and the Brothers Reunited aboard Sea-Land Atlantic Seafarer and Chief Cook Edward Rustandi (left) hosted a special guest in the galley of the Sea-Land Atlantic, his brother Hanafi Rustandi—the secretary of the Indonesian Seafarers Union. Hanafi Rustandi was visiting South Florida when he discovered his brother's vessel would be docking at Port Everglades during his stay. The surprise meeting was the first time in two years that the brothers had seen each other. ; .'/ • „•/ -i: Rare Photo Found manners. "I came to admire Furuseth so much that I wanted others to know him," the author noted. "He devoted his whole life to helping others. Men like this should not be forgotten." For those who would like to assist Berwick in the research of his book on Lundeberg or those who have information about Furuseth, the author may be con­ tacted through his publisher at Odin Press, 511 Summit Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Also, copies of the Furuseth book are available through Odin Press for $19.95 (plus $2.50 for postage and handling). Author Arnold Berwick pores through copies of the Seafarers LOG from the 1950s for informa­ tion about Harry Lundeberg. club thought enough about him to hang his picture, then someone ought to publish his life history." What started out as a magazine article grew into a book, Berwick noted. "The more I could find out about him, the more I wanted to know. Unfortunately, Andrew Furuseth had no family and was a very private man." After beginning his research in the libraries and old newspapers of the San Francisco area, Ber­ wick made contact with several retired mariners who remem­ bered seeing and working with Furuseth before he died in 1938. Berwick also was able to take ad­ vantage of materials collected by Karl Kortum of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. He spent approximately three years working on the book. Although Berwick never sailed (he was a lawyer and con­ tractor before retiring), his Nor­ wegian heritage came into play as Published in 1993, this biography traces the life of Andrew Furuseth he researched Furuseth. One of who devoted his life to securing freedom and justice for all seamen. <•- M .."ll I : i p- '•/•f �•J, "V!v''-. J*V;"-.4.'n'f/>v/.";->'*V> iv',:vr;;..y-'^.' AUGUST 1993 The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of the minutes of union shipboard meetings as possibie. On occasion, i)ecause of space limitations, some win be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contiiKt department. Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships minutes. The minutes are then for­ warded to the Seafarers LOG. i '4 SEAFARERS LOG JDelegate Rafael Cardenas. ChairIrian acknowledged letter from con­ tracts department regarding negotiations. He reported veSSel in good order upon boarding. Secretary thanked deck and engine department for taking care of needs of steward department. Educational director urged members to attend Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills and reminded crew school is open year round. Treasurer reported $156 in ship's fund. Disputed OT reported by steward delegate. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs distributed and put in crew lounge. Chairman and crew gave spe­ cial vote of thanks for job well done on Seafarers LOGs and to keep up great work because crew is depend­ ing on it Crew gave unanimous vote of thanks to steward department for variety of good stores and cleanli­ ness. Llhairman reminded crew to keep noise down in passageways. Next port: Nagoya, Japan. 1STLT. JACK LUMMUS Secretary R.K. Ward, Educational (Amsea), January 24—Chairman S. Director E. A. RIchman, Deck Melendez, Secretary L. Oram, Delegate Joseph Allum, Engine Educational Director S.Anderson, Delegate Charles DiGristine, Deck Delegate P. Grady, Engine Steward Delegate Stanley KrysDelegate P. Happel, Steward tosiak. Chairman read letter from Delegate E. Loret. Chairman dis­ Puerto Rico Marine about serving cussed benefits available at Piney extra meals in port and reported crew Point and encouraged members to needs new washing machine! stick together and take advantage of Secretary announced payoff and opportunities. Treasurer reported reminded crew not to mix plastics $100 in ship's fund. Chairman with garbage. Educational director reported new Lundeberg School reminded members to upgrade skills LONG L//VES (Transoceanic course guide posted. Crew asked con­ at Lundeberg School. No beefs or dis­ Cable), March 17—Chairman Perfectracts department to telex ship with in­ puted OT reported. Crew reported to Amper, Secretary M. Bonsignore, formation regarding restriction and new Seafarers LOGs received and all Educational Director M. Las Duce, danger pay for crew while in crewmembers enjoy reading thein. Deck Delegate Franklin Gonsalves, Somalia. Crew thanked Seafarers Crew asked contracts department to Steward Delegates P. Paris!. LOG for added efforts in getting look into extended hospitalization or Treasurer reported $5(X) in ship's papers to Somalia and reminded emergency ship leave. Crew re­ fiind. Chairman reported daily bus everyone that Lummus was first SIU quested new TV and VCR for crew shuttle to and from downtown Seat­ ship in Somalia. lounge and reported tiles in crew tle. Crew requested steak knives, living quarters, mess hall and lounge soup spoons, variety of breakfast SGT. WILLIAM R. BUTTON need repair. Crew gave vote of thanks juices, ice cream and fresh fmiL (Amsea), January 14—Chairman S. to galley gang for job well done. Berschger, Secretary K, White, MAYAGUEZ(Puerto Rico Marine), Educational Director M. Cruz, En­ SAM HOUSTON(Waterman Steam­ March 31—Chairman Al Caulder, gine Delegate T. Christensen, ship Co.), February 28—Chairman Secretary R.K. Ward, Educational Steward Delegate L. Teague. Educa­ Carlos Canales, Secretary Ernie Director E.A. Richman, Deck tional director discussed necessity for Hoitt, Deck Delegate Bennie Spen­ Delegate J. Allum, Engine Delegate upgrading and job security. Treasurer cer, Engine Delegate William C. Digristin, Steward Delegate S. reported $250 in ship's fund. Crew Smith, Steward Delegate Nelson Krystosiak. Chairman reported crew asked contracts department to look Corey Jones. Secretary reported all needs new dishwasher. Secretary into registration and discharge regula­ union forms including vacation forms reported Seafarers LOGs received. tions for crewmembers on vessels. have been received. He reminded Educational director urged all union brothers and sisters to upgrade at Lun­ members to donate to SPAD. Educa­ Next port: Saipan. tional director encouraged members deberg School and be ready for chal­ AMERICAN KESTREL (Osprey to go to Piney Point to upgrade skills lenges of maritime industry. Steward Shipping), February 15—Chairman and earning power! No beefs or dis­ delegate reported disputed OT. No Carl Richer, Secretary Clarence puted OT. Crewmembers reported beefs or disputed OT reported by Clanton, Steward Delegate Brenda Seafarers LOG questionnaire deck or engine delegates. Crew re­ Cheatham. Secretary read previous received and will be sent from Suez quested new dryer, VCR and toaster minutes. Steward delegate requested Canal. Crew asked contracts depart­ as well as floor tiles be repaired. Next new agreement include job descrip­ port: Jacksonville, Fla. ment to look into changing current tions. Crew reminded special ship­ retirement plan to retirement at any OMI CHAMPION(OMl Corp.), board meal will be prepared on age with 20 years sea time instead of March 14—Chairman J.R. Colanelo, March 19. 55 years old with 20 years sea time. Secretary C.C. Hollings HI, Educa­ GLOBAL AM/7/AJE/7(Transoceanic Crew noted plan should be fitted to tional Director J. Bonelli, Deck amount of sea time. Crew reported Cable), February 22—Chairman Delegate Errick Nohles, Engine box springs ordered but not yet Nikolaus Keydei, Secretary B. Delegate Junius Williams Jr., Gross, Educational Director B. Stear- received. Crew thanked steward Steward Delegate Daniel Crawford. department for job well done. Next man. Deck Delegate Paul Latorre, Educational director announced Lun­ port: Alexandria, Egypt. Engine Delegate Richard deberg School upgrading applications Tankersiey. Chairman announced available. No beefs or disputed OT AMERICAN CORMORANT payoff and reported union repre­ reported. Crew requested new wash­ (Pacific Gulf Marine), March 22— sentative will be present. Educational Chairman C. Simmons, Secretary ing machine, ice machine, TV and director reminded members to remote control. Crew thanked Darryl Goggins, Educational Direc­ upgrade at Piney Point. Steward steward department for job well tor Lamar Parker, Deck Delegate delegate reported beef. No beefs or done. Next port: Pascagoula, Miss. Charles Kllm, Steward Delegate disputed OT reported by deck or en­ Robert Wright. Educational director OMI DYNACHEM(OMl Corp.), gine delegates. Crew reported urged members to seek training at March 22—Chairman Larry Kunc, Seafarers LOGs received in Hawaii. Lundeberg School and reported on Secretary Steven Wagner, Education­ Chairman reminded crew to keep new books in ship's library. Crew al Director Randy Snay, Deck hatches closed during night hours, asked contracts department to contact Delegate Billy Hill, Engine Delegate otherwise men on bridge watch can't company regarding crew wages. Richard Rodgers, Steward Delegate see. Next port: Baltimore. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley P.R. Mena. Chairman announced gang for fine job by Steward/Baker LNG C>lP#?/CO/?A/(ETC), ship scheduled for Jacksonville, Fla., Goggins, Chief Cook Wright and SA Februaiy 21—Chairman Aubrey Houston, then Mobile, Ala. He Bertrand Macary. Next port: South­ Waters, Secretary J.L. Gibbons, reported captain has not received Educational Director D. Bushy, Deck hampton, England. word from office if and when crew Delegate D. Adams, Engine Delegate ITB MOBILE(Sheridan Transporta­ will be laid off. Educational director Thomas Harris, Steward Delegate encouraged members to upgrade at tion), March 28—Chairman Fred G. Taylor. Chairman complimented Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT Jensen, Secretary Pedro Sellan, crew on being first class without com­ Educational Director J. Quinten, reported. Crew asked contracts plaints or angry words. He told crewDeck Delegate John Rawley, Engine department to look into giving members it is gratifying to see lounge Delegate Jeffrey Roddy, Steward steward department one hour weekly clean and orderly and food prepared for cleaning rooms and provide extra Delegate Theodore Quammie. by hands of experience. He stated his Chairman asked contracts department OT for department when extra pleasure in seeing people enjoy workers are carried on ship. Next to give careful review to new ITB friendship and food. Treasurer port: Jacksonville. contract concerning food budget. reported $445 in ship's fund and Secretary reported smooth sailing. crew voted to buy microwave. No OMI STAR (OMI Corp.), March 7— Educational director stated "Educa­ beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew Chairman R. Allen, Secretary G. tion Pays!" and encouraged members asked contracts department to look ienny. Educational Director M, to keep upgrading at Lundeberg into increasing monthly retirement al­ School. No beefs or disputed OT Smith, Deck Delegate Larry Mclotment. Crew discussed using Cants, Engine Delegate Walter Sarreported. Crew gave special vote of United Airlines instead of JAL and : ;ent. Steward Delegate Bertrand thanks to galley gang for well per­ stated most members do not know Wright. Chairman announced ship formed job. Next port: Stapleton, there is choice besides JAL. Crew out of shipyard with Mobile, Ala. ^.Y. thanked steward department for job crewup. He announced payoff and well done. Next port: Sakai, Japan. LNG AQUARIUS(ETC), ] vlarch 5— reported speaking to captain about replacing washer. Secretary thanked Chairman Thomas "Sam" Brooks, crew for cooperation in helping main­ Secretary Thomas Wyho, Engine AMy4G(/£Z(Puerto Rico Marine), tain mess hall and lounge, ^ucationDelegate Bruce Zenon, Steward February 17—Chairman Al Caulder, al director advised crew to keep safety in mind and reminded all to wear masks while working tanks and wear respirators while on deck for ex­ tended time. Deck delegate reported disputed OT to be discussed with patrolman at payoff. Steward delegate report^ disputed OT and discussed questions regarding portion control of food products. No bwfs or disputed OT reported by engine delegate. Crew discuss^ Seafarers LOG questionnaire on how to im­ prove delivery of papers to crewmem­ bers. Crew asked contracts department to look into improving reimbursement for transportation. Crew reported dryers and TV need repair. Crew requested sofa for lounge and gave big vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. OVERSEAS JOYCE (Maritime Overseas), March 21—Chairman R. Bradford, Secretary P. Alvarez. Chairman announced payoff. Secretary reminded members to donate to SPAD. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT. Seafarers LOGs distributed to crew­ members. Crew asked contracts 21 Pontiflet, Steward Delegate Francis­ co Rosich. Chairman reported week­ ly meetings to continue at sea. He stressed upgrading at Piney Point and importance of SPAD. Chairman provided members with list of all SIU ships and voiced hope for new ad­ ministration to keep Sea-Land and APL from going foreign flag. He stressed importance of writing con­ gressmen about saving maritime in­ dustry, No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed importance of reading president's report in Seafarers LOG. Crew also asked con­ tracts department to look into im­ proved medical and dental programs for members and dependents. Crew requested new VCR. SEA-LAND CRUSADER(SeaLand Service), March 30—Chairman Angel Hernandez, Secretary N. Andrews, Educational Director Os­ wald Bermeo, Deck Delegate Ben Berherena, Engine Delegate Edgar Young, Steward Delegate Rudolf Xatruck. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew asked contracts department to look into providing AB A Job Well Done The steward department aboard the RFC Eugene A. Obregon has been recognized by the ship's crew as "one of the best" and deserving of special recognition. From the left are SAs Jason Pechette and Bryan Ellis, ACU James Collins, Chief Cook Mariano Martinez and Steward/Baker Patrick Helton. Pechette and Ellis are fresh out of Piney Point and "are doing great work," according to QMED Bud Tuttle, who sent this photo to the LOG. department to look into shipboard promotions for unlicensed crewmemr bers. Crew gave special thanks to gal­ ley gang for very clean ship and good food served during long trip. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. SAMUEL L. COBB (Ocean Shipholding), March 14—Chairman H.G. Bentz, Secretary Anthony Rivera, Educational Director Rusty Kindred, Deck Delegate Paul Marra, Engine Delegate Rodney Pontiflit, Steward Delegate Francis­ co Rosich. Chairman reported week­ ly union meetings to be held according to union contract. He stressed importance of upgrading at Paul Hall Center to better self. Chair­ man stated members of Samuel Cobb welcome Chief Steward Rivera and Chief Cook Rosich. Chairman stressed unity and encouraged mem­ bers to read Seafarers LOG especial­ ly president's report. He urged members to donate to SPAD and to get involved in political process for maritime industry. He encouraged members always to be available to do SIU picket duty with pride. Secretary also stressed upgrading opportunities available at Lundeberg School. No )eefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look nto putting radios in mess hall. Crew requested bracket holding ice scooper jy ice machine to keep dirty hands 1 rom contaminating clean ice. Crew reported VCR needs cleaning or re­ placement. SAMUEL L. COBB (Ocean Shipholding), March 21—Chairman H.G. Bentz, Secretary Anthony Jvera, Educational Director Rusty Undr^ Deck Delegate Paul Marra, Engine Delegate Rodney on bridge watch with chair. Entire crew and captain gave vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. Next port: San Juan. SEA-LAND SPIRIT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), March 14—Chairman Chris­ topher Lopiccio, Secretary H. Curry. Chairman gave special thanks to galley gang members Chief Cook Nagi Muthala, GSU Amin Mohamed, and Chief Steward Ciirry. Educational director urged all mem­ bers to go to Paul Hall Center to ad­ vance in industry. Treasurer reported $20 in ship's fund. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegate. Crew asked contracts department to look into improved dental and optical plan. Chairman an­ nounced movies paid with ship's fund should be available to watch before trip is over. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land Service), March 21—Chairman Ernest Guhon, Secretary Scott Opsahi, Educational Director William Hatchel, Deck Delegate Mike Sorensen. Engine Delegate Richard Surrick. Steward Delegate Jose Maglalang. Chairman reported smooth sailing. Secretary reminded crew to upgrade at Piney Point and read Seafarers LOG completely. Chairman reported reminder received from Seattle hall to monitor tempera­ tures and noise while in drydock. Chairman reported crew mess hall, pantry and lounge will be locked and only crew will have keys while vessel is in port. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. Continued on page 22 m. ! '• . •.. ; �f'.i- 22 AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Ships Digest Continued from page 21 SENA TOR (Crowley American Transport), March 28—Chairman D. Wagner Secretary R. Seim, Educationa'JhectorW. C. Cameron. Secri ,u.y gave special thanks to Lundeberg School staff for outstanding development of new culinary addi­ tion which allows unlimited pos­ sibilities to all steward department upgraders. Educational director en­ couraged members to continue sup­ port of SPAD and reminded members to take full advantage of upgrading courses offered at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman discussed deck operations regarding cargo and bal­ last. Next port: Port Everglades, Fla. STONEWALL JACKSON (Water man Steamship), March 28—Chair• man Eugene Granthan, Secretaiy A. Robinson, Educational Director F.C. Quebedeaux, Deck Delegate Robert Christensen. Chairman thanked deck department for job well done unload­ ing cargo. Secretary reported good trip and requested better quality stores aboard vessel. Educational director reminded members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School as soon as possible. Treasurer reported $675 in movie fund. Dis­ puted OT reported by engine depart­ ment. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew asked contracts department to look into amending shipping rules regarding time at sea. Crew gave vote of thanks to chief ^teward and galley gang for captain's 50 years at sea dinner party and job very well done. Next port: Newport News, Va. USNS CAPELLA (Bay Ship Management), March 28—Chairman Mike Shappo, Secretary Sergio Castellanos. Chairman reported movie library 30 tapes short and announced captain performing sanitary inspec­ tion on rooms before docking in USA. Secretary urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beeifs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate reminded crew to return plates, glasses, etc., to galley. Crew asked contracts department for clarincation on eligibility of vacation time and medical benefits. Crew reported VCR in lounge needs repair. ULTRAMAXiSealift, Inc.), March 21—Chairman Hannibal Plata, Secretary L. Perales, Educational Director Ron Herian, Deck Delegate A. Martinez, Engine Delegate ClaudioMazzara, Steward Delegate Fred Lindsey. Chairman reported complete satisfaction with all crewraeihbers. He stated it was pleasure working with such competent men who endured hard work and condi­ tions to finish more work than seemed possible. Secretaiy compli­ mented great crew. Educational direc­ tor suggested crewmembers upgrade skills at Lundeberg School, stating there is always room for improve­ ment. Treasurer reported in Working on Peck Hard at work aboard the FranklinPhillips is AB John Rus­ sell. ship's fund. Beefs reported by deck, engine and steward delegates. No dis­ puted OT reported. Crew reported^ Seafarers LOGs received in Israel. Crew noted poor quality of stores made available to vessel. AMERICAN FALCON(Crowley American Transport), April 4—Chair­ man MikeMcCardie, Secretary Paul Zilkow, Educational Director James Clement, Deck Delegate Cecil Gentry, Steward Delegate McKinley Jones Jr.. Chairman reported new fUmiture for crew lounge and new curtains for all quarters and lounge needed. Secretary reminded crewmem­ bers to upgrade at Piney Point. Crew reported small dryer, microwave and juice machine broken. Crew requeisted large barbecue and permanent antemia from company. Crew thanked steward department for excellent job, engine department for great job keeping ship running in bad weather and deck department for excellent job keeping ship tidy. Next port: Morehead City, N.C. AMERICAN KESTREL (Ospiey Shipping), April 27—Chairman John Higdon, Secretary C, Clanton, En­ gine Delegate Allen Lejeune, Steward Delegate Brenda Cheatham. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Chairman annoimced Maritime Day party on May 22 at Seamans Club. Next port: Diego Garcia. COURIER (Vulcan Carriers), April 4—Chairman S, Yaras, Secretary Francis DiCarlo Jr.. Chairman reported no spare parts for deck department. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts deparOnent to look into improved medical coverage for spouses and children. Crew requested microwave. Next port: Odessa, Ukraine. GOLDEN MONARCH (Apex Marine), April 11—Chairman Paul Luckey, Secretary R.Spencer. Chiairman reported problems with company draws. D^k delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew discussed overtime provisions in contract. Crew asked contracts department to look into increase in manning. Crew reported cat was picked up off dock in Egypt. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. LIBERTY St/A/(Liberty Maritime), April 11—Chairman H. Berggren, Secretary C. Hazzard, Educational Director Darren Walker, Deck Delegate Carey Heinz, Steward Delegate Gary Truvia. Chairman an­ nounced payoff upon arrival in port and reminded crew to clean rooms. He encouraged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs of disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received. Next port: *lew Orleans. LNG AQUARIUS(ETC), April 3Chairman Tom Brooks, Secretary Thomas Wybo, Deck E)elegate Woodrow Shelton, Engine Delegate Iruce Zenon, Steward Delegate Rafael Cardenas. Chairman thanked crew for keeping noise down and an­ nounced he is available 24 hours a day. He advised crew to discuss problems with department head. He announced new Seafarers LOGs ar­ rived in Japan. Secretary reminded crew to separate plastics. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and reminded crew to fill out application in LOG. Treasurer reported $250 in ship's fund and crew voted to use some money for charcoal. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Chairman an­ nounced president's report in LOG posted for all to review. Crew asked contracts department to find out if members can apply for vacation while on last voyage so check would Ire ready upon return. Steward delegate requested ordering name 1 rrand items for ship. Crew requested all warnings, precautioiis and first aid directions on stores be translated and posted in English. Crew welcomed Wiper George Gill aboard from Piney Point. Chairman discussed safety conditions and crew requested larger-sized gloves and rain gear for slop chest. Crew asked contracts department to send vacation, medical and crew list forms. LNG LEO (ETC), April 1-Chair­ man John Davis, Secretary M. Ruggiero. Educational Director John Smith, Deck Delegate Francis Smith, Engine Delegate Timothy Van Pelt, Steward Delegate Amy Rippel. Chairman discussed impor­ tance of SlU American-flag ships and keeping local politicians aware of maritime problems. He also dis­ cussed upcoming contract negotia­ tions. Educational director reminded members to check dates of upgrading classes at Piney Point in Seafarers LOG. Treasurer reported $1,556.40 in ship's fund and $30 in SlU fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received. Crew asked contracts department to look into having patrol­ man meet ship to collect dues quarter­ ly. Next port: Nagoya, Japan. to Steward Assistant Robert Kotecki who is signing off after 33 years of sailing. discussed how lounge is for SlU meinbers only and gave steward department and captain vote of thanks for job well done. Next port: San Juan. AMERICAN CONDOR (Crowley American Transport), May 28— SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), April 25—Chairman M. Johnson, Secretary A. Delaney, Educational Director Joseph Holzinger. Engine Delegate Sam Rashid, Steward Delegate C. Gomez. Chairman reported Seafarers LOGs received in Yokohama, Japan and urged upgrading at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into discontinuing policy of steady jobs and go back to rotary shipping. Crew requested contracts department look into relief trip after 60 days. Crew asked company for two clothes dryers. Crew also noted need for fire watch policy. SEAUFT ARABIAN SEA (IMC), April 3—Chairman H. Nelson Bailey, Secretary Ivan Salis, Deck Delegate Billy Watson. Chairman asked contracts department to look into getting better supply of stores, paint and brushes. He reminded crewmembers to return plates to galley /V£lY4/?/fS4y (Sea-Land Ser­ and keep food out of rooms. He vice), April 25—Chairman J.D. Foster, Secretaiy J. Jordan, Educa­ asked members to clean rooms when leaving and remove tape from walls, tional Director Richard Johnsen, Deck Delegate Joe Caruso, Engine do not slam or kick doors or talk loud­ Delegate Philip Pardovich, Steward ly in passageway. He discussed bills Delegate Willie Grant. Chairman an­ passed by Congress that may open nounced payoff in Elizabeth, N.J. and new jobs aboard cruise ships and thanked "gang" for job well done and reported some U.S.-flag ships may good trip. Secretary thanked crew for soon go foreign. Secretary report^ cooperation in keeping ship clean and no prior records were found in file gave special thanks to steward depart­ cabinet. Educational director ment for good job. Educational direc­ reminded members to upgrade skills tor reminded members of importance at Piney Point to stay competitive in of upgrading at Lundeberg School. job market. Deck delegate reported No beefs or disputed OT reported. some disputed OT and beefs. Crew asked contracts department to Steward delegate reported beef. No look into improved dental benefits beefs or disputed OT reported by en­ plan for members and dependents. gine delegate. Crew asked contracts Crew requested new furniture and department to define meaning of carpet in crew lounge. Crew gave haridling" in regard to butterworthvote of thanks to steward department ing. Crew requested typewriter to for job well done. Next port: Boston. type ship's minutes. Crew reported many rooms need shower repairs but OOCL INSPIRATION (Sea-Land engineer is awaiting new parts to per­ Service), April 18—Chairman Mark form repairs. Crew reported spotting Trepp, Secretary Ekow DufToh, wreckage of fishing vessel Carol Ann Educational Director Eric Bain, on April 4. No one r^-as found aboard. Deck Delegate Donovan Christie, Coast Guard said vessel had been lost Engine Delegate Harry Kinsman. at sea. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director urged members USNS KANE(Bay Ship Manage­ to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No ment), April 11^-Chairman Chris beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew Brady, Secretary J.Smith, Educa­ requested new chairs for crew tional Director J. Jenkins. Chairman lounge: Crew gave vote of thanks to steward and deck departments for job reported response from headquarters well done, especially for posting sug­ regarding tour of duty question. Educational director reminded crewgestion board to list ideas for new members to upgrade skills at Piney menus. Next port: Charleston, S.C. Point. Treasurer reported $318 in SAM HOUSTON(Waterman Steam­ ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT ship), April 20—Chairman Carlos reported. Crew reported crew reliefs Canales, Secretary Ernie Hoitt, not being provided by company in Educational Director E.E. Neathery, timely manner upon completion of Deck Delegate Bennie Spencer, En­ tour. Chairman reminded members to gine Delegate William Smith, report to union hall within prescribed Steward Delegate Nelson Corey time. Crew reported new mattresses Jones. Chmrman read minutes from and pillows needed. Next port: last union meeting and posted letter Pireaus, Greece. hrom Assistant Vice President Tony WESTWARD VENTURE (lOM), Sacco regarding retirement plan. April 1—Chairman Michael KadderSecretary announced all union forms y. Secretary R.B.Sander-son, Educa­ available and reminded crewmem­ tional Director Chris Cunningham, bers who need new mattresses report Crew reported Seafarers LOGs in before Suez Canal so order forms can be sent. He reminded members to received. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers asked con­ donate to SPAD to save jobs through tracts department to look into pay in­ legislative efforts. Educational direc­ creases. Chairman reminded crew to tor encouraged members to visit be careful throwing litter or garbage Piney Point either on vacation or to on deck. He spoke with upgrade skills for increased earning ongshoreman about throwing plastic power. Treasurer reported $400 in safety vests on deck as they leave. ship's movie fund. No beefs or dis­ Crew reported new door jambs on puted OT reported. Crew discussed vacation requirements. Crew reported order. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. door on main deck needs repair. AMBASSADOR (Crowley Crew requested all-beef hot dogs, American Transport), May 16oysters and fried chicken. Next port: Chairman Leon Jekot, Secretary M. Newport News, Va. Youmett, Engine Delegate Thomas i larry. Steward Delegate Robert SEA-LAND CRUSADER (SeaKotecki. Chairman announced Land Service), April 26—Chairman payoff and reported extra washing Angel Hernandez, Secretary Nick inachine needed for greasy clothes. Andrews, Deck Delegate Ben BerSecretary reminded crewmembers to herena. Engine Delegate Edgar report beefs to patrolman. Education­ Young, Steward Delegate VIrgillo al director reminded members to Rivera. No b^fs or disputed OT upgrade skills at Piney Point for fu­ reported. Crew asked contracts ture. No beefs or disputed OT department to include chairs for watch standers in new contract. Crew reported. Crew gave special goodbye v: •• l' • Ready for Work GUDE Scott Pendleton is ready for work aboard the Franklin Phillips in Diego Garcia. Chairman William Dowzicky, Secretary James Allen, Educational Director Timothy Cullen, Deck Delegate Darrell Thomas, Steward Delegate ClifTord Elliott. Education­ al director urged members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $80 in ship's fimd; No beefs or disputed OT reported. HUMACAO(Puerto Rico Marine), May 30—Chairman L. Rodriques, Secretary Jonny Cruz, Educational Director R. Bolin, Deck Delegate Angel Camacho, Steward Delegate Anihal Pena. Chairman reminded crewmembers to continue upgrading and support SPAD for future of maritime industry. Secretary told crew the way to help union and self is to keep informed through reading Seafarers LOG. He encouraged mem­ bers to keep in touch with union rep­ resentatives for changes in contracts and volunteer help in any way. Educa­ tional director urged members always to think about safety and report any unsafe'conditions. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegate. Crew asked con­ tracts department to contact company regarding longshoremen in crew mess hall and lounge in San Juan. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang for making ship good feeder. Next port: Charleston, S.C. INGER(SealiB, Inc.), May 16Chairman TJ. Bush HI, Secretary J. BIrke, Deck Delegate Willie Chestnutt, Engine Delegate Steven Boleware, Steward Delegate Henry Edwards. Chairman announced in­ spection by captain upon arrival in port and reported captain thanked en­ tire crew for good trip. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next port: Houston. ' " "I r* ITB JACKSONVILLE (Sheridan Transportation), May 30—Chairman Jessie Thomas, Secretary R. Hairston, Educational Director S. Perdikis, Engine Delegate Jose Mar­ tinez, Steward Delegate B. Santos. Chairman announced payoff in New York. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested summer coveralls and thanked deck depart­ ment for job well done and steward department for good meals. ITB MOBILE(Sheridan Transporta­ tion), May 30—Chairman F. Jensen, Secretary Marvin SL George, Educa­ tional Director R. Natoli, Steward Delegate T. Quammie. Deck and en­ gine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by Continued on page 23 / » ; •• • :ll • • •- - .* *, �AUGUST 1993 ^ fV«-- h SEAFARERS LOG • /'•, . • 23 LNG Aquarius Galley Crew Earns Shipmates' High Praise Steward/Baker Franklin Robertson made sure Seafarers sailing aboard the LNG Aquarius were taken care of by the galley gang. In fact, he and his crew did the job so well that Captain John J. Donahue praised the steward department in a recent letter to SIU headquarters. "Please be informed of the absolutely OUT­ STANDING work of Steward/Baker Franklin Robertson, Chief Cook Martin E. Buck and Steward Assistant Mark A. Kotojarvi during the past tour of duty on the LNG Aquarius," Donahue wrote. "Our holiday meals have been just stupen­ dous and service excellent. The entire department (has) pitched in and (has done) a fine job." Bosun Jimmie Garner noted the efforts of the galley gang were duplicated by the deck and engine department members. "We've got a great group on board," Gamer told SIU Representative Sal Aquia who serviced the vessel recently at the port of Himeji, Japan. "Everyone works hard to get the job done." . Like the other Energy Transportation Corp. vessels under contract with the SIU, the LNG Aquarius carries liquified natural gas from refineries in Indonesia to various ports in Japan. The 72,622 Showing the SIU colors aboard the LNG Aquarius are QMEO Eric deadweight-ton vessel was built in 1977. Morrison (left) and SA Mark Kotojanri. ¥' Steward/Baker Franklin Robertson keeps an eye on a cake As Ordinary Seaman Christopher Curtis (left) prepares to go on duty, fellow OS Bosun Jimmie Gamer prepares to Charles Allred is ready for some shore time. call a shipboard meeting to order. in the oven. Ships Digest Continued from page 22 steward delegate. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. LIBERTY BELLE (Liberty Maritime), May 23—Chaidnan Daniel Laitinen Jr., Secretary W. Emarchman, Educational Director Mark Ruhl, Deck Delegate Nelson Poe, Engine Delegate Anthony Ripoll, Steward Delegate John Foster. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Captain gave vote of thanks to crewmembers for job well done and crew thanked steward department for good meals. LNG AQUARIUS(ETC), May 23— Chairman Tom Brooks, Secretary JeflTYarmoia, Educational Director John Orr, Deck Delegate Woodrow Shelton, Engine Delegate Bruce Zenon, Steward Delegate Rafael Cardenas. Chairman announced patrolman requested at next port. Crewmembers reported smooth sail­ ing with no beefs or disputed OT reported. Treasurer reported $500 in movie fund and $125 in ship's fund. Chairman reminded crewmembers everyone has right to call meeting Watchful Eye Taking advantage of his more than 30 years as a Seafarer, QMED Irmo E. Salomons makes sure everything is run­ ning smoothly in the LNG Virgo's engineroom. '•.•'A', • rh iL / i:-'" i' '• •»,. 't with eight hours prior notice and reported he will explain as necessary anything discussed at delegates infor­ mational meeting. Engine department thanked deck department for coopera­ tion while working on deck. Crew­ members observed moment of silence in memory of departed union brothers. Next port; Tobata, Japan. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), May 30—Chairman Charles Kahl, Secretary Norman Duhe, Education­ al Director P. Wolf, Engine Delegate Robert Rice, Steward Delegate Perry McCall. Chairman reported smooth sailing and reminded mem­ bers to keep lounge and living areas clean and neat. He reminded crew to smoke only in authorized areas not on weather decks. He reported crew has new microwave. Educational director encouraged members to check Seafarers LOG for upgrading schedule. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into union coverage of immunization shots for newborn babies of union members. Crew thanked galley gang for fine job. Next port: Arun, Indonesia. LNG VIRGO (ETC), May 10— Chairman Jack Rhodes, Secretary Z. Achmad, Deck Delegate Auhrey Davis, Engine Delegate Charles Dahlhaus, Steward Delegate Henry Daniels Jr. Educational director urged members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $1,375.20 in ship's fund and reported captain is buying rice cooker for gal­ ley. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Tobata, Japan. 1ST.LT. JACKLUMMUS (Amsea), May 9—Chairman Ken Johnson, Secretary L. Oram, Educa­ tional Director P. Kwasi^juk, Engine Delegate J. Beard, Steward Delegate E. Loret. Chairman announced he will sign off this trip so new chair­ man must be elected. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $244 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked chairman and secretary fordoing good job, and chair­ man reminded members to contact dqrartment heads if room repairs are needed. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla NEDLLOYD HOLLAND(Sea Land Services), May 9—Chairman F. Goethe, Secretary V. Harper, Educa tional Director V. Bolton, Deck Delegate Al Fabre, Engine Delegate G.A. Yore, Steward Delegate Michael Harris. Chairman reminded members to take advantage of cour­ ses at Paul Hall Center and upgrade.. Treasurer reported $75 in ship's fund. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received. Crew asked contracts department to look into having patrolman meet all Sea-Land ships that pay off in Char­ leston, S.C. NORTHERN LIGHTS(lOM), May 23—Chairman Ray Waiters, Secretary Kenneth Whitfield, Educa­ tional Director Keith Jordan, Deck Delegate Tommie Vines, Engine Delegate Charles Kennedy, Steward Delegate Christopher Green. Chair­ man complimented crew on good work and encouraged them to con­ tinue. Secretary reported captain thanked crew for hard work and told crew new parts for living quarters have arrived. Educational Erector reminded all members to attend Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported from engine or steward department. Crew requested fans and TV antennas in all rooms. OMI HUDSON(OMl), May 31— Chairman T.P. Banks, Secretary F. King, Educational Director L. Philpot. Chairman and educational director reminded crewmembers of importance of Piney Point Treasurer reported $i20 in ship's movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received by patrolman at payoff. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang. OMI STAR (OMl), May 25—Chair­ man L. McCants, Secretary G. Kenny, Educational Director J. Anderson, Deck Delegate S. Argry, Engine Delegate W. Sargent, Steward Delegate B. Wright. Chair­ man announced payoff, repairs com­ pleted by company. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received. Crew asked contracts department to review shipping rules regarding sea time requirements. Crew requested additional washer and dryer, microwave and sofa and easy chairs fw crew lounge. Next port: Bayonne, NJ. OVERSEAS ALASKA (Maritime Overseas), May 2—Chairman John Zepeda, Secretary Donna DeCesare, Educational Director Cary Pratts, Deck Delegate M. Smith, Engine Delegate J. Brown, Steward Delegate E. Killian. Chairman an­ nounced payoff. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $50 in ship's fund and suggested crew use part of fund to buy head cleaner for VCR. Steward delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or en­ gine delegates. Crew asked contracts department to look into changing shipping rules regarding length at time at sea per voyage. Crew gave vote of thaiiks to galley gang and stated, "We will hate to go home" and gave a special thank you for Easter eggs which were class act Next port: San Francisco. OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Maritime Overseas), May 23—Chairman J. Mixon, Secretary Brian Burchett, Educational Director M. Sawin, En­ gine Delegate Edward Whisenhant. Treasurer reported $80 left in ship's fiind. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment to look into speeding up vaca­ tion pay and increasing dental and medictd coverage. OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA (Maritime Overseas), May 6—Chair­ man Tom Blnitt, Secretary M. Flores, Educational Director Patrick Coppola Secretary announced payoff in Corpus Christi, Texas and urged members to think of themsel­ ves and future by upgrading skills at Lundeberg School. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew asked con­ tracts department to look into cost of living adjustments for retirees and to investigate changes in pension require­ ments. Crew requested new TV and repairs to ice machine. Crew reported trip to Venezuela was very smooth with all members being very coopera­ tive. Crew reported stores low but gal­ ley gang did good job. RALEIGH BA Y(Sea-Land Service), May 9—Chairman Howard Knox, Secretary J. Speller, Educational Director DJ. Dukehart. Chairman thanked crew for fine work and keep­ '• 'i - , '•' ' . ^ ing clean ship He reminded them to donate to SPAD. Educational director inrged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thank^ steward department for job well done. SEALIFTPACIFIC(mC), May 16—Chairman Ferdinand Gongora, Secretary S. Bird, Educational Direc­ tor Jason Etnoyer, Deck Delegate Ricardo Ramos, Engine Delegate Charlie Sandino, Steward Delegate Antonio Carrasquillo. Chairman reminded crew to return missing movies and announced ETA in Rota, Spain. Secretary reported looking for­ ward to pleasant visit in Rota. Educa­ tional director stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School to im­ prove self and union. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Steward delegate thanked crew for all positive input and stated it makes job more reward­ ing. Chairman announced new movies will be purchased and thanked galley gang on behalf of en­ tire crew for excellent job. He reported mess halls are cleaner and food is excellent. He aimounced en­ tire crew morale has improved and the old saying, "a well fed crew is a happy one" applies to this crew. " SEALIFTPACIFIC(mC), May 30—Chairman Ferdinand Gongora, Secretary S. Bird, Educational Direc­ tor Jason Etnoyer, Deck Delegate Ricardo Ramos, Engine Delegate Charlie Sandino, Steward Delegate Antonio Carrasquillo. Chairman en­ couraged crewmembers to keep up good work. Secretary thanked ail crewmembers for taking part in stow­ ing trash in proper receptacles. Educa­ tional director stressed need to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. He reminded members Lundeberg School is there to use. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate thank^ crew for helping keep ship clean. Crew announced movie selection list will be posted. Chairman gave special vote of thanks to galley gang for excellent job. He announced food is best he has had in a long time. He also praised crew for keeping vessel so clean. j.:; • • j? "• •t :s, • ^ \ �•.;rrst#l ; 24 SEAFARERS LOG AUi^ST 1993 '•hi.. h. In a Year of Safety Training Seafarers Upgrade Skills Aboard 'Great White Ships' ' -V*' For guests, the atmosphere aboard the al, individual studying. "We ran two SlU-crewed passenger ships Inde Separate classes per day," Barry explainer pendence and Constitution is one of gooc "This was in addition to our members times and cheer. regular work schedules, so they were very But for Seafarers, the emphasis is al­ busy." ways on safety. As part of this devotion to The course material included shipbo^d safety, crewmembers continually are safety, abandon-ship techniques, deep upgrading their skills. One aspect of this is water survival, raft drills, signal training shipboard training in lifeboat operation lifeboat and davit drills, written exams anc and other emergency procedures. more. Throughout the year, the Seafarers Advantage of Experience Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, "One advantage I had as an instructor located in Piney Pont, Md., sends an in­ was that I sailed as a carpenter-joiner on structor to the two cruise ships to conduct the Independence in 1988," Barry noted the onboard training. Instructor Stephen So I know the workings of the ships, and Barry provided the Seafarers LOG with a that helps. yearly report on his lifeboat, CPR and first "Also, I'm roughly the same age as a lot aid training of Seafarers aboard the two of the members aboard those ships, anc Hawaiian passenger trade ships. "I always tell our members, it doesn't that helped make them comfortable work­ matter if you're a hotel worker or a galley ing with me." The instructor also pointed out the worker, you've got to be a Seafarer first. Stephen Barry (far right) instructs the following students in lifeboat procedures: (from benefits of having members train with the ieft, front row) Sky Williams, Sarah Clark, Lisa Jones, Allison Phillips, Debra Gardiner, You've got to know the emergency actual equipment they would use in case o (second row) Irving Houghton, John Wilson, Philip Brockman and Bryant Cornelius. duties," said Barry. Baity, who graduated from the Lun­ an emergency, as opposed to using other deberg School in 1986, stated in his annual gear. "We had exemplary cooperation from report that approximately 200 Seafarers he Coast Guard in Honolulu, and the fact earned their U.S. Coast Guard-certified lifeboat tickets during his classes on board is the classes wouldn't go off smoothly the two cruise ships, also known by crew- without the cooperation of the whole members as "The Great White Ships." crew," Barry added. "I've since me About 60 members, many of whom took jeople who were in some of the early the lifeboat training, also were certified in classes, and they have expressed their ap>reciation for the training. I think the CPR and first aid. familiarization with the workings of a ship, "I would hope for a nice gale wind the and its equipment and terminology, first couple of days of each class," Barry, 28, said half-jokingly. "Training in those helps make people feel more sure of conditions helps emphasize the impor­ themselves and definitely makes them tance of leaming the commands and learn­ more efficient." Shipboard photographer Chris Danby ing how to work together." provided Barry with the photographs that Each lifeboat class lasted four hours per day for two weeks, not including addition­ appear on this page. Completing the safety course are (from left, front row) Tina Smith, Wendy Sue Nichols, Annika Hagland, Romy Binachi, Kristine Swanson, (second row) George Joy (USCG), <en Freddrick, Patrick Lage, Victor Leonard, Mohamed Saleh, Pedro Romas-Castillo, Stephen Barry (instructor) and Brad Younghin (USCG). Posing on deck are (from left, first row) a Coast Guard Rep., Maximo Lugtu, Leonaka Mercurio, Atrice Croke, Yokie Sudjono, (second row) Commander Moll (USCG), Clarence Barroga, Gregory Hardison, R. Davis. Linda O'Brien, Erik A. Hoag, LeeAnn Meurer and Stephen Barry (instructor). banning their lifeboat station are (from left, front row) George Joy (USCG), Bradly Wickman, Jeffrey Brumble, Michael Briscoe, Abdul Ahmed, Omer Muzyad, (second row) Jeff Purtell, Donald Dobras, Brian Schmeer, Mohamed Saleh, Paul Telegdy, John Palughi, Stephen Barry (instructor) and Brad Younghin (USCG). r-'i Taking part in the lifeboat classes are (from left, front row) a Coast Guard Rep., Rosa Clark, J. Dennis Paulin, Jenifer Tuomi, Mark Lammiman, (second row) Commander Moll (USCG), Christopher Mann, Andrew Van Bourg, Brett Zeches, Luis Guzman, Edgar Pace and Stephen Barry (instructor). /•/ �P' •''• -'"vv' . AUGUST 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Final Departures DEEP SEA JAYALSOBROOK Pensioner Jay Alsobrook, 65, passed away June 5. Bom in Eastland, Texas, he joined the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Al­ sobrook sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He retired in March 1971. FRANK BONA Pensioner Frank Bona, 65, died June 14. He joined the SIU in 1945 in his na­ tive Bal­ timore. Brother Bona completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in November 1979. He began receiving his pen­ sion in November 1986. RUFUSBREEDEN Pensioner Rufus Breeden, 71, passed away May 31. A Louisiana na­ tive, he joined the union in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Breeden sailed as a pumpman. He retired in October 1984. RAYMOND BUNCE JR. Pensioner Raymond Bunce Jr., 71, died June 24. He joined the Seafarers in 1957 in his native New York. Brother Bunce sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in December 1984. ROBERTO CADALZO Pensioner Roberto Cadalzo, 88, passed away May 12. Bom in Narvacan, Docus Sur, PhiUppines, he join^ the SIU in 1962 in the port of Seattle. Brother Cadalzo sailed in the steward department. He retired in March 1977. JOHN DOYLE Pensioner John Doyle, 64, died June 3. He joined the union in 1947 in his na­ tive New York. Brother Doyle sailed as a chief cook. He began receiving his pen­ sion in August 1984. HERNELL EDWARDS Pensioner Hemell Ed­ wards, 70, passed away June 16. Bom in Pittsburgh, he joined the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of New York. Brother Ed­ wards completed the bosun recer­ tification course at Piney Point in 1973. He retired in March 1987. DAVID FAIR Pensioner David Fair, 76, died June 12. Bom in Virginia, he was a charter member of the union, having joined in 1939 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Fair sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in May 1983. EUGENE FLOWERS Pensioner Eugene Flowers, 70, passed away May 28. A Pennsylvania native, he joined the SIU in 1942 in the port of New York. Brother Flowers com­ pleted the bosun recertification program at the Lundeberg School in 1966. He retired in March 1988. ROMAN HARPER Pensioner Roman Har­ per, 71, died June 4. Bom in Pennsyl­ vania, he joined the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Harper sailed as a QMED. He upgraded at Piney Point frequently. Brother Harper served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He began receiving his pension in August 1985. WALTER HILDABRANT Walter Hildabrant, 53, passed away July 1. A Texas native, he joined the union in 1967 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. Brother Hil­ dabrant sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962. THOMAS JONES Pensioner Thomas Jones, 67, died May 22. He joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. Brother Jones upgraded his deck department fating in 1976 at the Lundeberg School. He was shipping as an able bodied seaman aboard the NATCO dredge Manhattan Island prior to retiring in July 1990. THOMAS KEGNEY Thomas Kegney, 44, passed away June 14. He joined the SIU in 1968 in his native New York. Brother Kegney sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He upgraded at Piney Point several times. JOHN KROSKI •/ Pensioner John Kroski, 81, died May 21. A Weaver, Pa. native, he joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of 25 IV-' •'''f Detroit. Brother Kroski sailed as a fireman, watertender. He retired in Febraary 1976. Palombo sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in March 1986. WILLIAM LANIER Pensioner William Lanier, 85, passed away June 25. Bom in Ok­ lahoma, he joined the SIU in 1941 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Brother Lanier sailed in the deck department. He retired in January 1973. MAGDALENO PERALTA Pensioner Magdaleno Peralta, 88, died May 27. Bom in the Philip­ pine Islands, he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Peralta sailed as a cook/baker. He retired in December 1972. GETTIS LIGHTFOOT Pensioner Gettis Lightfoot, 75, died June 1. An Alabama native, he joined the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of New Yoik. Brother Lightfoot sailed in the steward dqrartment. He retired in OctobCT 1971. JACKIE PRUITT PORFIRIO MALDONADO Pensioner Porfirio Maldonado, 65, passed away June 11. Bom in Texas, he joined the union in 1953 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Maldonado sailed in the en­ gine department. He began receiv­ ing his pension in July 1990. WILLIAM McNEELY Pensioner William McNeely, 84, died Jiine 3. A North Carolina na­ tive, he joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Bal­ timore. Brother McNeely sailed in the steward department He retired in Febmary 1975. ROBERTO MENDEZ Pensioner Roberto Mendez, 76, passed away May 18. An EI Sal­ vador native, he joined the union in 1965 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Mendez upgraded at .the Lundeberg School frequently. He began receiving his pension in Febraary 1982. VERGE NORWOOD Pensioner Verge Norwood, 85, died May 19. Bom in Alabama, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD) of the SIU. Brother Norwood retired in September 1974. MAURICE O'KEEFE Maurice O'Keefe, 59, passed away May 27. A Wisconsin native, he joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother O'Keefe sailed in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1961. Jackie Pmitt, 52, passed away May 23. A Virginia na­ tive, he joined the SIU in 1971 in the port of Bal­ timore. Brother Pmitt sailed in the deck department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School frequently. CORNELIUS RASONABE Pensioner Comelius Rasonabe, 81, died May 5. Bom in the Philippine Is­ lands, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1946 in the port of San Francis­ co, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Rasonabe served in the U.S. armed forces from 1940 to 1945. He retired in July 1978. PAUL REED Pensioner Paul Reed, 81, passed away June 13. A Quincy, Mass. native, he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Reed sailed as a chief steward. He began receiving his pension in July 1977. RUSSELL REFFITT Russell Reffitt, 61, died June 13. Bom in Ohio, he joined the SIU in 1989 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Reffitt sailed as a steward/baker. He upgraded at Piney Point in 1990. Brother Reffitt served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1950. MIGUEL REYES Pensioner Miguel Reyes, 64, passed away June 13. A Puerto Rico native, he joined the union in 1946 in the port of New York. RAGNAROLSEN Brother Reyes sailed in the steward Pensioner Ragdepartment. He served in the U.S. nar Olsen, 82, Army from 1951 to 1953. Brother died July 4. Reyes retired in July 1987. Bom in Bronnoysund, Nor­ LINWOOD RICH way, he Pensioner Linjoined the wood Rich, SIU in 1944 died June 68, in the port of 27. Bom in New York. Maine, he Brother Olsen sailed in the deck joined the de partment. He retired in June Seafarers in 1976. 1976 in the port of New VICTOR PALOMBO York. Brother Rich completed the bosun recer­ Pensioner Victor Palombo, 72, tification program at the Lun­ passed away July 6. A native of deberg School in 1981. He served Italy, he joined die union in 1961 in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother .V 1966. Brother Rich began receiv­ ing his pension in April 1991. ANTONIO SAKELLIS Pensioner Antonio Sakellis, 72, passed away June 21. A native of Ismilias, Egypt, he joined the SIU in 1957 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Sakellis sailed in the deck department. He retired in Decem­ ber 1974. RALPH SECKINGER Pensioner Ralph Seckinger, 78, died May 29. Bom in Ocala, Fla., he joined the union in 1973 in the port of Tampa, Fla. Brother Seckinger sailed in the deck department. He retired in Febmary 1977. MICHAEL TREMPER Pensioner Michael Tiemper, 49, passed away June 1. A Maryland na­ tive, he joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Tremper sailed in the engine department He upgraded frequently at Piney Point Brother Trempo- began receiving his pension in July 1992. BERNARD TURK Pensioner Ber­ nard Turk, 68, died June 15. Bom in Illinois, he joined the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Turk sailed as a QMED. He upgraded at the Lun­ deberg School in 1976. Brother Turk retired in Febmary 1986. JOSEPH WOOLFORD I^nsionerJosqii Woolford, 82, passed away June 2. A na­ tive rf Ports­ mouth, Va., he joined the union in 1956 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Woolford sailed in the deck department. He began receiv­ ing his pension in July 1976. INLAND JAMES JACKSON Pensioner James Jack­ son, 74, passed away May 7. Bom in Durmid, Va., he joined the union in 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Jackson sailed with Curtis Bay Towing from 1961 until his retirement in August 1981. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. MARKNAUMANN Mark Naumann, 40, passed away June 2. Bom in Rhode Is­ land, he graduated from the Lun­ deberg School in 1975. Boatman Naumann held a chief mate's license as a tug and towboat operator. Boatman Naumann upgraded at the Lun­ deberg School frequently. . •• �•Js 26 Mwusrisos SEAFARERS LOO Lundeberg School Graduating Classes V X • in. I I bnl^Wr^i W L_ OO ..; -r -v:. Trainee Lifeboat Class 512—Graduatingfromtraineelifeboatclass512are(fromleft,kneeling) Oscar Ranos, Westcott Reiss, Jennifer Berry. Darryl Bence, Joseph Meehan, Juan Salgado, Allen Newgen, Ben Cusic (instructor), (second row) Chris Campos, Jerome Gill, Michael Lau, Fred Fein, Francis Pappas III, Ron Thompson, Aristides Rojas, Joshua Brown, Christopher Sykes, Anna Maria Rosario, (third row) William Jinney, Terry Smith and Melvin Leguillow. Able Bodied Seaman—Graduating on June 9 from a special AB course for Maritrans are (from left, kneeling) Leonard Tyson, William Belote, Richard Belote, Christopher Boyd, Mitchell Roberts, Casey Taylor (instructor), (second row) Jim Stevens, Ralph Ramsey, Richard Keith, Paul Brown, Dannie Card, Edmund Putro, Mark O'Neal, Emmanuel Roldan, (third row) Anthony Myklich, John Coover. Mark Leadbeater, Gregory Gibson and Troy Zimmerman. Crane the six-week of III in^.'ACaa.KW Maintenance—Completing V/V/l I l^lwill 1^ il 19 0l/\ VW9i\ course wWUlOW W1 SSvSntcS^S QfiShifHt' rS ^ ^ ® ^ ® Upper Lakes Towing AB Class—Completing this special Aff class on June 9 are (from left) Mark Carlson. Thomas Stroooich. Terrance DeMenter, Francis Berube, Jeny Stropich and Joseph Racicot , i'y < » ^1 (se^nd row) Jioia de Leon, ^verly Harris, Alfr^ Williams, Vincent Merenda, (third row) jhomas Tinsley, Wayne Woodland, Maxwell Caravan, (third row) David Stanford, Johri Rodney Camera, William Smalley, John Jacobs, Vrctor Jimenez, Mary Brayman and Bruce Maxeynlll, Bill Hadley Jr., Henry Corbelt, Paul Carlton, (fourth row) Lawrence Roth, Freddie Cantreil, Jacques Mouttet (fifth row) Royce Caravan and Augustus Blake. Tankerman—Completing one of the safety specialty courses on May 27 are (from left, kneeling) Dan Van Sciver, William Belote, Timothy Rayfield, Manuel Conchinha, Mitchell Roberts, (second row) Jim Shaffer (instructor), John Schuster, Vinpent Scott, Emmanuel Roldan, James Brown, Chad Vickers, (third row) Charles Bradshaw, James Lombard, Martin Timney, Michael Gavin, Ralph Ramsey, (fourth row) John Coover, Richardo Bowman, Lonnie Merrell, Jerry Mercer, Ray Scott and John Juker Jr. —•• •— i ^ Able Bodied Seaman—Certificates were received by the July 2 class of upgraders. They are (from left, kneeling) Paul Gatewood, Rodney Jimenez Michael Kieliszeski, (second row) Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Allen Shaw Misty Shaw Shannon Teem, Peter Luhn, Jon Smith, William Powell, Bobby Kelly and Glenn Baker Jr' �^ J> \ •' ' ^ ^ V -v' •; • 'i •'• '• •' UieUST1993 SEAFARERS LOG LUHDBBER6 SCHOOL 1993IHVRADING CWRSESCHEOULE The following is the current course schedule for classes beginning between $eptember and , December 1993 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 naaritime industry and—^in times of conflict—the nation's security. Check-In Date Course KiiSl^ Able Seaman AUstudents must tak£ tfie^U Spill Prev Completion Date Novembers Cbeck-In Date October 4 Course Bosun Recertification Steward Upgrading Courses Course ' Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker Completion Cbeck-In Date Date All open-ended (contact admissions office for starting dates) Chief Cook, Chief Steward Ail open-ended (contact admissions office for starting dates) October 22 December 17 Engine Upgrading Courses and Containment class. Cbeck-In Date September 27 Completion Date Novembers September 27 November 8 October 8 November 19 Course FiremanAVatertender and Oiler Itiad^ Observer - Unlimited September 20 November 1 September 24 Noveniber 5 November 22 December 17 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Pumproom Maint & Operations Novembers December 17 Marine Electrical Maintenance n September 13 October 22 Refrigeration Maint. & Operations September 13 October 22 .... : ^ ...... .f 5 ; . ,. ., . . Safety Specialty Courses , <2 Cbeck-In • Date Course Completion Date pi! SpiU Prevention and Containment November 8 November 12 Lifeboatman September 13 October 11 Novembers December 6 September 24 October 22 November 19 December 17 September 7 November 2 September 17 November 12 October 25 November 19 ; BbsicAAdvanc^ Fire Fighting S«ealift Operations & Maintenance UPGI^IHGAmKaTmN . Date of Birth _ Name (Last) Address. "• -r : SluphandUng '•••'V Cfjesdal Navigation • v RecertlflcatlonPngrams Completion Date September 13 November 8 (Qty) (Fint) Monlh/Day/Year (Middle) (Sueet) _ Telephone _i _L (Area Code) (Zip Code) (State) 27 Marine Electronics Technician I September 27 Novembers Marine Electronics Technician n Novembers December 17 Hydraulics September 13 Octobers Diesel Engine Technology November 22 December 17 Welding October 25 November 19 Crane Maintenance Novembers December 17 ? 1992'93 Adult Education Schedule The following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Please contact the admissions office for enrollment information. Completion Cbeck-In Date Date Course High School Equivalency (GED) All open-ended Aduit Basic Education (ABE) (contact admissions office for startii^ English as a Second Language (ESL) dates) With this application COPIES of yourdischarges 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 DATEOF VESSEL HELD SHIPPED DISCHARGE - 1 Deep Sea Member• Lakes Member • Inland Waters Member• Pacific • If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will pot be processed. Social Security # Book # — —___ Seniority • Department U.S. Citizen: •Yes • No Home Port. Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held dlYes Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? If yes, which program: from — to. Last grade of school completed Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? If yes, course(s) taken Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? — I am interested in the following course(s) checked below or indicated here if not listed DECK • AB/Sealift n 1st Class Pilot •Yes DYCS If yes, how many weeks have you completed?. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? • Yes GNO FiiefightingiGYes GNO CPR:GYes Date available for training Primary language spoken ONO —— — — GNO GNO D Third Mate G Radar Observer Unlimited • Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland • Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course ENGINE GNO DATE SIGNATURE. G FOWT Q QMED—Any Rating Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Electronics) G G Marine Electrical Maintenance G Pumproom Maintenance & Operation G Refiigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation G Diesel Engine Technology G Assistant Engineer/tThief Engineer Motor Vessel G Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor G Refngerated Containers Advanced Maintenance G Electro-Hydraulic Systems G Automation G Hydraulics Marine Electronics Technician G STEWARD G Assistant Cook Utility G Cook and Baker G ChiefCook Chief Steward G Towboat Inland Cook G G G G G ALL DEPARTMENTS Welding Lifeboatman (must be taken with another course) Oil Spill Prevention & Containment Basic/Advanced Fue Fighting ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Q Adult Basic Education (ABE) G High School Equivalency Program (GED) Developmental Studies (DVS) English as a Second Language (ESL) • ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation G G CX)LLEGE PROGRAM G Associate in Arts Degree Transportation will be paid in accoidaiicc witb theadwdaUng letter only if yon present original rccdpls and succc bnyco plete thecoatse. If you have any qucstioas, contact your port agcsl before dcpartiiigfor Plney PMBL RETURN GOMPLETEDAPPUCATION TO: Lundeberg Upfradtaf Center, P.O. Boa 75, PlneyPOlnl,MD 20i74. S/93 • -/!• �SEAEUCERS 1994 Scholarships Announced August 1993 Volume 55, Number 8 Seven scholarships will be awarded in 1994 to help members and their dependents further their college or university studies. Those interested in applying should send away for the scholarship program bookiet. For ad­ ditional information, see page 10. Come High Waters, Seafarers Survive Flood of 93 More than shipping has been Take, as ^ example, the residents affected by the flo^waters of the of Eldred (111.). . . if that levee Mississippi River and its breaks, they will have 15 minutes tributaries. Seafarers living along to gather what they need and gei the rivers have lost their homes to out. Most of their worldly posses­ the high water rampaging through sions will be destroyed and they never had flood insurance, the midwestem U.S. Rogers explained. Alton (111.) Port Repre­ Belle Bartender Mary Shaw is sentative Patti Rogers reported to one of the residents of the nearby the Seafarers LOG several instan­ town hoping that the levee holds. ces where SIU members were ex­ Her house is an eighth of a mile periencing distress due to the from the levee, which is feeling flooding. But, she added, "it is the continuing pressure from the difficult to determine just how rain and high waters. In the event many of our members have been affected by the flood because the levee does break, she and her most lines of communication are neighbors will be notiBed by the out. There aren't telephone lines wailing of a siren. When it to many of the homes, and sounds, the residents will have Floodwaters completely surround the SlU-crewed AltonLandingand the Belle. Since this photo was taken In mid-June, the Mississippi River has risen even higher. transportation for most people is only 15 minutes to evacuate. impossible." Houses Flooded Springer and his wife refuse to A ramp that is nearly 220 feet For other Alton Belle crew- leave immediate area of their long was built over the flood Hall Becomes Info Center members, floodwaters already home.the They have moved into a waters to the riverboat casino so The Seafarers hall in Alton is have washed out the man-made camper on higher ground near passengers as well as employees serving as an information center barriers and entered their houses. their house because ttiey are con- could safely come aboard. for members. The staff has Deckhand Ed Lyons lives in cemed about some of their neigh­ provided SIU members and their Grafton, 111., approximately 30 Rogers reported the ramp was bors who are unable to relocate. families with the latest news on miles west of Alton. He occupies being modified for the third time "Many of those C.J. refuses to to raise it above the current flood the second floor of his home be­ recovery efforts. At the July 14 union meeting, cause the first floor is completely leave behind are elderly with level. It is being raised yet another Stan Gordon, a labor liaison for underwater. His boat is his only heart conditions. One of his three feet above the flowing the Red Cross, spoke to members source of transportation to and neighbors, for example, is a waters. about flood relief. According to from his home. According to stroke victim. He is very dedi­ The Alton Belle has been seen Gordon, the Red Cross cannot news reports, 85 percent of cated and concemed about these in many recent national news fully initiate action until the Grafton's 950 residents have )eople who are afi^aid to leave, so stories. Maintenance department floodwaters have receded. Once been evacuated. More probably le is sticking it out with them, worker Jim Patterson took a the Mississippi is back within its will have to leave as the Missis­ Rogers said. television camera crew out on his banks, the R^ Cross will move sippi River continues to rise. According to Rogers, Springer boat around the Alton and West When Alton Belle Assistant delivers water, food and supplies in. The agency will help those Alton, Mo. area so they could Deckhand C.J. Springer ferries affected by the flood with Engineer Bob Thornton's home jy boat to those residents who are supplies to neighbors unable to remodeling and even rebuilding, began to fill with water in the either unable to leave their film the damage and effects of the leave flooded areas. if necessary. They also will pro­ earliest phases of the flood, he flooded homes or are just too flood. vide residents with vouchers for moved all his belongings into the afraid. clothes, food, furniture and upstairs of his bam. Since then, The SIU deckhand also helped replace just about any possession the waters have risen higher, and move of his neighbors' fur­ which was lost due to the flooding recently a team of Seafarers went niture most into a safe and dry place out to his farm and helped him )efore the water waters. "This only includes those move his things by boat from the record level. rose to its current without flood insurance. Those bam into a storage facility. Despite being chased from his with flood insurance must turn in Belle Operations Continue a claim first. The problem is that own house by floodwaters. Deck­ Despite the weather and water so many are currently without hand CJ.Springer will not leave conditions in Alton, the Belle flood insurance because they his community ^ause he wants continues operations at dockside. never thought that they'd need it. to take care of his neighbors. Living on the second floor of his Fellow Seafarers rescued Asst. house because of floodwaters is Eng. Bob Thornton's possessions Deckhand Ed Lyons. when the water got too high. Help Locate Birrs MIssHig Child The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has asked the Seafarers International Union to assist them in locating Eric Karl Gude. •-.< •/. • • ' /• AP byMichael Wlnokur Alton residents and Illinois National Guard members add more sandbags to a wall created to keep floodwaters out of the city's business distiicLThis scene is two blocks from the SlU-crewed Alton Belle. Eric Karl Gude The child was abducted by his non-custodial mother, Marilyn T. Leguy (alias Marilyn T. Watts), on June 15, 1992 from Millville, Del. An FBI warrant has been issued for her arrest. Eric Gude was four years old at the time of his disap­ pearance. The blond-haired, brown-eyed boy was 3 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 46 pounds. Anyone having information on the whereabouts of Eric Gude should contact the Na­ tional Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 8435678 or the Missing Persons Unit of the Delaware State Police at (302) 856-5860. � 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 August 1993 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES HEALTH CARE CRISIS TO TOP LAWMAKER’S AGENDA THIS FALL CONTRACT TALKS CONTINUE FOR FREIGHTSHIPS/TANKERS HEARINGS REVEAL UNCERTAINTY OVER MARITIME POLICY FLOOD CRIPPLES INLAND SHIPPING SEN. MIKULSKI SEEKS MARITIME COMMITMENT HOUSE APPROVES ’94 MARAD BILL DELTA QUEEN TAKES OVER OPERATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION INLAND WATERWAYS FUEL TAX WITHDRAWN FEDERAL COURT ANNOUNCES USER FEE LAWSUIT SCHEDULE MEXICO’S NEW-FOUND GREEN IMAGE CONTRADICTED BY ITS RESPONSE TO SULFURIC ACID-LEAKING SIP AFTER MONTHS OF NO PAY, NIS SHIP’S CREW STRIKES ARKANSAS MERCHANT MARINE VETS REMINSICE AT DAY-LONG REUNION WILKES CREW COMPLETES RECORD-BREAKING RECOVERY MSC VESSEL BRINGS UP SUNKET SURVEY SLED RUNAWAY FLAGS MEAN LOSS OF AMERICAN JOBS FLOOD STOPS TUGS/BARGES GOV’T SERVICES MEMBER NAMED MSCPAC MARINER FOR 1992 USNS MERCURY JOINS RRF; LEAVES MSCPAC FLEET SEAFARERS PULL TOGETHER FOR NEW BOBLO SEASON MARINE ELECTRONICS COURSES AVAILABLE AT LUNDEBERG SCHOOL BOATMEN FROM 3 INLAND COMPANIES COMPLETE LUNDEBERG SCHOOL AB TRAINING ALLIED BOATMEN GRADUATE SPECIAL UTILITYMAN COURSE SEAFARERS FAMILY PHOTOS STEEL SHIPS AND IRON MEN: PART IV SEAFARERS IN HOUSTON VOLUNTEER TO HELP CHILDREN RETIRED SUP INSTRUCTOR TOMMY ZEE DIES AT 68 AB VICARI BRIGHTENS SEA-LAND PRODUCER WITH MURAL SEAFARERS FIELD NEW TEAM IN SAN DIEGO GARCIA CHILE IS NEXT STOP IN SEAFARER’S QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE NEW BOOK TRACES LIFE OF ‘EMANCIPATOR OF AMERICAN SEAMEN’ LNG AQUARIUS GALLEY CREW EARNS SHIPMATES’ HIGH PRAISE SEAFARERS UPGRADE SKILLS ABOARD ‘GREAT WHITE SHIPS’ COME HIGH WATERS, SEAFARERS SURVIVE FLOOD OF ‘93 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 08/01/1993 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. 8 1993 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/85354b5c87c1c8443c17be0d6c4779e5.PDF a6c2587c497bea024f99be5748ef9229 PDF Text Text :':-'vXd:7, mnau. ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS WTERNATIONAL UNION • ATIANTIC GULF, UKES ANDmNP WATERS DISTRia_*AF^ r-v' H. R. 4003 g-ams for certain maritime pro- i:'r 77 ;jj , - �• •; • .'^ .' • ; • 2 AUaiSTtiSi<t4 SEAFARERS LOG ..'J t.-t irl V Vlb'L.;/<. President's Report One Step Taken It will be up to the Senate to move the bill next. Indications are that the Senate in­ tends to move on this legislation quickly. We are hopeful this will be the case. But once The vote of the House of Representatives on a bill which preserves the U..S.-flag liner enacted, this is not the end of the road for the U.S. maritime industry. There is much industry leaves Senate action, a possible conference committee and the signature of the more to be done. Comprehensive, forward looking programs must be developed to president of the United States on a bill as the remaining steps before promote other segments of the U.S. merchant marine—dry bulk carriers, tankers, the nation has its first major piece of maritime legislation in close passenger ships and vessels in the domestic trades. to 20 years. It has been a long road. The House of Representatives bill that was adopted by a 294 to 122 vote to implement certain funding mechanisms to enisure a U.S.-flag liner fleet into the twenty-first century had its origins in a proposal first made in 1992. When Federico Pena took up the duties of the head of the Department of Transportation in early 1993, he made a program for the U.S.-flag merchant marine a top priority. Secretary Pena's commitment to the U.S. flag merchant marine has been unwavering over the past two Michael Sacco years and he should be commended for his determination to secure a new maritime program. Along with the crucial ingredient of administration backing, the effort had the un­ yielding support of the vast majority of representatives and senators who serve on com­ mittees with jurisdiction over the merchant marine. Under the leadership of Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee; Jack Fields (R-Texas), the committee's ranking minority member; William Lipinski (D111.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee; and Herbert Bateman (RVa.), the subcommittee's ranking rninority member, the Maritime Administration and Promotional Reform Act (H.R. 4003), as it came to be known, was kept on the front burner in a year when Congress had crime, health care and trade as its priorities. These congressmen not only did an excellent job in pressing for the bill's enactment this year, but they also brought together a broad base of support for the legislation. Remembering Paul Hail This month marks the anniversary of Paul Hall's birth. We in the Seafarers take time oiit this month to commemorate the man who was the SIU's top officer from 1947 until his death in 1980. His birthday, August 20, is a holiday under SIU collective bargaining agreements. In this year, which would have been his 80th birthday, it is worth talung a moment to reflect on his vision for a strong U.S. shipping capability with job oppor­ tunities for American seamen to serve the nation's economic and defense interests. Al­ though it has been 14 years since Hall died, his vision remains our vision. Being the Best—EPA Certification As president of this union, I often have the opportunity to talk about how Seafarers are the most highly qualified and proficient seamen in the world. The fact that so many Seafarers have enrolled in the Lundeberg School's courses leading toward certification as EPA-approved refrigeration technicians is proof that SIU members are committed to being the most qualified seamen around. When Seafarers in shipboard positions which handle refrigerants obtain feftigeration technician certification, SIU contracted com­ panies are assured that they will have prepared, competent crews that comply with federal regulations. For those Seafarers who have yet to attend a Lundeberg School refrigeration technician certification course at either one of the union halls or the school's center at Piney Point, Md., I would urge you to do so. Remaining the most qualified Seafarers is a good way to ensure your job security. Seafarers Recall Hall Legacy August 20 marks the 80th an­ ecutive officer of theSIU Atlantic he believed that knowledge was niversary of the birth of Paul Hall, and Gulf District He led the union the key to advancement. the man who served as the head through the general strike of 1947 In 1952, Hall established an of the SIU from 1947 until his when mariners won never before educational and training program death in 1980 and who profound­ achieved gains in wages and for SIU members. ly shaped and advanced the SIU. benefits. He spearheaded AeSIU's In 1967, the SIU's education This special day is acknowledged many organizing victories, includ­ program became the Seafarers each year by a contracted holiday ing tfiose with the most recalcitrant Harry Lundeberg School of for all SIU members (celebrated employers such as Isthmian lines Seamanship, located in Piney this year on August 22). and Cities Service tankers. Point, Md. Today, the school is Hall's concern for the seaman While forceful with com­ part of the Paul Hall Center for motivated his work throughout panies in behalf of Seafarers, Hall Maritime Training and Educa­ his career. Bosun Ralph Moore, was equally tion. who sails from the port of Hous­ demanding Hall's recognition of the key ton, remembers Hall from his of SIU role training would play in the job Paul Hall began his maritime career as a member of the engine days when he first began shipping members. security of seamen is a part of his department. He Is pictured standing, fifth from the left, with other in 1962. "He was president of the Gerald M. legacy most keenly felt by engine department members In 1938 aboard the Gateway City, a union, but more like father, Haliigan, a Seafarers. "One thing I truly Waterman ship which was one of the union's first contracted vessels. brother and friend to all of us. We deck departrespected about Paul was that he This photo was supplied to the LOGby Pensioner John A. Smith. knew he cared about our future m e n t saw the way the industry was and our welfare." Seafarer going and started the union's was doing and he stood behind all passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. Hall, who was born in from the education program, now the Lun­ of us all ttie way." Hall became president of the Recalling Hall's tenacity, Alabama, began his seafaring port of New deberg School at Piney Point. If it Paul Hall career as a member of the engine Orleans, weren't for the school, the SIU Seafarers International Union of which was a key ingredient in the department before the SIU came who filed for wouldn't be around, in my North America upon the death of many successful legislative and into being. He had belonged to the his pension this year, remem­ opinion, because of the new Harry Lundeberg in 1957. Later organizational achievements of old International Seamen's bered when he met Hall after a modern technology in the in­ that year, he was elected president the SIU during Hall's tenure, of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades OMU Guadalupe Garza noted, Union, but joined the SIU as a strike against Delta Line. "He dustry," said Bosun Moore. Another one of the Department (MTD). Under his "You could feel Paul Hall's charter member in 1938 in its ef­ came aboard our ships to make forts to improve the working con­ sure the company was living up to beneficiaries of the Lundeberg leadership, the MTD grew in authority when you were around ditions of American seamen and its end of the contract and to make School recounted his meeting membership from six to 43 him or with him." Garza, who to keep the East Coast seamen's sure we would live up to our end. with Hall. "As a trainee, I met unions. In 1962, he was elected to started with the SIU in 1960, A committed trade unionist. Paul Hall in the cafeteria at the the AFL-CIO Executive Council. remembered, "I shook his hand labor movement from being taken During Hall's tenure, the SIU once. I could tell he was different over by members of the Com­ Hall continually offered the ser­ Lundeberg School," stated Bosun munist Party, who had agendas vices of the SIU to workers in any Jini Dawson, who graduated from became a major force in the than other people. He walked dif­ other than seamen's concerns as kind of struggle, no matter their the entiy level program in 1974. political arena. Working closely ferently. You could feel the their focus. union. During this period, the SIU He really impressed me with what with the Nixon administration power coming from him. You Hall sailed in the 1930s and gained its reputation for coming he was doing for the union. He and key members of Congress, knew he was there and that he into World War 11 before coming to the aid of other labor unions. showed me that he knew what he the SIU assisted in securing the would make a difference." ashore for the union. In 1944, he Hall used the collective bar­ worked as a patrolman for the gaining process to further the port of Baltimore; He was elected security of Seafarers and their port agent for New York shortly families by establishing the thereafter. Seafarers Welfare, Pension and The man who built a small dent Michael Sacco upon the Hall's genius for strategy Vacation plans for the union's tug company into one of the death of Crowley. served the SIU well when he as­ membership. nation's leading shipping cor"His wide-ranging maritime Education was very important porations,Thomas B. Crowley interests and drive certainly gave sumed in 1947 the position of director of organizing for the to Hall. Although he only had eight Sr., died July 7 in San Francisco work opportunities to American Union and, next, as the chief ex- years of formal schooling, himself. following a battle with cancer. mariners. He will be missed." Today, Seafarers can be The chairman and chief execu­ tive officer of Crowley Maritime found working aboard Crowley Corporation, was 79 years old. American Transport deep sea August 1994 Volume 56. Number 8 The SIU has a long history of roll-on/roll-off vessels. working with Tom Crowley in Crowley tugboats and barges his many and varied efforts to sailing among the ports of S^an The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published expand his company's opera­ Juan, Jacksonville, Fla., Lake monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Charles, La. and Philadelphia; tions. Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) "The SIU had a long, ex­ and tugboats in Wilmington, Thomas B. Crowley Sr. was In­ 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSG Prince Geor­ tremely amicable and decent Calif, that handle docking strumental In turning Crowley ges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing olfices. relationship with Crowley operations as well as move Maritime from a local tug and launch service to a major U.S.POSTMASTER; Send address changes to the Seafarers Maritime Corporation thanks to bunker and derrick barges. Crowley worked for 61 years flag maritime Industry. LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. the fairness, even-handedness and dedication to the American- in the company founded in 1892 Managing Editor,Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jor­ flag merchant marine in which by his father. He took over from its origins as a tug and dan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen; Associate Thomas Crowley felt American rhanagement of the company launch company to the many Editor/Production, Deborah A Hirtes;. Art, Bill Brower; seafaring workers were an es­ when his father retired at age 75. maritime fields it presently unAdministrative Support, Jeanne Textor. sential part," noted SIU Presi­ Crowley took the company Continued on page 13 Shipping Visionary, Crowiey, Dies at 79 ' " •.r- t^§S^0fi: �AUGUST1994 SEAFARERS LOG 3 ' v i--v' By294-122, House BaiHcs U.S. Ship Plan fer • . .:"• '•: Maritime revitalization legis­ included funds in excess of the $1 lation cleared a major hurdle on billion requested by the ad­ August 2 when the House of Rep­ ministration. The committee ap­ resentatives approved a 10-year, proved a $1.7 billion, 10-year $1.35 billion program designed to program funded by a flat 53-cent provide for a U.S.-flag ship per ton duty that would have been operating program as well as to charged on the first annual 12 aid American shipbuiling. visits to U.S. ports from foreign The Maritime Administration destinations. and Promotional Reform Act H.R. 4003 was referred to the (H.R. 4003) goes to the Senate for Ways and Means Committee consideration following the 294before it went to the full House. 122 vote by the House. Senate Under the rules of the House, the action on the bill, which has the Ways and Means Committee backing of the Clinton ad­ must review any legislation that ministration, is expected to begin includes a tax increase. early this month. Last month, the Ways and "Today, the House voted to Means Committee significantly ensure that American flags con­ scaled back the funding and tinue to fly from vessels carrying Rep. Jack Fields (R-Texas), left, and Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) are two of the four co-sponsors of eliminated dollars for shipyards this nation's commerce," noted the maritime revitalization bill that passed in the House on August 2. They are pictured here in their roles after the world's shipbuilding na­ U.S. Representative Gerry Studds as floor chairmen during the August 2 debate on the bill. tions reached an agreement in (D-Mass.), the chairman of the principle to eliminate all shipyard House Merchant Marine and H.R. 4003 would be funded by a subsidies by the year 1999. The Fisheries Committee, after the flat 38-cent per ton duty collected on maritime revitalization legis by a 347 to 65 margin in Novem­ committee, headed by acting lation that began in May 1993. ber 1993. However, the legisla­ vote. from all vessels entering U.S. At that time, legislation outlin tion did not include any means for Chairman Sam Gibbons (D-Fla.), who has advocated the elimina­ Joining with him in praise of ports from foreign harbors. (Great ing a revitalization program was funding the program. tion of worldwide shipbuilding the House support for the legisla­ Lakes traffic between the U.S. and introduced in the House as H.R subsidies, believed funding for tion wasTransportation Secretary Canada is exempted.) The fee 2151 by Studds; Rep. Jack Fields Administration Support Federico Pefia, who called the bill would be collected on Ae first 25 (R-Texas), the ranlang minority In February 1994, Pefia an­ the shipyards was against the in­ "a milestone moment in our trips to an American port each year. member of the Merchant Marine nounced at the AFL-CIO ternational agreement. The Ways and Means Com­ nation's maritime history. I ap­ and Fisheries Committee; Rep Maritime Trades Department ex­ plaud Chairman Studds and the Expected to Raise $135 Million William Lipinski (D-111.), chair­ ecutive board meeting that the ad- mittee then substituted its own members of his committee for their Such a funding mechanism is man of the Merchant Marine Sub­ ministration would include funding language into H.R. 4003. bipartisan cooperation in moving expected to raise an average of committee; and Rep. Herbert funding for a 10-year, $1 billion The committee proposed raising this legislation and providing the $135 million a year from Fiscal Bateman (R-Va.), ranking program for the U.S.-flag mer­ $1.05 billion over a 10-year funding for the maritime revitSiza- Year 1995 to 2004. minority member of the subcom­ chant fleet. A month later, the period for 52 U.S.-flag merchant tion program." With the passage of H.R. mittee. plan took shape in the form of a ships by collecting a 22-cent per As approved by the House, 4003, the House completes work H.R. 2151 cleared the House bill, H.R. 4003. Pena as well as ton duty on the first 12 annual representatives from the visits, a penny-a-gallon tax on maritime industry spoke before commercial ship diesel and House and Senate committee residual fuel on vessels departing hearings on the legislation, for foreign ports and a $2 increase Jean Ingrao, who retired last ing the Labor Advisory Com­ designed to help fund a mini­ on the cruise tax on passengers. This funding formula, which year as the executive secretaiymittee for Trade Negotiations, mum of 52 U.S.-flag liner ves­ would have collected $1.05 bil­ treasurer of the AFL-ClO Occupational Safety and Health sels. lion over 10 years, was the pack­ Maritime Trades Department Committee, Organization and Originally, the program called age presented to the House for its (MTD), succumbed to cancer on Field Services Committee and for raising $100 million annually July 7. She was 63 years old. the ad hoc Committee on State by raising tonnage fees. For those consideration. When the bill came to the Ingrao became one of the first and Central Labor Councils. She ships arriving in a U.S. port from floor, Studds and Fields offered women ever elected to an also was a member of the Boy a nearby Western Hemisphere an amendment that would return officer's position when the Scouts of America's national foreign harbor, the fee would go the funding for H.R. 4003 to only labor advisory committee and from nine to 24 cents per MTD executive board in 1979 the changes in the amount col­ helped establish the Sea Scout registered ton. On those vessels voted her into the post she held lected as tonnage fees. program so young men and coming from other foreign ports, until her retirement last year. "H.R. 4003 will provide the women could learn more about the duty was scheduled to in­ "Jean Ingrao was truly dedi­ necessary new revenues to sup­ the maritime industry. cated to causes of the U.S.-flag crease from 27 to 71 cents per port the American maritime in­ She represented the labor registered ton. Fees would not be merchant marine and the dustry," Fields told his Jean Ingrao began her career in movement in the U.S. delegation collected after the first five visits American labor movement, colleagues. "We are talking about noted SIU President Michael the labor movement in 1950„retir- for the Law of the Sea negotia­ each year. supporting our national defense Sacco, who also serves as the ing in February 1993 after 43 tions and attended meetings of When H.R. 4003 emerged sealift needs with fiilly crewed years of dedicated service. the International Labor Or­ from the Merchant Marine and head of the MTD. "She worked ganization in Geneva, Switzer­ Fisheries Committee in May, it tirelessly throughout her life for Continued on page 8 in 1977 and gave her the land. working men and women. Her spirit and devotion will be authority to cany out the func­ After 43 years in the labor tions of the executive secretary- movement, she announced her missed." retirement in February 1993 Ingrao started her career in treasurer. Two years later, at the during the MTD executive board the labor movement in 1950 as a secretary in the office of Wil­ department's convention, she meeting. Frank Pecquex took The Senate Commerce, operating program as well as as­ liam Green, the president of the was elected the MTD executive over as executive secretary- Science and Transportation Com­ sistance to U.S. shipbuilding. As American Federation of Labor secretary-treasurer, becoming treasurer when her retirement be­ mittee, in the next several weeks, written the program would begin (AFL). She remained on the staff the first woman ever to be came effective in June. will meet to finalize the Maritime with Fiscal Year 1995, which of the president when George elected an officer in one of the Ingrao is survived by her hus­ Administration and Promotional starts October 1. Meany was elected to the posi­ AFL-CIO's constitutionally band, Leonard; two sons, Reform Act (H.R. 4003), which Initial plans from the commit­ tion upon the death of Green in mandated departments. Michael and Mark; and two passed the House 294-122 earlier tee indicate it would like to com­ 1952. While serving the MTD, In­ grandchildren, Christopher and this month. From this mark up plete work on H.R. 4003 early in In 1955, the Washington na­ grao also was a member of Katie. A funeral mass was held session, the bill goes to the Senate August and send the bill to the ffill tive was appointed the ad­ several AFL-ClO panels includ­ July 11 in Falls Church, Va. floor for a vote by the full Senate. body for debate and vote. The ministrative assistant for Peter Senator John Breaux (D-La.), Senate will recess in mid-August McGavin, who was working out chairman of the committee's and return after Labor Day. the details for the merger be­ Merchant Marine Subcommittee, Should the committee or ffill tween the AFL and the Congress ARITIt already has held several hearings Senate make any changes in H.R. of Industrial Organizations on the bill's main issue: the 4003 while passing Ae legisla­ (CIO). Five years later, Mc­ revitalization of the U.S.-flag tion, a conference committee Gavin was elected the executive merchant fleet. During those composed of House and Senate secretary-treasurer for the MTD. learings, he noted that he was in- members would be formed to Ingrao came to the department to erested in finding additional work out the differences. The con­ work with him on grassroots and finding sources to increase the ference committee could accept legislative efforts. number of vessels covered by the eidier the House or Senate vosion In 1975, McGavin died of egislation. or craft its own bill which would cancer. Ingrao took over many The Senate has withheld Work then be presented to both bodies f(xr of his duties, but the position of on its own bill to permit the House approvd or disapproval. executive secretary-treasuref :o finish its efforts. H.R. 4003 as If H.R. 4003 is passed by both remained vacant. The MTD ex­ MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Jean Ingrao joins with Vice passed on August 2 calls for a the House and Soiate, it will go to ecutive board appointed her as President William Zenga (left) and President Michael Sacco in 0-year, $1.35 billion program to the president for his signature, the department's administrator taking the oath of office during the department's 1991 convention. provide for a U.S.-flag ship which would make the bill a law. Ingrao Dies; Served MTD for 30 Years v...'. Senate Panel Expected to Mark Up Maritime Program Biii in August 1: • ;/' ,V • •. 1 TV'/; i •m •J �4 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST 1994 CG Issues Rule on Proof of Ability to Pay for Spills The U.S. Coast Guard last toughest for the individua claimants. Many insurers object ships owned by the military and operator or one of its agents or month published an interim final operators—such as the tanker to this proviso; the Coast Guard is private ships bareboat-chartered employees. rule that spells out what types of companies that have contracts accepting comments until Sep­ by the military, also are exempt However, because the latter There is a phase-in schedule of provision can easily be broken proof vessel owners and with the SIU—because they are tember 29. compliance dates. Self-propelled and OPA '90 permits third-party operators must submit to the not attached to deep-pocketed Vessel Applicability tankers must comply by Decem­ claimants to sue insurers directly agency in order to demonstrate parent companies. The financial responsibility ber 28. The date for tank barges is (the direct action provision), their respective capacity to pay Proposed in '91 requirements are applicable to all July 1, 1995. Other vessels must many traditional providers of oil for costs and damages resulting First proposed three years ago, owners and operators of U.S. and comply when their existing cer­ pollution insurance are objecting from an oil spill or other hazard­ the interim rule fulfills require­ foreign-flag vessels of more than tificates of financial respon­ to the rule. ous material spill. The proof of ability to pay is ments for exhibiting increased 300 gross tons that use the waters sibility expire, beginning Insurers also contend that even demonstrated through certificates levels of financial responsibility of the exclusive economic zone December 28. in the event of an accident under of financial responsibility. The as called for by the Oil Pollution (which extends 200 nautical Insurers Balk which an operator's liability methods for establishing finan­ Act (CPA '90) and the Com­ miles off the U.S. coast) to tran­ limits were upheld by OPA '90, The rule requires vessel prehensive Environmental ship or lighter oil (whether cial responsibility include the actual cost of the spill could evidence of insurance, surety Response, Compensation and delivering or receiving) destined operators to establish evidence of exceed those limits. They argue bond, qualification as a self-in­ Liability Act (CERCLA). for a place subject to the jurisdic­ financial responsibility sufficient that the limits would be over­ to meet potential liability under Besides defining the methods tion of the United States. surer, guarantee and other turned in court, leaving them ex­ evidence. (A vessel operator may of establishing greater financial They also apply to all other CPA '90 and CERCLA. These posed to unlimited liability. establish financial responsibility responsibility, the rule identifies vessels using the navigable amounts range as high as $1,500 Penalties for non-compliance by any one or by any combination to whom the rule applies; lists the waters of the U.S. or any port per gross ton or $15 million, range from a civil penalty of up to schedule of compliance dates for whichever is greater. of these means.) subject to U.S. jurisdiction (since different types of vessels; and sets CPA '90 limits a vessel $25,000 per day under OPA '90, they carry bunkers which may be None of these procedures is operator's liability to the amount to a Class I administrative civil considered simple, and U.S. ves­ the penalties for violating the spilled). sel owners and operators current­ financial responsibility require­ Exceptions to the regulation of financial responsibility re­ penalty of up to $25,000 under are vessels that are lighter than quired to be shown, except in cer­ CERCLA, to a Class II ad­ ly are exploring whether or not ments. Moreover, as provided in CPA 300 gross tons and non-self- tain circumstances, such as gross ministrative civil penalty or judi­ these options are viable enough to enable them to comply with the '90, the rule establishes that in­ propelled barges that do not carry negligence or willful misconduct cial penalty of $25,000 per day of surers and other providers of oil as cargo or fuel and that do not or the violation of an applicable violation (or $75,000 per day for rule. The requirement of showing financial responsibility will be carry hazardous substances as federal safety, construction or second or subsequent violations) ability to pay huge sums is subject to direct action from cargo. Public vessels, including operating regulation by the under CERCLA. Health Care Oebate Hits Congressional Floors This Month Both houses of Congress are account the estimated bill-pad­ as part-time workers, the un­ coverage for any reason. cooperative could vary rates scheduled to begin what could be ding done by hospitals to com­ employed and the poor, would The Mitchell bill differs dras­ depending on a person's age. this year's next-to-last debates on pensate for care received by the have the same choices as those at tically from the Gephardt bill in Substitutes may be offered uninsured. large companies—either through terms of the employer mandate. It during debate in both the House health care reform August 9. Many lawmakers on Capitol the Federal Employees Health would not require employers to The two bills under considera­ Hill reportedly are; hopeful of Benefits Program, a new pay for their employees' in­ and Senate. Assuming each body tion were crafted separately by passes a bill, a House/Senate con­ the majority leaders in the House enacting a health care bill before Medicare plan known as Part C, surance until the year 2002, and ference committee then will forge and Senate, based on other bills this session ends in October. or state-run insurance purchasing then only if voluntary steps did a final version which is returned cooperatives. Elderly citizens not raise coverage to 95 percent which were reported out of the As for the specifics of the would continue in an expanded of all citizens. Even then, to each chamber for a vote. five committees which have juris­ employers only would pay 50 diction over health care legisla­ debate, the AFL-CIO, the Medicare program. Clinton Will Back The benefits package outlined percent of all their employees' American federation of national tion. Senate Bill in the Gephardt bill would cover health benefits. Middle-class families trade unions, has maintained that hospital bills and doctor bills, Employees at companies with During a nationally televised it will support a health care bill throughout the United States with an annual combined deduct­ fewer than 500 workers, as well press conference on .August 3, only if it provides comprehen­ both those with insurance ant ible of $500 per person or $750 as the unemployed and the poor without—have a major stake in sive, irrevocable coverage for all per family. It includes coverage would buy insurance from President Clinton said he believes these proceedings. The majority citizens (universal coverage), dis­ for pediatrics, pregn9ncy ser­ cooperatives to be established by that the 95 percent coverage goal of the almost 40 million unin­ tributes costs fairly, ensures cpst- vices, mental health care, a wide non-profit groups, states or local in the Mitchell bill ultimately sured citizens are full-time control measures and does not range of tests and long-term home governments. They also could would lead to universal coverage, workers (and their dependents) make any portion of health care. purchase the federal insurance "and I would sign it." benefits taxable income. whose employers do not provide The Gephardt bill also package. The bill also would ex­ The Gephardt bill more close­ health benefits. They and others specifies that a patient would pay pand Medicare. ly resembles the president's Will Employers Pay? 20 percent of prescription drug who are without coverage are left The Mitchell bill benefits original health care bill, the The federation supports the costs, with a separate deductible package includes doctor and Health Security Act, in that it only to hope that no one in their employer mandate (which would of $500 and an annual limit of hospital bills, prescription drugs, calls for immediate universal family suffers a major injury or require all employers to provide $1,000 for total prescription ex­ home health services and more. coverage and an 80-20 employer severe illness which may lead to their employees with health pense. Insurance companies could mandate. Clinton alluded to irreversible financial ruin. Finally, under the Gephardt not deny or drop coverage be­ favoring the Gephardt bill, but benefits) called for in the bill Insured Paying Cost drafted by House Majority plan, health insurance companies cause of illness. But health in- left no doubt that he would sign Many of those who have Leader Richard Gephardt (D- would not be permitted to deny surance firms participating in a the Mitchell bill. coverage, including Seafarers, Mo.). It is certain that neither repeatedly have made sacrifices Gephardt's bill nor the one in order to maintain their health As the Great Lakes sailing drafted by Senate Majority insurance. During the past season reaches its peak in August decade, while health care costs Leader George Mitchell IDand September, all SlU-contracted skyrocketed, workers routinely Maine) will be approved without Lakers have been broken out. were forced to choose between amendments. Among the issues The vessels—self-unloaders, wage increases or keeping their expected to be hotly debated are the employer mandate and other cement carriers, bulkers and benefits. tug/barges—have been busy They have paid not only for )ossible funding mechanisms, resupplying coal, iron ore, grain, their coverage, but also for treat­ the target percentage of stone, cement and other products ment received by uninsured Americans to be covered and the depleted during the harsh winter patients who cannot or do not pay content of the standard benefits of 1993-94. TTie ships also are their bills. Those unpaid in­ package itself. delivering goods to ensure these If a health care bill is enacted essential materials are available voices—including ones for emer­ gency-room care, the most into law, the benefits package it during the upcoming winter expensive form of treatment- contains would be merely a min­ season when the Lakers are The SlU-crewed Charles Wilson offloads iron ore in the port of translate into higher premiums imum set of coverages to be made forced into safe harbors. Ashtabula, Ohio while a freight train waits to transport it to a steel mill. Seafarers have been sailing and higher fees for the insured. available to all citizens. But it In another example of this type would not necessarily replace the steadily for several months after mum of layups for SlU-crewed panies that operate on the Great of cost-shifting, a study by die benefits currently enjoyed by they finally were able to report to vessels, noted Byron Kelley, the Lakes, attributes the backlog National Association of those who already have health their vessels in late March and union's vice president for the created by the winter and growing April. Many shipping companies Great Lakes and inland waters. industry needs as the reasons for Manufacturers concluded that coverage. The Gephardt bill would re­ were forced to delay this spring's U.S. companies that offer health The Lakes Carriers' Associa­ all the ships to be in service. benefits to their employees pay quire businesses to pay at least 80 fitout because of severe icing on tion has announced that for the Most Great Lakes vessels more than $26 billion a year to lercent of all of their employees' Lakes left over from the area's first time since the late 1970s, all traditionally sail into December cover spouses who work a( busi­ lealth care insurance premiums. harshest winter in 16 years. self-unloaders in the U.S.-flag and early January before ice for­ Once they did get the ships out of fleet are operating. nesses that do not provide Companies with fewer than 1(X) mations in the harbors and on the coverage. The figure rose to al­ employees would receive tax sub­ layup, wwk has been non-stop for The association, which repre­ lakes force them into port until most $37 billion when taking into sidies, and workers there, as well the crews. Thae has been a mini- sents U.S.-flag shipping com­ spring. All SlU-Contradml Lakers Are at Work �.-^ m AUGUST1994 SEAFARERS LOG 5 For Refrigeration Certification 20 Courses Ojvefi To Seahnrs Instructors from the Paul Hall the EPA exam, which is divided Center are scheduled toconduct the into four parts. Lundeberg School's new, intensive The first 25 questions are basic Environmental Protection Agency and general. The next 25 refer to (EPA)-approved refrigeration small appliances. Passing these technician certification course this sections leads to a Type I cer­ month at the SIU halls in Jackson­ tification. The next 25 questions ville, Fla., Mobile, Ala., New Or­ cover high-pressure refrigerants. leans and Houston. Passing this section and the core QMEDs, electricians, part of the test leads to Type II refrigeration engineers, junior en­ certification. gineers and anyone else involved The final 25 questions concern in the repair and servicing of low-pressure refrigerants. If a stu­ QMED Charles Pomraning (who, through his t-shirt, displays the philosophy that brought about the regulation aimed at reducing ozone-depleting agents) listens to Instructor Eric Malzkuhn explain the work refrigeration equipment and air dent passes this section and the of a refrigerant recovery unit during the EPA refrigeration technician certification course in Baltimore last month. conditioning systems must be core questions, he or she earns certified to do so by the U.S. Type III certification. government by November 14. Anyone who passes all four Passing the refrigeration tech­ nician course will result in SIU Commonly asked ques­ members obtaining the required tions about how the new EPA rule affects Seafarers certification. In order to aid Seafarers in are answered on page 6. After November l4, seamen Whereas, The EPA, on May 14, gineer or other position which car­ earning the certification—manwho hold refrigeration technician 1993, published in the Federa ries duties of handling dated by regulations implement­ sections earns what is known as a certifications recognized by the Register regulations that imple refrigerants, holding an EP/ ing the 1990 amendments to the Universal certification. Environmental Protection Agency mented Section 608 of Title Vi Refrigeration Technician Cer­ Clean Air Act—the Lundeberg The SIU encourages all (EPA) will be given priority within (Vol. 58, No. 92) and included in tification of Type I and Type II. School last month announced a QMEDs to test for Universal cer­ his or her class of seniority for al the Code of Federal Regulations Be It Resolved, After November nationwide schedule for the tification. At minimum, most QMED, electrician, refrigeration as 40 CFR Part 82. Section 608 14, 1994, priority will be given to refrigeration technician certifica­ Seafarers who handle refrigerants and junior engineer jobs, the establishes guidelines for han­ any Seafarer shipping in the tion course. The first on-site clas­ will need Type I and Type II cer­ Seafarers Appeals Board (SAB dling and then eliminating CFC- capacity of QMED any rating. ses took place in early Jiily at the tification (galley equipment is announced early this month. based refrigerants in stationary Junior Engineer, Electrician, Baltimore SIU hall (see separate covered under Type I and ships' The action of the SAB, which refrigeration and air-conditioning Refrigeration Engineer or other story on page 10). Many other stores systems are covered under is made up of an equal number of systems. Among the provisions oj position which carries duties of ports also are scheduled to host Type II). Seafarers who work union and employer repre­ the EPA's regulations is the desig­ handling refrigerants who is as­ the classes, the last of which will aboard cruise ships should seek sentatives, ensures that Seafarers nation of refrigerant technicians, suming a job on a passenger ship, take place during the first week of Universal certification, because remain the most qualified seamen defined as any individual who per­ or other vessels designated by the December, in St. Louis. (See passenger ships are likely to use in the world, meeting all the neces­ forms maintenance, service or SIU which utilize low pressure schedule below.) low-pressure refrigerants. sary government requirements. repair on equipment using certain refrigerants, holding an EPA There is no limit to the number The refrigeration technician Shipping companies that are sig­ ozone-depleting substances, such Refrigeration Technician Cer­ certification course also is avail­ of times a person may take the tification of Type Universal. natories to a collective bargaining as CFCs, into the air. test, so different certification's Whereas, The EPA technician Be It Resolved, Any Seafarer able as a mandatory part of all may be earned at different times. agreement with the Seafarers In­ engine department upgrading ternational Union (SIU) are as­ requirement calls for all in­ who misses the EPA certification courses at the Paul Hall Center in Rationale for Regs sured compliance with EPA dividuals with duties that require deadline of November 14, 1994, Piney Point, Md. The Clean Air Act amendments regulations. Violations of the the opening of refrigeration sys­ because he or she is on a vessel at After November 14, Seafarers that were announced in May 1993 EPA's regulations that are aimed tems to be certified by the agency the time, will be required to obtain who sail in shipboard ratings that were developed so that the United his or her certification at the ear­ at reducing the release of by November 14, 1994. handle refrigerants and who have States would reduce and then phase Whereas, The EPA technician liest available possible date after chloroflourocarbons (CFC) into an EPA certification card will be out the use of chloroflourocarbons the atmosphere, including the re­ requirement calls for all tech­ disembarking from that ship. given priority within their class of (CFCs) because of their link to Be It Resolved, Article IX Ship­ quirement that individuals han­ nicians to maintain a copy of their seniority rating. dling refrigerants be certified, can technician certification card at ping Rules Rule 5 Preference and depleting the atmosphere's ozone be quite costly. A company can be their place of employment after Priorities A 5 shall be amended by Four-Part Test layer. Refrigeration and air con­ adding new paragraphs(d) and (e) fined $25,000 if found violating November 14,1994. The Lundeberg School's two- ditioning systems often use CFCWhereas, On SIU-contracted which shall read as follows. these regulations. day course prepares students for based refrigerants. (d) Within each class of The action, no. 374 , calls for ships. Seafarers who are rated as QMEDs any rating; QMED QMED's l-2-3-or-4. Junior En­ seniority rating in the Engine 1994 REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN electricians; chief electricians; gineers, Electricians, Refrigera­ Department, priority for the job of COURSE SCHEDULE second electricians; chief, first, tion Engineers and others in the QMED any rating, QMED second and third refrigeration normal course of their shipboard Electrician, Chief Electrician, DATE LOCATION DAY (reefer) engineers; engine utility duties handle refrigerants in gal­ Second Electrician, Chief, 1st, reefer maintenance men; ley equipment and ships' stores 2nd, and 3rd Reefer Engineer, En­ Jacksonville, Fla Tue.-Wed. Aug. 9-10 gine Utility Reefer Maintenance, electrician/reefer maintenance high pressure systems. Jacksonville, Ra Thu.-Fri. Aug. 11-12 Whereas, On SlU-contracted Electrician/Reefer Maintenance men and unlicensed junior en­ Mobile, Ala. Aug. 16-17 Tue.-Wed. passenger ships. Seafarers who and Unlicensed Jr. Engineer will gineers to be given, within their Mobile, Ala. Aug. 18-19 Thu.-Frl. class of seniority rating, priority are rated as QMED's l-2-3-or-4. be given to those seamen possess­ New Orieans Aug. 23-24 Tue.-Wed. for shipping if they hold the Junior Engineers, Electricians, ing a valid Type 1 or 11 EPA New Orieans Aug. 25-26 Thu.-Fri. refrigeration technician certifica­ Refrigeration Engineers and Refrigeration Technician Cer­ others in the normal course of their tification card. Such card must be * Houston tion. Aug. 29-30 Mon.-Tue. shown to the union port agent or shipboard duties handle both low Houston Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Wed.-Thu. To prepare Seafarers for the refrigeration technician certifica­ pressure and high pressure his designee at the time a Seafarer Piney Point, Md. Sept. 7-8 Wed. Thu. tion test, the Paul Hall Center's refrigerants and small appliances. is clearing the hall to ship. Norfolk, Va. Sept. 13-14 Tue.-Wed, (e) Within each class of Whereas, The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School has been con­ Norfolk, Va. Sept. 15-16 Thu.-Fri. ducting two-day courses at its cen­ Lundeberg School of Seamanship seniority rating in the Engine Wilmington, Calif. Sept. 27-28 Tue.-Wed. Department, priority for the job of ter in Piney Point, Md. and at SIU at the Paul Hall Center for QMED any rating, QMED Wilmington, Calif. Sept. 29-30 Thu.-Fri. lalls around the country. The full Maritime Training and Education Electrician, Chief Electrician, San Francisco* Oct. 3-4 Mon.-Tue. has taken the following steps to text of the SAB action follows. assist Seafarers to obtain their Second Electrician, Chief, 1st, San Francisco* Oct. 5-6 Wed.-Thu. Seafarers Appeals Board EPA Refrigeration Technician 2nd, and 3rd Reefer Engineer, En­ Seattle Tue.-Wed. Oct. 11-12 Action No. 374 certification: Establishing the gine Utility Reefer Maintenance, Seattle Oct. 13-14 Thu.-Fri. The Seafarers Appeals Board facility as an EPA testing site, es­ Electrician/Reefer Maintenance Honolulu Oct. 19-20 Wed.-Thu. acting under and pursuant to the tablishing SIU halls around the and Unlicensed Jr. Engineer for a Honolulu Oct. 21-22 Fri.-Sat. Collective Bargaining Agreement country as EPA testing sites, tassenger or other vessel requir­ Port Everglades, Ra. Nov. 8-9 Tue.-Wed. jetween the Union and the various having Lundeberg School instruc­ ing a Universal certificate will be possessing given to those seamen Port Everglades, Fla. Nov. 10-11 Thu.-Fri. tors become qualified as teachers Contracted Employers, hereby a valid Universal Type EPA of courses to prepare students for San Juan, P.P. Nov. 16-17 Wed.-Thu. takes the following action: Refrigeration Technician Cer­ the EPA exam. Whereas, The U.S. government San Juan, P.P. Nov. 18-19 Fri.-Sat. Now Therefore Be It Resolved, tification card. Such card must be has charged the Environmental Algonac, Mich. Nov. 29-30 Tue.-Wed. to the union port agent or Protection Agency (EPA) with the After November 14,1994, priority shown Dec. 1-2 Duluth, Minn. Thu.-Fri. responsibility of promulgating will be given to any Seafarer ship­ his designee at the time a Seafarer St. Louis Dec. 6-7 Tue.-Wed. rules and enforcing the intent of ping in the capacity of QMED any is clearing the hall to ship. C^These dates difler from previously published dates fmr San Irancisco. the Clean Air Act Amendments of rating. Junior Engineer, dates {Niblished here are correct.) Date: August 1, 1994 Electrician, Refrigeration En­ 1990. SAB: Refrigeration Techs to Be Given Priority for Certain Engine Positions J i ^ -y-P': .. • i .: ll • '• .'i't;/.. ; •' -•'^4 M-' 'M: •M' �6 AUGUST1994 SEAFARERS LOG Q&A: How the New EPA Rule Affects Seamen •<,'•••'• V.'.v'"!!-- '• •-f - •' . '"." i .. " ' " • •• • deberg School strongly recommend that sels, Type 1/Type 11 certifications will be dividuals who handle refrigerants hold The Seafarers International Union [SIU) and the Lundeberg School of necessary. Certain other ships, particular­ Seafarers purchase the textbook for the an EPA certification, the Lundeberg Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for course between one month and two ly passenger vessels, may require all School did an assessment to determine Maritime Training and Education have em­ how the regulation would impact weeks in advance of taking the class. levels of certification—Type 1, Type 11 barked on a program to aid Seafarers in This study aid, entitled "Refrigerants and seamen. The school reviewed shipboard and Type 111. If an individual holds all obtaining their refrigeration technician the Environment," walks a Seafarer three types, he or she is said to have a jobs and equipment and surveyed the ex­ certification, which by November 14 will through all facets of the refrigeration tent of refrigerant handling in shipping. Universal certification. be required of any individual who handles technician certification. If a Seafarer Because certain shipboard jobs on Once it was determined that seamen refrigerants. reads this book and does the exercises passenger ships and other vessels with in certain shipboard positions would be What follows, in a question and answer after each chapter, he or she will be able centrifugal air conditioning systems will subject to the regulation, the Lundeberg format, is information for Seafarers on the to make the most out of the class. Even require individuals with Universal cer­ School applied with the EPA to be desig­ regulation that requires that individuals tification, the for Seafarers who take the course, there SIU encourages all of its nated as a testing and training center for who work with refrigerants be certified. is a direct correlation between reading members who handle refrigerants to seek the refrigeration technician certification Discussed below are how the regulation af­ the book in advance and passing the test, Universal certification. However, for course and exam. The Lundeberg School fects Seafarers and the training program says a Lundeberg instructor conducting most shipboard jobs on cargo vessels, also sought designation of every SIU available to SIU members to prepare for the classes. only Type 1/Type 11 certification will be hall in the country as a testing site. The the refrigeration technician certification necessary. EPA approved the Lundeberg School test. How does a Seafarer obtain the and the union halls as testing sites and What are Type I, Type II, Type III and book "Refrigerants and the Environ­ Why did the EPA establish the also certified its course. The Lundeberg Universal levels of refrigeration ment?" refrigeration technician certificaSchool also is approved to proctor the technician certification? I? Seafarers can purchase the book at union tion? exam. halls or by ordering it Ifom the Lun­ The EPA designates four levels of cer­ After many scientific studies showing deberg School. The cost of "Refrigerants tification. Type 1 covers work on What distinguishes the Lundeberg that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) con­ and the Environment" is $25.00. To refrigerants used in small appliances. An School's refrigeration technician tributed to the depletion of the world's example of this kind of equipment on a order the book from the Lundeberg ozone layer, some 90 countries, in 1937, certification course from ones avail­ ship might be a cold storage unit in a gal­ School, mail a $25.00 check made out to ratified an agreement calling for steps to able commercially? The EPA has found that the Lundeberg the "Paul Hall Center" and send to EPA ley. Type 11 is for work with high-pres­ be taken to reduce the release of CFCs School's course has the highest pass rate Refrigeration Technician Course; Paul sure reMgerants which are used in into the atmosphere. among the many refrigeration technician Hall Center for Maritime Training and certain air conditioning systems or ship's The U.S. Congress responded by Education; P.O. Box 75; Piney Point, stores equipment. The third level. Type certification classes. TTie school's pass enacting the Clean Air Act Amendments rate is 85 percent. Other groups are MD 20674; ATT: J.C. Wiegman. Be 111, involves working with low-pressure of 1990. Title VI of those amendments, averaging 50 percent pass rates. The Lim- refrigerants. These are found in larger sure to indicate an address where the entitled "Stratospheric Ozone Protec­ deberg School's course is available to book should be sent. centrifugal air conditioning systems, tion," calls for phasing out the use of Seafarers at no charge. It also is open to such as diose used on passenger ships. products in the United States which emit Are there any other materials as­ other individuals who work with The fourth stage is called Universal, CFCs. sociated with the course? refrigerants, but those non-Seafarers meaning that it encompasses Type I, The governmental agency in the U.S. Yes. The Lundeberg School has must pay a fee. The Lundeberg School Type n and Type III. assigned to enforcing the intent of the developed a workbook which is used Clean Air Act Amendments, the EPA, is­ conducts the EPA approved exam direct­ Does the refrigeration technician during the course. The Seafarer keeps ly after its course. TTie school has a num­ certification exam reflect these dif­ sued regulations in May of 1993 that that workbook and can use it after the ber of classes set up this year to assist called for a series of steps to eliminate ferent levels? class if he or she is studying for another Seafarers in obtaining the certification the release of CFCs {Federal Register, Yes. The first 25 questions of the exam round of testing for any section of the by the date the regulation goes into ef­ Vol. 58, No. 92). Among its regulations, are basic and general. Everyone taking test he or she did not pass the first time fect, November 14. It also will hold clas­ the EPA called for the certification of all the test must pass this first section. The the exam was taken. ses after that date for Seafarers who waitt individuals who handle CFC-based second group of 25 questions is for Type Where and when are the Lundeberg to obtain the certification before ship­ refrigerants. I certification. Passing the gener^ sec­ School refrigeration courses taking ping again. tion and passing this portion of the test When does the regulation take ef­ place? If a Seafarer Is on a ship during the leads to Type I certification. The third fect? In August, the Lundeberg School will November 14 deadline, what should set of 25 questions covers high-pressure The EPA rule states that all individuals hold two-day courses in Jacksonville, he or she do? refrigerants. Passage of the first section who work with refrigerants must hold Fla.; Mobile, Ala.; New Orleans, La. and The Lundeberg School will be offering and this third set of questions results in the refrigeration technician certification Houston, Texas. In the month of Septem­ courses throughout the month of Decem­ Type n certification. The fourth set of 25 by November 14, 1994. ber, courses will be offered in Norfolk, ber at some of the union halls. (See questions deals with low-pressure Va. and Wilmington,Calif. October fea­ Who is affected by the ERA'S schedule of courses on page 5.) Also, the refrigerants. Getting a passing mark in refrigeration technician regulation? tures classes in San Francisco,Calif.; Lundeberg School will hold refrigeration this section, along with passing the first Seattle,Wash, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Any individual who handles CFC-based technician courses at its site in Piney Point set of general questions, leads to Type During November, the course will be refrigerants. For seamen, this includes eariy next year. That course also will be 111 certification. held at Port Everglades, Fla.; San Juan, all QMEDs, unlicensed junior engineers, >ait of any QMED upgrading program If an individual passes all four sec­ P.R. and Algonac, Mich. In December, all refrigeration ("reefer) engineers and leld at Piney Point A Seafarer can sign up tions of the test, he or she has earned Duluth, Minn, and St. Louis, Mo. will be all electricians. Any seaman who in the or any of the courses offered at the union Universal certification. the training sites. For a complete course of his or her duties works with halls. To attend the sessions at Piney Point, Is It possible to pass one set and schedule, consult page 5 of this edition refrigeration equipment or air condition­ a Seafarer should submit his or her applica­ fall another? of the Seafarers LOG. ing systems is required to hold an EPA tion through the customary admissions pro­ Yes. Not only is it possible to pass one Additionally, the Lundeberg School refrigeration technician certification. cedure. section and fail another set, but also it is will offer a course at Piney Point on Sep­ What if a Seafarer sails as a The union is asking that any in­ possible to pass more than one section tember 7 and 8 (with check-in on the pumpman? dividuals who cannot take the course and fail more than one section. For in­ 6th). The school will hold refrigeration While a pumpman's duties generally do and test before November 14, do so as stance, the test taker may pass the technician certification courses peri­ not require that he or she hold a refrigera­ quickly as possible thereafter. After general questions, the Type 1 questions, odically at Piney Point. For Seaf^arers . tion technician certification, the SIU en­ November 14, Seafarers who hold the but fail the Type II questions in the third upgrading their QMED ratings, the courages any member sailing in the refrigeration technician certification, set of 25 questions and the Type 111 ques­ refrigeration technician certification engine department to obtain the certifica­ who throw in for shipboard jobs with tions in the fourth set of 25 'questions. class will be included in their overall tion. In this way, should a pumpman sail refrigerant handling duties, will be given This person has earned a refngeration training program. as a QMED, he or she will meet the priority for those positions. technician certification Type 1. How does a Seafarer qualify for the proper qualifications. After November 14, will the refrlgeia- Can a Seafarer test again for a part Lundeberg School's refrigeration What are some of the refrigerants tion technician certification be he or she failed? technician course? routinely used on ships? necessary to register? The courses being held at union halls Yes. An individual can take any part of CFC-based refrigerants such as R-12 and Proof of holding the refrigeration tech­ the exam as many times as he or she around the country are open to any R-11 often are used on ship». To handle nician certification is not required at the chooses. It does not mean that an in­ Seafarer who handles rettgerants in his . these after November 14, an individual time a Seafarer registers for employment dividual has to retake the parts he or she or her current shipboard position. It also mu.st hold the EPA's refrigeration tech­ at a union hall. passed. For example, if a test taker is open to Seafarers who have reason to nician certification. The use of these sub­ After November 14, will the refrigera­ believe that they will one day be han­ passed the general section and the Type I stances will be prohibited after January tion technician certification be questions, and failed the Type 11 set of dling refrigerants. 1, 1996. Hydrochloroflourocarbon necessa^ to ship? questions and failed the Type 111 group, To attend a course at the Lundeberg (HCFC)-based refrigerants, such as RWhen bidding for jobs at the hall, a that person would not have to take the School in Piney Point, a Seafarer must 22, will be phased out by 2030. HCFCSeafarer with proof of the appropriate general section or Type I section of the meet the usual requirements for attend­ based substances have a longer level of refrigeration technician certifica­ test again. He or she could choose to ing the school. A Seafarer must apply for phase-out time as they do not break tion will be given priority within his or retest at the same time for Type 11 and a course at Piney Point through the down the ozone layer as rapidly as do her class of seniority rating for the jobs Type 111, or he or she could concentrate school's admissions office. CFC-based refrigerants. of QMED any rating; QMED electrician; on one section the next time around. How does a Seafarer sign up for a How does a Seafarer become an chief electrician; second electrician; How difficult Is the test for refrigera­ Lundeberg School course? EPA certified refrigeration tech­ chief, first, second and third reefer en­ tion technician certification at any To attend a course at a union hall, a nician? gineer; engine utility reefer main­ level? Seafarer should contact that hall and Refrigeration technician certification is tenance; and unlicensed junior engineer. Seafarers who have taken the exam, have his or her name added to the list of secured by taking an EPA approved test. Proof of holding the refrigeration report that it is a tough test. This is large­ course participants. He or she should The test is given by various organiza­ technician certification at the correct ly because, while a Seafarer may have leave a phone number as to where they tions certified by the EPA to do so. The leyel for the shipboard job will therefore used refiigerants and transferred them, he can be reached should there be any chan­ Lundeberg School is one of those or­ be necessary when throwing in for a job. or die may not know the regulations or the ges in the schedule. The Seafarer will ganizations. It also must be shown to the union port recent government requirements as to how have to make his or her own arrange­ agent or the person he designates at the How did the Lundet>erg School be­ the substance should be handled. ments for transportation and lodging. time a Seafarer clears the hall to ship. come certified by the EPA to con­ If a Seafarer intends to take the How can a Seafarer prepare to take duct testing for the refrigeration course at the Lundeberg School in Piney the refrigeration technician test? What level of refrigeration tech­ technician certification? Seafarers who have taken the test and nician should a Seafarer attain? After the EPA issued its regulations in Continued on page 10 the course instructors from the Lun­ For work on most SlU-contracted ves­ May of last year mandating that all in­ :h- • - • ' • , �AUGUST 1994 SEAFARERS LOG 7 Seafarers' Timely Response Saves Life ofAiton Man One reason why Seafarers constantly practice lifeboat drills is so that, in the event of an actual emergency, they will react swift­ ly and automatically. Perhaps that explains the businesslike attitude among SIU members on the Alton Belle II who last month saved the life of a local resident who apparently was about to drown in the Mississippi River. "We train for this every week," said Deckhand Bill Jack­ son, one of two Seafarers who crewed the rescue boat and pullec the victim to safety in the pre­ dawn hours of July 23. "When you're involved in a real rescue it just kind of comes to you. It' something that pu|s you to the test but we know how to handle it. Captain John Mosele agreed "This is positive proof that routine drills make our efforts ef­ fective in any situation," he said The Alton Belle II had more than 800 passengers on board and was cruising near the Alton, 111. Water Works when it received a distress call at 2:52 a.m. Mosele gave orders to launch a rescue boat, and the 16-foot craft was in the water two minutes later. "It was pitch-black outside," recalled Jackson, who was joined by fellow Deckhand Jeff New­ ton. "We used a spotlight, plus we had help from the Alton Police Department on the river bank." First Mate Mike Williamson spotted ah oncoming tow boat, then quickly halted dl river traf­ fic while the deckhands com­ menced their search. It took only 15 minutes to lo­ cate and rescue the victim, who was exhausted but seemingly otherwise unharmed. He was roughly 150 yards from shore. "We had a tough time pulling him on board, because he was so tired and soaked, plus he was fully clothed," said Jackson,'33, who added that neither he nor Newton ever had been involved in another rescue. "The undertow is swift, and if he had gone under .... Fortunately, we got there quickly enough that he was still there." Mosele commended Newton, Jackson and the rest of the crew for a quick and efficient response. He added that the struggling swimmer "was just about on his last legs when they got to him." After the rescue, the crewmembers learned of the unusual circumstances which precipitated the dangerous dive. A spokesman for the local fire and rescue department said the swimmer, a local man approximately 19 years old, was riding in a car wiA his girlfriend and another couple when he and the girlfriend got into an argument. The man repor­ tedly told the driver to pull over, then walked down the river bank and dove into the Mississippi. He was not injured, and no charges were filed against him. "But if it had gone on much longer, there would have been a b^y search," said the spokesman. "He wouldn't have made it" H. Creel and D. Won to Join FMC President Clinton last month serve a five-year term, while Clinton described both nominated Harold Creel and Del- Won will serve three years. Won nominees as having "the educa­ mond Won to serve on the would replace Francis Ivancie, tion, background and experience Federal Maritime Commission who has been serving on an ex^ we need to maintain the quality of (FMC). pired term. our Federal Maritime Commis­ Confirmation hearings were The SIU has worked closely sion, especially as we work to held on August 4 for boA Creel, with Creel in his capacity of make essential reforms in the From left, Deckhand Bill Jackson, Capt. John Mosele, Mate Mike who is counsel to the Senate Mer­ counsel to the Senate Merchant maritime industry." The regulatory agency is Williamson and Deckhand Jeff Newton helped save an Alton man who chant Marine Subcommittee, and Marine Subcommittee and urged for Won, a Hawaiian state offi­ President Clinton to back Creel chaired by Democrat William was trying to swim across the Mississippi River. cial. for the FMC post. Hathaway, formerly a senator Both nominees are Democrats Won has been a member of from Maine. The other members and are expected to be approved Hawaii's Land Use Commission are Joe Scroggins, a political in­ as commissioners. If and when since 1990. He also has held dependent who used to work as a they are, it would bring the five- management, government affairs, port official in Tampa, and member FMC to capacity for the planning and other positions at Republican Ming Hsu. first time since Clinton was sworn Honolulu-based shipping com­ No more than three members into office. panies, primarily Young Bros. Ltd. of the FMC may be of the same ITF Meets in Convention to Take Up Creel will be scheduled to and Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp. party as the president. Issues Affecting Transport Workers The issues facing the world's transport workers will be the center of discussions at the convention of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), scheduled for August 4-11 in Geneva, Switzerland. Noting that workers in the maritime, rail, airline and vehicular sectors face rapidly changing technology, integrated transport struc­ A rare form of pneumonia tures such as intermodalism, and easy mobility of capit^, the ITF hopes to develop a series of initiatives to ensure that transport known as Legionnaires' disease has claimed Ae life of one man Workers have input on the future course of their industries. and has infected at least 10 others, The ITF, with which the SIU is affiliated, also will examine its all of were passengers last campaign to raise the standard of living of the world's seamen, monthwhom on the particularly those who work aboard runaway flag vessels. For many ship Horizon.runaway-flag cruise seamen working on ships under runaway registers—^which offer The U.S. Centers for Disease shipowners the use of the flag of the nation in exchange for a Control and Prevention (CDC) fee—conditions are substandard. The world federation of transport also is investigating 25 suspected unions intends to review how its campaign to aid seamen^ on cases of the disease among other runaway-flag vessels can be made increasingly effective. passengers. According to newspaper U.S. Trade Deficit Widens, reports, laboratory tests of Exports to Mexico Decline samples ifrom the Horizon water system revealed the presence of The U.S. this year is on pace to match its record $160 billion trade the bacteria that causes The runaway-flag cruise ship Horizon was drydocked In Baltimore deficit of 1987, and enactment of the North American Free Trade Legionnaires' disease, although after tests of the vessel's water system revealed the presence of the Agreement (NAFTA, now in effect between the U.S., Canada and no live viruses have been found. bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. Mexico) in January is contributing to that ignominious rate of move­ One unconfirmed theory is ment. that the contamination may have hospital, three weeks after em- called for stricter laws that would During the first quarter of 1994, the U.S. deficit with Canada spread through the ship's three barldng on a cruise aboard the make foreign-flag cruise ships increased by more than 50 percent, while America's previously whirlpool spas. But pinning down Horizon. He reportedly had been that operate from U.S. ports sub­ steady surplus with Mexico practically was eliminated. the exact source and cause may admitted with symptoms of ject to the same stringent regulaThe deficit with Canada rose to $1.1 billion in April, according to ake months. tions that govern U.S.-flag Legionnaires' disease. data from the U.S. Commerce Department. Meanwhile, the trade The Horizon is owned by Fan­ ships. The SIU for m^y years has surplus with Mexico dropped from $166 million in March to just $7 tasia Cruising of Greece, flies the million in April, as U.S. exports to that country declined by 13 lag of Liberia and is operated by percent. Celebrity Cruises of New York. Overall, during the first four months of this year, the combined The vessel, which recently was U.S. deficit in North America swelled to $3.2 billion, compared to cleared by the CDC to resume its $2 billion in the same period of 1993. normal weekly route from New York to Bermuda, was removed SIU members in the port of in case of a spill. SIU tankermen Senate Republicans Filibuster fom service on July 20 after tests San Juan, P.R. last month helped also were on hand in case the Workplace Fairness Legislation showed the presence of pull a grounded oil tanker to Mantinia needed to be lightened Last month, a Republican-led filibuster prevented a Senate vote egionnaires' bacteria in the safety without spilling any of the before the move. According to newspaper on a bill that would make it illegal for employere to "permanently vessel's water. The water system 13 million gallons of fuel oil the was treated with massive runaway-flag vessel was carry­ reports, the U.S. Coast Guard is replace" workers who are engaged in a lawful strike. investigating to determine the Supporters of the Workplace Fairness Act—including the AFL- amounts of Chlorine, then was ing. Seafarers aboard tugs operated cause of the grounding and CIO, President Clinton and a majority of congressmen and drydocked in Baltimore. After senators—fell a handful of votes short of the 60 needed to break the nrther inspection and testing, the by Crowley Maritime moved the whether or not there was ship went back into service earlier Greek-flagged, Liberian-owned negligence on the part of the filibuster and force a vote. this month, although the The bill twice has been approved by the House, and the president whirlpools remained closed on Mantinia safely into Guayanilla tanker's owners. The Mantinia is owned by Bay. The 749-foot ship had been has vowed to sign it if given the chance. the advice of health officials. Metro Freighting Corp. of grounded in sand. Lawmakers who back the measure indicated they would try to get Other SIU members were Liberia and operated by Nation­ A 68-year-old school bus it passed in the Senate later this year by attaching it to a bill that is driver from Long Island passed standing by with oil containment al Shipping and Trading of New strongly supported by Republicans. In that case, only a simple away on July 22 in a New York booms and skimming equipment York. majority would be needed for approval. Labor Briefs Source of Deadly Legionnaires' Disease Traced to Rnnaway-Fiag Cmise Sidp Seaforers Help Pull Runaway-Flag Tanker To SafMy Without Spillage ;f --sfi;' '- "r^ .,';V I '•!•' .. . - '•j t f ''' ' •' Y-'Y "CY/YY Y Y /YYY .- -y", Y'\'; Y:Y;Y. .:Y:Y4.'-;4)rY/;^ Yi*"-'-. ' .V:f: M' �•% • '•: 8 AUGUST 1994 SEAFMERSLOG m''' House Says Yes te U.S. SMps Continue4 from page 3 U.S.-flag ships; preserving the capability to be able to build and repair both warships for the Navy and commercial ships for domes­ tic and international trade; and assuring that our nation's international trade will not be­ come captive to foreign shipping interests who do not care about American businesses." Showing his support for the amendment was Rep. Gerald Kleczka (D-Wis.), a member of the Ways and Means Committee. After expressing his concern that shipbuilding should be included in any measure from the House, Kleczka said, "I think it is time to worry about American jobs and American indus^." The Studds-Fields amendment was approved by the House 268 • -••r. to 153. House members then cast their votes on the bill as amended. Like the vote for the amend­ ment, the total legislation received support from both sides of the aisle. "Passage of this bill will en­ sure that essential military equip­ ment is carried on U.S.-flag vessels and commercial vessels will be built in this country," Lipinski told his fellow members. Added Bateman, "It is not an overstatement to suggest that un­ less we fund H.R. 2151, which we overwhelmingly passed last year, the last American-flag vessel will disappear from the seas of the world. That is not a theory. That is a fact." "This country desperately needs this legislation," noted Rep. Joseph Moakley (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Rules Committee. "We can no longer stand idly by and let our merchant fleet continue to decline toward a certain extinction." Progress of Maritime Revitalization Legislation DATE EVENT June 1992 Transportation Secretary Andrew Card presents Bush ortminietratinn'R m»ritima sevpn-year, administration's maritime oroposai proposal for 3 a seven-year, $1.1 billion program to Congress, which adjourns before either House or Senate acts on legislation. Transportation Secretary Federico Pefia meets with representatives from maritime labor, U.S.-flag ship­ ping companies and shipbuilders to discuss possible Clinton administration maritime program. Recalling that Congres passed a maritime bill while March 1993 America was at peace in 1936 Rep. James Quillen (R-Tenn.^ urged, "Let us do what Congress May 1993 did in 1936. Let us recognize the I<proQr3in. — ---TT— world is a dangerous place. Let us Fisheries Committee holds hearing in which the SIU reassure the American people and and other maritime labor unions announce support. purchase an insurance policy. Let June 1993 Sea-Land and APL seek permission to transfer 20 us maintain an American U.S.-flag vessels to foreign registry. maritime industry." At the request of maritime labor, House passes by 388 July 1993 to 41 a provision to prohibit any re-flagging requests Rep. Gerald Solomon (Rthrough the end of 1994. The language was an N.Y.) remembered how foreignamendment to the FY '94 MarAd funding bill. flag crews, who were being used August 1993 House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee because there were not enough clears H.R. 2151 for full House debate and vote. U.S.-flag ships available, November 1993 House passes H.R. 2151347-65. During floor debate, House also rejected by 309-109 margin an attack on refused to sail with American cargo preferem^ laws. Bill sent to Senate without militaty goods to Saudi Arabia funding mechanism. during the Persian Gulf war. Pefia announces administration will fund maritime February 1994 We cannot let that happen revitalization in 1995 fiscal year budget. again," he said. March 1994 . April 1994 May 1994 July1994 August 1994 Rep. Charles Andrews (D-N.C.) speaks in favor of maritime revitalization legislation before the full House. .• •-• O'Brien to Call On Eastern Perls Before Heading Home to San Fran Having completed a success­ ful European tour for the 50th an­ niversary of D-Day, the Liberty ship Verem/fl/i O'Brien in late July began its voyage from Le Havre, France back to its home port of San Francisco. Along the way, the World War U-era vessel is Scheduled to call on three East Coast ports. On August 6, the O 'Brien is slated to arrive in Portland, Maine, near where it was constructed in 1943. Later this month, it will make cdlls in Washington and in Jack­ sonville, Fla. Although the shipyard where the O'Brien was built no longer exists, the local shipyard society in Portland is conducting a fund­ raiser for the vessel. Approximately half of the crewmembers who made the voyage from the U.S. to France and England still are manning the ship. (Others signed on only for the return trip.) Many active and retired members of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific (SUP) and the Marine Firemen, Oilers and Watertenders (MFOW), both af­ filiates of the Seafarers Interna­ tional Union of North America, were and are among the O'Brien's crew. Several retirees from the Marine Cooks and Stewards, which merged with the SIU in 1978, also were on board. Literally millions of spectators viewed the ship during various ceremonies related to the D-Day commemoration. The lone repre­ sentative of the U.S. merchant marine, the O'Brien also was the ,/]oV ^ f''~ only one of the nearly 6,500 military and privately owned ships which were part of the Nor­ mandy invasion in 1944 and that returned for the 5()-year anniver­ sary activities. Bosun Recalls Events In early July, Bosun Rich Reed sent a letter to the SUP newspaper recounting some of the recent events that took place on the ship. Part of that letter is reprinted here, with permission: We are finally getting our ship back to ourselves. Things got pretty hectic and crowded on here during all the D-Day activities. It was a real exciting time with all the VIPs: the President and Mrs. Clinton, Lane KirklandoftheAFL-CIO, and Al Herberger ofMarAd. A lot of work went into the presidential visit. Myself and the deck gang spent many days work­ ing with the Secret Service in an­ ticipation of the arrival. Since we were at anchor when the President and First Lady boarded, we had to go over all the gangway gear and cargo gear used to raise and lower the gangway. The Secret Service is a real stickler for detail, so they were con­ cerned about the slightest little thing. The deck crew is to be com­ mended for the extra work in­ volved. June 6 fouhd us anchored off the Normandy beaches, while a mile away on shore the heads of state met for the ceremonies. At 1000 hours, members of the deck depart­ ment met on the stem. We observed a minute of silence and dropped a wreath in honor of merchant seamen and SUP brothers lost during World War 11. We spent a few days at the old Chatham Naval Yard near Rochester on Medway in England. .. From Chatham, we shifted up the Thames to London. We tied up alongside HMS Belfast in midstream, just up the river from Tower Bridge. From London, we sailed the English Channel to Cherbourg, France. Here we have participated in the events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Cherbourg. The crew marched in a parade, and that afternoon we left our berth and anchored about a quarter-mile offshore, inside the breakwater. Here we simulated the offload­ ing of Liberty ship cargo into DUKUs (Ducks). This was a well-publicized event and was watched from ashore by more than 100,000people! (And we didn 't drop one food.') From Cherbourg we shifted to Rouen, where we will participate in the Armade de la Liberte, a tall ship festival that lasts a week and may draw up to three million people! So far, this entire voyage has been quite an adventure. We have had letters, greetings and press coverage from all over the world. However, without the help of the shipping companies, the maritime unions and lots of others, it could not have happened. Fraternally, Rich Reed, Bosun Pefia unveils funding mechanism for maritime revitalization. Studds, Fields, Lipinski and Bateman sponsor legislation, H.R. 4003, which calls for tonnage duties to be raised to fund 10-year, $1 billion effort to fir vessels. Maritime help fund up to 52 U.S.-flag finer labor announces support. House begins hearings. Senate starts hearings on maritime administration's maritime revitalization funding program. House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee passes H.R. 4003 as 10-year, $1.7 billion program to nelp both U.S.-flag merchant fleet and U.S. shipbuild­ ing. Bill goes to House Ways and Means Committee. Ways and Means removes shipbuilding component from H.R. 4003 and sends bill to full House as a 10-year, $1.05 billion program designed to aid U.S.flag vessels. House passes H.R. 4003 294-122 after amendingbill to include shipbuilding funds. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation transporti Committee holds hear­ ings on 10-year, $1.35 billion legislation. OECD Pact Would End Shipbuilding Subsidies After five years of negotia­ tions, representatives from the United States and other ship­ building nations participating in the Organization for ^onomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have reached an agree­ ment that would end vessel con­ struction subsidies worldwide. The pact between the U.S., the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, Norway, Sweden and Fin­ land is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 1996, but it still must be ratified formally by each country. Ratification could take place in mid-October, despite possible opposition by France. The other 11 nations of the EU support the agreement, which covers construction and repair of self-propelled seagoing vessels of 1(X) gross tons or more. The agreement's major ele­ ments are as follows: • It would eliminate virtually all government subsidies granted directly to shipbuilders, as well as government monies passed in­ directly through ship operators. • It would penalize nations for dumping domestically produced vessels. (Dumping means selling at less than fair market value, which would dis­ tort the world market.) • Jones Act domestic-build requirements would remain in­ tact, although the U.S. has agreed to take responsive measures if constructipn levels are found to significantly undermine the jalance of rights and respon­ sibilities under the agreement," according the pact's language. For the first three years of the agreement, construction of Jones- Act' qualified ships, which are used in the domestic trades, would belimited to 200,000 gross tons per year. There would be no tonnage maximums after three years. (According to data from the Shipbuilders Council of America, the U.S. currently builds an average of less than 200,000 gross tons per year for the Jones Act trades.) • The U.S. would not have to eliminate Title XI loan guaran­ tees, an existing program that )rovides government-backed oans to both domestic and foreign interests who want to have vessels built in U.S. shipyards. But Title XI terms would have to be brought into compliance with the OECD pact's provisions on export and home credits, which already are similar to Title XI guarantees. This means that the terms of financial guarantees will be limited to 12 years rather than Title XI's current limit of 25 years. • Export credits would be controlled via a modified version of an existing OECD under­ standing on export credits for ves­ sels. • Home and export credit schemes would exist on the same terms. • It would establish dispute settlement mechanisms. Senator John Breaux (D-La.), who is sponsoring a bill that would permit the U.S. to penalize foreign ships that are built with government Subsidies and that call on U.S. ports, hailed the OECD agreement. He declared that it "achieves virtually every major U.S. objective." �Mc-^.:.m SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST 1994 9 HY Fary Senrice Mtk Rmite, Mme to ikune 13 Seafarer-Crewed Boats Offer a Popular Commuting Alternative •ft- i-itjffif , • V/'-r?--: When the SlU-contracted NY Waterway commuter ferry and bus service recently added a new ferry route to its already bustling business between New York and New Jersey, it marked another successful step in the revival of a mass transit ferry system in the New York/New Jersey area. While the region's ferry service boomed in the late 19th century, it had virtually disappeared in the later part of the 20th century, but now thrives. Formerly named Port Imperial FerryBus System, NY Waterway began eight years ago as a( oneboat operation with two crewmembers on board, including Captain Bob Alburtus, who still works on the ferries. Today, more than 50 SIU members sail as captains and deckhands aboard the 13 com7 muter ferries that are owned and operated by NY Waterway Presi­ dent Arthur Imperatore. Additional shipboard jobs were created two mondis ago when the latest boat, the Henry Hudson, went into use, and that vessel is transportinjg more than 1,500 passengers daily be­ tween the Colgate Center in New Jersey and the World Financial Centra- in Manhattan. Another new ferry also is being built (scheduled for delivery later this year), and the company anticipates adding as many as four more commuter routes and two leisure routes in the near future. Meanwhile, day cmises to local tourist attractions and other sites recently were started. "From the time I was a boy growing up inr Hudson County, ferries and the Seafarers were a big part of the activity and excite­ ment on the Hudson River," Im­ peratore noted. "I consider it a very special highlight of my working career to have success­ fully returned ferries to the f- '•'if J" NY^terway's newest ferry, the SlU-crewed HenryHudson, transports passengers to and from the financial district in New York City. metropolitan area for new genera­ tions to know and love." In all, the commuter ferries currently transport about 20,(X)0 passengers per day between lower and midtown Manhattan, the Colgate Center and the New Jersey towns of Weehawken and Hoboken. 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. One-way trips last five to 10 minutes, depending on the route, and the ferries nm from 6:45 a.m. until 10 p.m. "You always want to make as many runs as possible, while maintaining safety," explained NY Waterway's Captain Mark Summers. "We have to remember that we're Newest Ferry responsible for a lot of people and Name: Henry Hudson a lot of equipment." TOTARRYTOWN4 4TONYACK/YONKERS George Fort Lee Washington Bridge YANKEE STADIUM EXPRESS Port Imperial WEEHAWKEri f MIDTOWN WEST 38th ST. > J Point EAST 34th Lincoln Harbor WEEHAWKEN MANHATTAN HOBOKEN< JERSEY. CITYi I WORLD FINANCIAL XENTER Well-Received The response to the an­ "DOWNTOWN, SLIP 5 nouncement of the latest service route between Colgate Center and Manhattan indicates how popular the ferries have become. Local • — Existing Ferry Routes media coverage at the maiden To .Proposed Ferry Routes voyage was extensive, and many dignitaries were in attendance, in­ SANDY HOOK cluding New Jersey Governor Map shows existing commuter ferry routes and others that may be Christine Todd Whitman and Jer- Liberty State Park •/ '. / Safe and Reliable Imperatore's business savvy, along with the safe and reliable work of SIU members aboard the boats, has proven to be a winning combination in reviving the region's ferry service. Competing directly with government-sub­ sidized public transportation, Imperatore's ferries and buses "have transported more than 18 mdlion passengers without a dime of federd or state subsidy," he said. The fares—^which include bus service on both sides of the river—average a little more than $30 per week for customers who buy a monthly pass. The ferry service in particular has earned a reputation as quick, safe, convenient and reliable for commuters. This was never more evident than during the severe winter storms earlier this year; while other transportation sys­ tems were shut down or substan­ tially delayed, the SlU-crewed boats forged ahead and main­ tained timely schedules. Similar scenarios played out during the Blizzard of '93 and in the aftermath of the terrorist ex­ plosion which rocked the World Trade Center in February of last year. In the latter instance, the ferries worked on an emergency schedule to relieve the over­ crowding for the city's thousands of stranded commuters, because subway and bus transportation was disrupted. Top speed: 20 mph Length: 97 feet, 6 inches Beam: 25 feet, 6 Im^es Draft: 6 feet Engine power: Two Caterpillar diesel engines rated at 672 horse­ power each Electrical power: Two G.M. Detroit engine driven generators for total ship's service Gross tonnage: 95.58 G.T. Passenger capacity: 399 U.S. Coast Guard certification: River service and coastwise ser­ vice not more than 20 miles from land Hull construction: Aluminum plate welded to an aluminum framework and bulkheads Superstructure: Aluminum plate welded (Idei to an aluminum framework. Fixed and sliding win­ dows. Equipment: Heated foredeck to melt snow and ice, VHP radio, radar, public address system, hom, depth indicator, compass, running lights, searchlight, heated windshield with wipers, interior ligfiting, radiant heat panels, upholstered fixed seating, carpet­ ing, restrooms, handrails, anchor and anchor line, docking lines, su­ perstructure insulation, soundproof engine, nonskid deck­ ing. Misc.: Lower deck fully enclosed, upper deck partially enclosed Builder Gladding-Heam, Dudos Corp. of Somerset, MA. sey City Mayor Bret Schundler. "This new service is good for New Jersey and New York," Whitman said. "It strengthens Jersey City's dynamic waterfront while at the same time meets tran­ sit needs important to lower Manhattan's revitalization. There are no losers in this venture, only winners." Schundler said he believes the new service will help create jobs by bolstering the expansion projects at the Colgate Center. All along the Hudson River waterfront, in fact, new offices and apartments are replacing old, non-operational factories and railroad yards. Summers volunteered for the new route "to help make sure it got off to a smooth and timely start. Also, I've done all the other routes, so this was a chance to meet new people." Highlights of the route include being able to see the Statue of Liberty and meeting new cus­ tomers, Summers said. But the work also is quite challen^ng, as Summers or another captain must execute 53 dockings in eight hours. They also must be keenly aware of other river traffic and w^es. "It's a convenient and desirable way to get into the city without having to stand in a crowded subway... — Capt. Manny Rebelo Captain Manny Rebelo also has piloted the Henry Hudson. "There's no other mass transit there, and we drop off passengers right in the financial district," he noted. "It's a convenient and desirable way to get into the city without having to stand in a crowded subway. People depend on it and the [passenger count] is increasing daily." •.a"-' Day Cruises The existing day cruises (which have regular schedules but also may be t^en on a charter basis) include trips to the newly opened Rockefeller family estate; the sites of colonial Philipsburg Manor; the home of author Washington Irving, Sunnyside and more. Also available are a 90-minute New York Harbor Tour and an evening Harbof Lights Cruise. One of the proposed leisure routes would transport pas­ sengers from New Jersey to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. added in the near future. 4.i ; '-k> "J / f �-V: -VVA.' 4'- Sr-m 10 ..,-» AUGUST1994 XAFARERSLOe Seafarers Find Refrigeration Ciasses 'Extensive,' 'Fast-Paced' and Heipfui Dozens of Seafarers took the port agent whom they contact course in the Seafarers LOG. Paul Hall Center's on-site when signing up for the class "I've taken some of Eric's courses Refrigeration Technician course They should tfien send a check for before, and he really knows his at SIU halls last month, as the $25, made payable to the "Pau stuff," said Camell, who joined the Lundeberg School began its port- Hall Center," to: EPA Refrigera­ union 14 years ago and who took to-port schedule. tion Tech. Course, Paul Hall Cen­ the class in New York. "In this Students and Lundeberg ter for Maritime Training and course, there's a lot to cover. I School Instructor Eric Malzkuhn Education; P.O. Box 75, Piney bought the book after I had Just rated the initial classes as chal­ Point, MD 20674, Attn: J.C. gotten off a ship, and it's a must." lenging but successful, and Wiegman. The book will be sent The Lundeberg School course, Malzkuhn added that the pass rate by first class mml. which is approved by the Enwas above average. They also vironmenta Protection Agency Fast-Paced Course strongly stated that anyone who (EPA), compares favorably with QMED Charles Pomraning does a workbook exercise Involving a plans to take the two-day course SIU members who have taken a similar class that is available at refrigerant recovery system (foreground) at the Baltimore hall. would greatly enhance their chan­ the course described it as a state university, said QMED ces of passing the exam by pur- thorough and fast-moving. They Charles Lore. He said the Lun­ chasing the course textbook also pointed out that the Lun­ deberg School course, which is (titled "Refrigerants and the En­ deberg School's port-to-port free for Seafarers, is "far supe­ vironment") in advance and schedule gives Seafarers ample rior." studying it in detail. opportunity to take the exam. Third Assistant Engineer Mat­ "I'm pleased with the turnout "There's a lot of information thew Mersinger, an SIU hawand the quality of the students, to be covered," said Electrician sepiper, took the class at the said Malzkuhn, who has taught Bob Stearman, a member of the Bdtimore hall. "There's a lot of refrigerant-handling courses to Seafarers for almost 30 years who information to be absorbed in a lit­ thousands of mariners and took the class in Baltimore. "It tle time," he said. "The class is shoreside workers. "They are will be a very big help to those good and it definitely is fastvery motivated and sincere, and taking the course to have the book paced." we're getting good support from ahead of time." Meanwhile, Malzkuhn noted QMED Gregorio Blanco said that the on-site class apparently everyone involved. "But not everyone is getting he appreciated the fact that the spurred a number of Seafarers to the book in advance, and that has course was available at the New take other upgrading courses at been reflected in the test results. York hall. "It was convenient, the Paul Hall Center. "Several Purchase of the book is not man­ and the class itself was very ex­ members who sail as electricians datory, but there is a direct cor­ tensive," he stated. "I bought the wanted to know when the next relation between studying the book in advance, and that made it refrigeration class would be held book in advance an^ passing the much easier to understand the 9t Piney Point. The class in New course." York opened their eyes to what is exam." Pumpman James "Russ" available at the school and their Pondering a question about CFCs Is QMED Chromer Jefferson, Seafarers who want to buy the pictured at the Baltimore hall. book should indicate this to the Carneil said he read about the need to upgrade even more." COURSE OOniNE \: • Two-Day Course DAY ONE 1.' f:'- 0' <v '1. Preparation 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Students in New York concentrate on the EPA refrigeration technician certification exam, administered by the Lundeberg School. Answers to CommasA^edlluesUmK About New EPA Rule Continuedfrom page 6 Point, either alone or as part of his or her QMED training, the Seafarer must go through the standard admissions process. For the refrigeration technician certifica­ tion course itself, the school will ex­ pedite the admissions process by taking the application information over the phone. What is the refrigeration technician certification course content? The course lasts two days. On the first day, it starts at 8:00 in the morning and concludes at 4:00 in the afternoon. During this time, students will go over the certification process, refrigerants and compressor lubricating oils, refrigerant handling safety procedures, the impact on the environment of refrigerants, refrigeration theory, pressure tempera­ ture relationships and relevant laws and regulations. During the second day, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., participants cover refrigeration servicing, small appliance handling, working with high-pressure equipment, servicing low-pressure sys­ tems and conversion of equipment using CFC-based refrigerants. On both days, there will be a lunch break. After taking the course, when is the test? After taking the course, the test is given from 2:(X) p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the after­ noon of the second day. Once the test is taken, when wiii a Seafarer get his or her resuits? A Seafarer will obtain the results of the exam no more than one month after he or she takes the test. How ibng is the refrigeration tech­ nician certification good for? Once taken and p^sed, it lasts a lifetime; in other words, it does not have to be taken again. Actually, the certifica­ tion will only be necessary as long as ozone-depleting refrigerants are in use. It is the goal of the EPA to phase out all CFC-based refrigerants by January 1, 1996. HCFC-based refngerants will be phased out by 2030. What proof does a Seafarer have that he or she is a refrigeration tech­ nician? With the notification of having passed the test will come a card and a certifi­ cate. The card is known as a refrigera­ tion technician certification identification card. A person handling refrigerants is required by the EPA to have this qn his or her person /Whenever^ working with refrigerants. The certifi­ cate indicates that the individual has compl«ifed the. course, pf ii)stniction and passed the test. The EPA regulations re­ quire that a copy of the technician cer­ tification be maintained at the technician's place of employment. What the SIU advises is that a Semarer make several copies of this certificate and keep the original in a safe, shoreside place. A copy should be tad^ep onboard any ship on which the Seafarer works. In Ais way it can be displayed according to EPA regulations. Are there other reguiations stem­ ming from the dean Air Act Amend­ ments of 1990 that affect the work of seamen? Yes. Halons will be phased out by the year 2000. HaIon-1301 is commonly found in shipboard firefighting systems. HaIon-1201 is found in small portable extinguishers. Carbon tetrachloride also is being phased out by the year 2CX)0. What is the penaity for not compiying with the EPA's r^uiations? Any party found in violation of an EPA regulation that put into effect the intent of the Clean Air Amendment directed at stopping the depletion of the world's ozone layer, including the rule mandat­ ing refrigeration technician certification, is subject to a fine. The EPA first issues a warning. The agency has the right to then seek fines up to $25,000. Ad^ditionally, individuals who provide informa­ tion to the EPA that identifies violators of the regulations, can be awarded up to $10,000. 1. Certification Process 2. Refrigerants and Compres­ sor Lubricating Oils 3. Refrigerant/Oil Handling Safety 4. Environmental Impact of Refrigerants 5. Refrigeration Theory/PressureTemperature Relation­ ships 6. Laws and Regulations DAY TWO Preparation 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Testing 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 1. Refrigeration Sen/icing 2. Servicing Small Appliances 3. Servicing High-Pressure Ap­ pliances 4. Servicing Low-Pressure Ap­ pliances 5. Conversion of CFG Equip­ ment 6. Demonstration of Approved Sen/ice Procedures 7. EPA Certification Test Correction Due to a typographical error, page 13 of the July issue of the Seafarers LOG con­ tained an incorrect answer to one of the sample questions from the Technician Cer­ tification workbook. The correct answer to question number 10 (What is the technical definition of an EPA Class 1 substance?) is, chlorine or bromine containing substances that have an OOP (ozone depletion poten­ tial) of 0.2 or greater. �v,.,/iV®!®^i«W<f»,'-'{ •. • • .• .- AUGUST 1994 SEAFARERS LUG 11 Higher Education Doesn't Have to cost a Fortune Seafarers and Dependents Can Apply for a 1995 Seafarers Welfare Plan Scholarship Like many other things in life, the cost of education at the college and university level never seems to decrease. Rather, it is a continuing spiral that often prevents many working people from even thinking about attend­ ing college-level classes. But each year, students and their families continue to scrimp and save in order to overcome this financial obstacle and fulfill their educational goals and ideals. (See chart of average tui­ tions at public, four-year institu­ tions on this page.) The Seafarers Welfare Plan offers a solution to the exor­ bitant costs of education beyond the high school level—in the form of a scholarship. Since 1952, the SIU has awarded 235 scholarships to its members and their spouses and children. As in past years, the union in 1995 will again offer seven scholarships. Four of these financial awards for the '95 school year are set aside for the children and spouses of Seafarers. Each of the four scholarships is for $15,000, to be used at a four-year college or university. The other three are for Seafarers themselves. One of the awards also is for $15,000 for use at a four-year institution of higher learning. The remain­ ing two scholarships amount to $6,000 each and can be used for two-year studies at a community college or vocational school. Taking advantage of this financial benefit is not difficult, but it will necessitate a little or­ ganization on the part of the col­ lege-bound student. The first step in the application process is to send away for the Seafarers Scholarship Program booklet which contains all the necessary application information. To receive a copy of this guide, send in the coupon at the bottom of this page. The Welfare Plan receives many applications for the scholarship program, and it is often very difficult to select only seven recipients for the awards. Therefore, if an application was submitted in past years and was not selected—DON'T BE DIS­ COURAGED. That person should send in another applica­ tion this year. What follows are some highlights from the scholarship booklet. ELIGIBILITY For a Seafarer to be eligible to be awarded a scholarship, he or she must: • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent; • Have a total of 730 days of employment with an employer who is obligated to make conributions to the Seafarers Welare Plan on the Seafarer's Tehalf prior to the date of ap­ plication; • Have one day of employ­ ment on a vessel in the sixmonth period immediately prior ;o the date of application; • Have 120 days of employ­ ment on a vessel in the previous calendar year. (Pensioners are not eligible Average Undergraduate Resident Tuition and Fees By State Increases in tuition and fees for students in resident undergraduate programs during 1993 varied by state. The majority of states saw increases in tuition and fees of between 4 and 7 percent, with 13 states reporting double-digit increases. The chart below shows the average tuition and fees at public, four-year institutions as well as the percent increase from 1992. 1993 Average State for scholarships.) For a spouse to be eligible for a scholarship award, he or she must: • Be married to an eligible Seafarer or SIU pensioner; • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent. For a dependent child to be eligible to be awarded a scholar­ ship, he or she must: • Be ah unmarried child of an eligible Seafarer or SIU pen­ sioner for whom the member or pensioner has been the sole source of support the previous calendar year (however, should a dependent child win an SIU scholarship and marry while receiving the award, they will not have to forfeit the grant by reason of such marriage); • Be a high school graduate or its equivalent, although applica­ tions may be made during the senior year of high school; • Be under the age of 19—or be under the age of 25 and be a full-time student enrolled in a program leading to a bac­ calaureate or higher degree at an accredited institution authorized by law to grant such degrees; • Be the child of a Seafarer who has credit for a total of 1,095 days of covered employ­ ment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to the date of application; • Be the child of a seafaring Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennslvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin parent who has one day of employment in the six-month period preceding the date of application and 120 days of employment in the previous calend^ year (unless the eligible parent is deceased). CHECKLIST Items that need to be included in the full application and postmarked by the deadline date of April 15,1995 are: • Scholarship application • Autobiographical statement • Photograph • Certified copy of birth certifi­ cate • • High school transcript and certification of graduation or official copy of high school equivalency scores • College transcript • Letters of reference • SAT or ACT results DEADLINES All completed applications with all necessary information included MUST be mailed and postmarked ON or BEFORE APRIL 15,1995. FOR MORE INFORMATION Ask for a 1995 Seafarers Scholarship Program booklet at any SIU hall, or fill out the, coupon below and return it to the Settfarers Welfare Plan. Now is the time to start think­ ing about educational plans, 1,953 2,001 1,811 1.725 2,268 2,077 2,530 2,957 974 1,767 1,806 1,229 1,515 2,594 2,406 2,352 1,984 1,845 2,183 3,113 3,231 3,709 3,252 2,722 2,295 2,366 1,895 1,826 1.665 3,594 3,620 1,646 2,818 1,398 1,958 3,080 1,507 2,815 4.075 1,410 3,242 2,888 2,240 1.787 1,435 1,853 6,400 1,596 3,684 2,210 1,881 2,173 Percent Increase : 5.6 19.5 16.2 8.9 16.3 2.7 7.0 7.3 17.3 3.9 3.5 3.1 6.5 4.5 7.4 5.6 6,4 12.4 21.3 7.3 13.0 6.7 9.3 4.7 0.7 9.9 9.3 4.5 0.9 11.0 5.8 8.4 1-0 11.3 6.1 5.1 7.1 6.7 7.2 4.7 7.4 10.3 5.1 5.7 11.3 6.4 3.8 10.8 8.4 11.2 7.7 6.2 . c' ' •' .! -r".! • •'•.-V > •: • 'Wt" •' 'M, -'M Af-; • 'nK-. • • •: r:-?- SOURCE: "Student Charges at Public, Four-Year Institutions - Fall 1993." National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. r lease send me the 1995 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains eligibility information, P Iprocedures for applying and the application form. Name Book Number Address. City, State, Zip Code. Telephone Number. This application is for • Self ,• Dependent Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. r ryj:. --y y-- / r �:• f• 7 12 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST 1994 Voyage to Gdynia: MEMORIES OF RALPH j. LUNDGREN . - ,, September 25—^the 22nd an abandoned wreck near the We'll smuggle in anything you day: The piano stops, the party main entrance, long ago bombed want." noise and gaiety end. I come into rubble. A door around the "Don t have to smuggle anyawake into a nightmare, find corner leads directly into the thinginhere. Real nice folks. You myself staring into the round, bat- building. got to meet the lady who runs this tered silver eye of an ashtray Two neat but worn youi.£,nur- place." stamped, DIE GUTEN DAN- ses stand in the hall, wearing long We're more worried about ZIGER ZIGARETTEN. Full of white uniforms, skirts down to Web than we reali^ until Frisco dead cigarette butts, more are their shoes, white scarves pulled breaks the ice. "Never been shot before!" He slaps the foot of being stamped out to die as voices tight around their heads. Web's bed. We laugh at this. To "We're from the American around me say, "Web... shot... hide our concern, we kid Web ship," Tom explains. "One of our let's go.. . where is he... where's with some rough talk. But he's in Web ... who shot him?" Pushing shipmates was just brought in." "Sister Czesia!" one of the pain. back chairs, crossing the floor, "Where' s the lady you want us half-running through the double nurses calls up the stairs. When doors and into the boulevard, we there is no answer, she says, "Oh, to meet?" I want to change the follow Yeep, who's leading us to come," and waves us to follow subject. "Hey, she's neat. Manya!" he Web, 15 men, half the Virginian's her. But half-way up the stairs an Peggy Kujawa, the niece of Sister Czestawa, and author Ralph Lundgren crew, running through the older nurse appears. She seems calls the nurse who's brought us remember the days Lundgren and his shipmates brought the news that darkened city toward a church even more worn and weary than to the room. She moves to Web's Sister "Chessie" was alive. bedside "You hurt?" she seems to across the boulevard from the bar. the others. The church is small, made of "I'm sorry," she says in be asking him. "No. Get, you know. . ." he big square stones, it has a cold, English. "I know you are conpoints to the open door, hard appearance. Its stones are cemed about your friend. But you gray in the glare of flashlights can't see him now. This evening, "Shvester. Get ShVester Ches­ swallowed by the night. A door maybe." It is our first encounter sie." In September 1945, Ralph Lundgren ofOlympia, Wash., was "Okay, okay." Manya points, opens and a man appears, back- with anyone in Gdynia who really an ordinary seaman sailing with the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, speaks our language. Sister her hands fly as she runs from the lit, holding up his hands. "No," he an affiliate of the Seafarers International Union of North room, leaving us facing Web and Czesia seems very much in says. We can't all come in. "Too America. He was 18 years old and aboard his very first ship, the suddenly aware that he doesn't charge. "Everything will be done many," he explains. SS Virginian, sailing for Gdynia, Poland with the first United really look so good. All of us Toomey, in his charac­ for him," she promises. "We are Nations relief shipment of food to reach the country at the end of teristically thoughtful way stands really quite experienced with begin talking at once about noth­ World War II. Last year, Lundgren flew into Baltimore-Washington Airport back, allowing Pete to intervene. gunshot wounds. Gunshots and ing important. It's as if we have to cap an adventure that began 48 years ago in a hospital on "I'm bosun. Let me and his two malnutrition," she brings up her suddenly discovered he's been watchmates in." hands in a shrug, "and bringing shot and don't know what to say. Gdynia's main Street, Ulica Starowiejska. He hoped to find the The man nods, and Tom, Pete babies into the world." "Knock it off," Web says sud­ family of the Polish nurse who had helped save the life of one of We leave like obedient school denly. "Here she comes." his shipmates, AS Webster "Web" Goodwin, so many years and I follow him into the church. We turn, suddenly silent as he ago—a nurse who's first name he couldn't spell and who's last There are no pews, just litters on boys and later that day return to the floor. With candles and the hospital. Web hears us climb­ waves to a woman coming name he had forgotten. Visiting Goodwin, who had been shot in the hip, Lundgren and kerosene lanterns the only source ing the stairs. "Get in here," he through the door. "Come meet my other members of the deck department met Sister "Chessie," a of light. We find Web in the mid­ calls. "They got me on a rack." friends." We find him in a long and nar­ The chief nurse seems even Catholic Sister of Mercy who was serving as a nurse in Gdynia dle of all the others, hurt, but he's also laughing. row room, probably a storage area more worn and worried than she when WWII broke out in 1939. In the absence of Polish doctors "What's so funny? What hap­ before the bombs came down. seemed this morning. She crosses after six years of war. Sister Chessie directed the care and pened?" Pete asks. treatment given to the injured sailor. "She spoke English well Pushed close to the long wall, the room to touch Web's cheek and seemed almost American," Lundgren remembers now. "We Web winces and we crouch three beds stand end-to-end. A with the back of one hand that all became good friends." around his litter. window in one narrow wall drops to check his pulse. "It's When the Virginian was due to leave Gdynia and Goodwin's "You don't have to tell us brightens the white-washed good you are all here," she looks watchmates came to take him back to the ship. Sister Chessie now," Tom says. walls. Like the nurses, the place younger when she smiles. "He's asked for a favor. No mail had left Poland since the German "No, it's okay. Went in a is neat and clean but worn. feeling sorry for himself." Her occupation six years before, and she was sure her brother and building. All an accident. Bunch "How you doin', Web?" Tom English is very good. "But he's his family in America believed she was dead. She had written of people around. This guy pulls walks to Web's bed, tries to look better, if no infection sets in. three copies of a letter addressed to her brother who lived in out a P38, like new. He hands it concerned but not worried. Shh," she pats Web who's still Baltimore, Md. Would they mail her letters when they landed in to me and it goes off " "I was feeling better, but now complaining. And he shuts up. the USA? Lundgren and his shipmates gladly agreed. "You shot yourself?" Tom is it hurts more in this body cast. I Our own language becomes "We felt we owed her more than a favor," Lundgren says. furious. don't know why. Never been shot miraculously clean. There's "Our first port of call back home turned out to be Baltimore, so "Better sleep," the man inter­ before.' something almost magic about we delivered the mail in person. Landing at Sparrows Point, four rupts, waving us from the room. "Never been shot before?" Tom this woman I don't understand. I of us piled on a streetcar and headed for the address on Sister Web, he tells us in the hall, has no tries to grin. "We brought you know she's a nun, a Catholic Chessie's letters, a Polish bakery at 1100 South Highland reason to laugh. He needs more cigarettes and soap. And a Avenue. That's how the nun's family heard for the first time that care than they can give him there. toothbrush and some chocolate. Continued on page 22 she had survived the war." He needs to be in the hospital. If Last year, with the help of Baltimore's Polish Heritage As­ we can get him in. sociation, the bakery was found and the family located in North September 26—^the 23rd Baltimore. There, Lundgren and Sister Chessie's family filled in day: The captain's still fishing in the missing details needed to complete the story of a Polish nun the middle of Poland, imd the and the American seamen who had befriended one another so mates are as curious as the rest ot many years ago. Her name, Lundgren discovered, was Czestawa us about Web. "Go check on or "Czesia" Herchowski. him," Scott tells us. "There's Sister Czesia died in Poland; her brother Walter Herchowski enough here to mind the ship." died in Baltimore in the 1980s. But the nun's sister-in-law, Ida We don't have to be told to get Herchowski, now more than 90 years old, and her daughter, going. Peggy Kujawa, well remembered the morning in December of Back at the little church, we're 1945 when four happy American seafarers held three letters up just in time; they're putting Web against the bakery window on Highland Avenue to bring the good in a little German car. He lies with news that Sister Czesia was alive and well. his head beside the driver, his feet Of his visit with Sister Czesia's living relatives last year, sticking out the rear end. The car Lundgren said, "We had different versions of that morning and moves off, slowly at first, then the neighborhood celebration that followed when we delivered leaves us standing in the street. the mail. We didn't agree on just how many people filled the little We follow Web to the hospital, bakery and who said what. But we squared it all away. Ida is straight ahead to Ulica sharp as a tack, and her memory proved better than mine. After Starowiejska, the boulevard with all, I'd forgotten Sister Czesia's last name. But I'll never forget all the Russian graves, then three her and the welcome her family gave me in Baltimore in 1948 blocks east. and again 48 years later, in October 1993. It was like coming Shaped like a T, one wing of home." the hospital has been blown away. Ida Herchowski and Ralph Lundgren filled each other in on The bomb-blasted, jagged endsof all the missing details which Lundgren needs to finish writing a its corridors are blocked off with book about his first cruise, of which the story on this page will be wooden barriers. Rubble, chunks the final chapter. Lundgren's book, which includes his own of plaster and shards of glass and drawings of the events he witnessed, is close to being completed. metal cover the ground. The little "It's good you are all here. He's feeling sorry for himself," Sister Czestawa tell6 car that brought Web here sits like Web's shipmates, as depicted In this sketch by Ralph Lundgren. Lundgren Finds Family of Nurse Who Saved Buddy's Life in '45 �t-i '•'ir;;r^ \ AUGUST 1994 SEAFMERSLOG 13 ,•:# : TTF Assists Russian Mariners Saiiing Under Unsafe Conditions The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) last month secured approximately $80,000 in back wages and repatriation expenses for 28 Rus­ sian officers and unlicensed crewmembers of the Greekowned, Cyprus-flag containership Verano, including six who had been abandoned in Panama. Through the efforts of Spiro Varras, the SIU's federation in­ spector, the ITF during the Fourth of July weekend assisted the Rus­ sian merchant mariners who "showed they were living in in­ humane a:nd unsafe conditions on board the ship," Varras said. The ITF also issued more than a dozen recommendations for improvin, conditions aboartl the vesse while it was docked in the port o Port Elizabeth, N.J. (The ITF is composed of ap­ proximately 400 free and democratic trade unions in IOC nations representing workers various transportation-relatec jobs. The London-based or- Fed up with delayed, Incomplete payments and unsafe working condi tions, Russian crewmembers of the Verano contacted the ITF while the vessel was docked in Port Elizabeth, N.J. One of the concerns voiced by the Verano crew was a woeful lack of ship's stores, as shown by this empty refrigerator in the galley. The poor condition of chairs in the crew lounge was one of many ex­ amples of useless furniture and equipment aboard the vessel. ganization promotes trade union rights and human rights worldwide.) Strike In Jersey The Russian crewmembers and officers who were aboard the Verano (six of whom had signed on in Panama, several days ear­ lier) contacted Varras just before midnight, June 30, four hours before the ship was scheduled to With the aid of Spiro Varras, the SIU's ITF inspector (wearing tie), Russian leave Port Elizabeth. crewmembers from the Verano last month waged a successful strike and After explaining that they had secured back pay and other reimbursements which were due them. been subjected to delayed wage payments, low-quality food, un­ were changed onde a month, and well as by company lawyers and sanitary and unsafe conditions each crewmember received one two ship's captains. and other problems, they declared bar of soap per month. Meanwhile, attorneys for the • Drinking water was con­ crew convinced a U.S. District a strike on July 1 while the ship, which is operated by Astron taminated, there was a shortage of Court in New Jersey to send Maritime Co. of Greece and is stores and a lack of galley equip­ federal marshals to seize and ar­ owned by Profit Shipping, was ment, and the daily menus always rest the ship. ^ still in port. (Six other crewmem­ consisted of rice and macaroni. On July 4 a settlement was bers, who had been abandoned in • The ship's electrician reached, providing the Russians Panama three weeks earlier by the reported the vessel had no spare with all of their back pay, includ­ ship's captain after they com­ >arts available for repairs, which ing overtime and leave pay, plained about unsanitary condi­ eft deck department personnel repatriation expenses and man­ tions and lack of ship's stores, also vulnerable to potential electrocu­ ning company expenses. In a had a stake in the proceedings.) tion, due to unsafe conditions on separate but similar settlement, The mariners said they had not deck. the six crewmembers who were • Water pumps and plumbing left in Panama also received full been paid from mid-February until late May, and then were not for toilets were out of order con­ compensation. paid the full amounts owed. They stantly, and there were no buckets The vessel was released by the reported that, once they went on available for use in throwing marshals a few days later, but it strike, the ship management com­ seawater into the toilets. remained in port while repairs • Although the vessel sails in were made and the master was pany hired armed guards who repeatedly threatened the crew. hot climates, it does not have any replaced. A Filipino crew signed Crewmembers allegedly were ventilation. on, and with ITF assistance the forced to sign off the ship and • The number 2 and 3 hatches new crew secured a collective initially were forced to pay for had no motor to open and close bargaining agreement calling for their transportation, as well as the covers, so the crew had to increased wages (above the min­ manually perform those opera­ imum requirements of the Inter­ that of their replacements. Other charges made by the tions. national Labor Organization, crew included; Varras reported that, during which, for example, are $356 a • The ship was not equipped the strike, the armed guards hired month plus overtime rates for with any first aid kits or medicine. by the manning agent and com­ ABs). • There were no hard hats, pany tried to force the mariners to gloves or other safety gear on end the work stoppage. Similar The Verano has a crew of nine efforts allegedly were made by officers and 15 unlicensed board. • Bedding and other articles the Cyprus consulate attache, as mariners. #• SlU-Crewed Fishing Boats Claim Top Prizes Thomas Cnwiey Dies ai Cancer Continued from page 2 dertakes. Following World War II, the company inaugurated West Coast bulk petroleum barge service. Crowley Maritime also provided com­ mercial resupply lines to the U.S. military's early warning detection installations in the Arctic and for more than 20 years ran tug/barge supply operations to the oil industry working on Alaska's North Slope. Tug/barge operations be­ tween the U.S. East and Gulf coasts and the Caribbean as well as liner service to Central and South America were initiated during the 1970s and 1980s. Earlier this year, his son, Thomas Crowley Jr., took over as president and chief operating officer of the company which includes Crowley American, based in Jacksonville, and Crowley Marine Services out of •: -sj-v:- § Seattle. Crowley received many awards during his lifetime for his work in the U.S.-flag maritime industry. Among them were the Nationd Defense Transportation Award presented by the secretary of defense in 1970 and the U.S. Coast Guard Foundation's Distin­ guished Service Award in 1994. He served on the board of tmstees for the Transportation Institute and was a member of the American Bureau of Shipping. He was a past board member of the American In­ stitute of Merchant Shipping, the American Waterways (Operators and the National Oc^ Industries Association. Crowley is survived by his wife, Molly; his son, Thomas Jr.; his daughter, Adrienne Crowley; and three stepchildren, Elizabeth Cronin, Georgiana Cronin and Frederick Cronin. Funeral services were held July 11 in San Francisco. 1 i Three Seafarers-crewed fishing boats based in New Bedford, Mass. claimed the first three prizes for boat decorations during that city's 25th annual blessing of the fleet ceremony last month. Capturing first place was the Praia Da Torreira (above) with Captain Carlos Marquinhos aboard. Second prize went to the Blue Seas II(left) whose captain is Antonio Pereira. Garnering the third place award was the Portugal with Captain Antonio Gravato. A total of 10 SlU-crewed fishing vessels par­ ticipated in the celebra;tion. I if"- Tug/barge service like that provided by the SlU-crewed Pioneerio the Caribbean from the U.S. East and Gulf coasts were brought under the Crowley banner by Thomas Crowley Sr. 5 1 ' -'a'" {•! '••-A �14 AlWUSriOOA SEAFARERS LOG s^ $28 Million Fac^iit CS9iWIS3®|i;S^illi » S.;:;'>^'' •"•"'•/'iv •.'''• • V -.v. • 'i'if'r. >-.', -, • J MAJOR RENOVTION of the SIUcrewed passenger ship SS Inde­ pendence h^gan last month at New­ port News Shipbuilding, located on the southeastern shore of Virginia, where the vessel is in drydock. The $28 million project is ex­ pected to be complete by late Sep­ tember or early October. Dozens of Seafarers, as well as officers and numerous contractors, are doing the work. The Independence's sister ship, the Seafarerscrewed SS Constitution, is scheduled to undergo similar upgrades sometime next year. The Independence and Constitution are the only U.S.-flag deep sea bruise ships. Both are operated by American Hawaii Cruises. Smooth Start Although the crewmembers endured heavy rains during the second half of the 16-day voyage from Hawaii to Newport News, Recertified Bosun Tony Zizzo said that both the trip and the early stages of the Independence's refurbishing went well. "Everything has been done properly. I'd give the crew an 'A' for effort and for execution," said Zizzo, who joined the union in 1977 in Wilmington, Calif. "This is a fantastic crew. They all work very hard." Among the early jobs for the deck department was removing every rail on the ship — literally a mile's worth of railings, many of which are made from teak. This was done so that the rails can be refinished and the entire vessel can be sandblasted. During a full downpour, the deck gang also lowered and disconnected all lifeboats and stowed more than 1,000 life preservers. Their work during the upcoming weeks will include sanding, chipping, rehanging the rails, stripping the lifeboats and more. In consideration of the often stifling heat in Virginia's eastern seaboard, the bosun reminded crewmembers to make a conscious effort to replenish bodily fluids as they perform such tasks. Additionally, members of the deck department are helping to maintain vessel security. "We have about 200 contractors on here during the day, so six or seven (Seafarers) secure the vessel each night," explained Zizzo, whose brother, Lou, also is a bosun and sails primarily aboard the passenger ships. /Plenty to Do' Seafarers from the engine and steward departments also are working aboard the Independence while the ship is in drydock. "There's plenty to do and we're glad to be here," said Chief Cook Vickl Habenicht, after helping put out •5-: a lunch that featured macaroni salad, ham, fresh fruits and a variety of beverages. Meanwhile, the engine department will remain in charge of the diesels that power the liner. Their work ranges from maintenance and repair of heating and cooling units to operating a full machine shop. "Noth­ ing will work wi^out engines," FOWT Marty Kimmel stated. The overall restoration will "open up" many of the public areas in order to "give passengers a better view of the sea and islands," according to a fact sheet issued by American Hawaii Cruises, a division of Delta Queen Steamboat Co. For instance, the passenger lounge will be extended and open-air portions will be created by removing bulkheads. Many Upgrades The company also listed the following scheduled changes: • The current fitness and conference centers will be relocated, with the old space converted into top-of-theline passenger suites. Other passenger cabins also will be created on the boat deck. • Fully handicap-accessible suites will be created. • All passenger cabins will be stripped and redecorated. Direct cellular telephone service will be available from each cabin. • The buffet on the upper deck will be expanded and redesigned. • The prestigious, Honolulu-based Bishop Museum will create hands-on displays to be added in the lounge area. The centerpiece will include a three-dimensional map of the Hawaiian Island chain. • A colorful, graphic display center will be added to help passengers choose from more than 50 shore tours currently available. Safe Ships With the Independence in drydock, the Constitution is operating at maximum capacity. The vessels usually operate on a seven-day schedule around the Hawaiian Islands, making a complete trip once a week. Known among Seafarers as "Great White Ships," in part because of the clean white exteriors maintained by SlU deck department members, the ves­ sels are renowned among passengers for their entertain­ ment, food and itineraries in the islands. Once aboard the ships, many passengers express appreciation for the crew's emphasis on safety. Lifeboat drills ar^ conducted each week and" involve ^veryone aboard the vessels! including all passengers. Weekly fire arid "missing man" drills are perfonned by' crewmembers, and instructors from the Paul Hall Cen­ ter regularly conduct special shipboard classes cover­ ing safety, first aid, CPR and more. s, 7-,. , OS Sean Stout joins with other deck department members in opening the side port. Intently loosening a large bolt on the side port is OS John | "Spanky" Dunavant. ' GU Joseph Neilson stores a set of clean glassware in the galley of the Independence. Ch �SeAFARBRS LOG AUGUST 1994 Wiper Don Dllley carries equipment to the engineroom. Shortly after the/ndependencearrives in the Newport News, Va. shipyard, FOWT Chief Electriciari Balden Singh Fadiga Koutoub adjusts a lever in the engineroom. , opens an eleotricial box. IS Using a vice grip in the machine shop is FOWT Marty Kimmel. ,• • •" '•'a- ^. • ., • . .iffP V/' 7' FOWT Luis Cerchyo makes a minor repair Carrying an armful of propane fuel cylinders and other gear is Oiler Andrew Van Bourg. following a shipboard meeting. Diagram shows some of the work being done on the SS independence. Plumber Steve Cunningham adjusts a pipe as part of his duties aboard the passenger ship. Rtness center converted to top-of-the-llne passenger suites Bosun Tony Zizzo (r) and SlU Rep Bob Clinton discuss renovations. '-ft' Fully handicap-accessible suites created Rtness and conference centers relocated ; independence Lounge expanded, open-air s^ons created New passenger cabins added remcwing bulkheads All passenger cediins stripped and redecorated Entire vessel sandblasted All rails stripped and refinished Buffet redesigned and expanded Conference center converted to passenger suites • -' '%4i. 'W • f ,S'- Focusing on the job at hand is AB Rene Rafer. 3hief Cook Vicki Habenicht inishes putting out lunch. Carpenter Bob Fincher will help refinish a mile's worth of wood railings OS_Mario Martinez (left) and AB Rene Rafer continue Ready to sand a teak railing is AB A ^1 I Qfll L©Sl0r. preliminary work in opening the side port. that were removed by the deck gang. •m . •/ Setting condiments on a table is GU Kim Brooke. Covering one of the pans filled with freshly made fried chicken is GU Harrison Furtado. The crew's galley gets tidied up by GU Regalado Bayan following lunch. �• feV> 16 AUGUST 1994 SEAFARAERS LOG After Somali Relief Effort Prepositioning Ship Hauge Is Back in Diego Garcia •V Following extensive involvement in Operation Restore Hope, the U.S. military's operation to provide relief to war-ravaged Somalia, Seafarers aboard the Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. are back to routine operations aboard the prepositioning ship, currently based in Diego Garcia. But no matter the circumstance or the port, excellent meals are a staple aboard the vessel. "I think it has some of the best menus of the ships in Diego," said Cook/Baker Michael Watts, who added that Chief Steward William Bunch "is very creative." A 1991 graduate of the Paul Hall Center's trainee program. Watts added that the Hauge's menus reflect the steadily increasing dietary awareness of the crewmembers. "We serve a lot of stir-fries and vegetables. No doubt, guys are looking for healthier menus," said the 29-year-old resident of Mobile, Ala. i\. } V ;• /"•:. Good Environment , r"; t-.,'/v'' !...'V*'/'•'((, '•, Being a good feeder may explain in part the cohesiveness of the Hauge's crew, noted fellow galley gang member SA Duane Washington, who graduated from the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School two years ago. Additionally, like many other Seafarers who sail on vessels stationed in Diego Garcia, Washington and Watts both stated that the region itself is conducive to good morale. "You really get to know everybody here, and the conditions are great," said Washington. "Because you can go ashore during non-work hours, it's easy to keep in touch with your family, which is another positive. "I just think it's a good place for seamen, and if anybody has a negative attitude, they won't last.'' Washington, 23, said he typically puts in a full day of cleaning two decks, plus the crew lounge and laundry Busily preparing a meal for their feilow crewmembers are Cook/Baker Michael Watts (left) and Chief Cook Henry Greene. rooms, as well as "helping out in the galley as needed and taking care of the linen locker." When he is through for the day, he enjoys staying abreast of the latest news by watching CNN or read­ ing one of the newspapers available ashore. "It's*a good environment, there's a lot to do and we all enjoy working together," said Washington, who resides in Jacksonville, Fla. SIU Port Agent Sal Aquia, who provided the photos accompanying this article, said the Hauge impressed him as "a clean ship with good food, a great crew and no problems at all." Time for Upgrading For Watts, who served in the U.S. Army during the Persian Gulf War, time on the beach always means another opportunity to upgrade at the Lundeberg School. "I think the courses have steadily improved, and I'm look­ ing forward to going back for the new chief cook class," he said. Having made the career change from the armed forces to the merchant marine. Watts added that he is pleased with his new field. "Being from Mobile, a lot of the guys I went to high school with also sail, so I was already familiar with this line of work. I'm just glad I chose this career, although some­ times I wish I would have started sooner. I like the travel and the pay is good." When contacted in mid-July for this article, both Watts and Washington were preparing to return imminently to Diego Garcia—Watts to sign on the Alex Bonnyman, and Washington headed back to the Hauge. Operated by Maersk, the Hauge was one of 17 SlU-crewed ships that took part in the U.S./United Nations relief efforts in Somalia, which began in late 1992. The ship carried food and materiel to American soldiers who were stationed in the East African nation. • '-M ''J • t •;. •'.'..-"T ' ."v ^,; y - r!' ' • '". '•• ,.;:,;;r • ^.'v i';. AB Izzy Soto anticipates another deli- AB Scott Murrain takes a seat in the cious meal aboard the Hauge. galley, ready for a union meeting. ,„„).•-A' i.''' w .'.I,' - ' Directing operations on deck is Bosun Jerry Fahey. �•viA'•.• :?' Auemi994 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 — JULY 15,1994 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C •••' ••' .1. ••i^'/'''-i m Is-'' .";• •••' [ •>•:; - fewg • l'«P ••REGISTERED ON BEACH TOTAL SHIPPED Ali Groups All Groups Trip Class A Class B Class C Reliefs Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 11 57 53 13 18 20 4 1 12 1 0 4 1 1 0 8 4 0 5 1 2 7 18 37 5 1 5 9 1 22 17 4 6 3 2 6 36 40 8 13 3 23 ^'-•7';47^-.:: 44 • 15 14 2 44 35 '3.7 7 14 17 23 mM.. • -.77 79; 13 2 17 6 38 27 14 3 18 12 2 6 20 6 0 6 1 8 20 11 6 5 2 5 • 14 48 43 16 24 10 9 2 •' 1 1 0 0 5 1 1 10 2 3 5 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 73 390 363 102 36 156 132 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port 32 35 6 New York 9 0 Philadelphia 2 3 8 Baltimore 1 Norfolk 8 4 29 0 Mobile 12 14 New Orleans 25 29 5 31 Jacksonville 37 5 24 San Francisco 29 16 4 Wilmington 22 18 6 23 Seattle Puerto Rico 5 1 15 6 Honolulu 9 4 Houston 32 12 25 St. Louis 3 1 2 4 0 1 Piney Point 0 0 1 Algonac 53 240 267 Totals Port 31 43 9 1 13 6 3. 26 22 New York 3 • ; o M(' 1 ,1 0 3 0 0 1 2 Philadelphia 1 10 1 • 0 , 0 8 1 . 7- 3 Baltimore 1 8 25 13 0 0 2 4 13 4 Norfolk 7 1 18 12 0 0 2 6 1 9 12 Mobile 1 28 21 3 6 1 11 I 11 New Orleans 17 2 •::iM25 18 6 1 12 7 • 2• 15 Jacksonville 12 A,: Mi. 15 25 6 1 11 1 San Francisco 16 , 14 -J 19 9 5 : 12 , 3 2 4 5 ::"-»17 Wilmington 4 19 20 10 0 14 8 1 13 , 12 • Seattle 0 ,8 6 2 0 2 7 0 8 ^2 Puerto Rico 9 13 3 7 3 7 1 7 7 0 Honolulu e 4 40 20 1 3 9 •' 3 21 14 Houston 0 2 1 0 . 0 'MM 0 0 7 1 1 St Louis 0 ^^7. 4 0 1 0 2 0 Piney Point 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Algonac 36 262 193 55 12 89 74 28 154 135 Totals STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port 17 M 1 9_ jNew Yoik 19 :;2, 1 6 Philadelphia 0 ::i4^: 6 0 Baltimore 2 12 12 2 0 6 Norfolk 0 7 12 1 1 8 Mobile 1 10 11 6 0 New Orleans 6 0 8 22 6 2 Jacksonville 13 1 17 52 9 0 San Francisco 34 1 5 5 16 0 Wilmington 12 1 5 0 7 27 18 Seattle 2 0 8 0 0 5 Puerto Rico 4 12 12 0 1 8 Honolulu 1 11 19 4 0 'viiiS 13 Houston 0 2 2 0 0 St. Louis 2 0 3 7 0 0 5 Piney Point 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Algonac 15 114 232 48 84 49 5 154 Totals ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port mm 0 20 74 25 49 New York 2 3 0 0 2 0 Philadelphia 4 9 0 0 ^ 5 1 Baltimore 7 5 30 6 16 4 Norfolk 3 23 3 0 18 1 Mobile 33 12 10 0 24 New OrleMis 4 10 28 5 20 5 Jacksonville 6 17 28 14 : San Francisco 15 10 29 8 0 3 7 0 Wilmington 13 30 9 0 0 9 14 7 Seattle 4 8 9 0 0 5 8 5 Puerto Rico 87 55 9 0 10 2 24 4 Honolulu 0 5 Houston 0 2 0 0 1 St. Louis 0 16 0 0 0 15 Piney Point 1 1 0 0 0 0 Algonac 183 386 115 0 17 106 Totals Totals All 903 1452 307 205 321 400 Departments 757 196 ueparuiicina 592 —70 — * '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 996 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 996 j^s shipM. 321 jobs or about 32 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by' B and C seniority people. From June 16 to July 15,1994, a total of 205 trip reUef jobs were shipped. Since the tnp rebef pro­ gram began on April 1,1982, a total of 21,326 jobs have been shipped. • V m.'-. m m '!• • m • m • .• 'i.' SEAFARBtS LOG 17 September & October 1994 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, inland Waters Piney Point Tuesday: September 6*; Monday, October 3 changed by Labor Day holiday New York Tuesday: September 6, October 4 Philadelphia Wednesday: September 7, October 5 Baltimore Thursday: September 8, October 6 Norfolk Thursday: September 8, October 6 Jacksonville Thursday: September 8, October 6 Algonac Friday: September 9, October 7 Houston Monday: September 12, October 10 New Orleans Tuesday: September 13, October 11 Mobile Wednesday: September 14, October 12 San Francisco Thursday: September 15, October 13 Wilmington Monday: Septemberl9, October 17 Seattle Friday: September 23, October 21 San Juan Thursday: September 8, October 6 St Louis :•"";^^;• Friday: September 16, October 14 Honolulu Friday: September 16, October 14 Duluth Wednesday: September 14, October 12 Jersey City Wednesday: September 21, October 19 ;^ New Bedford Tuesday: September 20, October 18 ' J.I -V ' :-f Each port's imeting starts at 10:30 ajn. Personals JAMES WESLEY ALLEN Please contact Jennifer Allen at (804) 559-4802. FRANK E. BLACK Warren E. Brown is looking fora former crewmember, Frank E. Black, who was bosun on the SS Robin Locksley in 1941. Please contact Warren Brown at 128 Countryside Drive, Longwood, PL 32779-3524; or call (407) 869-1794. RAYMOND BUSWALD Plase contact Leonard Smith at 203 N. Prospect Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. JAMES LUTHER BYRD Please get in touch with Robert Byrd Benny at P.O. Box 38487, Baltimore, MD 21231; or call (410) 5224572. ERIK VALDEMAR CARLSSON (KARLSSON) Please contact Elna S. Johanson at 6275 RoundhiU Drive, Whittier, CA 90605. Your granddaughter, Kaiin Johansson of Uddevalla, Sweden, is trying to locate you. EMILE HENRY Please contact Denise Kirkley Cain at 367 Sherman Street, Albany, NY 12206. LUCIEN PIERRE Please contact Ultra Powe at 7737 West Jackson Street, Pensacola, PL 32506; or call (904) 455-8383. RENALDO ROMAN Your wife, Leticia, would like you to call her at (614) 268-8513. JULIO SANTIAGO (of Catano, P.R.) Please contact Joseph Santiago at (407) 225-0593. ROBERT MARTIN SMITH Please contact Maurica Shapiro at P.O. Box 7260, Houston, TX 77248. EDWARD THOMASIAN Please contact Danielle Burd at P.O. Box 82084, Kenmore, WA 98028. ••..'J,-—•— -7-"' 77''; • ' • -l;., ^ - : , 'it' •. .1).;'• �:-i's"., • -:•• -A. -' •. '• <•» V '•,' -i '•'-' ' AUGUST im 18 SEAFARERS LOG Dispatchers Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory f I i :A''A-. •• V' --•.; A.j Sij. St',-;' "• <% A/'" :.; :/- :A: : V • ••-A Michael Sao:o President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining 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 Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301)899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48(X)1 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore SL Baltimore, MD 21202 (410)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth,MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOI.ULU 606KalihiSt. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478^0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 NORFOLK 115ThirdSt. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604S.4St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301)994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, FL 33004 (305)921-5661 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415)861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fonandez Juncos Ave. Stop l6Vi Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 721-4033 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. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310)549-4000 JUNE 16 —JULY 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 15 6 13 3 6 p-- 12 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 43 , 16 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 28 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 11 2 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 35 :8;| 0 24 4 ? 0 7 3 ? 0 25 29 •t- Totals All Departments 0 46 22 0 82 23 0 91 * "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. . 44 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JUNE 16 — JULY 15,1994 •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 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 m12 15 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT . 0 0 1 0 1 0 16 >2^ 32 2 38 4 33 55 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 3 3 69 16 n 44 60 2 rt •V 3 7 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 M'o- u 0 1 0 0 0 7 1 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 1 ilfi 1 2 2 2 0 6 1 1 2 2 16 r 3 A' 0 2 0 3 0 0 2 2 5 0 8 13 99 11 4 18 68 6 36 101 Totals All Departments * "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. -1 ^ ^ ' 76 SIU BULLEniH ^ ^8. MERCHANT MARINE VETS FORM NEW CHAPTER IN WESTERN PA. ^ ^ UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS ^ If you recently moved or changed REMEMBER PAY / your name, it is necesssry to have your correct address on file with theSeafarers VOUCHERS WHEN FILING ; ;; Vacation Plan. FOR VACATIONS FROM A new chapter of the U.S. Merchant Ifyou have not yet notified the union, 5 Marine Veterans of World War II is MILITARY SHIPS go to your nearest union hall and fill out| being formed in Allegheny County, Pa. Any interested merchant marine veterans may contact retired Seafarer Pete Salvo, who is the public relations chairman for the new group, at P.O. Box 124,McKeesport,PA 15134, orat(412) 673-2115. Other chapters of the organization are based in Florida, Texas, Colorado, Michigan, Kansas and South Carolina. For information on any of those chap­ ters, call (310) 519-9545. ^ PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 7 A general informational Seafarers membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 1994 at 2:00 p.m. It will take place at the Ramada Inn on Highway 87 in Fort Arthur. Contact the Houston SIU hall for fhrther information. • Seafarers who have sailed aboard / a change of address form or send your| new address (along with your name, | military vessels which have a service book number and social security num- $ contract act (SCA) or a Reserve Operat­ ber) to: Address Control, Seafarers In- i ing Status (ROS) component should ternational Union, 5201 Auth Way, provide copies of their pay vouchers Camp Sprij^s, MD 20746. when filing for vacation benefits related to employment on these ships. U.S. Coast Guard discharges from these firms % / ^ do not show exact dates of employment, "iEAT BRITAIN OFFERS so the pay vouchers must be submitted MEDALS TO N. ATLANTIC i as well. WWII MARINERS | Applications submitted without copies of pay vouchers will be held in a The British Chamber of Shipping is = pending status until the proper verifica­ offering a special badge to honor the tion is received. merchant mariners who sailed in the :-'3 Battle for the North Atlantic during World War II. In order to receive the recognition, send a cover letter explain­ ing service with name and address, a copy of the DD 214 military discharge and copies of discharge papers or a list of the ships and voyages taken across the North Atlantic to: British Chamber of Shipping; 2-5 Minories; London EC3 NIBJ,, England. •' -.1 �:;:w. •-t AUGUST 1994 'T.- SEAFAREHSUUG tnong the jawing number Xajof SIU pensioners this month are 32 members of the Seafarers who have retired after many years of sailing the world's waterways. Three of the pensioners joined the union in the 1940s after World War II: Robert A. Cook, 1946; Emiiio Sierra, 1945; and Clyde J. Smith Jr., 1946. Twenty-two of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, five in the inland division, three on the Great Lakes, and two in the Railroad Marine division. Brothers Isaac R. Fletcher and Weldon Wallace completed the Steward Recertification pro­ gram at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., and Brothers Emiiio Sierra and Clyde J. Smith graduated from the Bosun Recertification program. Of the retiring Seafarers, 19 served in the U.S. military: nine in the Navy, eight in the Army, and one each in the Air Force and Marine Corps. Short biographical accounts of Brothers Cook, Sierra, Smith, Fletcher, Wallace and the other new pensioners follow. DEEP SEA ROBERT R. BUNCH, 57, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth School in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1963. Brother Bunch was active in a num­ ber of union beefs. From 1968 to 1975, he sailed on vessels engaged in Vietnam sealift efforts. He upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deberg School. Brother Bunch par­ ticipated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He sailed in the en­ gine department. His last ship was the UST Pacific in 1993. Brother Bunch served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1961. Bom in the state of Kentucky, Brother Bunch has retired to Knoxville, Term. 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. ROBERT A. COOK, 66, joined the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of New York. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Cook served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953. He was bom in Wisconsin and currently resides in Maryland. KENNETH DOUGLAS, 68, began sailing with the SIU in 1964 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. Bom in Denver, Colo., Brother Douglas served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1953. He has retired to Seattle, Wash. BURR G. EELLS, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of Cleveland, Ohio. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Bells served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1952. Bom in New York, he has retired to San Francisco, Calif. FERNAN­ DEZ MALDONADO, 69, was bom in Puerto Rico. He began sailing with the union in 1966 in the port of New York. The steward department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. in 1982. Brother Maldonado calls Puerto Rico home. JOHNNIE McCREE JR., 68, joined the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of Baltimore, Md. He sailed in the steward department. Brother McCree served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Bom in Alabama, Brother McCree has retired to Califomia. ROBERT E. MEALOR, 56, was bom in Miami, Fla. and began sailing with the union in 1965 from the port of Jack­ sonville, Fla. He sail^ in the en-' gine department. Brother Mealor upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deberg School in Piney Point, Md. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959. Brother Mealor will remain in Jacksonville. ISAAC R. FLETCHER, 65, began sail­ ing with the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Wil­ mington, Calif. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Fletcher upgraded at the GERALD T. Lundeberg School and completed the steward recertification program PAYNE, 70, joined the in 1981. Bom in Kentucky, SIU in 1970 Brother Fletcher now lives in in the port of Alabama. New York. He sailed in FRANK H. FOSTER, 64, was LESLIE H. bom in Roseville, Mich. He joined the engine COVERT department. the SIU in 1961 in the port of San JR., 66, Brother Payne upgraded frequently Francisco, Calif. Brother Foster joined the at the Lundeberg School. Bom in sailed in the engine department. union in 1968 Niagara Falls, N.Y.„ Brother Payne He upgraded at the Lundeberg in the port of has retired to Florida. School. Brother Foster served in Seattle. Bom the U.S. Army in 1953. He makes in Pennsyl­ EMILIO his home in Califomia. vania, he SIERRA, 66, sailed in the deck department. began sailing Brother Covert served in the U.S. ADRIAN J. with the Navy. He has retired to Washing­ JANACEK, Seafarers in ton state. 72, began 1945 in the sailing with port of New SAM A. the SIU in York. The CROSBY, 1967 in the Pennsylvania 65, began sail­ port of Seattle, native sailed in the deck depart­ ing with the Wash. A na­ ment. He received a personal SIU in 1965 tive of safety award recognizing his part in his home Tacoma, in making the SS Steel Architect an port of New Wash., he sailed in the deck depart­ accident-free ship during the first Orleans. He ment. Brother Janacek served in half of 1960. Brother Sierra sailed in the the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1945. upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deck department. Brother Crosby He has retired to Seattle. deberg School, graduating from the continues to live in Louisiana. bosun recertification course in 1976. Brother Sierra makes his PAUL DOMINGO LABORDE, home in Califomia. 59, joined the DIAZ, 65, joined the Sea­ SIU in 1959 CLYDE J. farers in 1943 in the port of SMITH JR., in his native Lake Charles, 64, joined the La. He sailed Puerto Rico. union in 1946 He retired his in both the en­ in Mobile, book in 1960 gine and Ala. He sailed and signed up steward departments. Brother Lain the deck again with the union in 1977. Borde upgraded his steward depart­ department. Brother Diaz sailed in the deck ment rating in 1983. He served in Brother Smith department. He served in the U.S. the U.S. Army in 1957. Brother successfully completed the bosun Navy from 1942 to 1944. Brother LaBorde has retired to his native recertification course at the union's Diaz has retired to Luquillo, P.R. state of Louisiana. school in Piney Point in 1980. D He still calls his native Alii'bama home. EMERSON WALKER, 63, began sail­ ing with the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed in the engine department. The Ohio na­ tive upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1979. Brother Walker served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He has retired to Califomia. WELDON WALLACE, 65, joined the union in 1961 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Wal­ lace upgraded at the Lundeberg School and completed the steward recertification program in 1984. Bom in Bethlehem, Penn., he has retired to New York. JAMES P. WATSON, 65, was bom in Louisiana and began sailing with the SIU in 1961 in the port of New Orleans. He sailed in the deck department. He has retired to Louisiana. GORDON D. WHEELER, 63, joined the Seafarers in 1955 in his na­ tive Bal­ timore, Md. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Wheeler served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He currently resides in Texas. NICKOLAOS ZERVOS, 65, was bom in Andros, Greece. The naturalized U.S. citizen joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Brother Zervos upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point in 1973 and 1981. He calls New York home. INLAND JAMES O. CARAWAN, 64, started sailing with the Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. He sailed in the deck department Brother Carawan served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1952. He has retired to his na­ tive home state of North Carolina. 19 •W WILLIAM CARLTON, 62, joined the SIU in 1972 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He^smledin the steward department Brother Carlton served in the U.S. Navy from 1947 to 1972. Bom in Atlanta, Ga., he has retired to Vir­ ginia. FRANCIS P. PRIMEAUX, 63, began sail­ ing with the SIU in 1964 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. He last sailed as a tug­ boat captain. Brother Primeaux makes his home in his native Louisiana. EDWARD F.QUINN, 70, began sail­ ing with the union in 1976 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Quinn was bom in Boston, Mass. and has retired to Texas. • • .''i- "I 'W VICTOR TIGETT, 65, joined the •Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Houston, Texas. Brother Tigett sailed in the engine department. The New York native served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He currently resides in Texas. m. GREAT LAKES RICHARD LAURENTY, 62, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, began sailing with the SIU in 1961 in that port city. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. Brother Laurenty continues to live in Ohio. t DONALD L. MASKELL, 56, was bom in Alpena, Mich. He joined the union in 1964 in the port of Detroit. Brother Maskell sailed in the deck department. He has retired to Michigan. WILLIAM H. MCDOWELL, 63, joined the Seafarers in 1961 in his home town of Buffalo, N.Y. He sailed in the deck department Brother McDowell served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. He continues to reside in New York. •: ... y •£ RAILROAD MARINE WILLIAM E. GRIMSLEY, 65, joined the union in 1956 in the port of New York. Brother Grimsley sailed in the deck department. He worked aboard a float bridge from 1956 to 1968 and was last woiking with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1992. Brother Grimsley has retired to New Jersey. RALPH J. SCOTT, 69, a native of Alabama, joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department Brother Scott served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1947. He makes his home in Tennessee. CORRECTION In April's edition of the Seafarers LOG, new pensioner Arnold Perry was incorrectly identified as having joined the union in 1956. Brother Perry, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of Buffalo, N.Y. He has retired to New Bedford. Mass. '''' I'.':';- • �.. "ftf'-i?.. rr..'; y. • 20 AUGUST 1994 SSAFARERSLOG ' ' . Recalling Last Year's Flooding, Orgulf Crews Thankful For Good Weather The summer sailing season is in full swing for Seafarers aboard Orgulf tugboats along the Missis­ sippi River and its tributaries. Unlike last year when severe flooding forced vessels to tie up along the upper Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers, SIU crews have been working steadily to move grain, coal, mulch, scrap and oAer dry cargo. "So far, we haven't had time to slow down," noted Lead Deckhand Sheldon Wing aboard the tugboat Bob Labdon. "The crew has remained busy, and that is good for all of us." The Bob Labdon operates on both the upper and lower portions of the Mississippi. The river has an unofficial dividing line at the company's Moore's Landing, Mo. staging area. North of Moore's Land­ ing, the Bob Labdon and other Orgulf boats can push up to 15 barges, conditions permitting. South of Moore's Landing, those vessels able to navigate -^TT-^ r:: that portion of the Mississippi are able to push as many as 35 barges. Echoing Wing's assessment of the 1994 sailing season is fellow Lead Deckhand Richard Sager of the tugboat Dave Carlton. "It's great to be back out here working without having to worry about the weather like last year," Sager said. Like the Bob Labdon, the Dave Carlton also navigates the full Mississippi. Meanwhile, the same sentiments are found aboard Orgulf tugs like the Omar, that sail only on the upper Mississippi as well as the Illinois and Ohio rivers. "We' ve had no problems so far this year," said Utilityman Mark Elmore from the Omar. "All of the crew is glad to be working without the restric­ tions caused by the flooding." ; -y c. '-7- 'V- ' Deckhand Greg Stampley Checking out the galley Donning his life jacket to Omar's Lead Deckhand, Heading for the galley Lead Deckhand Richard Cook Stephen Strove is inspects the SobLabdon on the Omaris Deckhand work on the Omar is Garry Gillispie, gets for sorriething to eat is Sager checks on barges hard at work preparing a deck before shoving off. Tommie Mitchell Jr. Utilityman Mark Elmore, some' papenwbrk done. Omar Mate •• ! Eddie Lairt. being pushed by Carfton. meal in the Omargalley. 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 con­ stitution requires a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to besubmitted tothe member­ ship by the secretary-treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file members, elected by the member­ ship, each year examines the finances of the union and reports fully their findings and recoirimendations. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate find­ ings. 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 their alternates. All ex­ penditures 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 dieir shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and avail­ able in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as con­ tained in the contracts between the union and the employe's, 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 mem­ ber woiks and lives aboard a ship or boat Members should know their con­ tract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for ovalime (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 politi­ cal purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the union or its col­ lective membaship. This established policy has been reaffirmed by member­ ship action at the S^tember 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the executive board of the union. The 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 supply­ ing a receipt, or if a member is requir^ 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 inall union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its con­ tents. 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 as dealing 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. TTiese rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the union has negotiated with the employers. Con­ sequently, no member may be dis­ criminated 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, further­ ing the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with im­ proved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advan­ cement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No con­ tribution may be solicited or received because of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of member­ ship 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 cer­ tified mail within 30 days of the con­ tribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if in­ voluntary. A member should sup­ port SPAD to protect and further his or her economic, political and so­ cial interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she has been denied the constitutional light 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 Intemational Union 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. �V'rt?. • -'•'AC- AUGUST 1994 tional Director Paul Wolf, Engine Delegate Kevin Conklin, Steward Delegate Patricia Ballance. Educa tional director talked about SIU scholarship program as a benefit Seafarers and their dependents. The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union ship­ for He also stressed importance of board minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space upgrading skills at Lundeberg limitations, some win be omitted. School. Treasurer announced $500 ship's fund. No beefs or dis­ Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contract department. in puted OT reported by all three Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the departments. Steward department union upon receipt of the ships minutes. The minutes are then given vote of thanks for great job. forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication. It was mentioned that Chief Cook Ballance is going on vacation and will be missed. Crewmembers sug­ BROOKS RANGE(lOM), May Delegate Gary Cardillo, Steward gested having a baggage room for 31 —Secretary Peter Schulz, Delegate Alonzo Belcher. Educa­ regular crews. Next port: Arun, In­ Steward Delegate Anthony tional director advised crewmem­ donesia. Rivera. Disputed OT reported by bers to keep home address current deck delegate. No beefs or dis­ with union headquarters. He has NUEVO SAN JUAN(PRMMl), puted OT reported in engine or change of address cards and all June 5—Chairman Jerry Borucki, steward departments. Crewmemother SIU forms on board. No Educational Director Gerald bers requested clarification from beefs or disputed OT reported by Daley, Deck Delegate Porfirio L. contracts department on time off. all departments., Sambula, Treasurer Jesse Next Port: El Segundo, Calif. Cintron, Engine Delegate Miguel SEA-LAND VALUE (Sea-Land Rulldn. Chief steward reminded CONSTELLATION (Maersk Service), May 27—Chairman crewmembers of non-smoking Lines), May 26—Chairman Brad­ Domingo Leon Jr., Secretary policy during meals. He thanked ford H. Shelly, Secretary Don Wil­ M.T. St George, Deck Delegate crew for keeping mess hall clean. liams. Chairman thanked deck Michael Moore, Educational No beefs or disputed OT reported department for job well done. He Director S.B. Miller, Steward by department delegates. Everyone noted new relief list posted on bul­ Delegate E. Verveniotis. Educa­ was urged to sign up for upgrading tional director reminded members letin board and vacation forms are classes at Piney Point which could of increased earning opportunities available. Educational director lead to better pay and career advan­ stressed importance of attending available by attending upgrading cement. Members and their upgrading courses at Lundeberg courses at Lundeberg School. Dis­ families also can use facilities at puted OT reported in deck depart­ School in Piney Point, Md. Piney Point for two-week surnmer ment. No beefs or disputed OT Treasurer announced $547.45 in vacations. The importance of con­ ship's fund. Crewmembers re­ reported in engine and steward tributing to SPAD was stressed, as quested clarification from contracts departments. Crewmembers noted maritime legislation now is being department on ammo pay from last need for new furniture, dryer and debated on Capitol Hill. Steward two trips which involved carrying TV. Vote of thanks given to department given vote of thanks highly explosive cargo. Chief steward and his gang for job well for preparing excellent food. Next Cook F.P. Umali given vote of done. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. port: San Juan, P.R. thanks for great food. DSNS WILKES (Bay Ship ITS JACKSONVILLE (Sheridan Management), May 22—Chairman OOCL INNOVATION(Sea-Land Service), June 5—Chairman Allan Transportation), May 21—Chair­ Jerry Hill, Educational Director A. Rogers, Secretary Jonny Cruz, Gary M. Dahl, Engine Delegate man Luke Wells, Deck Delegate Education^ Director R.L. Tannis, David Partikian, Engine Delegate D.P. Gaudeau, Steward Delegate Deck Delegate Mark Lamar, En­ William Lockett Chairman Ron Micklos, Steward Delegate gine Delegate Robert Brown, Rudolf Shields. Chairman dis­ reminded crewmembers of neces­ Steward Delegate Gwendolyn sity of separating plastic items cussed memorandum of under­ Shinholster. Chairman announced from regular trash. He noted that standing between SIU and payoff in Elizabeth, N.J. He also previous problem with chairs in Sheridan Transportation. Crewtalked about dark clouds facing crew mess sliding around was members were reminded to help maritime industry—and one way to fixed, along with other furniture in steward department by keeping protect union jobs is by voting and need of repair. Awaiting new table or dis­ mess hall clean. No beefs SPAD. Secretary supporting puted OT reported by deck, engine for crew mess. Educational director reminded everyone that Lundeberg encouraged members to upgrade and steward departments. Next School is great place to spend sum­ port: St. Croix, V.I. skills at Paul Hall Center. mer vacation time with family. It is Treasurer announced $498 in also a good place to upgrade skills OMI SACRAMENTO (Vulcan), ship's fund. Letter to SIU head­ in order to handle any new job on­ May 29—Chairman Ray Gorju, quarters was written, seeking board ships. Educational director Secretary Matthew Scott, Engine clarification on tours of duty. Crew­ Delegate Robert Caldwell, members reported good food being advised crew to wear hard hats when going ashore or on dock in Steward Delegate Anderson Jor­ served aboard ship. Would like a Rotterdam because of new rule that Chairman noted ship com­ dan Jr. BBQ on fantail. Chief steward went into effect in May. No beefs pleted long voyage and thanked all agreed and deck department will or disputed OT reported by the crewmembers on behalf of captain fabricate tables. Next port: Pusan, deck, engine and steward depart­ for Job well done. Secretary added South Korea. ments. Vote of thanks given to special thanks to all crew for profes­ steward department for job well GLOBAL SENTINEL (Tran­ sional attitude. Educational director done. Steward, in turn, thanked soceanic), June 17—Chairman encouraged members to take ad­ crew for keeping ship clean and vantage of union's upgrading facility Joseph J. Olson, Secretary Ken­ neth D. Rosiek, Educational Direc­ making trip a pleasant one. Chief at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer an­ Cook Shinholster mentioned that tor Marvin D. Wells, Deck nounced $590 in ship's fund. Beefs GSU James Tyson did great job Delegate Richard Barron, reported in engine and steward Steward Delegate Brian Lindsley. and was very helpful. Next port: departments. No beefs or disputed Boston, Mass. Chairman announced pilot being OT reported by deck delegate. Ship picked up for entry into Seattle will go into layup in next port. Port OVERSEAS ARCTIC (Maritime where crew will have payoff. Will Orange, Texas. Overseas), June 8—Chairman JJf. call union hall for patrolman. Williams, Secretary Kerry T. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER Educational director urged mem­ Roby, Engine Delegate Kevin F. (Sea-Land Service), May 8—Chair­ bers to take advantage of upgrad­ Moon, Steward Delegate Juan man Roy Williams, Secretary Her­ ing courses at Piney Point and to Gonzales. Chairman announced bert Scypes, Educational Director read new contract for changes. pay off in port of St. Croix. No H.C. Chancey. Secretary noted Treasurer announced $97 in ship's beefs or disputed OT reported by need to talk to patrolman at upcom­ fund. Disputed OT reported in three department delegates. All ing payoff regarding OT beef in deck and engine departments. No communications, including department. Educational steward beefs or disputed OT reported in Seafarers LOGs and activities director reminded crewmembers of steward department. With ship reports, are in crew lounge. Crew importance of contributing to going into dry dock, members were asked contracts department to look SPAD and Maritime Defense reminded that company is under no into increasing dental and optical League, and of upgrading skills at_, obligation to pay way back to ship benefits as well as the length of Piney Point, Di.scussion was held after layoff. It's different for those time per trip. Vote of thanks given to ask contracts department about going on vacation, but members to steward department for good improvements to dental and optical must re-claim jobs at Seattle hall. ob. Suggestion was made to have plans. Crewmembers gave vote of Deck department was commended ship fumigated to get rid of roaches. thanks to steward department for for good job of removing tar from hard work. One minute of silence ship's decks. Vote of thanks and was observed in memory of OVERSEAS OH/O(Maritime commendation given to steward departed brothers and sisters. Next Overseas), June 8—Chairman department for exceptional job. Robert Pagan, Secretary Earl N. port: Elizabeth, N.J. New VCR received aboard ship. Gray Sr., Educational Director Everyone was reminded to return SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE Michael Ribeiro, Engine Delegate movie tapes when done. Karl Benes, Steward Delegate (Sea-Land Service), May 29LNG GEMINI (ETC), June 15— Duane R. Bergeson. Chairman inChairman Allan Hitt, Secretary Chairman Ramli Mohamcd, fonned crewmembers there should Mclvin W. Hite, Educational Secretary Kris A. Hopkins, Educa­ be no mixing of oily rags and Director Dan John.son, Deck Digest of Ships Meetings SEAFARERS LOG paper with plastic items to go ashore. Only clean plastic should be sent, or ship could be fined. He reminded all hands to be con­ siderate in passageways as others may be sleeping. Secretary advised members of his upcoming vacation and wished them continued smooth sailing. He reminded them of educational opportunities available at Lundeberg School. Disputed OT reported in deck department. En­ gine and steward departments reported no beefs or disputed OT. All running smoothly. Request was made for new rec room and dining room furniture, as well as new microwave oven, toaster and coffee maker. Next port: Long Beach, CaUf. OVERSEAS WASHINGTON (Maritime Overseas), June 5Chairman T. Koebel, Secretary Robert Miller, Engine Delegate Kevin Wray, Steward Delegate 21 • his department. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported in deck or en­ gine departments. Vote of thanks given to steward and deck depart­ ments for jobs well done. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (Sea-Land Semce), June 5—Chair­ man Stephen Rasmussen, Secretary Nancy S. Heyden, Educational Director Bozidar Balic, Deck Delegate George Fries, Steward Delegate Daniel Maxie Sr. Chairman said ship has good crew and everyone is doing good job. He thanked steward department for their fine meals. Secretary reminded members to lock up movie cabinets and crew lounge when in port. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading skills in Piney Point. He also asked everyone to be con­ siderate of others by rewinding movies when finished and putting Deck Crew Welcomes Member Aboard While the MV Courierv/as docked at the Northville Terminal in Linden, N.J., AS Napoleon San Martin (right) is welcomed aboard by AB Brad Seibel (left) and Bosun Stephen Argay. V .''"T Steve Soofi. Chairman urged mernbers to write their congressional representatives regarding H.R. 4()03, the merchant marine revitalization bill. Secretary also noted that in order for these letters to have any impacf member should be registered voter. Chair­ man relayed message from captain that if crewmembers do not leave doors to rooms open, they cannot be cleaned. No b^fs or disputed OT reported by department delegates. Smoking hours in crew lounge were discussed and revised. Vote of thanks given to steward department for excellent fare. Next port: Homer, Alaska. them back in their jackets. Treasurer will check with captain to see if there is any money in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported by the three depart­ ment delegates. Copies of Seafarers LOGs received in Hong Kong. Crewmembers were advised to read them for current union news. Clarification was requested from headquarters regarding break for quartermaster. All hands voted to start a movie fund next trip in Kaohsiung. A special minute of silence was observed for shipmate John Shaw's wife who passed away at beginning of trip. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND DEVELOPER (SeaLand Service), June 2—Chairman Dana Cella, Secretary Lincoln Finn, Educational Director John T. Ross, Deck Delegate Timothy L. Smith, Engine Delegate Jeffrey Murray, Steward Delegate Michael Linus. Chairman advised members that washing machine was ordered and is expected in port of Tacoma. He also encouraged crew to upgrade their maritime skills at Paul Hall Center and keep the union strong by supporting SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck, engine and steward delegates. Crewmembers requested contracts department ook into increase in dental benefits for themselves and families. Mem)ers would like to be informed if ^undeberg School will be provid­ ing outport hazmat training so they can renew their endorsements. Mext port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Service), June 19—Chairman Lother Reck, Secretary George M. Bronson, Educational Director Brett Landls, Deck Delegate Julius Udan, Engine Delegate Al­ fonso Bomhita Jr., Steward Delegate Rang V. Nguyen. Chair­ man mentioned Teamster's strike with Sea-Land and congratulated Teamsters on their win. He reminded crew that engineers have new 60-day contract extension. He advised members to meet with SIU patrolman before paying off. Wiper was thanked for waxing crew deck and lounge area, and steward department was thanked for keep­ ing mess hall and crew lounge clean. Secretary noted success of second cookout this trip due in large part to fresh tuna and special cut of short ribs from ashore. He thanked all those involved. Educa­ tional director talked about safety while working on deck. He also urged members to attend upgrading courses at Lundeberg School and to donate to SPAD. Treasurer an­ nounced over 500 movies aboard ship. There is $40 in movie fiind and $355 in ship's fund, and mem­ bers agreed to spend some of it for buying shelves for new movies. Disputed OT reported in deck SEA-LAND HA WAII(Sea-Land Service), June 19—Chairman James Foley, Secretary D. Spangler, Deck Delegate James A. Speer. Chairman reminded crewmembers not to overload washing machine with clothes or soap. Crew was asked to keep TV volume down during meal hour. Steward delegate reported beef in Continued on page 22 I-: :>li" i- . /:• ''V If •. jtv • -«S-. �22 AUGUSri994 SEAFARBRSLOG Upgrader Koonce Stays True to Word When Darrel Koonce set sail from Gibraltar for Saudi Arabia aboard the USNS Capella in June 1991, he told the woman he was dating that he would be back to marry her. "1 had heard all those stories about seaman saying they ^Vould come back, and you never hear from them again," noted Koonce's wife of two years, Dolly. In fact, he alrriost lived up to the reputation that others had said would happen. "There were no calls or letters for five months," she told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG while Koonce hung his head and nodded in agreement. But in November 1991, right after Koonce signed off the Capella, he returned to Gibraltar. After Dolly overcame the initial disbelief that he had returned, the couple resumed dating and were married within a few months. Koonce, who recently upgraded to able seaman at the Paul Hall Center, gave up sailing for a short time to stay in Gibraltar. He was offered several maritime-related jobs but they were not as good as the ones he held after graduating from the Lundeberg School's trainee program in 1990. Darrel came back to the States in 1992 with his wife, who was bom in India but who spent the last five years in Europe. Again, he tried his hand at other jobs, including construction, but ultimately returned to the sea. Darrel, Doily and seven-week-old Devin Koonce relax in the lobby of the Lundeberg School Training and Recreation Center as Darrel takes a break while upgrading to able seaman. "The money and jobs just weren't there," recalled Koonce, who has sailed primarily on tankers since returning. "Besides, I missed sailing. We talked it over and I came back. "I didn't know what I had with the Seafarers until I left. I'm glad I'm back." Voyage to Gdynia: by Ralph Lundgren Continued from page 12 our way to 'Tom's beer joint," I think about Sister Czestawa. Chessie, she says we can call her. What's her secret? Is it faith that gives her the strength to smile in the face of death and in the misery with which she lives? If not, what gives her the inner peace she seems to have? Scott and Smokestack Healy seem to have the same inner peace. Why? Have the Sisters of Mercy found a safe harbor in their order? Like sailors wedded to their union and their ships? All this is too abstract for me. So, I fall back in with my shipmates and swallow some beer. Sister of Mercy, she tells us. But that alone doesn't explain the power she seems to have to make us all somehow better than we really are. "I leave you now," she smiles. "Don't stay too long." And then she's gone. Wincing, Web grabs the head of his bed and pulls himself away from his girdling cast. He swears, and then says, "They really need soap." Web tries a grin, remind­ ing us, "There's boxes of it in the hold. Sheets too." Sister Chessie's even made a saint out of Web. And in this state of,un­ September 29—the 26th accustomed holiness, we leave day: Tomorrow we sail, leave him. Gdynia, the first foreign port in Passing the Russian graves on which I've been for any length of time. A lot has happened to me here. I will leave something of myself behind. But I'll take with me more than I've lost here, if I've lost anything at all. Lying in my bunk, I see Sister Chessie shush­ ing Web with a few words and the touch of her hand. I see the soft sad smile with which she looked on us, a rowdy bank of deckhands until she walked in that narrow room and changed us into boys again. We've seen her every day since Web was in that hospital. Si^er Czestawa Herchowski was able She's done a lot for Web, become to send a letter to her brother via Lundgren and his crewmates. a sort of older sister to all of us. Ships Digest Continued from page 21 b.;.-' •«* department. No beefs or disputed OT reported in engine and steward departments. Vote of thanks given to steward department, especially to Rang V. Nguyen of Seattle. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (SeaLand Service), June 2—Chairman A. Eckert, Secretary G. Sivley, Educational Director A. Jaramillo. Chairman advised members of payoff in Tacoma, Wash. He asked that all crewmembers return movies to locker before getting off and thanked them for smooth trip. No beefs or disputed OT reported by department delegates. Seafarers LOGs received aboard ship. Vote of thanks given to steward depart­ ment for great food. SEA-LAND TACOMA (SeaLand Service), June 21—Chairman T.M. Murphy, Secretary Harry E. Lively, Educational Director C. Piper, Deck Delegate Sean O'Doherty, Engine Delegate Charles H. Kennedy, Steward Delegate M. Buhaker. Chairman reported on new cost of living adjustment, ef­ fective July 1, 1994. Secretary noted that seven to nine passengers were aboard last two trips. Every­ thing went smoothly. Educational director urged crewmembers to use facilities available at Lundeberg School. Treasurer announced $370 in ship's fund. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported in deck, engine and steward departments. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. When we came to take Web back to the ship, she asked us to do something for her. But she was shy about asking, as if we didn't owe her anything. "Look," she began, "excuse me..." then very formally asked if we could do her a favor. We all said yes at once, then lost our voices. That long narrow hospital room suddenly filled with silence. "Please," Sister Chessie said quietly, 'T have a brother in America. He hasn't heard a word from me for years. I know he thinks I'm dead." She brought three envelopes and some money from her pock­ et. "I've written him. All the same letter in each of these. But there's no way I can mail them. Mail? We have had none since the Germans. Could you take them for me? Mail them in America?" She held out her en­ velopes in one hand, her money in the either. We stood silent around her until Tom took her letters. "We don't need money. Sister," he told her for all of us. "We're heading for New York," Tom said. "We'll be there in a month. Three days after we land, these letters'll be in Baltimore. We promise you." She hugged Tom like a brother. That hug was for all of us, I know. I'll never forget her, I promise myself. Never; 147 '®ti Clfrtafmas The heat and humidity of summer may not make you think about the holiday season just yet, but the Seafarers LOG must plan ahead for its December edition. And one of the features of that edition that has been extremely well received over the past three years is the inclusion of holiday greetings. Active and retired Seafarers-as well as their family members-are invited to send their greetings to friends, shipmates and loved ones through the pages of the LOG. The procedure is simple. In 25 words or less (and in your neatest PRINTING possible), write the message in the space provided below. All (legible) greetings that are written in the holiday spirit will be included in the December 1994 issue of the Seafarers LOG, if they are received in time. The LOG reserves the right to print one greeting per sender. Others will be run only if space permits. The deadline for receipt of the holiday messages is Mon­ day, November 14, 1994. Send them by mail to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. After November 1, facsimile copies will be accepted. The fax number is (301) 702-4407. Forms also may be filled out in any union hall and turned in to the official at the counter—or may be given to the boarding patroman at a vessel's payoff, r (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE) To: From: Message:, ULTRASEA (Sealift), June 5- Chairman M.A, Noble, Secretary Timothy J. Dowd. Chairman an­ nounced arrival and payoff in New Orleans, La. He thanked Chief Cook Francisco Monsibais and rest of steward department for job well done over past voyages. Treasurer stated $56 in ship's fund. Suggestion was made to buy new movies since next trip will be long. Steward delegate reported disputed OT in his department. No beefs or disputed OT in deck or engine depart­ ments. With additional riders aboard, suggestion made to get new washing machine. Sugges­ tion also made to use spare rooni for riders, not AB or oiler's rooms. Repairs needed aboard ship include fixing of galley ovens and range. Check the block which describes your status with the SlU: • Active Seafarer CI Family Member of Active Seafarer • Retired Seafarer • Family Member of Retired Seafarer Send your greeting to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. The greeting should be received at the LOG office by Monday, November 14, 1994. 8/94 �•:>- •': • '- • •' '"•• •." r""',.•': -31 AimST1994 SEAFAHERS LOG Final Departures DEEP SEA the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1951. Brother Edwards began receiving his pension in January 1986. AGATONANDREZ Pensioner Agaton Andrez, 94, passed away May 10, 1993. Brother Andrez joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1946, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Brother Andrez began receiving his pension in March 1965. THOMAS D.CRAIG Pensioner Thomas D. Crag, 88, passed away April 12. He join^ the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1944 before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Craig retired in August 1969. HARRY EGOLF Pensioner Harry Egolf, 70, passed away June 1. Bom in Hickory, Pa., he began his sailing career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945 before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Egolf retired in Novemba: 1974. JAMES E. BARKER Pensioner James E. Barker, 83, died May 6. A Pennsylvania na­ tive, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1941, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Barker served in the military from 1935 to 1945. He retired in March 1977. DANIEL H.FERRAS Pensioner Daniel H. Ferras, 59, died June 8. Bom in Cuba, he be­ came a U.S. citizen and joined the SIU in New Orleans in 1%8. Brother Ferras sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in May 1991. BENAIABERBERENA Brother Benaia Berberena, 52, passed away June 28. Bom in Puerto Rico, he signed on with th^ SIU in 1969 in Piney Point, Md. after completing the Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen. Brother Berberena sailed in the deck . department and upgraded at Piney Point in 1981. He was ac­ tive in union activities in San Francisco. JOHN L. BUCKLEY Pensioner John L. Buckley, 80, died June 1. Bom in San Francisco, Calif., he began his sailing career in 1953 in the port of Boston. Brother Buckley sailed in the engine department. In 1976 he upgraded his rating to QMED. He served in the U.S. Army from 1937 to 1940. Brother Buckley began receiving his pension in August 1979. HARRY GOORWrrZ Pensioner Harry Goorwitz, 81, died November 6,1992. Brother Goorwitz joined &e Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1937, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. He sailed aboard Matson and Anterican President Lines vessels. Brother Goorwitz began receiving his pension in December 1969. HOWARD R. HARVEY Pensioner Howard R. Harvey, 69, passed away June 19. Bom in Michigan, he joined the Seafarers in 1958 in the port of Seattle. Brother Harvey sailed in the deck department He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975. Brother Harvey served in the U.S. Army in 1950. He retired in May 1986. JOHNR.CHEELY Pensioner, John R. Cheely, 67, passed away June 11. A native of New York, he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. He sailed in the engine depart­ ment Brother Cheely upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He retired in January 1992. EDWARD KELLY SR. Pensioner Ed­ ward Kelly Sr., 74, passed away June 20. A native of Theodore, Ala., he join^ the SIU in 1949 in the port of New York. Brother Kelly sailed in the steward department. He successfully com­ pleted the steward recertification program at the Lundeberg School in 1981. He served in the U.S. Army fiom 1943 to 1946. Brother Kelly retiied in April 1984. PATRICK J. CLEARY Pensioner / Patrick J. Cleary, 74, died May 22. Bom in New York City, he began his sailing career with die Seafarers in 1952 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Brother Cleary sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in Novem­ ber 1981. GERALD EDWARDS Pensioner Gerald Ed­ wards, 69, died Novem­ ber 19, 1993. Bom in Merritt, N.C., he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of New York. Brother Edwards sailed in the deck department He saved in : ' . •/' • FRANCIS LEBDA Brother Fran­ cis Lebda, 64, died June 13. Bom in New York City, he joined the Seafarers in 1969 in that port Brother Lebda sailed in the deck depart- :^ .v:-' ment. He upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School. He is re­ membered by his union brothers for his many aictivities in behalf of seamen—^th at sea and ashore. Brother Lebda served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1948. GEORGE LINDSAY JR. Brother George Lindsay Jr., 48, passed away May 24. A native of Georgia, he join^ the SIU in 1970 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Lindsay recently sailed in the en­ gine department as a QMED. He upgraded frequently at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. GABRIEL LLAMAS Pensioner Gabriel Llamas, 89, died June 27. Bom in Puer­ to Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of New York. Late in his career. Brother Llamas primarily sailed in the deck department as a bosun. Brother Llamas began receiving his pension in November 1970. AGLIWD. Sister Veard retired in November 1971. ANTHONY SCATURRO Pensioner Anthony Scaturro, 76, died June 10. He signed on with the Seafarers in 1950 in his home state of New York. Brother Scaturro sailed in the steward department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1979. Brother Scatur­ ro served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945. He began receiv­ ing his pension in March 1980. JOSEPH SMITH Pensioner Joseph Smi^, 82, passed away May 20. Bom in Peabody, Mass., he joined the union in 1948 in the port of New York. He last sailed in the deck depart­ ment as a bosun. Brother Smith retired in April 1978. ARMONSTOVALL Pensioner Armon Stovall, 74, HORACE P. MAYEUX died May 25. Pensioner Bom in Horace P. Newark, Mayeux, 65, N.J., he passed away joined the June 6. He Marine joined the Cooks and SIU in his na­ Stewards in 1971 in the port of tive city of New Orleans San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. He in 1966. began receiving his pension Brother Mayeux sailed in the Febmary 1990. deck department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to ARMANDO VIDAL 1947. Brother Mayeux retired from the SIU in October 1987. Pensioner Ar­ mando DONALD J. MEDER Vidal, 81, Brother died March Donald J. 14. A native Meder,61, of Puerto died May 25. Rico, he Bom in signed on Sacramento, with the SIU Calif., he in 1943 in signed on the port of New York. Brother with the SIU Vidal sailed in the engine depart­ in 1969 in ment. He upgraded frequently at the port of Wilmington, Calif. the Lundeterg School. Brother He sailed in both the deck and Vidal began receiving his pen­ steward departments. Brother sion in September 1975. Meder upgraded at the Lun­ deberg School. He served in the JAMES L.WALDROP U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. James L. Waldrop, 63, passed CLARENCE J. NALL away June 3. Bom in Florida, he joined the Seafarers in 1950 in Pensioner the port of New York. Brother Clarence J. Waldrop sailed in both the deck Nail, 82, and steward departments. passed away Febmary 19, 1993.A charter mem­ ber of the SIU, Brother INLAND Nail was bom in Belleville, Ala. He joined BENJAMIN BEACHAM the union in 1938 in the port of Benjamin Mobile, Ala. and sailed in the Beacham, steward department until his 60, died June retirement in September 1972. 20. A native He is survived by his wife, Ber^ of North nice. Carolina, he joined the MARY A. VEARD SIU in 1959 Pensioner Mary A. Veard, 75, in the port of passed away August 5, 1993. Philadelphia. She joined the Marine Cooks and He sailed in the deck department. Stewards in 1955, l^fore that Boatman Beacham served in the union merged with the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954. - --" i •, . ••• 7 Jj / 7 ' ' jr . (• 23 :lj' 7 CHARLES M. CURTIS Pensioner Charles M. Curtis, 70, passed away May 14. Bom in North Carolina, he began his sailing career in 1973 in the port of Jackson­ ville, Fla. Boatman Curtis at­ tended the SIU Gulf and Inland Waters Education Conference in July 1971 at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. He sailed in the steward department. Boatman Curtis served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945. He retired in Febmary 1986. FRANCIS GALLAGHER Pensioner Francis Gallagher, 84, died June 10. A native of Vir­ ginia, Boatman Gallagher joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He sailed in the en­ gine department. Boatman Gal­ lagher began receiving his pension in April 1973. DONALD HARBOUR Donald Har­ bour, 53, passed away June 20. Bom in Springfield, 111., he joined the Serfarers in 1991 in the port of Houston. Boatman Harbour sailed aboard G & H Towing ves­ sels in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1964. . j', JOSEPH HEBERT Pensioner Joseph Hebert, 70, died June 16. A native of Grand Lake, La., he began sailing widi the union in 1964 in the portof New Orleans. Boatman Hebert served in the U. S. Army from 1943 to 1946. He began receiving his pension in April 1982. MELVIN HEBERT Pensioner Melvin Hebert, 73, passed away May 20. Bom in Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. Boat­ man Hebert was a licensed cap­ tain. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and again ftxjm 1947 to 1949. Boatman Hebert retired in November 1985. : 3 ft 3 ?.'3- Ific :3 . . V.' t ••. -'r ' •A . JOHN Q.JOYNER Pensioner John Q. Joyner, 88, died May 14. Boatman Joyner began sailing with the SIU in 1982 in the portof NorContinued on page 25 V , /• 33: �24 AUGUST 1994 SEAFARERS LOG TwoOffloading for the ITB Jack­ sonville is a two-step process. When the vessel approaches the New York City skyline, it is time to ready the vessel for the first step. "Entering the harbor only means we have to prepare for lightering," Bosun Luke Wells told the Seafarers LOG. "We'll be here offloading, then we can head for the dock." ' The Jacksonville, like the other Sheridan Transportation • 1» tug/barges on the St. Croix to New York run, must unload some of its petroleum cargoonto another barge in the Stapleton Anchorage before it can sai to the Hess Ter­ minal in Port Reading, N.J. Wells noted the procedure is fairly routine with the good crew aboard the vessel. "We are all familiar with what we have to do. Unless the weather acts up, it usually goes without a hitch." The tug/barge makes the roundtrip between the Virgin Is­ lands and New York in just under 13 days. Lightering in Stapleton Anchorage takes about 12 hours, while the offloading operations at the terminal involves another 18 hours. The Jacksonville is able to hold 350,000 barrels of gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products. When it is not on the New York run, the 12-year-old vessel often puts in at the ports of — Norfolk, Va., Charleston, S.C. Chief Cook Benigno Santos and Houston. stands ready to take a meal order. /?' v''"{V'. -'; • Waving as the pilotlaunch shoves Lowering the pilot's ladder from the deck are AB Nat Leary (left) and QMED Pumpman David V^dkamp (right) finds out what will be on the off is Bosun Luke Wells. Bosun Luke Wells. The lightering barge can be seen behind Wells, menu from Chief Steward Charles Banky. Pictured from left are GLIDE Gerry Rogers, QMED Tomas Martinez and GUDE Don Ackerman. '"••.." The professionalism of SIU crewmembers aboard the Liberty Sea was evident during the vessel's recent voyage to deliver 60,000 metric tons of grain to Haifa, Israel, reported Bosun Mario Romero. In ship's minutes that were recorded during the trip, the bosun commended the entire crew. "We've had nothing but smooth sailing," noted Romero. Romero said that the deck department spent much of its time chipping and painting. Seafarers in the engineroom kept the vessel running at peak performance, while the steward department provided excellent meals. "I extend a special vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done," added Romero. The importance and benefits of upgrading at the Paul Hall Center is a common topic among the crew, accord­ ing to the Liberty Sea's chief steward, Neville Johnson Jr. Brother Johnson has taken many courses at the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. He recently completed the recertified steward program. Operated by Liberty Maritime, the Liberty Sea was scheduled to return to the U.S. late last month. The photos ac­ companying this story were taken during the voyage to Is­ rael. Applying a fresh coat of paint is AB Don Martin, who sails from the port of New Orleans. 'iA\i :. •'•4: Galley gang members (left to right) Chief Cook Leslie Davis, GSU — Gerardo Lopez and Recertified Steward Neville Johnson Jr. prepare ^ li another delicious meal for fellow crewmembers on the Liberty Sea. •' ^>- ^r.'. • • HelDinq keep the Liberty Sea in Piloting the ship are AB Urry Jordan (right) and Third Mate David ABs Arnold Jackson (left) and Romuald "Joe" Los paint railings on the top form is Bosun Mario Romero. Hood, an SIU hawsepiper. deck of the L/berty Sea. W. �•••• V'' f vv ./-Jv'<??.. / < •'•'"'y/y P' •/-' y-yy • Vv^a;:, •-•. • ; y •• • ' •' • ;•, • ;''a« SEAFARBISLOe Seafai^ir Question: What was the best ship or run that you have been on as a Seafarer? (Asked of SIU members in the port of Baltimore.) Eric Mahoney, Ordinary Seaman — Fveonly been on two ships so far because I started sail­ ing last year. I guess I'd have to say the Sealift Mediterranean Sea because it had such a good crew. Walt Schoppe, Cooi^aker — Every ship has been my favorite ship. I have had no problems on any SIU ship and have enjoyed sailing. John McLain, Ordi­ nary Seaman • I'd have to say the Gopher State. The food was good, the crew was good and we had a good trip from Germany to Johnson Island. • % •• .'v • - ;" v"";; • a "i MMHmi994 Bob Anders, Able Seaman — Any Delta Lines and Sea-Land ships. They had good crews, good runs, good food and lots of work. .• •r 2S ''Xv^ The San Juan's Enthusiastic Galley Gang Frank Ridrigs, retired Steward As­ sistant — Delta Lines' Isabelle. It went to South America. I liked the run. We had good weather. We had very good crews and nice passengers. Joseph J. Mamoliti, retired Tug­ boat Cap­ tain — I was inland, but I'd have to say the Kings Point. She was a good han­ dling boat in the Baltimore Har­ bor and Chesapeake Bay. One thing the SlU-crewed Nuevo San Juan is known for is its enthusiastic galley gang. Pictured above (from left), ready for serving the crew at lunchtime are Messman Jose De Los Santos, Chief Cook Jorge Bernardez, Chief Steward Hazel Johnson and Messman Angel O'Neill. Below right, De Los Santos prepares food for the salad bar. Below left (from left), reading a letter from SIU headquarters are Bosun Jerry Boruckl, Johnson and Bernardez. Calvin Singietary, Able Seaman — TheSS Guayama. The crew as a whole was excel­ lent. I en­ joyed the run and commend Captain Egon Stage and Bosun Richard Kidd. If given a choice between a good ship and a good crew, I'll go with the good crew. Keith Barfield, Steward As­ sistant Any Delta Lines' ship. They were the best runs because they had good crews and no troubles, Carl Rus­ sell, Ordinary Seaman ^ I just started sail­ ing. The Global Mariner is the only vessel I've been aboard, so it's my favorite. Not the Usual Cargo Requiring a little more care than the usual cargo of cqntainere, four elephants were pick^ up by the Sea-LandRaleighBayin Charleston, S.C. for transport to a circus in Algeciras, Spain. Watching the loading process are, from left, AS William Carey, AB Timothy G'^ard and &)sun Tony Martinez. The photo was taken by QMED Paul Titus. Final Departures Continued from page 23 folk, Va. He sailed in the deck department. Boatman Joyner began receiving his pension in June 1985. GERALD MANUEL Pensioner Gerald Manuel, 90, passed away May 31. Bom in Louisiana, he joined the union in 1964 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. Boat­ man Manuel sailed in the engine department. He retired in Oc­ tober 1968. GREAT LAKES ALBERT J. LESSARD Pensioner Al­ bert J. Lessard, 75, died May 31. A native of Duluth, Minn., he began sailing with the SIU in 1968 in the port of Detroit as a member of the deck department. Brother Lessard served in the U. S. Navy from 1941 to 1945. He retired in December 1984. WILLIAM V.NUGENT Pensioner William V. Nugent, 93, passed away April 29. Bom in FLOYD T. ROGERS JR. Michigan, he Floyd T. joined the Rogers Jr., union in 58, died May 1953 in the 26. A native port of Frankfort, Ky. He sailed of Delaware, in the engine department. he began sail­ Brother Nugent began receiving ing with the his pension in July 1966. SIU in 1959 in the port of Philadelphia. DANIEL PELKY Daniel He sailed in the deck department. Pelky,51, Boatman Rogers served in the died May 5. U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1954. A native of Michigan, he MERLE E. WITTER JR. began sailing Merle E. Witter Jr., 41, passed with the SIU away June 23. Boatman Witter in 1989 in joined the Seafarers in 1977 in the port of his native city of Port Arthur, Algonac, Texas. He sailed in the deck Mich. Brother Pelky sailed in the department. engine department JOHN J. STARR John J. Starr, passed away June 20. Bom in Baltimore, Md., he joined the luiionin 1971 in the port of Duluth, Minn. Brother Starr sailed in the engine department as an FOWT and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1949 to 1952. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN SAMUEL PALLAZOLA Pensioner Samuel Pallazola, 76, died June 3. Bom in Gloucester, Mass., he started fishing commer-. cially at the age of 14. Brother Pal­ lazola served in the U.S. Army during World War U, fiom 1942 to 1946. He joined the Atlantic Rshermen's Union in 1946, an af­ filiate of the SIU, before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. He sailed in the deck department Brother Pallazola retired in Febraary 1983. RAILROAD MARINE FRANK C. TIEDEMAN Pensioner Frank C. Tiedeman, 75, passed away June 28. A na­ tive of Patterson, N.J., he joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port. of New York. He sailed in the deck depaitinent. Brother Tiedeman served in the U.S. Army during World War 11, from 1941 to 1945. He began receiv­ ing his pension June 1979. : 7^:; i • * : IV '• J t- • ;7':: �.•; ,•- -igbeSSfW 26 f-: AUGUST 1994 SEAFARERS LOG Liindeberg School Graduating Classes •/, 'r C€-• !i ;fe M#t-¥ "'--fi .'• nwdsrrtSf 1 -v;--' :|X- '^-V ••, f. Trainee Lifeboat Class 526—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 526 are (from left, kneeling) Christopfier Hanshe, James Alsobrooks, Gregory Reynolds, George Auger, (second row) Carlos Sanchez, Mark Hughey, Denise Akenson, Christopher Mattair, John Scott McMillian, Roland Moolenaar Jr., Jim Brown (instructor) and Melvin Rivera. Upgraders Lifeboat—Upgrading graduates of ttie July 12 lifeboat class are (from left, kneeling) Ben Cusic (instructor) Terry Johnson, Clifford Blackmon, Joseph Carmine, (second row) Jesse Lee James, Cecilio Suarez, Steven Murray, Dennis Fillingim, (third row) Matthew Sandy, Santiago Martinez, Nathaniel Jennings and Roger Jackson. Third Mate - Radar—Graduating from the deck department upgrading course on July 12 are (from left), Vince Ippolito Jr., Michael McCardie, Carl Ricker Jr., Don Bridenstine Jr., Gregg Carlson, Emanuel Gazzier Jr., Jake Karaczynski (instructor) and Robert LaPointe. Oil Spill Containment—Certificates of completion were received by the June 22 class of upgraders. They are (from left, seated) Joseph Williams, Delson Richardson, Scotty Greenlee, James Cedeno, Alfredo ^ Arana, Allen Newgen, (second row) Thomas Stead, Tom Wulforst, David Wogan, Marshall Sanford, Michael Natoli, Manfred Wedell, (third row) Brett Sollee, Robert Rogers, Antoinette Strauch, Scott VanSlambrouck, Dennis Bennett and John Schmidt. 8'- V^; V " Hydraulics—The July 14 graduates of the hydraulics class are (from left) Gary Frazier, Michael Brown, Marcos Hill, Mark Dumas and Dan Holden (instructor). Able Bodied Seaman—Certificates of completion were received by the June 27 class of upgraders. They are (from left, kneeling) George Galanis, Thomas Pappas, Kimberly Clark, Lloyd Bates, Roger White, Michael Jackson, (second row) Darrel Koonce, John Parker, Jeremie Riehm, Terry Vicknair, Joseph Moceri, Christopher Kalinowski, Donald MacDonald, Jake Karaczynski (instructor), (third row) Eric Lund, Jacob Mayo, Ronald Brown, Rodney Aucoin, Francisco Harry, Patrick Vandegrift and John McClinton. f MUST BE RENEWED BY Z-CARDS issued in: M: SV:tt' If.- .• I• 1939 1940 1941 1937 1942 1938 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Introduction to Engine—Completing the course on June 22 are (from left) Eric Matzkuhn (instructor), Michael Morrissey, Chad Vickers, Charlie Bradshaw, Daniel Lewis, Ralph Ramsey and Phillip Yeomans. Missing from the photo is John Coover. �r,<fi^-u:/.-.-';. ._• _. •• v'l ••'-• • '"t-; • • ^: AUGUST 1994 SEAFARERSLOG LUHDEBERG ^HmiL 1994 UPGRADIHG COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the course schedule for classes beginning between late August and December 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 maritiine industry and—in times of conflict—the nation's security. Course Check-In Date Completion Date Able Seaman September 9 October 21 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Bridge Management (Shiphandiing) October 21 November 4 Radar CertiBcation September 16 October 14 September 23 October 21 Celestial Navigation September 9 October 21 Limited License, Part 1 September 26 October? Umited License, Part 2 October 10 October 21 October 24 November 4 Safety Specialty Courses Course Oil Spill Prevention an^ Containment Check-In Date Completion Date October 21 October 28 Basic/Advanced Fire Fighting September 16 Novemiber 25 September 30 December 9 S^lift Operations & Maintenance September 5 September 30 RecertittcaUon Programs Course Check-In Date Completion Date Bosun Recertiflcation October 3 November 7 (Middle) (Risl) (Street) (Zip Code) (State) ) Date of Birth. (Area Code) Deep Sea Member• Contact admissions office for starting dates Contact admissions ofBce for starting dates Chief Cook, Chief Steward Engine Upgrading Courses Completion Course Date All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Refrigerant Handling - EPA (Refrigeration Tech. Certification) Fireman/Watertender and Oiler Pumproom Maint & Operations Hydraulics Marine Electrical Maintenance Welding September 6 Septembers September 12 September 5 October 3 September 12 October 24 October 21 October 14 November 28 November 4 November 18 .<wr.x\. /-'-f 1994Aduit OiucaUon Schedule The following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Please contact the admissions office for enrollment information. Course Check-In Date Completion Date GED Preparation 12 weeks - open-ended admission Adult Basic Education (ABE) 6 weeks - open-ended admission Developmental Studies September 5 (Month/Day/Year) Lakes Member• Session lU September 9 September 12 November 4 NOTICE TO SEAFARERS In order to better meet the future needs of SIU members, the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education will be running a decreased class schedule during the months of November and December. During this time period, the school will be preparing additional classes based on new governmental regulations, upgrading present course materials and repairing and maintain­ ing classroom equipment. Instructors also will be attending advanced courses to enhance their knowledge and skills. The fiill 1995 class schedule, which will be ready in late fall, will be published in the Seafarers LOG as soon as it is release(l. Members with any questions may contact the school's admis­ sion office at (301) 994-0010. CPRrDYes • Yes • No Firefighting:•Yes •No Primary language spoken UPGRADING APPLRMTIOH (City) Completion Date General EducaUon Coiiege Courses Lifeboatman Telephone ( Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker "It September 9 September 23 October 21 (Last)- Check-In Date Course English as a Second Language (ESL) 6 weeks - open-ended admission August 26 ^September 9 October 7 Name Address Steward Upgrading Courses Check-In Date Deck Upgrading Courses Limited License, Part 3 27 Inland Waters Member• •NO With this application, COPIES of your discharges must be 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 School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and com­ pleted. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. BEGIN END COURSE DATE DATE If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Book# Social Security #. . Department Seniority U.S. Citizen: CHYes CH No Home Port. Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held Rating:. LAST VESSEL: Date On:. Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? •Yes If yes, class # ' •Yes Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? If yes, course(s) taken Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Date Off:. PNO PNO 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 Upgrading Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. WA 1 / ' JI • • • .r • �•- •;>!• -.•>^-v- SEAEtMSEMBS 1995 Scholarships Announced Seven scholarships will be awarded in 1995 to help members and their dependents further their college or university studies. See page 11 for additional Information. V-' • V. •" Volume 56, Number 8 August 1994 Seafarer Fulfills Lifelong Racing Goal For Dennis Fillingim, Ranger. "This is strictly for son is the driver. When Fillin­ owning a race car is the fulfill­ love. In fact, there's a lot of gim is at sea for long periods, [financial] risk involved. I've they handle the day-to-day tasks ment of a lifelong dream. Because he had help in seen people sink everything associated with maintaining a achieving that goal, when the they own into a race car and then race car. Of course, driver safety is a longtime SIU member recently lose it all." finished preparing his new Operating a race car on any major consideration. It is ad­ vehicle for its first race, he made level is not cheap. Fuel (a mix­ dressed to such an extent that an obvious gesture of thanks. ture of nitromethane, methane Fillingim believes most race car "I checked With the union to and alcohol) can cost as much as drivers "are safer in those cars make sure no one minded, then $30 per gallon, and Fillingim's than in street cars. The race cars I put an SIU logo on the car," vehicle only gets about three have a full roll-cage (consisting said the 40-year-old chief cook. miles to the gallon. There are of protective bars outside the "I love the union, and without entry fees for each race, and vehicle) and halon fire extin­ the SIU, there's no way I could there's no such thing as in­ guishers that fog the whole car, have earned the money to buy a surance for these vehicles, Fil­ and the drivers wear fire suits that fully protect them for iip to car like this one." lingim pointed out. Fillingim recently purchased Sponsorship and winnings two minutes in a blazing fire. a 1993 Chevrolet Berretta, are the most common methods Labors of Love manufactured in Michigan by of offsetting the costs. Fillingim With a friendly demeanor Howe Racing. Relying on a has secured sponsorship from and in an unmistakably southern lifetime of experience, he spent local businesses in Mobile—in­ accent, Fillingim explained that an estimated 500 hours building cluding a small restaurant that racing, cooking and sailing all the engine (a 391 cubic inch V-8 he has owned for the past five have been lifelong labors of that has been modified from a years. love. Seafarer Dennis Fillingim proudly displays the SIU logo (near his right 350) for the car—a crucial step, Intricate Operation 'Growing up, racing for me hand) on his newly acquired race car. "Anywhere 1 go in racing, the from a financial aspect. "Here Additionally, race car opera­ was like football or baseball was SIU emblem will be on my car," he states. again, without building the en­ tions are quite complex. There to other kids. I've been around gine myself, there's no Way I are many technical points that it my whole life." men whose boat was about to way, even if they're cooking could have afforded it." straight from a book, and no two must be strictly monitored and His interest in galley work sink. He runs the vehicle in the adjusted when necessary. The and in the merchant marine "That fishing boat was a people drive a car the exact "open-modified" division, slightest deviation can have a stems from the fact that "I've death trap. They never should same way." which, as the name suggests, major impact on performance. been around cooking and sailors have sailed," Fillingim recalled. With a little luck, the differs from stock-car racing be­ For example, Fillingim's car my whole life, too," Fillingim But the rescue went smoothly. Seafarer hopes to expand his cause the automobiles are en­ is "56 percent left-side weight," added with a laugh. "My father Everybody worked together and racetrack exploits to the nation­ hanced by mechanics. Most of he said, meaning that the car is was a merchant mariner, and I did their part." al level. But he said that, regard­ the tracks are a half-mile long, heavier on one side. "Every­ always intended to go to sea." He also likes the fact that, less of whether or not his car with asphalt or dirt surfaces. thing is built to the left sid^ of He is more than satisfied with while on the beach, he can stays local or hits the big time, Racing in Fla. the car. Even the wheels are dif­ his sailing career, which in­ devote most of his attention to he will remain proud of the SIU and thankful for the chance to "Right now I'm running the ferent sizes" because, other than cluded service in the Persian racing. work hard and earn a good car once a week in Pensacola, when it is on a short Gulf War. "I love the travel, Rarely Drives living. Florida, and I'm getting ready to straightaway, the vehicle is al­ meeting people and making a Interestingly, very little of "It's so important to know go national," said Fillingim, ways turning to the left on the good living. I appreciate the fact his involvement with the sport that if you're dedicated to your who joined the Seafarers in track. that we have the Paul Hall Cen­ 1969 in his native Mobile, Ala. Moreover, the car's weight ter, which is an excellent school includes time behind the wheel. sailing career and you're sen­ and who still sails from that has a lot to do with its clas­ that gives SIU members a I've driven in some sible with your earnings, you mechanics' races, that's all. But can reach your goals. I'm thank­ port. sification," Fillingim noted. chance to have great careers. I He added that competing in Mine must weigh a minimum "I don't know anything else will say that driving is a lot like ful to the SIU, and anywhere I bigger races throughout the U.S. of 2,500 pounds. Right now, I'd rather do, and I've had many cooking, in the sense that no one go in racing, the SIU emblem is not a goal that is based on with a driver and a full tank of shoreside jobs to compare it cooks die same dish the same will be on my car." potential monetary winnings. fuel (22 gallons), it weighs with." "You can race your whole life 2,512 pounds." Sailing also provides some and never make big money," Although he is the sole owner excitement, such as the time two said Fillingim, who has of the car, which can reach years ago when Fillingim—then The National Center for 16 years old, she has not been upgraded several times at the racing speeds in excess of 100 sailing aboard theSealift Carib­ Missing and Exploited seen or heard from since and Paul Hall Center and who most mph, Fillingim is assisted with bean south of Florida—helped Children has asked the has been considered an en­ recently sailed aboard the MV the operations by a friend whose rescue three American fisherSeafarers International dangered missing person. Union to assist them in locat­ The photo at left has been ing Angela Sigrid Ramsey. age-enhanced to show how Last known to be at a the 32-year-old woman motel in DeLand, Fla. on might appear today. June 21, 1977 when she was At the time of her disap­ pearance, the blonde-haired, brown-eyed girl was 5'3" tall Help Locate This Missing Person »^W%r and weired 115 pounds. She r/ '• :» The vehicle, a '93 Chevy Beretta, can reach racing speeds greater than 100 mph. SIU member Fillingim spent hundreds of hours modifying the engine. Angela Sigrid Ramsey as she is believed to look at age 32. has a small scar on the left side of her face. Anyone having informa­ tion on the whereabouts of Angela Sigrid Ramsey should contact the National Center for Missing and Ex­ ploited Children at (800) 843-5678 or the Missing Persons Unit of the Volusia County (Fla.) Sheriffs Of­ fice at (904) 254-1535. sWwix � 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 August 1994 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SEAFARERS RECALL HALL LEGACY SHIPPING VISIONARY, CROWLEY DIES AT 79 BY 294-122, HOUSE BACKS U.S. SHIP PLAN INGRAO DIES; SERVED MTD FOR 30 YEARS SENATE PANEL EXPECTED TO MARK UP MARITIME PROGRAM BILL IN AUGUST CG ISSUES RULE ON PROOF OF ABILITY TO PAY FOR SPILLS HEALTH CARE DEBATE HITS CONGRESSIONAL FLOORS THIS MONTH ALL SIU-CONTRACTED LAKERS ARE AT WORK 26 COURSES OPEN TO SEAFARERS SAB: REFRIGERATION TECHS TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN ENGINE POSITIONS Q&A: HOW THE NEW EPA RULE AFFECTS SEAMEN SEAFARERS’ TIMELY RESPONSE SAVES LIFE OF ALTON MAN H. CREEL AND D. WON TO JOIN FMC SOURCE OF DEADLY LEGIONAIRES’ DISEASE TRACED TO RUNAWAY-FLAG CRUISE SHIP SEAFARERS HELP PULL RUNAWAY-FLAG TANKER TO SAFETY WITHOUT SPILLAGE OECD PACT WOULD END SHIPBUILDING SUBSIDIES O’BRIEN TO CALL ON EASTERN PORTS BEFORE HEADING HOME TO SAN FRAN NY FERRY SERVICE ADDS ROUTE, MORE TO COME 13 SEAFARER-CREWED BOATS OFFER A POPULAR COMMUTING ALTERNATIVE SEAFARERS FIND REFRIGERATIONS CLASSES ‘EXTENSIVE,’ ‘FAST-PACED’ AND HELPFUL HIGHER EDUCATION DOESN’T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE VOYAGE TO GDYNIA: MEMORIES OF RALPH J. LUNDGREN ITF ASSISTS RUSSIAN MARINERS SAILING UNDER UNSAFE CONDITIONS THOMAS CROWLEY DIES OF CANCER A $28 MILLION FACELIFT INDEPENDENCE UNDERGOES MAJOR RENOVATIONS AFTER SOMALI RELIEF EFFORT PREPOSITIONING SHIP HAUGE IS BACK IN DIEGO GARCIA RECALLING LAST YEARS FLOODING, ORGULF CREWS THANKFUL FOR GOOD WEATHER UPGRADER KOONCE STAYS TRUE TO WORD TWO-STEP UNLOADING IS ROUTINE FOR JACKSONVILLE BOSUN ROMERO PRAISES LIBERTY SEA CREW SEAFARER FULFILLS LIFELONG RACING GOAL 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 08/01/1994 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. 8 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log 1994 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/453a39cfe2a5aeb97756a2589cba0e8d.pdf 4b360dbd0c7c0ceec0be962b33a6f018 PDF Text Text I OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION •ATLANTIC, GULF, Volume 57, Number 8 August 1995 House-Senate Panel Gets AK Export Bill Measure to Ship North Slope Crude On U.S. Ships Passes House 324-77 Page3 Center Dedicates Crowley Campus Transport General Needs U.S. Fleet Page3 Penn Maritime Launches Integrated Tug/Barge Page7 S?U7N~'~ 11/0ldd 11/evi I l 1'04Wt . Thomas B. Crowley Jr. watches as Seafarer Orlando Sierra raises the Crowley Maritime Corp. flag over the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Campus for Higher Learning at the Paul Hall Center on July 11. Named for the late chairman of the company, the campus contains classrooms designed for teaching upgraders various skills needed at sea. Thomas Crowley Sr. was a firm believer that education was a continuing process. Page 3. eolteetuut E~ att4e 1'aed~a« L~ �r -- 2 AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG President's Report · Paying Respect to the Mariners of World War II the Paul Hall Memorial Library, is a vibrant reminder of what the nations of the world went through to save democracy. This month, we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of hostilities during World For all of the seafaring men and women who now come to the center, the exWar II. hibit also serves as a vivid reminder of the responsibility faced by each of them. In For nearly four years, from 1941to1945, the people of our nation devoted all times of conflict, when sealift is a necessary part of this nation's strategy, mariners their resources and energy to one cause-the defeat of the Axis powers of Gerhave been and will be called on to serve. many, Italy and Japan. For most Americans, the war began on All of us in the SIU thank Brother Meola for loaning his extensive collection to December 7, 1941 when the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet was virthe Paul Hall Center. tually destroyed by a surprise Japanese air attack. Mariners paid a heavy price for their involvement in World War II. Except for However, there was one group of American citizens who althe U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. merchant marine suffered the highest casualty rate ready had felt firsthand the effects of the war being waged in of any of the American forces during the war. (In fact, the fledgling Sill lost more Europe and Asia. That group was the merchant marine. than 1,200 members at sea.) Half a year before the first bomb fell on American soil, While we praise the heroic efforts of the merchant marine during World War II, Seafarers aboard the SS Robin Moor had to abandon their ship let us also salute all Americans who did their part to win the war. Everyone from when a German U-boat challenged the neutral American the members of the armed forces to factory workers to farmers knew the task vessel's right to sail the sea. Other U.S.-flag vessels also were before them was victory and accomplished this. Michael Sacco stopped and destroyed by the submarines before war was formally declared on the United States. Full Veterans Status Sought In the first months after the U.S. entered World War II, merchant mariners August 15, 1945 was a day of great relief and rejoicing in America. On that day, proved their mettle. Despite leaving port without any protection, cargo ships the fighting came to an end. However, there was still much for American forces to loaded with war materiel destined for Europe sailed from Atlantic and Gulf ports. do. Unfortunately, many ships were sunk within sight of the American shoreline by Troops remained overseas to maintain the newly won peace and establish new waiting U-boats. governments in the occupied territories. Cargo ships continued to enter mined and Yet, those who survived the sin.kings returned to other ships, ready to perform booby-trapped ports to deliver relief goods to the victims of the war. America was whatever job was needed to win the war. These acts were repeated by Seafarers the only major power not to be ravaged by war, and it was doing its part to help the throughout World War II. During the conflict. no SIU-crewed vessel was forced to other nations rebuild. stay tied up because it lacked the needed mariners. Because this extra effort was needed, Congress did not declare World War II ofThe U.S. merchant marine played its vital role as the so-called fourth arm of ficially over for the troops who participated in it until December 31, 1946. Any defense by supplying American and other Allied troops with the guns. tanks, member of the armed forces who served from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to that airplanes, petroleum, food and other items needed to win the war. There was no date was to be considered a World War II veteran and entitled to the government's theater of battle in Europe, Asia or Africa where the merchant marine was not veterans benefits. But that did not apply to the merchant marine. present. In fact, merchant mariners had to wait until 1988 before they would be provided World War II veterans status. Even then, the period for veterans status was not the Posters Recall Struggle same as for the members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Thanks to the efforts of a former Sill member, these struggles will be rememcutoff date for merchant mariners was established as August 15, 1945, rather than bered for years to come by Seafarers attending classes at the Paul Hall Center for December 31, 1946. Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point. Md. where they learn and Bills have been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate upgrade the skills needed to be today's merchant mariners. to bring full recognition to the mariners who participated in the war relief effort alongside the members of the armed forces. The Sill will continue to work with Last month, the center opened an exhibition of World War II merchant marine merchant marine veterans groups around the country to right this wrong. poster art from the collection of Rendich Meola. The posters, which were printed But, no matter what date is used to determine their status, America owes a great in the United States and England, promoted the work of the merchant marine and debt to the merchant marine veterans of World War II for the role they played in cautioned the general public not to divulge information on convoy activities. the victory 50 years ago. Brother Meola sailed with the Sill during the war. His collection, on display in Donahue Succeeds Kirkland As President of the AFL-CIO The AFL-CIO executive council elected Thomas R. Donahue president of the national labor federation in Chicago on August 1. Donahue, who has served as AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer .--------..,,,.......--. since November 1979, will finish the term of President Lane Kirkland, who retired August 1. The 66Tom Donahue year-old New York native started his career in the labor movement in 1948 as an organizer with the Retail Clerks Association. He then worked with Local 32B of the Service Employees International Union. Donahue also served as an assistant U.S. labor secretary during the Lyndon Volume 57, Number 8 Hangin' In There to Get the Job Done Johnson Administration. Later, he served as an assistant to AFLCIO President George Meany. Elected by the council to succeed Donahue as secretarytreasurer is Barbara Easterling, the first woman ever to serve in the federation's second highest position. Easterling was secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America at the time of her election by the executive council. She began her career as an operator for Ohio Bell, where she became a member of CWA Local 4302 in Akron, Ohio. The AFL-CIO executive council is made up of 33 international union officials who oversee the activities of the federation between biennial conventions. SIU President Michael Sacco has been a member of the council since 1991. The AFL-CIO will meet in its regularly scheduled convention in October to elect officers for full two-year terms. August 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 Au th Way; Camp Springs, MD 207 46. Telephone (301) 899-067 5. 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 F.ditor!Prcxluction, Deborah A Hines; Associate F.ditors, Jordan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen Gutierrez; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. ___,. Bosun Carlos Loureiro (top) and Deck Maintenance AR. Alwaseem perform some heavy-duty cleaning from bosuns' chairs over the side of the Sea-Land Independence. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG 3 House O.K. s Export Of Alaska Crude Oil On U.S. Tankers 1 Next Step General Robert L. Rutherford, head of the U.S. Transportation Command, informs the Senate Merchant Marine Subcommittee that U.S.flag ships and American merchant mariners are needed by the Defense Department to meet its national security obligations. Military Depends On U.S. Ships: Transport General Senate Subcommittee Takes Up Maritime Revitalization Bill The leading transport logistics officer for the military told a Senate subcommittee that a strong commercial Americanflag fleet is vital to ensuring that the United States can meet the global commitments of its anned forces. U.S. Air Force General Robert L. Rutherford, who heads the U.S. Transportation Command, told the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee during its July 26 hearing on maritime revitalization legislation that the Department of Defense counts on the U.S.-flag fleet and the mariners that crew those vessels. The Senate subcommittee is considering a 10-year, $ 1 billion program proposed by the Clinton administration to help fund approximately 50 militarily useful U.S.-flag containerships. Importance of Mariners "The commercial maritime industry has and will continue to play a major role in the Defense Transportation System (DTS) a government/industry partnership for national security," Rutherford stated. "For the DTS to be effective, our organic military transportation assets must be integrated with the substantial transportation capacity of the commercial sector. All segments of the total system must be in balance." The general pointed out that the armed forces depend on trained and available merchant mariners to crew the ships owned by the Defense Department and the Maritime Administration (MarAd), which he called the military' s "organic" fleet. Among those he referred to within the fleet are afloat prepositioning vessels, fast sealift ships and Ready Reserve Force vessels. Civilian mariners, including Seafarers, crew these ships for the military. Rutherford pointed out that while the Defense Department is adding to its fleet of military surge vessels, "we have not forgotten the importance of the U.S. maritime industry to our overall sealift capabilities. "Just as we did in the [Persian] Gulf War, Somalia and, most recently, back to the Persian Gulf, we rely extensively on our commercial partners to support our worldwidecommitments." After stating that the Defense Department moved more than 16 ~lliont~nsofcargoonmerch~t ship~ dunng peace, he added, In wartime, we depend upon the U.S. merch~t fleet to support ~e ~ow of sustamment and ~umtion. cargoes and to provide the mar;mer~ necessarytomanourorg~c ships. . 0 . ~nsure ~onh_n~ed ava1l~?1hty of this cnttcal c~pability, the U.S. Transportat10n Command ~~pports t~e proposal for a Mantime Secunty Program, funded by ~he Dep~ment of Tr~nsportatlon, _which furth~rs na!10n.al e~normc and secunty Objectives, Rutherford stated. , ~~therfor~ s .su~port for the manttme revitalizatrnn p~ogram was echoed by representatives of shipboard labor unions, the U.S. maritime administrator and American-flag shipping companies. ! Outlines Proposal In opening the hearing, Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), the subcommittee chairman, outlined his framework for drafting such legislation. "l' d like to say as simply as possible what my objectives are. I want to maintain and promote a U.S.-flag fleet, built in U.S. shipyards, and manned by U.S. crews. I would like to do it in the most cost effective manner possible," Lott stated. ~o~t ~ote? a mariti111:e rev1~zat10~ bill (H.R. 1350) 1s awaiting aci:ion by the House of Representatives. H.R_. 1350 already has been considered and received bipartis~ support fr?m the H~use Natt~nal Secunty C0I1_1m1 ttee ~nhd pits M erchant 1 M arme 0 vers1g t ~ne. The senator sa1~ ~e would propose a program sun~lar to the one offered by the Clinton ad. . . d rtak b th en y e mimstratton, un e Conference Committee The House of Representatives Legislative Track overwhelmingly gave its approval on July 24 for the export Issue: Export of Alaskan Oil sale of Alaskan North Slope On U.S.-Flag Tankers crude oil as long as it is carried aboard U.S.-flag tankers. Senate Energy and Natural Resources March 1 By a vote of 324 to 77 on the Committee Hearing March 15 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Alaskan Oil Export Act (RR. 70), the House joined the Senate Comittee Mark-Up in endorsing legislation that will May 9 House Resources Committee Hearing keep the U.S.-flag independent May 16 Senate Approves Bill (S.395), 74-25 tanker fleet sailli1g into the next House Resources Committee Mark-Upcentury. The Senate had apMay 17 House Approves Bill (H.R. 70), 324-n proved a similar bill (S. 395) by a July 24 margin of 74-25 on May 16. Bills Sent to Conference Committee To Come to Iron Out Differences Because of differences in the bills passed by the two branches To Come House and Senate Consider Revised Legislation of Congress, a conference comTo Come President Signs If Measure Passes House and Senate mittee composed of legislators from both chambers has been created to craft a compromise bill. One of the concerns raised for H.R. 70, two congressmen A spokesman for Senator Frank during the House debate on H.R. noted how the bill would help the Murkowski (R-Alaska), who intro- 70 was whether the bill violated merchant marine. duced the Senate bill (S. 395), told any international agreements on "I rise in support of this imporreporters that final action on the shipping supported by the United tant initiative to authorize exports legislation could come as early as States. of Alaskan oil because it is vital Representative Don Young to preserving the independent this month. Both the House and Senatewouldhavetoapprovethe (R-Alaska), chairman of the tanker fleet and the cadre of compromise bill before it goes to House Resources Committee, skilled men and women who the White House. which voiced bipartisan support proudly sail today under the President Bill Clinton, whose forH.R. 70 in May, responded to American flag," stated Rep. Department of Energy supports that issue during the floor debate. Gerry Studds CD-Mass.) lifting the export ban as long as "There long has been concern "There can be little doubt that the oil is carried on American- in the domestic maritime com- our government has a compelling flag tankers, has stated he would munity that lifting the ban would interest in preserving a fleet essign such legislation when it force the scrapping of the inde- sential to national security, especlears Congress. pendent tanker fleet and would cially one transporting an The SIU, in testimony given in destroy employment opportunities important natural resource," he MarchbeforetheSenatecommit- formerchantmarinerswhoremain added. tee and in May before the House vital to our national security," Rep. James Traficant (Dcommittee considering lifting the Young told his colleagues. Ohio) stated the current policy of 22-yearexportban,hassupported "In recognition of this con- notexportingAlaskanNorthSlope the legislation because it would cern, our proposed legislation crude oil "keeps our tankers on tarprovide jobs for U.S. mariners. would require the use ofU.S.-flag get for a scrap heap. Lifting the The union dropped its opposition vessels to carry exports. The U.S. ban puts those tankers back into to exporting Alaskan North Slope trade representative has assured service, U.S.-owned vessels, I oil last year when legislation was Congress that this provision does might add, with U.S. crews." introducedinCongressindicating not violate our GATI [General Congress imposed the present that the product would be carried Agreement on Tariffs and Trade] ban on export sales of Alaskan to foreign ports aboard U.S.-flag obligations," Young concluded. North Slope crude oil in 1973 tankers In announcing their support during the Arab oil embargo. _ _ _· - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hall Center Dedicates Campus In Memory of Tom Crowley Sr. The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education memorialized the late Thomas B. Crowley Sr. by dedicating _a camp~ for highe~ ~earning in his memory at the Piney Pomt, Md. facility. Crowley, whowaschairmanandchief executive officerof the maritime company that bore his name, hadanexcellentworkingrelationshipwiththeSIU. The union has been contracted with Crowley Maritime Corporation for decades. Believed in Education Thomas B. Crowley Sr. was a firm believer in advancing training and educational opportunities for mariners. In naming the facilities on the grounds of the Paul Hall Center after Crowley, SIU President Michael Sacco recalled that the California native was a man who believed that progress means change, constant upgrading and improvement. "These classrooms are designed to keep the philosophy of Tom Crowley alive-that education is a continuing process," Sacco told the audience of more than 150 people who assembled for the ded" n· 1ca on. "With the addition of the Thomas B. Crowley Continued on page 6 Sr. Campus for Higher Learning, the [Paul Hall] center continues to expand, ready to meet and surpass the challenges of the future. ''Tom Crowley had a long and successful association with the SIU. With the opening of this campus, that association will continue for years to come," Sacco added. At the end of the ceremony, Crowley's son, Thomas Jr. (who now serves as the company's president and chief operating officer), and his widow, Molly, thanked the SIU and the Paul Hall Center for remembering Thomas Crowley Sr. by naming the campus after him. Both of them stated he would have been extremely pleased to be honored in such a fashion. SIU members have been working aboard various Crowley Maritime vessels for more than 30 years. Seafarers crew the roll-on/roll-off vessels of Crowley American Transport. They also sail aboardpcoRmppanhi"/J tudgb ohi~ts and bkarges. betwFleen Sand 1 a; 1a~ sonv111e, a. a.n 1uan, . . ; a e_p Lake C~arles, ~· Fmally, umon members are mvolved m dockil?g operatrn~s an_d t~e moveme~t of bunker and demck barges m Wilmmgton, Calif. . The classrooms within the campus dedicated to Continued on page 8 �4 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 IMO Enforcement Expands In Revised Maritime Pact The two-year series of meetings to update an international agreement that sets minimum standards for certification, training and skills needed by mariners worldwide culminated last month at a diplomatic conference conducted in London with the adoption of a number of significant revisions aimed at improving shipboard safety. Representatives of the SIU attended the conference (which lasted two weeks) to ensure that the safety of seamen was the primary consideration in the updating of the International Convention of the Standards of the United Nations in 1959 to improve safety at sea, will require reports on the efforts of signatory nations to comply with the updated STCW convention. With the IMO' s expanded enforcement authority. vessels crewed by mariners from flagstates whose training facilities and procedures for certification do not meet the STCW' s standards may be turned away from ports worldwide, the updated agreement states. With that in mind, the shipping industry should have plenty of incentive to help bolster training standards. noted a number of convention Training, Certification and participants. Watchkeeping (STCW), a 17As in the past, signatory nayear-old pact that has 113 sig- tions still may have more strin- provide marine police officials in each country with increased power to inspect vessels and also expanded the grounds on which vessels may be detained. They also voted in favor of allowing port control officials to assess the competence of watchstanders. A new regulation was adopted requiring mariners to demonstrate their competence both through written tests and practical exams. The parties also approved an amendment requiring all crewmembers of seagoing vessels to complete training in basic survival skills. • Minimum rest periods were established for watchstanders, including officers in charge of a watch and ratings forming part of a watch. According to the new requirement, these individuals must be provided a minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period. The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which must be at least six hours. • The SIU contingent and other representatives of American maritime labor joined with foreign delegations in defeating a proposal that would have allowed solo bridge watch at night. Additionally, the updated convention includes both the traditional approach and an optional, functional approach (also known as alternative certification) as the means for providing mariner certification. The functional ap- proach, a new way of certifying seamen's qualifications for shipboard work, utilizes descriptions of the functions each mariner must perform to hold a particular position. In earlier international meetingsandatlastmonth'sfinale, the SIU insisted that the new certification procedure should not be used to cut comers or endanger safety. As a result. the language of the updated STCW stipulates that the new amendment governing certification will not allow the issuance of alternative certificates to be used to reduce manning levels or training requirements. Unless a specified number of states notify the IMO of their objections to the revised convention by August 1, 1996, the updated convention will remain intact. No objections are anticipated. MTJD -·r•v s11 · IJ ·1'd· A d gr• r•n'n •A .,.J •J •J ::I .,.,U. U.S. • • '~ft natory countries gentrulesthanthosesetoutinthe represent nearly 95 whose percent fleets of the STCW. In those cases, the agree- ~'hat Ha~ms world's merchant-shiplonnage. ment does not override the laws According to the STCW of countries which maintain The AFL-CIO's Maritime Trades Department amendments-which take effect higher standards and stricter (MTD), along with a number of elected officials in February 1997-the lntema- qualifications. The U.S., for in- and several shipyards, last month warned that an tional Maritime Organization stance, has more rigid laws than international agreement to end shipbuilding subsidies--as currently written-would leave American (IMO) will have the authority to the rules of the STCW. In other news from the con- yards at a severe competitive disadvantage. enforce the pact's rules on the training and certification of ference: In a joint statement submitted July 18 to the m_an_·_n_er_s_._Th_e_IM_o_.__ cr_e_a_te_d__ bY___• _M_e_m_b_er_c_o_u_n_tn_._es_ag_r_ee __ dto_ 1 Trade Subcommittee of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the MTD and the AFL-CIO (the national federation of trade unions) pointed out that the "present Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) agreement strips away the modest U.S. government supports and protections presently in place and basically condemns American shipyards to a marginal status for the foreseeable future. With vague guarantees of compliance and questionable enforcement procedures for violations of the subsidy agreement, the MTD and the AFL-CIO do not believe that the present OECD shipbuilding agreement is in the nation's best interest." The labor groups further called for U.S. trade negotiators to seek a new agreement that "takes into consideration the longstanding unfair advantages many foreign shipyards have enjoyed through massive government subsidies." The OECD shipbuilding accord was signed in December by representatives from the U.S., Hours after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging MarAd's European countries, Scandinavian nations, Japan waiver to APL to flag-out 6 new ships, Seafarers gather at APL's and South Korea. The pact was reached after more Oakland, Calif. terminal to protest arrival of the APL China June 29. than five years of negotiations. Now, it must be ratified by each signatory nation. The SIU's Pacific District is operating a foreign-flag vessel in The OECD agreement calls for elimination of appealing a federal court decision com pe ti ti 0 n with U · S ·-flag direct and indirect subsidies to shipyards through a that supported a waiver granted operators in trade routes deemed phase-out period beginning in January; by 1999, all by the U.S. Maritime Administra- essential to America's interests. such subsidies would be terminated. The agreement tion (MarAd) to American PresiThe waiver was applied to the dent Lines (APL) to flag out six six C-11 containerships under also establishes a pricing code to prevent dumping new containerships that will be in construction in foreign shipyards. in the shipbuilding industry, sets up a dispute-setdirect competition with the The first of those vessels, the APL tlement process and spells out government financChina, docked in the United ing for exports and domestic ship sales in order to company's U.S.-flag vessels. The unions that make up the States at APL' s Oakland, Calif. eliminate trade-distorting financing. Pacific District-the Sailors' terminal for the first time just U.S. Yards Dwindle Union of the Pacific, the Marine hours after Harris' decision was Firemen's Union and the SIU At- announced. In its statement, the MTD and the AFL-CIO lantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland In July 1993., the company ~ad pointed out that, since the elimination of ConstrueWaters District-claim, along sought the waiver fr?m Section tion Differential Subsidy (CDS) funding as part of with the Marine Engineers' 804(a) shortly. after it_ gave the the 1981 Budget Reconciliation Act, "domestic Beneficial Association (MEBA) go-ahead to ~uild th~ six v~sse_ls. shipyard employment has shrunk by 80,000 skilled and the Masters, Mates & Pilots, The SIU s Pacific District technicians and laborers. Hundreds of thousands of that the decision handed down by filed its original laws~it on additional jobs in related industrial pursuits also U.S. District Judge Stanley S. January 12. In the lawsmt, the have been tenninated." Harris on June 29 was erroneous u~on~ stated APL's ":aiver apMeanwhile, overseas shipyards were receiving in that MarAd did not follow pbcatlo~ was n~t .considered_ by bigger and bigger subsidies from their respective proper procedures in approving MarAd s Mantlm~ Subsidy governments-ranging between $4 billion to $7 the waiver. . . . Board, a _vrocess reqmred by law· billion in total each year for the major OECD shipJudg7 Harns dismissed the The' umons also ~hallenged building nations (Japan, South Korea, Italy, Gers~it,.s~ting that MarAd had acted APL .s us~ of the forei~~flag v~s- many, France and Spain). wt~ its pow~ to grant ~L the sels m dir~t competitton with "The end result of these huge subsidy outlays . was predictable: American shipyards were driven waiver.1be uruons appeale.dmJuly. U.S.-flag ships. On Novembe~ 15, 1994, Shortly befor~ the APL China out of commercial construction .... In the process, MarAd an_nounced it had granted was ready to. sad, the c?mp~y seven large shipbuilding yards and hundreds of APL. a waiver from the Merch_ant contracted with a Cypnot shi~ related suppliers were forced to cease operations," Manne Act of .1 ?36, S~ct~on manageme_ntgroupt<?operatean the MTD noted. Last year through reactivation of and changes 804(a) that pr?~bit~~ s1::ippi~g c~e~ ~el~ix. new sh~~·t Thet la~ c?dmpandyllrece1fvmg er. su - ? I tee 1-996s is expec o se sa in the Title loan guarantee program, U.S. yards si y o ars rom ownmg or m a . Xr lf'lf'ftPi t Slli·rp~arids received a relatively small measure of government support for research activities and acquisition of private-sector financing for ship projects and shipyard modernization. The pending OECD agreement calls for significant cuts in the loan guarantees, which will have a ..dampening effect" on new ship orders from American shipyards, the MTD cautioned. Additionally, while the OECD pact essentially does not limit government funding of research and development projects, U.S. law limits such funding to American yards to a maximum of 50 percent. Based on the structure of the OECD agreement, "it is likely that foreign shipyards will enjoy a research and development funding percentage advantage (over U.S. yards) that runs from 15 to 50 percent higher," the MTD said. The danger in this is highlighted by a post-1981 comparison between the U.S. and Japan, according to the statement. "American yards received federal research funding of several million dollars yearly through 1994, while the Japanese government lavished annual funding of close to $1 billion upon its commercial shipbuilding base. As a result, the Japanese have the largest share of the world's new ship order book, while the United States is only now reentering the commercial shipbuilding market." The OECD pact means a continuation of this kind of disadvantage to U.S. yards, the labor groups said. They also pointed out that the OECD provides foreign governments with the opportunity to challenge the sanctity of U.S. cabotage laws. More Opposition The MTD is far from alone in its opposition. At · · · · fr the subcomrruttee heanrtg, representatlves om · bm-1d·mg fac11tles ·1· · me · Iu d.mg Avon d a1e U.S. ship sh·ipyard s, Bath Iron w orks. General Dynarmcs · ' l · B D. · · I all Shi b ·1d· N E ectnc oat 1vis10n, ng s p m mg, ational Steel and Shipbuilding, and Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. also spoke out against it. "This agreement locks in the competitive advantage foreign shipbuilders have over us as a result of years of government subsidies," said Tom Bowler, president of the American Shipbuilding Association, whose members include the aforementioned yards. Several members of Congress also voiced concems over the pact, including Representative Herbert Bateman (R-Va.), who chairs the Merchant Marine Oversight Panel of the House National Security Committee-which along with the Trade Subcommitteehasauthorityoverlegislationtoimplement the OECD pact. Bateman recounted that France pushed through a special exception to continue subsidizing its yards "before the ink was even dry on the agreement." The subsidy package, worth $480 million, was accepted by the European Union. ''That event alone should have provided more than ample grounds for our government to insist on reopening the_ negotiations for the purpose o~ g~n­ ing more eqmtable treatment for the unsubsidized U.S. shipbuilding industry," said Representative James B. Longley Jr. (R-Maine). �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG WWII Merchant Marine Poster Exhibit Opens at Paul Hall Memorial Library Historic Collection Symbolizes Mariners' Vital Contribution The Paul Hall Memorial Library for 10 years has contained a monument listing the names of the more than 1,200 SIU members who lost their lives during World War II. Now the library, part of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md., also features another compelling tribute to the World War II merchant marine. Last month, an exhibit of 25 superbly maintained World War II-era merchant marine posters (printed in the U.S. and England) opened at the facility. Approximately 200 people attended the opening ceremony July 12, which featured remarks by U.S. Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger, SIU President Michael Sacco and former Seafarer Rendich Meola, a veteran of World War II who owns the posters (see sidebar). No date has been set for the exhibit' s closing. As the posters are on a long-tenn loan from Meola to the school, the exhibit is expected to remain open indefinitely. "I wish to pay homage to those brave men of the Allied merchant marine forces-from whatever country, of whatever color orcreedwho gave the last full measure of devotion during World War II," Meola said at the exhibit's opening. "I assure those here assembled that the merchant marine played its vital role in delivering the materials of war for the Allied cause." Valuable Addition "During the war, posters such as these could be found on everything from marketplace windows to trash cans," noted Sacco, who served as master of ceremonies. ''Today, five decades later, they are rare and valuable. "Despite the horrors and hardships of World War II, these posters undoubtedly evoke nostalgic feelings in those who served during the war. And at the same time, they stand out as a colorful history lesson for younger generations." Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Herberger stated that the posters should remind everyone of the vital contribution of the American merchant marine-not just during World War II, but also in every other major conflict in U.S. history, as well as during times of peace. That record of service is more than enough reason to maintain a strong American-flag fleet, he said. "The history is there-the history portrayed by these posters," said Herberger. "A display like this perpetuates the memory of our merchant marine, and it inspires future generations to continue service to this country." Many posters such as those in the exhibit appeared in and around SIU halls during World War Il. Thousands of SIU members sailed the dangerous convoys before, during and after the war, many were among the 7 ,000-plus merchant seamen who gave their lives. In all, the American merchant marine had a casualty rate second only to that of the U.S. Marine Corps. Despite the fact that more than 1,500 U.S.-flag merchant ships were lost to torpedoes, bombs, mines and other war-related incidents-and even though they often sailed without protective escortsno American commercial vessels assigned to the war effort idled in port for lack of crews. Moreover, the SIU's involvement proved constant. From the sinking of the unarmed, SIUcrewed cargo ship Robin Moor seven months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to the critical supply runs to icy Murmansk and Archangel, to every major Allied invasion point-from North Africa to Normandy, from Guadalcanal to Okinawa-Seafarers served their country. Popular Posters Hundreds of thousands of posters were produced in the U.S. during World War II, and millions of copies were displayed in homes, factories, offices and public grounds throughout America. The U.S. Office of War Information, along with virtually every other major government agency, as well as the U.S. Anned Services and private industry, created these images in order to generate the maximum public participation in the war effort. The posters' subjects included members of the merchant marine, the armed forces and the civilians who contributed to the war effort while living at home. Their messages urged Americans to join the fight, whether by volunteering for the armed forces or merchant marine, by conserving food, gasoline and other material in the U.S., or simply by not discussing convoys or troop movements. A common tactic of wartime posters was to shake people from complacency by presenting frightening and catastrophic images of war. Wounded or dead U.S. soldiers and sailors, as well as powerful enemies, were depicted in this genre. Also shown were American women and children at home, about to be overtaken by an evil enemy. Other posters were upbeat and appealed to American patriotism. Posters in this category were designed to inspire confidence, a Rendich Meola, 79, sailed as an SIU member during WWII. A lifelong resident of Middletown, N.Y., he recently loaned, on a long-term basis, 25 wartime posters to the union and its Lundeberg School. 'I Got Tired of Staying on Shore' Former SIU member Rendich Meola, 79, described July 12 as "a day of mixed emotions for me." Meola, who sailed for three years as a deck engineer during World War II, owns the posters that are displayed at the Paul Hall Memorial Library. They form a part of his wartime poster collection. "I am sad because the posters, which by now are almost friends, are no longer virtually at my side so that I can enjoy them at my leisure," he said at the opening ceremony. "I am, however, gladdened by the knowledge that they are now within this beautiful building." Meola graduated from George Washington University in 1939 and subsequently entered his family's real estate business. He was married and in his mid-twenties when he decided to join the merchant marine. "In those days, people wanted to do something in the war effort," recalled Meola, a lifelong resident of Middletown, N.Y., which is located roughly 70 miles north of the SIU hall in Brooklyn. ''We all had the feeling we should be doing something." Actually, he started his war service as an electrician's helper in a Brooklyn shipyard. He then became an electrician and often worked on cargo ships. "I got tired of seeing them go in and out while positive outlook and a sense of national pride. Familiar national symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, as well as images of strong men and women, tools, weapons and fistsoften in a red, white and blue setting-were widespread. Herberger and Sacco each stated that the posters serve to remind viewers that the merchant marine was key to the Allied win. "Without the merchant marine, I stayed on the shore," Meola noted. "So I decided, I'm going to go. I went to a maritime office in lower Manhattan and then started sailing as a deck engineer." Of his sailing days, Meola recounted, "It got easier near the end, because [Allied naval forces] had a fix on the subs." After the war, Meola went back into real estate. He still operates the business. As for his poster collection, Meola said he was inspired to start it when the U.S. government in 1988 awarded veterans' status to the World War II merchant marine. "It was my intent to concentrate on collecting posters with a frame of reference to the merchant marine. I soon discovered, however, that there were relatively few of this type," Meola said. Still, he acquired more than two dozen such posters-some that were printed in the U.S., others that were done in London. He also garnered other World War II posters that highlighted the armed forces and made appeals to civilians. ''The posters of World War II, regardless of nationality, were a form of propaganda," he concluded. "But I have always admired poster art and recall many of the posters which appeared during World War II." World War II would not have been a victory," Herberger said. "The deeds of the merchant marine carried the day. "In September, President Clinton and World War II veterans will convene in Pearl Harbor to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war's end," he added. "I will be there to make sure the role of the merchant marine is properly depicted." "This exhibit, first and foremost, is a tribute to the tens of thousands of merchant seamen who carried the Allied effort," noted Sacco. "Although it took a disgracefully long time for official U.S. government recognition of the World War II merchant marine, history bears out the fact that without the supremely courageous work of civilian mariners, the Allies would not have won the war." Herberger: Then and Now, Merchant Marine Is Vital As the featured speaker last month at the opening of the World War II merchant marine poster exhibit at the Paul Hall Center, Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger decided to "set the record straight" about the U.S. merchant marine. In addition to praising the World War II merchant marine, Herberger, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, pointed out that America's need for a strong domestic fleet is as vital today as it ever has been. "I am telling you, from everything the experts can see, 95 percent of materiel for the foreseeable future will have to [be transported] in merchant ships. And therefore, history has not closed the chapter on us .... There are merchant ships steaming to Bosnia. The need will go on," stated Herberger, one of the staunchest supporters of maritime Former SIU member Rendich Meola addresses crowd last month at revitalization legislation currently the opening of the WWII merchant marine poster exhibit. before Congress. Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger said the posters "inspire future generations to continue service to this country." He also noted that today's American merchant mariners are battling against not only exploited and heavily subsidized foreign c:;ompetition, but also misinformation being foisted upon the press and Congress by foes of the U.S. fleet. "Just as misinformation about communist elements amongst World War II seamen prevented recognition of mariners as veterans, today there is a flurry of misinformation to the media in an effort to discredit the merchant marine," Herberger said. As an example, Herberger pointed out, "While 80 percent of the cargoes for Desert Shield/Desert Storm were carried by U.S. civilian mariners on U.S. ships, the message has been depicted as if it was only eight percent." The admiral said that it is up to U.S.-flag proponents to combat the erroneous information. "We need to raise our voices and be as active as possible in preserving the merchant marine." 5 �6 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 Tanker Operations Course Added for Late '95 The Paul Hall Center's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. has added another 1995 session to its schedule of four-week tanker operation/safety courses. The newly scheduled class (the final one to start this year) begins November 20 and ends December 15. A complete Lundeberg School course schedule and registration information appear on page 23. Completing the tanker safety course is mandatory for all Seafarers who sail aboard tankers, regardless of which department they sail in. However, members of the steward department only are required to finish the first two weeks of the class. Hundreds of Seafarers have taken the course since the Paul Hall Center began offering it in Januacy. In written critiques of the class submitted to instructors, and in interviews with the Seafarers LOG, they have offered particularly enthusiastic praise for the confinedspace entry and rescue segment as well as the oil spill/hazardous materials (hazmat) prevention and recovery training. Each of those week-long sections features extensive practical training. Students in all tanker operation/safety courses practice the proper way to use protective clothing and breathing gear. The course also covers numerous related topics in order to promote maximum safety aboard tankers. Seafarers study tanker construction, chemical and physical properties of petroleum products, fire chemistry, oilremoval contingency plans and much more. Lundeberg School instructors developed the class in response to regulations stemming from the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90). It includes hands-on training and classroom instruction, as was agreed during negotiations between the union and SIU-contracted tanker companies. Upgraders discuss the course with SIU President Michael Sacco (far left). Pictured from left are Charlie Durden, Steven Bush and Daniel Eckert. Senate Subcommittee Collects Evidence on Need for U.S. Fleet a.=.11==M=a=rit=im=eB=ri=efs==.111 Continued from page 3 Record Number of Foreign Ships Detained Due to Safety Problems House and supported by the SIU and other maritime unions. He stated he planned to have such legislation before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee before the end of summer. The House, like the Senate, is contemplating a 10-year program in which the Department of Transportation (DOT) would provide $100 million annually to help fund approximately 50 U.S.flag containerships. The companies receiving the federal dollars would make their vessels available to the Department of Defense in times of national emergency or war. General cargo ships and old bulk carriers constituted the majority of the record 1,597 foreign vessels that were detained last year in European and Canadian ports because they failed safety tests, according to the 1994 annual report of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. The report, released last month, was signed by representatives of the 16 countries which coordinate their national port state control inspections. Passenger vessels and East European fish factory ships also were among those detained. The total number marked a substantial increase from the 926 detentions that took place in 1993-partly due to new detention procedures. Broken navigational equipment, faulty firefighting gear and inadequate or broken lifesaving equipment were the most common problems found by Canadian and European inspectors, the report noted. They also discovered structural defects on some vessels, although their inspections typically covered only operational matters. The report further stated that during the past three years, ships flying the flags of Malta and Cyprus, two runaway-flag ship registries, have the worst safety records among the largest flag states. Urge Congressional Support Representatives of the U.S. maritime unions called on the subcommittee to propose and push through the Senate maritime revitalization legislation. SIU President Michael Sacco, who spoke on behalf of the maritime unions, told the subcommittee, "We strongly affirm our support for the enactment of maritime revitalization legislation which fosters the growth of a newer, more modern and efficient fleet of United States-flag vessels crewed by United States citizens. "We remain convinced the expenditure of such funds to support the merchant marine will enhance the economic, political and military security of our nation." National Security Concerns The role the U.S.-flag merchant fleet has played in national security was a high priority for the members of the subcommittee as seen in their statements and questions for witnesses. Lott, who also holds the second highest ranking position in the Senate as majority whip, Listening to testimony during the July 26 maritime revitalization hearing are, from left, Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), ranking minority party member of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, and Trent Lott (R-Miss.), subcommittee chairman. pointed out the U.S.-flag mer- tional security is not the only chantfleethasplayed~vitalfunc- reason an American-flag mertion in supplying U.S. armed chant fleet is needed. There are forces during times of crisis. safety and environmental con" In times of international cems as well. crisis or war, our historical and "If we lose presence as a flag successful reliance on the U.S.- state-we only become a port flag fleet and the merchant state-we'll lose influence in all marines has been very, very im- those international arenas regardportant," Lott stated in his open- ing safety, environmental and all ing remarks. those other concerns," Herberger Senator John Breaux (D-La.), told the subcommittee. "We'll quoting from the Doris Kerns not have a place at the table. Goodwin book "No Ordinary "Since the beginning of our Times," repeated the words of country, it's been in this country:s U.S. Maritime Commission bestinteresttohaveapresencem Chairman Emery S. Land in early our own trade. [We must] be sure 1942, '"We are a war of transpor- that we continue to have leverage tation, a war of ships. It's no . . . and influence and not be totally at sense making guns and tanks to the mercy of foreign entities, the be left in the United States."' likes of which we cannot even Breaux then brought Land's describ~ today in terms of statement to today's times. "If economic blocks, cartels and you judge history, we see very others ,~hat w~uld take adclearly that the crucial ingredient van~ge, the rettred U.S. Navy in part to the defense and security adnural added. of the United States is not just how Speaking on behalf of the many guns and tanks we have but U.S.-flag liner companies, Seahow many ships and men to crew Land Service President John those ships we have to take those Clancey told the senators that the weapons to places where we are Ame~ican_ merchant fle~t involved in conflict." "provides important economic benefits, including jobs, tax Safety, Environment Issues revenues and assurance that freight Maritime Administrator Al- rates to and from the U.S. are not bert Herberger noted that na- set solely by foreign interests." J,. J,. J,. Matson Navigation Co. Revises California-Hawaii Services Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Co. has revised its twiceweekly service from Southern California to Hawaii, the company announced last month. As of July 26, transit time for Matson's Saturday sailing from Los Angeles to Honolulu has been cut by 10 hours. In addition, Matson's "Neighbor Island" schedule has been improved in each of the major ports of Hawaii (Kawaihae, Hilo and Nawiliwili). The accelerated service primarily results from the reassignment of the Maui and Kauai to the Saturday sailing from Los Angeles. The Lurline and the Matsonia also add capacity to the region's weekly RO/RO service, which departs Los Angeles on Wednesdays. J,. J,. J,. U.S. Coast Guard Ends Its Use of Morse Code U.S. Coast Guard communications centers recently stopped all their Morse code operations, which have been supplanted by modem technologies. The old system, invented in the 1840s by Samuel F.B. Morse, had been used by the Coast Guard to provide weather reports and safety information to ships, as well as to receive distress calls sent by mariners aboard vessels. Some Morse code messages were sent using dots and dashes representing letters; others were compressed into shorthand or abbreviations, such as SOS (Save Our Ship). A Coast Guard spokesman told The Baltimore Sun newspaper that an estimated 90 percent of deep sea ships receive Coast Guard . services via computers and radio-Teletype machines. Merchant vessels of major seafaring countries also use a variety of radio systems, including those known as SITOR, NAVTEX, INMARSAT and SafetyNET. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG ~ Seafarers Crew New /TB In Penn Maritime Fleet Seafarers now are sailing aboard the second of two new integrated tug-barges (ITBs) to join the Penn Maritime fleet this year. The barge Caribbean and the tug Lucia departed from a Mobile, Ala. shipyard on June 26 for Corpus Christi, Texas where the vessel picked up its first cargo of petroleum to be transported to Philadelphia. " I worked really hard familiarizing myself with the Looking over charts in the wheel· house of the Lucia is First Mate barge before we got underway," recalled Tankerman Larry Henk Rekelhoff. Evans, a second generation Seafarer who, along with several others, boarded the ITB while it was still in the Alabama shipyard to assist and oversee construction. "It was still on the building blocks when I arrived," said Evans. "It is the greatest thing since mom's apple pie. It is the first new vessel I have ever sailed on, not to mention the first I have ever brought out of the shipyard. I have spent a lot of time in shipyards but never with a brand new vessel," he stated. The tankennan went over the heaters, the generators, pipelines and "crawled every inch of the barge from stem to stern" to familiarize himself with the vessel before sailing it out of the shipyard. "It was a really unique and special experience for me," Evans concluded. The Caribbean and the Lucia join Penn Maritime's fleet of six tugboats and eight barges that move jet fuel, gasoline and other petroleum products along the eastern coast of the U.S. The first new ITB, the tug Eliza and barge Atlantic, sailed J f out of the Mobile shipyard on March 3 while construction was being completed on its sister unit Virtually identical to the Atlantic and Eliza, the Caribbean and the Lucia are designed to meet the latest laws and regulations affecting the industry. According to Bill Oppenheimer, manager of Penn Maritime fleet operations, the new ITB s are articulated tug/barge units. ''What happens is, as the tug enters the notch of the barge, two steel couplers extend from the tug into the notch of the barge and lock it into place. It keeps the tug in a push mode all the time," explained the Penn Maritime official. "It's a nice machine, a nice unit," praised Chief Engineer Donald Bond of the Caribbean and the Lucia. "The entire package surprised me because it went very well. I wasn't sure how the new system would work. Locking the tug into the barge went wonderfully. It worked beyond expectations, I would say," reflected Bond. He added, "I ... _ . LI , ._......,........llllliililllllililllBilii•illiliA....;...; Chief Engineer Donald Bond rinses out his coffee cup in the new galley aboard the Lucia following a brief break. ~,_,,,-·.'· ' · AB!Tankerman Larry Evans became familiar with the Caribbean from "stem to stern" even before the barge left the Mobile, Ala. e 0 Approves Phase Out Moran Boatmen Endorse 01 FMC by 1997 ~ I ,".I~~ .. 0 cHan·t waiuttossaileonitacgain AB!Tankerman Dan Hayes (left) and Second Mate George Shields sign off the Lucia and Caribbean • in the port of Philadelphia follow- Working on the deck of the Caribbean are Second Mate Peter ing the ITB's maiden voyage. Jablonski (left) and OS Jason Connors. #9#9#1Pi U• A.,.,.,. Id M'..W ~11,..... ~el~· ., mshimpyard.itt . • SIU boatmen who navigate Moran tugboats in the Gulf of Mexico have ratified a new three-year contract that covers wage increases and improved benefits into 1998. The new agreement, which began on June 10, covers SIU members who sail aboard harbor and offshore tugboats. Representatives for the Port Arthur, Texas-based company and the SIU held negotiating sessions in Port Arthur during May. The Seafarers will receive wage increases throughout the life of the contract. Delegates to the talks included Captain Charles Tuck and Chief Engineer Wallace Ashwood from the offshore boats and AB/Quartermaster Craig Arnaud, Chief Engineer Cliff Champagine and Captain Pat Thoma~ from ~he harbor tugs. SIU Vice President Gulf Chief Engineer Cliff Champagine was a member of the SIU negotiating committee for the new three-year Moran contract. .,I • The Mary Moran is a harbor tug covered by the new 3-year pact. Coast Dean Corgey and Houston Port Agent Jim McGee also participated in the talks. "I think that negotiations went very well," Tuck told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "Overall it is a very good contract and the end results were very positive," the captain added. The new pact covers three SIU-crewed offshore tugboats: the Dorris Moran, Shiela Moran and the Cape Charles. Seafarers also covered by the agreement crew five harbor tugs: the Hekn Moran, Mary Moran, Joan Moran, Mary Coppeidge and Stella. The harbor tugs dock and undock vessels as well as perform other harbor work in the waters surrounding the ports of Port Arthur, Orange and Beaumont, Texas. The offshore tugs transport petroleum and container barges along the U.S. East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico ports and Puerto Rico. The U.S. House of Representatives last month approved a $27.6 billion spending bill that includes $15 million for the operation of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in Fiscal Year 1996. But the long-term fate of the FMC, as well as that of the Shipping Act of 1984 (provisions of which are administered by the independent government agency) remain in doubt. Legislation to deregulate ocean cargo transportation by phasing out the FMC and reforming the Shipping Act was passed August 2 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill next will be sent to the House floor. The legislation, known as the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1995, was put forth by Representati ve Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), transportation committee chairman, and largely is based on a series of compromises between Sea-Land Service and the National Industrial Transportation (NIT) League, a lobbying group for shippers which called for deregulation of ocean cargo transportation. Transfer Duties Representing harbor tugboat crewmembers during the contract sessions was Moran Captain Pat Thomas. The bill would phase out the FMC by October 1997 while transferring some of its duties to the Department of Transportation. It further would eliminate tariff-filing requirements and allow shippers to secure confidential contracts with carriers. The legislation also would maintain antitrust immunity for carriers to set rates collectively. The Shipping Act of '84, through an exemption to U.S. antitrust laws, allows international shipping lines to jointly set transportation rates. The functions of the FMC, an independent agency established in 1961, 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., as well as fighting any other discrimination or prejudice in U.S. trade and licensing ocean freight f01warders. Compromise Reached In June, Sea-Land and the NIT League reached a compromise agreement providing the framework to phase out the FMC while maintaining carriers' antitrust immunity and shifting some of the FMC' s functionsparticularly the monitoring of unfair foreign practices against U.S. lines-to the Transportation Department. Reaction to the deal's content and creation has been mixed among both shippers and carriers. But a spokesman for Sea-Land, as well as others familiar with the situation, said that the agreement was reached under great pressure from an impatient Congress. Chris Koch, senior vice president and general counsel at Sea-Land and a former FMC commissioner, said at a recent seminar in California that if industry representatives had not quickly proposed a plan to gradually eliminate the FMC, congressional budget cutters simply would not have funded the agency beyond October 1. The SIU is reviewing the provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and will keep members updated on how it would affect them. 7 �B SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 Seafarer Orlando Sierra (left) presents Thomas B. Crowley Jr. with the Crowley Maritime Corporation flag that will fly over the campus. Remembering the works of Thomas B. Crowley Sr. are his son, Thomas B. Crowley Jr., and Bradley Mulholland of Matson Navigation. On behalf of the Crowley family, Thomas B. Crowley Jr. thanks the center for honoring his father. Joining him at the podium is Crowley's widow, Molly. Praising Thomas B. Crowley Sr. for his work promoting the U.S.-flag merchant marine is former Federal Maritime Commission Chairperson Helen Bentley. Listening to her comments are, from left, SIU President Michael Sacco; Father Matthew J. Siekierski, who provided the invocation; and Bradley Mulholland, Matson president and CEO. Passing along a story to Thomas B. Crowley Jr. (left) is American Maritime Officers President Michael McKay. Christine Crowley (seated, left) and her husband, Thomas B. Crowley Jr., listen to SIU President Michael Sacco recall what Thomas B. Crowley Sr. meant to the union. Campus on the Paul Hall Center Named for Renowned Shipowner Continued from page 3 Crowley, who died last year at age 79, are set up to provide Seafarers studying at the Paul Hall Center with courses where they learn computer skills, basic physics, safety, first aid and much more. Following the dedication ceremony, Crowley family members and officials from Crowley Maritime inspected the facilities. Others joining Sacco in remembering Crowley at the ceremony were Matson Navigation President and Chief Executive Officer Bradley Mulholland, former Federal Maritime Commission Chairperson and U.S. Representative Helen Delich Bentley and American Maritime Officers President Michael McKay. Mulholland, speaking on behalf of the maritime industry, called naming the campus for Crowley "a generous tribute given by the SIU to a patriot who has given much to our country and industry." He noted that Crowley and his company contributed greatly to U.S. efforts in times of national crisis from World War II to Operation Desert Storm as well as being a leader in oil spill clean-up operations in Saudi Arabia and Alaska. "Tom Crowley was the best kind of entrepreneur," recalled Mulholland, whose company also has a contract with the SIU. "He was an innovator and constantly pushed himself and his organization to find new and uncommon solutions to complex and seemingly overpowering challenges." Received Hands-on Training Bentley recounted several meetings she had through the years with Crowley. She noted he learned the maritime industry "first aboard the tugboats during the tough years of the depression and later in the offices of Crowley Launch and Tugboat Company. "His education was what we refer to today as 'hands on.' Thomas B. Crowley Sr. could fit into any position on one of his vessels at any time-and whenever there was a question of any kind, he was not shy about proving it." She added, "Even though Tom Crowley had received his education the 'hands-on' way, he recognized that in this day and age formal education also was as vital for success as the on-the-spot kind of learning." A · · I Instructor Russ Levin (back to camera) outlines the classes taught in one of the classrooms on the Crowley Campus. Inspecting the room are, from left, Bradley Mulholla~d, Chri.stine Crowley, Thomas B. Crowley Jr. and Neil Alioto, Lundeberg School vice president. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -McKay remembered Crowley as "a man you could count on, a man of his word." He also pointed out that Crowley was an innovator and that his influence through his ideas and vessels still are felt worldwide. Expanded Father's Company Thomas B. Crowley Sr. began working for his father's company, then called Crowley Launch and Tugboat Co., in 1933. He took over the management of the business when his father retired in 1960. Under Crowley's leadership, the company began West Coast bulk petroleum barge service after World War II. Crowley Maritime provided commercial resupply lines to the U.S. military' s early warning detection installations in the Arctic and for more than 20 years ran tug/barge supply operations to the oil industry working on Alaska's North Slope. The company began tug/barge operations between the U.S. East and Gulf coasts and the Caribbean, as well as liner service to Central and South America, during the 1970s and 1980s. The site of the Paul Hall Center opened in 1967 as the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The center serves as a vocational training facility for SIU members. The center is operated jointly by the union and its contracted companies. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG 9 7 Seafarers Scholarships Will Be Awarded in 1996 ~ conjures up a number of images: Once eligibility has been deterfreedom, shipboard watches, school mined, the applicant should start days. And for seven recipients of the collecting other paperwork which annual Seafarers Welfare Plan must be submitted with the full apscholarship, the word may include a plication by the April 15, 1996 little of all those meanings as school deadline. bells ring each September to mark These include such items as the start of a new academic transcripts and certificates of semester. graduation. Since schools are often quite slow in handling transcript reSince 1952, the Sill has offered a scholarship program, and 242 quests, the sooner the applicant members and their spouses and asks for copies, the sooner they will children have been able to take adbe received. vantage of it. This year will be no Letters of recommendation fonn different. The union's Seafarers Welfare Plan again will award seven another part of the application scholarships, this time for the 1996 package and should be solicited school year. Three of the financial from individuals who have awards will be made available to knowledge of an applicant's character, personality and career goals. Seafarers. One of the Seafarers' Since the scholarship grants are awards will be for $15,000 for use awarded primarily on the basis of at a four-year institution of higher learning. The other two, in the highschoolgradesandthescoresof either College Entrance Examinaamount of $6,000 each, may be used for two-year studies at a community "-------~...-..----........i.------.-.-------.---------- tion Boards (SAT) or American college or vocational school. The remaining four For a spouse to be eligible for a scholarship award, College Tests (ACT), these exams need to be taken no scholarships will be set aside for children and he or she must: laterthanFebruary 1996toensurethattheresultsreach spouses of Seafarers. Each of these four stipends is • be married to an eligible Seafarer or SIU pensioner. the scholarship selection committee in time to be for $15,000 and may be used at a four-year college evaluated. or university. • be a high school graduate or its equivalent. A photograph of the applicant and a certified copy For a dependent child to be eligible for considera- of his or her birth certificate are two other items that The cost of education at the college and university level continues to rise each year, often preventing tion for a scholarship, he or she must: will need to be included in the total application packindividuals from starting or resuming their educational goals and forcing them to scrimp and save in order to • be an unmarried child of an eligible Seafarer or SIU age. overcome the high price tag of higher learning. Appensionerforwhomthememberorpensionerhasbeen All completed applications MUST be mailed and plying for a Seafarers Welfare Plan scholarship may the sole source of support the previo':1s cal~ndar year. postmarked ON or BEFORE APRIL 15, 1996. As be a solution to help reduce the high cost of college (Howeve~, should a de~ndent .c1?-ild wm an SIU might well be imagined the Welfare Plan receives . . ' . . scholarshtp and marry while rece1vmg the award, he tuition. appbcat10ns for the scholarship program, • .i.th hi h h 1 1 f 1996 'll ors he w1'll not have to &"iorfiet't the grant by reason of many . d. .. and 1t Graduation ior e g sc oo c ass o sti ch arriag ) ts often very 1fficu1t to select only seven rec1p1ents for may be about a year away, but now is the time to begin su m e. the awards. For this reason, all applicants should be planning to apply for one of the available scholarships. • be a high school graduate or its equivalent, although sure to fill out the form as completely as possible and applications may be made during the senior year of include all the requested information by the due date. Taking advantage of this benefit is not difficult, but it high school. It also should be noted that if an application was will require some organization on the part of the collegebound student to complete the entire application. submitted in past years and was not selected-DON'T • be under the age of 19--or be under the age of 25 and be a full-time student enrolled in a program leading to BE DISCOURAGED. That person may send in a baccalaureate or higher degree at an accredited in- another application this year. stitution authorized by law to grant such degrees. For both a spouse and dependent child to be eligible, the following conditions must be met: • the sponsoring Seafarer must have credit for 1,095 days of covered employment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to date of application. • the sponsoring Seafarer must have one day of employment in the six-month period preceding the date of application and 120 days of employment in the previous calendar year (unless the eligible parent is deceased). . Now is the time to start thinking about your educ~­ bonal future. Ask for a 1996 Seafarers Scholarship Program booklet at any SIU hall, or fill out the coupon below and return it to the Seafarers Welfare Plan. "--~-- r-------------------------------------------, lease send me the 1996 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains information, procedures for applying and the application form. P eligibility Name __________________________________________________ Address ---------------------------------------------------------------------- • be a high school graduate or its equivalent. City, State, Zip Code ------------------------------------------- • have a total of 730 days of employment with an employer who is obligated to make contributions to the Seafarers Welfare Plan on the Seafarer's behalf prior to the date of application. Telephone Number_____________________________________ • have one day of employment on a vessel in the six-month period immediately prior to the date of application. , This application is for: • have 120 days of employment on a vessel in the previous calendar year. (Pensioners are not eligible for scholarships.) 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. 8195 J L___________________________________________ 1 1 D Self D Dependent Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, �10 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 Wheelsman Mark Knapp pays his union dues at the Duluth hall. Visiting the Duluth hall is Kinsman Enterprise AB Jan Kaminski. Carrying more than a million tons of grain between ports on the Great Lakes, U.S.-flag bulk:ers like the SIU-crewed Kinsman Enterprise had a busy sailing season during 1994. The 1995 season has proven to be no different. In fact, according to Cleveland-based Kinsman Lines, this year's grain totals already are two million bushels ahead of the company's 1994 figures. This is because the . Kinsman Lakers did not transport grain on the Great Lakes during April 1994. (April is when fitout for the company usually begins.) Seafarers aboard the Kinsman Enterprise began their 1995 sailing season when the Laker sailed from its winter port of Buffalo, N. Y. on April 6. By late April, the 600-foot Kinsman Enterprise and her sister ship, the Kinsman Independent, had made a total of three trips across the lakes. After reaching the western end of Lake Superior, the vessel loaded wheat in the Twin Harbors region of Duluth, Minn. and Superior, Wis. The bulker then transported the grain back to Buffalo for use in the manufacture of cereal, flour and other products. As the cargo was being loaded in Duluth, Seafarers inspected the vessel to make sure it was ready for the busy schedule it maintains throughout the summer, fall and early winter months. Photos on this page were taken recently by crewmembers while the Kinsman Enterprise was docked in Duluth. LEFT The Kinsman Enterprise has been plying the Lakes since 1927 when it AB/Watchman began sailing as the ore carrier Harry Coulby. It was bought by Kinsman in Robert Grove su1988 and has since been used as a grain carrier. pervises the loading of cargo aboard the Kinsman Enterprise in the port of Duluth, Minn. During fitout aboard the Kinsman Enterprise, Watchman Curt Mayer works the deck winch. OS Larry Hall (left) and OS Ali Quraish report to work aboard the Kinsman Entetprise at the Duluth, Minn. harbor. Oiler Fred Stover takes a break between shifts on the Kinsman Enterprise. ,.....~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-, Seafarers Supply Fuel on Lower Lake Michigan For more than 40 years, Seafarers who sail aboard Bigane fueling vessels have been supplying ships in the lower end of Lake Michigan with enough petroleum to get to their next destination. As the only fueling service available to ships in the lower lake area, Bigane Seafarers keep a very demanding schedule. The SIU members aboard the boats transport heavy fuel (used by steamships), diesel fuel (used for diesel-powered engines) and kerosene (used in galleys for ABffankerman Kevin Kelley lifts a heavy hose and fitting stoves). from the deck of the Joseph Bigane to the deck of a ship Sometimes referred to as "floating gas waiting for fuel. stations," the motor vessels are available for ships coming into port in the towns surrounding Lake Michigan. The SIUcrewed fueling vessels meet ships in Gary and Burns Harbor, Ind. as well as throughout the entire Chicago area. Aboard the Joseph Bigane, AB/tankermen like Kevin Kelley and Ron Las work hard to make sure all supply orders are properly filled. The members control the loading of the fuel at a Chicago refinery as well as the hook up of the cargo hoses and the discharge of the petroleum to the ship being refueled. Tying up the Joseph Bigane fueling vessel at the Chicago refinery is a job for AB!Tankerman Ron Las. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG 11 Began Career on 'Stick Ship' Mazzola Recalls 23 Years of Seafaring Memories There was always something new to learn aboard break"The first Stonewall Jackson was powered by 8500"From the North Pole to the South Pole, aboard more bulk freighters such as the Joseph Hewes, the first ship ... If you can float there-I've than 60 different SIU ships horsepower steam-turbine engines," recalled Mazzola. on which Mazzola sailed following his graduation from the been there," recalled AB George Mazzola of the "She was a classic. It wasn't too long after my tour that trainee program at Piney Point. numerous SIU ships he has sailed on since joining the they converted her to diesel engines," he said. r=.......,..=,.,.,.,,,,.,..,...,..,.,..,.,..,.,......,.,.....,.......________..,,......,____________,,,......,...,,..,...,,..,,.,,,...,..,_,,_ union 23 years ago. "What kept the jobs aboard freighters interesting was The 41-year-old Piney Point graduate has helped the large variety of cargo. This particular trip we had 1984 deliver everything from pineapples and jet planes to everything from coffee beans to tallow on board," Mazbombs, in addition to seeing the world three times over. zola recalled. (Tallow is used to make soap.) "From delivering materiel that was vital to U.S. troops Tiris 1973 trip to the Middle East was of particular during the Persian Gulf War to safely transporting importance for the Stonewall Jackson and her crew, for thousands of gallons of petroleum to Antarctica, I have they had a new jet fighter in the forward hatch which they been there," recalled Mazzola. delivered to Jordan's King Hussein. "The day after the jet was unloaded, the test pilot flew "SIU crews deliver the cargoes needed by many people throughout the world to survive, and I am proud by the ship at the stroke of high noon," the Seafarer to be part of such an outstanding organization," he added. reminisced. "He came by at mast height at 500 knots, , The Maryland native has sailed aboard virtually every waved, kicked in his afterburner, went vertical and dis'"'r"""he-=Sa----nt""'"'a-M .....a-n-.a~(-D~e-lta~Li-n-es~). ,. . w~hi.....c.h'."."h"""e1""""d"""a.....co~m""'b=in....a....ti=on of ty~ of deep sea v~ssel c?ntracted by th: SIU-break-bulk appeared into the blue. It was quite a show." passengers and freight, was one of Mazzola's favorite ships. freighters, c?nta~nersh1ps, bulk earners, tankers and •combo Ship' oceanographic ships. Throughout his more than two decades of sailing, One of the most unique ships on which Mazzola has Mazzola compiled an extensive collection o.f sailed was the Santa Maria, a Delta Lines vessel. The photographs of each ship on which he sailed and memoirs Santa Maria was known as a "combo ship" because it was from the exotic places he visited, all of which he recently half freighter and half passenger ship. It had accommodations for 100 passengers, including two swimming pools, shared with the Seafarers LOG. "Each ship was a unique, beautiful experience," he in addition to the regular space allocated for freight. said. Leaving from the West Coast, the Santa Maria circumnavigated South America in 60 days. "It was a Hewes Is First Vessel dynamite trip," recalled Mazzola. "We still had our own Among his favorite vessels were the Joseph P. Hewes container crane, so we could load and unload in the ports, (Waterman Steamship), Stonewall Jackson (Waterman but it never interfered with the passengers." Mexico, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru were Steamship) and the Santa Maria (Delta Lines). Following his 1972 graduation from the Lundeberg just some of the countries the Santa Maria called upon School as a member of trainee class 107, Mazzola signed during its voyages. Mazzola recalled a special ceremony held aboard the on the Joseph P. Hewes as an OS. The freighter maintained a run between the U.S. East Santa Maria when the ship passed through the Strait of Coast and the Far East. The Hewes discharged and Magellan at the southernmost tip of South America. brought on cargo in various ports in South Korea, Hong "It was a tradition for the passengers to dress in costumes and celebrate as we sailed through the strait. SpeDuring his last trip aboard Delta Lines' Santa Maria in Kong, the Philippines and Thailand. "The beauty of the Hewes was that she was a freighter. cial meals were prepared by the galley gang, and 1984, AB George Mazzola takes part in a lifeboat drill. Plain, simple and beautiful. All we needed was a dock everyone would gather on deck to mark the occasion," and we could unload anything, anywhere," explained remembered Mazzola. Mazzola. "With the more modem containerships, booms He added that the area, located near the Antarctic are needed in each port in order to load and unload," he Peninsula, is usually filled with penguins. Therefore, the Santa Maria celebration became known as "The Penguin added. Mazzola noted that because of the speed containerships Party." "The passengers really enjoyed befog aboard with the have brought to the process of loading and unloading, the use of break-bulk freighters has declined. (The Hewes was crew. It was a unique atmosphere in that the passengers a break-bulk freighter, also known as a 'stick ship' because often felt they were a part of the crew. They truly enjoyed of the cranes and booms built aboard the vessel.) Now, the being around us and watching us at work," said Mazzola. During his last trip aboard the Santa Maria in 1984, only SIU vessels which still have cranes on board capable After helping deliver a year's worth of petroleum products of self-loading and unloading in port are the military con- the ship loaded 10,000, 55-gallon barrels of concentrated to ports in Antarctica aboard the Gus Darnell, AB George tracted ships. orange juice in Brazil. It was stored below deck in a Mazzola points at a mileage chart, noting how far he is of all the ships I've sailed, I'd have to say that refrigerated section of the freighter. "Out from his home in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. "The refrigeration had to be constantly monitored so the Hewes was my favorite. The work was so interesting .----:ri1-----......,---__.----...,,-----,,----, and there was always something different to do," said that the orange juice concentrate was kept at the apMazzola. "I can honestly say that I became a better propriate temperature level. The concentrate was being seaman by sailing aboard the Hewes," he added. brought to the United States to manufacture commercial Mazzola noted that the old freighters provided juice," said Mazzola. Seafarers an excellent learning opportunity. "The cargo Coincidentally, Mazzola's last trip aboard the Santa gear had to be expertly maintained. We were constantly Maria was also the vessel's last trip before it was working the booms-taking them apart, rebuilding and scrapped. performing all types of maintenance on the winches and Proud Member hatches. It was a very technical and demanding job, and Reflecting on his time as a Seafarer, Mazzola said, you learned so much," the AB stated. "Adventures of the sea are like no other. It is a life of Memorable Trip freedom and a life filled with hard work." He added that he would do it all over again if given In 1973, Mazzola took a job as a wiper aboard the old Stonewall Jackson. (The original Stonewall Jackson was the chance. "As a Seafarer, I have helped to deliver some bought by Waterman Steamship Company after World of the most important cargo in the world," he said. "Without the merchant marine, none of this would be War II and converted from a general troop ship to a C-4 freighter. In 1974, the company built a new LASH ship possible. Who else can transport such precious goods as which was to take the place of the Stonewall Jackson. safely as American merchant mariners?" Mazzola ques~------.....--~""""'-'........~------' They named the new ship, again, the Stonewall Jackson. tioned. "The bottom line is that as Seafarers we have helped Mazzola (foreground) assists with underway replenish- It is still in service today and is crewed by Seafarers.) The freighter was on a run to India and the Middle East make the United States a better place, and that is somement operations aboard the Richard G. Matthiesen during thing to be proud of," the AB concluded. and left from the port of Baltimore. the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s. �12 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 SIU Fishermen Escape Injury as Trawler Burns; Rachel E Crew Rescued by Other Seafarers Thanks to quick reactions and help from fellow Seafarers, the SIU crew of the trawler Rachel E escaped injury on June 23 when an electrical fire damaged the vesselnearNewBedford,Mass. Despite a thick fog which limited visibility to approximately 50 yards, Captain Antonio Pimentel Mate Jose Paxita Engineer C~rlos Cajuda and Cook Antonio Baptista were rescued from their life raft by the SIUcrewed Destiny another fishing boat, three hodrs after the fire forced them to flee from the Rachel E. The Destiny-crewed by Captain Luis Fidalgo, Mate Joao Dias, Engineer Jose Dosantos, Deckhand Hermilio Meca and Cook J. Fidalgo-was alerted of the life raft's position by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. The fire eventually burned itself out. Although no one was hurt crewmembers lost clothes and ~ther personal belongings. as well as marine charts and a shortwave radio. The total damage estimate exceeds $200 000. Pimentel noted th~t he and his crew regularly conduct safety drills, but the speed with which the fire engulfed parts of the 71foot Rachel E prevented the men from donning any protective gear. However, they did take the boat'sEmergencyPositioninglndicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) int~ the r~t, and .that act led to theIT relatively quick rescue. The EPil.IBsendsasignaltoasatellite that is relaye~ to the Coast Gu~d an? other radw ?perators to p~nP?mt a founde~ng or. otherwise disabled vessel s location. _ e pra~ti~ with the life ~aft, hf~ nng, hfe J~cke~s, su~~1v~l s~1ts and fire extmgmshers, said Pimentel, who has been an SIU ~ember for 20 years. uBut this time, there was no chance to grab anything, no chance to send a mayday. The wheelhouse was full of fl~es." _ Notw1thstandmg the heavy ~og, the Rac_hel E was.three d~ys mto a seemmgl~ routm~ fishing voyage_ wh~n P1me~tel smelled somethmg ltke bummg rubber. I looked in the windows and saw smoke and flames coming from near t~e engineer's quarters. I couldn t get to the wheelhouse, but my. first concern. was ge~!ing the engmeer out of his bunk. Pimentel succeeded in rousing Cajuda, thenjoi~ed with t~e other crewmembers m secunng the raft. "I was concerned because we have about 9,000 gallons of fuel on the boat," Pimentel recalled. "W. Once in the life raft with the crew, Pimentel activated the emergency beacon. TheCoastGuardpickedupthe EPIRB signal and located the Rachel E crew roughly 90 minutes after they boarded the life raft. In another 90 minutes, the Destiny (on which Pimentel used to work) emerged from the fog and moved in to rescue the couldn't recognize anything, even after it was cleaned up," said SIU Port Agent Henri Francois, who provided the photo accompanying this article. The Rachel Eis under repair in Rhode Island. It is uncertain when the boat will return to service. Pimentel said he and his crewmembers (who have gone to work on another boat) are not discouraged by their recent experience. 'There's no quitting by any of us. After 32 years in the fishing business, I know I'm not Seafarers. More than seven hours later, the men boarded a rescue tug that came for them and to tow the Rachel E. Despite the damage to the RachelE, the2,000poundsoffish caught by the crew went undamaged, as the fire did not extend to the storage containers. But in other areas of the boat, "you scared." Members of the Lopez's steward department also take time from their duties to attend the meeting. In the galley are (from left) SA Tim Mizwicki, SA Rose Mccants, SA Whitey Pavao, Chief Cook Russ Beyschau and Cook/Baker Guy Prescott. AB Chris Kalinowski waits for the shipboard meeting to begin. The 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez lies at anchor in the waters off Guam. A Military Sealift Command vessel, the Lopez is normally based in the West Pacific Ocean, off the island of Saipan, from which position it can be ready to support a military operation at any time. Keeping Up-to-Date from Afar Aboard· the Baldomero Lopez Gathered in the galley for the union meeting aboard the Baldomero Lopez are, from left, Bosun Gerald Kelly, AB Bob David, Steward/Baker Bruce Barbeau and Pumpman Phil Parent. Wiper Matt Alexander and AB Jeff Moritz take part in the shipboard meeting aboard the Baldomero Lopez. Sailing aboard the Military Sealift Command's fleet of prepositioning vessels often means being based in remote areas of the world. So when SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Hall recently caught up with crewmembers aboard the I st Lt. Baldomero Lopez in Guam-an unincorporated U.S. territory in the Mariana Islands to which the vessel makes regular shuttle runs from its base off the island of Saipan in the West Pacific Ocean-there were many issues the crew wanted to catch up on and discuss. The members reviewed and commented on provisions of the contract under which they sail. Hall also brought them up-to-date on the status of some of the current legislation on Capitol Hill, including the Alaskan North Slope oil situation and maritime revitalization. The I st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, operated by Amsea, Getting updated by Asst. VP Bob Hall on maritime is named for a Marine who fought in Korea and gave issues in the U.S. are (from left) Chief Electrician Bill Amost, AB Dave Condino and SA Dan Ides. his life to shield his men from a grenade. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG 13 Seafarers Stay Active in Honolulu Hall Serves as Focal Point For Fellowship, Business Checking the shipping board and the seniority lists in the Honolulu hall are, from left, OS Phillip Toney, AB Barry McNeal and Chief Cook Robert McElwee. The membership activity never stops in the SIU hall in Honolulu. Because of the wide array of SIU-contracted vessels that call on Hawaii, union members are constantly in the hall to register to ship, file vacation applications, check on health claims or catch up on the latest news. "We have a steady stream of members coming into the hall," notes Port Agent Neil Dietz. "Some come to ask questions concerning the union, others take care of shipping business and still others come to socialize with their fellow Seafarers.·· When members ship out, they can catch jobs aboard vessels that regularly call on the port. Among those are Sea-Land, Matson and American President Lines containerships, American Hawaii Cruises passenger ships and Transoceanic cable ships, which are owned by AT&T. Other Registering at the counter is Larayne Powers who SIU-contracted ships that holds a QMED rating. call on Honolulu-area facilities are those of the Military Sealift Command that carry civilian crews. The SIU hall, which opened in March 1991, is located only a few blocks from the Honolulu waterfront. While ashore, some of the crewmembers from the ''White Ships"-the SS Constitution and SS Independence-gather in the Honolulu hall. They are 2nd Cook Noel Bocaya, AB Reynaldo Govico, SA Petronito Ramos, Oiler Edwin Yballa, SA Bob Quimpo, SA Ludivico Castillo and QMED Benny Orosco. Constant Traffic Keeps Santurce Members Busy From tugboats to roll:--onlroll-off vessels, whether operated by Naverias NPR, Crowley, Sea-Land or others, the work is constant for Seafarers along the docks near the union's hall in Santurce, P.R. Union members are involved in the offloading and loading of trailers from the various Navieras NPR vessels that call on the port. Other crewmembers are busy keeping up the ships' maintenance through painting, chipping, inspecting the engines and cleaning the galleys. Formerly known as Puerto Rico Marine Management or PRMMI, Navieras NPR ships sail between Puerto Rico, the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and other Caribbean ports. The nearby Crowley docks host Seafarers busy preparing ships and tugboats for sailing. SIU members crew Crowley ship-docking tugs as well as ocean-going tugs and barges that travel between Puerto Rico and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. Specifically constructed for the trade, Crowley's Puerto Rico facility is the largest in the world for handling roll-on/roll-off vessels. Seafarers also man lightering equipment and oil spill response vessels that can quickly respond to emergency situations in the Caribbean region. Port Agent Steve Ruiz notes the action is virtually nonstop in the area. ''This is a very active port and our members do their part to keep it moving at peak efficiency." Bosun Al Caulder, left, and AB Victor Pacheco are ready to help with the discharging of the Mayaguez, an NPR, Inc. vessel. While in port, AB Ivan Coraliz disembarks from the Crowley tug Ensign. After pulling into the port of San Juan, crewmembers from the Mayaguez, an NPR containership, file down the gangway while AB Victor Pacheco stands watch. During a scheduled break, crewmembers aboard NP R's Carolina gather on deck for a photo. From the left are Chief Cook Richard Worobey, AB Efstratios Zoubantis, DEU John E. Funk, Chief Steward Albert Coale Jr., OMU Kim M. Higgins, OMU C. Benzenberg and (kneeling) Wiper Philip A. Morris. Standing on Crowley Pier 10 prior to the next run for the tug Apache are, from left, Capt. Emerito Rivera, Cook Carlos Roja, Mechanic Pedro Figueroa and 2nd Mate Ted Dodson. �14 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 Danger at Dawn A - -- t the SIU hall in San Francisco, only a few men showed up during the day to check the rotary shipping board. There were more jobs than there were seamen available. We had been at war for 15 months, and the shipyards were beginning to tum out new ships in ever increasing numbers. I had rested up from the previous voyage (Guadalcanal) so I took the chief electrician job on a brand new C2 cargo ship which was still in the shipyard receiving her finishing touches. There is a tremendous amount of work to do "debugging" a new ship, and we needed a second electrician, but none were available. I had a younger brother working for General Electric in Ft. Wayne, Ind. I told him if he would be patriotic and join the SIU, he could have a life of romance and adventure on the high seas. Like so many other midwest farm boys at the time, he fell for it and joined me on the ship. (Later, after the five Sullivan brothers were lost on a Navy ship, there was a regulation that prohibited brothers from sailing together.) Our new ship was the SS Typlwan, operated for the WSA (War Shipping Administration) by the Mississippi Steamship Co. (Delta Line). We were operating out of the port of San Francisco in support of our forces in the South Pacific. We could carry 10,000 tons of cargo at a cruising speed of 16 knots. Our armament consisted of a 5inch gun aft, four 3-inch antiaircraft guns and four twin-mount 20 mm Oerlikons. Our SIU crew was supplemented by a Navy armed guard of 20 men under a USN reserve officer. All our guns were on local control, but our gun crews trained constantly and made up in enthusiasm what we lacked in fire control equipment. We had sailed in convoy to Espirito Santo in the New Hebrides and delivered our cargo of supplies to "Button"-the supply base for the Marines fighting their way up the Solomon Islands from Guadalcanal. After stopping at Noumea, New Caledonia for bunkers, we were ordered back to San Francisco where they planned to convert our cargo ship to a troop transport. There were no combat vessels available for escort duty because of the Navy's losses during the recent sea battles, so we proceeded alone, making frequent course changes to avoid being tracked by any enemy submarine. During wartime combat operations, contact with enemy forces sometimes results in long drawn-out slugging matches with heavy casualties. At other times, there are short, sharp clashes with inconclusive results and few, if any, casualties. In World War II, the men of the U.S. merchant marine suffered a larger percentage of casualties than any of the services except the Marine Corps. Not May 1943 Pensioner James M. Smith ofKirkland, Wash. joined the SIU in Baltimore in .,,........---.~-------.August 1939 immediately after leaving the Marine Corps as a corporal and as an expert of 50-caliber machine guns. That was also the year that Nazi Germany attacked Poland-and so the European buildup James M. Smith far World War ll was well under way. While in the Marines, Smith had studied basic electricity and was well situated to take the U.S. Commerce Department exam for a merchant mariner's electrician's endorsement. (The Commerce Department handled merchant marine operations prior . the same time we saw them, and they started to come hard right. Our 3-inch gun crews immediately opened fire as we also started a hard turn to starboard. We wanted to bring our 5-inch gun to bear, and also the stem of our ship would make a smaller target. On the submarine, the gun crew came tumbling out of the hatch and started to man their big 6-inch deck gun on the foredeck, but at that time the first round from our 5-inch gun went whooshing by them and splashed just beyond their boat. The second round was just a little short. We had them bracketed! By now, both ships had completed their tum and were in line astern, about 2,000 yards apart. Even with the bow-on silhouette of the sub and the dim light, our gun crews were putting some shells close aboard their boat. The enemy submarine commander must have decided it was a losing proposition. I'm sure he didn't want to get a hole punched in his boat so he couldn •t submerge with our aircraft in the area. He recalled the deck gun crew and they did a crash dive. The whole action had taken only a few minutes. Aboard the Typhoon, we immediately executed that classic maneuver to get us out as quickly as possible. We opened all the nozzles on the turbine and were soon up to maximum speed and out of range. After all, they were armed with torpedoes and a 6-inch gun that had a longer range than ours, so retreat was in order. We often wondered if we actually did get any Ocean hits on their submarine, but we felt we had done well under the circumstances. However, in any engagement with the enemy, would take it across our bow. Those of us it is only the registered hits that count. After-action report: As chief still sleeping were jolted awake by our call to "general quarters" and the mad electrician, I had noticed during practice scramble to man our stations. Submarines normally cruised on the surface at night, charging batteries and with their diesel engines making a racket. T h e i r lookouts saw us about to 1981, when jurisdiction was transferred ta the Transportation Department.) Brother Smith continued to sail in the merchant marine during WWII, the Korean conflict and the early part of the Vietnam War. In this dramatic retelling of his merchant ship's encounter with a Japanese submarine, Brother Smith refers to the five Sullivan brothers. These were five members of the same family serving in the U.S. Navy. The brothers were sailors aboard the USS Juneau when it was sunk November 12, 1942 during the Battle of Guadalcanal. All.five brothers lost their lives, leading the Navy to issue an order that members of the same family could not serve together. The Seafarers LOG. in its September and October 1994 editions, ran portions of Smith's WWII diary dealing with merchant marine operations around Guadalcanal. ~.. New Caledonia NOUMEA ~ that we couldn't fight, but due to the nature of submarine warfare, we seldom saw our enemy or even knew of his presence until our ship was blown apart by the underwater explosion of a torpedo warhead. In the rare instances when we could fight back, we tried to inflict as much damage as possible with the weapons we had. It was the third day at sea after leaving Noumea. In the gray light of predawn, the men in the forward 3-inch gun platforms were in their usual early morning "condition two" readiness, scanning the calm tropical sea for any sign of surface craft or aircraft. Suddenly a long dark shape seemed to ap,,.-:;_pear out of nowhere, al/'""'\/ ,,...most dead ahead r:;· _. .---. \ ..,and on a course , - ---V ' t h a t . r .,( ,· \'\ I by James M. Smith South Pacific ' ~~ t~ r~ . ~' \·\\~ \~~~~~~ 1 , ''I firing of our 5-inch gun that the jarring concussion would often knock out the control relays on the steering gear motors located beneath the deck. My brother, Robert, was making his first trip as second electrician. I had assigned him to the steering gear room during general quarters. He had instructions to keep those controls operating at all costs so that we would not lose steering. Robert was running aft to man his station. The 5-inch gun was trained forward on the port side as we were making our tum, and he was directly under the gun barrel when they fired that first round. I saw him fall down, get up, then stagger down to the steering gear room. He was lucky: he was deaf only for several days. We always maintained radio silence when at sea to prevent a fix by enemy RDF (Radio Direction Finder). When the action started, our radio operator sent out a contact report and our position. After the action, we again maintained radio silence. Two weeks later, when we came steaming under the Golden Gate Bridge, everyone was surprised. At the union hall, the word had gone out that the SS Typhoon had been lost to enemy action and there were no survivors. I was happy to inform them that our demise had been somewhat exaggerated. �AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco . :W~.b.mngton Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 33 3 7 6 14 28 29 21 12 27 9 7 25 39 7 14 12 16 22 20 17 24 16 4 17 4 1 0 7 0 3 1 3 4 4 0 5 5 3 2 0 30 2 2 3 0 0 0 226 245 37 23 5 5 8 7 15 Jacksonville 17 San Francisco 17 Wilmington 14 Seattle 17 Puerto Rico 3 Honolulu 6 Houston 21 St. Louis 1 Piney Point 4 Algonac 1 Totals 164 Port New York 17 Philadelphia 1 Baltimore 0 Norfolk 1 Mobile 8 New Orleans 9 Jacksonville 13 San Francisco 28 Wilmington 12 Seattle 20 Puerto Rico 5 Honolulu 13 Houston 14 St. Louis 2 Piney Point 4 Algonac 0 Totals 147 22 5 3 0 5 1 7 12 2 19 14 18 10 14 4 15 17 1 4 1 1 2 0 1 7 0 4 0 0 0 169 27 14 1 2 2 0 0 5 1 4 6 1 1 3 0 2 5 5 9 9 7 2 6 8 0 1 1 0 6 1 0 4 1 0 83 0 17 DECK DEPARTMENT 20 18 2 2 3 0 5 6 0 13 8 9 6 13 0 25 16 0 23 20 3 16 0 9 12 4 3 22 13 2 7 4 0 2 3 9 15 31 4 3 1 0 4 3 0 2 0 0 168 169 24 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 10 11 1 ,,,·, 0 4 3 2 3 0 6 6 2 8 3 0 2 5 20 9 13 2 9 5 0 6 5 1 10 12 0 1 3 6 10 6 5 12 10 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 91 108 18 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 15 5 1 3 0 0 2 3 0 5 5 0 3 6 0 7 9 0 7 5 3 20 1 1 6 0 1 10 2 1 5 1 0 1 5 2 5 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 99 40 9 September & October 1995 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point Tuesday, September 5*; Monday, October2 JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1995 Port New York Philadelphia 15 *changed by Labor Day holiday New York 6 61 54 1 5 6 2 6 2 13 10 12 4 16 1 6 12 9 18 20 16 20 26 7 3 1 9 2 38 46 11 55 51 27 50 30 45 5 5 44 ·. 8 6 6 17 9 45 45 5 28 Tuesday: September 12, October IO Mobile 0 413 89 8 44 0 4 4 34 8 9 6 0 2 5 26 27 15 26 5 15 1 21 1 27 6 3 4 8 27 31 ' 20 20 3 1 2 3 6 19 9 3 29 3 8 1 5 0 1 0 30 1 4 0 60 245 275 53 8 0 2 1 33 22 3 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 5 8 8 5 10 3 1 0 1 1 16 2 22 9 20 4 2 13 2 14 2 1 0 17 16 12 1 0 1 0 29 14 2 6 0 0 8 0 1 0 1 0 54 267 157 30 Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT New York 4 34 11 2 15 1 0 18 69 Philadelphia 1 1 1 0 1 2 3 3 0 Baltimore 0 5 3 0 3 0 0 11 1 Norfolk 12 2 0 12 1 16 12 0 9 Mobile 1 13 2 1 0 1 36 3 0 New Orleans 4 13 13 3 16 3 7 0 33 Jacksonville 13 3 5 2 9 6 0 3 29 San Francisco 10 18 7 2 42 7 1 23 0 Wilmington 7 2 17 16 6 2 0 12 32 Seattle 4 20 4 4 11 1 13 36 0 Puerto Rico 3 6 6 1 3 0 0 9 10 Honolulu 8 48 72 5 8 5 13 83 0 4 Houston 17 7 12 1 0 0 5 27 St. Louis 1 l 0 3 0 1 0 0 2 Piney Point 14 0 10 3 0 0 1 23 0 Algonac 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 49 232 163 24 127 0 109 449 30 Totals AU 729 244 382 444 12027 1~94 De2artments 586 81 206 * ''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. 11 San Francisco Thursday: September 14, October 12 Wilmington Monday, September 18, October 16 Seattle Friday: September 22, October 20 San Juan Thursday: September 7> October 5 St. Louis Friday: September 15, October 13 Honolulu Friday; September 15, October 13 Duluth Wednesday: September 13, October 11 Jersey City Wednesday: September 20, October 18 New Bedford Tuesday: September 19, October 17 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals 1 10 9 8 Wednesday: September 13, October - 0 5 12 15 57 24 36 Jacksonville Thursday: September 7, October 5 1 406 12 17 24 Norfolk Thursday: September 7, October 5 0 12 0 3 5 l 11 8 5 3 7 2 Baltimore Thursday: September 7, October 5 12 92 0 2 1 Philadelphia Wednesday: September 6, October 4 Algonac Friday: September 8, October 6 Houston Monday: September 11, October 9 New Orleans 37 3 3 3 1 Tuesday: September 5, October 3 ROBERT GORBEA Please contact former shipmate George Meshover at 804 Bolton Road, Far Rockaway, NY 11691; or telephone (718) 868-2069. DUDLEY GRANT Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Dudley Grant is asked to please contact Sam Boykin at 15055 E. Highway 20, C.L. Oaks, CA 95423; telephone (707) 998-1355 or V. Martin at P.O. Box 855, C.L. Oaks, CA 95423; telephone (707) 998-1012. BOB TOURGESEN Please get in touch with Jake Karaczynski as soon as possible at the Lundeberg School (P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674) or electronically on the Internet. His e-mail address is: passeul@atc.ameritel.net. 27 1 Notices 8 MARINE COOKS & STEWARDS PICNIC 27 2 26 15 The annual SIU-MCS pot-luck picnic will take place this year on Sunday, September 10 from 12 noon until 5 p.m. at San Bruno City Park (No. 7 area). Members, pensioners, friends and children are welcome. There are plenty of tables, trees and parking spaces available. 21 32 18 14 151 10 0 3 0 355 527 NEW MEETINGS DATES FOR VA-BASED VETS The Hampton Roads, Virginia Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans, Wives, Orphans and Survivors now meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, at 7 p.m. in the Veterans' Room of the War Memorial Museum of Virginia, 9285 Warwick Blvd. at Huntington Park in Newport News, Va. Upcoming meeting dates are as follows: September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, January 25, February 22. Anyone interested in joining the chapter or attending an upcoming meeting may contact retired SIU member Max Simerly at P.O. Box 5721, Newport News, VA 23605-0721; telephone (804) 247-1656. - �16 SEAFARERS LOB AU6UST1995 Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory JUNE 16- JULY 15, 1995 CL-Company/Lakes L-Lakes NP-Non Priority Michael Sacco President *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Cl1m L Cl~ NP 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 Pre~dent Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Col'gey 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 t 216 E. Baltimore St Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327.4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building · Duluth, MN 55802 nz. (218) 4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston. TX 77002 (713)659-5112 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) 478-0916 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 2604 S.4St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 I>iney Point, MD 20674 (30 I) 994-00 IO PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, FL 33004 (305) 921-5661 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 161/2 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 510N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 0 10 10 0 9 2 0 6 1 0 15 23 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 50 4 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 35 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 15 3 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Cl~ L Class NP 0 35 13 0 16 4 0 8 2 0 33 48 Totals All Departments 36 40 0 0 100 92 13 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. 67 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1995 TOTAL smPPED All Groups Class A ClassB Class C *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 4 0 6 0 1 0 7 16 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 9 38 2 53 5 1 9 DECK DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 J6 . . 23 4 8 41 6 8 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 4 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 7 0 0 0 2 2 11 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A ClJWI B Chm C 12 2 0 10 6 13 34 8 0 5 64 13 22 35 0 0 .0 0 JL; 21 1 2 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 12 3 1 17 . 0 2 11 0 17 0 1 7 71 18 102 Totals All Departments 53 6 10 16 * "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. 1 12 49 Are You Missing Important Mail? 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 health insurance checks and bulletins or notices-a correct home address must be on file with the union. H 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 20746 r------------------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM (PLEASE PRINT) 8/95 Name Social Security No. _ _ _ I _ _ _ I _ _ __ D D Active SIU Other D Pensioner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- 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 AUGUST1995 T he growing ranks of SIU pensioners has been increased by 25 Seafarers who have ended their careers as merchant mariners. Thirteen of the union brothers signing off this month shipped in the deep sea division. Five sailed the inland waterways, six worked on Great Lakes vessels and one was a member of the Railroad Marine Division. Twelve of the retiring Seafarers served in the U.S. military-eight in the Army, three in the Navy and one in the Air Force. Among those joining the ranks of retirees, John A. Hamot graduated from the bosun recertification course and Clyde A. Kreiss completed the steward recertification program at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. The oldest retiring members are Hamit, 72, Domingo Milla, 71, and Glenn W. Reynolds at 70. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. DEEP SEA DESALW. BARRY SR., 65, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1947 from the port of New York. The Texas native shipped as a member of the deck department. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Barry makes his home in California. HALIMY. HAMBOUZ, 68, started sailing with the union in 1954 from the port of New York. He was a member of the engine department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Born in Egypt, Brother Hambouz now makes his home in New York. JOHN A. HAMOT, 72, joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. The deck department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. and completed the bosun recertification program there in 1983. Brother Hamot continues to live in his home state of Massachusetts. CLYDE A. KREISS, 66,began sailing with the Seafarers in 1945 from the port of ·~ New York. Brother Kreiss shipped in the steward department and completed the steward recertification program in 1980 at the Lundeberg School. Born in Illinois, he now resides in Texas. The SIU Wishes Our New Pensioners The Wind to Their Backs and Harbor from Storms 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 thank them for jobs well done and wish them happiness and health in the days ahead. ENEDINA L. HA TCHL, 66, joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1968 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the sIU· s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). She sailed in the steward department and upgraded her skills at the Lundeberg School. Born in Texas, Sister Hatchl now lives in New Mexico. EARLJ. MATHEWS,65, joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Mathews sailed as a member of the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Born in North Carolina, Brother Mathews now resides in Louisiana. DOMINGO MILLA, 71, started his career with the union in 1968 in the port of Seattle. The Hawaii native sailed in both the steward and engine departments and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. Brother Milla calls California home. GLENNW. REYNOLDS, 70, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1967 in the port of New York. The North Carolina native sailed as a member of the deck department. A veteran of World War II, he served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, from 1943 to 1963. Brother Reynolds lives in the state of his birth. RUDOLPH J.ROMA, 62,began sailing with the Seafarers in 1962 from the port of Houston. The Texas native sailed as a member of the engine department. Brother Roma has retired to his native Texas. HERMINIO SERRAN0,60, started sailing with the SIU in 1964 in the port of New York. Brother Serrano shipped as a member of the deck department. From 1957 to 1963, he served in the U.S. Army. Born in New York, Brother Serrano now resides in Puerto Rico. EDWIN VIEIRA, 67,joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. The Massachusetts native shipped in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Brother Vieira currently lives in Louisiana. HAROLD T. WRIGHT, 65, started his career with the union in 1969 in the port of Tampa, Fla. During his sailing career, he shipped in all three departments: deck, engine and steward. From 1950 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Navy. Born in Ohio, Brother Wright now resides in Florida. IGNACIO ZABALA, 62,joined the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of New York. Brother Zabala sailed as a member of the engine department. Born in Spain, he now makes his home in New Jersey. INLAND VINCENT BARCO, 56,joined the union in 1983 in the port of New Orleans. He sailed as a member of the deck department. Born in Cuba, Boatman Barco has retired to Florida. CHARLES A.CHINN, 67, started his career with the Seafarers in 1980 in the port of New Orleans. The Tennessee native sailed in the engine department. From 1946 to 1949, he served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Army Band. Boatman Chinn calls his birth state home. EDWARD W. HULTZ, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1957 from the port of Philadel- phia. Boatman Hultz sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He secured his pilot's license and advanced in the deck department from mate to captain. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. A native of New Jersey, Boatman Hultz continues to live there. THOMAS L. KEILL, 62. started his career with the Seafarers in 1974 in the port of Houston. As a licensed operator, Boatman Keill sailed as a captain and completed the vessel operator management and safety course in 1976 at the Lundeberg School. From 1949 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Born in Texas, Boatman Keill makes his home in Louisiana. ····''ROBERT E.MURRAY,58, . started sailing with the union in 1960 in the port of ~-=-=-== Philadelphia. Licensed as a pilot, Boatman Murray advanced in the deck department from mate to captain. Born in Pennsylvania, Boatman Murray now resides in Delaware. 17 working in the Great Lakes division and last sailed aboard the Kinsman In- dependent as amember of the engine department Brother Lehto has retired to his native Minnesota. CORLISS J. MacRURY, 68,joined the Seafarers in 1981 in the port of AIL------~ gonac, Mich. A native of Michigan, Sister MacRury sailed in the steward department and upgraded regularly at the Lundeberg School. She continues to live in Michigan. - JOSEPH w. McKENNA, 62,joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of Cleveland. The Ohio nati ve sailed as a member of the deck department. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother McKenna has retired to his native Ohio. L _ _ ._ _ _ _ _ _ , · EGILG. . SORENSEN,65, joined the union in 1964 in the port of Detroit. Brother Sorensen shipped in the engine department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. Born in Norway, Brother Sorensen has retired to Maine. GREAT LAKES JOHNP. BYRNE, 62,joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Chicago. The Illinois native sailed in the deck department. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Anny. Brother Byrne continues to live in Illinois. JOHNG. FRANKOVICH,62, joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of Detroit as a member of theGreat Lakes division. The engine department Seafarer helped in several organizational drives on the Lakes. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. A native of Michigan, Brother Frankovich continues to live in his home state. WILLIAM L. LEHTO, 52, started his career with the union in 1969 in the port of Detroit Brother Lehto began RAILROAD MARINE STEPHEN J.HERNICKJR., 63, started his career with the SIU in 1983 in the port of New York. Brother Remick sailed as a member of the deck department and worked primarily for New York Cross Harbor Railroad. From 1950 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Navy. Born and raised in New Jersey, Brother Hernick continues to make his home there. For Job security and the FUture of the Maritime Industry DONATE TO SPAD - �18 AUGUST1995 SEAFARERS LOG , . Despite the calm exterior when approaching the cable ship from the,., dock, Sea~arers are"' busy throu < u* the Global Link performing .. ~ . regutar mamtanance to keep th I ready for action. ~ Seafarers aboard the Global Link have plenty to do. It does not matter if the ship is at sea and crewmembers are laying or repairing cables orifthe vessel is docked in Baltimore and the crew is performing routine maintenance. 1be cable ship, which began sailing in 1991, is kept ready for immediate action by SIU members on board. Some of the deck department crew can be found chipping and painting, while others are busy greasing the cranes used to load miles of cable into the ship's hull. _ _.,.. Engine department Seafarers monitor the vessel's diesel motors and thrusters to keep them at peak performance. In between feeding the crew members, the galley gang makes sure the Global Link has the needed stores on board for an immediate departure. "We never know when or where the company will send us," noted Bosun Jose Gomez, a 22year SIU member who sails from the port of Baltimore. "We always have to be ready to go at minimum Directing crane notice." operations on the That minimum notice can be as deck of the cable little as 24 hours, according to ship is Bosun Jose Chief Steward Gregory Melvin, Gomez. who is from Jacksonville, Fla. "We are always ready to go," he added. The Global Link is operated by Transoceanic Cable Ship Company, a subsidiary of AT&T. Other SIU-crewed vessels within the Transoceanic fleet are the Charles Brown, Long Lines, Global Sentinel and Global Mariner. i) f "<¢ Cable AB Splicer/Joiner Sandra Deeter-McBride prepares a pad eye for painting. Applying a coat of paint to a vent Splicer/Joiner Joseph Cosentino. ,-------.......,j 1 Painting on the deck of the ship is Cable AB Dave Scott. Climbing into the operator's cab of a shipboard crane is Bosun Mate James Jerscheid. OS Melvin Singletary sougees grease from an onboard crane. OMU Shannon Wilson (left) discusses a contract matter with Baltimore Patrolman Dennis Metz. AB John Mclaurin keeps the overhead looking bright on the Global Link. - Chief Cook Lanette Lopez and Chief Steward Gregory Melvin inventory the ship's stores. Cable AB Splicer/Joiner Richard Borden proves you can sit down on the job. Preparing one of his dessert specialties for the crew of the Global Link is Second Cook Dan Wehr. �SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 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. PFC EUGENE A.OBREGON (Waterman Steamship), April 30Chainnan Henry Bouganim, Secretary Patrick Helton, Educational Director Charles Clackley, Deck Delegate Edward J. Gerena, Engine Delegate Ronald F. Lucas, Steward Delegate Leslie Davis. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point and reminded QMEDs who work with refrigeration materials to take refrigeration handling course at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. LIBERTY Sl:A (Liberty Maritime), May 18-Chairman Williom Haynie, Secretary E. Harris, Educational Director Richard Parker, Deck Delegate James Brinks, Engine Delegate Nelson Lazo, Steward Delegate Molcolm Holmes_ Chairman noted patrolman to meet ship in Corpus Christi, Texas for payoff. Secretary advised crewmembers to take advantage of upgrading courses offered at Lundeberg School. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading and donating to SPAD. Disputed OT and beefs reported by deck and engine delegates. No beefs or disputed OT reported by stewar el gate. Crew requested deck gear. Chairman reminded crew of safety procedures aboard ship. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department for good meals and service. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (SeaLand Service), May 28-Chairman Ernest Duhon, Secretary George Bryant, Educational Director Brett Landis, Deck Delegate John elley, Engine Delegate David Ali, Steward Delegate Reynaldo Telmo. Crew discussed problems associated with shorebased transportation in Singapore. Educational director reminded crewmembers of tanker operations course at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $1,000 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman gave special vote of thanks to all departments for job well done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND SHINING STAR (Sea-Land Service), May 30Chairman Giovanni Vargas, Secretary Robert Hess, Educational Director Paul Titus, Deck Delegate David Kalm, Engine Delegate Enrique Gonzalez, Steward Delegate Gary Lackey. Secretary discussed importance of SPAD in upcoming elections and asked crewmembers for support in all union activities. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew voiced strong vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. New crewmembers, Messman Gary Boyd and Wiper Christopher Duffy, commended for excellent performance of duties. Crew asked steward department to add more variety to menus. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Charleston, S.C. HUMACAO (NPR, Inc.), June 7Chairman Clarence Pryor, Secretary F.T. DiCarlo, Educational Director Ron Smith, Steward Delegate R.F. Lacy. Deck delegate reported disputed beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Crew discussed setting up ship's fund. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for excellent menus. Next port: San Juan, P.R. LAWRENCE H. GIANELLA (Ocean Shipholding), June 11- Chairman Henry G. Bentz, Secretary Kevin L. Marchand, Educational Director Henry Hall, Deck Delegate Jon Weaver, Steward Delegate Ronnie Hnll. Chairman announced captain replacing old couches in crew lounge with those from officers' lounge. Crew requested new radio. Bosun encouraged crew to upgrade at Piney Point and read Seafarers LOG. Chairman noted excellent union leadership provided by SIU President Michael Sacco and urged members to donate to SPAD. Treasurer reported $183 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun announced parts for dryer on order and will be received in next port. Steward delegate asked crewmembers signing off to clean rooms for next occu ant. Crew extended thank to galley gang for great food and spectacular desserts. Chairman concluded meeting by reminding crew that SPAD is the key to keeping maritime industry alive. Next port: Manchester, Wash. Delegates Stress Political Action Charleston - Secretary urged crew to write to elected officials about the need for a U.S.-flag merchant fleet. Sea-Land Shining Star Secretary discussed importance of donating to SPAD so maritime issues will be raised in upcoming elections. Lawrence H. Gianella Chairman reminded crew that SPAD is the key to keeping the maritime industry alive. Sea-Land Independence - Crewmembers discussed legislation before Congress affecting the maritime industry. CHARLESTON (Apex Marine), June 22-Chairman Anthony Maben, Secretary German Rios, Educational Director Moses Mikens, Deck Delegate Juan Ayala. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in port. Secretary advised crew to write congressmen and ask them to stop U.S.-flag vessels from reflagging. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and take tanker operations course. LEADER (Kirby Tankships), June 4-Chairman Patrick Rankin, Secretary Tamara Hanson, Educational Director Richard Gracy, Deck Delegate Carson Jordan, Engine Delegate Edward Krebs, Steward Delegate Arthur Aguinaldo. Chairman reported payoff upon arrival in port of New Orleans. Educational director advised crewmembers of importance of taking tanker operations course at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new movies and antenna for TV. Crew discussed poor mail service to ship and com.mended steward department for job well done. LEADER (Kirby Tankships ), June 28-Chairman Patrick Rankin, Secretary C. Bocage, Educational Director Richard Gracy, Deck Delegate Carson Jordan, Engine Delegate Edward Krebs, Steward Delegate Arthur Aguinaldo. Chairman reported payoff on July 5. Secretary stated job well done by all departments. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new TV for crew lounge. MAJOR STEPHEN W. PLESS (Waterman Steamship), June 23Chairman Barnard Hutcherson, Secretary S. Sanderson, Educational Director M. Ruhl. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for good food. Deck department thanked by crew for helping other departments, and engine deparanent thanked for keeping engines in excellent condition. Crew requested new mattresses. sisters. Next port: Honolulu. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (SeaLand Service), June 4-Chairman Jack Kingsley, Secretary William Burdette, Educational Director Bozidar Balic, Deck Delegate John DeBos, Engine Delegate Melvin Layner, Steward Delegate D. McGothen. Chairman announced estimated time of arrival in Long Beach, Calif. Educational director reminded crew importance of upgrading at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (Sea-Land Service), June 26Chairman Carlos Loureiro, Secretary William Bragg, Educational Director William Drummond, Deck Delegate Abdul Hamid, Engine Delegate Juan Garcia, Steward Delegate Munassa H. Mohamed. Crewmembers requested second dryer in laundry room. Chairman reported water 19 Verner Brash Jr., Deck Delegate Ken Hagar, Steward Delegate Daniel Maxie Sr. Chairman advised members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed flag-out of Sea-Land vessels and gave vote of thanks to union for job well done assisting members who lost jobs due to reflagging. Crew commended steward department for preparing fine menus. At recent safety meeting, chief mate and master thanked deck department for professional job done painting and applying non-skid to deck. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Service), June 5-Chairman Lothar Reck, Secretary George Bronson, Educational Director Lorance Pence, Deck Delegate Pamela Tayor, Engine Delegate Justin Rodriguez, Steward Delegate Charli Atkins_ Chairman encouraged crew to donate to A Patriotic Meal SAM HOUSTON (Waterman Steamship), June 18-Chairman Bobby Reddick, Secretary Robert Bright, Educational Director E.E. Neathey, Engine Delegate C.H. Kennedy. Educational director discussed upgrading opportunities available to members at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent meals. SAMUEL L. COBB (Ocean Shipholding), June 18-Chainnan Gus Koutouras, Secretary Danny Brown, Educational Director Russell Kindred, Deck Delegate Mike Brown, Engine Delegate George Mardones, Steward Delegate Thomas Barrett. Chairman and crew discussed faxing Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez contract-related questions. Secretary noted importance of donating to SPAD. Educational director encouraged members to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Paul Hall Center. Some beefs reported in all three departments. Bosun extended vote of thanks to galley gang for clean house. He reminded crew to be considerate of each other and to keep noise down in passageways. Crewmembers observed moment of silence for departed SIU brothers and sisters. SEA-LAND DISCOVERY (SeaLand Service), June 4-Chairman Nelson Sala, Secretary Jose Coils, Educational Director Ruben Velez, Deck Delegate Kenneth Stainer, Engine Delegate Johnny O'Neill, Steward Delegate Cosme Radames. Chairman reported new washing machine and TV set received. He advised crew ship will sail from San Juan, P.R. via Panama Canal to West Coast June 29. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegate. Bosun noted ship will run from Long Beach, Calif., Oakland, Calif. and Honolulu. Crew commended steward department for good food and clean ship. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (SeaLand Service), June 23-Chairman William Lough, Educational Director Ray Chapman, Deck Delegate Steve Kastel, Engine Delegate Eric Frederickson, Steward Delegate Cesar Lago. Educational director urged crew to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun noted "No Smoking" signs posted in mess room and crew lounge. Crew discussed creating designated smoking area for those crewmembers who smoke. Crew observed moment of silence for departed SIU brothers and Crewmembers report the food is always great aboard the OM/ Patriot, but for the Independence Day holiday, Steward Robert David (left), Chief Cook Joseph Patrick and SA Tracy Blanich went one step further to provide crewmembers with a truly memorable feast-from pineapple-covered ham and roasted potatoes to home-baked desserts and fresh fruit. cooler in crew lounge repaired. He announced payoff in Long Beach, Calif. and thanked entire crew for efforts during recent voyage. He gave special vote of thanks to deck department for hard work. Secretary reminded crew to attend tanker operations course at Lundeberg School as soon as possible. Crew discussed Alaska oil export legislation. Educational director talked about importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School to remain qualified for future. Crew addressed issue of replacing radio in mess hall. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Engine delegate advised crewrnembers to be wary of excessive heat in engineroom and confined spaces aboard ship. Bosun reminded crew to wear safety belts when warranted. Crew asked steward to order clothes iron. Vote of appreciation given to galley gang for great meals and menus. SEA-LAND INNOVATOR (SeaLand Service), June 4-Chairman John Stout, Secretary Jose Bayani, Educational Director Ernie Perrera, Deck Delegate Jerry Casugay, Engine Delegate Lonnie Carter, Steward Delegate M. Abuan. Chairman reported letter from SIU headquarters received and posted. He reminded members to leave room clean and keys with department head. Secretary thanked deck department for maintaining highest safety and sanitation standards aboard ship. Educational director reminded crewmembers to check z-card expiration date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for good meals. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (SeaLand Service), June 26-Chairrnan Steve Copeland, Secretary Rick Juzang, Educational Director SPAD, noting union needs as much support as members can give. He asked crew to keep crew lounge, mess hall and laundry room clean. Bosun advised crew to read Seafarers WG and to keep current on union affairs. He reminded crew to check in with immigration and customs upon arrival in port and meet with patrolman on board before payoff. Educational director advised crew of importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $550 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (Sea-Land Service), June 18Chairman Andrew Mack, Secretary Gary Griswold, Educational Director Daniel Johnson, Deck Delegate Jose Ross, Engine Delegate Bobby Spencer, Steward Delegate Jean Savoie. Chairman extended thanks to deck and steward departments for jobs well done. Educational director reminded crew all union forms available on ship. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested contracts department to look into increasing pension benefits. Next port: Boston. ULTRAMAX(Sealift, Inc.), June 26-Chairman Gerald Westphal, Secretary George Maranos. Chairman com.mended crew for fine trip. Educational director encouraged members to find time while on beach to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Disputed OT reported by deck, engine and steward delegates. Bosun reminded crewmembers to clean rooms before signing off and turn in keys. He extended special vote of thanks to entire crew for smooth voyage and job well done. I l �20 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 SUMMARYANNUALREPORTFOR SIU PD SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FUND, INC. BUY•N When Seafarers purchase Franklin International products, they not only buy wellmade items, but also put their dollars to work for themselves and their fellow trade unionists. The UIW is one of the autonomous affiliates of the SIUNA. When it was founded in 1935, the Franklin Glue Company had five employees and sold one product. Today, the business (now Franklin International) employs approximately 200 members of the SIU-affiliated United Industrial Workers (UIW) union and markets a wide range of glues and other adhesives throughout the US., as well as in Canada, South America and Europe. UIW members at Franklin's production plant - which covers eight city blocks handle a wide range of jobs, including mixing raw chemicals to form the different products. The Seafarers LOG regularly highlights various union-made products. This is a summary of the annual report for the SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. (Employer Identification No. 941431246, Plan No. 501) for the year ended July 31, 1994. The annual rep<>rt 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 tenns of the Plan. Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust arrangement. Plan expenses were $8,415,146. These expenses included $724,300 in administrative expenses and $7,690,846 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 1,850 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$3,092,967 asofJuly 31, 1994. compared to$2,965,498 as of the beginning of the plan year. During the plan year, the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $127,469. The plan had a total income of$8,542,615,includingemployercontributionsof$7,803,355,earnings from investments of $114,619, receipts from other funds as reimbursement for pro-rata share of joint expenses of $474,651, and other income of $149,990. Employees do not contribute to this plan. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on re.quest. The items listed below are included in . .that report; 1. An accountant's report, 2. Assets hyld for investment, Transactions in excess of five (5) percent of the fund assets and 4. Fiduciary infonnation, including transactions 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 PD Supplemental 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 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. Depal-tmen of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. 3. Company: Franklin International Products: Glues for wood, carpet, tile, roofing and common household use. Also caulk, liquid nails, duct sealer and adhesives used on envelopes and food packaging. UIW members at Franklin: Involved in all facets of production and maintenance, including mixing, quality control, labeling, packing, shipping and receiving. Distribution: Worldwide, to both industrial and individual consumers. Facilities: Manufacturing plant and warehouse in Columbus, Ohio. That's a fact: Franklin's products are sold in everything from 2-ounce plastic tubes to 55-gallon drums. 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.Ayearly 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 sha11 equa1ly 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 -~uested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 520 l_ Au th Way Camp Spnngs, 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 ashiporboat.Membersshouldknow 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. Seafarers LOG traditionally has themselves with its contents. Any such objects, SPAD supports and refrained from publishing any article time a member feels any other contributes to political candidates serving the political prnposes of any individualintheunion,oflicerormember. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed hannful 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. The_ re~p<>nsibili~ for Seafarers WG policy ts vested m an editori~ board which co~sists of the ex~unve board of the uruon. The execunv_e board may d~le~a~, from among its ranks, one mdividual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No moniesaretobepaidtoanyoneinany 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. C 0 NS T I T UT I 0 NA L RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are available in all union halls. All ED ITO RIAL POLICY - members should obtain copies of THE SEAFARERS LOG. The this constitution so as to familiarize 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 guarantee.cl equal rights in employment and as members of the Sill. 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 en ti tied, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARE RS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purp<>ses 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 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 :1~d appropriate act10n and refund, if mvoluntary. A member should support. SPAD to protect_ and ~~rther his ~r ~er econmruc, pohttc~l and social _mterests, and Amencan trade uruon 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 20746. �SEAFARERS LOB AUBUST1995 ~inal 21 Departures DEEP SEA JAMES W. CORCORAN Pensioner James W. Corcoran, 91, died September 30, 1994. Born in New Hampshire, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1943 from the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Corcoran sailed in the deck department. From 1919 to 1921, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Corcoran began receiving his pension in April 1970. FEDERICO DE LOS REYES Pensioner Federico De Los Reyes, 93, died May 26. He started his sailing career with the SIU in 1966 in the port of San Francisco. Brother De Los Reyes sailed in the steward department Born in the Philippines. he started to rea;ivc his pension in April 1976. ALBERT J, DOTY Army. Brother Henkle retired in June 1989. RALPH HERNANDEZ Pensioner .,., Ralph Hemandez, 87, died June 27. He started sailing with the union in 1944 in the port of San Juan, P.R. Brother Hernandez shipped in the steward department and last sailed as a chief steward. A native of Puerto Rico, he started to receive his pension in November 1973. ·wi5%; < DYER JONES Pensioner Dyer Jones, 84, passed away Junes. A native of Virginia, he began sailing with the SIU in 1957 from =:::....;;;;.;;.;;.:...____;;~_, the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Jones shipped in the steward department and twice upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. From 1941 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Jones retired in July 1978. MAXIMD.JORAT Pensioner HarryM. Fisher, 70, passed away June 1. Anative of Alabama, he joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Fisher shipped in the deck department and graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1984 at the Lundeberg School. He retired in November 1991. LAWRENCE J. GEIGER Pensioner LawrenceJ. Geiger, 83, died May 15. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1969 from the port of '----="'--~"'-"--......, Frankfort, Mich. Brother Geiger shipped as a member of the steward department. He started out in the Great Lakes division and later transferred to the union's deep sea division. A native of Wisconsin, Brother Geiger began receiving his pension in October 1978. THEODORE M. HENKLE Pensioner TheodoreM. Henkle, 68, passed away June 19. Born in Oregon, he joined the SlU in 1950 in the port of New Y orlc. Brother Henkle sailed in the deck department. From 1945 to 1946, he served in the U.S. MaximD. Jorat, 87, died October 13, 1994. Born in France, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1968 in the port o an Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU' s Atlantic Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). He retired during the 1970s. MICHAEL H. KIYABU Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. From 1965 to 1967 he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Lugo retired in July 1994. FRANK OCASIO Pensioner Frank Ocasio, 86, died March 6. Born in Puerto Rico, he Started his sailing career with the SIU '----===---'in 1959 in the port of Tampa, Fla. Brother Ocasio shipped in the deck department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. Brother Ocasio began receiving his pension in February 1977. "'2:""----i RENEORIANO Rene Oriano, 64, died May 23. A native of Guatemala, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1968 from the port of New Orleans. Brother Oriano sailed in the steward department. STEPHEN PIA TAK Pensioner Stephen Piatak, 78, passed away June 19. A native of Pennsylvania, he started his career with - · the SIU in 1966 in the port of New York. Brother Piatak sailed in the steward department and graduated from the steward recertification course in 1982 at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1942. Brother Piatak retired in January 1985. JUNEST P. PONSON MichaelH. Kiyabu,43, passed away January 24. Born in Hawaii, he joined the Seafarers in . 1985 in Piney Point, Md. after completing the Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen. Brother Kiyabu sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Pensioner Junest P. Ponson, 7 4, died May6. Brother Ponson joined the union in 1950 in the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native sailed in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1942 to 1945. Brother Ponson began receiving his pension in April 1982. HERBERT J. LAICHE PETEJ.REED Pensioner HerbertJ. Laiche, 81, died June 18. A native of Louisiana, he started his career with the SIU in 1951 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Laiche sailed in the steward department. The World War II veteran served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He began receiving his pension in August 1977. Pete J. Reed, 39, died in an automobile accident on April 27. A native of Maryland, he joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of Piney Point, Md. after completing the Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen. Brother Reed sailed in the deck department in both the deep sea and inland divisions and frequently upgraded at the Lundeberg School. RAFAEL L. LUGO Pensioner Rafael L. Lugo, 51, passed away June 24. Brother Lugo joined the union in 1967 after graduating from the MELVIN ROBINSON Melvin Robinson, 83, passed away May 3. A native of Georgia, he began sailing with the Marine Cooks and Stewards before that union merged with the SIU' s AGLIWD. Brother Robinson began receiving his pension in June 1975. CARLOS RODRIGUEZ FREDERICK C. HICKMAN Pensioner Carlos Rodriguez, 69, died April 21. Brother Rodriguez started sailing with the SIU in 1960 in the port of New --2~--=~ Orleans. He shipped in the deck department. Born in Costa Rica, Brother Rodriguez retired in March 1988. Pensioner Frederick c. Hickman, 83, died May 24. He began sailing with the SIU in 1959 from the port of Houston. -=--==~ The North Carolina native shipped in the engine department, last sailing as a chief engineer. Boatman Hickman retired in June 1985. FRANK J. RYLANCE Pensioner FrankJ. Rylance, 78, passed away June28. Born in Massachusetts, he began his career with the SIU in 1962 in the port of Houston. Brother Rylance sailed in the engine depanmem and began receiving his pension in December 1981 . AMELIA SATTERTHWAITE Pensioner Amelia R. Satterthwaite, 97, died May 28. · A native of Louisiana, she started sailing with the union in 1952 in the port of New Orleans. Sister Satterthwaite shipped in the steward department. She retired in March 1967. LEONARD SUCHOCKI Pensioner Leonard Suchocki, 71, died March 15. Born in Pennsylvania, he began sailing with the . SIU in 1962 from the port of New Orleans. Brother Suchocki sailed in the deck department. He completed the bosun recertification course in 1975 at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U .S. Army from 1939 to 1943. Brother Suchocki retired in April 1988. ANGELOS N. TSELENTIS Pensioner Angelos N. Tselentis, 80, died January 16. Born in Greece, he started sailing with the union in 1957 in the port of New York. Brother Tselentis was a member of the engine department. He began receiving his pension in December 1975. INLAND ANGEL ARGUELLES Pensioner Angel Arguelles, 84, passed away June 8. Born in Belize, he became a . naturalized U.S. citizen. , Boatman Arguelles began sailing with the Seafarers in 1960 from the port of New Orleans. He shipped in the deck department and began receiving his pension in January 1975. ELRICK H. HORSMAN Pensioner Elrick H. Horsman, 80, passed away May 14. A native of Maryland, he joined the union in 1961 ~=====:;;;..;.J in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Horsman sailed in the deck department and last held the ratings of tugboat captain and harbor pilot. He began receiving his pension in August 1980. WILLIAM LOESCH Pensioner WilliamM. Loesch, 74, died May 22. Born in Maryland, he joined the union in 1956 in the port of ======:::i Baltimore. Boatman Loesch advanced in the deck department, last sailing as mate. From 1940 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Loesch retired in April 1986. GREAT LAKES MARSHALL D. BRYANT Pensioner Marshall D. Bryant, 73, passed away May 15. A native of Minnesota, he began his seafaring " - - - - - - - ' - - - = = - = - - - ' career with the union in 1961 from the port of Duluth, Minn ., sailing in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Bryant began receiving his pension in June 1986. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN BAPTISTA NICASTRO Pensioner Baptista Nica~tro, 80, died April 1. Brother Nicastro began sailing with the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1961 in the port of Gloucester, Mass. The Massachusetts native shipped in the deck department and retired in February 1978. RAILWAY MARINE LEONARD J. PORCELLI Pensioner LeonardJ. Porcelli, 77, passed away May 9. The New Jersey native joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of New York. He sailed as a deckhand, worlcing primarily for Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Brother Porcelli began receiving his pension in April 1979. �I 22 SEAFARERS LOG AU6UST1995 Lundeberg School Graduating Classes .t :;;id;~-# .. LIFEBOAT 7h~~ s Trainee Lifeboat Class 538--Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 538 are (from left, kneeling) Carlos Sanchez, Michael Vogell, Darrell Baker, Paul McCracken, Kathryn Morrissey, (second row) Clarence Knight, Jonathan Bishop, Phillip Jackson Jr., Jason Jaskierny, Jesse Whirley, Walter Wells Jr., Patrick Yarbrough Jr. and Jeff Swanson (instructor). Hydraulics--Certificates of training were received by upgrading members in the hydraulics class on June 28. They are (from left) Mari< Stewart, Dan Holden (instructor), Peter Sternberg, Richard Daisley, Robert Fanner and Peter Himebauch. Radar-Receiving their radar endorsement on May 25 are (from left, kneeling) Mohamed Bazina, John Hurley, Tom Gilliland (instructor), (second row) Brian Bowman, Larry Evans, Thomas Ellis, Joseph O'Connor, (third row) Jim Brown (instructor), Matthew Flentic and Daniel Ticer. Crane Maintenance-Seafarers completing the crane maintenance course on May 31 are (from left, first row) Vernon Castle Jr., Manuel Tan Jr., Mohamed Abdullah, William H. Gray, (second row) Robert Colantti, Alfred Ragas, Arthur Ohdahl, Thomas White Jr. and Eric Malzkuhn (instructor). Tankerman OperationsReceiving their certificates of completion for the tankennan operations course on June 26 are (from left, sitting) Franklyn Cordero, Richard Decker, George Moxley, Michael Hall, Edwin Rivera, Jeffrey Phillips, (kneeling) James Hagner, Blair Baker, Winston Marchman, Robert Allen, Colleen Mast, Charlie Durden, Daniel Eckert, Jorge Barahona, Salvatore Ciciulla, Willie Grant, Teodulfo Alanano, Joaquin Martinez, Neil Carter, Lincoln Pinn Jr., (third row) Timothy Null, Peter C. Westropp, John Konetes, Arthur Baredian, Robert Caldwell, Mohamed Bazina, Joe Clari<, Roger Plaud, Steven Bush, Jeanette Marquis, Anthony Sabatini, Peter Sorensen, William Daly, Jim Shaffer (instructor), (fourth row) Douglas Konefal, Darrell Moody, Daniellicer, Patrick Scott, Joel Spell, Carey Heinz, Stephen Garay and Glenn Christianson. Tankerman Operations- SIU members completing lhe tankerman operations course on May 30 are (from left, kneeling) Lawrence Kunc, Pedro Mena, Robert Kendrick, Robert Garcia, Thomas Vain Sr., Clemente Rocha, Kim DeWitt, Wilfred Lambey, Rolando M. Lopez, Julio Arzu, (second row) Bob Carle (instructor), Kenneth Hagan, TimothyOlvany, Johnnie ,.., Thomas, Curtis Nicholson, Marco Guity, Larry Bachelor, .Neal Jones Jr., Christopher Beaton, Laurence Croes, Stanley Sporna, George Phillips, (third row) Aaron Simmons, Dennis J. Goodwin, Joseph Tengler, Andrew Greenwood, Robert Coleman, Michael Sutton, Brandon Maeda, Felipe Torres, Dock McGuire Jr., Dockery McGuire, Arnold Eckert, Michael Pooler, Thomas Lasater, Navidad Zapata, Joseph Miller and James Cleland. �23 SEAFARERS LOG AUGUST1995 LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1995 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the course schedule for classes beginning between August and December 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 Saturday before their course• s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Declc Upgrading CautSes Start Steward Upgrading CoutSes Course Assistant Cook/Cook and Baker, Chief Cook, Chief Steward Date of Start Date August25 November3 Com~letion Novemba-·17 January 26, 1996 Engine Upgrading Co~ Start Date of Course Date Com~letion QMED - Any Rating August14 November3 Diesel Engine Technology Odober9 November3 Fireman/Watertender & Oiler October2 December 15 Hydraulics October9 NovemberlO Pumproom Maintenance September 11 September 22 Date Date of Completion Bridge Management (Shiphandling) October 9 October 20 Celestial Navigation November 6 December 15 Refrigeration Systems & Maint. August28 October6 Limited License/License Prep. September 25 November 3 Welding October23 November17 Radar Observer/Unlimited August14 <ktoberl Angust18 October6 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Cou..se· Angust28 Date of Completion Start Date lately SpeclaltJ CoutseS Course Advanced.Firefighting .. ....... .. ... . :. . • .. ....-•• ·.~. ..... .. .. • . . . ... • . . . . . ' '. . .• ' . ••· ·i: ·:·;·,-::·:·:·..:':•;.-,........... perations an .. August 14 October 23 · Completion J)esignated Duty Engineer/ September 11 November13 November24 September 21 October19 September 21 October19 Radar Observer/Inland November6 November to August7 Augustll Hydraulics September 25 October6 Additional Courses MaintE~nance Augustl4 September 11 October9 November6 November20 Tanker Operations August25 November3 · .· Limited ~t!l1St"1Lf~~~ Prep;. • Oil Spill Prevention & Containment Sea · riai~~, , Start Date Septembers October6 November3 December 1 December 15 Start Course Date GED Preparation August 22 Adult Basic Education (ABE) and September 5 English as a Second Language (ESL) Ret:elfiflcatlon Programs Date of Completion NovemberlO October27 Deck and Engine Department College Courses Start Course Start Date Date of Completion Course Date Date of Completion Bosun Recertification October 2 November 6 Session m September S October 27 --~----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPGRADING APPLICATION Primary language s p o k e n - - - - - - - - - - - - (Street) (City) (Zip Code) (State) Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Telephone__.__ ___.__ _ _ _ __ (Area Code) With this application, COPIES of your discharges 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 have ta.ken and completed. The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received (Month/Day/Year) Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE 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 Horne Port ----------- Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes DNo If yes, class# - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DYes DNo Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? 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 D No LAST VESSEL: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating:----Date On: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lu.ndeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 8/95 �SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT The summary of the annual report for the SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. may be found on page 20 in this issue of the LOG. be.r.s.............................................................A~u~g~u~st~1~9.;.-95L.=;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;:;;;;:;;;;;;;;;!I •Vi•o•/u•m•e•5•7.•,•N•um .. Cruise Ship Proves to be 'Love Boat' Couple Together Since Introduction at Union Meeting in 1986 The SIU-crewed American Hawaii Cruises' SS Constitution and SS Independence are popular escapes for couples celebrating honeymoons and anniversaries or for those who simply want to enjoy a romantic getaway touring the Hawaiian Islands. But that lure does not apply only to the passengers. For SIU members Pamela and Carlos Ferriera, the ships were the ideal place to meet and fall in love. The two Seafarers met in 1986 during a union meeting while working aboard the Constitution. Carlos was sailing as a bellman and Pamela as a youth director. "We became friends right away. We just seemed to have so many interests in common," said Pamela. They toured the islands together during their off time and began spending more and more time with one another. "I think that it is very important to establish a relationship as friends before becoming romantic," Carlos said. "I think that is what keeps our relationship so ,'%,, strong-that we were friends first," he added. Cabin Steward Carlos Ferriera (left) sets up chilled champagne while his wife, Cabin Steward Pamela Ferriera, turns down the for a couple on their honeymoon aboard the SS Constitution, bed in another cabin aboard the American Hawaii Cruises vessel. Different Worlds While their interests may be similar, their backgrounds are not. Pamela is a native of South Carolina while Carlos was born and raised in Brazil. However, the beauty of the islands lured them both to the Aloha State. "I came to Hawaii to visit my stepbrother after I graduated from high school. I was going through a stage where I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life," recalled Pamela. "I fell in love with Hawaii, went home to pack my things and moved to Maui," she said. Once settled in Maui, Pamela became a waitress at a local restaurant. One of her customers, an SIU member who worked aboard the Independence, encouraged her to look into getting a job on the cruise ships. "I decided I wanted to try it out. I did and I loved it. That was almost 10 years ago," Pamela recalled. Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro native, came to the United States in 1976 at the age of 17. He decided that he wanted to move to America and "make it on his own." In 1983, Carlos moved to Hawaii and became a waiter in a Waikiki restaurant while studying for his U.S. citizenship test. (He became a U.S. citizen in 1985.) Ironically, Carlos, while waiting tables, also met an SIU member who worked aboard the passenger ships and who convinced him that sailing aboard American Hawaii Cruises vessels was the ideal job for him. Sailing Together Several years after their initial meeting and working separately in various positions aboard the two cruise ships, Carlos and Pamela decided that they both wanted to become cabin stewards. "We both tried waiting tables but we decided that being cabin stew- ards would give us the freedom to try and arrange our schedules in a way that would allow us to be together as much as possible," Pamela said. As cabin stewards, the Ferrieras make up the passengers' rooms and ensure the guests have everything they need for a relaxing voyage. "It is a really fun job. You always enjoy what you are doing because you are always meeting nice people and making their environment more comfortable," stated Carlos. Whether it is the variety of passengers and crewmembers they meet on the American Hawaii Cruises passenger ships or the high level of freedom Pamela and Carlos enjoy as cabin stewards, sailing aboard the cruise ships lends itself "to a good life" for the married couple. "Sailing is who we are," Carlos told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "I can't imagine ever doing anything else. The SIU has been truly good to us and we feel very lucky," he added. Since Carlos and Pamela were married in 1990, they have been fortunate enough to have sailed several times aboard the same cruise ship together. "We have been together, as a couple, for almost 10 years now. We have spent seven days a week with one another at home and at work. It is perfect. We never get sick of one another or sailing aboard the passenger vessels," Carlos explained. "We know other couples in the-& who sail aboard a deep sea ship different from the one their spouse is on. They do it, but it is not very easy. We don't want that. We want to be together all the time," Pamela said. 'Gypsies at Heart' "What drew us to this life of sailing and life of exciting travels is that we are both Gypsies at heart," noted Pamela. "We love to go to new places, meet new people and do new things. We want to go everywhere there is to go. The beauty of it all is we can do it because of the type of jobs we have," she added. In their time off the Constitution and Independence and over the course of 10 years, the couple has traveled to more than 30 different countries. "No other job would allow you to do that," said Carlos. In fact, the Ferrieras learned first hand how difficult it can be to find time to travel when they stopped sailing and came ashore to work. In the early 1990s, the couple decided that they wanted to start a business of their own and lead what they thought would be a "normal life." The Ferrieras opened up a ladies accessories and watch repair store in Atlanta. "We thought that living in a house and having our own business would give us a certain type of normalcy that we seemed to be looking for," Pamela said. "It was just the opposite of what we thought it would be. We couldn't do anything. We couldn't travel anymore because The Ferrieras are attending upgrading courses at the Lundeberg School in we were always worrying about our store and if Piney Point, Md. while the SS Constitution is undergoing renovations. everything would function properly without us. It just wasn't all that we had anticipated it to be," the 33-year-old ~ela stated. "We realized that sailing and being active members of the SIU were who we were," recalled Carlos. "It is our life. Sailing suits the type oflifestyle we enjoy, nd I know now that I can't live my life without sailing and the SIU," he concluded. Learning Is Key With the Constitution in a Portland, Ore. shipyard undergoing renovations until next summer, Carlos and Pamela decided to take the opportunity to upgrade their skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. "The Constitution is in layup much longer than we originally thought, so we decided to come to Piney Point and learn as much as we can while we are not working," Pamela explained. "I've upgraded before, but this is Pam's first time. I was as excited to come back [to Piney Point] as I was the first time I ever came," stated Carlos, who attended upgrading classes in 1984. Reflecting on the upgrading opportunities available to Seafarers through the Lundeberg School, Carlos added, "The SIU is always giving me a new and fresh opportunity through upgrading. Not many jobs offer you that." "It is a beautiful place and they have so much to offer us. We are enrolled in the cook/baker course right now and may take firefighting, CPR and some other classes we need as long as we are here and the Constitution is laid up," said Pamela. "We feel very lucky to be members of the SIU," noted Carlos. "It is never too late to learn, and Piney Point offers so much. The union has become the foundation of our lives. Coming from a small family, it is a comfort to be a part of such a familyoriented organization. Especially when I work and live with my wife right beside me," Carlos stated. � 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 August 1995 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES DONHUE SUCCEEDS KIRKLAND AS PRESIDENT OF THE AFL-CIO MILITARY DEPENDS ON U.S. SHIPS: TRANSPORT GENERAL HALL CENTER DEDICATES CAMPUS IN MEMORY OF TOM CROWLEY SR. IMO ENFORCEMENT EXPANDS IN REVISED MARITIME PACT MTD: NIX SHIPBUILDING ACCORD THAT HARMS U.S. SHIPYARDS SHIP UNIONS APPEAL COURT O.K. OF MARAD’S APL FLAG-OUT WAIVER WWII MERCHANT MARINE POSTER EXHIBIT OPENS AT PAUL HALL MEMORIAL LIBRARY HERBERGER: THEN AND NOW, MERCHANT MARINE IS VITAL TANKER OPERATIONS COURSE ADDED FOR LATE ‘95 SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE COLLECTS EVIDENCE ON NEED FOR U.S. FLEET SEAFARERS CREW NEW ITB IN PENN MARITIME FLEET MORAN BOATMEN ENDORSE NEW THREE-YEAR ACCORD HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES PHASE OUT OF FMC BY 1997 SIU MEMBERS SAFELY DELIVER GRAIN PRODUCTS ON GREAT LAKES SEAFARERS SUPPLY FUEL ON LOWER LAKE MICHIGAN MAZZOLA RECALLS 23 YEARS OF SEAFARING MEMORIES SIU FISHERMAN ESCAPE INJURY AS TRAWLER BURNS; RACHEL E CREW RESCUED BY OTHER SEAFARERS SEAFARERS STAY ACTIVE IN HONOLULU CONSTANT TRAFFIC KEEPS SANTURCE MEMBERS BUSY DANGER AT DAWN- MAY 1943 BY JAMES M. SMITH SEAFARERS KEEP GLOBAL LINK WELL PRIMED CRUISE SHIP PROVES TO BE ‘LOVE BOAT’ 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 08/01/1995 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. 8 1995 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/aed74ee7696fd75792a8d4fc941b7ac1.pdf 7ae9e6b9d548a5fb20260081bbf6fa47 PDF Text Text • • 1n r1 The case of the Pride of Donegal is the latest illustrating the appalling, inhumane nature of runaway-flag shipping. In this instance, multinational crewmembers were stranded aboard ship in the U.S. for more than half a year, without pay, because of a shipowner's callousness and greed. Pages 12-13 Seafarers Ratify Standard Contracts SIU-Crewed RO/RO Gets 1st Assignment SIU members last month continued to vote overwhelmingly in favor of the new standard freightship and tanker agreements. Voting officially ends August 30, but enough "yeas" have been cast to ensure the pacts are ratified. Above: Upgraders at the Paul Hall Center sign in for the ratification meeting at Piney Point, Md. The converted roll-on/roll-off prepositioning ship USNS Shughartrecently received its first assignment. The SIU-crewed vessel, operated by Bay Ship Management for the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, is participating in a series of military exercises near Norfolk, Va. Page3 Page6 �President's Report Register to Vote Seafarers know that 'Politics Is Porkchops!' That's the phrase Paul Hall, the late president of the SIU, coined to describe how closely decisions made in Washington, D.C. by the nation's elected officials are linked with the job security and welfare of American mariners. That's why the SIU is so involved in the political process. That's why Seafarers and their families-should pay close attention to the candidate they vote for and put that extra little bit of effort into volunteering for pro-maritime candidates. Of course, in order to vote, you must be registered. But here's the catch-most local governmental agencies in charge of voter registration close their books 30 days before an election. This means that just about the time most people notice an election is Michael Sacco taking place and are making up their minds on who to vote for, it's too late to register. And, in most parts of the country, if you are not registered to vote, you cannot cast a ballot on election day. That's why it is important to register now! It also is important to make sure your name is still on the voting rolls. Seafarers who have registered but have not voted in several years should contact their voter registration office to make sure they are still listed as active voters. Some areas take names off the voting rolls if a person has not cast a ballot for an extended period. And, if you cannot register at home in person, there are several ways a merchant mariner can become a registered voter. Fill out a voter registration application that is available through your port agent. Call your voter registrar to obtain an absentee registration application. Or, if you are overseas, contact a U.S. embassy, consulate or the voting office at a U.S. military base for a registration form. The amount of time it takes to register to vote is just a few minutes. But the power that comes with being registered to vote is enormous. Consider how many policies that affect the lives of Seafarers and their families are determined by elected officials. Just in the last few weeks, such issues as maritime revitalization, cabotage, dredging and commercial fishing have been debated in the halls of Congress and within the offices of the federal government. . Then, there were the votes last month to raise the minimum wage and to defeat efforts for a national right-to-work (for less) law and company unions. Last year, the Seafarers LOG listed more than 140 federal agencies and 100 congressional committees and panels which have some sort of jurisdiction over the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. There are countless others at the state and local levels that can affect sailing operations in harbors, on the Great Lakes and along the inland waterways. Seafarers have the opportunity to play an active role in the decisions made by the elected officials at the local, state and national levels. That opportunity comes by being active politically and voting. To be a part of the process, voting is a must. What is at stake for Seafarers and their families in this presidential election year is far too important to stand aside and let others make the decisions that will affect our jobs and future. Senate Vates ta Raise Minimum Wage • • Anti-Worker Bills Beaten Back Millions of American workers were buoyed by Senate action last month on three key bills affecting national labor laws and wages. On July 9; the Senate voted 7424 to raise the minimum wage by 90 cents per hour. In approving the first minimum-wage increase since 1989, the legislative body eliminated proposed amendments described by President Clinton as "poison pills" that would have excluded vast numbers of workers from receiving the pay boost. A day later, the Senate addressed two anti-union measures. First, it soundly defeated a proposed national right-to-work (for less) law when 61 senators supported a filibuster to kill the legislation. Additionally, although the so-called Teamwork for Employees and Management (TEAM) Act narrowly passed (5346), it did not come close to garnering enough support to override a presidential veto. The AFL-CIO, the national federation of trade unions, of which the SIU is a member, vigorously opposed the TEAM Act and the right-to-work bill, while it supported the minimumwage increase. Following the ISeafarers Support Min. Wage Hike I Hours before the Senate voted on the issue, SIU members were ~ong more than 1,000 trade unionists who sent a message to U.S. legislators in Congress that working people need a raise in the minimum wage, which had not been increased since 1989. Thirty Seafarers and their families joined the AFL-CIO-sponsored rally in Washington, D.C. Participants marched in Washington and listened to remarks from members of Congress, the administration and organized labor. "A raise in the minimum wage is a very necessary part of moving into the next century. It will not only benefit us today, but also future generations," stated QMED Sheldon Greenberg, whose wife, Toni, accompanied him at the rally. The Seafarer added, "We live in Florida, so being here in Washington and seeing the democratic process in action is a rare and exciting opportunity. We are proud to participate." "I think that anything we can do to help American workers is worth the effort. This rally is for a good cause," noted Electrician Faustino Pereira. Other Seafarers who joined the rally expressed similar views: • AB Allan McCoy: "This is a positive experience. I think it was a true sig~ of solidarity and union brotherhood to see all of these unions represented here today." • AB Norberto Vera: "The rally calls attention to our elected representatives to help the workers. I think we really brought attention to the cause." • Bosun Richard Wilson: "The rally was wonderful. I was impressed with the number of union brothers and sisters who showed up in support of all American workers." • Deck/Maintenance Dan Brinson: "Obviously it's worthwhile to support America's working people. It was nice to see so many union members come out today and show their support." • AB Lloyd Stock: "This was a good experience that I believe will have a positive impact on the decision to raise the minimum wage." Volume 58, Number 8 ~7' August 1996 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 207909998 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; Associate Editor, Corrina Christensen Gutierrez; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. 2 Seafarers LOG Senate votes, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney stated, "We've stood up to bullies before, and today we showed that workers will continue to win out over the best that the enemies of working families can dish out." In a news conference following the minimum wage vote, President Clinton said it was a "very good day for America's working families." He then encouraged members of Congress to send him the legislation as soon as possible so he could sign it. Minimum Wage Goes Up As approved by both the Senate and the House, the measure would raise the hourly wage· base from $4.25 to $4.75 instantly and to $5.15 by July 1997, giving wage increases of varying amounts to about 10 million workers in the U.S. This is the first raise in the minimum wage approved by Congress since a 90 cent increase in 1989. Because there were some differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill involving tax provisions, the legislation is scheduled for a House-Senate conference committee before being sent to the president for his signature. Twenty-seven Republicans united with all 47 Democrats in voting for the bill, which also received bipartisan support in the House. On May 23, the House approved the bill 281 to 144 as 43 Republicans voted with almost all Democrats in support of the proposal. Besides backing the bill in behalf of those workers who directly will receive the raise, the AFL-CIO also supported it because the increase is expected to have a positive residual effect on workers who earn more than the minimum wage. Specifically, the bill is expected to help increase their wages as well. Clinton Vetoes TEAM Act On July 10, the Senate took action on two other bills opposed by organized labor. President Clinton had announced that he was against both measures-which carry the misnomers of the TEAM Act and the right-to-work law-and vowed to veto them if they reached his desk. The TEAM Act, designed to bring back company-dominated, sham unions, had cleared the House before being approved by the Senate. On July 30, the president stayed true to his promise and vetoed the legislation that would have allowed companies to set up employee-manager committees to address work issues. SIU members march with fellow trade unionists on Capitol Hill to support an increase in the mimimum wage. The Issue The Vote What It Means Minimum wage increase 74-24 to pass Two-step increase in national minimum wage, from current $4.25 to $5.15 by JuJy 1997. National right-towork (for less) law jAllows workers to reeload by enjoying union representation without paying dues) 38-61 against (Bill did not come up for a final vote as 61 senators supported a filibuster to kill the legis.. talion.) Workers in non-righMo.. work (for less) states will continue enjoying higher pay, safer working conditions and an equitable sharing of both the costs and benefits of union representation. TEAM Act 53-46 to pass Push to resurrect com(Bill did not receive a panx (sham) unions two-thirds majority to didn t have enough supsurvive a presidential port to override veto on July30. veto.) In a statement following the veto of the TEAM Act, President Clinton reiterated his opposition to the measure: "This legislation, rather than promoting genuine teamwork, would undermine the system of collective bargaining that has served this country so well for many decades." As written, the TEAM Act would have amended the National Labor Relations Act to permit employers "to establish, assist, maintain or participate in . . ." organizations for their employees; a change which would undermine independent representation by allowing the creation of employer- dominated organizations in both union and non-union workplaces. The measure would have allowed employers to thwart democratically chosen union representation and the contracts negotiated through collective bargaining. Employers would have been able to bypass the union by setting up committees led by their own hand-picked people to talk about collective bargaining issues. Under the TEAM Act, employer-selected individuals would have been authorized to do everything associated with collective bargaining except sign a contract. Essentially, therefore, the bill wquld have legalized company unions. Phony Right-to-Work Law Dumped The final measure to be taken up by the Senate was the federal right-to-work law, which would have prohibited union contracts from requiring employees represented by unions to pay dues as a condition of employment. The socalled right-to-work law is currently in force in 21 states. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (DMass. ), a leader in the fight to defeat the bill, stated, "This bill should be called the National Freeloaders bill because it gives people the right to all the benefits of union membership without having to pay for them." Kennedy noted that it was a "direct attack on the ability of working people to protect their economic interests." The legislation died in a filibuster when the bill's sponsor, Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R-N.C.), was 22 votes short of the 60 needed to push the legislation to a final vote. All 4 7 Democrats and an additional 21 Republicans voted to kill the bill. August 1996 �Lott Urges Action On U.S. Ship Bill Senate Majority Leader Seeks September Vote The majority leader of the Senate has called upon his colleagues to consider maritime revitalization legislation when the Congress returns to Washington, D.C. after Labor Day. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) urged passage of the Maritime Security Act (H.R. 1350) in an address to the Senate on July 30. "This is a bill we must pass before this Congress goes into recess for this fall's elections. It is my hope that the Senate will consider the Maritime Security Act on the floor in September," Lott stated. The Mississippi Republican serves as the top ranking official in the Senate. He was elected by his fellow Republicans to serve as majority leader when Bob Dole resigned in June. Prior to attaining that post, Lott, the Senate sponsor of the bill, had served as the chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Longtime Supporter Reiterating his longstanding support for the U.S.-flag merchant marine, Lott said passage of the Maritime Security Act is needed immediately. "Make no mistake about itwithout it, the American maritime flag will disappear from the high seas," Lott told his fellow senators. ''The U.S.-flag merchant marine that has helped to sustain this country in peace and has served with bravery and honor in wartime will be gone. "I don't believe that any American wants that day to come," the son of a union shipyard worker added. Military Backing In his address, Lott reported on the strong support the measure has received from active and retired members of the military. "In order to protect our military presence overseas, we must have a modern, efficient and reliable sealift. On this point, the assessment of our nation's top military leaders is unequivocal. "Our military needs a U.S.-flag merchant marine to carry supplies to our troops overseas. We cannot, in fact, we must not, rely on foreign ships and foreign crews to deliver supplies into hostile areas." The Maritime Security Act is a 10-year, $1 billion program designed to help fund approximately 50 militarily useful U.S.-flag vessels. Companies who receive the funds would make their ships and infrastructure available Members Ratify Standard Pacts Agreements Garner Overwhelming Support An overwhelming majority of the SIU membership has approved the new five-year standard freightship and tanker contracts, the union announced. However, eligible members who have not voted may cast their ballot until August 30, the official conclusion of the voting period. "Based on the number of votes cast in favor of the agreements, the contracts have been ratified," noted SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "The only question is the final vote count. But based on the number of 'yes' votes already submitted and the relatively small number of outstanding potential votes, it is clear that the vast majority of the membership has approved the contracts." Copies of the contracts are being put together for distribution to Seafarers. They will include a few minor corrections based on concerns raised since the original contracts were drafted. However, the intent of the original agreements remains unchanged. As reported in last month's Seafarers LOG, support for the pacts-which call for wage increases and numerous other gains-has been very strong since voting began June 7. SIU members particularly have praised the new and expanded medical coverage for themselves and their dependents, the innovative annuity savings plan and the length of the contracts themselves. Following is a look at some of the gains made in the five-year contracts: • Dependent medical coverage will be expanded to provide 100 percent of reasonable and customary charges. This is an increase from the existing 80 percent, which eliminates co-payments for reasonable and customary charges. • Dental coverage for members will increase substantially. For example, under the old benefit, Augusf 1996 members were reimbursed $9 per exam, $2 per X-ray and $95 per crown. With the new contract, members will be reimbursed $25 per exam, $50 per X-ray and $285 per crown. (Other coverage includes root canals, fillings and dentures.) Also, for the first time, dental benefits will be extended to members' dependents. The dependents' benefits include a $1,500 annual limit per family member and will provide a lifetime $2,000 benefit for orthodontics (braces). • The optical benefit will be increased from $40 to $100 per person, retroactive to June 16, 1996, and to $125 on June 16, 1998. • The Seafarers Money PurContinued on page 4 Three New Contracts Approved by Seafarers Seafarers who sail aboard deep sea and inland vessels have ratified three new contracts. The agreements cover SIU members who work aboard Matson Navigation Company containerships, Dyn Marine Services of Virginia oceanographic survey ships and Maritrans tugs and barges. 3-Year Matson Pact Steward department members who sail aboard Matson Navigation Co. vessels have approved a new contract that improves wages and benefits while providing job security through 1999. Joining Seafarers from the Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (who sail in the galley aboard Matson containerships) in approving the three-year pact are members of two other SIUNA-affiliated unions. The unlicensed deck department is crewed by members of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, while the unlicensed engine department is composed of members of the Marine Firemen's Union. The contract, which is retroactive to June 16 and runs until June 15, 1999, covers members of all three unions. The agreement calls for wage increases throughout the life of the contract, including a cost of Ii ving adjustment (COLA) in the third year of the agreement, if ap- plicable. The SIU members also will participate in the Seafarers Money Purchase Plan Benefit (SMPB), a newly created individual interest-earning investment account funded by a daily contribution on behalf of the employee by the company. Additionally, the members have the option of voluntarily providing contributions to their funds. Negotiators also were able to ensure that there will be no reductions in manning scales or changes in work rules. Vice President West Coast George McCartney, Port Agent Nick Celona and SIU Representative Vince Coss represented the union in the San Franciscobased negotiations, which began in early May and concluded on June 15. "Going into negotiations, we were intent on maintaining all levels of job security for the members, and we were able to do just that in this new agreement," stated McCartney. Matson provides regular contain ershi p service along the Pacific Coast as well as between the West Coast and Hawaii. Survey Ships Covered The contract covering Seafarers aboard five Continued on page 4 to the armed forces in times of war or national emergency. The military also would use the vessels in the program to transport cargo during times of peace. Bipartisan Backing The measure cleared the House with strong bipartisan support in December. Meanwhile, a Senate version of the legislation made its way unanimously through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in August. The Clinton administration has repeatedly stated its support for the measure and the president has said he would sign the measure when it clears Congress. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (A-Miss.) calls on the Senate to pass the Maritime Security Act. Text of Sen. Trent Lott's Speech To the Senate on the U.S. Ship Bill Mr. President, I have always been a strong supporter of the U.S.flag merchant marine and America's maritime industry. That is why last year I introduced the Maritime Security Act of 1995. This bill is the product of nearly a decade of bipartisan and bicameral effort It will reform, streamline and reduce federal support for the U.S.-flag merchant marine, while at the same time revitalizing our U.S.-flag fleet The starting point for the Maritime Security Program is the simple and valid premise that America's merchant marine is a vital component of our military sealift capability. Thus, in order to protect our military presence overseas, we must have a modem, efficient and reliable sealift. On this point, the assessment of our nation's top military leaders is unequivocal. Our military needs a U.S.-flag merchant marine to carry supplies to our troops overseas. We cannot, in fact, we must not, rely on foreign ships and foreign crews to deliver supplies into hostile areas. Just recently, I received a letter from Admiral Thomas Moorer, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Rear Admiral Robert Spiro, a former under secretary of the Army. They both enthusiastically endorse the legislation. I have added this letter to a stack of letters sitting on my desk from many other distinguished military leaders who also have strongly backed the Maritime Security Act. Not long ago, I also received endorsements of the Maritime Security Act from the Honorable John P. White, the current deputy secretary of defense, and the Honorable John W. Douglass, the current assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. I also have received numerous letters from members of the Navy League of the U.S. Clearly there is visible support from both the active and retired military community for the recognized value of this program. The Maritime Security Act will ensure that our nation will continue to have access to both a fleet of militarily useful U.S.-flag commercial vessels and a cadre of trained and loyal U.S.-citizen crews. What's more, under this bill, our military planners will gain access to the onshore logistical and intermodal capabilities of these U.S. -flag operators. Instead of just getting a ship, our military gets access to port facilities wortdwide, state-of-the-art computer tracking systems, intermodal loading and transfer equipment, and so on. And our nation gets these benefits for less than half the cost of the current program. This is both a fiscal and national security bargain. Let me make this point clear. This is not a blanket handout to the maritime industry. To participate in the Maritime Security Program, each vessel must be approved by the secretary of defense. And participation is limited to vessels actively engaged in the international maritime trades. Make no mistake about it - without it, the American maritime flag will disappear from the high seas. The U:S.-flag merchant marine that has helped to sustain this country in peace and has served with bravery and honor in wartime will be gone. I don't believe that any American wants that day to come. Provisions of this bill have been considered and discussed in nearly 50 public hearings in either the House or the Senate. These hearings were full and open. All interested parties, both for and against this approach, have had notice and opportunity to make comments, criticisms and corrections. In nine years, this inclusive process has insured the incorporation of all valid provisions into a balanced and responsible public policy which advances and revitalizes an integral segment of America's economy and culture. This inclusive process is reflected in the deep respect and support for this legislation across a wide political and social spectrum. The House passed the bill in December on a voice vote, with overwhelming and loud bipartisan support. I have been told that the president intends to sign this bill promptly after its final passage here in the Senate. Mr. President, the Senate has a responsibility to provide for the nation's defense. And this bill represents the most cost-effective way to make sure our military has the sealift capabilities it needs to protect our interests around the world. It marks a dramatic departure from our previous maritime programs. The entitlements are gone, and they have been replaced by a vigorous fiscal discipline and dynamic marketplace. Mr. President, I urge all of my colleagues to stand with me in support of this legislation when it comes to the floor. Mr. President, this is a bill we must pass before this Congress goes into recess for this fairs elections. It is my hope that the Senate will consider the Maritime Security Act on the floor in September. Seafarers LOG 3 �Local Efforts Gaining Support For Keeping Jones Act Intact The Jones Act is not just a law on paper. It is the underpinning of a major U.S. industry that provides more than 100,000 jobs for Americans. That is the message average citizens in North Carolina and Hawaii are sending to their elected officials in Washington, D.C. on the importance of maintaining the nation's cabotage laws. "We feel it is important to let the elected officials know what the Jones Act means to the people who work with it every day," stated Sylvia Kirk, coordinator for the North Carolina chapter and wife of AB Robert Kirk, who sails aboard a Penn Maritime tug that sails along the East Coast. In the two states, local activists met last month to consolidate their efforts to show support for the Jones Act as well as the Passenger Vessel Services Act. The groups are two local chapters of the national Maritime Cabotage Task Force, composed of more than 400 transportation and maritime-related organizations to promote the Jones Act. The SIU is a member of the task force. (The Jones Act, part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, states that cargo moved from one domestic port to another must be carried aboard U.S.-crewed, U.S.-built and U.S.-flag vessels. The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 calls for the movement of passengers between American ports to U.S.-crewed, U.S.-built and U.S.-flag ships.) Members of both local chapters will be scheduling meetings with senators and representatives while Congress takes its August recess. "We saw firsthand how average people like us are listened to by congressmen when we visited Washington," Mrs. Kirk informed the others representing trucking, railroads, ports and maritime during a July 16 meeting in Greenville, N.C. The Kirks were among several mariners who attended a June 12 hearing by the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on the Jones Act. "When our own congressman heard we were from his district, he was very interested in what we had to say," added Mrs. Kirk, speaking of a meeting held by Seafarers with U.S. Representative Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.) following the subcommittee hearing. Members of the group also met with Repre- sentatives Howard Coble (RN.C.), chairman of the subcommittee, and Bob Clement (D-Tenn.), the ranking minority member of the subcommittee. "It is important that others in North Carolina understand the Jones Act not only affects shipping, but the other transportation industries as well," added Mari trans Captain Chris Lupton, president of the North Carolina chapter. "Our job is to make sure they learn why this law should not be changed." Like the group in North Carolina, members of the Hawaii chapter of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force already have had meetings with some of their elected officials. "The governor's office has told us they support maintaining the Jones Act," stated Honolulu Port Agent Neil Dietz, co-chairman of the Hawaii group with Murray Grune of Hawaii Stevedores, Inc. "We presently are scheduling meetings with others to gain their support," Dietz noted. He pointed out the Hawaii chapter continues to grow as more people learn about the importance of the cabotage laws. Membership includes representatives from both labor and management in transportation, maritime, tourism and other related trades. In May, Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) introduced the Coastal ShippingCompetitionAct(S. 1813) which would allow foreign-flag, foreign-built and foreign-crewed vesselstomovecargo between U.S. ports on the coastline, the Great Lakes and inland waterways where deep-sea vessels can sail. The bill was immediately denounced by 71 retired U.S. Navy flag officers who called the measure an attack on America's national security. No hearings have been scheduled for the legislation. Members show their approval for the new standard contracts during the ratification vote at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Standard Contracts Ratified Continued from page 3 chase Plan Benefit (SMPB) will be established. The SMPB will be an individual, interest-earning investment account funded by a daily contribution made on behalf of the employee by the company. The fund also can receive voluntary contributions from the member. The accounts will have no vesting requirements, meaning Seafarers can receive their funds when they leave the industry, regardless of seatime. The SMPB also offers portability throughout the industry, so SIU members may continue adding to their accounts as they move from one participating contracted company to another. It is important for members to note that the SMPB will be in addition to their wage-related pension. The reason the union negotiated for the SMPB "instead of a 401K plan is that with SMPB, the company can make mandatory contributions without any funding by the member, but in a401K they can't," Tellez stated. • In addition to wage increases, both pacts call for a contingent cost of living adjustment (COLA). The COLA will be implemented in the fourth and fifth years of the contract if the U.S. Consumer Price Index exceeds 6 percent, based on the findings of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor. • The additional-labor clause has been modified to include an Three Pacts Approved Continued from page 3 Sylvia Kirk, wife of AB Robert Kirk (on her right), tells those attending the North Carolina chapter meeting of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force of the importance of meeting with local elected officials to gain support for the Jones Act. Accident Claims Lives Of Three SIU Boatmen A tragic accident last month in the Houston Ship Channel claimed the lives of three SIU boatmen. Brother Gregg Gerdes, Brother Kenneth Baldwin and Brother Lance Liska lost their lives when their tugboat, the Laura Haden, collided with a Liberian-flag tanker around 3:30 a.m. on July 22. The tugboat's other crewmember, Brother Patrick O'Neal, survived the wreck. He was hospitalized with head and leg injuries, but at press time had been released. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the accident. "This is truly a tragedy," said SIU President Michael Sacco. "I know that the thoughts and prayers of the entire membership and every SIU official are with the families of our fallen brothers." 4 Seafarers LOG Dean Corgey, vice president of the SIU' s Gulf Coast District, noted that Gerdes, Baldwin and Liska "all were good guys, hard workers and strong supporters of the union. This is a horrible loss for everyone who knew them." According to news reports, the tugboat, operated by G&H Towing of Galveston, Texas, sustained major damage to the starboard side of its bridge area and also had large holes punched in the hull following the collision with the tanker Stolt Hawk. The Laura Haden sank 45 feet to the bottom of the channel. None of the tanker's cargo (caustic soda and styrene monomer) spilled, and only a nominal amount of fuel from the tug leaked. Salvage crews raised the Laura Haden one day after the accident. oceanographic survey ships operated by Dyn Marine provides wage and benefit increases. Seafarers aboard the oceanographic ships, owned by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), also will be eligible to upgrade their skills at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. The new pact is a result of a successful organizing effort by the Seafarers to bring Dyn Marine into the SIU family, according SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "In the uncertain times of today's maritime industry, this contract with Dyn Marine offers Seafarers the security of employment aboard U.S.-flag vessels and educational opportunities available through the Lundeberg School," noted Tellez. The contract, retroactive to February 26, gives crewmembers the opportunity to ship out through SIU hiring halls and participate in the Seafarers Vacation Plan. The MSC ships covered by the pact include the USNS Silas Bent, USNS Wyman, Little Hales, USNS Kane and Sumner. These vessels had been operated by an SIU-contracted company until last year when MSC awarded a pact to Dyn Marine. The SIU organized the crewmembers who had been brought aboard by the Reston, Va. based company and negotiated the contract with them. For SIU boatmen on Maritrans tugs and barges, the new threeyear pact includes improvements in working conditions and expanded health benefits for SIU members and their dependents. For the first time, dependents of Seafarers will be covered by a dental and optical plan. In addition, the medical, dental and optical benefits for SIU members have been increased. Representatives for the SIU and the Philadelphia-based company met May 21-24 at the union's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Delegates to the negotiation sessions included AB Tankerman Frank Sessa, Deck Utility Greg Gibson, AB Ken Brady, Cook Claude Jacobs and Cook Carl Doughtie. Assistant Vice President Dave Heindel and Philadelphia Patrolman Joe Soresi also participated in the contract talks. The members voted on the pact by mail ballot. On July 8, the baJlots were tallied in Philadelphia aboard the Maritrans tug Enterprise. The agreement is retroactive to June 1. "The negotiating committee did an outstanding job," noted Heindel. "It is all about protecting the job security of our members, and I am happy to say that we negotiated a pact that includes job security," concluded Heindel. SIU riding gang. This gang will be used to supplement the ship's crew for project work such as preparations for going into the shipyard, prepping the ship for inspection by a potential charterer and/or tank cleaning. The riding gang will work a 12-hour day and be classified either Group I or Group II. Rates of pay will be the QMED hourly rate for group I and the AB Maintenance hourly rate for Group II. [To be registered in Group I, you must possess a QMED rating and at least an AB (green ticket) or OMU for Group II.] • A relief second pumpman will be added to the tanker agreement. If the regular second pumpman slot becomes vacant for any reason, the relief second pumpman will assume his or her position and a new relief will be shipped from the hiring hall. The shipping rules shall be amended to place even greater emphasis on safety by giving priority to those mariners who possess the most seniority and shipboard experience combined with training at the Paul Hall Center. • On tankers, the overtime rate will reflect a blended rate based on a combination of premium, regular overtime and penalty rates. Except when a particular penalty rate is applicable, this rate will be paid for all hours worked in excess of eight Monday through Friday and for all hours worked on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The blended rate was developed using calculations on four hours overtime a day, projected over the course of a year. This rate more closely reflects the 1-1/2 times the straight hourly rate (and in fact is slightly greater). "The rate was compared to actual vessel payrolls that were randomly selected, and it was found that the new rate accurately reflects actual earnings," Tellez explained. "What it boils down to is, the blended rate will be a gain for the·membership." • Jurisdictional protection has been enhanced by providing the payment of the penalty rate when working outside the designated areas while on the wheel watch and for mates taking the wheel while the AB is working. Additionally, although QMEDs still can be required to do routine maintenance for three hours per day, a new clause will provide that they will not be so assigned when work ordinarily requiring their participation and their skills is being performed. Here again, the new agreement will include the payment of the penalty rate if this occurs. The only exception is when more than one QMED dayworker is carried. In that event, the lowest rated QMED will be assigned. If all are equally classified, then the last one on board will be so assigned. This also shall apply if a day-working OMU is carried. "The membership's input was carefully considered prior to and throughout negotiations," concluded Tellez. August 1996 �5-Year Pact Presented to LN6 Crews A proposed five-year contract that increases wages and benefits as well as providing job security into the next century is being considered by SIU crews aboard eight Energy Transportation Corp. (ETC) vessels. SIU members began reviewing the contract and casting their votes aboard the LNG vessels as the Seafare rs LOG went to press. The proposed contract includes annual wage increases and expanded health benefits for union members and their dependents. It also features an innovative annuity savings plan for individual Seafarers, and calls for the establishment of an LNG recertification program at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. The ETC contract, which in many regards parallels the union's standard tanker agreement, will cover SIU members through 2001. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez noted that the length of the agreement was established in order to help protect and ensure the continued job security for SIU members who work aboard the LNG Charter Extension Preserves ETC Jobs The charters for the LNG Aries and the LNG Aquarius have been extended to the year 2000, it was learned as the Seafarers LOG went to press. This will result in the preservation of jobs for SIU members. The vessels had been scheduled for layup beginning this year. Instead, they will continue transporting cargo between Indonesia and Japan for at least three more years. vessels that sail between Indonesia and Japan. "Most importantly, we did not give up one job during these negotiations and our members are guaranteed employment on the LNG carriers into the next-<!entury," Tellez stated. He noted that the union reviewed contract recommendations made by Seafarers as the contracts department prepared for the negotiations. Among the items of interest in the pact being considered are: • The Seafarers Money Purchase Benefit (SMPB). This benefit package is an individual interest-earning investment account funded by a daily contribution made on behalf of the employee by the company. The benefit is in addition to the SIU wage-related pension. • No reduction in crew sizes. • Expanded dental and optical benefits for Seafarers and dependents. • Medical coverage for dependents of SIU members is expanded to provide 100 percent of reasonable and customary charges. This is an increase from the current 80 percent and eliminates the 20 percent co-payment. • Establishment of an LNG recertification program at the Paul Hall Center. • Modifications in the shipboard work procedures that add jurisdictional protection while also maintaining strict safety practices. • Wage increases. • Assignments for ETC crewmembers will be made on a fleet-wide basis, rotating employment time among all the ETC vessels. This will greatly improve opportunities to ensure that the available seatime is spread out equitably. The ETC vessels crewed by Seafarers include the Aquarius, Aries, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Taurus and Virgo. Lundeberg School Training Helps Save Life of Choking Shipmate AB Arthur Machado has a fellow Seafarer who received first aid training at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to thank for the continuation of his career as an SIU member. Machado, sailing aboard the Nuevo San Juan, was eating lunch on May 28 when he began choking on a piece of meat. "It was the first time this had ever happened to me," the 55year-old deck department member recalled. "I couldn't get it out and didn't know what to do." The first crewmember to realize there was a problem was SA Angel L. O'Neill who began hitting Machado on the back to try to dislodge the morsel. Within a few seconds, OMU Milton Israel came to the AB' s aid. Israel got behind Machado and performed the Heimlich maneuver, which quickly removed the food. "I didn't know what to say to him at the time, except thanks," Machado stated. "He knew just what to do and didn't panic. He told me he learned how to perform SA Angel L. O'Neill was the first crewmember to offer assistance to Machado. AB Arthur Machado (left) and OMU Milton Israel pose in the crew lounge shortly after Israel performed the Heimlich maneuver to save Machado from choking. the maneuver while training at the Lundeberg School." Because of Israel's quick action, Machado is presently upgrading at the school, taldng the Tanker Operation/Safety class. The AB plans to sail many more years beyond the 28 he already has spent with the SIU. "I just want Milton and Angel to know how truly appreciative I am that I can continue sailing," Machado concluded. "Their quick, unselfish actions to help a fellow crewmember means a lot." Senator Hutchison Hutchison Takes Helm 1of Senate Merchant Marine Subcommittee Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) is the new chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee following the election to Senate majority leader of the previous head of the group. Hutchison replaces Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who took over as majority leader on June 12 following the resignation of Bob Dole from the Senate. Lott, who will remain on the subcommittee which has jurisdiction on legislation dealing with the U.S.-flag merchant fleet, noted his confidence in Hutchison. "I am confident that Kay will continue our bipartisan approach to transportation policy," Lott stated. An example of the bipartisan support was seen in August 1995 when the full Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, of which the subcommittee is a member, unanimously cleared the Senate version of the Maritime Security Act, the IO-year program to help fund militarily useful U.S.-flag ships. Besides Hutchison and Lott, other members of the subcommittee include Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Conrad Bums (R-Mont.), Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), Daniel Inouye CD-Hawaii), James Exon (D-Neb.), John Breaux (D-La.), Richard Bryan (D-Nev.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Dredging, Alternative Dump Key to Go111t 1s NY Port Plan Compromise Reached After Years of Work The Clinton Administration has announced a three-step program designed to keep the Port of New York and New Jersey economically viable and environmentally fit into the 21st century. The plan follows years of hard work by those in the maritime industries, including shipping, dredging and longshoremen' s unions and companies; fishermen; environmental groups and the surrounding communities. For the longterm, the program calls for the U.S. Ariny Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for a new 50-foot deep port capable of handling the full range of world class ships. The administration is requesting the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the reasons cargo is being diverted from U.S. East Coast ports. It also is charged with recommending any additional measures needed to make these ports more competitive on the international level. Besides the studies, there are two immediate goals within the administration proposal. The first is to close by September 1, 1997 the Mud Dump Site six miles off the coast of New Jersey to contaminated waste. Until that time, the site will be used for contaminated waste when affected states and ports fail to provide a reasonable alternative for the dredged materials. The site will not increase to an elevation higher than 65 feet below the water's surface. Second, the administration is committing itself to a series of steps that will speed up the permit process for dredging the Port of New York and New Jersey. This is intended to reduce the costs and uncertainty associated with delays that have been experienced by shipping and dredging companies as well as the harbor pilots and longshoremen whose jobs are directly influenced by the amount of traffic in the harbor. In outlining the program, Vice President Al Gore praised the groups for working for a solution. "Our willingness to work together in the future will ensure that today is only the first chapter in a long environmental success story," Gore said. "Today's announcement is good for the environment, good for business and good for the region's future." Cookin' in Mobile Retired Seafarers recently enjoyed a barbecue at the SIU hall in Mobile, Ala. Among those in attendance were, from left, George Williamson and Richard Busby; Tony Bourgot, Susan Wilson and W.C. Sellers; Esaw Wright; and Bobby Butts and his wife, Shirley. Augusf 1996 Seafarers LOG 5 �Shughart Moves East For Military Exercises Deployed on its first assignment, the SIU-crewed USNS Shughart is operating out of Newport News, Va., where it is participating in a series of military exercises. The U.S. Army support ship, operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), recently sailed from San Diego to the East Coast. The vessel also will undergo some minor work at Newport News Shipbuilding. Earlier this year, the Shughart was converted in a San Diego shipyard for operation by Bay Ship Management. SIU Patrolman John Cox (who provided the photos accompanying this article) met with Seafarers aboard the roll-on/roll-off vessel (RO/RO) last month, before it sailed from the West Coast. "The ship is absolutely humongous. You can get lost walking from the forward hatch to the galley," Cox said of the Shughart, which is more than 900 feet long and has approximately 320,000 square feet of cargo space. "It's a good crew, mostly out of the Wilmington (Calif.) area," he added. The Shughart is the first of five SIU-crewed former Danish-flag Maersk containerships to be converted this year for deployment by MSC and operation by Bay Ship. The conversions include fitting the ships with cranes and RO/RO decks so that they can transport tanks, trucks and other vehicles as well as containers loaded with supplies. Still being refitted are the USNS Gordon and USNS Gilliland in Newport News and the USNS Yano and USNS Soderman at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) in San Diego. The Gordon is scheduled for delivery next month. Each of the prepositioning ships is being named after an Army Medal of Honor recipient. Exercised Scheduled The Shughart later this year will take part in cargo-loading exercises in Charleston, S.C. Early in 1997, the vessel will be stationed in the Western Pacific. Besides 50-ton cranes and a portable ramp that attaches to the ship for RO/RO operations, the Shuglulrt features a computer system from which crewmembers can open and close watertight doors, open valves and perform ballasting. Seafarers have been working aboard the Shughart since January. Before final sea trials were complete, the SIU members finished thorough training provided by the Navy in order to ensure proficient operation of the vessel. The Shughart is named after the late Army Sgt. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart for his protection of a critically wounded helicopter crew in Somalia in October 1993. Ready to sail aboard the prepositioning ship are (from left) Bosun Robert Walker, AB Allen Runnion, OS Linn Bostick, OS Jason Smith, Captain Cornelius Spillane, AB Eddie Ponteres, Steward/Baker Toyo Gonzales, AB Domingo Gordian, Chief Cook Elmo Malacas and AB Don White. t Standing at the wheel of the Shughart is AB Ray Vicari. Conferring next to a diesel engine aboard the Shughartare QMED Robert Dupaya (left) and Bosun Robert Walker. Hard at work in the galley are Steward/Baker Toyo Gonzalez (left) and Chief Cook Elmo Malacas. Enjoying a short break on deck are (from left) GSU Ali Nasser, Wiper William Harris and Chief Electrician Robert Whitaker. OS Jason Smith helps prepare the massive vessel for sailing. 6 Seafarers LOG Bosun Robert Walker brings some paperwork to the wheelhouse. The SIU-crewed USNS Shughart is 900 feet-plus in length and has about 320,000 square feet of cargo space. August 1996 �Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent George Tricker (standing) reviews highlights of a five-year contract between the SIU and Transoceanic Cable Ship Company with crewmembers aboard the Global Sentinel. Global Sentinel Completes Voting; Five-Year Cable Ship Pact Ratified Several types of fiber-optic splices, shown above, are performed by Seafarers such as AB Splicer/Joiner Lyle Davis. II Labor Briefs II Sweatshops Continue To Make the.News Much publicity has been given in recent months about celebrity endorsements of clothing apparel which is manufactured in sweatshops, both in the United States and abroad, and of the use of child labor. Another facet of the garment industry is now in the news-that of clothing trademark law violations. A recent investigation within New York City into counterfeit designer clothing, sunglasses and _watches has led to the discovery of sweltering sweatshops (approaching 90 degrees) where teenagers worked 70-hour weeks for $2.85 an hour (more than a dollar less than minimum wage) and under hazardous conditions (where flammable liquids were stored near garments). Following a raid on two of the factories involved, six men were arrested on charges of violating trademark laws. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods-everything from T-shirts, sweatshirts and jeans to sunglasses, baseball caps and watches-were seized. The confiscated goods carried such labels as Disney, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Nike, Polo and Warner Brothers. Apart from the loss of tax revenue to New York City, the counterfeit goods also represent a danger to buyers of the items; for example, sunglasses which are falsely labeled to indicate they filter out harmful rays and clothing materials which may be flammable. Striking Newspaper Workers Remain Resolute After One Year It has been one year since 2,600 workers engaged in a bitter strike against the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News, but union solidarity for their cause remains strong. Seafarers have been a source of unwavering support to the employees of the News and Free Press who have been involved in an exceptionally contentious strike since July 13, 1995, after negotiations failed to produce a new agreement. (The Gannett Corp. owns the afternoon Detroit News while the morning Detroit Free Press is owned by KnightRidder.) The striking newspaper workers have been publishing a weekly paper, The Detroit Sunday Journal, while management and scabs imported from other papers are producing the two dailies. Other unions are joining in the fray. Most recently, the Geneva, Switzerland-based Postal, Telegraph and Telephone International has urged its 223 affiliated unions (representing 4.6 million telecommunications and postal workers in 117 countries) to support the AFL-CIO's "don't buy, don't advertise" campaign against USA Today (the flagship newspaper of Gannett Corp.). USA Today publishes European and Asian editions that are sold and frequently offered free by hotels and airlines. Seafarers aboard the Global Sentinel last month unanimously voted in favor of a new five-year contract that increases wages and benefits for crews of vessels operated by Transoceanic Cable Ship Company. The Global Sentinel was the fifth and final ship to vote on the agreement, which retroactively went into effect July 1. Altogether, 99 percent of the votes cast aboard the Global Sentinel, Global Link, Long Lines, Charles L. Brown and Global Mariner were in favor of the contract. Four of the vessels voted unanimously. In addition to increasing wages and benefits for Seafarers, Bosun Carl Davis points to the the contract also calls for greater machine that is lowered to the ocean medical coverage for members' floor to bury cable in shallow water dependents. For example, both and anchorage areas. SIU members and their depend- Global Mariner Inspects Cable At TWA Crash Site Seafarers may have noticed the SIU-crewed cable ship Global Mariner in television news footage taken near the site of the tragic crash last month of Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island, N. Y. According to AT&T, parent company of Transoceanic Cable Ship Company, which operates the Global Mariner and four other SIU-crewed cable ships, the vessel sailed to Long Island to examine a cable interlink "due to its close proximity to the ents will receive increased dental and optical benefits, and there no longer will be a co-payment on reasonable and customary charges for dependent care. SIU members who sail on the cable ships also will receive, at no cost, a new annuity savings plan and an increase in the overtime rate. The savings plan, known as the Seafarers Money Purchase Plan Benefit, essentially is a savings account for individual SIU members that has no vesting requirements and is funded by contributions from the company. The Global Sentinel voting took place July 10 near Wilmington, Calif. "The members were very pleased with the contract, as the vote reflects," noted Wilmington Port Agent George Tricker. impact site of TWA Aight 800. Its mission is to inspect and to safeguard the TAT12/13 cable on be4alf of the owners, as part of SSI's (AT&T Submarine Systems, Inc.) Cable Protection and Maintenance agreement." The cable is buried 18 inches below the ocean floor and runs directly through the 5-mile search and retrieval area around the TWA crash site, according to AT&T. The Global Mariner is equipped with a remotely operated submersible vehicle that can locate, inspect, track, repair and bury cable systems. All 230 people aboard the TWA flight perished when the plane, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on July 17, shortly after talcing off from John F. Kennedy International Airport. At press time, the cause of the explosion had not been determined. N.V. Congressmen Pledge to Support Jones Act U.S. Trade Deficit Increases in May The U.S. continued to import more than it exported in May 1996, the U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced. The export of goods increased from the previous month to $51.3 billion while imports increased to $68.2 billion. Since 1991, the U.S. trade deficit has continued to increase from $67 billion to a projected $170 billion estimated for 1996. Trading with China has put the U.S. balance of trade in the red. The cumulative goods deficit with China jumped 7.3 percent as compared with the same period last year. Mark Anderson, director of the AFL-CIO Task Force on Trade, noted, "The U.S. trade deficit continues to expand despite the fact that unit labor costs continue to decline relative to most of our trading partners. It is clear that lower wages are not the way to improve the international trade position of the United States." August1996 The importance of keeping the Jones Act strong was the focus of a recent meeting of the Long Island (N.Y.) Federation of Labor, chaired by its president and SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Jack Caffey (third from right). Included in the more than 600 attendees were New York congressmen (from left) Dan Frisa, Rick Lazio, Mike Forbes, Gary Ackerman and Peter King. Seafarers LOG 7 �Shanghai Visit Proves Worthwhile for ABs Seafarers from Sea-Ltlnd Endurance Sample Chinese Culture ABs Ed Lusk and Mark Stevens recently sampled the culture of Shanghai while their containership, the Sea-Land Endurance, was berthed at China's largest city. "One is normally exhausted by the time the ship is docked, but if you can find enough energy, it's worth going ashore," noted Stevens, a 15-year SIU member from Long Beach, Calif. who provided the photos accompanying this article. ''The museums have priceless artifacts and national treasures, and there are just so many places of historical value to visit in this worldfamous city." Stevens noted that the Endurance is one of a few D-9s based in Long Beach and Oakland, Calif. that now makes Shanghai one of its regular ports of call. Each voyage lasts 42 days and includes other.Far East ports such as Hong Kong, Pusan, Okinawa and Yokohama. "Transit time in Shanghai, from arrival to dock-side, is about nine hours and is heavily congested with fishing boats, sampans, barges and ocean-going tankers and freighters," observed Stevens. He and Lusk utilized a ship-to-town shuttle van provided by the company and, once ashore, they were surprised at the low cost of food, clothing and cab fare. "It was unreal," Stevens said. The ABs made the most of their time in the city, which has a population greater than 10 million. They toured museum and a luxury hotel, visited a shooting range (known as a rifle, pistol and machine-gun Photos above show some of the sights taken in by the ABs: A free fashion show outside a department store, a shooting range and a curbside market. Seattle Hall Relocates in October The Seattle SIU hall will be moving to Tacoma, Wash. and is scheduled to begin operations there on October 14. The new hall will be located at 3411 South Union Street. Directions to the hall follow: • From Seattle, take Interstate 5 South to Exit 132 (South 38th Street/West). •Go approximately one mile to the fourth stoplight (Union Street}, and turn right. • Go to the next stoplight. The union hall is located on the corner of 35th and Union, diagonally to the right. The building is light green with a stone exterior. OR • From south of Tacoma, take 1-5 North to Exit 132 (South 38th Street/West), then follow directions above. STCW Certificate Reminder All ABs, pumpmen, tankermen assistants and any other ratings holding lifeboat tickets who sail in international waters must possess a supplementary form of shipboard identification, known as an STCW certificate, by October 1. The deadline is earlier for deck department Seafarers joining LNG vessels; those mariners now must have the STCW certificate in their possession when signing on the LNG ships, in order to comply with an international treaty. Additionally, engine department members with watchstanding ratings will need the STCW identification by February 1997. For more information on acquiring the certificate, Seafarers should contact their port agent or the Coast Guard Regional Exam Center (REC) nearest their home port. Or, they may call the Paul Hall Center at {301) 994-0010, extension 5270. Also, ABs and pumpmen who sail tankers now need a tankerman assistant endorsement. It is not necessary to go to an REC to get this rating, but they must keep in their possession (while aboard ship) discharges or a letter proving at least 30 days' seatime aboard tankers during the last five years. They then will be considered "grandfathered" for the endorsement. B Seafarers LOG club, with AK-47s available for rent on the premises), witnessed a free fashion show and sampled the local cuisine, among other activities. Interestingly, the language barrier did not particularly hamper the Seafarers in their brief travels ashore. "You try to learn what little you can of their language, and you also use a phrase-book, drawings and gestures. It isn't that hard," recalled the 34-year-old Stevens. The AB added that Lusk and he also helped some of the Chinese practice their English. ''They have what they call 'English comers,' where as many as 20 people might be practicing the language. If they see an American, they want you to help, so you don't remain a part of the audience for very long," explained Stevens, who also has visited El Salvador, Nicaragua, India, Bangladesh and many other foreign countries during his Seafaring career. He summed up the unofficial tour of Shanghai when he said, "You feel fairly free to walk the streets and talk to people. Overall, you don't feel too hampered by their communism. "I contacted the Seafarers LOG about this just to share the experience with my fellow SIU brothers and sisters. To them I say, if you get a chance to visit Shanghai, have fun-and do keep your wallet in your front pocket!" ABs Ed Lusk (left) and Mark Stevens join other visitors on a tour of the former Cathay Hotel in Shanghai. ''The piano lounge was closed, but the tour guide took us through to see the decor," noted Stevens, who has been an SIU member for 15 years. These buildings, across from the waterfront, were built around 1920. Great Lakes Seafarer Publishes Book of Poetry and Sea Lore Fit Out Spring is in the air The ice starts to melt There's cargo to move From Detroit to Green Bay Chicago to Cleveland. All around the world today Ships lay in waiting Their crew will make them move And breathe with life again. The crew returns rested and ready, Now fit out will begin Everyone has new stories to tell Of their winters with family Loved ones and friends All the stored gear is put in place Uncovered and readied Painting, fixing, cleaning begin Until the ship is ready To set sail once again Into a new season at sea. The above poem by Great Lakes Division member, AB Michael Cushman, is just one of more than 50 poems in his new book, Ships & Sailing, that help detail the 1980 Lundeberg School graduate's years o-Z sailing aboard SIU-crewed tankers, bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, containerships and tugs. Filled with original poetry, folklore and maritime expressions, Cushman's book provides a rare insight into the life of a Seafarer who has traveled to more than 15 different countries during his SIU career which spans both deep sea and Great Lakes divisions. .· The publication also includes art work and comics designed by AB Alex Darner, who sails with Cushman aboard the Medusa Challenger, a Great Lakes cement carrier. Cushman has an extensive collection of poetry he has written over the years while aboard various SIUcontracted vessels. His poetry, which has appeared frequently in the Seafarers LOG, reflects his love of the sea, his compassion for sailors of the world, and the effect sailing has had on his own life. The book touches on such heart-felt topics as the birth of a first child, leaving loved ones to go out to sea, returning home after six-months of being aboard ship and the change of seasons on the oceans. Cushman also lists numerous superstitions and beliefs held by mariners. For example, Cushman noted that on the Great Lakes, a ship will not begin a new sailing season on a Friday. As passed down from one generation of seamen to another, many lakers beginning their sailing season on a Friday have been lost at sea. Therefore, sailing schedules are always altered to ensure that no Great Lakes vessel starts its season on a Friday. Those interested in receiving a signed paperback edition of Ships & Sailing by Michael Cushman may send $3.00 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling to Cushman Publishing, P.O. Box 441, Charlevoix, Mich. 49720. August 1996 �l l LNG Leo Sails With Lion-Like Swi~ness Quick Turnarounds Characterize Trips Between Indonesia, Japan AB George Owen 111 heads for the deck of the LNG Leo. AB George Darley reviews some paperwork aboard the LNG Leo. Sailing aboard the SIU-crewed LNG Leo means maintaining a quick pace and busy schedule as the vessel transports cargo between ports in Indonesia and Japan. Like its sister ships in New York-based Energy Transportation Corp.'s (ETC) fleet of Seafarers-crewed LNG vessels, the Leo loads liquified natural gas in Indonesia and discharges it at points in Japan. Each leg of the voyage takes about five days, including 12 hours each for loading and discharging. Each ship has a cargo capacity of 125,000 cubic meters of liquified natural gas. "The crew of the LNG Leo is very hard-working and efficient. They really do make a quick turnaround," stated SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Hall, who recently met with Seafarers aboard the ship in Osaka, Japan. "They're also very cognizant of safety issues, which is particularly important since they transport such potentially volatile cargo." Awaiting the start of the shipboard meeting are (from left) QMED Larry Pittman, DEU Muharam Husin and Chief Steward Ron Aubuchon. Chief Cook Amy Rippel helps ensure the LNG Leo is a good feeder. Informative Meeting Bosun Jack Davis described the Ready for a union meeting aboard the ship in Osaka, Japan are (from left) QM ED Jeff Yarmola, AB George Owen Ill, AB Darren Collins and QMED Gerald Yore. shipboard meeting as "informative and well-conducted." AB George Darley said the session "was wellrecei ved and appreciated by the crew." He also thanked Hall for quickly settling a beef. Built at the General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy, Mass. in 1978, the Leo is 936 feet long and 143 feet wide. The vessel has a double-bottom hull along with five large, spherical cargo tanks that store liquefied natural gas at 265 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). Chief Steward Ron Aubuchon and the rest of the galley gang recently received a vote of thanks from fellow crewmembers. This reproduction from the November 1978 issue of the Seafarers LOG shows the LNG Leo prior to coming out of the shipyard in Quincy, Mass. Bosun Jack Davis catches up on the latest union news. Taking a brief break in the crew lounge is QMED Larry Pittman. DEU Muharam Husin is part of the crew aboard the LNG Leo This photo from the late 1970s shows one of the LNG Leo's spherical cargo tanks en route from Charleston, S.C. to the General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy, Mass. August1996 Seafarers LOG 9 �Oceanographic Surveys Keep II USNS Silas Bent Underway To help mariners piloting a towing vessel safely navigate the waters being transited and to prevent another catastrophic incident like the 1993 collision of a towing vessel and its barges with a railroad bridge near Mobile, Ala., the Coast Guard published its final rule in the July 3 Federal Register requiring certain towing vessels to carry and properly use navigational safety equipment. Effective August 2, 1996, the new regulation will require towing vessels of 12 meters or more in length which operate in the navigable waters of the United States (other than the St. Lawrence Seaway) to carry and properly use navigation safety equipment. This includes radar, searchlights, radios, compasses, swing-meters, echo depthsounding devices, electronic position-fixing devices, marine charts or maps, and other necessary publications. The rule also requires that towlines, towing gear and terminal gear be maintained, inspected and serviced regularly. The final rule complements other regulatory efforts which concentrate on reporting casualties, licensing towing vessel operators and training mariners in the use of radar. Towing safety requirements also are a part of S.1730, the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1996. Sea. Crowley Companies Enter Computerized Age Second Mate Patrick Murray and OS Rodel Data assist with oceanographic studies aboard the USNS Silas Bent in the Yellow Sea. visibility exercise. Unfortunately, "political difficulties" (Capt. Smallwood's words) resulted in the eventual indefinite postponement of the survey. Nevertheless, the hard work of the Seafarers was recognized in laudatory messages received from the commanders of the MSC and the Naval Meteorological Command. "Your initiatives and hard work in preparing for the survey were outstanding and are very much appreciated," MSC Admiral Phillip Quast wrote in a message to the crew. "While I regret that the survey has been delayed, it was reassuring to know the Silas Bent was well prepared in all respects." His sentiments were echoed by Rear Admiral Paul Gaffney II, head of the Naval Meteorology Command. "Zero eight for all the hard work in preparations for the Russian survey," he wrote. "As you know, much to my regret, it has been delayed indefinitely. Rest assured though, that all your efforts have not been in vain nor unnoticed. The updates and In the East China Sea, Seafarers recover current meter arrays which are used to conduct oceanographic surveys. 10 Seafarers LOG II Coast Guard Publishes Rule Regarding Navigation Safety Equipment While most vessels crewed by SIU members sail across the seas to pick up and deliver cargo, the USNS Silas Bent is one which does not fit this description. Rather, the USNS Silas Bent is an oceanographic survey ship which, since the beginning of the year, has completed seven major surveys in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the Yellow The 287-foot, 2,600-ton ship is owned by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) and operated by Dyn Marine Services of Virginia (which recently entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the SIU). Fred Smallwood, the captain aboard the USNS Silas Bent, supplied the Seafarers LOG with information about the vessel and its crew, and included the photographs appearing with this article. According to Smallwood, the beginning of 1996 found the oceanographic vessel in her overseas homeport of Sasebo, Japan, following a three-week transit from San Diego. After a brief period of maintenance in Japan, the ship then sailed for survey operations in the East China Sea and has been hard at work ever since. Various types of surveys, involving the launching and recovery of oceanographic equipment, have been conducted aboard ship while underway. One facet of the shipboard scientists' studies involves bioluminescence (microorganisms in the water that glow when something-a ship, for example-disturbs them). During one such survey in the Yellow Sea, Silas Bent mariners were treated to displays of bioluminescence "so vivid that the greenish light came through portholes and could be seen reflecting from bulkheads and overheads inside the ship," Smallwood wrote. A major shipboard effort in April and May was dedicated to preparing the Silas Bent for a joint U.S./Russian survey. Captain Smallwood indicated that the operation was to take place in the Sea of Ohkotsk in May and June, and that all crewmembers worked extremely hard in preparing their ship for this high Maritime Briefs status reports I received regarding your preps provided me with a great measure of confidence in your ability to conduct this high visibility operation. Again, my personal thanks to each of you." Smallwood noted that Lead AB Richard ''Bear'' Mitchell and the deck department had "devoted countless extra hours to exterior hull preservation, repainting virtually the entire ship. Chief Cook Jeanette Ball's steward department brought sparkle to the mess areas, planned special menus and obtained fine china, silver and glassware from Sasebo clubs for use during two gala meals to have been held onboard for high ranking U.S. and Russian dignitaries." He added that QMED Rich Larsen and the rest of the engine department "had their spaces ready for inspection and made sure the engineering plant and mission-essential deck equipment was in the best of repair for the joint survey." While the entire crew worked extremely hard in preparing for the survey and was appropriately disappointed in its postponement, Smallwood included noteworthy comments from two crewmembers. Oiler Paul Curtis said, "I was asked by the captain to help, since I speak some Russian. I was really looking forward to helping." GVA (General Vessel Assistant, which can work in all three unlicensed departments) Joanne Sykes perhaps best put the entire crew's feelings into words when she said, "While we're sorry the Russi an operation has been postponed, we have all worked extremely hard and can be proud of ourselves and our ship. We were ready to do the job with professionalism and class." Following postponement of the joint survey, the USNS Silas Bent continued with its regular duties and ended the first half of 1996 with a remarkable 29 continuous days at sea. Crowley Maritime Corp. and its two operating subsidiaries, Crowley American Transport, Inc. and Crowley Marine Services, Inc. are now providing information to their customers via their own worldwide web site. From anywhere in the world and at any time of the day or night, anyone interested in general information and historical highlights about Crowley Maritime Corp. can find it on the Internet at address http://www.crowley.com. Included on the web page are photos, sailing schedules, worldwide office locations, equipment specifications and news releases. For best results, it is suggested that viewers use the browser program Netscape 1.1 or higher and have a minimum modem speed of 14,400 bps. "As more customers acquire access to the Internet and begin using it for business, Crowley will look at ways to expand the site and offer additional features," said Dick Simpson, Crowley Maritime Corp. Vice President of Public Relations, who oversaw its development. "We believe the medium works well for the transportation industry because it offers customers a means to access up-to-date sailing schedules and to book and track cargo." In addition to Crowley's worldwide web site, Crowley American Transport is now providing sailing schedule information via a fax service. Customers may dial 1-800-650-9240 and select the schedule they wish to receive from an automated voice menu. Within minutes of entering their fax numbers, the schedule is sent to them from Crowley's Miami-based fax service. At present, schedules are updated prior to each month. More frequent updates, as often as daily or weekly, are planned for the future. Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corp., founded in 1892, is primarily a family- and employee-owned company in marine transportation and related services. The corporation, with more than 100 offices in major ports and cities around the world, has two operating subsidiaries. Crowley American. Transport, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., provides liner services between Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, Central and South America. Crowley Marine Services, headquartered in Seattle, Wash., provides worldwide vessel contract and related services. Seafarers-Crewed Osprey Ships Receive Safety Certification Fully two years before the mandatory compliance date of !uly 1998 for adhering to certain international safety standards, Amencan Automar' s Seafarers-crewed American Cormorant, a semi-submersible heavylift vessel, and American Merlin, a breakbulkroll-on/rolloff vessel, have achieved that accreditation already. Similar certification was received by Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management, Inc., the Bethesda, Md.-based ship manager. Osprey-Acomarit, a joint venture of U.S. shipowner American Automar, Inc. and the international ship management and consultancy group Acomarit, has become one of the first U.S.-based ship managers to attain this accreditation. According to the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), some 25,000 ships and 7,000 companies ~ill need to achieve the certification by the initial July 1998 deadlme. An additional 55,000 vessels will need to comply by the year 2002. Implementation of the code has been welcomed by the SIU and other maritime organizations as an excellent tool in promoting safety of the crew, integrity of the vessel and protection of the environment. August 1996 �Cabin Attendant Michael Briscoe helps set up the fruit and salad bar in the dining area aboard the Independence. r .· BELOW: After completing an ice sculpture for the salad bar, Garde Manger Wei Dong Yin (right) poses for a photo with Cabin Attendant Charles Washington. BELOW: Cabin At- tendants Gerry Bareng (left) and Napoleon Nazareno are ready for another busy day of catering to passengers' neeeds. ooking for ways galley gang members can improve their L already well-known hospitality and food was the mission of Allan Sherwin when he spent three days aboard the SS Inde- Independence Galley Crew Maintains .gh Level of ~::~~~ ~~:::e:~ices Hz E x c e ll enc e pendence, an American Hawaii Cruises passenger vessel, in May. Sherwin serves as the executive chef and director of culinary education at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. ''The purpose of my visit to the ship was to observe steward department procedures and recommend training if necessary," Sherwin told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. In his first visit to the Independence, Sherwin identified areas in which additional training could be implemented in provided by SIU members in the Sherwin noted he is willing to work with American Hawaii Cruises and the union to design special classes for crewmemhers in areas of sanitation and basic customer relations skills. ''I believe that classes in such areas would serve to improve the already superior service provided by Seafarers aboard the Independence," Sherwin noted. "The ship has an outstanding passenger rate with a satisfaction index in the dining room of 85 percent. In addition, the latest FDA sanitation inspection of the galley was 100 percent, with a superior rating for the rest of the vessel," stated Sherwin, who provided the photos on this page. The culinary director noted that he discovered the Independence is consistently booked to capacity and that an average of 10 percent of the passengers have previously sailed aboard the cruise ship. "A well motivated, skilled staff is an asset to any organization, and that's exactly what I saw in the galley gang on the Independence," added Sherwin. "It is the intention of the Lundeberg School and the SIU to continue the most efficient, up-to-date culinary training to keep American Hawaii Cruises staffed with the best-trained Seafarers in the world." The vessel usually operates on a seven-day schedule around the Hawaiian Islands, making a complete trip once a ;veek. Known among Seafarers as the "Great White Ship," in part because of the clean white exterior maintained by SIU deck Delicious entrees are prepared in the galley by steward department members, the vessel is renowned among pasdepartment members (from left) Chief Cook Hussein sengers for excellent entertainment, food and itineraries in the Elemary, Second Cook Barbara Henshaw and Second islands. . RIGHT: Preparing gourmet meals aboard the Independence is part of a regular day for Executive Chef Stafford Decambra (left) and Second Cook Daniel ldos. Utility Erni Lizada (left) and Utility Eli Siluano note that friendships among steward department members help make work more enjoyable aboard ship. Cook Jaime Austria. Preparing a tray of pastries for lunch are Third Cook/Baker Silverino Estigoy, Second Cook Jose Castillo and Second Cook/Baker Benjamin Ines. August1996 Following an end to another busy dinner shift aboard the Independence, steward department members pose for a photo. They are, from left, GU Crew Galley Ahmed Mussa, First Cook Marwan lesh, Second Cook/Vegetable Reynito Figueroa and Utility Saeed Shaibi. Seafarers LOG 11 �The Shameful Case of the Pr 8-Month Ordeal Spotlights Pitfalls of R erhaps the most sickening aspect of the eight-month ordeal endured by the multinational crew of the Liberian-flag Pride of Donegal is that, in the cutthroat world of runawayflag shipping and open registries, such incidents take place all the time, all over the world. In this case, the crew begged the shipowner to permit badly needed engine repairs. Shortly after the company refused, the ship broke down in the Atlantic Ocean more than 500 miles off the coast of Norfolk, Va., where it was caught for a week in a severe storm. It is quite possible that only the heavy weight of the vessel's cargo (machinery for an auto plant in Bombay) kept it from being overturned. For the 28 Pakistani and Indian crewmembers, the storm only marked the beginning of a long, complicated saga. After the ship was towed to Norfolk for repairs, the crew was stranded there for six months as a series of creditors went after Empire Shipping (ostensibly of Liberia, but actually based both in Panama and the United States). For most of that time, the crew literally was stuck P on the ship, set at an offshore anchorage after initial repairs in Norfolk. They went more than eight months without pay and had virtually no contact with their families. For three months, they survived on only soup and bread. The lone bright spot may have been the intervention of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which ultimately helped the men secure $200,000 in back wages and another $75,000 in repatriation expenses. But as Edd Morris, one of the SIU' s ITF inspectors, noted, the near-sinking and subsequent abandonment would have been avoided if not for the reckless actions of the scoundrels who controlled the Pride of Donegal. "This was caused by a very greedy and mean-spirited company," said Morris, who worked closely with the crew. The following look back at the tribulations of the mariners spotlights why the ITF devotes so many resources toward ending the worldwide flag-of-convenience scam. Runaway from the Start The Pride of Donegal has undergone a half-dozen name changes since it was • ~~I ~- •i.' ' • :, •• ~ •• .,' ~~ I; t • ~ - • : ;_.: .. .,,- ., • . ·• / Legal, mechanical troubles strand hapless crew on ship 8Y BILL SIZEMORE STAFF WRITER NORFOLK - It's named the Pride of Donegal, but its disheartened crewmen have nicknamed it the Alcatraz. $150 each way, and the crewmen haven't seen a paycheck in six months. So they're stuck. .. "You can imagine how hard it has beeri for us," Syed ljtaba Hussain Zeidi, the second engineer, said in a shipboard interview Thursday. "We are like floating prisoners." . . . Zeidi had planned to be home m nudFebruary. He has now been on the ship· 11 months. He's been stuck in Hampton. Roads three months. The vessel's mechanical problems began in the Great Lakes, Zeidi said, but the owners - apparently due to money problems - refused to make repair~. , ,, "We said, 'For God's sake, take actton, The Llberian-registered freighter sailed from Canada in December, bound for Bombay with a load of heavy machinery. Hampton Roads wasn't even on the itinerary. But engine troubles in tJ:1e ~tlantic sent it limping into port here m nud-January, and here it sits today - anch?~ed off the Norfolk Naval Base and awaiting a court-ordered auction. For the ship's 28 Pakistani and Indian crewmen it's been the voyage to · ...;.·- '- - ---·--·-nowhere. The lifeboa,_·...;.. disrepair, a water t This article in the Norfolk-based Virginian-Pilot newspaper chronicles the tribulations of the Pride of Donegal's stranded crew. 1 12 Seafarers LOG ---&------------------. built in 1982. But the general cargo ship was a runaway from day one, when it was owned by Barnard Shipping of Chile, managed by a Panamanian agent and flew the flag of Togo, a small African nation near Liberia. Altogether, the ship has had five different owners and has flown the flags of three nations (Liberia, Togo and Panama). This scheme of involving multiple parties from runaway-flag nations in the operation of vessels is the norm for flagof-convenience registers. About 50 years ago, U.S. maritime unions dubbed them runaway registers, or runaway flags, because of their use as a device for shipowners to pay a nominal fee to the government of a non-maritime nation seeking to raise revenue. The shipowners then escaped from a maritime nation's safety regulations, procedures and inspections, tax laws and higher wages. That escape largely is executed by passing the buck-insulating themselves with often unscrupulous managers and registries, and making it difficult for authorities to hold the shipowners accountable for mistreating crews and operating unsafe ships. When such conditions are discovered, who is responsible? That usually is not an easy question to answer, even for lawyers, government agencies and other professionals who have the resources to investigate such matters. Tracking down the culprits alone is time-consuming; forcing them to follow the rules is even tougher. ''There were so many different groups involved with the Pride of Donegal, it was very hard for the courts and everyone else to figure out who the players were," acknowledged Benjamin Mason, the attorney who represented the crew. "It was very difficult and it took a lot of time, to say the least." (The company never filed for bankruptcy. It simply abandoned the crew and ship and stopped paying its bills.) For example, after a Norfolk judge ordered the Pride of Donegal to be sold at auction, a newspaper account described this scene where the ship's creditors met: "At a hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the counsel tables were overflowing with lawyers representing the bank [which bought back the ship], the crew and a host of other claimants. There seemed to be little disagreement that getting the crew paid should be the first priority. The devil, as they say, is in the details. '"Don't you think it would be to everybody's advantage to get them headed home,' Judge John A. MacKenzie asked at one point. "Yes, said David K. Sutelan, a Norfolk lawyer who represents the bank. 'But,' he added, 'it's not a simple proposition."' He apparently was referring to the difficulties involved in locating the responsible parties. And indeed, the mariners were stuck in Norfolk for a full month after the auction, bringing their total time there to more than six months. Pleas Ignored Near the end of last year, several months after the Pride of Donegal was purchased by Empire Shipping from Santa Naviera of Peru, the vessel reportedly slipped out of Canada without receiving the repairs that had been ordered by the Canadian Coast Guard. The ship reportedly was one of the last to leave the Great Lakes at the end of the season; it was stuck for a while in a frozen lock. ' .t Crewmembers, attorneys (wearing suits) an secure back pay and transportation home for According to ITF Inspector Morris, as well as reports in the Norfolk-based Virginian-Pilot newspaper, the crew repeatedly had alerted the owners about the engine troubles and requested repairs. The company not only refused, but also demanded that the vessel be pushed at wide open - even as the mariners warned that such action would exacerbate the trouble. "We said, 'For God's sake, take action,"' Second Engineer Hussain Zeidi told the newspaper. "But they said, 'No, keep on your voyage at any cost."' Soon afterward, the ship became disabled. The crew literally worked around the clock to attempt repairs for an entire week during a severe storm, but they were not successful. When the vessel was towed by a private company into Norfolk, U.S. Coast Guard inspectors discovered numerous safety violations, which they ordered to be corrected. All of the lifeboats were inoperable, and all of the documents that addressed the required safety equipment aboard the vessel were expired. There also were other violations, plus a shortage of stores and bunkers. (The towing company was not paid until after the auction.) Days later, the crew realized this would not be a brief stay. U.S. marshals arrested the ship after two dozen claims were filed on behalf of numerous creditors, as well as the crew, seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in back pay, prior repair bills, fuel, supplies and various services. When the Pride of Donegal was moved to an offshore anchorage to make room for previously scheduled work on other vessels at the terminal, the odyssey took on an added twist. August 1996 �de of Donegal naway Flags TF Inspector Edd Morris (far right) worked together to e entire crew of the Pride of Donegal. made it ashore and contacted their families, more difficulties ensued. One mariner who supported multiple families learned that his brother-in-law and nephew had died within a one-week span. He could not afford another phone call to offer condolences, and without his income, there was no money to pay for the funerals. Another crewmember was verbally greeted by a heartbroken wife who was convinced her husband had met an American woman and had no intention of returning home. Still another seaman told a newspaper reporter of two calls to his sobbing 8year-old daughter, who did not comprehend the ongoing delays that prevented her father from coming home. In addition, the sons and daughters of several of the mariners reportedly had to drop out of their schools because they were unable to pay tuition. The Virginian-Pilot reported that at least two crewmembers borrowed money at a very high interest rate to help buy food for their families. Others sold whatever possessions they could to generate immediate income. "Our families and children in particular have suffered a lot," summarized one mariner. Medical treatment also was an issue. The chief officer literally spent weeks lying on a wooden pallet and heating pad in his·cabin, due to a back injury-and a lack of money for treatment. Another man, the chief engineer, underwent a successful emergency appendectomy. He had the relative good fortune of being stricken after the auction, when the crew was being housed in a local motel. Had he been on board the ship during the emergency, he almost certainly would have died. Arrogance, Unresponsiveness The Human Toll Even with the ITF assisting them, the crewmembers were in an extremely unenviable position, through no fault of their own. With the ship at anchorage and the lifeboats still in disrepair, they rarely left the idle vessel. Few, if any, of th~ mariners possessed money, and a water taxi to shore cost $300 round trip. This prompted them to nickname the ship the Alcatraz, for it surely had the atmosphere of a prison. (Empire Shipping had promised to provide a daily launch service. Predictably, the company did not live up to that commitment.) In a cruel bit of irony, many of the crew passed time by cleaning and chipping the ship and maintaining watches, even though they were unsure of being paid for that work. They at least were hopeful of securing all of their back wages, and that necessitated them staying in the area. Not that they had much choice, given the fact they had not been paid in months and the company would not send them home with their pay. Not being paid also meant hardships on the families who did not receive the income. Between the lack of money sent home and the absence of their loved ones who were stuck on the ship, the families suffered the consequences along with the crew. For the seamen, understandably, boredom was not nearly as difficult to cope with as worrying about their families. "We are eating here, but when we start to eat, we are always thinking of our families," the second engineer said. "What is happening to them? Do they have anything to eat?" On the rare occasions when the men August1996 Shortly after the vessel arrived in Norfolk, Morris contacted the Liberian registry, International Registries, Inc. (IRI)-based in, of all places, affluent Reston, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C., and staffed primarily by Americans. "I explained the problems: the shortage of food and water, no daily launch service," recalled the ITF inspector. "IRI said it was all a civil matter, that they wouldn't be bothered with any of it They said the same thing about the guys not being paid for months." Morris pressed the issue and reminded IRI that the crewmembers were scheduled to be compensated at below the rates established by the International Labor Organization. Again, the company balked. ''They had the responsibility and the opportunity to help, and they wouldn'teven pick up the phone," Morris said. Disgusted, he asked IRI, "Would it ITF Continues Fight vs. Runaway-Flags The London-based International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) represents approximately 10 million transportation employees from more than 400 trade unions worldwide, including the SIU. One of the primary endeavors of the Seafarers Section of the ITF, of which SIU Secretary-Treasurer John Fay is chairman, is to end the scandal of runaway-flag shipping. To that end, ITF inspectors all over the world assist the crews of such vessels and work to ensure that the shipowners are held accountable. Because the ITF recognizes that completely eliminating runaways will not happen overnight, one of its immediate goals is bringing such vessels under ITF contract. The drive has been successful, as more than 4,000 ships now are covered by ITF agreements. By signing on with the ITF, the mariners aboard runaway-flag ships at least have some recourse against the shipowners. And they are protected by a written contract that establishes wage rates meeting international standards; provides for overtime and holiday pay and manning according to ITF policy; and includes clauses covering medical attention, sick pay, death benefits, disability insurance and other benefits. The ITF does not limit its work strictly to runaways, however. The organization assists as many crews as possible that need help, whether or not their vessels are runaway-flag ships. During a celebration last month of the ITF's 100-year anniversary, David Cockcroft, the organization's general secretary, reiterated the need for a system under which responsible shipowners who register their vessels in nations with well-run maritime administrations and equitable legal systems get a competitive advantage over those who try to weasel out of their obligations by using flag states that do not enforce international shipping standards. He called for "vicious penalties that are hard enough to hurt" substandard ship operators. bother you if the crew had a contract for $1 a year? They replied, 'Absolutely not."' Some of Empire Shipping's tactics were equally venomous. For instance, the company specifically recruited Muslim crewmembers, Morris noted, but then refused to provide them with stores consistent with the Muslim diet. The reason? Those stores are nominally more expensive than what the ship normally stocks. Unfortunately, such treatment is not all that surprising in runaway-flag circles. The exploited seamen who sail aboard those ships often hail from some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the world. They routinely have to purchase their shipboard jobs from unscrupulous manning agents; sign contracts stating one rate of pay, only to be paid something much lower; and work in unsafe conditions, fearful of repGrting them to any outside authority. Moreover, runaway-flag ships consistently are the most unsafe on the high seas. As the ITF reported in its June newsletter, "There are three ways of comparing vessel losses between flags. One can compare any one of the following: the absolute number of vessels lost; the absolute tonnage lost; or the percentage of tonnage lost of the total fleet. Whatever mode of comparison is used, not only do flags of convenience top the list, but they account for more than half the worldwide losses in 1995." And of course, most importantly, runaway-flag ships regularly account for the greatest loss of life at sea. For instance, last year more than 1,000 seamen died in ship accidents, most involving runaway-flag shipping. That figure is not an anomaly. Finally, a Resolution More than five months after they were towed from the Atlantic, the crewmembers aboard the Pride of Donegal finally were within figurative sight of the end of their ordeal. A U.S. court ordered the ship to be sold at auction in order to resolve the multiple claims against the shipowner. The Peruvian bank (Banco Wiese Limitado) that held the mortgage on the ship bought it at the auction on May 30 for $5.1 million, with U.S. marshals presiding over the sale. The mariners were transferred to a Howard Johnson motel where they were given a discount rate, slept four to a room and received $10 per person, per day, for meals. They also enjoyed recreation at a local Seamen's Friendship House, thanks to the assistance of Charlotte Smith, the director; Father Frias and Chaplain Olsen. Six weeks later, they still were in the Norfolk area-a testament to the cumbersome, complex processes cited by Mason, Morris and others. Meanwhile, the ship was renamed the Lobo de Mar (Spanish for sea wolf), its Liberian flag was replaced with the Panamanian emblem and a new crew was put on board by the buyer. Ultimately, the original crewmembers reached a settlement covering back wages, air fare home and food and lodging since they left the ship. Before departing on July 12, they expressed gratitude for the assistance they received from January into July. In fact, more than one mariner noted that the crew was grateful they landed in the U.S., one of the few nations where they at least had some recourse. "As bad as this case was, consider how many other crews bear similar burdens and receive no compensation whatsoever," Morris concluded. "This case illustrates why the ITF will continue its fight to eliminate runaway-flag shipping." Despite their hardships, the Pakistani and Indian crewmembers were grateful that their case came to justi?e .in the United States, where they at least had some recourse. Ultimately, they received $200,000 in back wages plus $75,000 for repatriation. Seafarers LOG 13 �Last month, when the American Republic became the first Great Lakes freighter to carry the Olympic flame, family members and friends of the vessel's seafaring crew shared in the excitement. This page from the SIU family album captures precious moments aboard the American Republic in Detroit (the Lake Erie port from where the vessel departed) and Cleveland (the port to which the flame was taken). As always, the LOG welcomes your photos and will publish them on a periodic basis. 14 SeafaretS LOG August 1996 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16, 1996 - JULY 15, 1996 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Cla~ A Class B Class C Port Trip Reliefs **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT New York Philadelphia 37 2 10 23 2 5 6 0 0 7 0 0 Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 11 5 19 21 11 Jacksonville 26 San Francisco 23 15 Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 35 7 3 30 0 1 0 240 17 15 16 13 4 0 16 2 1 4 12 7 5 0 0 27 0 6 3 177 I 0 31 23 1 1 13 3 18 5 6 12 9 14 19 7 10 10 12 14 0 7 0 1 3 23 10 27 15 18 11 2 1 0 11 8 7 7 1 2 8 1 2 4 5 30 2 I 23 1 5 11 0 2 0 187 1 160 5 0 0 0 24 52 40 5 1 5 4 8 6 10 11 10 4 6 15 1 0 101 23 23 39 55 42 27 l September & October 1996 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point •••• Tuesday: September 3*; Monday: October 7 *change created by Labor Day holiday New York • • • • . Tuesday: September 3, October 8 Philadelphia . . • . Wednesday: September 4, October 9 7 0 0 Baltimore ••••• Thursday: September 5, October 10 30 1 Norfolk ••••••• Thursday: September 5, October 10 30 0 3 3 11 33 45 26 27 13 4 10 41 20 56 1 3 1 3 1 7 0 0 390 313 41 4 9 7 0 Jacksonville . . . . Thursday: September 5, October 10 Algonac . . . . . . Friday: September 6, October 11 Houston . . . . . . Monday: September 9, October 14 New Orleans • • • • Tuesday: September 10, October 15 Mobile • • • • • • . Wednesday: September 11, October 16 San Francisco • • • Thursday: September 12, October 17 Wilmington . . . . Monday: September 16, October 21 Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT New York 19 2 6 Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 2 14 0 6 5 8 0 2 8 3 39 2 14 2 0 5 5 4 0 0 5 6 3 0 5 6 0 2 6 1 16 8 16 6 17 1 0 3 25 3 7 0 5 4 28 18 3 11 1 8 8 4 2 1 0 1 7 1 25 21 11 16 5 14 17 9 3 13 14 11 1 1 18 1 San Francisco 10 Wilmington 6 Seattle 14 Puerto Rico 6 Honolulu 3 Houston 12 0 St. Louis Piney Point 1 16 9 9 7 9 7 0 4 I 5 Jacksonville Algonac Totals 1 118 0 0 1 2 10 2 3 11 10 2 8 22 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 126 20 0 1 92 4 0 108 0 0 14 1 0 46 0 2 0 205 21 8 4 14 3 15 15 1 5 0 2 0 0 5 1 3 1 1 5 1 2 2 San Juan . . • . • • Thursday: September 5, October 10 St. Louis . . . . . . Friday: September 13, October 18 Honolulu ••.•.• Friday: September 13, October 18 Duluth ••••••• Wednesday: September 11. October 16 Jersey City . . . . . Wednesday: September 18, October 23 New Bedford • • • Tuesday: September 17, October 22 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. 5 0 0 0 184 28 21 2 4 17 1 1 0 6 5 6 12 10 Mealtime Aboard the Cape Texas STEWARD DEPARTMENT 11 14 1 Philadelphia 1 Baltimore 6 Norfolk 6 Mobile 8 New Orleans 8 Jacksonville 15 San Francisco 24 Wilmington 13 Seattle 23 Puerto Rico 6 Honolulu 11 Houston 15 1 0 0 4 0 0 4 3 5 8 6 10 3 3 3 12 6 St Louis Piney Point 1 4 0 Algonac 0 0 152 79 1 8 0 5 5 2 4 4 16 0 0 1 24 7 15 3 1 2 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 0 0 0 6 1 1 4 0 3 8 5 17 18 26 3 2 5 7 2 2 2 6 0 0 0 0 17 9 6 5 12 3 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 114 0 0 0 0 43 8 61 254 0 17 1 0 3 1 Port 0 1 0 0 7 45 19 40 3 13 6 15 24 6 2 9 3 4 17 8 4 5 13 16 0 3 0 123 2 0 2 4 1 2 1 3 7 0 0 1 0 25 ENTRY DEPARTMENT New York 9 38 4 5 Philadelphia Baltimore 0 0 0 1 5 4 3 1 1 5 18 1 0 23 1 3 0 1 3 2 13 7 2 1 4 3 12 8 12 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 12 9 6 Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco 10 Wilmington 6 Seattle 7 Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac 4 Totals 0 22 10 5 Port New York Totals Seattle ••••••• Friday: September 20, October 25 17 4 14 7 11 21 4 8 13 13 1 5 19 5 9 29 48 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 65 0 111 208 7 4 0 1 1 7 54 5 0 1 0 55 211 116 44 7 1 18 2 167 593 184 437 478 6 3 0 0 40 11 2 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 5 1 17 16 15 2 3 21 2 14 22 9 3 21 4 15 31 29 23 18 11 43 13 17 7 6 4 9 53 24 58 4 19 0 3 94 0 357 188 943 977 282 2 0 0 0 The Cape Texas remains in Reduced Operating Status in the port of Mobile, Ala. at present, but may be activated at any moment as part of the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force (which supports American troops around the world). In the meantime, life goes on aboard ship. Above, Steward/Cook Darrell Weatherspoon prepares the noon meal while, below, Bosun Alvin Kirksey (left) and Chief Electrician Keith Jordan discuss an article in the Seafarers LOG during lunch. 11 0 Totals All Departments 565 * "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. August1996 Seafarers LOG 15 1 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1996 CL-Company/Lakes NP-Non Priority L-Lakes Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Contracts <ieorgeMcCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 0 12 4 0 10 1 0 3 3 0 9 15 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHWPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 51 13 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 31 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 6 7 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 27 11 0 14 1 0 5 8 0 41 38 0 87 58 Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters DeanCorgey Vice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way 34 23 0 88 25 Totals All Departments 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. Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 (810) 794-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1996 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 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 5 1 41 2 49 1 0 5 0 6 1 0 7 0 8 0 3 0 0 3 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 6 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A ClassB Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 13 0 23 4 0 39 0 6 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 15 5 32 9 61 3 1 9 0 13 2 1 6 1 10 42 84 Totals All Departments 1 18 63 3 8 * "Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.· ---------~--- --~-.6----·-------4--------~~ -- - ... ------------~-~ ------~- ... ~------- 2 4 0 1 0 24 0 21 7 45 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 9 19 8 69 --- -..------.•--. 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn.NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK SIU Bulletin Board 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.0.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 St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 161/z Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 721-4033 SEATILE 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. ATTENTION: FORMER MARINE COOKS & STEWARDS Former members of the MC&S will hold their annual reunion picnic luncheon on Sunday, September 8 in San Bruno (Calif.) Park from noon until 5:00 p.m. Bring family and friends. Plenty of parking is available. For more information, contact Lucretia Anderson at the San Francisco SIU hall. CORRECTION On page 19 of the July issue of the Sea/are rs LOG, some information was inadvertantly omitted from Hazel Johnson's obituary. Not only did Brother Johnson upgrade at the Lundeberg School, he also completed the steward recertification program there in July 1993. UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS In order to ensure that active SIU members and pensioners receive 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 and have not yet notified the union, go to your nearest union hall and fill out a change of address form or send your new address (along with your name, book number and social security number) to: Address Control, Seafarers International Union, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. ATTENTION: LAKE CHARLES AREA SEAFARERS All SIU members in the Lakes Charles, La. area are urged to attend a union meeting on Wednesday, August28, 1996 at noon. The meeting will be held at 710 W. Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, LA 70601. For additional information, call (318) 478-9918. PERSONALS FREDDIE BAXTER Please contact your parents immediately at 567 Aiken Street, Oakland, CA 94609. MICHAEL ANTHONY JOHNSON Please call Miss Johnson at (334) 457-0732 as soon as you can. DONAW TAYLOR Please call your daughter, Latrice Barrett, as soon as possible at (312) 826-1740. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG August 1996 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafare rs 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. • Three recertified bosuns and I two recertified stewards are among the 24 Seafarers who are announcing their retirements this month. Representing nearly 200 years of active union membership, the three recertified bosuns are Louis W. Hachey. Robert A. Sipsey and Carlos H. Spina; the two recertified stewards are Joe Johnson and Joseph P. Speller. These members graduated from courses offering the highest level of training in both the deck and steward departments at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Including the five recertified graduates, 16 of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division while the eight others sailed on inland vessels. Additionally, 10 sailed in the deck department, nine in the steward department and five in the engine department. The favorite area of retirement for this month's retiring Seafarers is the Gulf states, where eight of the pensioners make their homes; seven have retired to the East Coast; five retired to the West Coast; two live in the Midwest; and one each reside in Puerto Rico and Canada. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this months pensioners. DEEP SEA RAFAEL AQUIN0,65, first sailed with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1966 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 who upgraded at the MC&S training school in Santa Rosa, Calif. last sailed in October 1994 aboard the President Washington, operated by American President Lines. Born in the Philippines, he has retired to San Francisco. ABDUH. AZEZ,58, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1963 from the port of Baltimore. He worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief cook aboard the Guayama, operated by NPR, Inc. Born in Yemen, Brother Azez became a U.S. citizen in 1965. He makes his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. CHARLES w. deberg School in Piney Point, Md. Brother Grogan last sailed in January aboard the Sam Houston, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. From 1951 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Grogan makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. RUBEN S. GALLEGUILLOS, 66. began sailing with the MC&S in 1969 from the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. The California native last sailed in March as a chief cook aboard the Sea-Land Endurance. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Galleguillos has retired to Redwood City, Calif. LOUISW. HACHEY, 52, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in Mobile, Ala. in 1965 and joined the SIU. The Michigan native sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he completed the bosun recertification course in 1981. Brother Hachey last sailed in December 1994 aboard the Bradford Island, operated by Interocean Management. From 1961 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Hachey resides in Manchester, Mich. HOWARD W.HALL, 71, started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of Galveston, Texas. ~~~ - ~ His first ship was the Sea Cloud. Brother Hall began working in the engine department as an oiler and last sailed in September 1982 as a chief electrician aboard the SS Arecibo, operated by Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. The World War II veteran served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. Brother Hall makes his home in Delmar, Del. ,------:::::;~=:----, JOE JOHNSON, 59, joined the SIU in 1962 in his native Mobile, Ala. He sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification progran;i in 1987. Brother Johnson last sailed in April as a chief cook aboard the Sea-Land Enterprise. He has retired to Seattle, Wash. GROGAN, 62, joined the JAMESE. Seafarers in MARRINER, 1961 in the 60, began sailport of Noring with the folk, Va. ~~'----'-..!..__.:~~ Brother Seafarers in 1955 from the Grogan began sailing in the inport of Norland division and later transferred folk, Va. He to deep sea vessels. The Ten=~="=-""""'---'---"",...~ sailed as a nessee native sailed in the engine member of the steward departdepartment. He attended an educational conference at the Lun- ment and upgraded at both the August1996 Andrew Furuseth Training School and the Lundeberg School. The Virginia native last shipped in May 1995 aboard the Stonewall Jackson, operated by Waterman Steamship Co. Brother Marriner makes his home in Portsmouth. Va. LUCAS MARTINEZ, 68, joined the SIU in 1979 in the port of New York. Brother Martinez worked as a member of the steward department, last sailing in November 1995 aboard the Humacao, operated by NPR, Inc. Born in Honduras, Brother Martinez resides in New Orleans. operated by Mississippi Steamship Co. The North Carolina native sailed in the steward department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification program in 1987. Brother Speller last sailed in April aboard the Galveston Bay, operated by Sea-Land Services, Inc. He makes his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. CARLOSH. SPINA JR., 57. joined the Seafarers in 1962 in the t portofNew Orleans. , ~ Brother Spina sailed in the deck department and completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1981. He last sailed in January aboard the Platte, operated by OMI Corporation. Brother Spina has retired to Metairie, La. RICHARDL. RODGERS, 59, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Train- ROBERTL. ing School in TOMPKINS, 1962 and 65, started his ________.._ joined the career with the Seafarers in the port of New OrSIU in 1953 as a member of leans. Brother Rodgers sailed in the engine department. His first the engine ship was the Keva Ideal, operated department. Brother by Keva Corp., and in April, he Tompkins last sailed aboard vessigned off the Cleveland, sels operated by Sea-Land Seroperated by Sealift, Inc. Brother vice, Inc. From 1946 to 1950, he Rodgers has retired to Houston, served in the U.S. Air Force. Texas. Born in Washington state, Brother Tompkins makes his home in San Juan, P.R. SHAYIFM. SAEED, 65, DENNIS A. ZWICKER, 76, began sailing first sailed with the Seafarers in with the SIU 1945 aboard theAlcee Fortier, in 1967 aboard operated by A.H. Bull Lines. the Alcoa Brother Zwicker worked in the Voyager from engine department and left the the port of union in 1966 when he upgraded New York. to an officer. He continued sailBorn in Arabia, he worked as a ing through 1973. Brother Zwickmember of the steward departer has retired to his native Nova ment, last sailing aboard the SeaScotia, Canada. Ltind Innovator in February. Brother Saeed makes his home in INLAND Buffalo, N.Y. WILLIAME. ROBERTA. BRINKLEY, SIPSEY,69, 62, started his started his career with the career with the SIU in 1974 in Seafarers in the port of 1943 in the Jackson ville, port of NorFla. The Georfolk, Va. He L....!!~~~~JL..J gia native = ===== first sailed sailed as a captain and upgraded aboard the Cape St. Elias, at the Lundeberg School. His last operated by Waterman Steamship duty was in March 1990 aboard Co. A native of Massachusetts, the Tug Venus, operated by Gulf Brother Sipsey worked in the Atlantic Transportation Co. deck department and upgraded at From 1951to1974, he served in the Paul Hall Center in Piney the U.S. Navy. Boatman Brinkley Point, Md., where he completed resides in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. the bosun recertification course in 1975. He last sailed aboard the FRANK Sea-Land Spirit in September DiMEGLIO, 1995. Brother Sipsey has retired 62, began his to Sonoma, Calif. sailing career in 1952 as a JOSEPHP. commercial SPELLER, fisherman and 63, first sailed joined the SIU with the SIU in 1980 in the in 1955 from port of Wilmington, Calif. Born the port of Ba1in Italy, he sailed as a captain and timore. His upgraded his skills at the Lunfirst ship was deberg School. He last sailed in the Venore, December 1992 aboard Crowley Marine Services vessels. Boatman DiMeglio has retired to San Pedro, Calif. SAMUEL BUSH SR., 62, joined the Seafarers in 1982 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native worked primarily for Dravo Basic Materials, most recently in August 1991. Boatman Bush is a resident of Jackson, Ala. JAMES E. JONES, 62, first sailed with the SIU in 1964 from the port of St. Louis. The Kentucky native worked in the deck department, last sailing in 1979 aboard the Robert Kenokee, an American Commercial Barge Lines vessel. Boatman Jones makes his home in Flatwoods, Ky. ROBERT H. MACHLINSKI, 62, bega:i sailing with the Seafarers in 1956 from the port of Baltimore. The Maryland native sailed as a member of the deck department and attended an educational conference at the Lun· deberg School. Boatman Machlinski last sailed in May aboard the tug America, operated by McAllister Brothers of Baltimore. He is a resident of Baltimore. DEFINR. ' RIVAS,62, started his career with the SIU in 1977 in · the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in the Philippines, he sailed in the steward department and attended an educational con£erence at the union's training f acility in Piney Point, Md. Boatman Rivas sailed primarily on vessels operated by Mariner Towing Co. He last sailed aboard the Navigatorin January 1989. F rom 1958 to 1977, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Rivas h as retired to Virginia Beach, Va. _ _ _ _ ___J R OBERTW. WIX, 63, j oined the seafarers in 1954 in the port ofHousto n. The Texas native sailed as a captain, p rimarily on vessels operated by G &H Towing Company. He se rved in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1953. Boatman Wix m akes his home in Chute, T ex as. A LLEN M WOODS, 62, began hi s career with the SIU in 1981 fr om the port of New Orleans. B oatman Woods sailed as a member of the deck department, most recently in October 1991. The Alabama native worked primarily fo r Dravo Basic Materials. He has retired to Uriah, Ala. Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Departures DEEP SEA SALVATORE A. BARBARA Pensioner Salvatore A. Barbara, 7 5, passed away June 10. Brother Barbara began sailing with the Seafarers in 1951 from the port of New York. A native of that state, he sailed as a member of the steward department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. Brother Barbara began receiving his pension in February 1986. ANTHONY S. BENEDICT Pensioner Anthony S. Benedict, 63, died June 25. A native of Louisiana, he started his career with the SIU in 1952 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Benedict sailed in the steward department. He retired in August 1987. DORWIN L. COY , Pensioner Dorwin L. Coy, 82, . passed away June 8. Brother Coy first sailed with the SIU in 1957 from the port of Wilmington, Calif. :....;..,~__, He was a member of the engine department and upgraded his rating at the Lundeberg School. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1945. A native of California, Brother Coy began receiving his pension in December 1981. GEORGE W. DUNCAN Pensioner George W. Duncan, 80, died June 10. Born in Russia, Brother Duncan began sailing with the Seafarers in .--~---=-==-""" 1942 from the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department and later earned his third mate license. Brother Duncan made his home in Louisiana. He retired in September 1979. OCTAVIUS COLEMAN Pensioner Octavius Coleman, 86, passed away May 21. Born in Virginia, he joined the Seafarers in 1955 in the L . . - - - - - - - portofNcw York. The steward department member last sailed as a chief cook. He was veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1943. Brother Coleman started receiving his pension in February 1977. HERMAN L. COLLADO Pensioner Herman L. Collado, 82, died May 15. Brother Collado began sailing with the Marine Cooks & Stewards :._____ _, (MC&S) in the 1940s, before that union merged with the SIU' s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). He sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by American President Lines. Born in the Philippines, Brother Collado lived in California and retired in July 1971. GEORGE C. CORDEIRO Pensioner George C. Cordeiro, 83, passed away June 24. He joined the MC&S, before that union merged with the SIUf s AGLIWD. Brother Cordeiro began receiving his pension in April 1977. CHESTER R. COUMAS 1-,_.,,,,."";iiiiiiiiiii•m-1 Pensioner v ~,., Chester R. Coumas, 76, died June 7. A native of California, Brother Coumas started his career with the Seafarers in '--------~ 1953 in the port of New Orleans. He sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Brother Coumas retired in July 1983. 18 Seafarers LOG MERIDITH S. DUNSON Pensioner Meridith S. Dunson, 78, passed away June 17. He joined the MC&S in 1967 in the port of Seattle, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in Indiana, Brother Dunson began receiving his pension in March 1988. FRANKFELD .-----==,,....----, Pensioner Frank Feld, 75, died June 1. Brother Feld first sailed with the Seafarers in 1947 from the port of New York. The Illi~=..;~~~-'--'~ nois native sailed as a member of the engine department and attended an educational conference at the Lunde berg School in 1972. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. Brother Feld retired in April 1985. BERNARD A. GUIKINK 1959. Brother Julio sailed as a member of the steward department. He retired in January 1983. CHARLES E. JORDAN Pensioner Charles E. Jordan, 67, passed awayMay24. Brother Jordan joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The L___.:~~~~_J Alabama native sailed in the engine department. Brother Jordan began receiving his pension in September 1993. JOHN F. MCCOLLOM Pensioner John F. McCollom, 70, died June 4. A native of Massachusetts, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1942 in the port of Baltimore. Brother McCollom sailed in the deck department and retired in October 1994. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. JOSEPHJ.MEYERCHAK • .:~.... " Pensioner Joseph J. Meyerchak, 66, died June 21. He joined the Seafarers in 1947 in his native New York. Brother Meyerchak sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he completed the bosun recertification course in 1981. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Meyerchak retired in May 1992. BILL MPONTSIKARIS Pensioner Bill Mpontsikaris, 75, passed away June 12. He joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. The Massachusetts na~~!=!:=~~~ tive last sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Mpontsikaris began receiving his pension in December 1983. l~~-~:---1 Pensioner Ber- nard A. Gui.kink, 78, passed away May27. Born in Holland, he joined the MC&S in 1954 in the port of Wilmington, Calif., before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Guikink began receiving his pension in August 1983. ISRAEL RHODEN Pensioner Israel Rhoden, 85, died May 29. Born in Alabama, he became a member of the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Rhoden sailed in the steward department during his career. He retired in March 1982. CHARLES P. JOHNSEN ------~ Pensioner Charles P. Johnsen, 71, died June 27. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Johnsen sailed as a member of the deck department. A native of Missouri, he retired in March 1991. PEDRO D. JULIO Pensioner Pedro D. Julio, 88, died June 9. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the Seafarers in ADONIS A. SALVADOR Pensioner Adonis A. Salvador, 84, died May26. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the MC&S in 1949 from the port of '----~---~ San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Salvador lived in California and retired in April 1990. r---:.==~--, HENRY S.T. SAUNDERS Pensioner Henry S. T. Saunders, 70, passed away December 21, 1995. Brother Saunders joined the MC&S, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. He began receiving his pension in July 1974. LEO L. SELESKIE Pensioner Leo L. Seleskie, 75, died May 6. Brother Seleskie became a member of the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Boston. The Pennsylvania native sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He retired in December 1982. RICHARD SOHL Pensioner Richard Sohl, 67, passed away June 26. He began sailing with the SIU in 1950 from the port of New York. Brother Sohl sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. From 1946 to 1948, he served in the U.S. Navy. A native of New York, Brother Sohl began receiving his pension in July 1979. Pensioner HenryW. Roberts Sr., 71, passed away May 31. Anative of Louisiana, he started his career with the SIU in 1944 in the port of New Orleans. The steward department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification course in 1981. Brother Roberts began receiving his pension in November 1987. JOSEPH T. WHALEN Joseph T. Whalen, 56, passed away April 6. A native of Connecticut, he began sailing with the SIU in 1991 from the port of Honolulu. Brother Whalen sailed in the deck department and upgraded frequently at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. HOWARDF. WELCH Pensioner Howard F. Welch, 77, died January 5, 1994. Born in Tennessee, he started his career with the SIU in 1963 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Welch sailed as a member of the engine department. He retired in August 1986. HENRY WILLIAMS Pensioner Henry Williams, 87, passed away May 22. He joined the MC&S in the 1940s, before that union merged with the SIU' s AGLIWD. Brother Williams began receiving his pension in February 1972. HENRYL. WYATT ,...-----., Henry L. Wyatt, 46, died August 10, 1989. A native of Ohio, he joined the Seafarers in 1978 as a member of the engine department. Brother Wyatt last sailed in 1987 aboard the Overseas Chicago asaQMED. SOPHIA T. STROM Pensioner Sophia T. Strom, 81, died June 10. Sister Strom started her career with the MC&S in 1961 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU' s AGLIWD. Born in Denmark, she retired in January 1971. AHMED W. YAFAI Ahmed W. Yafai, 59, passed away May 20, 1995. Brother Yafai joined the SIU in 1979 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He sailed in both the deck and steward departments. INLAND ALLAN B. SWANSON Allan B. Swanson, 53, passed away February 8. Brother Swanson began his career in the inland division of the SIU in 1978 in the port =--==--=~_, of New York. The deck department member completed the towboat operator course at the Lundeberg School. He later transferred to deep sea vessels, still sailing in the deck department, and continued to upgrade at the Lundeberg School. From 1960 to 1963, Brother Swanson served in the U.S. Navy. EDGAR K. V AHER HENRY W. ROBERTS SR. Truenski graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1958 and joined the SIU in the port of New York. A native of New Jersey, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the union's training facility in Piney Point, Md. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948 and again from 1951 to 1953. Brother Truenski retired in March 1992. Pensioner Edgar K. Vaher, 88, died May9. Born in Estonia, he became a member of the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Boston. Brother V aher last sailed in the deck department as a bosun. He began receiving his pension in November 1972. CHARLES W. TRUENSKI Pensioner Charles W. Truenski, 67, passed away June 22. Brother OLLICE D. FILLINGIM Pensioner Ollice D. Fillingim, 65, died June 23. Boatman Fillingim began his seafaring career as a deep sea member in 1947 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The deck department member later transferred to inland vessels. Boatman Fillingim became a licensed operator and retired to his native Alabama in November 1992. PAUL T. GASKINS Paul T. Gaskins, 56, passed away May 2. Born in North Carolina, he joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Gaskins was a licensed operator and last sailed as a captain. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. ALAN A. GRANSTROM .----=:;:-----, Pensioner Alan A. Granstrom, 80, passed away June 28. Boatman Granstrom began sailing with the Seafarers in L.:..==:....;_::=c="----' 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. The Washington state native sailed as a member of the steward department. A World War II veteran, Brother Granstrom served in the U.S. Army from 1937 Continued on page 20 Augusf 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 llmitatlons, 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. GOPHER STATE (IUM), March 15-Chairman Thomas Votsis, Secretary K. Lee Nolan, Educational Director Mann Aroon, Deck Delegate David Brown, Steward Delegate Wayne Webb. Chairman discussed OT distribution and limitations and asked crew to donate to SPAD. He advised crewmembers to adhere to strict laws of Singapore and act as ambassadors of the U.S. while ship is in port. Educational director encouraged crewmembers to upgrade at Piney Point and register for tanker operation/safety course. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Deck delegate discussed letter to VP Contracts Augie Tellez from crew giving suggestions for July 1996 contract negotiations and requesting copy of new contract once ratified. Entire crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang for improvements in quality and service of food. Crew also thanked steward department for wondedul barbecue between Guam and Philippines. Next port: Singapore. OVERSEAS VALDEZ (Maritime Overseas), March 10--Chairman Roberto Zepeda, Secretary Ronald Tarantino, Educational Director Ronnie Day, Deck Delegate Tan Ah Joon, Engine Delegate Andrew Lopez, Steward Delegate Eddy Usmany. Chairman advised crewmembers not to use or misplace any equipment labeled with yellow paint which signifies OPA '90 regulation. He announced payoff upon arrival at dock. Educational director reminded members to enroll in tanker operation/safety course at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into increasing health benefits for mariners and families in next contract. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done and wished chief cook well on his time off vessel. OVERSEAS HARRIEITE (Maritime Overseas), April 14Chairman Calvin Miles, Secretary C.T. Yancey, Educational Director Terry Mouton, Deck Delegate Michael Jackson, Engine Delegate Stanley Williams. Chairman noted report filed with captain concerning language used by chief mate to deck crew. Crew discussed starting ship's fund. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Bosun reminded crewmembers to keep noise down while in passageways. Next port: Cape Verde. SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), April 15-Chairman Christian Chrjstensen, Secretary Ray Garcia, Educational Director George Evosevich, Deck Delegate Mark Stevens, Engine Delegate Bo Francisco, Steward Delegate Steven Sun. Chairman reminded crewmembers a visa is needed to go ashore in Shanghai. He encouraged crew to write their senators to support maritime security act. He also reminded crew to donate to SPAD. Educational director urged crew to keep informed by reading Seafarers LOG and upgrading at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. CHARLES L. BROWN (Transoceanic Cable Ship), May 28Chairman Francisco Sousa, Augusf 1996 Secretary Andrew Hagan, Educational Director Michael Rubino, Engine Delegate Daniel Hopkins, Steward Delegate Allan Sim. Bosun asked crew to return all movies to movie locker once finished. He announced ship payoff on May 31 and reminded crewmembers ship is on cable repair standby. Secretary noted letter of suggestions for contract negotiations read and signed by all crewmembers before being sent to contracts department. Educational director discussed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer announced $700 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman explained and distributed letter concerning process of obtaining STCW identification. Crew reported air conditioning broken in mess hall. Chief steward urged crewmembers to use caution in mess hall, especially when using coffee machine. Next port: St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. CLEVELAND (Sealift Inc.), May 25-Chairman David Garoutte, Secretary Miguel Vinca, Educational Director J. Funk, Deck Delegate Eugene Finley, Engine Delegate Robert Woods, Steward Delegate Julio Arzu. Chairman thanked deck and engine department members for hard work and efforts in cleaning holds and keeping pumps going. He advised crew to expect ~ight to 10 days of loading in Lake Charles, La. before return trip to Ploce, Croatia. Bosun announced payoff on May 27 ·and thanked crew for good trip. He also reminded crew to clean rooms for next member signing on. Secretary requested crew return all silverware, glasses and pitchers to mess hall and make sure plastic items are separated from regular trash. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $80 in ship's fund for new movies. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed information received from union headquarters concerning STCW certificates. Bosun noted STCW forms available. Crew elected new treasurer and began repair list. Steward asked crew to keep laundry room clean. Crewmembers gave vote of thanks to galley gang for good barbecue. FRANCES HAMMER (Ocean Chemical Carriers), May 21-Chairman Richard Wilson, Secretary Herbert Davis, Educational Director Terry Jacobson, Deck Delegate Kenneth Boone, Engine Delegate Mike Novak, Steward Delegate Ronnie Hall. Crew requested new ice machine and asked if shower temperature could be better adjusted. Chairman thanked all departments for job well done. Educational director reminded crew to obtain STCW identification papers and advised deck and engine department members to inquire about additional requirements. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun and crew extended special vote of thanks to Steward/ Baker Herbert Davis and Chief Cook Ronnie Hall for a superb culinary department aboard Frances Hammer. Next port: Mexico. GREEN ISLAND (Waterman Steamship), May 2~hairman Marvin Zimbro, Secretary J. Reid, Educational Director Ronnie Derian, Deck Delegate Solomon Shields, Engine Delegate Lorie Christmas. Chairman announced ar- rival in Morehead City, N.C. on June 2 and estimated time in port to be 12 to 18 hours. He reported ship to pay off in New Orleans on June 6 and thanked crew for job well done with cargo operations. Educational director explained upcoming election of union officials and nomination process. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read and distributed STCW information. Crew asked steward to hold cookouts. Crew also requested meals be served 10 to 15 minutes early so watchstanders have more time to eat before returning for duty. LIBERTY STAR(Liberty Maritime), May 5-Chairman John Neff, Secretary Henry Jones Jr., Engine Delegate Cliff Evans, Steward Delegate Randy Stephens. Chairman noted letter received from headquarters concerning STCW certificates. Secretary welcomed crewmembers signing on and thanked crew for job well done. He reminded everyone to upgrade at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. Educational director advised crew to attend tanker operation/safety course at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. new commercial toasters are on order. Next port: Pascagoula, Miss. OVERSEAS NEW YORK (Maritime Overseas), May 2-Chairman Mark Lamar, Secretary Barbara Stevenson, Educational Director George Phillips, Deck Delegate Michael Murphy, Steward Delegate Martin Qader. Chairman discussed ship's new charter to export Alaskan oil following 24-month layup. He praised crew for cleaning ship and thanked them for doing the best job possible to help accomplish goals set by captain to get vessel in shape. Bosun and crew discussed five days lodging with no hot water and no heat. Secretary noted new microwave received for crew mess hall. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point to stay educated aboard tankers destined to export Alaskan oil. He stated ship still at dock with detailed in letter from SIU headquarters. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested wallmounted fans in crew quarters. Next port: Texas City, Texas. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), May-12-Chairman Amado Abaniel, Secretary Donna Jean Clemons, Educational Director Brian R. Connell, Deck Delegate Mike F. Ortiz, Engine Delegate Samuel Garrett, Steward Delegate Shari Hardman. Bosun informed crewmembers of need for STCW identification certificate. He advised crew who intend to continue sailing aboard tankers to enroll in the tanker operation/safety course at Paul Hall Center. Chainnan encouraged members to support union and protect jobs through SPAD donations. He reported estimated arrival in port of Oakland, Calif. on May 14. Secretary announced movies moved into Fish for a Week LNG LEO (ETC), May 19-Chairman John Davis, Secretary Ron Aubuchon, Educational Director Larry Pittman, Deck Delegate Michael Presser, Engine Delegate Jeffery Yarmola, Steward Delegate Amy Rippel. Chairman announced union representative to meet vessel in Japan on May 24 and will be available to answer questions concerning contract negotiations. Educational director encouraged all members to upgrade at Lundeberg School, paying special attention to tanker operation/safety course. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew extended special vote of thanks to galley gang and Chief Steward Ronald Aubuchon for an outstanding job done during his first voyage as steward on the ship. Next port: Osaka, Japan. OM/ COLUMBIA (OMI Corp.), May 12-Chairman Greg Hamilton, Secretary William Bragg, Educational Director George Montgomery, Deck Delegate Craig Holdredge, Engine Delegate Eddy Newman, Steward Delegate Mary L. Brayman. Chairman noted that unsatisfactory mattresses received last trip were sent back and new mattresses should arrive in port of San Francisco. Bosun circulated STCW forms and urged crewmembers to take opportunity to apply for certificates by mail. He reminded crew to separate oily rags from regular trash. Secretary asked crewmembers to fill out repair list. Educational director discussed importance of obtaining STCW certificates before deadline. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Engine delegate asked for clarification of OT item in contract. Bosun announced notice posted from OMI concerning base pay increase effective April 1. Next port: El Segundo, Calif. OVERSEAS MARILYN (Maritime Overseas), May 2~hairman Mark Galliano, Secretary P. Cook, Deck Delegate James Brinks, Engine Delegate A. Hickman Jr., Steward Delegate Samuel Concepion. Chairman noted new mattresses ordered for crew. Secretary thanked crewmembers for general upkeep of ship and stressed importance of upgrading skills at Piney Point. He also advised crew to attend tanker operation/safety course being offered at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Chairman advised crew to refer to Seafarers WG for current union news. Bosun reported captain has advised that Weighing in at about 150 pounds, this halibut made a variety of meals for OM/ Columbia crewmembers. Chief Steward Jerry Dantino (standing, left) caught the fish during his off-duty time when the OMI Corp. vessel was in Valdez, Alaska. Joining Dantino on deck are AB Feliciano M. "Juan" Gimutao Jr. (kneeling) and SA Benjamin C. Sandoval. unknown itinerary. Repair list discussed and crew talked about keeping good communication flowing among departments. Steward delegate asked crew to help preserve and clean linens until new order is received. Crew complimented galley gang on great meals. Steward delegate asked entire crew to pitch in to help keep common areas clean. Crew discussed May 7 visit of SIU President Michael Sacco and Maritime Overseas officials. OVERSEAS VALDEZ (Maritime Overseas), May l~hairman Roberto Zepeda, Secretary Tyler Laffitte, Deck Delegate Tan Ah Joon, Engine Delegate Andrew · Lopez, Steward Delegate Brian McEleney. Chairman advised all ABs, chief pumpmen and second pumpmen who sail in international waters to have an STCW certificate of identification by October 1, 1996. He noted there is no charge for the certificate - it is a supplement to zcard. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into decreasing amount of seatime required for vacation. A vote of thanks was extended to galley gang for job well done. RICHARD G. MA ITH/ESEN (Ocean Shipholding), May 3-Chairman James T. Martin, Secretary L. McElroy, Educational Director Kelly Mayo, Deck Delegate Wayne Casey, Engine Delegate Dean Dobbin, Steward Delegate Michael Poolar. Treasurer announced $470 in ship's fund. Chairman discussed STCW certificate requirements as galley area. He thanked crewmembers for movie donations and reported purchase of 45 new videos, leaving $100 in fund to be used for next purchase. Educational director also discussed importance of attending tanker operation/safety course at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun thanked galley gang for extra pounds put on during voyage du_e to excellent food. SEA-LAND CRUSADER (SeaLand Service), May 31-Chairman Gregorio Ortiz, Secretary Nelson Morales, Educational Director Douglas Greinner. Crew requested new washing machine and larger TV. Chairman noted everything in good order. Crew asked contracts department for update on contract negotiations. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND DEFENDER (SeaLand Service), May 2~hairman William J. Dean, Secretary Roger Linasan, Educational Director Henry L. Paquin, Deck Delegate Robert L. Raney, Engine Delegate Horst G. Baetjer, Steward Delegate Colleen J. Mast. Chairman announced gangway watch in shipyard and advised crew to report all beefs directly to him. Educational director urged members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School when possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun reminded crew to obtain STCW certificates prior to October 1, 1996. Next port: Oakland, Calif. Conti.nued on page 21 Seafarers LOG 19 �Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the membership's money and union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by the secretary-treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rankand-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 Final Departures 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 207 46 Full copies ofcontracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. in the engine department, most recently as a chief engineer. A native of Alabama, he retired in April 1994. Continued from page 18 to 1945. Boatman Granstrom began receiving his pension in July 1977. CURTIS GRUBBS Curtis Grubbs, 28, passed away March 25. A native and resident of Mississippi, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1986 as a member of the deck department. Boatman Grubbs sailed primarily aboard Orgulf Transportation vessels. JAMES R. LOPES James R. Lopes, 72, died June 2. Boatman Lopes began sailing in the 1940s and joined the SIU in 1981 in the port of New ~--------' York. The Massachusetts native last sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. WILLIAM R. MERRILL Pensioner Willian1 R. Merrill, 81 passed away June 30. Born in North Carolina, he became a member of the Seafarers in 1960 in the port ;.,;;;;,;;;,,.==------;· of Norfolk, Va. The deck department member sailed primarily on vessels operated by Curtis Bay Towing Co. Boatman Merrill retired in December 1976. HOLLIS G. NEAL Hollis G. Neal, 41, died May 14. He started his career with the SIU in 1994 in the port of St. Louis. The deck department member sailed ~-----~ primarily on vessels operated by Orgulf Transportation. Born in Mississippi, Boatman Neal made his home in Tennessee. EARL ODOM Pensioner Earl Odom,62, passed away June 28. Boatman Odom became a member of the Seafarers in 1957 in the ·' ~ port of Mobile, ~, •· Ala. He sailed 20 Seafarers LOG CLYDEJ.ROBERTSON Pensioner ClydeJ. Robertson, 70, died May 30. He started his career with the SIU in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. The Virginia native sailed in the engine department. A veteran of World War IT, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Boatman Robertson retired in November 1984. FERDINAND J. TRUXILLO Pensioner Ferdinand J. Truxillo, 80, passed away February 4. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 197 6 in the port of New Orleans. The deck department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School to vessel operator and last sailed as a tugboat captain. Boatman Truxillo began receiving his pension in November 1981. 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 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 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. 1bese 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 GREAT LAKES JOSEPH VENTRESCA ,.--==--=-----, Joseph Ventresca, 65, passed away June 13. Born in Italy, he joined the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of Buffalo, N.Y. Brother =--==== Ventresca sailed as a member of the engine department and was a resident of Ohio. 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. TRANSPORTATION & TRAVEL ALITALIA AIRLINES Air transport for passengers and freight .,... Machinists BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC. Tires . Brands include: Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Triumph , Road King, Roadhandler (except Roadhandler Touring A/S with the code "DOT CC .. ." molded into the sidewall) .,... Steelworkers FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Hotel in Waterbury, Conn. .,... Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees GO-MART GAS Gasoline sold at Go-Mart convenience stores and truck stops .,... Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers KAUAI RESORT JULY I AUGUST Hotel in Kapaa, Hawaii .,... Longshoremen & Warehousemen 1996 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• KAWASAKI ROLLING STOCK, U.S.A . Railroad cars .,... Transport Workers APPAREL & ACCESSORIES MICHELIN ACME BOOT CO. Michelin brand tires .,.... Steelworkers Western-style boots: Acme , Dan Post, Dingo brands .,.... Steelworkers OGLEBAY PARK Wheeling , W. Va., park/resort/recreation complex DECKERS CORP. RAYMONDT. WALTERS Pensioner Raymond T. Walters, 69, died May 29. He began sailing with the SIU in 1967 from the port of Jacksonville, ~~~~~~~ Fla. The Florida native last sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. From 1943 to 1955, he seived in the U.S. Anny and the U.S. Coast Guard. Boatman Walters retired in July 1991. 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 volunt&cy. 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 contribytion 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. .,... Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Sandals: Deckers, Sensi and Teva brands .,.... Machinists FOOD & BEVERAGES F. L. THORPE & CO. "Original Black Hills Gold Jewelry" .,... Steelworkers CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES Table grapes that do not bear the UFW label on their carton or crate .,.... Farm Workers HOWE K. SIPES CO. Athletic apparel (chiefly baseball and softball uniforms, satin and wool jackets). Label : Howe Athletic Apparel .,.... Electronic Workers COOK FAMILY FOODS, LTD. Hams and ham steaks: Cook's, Blue Bird, Fire Side, Lancaster, Nottingham, Shaws, Sherwood, Super Tru, TV's labels .,.... Service Employees MASTER APPAREL Men's and boy's pants. Labels include Botany 500, Hills and Archer, and Blair .,... Electronic Workers DIAMOND WALNUT CO. Diamond brand canned and bagged walnuts and walnut pieces.,.... Teamsters BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS ACE DRILL CORP. FARMLAND DAIRY Wire, jobber & letter drills, routers and steel bars .,.... Auto Workers Milk sold under the Farmland Dairy label in stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York .,.... Teamsters BROWN & SHARPE MFG. CO. MOHAWK LIQUEUR CORP. Measuring, cutting and machine tools and pumps .,... Machinists Mohawk label gin, rum, peppermint schnapps, and cordials .,... Distillery, Wine & Allied Workers LOUISIANA-PACIFIC CORP. TYSON/HOLLY FARMS CHICKEN Brand name wood products: L-P Wolmanized, Cedartone, Waferwood , Fiberpine, O ro-Bond, Redex, Sidex, Ketchikan , Pabco, Xonolite .,.... Carpenters and Woodworkers (/AM) •• ROME CABLE CORP. • • Cables used in construction and min ing .,.... Machinists SOUTHWIRE CO. Commercial and industrial wire and cable; Do-It-Yourself brand homewire.,... Electrical Workers APPLIANCES & FURNITURE SILO, INC. Retailers of appliances and electronics .,... Teamsters TELESCOPE CASUAL FURNITURE CO. Lawn , patio, other casual furniture. Brand name: Telescope .,.... Electronic Workers UNION LABEL AND SERVICE Ch icken and processed poultry products .,... Teamsters • MISCELLANEOUS BELL ATLANTIC/NYNEX MOBILE SYSTEMS Cellco cellular phone system .,.... Communications Workers and Electrical Workers BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION BET cable television , Action pay-per-view, Bet on Jazz .,... Electrical Workers R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Cigarettes: Camel, Winston, Salem, Doral, Vantage, More, Now, Real , Bright, Century, Sterling, YSURitz; Tobacco: Prince Albert, George Washington , Carter Hall, Apple, Madeira Mixture, Royal Comfort; Little Cigars: Winchester .,... Bakery, Confectionery & Tobacco Workers TRADES DEPARTMENT , AFL-CIO August 1996 �Ships Digest • • Continued from page 19 SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), May 19-Chainnan Christian Christensen, Secretary Ray Garcia, Educational Director George Evosevitch, Deck Delegate Mark Stevens, Steward Delegate Steven Sun. Chainnan announced repair list turned in and work completed. Educational director urged members to donate to SPAD. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA·LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land Service), May 14-Chainnan J. Carter, Secretary Brenda Kamiya, Steward Delegate Virgilio Rivera. Chairman noted no response received about new dryer and shelves for crew laundry room. Crew discussed starting movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into changing length of time required per job. Bosun stated a notice for draws and slop chest needs to be posted by captain. He commended crew for job well done. SEA-LAND SPIR/T(Sea-Land Service), May 19--Chairman Howard Gibbs, Secretary Steve Apodaca, Educational Director Charles Henley, Deck Delegate S. Grider, Engine Delegate Randolph Llanes, Steward Delegate Richard Casuga. Chairman thanked all departments for cooperation during voyage and advised crew to apply for tanker operation/safety course at Paul Hall Center. Secretary stressed importance of donating to SPAD. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward department for great barbecue. Next port Kaohsiung, Taiwan. CHARLESTON(Apex Marine), June 29--Chairman Anthony Maben, Secretary Glenn Hamman, Educational Director Charles Mispagel, Deck Delegate Clemente Figueroa, Engine Delegate C. Clements, Steward Delegate Cecilio Suarez. Chairman and crewmembers discussed new contract. Educational director advised Seafarers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: St. Croix, U.S.V.I. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime), June 5--Chainnan Tyronne Burrell, Secretary Kim Dewitt, Deck Delegate Rodney Pence, Engine Delegate German Valerio. Chairman thanked crew for job well done. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun noted applications for tanker operation/safety course at Piney Point available. Crew asked contracts department to look into reducing seatime needed for eligibility requirements. Crew noted photo of crewmembers in Estonia submitted to Seafarers WG. Next port: Galveston, Texas. LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty Maritime), June 23-Chairman Terry Cowans, Secretary Norman Evans, Educational Director J. Badgett, Deck Delegate D. Martin, Engine Delegate Oscar Padilla. Chairman announced ship will pay off June 25 upon arrival in port. He asked all crewmembers signing off to replace linens in quarters. Crew noted slow mail service to vessel which will be reported to patrolman. Educational director reminded crew to return all movies before ship docks. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Steward requested additional stores for long trips. Next port: Galveston, Texas. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), June 16-Chairman John Neff, Secretary Henry Jones Jr., Engine Delegate Cliff Evans, Steward Delegate Randy Stephens. Bosun asked crew to leave rooms clean for next person signing on. Secretary thanked crew for keeping ship clean while in port and reminded members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School. Treasurer noted purchase of several new movies. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done keeping ship clean. Crewmembers also noted food prepared by Liberty Star's galley gang is among best they have tasted. Next port: New Orleans. LIBERTY SUN (Liberty Maritime), June 9-Chairman Joseph Moore, Secretary Scott Opsahl, Educational Director Rogers Bankston, Deck Delegate Charles McPherson, Steward Delegate Jioia DeLeon. Crew reported mattresses not yet received. Refrigerators and freezers in crew mess and crew lounge need repairs. Chairman announced all crewmembers will sign off ship in port of Mobile, Ala. He reminded them no personal items are to be left aboard. He asked crew to clean rooms and thaw out refrigerators for sanitary inspection before arrival in port. Bosun asked crew to tum in keys and safety gear at payoff. Secretary asked crew to remove all trash and linens from rooms prior to payoff. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point and writing senators urging them to support maritime revitalization legislation. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate thanked deck and engine department members for speedy repairs. Crew re- Warm Smiles for a Cold Day After the Liberty Sea tied up in port in Estonia, members of the crew huddled in the cold air for a group photo. They are (from left) Bosun Tyronne Burrell, DEU George Vitello, DEU Frank Cottongin Ill, AB Jim Barrett and AB Rodney J. Pence. August 1996 quested keys to fit house to prevent being locked out while vessel is in port. Deck and engine departments thanked steward department for jobs well done. Crew also extended special vote of thanks to Chief Cook DeLeon for outstanding southern cooking and hospitality. Crew asked contracts department to look into extending vacation time for members. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), June 9--Chairman Charles Kahl, Secretary Dana Paradise, Educational Director Otis Sessions, Deck Delegate Richard Lewis. Chairman welcomed all crewmembers back aboard ship and reported smooth sailing. He noted ship scheduled to spend several days at anchor before loading cargo. Bosun encouraged members to keep up good work and wished everyone a safe tour. Secretary advised crew to keep ship clean. Educational director infonned crewmembers they need STCW certificates by October 1, 1996 and forms are available. He urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School as often as possible. Treasurer announced $350 in ship's fund and discussed purchasing spices and sauces for chief cook in Bontang, Indonesia. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun asked entire crew to wodc: together to keep all areas of ship clean. L TC CALVIN P. TITUS (Maersk Lines), June 12-Chairman Scott Heginbotham, Secretary Hugh Wildermuth, Educational Director David Patterson, Deck Delegate George Tamlin, Engine Delegate Carlos Dominguez, Steward Delegate Julio Guity. Crew noted satisfaction with new shipboard library. Educational director recommended all members upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed STCW information received from union headquarters. Crew asked contracts department to look into better medical coverage for dependents of SIU members. Crew requested new dryer and microwave. Crew noted a farewell party was held aboard the Titus for sister ship, the Eric G.Gibson, which departed Diego Garcia for the U.S. OOCL INNOVATION (Sea-Land Service), June 16-Chairman Felix Santiago, Secretary Robert Seaman, Deck Delegate Tom Arnold, Engine Delegate Fred Tierney, Steward Delegate Sang To Bae. Chairman noted VCR switch has been repaired and furniture on order for crew lounge. Secretary thanked crew for returning all mess gear to galley. Treasurer announced $50 in ship's fund and discussed purchase of movies in port of Boston. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department for good food and menu variety and clean ship. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. OOCL INSPIRATION (Sea-Land Service), June 9--Chairman Russ Barrack Jr., Secretary Ekow Doffoh, Educational Director Pete Kanavos, Deck Delegate Danny Miller, Steward Delegate James Padmore. Chairman noted smooth sailing. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew listed VCR broken and new one expected to arrive in port of Elizabeth, N.J. Crew requested new radio in crew lounge and thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Boston. OVERSEAS ALASKA (Maritime Overseas), June 27--Chairman Tim Koebel, Secretary Ron Malozi, Educational Director Cary Pratts, Deck Delegate Steve Bush, Steward Delegate William Daly. Chairman and crew discussed new contract. Bosun advised crewmembers to return videotapes when finished viewing them. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman noted captain has given permission for purchase of new refrigerators in Tacoma, Wash. OVERSEAS NEW YORK (Maritime Overseas), June 9-Chairman Mark Lamar, Secretary Barbara Stevenson, Educational Director George Phillips, Deck Delegate Michael Murphy, Engine Delegate Dennis Riley, Steward Delegate Martin Qader. Chairman announced ship will arrive in port of Long Beach, Calif. on June 12. Secretary advised all crewmembers to separate trash and plastics. Educational director reminded crew to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew requested antenna, converter for tape rewinder and cable to hook up TV. Steward noted displeasure with food supplier. Crew requested new washer and dryer be hooked up in laundry room. doors locked while in port and noted medical and vacation forms available. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into providing members with medical insurance card as proof of insurance. Capella at the Ready .•• SEA-LAND CONSUMER (Sea- Land Service), June 25-Chairman Frank Adams, Secretary Jerome Jordan, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Deck Delegate Roberto Diaz, Engine Delegate W.P. Jemison, Steward Delegate Arthur Lang. Crew asked for mail boxes in New Jersey and phone booths placed on dock in San Juan, P.R. Chairman asked everyone to donate to SPAD. A vote of thanks was given to steward department for "four star'' barbecues and superb meals. Secretary urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and thanked deck department members for job well done keeping ship in order. Educational director reminded members to keep informed through Seafarers WG. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers requested copy of new contract. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), June 16--Chairman Norberto Prats, Secretary Edgar Vazquez, Educational Director Sam Negron. Chairman reported smooth sailing with payoff upon arrival in Elizabeth, N .J. No beefs or disputed T reported. Bosun noted exceptional bunch of crewmembers aboard ship and excellent meals prepared by steward department. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (Sea-Land Service), June 22--Chairman T .A. Alanano, Secretary Joseph Smith. Chairman urged members to return to Lundeberg School as often as possible to upgrade skills. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Bosun advised crew that ABs, chief pumpmen and second pumpmen who sail in international waters must have STCW certificate as a supplement to z-card by October 1, 1996. SEA-LAND INNOVATOR (SeaLand Service), June 2--Chairman Robert Pagan, Secretary Jose Bayani, Educational Director Herman Manzer, Deck Delegate Walter Weaver, Engine Delegate Crescencio Suazo, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Bosun thanked galley gang for good meals. He noted company is working on obtaining visas for crewmembers so everyone can go ashore in Shanghai on their off time. Secretary thanked bosun, deck and engine departments for cooperating in keeping crew lounge and mess hall clean. Educational director encouraged members to take advantage of courses offered at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted separate washing machine needed for dirty work clothes. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (SeaLand Service), June 23--Chairman Wemer Becher, Secretary Muhammad Sani, Educational Director Dan Dean, Deck Delegate Stanley Parker, Engine Delegate M. Abdulla, Steward Delegate Gary Loflin. Chairman reported ship to pay off upon arrival in Tacoma, Wash. on June 28. He asked crew to keep When a recent morning fire broke out at a paper factory next to where the USNS Capella was docked in Baltimore harbor, members from the Bay Tankers' vessel got out a hose to help in any way they could. Wiper Rick Casaine sent this photo to the LOG. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Service), June 2--Chainnan Dennis Brown, Secretary Clyde Smith, Deck Delegate Thomas Luketich, Engine Delegate Omar Sharif, Steward Delegate Amanda Suncin. Treasurer announced $629 remains in ship' s fund following purchase of VCR and movies. Crew discussed letter received from headquarters concerning STCW certificates needed by crewmembers prior to October 1 deadline. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (SeaLand Service), June 16--Chainnan Perry Greenwood, Secretary Gene Sivley, Educational Director Steve Biglow, Engine Delegate James Brown Jr., Steward Delegate Richard Manalo. Chairman asked crewmembers signing off to clean rooms. He advised crew of payoff in port of Tacoma, Wash. on June 21. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new locks on doors to rooms. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Service), June 18-Chairman Dan Fleehearty, Secretary Harry Lively, Educational Director Kevin Bertel, Deck Delegate Steve Baker, Engine Delegate J. Hansford, Steward Delegate James Ball. Chairman announced payoff in port of Tacoma, Wash. and informed crew that patrolman will be able to answer questions concerning new contract. Educational director reminded crewmembers that 1996 is an election year for both the president of the U.S. and officers of the SIU. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land Service), June 23-Chairman Stephen Garay, Secretary Emanuel Douroudous, Educational Director Raymond Clock. Treasurer announced $50 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers discussed letter from headquarters clarifying payoff policy. Bosun noted everything running smoothly. He extended vote of thanks to steward department for an exceptional job-from the sanitation of the ship to delicious daily meals. Seafarers LOG 21 �Lundeberg School Graduating Classes HARRY .. LUNDEBERG SCHOOL .. ~~:~.. LIF EBOAT CLASS -~~J:- ~7'"-0~~~-~~~ 5 0~==~~::~;::"' Trainee Lifeboat Class 550-Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 550 are (from left, kneeling) Cliffton Radtke, Jason Stanley, Natalie Rivas, Kyron Norman, Gregory Tarullo, (standing) Jeff Swanson (instructor), Elc Crum, Terri Prim, Domeicus Peay and Tyron Dortch. Upgraders Lifeboat-Certificates of lifeboat training were received by the June 24 class of upgraders. They are (from left) Ben Cusic (instructor), George Gauggel, Guillenno Blanco and Josie Tio. Marine Electronics Technician I-Completing the six-week Marine Electronics Technician I course on June 24 are (from left, seated) Stanley Castro, Craig Niedzielski, (standing) Russ Levin (instructor), Brian Sengelaub and Richard Robertson. l~ Refrigeration Maintenance-Receiving certification for completion of the refrigeration maintenance course on June 4 are (from left, kneeling) James Perez, Brian Wilder, (second row) Melvin Layner, Faustino Pereira, Stanley Golden, Robert Mayer, Richard Davis, (third row) Eric Malzkuhn (instructor), Owen Duffy, Lee Laffitte, Joseph LeTang, David Williams and Marcos Hill. Able Bodied Seaman-Seafarers graduating from the able bodied seaman class on June 24 are (from left, kneeling) Willie Jones, Phillip Morris, Robert Ameel, Raphael D'Ambrosia, Pedro Ramos, Tom Gilliland (instructor), (second row) William Ramos, James Bynum, Rodney Roberson Sr., Terrance Carmody, George Claiborne Jr., Shad Ball, Mike Stringer, (third row) Andre Cunningham, Arthur Patterson, Kent Doctor, Christopher Mattair, August Raquedan, Anton Sulic, Jeff Treadwell and Patrick Neary. Tanker Operation/SafetySeafarers completing the tanker operation/safety course on June 4 are (from left, sitting) Burlin Pinion, James Souci, Rick James, Vince Pincatore (instructor), (second row) Joseph Arnold, Julian Mendoza, Jaime Landeira, Konstantine Prokovas, Jose Caballero, Bruce Childers, Percy Payton, Richard Hindson, Michael Briscoe, (third row) Victor Sapp, Bruce Zeigler, Lanette Lopez, Stephen Argay, Janet Price, Patrick Ray, (fourth row) Rudolfo Morera, Bonifacio Fortes , Manuel Oliveira, Arlene Ringler, Cynthia Caster, Justin Cook, James McCormick, Dave Claypool, Joseph Humphrey, Michael Plante, Kathy Shaner, Eusebio Zapata, (fifth row) Maximo Lugtu, Larry Phillips, Michael Edwards, Alula Teferi, Henry Peterson Jr., John Lamprecht, Glenn Bamman, Danny Brown, Fitsum Yohannes and Andre Bennett. Tanker Operation/Safety-On July 2, another group of Seafarers graauated from the tanker operation/safety course. They are (standing far left) Jim Shaffer (instructor), Faustino Pereira, (from left, kneeling) Manuel Guanga, Reginald Watkins, James Fekany, Kimberly Vaughan, James White, Romeo Lugtu, (second row) William Weekley, Siddik Hubair, Ramadan Aly, David Graves, Brian Rotchford, (third row) Tom Barrett, Marius Louw, William Bragg, Andre Skevnick, Bruce Burroughs, Charles Williams, Alejo Fabia, Jim Romeo, (fourth row) Edward Self, Cyrus Brewster, Jason Smith, Pedro Ramos, Kenneth Whitfield, Leoncio Castro, (fifth row) William Brinson Jr., Allan McCoy, Reuben Fife, John McClinton, Alvin Jackson, Norberto Vera, (sixth row) Richard Wilson, Lloyd Stock, Sheldon Greenberg, Duane Bergeson, George Hoopes and Christopher Conway. 22 Seafarers LOG August 1996 �LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1996 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule for classes beginning between September and December 1996 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 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 be/ore their course's start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Dede Upgrading Courses Safety Specialty Courses Start Date Date of Completion Tanker Operation/Safety September 30 October21 November18 October 11 November8 December6 Tankerman Recertification October 14 Novemberll October 25 November22 Advanced Firefighting September 30 October 11 Course Inland Courses Start Date Course Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman October 14 December 13 Celestial Navigation September 30 November8 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Fireman/Watertender & Oiler October14 December13 Hydraulics Novemberll November29 Power Plant Maintenance November4 December 13 Third Assistant Engineer September 23 December13 Radar Observer/Inland Date of Completion (see radar courses listed under deck department) Additional Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Adult Basic Education (ABE) October 14 November22 English as a Second Language (ESL) September 2 October 11 The Lundeberg School is presently working on its 1997 calendar of courses. As soon as the dates are finalized, the schedule will appear in upcoming issues of the Seafarers LOG. Members with any questions regarding future courses may call the school's admissions office at (301) 994-0010. ---~--------------·---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ Primary language spoken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ------------------------~ (Last) (First) (Middle) Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~----------------(Street) (City) (Zip Code) (State) Telephone_..__ __.___ _ _ __ Date of B i r t h - - - - - - - - - - (Arca Code) (Month/Day/Y car) Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member D With this application, COPIES ofyour discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY ofeach ofthe following: the first page ofyour union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Uuzdeberg School identification ca rd listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. BEGIN END COURSE DATE DATE 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: DYes D No HomePort _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes DNo If yes. c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? DYes DNo If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Firefighting: D Yes D No AT THE! August 1996 CPR: D Yes NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. Ifyou have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Date On: Date O f f : - - - - - - - - - - - SIGNATURE._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _DATE_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes D No LAST VESSEL: - - - - - - - - - - - - - R a t i n g : - - - - - - - D No RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 8196 SCHOOL.. Seafarers LOG 23 �Fleet Blessing Overshadowed by Fishing Restrictions Seafarers Join Lawsuit to Restore Balance Fully decorated for New Bedford's Blessing of the Fleet, the T. Luis sails before the reviewing stand with Seafarers, family and friends on deck. Blue skies and calm seas greeted the participants in the 27th annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony, which took place July 7 along the New Bedford, Mass. waterfront. But the event was tempered by newly issued restrictions that affect the livelihoods of fishermen in the area. This was evidenced by a relatively low turnout of boats. "Many vessels remained tied up because new government fishing restrictions which began on July 1st have severely limited the number of days they can fish," New Bedford Port Agent Henri Francois noted. "These restrictions come on top of 1994 rules which, while tough, were showing signs of increasing the amount of fish in the fishing grounds." The SIU has responded to these additional restrictions by joining in a lawsuit to put them on hold until the current conservation rules have been evaluated by scientists. "Fishermen are out at sea for 10 to 12 days at a time, and they see the recovery of cod and haddock stocks from the very low points they had reached. Without changes to the current rules, our members will continue to be squeezed in an economic vise," Francois observed. He added that the union would be submitting testimony in upcoming hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives on the economic impacts of these rules. "I believe that Congress is looking out for the working men and women in this industry. With the help of good people like Representative [Barney] Frank (D-Mass.) and Senator [Ted] Kennedy (D-Mass.), who represent New Bedford fishermen, a balance between conservation and the ability to work will be restored. Then, we will be able to celebrate the annual Blessing of the Fleet the way we used to. Until that time, we will keep fighting these unfair measures that are preventing our members from working." Despite the serious issues confronting the industry, there was plenty of enthusiasm during the annual Blessing of the Fleet. Led by the T. Luis, SIUcrewed fishing boats claimed the top three prizes in the vessel decorating competition. As part of the celebration, fishing boats from the local fleet are decorated by their crewmembers to sail before a reviewing stand that included elected officials, members of the business communities and representatives from New Bedford's religious community. Crewed by Captain/Owner Antonio L. Santos, Mate Joao Marcalo, Engineer Jose Martelo and Cook Mario P. Santos, the T. Luis captured first place after finishing second last year. Awarded second place this year was the Portugal, captained by Antonio Gravato. Also sailing aboard the Portugal were Mate Jose Gravato, Engineer Jose Cruz, Cook Isidro Fonceca and Deck Jose Rosas. Garnering the third place award was the Atlantic Star. Serving as the crew of this vessel were Captain/Owner Antonio Oliveira, Engineer Joao Parreira, Mate Joaquin Matos and Cook Manuel J. Neno. The annual blessing allows the community to remember those who have lost their lives at sea as well as ask for protection, good luck and bountiful waters in the year ahead. Second prize in the celebration went to the SIU-crewed Portugal. •: • )> Local pleasure craft join with the fishing boats to form a flotilla for the waterfront festivities . Pa. Vets Honor WWII Mariners Among the guests sitting on the reviewing stand for the July 7 blessing were (from left) Howard Nickerson, director of the Offshore Mariners Assn; Henri Francois, New Bedford SIU port agent; Susan Rothschild and Dr. Brian Rothschild, director of marine science at the Univ. of Mass. at Dartmouth. The Mon Valley (Pa.) Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans recently dedicated a memorial honoring the United States merchant marine of World War 11. The monument, a granite bench donated by a local business, is situated in McKeesport, Pa.'s Memorial Park, near city hall. Democratic Congressman Michael Doyle took part in the dedication. Pictured above are members of the chapter, including retired Seafarer Pete Salvo (front row, second from right). � 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 August 1996 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SENATE VOTES TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE SEAFARERS SUPPORT MIN. WAGE HIKE LOTT URGES ACTION ON U.S. SHIP BILL MEMBERS RATIFY STANDARD PACTS THREE NEW CONTRACTS APPROVED BY SEAFARERS TEXT OF SEN. TRENT LOTT’S SPEECH TO THE SENATE ON THE U.S. SHIP BILL LOCAL EFFORTS GAINING SUPPORT FOR KEEPING JONES ACT INTACT ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIVES OF THREE SIU BOATMEN 5-YEAR PACT PRESENTED TO LNG CREWS HUTCHISON TAKES HELM OF SENATE MERCHANT MARINE-SUB COMMITTEE DREDGING, ALTERNATIVE DUMP KEY TO GOV’T NY PORT PLAN LUNDEBERG SCHOOL TRAINING HELPS SAVE LIFE OF CHOKING SHIPMATE SHUGHART MOVES EAST FOR MILITARY EXERCISES GLOBAL SENTINEL COMPLETES VOTING; FIVE-YEAR CABLE SHIP PACT RATIFIED GLOBAL MARINER INSPECTS CABLE AT TWA CRASH SITE SHANGHAI VISIT PROVES WORTHWHILE FOR ABS GREAT LAKES SEAFARER PUBLISHES BOOK OF POETRY AND SEA LORE LNG LEO SAILS WITH LION-LIKE SWIFTNESS OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEYS KEEP USNS SILAS BENT UNDERWAY INDEPENDENCE GALLEY CREW MAINTAINS HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE THE SHAMEFUL CASE OF THE PRIDE OF DONEGAL FLEET BLESSING OVERSHADOWED BY FISHING RESTRICTIONS SEAFARERS JOIN LAWSUIT TO RESTORE BALANCE 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 08/01/1996 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. 8 1996 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/5c56b665f8e226c4963eb20fd0889a4e.pdf 87467f62050711d9994afa06bb580d39 PDF Text Text 'On the Raad ta • • • Seafarers Gain Hundreds of New Jobs as Military Sealift Command Awards Crewing to SIUContracted Maersk. Eight New Prepositioning Ships Are Included In July 31 Announcement _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Page 2 1 llew Jabs .,, . /!:..:; :...:/• :~ . • ~ ... ... . .cir ...,,.• • lie ~ . .. "'".. • .. .. .. Seafarers are expected to go up the gangway of the USNS Bob Hope before the end of the year. The newly constructed prepositioning ship was christened in March. SIU-contracted Maersk Line Limited of Norfolk, Va. won the award for crewing this and seven other new Military Sealift Command vessels. �President's Report Meeting the Vision Thirty years ago this month, the gates of a former U.S. Navy torpedo base in Piney Point, Md. opened to receive the first trainees to attend the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. That was a momentous occasion for those of us who have been involved in this process from the beginning. The union was consolidating the training and upgrading procedures for SIU members to one central location. And this site had the needed benefit of being waterfront property, so training could take place on working vessels as well as in Michael Sacco classrooms. The first Seafarers to attend Piney Point in 1967 must have wondered what they had gotten themselves into. The property contained old wooden military barracks, a two-story hotel, some piers and plenty of land. What was the union thinking when it acquired this tract in the middle of nowhere? But at the helm of the SIU at that time was a man who had the vision of what such a training facility should and could become. That man was Paul Hall, who knew that education played a major role in any individual's advancement. Hall constantly stressed the need for members to better themselves, and education was the key to that process. During the 1950s, he led the SIU in implementing its program of upgrading the skills of its members-as well as providing basic training for newcomers-at halls in New York, Baltimore, Mobile, New Orleans and Houston. By the mid-1960s, with the buildup of American forces in Vietnam, Hall foresaw a central training location that could expand with the needs of the U.S.-flag fleet. That was his vision of Piney Point when the SIU acquired it in 1967. And that is still the vision of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. While the grounds may not look the same, the goals set 30 years ago remain true. The Paul Hall Center, which includes the Lundeberg School, is the premier training facility for merchant mariners in this country, and I dare say, the world. While ratings for mariners like able seaman, electrician and steward are still used today, the jobs performed by Seafarers with these titles are far different than they were 30 years ago. Automation, containerization, computerization, government regulations and international treaties have meant new job skills for merchant mariners. Yet through it all, the Paul Hall Center has been meeting-and exceeding-the new demands placed before our members. In the last several years, the center has introduced courses designed to help SIU members aboard tankers meet the challenges set forth by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90). Seafarers now receive special training in the prevention and containment of oil spills and other hazardous materials. In order to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards also stemming from OPA '90, the center offered classes in different parts of the country to teach members how to properly handle refrigerants. Just in the last 12 months, the Paul Hall Center has prepared Seafarers for the onset of amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) by expanding its curriculum, including the additions of new courses for bosuns, ABs and pumpmen. In getting the membership ready to meet the new requirements aboard U.S.-flag vessels, the center also looked out for them in another way. Just three months ago, it began issuing the first U.S. Coast Guard-approved training record books, which were designed by the center's staff to help Seafarers comply with existing and upcoming international regulations. These books take the place of carrying an assortment of documents, certificates and papers required by international port-state control inspectors. And the center has not stopped there. It recently restructured the overall steward training program and revised the entry-level course to include apprenticeship instruction aboard SIU-contracted vessels. As we celebrate Paul Hall's birthday this month, all Seafarers have reason to be proud of the center named for the late SIU president and its record of excellence. SIU members have benefited greatly from Paul Hall's dream and from the dedicated efforts of everyone associated with the facility. Thirty years ago, Piney Point was the beginning of Paul Hall's vision to provide Seafarers with the training needed to be competitive in the changing maritime industry. Today, the Paul Hall Center continues that vision with its sights firmly set on meeting and exceeding whatever challenges may face the fleet in the next century. Volume 59, Number 8 August f 997 The Seafarers WG (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 LOii 'On the Road to .. .'New Jobs SIU Will Crew B MSC ROIROs In a development that will mean hundreds of new jobs for Seafarers, the union late last month confinned that SIU members will crew eight roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) prepositioning ships being built for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). As the Seafarers LOG went to press, MSC announced the awarding of a contract to Maersk Line Limited of Norfolk, Va. for the operation and maintenance of the eight vessels - four Bob Hope class ships being constructed at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans and four Watson class vessels being built at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego. Those vessels are scheduled for delivery on various dates between 1998 and 2000. They will join MSC's Afloat Prepositioning Force and will be fully loaded with wheeled and tracked vehicles for the U.S. Army. The USNS Bob Hope, christened in March, is slated to be the first of the eight ships delivered. SIU members will begin crewing the 950-foot vessel later this year. 'This announcement means one thing: jobs for Seafarers," stated SIU President Michael Sacco. "It's another example of how the SIU constantly looks out for the jobs and job security of the membership." SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez pointed out that as part of the SIU's bid to crew the vessels, the union "put together a package designed to efficiently meet the requirements of this important contract. That includes l Christened at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans in March, the USNS Bob Hope is slated for delivery to the U.S. Military Sealift Command early next year. The prepositioning ship will be crewed by SIU members. comprehensive training for the crews and incentives for retaining experienced crews." The new RO/ROs are part of a multi-ship package designed to help rectify the shortage of American strategic sealift capability identified after the Persian Gulf War. Also included are five converted RO/ROs already crewed by Seafarers and operated by Bay Ship Management (the USNS Yano, USNS Shughart, USNS Gordon, USNS Soderman and USNS Gilliland). In addition to the that fact that the Bob Hope is the first MSC ship named for an entertainer, another notable aspect of the vessel is its sheer size. The T-AKR 300 ship is 105.9 feet wide and displaces more than 62,000 tons. The Bob Hope also features more than 300,000 square feet of cargo space, can transport up to 1,000 tanks and vehicles, and can sail at 24 knots. Hope, 93, was honored by the Navy for his 55 years of entertaining U.S. troops all over the world, in peace and war. "He always made the extra effort to be there at the most difficult time of the year, when separation from family is the toughest," Navy Secretary John Dalton said. Hope and his wife of 63 years, Dolores, attended the christening March 15. Seatarers Join Hundreds to Demand Justice for Fired Sprint Workers SIU members joined hundreds of other trade unionists and international labor officials July 14 in front of Sprint Corp. headquarters in Washington, D.C. to demand justice for Latino workers who were illegally fired three years ago when the telecommunications giant shut down its San Francisco operations to thwart a union organizing drive. On July 14, 1994, only eight days before the workers were scheduled to vote for union representation by the Communication Workers of America (CWA), Sprint closed its San Francisco Latino telemarketing operation, Sprint/La Conexion Familiar, and fired all 177 workers, who were mostly Hispanic women. (Ironically, La Conexion Familiar translates to English as "The Family Connection.") "Defending an American worker's right to join a trade union is critical," stated Antoinette Spangler, a steward department member who sails from the port of New York. 'This rally for the Sprint workers demonstrates the strength and unity of the labor movement and proves that we will not tolerate the abuse of our union brothers and sisters," added Spangler, who graduated from the Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1981. On December 30, 1996, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Sprint's decision to close the La Conexion Familiar office just one week before a scheduled union election directly violated federal labor law. As a result, Sprint was ordered to rehire the workers with full back pay and benefit compensation, plus inter- est. However, the company has appealed the ruling, thereby further delaying the workers from receiving their jobs as well as the more than $12 million owed them. International Support AFL-CIO President John Sweeney informed the crowd assembled in Washington that similar demonstrations were taking place at 15 different Sprint locations around the country as well as in Mexico, Canada and Europe. "Sprint is a corporate criminal because it discriminates against workers, steals their dignity and cheats them out of wages and benefits. Sprint is a corporate criminal because it has violated the right of workers to have free speech, freedom of assembly and the right to form or join a union," stated the president of the national labor federation, to which the SIU belongs. others Voice Views In addition to Spangler, eight other Seafarers attended the Washington demonstration, which took place at midday in 100 degree heat. "It was an incredible experience to stand with my union brothers and sisters and demand justice and fairness for the Sprint workers. I think our message came through loud and clear," reflected Franchesca Rose, a 33year-old chief steward, who recently signed off the Liberty Sun. Michael Pooler, a steward department member who sails from the port of Norfolk, Va. noted, "It was an exhilarating experience, and I am proud to be SIU members Lee Frazier (left) and Kenneth Whitfield protest outside Sprint headquarters in Washington, D.C. on July 14. a member of the SIU-a union that stands strong and tall beside our fellow brother and sister trade unionists. " Pooler joined the SIU in 1987 in the port of San Francisco. Also noting the significance of the rally was Floyd Bishop, a chief steward who sails from the port of Jacksonville, Fla. 'The demonstration was great. The message that we sent was clear: We are America's union workers and we are proud, strong and united. Union busting will not be tolerated." Also participating in the rally in front of Sprint headquarters were Seafarers Lee Frazier, Phillip Orlanda, Amy Rippel, Gwendolyn Shinholster and Kenneth Whitfield and members from the SIU-affiliated United Industrial Workers. August 'f997 �Ryan Refutes Jones Act Foes Head of Lake Carriers' Association Answers Attacks on Nation's Freight Caboatge Law Citing a number of inaccuracies and distortions in the arguments by opponents to the Jones Act, the head of the Lake Carriers' Association-an organization of U.S.-flag carriers (including several SIU-contracted companies) sailing on the Great Lakes-offered the facts behind the fabrications to the sponsor of House legislation designed to gut the nation's freight cabotage law. George J. Ryan, the association's president, dispelled several of the stories being put forth by an anti-Jones Act coalition in a June 27 letter to U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-Mich.). Many of the charges leveled against the Jones Act were presented during a June 18 press conference called by Smith to introduce legislation that would allow foreign-flag ships with foreign crews to sail in the U.S. coastwise trade. Dispels San StorJ Ryan refuted statements made by the anti-Jones Act group that there are no U.S.-flag vessels available to carry salt from one Great Lakes port to another by pointing out nine vessels presently compete for the trade. 'The statement that the Jones Act forces Buffalo (N.Y.) to buy Canadian salt does not withstand statistical analysis," Ryan said in his letter. "According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' publication Waterborne Commerce of the United States, Buffalo gets the vast majority of its ship-delivered salt in U.S.-flag vessels." He then produced the statistics showing Buffalo received no salt shipments in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995 from Canadian-registered vessels. In 1992 and 1994, U.S.-flag ships delivered far more tons of salt than did Canadian vessels. Sinks N.C. &rain Claims Ryan recounted the story that North Carolina agribusinesses are not able to move U.S. grain from the Great Lakes to their farms in North Carolina on U.S.-flag ships because of supposed high transportation costs. "It is true that a Canadian carrier moved one grain cargo from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Wilmington, N.C. a few years ago, but a single delivery hardly represents a thriving trade. Furthermore, this experiment with vessel delivery was not entirely successful. The port of Wilmington lacks a grain-receiving facility, so the unload was lengthy and plagued by spillage," MarAd Finalizes Regs for Maritime Security Program The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) last month announced that it has finalized regulations implementing the Maritime Security Program (MSP). MarAd had issued an interim final rule in October 1996 which allowed the Department of Transportation agency to initiate the program. The MSP authorizes $100 million annually through the year 2005 to support the operation of approximately 50 militarily useful U.S.-flag vessels. The companies whose vessels are part of the MSP agree to make their ships and land-based infrastructure available to the U.S. armed forces in case of war or national emergency. These vessels also may carry military cargo in times of peace. The final rule incorporates a number of fairly minor changes based on comments received by MarAd from maritime unions, vessel operators, representatives of U.S. shipyards and U.S. insurers providing marine hull insurance. Those revisions essentially are clarifications, rather than major modifications. President Clinton signed the Maritime Security Act last year. The SIU threw its full backing behind the legislation, which enjoyed strong bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. Several SIU-contracted companies have enrolled ships in the MSP. Ryan pointed out. Another problem with a Lakes/North Carolina trade is the winter closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Any East Ccmt customer who initiates such service will still have to engage the railroads or truck lines for deliveries from late December until early April, Ryan noted. "Vessel delivery primarily served as a negotiating ploy with the railroads, and North Carolina interests must be satisfied with allrail delivery or they would not have signed a three-year contract with CSX for transport of their annual requirements," he continued. Ryan then reminded the congressman that several U.S.-flag carriers had made offers which included building or retrofitting vessels to carry grain from the Great Lakes to the North Carolina facilities, but never received any response. CountSI Steel Concerns To the claim that the Jones Act hampers U.S. steel manufacturers August 1997 George J. Ryan offered to work with him to answer any questions or concerns the congressman may have about the U.S.-flag fleet. Smith's legislation, the Coastal Shipping Competition Act (H.R. 1991 ), has not been scheduled for a hearing before either the House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel or the Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. H.R. 1991 has 13 members aboard as sponsors, while a resolution calling for no changes in the Jones Act has more than 200 signatures from representatives from both parties. House Subcommittee Clears Measure Banning Substandard Foreign Ships From Carrying Preference Cargo The House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 1998 Coast Guard Authorization Bill that is designed to keep unsafe foreign-flag vessels from carrying U.S. government-impelled cargo. Introduced by U.S. Representative Bob Clement (D-Tenn.) during the subcommittee's July 16 hearing, the amendment would prohibit U.S. preference cargo from being transported for one year by vessels that have violated an international safety convention as noted by the Department of Transportation agency. The amendment also would target owner/operators who have a history of vessels on the Coast Guard's Port State Control Program list, which monitors MTD, SIU Support Veterans' Status Far All World War II Merchant Mariners The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD), joined by the SIU and four other maritime unions, has petitioned the Department of Defense to extend the current cutoff date for veterans' status for the World War II merchant marine. The MTD on July 30 submitted a comprehensive report to the Defense Department's Civilian/Military Service Review Board detailing why the cutoff date should be changed from August 15, 1945 to December 31, 1946. The account supports a recent application made by a group of U.S. merchant marine veterans to extend the date. "The law, the facts, and the record warrant, without question, approval of this group's application," stated MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex in introducing the department's report. Joining the MID in its petition are SIU President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the MTD; Captain Timothy Brown, president of the Masters, Mates & Pilots; Rene Lioeanjie, president of District No. -4/National Maritime Union!MEBA; Michael McKay, president of the American Maritime Officers; and Alex Shandrowsky, president from moving their product by ship from the East Coast to the West Coast, Ryan said the concern actually "is one of logistics, not cabotage. A cargo originating in North Carolina must travel down to and through the Panama Canal, and then back up to West Coast ports. The length of the voyage long ago made waterborne transport non-competitive with trains and trucks that dash across the country in a matter of days." In countering another claim involving steel, he pointed out U.S. steel manufacturers are being hurt not by transportation costs but by the large amount of foreign steel, particularly from Russia, being dumped on the American market. ''The American steel industry is filing trade complaints against subsidized foreign steel, not the Jones Act," Ryan informed Smith. In closing, Ryan invited Smith to visit a U.S.-flag vessel operating on the Great Lakes. He of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association. (The MID is composed of 33 unions, including the SIU, representing about 8 million members.) At issue is a Defense Department decision which, the MID contends, arbitrarily contradicts a declaration by President Harry Truman. The president declared December 31, 1946 as the end of World War II hostilities. Yet the Defense Department in 1988, when it first gave veterans' status to mariners, fixed the merchant seamen's cutoff date as August 15, 1945 (the day the Japanese surrendered). Merchant mariners who shipped out after August 15 are not considered war veterans, even though military personnel who began serving during that same time received war veterans' status. As noted in the MID petition, 'The interdependence that existed between the merchant marine and our nation's Armed Forces existed throughout the entire period of World War II. The fact that thousands of U.S. merchant vessels continued to sail under government authority on military missions Continued on page 7 The House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee approved an amendment by Rep. Bob Clement (0Tenn.) that would keep substandard foreign-flag ships from carrying government-impelled cargo. ships with hazardous conditions in U.S. ports, by keeping any of their ships from carrying U.S. cargo for one year. Among the items Coast Guard inspectors look for are safety violations, which include hull and superstructure damage as well as inadequate life-saving and firefighting provisions for the crewmembers. A vast majority of the vessels found on the list sail under runaway flags, meaning the owners register the ships in non-traditional maritime nations to avoid the labor, safety, wage and tax laws of their home countries. Such vessels ·generally employ poorly trained, underpaid crews from undeveloped nations. The ships also tend to be badly maintained. Clement, who serves as the highest ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, recalled asking the Coast Guard during a May 1 subcommittee hearing if any ships listed by the agency as being substandard were contracted to carry government-impelled cargo. ''The results were alarming," Clement stated in presenting the amendment. Of the 476 foreign-flag vessels detained by the Coast Guard in 1996, 69 of them had moved preference cargo sometime between 1992 and 1997. Also, 22 owner operators found on the Port State Control Program's list had ships that carried the governmentimpelled goods during the same five-year period. "According to the Coast Guard, as many as three ships per week lose power or steerage in U.S. waters," the congressmen pointed out. "'That is three times a week when a vessel risks the possibility of colliding with another ship or crashing into a crowded shore. "It is appalling that our government would use these ships that the Coast Guard has deemed unsafe." The amendment would require U.S. government agencies to review the Coast Guard's web page for safety records of any ship being considered for a charter. Clement stated the adoption of this amendment would send a signal to the nations of the world that all countries need to remove incentives to charter low-cost, unsafe ships. 'The best way to get unsafe vessels off our waters is to get people to stop hiring them to transport their goods," Clement added. As the Seafare rs LOG went to press, the Coast Guard Authorization Bill was cleared by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Next, it will be considered by the whole House of Representatives and then head to the Senate for consideration. Seafarers LOB 3 �West Coast Sealarers Receive TRBs Members Applaud Usefulness, Convenience of Document Seafarers who received their training record books during last month's meeting in San Francisco proudly display their new documents. Gathering aboard the Sea-Land Defender to talk about the TAB and other important issues are (from left, standing) SIU Executive Vice President John Fay, Chief Cook John Stein, SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney, Bosun John Schoenstein, AB Jessie James, SIU President Michael Sacco, Bosun Jim Foley and (kneeling) SIU San Francisco Port Agent Nick Celona. The SIU last month conduct- opportunities we have and the ed special meetings at the San training available at our school, Francisco hall and aboard two everything you need is right Seafarers-contracted ships in there. I'm really proud of our sitorder to continue issuing training uation." record books (TRBs) to memRecertified Bosun John bers as well as providing Schoenstein praised the union descriptions of how the pocket- for its initiative in being the first size documents work. organization to publish a Coast Jointly developed by the Guard-accepted TRB. "It's also important to rememunion and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Edu- ber what Augie pointed outcation, the TRB, which is accept- that this book can only help us," ed by the U.S. Coast Guard, is remarked Schoenstein, a 30-year designed to assist Seafarers in member of the SIU. ''The only complying with new and upcom- information it contains is posiing regulations affecting mer- tive information. chant mariners throughout the "I also like the fact it's small enough to easily carry with you." industry. Seafarers and their families Similarly, Electrician Larry packed the San Francisco hall Harris described the TRB as "a July 17 for a meeting that fea- great way to verify that you have tured presentations of TRBs to all the background information members. Many other topics also in one place. The TRB is a great were covered, including new and idea, and the meeting was very revised courses at the Hall informational." Center's Lundeberg School of TRBs also were presented to Seamanship, international stan- Seafarers aboard the Sea-Land dards for merchant mariners, Defender and the Manoa, operatthe Seafarers Money Purchase ed by Matson. Pension Plan, and current and Receiving their TRBs at the hall were Harris, potential shipboard employ- union ment opportunities for SIU Abdullah, Victor Frazier, members. Godofredo Melad, A. MohaSIU President Michael med, James Rader, Mercurion Sacco, Executive Vice President Abuan, Lito Agosta, Jon BlasJohn Fay, Vice President quez, Patrick Briggs, Rafael Contracts Augie Tellez and Hall Clemente, Elizabeth Coss, Center Acting Vice President Donald Ganong, Robert GregNick Marrone were on hand to gans, Paul Grepo, Sheng-Jen explain the various issues and Hsieh, Erik Jensen, Michael Noble, Stanley Paea, George answer members' questions. "I thought the whole meeting Pino, Sonya Rabbon, Aldo was really great," stated Santiago, John Sokolik, Alvin Electrician Mohamed Abdul- Solomon, James Sucy, Jesse lah. "The new book is impres- Ulibas and Oscar Wiley. sive, all the information is right Seafarers aboard the Seal.and Defender who received a there. "And our union is in good TRB included Schoenstein and shape as far as jobs, which is the Jessie James, while Luis Diaz, bottom line. Between the job Ivan Zuluaga and C. Allen each received a book aboard the Manoa. Proof of Documentation The TRB mainly was developed to help standardize proof of documentation for port state under both the control International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners (STCW), including the 1995 amendments to that convention. It contains sections for listing a mariner's training as well as his or her demonstrations of various shipboard competencies. TRBs are being issued through the Hall Center to all deep sea, Great Lakes and inland Seafarers. Although there is not yet a fixed date by which SIU members must carry a TRB in order to sign on a ship, the school hopes to equip every Seafarer with a TRB by the end of the year, and members are urged to apply for the books as soon as possible. Original TRBs will be issued at no charge, 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 by 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. The information entered by individuals into the book will be supported and verified by a database maintained at the training facility. r-------------------------------------, Training Record Book Application Last First Middle Date of B i r t h - - - - - - - - - - - - SSN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Height (inches) _ __ State Weight _ __ Zip Code Hair Color _ __ D Yes D No Have you ever attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses? D Yes D No Are you a graduate of the SHLSS entry level program? Posing for a photo following a meeting on the Manoa are (from left, back row) Assistant Cook Luis Diaz, SIU Executive Vice President John Fay, SIU President Michael Sacco, Chief Stewad Ivan Zuluaga, SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney, Chief Cook C. Allen, (front row} SIU San Francisco Port Agent Nick Celona and Lundeberg School Acting Vice President Nick Marrone. Book Number _ _ __ Home P o r t - - - - - - - 1 I I I I I I I I I Eye Color _ __ Department (where you want book sent to) Along with your completed application, please send the following information: 1. Copy of USMMD (Z-card} front and back 2. Two (2) passport size photos 3. Copy of your STCW certificate (if applicable) 4. Copy of your SHLSS school card (if applicable) 5. Proof of any training received other than at SHLSS (certificates, cards, DD-214, etc.} (if applicable) . Signature:------------------ Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send application to: SHLSS - ADMISSIONS Attn: TRB P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 __..,.. or give completed application to port agent QMED Rafael Clemente (left photo} and Bosun Paul Grepo (right) each receives his TAB from SIU President Michael Sacco during last month's meeting in San Francisco. 4 Seafarers LOG 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-------------------------------------~ August 1997 �Osprey Saves Russian Mariner The SS Osprey's first voyage since the Gulf War proved anything but routine, as the Seafarers-crewed vessel recently rescued a Russian mariner in the Aegean Sea. After discharging a cargo of farm equipment June 2 in the Russian ports of Illychevsk and Novorossiysk, the Osprey, operated by Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management, began its return voyage to the U.S. East Coast when crewmembers spotted the Russian seaman. According to the account filed by the Osprey, Captain John Torjusen called out all hands for lookouts as well as to verify everyone was accounted for. The Osprey moved closer to the man in distress, then launched its port lifeboat. Quickly and efficiently, the lifeboat crew secured the Russian, Jakob I van, and brought him safely aboard ship. After I van showered and changed into dry clothing, an Osprey officer who understands a small amount of the Russian language learned that he had transferred earlier that day from the Tuapse to the Kapitan Putilin (both are Russian-flag tankers) "and was unhappy about it," Torjusen wrote. 'Though he did not admit to it, I believe he jumped over the side." The captain arranged to put Ivan ashore in Greece, which would have been a minor deviation from the Osprey's route. However, I van "managed to say that he thought the Tuapse was in the area and he might be able to contact them on VHF," the report notes. "The Tuapse was nearby, so we set a course to intercept." When the Tuapse's captain confirmed that Ivan had been a crewmember aboard that vessel and agreed to pick him up at sea, the Osprey transferred him via Labor Event Honors Angelos SIU officials, city and state politicians and many other well-wishers participated in a recent event in Baltimore honoring Peter Angelos, owner of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles and a labor lawyer. Sponsored by the Baltimore AFL-CIO Central Labor Council's committee on political action, the affair spotlighted Angelos' long record of backing union workers. Angelos frequently represented rank-and-file workers who had been harmed by asbestos contacted on the job. More recently, he was the only baseball owner who refused to use scab players during the baseball strike in 1995. Pictured above (from left) at the May 29 function are SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Pomerlane, Baltimore Sheriff John Anderson, Maryland Governor Parris Glendening and SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. liunstream Crew Rescues Woman Biten by Alligator The 12-6 watch is usually pretty uneventful aboard the SIU-crewed Jesse B. Gunstream, a Higman Barge Lines Inc. tug that moors on the south bank of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near the West Port Arthur (Texas) Bridge. But on the morning of June 19, as Tankerman Barrett Hickey was nearing the end of that watch, he heard strange sounds from outside the boat. Upon investigating the source of the noise, Hickey spotted a woman thrashing about in the water and screaming that she had been attacked by an alligator. With the help of other crewmembers aboard the tug, he pulled the 25-year-old Port Arthur woman aboard and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Ginger S. Norwood, personnel manager at Higman, said the crew tried to quiet the woman-who had puncture wounds on both legs and her rib cage in addition to scratches on her arms and abdomen-and keep her from going into shock. An ambulance was called to transport the stricken woman to the hospital. Two alligators previously had been sighted by Gunstream crewmembers, and U.S. Coast Guard officials and Port Arthur hospital personnel indicated the wounds were consiste11t with alligator bites. According to reports given to Coast Guard investigators, the woman had had a fight with her boyfriend and was trying to swim across the waterway when she got caught in a strong current and was attacked by the alligator. At the time Barrett found her, she had already swum about a mile. The Seafarers aboard the tugboat received praise from the Coast Guard in Galveston, Texas in the form of a letter of recognition. Norwood added Higman's commendation of the events that transpired. "We are proud of the actions taken by the crew," she said. In addition to Barrett, other crewmembers aboard the Gunstream were Capt. Tommy Adams, Relief Captain Wayne Williams and Tankermen Randall Cooper and Cecil Williams. Higman Barge Lines Inc., based in Orange, Texas, operates tugboats and barges along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and its tributaries from Texas to Alabama. August 1997 lifeboat "without incident." In a letter to the Seafarers LOG, Captain Christopher B. Nette, operations manager at Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management, commended the mariners for their flawless rescue. "We are pleased to have a very professional, hard-working crew on the SS Osprey and they deserve recognition for their efforts," he wrote. SIU members aboard the Osprey during the rescue were Bosun Robert Lindsay, ABs Duanne Costello, Francois Loiselle, Trawn Gooeh, Justin Savage and Michael Williams, QMED Richard Williams, DEU Levi Rollins, OMUs Angelo Dunklin, Darrell McDonald and Stephen McCormick, StewardBaker Justo Lacayo, Chief Cook Kevin Marchand, SA Tyrone Brazle and Unlicensed Apprentices Peter Hein and Daniel Wooster. Crewmembers of the SS Osprey assist a Russian mariner aboard the ship after rescuing him in the Aegean Sea. Mobile Hall Doubles as Disaster Relief Site in Aftermath of Hurricane Danny While Hurricane Danny wiped out tree limbs and roofs in Mobile, Ala. and its neighboring communities on the weekend of July 19-20, the real action in the SIU hall in that southern Alabama town began hours after the storm moved east. In the storm's aftermath, the union's facility has been serving as an American Red Cross disaster relief headquarters. Red Cross personnel from around the country arrived in Mobile July 21 to help the port city's residents cope with the aftermath. They brought with them forms, computers and telephones that turned the meeting area of the Seafarers hall into an administrative disaster relief office. "Our facility suffered very little damage from Danny," Mobile Use of the Mobile hall as a disaster relief center for Hurricane Danny Port Agent Dave Carter said of victims shows continued cooperation between members of the AFLthe storm that sat over Mobile CIO and the Red Cross. Posing for a photo are (from left) Billy Tindle, Bay for nearly 18 hours and Alabama AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; Dave Carter, SIU port agent; Lois Grady-Wesbecher, Red Cross director of disaster operations; dumped almost 40 inches of rain Stewart Burkhalter, Alabama AFL-CIO president; and Kirk Patrick, in some locations. (During the Alabama AFL-CIO community services liaison to the Red Cross. peak of the storm, SIU-crewed Crescent tugs were called to set up temporary living quarters, tor of disaster operations for the Bender's Shipyard to push aves- provided for clothing and helped Red Cross, thanked the union and find food for the storm's victims, its mem~rs for providing the hall sel to the dock.) ''We were ready to help the the union's operations continued as a relief site. 'The donation and use of this Red Cross in whatever way we unimpeded. Members could take could because our hall is listed as care of their business at the hall's facility exemplifies the great a voluntary site in cases of emer- counter, and job calls were held cooperation and the invaluable on schedule. partnerships formed between gencies," added Carter Lois Grady-Wesbecher, direc- organized labor and the American While the Red Cross officials Red Cross,'' Grady-Wesbecher noted. Setting up a computer in the Mobile hall to assist the victims of Hurricane Danny is Bob Hail of the Red Cross disaster relief operations. He is part of the agency's rapid response team. The Mobile Seafarers hall parking lot filled with Red Cross vehicles. Seafarers LOG 5 �......... r-------~--.- . . . . ---_.. .__.. , ._____________..__ -------------"""'7"l~----_...-- _.......~-·~~- - ----~----- ---- - More than Quarter Million Paid to Mariners After Sailing Seven Months Without Any Pay Crew Refused to Leave Runaway-Flag Ship Until Owner Showed Them the Money Thanks to the efforts of SIU Representative Spiro Varras, Ukrainian mariners aboard a Liberian-flagged bulker obtained all their wages for the previous seven months of work, as well as air fare home and repatriation expenses, after they refused to sail their ship. Varras, who also serves as an inspector in the port of New York-New Jersey for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), handled negotiations for the crew during the six days the mariners tied up the ship in the port of Newark, NJ. The 24 crewmembers of the Skvira received more than $270,000 on June 19 after not receiving a penny in wages or allotments since signing on November 12, 1996. The ITF had been aware of the plight of the Skvira for several months before the vessel arrived in Newark, according to Varras. He was put on alert about the vessel's arrival in a June 2 letter from ITF headquarters in London (The I1F is a worldwide federation of more than 470 transportation-related trade unions, including the SIU. Its seafarers division is actively fighting the use of runaway-flag shipping, which involves vessels, like the Skvira, 'The sea/arers themselves were completely without funds so that when they arrived in a port, they did not have even a token to use for a bus to go anywhere.' -ITF Inspector Spiro Varras about the Ukrainian crew striking aboard the Liberian-flag Skvira The Skvira crew celebrates the disbursement of wages owed them. In the middle of the group (in the necktie) is SIU Representative and ITF Inspector Spiro Varras. owned by a person or group in one country registering the vessel in a non-traditional maritime nation like Liberia and hiring crews from still other nations in order to avoid meeting the labor, wage, safety and tax laws of the owner's home country.) A representative of the I1F had boarded the vessel in Beaumont, Texas in March after the federation was notified the crew had not been paid for four months, violating its ITFapproved contract. At that time, the vessel's owner, Romantic Seafarer Ltd. of Monrovia, Liberia, promised in writing that the crew would be paid no later than March 31. However, neither the crewnor their families in the Ukraine-received any money. Several weeks after the March 31 deadline, the crew again notified the I1F that no one had been paid. The crew went so far as to tell the I1F that following its representative's visit in Texas, "We were gathered by the Master and strictly warned on behalf of the employer to keep away from the Signs announcing why the crew was on strike were displayed throughout the ship. 6 Seafarers LOG ITF. Otherwise, nobody of the crew would find the job anywhere in Ukraine and its localities in the future." The Skvira crew closed its request for help with, "We hope for your assistance and do believe in getting our salary and repatriation soon." The Liberian-flag bulker arrived in Newark on June 10 with a load of iron ore from Brazil. The crew agreed to offload the ore, which took three days, before beginning its job action. Varras met with the crew for the first time on June 11 and began contacting the ITF, Romantic Seafarer Ltd. and the ship's charterer, Interamericas Marine Transport of Liberia, for help. "Most of the seafarers had wives and children, all left to live in misery so long and without any money," Varras reported after first meeting with the crew. "The seafarers themselves were completely without funds so that when they arrived in a port, they did not have even a token to use for a bus to go anywhere." Following the discharge of the cargo on June 13, the captain, chief engineer and chief mate ordered the crew to make the Skvira ready to sail to Canada. The crew refused and posted a sign stating "Crew on strike. No 7 months pay-no sailing." The crew pulled up the gangway and refused to let anyone, except Varras, aboard the ship. This included the pilot who had been called out to take the ship from the harbor. On June 14, Romantic Seafarer sent a new crew to New Jersey to replace the mariners on strike. Again, the crew on board refused to lower the gangway until they received the more than $270,000 in back pay. By June 16, Romantic Seafarer claimed it had placed $70,000 into the accounts of the crew's families in the Ukraine. Calls home revealed no new money in the banks. The company deceptively claimed the Ukrainian banks were slow, which would cause a delay in the postings. Finally, around 2 p.m. on June 19, the back pay was delivered to the Skvira. The crew still refused to allow the new mariners aboard until everyone was paid and the company signed a statement that no disciplinary or legal actions would be taken against the strikers. Then, the gangway was lowered and the new crew came aboard. By 3 a.m. on June 20, the vessel was sailing for Brazil, instead of Canada, because the job action had cost the company the charter. "The crewmembers were very grateful and happy that we did this for them,'' Varras recalled. "I was so busy with this that I was able to sleep only about four or five hours each day and lost my voice at the end." Ukrainian crewmembers wave in the port of Newark, N.J. from the deck of the Skvira during their six-day strike for seven months of back pay. The Liberian-flag Skvira remained tied up until more than $270,000 was brought aboard to cover the wages of the Ukrainian crew. August 1997 �Seafarers Crew Fourth Maersk Containership To Join U.S.-Flag Fleet Delegates and guests fills the auditorium at the Paul Hall Center for the tenth UIW quadrennial convention. Organizing Remains Top Goal for UIW Safety is of paramount importance aboard all SIU-contracted shi~s. including the Maersk California. Above (from left), Bosun Maurillo Zepeda, AB Ron Webb, Chief Cook Jose Guzman, Second Engineer John Linton and AB Joseph Laine take part in a fire drill. The reflagging of four modem Maersk containerships earlier this year represents new job opportunities for Seafarers. One of those vessels, the Maersk California, recently called on the port of Houston, where it was met by SIU Patrolman Mike Calhoun. The California sails a Mediterranean run. ''The SIU crew aboard the California is working very hard to make this new venture a success," noted Calhoun. "They understand ifs not common, unfortunately, for ships to reflag under the Stars and Stripes, and they're determined to help prove this was a good move." The California along with sister ships Maersk Colorado, Maersk Texas and Maersk Tennessee formerly flew the Danish flag. Now, however, they are enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) and crewed by Seafarers in the unlicensed ranks and members of the American Maritime Officers for licensed positions. Authorized under the Maritime Security Act of 1996, the MSP calls for a IO-year, $1 billion program supporting approximately 50 American-flag vessels that are militarily useful. Ships enrolled in the program must be made available to 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. In addition to the four U.S.-flag containerships, Maersk operates other American-flag ships for the U.S. Military Sealift Command that are crewed by Seafarers. With Gibraltar in the background, crewmembers pose for a photo on deck. Pictured, from left, are AB Peter Funk, Chief Cook Jose Guzman, Electrician Bob Hamil (who sent these photos to the Seafarers LOG), AB Keith Kirby, Chief Steward Kris Hopkins and GVA Abdulla Mohsin. The Maersk California reflagged under the Stars and Stripes last April in Spain. It joined three other Maersk containerships in the U.S.-flag fleet. August 1997 Organizing new members is a top priority of the United Industrial Workers (UIW), the union emphasized last month during its tenth quadrennial convention. The UIW, an affiliate of the Seafarers International Union, represents workers employed in the manufacturing, service and government sectors. In addition to outlining strategies for providing union representation to workers currently not members of labor organizations, delegates to the convention also elected new national and regional officers, reaffirmed a commitment to political action and spelled out numerous other goals. In presenting their individual reports to the convention, which took place July 28-29 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., UIW officials consistently stressed the weight of organizing. "I truly believe that this is the best time in many years to organize," stated UIW National Director Steve Edney. "People are more receptive to unions. People slowly are becoming more educated about the benefits of union membership." SIU President Michael Sacco, who was reelected as president of the UIW, said that nothing short of "survival" is at stake when it comes to organizing. ''Any union that wants to be around in the 21st century better organize," he noted. "Workers deserve union representation. And as long as there are bosses, workers must have unions. Anyone who works for a living knows that's the truth." PolHlc I Action Officials and delegates also concurred that the UIW must remain politically active. "Politics is everything. It has changed the flow of rivers," said Bill Dobbins, vice president of the UIW's Great Lakes region. "If you can't deal in politics, you give up your right to exist." UIW representatives from the union's West Coast region noted that political action during the past year played an important part in the successful efforts to save two large UIW shops. Working closely with the Los Angeles UIW National Director Steve Edney emphasizes the opportunity and need to organize new members. Delegate Donna Christian-Green, member of the House of Representatives, urges increased political activity for working Americans. Harbor Commission and the City Council of Long Beach, Calif., the UIW spearheaded drives to preserve the famous Hotel Queen Mary and the Tri-Union tuna cannery. Hundreds of UIW members are employed at each shop. Delegate Donna ChristianGreen, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and one of the guest speakers at the UIW convention, also underscored the need for political activity. "Every American worker, man and woman, must become more and more involved in politics," said Christian-Green, a former UIW member whose district includes the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas. "We, as workers, have always been the heart and soul of America. Our charge is to fight for America at the union hall, in the community-and at the ballot box." ers-including preservation of good jobs in the U.S.-their top priority when considering the passage or expansion of any trade agreement. They also affirmed their support of legislation currently in the House which aims to revise NAFfA to make it more fair for workers as well as protect the environment or, failing that, to mandate U.S. withdrawal from the agreement. In other news from the convention, delegates assailed legislation that would replace overtime pay with compensatory time off. 'Netarlous' NAFTA As in the UIW convention of 1993, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) proved a major topic during the '97 gathering. Christian-Green said the trade pact's "most nefarious legacy is that it has strengthened the bargaining position of management, who constantly threaten to leave the U.S. and its territories. They intimidate workers. The only winners under NAFfA are the corporations, whose profits have gone up." Delegates unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress and the administration to make fair treatment of American work- Delegates show their support for the national UIW officers elected during the convention. Veterans' Status Supported by MTD Continued from page 3 demonstrates that this interdependence did not stop suddenly at midnight on August 14, 1945. ''To be certain, offensive operations c.eased on that date .... However, lives were lost and ships were sunk (afterward). Disbanding of the military characteristics of our merchant marine did not take place entirely on V-J Day, nor did demobilization of our Armed Forces occur Both continued suddenly. through 1946 over many months." The MTD chronicle includes recent letters from merchant mariners who sailed between August 15, 1945 and the end of 1946. They point out that some 23 U.S.-flag merchant ships were damaged or destroyed by mines during that period, with resultant injuries and loss of life. They also note that merchant ships remained under military control, and civilian mariners legally were bound to obey orders from Navy and Army personnel. As reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG, there are bills in the House and Senate that would extend the cutoff date. Neither has had a committee hearing. Seafarers LOii 7 �School Passes Coast Guard Audit With Flying Colors The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education recently received top marks from the U.S. Coast Guard during a customary audit of 11 courses previously approved by the agency. In accordance with federal guidelines, the Coast Guard at least once per year must review various aspects of such classes and the training facilities where they are taught. "It is noteworthy that there were no discrepancies found during the audit of your courses," stated John K. Cassady, chief of the Coast Guard regional examination center (REC) in Baltimore, in a letter to the center. ''The Coast Guard appreciates the efforts you have taken in the field of maritime training and extends its wishes for the continued success of the training programs offered by your institution," added Cassady, who conducted the review June 16-18 at the facility in Piney Point, Md. The following classes were examined: water survival, radar observer, bridge management, able seaman, visual communication (flashing light), celestial navigation, basic firefighting, advanced firefighting, liquefied gas tanker familiarization, tankerman assistant, and tankerman barge-person in charge (PIC). Cassady analyzed Coast Guard-approved changes to the curricula, instructors' qualifications, proper filing of records with the RECs, record-keeping at the school, classroom attendance, written exams and reports of practical exams, grading systems, classroom layout and training aids. "We believe the results of this audit reflect the high quality of our classes and instructors," said Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the school. For a list of upcoming classes available through the end of this year at the center, see page 23. The school is working on its 1998 schedule, which will be published in a future issue of the Seafare rs LOG. Lundeberg School Brings Safety Training to Jax Crowley Seafarers Emergency first aid, hazardous waste response (hazwoper) and accident prevention were among the main topics addressed at the Jacksonville, Aa. union hall last month to SIU members who sail aboard Crowley tugs. More than 30 Seafarers anended the health and safety course taught by Lundeberg School instructors Casey Taylor, Mark Jones and Rick Redman from June 30 to July 2. The Crowley Seafarers ''This was one of the best groups I have ever taught," stated Taylor. "It was a good learning environment. All of the members were very happy to have us at the hall teaching them things that are essential to their jobs. Everyone was pleased." he added. Other subjects covered at the Jacksonville hall included basic chemistry of hazardous materials; use and care of different safety and breathing equipment; confined space entry; emer- earned certificates for complet· gency first aid and CPR; sam- ing an 8-hour hazwoper refresher course that was part of the on-site training. That curricu· lum primarily focused on the identification of hazardous materials. use of protective gear and procedures for contacting emergency personnel. Dominic Lasenna, a second mate who sails aboard Crowley tugs, noted this was the third on-site hazwoper course offered by Crowley and the Paul Hall Center that he has completed in Jacksonville. · "In each session I have learned a little more, and this course proved to be the best one yet," stated Lasenna, who joined the SIU in 1992. "I really enjoyed going over the material and combining it with Crowley's general safety requirements. I am more aware than ever of what I am working with on a daily basis. The instructors were excellent," he stated. pling techniques; emergency response plans and decontamination. Crowley Seafarers who have completed the three-day course should be able to identify a hazardous material, monitor its danger level, select and use the appropriate safety gear (such as boots, gloves, protective suits, etc.), contain a spill (whether the hazardous material is only onboard the vessel or also is in the water), and identify the solution needed for decontamination of the equipment. Mike Godbey, manager of training for Crowley Marine Services, noted that he was pleased with the course, which the company requested. "We have a good working relationship with the school, and one of the services we like to take advantage of is the on-site training. Bringing the instructors to the crews benefits everyone," he said. Preparing for a day of classroom study and on-the-job training, Seafarers join with Maritrans officials and instructor Mitch Oakley (standing, rear) to complete the requirements for the tankerman endorsement. Afaritrans Boatmen Complete Hall Center's Tankerman Barge Course in Philadelphia Forty-three Seafarers who equipment the men work with on Philadelphia region. However, work aboard Maritrans tugs and a daily basis to illustrate the before the Maritrans Seafarers barges seized the opportunity to course material. It was an excel- are able to renew their merchant mariner's document, they must take the Lundeberg School's lent course." he added. At the company's request, the complete a firefighting class. Coast Guard-approved tanker'This was a terrific group," man barge-person in charge two-week Lundeberg School (PIC) course when it was con- course was condensed into four stated Oakley. "The company ducted in Philadelphia last sessions in order not to disrupt made everyone feel comfortable, month. This was the first time the members' work schedules. The and the union members and manclass was offered at a site other Maritrans boatmen were split agement worked well together to than the Paul Hall Center cam- into two separate groups in order help me provide the best training to comply with federal regula- possible. Everything turned out pus. "I think it was a great idea to tions that limit class size to 25 great." The Coast Guard regulation bring the course here to us," stat- students per installment. Although firefighting is creating the new tankerman ed William "Tanlc" Lehew. a tankennan who sails aboard included when the course is barge-PIC endorsement stem Maritrans vessels. "It was very offered at the Paul Hall Center, it from the Oil Pollution Act of convenient and helped us get the was not available to the 1990. The regulation's intent is training we need to have the new Philadelphia boatmen. That part to improve safety in the hantankerman endorsement listed on of the course has to be given at an dling, transfer and transportaour document. I'd love to see approved firefighting location, tion of hazardous liquid carmore classes from the Lundeberg and none was available in the goes. School taught here," he said. The tankennan barge-PIC course was developed so SIU members could comply with Coast Guard regulations that went into effect March 31. All mariners involved in the handling, transfer and transportation of oil and other hazardous liquid cargoes in bulk aboard vessels must provide proof of completing a Coast Guard-approved tankerman barge-PIC course and a firefighting course to have the new endorsement listed on their documents. The Coast Guard requires both the rating and the training for .all tankermen. Mitch Oakley instructed the Maritrans boatmen on the transferring, loading and unloading of various liquids and liquefied gases. Because the Coast Guard Above, the Lundeberg School's tankerman barge-person in charge regulation requires mariners to (PIC) course, which has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, was recently conducted at Maritrans company headquarters in Philadelphia. demonstrate their skills through Below, hands-on training took place on the tugs and barges tied up at hands-on testing, some sessions the docks, just across the street from the headquarters building. were held on company vessels docked on the Schuylkill River near Maritrans headquarters. "The location was excellent," recalled Bob Bauman, operations manager for Maritrans. "The instructor was able to use the • Poor Maintenance Doomed Ferry Estonia in 1994 According to recent newspaper reports, the committee investigating the September 1994 sinking of the ferry Estonia has concluded that poor maintenance-rather than inferior construction -caused the accident, which killed 852 people. In one of the worst ferry accidents in recent history, the Estonian-flag ship capsized and plunged to depths of 250 feet in the Baltic Sea, while en route to Stockholm. About 140 people survived despite B Seafarers LOG the 50-degree waters, in which a person can live only for a few hours. The ferry sank in the early morning hours during a storm 20 nautical miles off the Finnish coast, after locks on the bow doors failed. That allowed water to rush into the vehicle deck which held some 400 to 460 cars and about 30 trucks. The governments of Sweden, Estonia and Finland jointly investigated the accident. August 1997 �Summer Season Greets Great lakes Seafarers The tranquil waters and gentle breezes of summer on the Great Lakes are a welcome sight for Seafarers who sail aboard the American Mariner. Work for Seafarers aboard the American Steamship Co. vessel has been nonstop since it broke out of its winter berth in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. in March. The 730-foot vessel normally hauls iron ore and coal during the Great Lakes season. However, in April, the laker was chartered by Richardson Grain Co. in Superior, Wis. to carry a load of oats to Toledo, Ohio. In order to deliver the unusual cargo, crewmembers had to clean the holds for the grain. Because the American Mariner is equipped with self-unloading equipment, the oats were offloaded quickly and efficiently, and the laker resumed its regular schedule immediately. The American Mariner was built with a conveyor boom system that allows iron ore, coal and stone to be taken directly from the ship to shoreside storage facilities. Once docked, the conveyor boom is Second Cook Brian DeMeritt begins lunch preparations for crewmembers aboard the American Mariner. released from its secured position on deck above the hatch covers and swung over the area where the cargo is deposited. A conveyor belt, which runs the length of the ship under the cargo hatches, is then started, and gatemen and conveyormen watch the offloading and release cargo from designated holds. When the job is completed, the vessel is secured again and sails to its next port either to offload or take on more cargo. Making sure the American Mariner is ready for action each day are Conveyorman Randy Frank and Gateman Musid Elmodhji. The pair maintains the watch on the vessel's offloading system. The rollers, which guide the conveyor belt, are made of Teflon and can become frayed with continual use. The engine department crew is always on the lookout for anything that could hamper conveyor operations on the vessel. The American Mariner typically sails into December or early January when ice formations in the harbors and on the Lakes force the vessel into port until spring. Wheelsman Jeffery Davis begins offloading the oats from the cargo holds of the American Mariner. Following dinner aboard the American Mariner, Porter James Martineau cleans the counter. While the oats are offloaded in Toledo, crewmembers take a break to pose for a photo on the deck of the American Mariner. From the left are Deckhand Robert Jewell, Watchman Daniel Bancock and Wheelsman Kenneth Bluitt. Securing a docking line on the deck of the American Mariner is Conveyorman Randy Frank. August 1997 The American Mariner was chartered by a Superior, Wis. grain company to carry a load of oats to Toledo, Ohio. Pictured above, the American Steamship Co. vessel offloads the cargo at a Toledo storage facility. AB/Watchman Raymond Spooner looks forward to another busy summer of sailing on the Great Lakes. Seafarers LOG 9 �Chief Steward Rose Feels Magic ofJerusalem "Some people have to save for a lifetime just to get to visit the different countries that Seafarers have the opportunity to travel to as part of their work," exclaimed Chief Steward Franchesca Rose following a recent voyage to Israel aboard the Liberty Sun. The freighter, which is operated by Liberty Maritime Corp., was scheduled to do a split discharge of bulk grain-two days in Haifa and the remainder in Ashdod, allowing her time to explore the Holy Land. The 34-year-old chief steward, who is graduating this month from the steward recertification program at Piney Point, Md., the highest level of training for steward department members at the Lundeberg School, loves studying different cultures and meeting new people. She has traveled to ports all over the world and had been to both Israeli ports before. This time, however, she decided to rent a car and drive to the capital city of Jerusalem, leaving her the time and freedom to visit those places in the old city that have a special meaning in her life. "The ship's agent arranged for the car with no expected red tape," she wrote in a letter to the Seafarers LOG, accompanied by the photographs on this page. "The two-hour drive from Ashdod to Jerusalem was pleasant and carefree. Once in the old city, however, the traffic congestion was very tiresome. You can easily take a wrong tum, which I did, but the people were very helpful." She entered the city through the Damascus Gate and met Abed, a man born and raised within Old Jerusalem, who served as her guide. He took her along the path of Jesus, walking the 12 Stations of the Cross, up to the Mount of Calvary to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There, she lit candles to bless the SIU and its officials who, she said, have provided her with values, goals and a career. "There is most certainly a magical feeling about Jerusalem," Rose added. ''To those of you who may have the opportunity to make a trip over to Ashdod or Haifa, I strongly recommend a day trip to Jerusalem." Rose, who began her seafaring career in her native Hawaii in 1984 aboard the American Hawaii Cruise ships, has worked her way up the steward department ladder, taking advantage of educational opportunities at the Paul Hall Center for advancement in the career she loves. She says she has a lot to be thankful for, and credits the SIU with turning her life around; the Lord for her abiding faith; and her mother for teaching her discipline-and how to cook! She hopes to continue sailing for many years and to set a positive example for the young people now entering the maritime industry. In this interior view of Jesus Christ's tomb, located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Franchesca Rose stands in front of the walls which are adorned with icons from early Greek Orthodox times. 10 Seafarers LOG Chief Steward Franchesca Rose stands before the Dome of the Rock, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. It is believed to be the place where the prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven and also the site where Abraham offered his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice in obedience to God's command (God provided a ram as a substitute offering). Although all Christian religions are present within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the early Greek Orthodox presence abounds, as seen in these icons which surround Christ's tomb. August 1997 �Shelter •from a Storm USNS Victorious Be&iends Eagle in Northern Pacl6c Gale-force winds and turbulent seas did not deter the arrival of a special guest aboard the USNS Victorious. The visitor, a young Americari Bald Eagle, sought refuge from a storm aboard the SIUcrewed military vessel that was more than 100 miles from land in the Pacific Ocean. "He came on my watch. It was right about midnight. There was a storm going on. The wind was blowing about 35 knots," recalled SIU hawsepiper Michael Coulbourne, who was sailing as second mate. "He almost hit the window on the bridge. I think he saw the light or something," said the Chesapeake, Va. native who took the photos accompanying this article. "We definitely were sailing where eagles shouldn't have been flying. If he hadn't seen us, he probably would have perished.'' In a letter sent to the Seafarers LOG from the USNS Victorious, Captain Heather Fortner noted that the eagle was about 3 feet tall and weighed approximately 20 pounds. The captain stated that crewmembers determined the bird was very young because its head had not developed the full white plumage of an adult bald eagle and its talons were smooth. ''The eagle had a hard time perching on the anchor windlass and the bits because they are made out of steel. OS Ryan Webster built a perch for it with wood he got by disassembling a pallet. The eagle moved to this new location and stayed there until he departed five days after his arrival," recalled Fortner. The bird refused to eat meat that was ground or cut, so Chief Cook Kenneth Greenidge prepared raw steak fillets to feed the eagle twice a day. Because none of the crew got too close to the eagle, its sex was never detennined. So the bird was named VictorMctoria by the USNS Victorious crew. However, according to Webster, the eagle was very gentle, and he "even petted him once." As the sky darkened with an approaching storm on the fifth day of Victor/ Victoria's visit, the eagle suddenly flew from its safe haven on the ship's deck. But crewmembers were optimistic about the fate of their feathered friend. "He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and he was a lot stronger than when he first arrived," stated Coulbourne. "Whatever kind of eagle it was, it was well taken care of by the crew of the USNS Victorious, and the raw steak consumption on the ship went up for those five days!" concluded the captain. At left, SIU hawsepiper Michael Coulbourne, who now sails as a second mate, visits with the eagle, which was named VictorNictoria. Above, Chief Cook Kenneth Greenidge fed the eagle raw steak fillets twice a day. Captain Calloway Restores Old Lifeboat 'Labor of Love' Unites Seafarer With Remnant of His First Ship Spending countless hours restoring a 72-year-old lifeboat that had been stationed aboard a former Great Lakes vessel was a "labor of lm'e" for Captain Lon Calloway. The lifeboat was part of the equipment aboard the J.B. John, the cement ship on which Calloway began his sailing career more than two decades ago. Built in 1925, the 250-foot J.B. John transported cement along the Lakes for Penn-Dixie Cement Corp. in Petoskey, Mich., Calloway's hometown. 'The J.B. John was the vessel that began it all for me in 1974. When I read an article in the local paper calling on volunteers to help restore the ship's original lifeboat, I responded immediately," recalled Calloway. When the J.B. John was decommissioned in the 1960s, the lifeboat was presented to the ship's chief electrician, a longtime crewmember. Two years ago the lifeboat was donated to the Petoskey Historical Society by a family member of the former chief electrician. "I had just helped put the Medusa Conquest in for the season when I read the article about efforts to restore my old lifeboat. I had both the time and the skills needed to get the boat back to its original state. It sounded like the August 1997 Captain Lon Calloway proudly poses next to the 72-year-old lifeboat he spent the. winter restoring. The lifeboat had been stationed on the J.B. John, the vessel upon which Calloway began his sailing career 23 years ago. perfect winter project for me," said the 45-year-oJd Seafarer. A combination of old age and neglect had left the boat in a dilapidated condition. Several different Petoskey residents had attempted to restore the craft but abandoned the project due to the complexity of the repairs. However, Calloway, who reconditions nautical artifacts as a hobby, had the knowledge and ability needed to reconstruct the lifeboat. As a member of the SIU, Calloway wanted the residents and officials of Petoskey to understand that unions are about more than just jobs. He wanted to show the commitment of unions and their members to their communities by restoring the historic maritime artifact. "From the beginning, I approached the project as a representative of the Seafarers International Union and let everyone know that I was a proud union member. I wanted the union's name associated with the project as much as my name was," said Calloway. 'The city gave me the finest tools, equipment and materials available, and I set up shop in the parks and recreation garage in downtown Petoskey. I put a Seafarers International Union sign outside the door and went to work. 'The project was popular and people would stop by to talk and see how I was doing. Many oldtimers who used to sail on the J.B. John also came down. PennDixie once was the area's largest employer," he noted. . For weeks, Calloway labored to restore the lifeboat to its original condition, which was no easy task. He had to strip the craft down to its steel frame, prime it and coat it with a fresh layer of white paint. Calloway refinished the wooden gunwales, created a new float line and stripped 14 layers of paint from the lifeboat's four oars. "Using old photos as my guide, I restenciled the name onto the lifeboat. I also repainted the passenger capacity and the cubic feet onto the boat's side," Calloway stated. 'The lifeboat must look as good today as it did when the J.B. John first came out of the Long Island City (New York) shipyard 72 years ago. It was a hard job, but it all came together well and I had a good time. I am very proud of my work," said Calloway. The J.B. John lifeboat is currently displayed on the city's main pier in Petoskey Waterfront Park. A plaque acknowledging the efforts of CalJoway and the Seafarers International Union will be mounted on the lifeboat during a special dedication ceremony scheduled to take place later this summer. Calloway's attraction to sailing began with the J.B. John and evolved into a lifelong career. After spending two seasons on the bulker, Calloway joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was assigned to Alaska. When he retired from active duty, he started sailing as a captain aboard passenger ferries in that state. In 1992, Calloway moved his family back to his native Michigan where he became an SIU member, working as a captain aboard Arnold Transit ferries. As captain of the Chippewa, a 600-passenger ferry that transports visitors between St. Ignace, Mich. and Mackinac Island, Mich., Calloway maintains a very busy schedule during the tourist season, from May to October. When the ferry season ends, he works aboard Great Lakes cargo ships as an AB until the vessels tie up for the winter. Seafarers LOG 11 �HEN THE SEAFARERS Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship opened in August 1967, most who visited the site Best known for its outstanding courses, the school also has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as a "good feeder,• whether in the trainee cafeteria (above) or in the other dining areas. in Piney Point, Md. saw modest facilities and a bare bones curriculum. Paul Hall detected much more. Intensely convinced that vocational training would become increasingly essential for U.S. merchant mariners, the then-SIU president understood the school's enormous potential. He saw beyond the tiny bungalows and small number of classes. And although the facility provided short-term benefits as well, Hall conceived and committed to its construction because he foresaw the school becoming a staple of SIU members' careers. As in so many other subjects, Hall's judgment about the Lundeberg School proved correct. This month, as the union and the school commemorate the 30th anniversary of its opening, the Lundeberg School is more important than ever to Seafarers. Hailed as a model of labor-management cooperation, it becomes more effective with each passing year. The campus, dedicated in 1991 as the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, now houses the largest school for boatmen and unlicensed mariners in the United States. It consistently has expanded its influence in the industry through top-notch training and close involvement with developments in the maritime trades. In recent years, the center has had extensive input in international forums profoundly affecting the livelihoods of America's merchant mariners. These activities have helped protect the job security of SIU members. ''Paul Hall would not be surprised at the success the school has achieved," observed Herbert Brand, who worked closely with Hall for more than three decades. "He was firmly convinced that education was the single most important thing to seamen. "He knew they would benefit from vocational education, but he also recognized that the more they learned, the better they would be able to develop other skills," added Brand, who serves as chairman of the board for the Transportation From Modest Beginnings, Hall Center Evolves Into Dynamic, Comprehensive Training Facility Institute, a trade association of U.S.-flag shipping companies. Constant Improvement Perhaps the most consistent thing about the Hall Center is that it never has stopped changing. Year after year, the school constantly has revised ahd improved its course schedule to stay a step ahead of the industry's needs. 'The school is driven by one main goal: providing the besttrained merchant seamen in the world," stated SIU President Michael Sacco, who served as the school's vice president from 1968 to 1978. "That has never changed, and it never will change." Today, the privately funded center-which is jointly operated by the union and SIU-contracted companies-<>ffers about 60 U.S. Coast Guard-approved classes for Seafarers sailing in the deck, engine and steward departments. Likewise, the campus has filled out with modern accommodations and instructional equipment, such as the lecture-demonstration galley, the shiphandling simulator, the training vessel Empress Il, the Hagglund crane, state-of-the-art computers and more. The last 24 months are represen- Continued on page 14 Hall Center at a Glance • Opened. August 1967 censed apprentice program. • Purpose: Provides vocational training for SIU members, including • Funding and operation: Center is entirely funded with private money and jointly is operated by the SIU and its contracted companies. entry-level curriculum. Also offers some academic courses. • Location: 60 waterfront acres in Piney Point, Md. • Courses: Approximately 60 U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses are available for Seafarers in the deck, engine and steward departments. Specialty courses regularly are offered. • Students: About 45,000 Seafarers have completed upgrading courses since the school's opening. About 20,000 have graduated from the unli- f2 Seafarers LO& • Named for. The overall campus is known as the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, named in memory of the head of SIU-AGLlWD from 1947 to 1980, who was the driving force behind the school's construction. The school itself is the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, dedicated in memory of the union's founder. Various buildings are named in memory of Seafare~s. SIU officials and officials of SIU-contracted companies. �1r1 of Hard Work Laid School's Foundation SIU President Paul Hall (pictured in the late nasterminded the creation of the Lundeberg ~e believed that with each passing year, eduould become more and more of a vital com, the successful careers of Seafarers. Ask those who were involved about the initial construction of the Lundeberg School, and the response often will be a groan, quickly followed by a laugh. Such reaction neatly captures the difficult but worthwhile labor it took to convert Piney Point into a maritime training facility for Seafarers. For a while, it may have seemed as though the first shovel might never be turned. The union's purchase of the land in Southern Maryland happened only after an extensive search for a place where the SIU could centralize its various training activities. And although Piney Point featured two things the SIU greatly wanted-waterfront property to facilitate hands-on training, plus room for expansion-one might describe it as the industrial equivalent of a "fixer-upper." Recalling the first group of trainees, who arrived in August 1967, SIU historian John Bunker wrote, "For a year or so they learned more about driving nails, driving trucks, shoveling dirt and laying sod than they did about tying knots and making splices." Recertified Bosun Al Caulder knows firsthand about those days, having worked at Piney Point for more than two months during its construction. ''There were about 75 to 100 people working there at first. A lot of people left right away because the work was too hard, and they just couldn't do it. But the ones who stuck it out, we became a tight group. Some of them are still my good friends after all these years," Caulder remembers. He points out that the area behind the Paul Hall Memorial Library "is the only thing there was in those days. We did a lot of work on the grounds and some actual building construction .... There wasn't much in the way of recreation, and the food was nowhere near what it is today. "But our detail wasn't to live the good life. It was to get it ready to be a school." Construction on the training and recreation center begins in 1981. l~'.......-..:..1- Jlugust 1997 The style of the uniforms has changed through the years, but students at the Hall Center always are mindful that they are part of the nation's fourth arm of defense. The Lundeberg School continued to grow during the 1980s when Frank Drozak served as the union's president. Seafarers LOS 13 �Continued from page 12 tative of the school's invariable commitment to improve. During the past two years, the Hall Center became one of the nation's first training facilities to receive government approval for offering self-certification courses. This is a vital step as the Coast Guard, reacting to budget cuts as well as new international maritime regulations, gradually reduces its administering of tests. Additionally, new courses have been added-such as LNG recertification, tankerman barge (PIC), and tanker assistant DL-while other curriculums have been revamped to fully comply with existing and impending regulations stemming from the International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners (STCW). Moreover, the entire steward department curriculum has been restructured with two goals in mind: making the school more accessible to Seafarers and boosting the quality of the SIU's steward department personnel. During this same period, the center refurbished its program for entry-level mariners. The new system features shipboard training as well as more detailed studies at Piney Point. As with the new steward department courses, reaction to the new unlicensed apprentice program has been overwhelmingly positive. The school also helped develop the training record book (TRB) currently being issued to SIU members in order to help them meet requirements stemming from ISM and STCW. More importantly, the center devised an efficient system for issuing the documents and tracking the information they contain. These efforts serve not only the students, but also the Americanflag ship operators, whose equipment is enormously expensive and whose potential liability in accidents has reached staggering proportions. For them, it has never been more important to have welltrained, safe, reliable crewmembers aboard their vessels. an, recalls, some were intimidated by the prospect of attending classes, while others simply thought it was a waste of time. Another group worried that newcomers graduating from the school meant competition for jobs. (In fact, new members were needed simply to fill the places of those who retired and to fulfill the union's contracts with operators.) Gradually, however, the skeptics realized that the school existed for their benefit. They learned that the classes were designed to help them advance their careers and keep up with rapidly changing technology. Those who attended the school profited - literally. As they amassed more skills and knowledge, they improved their ratings and earning power. Today, most Seafarers recognize that upgrading is an indispensable part of a successful maritime career. "Upgrading helps you do a better job aboard ship and· also helps you keep up with the many changes in our industry," noted Recertified Bosun Ronald Mena while recently attending a course at Piney Point. ''Very simply, it is beneficial to Seafarers." Bosun James Foley put it this way: "Training and upgrading is vital to any SIU member's survival in the industry." Chief Cook Judi Chester agreed and also emphasized the school's steady progress. "I have seen so much improvement here over the years," she observed while recently enrolled in a new steward department course. Bill Eglinton, who serves as the center's director of vocational ~ucation, believes the school will become increasingly important to SIU members. Having been part of U.S. delegations to international negotiations regarding maritime training and safety laws, he keenly understands the myriad training and certification requirements merchant mariners will face in the near future. "With all of the changes and new requirements in this industry, there will be increased reliance by members on the Lundeberg School," he said. "There is a real and growing need for comprehensive training and certification. We're dedicated to providing that for SIU members." Recertified Bosun Al Caulder, who helped with the school's construction, has upgraded a number of times. He described the school's progress as "phenomenal. I don't think of any of us could have envisioned what it is today. Except maybe Paul." Helps Advance careers Steward department upgraders utilize the center's new lecture/demonstration galley. At first, a few SIU members had skeptical views of the school. As author John Bunker, a retired Seafarer and SIU histori- Today, the Paul Hall Center offers dozens of state-of-the-~~ co_urses using modern equipment and the latest technologies. Staffed by expertly qualified instructors, the school con- 14 Seafarers LOG ducts a wide range of classes, including (from left pho~o~ basic and advanced firefighting, oil spill prevention and containment, and computer training. August 1997 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1997 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York 35 29 3 5 6 Baltimore 11 8 2 2 Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 13 10 3 10 9 16 36 28 9 Philadelphia Jacksonville San Francisco .Wilmington . .J$. Seattle · 35 Puerto Rico 14 19 16 5 25 15 4 1 .19 "T9 7 3 7 18 21 9 9 3 35 2 21 4 1 0 0 Totals 167 0 1 37 3 177 Port ·Nevt'York Philadelphia . 27 ... J:.: Baltimore:.: :..- ....... : ;: 4 Norfolk 6 7 Mobile 10 8 New Orleans Jacksonville ; ~;t!l Francisco ' Wilmington 12 . . . . .7 Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 18 4 7 12 26 Honolulu 4 0 1 4 :· () .. 14 8 10 lO . . · . 13 ·2 10 3 11 3 8 2 2 4 4 13 56 50 1 6 2 4 6 7 11 16 16 6 12 17 13 34 20 15 10 6 18 7 53 18 49 30 47 25 25 12 15 42 3 0 27 4 0 3 402 257 1 l 143 37 103 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 12 9 0 3 0 4 0 1 6 5 0 2 14 12 8 . 8 6 11 10 5 0 7 6 15 2 3 6 7 2 3 Algonac 1 4 0 131 116 Totals Port .12 1 5 Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 9 9 10 Jacksonville · · 16 San Francisco . . 26 Wilmington 14 Seattle 29 Puerto Rico Honolulu 6 9 ·Houston 15 2 St. Louis · Piney Point 9 0 Algonac 0 0 23 .....·. . 11 . . . . o 2 0 2 0 7 4 3 5 ·4 3 5 6 5 0 0 9 0 0 .... . . 1 · 1: ·J 0 1 0 6 ""' () 0 1 0 2 0 106 ~r 5 2 6 7 3 9 7 7 8 6 j 12 0 9 8 11 2 0 4 6 5 s 1 0 6 9 6 15 . '16 . 3 4 2 2 0 0 9 2 7 2 0 6 I 0 0 0 11 Philadelphia 4 0 8 1 Baltimore 0 22 0 5 Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville 1 2 3 5 1 0 0 2 0 1 2 3 11 7 4 2 5 3 2 53 8 4 0 2 0 61 2 4 24 52 8 1 5 0 3 6 0 3 0 2 1 53 6 12 2 192 127 30 131 105 0 0 623 549 201 435 428 165 224 Totals All Departments 1 0 1 0 51 1 I 0 148 11 0 Piney Point Algonac Totals 187 5 Houston 9 10 1 3 4 0 14 24 0 13 0 0 Jersey City ............... Wednesday: September 24, October 22 Personals 35 0 3 4 2 1 2 0 6 2 12 0 4 0 9 2 260 108 29 8 0 0 1 4 11 6 22 47 1 4 15 13 21 1 3 22 13 12 () 0 20 21 34 14 27 23 6 9 27 2 11 4 59 19 2 67 11 2 1 11 13 0 I 1 93 314 198 942 827 321 3 9 3 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. August 1991 0 0 6 1 3 6 6 4 12 6 St. Louis Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 7 8 24 10 3 4 New Bedford ............Tuesday; September 23, October 21 0 2 7 4 42 1 0 11 3 13 3 20 13 10 19 7 37 12 San Francisco 9 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 3 0 Wilmington .............. Monday: September 22, October 20 12 2 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 14 3 0 0 1 0 3 6 0 15 17 0 12 3 7 12 11 San Frandsco ...........Thursday: September 18, October26 18 7 0 Port Mobile ......................Wednesday: September 17. October 15 Duluth ...................... Wednesday: September 17, October 15 10 16 9 7 9 9 14 1 6 0 ... N~~ Prleans~~:····~·~~<fuesday: September 16, October 14 Honolulu ..................Friday: September 19, October 17 7 11 9 10 28 4 45 Houston .................... Monday: September 15, October 13 St ~uis .......•'. ··'.··:····Friday: September 197 October 17 2 11 9 1 Algonac .................... Friday: September 12. October 10 :'San Juan.~~.::....~;.;.~ ...Thursday: September 11. October 9 l 0 0 3 2 0 59 ·4 0 4 0 Jacksonville ..............Thursday: September l l, October 9 1 l 4 19 6 4 7 1 0 ,24 4 9 Norfolk.....................Thursday: September 11, October 9 11 0 ....... ~r . 0 116 6 13 2 ' <> · 6 8 0 Baltimore .................Thursday: September 11, October 9 HENRY McCULLOUGH I 14 15 12 . 5 4 ·. l3 0 64 New York .t2 1 3 3 5 2 13 1 12 109 New York .................Tuesday: September 9, October 7 Philadelphia ............. Wednesday: September 10, October 8 3 28 19 9 19 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 172 Totals '· () :·', 0 0 6 Tacoma ..................... Friday: September 26, October 24 20 4 2 0 l 1 () " I 32 3 ·, J) Piney Point 24 2 l 5 183 21 13 0 l 0 0 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Cliw B Class C Piney Point............... Monday: September 8, October 6 2 0 3 1 0 6 1 2 3 6 11 0 7 · Houston · St Louis Algonac 10 8 13 12 14 1 t 0 23 4 9 10 l 1iip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT 17 1 2 1 8 3 5 10 7 13 ~~eyPoint TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups aass A Class B Class C September & Oalober'1991 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Please write to Richard Maley, a shipmate of yours on the Transatlantic in 1951. His address is 647 Sawyer Rd., Greene, ME 04236. RENEE ORTIZ Anyone with information on Renee Ortiz (who sailed in the early 1960s) please contact Lucia Dickerson Deaville at 6249 Stump Road, Pipersville, PA 18947; telephone (215) 766-0136. DAVID BRADLEY TRENT John and Natalie Young are trying to reach their nephew, David Bradley Trent. Anyone knowing his whereabouts, please contact the Youngs at 6701 King Court, Woodridge, IL 60517; or telephone (630) 969-6486. ATTENTION: FORMER MARINE COOKS & STEWARDS Former members of the MC&S will hold their annual reunion picnic on Sunday, September 7 in San Bruno (Calif.) Park from noon until 5:00 p.m. It will be a pot-luck luncheon, so bring your favorite picnic food to share. Also be sure to bring your family and friends. Plenty of parking is available. SPAI) Seafarers LOG 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes SeataNrs lllrectotY lntematloilll· · llnlon ' .·, ·.·.· JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1997 Mieba~l~@ . . President · · · John Fay Executive Vice President CL - *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP n~vid uehid.e1 Secretary·Treasurer Augustin Telle'! Vice President C-0otracts George McCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. "Buck'' Metter Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coiut . . HEADQUARTERS Company/Lakes Port Algonac 0 34 5 0 14 4 0 7 4 0 36 17 Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac L-Lakes NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 24 0 3 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 10 3 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 3 1 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 19 6 0 10 0 4 0 4 0 17 .$201 Auth Way Caqip Sprin8$, MD 20746 (30 l) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 (810) 794-4988 - 0 91 30 0 56 13 0 35 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. ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #JC Anchorage, AK 99503 (?,g7) 561-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1997 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU Region 606 Kalihi St "Atlantic Coast · Honolulu, HI 96819 (800) 845-5222 110\JSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston. TX 77002 . (7!3) 65~-~ 152 J'A.ckSONVtt.Llr . . 3315 LibertY.St. JacJcsonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Mqntgomery St. .Jt(l"Sey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy•. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0016 NEWDEDFORD 43 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. BroolcJyo, NY 11232 (71 S) 499-6600 17 Gulf Coast . Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast ·7 8 22 1 38 0. 0 0 1 1 Lakes, Inland Waters 13 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast 2 2 1 1 Lakes, Inland Waters 8 West Coast Totals 0 10 0 0 O' ... 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT O ·w·· . o··· 1 2 4 0 () 19 0 1 8 0 30 0 s ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 7 0 I STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 2 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C .... , '" 12 2 0 . 7.. 0 7 1 8 0 14 62 3 22 2 l 0 0 0 1 1 2 36 1 14 0 17 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 I 9 2 .. () 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 I 4 Totals All Depts 65 1 18 41 0 7 88 5 *"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. 3 0 29 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk. VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PffiLADELPHIA 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. Fl Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522·7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTIJRCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop J~ Santurce, PR 00907 {787) 721-4033 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photograph, sent to the LOG by Alfred Porcari of Howard Beach, N.Y., was taken in 1948 aboard the Steel Inventor, an old Hog Islander built in 1920. The ship was run by Isthmian Lines, which at that time operated more than 30 SIU· crewed vessels. On this particular voyage, the Steel lnventorwas headed to the Persian Gulf with general cargo. It was a 129day run. ST.WUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63IJ6 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 341 l South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98400 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG Porcari, who was 19 years old at the time, is on the left in the back row. He had joined the SIU in the port of New York the previous year (1947) and retired in 1991. 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. August 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. mong the 15 Seafarers joining the ranks of pensioners this month is Recertified Steward Wally W. Lau, who is retiring at the age of 75. Brother Lau, a former Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) member, has been sailing in the steward department for 53 years. During his career, he upgraded his skills and graduated from the steward recertification program in 1989. This is the highest level of training offered to members of the steward department at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Including Brother Lau, seven of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division. Another five worked on the inland waterways, and three shipped aboard Great Lakes vessels. Seven of the retiring pensioners served in the U.S. militarytwo each in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps and one in the Air Force. The favorite retirement area this month is the East Coast, where six of the pensioners reside. Three live on the West Coast and two each make their homes in the Gulf states, Midwest and Puerto Rico. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. A DEEP SEA MICHAELJ. ANZALONE, 59, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1957 from the port of New York aboard the Fort Hoskins, a Cities Service vessel. Brother Anzalone sailed in the steward department. He graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1960 and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Anzalone last sailed aboard Transoceanic Cable Ship Co.'s Charles L Brown. A native of New York, he has retired to Parlin, NJ. BENITOM. BIANCHINI, 66, joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1956 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Born in California, he graduated from the MC&S training school in 1958. Brother Bianchini makes his home in San Mateo, Calif. CLEMENTE FIGUEROA, 58, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1968 from the port of New York. His first ship was the Overseas Horace. A native of Puerto Rico, he started out in the engine department and later transferred to the deck department. Brother Figueroa last sailed aboard the Charleston, operated by Westchester Marine Corp. He makes his home in Caguas, P.R. August 1997 WALLYW LAU, 75, joinoo the MC&S in 1944 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Lau upgraded at the Lundeberg School and graduated from the steward recertification program there in 1989. He last sailed aboard the Overseas New Orleans. Born in China, he became a U.S. citiz:en. Brother Lau has retired to Houston. KANEK. LEETAG, 65, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1952. A native of Washington, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Leetag last worked aboard the Overseas Joyce. He makes his home in Tacoma, Wash. RAYL. STRENGTH, 61, started his career with the SIU in 1960 aboard the Fort Hoskins. Born in Alabama, he worked in the deck department. Brother Strength last sailed aboard the Senator, a Crowley American Transport, Inc. vessel. From 1955 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He has retired to Flomaton, Ala. LLEWELLYN A.TROTT, 58, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1967 from the port of New York. His first ship was the Panama, operated by Sea-Land Service. Born in Bermuda, he sailed in the engine department and frequently upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Trott calls Jamaica, N.Y. home. INLAND NORVALW. HEARN JR., 65, started his career with the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania native upgraded at the Lundeberg School and attended two educational conferences there. He last sailed aboard an Interstate Oil vessel as a captain. From 1953 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Boatman Hearn has retired to Milton, Del. EMETERIO C.HOOI, 65, joined the SIU in 1981 in his native Puerto Rico. Sailing in the engine department, he worked primarily on vessels operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation. Boatman Hooi makes his home in Santurce, P.R. ROBERTT. HOPKINS, 63, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1976. A native of Virginia, he worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Enterprise. For 20 years he served in the U.S. Navy, from 1951 to 1971. Boatman Hopkins has retired to Melfa, Va. GIOVANNI G.MENNEL- JAMES A. SIDFFLETT, 69, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1960 and joined the Seafarers in the port of Baltimore. The Virginia native started out in the deep sea division and later transferred to inland vessels. Prior to upgrading to a licensed officer in 1968, he sailed as a chief engineer. A veteran of World War II. he served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. Boatman Shifflett calls Baltimore home. GREAT LAKES NATHANR. LA, 67, start- ed his career with the SIU in 1980 aboard the Sea Hawk, operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation. He sailed in both the steward and deck departments. Born in New York, he served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1951. Boatman Mennella makes his home in Fontana, Calif. HAURING, 53, joined the Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Duluth, Minn. His first vessel was the Peter Robertson, operated by Kinsman Marine. The Michigan native worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the St. Clair, an American Steamship Co. ves- set. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Hauring has retired to Chassell, Mich. JOSEPHS. NOVAK,65, first sailed with the SIU in 1955 from the port of Philadelphia aboard the Charles M. Schwab. Born in Pennsylvania, he started out in the deck department and later transferred to the steward department. Brother Novak last sailed in 1976 aboard the St. Clair, operated by American Steamship Co. He makes his home in Plymouth, Pa. JOHNW. SELLERS, 60, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1959 from the port of Detroit. Born in Kentucky, he worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the St. Clair. From 1953 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Brother Sellers calls Toledo, Ohio home. ;;;.__.L,Si;..._l Seafarers Begin Crewing Gilliland Following its christening on May 24 in Newport News, Va., the USNS Gilliland began a 45day shakedown cruise with SIU members aboard. Seafarers had begun crewing the vessel on May 15 and were aboard the ship when it was delivered to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) on May 23. The Gilliland is the fourth of five former Maersk containerships to be converted for operation by SIU-contracted Bay Ship Management as part of the MSC prepositioning fleet. The USNS Shughart and USNS Gordon were delivered to MSC last year; the USNS Yano was delivered in USNS February; and the Sodemian is slated to join the fleet later this year. In all, 19 rollon/roll-off vessels are scheduled to be built or converted at U.S. shipyards by the year 2001 as part of a U.S. strategic sealift program. The Gilliland, named in honor of Cpl. Charles L. Gilliland (who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for service during the Korean War in 1951), is capable of transporting an entire armor battalion task Chief Cook Charles Brooks learns his way around the new galley. ' ..-,. . . . ,,...__,,..., Christening ceremonies for the USNS Gilliland took place at Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding on May 24, the day after the prepositioning ship was delivered to the U.S. Military Seali~ Command. force, carrying urgently needed U.S. Army equipment, vehicles and supplies to any area of conflict in the world at a moment's notice. Newport News Shipbuilding converted the Gilliland from a Danish containership into the military vessel. As part of the conversion, the shipyard added handling gear that includes two 110-ton cranes, a slewing stem ramp, two side ports, a side port ramp, five forklifts and a container handling truck. It is 956 feet long, has a maximum beam of 105.9 feet, a draft (fully loaded) of 36.1 feet, a displacement (fully loaded) of 57 ,000 tons and a speed of 24 knots. In addition, the sealift vessel has a cargo capacity of six football fields and can load and offload U.S. military cargo in 96 hours. Getting an overall feel for the converted ship is Bosun David Park. Steward/Baker Carolyn Evans is ready to start work on the Gilliland. Seafarers LOG 17 �l"inal Departures DEEP SEA FRANK ADKINS Pensioner Frank Adkins, 67, passed away June 4. Born in Illinois, he joined the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of New York. .....:::::::::...._.:..;:~--==i Brother Adkins sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he completed the steward recertification program in 1980. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives and beefs. A resident of Massapeque, N.Y., he began receiving his pension in November 1987. -- last sailed as a bosun. He was a World War 11 veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1941to1946. The Chinook, Wash. resident began receiving his pension in September 1989. BIVENS B. HENDERSON Pensioner Bivens B. Henderson, 76 ' died June 21. A charter member of the SIU, Brother Hende rson joined the union in 1939 '"'---""'-='-~cif.___J in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. He was a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. and retired in Augu st 1982. ALBERT C. ALEGADO THOMAS HENRY Pensioner Albert C. Alegado, 89, died May 25. Brother Alegado started his career with the Marine Cooks & Stew~-. ards (MC&S) in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Born in the Philippines, he resided in San Francisco and retired in September 1970. Pensioner Thomas Henry 74, passed away June 18. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1950 in his native New o.=..;._..;.;.._;;;.;;.;.;...;..;..;;._~'--' York. Brother Henry sailed in the deck department He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946. The San Francisco resident began receiving his pension in February 1988. BEN Q. CROCKETT WILLIAM HOLLAND Ben Q. Crockett, 52, died March 9. He joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania native sailed in =;..._-=--..----....i the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. A resident of Woodbury, N.J., Brother Crockett last sailed in December 1985 aboard the Beaver Stare. From 1963 to 1965, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Pensioner William Holland, 67, died June 7. Brother Holland started his career with the SIU in 1948 in the port of New Orleans. Born in Arkansas, he sailed in the engine department. Prior to receiving his U.S. Coast Guard license as a 2nd assistant engineer, he sailed with the SIU as a chief electrician in 1976 aboard the Transcolumbia. Brother Holland resided in Vallejo, Calif. and retired in November 1994. ROLAND FRANCISCO Pensioner Roland Francisco, 69, passed away June 8. Born in Louisiana, he began sailing with the Sea. farers in 1957 from the port of Wilmington, Calif. He worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief cook. Brother Francisco lived in Sacramento, Calif. and began receiving his pension in January 1993. MAURICE FRANKLIN Pensioner Maurice Franklin, 79, died March 26. Brother Franklin started his career with the MC&S before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in Texas, he was a resident of Los Angeles and retired in November 1975. GEORGE L. HAYES Pensioner George L. Hayes, 73, passed away June 8. Born in Idaho, he joined the Seafarers in 1948 in the port of New York. ..__---"'-"----' Brother Hayes 'IB Seafarers LOG CHARLESM.HUBBARD Charles M. Hubbard, 65, passed away May 30. Born in New Orleans, he joined the MC&S in 1959 in the port of Portland, Ore., before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Hubbard worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief cook. A resident of Portland, he began receiving his pension in March 1995. ROBERT J. KOTECKI Pensioner Robert J. Kotecki, 66, died May 22. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1961 from the port of "--'---~---' Jacksonville, Fla. Born in Illinois, he worked in both the steward and engine departments. Prior to his retirement in September 1995, Brother Kotecki sailed in the steward department aboard the Nedlloyd Holland, operated by Sea-Land Service. From 1950 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of St. Augustine, Fla. 1944 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Mosakowski began receiving his pension in September 1983. JOHN F. KOZAR Pensioner John F. Kozar, 71, passed away June 6. A native of Pennsylvania, he started his career with the SIU in 1943 in the port of ----"-~=--i New York. He sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Kozar last sailed aboard the Inger, a Reynolds Metals Company vessel. The resident of Taylor, Pa. began receiving his pension in March 1981. EDWARD T. KRESZ !.~~~a;;:-:-, Pensioner Edward T. Kresz, 78, died May 29. Brother Kresz joined the Seafarers in 1953 in the port of New York. ~!!!!!!5'--1-ilL:!:"!iJ ' The Pennsylvania native sailed in the deck department and attended an educational conference at the Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement in January 1982, he sailed aboard the Tamara Guilden, operated by Transport Commercial Company. During World War II, he served in the U.S. military. Brother Kresz was a resident of Philadelphia. RANDOLPH LIVERPOOL Randolph Liverpool, 33, passed away May 29. He graduated from the Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1982 and joined the SIU in the port of Piney Point, Md. His first ship was the Santa Adela. Born in Virginia, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He was a resi dent of Norfolk, Va. WALTER W. LUNGREN Pensioner Walter W. Lungren, 77, died May 27. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from the Andrew Furuseth ~ Training School i n 1957 and started his career with t he Seafarers in the port of New ~ork. Brother Lungren sailed in the c ngine department. A resident of Long Beach, Calif., he began receivi ng his pension in August 1986. WILLIE L. MITCHELL LARS NIELSEN Pensioner Lars Nielsen, 85, passed away June 8. Born in the Virgin Islands, he joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Norfolk, '-"=======Va. Brother Nielsen sailed in the deck department. He resided in New York and retired in October 1976. PETER J. DWYER Peter J. Dwyer. 76, died May 10. Born in Massachusetts, he started his career with the SIU in 1953 in the port of New York. Boatman i.;;...__..!..!O!'-"""'~-=~ Dwyer worked in the deck department, last sailing as a first mate. The Philadelphia resi· dent retired in August 1988. TOMAS RAMIREZ Pensioner Tomas Ramirez, 75, died June 8. A native of Puerto Rico, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1947 from the port of '-------'~-'---.1 New York. He sailed in the deck department and during his union career was active in organizing drives and strikes. Brother Ramirez was a resident of Ponce, P.R. and began receiving his pension in March 1985. HARVEY TRAWICK Pensioner Harvey Trawick, 83, passed away May 22. A charter member of the Seafarers, he joined the union in 1939 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Trawick sailed as a bosun in the deck department and retired in March 1977. A native of Alabama, he was a resident of Spanish Fort, Ala. ALIPIO TRUJILLO l~•·li~I Pensioner Alipio Trujillo, 79, died May 22. Brother Trujillo began his career with the SIU in 1949 in the port of Tampa, Fla. _ __.......ir....J Born in Cuba, he sailed as a member of the steward department. A resident of Cooper City, Fla., he began receiving his pension in July 1974. ROBERT WALKER Pensioner Willie L. Mitchell, 70, passed away May 18. A native of North Carolina, he began sailing with the SIU in -----=..-.=:o......i 1952. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother M itchell retired in October 1991. He was a resident of Burlington, N.C. From 1944 to 1946, he served in the u. S. Navy. Robert Walker, 37, passed away April 16. Born in Alabama, he graduated from the Lundeberg School's entry level training school in 1977 ...._-----'--'"--' "' and joined the Seafarers in the port of Piney Point. Md. Brother Walker sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He was a resident of Mobile, Ala. E DWARD J. MOSAKOWSKI INLAND Pe nsioner Edward J. Mosakowski, 70 , died May 19. Brother Mosakowski started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in his native p hiladelphia. Brother Mosakowski sai led in the deck department. From Texas. He worked in the steward department. Prior to his retirement in July 1977, he sailed aboard a Sabine Towing vessel. ._____ _ _ _ ____,Boatman Cormier resided in Groves, Texas. LLOYD J. CORMIER Pensioner Lloyd J. Cormier, 83, passed away May 13. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Port Arthur, ROYS. HARDEN Pensioner Roy S. Harden, 73, passed away May 2. Boatman Harden began sailing with the Seafarers in 1964 from the port of Norfolk, Va. A native of North Carolina, he worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief cook. He also sailed in the deep sea division. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Harden was a resident of Chesapeake, Va. and began receiving his pension December 1985. , _ __ _ _ _ __ _ J ROBERT H. HILLIARD Pensioner Robert H. Hilliard, 75, died June 26. A native of Virginia, he started his career with the SIU in 1964 in ~-------'theportof Norfolk, Va. Boatman Hilliard sailed as a member of the engine department. A resident of Virginia Beach, Va., he retired in July 1984. WILLIAM 0. HOWERIN ~~-~~=--:--i Pensioner William 0. Howerin, 87, passed away June 7. He joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North Carolina, he worked in the engine department. Boatman Howerin sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Curtis Bay Towing. He was a resident of Virginia Beach, Va. and retired in October 1973. PERFECTOR MONILLAS Pensioner Perfector Manillas, 88, died June 22 . Born in the Philippines, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of Philadelphia. He worked in the steward department and sailed primarily on vessels operated by Curtis Bay Towing as a chief steward. Boatman Monillas resided in Villas, N.J. and began receiving his pension in April 1975. Continued on page 20 August 1997 �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. Shif1$ minute1 first are reviewed by the union's contract department Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ship$ minutes. The minutes are then forwarded to the Seatarefl LOG for publication. USNS POTOMAC (Bay Ship Management), February 12Chairman Thomas Smith, Secretary Dante F. Slack, Educational Director Michael Scinto, Deck Delegate Bryan Bush Engine Delegate Randy Snay, Steward Delegate Alvin Smith. Chairman announced ship going into Singapore shipyard for for two weeks in August. He noted Steven Wagner, Educational Director W.C. Weekley Sr., Deck Delegate Liberato Viray, Engine Delegate Edward Krebs, Steward Delegate Ernie Batiz. Chairman noted ship was in layup for 22 day. He extended a welcome to crewmembers and announced payoff upon arrival in port of Los Angeles. Bosun reminded crew to immediately report any unsafe new contract and wage increase shipboard working conditions to effective in March. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and reminded crew to obtain an STCW identification certificate. Treasurer reported $117 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested copies of contract and a new juice machine for unlicensed mess hall. Next port: Singapore. department head or mate on watch. Secretary thanked deck and engine department members for keeping mess hall and pantry area clean and advised crew to put dirty linens in linen locker before arrival in next port. Educational director discussed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted Seafarers LOGs received in port of New Orleans. Bosun stated repair list posted in crew mess hall. Crew requested repairs for showers in deck and engine quarters. Members discussed the Seafarers Welfare Plan's dental coverage. DUCHESS (Ocean Duchess Inc.), March 30-Chairman Lawrence Kunc, Secretary Raymond Jones, Deck Delegate Kenneth Gilson, Steward Delegate James Harris. Chairman asked contracts department for information concerning 1996 agreement. Educational irector advised crewmembers to apply for training record books (TRBs). No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers extended special vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. MAERSK CALIFORNIA Maersk Lines), April 24Chairman Maurilio Zepeda, Secretary Kris Hopkins, Educational Director Robert Hamil, Deck Delegate Ralph Kirby. Chairman discussed the SIU jobs created by the addition of four new Maersk vessels and reminded members to do a good job. Secretary urged crew to help keep ship clean. Educational director encouraged crewmembers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs reported. Steward informed crew store situation will be handled upon arrival in port of Charleston, S.C. Crewmembers thanked galley gang for job well done until first store-up. Crew requested new freezer for mess hall, new pillows and new radio antenna. Next ports: Freeport, Bahamas; Maimi; Vera Cruz, Mexico and Houston. WILLAMETTE (Kirby Tankships), April 27-Chairman Lawrence Zepeda, Secretary Dinner At Sea OS Larry Reed enjoys a steak dinner aboard the USNS Algol. August 1997 CHARLES L. BROWN (fransoceanic Cable Ship), May 28-Chairman Francisco Sousa, Secretary Edward Dunn, Educational Director Joe Stores, Deck Delegate James Anderson, Engine Delegate Victor Mondeci, Steward Delegate Cecilio Suarez. Chairman announced payoff on May 30 and reminded crew ship is on cable repair standby. Bosun explained the new training record books (fRBs) which eventually will be required for deep sea Seafarers. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman advised crew to observe shipboard smoking policy and keep TV volume low during meal hours. Crew noted parts for unlicensed washing machine still have not arrived. Crew saluted Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez for his work in keeping cableships with SIU. Next port: St. Thomas, U.S.V.l DUCHESS (Ocean Duchess Inc.), May 25--Chairman Robert Allen, Secretary Raymond Jones, Educational Director Byron Elliott, Deck Delegate Kenneth Gilson, Engine Delegate Robert Oppel, Steward Delegate Mariano Norales. Crewmembers asked contracts department to clarify what members qualify for emergency leave and to send a copy of contract to ship. Secretary urged crewmembers to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Piney·Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested medical identification cards for dependents. Crew asked for new mattresses. Next port: Portland, Maine. GALVESTON BAY (Sea-Land Service), May 25-Chairman James Davis, Secretary D.A. Brown, Educational Director Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate Martin Rosen. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in port of Elizabeth, N .J. Educational director encouraged crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read letter received from Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez concerning request that members be permitted to register with union by electronic mail. Members reported crew lounge audio system in need of repair. Chairman thanked crew for clean ship and extended special vote of thanks to steward department for outstanding food and sanitary condition of vessel. Crew observed moment of silence for departed SIU brothers and sisters. NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (SeaLand Service), May 18-Secretary Bruce Mesger, Educational Director Mark Serlis. Secretary and educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reminded to read Seafarers LOG. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Charleston, S.C. OVERSEAS NEW YORK (Maritime Overseas), May 25Chairman James Souci, Secretary Ray Agbulos, Educational Director Jimmie Thomas, Deck Delegate Ben Octaviano, Engine Delegate Craig Craft, Steward Delegate Julianne Abernathy. Chairman extended special welcome to Piney Point apprentice Aaron Lutsky, and explained the new apprentice program to crewmembers. He reminded crew to separate plastics from regular trash. Bosun noted he will speak to captain about heat adjustment for individual quarters. He advised crewmembers of new alcohol testing policy in Valdez, Alaska. Secretary thanked crewmembers for cooperation in keeping crew lounge and mess room clean and praised them for good voyage. Treasurer reported $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for fine meals. Next port: Valdez. OVERSEAS VIVIAN (Maritime Overseas), May 31-Chairman Michael Eaton, Secretary Joseph Miller, Deck Delegate Roan Lightfoot. Chairman advised crew to apply for training record books (fRBs). Secretary noted smooth sailing. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. Crewmembers requested new TV antenna for lounge. Steward reminded members to clean rooms before signing off vessel. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. Crewmembers reported cellular phone on number 5 deck needs to be repaired and ship needs to be fumigated for bugs. Bosun announced payoff upon arrival in port of Houston. Crewmembers elected Doug Craft as new ship's chairman. Educational director distributed training record book (TRB) applications and discussed new Lundeberg School apprenticeship program. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new chairs for lounge and noted photos of Brother Morales' burial at sea sent into Seafarers LOG. Next port: Charleston, S.C. crewmembers to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School and consider Piney Point for a family vacation spot. He also urged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew offered several comments directed to the union's contract and welfare departments. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang, especially Chief Cook Dien Short, for a job well done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. - USNS EFFECTIVE (U.S. Marine Management), May 28-Chairman Jerald Galletta, Secretary Eric Baliantz, Deck Delegate John 45 Days Aboard the USNS Algol - }1!' :A .. · · Crewmembers aboard the USNS Algol recently completed a 45day trial run from New Orleans to ports in Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, Holland and Germany. Pictured above are, from left, Chief Steward Calvin Hazzard, Assistant Cook Leonard Kelly, GSU David Buchanan, (back row) AB Lester Hoffman and Wiper Jose Salcedo. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), May 22Chairman Walter Petty, Secretary Ivan Salis, Educational Director James Roberts, Deck Delegate Mark Holman, Engine Delegate R. Williams, Steward Delegate Willie Grant. Chairman informed crew copies of contract have arrived and advised all members to read pact thoroughly. He announced payoff in port of Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and donate to SPAD to help preserve the U.S.-flag fleet. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Bosun read telex from headquarters concerning National Maritime Day. Crew asked contracts department to look into making Maritime Day an SIU holiday in next contract. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent food. Next ports: Jacksonville, San Juan, P.R. and Santo Domingo. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), May 29Chairman Elex Cary Jr., Secretary Julio Roman Jr., Educational Director Ray Chapman, Deck Delegate M.R. Santana, Engine Delegate Saeed MuOahi, Steward Delegate Richard Casuga. Chairman urged members to check Seafarers LOG for schedule of new classes being offered at Piney Point and asked members to donate to SPAD. He thanked galley gang for good food. Secretary noted everything running smoothly and advised all members to attend union meetings. Secretary and educational director discussed importance of upgrading at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND QUALITY (SeaLand Service), May 25Chairman Benedict Veiner, Secretary Terry Smith, Educational Director Angel Hernandez. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point. Crewmembers agreed to establish ship's fund. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Crewmembers asked contracts department to look into reimbursement of airline tickets for members. Crew requested copies of contract. Steward reminded crew to rewind videotapes after viewing and advised all members to have valid clinic cards. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Port Everglades, Fla.; Houston; and Jacksonville, Aa. SEA-LAND INTEGRITY (SeaLand Service), May 11Chairman Spencer Lyle, Secretary Pedro Laboy, Educational Director Dennis Baker, Deck Delegate Doug Craft, Engine Delegate Jeffrey Hailstone, Steward Delegate John Platts. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (SeaLand Service), May 25Chairman Lance Zollner, Secretary Gregory Keene, Deck Delegate J.R. McDaniel. Chairman noted copies of contract and new Seafarers WGs available. Educational director reminded Hazlett, Engine Delegate Stanley Castro, Steward Delegate Yvonne Oamil. Crew reported ship's treadmill has been broken since March 1996. Crewmembers asked steward department to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables ordered for each voy~ge. Crew reported that AB Galetta resumed ship's chairman responsibilities after Bosun Glen Baker was taken from ship by helicopter due to a medical emergency. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Crewmembers asked the union's contract department to clarify the tour of duty section contained in the contract. SEA-LAND DEFENDER (SeaLand Service), June 1-Chairman James Foley, Secretary Raymond Garcia, Educational Director Ed Rynberg, Deck Delegate Robert Raney, Engine Delegate Moftah Mothana. Chairman advised members to complete and send in training record book (TRB) applications. Bosun and educational director encouraged crew to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Crew noted copies of Seafarers WG and contracts received. Crew asked contracts department to define policy for vacation and days off. Steward department received special vote of thanks by crew. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), June I-Chairman Norberto Prats, Secretary Edgar Vazquez, Educational Director Frank Demeo. Chairman, captain and crew extended special vote of thanks to SIU President Mike Sacco, Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, Vice President Atlantic Coast Jack Caffey and Assistant Vice President Contracts Kermett Mangram for their recent visit to vessel. Bosun noted captain was very pleased with their presence. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman praised crewmembers for working together to continue smooth shipboard operations. Seafarers LOG 19 �- Cleveland Crew Salutes GSU Mendoza on His WeB-Eamed Retirement GSU Julian Mendoza cuts his retirement cake during his last voyage aboard the .Cleveland. Pictured with Mendoza are, from left, OMU Davon McMillan, AB Hennie Haylock, OS Josh Morris, Chief Steward Rickie Juzang and Bosun Fareed Khan. After sailing with the SIU for ing aboard the Cleveland a nice more than three decades, GSU experience," the crew noted. Julian Mendoza signed off the Mendoza sailed with the SIU Cleveland . and headed for his for 37 years, during which time native Laredo, Texas. he worked on all kinds of ships Before Mendoza walked down and called on ports all over the the gangway for the last time world. "My career with the SIU has after the vessel docked in Port Canaveral, Fla., the crew of the been just like a dream. I enjoyed Sealift, Inc. vessel treated him to it-both the good and the bad. I a retirement party he will not have made it and I thank God," he said. soon forget. Brother Mendoza stated he Chief Steward Rickie Juzang and Chief Cook Fausto Aranda will enjoy spending his retireprepared a feast to commemorate ment years visiting friends and Mendoza's career as a Seafarer. family. "You won't find me sitCrewmembers enjoyed barbe- ting at home," he declared. cued pork and beef ribs with a "special sauce" as well as chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled fish, baked beans, corn-on-thecob, watermelon and more. A decorated cake was baked for Mendoza, and crewmembers enjoyed the , cookout at picnic tables on the deck while the vessel sailed from Eastern Africa · to Florida. In a letter to the Seafarers LOG that included the photographs accompanying this article, crewmembers stated Menoza A barbecue was prepared by Chief Cook will be missed by every- Fausto Aranda (right, sitting) and Chief one. Steward Rickie Juzang on the deck of the "His cheerful smile and Cleveland to congratulate GSU Julian positive attitude made din- Mendoza on his retirement. Continued from page 18 later became a U.S. citizen. Brother Simoes was a resident of Gloucester and began receiving his pension in April 1971. AnANTIC FISHERMEN RAILROAD MARINE ANIBAL S. SIMOES Anibal S. GILBERT J. HERBERT Pensioner Gil- Final Departures Simoes, 90, passed away February 17. Brother Simoes joined the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1954 in the port of Gloucester, Mass., before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. He worked as a fisherman aboard the fishing vessels Tina B. and Wild Duck. Born in the Azore Islands, he 20 Seafarers LOG Practice Makes Perfect for Cape Johnson The SIU-crewed Cape Johnson (top) recently broke out for intensive militarysupport exercises that included vertical and underway replenishment for 11 U.S. Navy ships. Part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force, the Cape Johnson received top marks from the government for its performance during the drills, which took place near St. Croix in late May and early June. Operated by Amsea, the Cape Johnson is a 564-foot breakbulk vessel featuring helicopter landing pads. The 30-year-old ship usually transports ammunition, but also can handle stores and other cargo. Above and at right, the Cape Johnson tests the modular cargo delivery system, or MCDS, with guided missile frigate USS Underwood. For New Bedford Fishermen, 1997 'Blessing of the Fleet' May Portend Better Future The 1997 version of the traditional blessing of the New Bedford commercial fishing fleet has brought with it signs of better days for SIU members after a half-decade of retrenchment and regulation. That is because the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-the federal agency charged with managing U.S. fish stocks-is beginning to recognize the rebound in fish stocks noted by local fishermen and the SIU for the past three years. Additionally, the union and U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.), whose district includes New Bedford, are working with the fishery management system to ease some of the more repressive rules just taking effect this year. The return of fish stocks-the cod, haddock and flounder which have helped make the New Bedford region famous-also has helped SIU fishermen enjoy one of the best years in the past decade despite being limited in the total number of days they could fish. However, this success may be short-lived if the government continues reducing fishing days, as currently planned. "It is inhumane and unnecessary to keep cutting our members' days," said SIU New Bedford Port Agent Henri Francois. "The fish haven't come back in anticipation of cuts yet to come, but because of the very real sacrifices we have made these past four years." This is a message the SIU plans to take to U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley (whose agency houses NMFS) when he visits New Bedford this month at the invitation of Frank and Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry (both, D-Mass.). Seatarers Take Top Slots The 2gth annual fleet blessing was part of an elaborate three-day festival known as Summerfest. As part of the celebration, fishing boats from the local fleet are decorated by their crewmembers to sail before a reviewing stand that includes elected officials, clergy and members of the business community. SIU boats won first and second places this year. Captain Firminio V. Pereira, Mate Alfredo Conde, Deckhand Firminio A. Pereira, Engineer Jorge Ruela and Cook Manuel Areias guided the FIV Cowboy to the top ranking. The F/V Bonansa received second-place honors and was crewed by Captain Antonio Ruivo, Mate John Santos, Deckhand Americo DaSilva, Engineer Joaquim Mouco and Cook Jose Marques. ~ The SIU-crewed Cowboy (left photo) and Bonansa recently took top honors at New Bedford's annual Blessing of the Fleet. More importantly, a rebound in fish stocks has helped SIU fishermen enjoy one of the best years in the past decade. bert J. Herbert, 74, died June 12. A native of New Jersey, he began his career with the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of '------'..-.---D!l.I New York. Sailing as a mate in the deck department, Brother Herbert worked primarily for the marine division of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. He began receiving his pension in September 1991. August 1997 �i--....- - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Trades Department, stated that many businesses supportive of the FTC plan already have moved substantial parts of their operations overseas "at the cost of hundreds of thousands of good American jobs. It is obvious that they now recognize the considerable commercial value of the Made in USA label and want to be able to use it anyway.', He added that adoption of the FfC proposal "would make the label a fraud on the American public and open the door even wider to the export of U.S. jobs." A non-profit consumer group known as the Buy America Foundation described the FTC recommendation as "nothing less than a fraud on the American public that will eventually result in even more American jobs lost to foreign countries. Made in the USA is a simple concept. American consumers have a fundamental right to know the truth; it should be the role of the FI'C to protect, not compromise, that right." The foundation further suggests that if the current standard is changed, "Why not simply state the truth? If 75 percent of a product's cost is domestic, then label the product 75 percent Made in the USA-or 60 percent or 90 percent or whatever the case may be. [Otherwise], Made in USA should mean only one thing: that all or virtually all of the product was made here.'' Written comments to the FfC must be received before August 11. They should be identified as "Made in USA Policy Comment,, and addressed to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room 159, 6th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20508. Moreover, updates on this matter may be found at the following internet site, which also provides users with links to send e-mail messages to U.S. representatives and senators: http:// www.UnionLabel.org. 'Made in USA 1 Is Jeopardized By FTC Proposal A number of trade unions, dozens of congressional representatives from both parties, consumer groups and business organizations are maintaining the fight to protect the integrity of the words "Made in USA" on product labels and in advertising. The campaign, which has gained more and more backers this summer, is a direct response to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposal earlier this year to relax the 50-year-old rule that "all or virtually all" of a product be made domestically before it may bear the Made in USA label. The FTC is accepting written comments from the public on this matter until August 11. After reviewing the comments, the commission will approve, reject or alter the proposal. The AFL-CIO's Union Label & Service Trades Department is urging all union members and the general public to ask their elected representatives on Capitol Hill to oppose the FTC plan. The department also encourages union members and other individuals to seek their representatives' backing ~ a "Sense of Congress" se resolution introduced by ep. Bob Franks (R-N.J.) in June. That resolution calls upon the FTC to withdraw its proposal and to maintain the "all or virtually alP' U.S. parts and labor standard for the label. (A similar resolution was expected to be introduced in e Senate as the Sea/are rs LOG we to press.) Pmhed for by manufacturers using a combination of foreign and U.S. parts and labor in their products-but still wanting the benefits of the Made in USA label (which is a key selling point to many consumers}-the FTC proposal seemingly lowers the standard to 75 percent. However, Franks noted that the "fine print" reveals as little as 56 percent U.S. parts and labor could qualify a product to be labeled American-made. The FfC also would grant such labeling rights "if the product was substantially transformed into a different product in the United States," according to the proposal. Opponents of the FTC pronouncement (which would not apply to automobiles, textiles, wool or fur) warned that lowering the standard would result in U.S. job loss and would confuse-if not outright mislead-American consumers. Franks said it is "sad that the agency charged with upholding truth in advertising is now attempting to pull a fast one on America's consumers." Similarly, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), a cosponsor of the resolution, described the FTC proposal as "a scam on the public" and said it would "sanctify lying." Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) pointed out that "there is much money to be made through subterfuge in labeling," and further cautioned that the voluminous fine print in the agency's recommendation would create "a lawyers' sandbox.,, Charlie Mercer, president of the Union Label & Service (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.) LOG Article Brings Back Memories In the May issue of the Seafarers LOG, under the "Inquiring Seafarer" section, a Henry McCullough (retired) was interviewed at the Philadelphia hall. He stated that he was on the Transatlantic in 1951 when she got caught up in a storm going to France. I think I was on the same trip. I was the 12-4 OS, and I had the first lookout at noon when shortly after going on watch, on top of the wheelhouse, a 75-foot wave crashed over us on the starboard side. All I could do was hold on to the wires leading down from the smokestack and watch the fored~k disappear. The next day, we were steering from on top of the after house (on the fantail). At that time, I told the captain that I thought the wave was a 70-footer. He told me that he had it at 75 feet in the ship,s log. We had four lifeboats onboard. The two on the starboard side were moved. The forward one was shoved against the house because it was somewhat protected by the bridge. The #3 boat davits were moved aft of the house. And, believe it or not, the whole episode didn't bother me at all. I have been retired since 1986 and would very much like to get in touch with Henry. Dick Maley Greene, Maine August 1997 - - ---- - (Henry McCullough may write Dick Maley at 647 Sawyer Road, Greene, ME 04236. ... ~ Proper Training Pays Off in Emergencies Thank you so much for your article in the June 1997 issue of the Seafarers LOG ["Crescent Tug Crews Honored at Safety Achievement Awards"]. It was a very well-written article but left some doubt in the reader's mind. In the second paragraph, it stated, "They had no clue as to what chemical to use when extinguishing a grease fire." This may or may not have been true. During the state of excitement, the crew may have panicked and lost their memory of equipment whereabouts. With proper training, this may have not occurred. I thank the staff at the Lundeberg School for the opprotunity to learn proper job skills. rm convinced these skills were instrumental in the safe rescue of the tug Prancer. Keep up the good work. Captain Al Schmitt New Orleans, La. . .. Seafarers Welfare Plan Takes Care of Its Members I take my hat off to the Seafarers Welfare Plan for the help that they have shown me by paying my medical bills. I am very sick with a rare blood disease and appreciate a11 their help with my needs. Larry D. Rust Wilmington, Calif. 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 membees 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 (ITT) 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 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 publistiing 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 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 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 infonnation, 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 LUNOEBERG SCHOOL l ;~~ LIFEBOAT CLASS ....J~i . I:~" Trainee Lifeboat Class 565--Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 565 are (from left, kneeling) Terrance Maxwell, Joel Patzer, Sara Barahona, Yakov Shubov, Garth Beattie, (second row) Ben Cusic (instructor) Bryan Ford, Edward Kelly II, Timothy Flynn, Dennis Maguire, Leslie Odom and Gregory Guay. Bridge Management-Marking their graduation from the bridge management class on June 18 are (from left, kneeling) John Parker, Andre Skevnick, Joseph Butasek, Franz Eder, (second row) Regina Jakstas, Alex Lifeson, Joseph Violante, Bryan Bush and Casey Taylor (instructor). Chief Steward Completing her training on June 18 to become a chief steward is Florenza Farquhar. Upgraders Lifeboat-Upgrading graduates of the June 19 lifeboat class are (from left, kneeling) Glenn Toledo, Robbie Ballard, Stephanie Vogel, Mohamed Adam, Ahmed Ahmed, Ben Cusic (instructor), (second row) Fadhel Hasan, William Chumey, Faustino Castillo, Lee Pullman, Guillermo Thomas, Jonn Noel and Eugenio Cabral Jr. Tankerman Barge PIC-Two members from Allied Towing completed the tankerman barge PIC course on June 13. Steven lngvaldsen (center) and watter Tate Jr. (right) are congratulated by their instructor, Ben Cusic. Galley Operations-Eric Van Benthuysen (center) is the first graduate from the revised galley operations curriculum. With him on June 18 are instructors Allan Sherwin (left) and Eileen Hager. Tanker Assistant DL-SIU members completing the tanker assistant DL course on June 12 are (from left, front row, sitting) Nelson Patterson, Shelly Forsman, Jose Pedroza, (second row, kneeling) Hugh McDowell, Charles James, Candido Molina, George Murphy Jr., Jessie Ulibas, Alan Hansen, Daniel Rodriguez, (standing) Mark Jones (instructor), Carl Davis, Stephen Avallone, Chris Benzenberg , Guillermo Thomas, Thomas Stephens, Jason Peters, Chester Wheeler Ill, Neil Bond and Michael Willis. Familiarization LNG -Receiving their endorsements from the LNG familiarization course on June 11 are SIU members (from left, kneeling) Sammy Montana, Virgilio Donghit, Abdulrahmen Al-Okaish, Khalid Mohamed, David Collins, (second row) Bruce Johnson, Gonzie Knott, lsabelo Fernandez, Gabriel Bonefont, Bridgette Mcintosh, Vicki Holloway, Rick Redmond (instructor), (third row) Denis Burke, Blaine Amundson, Eric Van Benthuysen, George Saltz, Robert Rester, Christopher Kavanagh and Christopher Adamowicz. Not pictured is Larry Jolla. 22 Seafarers LOii �LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1997 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule for classes beginning between September through December 1997 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the w . ltswanlil/1grading couise, f~. .•..-. . Course Start Date DB.te of Completion Galley Operations September6 September 20 Oetober4 October 18 October3 October 17 October31 November 14 · 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 be/ore their coursets start date. The courses listed here wiU begin promptly on the morning of the · start dates. ·.· Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Advanced Firefighting September 22 October 6 October 27 October 3 October 17 November 7 September 22 October 20 November 17 October 10 November 7 Decembers September·s November 17 September 26 December S November 3 November 21 October 20 October 31 Date of Completi()tt · · November 14 September 22 LNG Familiarizatfon September 20 October 18 November 1S Septembers October6 · LNG Recertification .... ·... December 12 October 17 Date of Completion November2? Adult Basic Education (ABE) September 1 October 20 October 10 Decembers Liteb~t September 22 October 20 November 17 October 3 Preparation Dattfof Completion October 31 November28 Dttember12 Intrridnction to Computers October 17 The Ac~~mi~Depa~ntwillhe 4fferi~g in E~g!ish 101 and Mathematics 10l. beginning··sepiember 8 ana eNling Oc.tcber.17;·Stfyi~m~ willbe.'.rpqljft~,.,fO afterul classes a minimum of 4 days a week for two hours eac~ class. These courses are basic re.quirements for the Associates Degrees in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering Tecfincli>gy.·' Olhet courses in the academic program wlll require a minimum cfftve persuns. The next academic session wilt begin asix-.weekeourse September 22 ovember JO. UPGRADING APPLICATION Name~~~---~~~~~~--------------~ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ With this applicarion, COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficienr lime 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 completed. The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. COURSE Telephone----------- Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member 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: _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? D Yes DNo Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - - Date Off: If yes, c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? D Yes 0 No SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DATE If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes D No Primary language spoken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE! August 1997 RETURN COMPLETED APPUCATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, 8197 Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. SCHO~'Seafarers LOG 23 �Attention Seafarers: Your contributions to SPAD help ensure a strong, healthy merchant marine. For your future and job security, remember to donate to SPAD Bobo Olfers A Winning Blend OfHa•dWork And Enjoyment While in Rota, Spain, crewmembers aboard the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo were challenged to a softball game by the crew of the Sgt. Matej Kocak. The final score was Bobo 19, Kocak 14. Members of the victorious team are (from left, back row) military contractor Bobby Carlton, Chief Cook Dorray Saberon, Chief Pumpman William Lignos, Utility Jorge Soler, Capt. Mike Mahoney, QMED Arthur Wadsworth, Messman Bruce Davidson (MVP), security guard Mike Mayne, Chief Engineer Timothy Doherty, Chief Steward Rich Gray (Coach), AB Joseph Baptiste, (seated) Steward Assistant Teodocio Ruiz, AB James Hoffman, Cook/Baker Sharon Herner, AB Thomas Guffey and team captain Michael Reilly. Following a NATO exercise aboard ship, fishing lines were rigged. Posing with the record catch of the day-an 84-inch marlin-are (from left) Chief Steward Rich Gray, AB John Dawson, military contractor Bobby Carlton, Chief Engineer Dennis Simmons, Captain Mike Mahoney, Chief Cook Dorray Saberon and Cook/Baker Sharon Herner. All work and no play makes for a dull existence. But Seafarers aboard the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo have found the formula for working hard while still having time to enjoy life and fellow crewmembers, according to a letter sent to the Seafare rs LOG from Bosun William Bratton, the ship's chairman. "Our last cruise, voyage number 84, was one which we will all remember," he wrote. "We christened it 'Peace, Tranquility and Courage,' and we would like to say thanks to Captain Mike Mahoney and Chief Mate Mike Faraday for their good humor and encouragement during this trip." The bosun, in the letter and photos that accompanied it, described how the Bobo's crew worked hard throughout the voyage but found time to unwind through fishing, sidearm drills and a challenge softball game. The Bobo, a 671-foot roll-on/roll-off vessel operated by American Overseas Marine Corporation (Amsea) and time-chartered to the Military Sealift Command, is a maritime prepositioning ship (MPS), part of a fleet which provides mobile logistic support for U.S. armed forces. Each MPS carries a balanced mix of vehicles, fuel, ammunition, rations and supplies and is stationed at a forward base around the world near a region of potential crisis. Launched in late February 1985 from the shipyard at Quincy, Mass., the Bobo, like the other prepositioning ships, is equipped with a sophisti- Birthdays are not forgotten on the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo. Chief Cook Dorray Saberon (right) shows off a birthday cake made for her by Cook/Baker Sharon Herner. Second Mate Jeff Savage sets up for his firing with the M-14. He also got a perfect score of 30/30. In the background are ABs James Hoffman and Thomas Guffey. cated cargo-handling systems that permits unloading with or without pier facilities. The ship and its crew must always remain ready for military activity. During this trip, crewmembers took part in a scheduled NATO exercise. The hard work performed by the SIU members during these military maneuvers was later rewarded when they rigged fishing lines from the ship's stem. An 84inch marlin was the record catch for the trip. It was hauled in with a hand line by Capt. Mahoney and AB Roy Conn. In addition to NATO exercises, another requirement for personnel sailing aboard a military prepositioning ship is a yearly training session in small arms. This year the instruction was performed at sea during this same voyage and, according to Bratton, the deck department took all the honors in the 9mm practice. Conn scored 238 out of a possible 240; Second Mate Jeff Savage came in second with 237; and Bosun Bratton was third with 236. Besides firing the 9mm and M-14 rifle, crewmembers also were qualified with the 12-gauge shotgun. These good efforts, too, were later rewarded. When the ship arrived_in Rota, Spain, its crew was challenged by the Seafarers and officers of Waterman Steamship's Sgt. Matej Kocak to a softball game. "In the end," noted Bratton, "victory was ours, leaving us undefeated, untied and unafraid." The final score was Bobo 19, Kocak 14. � 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 August 1997 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIU WILL CREW 8 MSC RO/ROS SEAFARERS JOIN HUNDREDS TO DEMAND JUSTIC FOR FIRED SPRINT WORKER MARAD FINALIZES REGS FOR MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE CLEARS MEASURE BANNING SUBSTANDARD FOREIGN SHIPS FROM CARRYING PREFERENCE CARGO MTD, SIU SUPPORT VETERAN’S STATUS FOR ALL WORLD WAR II MERCHANT MARINERS WEST COAST SEAFARERS RECEIVE TRBS OSPREY SAVES RUSSIAN MARINER MOBILE HALL DOUBLES AS DISASTER RELIEF SITE IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE DANNY GUNSTREAM CREW RESCUES WOMAN BITEN BY ALLIGATOR MORE THAN QUARTER MILLION PAID TO MARINERS AFTER SAILING SEVEN MONTHS WITHOUT ANY PAY SEAFARERS CREW FOURTH MAERSK CONTAINERSHIP TO JOIN U.S. -FLAG FLEET ORGANIZING REMAINS TOP GOAL FOR UIW SCHOOL PASSES COAST GUARD AUDIT WITH FLYING COLORS LUNDEBERG SCHOOL BRINGS SAFETY TRAINING TO JAX CROWLEY SEAFARERS MARITRANS BOATMEN COMPLETE HALL CENTER’S TANKERMAN BARGE COURSE IN PHILADELPHIA POOR MAINTENANCE DOOMED FERRY ESTONIA IN 1994 SUMMER SEASON GREETS GREAT LAKES SEAFARERS CHIEF STEWARD ROSE FEELS MAGIC OF JERUSALEM USNS VICTORIOUS BEFRIENDS EAGLE IN NORTHERN PACIFIC CAPTAIN CALLOWAY RESTORES OLD LIFEBOAT 30 YEARS OF PROGRESS HALL CENTER AT A GLANCE CLEVELAND CREW SALUTES GSU MENDOZA ON HIS WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT ‘MADE IN USA’ IS JEOPARDIZED BY FTC PROPOSAL BOBO OFFERS A WINNING BLEND OF HARD WORK AND ENJOYMENT 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 08/01/1997 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. 8 1997 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/c975f2f33a48da2c9b9d00c4cef00222.pdf a3dd0a66863bcf31abadd95e0669630a PDF Text Text Number 8 SIU, Paul Hall Center Announce Fire Fighting/Safety School Pages 3, 121 13 ,.y ~ · A ceremonial groundbreaking accompanied the announcement of the . ,. new fire fighting and safety complex in Piney Point, Md. Taking part in the celebration are (from left) Unlicensed Apprentice Jomo Young; ·; Seafarers Plans Administrator Lou Delmai Paul Hall Center Health and Safety Director Jimmy Hanson; Bay Ship Management Labor . Relations Director Joeeph Cecire (representing the Paul Hall Center · · trustees); SIU President Michael Sacco; and Judy Sacco, widow of Joseph Sacco. �MarAd Rescinds RRF Awards President's Report Seafarers to Continue Working Under Extended Contracts Building for the Future An independent review uncovered some probLess than a month after announcing the awarding Everybody wants to know what is going to happen to them, their of contracts for operating vessels in the Ready lems with the system, so the agency canceled its families and their friends in the years to come. In fact, many people Reserve Force (RRF), the Maritime Administration June awards and reopened the bidding process. would pay a steep price to possess a crystal ball (MarAd) was forced to rescind all the pacts and start According to the MarAd statement, "Contract that could look into the future. a new bidding procedure. awards were inadvertently made contrary to a speSeafarers don't have to go to such an extreme. What this means for Seafarers is they will con- cific condition contained in an offer, and the resultBy reading the Seafarers LOG and attending tinue to crew the vessels and work under the con- ing awards were therefore improper. This error union meetings on a regular basis, you know about tracts that were due to expire this year. affected several awardees and non-selected compathe new vessels under SIU contracts which are pro"An announcement has been sent to all SIU- nies and potentially compromised the entire bestviding new jobs for the membership. You know crewed RRF ships that Seafarers are to remain on value decision." about the changes in training and documentation their ships and continue performing their duties Newspaper articles state the new bidding process required not just of Seafarers, but of all mariners until further notice," stated SIU Vice President could take as long as nine months before operating Michael Sacco now and down the road. You know of the efforts by Contracts Augie Tellez. contracts are announced. SIU-contracted companies that are working out ''This process of re-bidding will take some time. RRF vessels are used by the U.S. armed forces in their strategies for the 21st century for sailing under the U.S.-flag with We will keep the members informed on what is haptimes of surge shipping. They are owned by the govSeafarers aboard. pening," he added. The SIU has not been wondering about what will happen. It has ernment but operated by private companies who Following the announcement of the new conbeen aggressively planning for tomorrow and the many more tomortracts for the 89-ship fleet on June 12, MarAd had to employ American merchant mariners. rows to come. The vessels of the fleet are kept in various states rescind the bids in early July after the Department of The latest example of looking out for the future needs of our memof readiness, with some able to sail at a moment's Transportation agency discovered "an error in the bers came last month with the groundbreaking ceremony for one of the notice. The fleet includes tankers, roll-on/roll-offs, debriefing process," according to its press release. world's largest firefighting schools dedicated to marine-related blazes. In explaining the reason for rescinding the breakbulk and auxiliary crane ships. When this facility opens in 1999, it will be the most up-to-date, RRF ships have been broken out several times awards made in June, MarAd officials said several complete training site for Seafarers, no matter if they sail deep sea, companies had filed complaints about the bidding during the 1990s with the most extensive use of inland or on the Lakes. This school will have it all. procedure. them coming during the Persian Gulf War. As reported in this issue of the LOG, the multi-acre facility will be composed of both classrooms and hands-on training areas. At one central location, we will have structures to simulate potential fire conditions that could occur on any type of vessel. Students will be able to work in a full-size bilge, in a smoke-filled maze or on a helicopter pad. They will have a site to battle small fires with various types of extinguishers. They will be able to tackle blazes using fire hoses found on ships. In others words, they will receive training for whatever conditions President Clinton's nominee to Transportation Efficiency Act they may face. become head of the U.S. Mar- (ISTEA), which is designed to And, unlike those long sleepy bus trips to New Jersey taken by so itime Administration cleared the link the country's transportation many of our members in years past, this new facility is being built on Senate committee charged with modes. property already owned by the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. oversight of the Department of From 1980 to 1994, he worked One other benefit of this facility is it will be adaptable to meet the Transportation agency. with the Interstate Commerce future firefighting needs of Seafarers in the next century. It specifically Clyde J. Hart was approved to Commission, including three will allow for expansion. be the next maritime administrator years as counsel to its chairman. This is a massive project to make sure SIU members remain the by the Senate Commerce, Science He holds a law degree from best-trained, safest mariners in the world. · and Transportation Committee Catholic University and a masAppropriately, the trustees of the center have named this facility in during a voice vote on July 9. His ter's degree from George memory of a person who truly dedicated his life to improving condinomination now goes before the Washington University. Clyde Hart tions aboard ship and at home for all Seafarers: our late executive vice full Senate for consideration. president, Joseph Sacco. Once approved by that body, Joey believed in this union and constantly worked for the memberHart can be sworn in. No date for ship. He knew the SIU had to plan for the future and not rest on past Senate action has been anor present accomplishments. . nounced. He understood that training and upgrading played a significant role Hart serves as the senior and pushed to make sure the Lundeberg School at the Paul Hall Center More members of the House nized World War II-era mariners as Democratic counsel for the Senate remained the leader in the maritime industry. Joey was a driving force of Representatives have added veterans. That decision stated any Surface Transportation and behind the school since its origin. He would be very proud of this new Merchant Marine Subcommittee, their names as supporters of a mariners sailing between Decemfirefighting facility- then he would ask what's next. which is part of the full Com- measure to extend World War II ber 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945 To answer that questiof.1, the SIU continues working for the merce, Science and Trans- veterans' status to U.S. merchant would receive veterans' status. future-more ships, upgraded training and new union halls. The union portation Committee. He is sched- mariners who sailed between However, the cutoff for members is working on many different fronts to make sure there will be plenty uled to succeed retired U.S. Navy August 15. 1945 and December of the Army, Navy and Marines to of jobs for our members. Vice Admiral Albert Herberger, 31, 1946-the date set by be World War II veterans is We are on the move and have no intention of sailing in somebody who resigned in June 1997. John President Harry Truman as the December 31, 1946. else's wake. Graykowski has been serving as end of hostilities. A similar measure was introAs of mid-July, 284 members acting maritime administrator Herbert Brand duced in the Senate by Majority (almost two-thirds of the body) since Herberger left. Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.). It The SIU and the whole U.S.-flag maritime industry lost a truly had signed on as sponsors to H.R. Hart, a New Jersey native, great friend when Herb Brand passed away on June 26. was adopted as an amendment to 1126, a bill which would extend joined the subcommittee staff in Herb was a fighter. When he believed in a cause, he wouldn't stop the Ocean Shipping Reform Act the dates for mariners. Repre1994. He has worked on such until he won. And he believed in the men and women who crewed the (S. 414 ), which cleared the maritime-related legislation as sentative Lane Evans (D-Ill.) introvessels of the U.S.-flag fleet. Senate in April. That bill is awaitduced the measure to correct part the Maritime Security Act of He came on board with the SIU right after World War II. While his ing action by the House. of a 1988 ruling that first recog1996 and the Intermodal Surface official title with the union was public relations dire.ctor, he was much more than that. He was a confidant and advisor to Paul Hall, who had the vision to make the SIU what it is today. Sealift Panel Meets in Camp Springs Herb also was a visionary. He always could see great things for this union. When I became president 10 years ago, he was one of the first people I sought for advice. I continued to respect his ideas and knowledge until the day cancer took him from us. He will be missed by all of us, but his fighting spirit will live on. Senate Committee Approves Hart as Maritime Administrator Support Continues to Grow For WWII Veterans' Status llolume 60, Number 8 August f 998 lbe SIU on line: www.seafarers.org ~76 2 The Seafarers WG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; At1antic, 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; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor; Summer Intern, Donnie Stonns. Copyright © 1998 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. Seafarers LOG j SIU President Michael Sacco welcomes members of the National Defense Transportation Association's (NDTA) Military Sealift Committee to union headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. on Ju~e 30. The committee, of which the SIU is a founding member, meets regular}y across th~ country to discuss, ~nd pr<;>vide recommendations for, issues relating to national security and seahft readiness. Its chairman 1s James Henry of the Washington, D.C.-based Transportation Institute. Th~ ~OTA is a non-pr~f!t. research and education organization composed of military and government off1c1~ls as well as c1v1hans from defense-related industries. Flanking Sacco are U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Naughton of the U.S. Transportation Command (left) and former Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger. August 1998 �Center Unveils Fire Fighting School Early '99 Opening Planned for State-of-the-Art Facility The SIU and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month announced More than 100 people attended the ceremonial groundbreaking last month in Piney Point, Md., including representatives of SIUcontracted companies, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration, local fire and rescue personnel, Seafarers. employees of the Paul Hall Center and otner guests. Above: SIU President Michael Sacco begins the dedication. plans for a major addition: the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, projected to open in early 1999. The facility will be built on school property near the Paul Hall Center's main campus in Piney Point, Md. Its estimated cost is $1 million, with funding coming primarily from the International Transport Workers' Federation. Seafarers will take basic and advanced firefighting, water survival, first aid and CPR, damage control and confined-space safety training at the six-building complex. "This is a very special day," SIU President Michael Sacco said during a ceremonial groundbreaking July 16. 'The Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School is all about the future job security and employment opportunities of all SIU members. Safety training is important in its own right, but it's also a requirement for more and more of our jobs. "This school will give Seafarers the chance to meet those requirements in a facility that is second to none." Construction is expected to begin in the very near future, possibly as early as this month. The school is designed to virtually duplicate shipboard envi- ronments, including types of fires that could occur on vessels. Its buildings will house replicas of an engine room, galley, lounge and fo'c's'le. Also included will be a two-story maze with moveable partitions, classrooms, outdoor training pads, a compressor room, shower facilities and other features. 'The biggest plus may be the mix of hands-on training and classroom instruction that this school will make possible," noted Jimmy Hanson, director of health becomes registered in the United States and employs American mariners. In doing this, the people or companies operating the vessel must agree LO build a replacement vessel in a U.S. shipyard with not less than 75 percent of the foreign-built ship's stateroom capacity. The measure forbids the introduction of a foreign-built ship into a market already served by a U.S.flag cruise vessel. The foreignbuilt bottom must leave the market no later than two years after delivery of the last U.S. constructed vessel called for in the contract. In presenting his bill to the Senate, Breaux stated, "As strongly as I am committed to helping ports in my state of Louisiana and throughout the country attract and benefit from increased cruise vessel operations, I am equally convinced that we will not achieve the full measure of these economic benefits if we simply allow foreign-flag passenger vessels to operate between America's ports. "Rather, I believe we should be directing our efforts to develop a large, modern and competitive cruise vessel fleet comprised of Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on Monday, September 7, 1998 (unless an emergency arises) for the observance of Labor Day. Normal business hours will resume the following workday. August 1998 dedication of the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, see pages 12 - 13. and safety at the Paul Hall Center. "Instead of four days in a classroom and one day of practical exercises, we can go directly back and forth after each lesson. This also will help the school in design- ing company-specific training." Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the school, said the new complex will enable the Paul Hall Center to "essentially provide one-stop shopping for the members in terms of their safety trammg. Everything they're required to take, they can get at this school." The facility is named after the late SIU executive vice president who passed away in October 1996. Board Tackles Training Regs Industry Advisory Group Focuses on International Requirements Implementing the evolving training requirements for mariners and efficiently tracking individual Seafarers' certifications for those regulations were two of the main topics analyzed last month during the second joint meeting of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education's deep sea and inland advisory boards. The group also tackled numerous other subjects during the July 16-17 session at the center in Piney Point, Md. STCW issues, vocational and academic training available at the center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship, year 2000 concerns, shipboard familiarization videotapes Senator Offers Legislation To Rebuild U.S. Cruise Fleet A new bill presented to the U.S. Senate last month would allow foreign-built cruise ships to enter the U.S. domestic market provided the vessels retlag to fly the Stars and Stripes and employ American citizen crews with the operators agreeing to build replacement bottoms in U.S . shipyards. The measure's sponsor, Senator John Breaux (D-La.), said his legislation is designed to develop "a United States cruise vessel industry and generate numerous economic benefits for our country through the operation of U nitcd States-flag cruise vessek between American ports." The bill, which has been designated as S. 2290, has the support of the SIU. "We look favorably upon this measure because it would create new jobs for American mariners and new shipbuilding opportunities for American shipyard workers," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. Under the terms of this legislation, a foreign-built cruise vessel could enter the U.S. coastwise market if and when the ship is brought up to U.S. standards, For detailed coverage of the Sen. John Breaux is seeking to rebuild the U.S.-flag cruise ship industry in the bill he introduced last month. vessels built in the United States, operated under the United States flag and crewed by United States citizens. Otherwise, we would simply be allowing foreign companies and foreign workers to receive all the privileges and benefits that come with operating in the United States domestic trades without any of the associated and resultant obligations and responsibilities we impose on American companies and American workers," the senator pointed out. S. 2290 has been sent to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for consideration. That committee already has before it two pieces of legislation designed to cripple the Passenger Vessel Services Act (the nation's passenger cabotage law) by allowing foreign-flag cruise ships to transport U.S. citizens between domestic ports along America's coastlines. The Senate was expected to discuss the cruise vessel bills during a meeting scheduled for late July. produced by the school, and cohesiveness within the maritime industry were some of the agenda items addressed by the more than l 00 people in attendance. . Representatives of SIU-contracted deep sea, Great Lakes and inland companies; the U.S. Coast Guard and its National Maritime Center; the U.S. Maritime Administration; the U.S. Military Sealift Command; the National Transportation Safety Board; the SIU and the Paul Hall Center participated in the annual conference. This marked the second joint meeting of the advisory boards. In years past, they had met separately. SIU President Michael Sacco opened the meeting by observing that the board's purpose "is to meet the changing needs of our industry," He noted the "unprecedented level of cooperation that now exists between labor, management, the Coast Guard and other government entities. This group is an example of that cooperation, and it's one reason why the SIU and the Lundeberg School are able to keep up with the changing times within our field. The reason we've been successful is that we've worked together as a team." In addition, he pointed out the solid suppon for the U.S. merchant marine that exists in Congress and the administration. "Our government honestly and truly believes we need a strong merchant fleet-owned by Americans and crewed by Americans, as the fourth arm of defense. With this kind of support and cooperation, I know this industry will grow by leaps and bounds." SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez reminded the board that training has reached an unprecedented level of importance, and the Paul Hall Center "tailors its courses to deliver a specialized product of manpower to your particular segments of the industry. This school is here to help you meet your needs and ensure you have the best-qualified people on your equipment." Following an initial meeting, the board met in four subcommittees. They discussed forming an industry consortium to establish auditing standards for validating training -records and helping ensure compliance with STCW, the International Safety Management Code and other regulations. They talked about alternative means of compliance with assessment regulations; reviewed the upcoming proposal from the U.S. to the IMO for minimum physical standards for mariners worldwide; assessed the school's crafting of an entry-level training program for inland Seafarers; and studied complex tonnage issues impacting the industry. "I'm impressed with the vision I see at the Paul Hall Center," said Vincent Cantwell, chairman of the Human Factors Group. John Torgersen, director of quality and safety at Bay Ship Continued on page 8 Representatives from many segments of the industry attended the advisory board meeting, including the Paul Hall Center, the SIU and its contracted companies, the U.S. Coast Guard and its National Maritime Center, the Military Sealift Command, the Maritime Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and others. Seafarers LOG 3 �SIU Members Crew USNS Watson RO/RO Joins MSC's Prepositioning Force New jobs for SIU members arrived in San Diego, as Seafarers in late June crewed the USNS Watson. National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), which built the Watson, conducted a brief ceremony marking the vessel's initial crewing. Seafarers, SIU officials and other guests took part in the observance. The 950-foot, roll-on/roll-off prepositioning ship is operated for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) by Maersk Line Limited of Norfolk, Va. It is one of eight such vessels being constructed for MSC. The Watson will carry U.S. Army vehicles, supplies and other Future job opportunities for Seafarers are evident at NASSCO, where construction of another Watson-class ship is well under way. Pathfinder Is Latest Addition Ta SIU-Crewed Lakes Fleet Seafarers in the Great Lakes division welcomed new job opportunities earlier this year when the tug-barge unit Path· finder entered the region's stone trades. New job opportunities for SIU members in the Great Lakes division became available when the Pathfinder joined the Seafarerscrewed Lakes fleet earlier this year. SIU members crewed the converted self-unloader for fitout in March, and since then the vessel has contributed to a cargo boom on the Great Lakes. According to the latest available statistics, the stone trades are up more than one million net tons compared to 1997-which itself was a modern benchmark. Operated by Interlake Transportation, Inc., the Pathfinder is 606 feet long and probably will carry slightly less than 24,000 tons of cargo per voyage this season. The former J.L. Mauthe will transport mainly limestone and gypsum. Converted last year by Bay Shipbuilding Co. of Wisconsin, the Pathfinder now features the latest shipboard technology, including computer-controlled variable pitch on the tug's twin propellers and a fully automated cargo hold that not only monitors cargo on the belt, but also regulates it by automatically opening and closing the gates. New Prescription Plan Scores with Pensioners SIU pensioners already are taking advantage of the new prescription program offered last month by the Seafarers Welfare Plan. '"This card will be a tremendous help for all of us," noted retired QMED Bill Drew, who lives in Morehead City, N.C. "This means I'll have a few extra dollars in my pocket at the end of the month. It's great the union is watching out for us." Retirees who qualify for the program began receiving via mail credit card-size plastic documents bearing the SIU ship's wheel logo in early July. Beneath the SIU emblem is information on the pensioner needed by a pharmacist to process a prescription claim with National Prescription Administrators, Inc. (NPA), who is running the program for the plan. "So far, the response from the pensioners has been very good," stated Lou Delma, administrator for the Seafarers Welfare Plan. NPA has been in existence since 1978. It has more than 50,000 drug stores participating in its services across the country. Along with the cards, pensioners received a list of drug stores in their home states that honor the NPA program. Through NPA, retirees also can order their medications through the mail. Pensioners who have not received their card or have any questions about the new program can call the Seafarers Welfare Plan at 1-800252-4674. 4 Seafarers LOS equipment. Its primary cargo will be transport items such as tanks, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, tractor-trailers and highmobility military vehicles, known as HMMV s. It also may be used to provide stores for surge sealift support of remote military actions. The vessel is named after U.S. Army Private George Watson, a SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone (right) joins crew members posthumous recipient of the of the USNS Watson for the ceremony in San Diego marking the prepoMedal of Honor for heroic actions sitioning ship's initial crewing. off the coast of New Guinea in 1943. It will be strategically prepositioned near areas of potential conflict. As with other ships in MSC's Afloat Prepositioning Force, it will be fully loaded and ready to sail at a moment's notice. The first crew of Seafarers aboard the Watson are Bosun Ray Wilkes, ABs Henry Peterson, Sam Wooten, Raymond Henderson, Edward Miller and David Joseph, OSs Joseph Lackey, P. Drew and Richard Gathers, QMEDs Thomas Eastwood, Philip Zalewski and John Penrose, OMUs Angelo Valente, Phil Dennis and Andrea Simmons, DEU ~ l Anthony Neathery, Steward/Baker Tyrell Green, Chief Cook Nearly 1,000 feet long, the USNS Watson will provide support for the Javier Delosreyes and SAs Roy U.S. Army, primarily carrying transport equipment. It also may be used for surge sealift operations. Warren and Saleh A. Saleh. SEATO Delegates Urge Increased Organizing, Educational, Political Efforts SIU Affiliate Holds First Convention Delegates to the first ever convention for the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union (SEATU) called for increased orgamzmg efforts, more educational opportunities and continued political action during their two-day meeting last month. Held at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., the convention allowed union members from around the country to meet one another and discuss similar situations they find in their trade. SEATU, which is affiliated with the Seafarers International Union. represents workers in a wide variety of occupations aboard riverboat gaming vessels and shoreside operations. The union was founded in 1995 and represents several thousand people. "Look at how far you have grown in just three years," SIU President Michael Sacco told the delegates in his welcoming address. (Sacco was reelected president of SEATU during the convention.) "Organizing has been the key and we will continue to bring more workers under the union banner," Sacco added. Training and education have been a major focus at SEATUcontracted operations. Instructors from the Paul Hall Center regularly go to the union shops to conduct classes in firefighting, food handling, workplace safety and other subjects for union members. However, the convention provided most of the delegates with their first look at the southern Maryland training facility. Stephanie Lee, a delegate from Lawrenceburg, Ind., said, 'This place is great. I can't wait to tell the others what they have to offer here." Noted Dennis Rispone of Baton Rouge, La., "I never expected to see all this. The center has so much to offer all of us." Among the several resolutions adopted by the delegates was one that called on the union to continue to improve its political activity. The delegates were reminded that it took governmental action to permit gaming vessels. They also heard how federal, state and local laws affect their jobs on a daily basis. SEATU delegates show their approval of a resolution calling for expanded educational opportunities for the union members. In welcoming the SEATU convention to the Paul Hall Center, President Michael Sacco urges delegates to help organize more non-union sites so the union may continue to grow. The delegates urged SEATU members to "remain active in the political arena" including working with family, friends and neighbors to inform them about issues and concerns that deal with working people. The convention approved a resolution calling for the continued preservation of the nation's cabotage laws-the Passenger Vessel Services Act and the Jones Act-stating, "the needs and concerns of American workers as well as the general welfare of the United States must always be placed ahead of the greed of foreign-flag interests." Other statements discussed and passed by the delegates included support for union brothers and sisters in their struggles, a call to buy union-made produ·cts, support for a living wage for workers and a need for utility deregulation measures that will protect working families and small businesses. Besides their work at Piney Point, SEATU delegates were able to visit Capitol Hill and meet with elected officials and their staffs. August 11198 �Congress Urges Closer Work With U.S. Delegation to IMO Seafarers Join Protest of P.R. Phone Co. Sale SIU Calls for Global Enforcement Of Agency's Training Convention The chairman of the subcommittee charged with overseeing the U.S. Coast Guard called upon the agency to work more closely with the members of the panel as well as the whole Congress when working on agreements with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), who heads the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, urged the Coast Guard to work with the panel to form "a plan which would allow Congress to become more involved with the U.S. delegation to the IMO. Since Congress must ultimately approve and implement the agreements reached at the IMO, it would be helpful to have us involved in the decision making process from the beginning." Gilchrest made his comments during a subcommittee hearing in late June. Testifying at the meeting in support of the United States' continued participation in the IMO was the SIU's political action and governmental affairs director1 Terry Turner. Gilchrest commended the IMO a~ "the mmt efficient of United Nations' (UN) agencies 11 and added that "Congress needs to back up U.S. presence in this most important arena.11 The IMO, which is chartered by the UN, works to promote safety in shipping and prevent marine pollution from vessels. Turner testified in strong support of the nation's continued participation in IMO activities. Illustrating the value of such efforts, he told the subcommittee about the union's very active work with the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee-particularly thtoughout the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners (STCW) and the subsequent implementation of new regulations affecting merchant mariners worldwide. Additionally1 Turner credited the Coast Guard for doing Teny Turner, SIU director of political action and governmental affairs, states the union's support for ongoing U.S. work with the IMO. an excellent job in leading the U.S. delegation in this push. Further, he expressed the SIU's support for the revised STCW convention, but cautioned that all of the signatory nations must enforce the agreement properly in order for it to have maximum effectiveness. "There is no question that U.S.-flag operators find it difficult to compete with flag-of-convenience operators who routinely and at a very low wage employ seamen from underdeveloped nations who are unskilled and untrained. It is our hope that the revised convention will not only enhance safety. but also will make the playing field in this re~ard a little more level,11 Turner stated. "While shipowners have the right August 1998 The SIU always has been both proud and willing to support fellow trade unionists in their struggles, from coast to coast and beyond. Such was the case last month in Puerto Rico, where SIU members joined in massive protests regarding the sale of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, a government-owned utility, to a private consortium. Workers eventually engaged in a 48-hour strike in objection to the sale. In photo above (from left), SIU Port Agent Steve Ruiz, Patrolman Victor Nunez, telephone worker J. Torres and Seafarer Roberto Candelario turn out for a rally in San Juan. Below, active and retired Seafarers show their support for the tele· phone company employees. 1995 STCW Certificates Required by February 2002 The transition between implementing the 1978 STCW convention and the 1995 amendments to that international maritime agreement has resulted in more than a slight amount of confusion around the world, as the 100-plus signatory nations write and rewrite regulations to ensure their respective compliance. One issue stemming from the pact that affects SIU members is the requirement for merchant mariners to possess supplemental shipboard identification known as Persian Gulf 'Danger Pay1 Applies ta 4 SIU Companies Seafarers who sailed on vessels deployed to the Persian Gulf during the recent military buildup in that region are e1igible for imminent danger pay, according to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). SIU members who sailed on ships operated by Bay Ship Management, Maersk Lines, Ocean Carriers and Dyn Marine that were sent to certain zones in the Persian Gulf beginning February 7 are eligible for such pay. As reported on page 3 of the May issue of the Seafarers LOG, SIU members who believe they qualify for imminent danger pay and who have signed off their respective vessels should contact the companies operating the ships to register where they please, open registries should not be allowed to compete on the basis of lower safety standards. "But we all know that the adoption of a convention does not always mean that it will be properly implemented," he continued. "As stated by the IMO secretary general, the maritime world has the right to expect that ships of all nations meet the levels of safety and environmental protection which have been internationally agreed on. It is up to the shipowner to make certain his vessels are safe, are properly manned and do not pollute the seas. It is the duty of governments to make sure that ships which fly their respective flags comply with the standards laid down in the IMO conventions which they have ratified." In his testimony, Coast Guard Admiral Robert C. North said it benefits the U.S. to affect the formation of international ship standards to improve safety and environmental protection because "the economy is increasingly global, the U.S. is the largest trading nation in the world, and 95 percent of its foreign trade involves maritime transportation." North also pointed out that U.S. vessels "must meet these standards, and international standards minimize the need for the creation of U.S. unilateral standards for foreign vessels calling in the U.S." on which they sailed, according to MSC. Seafarers stiIJ aboard ships deployed in the Gulf are not instructed to contact the companies. "On applicable contracts, Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) mandated by collective bargaining agreement is reimbursable to the contractor for payments made to the contract mariners on board MSC vessels operating in certain zones of the Arabian Gulf," reads the memorandum from MSC. "Any reimbursement of IDP is limited to the amounts that would be payable under applicable laws and regulations to U.S. civil service mariners in the employ (of) MSC in a similar port, place, zone or route .... The current zones for IDP in the Arabian Gulf include an STCW certificate. Issued through the U.S. Coast Guard's regional exam centers (RECs), the certificate is designed to provide a measure of uniformity for port state control inspections. Currently, in accordance with the 1978 convention 1 the following unlicensed mariners must have an STCW certificate: ABs, pumpmen, tankermen assistants, and any other ratings holding lifeboat tickets who sail in international waters. The deadlines for securing the 1978 certificate the sea areas within the Arabian Gulf." More than 15 SIU-crewed ships were involved in exercises in or near the Gulf as part of the U.S. military assemblagt? there. lotlce: EPA Wage Increases The union last month announced that members aboard the following company's vessels will receive Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) wage increases as calculated by the U.S. government: • • • • Ocean Carriers T5 tankers; Maersk vessels in the Maritime Security Program; Waterman TAK-X vessels; The Sulphur Enterprise. ranged from October 1, 1996 to February 1, 1997, depending on one's rating, as reported numerous times in past issues of the Seafarers LOG. The 1995 amendments to the conventjon fully take effect in 2002, meaning the original 1978 convention completely will be null and void from that date forward. Accordingly, the amendments require an updated STCW identification known as a 1995 STCW certificate. The following personnel must possess a 1995 STCW certificate by the deadline of February 1, 2002: all watchstanding personnel (including engine department members), all tanker personnel who are assigned cargo duties (such as ABs and pumpmen, for instance), and all lifeboatmen on passenger vessels. As with the 1978 certificate, the 1995 version may be acquired through Coast Guard 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, firefighting and fire prevention, elementary first aid and personal safety/social responsibilities. In addition, effective August 1 (this month), all new people entering the maritime industry must immediately meet the Chapter VI requirements. To get a 1995 certificate, current members will either show documentation of having taken approved courses (such as those at the Paul Hall Center) for the four elements of Chapter VI in the previous five years; and/or produce the tables from their training record books which have been signed off. The 1995 certificate is similar in format to the 1978 identification, but it differs in that it includes spaces for an expiration date and photo, plus uses more user-friendly terminology. STCW cenificates Are Separate from TRBs STOW certificates basically are supplements to z..cards. They were created to facilitate effective port state control Inspections worldwide. STOW certificates- are com~ ptetely separate from the training recorcl book (TRB) produced tas1 year.by the Stu and the Paul Haft Center for Maritime Training and Edt.lcation. SIU tnembflrs with appropnate ratings should -carry an STCW certificate in addition to their z-card and training record book (TAB). The union and the Paut Halt Center joinfly created the TAB "essentially so that SIU members would only have to carry three main dcicuments with 1hem aboard ship, instead of a dozen or two dozen or more:' noted Bill Egfinton, director of vocational education at the center. "Among other benefits, the TRB saves Seafarers from having to carry documentation of all their required training." SIU members who have not applied for a TAB should do so rmmediately. Contact the Paul Hall Center's admissions office at (301) 994-0010 for more information. Seafarers LOii 5 �New Hiring Hall Bought for New Orleins The union recently announced that it has purchased a building to house the SIU's New Orleansarea hiring hall. The SIU anticipates moving from its current facility on Jackson Avenue in New Orleans, to the newer building at 3911 Lapalco Blvd. in Harvey, La. sometime in the coming months. An exact date has not been determined because the building is being renovated and expanded to meet the union's operational requirements. During the July membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel described the one-story building on Lapalco Blvd. as "comfortable and convenient. There is off-street parking and public transportation available. The anticipated growth in this area may be substantial, and this meet the building should Renovation and expansion are under way at the building that will serve as the SIU's New Orleans-area hiring hall. The facility is located at 3911 Lapalco Blvd. demand." Harvey is in Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans, and is approximately 9 miles from the hall on Jackson Ave. Further details regarding the new hall will be published in the Seafarers LOG as they become available, including telephone and fax numbers. Transport Workers End Philadelphia Strike Seafare rs Show Solidarity at Local 234 Demonstrations Members of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 recently reached a tentative contract agreement that ended a 40-day strike against the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority. The local's 5,600 members were expected to formally approve the three-year pact on July 24, as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press. A TWU spokesperson described the contract ll:S "definitely ll victory for us." Members of Local 234 drive buses, trolleys and subways and also do maintenance in Philadelphia and surrounding areas_ Dozens of SIU members took part in downtown demonstrations supporting the Transport Workers on June 10 and June 27. In all, thous£Inds of trade unionists and their families participated in those rallies. "The TWU went out of its way to say they were very thankful to the SIU and very impressed with our support," noted SIU Patrolman Joe Mieluchowski. In a communication to its members, Local 234 described the contract as "maintaining job security, integrity of the contract and moving us forward in wages and pension benefits. Management's attempts to privatize our routes, contract out our maintenance work, hire part-timers ... all are defeated." The TWU also described the work stoppage as something "that the union fought hard to avoid. But when it occurred, the membership carried through in unity." - ;- " Steelworkers File Lawsuit To Decide Legality of NAFTA Sf '1FAHEll5 It.I'( l!RllAT!Off P,~ Utl!Oli SUPPORT5 \;\ /{, Above, ABs Phil Yaros (left) and Jeff Beasley listen to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka during the June 1O demonstration for Local 234. At right, continuing an SIU tradition as old as the union itself, Seafarers (clockwise, from left) John Gallagher, Chuck Haller, John Wozunk and Bill Kelly show solidarity with fellow trade unionists, during a June 1O rally in Philadelphia. 6 Seafarers LOG SIU members in Southern California recently met with Nick Marrone, who last month succeeded the retired George McCartney as the union's West Coast vice president. Marrone joined Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent John Cox for a numbe r of shipboard union meetings in the Long Beach-Los Angeles harbor. They informed members about the Paul Hall Center's new fire fighting and safety school and discussed other news from the industry. Top photo: Crew members on the Sea-Land Innovator welcome Marrone. Standing from left to right are Patrolman Frank Gill, Steward/Baker Jose Bayani, Marrone, QMED Bob Rush and AB George Lusk. Pictured directly above are Crowley boatmen (from left) AB Barry Labeach, AB Chad Macaulay and Captain Kerry Dematos. Shown in photo below, aboard the President Polk, are (from left) Justo Lopez, Michael Baker, Leo Bollinger, Alvin Solomon and Al Olguin. Among the Seafarers demonstrating in support of TWU Local 234 were (top photo, from left) Steward/Baker Jeff Beasley, QMED Chuck Haller, DEU Nick Joyce, Patrolman Joe Mieluchowski, QMED John Cronan, AB Tom Keenan, FO\NT Ben Stanley, Bill Kelly, Retiree Bert Smith, AB Phil Varos, John Wozunk and OMED Joe Grandinetti_ In photo below, those Seafarers and others, including AB Charles Wright, pose with TWU members at the June 1o rally. At left, Seafarers join thousands of trade unionists in downtown demonstrations supporting members of the Transport Workers Union Local 234 in their pursuit of a fair contract. 0 Seafarers Greet New West Coast VP SUPPORTS \ ."; / i .\ \... Believing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to be unconstitutional, the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) last month joined the Made in USA Foundation in a federal lawsuit to have the treaty declared null and void. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Alabama, a state where steelworkers have been directly injured by NAFTA. The legal action will ask the courts to decide if NAFTA is, indeed, a treaty. If the answer is yes, it will ask the courts to declare the agreement unconstitutional. "We believe that NAFTA is a treaty that should have been subject to a two-thirds ratifiction vote by the U.S. Senate as called for in the U.S. Constitution," said USWA President George Becker. The Senate vote on November 17, 1993 was 61-38 to adopt the free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 234-200 for its adoption three days later. "Although the focus of our lawsuit is this constitutional issue," Becker stated, "the United Steelworkers of America has other, equally compelling reasons for taking up this fight. The fact is that NAFTA has been an unmitigated disaster, not just for our members, but for working people throughout North America-in Canada and Mexico as well as in the United States ... It has never lived up to the promises made by its supporters." More than 7,400 workers represented by the USWA at 34 locations have been certified by the U.S. Department of Labor as having lost employment because of the movement of their employers to Mexico and Canada, or have lost jobs because of an increase in imports from these countries. When Huffy's largest U.S. bicycle factory, located in Celina, Ohio, moves its production plant to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, an additional 1,000 workers will be affected by the end of the year. August 1998 �Lifelong U.S.-Flag Supporter, Herb Brand, Passes Away at 84 Herbert Brand The SIU and all of the U.S.-flag mantime industry lost a true friend and supporter when Herbert Brand passed away June 26 after a threeyear bout with cancer. He was 84. "Herb Brand was one of the people who made our union what it is today," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. "He believed in the men and women who sailed the ships. He believed in the need for a strong U.S.-flag merchant fleet. And he never stopped fighting and speaking out for it." Brand started working for the SIU in 1946, shortly after he was discharged from the U.S. Navy. He went to work in the union's communications department and soon became editor of the Seafarers LOG. Brand took great pride in producing the union's publication. A testament to his drive and determination in himself and his staff can be found in the Paul Hall Library and Maritime Museum in Piney Point. Md. where the numerous labor press awards earned during his tenure hang o a wall. Despite the fact that Brand's official title was director of public relations, he proved to be much more than that. He became an advisor, associate and confidant of then SIU President Paul Hall. He would work with Hall and the other SIU officials in planning organizing strategies, pushing for maritime-related measures on Capitol Hill and striving to improve the lives of Seafarers aboard their vessels. ..Herb Brand knew this industry inside-andout," Sacco said. "He understood where it came from following World War II and how it changed. "He also knew what it would take to keep the U.S.-flag flying on the high seas. I often sought his advice and ideas after I became president of the union. He had an uncanny sense of how to tackle an issue and win:· Brand stayed with the SIU until 1967 when he moved from New York to Washington, D.C. and became president of the Transportation Institute, a U.S.-flag shipping industry association dedicated to maritime research and promotion. A September 1980 article in the LOG on Brand noted he created "one of the most capable research departments in all of Washington, D.C. The quality of its work-the imaginative and thorough approach it has taken toward solving the problems confronting the maritime industry-has impressed a great many people." The New York native remained as the president of the institute until 1980 when he was named chairman of its board of directors. He still held that title at the time of his death. "Until the day he died, Herb Brand fought for this industry," noted James Henry, who serves as president of the Transportation Institute. "He was able to bridge the gap between the maritime unions and the U.S.-flag shipowners to ensure both groups could work together to promote the U.S.-flag fleet rather than tear each other apart. He understood the absolute need for the two sides to remain unified when they lobbied Congress or administration officials to promote the industry. Because without one, the other could not exist. "His ability is very rarely found in one person." Brand's views on what it would take to fight August 1998 for the U.S.-flag fleet can be found in the same September 1980 LOG article: "It is a constant, daily grind to stay on top of new problems and developments. "I feel that we have taken a balanced view of the maritime industry, especially where the industry is a victim of unfair policies formulated by government agencies that have no real understanding of the merchant marine. We talk about developing a competitive fleet, but other nations are far beyond the talking stage. This country needs to develop a coherent maritime policy." To ensure there would be an open forum for the advocates of the U.S.-flag fleet, Brand helped establish in 1981 the Paul Hall Memorial Endowment at the University of Southern California. The endowment honors distinguished contributors to marine transportation by bringing their thoughts to the public in the form of an annual lecture. Brand delivered the initial address in 1988. In his remarks, Brand noted other countries were pushing for stronger merchant fleets, while America's had dwindled during the decade. "The realities of the world today dictate that American self interest must be served. The pure 'free-market' arguments don't answer the question of how we provide for the merchant marine part of the national security equation-and by security I refer to both physical and the economic viability of America." In 1995, the U.S. Navy League presented him with its Vincent T. Hirsch Award for his many years of work in promoting the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. The award is given to "a distinguished American who is particularly effective in creating a broader understanding of the merchant marine to national security.'' Among the other organizations with which Brand was involved were the advisory board for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; founding member and board of governors of the National Shortly after Herb Brand came to the SIU, he became editor of the Seafarers LOG. This photo from the mid-1950s shows Brand (standing, left) with the paper's staff. Maritime Council; and advisory committee on the National Waterways Conference. Brand is survived by his wife of 26 years. the former Florence Palmer. His first wife, Agnes McKennett Brand, passed away in 1967. Also surviving him are two children from the first marriage, Maxine Green and Stanley Brand; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services were held June 29 with burial in the G.W. Memorial Park in Paramus, N.J. Herb Brand was a lifelong champion of Ihi! U.S. merchnnt marine. He was a sage advisor, mentor and tutor to government and labor leaders, legislators, and to just about every person he came in contact with in the maritime industry who asked for help. He was able to balance the interests of labor. govern· ment and industry. He was an unsung hero of the U.S. merchant marine, and his progressive, creative thinking influenced many national maritime policies and decisions. In recent years as a cancer victim, he showed true courage and was devoted ro his work, his f amity and his friends to the end. He was truly loved by the entire maritime community and we will sincerely miss him. Ronald C. Rasmus, President The Great Lakes Towing Co. Later in his career, Brand's advice was sought because of his knowledge of the industy. With him are (from left) Bush administration Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner, SIU President Michael Sacco and Transportation lnsitutute President James Henry. I have known Herb Brand for close to 30 years. He was truly an exceptional person. He, like his close friend Paul Hall, grew up in the labor movement through some difficult times. He learned to be tough. He commanded respect because he was smart and he was honest. Because of his experience and intelligence, he set a high standard for everyone he came in contact with. He was a valued and loyal friend - he is sorely missed. Paul F. Richardson, President Paul F. Richardson & Associates, Inc. Too often, the measure of a man is made on the basis of the collar he wears. Most notably, the distinction has been drawn between the union's blue collar members and the men and women who work "in the office." The survival of our industry requires that, on occasion, one of us may have to postpone some desire or interest for the sake of unity. Herb Brand understood this and was a bridge between Seafarers, executives and professionals working together for mutual success. Herb was the clear, resonant voice of the industry in Washington. As a thinker and indefatigable advocate, he had a hand in shaping every important law and regulation bearing on maritime life for half a century. Herb did not come up from the fo'c's'le. He was a trained professional with a mastery of technical and complex matters that required professional treatment. We owe a great debt to Herb Brand who, though he wore a white collar, was one of the greatest friemls the blue collar mariner has ever had. Ran Hettena, President Maritime Overseas Corp. Rarely does a reporter for a publication like the Seafarers WG take the opportunity to step out and provide for personal reflection. This is one of those times. I first met Herb Brand nine years ago when I was transferred from Jacksonville to headquarters to work for the WG. He grilled me on my news writing background, what I knew about the union, how I reacted to the membership and how much I knew about politics. Then he told me about his background-growing up in New York, studying at the University of Alabama, serving in the Navy, and meeting Paul Hall for the first time. I called my wife to tell her I really wanted to work with this man. Little did I know then what an influence he would have on me. No matter what he did for the SIU or the maritime industry, the Seafarers LOG was Herb's baby. He would study each issue minutely and would tell me and the others on the staff where we could have improved a sentence, a story, a page. He ingrained his quest to make sure each and every issue was the best it could be. Herb had a remarkable memory. I never tired of listening to his stories of the SIU's struggle to survive in the early years, the waterfront beefs, the calls from other unions for support and the challenge to remain the best maritime union, period. He could go on for hours about the people, places and events that made the SIU what it is today. He could make you believe you were in the room with people you never even met at a time before you were born - that's how vivid his descriptions were. Herb loved a good fight and he hated to lose, something that rarely happened to him. I was able to appreciate his battle with cancer these last three years more than many because I, too, fought the same disease that afflicted him. I know the courage and determination it takes to beat off this illness at my age and knew some of what he was going through and helped him deal with it. I finally was able to help him after years of his guiding me. But seeing how he overcame the odds during these three years, I truly learned of what he was made and how he became the institution he was in our union and our industry. His body may have grown tired, but his mind never did. I will miss my friend and will always remember him. - Daniel W. Duncan Seafarers LOG 7 �Crescent Is 1st to Obtain USCG Compliance SIU-contracted Crescent Towing is the first harbor tug company to be awarded compliance decals by the Eighth Coast Guard District under the second phase of the new "Cooperative Towing Vessel Examination Program" (CIVEP). In last year's initial phase, the company also was the first to cooperate. (The Eighth Coast Guard District, with headquarters in New Orleans, covers approximately one-third of the nationincludi ng all the tributaries that feed into the Mississippi River and all of the Gulf Coast-the bulk of U.S. inland water transportation.) Currently, the company's tugs are not required to be inspected annually (although they may be at some future date), so the CTVEP is a voluntary effort on the part of Crescent Towing. This phase of the Coast Guard compliance is designed to recognize companies that have shown a commitment to quality and safety. It is beneficial to the Coast Guard in that it allows them to maximize the use of their resources by greatly reducing unscheduled boardings for recognized companies. It also is helpful to Crescent Towing because it verifies their personal safety procedures and ensures that they have the correct equipment and publications on board each boat. Richard Murray, CEO of Crescent Towing, stated, "It is enlightening to see first-hand the Advisory Board Meets in Piney Paint Guard approval for those that need it. He also noted that the school "has charted a career path for its students, from unlicensed apprentice all the way to getting a license." Carl Peth, SIU headquarters representative, and Betty Smith, who works in the port agent's office in Piney Point, reviewed the unlicensed apprentice program and noted the very favorable reaction it has received among students as well as Seafarers and officers on union-contracted ships. The admissions director, Priscilla Dement, demonstrated how the center's Coast Guardaccepted training record book (TRB) works. She detailed the electronic tracking and updating of members' training that is used to update the TRBs, including security measures . (Bay Ships' Torgersen announced that a number of SIU-contracted companies have audited the database.) Pointing out the school's emphasis on shipboaro sanitation, healthy cooking and computer literacy for steward department upgrndcr:s wn:s Chef Allan Sherwin, director of culinary education. He also noted that in addition to teaching galley skills, the instructors "enhance students' appreciation for the importance of their jobs. It's been said that a ship sails on its stomach, and there's no question the steward department plays an integral role in the success of a vesse1:· ing and safety school which will be located near the main campus. (See stories, pages 3, 12 and 13.) Continued from page 3 Management, cited the advisory board as an example of the union's leadership in the industry. Michael Koppenhaver, manager of STCW/ISM processes at Transoceanic Cable Ship Co., commended the union and school for conducting the meeting and also praised the Paul Hall Center's responsiveness in developing videotapes that help ship operators comply with evolving international regulations. Paul Hall Center Newt Representatives of the Paul Hall Center provided summaries of many other topics. During the ovcrnll conference, Bill Eglinton, director of vocation~! education, provided a summary of the center's and union's numerous activities pertaining to the International Maritime Organization, the STCW convention and Coast Guard endeavors since the board's last meeting. He reviewed the requirements for 199.) STCW certificates. He also announced that the board has asked the Coast Guard to extend the deadline for "on-site assessment procedures" covering basic safety training, which temporarily pennit mariners to fulfill certain STCW requirements by demonstrating shipboard competencies instead of completing approved courses. John Mason, head of American Services Technology Inc., the school's contracted operator, reviewed the Paul Hall Center's government vessels course, which helps prepare SIU members to sail aboard MSC vessels. He noted that MSC has okayed the center's damage control . training, marking the first time the agency "has approved training as Navy-specific." Mason also explained that although the 1995 amendments to the STCW convention have led to many new training requirements, the school "has always believed in vocational training, whether it's required or not. As things like first aid, CPR, firefighting and personal responsibility become training requirements, we may have to modify our curriculums, but we don't have to overhaul them. We've been doing this for 31 years, training mariners to do their jobs professionally and safely." Lynn Mack of the school's curriculum development department spelled out how the Paul Hall Center initiates and refines it classes as well as secures Coast B Seafarers LOG future Opportunities Ed Fitzgerald, in charge of the academic department, outlined the various scholastic opportunities for Paul Hall Center students. He pointed out that the academic courses-including a GED program, college classes and adult education courses such as English as a second language-are audited by the American Council on Education. Instructor Russ Levin stated the school has developed step-bystep manuals covering the Global Maritime Distress Safety System. He also explored the "year 2000 bug," which will impact computer-dependent shipboard systems. J.C. Wiegman, assistant director of vocational education, discussed the school's plans to install new training aids, including navigation simulators. The members of the advisory board were updated by instructor Eric Malzkuhn on how the center has incorporated competencybased training and reviewed career tracks available for members in the engine department. Jimmy Hanson, director of health and safety, presented detailed plans for a new fire fight- United States' government working with private industry for the betterment of our equipment and, more importantly, the safety of our crews. I am extremely proud after being the first for 'phase one' to again have our crews and equipment be the first 'phase two' harbor tug company recognized in this program." Ucensing Concerns Captain Michael Rosecrans of the NMC reported on licensing issues, including various proposals to relieve the backlog at Coast Guard regional exam centers (REC). "Possible solutions include centralizing REC functions at the NMC and privatization of exams," he stated. "In any case, we're going to do the right thing by the industry. We're all in this together." Captain William Bennett, also of the NMC, noted that mariners will be able to use credit cards at RECs beginning this spring. He also noted that the NMC has a course-approval database on the world wide web (located at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/gmhome.htm). Cantwell gave a detailed presentation on how the study of "factors influencing human performance can reduce the potential for error, reduce the magnitude and consequence of error and reduce personnel turnover:· With U.S. Coast Guard compliance decals in hand, Crescent Towing boatmen are proud of being recognized as the first tug company to voluntarily participate in both the first and second phases of a program committed to quality and safety. From the left are Captain Mike Yarbrough, Lt. JG A.P. Davis, BM1 Lee Schmitz, BM1 Eddie Champagne, Crescent CEO Richard Murray Ill, Crescent Vice President Larry Ohler and Port Engineer Dale Turner. Manning Scale Highlights Bisso Pact Many Partlelpants In addition to those representing the school and the union, those attending the advisory board meeting were Robert Lambourne, Allied Towing; JoAnn Robinson, American Council on Education; William Anonsen. American Hawaii Cruises; Pat Brangan, American Overseas Marine Corp.; Kevin McMonagle, American Steamship; Captain John Woods, Apex Marine Corp.; Rev. Sinclair Oubre, Apostleship of the Sea; Torgersen and Joe Cecire, Bay Ship Management; Steve Alexander, BP Oil Company; Robert Majewski, Buffalo Graphics Computer; Mike DiPrisco, Norm Gauslow and David Roggenback, Crowley American Transport; John Gazzola and Mike Godbey, Crowley Marine Services; and Bill Richards, Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Also present were Trish Grabowski, William Watson and Captain Ned Wilisch, DynMarine Services; Don Ivins, Express Marine; Stephen Huffman, G&H Towing; William Murchison, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.; Cantwell, Human Factors Group; Jim Lexo, ICRC Energy, Inc.; Captain Richard Halluska, Integrated Safety Management Solutions, Inc.; Rosanne Hamilton, Interocean Ugland Management Corp.; William (Lamar) Doyle, Intracoastal Towing & Transportation Corp.; Uwe Gross, KONIAG, Inc.; Captain David Hussey, Liberty Maritime Corp.; Dennis Houghton and Captain Carl Olderich, Maersk Line A highlight of the three-year contract recently ratified by SIU boatmen at E.N. Bisso Co. is the manning scale, noted SIU Gulf Coast Vice President Dean Corgey. The pact calls for two deckhands (plus two other crew members) on all of the company's twin-screw tugs. Since Bisso gradually is replacing its remaining single-screw boats with twin screws, this means more jobs for SIU boatmen. Pictured above, commemorating the contract's ratification are (standing, from left) Deckhand Chad Bordelon; Engineer Chris Westbrook; Engineer Todd Rabalais and his son, Tanner; Engineer Jimmy Gervais; Engineer Holden Quebedeaux; Deckhand Derek Ponamsky; Deckhand Shane Brulte; (kneeling) Deckhand J.T. Doyle and Deckhand Henry Ballam. Behind the camera is SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, who commended the boatmen for their efforts before and during the negotiations. 'Without this bunch of guys, [the good contract] wouldn't have happened. They have the right attitude about everything, and they're the epitome of what it means to be union," Judd stated. Bisso operates 15 boats. Limited; William Schmidt and Michael Whitehead, MAR Inc.; Bruce Carlton, John Dumbleton and Chris Krusa, Maritime Administration; Bill Cole, Pat Postiglione and Captain John Ripperger, Maritime Overseas Corp.; Captain Rich Tullucci, Captain Michael Nesbitt, Paul Polsky and Don Voge, Maritrans G.P. Inc.; and James Mann, Matson Navigation Co. Other participants included Kyrm Hickman, Military Sealift Command; Herb Walling, Moran Services Corp.; Walter Naef, Moran Towing of Pennsylvania; Bill Murchison, NATCO; Bennett and Rosecrans, NMC; Eric Sager, NTSB; Richard Evans, NAVIERAS NPR; Nicholas Grassia, NJG Consulting; Captain Robert Sheen, Ocean Shipholding Inc.; Tony Naccarato, OMI; Phillip Emanuel and Carson Wykle, Osprey Acomarit Ship Management; Todd Johnson, Pacific Gulf Marine, Inc.; Frank Power, Penn Maritime, Inc.; Roger Franz, Sea-Land Service, Inc.; Dione Davenport, Richard Druyen and Elizabeth Zetterland, SOS Technologies; George Kelly, Koppenhaver and Delores O'Donnell, Transoceanic Cable Ship Co.; Commander Steve Boyle, Lt. Commander Don Darcy, Pete Eareckson and Captain Bob Skewes, Coast Guard; and Captain P.K. Sang, V Ships Marine, Ltd. August 1998 �Overseas Vessels Receive HQ Update All SIU-crewed vessels are Americanflag ships, but some rarely if ever make it to ports in the United States. With that in mind, the union recently sent SIU Representative George Tricker to service a number of LNG and prepositioning vessels in Japan and Guam. Shipboard union meetings were conducted on the Samuel L. Cobb, American Osprey, Jack Lummus, Gopher Srate and LNG ships Aquarius. Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn and Libra. "I really appreciate the SIU sending an official all this way," stated SA Carol Lyon, sailing aboard the Lummus. "It's important for u to stay up-to-date, and we definitely covered a lot of key information during our meeting." Aboard the Cobb, AB Donald Coggins noted, "We're obviously a long way from the States, and these ships never go there, so it's nice to see that the union knows we're out here. And I thought our meeting was very informative." On each of the 11 vessels, numerous topics were covered. Those included the LNG familiarization and recertification courses available at the Paul Hall Center • Seafarers welcome SIU Representative George Tricker (standing seventh from right, with hands on hips) aboard the LNG Gemini. for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md.; new LNG shipping procedures that are more convenient for Seafarers; the training record book (TRB) jointly being issued by the SIU and the Paul Hall Center; and important deadlines stemming from the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for mariners. Seafarers also discussed the union's recent, successful international efforts Amona the items on the LNG Cleaning burner tips aboard the LNG Aquarius Capricorn's lunch menu is ham, sliced by Chief Cook Alan Bartley. are QMED Dasril Christopher Sykes. Panko (left) and UDE In Yabucoa AB Albert E. Mensah, the ship's deck delegate, is ready to start the loading process in Yabucoa Bay, P.R. ~~~~~~~~ Once docked in Yabucoa (on the southeast corner of Puerto Rico), crew members aboard the Perseverance met with SIU Patrolman Victor Nunez to catch up on the latest union news. He reminded them about the necessity of getting their training record book by August 1 and came aboard prepared with the necessary application forms. The vessel, owned by Maritrans and operated by Interocean Ugland Management, loaded its tanks in port and then headed out the next day for Marcus Hook, Pa. August 1998 AB Rene Rodriguez (left) and DEU Jaime Barrety get to work after the tanker ties up. New Route Brings S-L Express to Sanjuan When the Sea-Land Express tied up in San Peneverance Loads Up Waiting for the shipboard union meeting to begin are (from left) Chief Steward Larry Ewing, AB Billy Watson and SA Chancie J. Ransom. against solo navigational watch at night; the SIU's plans for a new union hall in New Orleans; the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan; the new joint venture between BP Shipping, Maritime Overseas and Keystone Shipping; the U.S. Maritime Administration's recent rescission of Ready Reserve Force contracts due to a procedural oversight (see tory, page 2); the importance of contacting one's elected representatives in Congress, and more. Juan, P.R. recently, it was "all smiles" for a number of reasons. The vessel became the first of 10 Sea-Land Service ships to arrive in Puerto Rico on a new route. Formerly sailing from the West Coast (with Long Beach, Calif. as the home port) along the Pacific trade route, these vessels now sail through the Panama Canal to Miami, Charleston and San Juan before returning to the West Coast and five ports in Japan to complete their 72-day round trips. By the time all l 0 SeaLand Service ships are in full operation, San Juan expects to greet at least one of them each week. Many of the crew members aboard the containership had never been to Puerto Rico before, and when SIU Patrolman Victor Nunez met the ship, he reported that they seemed happy with the new run-new sights and sounds and different foods to try. The membership in San Juan also was pleased with the arrival of the first of the D-9 class ships because it means more jobs for the port. SIU Patrolman Victor Nunez (second from left) meets the Sea-Land Express in San Juan and shows crew members their new port. With him, from left, are Bosun Robert Pagan Jr., Chief Steward Michael F. Meany, SA Joan Riley and Chief Cook Ralph Morgan. Getting a great bird's-eye view of San Juan are ABs Joe Abad (left) and Paul Monaco as they paint the radar mast while in port. In photo below left, Sea-Land Express crew members enjoy the local food. From the left are Bosun Robert Pagan Jr. and Crane Maintenance Electricians Tony Mohammed and Ray Prim. In photo below right, the three posing aboard ship are, from left, Chief Electrician Herman Manzer, AB James Fox and Bosun Robert Pagan Jr. Dinner for the hungry crew is being prepared by Chief Cook Virgilio A. Dong hit. Seafarers LOG 9 �McCartney, SIU Were Goad Fit from Start Retiring VP Took Part in Many of Union's Key Campaigns George McCartney found his career niche earlier than most. He climbed the gangway to his first SIU ship, the Liberty tanker Catahoula, as a 17-year-old, in 1948. In a sense, he never looked back. "The SIU has always been my life, my main interest, since I was a kid," he recalled last month. McCartney retired July 1, officially capping a wide-ranging career that saw him serve the last 17 years as the SIU' s We t Coast vice president. However, he said he will remain "available as needed" to assist the SIU in any way possible. McCartney also plans to stay active in the San Francisco Maritime Port Council, the California State AFL-CIO and other groups promoting a strong U.S. merchant marine. Last month, SIU President Michael Sacco presented McGeorge McCartney has been part of the SIU for 50 of the union's 60 years. In these undated photos, he helps conduct union business (top) in the port of New York and (middle) on the West Coast. In photo below, taken in the New York hall, McCartney is second from left; the late SIU VP Earl (Bull) Shepard is at far left. Cartney with a commemorative ship's wheel in appreciation of his work in behalf of the union. "I just can't say enough about everything George has done for this organization," Sacco stated. "When you talk about dedication, that's George. He gave everything he had to the SIU, and he's done a tremendous job." A native of the Hell's Kitchen area of New York, McCartney first worked as a longshoreman. ''That's how I became interested in going to sea," he noted. He sailed in the engine and steward departments from 1948 until 1960, when he came ashore as part of the maintenance gang in New York. During the 1960s he primarily worked as a patrolman in New York, also serving for two years as the port agent in Wilmington, Calif. From 1972 through 1976 he was the New York port agent. In 1977 he worked as the port agent in Seattle. The following year, around the same time the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District merged with the Marine Cooks & Stewards, McCartney became the union's San Francisco port agent. A constitutional amendment in 1981 created the position of West Coast vice president, and McCartney was appointed to that post (as per the wishes of the late SIU President Paul Hall) and reelected ever since then. Reflecting on his career, McCartney credits Hall and a number of other former SIU offi· cials as his major influences, including Ed Mooney, Joe DiGiorgio, Lindsey Williams, Bull Shepard and others. He also praised Hal1 with deftly guiding the SIU through diffi- At Home or Aboard Ship E. Coli: an Unwanted Dinner Guest Editors note: The following 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. fl is part of a series of columns intended to promote safety, efficiency and allaround good habits aboard ship. E. coli is short for Escherichia coli, a normally harmless bacterium found in all intestinal tracts. Historically, 'this microorganism has caused few dangers, but today, it poses serious health problems all over the world. In the early 1950s, antibiotics were fed to farm animals to promote faster growth with less feed. This caused the normally benign E. coli to develop a resistance to the antibiotics, and, therefore, a new strain of the microorganism emerged which causes serious illness and can result in death. The new antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli is found in the intestinal tracts of cattle and other animals. When, for example, a cow is slaughtered, there is possible contamination of the carcass. And when meat from that carcass is ground up with meat from other carcasses, thousands of pounds of meat may become infected. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. estimates that E. coli causes more than 250 deaths each year in the U.S. Thousands of others are infected. E. coli appeared in the news several years ago when hamburgers from a West Coast food chain 10 Seafarers LOG infected hundreds of people, killing three children. Those who are susceptible to becoming infected by the microorganism are persons who are on medication or have their immune systems weakened or undeveloped, like young children and the elderly. Seven thousand persons were infected in Japan last year, and a midwest beef company recalled 250.000 pounds of contaminated beef earlier this year in the U.S. Most recently, 4,000 people were stricken in Chicago, the largest case of mass food poisoning in U.S. history. Since E. coli is tasteless, odorless and colorless, it is difficult to know if meat has been infected. Symptoms range from mild to serious intestinal distress. There may or may not be a headache, nausea and diarrhea associated with it. In serious cases, there is bloody diarrhea and destruction of the kidneys and internal organs. Since some strains are resistant to antibiotics, these medications will not help. What to do? Proper personal hygiene and good sanitation practices both at home and aboard ship can greatly reduce the possibility of E. coli contamination. If picking up stores overseas, make sure that all fruits and vegetables are thoroughly washed. (Remember, however, that contaminated water and even unpasteurized apple juice may contain E. coli.) There are some anti-bacterial rinses that may be used. All ground beef products should be cooked to 160-degrees F. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold. The World Health Organization estimates that the cost of human illness caused by foodbome bacteria is between $7 and $34 billion dollars annually. SIU President Michael Sacco presents retiring SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney with a commemorative ship's wheel last month at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Sacco described McCartney as a tireless, dedicated official who "gave everything he had to the SIU." cult times. ''The industry went from boom to bust, but Paul Hall had the vision to negotiate contracts that kept our companies in business," McCartney remembered. "Sure, we made some concessions-but we had jobs. ''Today, I believe we're in the best shape of any maritime union, and I have every confidence in Mike Sacco and his leadership. We've maintained good standards for wages and working conditions, but we've also changed with the times." McCartney's career spans all but about 10 years of the SIU's existence, and he played a part in many of the union's historical and defining episodes, such as the Cities Service organizing campaign in the late 1940s, rough conflicts with the Teamsters in the early 1960s. and many, many others. "George was involved in as many fights as this union ever was in," said Angus (Red) Campbell, retired SIU vice president contracts who worked with McCartney both as a shipmate and as a union official. "He participated in many of the waterfront beefs on both the East and West Coasts, and he also handled major contact negotiations." Campbell further described McCartney as having been "instrumental in boosting our return to the passenger trade," pointing out that he facilitated the restoration of the SIU-crewed SS Independence and SS Constitution to the U.S. flag. Asked what advice he has for active Seafarers and those entering the industry, McCartney replied, "First, I would stress the importance of being politically active. When you see a program like the Maritime Security Act, you see what can be accomplished through politics. "At the same time, the attacks on our industry seem endless. For example, maintaining the Jones Act and the Passenger Vessel Services Act is something that only can be done through political action. So, it works both waysprotecting what we have and seeking new opportunities. 'The other thing is, especially to the newer members: Learn your trade! Take advantage of the opportunities at our school. With so many changes in the industry, upgrading truly is the way to go." Heindel Meets With Seafarers In Puerto Rico VVhile recently in Puerto R·ico to continue the SIU's research into relocating its local hiring hall, SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel met with Seafarers in the area. At left, Heindel and AB James Blitch chat before the start of a union meeting aboard the Nuevo San Juan. Below (from left): J. Lopez, T. Rodriguez, Heindel, B. Colantti, T. Mohammed and R. Prim discuss the latest news regarding the possible move. August 1998 �MODERN SHIPHANDLING - Part I: Henry Gamp Talks About Current Trends in Tug Design Editor's note: Henry W. Gamp has been a member of the SIU since 1974 and has upgraded numerous times at the Harry lundeberg School of Seamanship. His original license was issued to him in the port of Philadelphia at the age of 19. He holds an ocean masters license for 1600 tons, unlimited inland masters license and considerable unlimited first class pilotage. He also has worked as a shipdocking pilot and tugboat captain for many years. It was from this extensive experience that Camp has written "Modern Shiphandling" in 1980. He currently is employed as chief mate on Penn Maritime's ATB Eliza/Atlantic. WHY THE EVOLUTION IN SHIPHANDUNG TECHNIQUES? Since the time sailing ships were replaced by steamships, no generation of vessels has undergone as many innovations and changes as now. Today, a ship's form follows her function. In years past, the designs for cargo ships were more standardized. The cargo was stowed to conform lo the ship's hull configuration, whereas now, ships are designed around their specific trade requirements. This rather drastic shift in thinking has allowed for a mulcitude of new and unusual looking ships. All have characteristics that differ, and to the extent of their individual peculiarities, shipdocking pilots have had to alter their handling techniques. The modern shipdocking tugboat also has undergone many abruptly cut away. Also, some ships have knuckles protruding from the sides near the bow and stern. The elliptical stern has, in large part, given way to squaredoff flat-sided sterns. Roll-on/rolloff (RO/RO) ships have ramps built into their sterns. LASH ships have two cantilevered arms extending beyond their sterns. Design changes, for the most part, have a significant reduction in the length of the midbody in proportion to the bow and stern. The midbody is now perhaps no more than one-quarter of the overall length on some ships. The deck layout has also changed. The old freighter most often had her bridge located amidships. Modem ships usually have their bridge located near the stern or on the bow. RO/ROs, for example, have their main deck extending past the ship's hull. In the realm of tugboat design, the twin-screw tug is a far more agile and maneuverable piece of equipment than the conventional single-screw tug. By working the engines in opposite directions, the tug can be kept in position to back straight and not fall to port as a conventional single-screw tug. Therefore, under normal conditions, it is not necessary for the twin-screw tug to use a hawser when pulling a ship off a pier. A backing line from the tug's bow will do the job. This is advantageous if the tug will be used in this same location to push the ship around once clear of the pier. When a 'back' is not required of the tug, a twin-screw tug can be worked without putting a line on the ship. The normal tendency of tugs is to fall alongside the ship when stopped and to slide INTRODUCTION It has been 18 years since Modern Shiphandling first was published. At that time, I recognized the need for shorter, wider and more maneuverable tugs to keep pace with the changes in ship design. I was working as a ship docking pilot for a company with a sizable fleet of tugboats-many of which were single-screw tugs, some dating back to the early 1940s. It was necessary to find work for these vessels until their serviceable lives had expired. The new tugs constructed were the twin-screw type, designed as a compromise between ship handling and coastwise towing. Our primary competitor did experiment with kort-nozzles and flanking rudders. That was the status quo: there was no interest by the two dominant Northeast tug companies in developing and designing tractor tugs strictly limited to shipdocking work. Now that the more progressive towing companies on the West Coast and in southern ports have proven the superiority of these designs, all this has changed. It now appears to be a race to build tractor lugs and reconfigure current tugs to enhance their maneuverability characteristics. Keeping the above in mind Modern Shiphandling does contain considerable information useful to anyone engaged in handling ships today. NEW SHIP AND TUGBOAT DESIGNS As a shipdocking master in the port of Baltimore, I have noticed an evolution in ship and tugboat design and the way in which ships are handled. This port has no current and a mean tidal range of only 1.2 feet. From October through June, the prevailing winds are northwesterly, with highest wind speeds occurring from February through April. From June through September, the prevailing winds are southwesterly and generally calm. My observations on shiphandling are, to some extent, based on local custom, and I freely admit ships are handled differently in other localities. Nevertheless, many of my observations are universal and hold true everywhere. August 1998 In this photo from 1976, the Swan Point, a Curtis Bay tug, assists the containership Anders Maersk, in docking with her starboard side to the pier in Philadelphia Harbor. The Maersk vessel is equipped with a bow thruster and a large bulbous bow. Notice the very streamlined and cutaway hull configuration, making it necessary for the tug to position itself more than 200 feet from the containership's stern. fundamental design changes. From a visual standpoint, they are not nearly as pronounced as the design innovations in ships. Nevertheless, these changes give tugboats maneuverability and capabilities their predecessors did not possess. A discussion of shipdocking techniques would be incomplete without calking about new tugboat designs and methods of using tugboats. Aside from the ship herself, the tugboat is the prime tool at the pilot's disposal. Accident-free shipdocking is the result of utilizing ships and tugboats together as a team. DESIGN INNOVATIONS IN TODAY'S SHIPS The older ship designs such as the Victory ships had a short bow with little outward flare. The straight midbody ran for roughly three-quarters of her length and the short quarter quickly rounded into an elliptical stern. Cargo ships today have sharper, longer tapered bows, and most of these have considerable flare. Numerous vessels have protruding bulbous bows that take many shapes and vary greatly in size. Some high-sided vessels have blisters built out from and running longitudinally along the midbody at the waterline. Ships' quarters are usually longer and cut away .from the main deck. However, a few are straight sided to near the waterline, then Today, specialized ships do not have their decks cluttered with masts, booms, rigging, etc. Even the general cargo ship has simpler, more streamlined cargohandling gear. The size of ships has grown as well. Victory ships, for example, were 440 feet long. A cargo ship today is likely to be 600 to 850 feet Jong. Likewise, their beam, draft, freeboard and tonnage have increased proportionately. Ships are propelled by a variety of power plants; diesel and steam turbine are the primary ones. There are gas turbine and combination plants utilizing electric motors in existence. In addition, some ships are reversed by changing propeJJer pitch instead of changing propeller rotation. The reaction time of the different systems is not uniform, nor is the effect they have on the ship's handling characteristics. Horsepower is greater as well as the speeds that ships can make. IMPROVEMENTS IN TUGBOAT DESIGN The World War II vintage tugboat was by and large steam powered. Diesel power was just beginning to come of age. A large degree of dependence was placed on the engineer hearing and answering telegraph bells correctly; tugboats were singlescrew and low-powered. along the hull when ordered ahead. However, by opposing her engines, the twin-screw tug can prevent this sliding My personal experience with single-screw kort-nozzle tugs equipped with flanking rudders forward of the kort nozzle is limited to conversations with pilots so acquainted. To a man, they claim them to be nearly as maneuverable as twin-screw tugs. By shifting the flanking rudders to pull water either way, and turning the steering rudder either way, the tug can be rapidly twisted or walked sideways. The thrust developed by the kort nozzle is greater than on similar tugs not so equipped. The tubular kort nozzle prevents centrifugal dispersal of the thrust column. Horsepower is continually increasing in tugboats. Twentyfive years ago, a 3,000 hp engine was gigantic. Now, many new docking tugs are built with 3,000-4,000 hp and either twinscrew or single-screw with flanking rudders. Horsepower is only one quality of a good shipdocking tugboat, of course. The maneuverability of the tug can be just as essential. A docking pilot forced to use a tug with inadequate rudder power is severely limited in what the tugboat will accomplish for him-a fact sometimes overlooked by designers and naval architects. An unobstructed view of the horizon is essential from the wheelhouse. Unlike barge work, the hawser is often picked up while the tugboat captain or mate operates the tug from the wheelhouse and not from the stern steering station. There are various reasons for this. First, the tug's radio and whistle are there to hear and answer the pilot's commands. Second, the tug may have to tow the ship along a channel, and it would not be possible to see ahead from the stern. Third, in many instances the pilot requires tug assistance after the hawser is down, and the man handling the tug is already at the wheelhouse controls. Fourth, at night it may be necessary for the tug to illuminate an unlighted buoy, and the searchlight is operated from the wheelhouse. The bull nose is a half-round ring of heavy pipe approximately six inches (inside radius) welded athwartship to the bow as an alternative to the conventional stemhead. When the tug's line is run through the bull nose and secured on the tug's bitts, the line is free to move without chaffing-as often happens on a stemhead. The forward capstan is another essential piece of equipment for the more powerful tugs using 8- to 9-inch dacron lines. The sheer weight of these lines makes it impossible for them to be retrieved by hand when dropped in the water from a ship underway. The capstan also is required on a tug equipped with a bull nose to pull the lines back through it. The tugboat can be made much tighter when making fast with three lines to the ship by heaving up the headline with the forward capstan before bringing the stern in tight with the after capstan for a good hold. Rope fenders have been replaced by ones fashioned from strips of rubber tires bolted together or of the molded rubber type. They wear longer but do not absorb shock to the extent that rope does. In place of steel guard rails, a continuous rubber bumper cal) be wrapped around the hull at the deck line. There are gaps between conventional fenders, and this system offers better protection against metal striking metal. Tugboats need a bow-fendering system that would pennit them to safely work against a bulbous bow. A short stubby tug is advantageous for shipdocking work. Additional length adds to drag when trying to come end-on to the ship with headway. A wide tug with a narrow house is more useful than a narrow tug with a wide house as the tug can lay further ahead under the bow or aft under the quarter without striking the tug's superstructure. Radar scanners and other overhead obstructions should be low down and as far back as possible. The mast should not be fixed; rather it should be capable of being lowered. These are some of the changes tugboats have undergone in recent years. To be continued in a future edition of the Seafarers LOG. Seafarers LOG ., ., �RIGHT: Paul Hall Center Director of Vocational Education Bill Eglinton (left) shows plans for the new complex to International Transport Workers' Federation Assistant Secretary Seafarers and Fisheries Jon Whitlow. Breaking New Ground Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School Marks Vital Addition for SIU, Paul Hall Center F Digging in for the ceremonial groundbreaking are (from left) Unlicensed Apprentice Jomo Young; Seafarers Plans Administrator Lou Delma: Paul Hall Center Health and Safety Director Jimmy Hanson; Bay Ship Management Labor Relations Director Joseph Cecire (representing Paul Hall Center trustees); SIU President Michael Sacco; and Judy Sacco, widow of Joseph Sacco. or experienced Seafarers as well as those entering the industry, safety training is as indispensable as carrying a zcard. In order to make a living at sea, many of today's mariners must be trained in basic and advanced fire fighting, first aid and CPR, damage control, water survival and confined-space safety. Requirements for such training will become even more widespread in the months and years ahead, mainly because of international maritime treaties to which the United States is signatory. Recognizing the crucial nature of such curriculums, the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month announced detailed plans for a million-dollar, state-of-the-art safety campus that is expected to open in early 1999. Featuring the most modern, environmentally and hygienically safe equipment anywhere, the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School will be built on school property near the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. "This new school demonstrates the SIU's ongoing commitment to ensuring that Seafarers are the best-trained mariners in the world," said SIU President Michael Sacco. "It will greatly expand our ability to provide required training, and it means that SIU members will have the chance to learn new skills and sharpen existing abilities in an exciting, first-class environment." The safety school will replicate conditions found aboard all types of vessels, from deep sea .ships to inland tugs and barges. It will include two classrooms, but most of the facility is designed for hands-on training. In planning the buildings, 'If Anybody Deserves Recognition, He Does' The school is named in memory of Joseph Sacco, who passed away on October 19, 1996. Brother Sacco helped build the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship, which opened 31 years ago this month. He later served the SIU in numerous capacities, including as executive vice president from 1988 until his death. He is remembered as a hard-working, effective, well-respected and popular figure. affectionately known among Seafarers and throughout the industry as Joey. "Joe Sacco put his whole life and soul into the school and the union," recalled SIU President Michael Sacco, Joe's brother, during last month's ceremonial groundbreaking. "He was dedicated to helping young people find their way and helping older members upgrade for a better life. If anybody deserves this recognition, he does." RIGHT: In addition to the fire fighting and safety school, this monument, located at the Seafarers' Haven cemetery in Piney Point, Md., pays tribute to the memory of Joseph Sacco. 12 Seafarers LOG August 1998 �... ·• equipment and layout, representatives of the SIU and the Paul Hall Center worked closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration and Military Facility Simulates Shipboard Conditions Sealift Command to help ensure that the courses taught there will meet various federal guidelines necessary for class certification. This will benefit Seafarers who are required to take Coast Guard approved safety courses in order to sail. llie union and school also extensively consulted with local fire and rescue professionals to assure maximum efficiency in design. plus compliance with specifications governing the construction and operation of such a facility. Moreover, the school's opening will mean substantial monetary savings because it will eliminate the current costs associated with off-site practical training. Presently, upgraders must travel for an hour to a fire fighting facility in La Plata, Md. (In years past, Seafarers made 12-hour round trips to a school in New Jersey for such training.) Jimmy Hanson, the Paul Hall Center's longtime director of health and safety, pointed out that the Joseph Sacco School is designed not only for safety training, but also for "safe training itself." The fires will be propane-generated-the most environmentally safe kind. Sensors will detect propane levels and also distinguish water amounts used by students, in turn reducing the flames. The water will be heated, allowing for more student-friendly training during winter months, and will be chlorinated for hygiene. "Everything has drains underneath, and the water goes through a purifier before returning to the drainage pond," Hanson explained. "Plus there are many other safety switches included to prevent accidents." Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School m •• - .. ... The Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School wi 11 provide upgraders and unlicensed apprentices with the chance to practice combating numerous types of blazes in surroundings which accurately-and in great detail-simulate shipboard conditions. For instance, the main building will house a two-level engine room and shaft alley with bubbling water that simulates bilge fires. Other buildings will include galleys, fo'c'sles and lounges. "We're going to make it as real as we possibly can." stated Jimmy Hanson, director of health and safety at the Paul Hall Center. The safety school's features include: • A damage control building with a recessed floor to allow for training in rising water; • A two-story maze with moveable walls, which will help provide frequent upgraders the opportunity to practice search-and-rescue exercises in different conditions; • Varied types of shipboard doors, hatches and ladders; • Station bills and hose stations in the two classrooms; • Outdoor pads that can utilize any pertinent props and are connected to propane lines; • A compressor room where Seafarers will learn to take air samples and service compressors; .· • An area where upgraders will practice using and refilling portable fire extinguishers; . • A storage area with special ventilation that will ensure proper drymg of gear; • Buildings that are designed for possible expansion; • Shower and bathroom facilities. Building Key 1. Fire Fighting Building 2. Classroom Building 3. Damage Control Building 4. Maze Building 5. Breathing Apparatus Building 6. Fire Extinguisher Pad 7. Auto & Helo Pad 8. Flange Fire Pad 9. Bilge Fire - 10. Staging Area 11. Fire Pump Building August 1998 Seafarers LOG 13 �Efforts are ongoing to help find a way to prevent the 200-foot, candy-striped lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, N. C. from falling into the sea. In the U.S. Coast Guard photo above, taken in 1958, the Point Vicente Light Station at Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. is set on a cliff overlooking a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The buildings on the left side used to house one of the Coast Guard's main West Coast radio stations, NMQ-Long Beach. The round white spot just beyond the light tower was the landing port for a helicopter which was attached to the station's rescue unit and was often called to tow crippled boats, evacuate sick and injured seamen and patrol nearby marinas. At left, Boston Light Station, like many other lighthouses, is on an island accessible only by boat. First lit on September 14, 1716, the tower was rebuilt after the American Revolution, in 1783. Boston Light was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 13, 1964. Lighthouses: Angels of tlie Sea S ince ancient times. mariners have depended on lighthouses to help guide their ships safely into port. Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World- the Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt (285 BC) and the Colossus of Rhodes, Greece (270 BC)-were lighthouse structures. But it was not until 1716 that the first lighthouse on what would become the U.S. was built in Boston Harbor on Little Brewster Island. Hundreds more were constructed along the coasts and on the Great Lakes, almost all of them built before 1900. Electricity had not yet been "discovered" at the turn of the 18th century, so the Boston Light Station and the others that soon followed used candles or a small lamp to illuminate the area. Whale oil and kerosene were used in later years to increase the light's intensity until 1822, when the Fresnel lens was invented by a Frenchman, Augustine Fresnel. (The lens works by bending light waves radiated from the light source on all sides and focusing the ·light on a single plane-the horizon.) In the 1930s, the U.S. Coast Guard became the custodian of lighthouses in America, and keeping the light burning was the job of a lighthouse keeper. Each evening at sunset, the keeper would climb tl1e stairs to the top of the tower to light the lantern. Early in this century, most of the lighthouses were electrified and the lights automated. Since the source of light was no longer a burning flame, the job of the lighthouse keeper became unnecessary. Today, Boston Light is the only one to retain its keeper. - Piney Point Ughthouse Just a few miles from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. is the Piney Point Lighthouse. Built in 1836, it was the first 14 Seafarers LOG lighthouse constructed entirely on the shores of the Potomac River and today is one of 25 from the original 44 lighthouses erected between 1822 and 1910 still left in Maryland. Now a part of the St. Clements Island Potomac River Museum, the small, squat Piney Point Lighthouse was once known as the "Lighthouse of the Presidents." In its heydey, Piney Point (with its elegant Piney Point Hotel) was a popular resort for the "rich and famous" of the area, including presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and James Monroe, as well as vice presidents, First Lady Dolly Madison, statesmen and other celebrities. The Coast Guard decommissioned Piney Point Lighthouse in 1964 and turned the structure (along with its keeper's house) over to St. Mary's County in 1980. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Unlike the Piney Point Lighthouse, which stood only 35 feet tall, the Cape Hatteras, N.C. structure is the tallest lighthouse in the U.S, standing 200 feet above sea level. When it was built in 1870 to warn mariners away from the shoals, the candystriped sentinel stood 1,500 feet from the ocean. Now, after more than a century of incoming and outdoing tides and soil erosion of about 10 feet per year, only 120 feet of beach stand between the lighthouse and the ocean. To prevent the structure from eventually falling into the sea, the National Park Service, North Carolina's governor, the state's general assembly and the National Academy of Sciences have suggested moving the lighthouse 1,600 feet inland and 2,500 feet to the southwest. This proposal, however, has generated a great deal of debate, with opponents arguing that such a move would cost too much, put the monument in danger and thoroughly destroy its character. Whatever the plan, it has become apparent that action must be taken soon if the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is to be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Point Vicente Light Station No other national lighthouse system compares with that of the United States in size and diversity of architectural and engineering types. The Point Vicente Light Station, located at Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., is another lighthouse under the vast Coast Guard mandate. When it was built in 1926, the Point Vicente Light Station (seven miles west of San Pedro, Calif.) was a unique three-inane station. It not only consisted of the 67-foot tower, built of concrete in the mission revival architectural style, but it also housed one of the Coast Guard's main West Coast radio stations and a landing port for a helicopter attached to the station's rescue unit. The lantern was automated in 1973. And while the buildings and property are still well maintained, there no longer is a rescue unit or radio station. The lighthouse itself is maintained by Coast Guard volunteers who perform routine upkeep on the structure and conduct tours. save these structures. Some have been leased by the Coast Guard to county, state or national parks for use as museums, recreation areas and nature preserves. Others have been converted into museums, private homes, inns and youth hostels. And so these romantic reminders of our country's heritage remain not as they once were-guardian angels to seafarers, marking dangerous headlands, shoals, bars and reefs-but merely as angels of the sea, ghostly reminders of the mighty structures that once played a large role in our nation's maritime history and served as symbols of safety, security, heroism and faithfulness. Automation Takes Over Sadly, with the advent of modern technology and automated light stations, the days of the manned lighthouse have come to an end. Since 1990, all stations but one-Boston Light-have been automated, eliminating the need for a keeper. Without a human presence to maintain the structures, many quickly have been subjected to deterioration by the elements and vandalism. Some have succumbed to the trials of time, leaving behind nothing but memories and piles of rubble. However, efforts by individuals, nonprofit organizations and a number of lighthouse preservation societies are helping The outside of the 35-foot tower of the Piney Point Lighthouse remains basically unchanged since the Civil War. August 1998 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1998 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Philadelphia .B?:Jtimore: :. Norfolk Mobile 42 5 15 13 3 } JO 8 0 25 3 13 2 4 0 4 11 10 6 5 14 8 2 12 New Orleans 13 20 7 3 :.Jacksonvme: . 38 16 12 11 10 18 4 5 20 5 8 6 9 15 9 22 10 2 12 1 4 5 San Francisco Wilmington 24 27 ·Seattle 30 Pucno Rico 9 8 Honolulu Moustoii · · 33 St. Louis 0 Piney Point 1 Algonac Totals 274 5 · "HL·" : ·7. 2 . ·1 . 2 135 3 2 2 63 Port ·New York 22 Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 4 6 3 Jacksonvme San Francisco 20 9 Seattle **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT Port New York ::~H'irt!.rt.~tl?~ Trip Reliefs 7 8 . . .·10 . 12 4 8 0 4 6 4 12 17 12 9 2 .1 0 3 I 4 8 6 2 6 3 4 23 15 3 9 13 8 JO 2 9 7 0 4 27 12 8 9 l 0 0 2 1 0 0 3 2 1 l 0 198 111 55 91 3 2 6 7 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 9 7 I 4 1 2 0 0 9 4 3 4 IO 0 6 2 55 7 12 17 16 37 18 11 1 0 18 11 7 13 3 2 10 3 8 69 53 46 14 23 47 18 27 129 3 5 4 4 New Bedford .......... Tuesday: September 22, October 20 3 431 219 85 .· 29 10 9 5 15 1 4 12 7 14 eptember 9, October 7 2 2 2 Wilmington .............Monday: Septetnber 21, October 19 4 2 6 8 12 0 6 2. :..o.... Mobile New Orleans · Jacksonville San Franeisco Wilmington 7 4 2 6 9 5 17 .6 ·3 . 2 3 It 30 · 22 20 Seattle Puerto Rico 3 11 Honolulu :·H:ousion . . · St. i,o~fs . ·• Piney Point Algonac Totals 8 7 6 3 w .. 2 2 S 0 4 0 I 3 I 2 2 2 7 2 3 0 () . 1f 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 9 106 38 0 9 3 4 9 ... ·49 · 6 25 6 44 3 3 5 7 4 5 14 33 1 31 4 Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk 5 0 0 0 4 0 4 3 0 2 Mobile New Orleans 4 5 Jacksonville Wilmington 5 10 3 Seattle 11 2 3 .S · {) 0 0 4 1 0 2 0 53 263 77 21 0 0 0 8 0 39 3 38 8 0 0 0 3 2 5 20 16 13 0 54 2 3 5 3 3 0 1 0 0 6 0 .... 165 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port New York San Francisco Pueno Rico Honolulu 3 14 8 4 10 6 15 14 l7 17 14 5 2 3 6 3 2 6 2 3 4 5 1 3 2 9 3 7 0 7 12 6 12 4 3 0 6 18 7 66 4 19 40 0 7 42 8 3 5 l 0 0 11 3 0 0 16 0 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 ' 1 14 36 0 0 50 1 0 170 0 0 0 184 28 130 81 618 473 279 415 358 169 189 14 4 12 t 15 13 3 33 0 2 2 92 265 303 991 *"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. August 1998 19 5 5 27 721 . ROBERT CHARL ES BLAIR Anyone with information on Robert Charles Blair, who sailed in the late 1960s, please contact Jodie Davis (Patty's daughter) at (718) 714-6844. ROBERT ELM ASIAN Please contact Patrick McC Lendon at (800) 3640807. LUIS ANGEL VILLANUEVA Luis Angel Villanueva, born approximately 1918 in Puerto Rico, please contact Steve Levy at (212) 355-3048 Notice s 2 23 I 0 23 18 5 - 3 21 2& 18 2 · Phiey Poinf Algonac 8 22 2 4 0 0 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 7 7 2 3 Houston . $t. Louis Totals All Departments 5 0 4 3 I 0 _,,., HOWARDC.AL BERSON Please contact: Jung Ja and Matin Alb erson 1549-2 Dadae 1 Dong 5012 Munkan Dae Apt. 20-4OJHO Saha-Ku Bosan, Korea 604-05 1. Or, you may write to Jo hn J. Ashley, 9107 Benthos, Houston, Texas 770 83; telephone (713) 281-5680. is:· · .> 2·" . at 10:30 a.m. PersonaIs 205 0 0 0 17 3 2 5 f St. L<?µi& .~ ............ ~ .. Friday: September 18, October I 6 18 2 .1 ··.:.. San Juan ..................Thursday:September 10, October 8 '·,Taeo~ij',~:~............ -~~·.Friday: september 25, October 23 12 STEWARD DEPARTMENT San Francisco .........Thursday: September l 7t October 15 22 8 14 . . tember 8, October 6 tember 10, October 8 25 Port Jersey City .............. W~ne&iay: September 21, October 21 New Orleans ........... Tuesday: Septe mber 15, October 13 2 79 Houston .................. Monday: September 14, October 12 Mobile .................... Wednesday: September 16, October 14 13 83 Honolulu ................. Friday: September 18, October 16 9 0 4 37 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: September 16. October 14 24 3 6 100 Baltimore ................Thursday: September l 0, October 8 Jacksonville ............ Thursday: September 10, October 8 ·· 12 . . . 18 ... 24 Algonac .................. Friday: Septe mber 11, October 9 5 8 4 Il 4 Monday, October 5 18 14 13 39 2 11 0 25 6 I Totals Piney Point .............Tuesday, September 8* *change created by labor Day holiday 11 0 2 4 9 8 8 4 September & Detober 1998 Afembetsllip Meetlngs Deep Sea, Lakes, In#and Waters 460 ..,,. TEXAS AREA USMM V REUNION The Texas Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II, the L one Star Chapter of the American Merchant Marin e Veterans and the local US. Navy Armed Guard Vceterans announce an area reunion for merchant marine and Navy armed guard veterans on November 20 -21, 1998. The event will be held at the Holiday In n Select in Houston. For additional information, please call Robert E. Thornton, president of the Te xas chapter of the USMMVWWII, at (713) 665-12 76. SIU-MC&S ANNUAL PICNIC The annual SIU-Marine Co oks & Stewards pienic is schduled for September 13, from noon until 5 p.m. at the barbecue area at Sa n Bruno Park. This is a pot luck, BYOB picnic. Seafarers LOG - 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers lntematlanal Union Directory JUNE 16-JULY 15, 1998 Michael Sacco President CL - John Fay Executive Vice President David Heindel Company/Lakes *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Telle£ L-Lakes NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Vice President Contracts Roy A. "Buck" Me-rcer Vice President Government Services · Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast Nick Marrone . Vice President West Coast Port Algonac Port 0 29 8 Algonac 0 15 2 0 6 4 0 28 26 Port Algonac Port Algonac DECK DEPARTMENT 0 15 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 7 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 4 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 17 4 0 14 0 8 0 2 0 11 3 4 BEADQVARTERS SW l Aulh Way Camp Springs; MO W746 (~Ol) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 (810) 794-4988 Totals All Depts 78 40 0 0 43 10 0 35 *"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. ANCHORAGE I 721 Sesame St., #lC Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 56 J4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters BALTIMORE JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1998 12 t 6 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. 0 · · : J.1!.m()lulu,· Hl ·· ~68·l9· ...,. · · TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C JACKSONVILLE 3315 f..iWty St . ... Jacksonville, a 32206 (904) 353-0987 ' JERSEY CITY ·99·Montgomery .Si. ...., ...... Jersey city, 'N J 61301·. · ·· · (201) -tJS-9424 Gulf Coast 0 l ~~~~. ~and Waters 22 West Coast 0 23 Totals 0 () 1 0 0 I 3 N~ ~edfQrd, MA n2740 :<?08).997.5404 NEW OflLEA~S 630 Jackson Ave. Ne:w Odellns, U 70130 (504) 529-7.5-46 . NEWYOR~ 635 rounh Ave. ·. Brooklyn. NY 11232 (118) 499~6600 NORFOLK ·'· · tt S Thitd St. Norfolk, VA 231 W (757} ~22-1 g9~ PHlLADELPHlA 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) g6I-3400 SANTURCE 10'7 Ferrumdez Juncos Ave., Stop 161h Santurce, PR 00907 (787J 12 l-4033 . ST. Louts 458 l Gravois Ave. St. Louis" MO 63116 CH4) 752.6500 TACOMA · 341'1 South Union Ave, . T~qma,WA gg~ (2.53} 272-7~74 . . WILMINGTON ·s10 N: Broad Av~. ·Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 f6 Seafarers LOS 0 0 0 ... 0 1 15 0 6 21 3 52 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT . 0 0 9 1 0 0 3 0 3 :C.iutr ·€oast·:;;: ... ·: Lakes, !Qland \Vaters 12,. West Coast 0 Totals 12 44 0 0 Region XiianticJ;Q~$t . . NEW BEDFORD ... 48 Union St. 0 4 8 5 . 3 2 14 3 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 8 40 ·o 0 0 3 4 :: 8 West Coast Totals RegiQn Atlantic Coast **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 4 1 3 0 ..... (8~f ~ff~'.-$22l·. . . . ' 30 0 1 1 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 () 0 0 0 0 1 I 16 0 0 O'' 16 0 0 12 34 s 4 77 Totals All Depts 3 10 75 *"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 8 29 PI CS-FROM-THE-PAST These photographs were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Klaus Kueck of Bay St. Louis, Miss. Brother Kueck, 78, who sailed as an AB, is a charter member, having joined the SIU in 1938. Among the many historic photos he sent to the LOG, the three appearing · on this page were taken in October 1939 aboard the Pan Royal, a Waterman Steamship Co. vessel. Brother Kueck is a veteran of World War II. He sailed in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. 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. August 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 steward and two recertified bosuns are among the 14 Seafarers retiring this month. Recertified Steward Raymond C. Agbulos, and Recertified Bosuns John P. Davis and David L. Newman, represent a combined total of more than 95 years of active union membership. They are graduates of the highest level of training available to members in the steward and deck departments, respectively, at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Including the three recertified graduates, eight of the pensioners sailed in the deep sea division, five shipped on inland vessels and one worked in the railroad marine division. Eight of the retirees sailed in the deck department, four shipped in engine department and two were members of the steward department. This month's pensioners have retired to all corners of the globe: seven reside in the Gulf states, five make their homes on the East Coast, one lives on the West Coast and one cal ls Greece home. Nine pensioner eo in the U.S. milit 1ve in lhe Navy, two i eArmy and two in theAir rce. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. tour of duty was in December 1990 aboard the Potomac, avessel operated by Connecticut Transportation. He lives in Mantua, N.J. INLAND DAVID L. NEWMAN, 66, started his career with the SIU in 1960. Born in Illnois, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1985. From 1951to1955, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Newman was involved in many union campaigns and activities in north Florida. He makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. DEEP SEA CHARLES D. POLK, 57, was born and raised in Mobile, Ala. He joined the SIU in 1964 in the pon of Mobile. The engine department member upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Brother Polk last signed off the Green Island, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. From 1959 to 1962 he served in the U.S. Air Force. He lives in his native Mobile. , an sailing with the Seafarers in 1970. He sailed in the '-====------=== steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the steward recertification program in 1986. Between the years of 1945 and 1968, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Agbulos last sailed on the Ltc. Calvin P Titus, operated by Maersk Line. He makes his home in Fremont, Calif. IOANNIS I. PRASINOS, 65, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1969 and joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. Born in Piraeus, Greece, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded to quartermaster at the Lundeberg School. Brother Prasinos last sailed aboard the fast sealift ship Antare.s. He has retired to his native Greece. JOHN P. DAVIS, 67, joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. The Cleveland native sailed in 1. - - ·· ·;c the deck ~~~~!!!!!!!~ department and upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School, completing the bosun recertification course there in 1984. Brother Davis last signed off the LNG Leo, an Energy Transportalion Corp. vessel and has retired to Port St. Lucie, Flu. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. r-"iPiiia:-1 RAYMOND J.MOORE, 65, first sailed with the Seafarers in June 1953 from the port of New York. '-""-'-'----____:_;:=-...:;._== Born in Philadelphia, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Moore's last August 1998 Wright made his last voyage aboard the Sam Houston, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. He calls New Orleans home. l•iiiiia:-J DANIEL A. STEWART, 62, began his career with the SIU in 1966. Born in Miami, he served in the ~----~ U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1961. Brother Stewart sailed in the deck department, making his last journey in January 1997 aboard the SeaLa.nd Quality. He has retired to Houston. LAWRENCE P. WRIGHT, 48, graduated from the Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1967 and joined the Seafarers in the port of Piney Point, Md. Born in Mobile, Ala., he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother ROBERTL. CONNER, 55, began sailing with the SIU in 1965. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, he worked as a L.__=====1'--' chief engineer. Boatman Conner sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Sabine Towing and Transportation, last sailing on the Spartan. He resides in Vidor, Texas. LEROYE. DURRANCE, 62, started his career with the Seafarers in 1981. A native of Walterton, Fla., he sailed as a member of the steward department and last signed off the Padre Island, operated by NATCO. From 1953 to 1971, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Durrance takes up residence in Honaker, Va. DAVIDW. GREEN JR., 52, graduated from the Lunde berg School's entry level training program in '--- - - - - - J 1969 and joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans. Starting out in the deep sea division, he later transferred to inland vessels. The deck department member sailed primarily aboard G&H Towing vessels, last sailing as a master. From 1965 to 1968, he served_ in the U.S. Army. Texas City, Texas is the home for Boatman Green. JAMES A. HENDERSON, 62, began his career with the Seafarers in 1958. Born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Boatman Henderson sailed as a captain, last working aboard the Gladiator, operated by Crowley Marine Services in Jacksonville, Fla. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Navy. He makes his home in Gordo, Ala. FRANK H. THEILER, 65, began sailing with the SIU in 1963 from the port of Houston. A native of La'----==='-"'--~--' Marque, Texas, he worked in the engine department, primarily with Galveston Wharves. He lives in LaMarque. r=:;;;;;;;;;;;;:==;;;::=:--i RAILROAD MARINE HAROLDM. RAINIER, 61, joined the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native sailed in the deck department. From 1960 to 1966, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Rainier worked primarily for the marine division of the C&O Railroad and resides in Cobbs Creek, Va. Labar Exposes Loophole on Made in USA Label Duty-free Goods Are Moved from Mariana Sweatshops The Made in USA label is widely accepted as being free from abuses associated with Third World sweatshopsexploitation, child labor, low wages, unhealthy working conditions and related problems. But it's a different story when the label reads Made in the USA and the items were actually produced in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands Northern (CNMI), reports the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department. As detailed in a special edition of the department's Label Letter, most of the $800 million worth of clothing shipped from the Mariana Islands into the United States duty-free last year was legally labeled Made in USA. However, most of the garments (going to U.S. companies like The GAP, GEAR, J.C. Penney, Ralph Lauren, The Limited and Tommy Hilfiger, among others) were made in factories run as virtual sweatshops. Of the 26 factories in Saipan, the capital of the CNMI, 21 are owned by Asians, and manning the factories are 35,000 "guest workers," brought in from China, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In addition to working for the CNMI's minimum wage of $3.05 per hour ($2.10 less than the U.S. minimum wage, which does not apply to the Mariana Islands), the foreign workers have paid thousands of dollars to job brokers merely to get the jobs. They then are forced to live and eat in barracks provided by the factories (often behind razor wire fences) and have as much as $200 each month deducted for room and board. The AFL-CIO describes the problem as more of a moral and ethical one, however, since this is all taking place under federal legislation passed in 1976 which gave the CNMI special privileges when it became a U.S. territory. The privileges were aimed at helping develop a local economy to benefit the islands 1 27 ,000 permanent residents. But in addition to these special privileges, the companies are openly ignoring other U.S. laws from which the CNMI is not exempt, such as providing safe and healthful working conditions, the provision for premium pay for overtime work and the right to organize. "None of this would be tolerated in the 50 states," said Charles Mercer, president of the Union Label & Service Trades Department. "Obviously the battle to protect the integrity of the Made in USA label is not over." ''Ifs an absolute insult to American workers and American taxpayers that you would be able to make these products using harshly exploited individuals and foreign workers and then get all the benefits of using the Made in USA label," said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif), who, with 74 cospol}.sors, has introduced legislation (H.R. 1450) to take away most of the federal benefits enjoyed by companies in the CNMI that violate American laws. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate (S. 1275) by Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska). Retiring from the Sea Chief Cook Alberto Falcon (left) sent this photo to the Seafarers LOG to let the membership know that Second Mate Rubin Salazar retired from sailing on April 1 of this year. This photo was taken when the two worked together on an OMI vessel. Salazar, who started out in the SIU and came up through its ranks, was once a lightweight boxing contender. His many friends among active and retired Seafarers wish him well. Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Departures DEEP SEA MANUEL D. AGUAS Pensioner Manuel D. Aguas, 84, passed away May 17. Brother Aguas joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. """-"'"""""==~.-!..'.:..J Born in Portugal, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Brooklyn, N.Y. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. He was a veteran of World War ll, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Aguas began receiving his pension in December 1976. He was a resident of Albertson, N.Y. HERBERT BENNETT Herbert Bennett, 68, died April 23. Born in North Carolina, he started his career with the SIU in 1958 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He worked in the engine department, last sailing in 1984 aboard the Sea-Land Leader. Brother Bennett was a resident of Norfolk, Va. ERWIN 0. BERWALD nii~~~~l Pensioner Erwin 0. Berwald, 77, passed away April 30. A native of Cleveland, he joined the Seafarers in 1948 in the port of New York. Starting out in the steward department, he later transferred to the en· gine department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. A resident of Houston, Brother Berwald retired in November 1985. Dl Francisco. Brother Catano sailed in the engine depart! ment and startj ed receiving his pension in April •.i 1977. He was a ~ resident of San "----==-----' Francisco. OSCAR COOPER Pensioner Oscar Cooper, 84, died May 14. Brother Cooper first sailed with the Seafarers in 1956 from the port of Mobile, Ala. aboard the Raphael Semmes, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. The South Carolina native sailed in the engine department. A resident of Chickasaw, Ala., Brother Cooper began receiving his pension in June 1979. JOHN E. EDMONDS Pensioner John E. Edmonds, 85, passed away December 18, 1997. He joined the MC&S in 1945, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Edmonds retired in January 1970. He was a resident of Berkeley, Calif. LUCAS E. ELEFANTE Pensioner Lucas E. Elefante, 85, died Febroary 13. A native of the Philippines, he began sailing with the MC&S in 1945, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A resident of San Francisco, Brother Elefante, began receiving his pension in July 197). WENCISLAO V. EUGENIO Pensioner Wencislao V. Eugenio, 87, passed away RODNEY D. BORLASE Pensioner Rodney D. Borlase, 76, died May 4. He began sailing with the SIU in 1962 from the port of Norfolk, Va., aboard the A:(.alea City, a Sea-Land Service vessel. Born in England, he worked in the engine department. Prior to his retirement in March 1987, his final voyage was aboard the Transoceanic Cable Ship Co.'s Long Lines. Brother Borlase was a resident of Norfolk. Va. He wils il vcternn of World War II, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1940 to 1946. ERNEST BROWN Pensioner Ernest Brown, 79, passed away February 25. Born in Missouri, he joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1944, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). A resident of Oakl.and, Calif., Brother Brown began receiving his pension in September 1973. GRADY K. BROWN Pensioner Grady K. Brown, 74, died May4. A native of Texa5, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of Baltimore. '---"=====--__J Brother Brown sailed in the engine department and retired in December 1988. He was a resident of Bremond. Texas. ALFREDO B. CALANO Pensioner Alfredo B. Calano, 85, passed away May 23. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the SIU in 1947 from the port of San 18 Seafarers LOG March 28. Brother Eugenio joined the MC&S in 1955 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in the Philippines, he made his home in San Francisco. He retired in March 1972. WILLARD GRAYSON Pensioner Willard Grayson, 72, passed away May 30. A native of Texas, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1968 from the port of New York. Working as a member of the engine department, he last sailed aboard the USNS Bellatrix, a Bay Ship Management vessel. From 1945 to 1947, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Grayson was a resident of Houston. He retired in 1991. STANLEY T. GROOMS Pensioner Stanley T. Grooms, 66, died May lj. Brother Grooms started his career with the SIU in 1959 in the port of New York. Prior to his retirement in August 1988, the engine department member signed off the San Juan, a Puerto Rico Marine Management. Jnc. vessel. He was a resident of Jupiter, Fla. JUAN R. FUENTES Pensioner Juan R. Fuentes, 83, died January 8. He joined the MC&S in 1947, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A resident of San Francisco, Brother Fuentes began receiving his pension in March 1971. sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he completed the bosun recertification course in 1974. Brother Joseph lived in Sarasota, Fla. and retired in February 1984. JOHN A. HAMOT DAVID LEDESMA Pensioner John A. Hamot, 75 , passed away April 27. He first sailed with the Seafarers in 1941 in the port of New York. Brother Hamot worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. A native of Massachusetts, he made hi s home in New Bedford. Brother Hamot began receiving his pension in April 1993. Pensioner David Ledesma, 89, died March 22. Born in Puerto Rico, he started his career with the MC&S in 1954 in the port of Portland, .__,...___~__,"'--;:;.x..'_, Ore., before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Ledesma was a resident of New York. He retired in January 1981. JAMES B. HENLEY Pensioner James B. • Henley, 76, died · June 3. Born in Georgia, he joined the SIU in 1943 in the · port of New York. Brother Henley sailed in the deck department and retired in August 1966. He was a resident of Richmond Hill, Ga. ADRIAN J. JANACEK iiim~---, Pensioner Adrian J. Janacek, 76, passed away May 25. A native of Washington. he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1966 from the port of Seattle. His first ship was the Summit. He sailed as a member of the deck department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 ro 1945. Brother Janacek was a resident of Seattle and began receiving his pension in May 1994. EDWARD L. JOHNSON Pensioner Edward L. Johnson, 66, died June 17. Brother Johnson first sailed with the SIU in 1960 from the port of Baltimore aboard the Josefina, operated by Liberty Navigation Trading Co. The Maryland native sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification program in 1985. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Johnson was a resident of Baltimore. He retired in February 1991. HOWARD L. JOHNSON Pensioner Howard L. Johnson, 100, passed away June 7. Born in Nebraska, he joined the MC&S before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Johnson made his home in St. Paul, Minn. and started receiving his pension in February 1968. FRANK W. LAWRENCE Pensioner Frank W. Lawrence, 74, passed away June 1. A native of Texas, he joined the MC&S in 1944, before that union merged '-----"'-=.c::=-==-:==--_, with the SIU' s AGLIWD. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. He lived in Portland, Ore. and began receiving his pension in February 1989. LEYAL E. JOSEPH Pensioner Ley al E. Joseph. 79, died May 18. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of New York. The New York native INLAND DUDLEY A. BONVILLAIN Pensioner Dudley A. Bonvillain, 71, passed away May 4. Boatman Bonvillain joined the Seafarers in 1957 in the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native worked in the engine department, last sailing as a chief engineer. A resident of Lockport, La., he began receiving his pension in May 1989. JOHN M. EVANS John M. Evans, 64, died June 4. A native of Maryland, he first sailed with the SIU in 1993. Boatman Evans worked in the deck department and sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Association for Maryland Pilots. He was a resident of Ewell. Md. HOWARD L. (BUD or SKID) GIBSON Pensioner Howard L. (Bud or Skid) Gibson, 70, passed away May 18. He 1;. began sailing in 1944 as a deck)J hand in Norfolk ' I< ==-'....;;!_, Harbor and j oined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native last worked as a tugboat operator. A resident of Jupiter, Fla., Boatman Gibson began receiving his pens ion in March 1983. ; EDWARD J. HIBBARD Pensioner Edward J. Hibbard, 86, died May 13. Born in Virginia, he started with the SIU in 1942 in the port of ------'----' Baltimore. Originally a deep sea member, he I ater transferred to inland vessels. During his career he sailed as a deckhand and was active in union 0 rganizing drives. Boatman Hibbard was a resident of Baltimore and retired in October 1976. LYLEL.ORN p ensioner Lyle L. Om, 70, passed away March 25. A native of South Dakota, he began his career with the seafarers in 1967 in the deep sea di vision and later transferred to in land vessels. During his career, Boatman Om advanced his skills fr om tankerman to a licensed tugboat 0 perator, sailing primarily aboard vessels operated by McAllister Tiowing Co. From 1945 to 1965, he se rved in the U.S. Navy. A resident 0 f Virginia Beach, Va., he began receiving his pension in April 1990. GREAT LAKES JAMES E. CONNOR Pensioner James E. Connor, 74, passed away June 12. Born in New York, he joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Brother Connor worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the American Republic, operated by American Steamship Co. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army from 1942 to 1948 and also in the Navy from 1950 to 1951. Brother Connor was a resident of Cheektowaga, N.Y. and retired in February 1989. HAROLD M. LEHMAN ~~iiiiiii~l Pensioner Harold M. Lehman, 78, died May 20. Brother Lehman started his career with the SIU in 1968 in the port of .____ _........._ _ _ J Duluth, Minn., aboard the Joe S. Morrow. A native of Michigan, he sailed in the deck department. During World War II, he served in the U.S . Navy from 1942 to 1945. The Portland, Mich. resident started receiving his pension in November 1984. STUART M. SAARI Pensioner Stuart M. Saari, 71, died March 14. Brother Saari joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Buffalo. Born in Michigan, he ~======.. worked in the engine department, last sailing in 1990 aboard the Paul Thayer, operated by Pringle Transit. He was a resident of Detroit and retired in April 1992. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Army. LEOR.TROY Pensioner Leo R. Troy, 72, passed away April 9. A native of Michigan, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of Detroit. He worked in the deck departmen. Prior to his retirement in November 1990, he signed off the Columbia, operated by Bob-Lo Company. During the World War II years of 1941 to 1947, Brother Troy served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Detroit. r-~;;;;::::;;;;;;;;;:;:---, JOSEPH A. WILKES =---=------. Pensioner Joseph A. Wilkes, 73, died April 6. Born in Pennsylvania, " he joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Brother '----"=---__J Wilkes worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the American Mariner, a American Steamship Co. vessel. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. A resident of Toledo, Ohio, he started receiving his pension in September 1987. August 1998 �Secretary stated department running smoothly. Treasurer announced all $40 in fund used to purchase movies. Captain informed crew of layup July 15 for shipyard repairs. BLUE RIDGE (Crowley Petroleum Transport) May 24Chairman Al Alwaseem, Secretary Ron Malozi, Deck Delegate Clemente Rocha, Engine Delegate Michael Ribeiro, Steward Delegate Chris Boronski. Chairman announced payoff in Houston. Secretary stated linens and plastics to go ashore in Houston and new stores to be taken on there. Educational director reminded crew of importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Letter from headquarters read to crew concerning overtime. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Houston, New York and Norfolk, Va. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime) June 14-Chairman Gerald M. Westphal, Secretary Janet Price, Deck Delegate Omaha Redda, Engine Delegate Wayne Watts, Steward Delegate Glenn Bertrand. Chairman discussed president's report in LOG and reminded crew of importance of reading paper to ~tay upda~ecLon mmitime issues. informed crew of 10ay layup in Gal n, Texas while waiting for rgo. Secretary advised crew to look in dry store room for packing boxes. Educational direcror spoke of importance of upgrading skills as often as possible. He reminded everyone to u~e ~afety precautions and to apply for training record ks (TRBs) before August I dead 1 ome disputed overtime reported in ste e artment. Crew also reminded o s oking restrictions and standards for cleanliness. Vote of thank~ given to galley gang. Crew reported exercise bike needs fixing. Next port: Galveston. LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty Maritime) June 14-Chairman Juan Rivas, Secretary Paul Stubblefield, Steward Deteg:ne Chris Green. Chairman stated communications received regarding STCW and TRBs. Secretary reminded crew to put linens in bags in passageway and dump trash before leaving. He also reminded them of deck-waxing A Good Feeder Chief Cook Jorge Bernardez (left) and Chief Steward Lovell McElroy Sr. serve up a Sunday prime rib dinner aboard the Richard G. Matthiesen. (Photo by QMED Gilbert Tedder Jr.) August 1998 procedures. Some disputed OT reported in deck department regarding cargo hold cleaning. Crew requested contracts department look into raising pension and lowering amount of sea time required. Crew also asked contracts department to review allowing paid vacation time to count toward retirement requirements. Request made for extra washer and dryer for unlicensed personnel. Vote of thanks given to steward department and rest of crew for a job well done. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime) May 31-Chairman Hugo Dermody, Secretary Malcolm C. Holmes, Deck Delegate Burlin L. Pinion, Engine Delegate German C. Valerio, Steward Delegate Mariano Martinez. Chairman reminded crew to apply for TRBs. Educational director advised crew to check with Lundeberg School before applying for courses. Some disputed OT reported in deck department. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Request put in for new filters for washing machines. LNG TAURUS (Energy Transportation Corp.) June 7Chairman Daniel Marcus, Secretary Arlene M. Ringler, Deck Delegate John D. Ray, Engine Delegate Curtis L. Jackson, Steward Delegate Brian T. McEleney. Members received information on money purchase plan benefit. Request for more scheduled LNG recert classes sent to headquarters for consideration. Chairman thanked crew for good, safe, cooperative work. Secretary also thanked them for good attitudes. Educational director suggested attending the Paul Hall Center for increased job security. Treasurer announced $142 in ship's funds. Crew thanked steward department for excetlent meals and desserts and for catering to them when working extra long hours due to drain problems. Next ports: Arun, Indonesia and Himeji, Japan. MAERSK COLORADO (Maersk Line) May 24-Chairman Mo Ahmed, Secretary Salvatore E. Torneo, Deck Delegate Frank Cottongin III. Engine Delegate Scott P. Brady. Chairman and educational director reminded crew to upgrade at Lundeberg School whenever opportunity arises. Secretary pointed out that crew should remain aware of all SIU political activities and that all zcards must be renewed (see back of card for expiration date). Crew asked to clean lint filter in dryer and to keep rec room clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. OM/ COLUMBIA (OMI) June 14-Chairman Anthony Sabatini, Engine Delegate Mike Kifle, Steward Delegate Larry Lopez. Repair lists filled out. Crew reminded to upgrade at Harry Lundeberg School and to obtain TRBs by August 1. Chairman announced pay raise July 1. Payoff to be held in Richmond, Calif. OSPREY (Osprey-Acomarit) May 24-Chairman Sean Ryan, Secretary Justo Lacayo, Deck Delegate Aubrey Davis, Engine Delegate Peter Cooley, Steward Delegate Jose Guzman. Secretary reported stores are on time. Educational director reminded crew to hone skills in Piney Point and to get TRBs by August 1. Possible affiliation of NMU and SIU discussed. Suggestion made for day off'after round trip and for STCW document to be placed on z-card. Crew inquired about certain deck department prodcedures. They also requested antenna to pick up armed forces radio. Steward department thanked by crew for job well done. Next port: Wilmington, N.C. OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Maritime Overseas) May 26-Chairman Jesse Mixon, Secretary Greg Lynch, Deck Delegate Brian Bush, Engine Delegate Eddie Whisenhant, Steward Delegate Robert Mensching. Chairman read memo from Augie Tellez regarding TRBs. Payoff announced for arrival in Honolulu. Secretary noted upcoming retirement of Brother George McCartney and welcomed Nick Marrone to West Coast. He also reminded members of zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, especially in port of Valdez. Educational director encouraged crew to utilize Paul Hall Center to best advantage. Crew expressed excitement over possibility of SIU and NMU affiliation. Request put in for new radio in lounge. Next port: Honolulu. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG Car Carriers) June 5-Chairman Richard Bradford, Secretary Michael Gramer, Engine Delegate James R. Smart. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in Portland, Ore. and that next voyage scheduled for Toyohashi, Japan and U.S. West Coast. Educational director spoke of importance of upgrading skills in Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Portland and Long Beach, Calif. OVERSEAS JUNEAU (Maritime Overseas) May 31-Chairman Wayman Sellers, Secretary William E. Bragg, Deck Delegate Solomon H. Shields, Engine Delegate Ron D:1y, Steward Delegate Nasar Alfaqih. Crew resolved coffee-making duties to everyone's satisfaction. Chairman informed crew of new sail orders which move payoff to later date in Hawaii. He reminded crew to keep doors and portholes closed while cleaning tanks. Secretary said he will assist crew in completing TRB applications. Educational director advised all who don't have TRBs to get them by August l. He also suggested to check that all certifications and documentations are current, and reminded crew of importance of attending classes at Paul Hall Center. Letter posted on crew board from HQ regarding change to shipping rules with respect to TRBs. FAX regarding startup of riding gangs from Anchorage, Alaska also posted. Several new mattresses received aboard ship. Anyone who needs new mattress should speak to steward department. Next ports: Valdez, Alaska and Honolulu. OVERSEAS OHIO (Maritime Overseas) May 22-Chainnan Tim Koebel, Secretary Joe I. Ortega, Deck Delegate George R. Moxley, Engine Delegate Edmond Bridges, Steward Delegate Norman W. Cox. Chairman discussed requirements of dayworkers and rules for elevator usage. He also reported on call made to Coast Guard regarding training requirements for STCW renewal. Deck delegate noted some disputed OT. Crew extended thanks to captain for new TV and microwave. RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN (Ocean Shipholding) May 30Chairman Dana Naze, Secretary Lovell McElroy Sr., Deck discussed Coast Guard recommendation against solo night watches. He also discussed NLRB's case against Avondale shipyard and affiliation talks with NMU. Treasurer announced $20 in movie fund. Crew urged defeat of antiworker Proposition 226. Crew reminded to update tetanus shots every five or 10 years to prevent sudden infection. Next port: Elizabeth, N .J. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (Sea-Land Services) June 7Chairman Jimmie L. Scheck, Secretary Edward M. Collins, Educational Director Dann G. Manthei. Chairman advised crew Camaraderie Aboard S-L Independence When the Sea-Land Independence pulled into the port of Elizabeth, N.J. recently, crew members gathered for a group photo with SIU Patrolman Jack Caffey Jr. From the left are Electrician Al Parker, Chief Cook Charles Atkins, AB Damion Krowicki, Patrolman Caffey, Bosun T. Alanano, AB Richard Fleming, AB Errol Hall, Steward Tommy Belvin, DEU Kamal Ismail and (standing in back) AB Arnold Lopez. Delegate James Hagberg, Engine Delegate Gilbert Tedder Jr., Steward Delegate Cornelius Watkins. Secretary commented on recertification programs. Educational director advised crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and to apply for TRBs soon. Treasurer announced $81 in crew fund and $1,000 in ship's fund. Crew asked contracts department to review raising medical and dental benefits. Members requested copy of current medical benefit booklet. They also made several inquiries about TRBs and imminent danger pay for travel to Persian Gulf. Next ports: Singapore and Guam. of August I deadline for acquisition of TRBs. He also informed crew of payoff on June 13. Secretary asked crew to take dirty dishes to pantry and to put all laundry in proper receptacles_ He reminded crew of importance of donating to SPAD. Educational director reiterated TRB deadline. Crew informed of receipt of new movies. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to review changing seatime needed in order to retire. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Crew thanked QMED Coy Harrington for fixing 04 water fountain. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (May 31)-Chairman Raymond Yager, Secretary William Burdette, Deck Delegate Joseph DeJesus. Crew informed of international phone installed in port of Kobe. Chairman expressed his thanks to crew for last voyage. He also thanked pay person Judie Navaratte for her good work and wished her well in retirement. Educational director urged crew to support SPAD. He also reminded them of importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer informed crew of effort being made toward developing a ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Sulphur Carriers) May 24Chairman Marvin Zimbro, Secretary N. Tran, Deck Delegate Efstratios Zoubantis, Engine Delegate Sean Walker, Steward Delegate Rice Pham. Chairman spoke abmit importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. He also reminded crew to wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants when on dock. Steward department given vote of thanks for job well done. Payoff due at end of month. SEA·LAND INTEGRITY (SeaLand Services) May 24-Chairman Domingo Leon, Secretary Franklyn Cordero, Deck Delegate Syed A. Mehdi, Engine Delegate Rich:1rd Daisley, Steward Delegate Thomas W. Milovich. Vote of thanks extended to steward department from entire crew for job well done. All hands reminded to attend classes in Piney Point for job security and advancement in industry. Secretary announced 15-day dry dock in Hamburg, Germany to clean oil room beginning June 11. He also reminded crew to stay abreast of maritime events by reading Seafarers LOG. Educational director USNS SHUGHART (Bay Ship Management) May 24-Chairman Fritz McDuffie, Secretary Toyo Gonzales, Educational Director Richard Larsen, Treasurer George Macaluso, Engine Delegate Richard Sanford, Steward Delegate Mohamed Muthanna. Reply from headquarters received regarding benefit plan eligibility requirements. Secretary reported all replies from SIU are filed and all union members can look at them. Educational director reminded crew of opportunities available in Piney Point. Crew informed that anthrax shots are required on MSC vessels in Arabian Gulf. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great job and to Chief Electrician Richard Larsen for keeping galley equipment working. Next port: Dubai, UAE. Seafarers LOG 19 �'Sailing Gave Me a Good Life' Bosun Trikoglou Caps 35-Year Career With SIU After 35 years and countless miles at sea, the sailing career of Antonios (Tony) Trikoglou finally came full circle. The recertified bosun in late June celebrated his retirement with a shipboard commemoration in Baltimore, the same port in which he joined the SIU in 1963. Crewmembers from the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships Cape Washington and Cape Wrath threw the party for Trikog1ou, 65, and his wife, Carole. "I love what I was doing all Fellow Seafarers and officers present a watch to Recertified Bosun Tony those years," said Trikog1ou, who Trikoglou during a recent celebration aboard the Cape Washington in emigrated from Greece in 1962. Baltimore. To the bosun's right is his wife, Carole. "Sailing gave me a good life, let me raise a family and put my kids through college. I'm very satisfied." Trikoglou first sailed as a pantryman aboard the Bull Line ship Kent, but spent the rest of his voyages in the deck department, finishing as part of the reduced operating status (ROS) crew of the Cape Washington. Throughout his career, he sailed anywhere from 240 to 300 days per year, to destinations literally around the world. What's next for the bosun, who plans to stay in Baltimore? "Official baby-sitter," he joked, noting that he and Carole 1ook forward to spending time with their grandchildren. During a recent visit to SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md., Trikoglou offered a word of advice to younger Seafarers: "Try to educate yourself as much as you can, because that will help you better your position." He also expressed surprise and gratitude for the gathering aboard the Cape Washington, organized by Chief Mate Tom Stagg. "I never expected anything like that, but I say a big thanks to everyone," he declared. "Both the unlicensed and the licensed crews were so thoughtful." Oh RohuT "-'&&' .&1UU J • Stork Keeps Holding Pattern Until Seafarer Arrives Home for Birth The birth of a child is always an exciting event-but there is exciting and then there is incredible. Take. for example. the birth of Jacob Lee Stein- berg.... In photo above, Chief Mates Tom Stagg (left) and Frank Porcellini, plus QMED Carolyn Thifault and Electrician Peter Stein (foreground, right), congratulate the bosun on his retirement. In photo at right, QMED Bob Mulvaney (left) and others enjoy the feast aboard the Cape Washington, which included steak and lobster. David Stein• berg, 27, was sail- - ing as an AB aboard the Global Mariner on a cable laying operation from Bremerhaven Germany to the Shetland Islands. He had called his wife. Jennifer. in St. Louis to let her know he would be getting off the ship in Aberdeen, Scotland on June 29 and would be arriving in At hOme With the Steinbergs: Clockwise from top St. Louis at 6:30 left are Jennifer holding Jacob (2 weeks), David with Alexander (18 months), Zachary (7 years) that same evening. and Erie (9 years}. Jennifer, who wa& expecting the ning low on fuel and was being couple'~ fourth child and already diverted to Nashville. was two days overdue at this At this point, Jennifer burst point, started having contractions into tears while at the same time before leaving for the airport, but doubling over with pain from her she was certain she had enough contractions. And then she went time to quickly pick up her husinto labor. A gentleman who had band and then drive directly to been sitting next to her in the the hospi~I, if need be. waiting area and who was waitWith her three boys (ages 9, 7 ing to depart on the delayed and 18 months) in tow, she was, plane suggested that someone get needless to say. running a little her immediate attention. late, but managed to park the van Paramedics were called and and reach the passenger arrival she was taken by ambulance to a area by 6:30. Then an announce· hospital; the three children folment was made that the Air lowing behind in a police car. Canada plane was delayed from At the hospital, the contracToronto, where· it had stopped, tions were only five minutes and would be arriving at 7:30. apart. She waited for her mother, The next Announcement said the father and sister to arrive and plane was circling the St. Louis then was told that she had airpon due to bad weather and enough time to be transferred to would land at 8:10. the hospital of her choice. (Her At 8:15, Jennifer, by now havsister then took the three boys ing more rapid contractions, went home with her.) to the ticketing desk. explained Jennifer's mother kept in conthe situation and said she needed stant contact with Air Canada. information on the plane. The keeping them infonned of her customer service agent ca11ed the daughter's whereabouts. The latoperations personnel and was Continued on page 21 informed that the plane was run- 20 Seafarers LOii Remembering irginia's Mariners Members of the Hampton Roads (Va.) Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans, which includes a number of retired Seafarers, participated in Maritime Memorial Day ceremonies May 22 at the Newport News Victory Arch (photo above), where they honored the memory of local mariners who gave their lives in World War II. In photo at right, Billie Leggett (left), executive officer of the chapter, and another member of the chapter, post a banner list· ing the names of area merchant mariners who perished during the war. Among the names is that of Milford Allen Cross, an SIU member who died aboard the SS Massmar. The Hampton Roads Chapter invites active and retired merchant mariners to attend their meetings, which alternately are conducted in Newport News and Norfolk. Upcoming meeting dates include Saturday, September 27 at 1O a.m. at the SIU hall in Nortolk. Call (757) 247-1656 for more information. August 1998 �Stork Delays Baby for Father's Arrival Continued from page 20 est information she received was that the plane would land in St. Louis at 12:30 a.m. (June 30). Meanwhile, David, not knowing what was going on, was sitting on a plane in Nashville for fiveand-a-half hours. The passengers had not been allowed to deplane because of customs regulations. When his flight finally arrived in St. Louis, he was mobbed by Air Canada people who told him about his wife being taken to the hospital. They gave him the keys to the van that Jennifer had left with them. He called the hospital, thinking he had missed the birth, but was told that Jennifer was still hanging on and to get there as quickly as possible. First he had to claim his luggage and get to the van. But even these ordinary events turned into the extraordinary. As it so happened, his luggage never arrived; it was still in London. This fact necessitated the filling out of several formsmore time lost. Next, he made it to the van in the parking lot, only to find a homeless man sound asleep in the back hed. (Jennifer had been in such a rush that she had inadvertently left the vehicle unlocked.) emove Securiiy was call the trespass e next hurdle was avid didn't have the ' e-:ttamped ticket to get out of the parking lot. Without knowing when the van had arrived, the gate collector wanted to charge him an enormous amount. Security was again called to explain the situation and then came into play yet one more time when David found he didn't have any American money on him, only British pounds. After the security man changed enough money for him to leave, he headed directly to the hospital, arriving there at 2:30 a.m.-plenty of time, it turned out, since baby Jacob Lee did not decide to poke his head into the world until 9:27 a.m. And this was the series of events that led to David Steinberg being in the delivery room for the birth of his fourth son and being present to cut the umbilical cord. Baby Jacob Lee weighed in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces. "It [the series of circumstances] was absolutely incredible," David told a reporter from the Seafarers LOG. "But I'd do it all over again if it got me here in time to see the birth of my son." Local television crews quickly picked up on the unfolding events and came to the hospital to interview the family. Meanwhile, none of this would have happened, noted David, if Jennifer had taken St. Louis Port Agent Becky Sleeper up on her offer to have Jennifer stay at her house while she picked David up at the airport. But what kind of a story would chat have made? David Steinberg, who has been with the SIU for more than 18 months, plans to relurn to the Global Mariner-the next trip, probably, without so much fanfo.rc. LOG·A·RHY1HM . W,. ~' (i ¥tf • • • • .,, , .. '. ,,. ,,. ,,. ,,. ,.. . •w '. LOSTLOVU THE SEA. I HAD CHOSU, TO 8£ FM AWA:'/ ~ tJ FROM MY LO'\f£D ONKS A.THOM£, WHOM I MlSS£D EY£.itYDA.YM61 ~ HAV'E I CHOSU THIS KIND OF UR "f' W'HKN MY HEART IS ACIWf6 TQ H WITH Ki Win. llY WlR , llY CHILnlt£N • 6RANOOHILDREN AND ALL wBOS£ v'OICKS I llUllt ONLYYl.H.t:N I CALL I HAD A. PHOJll! CA.LL THE OTH£1t DAY MY GRANDSON HAD JUST, PA.SSW AWAi • If •• '""· Wlij • ll "•.' .@fl A. Hl!MtT IS BROKEN • W'ITH TEARS ALL AFLOW NO Mott£ Will I S1!£ THAT RA.l)IANT GLOW 1 llUD TO Bg BQllg, Wml Id FAMILY AftOUND - • FlRML'i K££PIN6 MY F££T OH TH£ 6ROUND "" I NERD TO S1!£ In' 6RANDClllLDR£N AT PLA'i BUT TH£ OHR I WlLLMISS, HAS 60.NE AWAi ' lliM .NO MOU HUU It.ND KISSES I W'ILL I 8£ ABLE TO 61\'E TO TH£ ONE THAT WAS D£NHID TH£ IU6HT TO LI\'£ ~' THE sEA I HAD LOYED, AND LOST IN A DA'i >HAS BROU6HT M£ BACK HOM£ , WHERE I .NEED TO STA.'i :.. · " TO M'i &RANDSO.N , AUSTIN , 1 LO\l'E 'iou so DEAR 'iOU MA'i HAVE GONE I BUT'iOU'LL ALWA'iS BE. NUtlt ·~-~ ,..,....~ tt:.rc I f!'W •! .. _;1' BY: TllRODORE L DOI ,..~ile-~recently 1j sailing Ii·lj •••••••• ·~ •i ~· aboard the Sea-Land Pacific, AB Teddy Doi received a call from his wife informing him that his infant grandson had been murdered. His ship was ready for the return trip, so he sailed hofflf! to be with his family on Oahu. He said Bosun Lothar Reck and the rest of the crew were very supportive in helping him ge11hrough this tough time-a real tribute to the Brotherhood of the Sea. Doi penned this poem in memory of his young grandson. The LOG has reprinted it just as it was received. August 1998 who helped facilitate the partnership with the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form the AFL-CIO, was born in 1894. A plumber by trade, he became the first AFL-CIO president. August Barbers of Battle Creek, Mich. organized aunion, elected of22 ficers, and appointed trustees in 1890. In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) strike againstthe Federal Aviation Administration began. President Reagan fired the workers three days later. 3 In 1890, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, afounding member of the Indus7 trial Workers of the World, was born. George Meany, the American 16 Federation of Labor president In 1827, the Mechanics Ga24 zette. the first U.S. labor paper, was published in Philadelphia. A small group of black em25 ployees of the Pullman Co. established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in New York City in 1925. A. Philip Randolph was invited to address the group, and became its first organizer. Women's Equality Day. AnMassachusetts labor activists 23 26 and anarchists Nicola Sacco niversary of certification as and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were expart of U.S. Constitution, in 1920, of ecuted in 1927. They were arrested in 1920 on charges of murdering a shoe factory paymaster and convicted on circumstantial evidence. Sacco wrote, "It is true, indeed, that they can execute the body, but they cannot execute the idea which is bound to live." the 19th Amendment, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex with regard to voting. In 1963, Martin Luther King, 28 Jr. made his famous "I have adream ... " speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 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 e e rus es in charge o ds s a e a 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 headquaners 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 che Seafarers Appeals Board by cenitied 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 weJJ as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (ITT) 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. 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 OBLIGA· TIONS. 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 cons 1 utional 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 DONA· TION - 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. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained NOTIFYING THE UNION-If at any time a memfrom publishing any article serving the political pur- ber feels that any of the above rights have been violatposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. ed, or that he or she has been denied the constitutional It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed right of access to union records or information, the hannful to the union or its collective membership. This · member should immediately notify SIU President established policy has been reaffinned by membership Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return action at the September 1960 meetings in all constitu- receipt requested. The address is: tional ports. The responsibility for Seafarers LOG polMichael Sacco, President icy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the executive board of the union. The executive board may Seafarers International Union delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry 5201 Auth Way out this responsibility. Camp Springs, MD 20746. Seafarers LOG 21 �Lundeberg School Graduating Classes Trainee Lifeboat Class 577-Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 577 are (from left, kneeling) Ben Cusic (instructor), Noel Corrales, Carlos A. Ortiz, Rachel A. Sanner, Lisa M. Ruiz, Charles J. Kellner, (second row) Kanin Bennett, Richard Jones, Jomo Young, Michael Snow, Yazid Muhammad, Jean C. Horne, Christopher Johnson, Levy Calzado and Richard Pepper. Firefighting - Maritrans-Attending a special firefighting class for Seafarers aboard Maritrans vessels are (from l@ft, kn@eling) William Perry. Bob Ensminger, William Marsnall Jr., William Horn@r Jr., (second row) Anthony Hammett (in~tructor), Ken Brady, Jack Maaskant, Rimuydas Ourbonas, Gary Waters, Mitchell Roberts and Paul J, Brown Jr. Advanced Firefighting-Part of the LNG familiarization program is made up of two weeks of firefighting. Upgrading graduates of the July 4 advanced firefighting class are (from left, seated) Abdulrahman Monaser, Roy Jerue, Richard J. Higgins, Russell Levin (instructor), (second row) Joseph Riccio, Christopher Coston, LBJ Tanoa, Thomas Bullen, John Vegh Ill, Allan McCoy and John M. Walsh. Advanced Firefighting-Completing the advanced firefighting class on July 1O are (from left. kneeling) Robert ThompMn. Denyse Sineath, Steve Bentley, Sean O'Doherty. Hugh McDowell, (second row) Rick Redmond (instructor). James Keith Jr., Lonnie Carter, Jessie Ulibas, Evaristo Ginez, Gal)' Dates and Stormie Combs (instructor). Basic Firefighting-SIU members completing the basic firefighting course on June 12 ar@ (from left. front row, kneeling) James Davis Jr., Antonio M. Gutierrez, Ahmed Alaidaroos, Edward Tomas. Muharam Husin, Brent Johnson, (second row) Chris Schleis, Edward E. Jaynes, Raymond Oglesby. Edward S. O'Reilly, Ronnie Hamilton, Stormie Combs (instructor), (third row) James C. Baker, Gregory Sampson, Phillip King and Kenneth Grose. Able Seaman-Seafarers graduating from the able seaman class on June 1 are (from left, kneeling) Jaime E. Baretty, Ahmed Alaidaroos, Holly Beth Scheper, David O'Brien, Edward Tomas, Tom Gilliland (instructor), Muharam Husin, (second row) Antonio M. Gutierrez, James Davis Jr., Chris Schleis, Raymond Oglesby, Kenneth Grose, Edward E. Jaynes, Ronnie Hamilton, (third row) Mark Witas, Gregory Sampson, Edward O'Reilly, Phillip King and James C. Baker. Graduating from 1 department course on July 10 are (from left, first ro ona Gayton, Robert Brown, Matthew Ditullio, Donald kins, Richard Presson. (second row) Jose Vazquez, Jorge Bonelli. James Demouy, Urse! Barber and Mark Jones (instructor). Tanker Assistant DL-Receiving their tanker assistant DL endorsements on July 10 are (from left, kneeling) Jim Shaffer (instructor), Philip Mannino, Thomas Tobin, Steve Rollins, Brent Johnson. Willie Franks, Russell R. Shaw Jr., (second row) Fred ,Cintorino, Patrick Maldonado, Christian Andrews, Lawrence R. Sherinski, Brad A. Mohica, Raynd M. Lopez, James Parchmont, Nathan Rippey, Daryl Stewart, Damon Anderson, (third row) James Wilson, George Lockett, Isadore Greenberg, Angel Figueroa and Eden Latta. Tanker Assistant DL-Marking their graduation from the tanker assistant DL course on Jun@ 13 are (from left. kneeling) Jim Shaffer (instructor), Eduardo Morre, Paul Wade, William Maggio ti, Carmus Peet, (second row) Hector Morales, Philemon Quitoriano, William Barrett, Rohmy Butler, Larry Rich, James Hazelip, Michael Bowers, Jesse Cornelison, Jim C. Liu. Al Greene, (third row) Sven Eric Bigg, Russell S. Horton, Robert Alexander, Thomas Bullen, Patrick McCarthy. Rimuydas Ourbonas, Linton Reynolds, Ohati Baugh, (fourth row) William Krostek, Stephen Blanchard and LBJ Tanoa. 22 Seaf;lrers LOG Government Vessels-Receiving their endorsements from course in June are (from left, first row) Rohmy Butler, Davon Rodney Passapera, William Krostek, Sven Eric Bigg, (second Ahsan, Carmus Peet, Ludivico Castillo, Al Greene, (third row) Michael Davidson, Russell S. Horton and Candido Molina. the government vessels Brown, Hector Morales, row) Larry Rich, Daniel Mark Cates (instructor), August 1998 �LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1998 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Safety Specialty Courses Start The following is the scheduleJor classes bt!ginning in September, October and November at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at .:~h~ Paul .I.:I~~~ (;~at~rfor:, Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. A'Up.rograms'are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the Aril~~-ican maritime industry. P1ease 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 th~ mom- " ing Course Date Date of Completion Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant (DL) September 14 October 12 November9 October 3 October 31 November 28 LNG Familiarization (includes 2 weeks ofFirefighting) October 12 October 30 Basic Firefighting September 7 September 21 Octobers November 2 November 16 November 30 ·,;-·· September 12 September 26 October 10 November7 October 12 October 19 November2 October 24 October 31 November 14 September 7 October 5 September 25 October 22 November 2 NQvember 30zz December 18 of the start dates. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the :. '·t,Urid~be~.· ·§~h:?-9..l::''. ro;,t;y .P~U the admissions office at (301) 994:,.0010. ,· Advanced Firerighting November21 December 5 or Date Completion October30 December 11 September 21 November 16 November20 · October 2 September 28 !)ctobf!t26 :_:,; ~: :~i_. . September 19 Odober 17 Recertification Programs Date of Completion . . . :...... : . Iri. ~ddltton: · basic.:~ocatlbiafsupportprogram courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. UPGRADING APPLICATION 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 . 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 recei>'ed. COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D If the following BEGIN DATE END DATE Date of Birth - - - - - - - - - Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D {nformation 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_Citi zen: Yes D No 0 Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ LAST V E S S E L : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? 0 Yes D No Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - - Date Off: If yes, class# - - - - -- - -- - - -- -- - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? D Yes D No If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes D No Firefighting: Primary language spoken August 1998 D Yes D No CPR: SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ DATE 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, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 8198 Seafarers LOB 23 - �Attention Seafarers For your future and job security, remember to donate to SPAD W hen passengers take a vacation aboard the stately paddlewheel steamboat American Queen, they are treated to attractive surroundings, delicious meals and polished entertainment, not to mention recreational activities ashore when the SIU-crewed vessel docks at various towns along America's major eastern rivers. A less obvious, but never· theless vital part of any trip aboard the American Queen is continually safe operation. Striving to maintain that ideal, dozens of Seafarers recently completed on-site practical safety training aboard the three•ycar•old pllssenger boat. conducted by an instructor from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Included in the curriculum were damage control, chemical ~afrty1 certain aspects of firefighting, and airway obstruction. Appro;\imately 75 SIU members signed up for the training during an eightday period in late May, while the boat sailed from New Orleans to Memphis, Tenn. This marked the continuation of a long tradition of shipboard safety training provided by the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship to SIU members sailing aboard the American Queen and her sister ships, the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. "It went really well," said Anthony Hammett, the instructor who taught the latest round of classes. "The attitudes of the crew members were excellent." Hammett directed the training at all hours. primarily while the 436-foot American Queen was under way but also occasionally during stops, in order to accommodate the various schedules of the crew members. For instance. damage control instru~tion for deckhands took place at 7 a.m. and at 7 p.m. "Thafs one advantage of training aboard the boat We can work around people's shifts," Hammett observed. "It also helps them to practice in familiar surroundings, using equipment they 1 ve seen before." A spokesperson for The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., which owns and operates the three-year-old American Queen, expressed satisfaction that the classes were well-run and very worthwhile. The damage control training allowed deckhands the opportunity to examine and practice methods of preserving a boat's watertight integrity so that it can reach shore in the event of a collision or other damage-causing incident During limited firefighting training, SIU members learned proper techniques for advancing hose lines and correct utilization of the nozzle in attacking a fire. They also received hands-on training in the use of portable fire extinguishers. Members of the dining room staff particularly were interested in the segment of the curriculum that focused on recognizing a choking victim and taking appropriate steps to preserve his or her life. Also covered was the crew·s legal right to certain information in a situation involving hazardous materials. While th@ American Oue~n was docked in Natchez, Miss. on a recent trip, SIU members had an opportunity to practice using a 2 fire extinguisher. Clockwise, from the top left, are Mike Johnson, Sonia Simona, Sarah A. Smith, Tara Bell. Carey A. Patton ·and Dave Hardesty. co On a recent safety training exercise aboard the American Queen, hose and nozzle practice was provided for the SIU members. Clockwise, from top right, are Damian Jackson on the nozzle, backed up by a fellow porter: the husbandand-wife team of John and Paula McGlumphy; and George Washington and Sharon Logiudice. � 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 August 1998 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MARAD RESCINDS RRF AWARDS SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES HART AS MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR WWII VERTERANS’ STATUS CENTER UNVEILS FIRE FIGHTING SCHOOL BOARD TACKLES TRAINING REGS SENATOR OFFERS LEGISLATION TO REBUILD U.S. CRUISE FLEET SIU MEMBERS CREW USNS WATSON RO/RO JOINS MSC’S PREPOSITIONING FORCE PATHFINDER IS LATEST ADDITION TO SIU-CREWED LAKES FLEET SEATU DELEGATES URGE INCREASED ORGANIZING, EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL EFFORTS NEW PRESCRIPTION PLAN SCORES WITH PENSIONERS CONGRESS URGES CLOSER WORK WITH U.S. DELEGATION TO IMO PERSIAN GULF ‘DANGER PAY’ APPLIES TO 4 SIU COMPANIES TRANSPORT WORKERS END PHILADELPHIA STRIKE STEELWORKERS FILE LAWSUIT TO DECIDE LEGALITY OF NAFTA LIFELONG U.S.-FLAG SUPPORTER, HERB BRAND, PASSES AWAY AT 84 CRESCENT IS 1ST TO OBTAIN USCG COMPLIANCE OVERSEAS VESSELS RECEIVED HQ UPDATE NEW ROUTE BRINGS S-L EXPRESS TO SAN JUAN PERSERVERANCE LOADS UP IN YABUCOA MCCARTNEY, SIU WERE GOOD FIT FROM START MODERN SHIPHANDLING- PART I: HENRY GAMP TALKS ABOUT CURRENT TRENDS IN TUG DESIGN JOSEPH SACCO FIRE FIGHTING AND SAFETY SCHOOL MARKS VITAL ADDITION FOR SIU, PAUL HALL CENTER LIGHTHOUSES: ANGELS OF THE SEA BOSUN TRIKOGLOU CAPS 35-YEAR CAREER WITH SIU STORK KEEPS HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL SEAFARER ARRIVES HOME FOR BIRTH AMERICAN QUEEN CREW COMPLETES ON-SIT TRAINING 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 08/01/1998 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. 8 1998 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/9d294257f9d880abeca20e5478720062.pdf f7b4d3f4c935769b9e7fb89dc9cd5d15 PDF Text Text r-----~---------.------- - Seafarers Deliver Balkan Relief Goods Mission Provides Military Support For United States Troops in Kosovo The SIU-crewed USNS Bob Hope (right) last month completed an important U.S. military support mission in the Balkans. Bosun T. C. Oneyear (left) is among the Seafarers who crewed the roll-on/roll-off vessel during the operation. Page 3. Maersk Buys Sea-Land's International Liner Fleet _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ l'age3 'Safety First' Aboard Integrity · Chief Cook Hazel Johnson (left) and AB Duane Brosius head for the tanker Integrity while the vessel is docked in Philadelphia. Brosius last month earned a safety award from the vessel's operator, Maritrans, for his shipboard actions. He says that safety "is a constant topic" aboard the tanker. Page 6. s1u Nets Big Gains In T-AGOS Contract - - - - - - - - - l'age3 ~---------------t Buildings Named After Tom Fay, Bull Shepard - - - - - - - l'ages 3, 12-13 'Relaxed Assessment' Enters Home Stretch - - - - - - - - - l'age4 Paul Hall Center Adds Certifications - - - - - - - - - l'age6 �· Sen. Robb: Strong Merchant Marine Is 'Critical to This Nation's Defense' President's Report Preparing Our Ports for the Next Century This month, I want to talk with you about something that indirectly is related to the membership, but is very critical to this country's place in the worldwide movement of cargo. I am referring to America's port facilities and the transportation systems that serve them. As the method for handling international commerce changes to meet the needs of the next century, the United States must be in position to remain one of the world's biggest trading nations with the cargo coming in and out of our ports, and not at some neighboring country's facilities because of a lack of strategic planning. The time to plan and act is now, not a decade later when the next wave of vessels-megaships Michael Sacco capable of carrying two to three times as many containers as today's vessels hold--can't sail into American ports becau e they weren't prepared to handle them. We need to make sure the nation's ports can receive these new vessels and will have the facilities to handle the cargo they are delivering. We must know what has to be done to ensure America's infrastructure is ready to meet the challenges. We must have a plan to implement them. We have to consider all alternatives to move these good domestically. America may not be able to simply expand its present system of land-based transportation. We should study the efficiencies of waterborne transportation providing shuttle service along the coasts. Such a program could reduce the amount of traffic on already clogged interstate highways while relieving the stress being felt by the railroads which are operating at capacity. . In his effort to prepare America for the next century, Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater has called on the domestic rail, truck and maritime industries to help find solutions to ensure the companies sailing the megaships don't take their jobs to Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas because our ports couldn't take on the added responsibilities. America's port facilities cannot be ignored. They are too vital to the nation's economy. They directly or indirectly affect more than 13 million jobs and produce almost $200 billion annually in local, state and federal taxes. Efforts to upgrade some of our ports have been going on throughout this decade. But the progress has been slow becau e of all the red tape and hurdles along the way. A prime example is how long it took the port of New York/New Jersey to finally begin this year much-needed maintenance dredging of its channels so it could continue handling today's class of ships. Meetings among maritime industry, labor and government officials took place for years before an agreement was reached. If this example is followed for the commerce needs of the 21st century, we'll still be scheduling meetings while another country will have the new jobs and new revenue because its port was available for the new ships. I realize the solutions won't come overnight. We currently are faced with the dilemma of how to fund future domestic water projects, given the Supreme Court's ruling that outlawed the Harbor Maintenance Tax. The administration has proposed placing a tax on vessel operators to fund operations and maintenance and, for the first time, new construction. It took many years of negotiations before the Harbor Maintenance Tax was enacted in 1986. It's time for all parties to sit down and reach a consen us for the fairest way to fund future water projects. There are many beneficiaries to well-maintained harbors, ports and waterways. That is why one proposal already presented, which has received wide support in the industry including the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, calls for the restoration of funding these projects from the general treasury. It took five years of work in Congress to obtain the Maritime Security Program of 1996. And that happened because all the parties concerned spoke with one voice. It is going to take that kind of an effort within the domestic transportation industry to make sure America's ports will meet the challenges of the next century. America has never settled for second best. We have no intention of letting our ports slide into that position in the world market. , Volume 61, Number 8 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org August 1999 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. Periodical 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. Communication Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirt es; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor: Copyright© 1999 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee recently described the U.S. merchant marine as crucial to a strong national defense. Senator Charles Robb (D-Va.), speaking at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy commencement June 21 in Kings Point, N.Y., detailed why he believes the American-flag fleet remains as important today as at any other time in history. Robb, whose uncle sailed as a merchant mariner during World War II, praised the consistently faithful service of the "fourth arm of defense." "The revitalization and future growth of the United States maritime industry is critical to this nation's defense," he said. "History has repeatedly provenand Congress has affirmed-that the United States needs a strong, active, competitive and militarily useful United States-flag commerciaJ maritime industry. "We have an obligation to ensure that we continue to have the militarily useful commercial vessels and trained and loyal United States citizen crews we need to support our interests around the world. And we must support those programs and policies that will better enable our maritime industry to flourish in peacetime." The senator drew a parallel between recent events in the Balkans and World War II. "Who could have imagined half a century ago that the same kind of ethnic and religious bigotry and violence that spawned World War II would suddenly recur as we prepare for the new millennium, and that, once again, American resolve and intervention would make the difference in bringing a terrible conflict to a conclusion we hope will prove ju t and honorable?" he observed. "Some 55 years may have passed, and cruise missiles and stealth aircraft may have largely replaced howitzers and grenades, but we can all be grateful for one constant in our defense posture- Sen. Charles Robb (D-Va.) offered strong praise for the U.S. merchant marine, citing its history of loyal service and the ongoing need for a viable American-flag fleet. the critical importance and enduring relevance of our merchant marine in war and peacetime crises .... "The most difficult and crucial victory in America's history simply would not have happened without the fourth arm of defense that moved food and supplies from America to Europe and beyond," continued Robb, a former Marine officer who served in Vietnam. "And today we draw inspiration from the fact that the United States and its allies have accomplished something of lasting importance in Kosovo, and that these kinds of successful operations aren't possible without the dedicated merchant mariners who carry material and provide fast sealift support to the men and women of our armed force ." He also credited U.S. mariners for their "valor in Korea, in Vietnam, and in the Persian Gulf, as well as in humanitarian missions to Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia and, now, Kosovo." Robb further noted that the U.S. depends on ealift to move 95 percent of its materiel "in response to events in distant regions of the world where we may have no permanent presence and where infrastructure is limited. The [men and women] of the merchant marine are truly the workhorses of our routine peacetime deployment efforts, and the guarantors of our strategic military readiness in time of crisis, conflict and war-in short, an irreplaceable national asset. "I do not see this changing in any way in the foreseeable future. Today, as throughout our history, we are faced with significant threats to freedom on the seas. These threats come mainly from the influence of rogue states on sea lanes and choke points like the Straits of Hormuz, which can and do threaten our naval forces with relatively cheap sea mines and conventional submarines. In order to counter these threats, we have to retain the strategic capability to reconstitute our forces, to replace munitions and equipment used in combat and to supply the fuel, weapons, and other critical resources we need to sustain our armed forces in conflict." As proof that Congress recognizes "the importance of our strategic lift forces to meet the needs of our national military strategy," the senator pointed to the ongoing construction of the Bob Hope- and Watson-class prepositioning ships along with the conversion of existing vessels to roll-on/roll-off sealift ships. He also cited strong federal support for the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement program (VISA), which helps ensure contingency access to sealift capacity from the civil sector. "A well-trained strategic sealift and Ready Reserve Force, the prepositioning of equipment, the right mix of ships and aircraft, a strong partnership with the commercial transportation industryall of these are critical to support the war fighter and to get the job done," he said. "There may be no more vivid demonstration of this capability than in the Persian Gulf War, when the merchant marine ensured that we were able to project power quickly and effectively in order to defeat Saddam Hussein." Alleged Sex Assaults Disclosed by Carnival Runaway-Flag Cruise Line Reports 62 Incidents Since 1993 A lawsuit against Carnival Cruise lines by a former employee generated front-page headlines last month when the company reported in court papers that its crew members have been accused of sexually assaulting passengers and fellow workers aboard Carnival vessels 62 times from 1993-98. The unidentified former crew member who filed the suit in Miami said she was raped and assaulted by an officer aboard the ship Imagination last year. According to press reports, the company argues that the episode between the woman and the engineer was consensual, while she insists otherwise. More startling than that individual case was the unprecedented acknowledgment by Carnival that alleged sexual assaults took place on its ships averaging one per month during that five-year stretch. This is believed to be the first public divulgence by a cruise line regarding such activities aboard its vessels, according to press reports. Miami-based Carnival registers its ships under foreign flags, thereby largely avoiding U.S. tax, environmental and criminal laws. As noted in an article in the July 14 edition of The New York Times written by Douglas Frantz, runaway-flag cruise ship do not have to report crimes to U.S. authorities if they take place in international waters. This is true even though most of Carnival's passengers are U.S. citizens. The Times piece also reports that Carnival "investigated the 62 incidents but did not disclose the results or say whether any arrests were made. The figures did not include accusations involving only passengers." The article also states that in the past, some alleged victims of sexual crimes aboard Carnival vessels and other runaway-flag cruise ships complained they "were discouraged from reporting crimes to the FBI or other law-enforcement agencies." Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said he was "shocked as to why the evidence took so long to emerge." Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on Monday, September 6, 1999 (unless an emergency arises) for the observance of Labor Day. Normal business hours will resume the following workday. August 1999 �Seal arers' Wages, Benefits Increase Under New Five-Year T-AGOS Pact Seafarers working aboard the eight T-AGOS vessels operated by Dyn Marine will enjoy a substantial increase in wages and other benefits over the next five years after the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) awarded a new contract to the Virginia-based company. Besides setting out a pay increase for each of the pact's five years, the contract also provides for the first time such benefits as vacation pay and inclusion in the Seafarers Welfare Plan, Seafarers Pension Plan and Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez noted the agreement with Dyn Marine is a major boost for the members who sail aboard the T-AGOS vessels. "Seafarers will be very pleased with this new agreement," Tellez said. Tellez explained how the SIU worked with Dyn Marine and all other SIU-contracted firms since the last bid was awarded. "We worked hard with our companies to make sure they remained competitive in the bid process, but not at the expense of the Seafarers who have been doing a great job crewing the vessels. "MSC awarded the T-AGOS contract five years ago to Dyn Marine, which at the time was a non-union company, so the wages and benefits were set until the next bid went out. "The SIU went in and organized Dyn Marine in midstream, so we pretty much had to accept what already was in place. However, what we were able to negotiate was an agreement with Dyn Marine that it would bid the SIU package in any future requests for proposals. "Thus, when the new bid went out, Dyn Marine included in its proposal the benefits found in the agreements with other SIU-contracted companies. They became a full participant in the union's package and they still won the bid," he added. "The union's pledge has been consistent-when an SIU-contracted company wins an MSC bid, we will work to improve the package for the members. With this award to Dyn Marine, have shown once again that the system works," stated the contracts vice president. T-AGOS vessels are civiliancrewed deep sea research ships operated for MSC. The ships covered under the new pact are the USNS Bowditch, USNS McDonnell, USNS Kane, USNS Little Hales, USNS Pathfinder, Roy Wheat, USNS Silas Bent and USNS Vindicator. Among the SIU-crewed ships covered by the new T-AGOS agreement are the USNS Kane (above) and USNS Silas Bent (at left). Remembering Tom Fay and 'Bull' Shepard SIU-Crewed USNS Bob Hope Completes Balkan Operation The SIU-crewed prepositioning ship USNS Bob Hope last month completed a major mission in the Balkans, moving heavy combat equipment and supplies to assist United States peacekeeping forces. According to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the Bob Hope was diverted from scheduled cargo operations in Antwerp, Belgium and sent to Bremerhaven, Germany to move heavy combat equipment for the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division operating in the U.S. sector in Kosovo. The roll-on/roll-off vessel discharged in Thessoloniki, Greece "to land a major peacekeeping force to support NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo," stated Captain Harold Flaming Jr., the head of MSC Europe. Specifically, the materiel-including trucks, tanks, humvees and much more-supports the movement of 7,000 troops to Kosovo as part of Operation Joint Guardian. MSC reported that the Bob Hopes six-day voyage from Bremerhaven to Thessoloniki "was flawless, and cargo operations began almost immediately when the ship's stem ramp was lowered to the pier. Cargo operations were performed on a 24-hour The memories of late SIU officials Tom Fay and Earl "Bull" Shepard were honored July 15 at a dedication ceremony in Valley Lee, Md., on the grounds of the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. In this photo, Fay's widow, Doris, unveils a sign on the water-survival building, named in memory of Tom Fay. Moments later, AB Earl Shepard Jr. revealed the sign on the maze building, named after his father. See pages 12-13 for complete coverage. Crewed by Seafarers, the USNS Bob Hope recently engaged in what MSC described as a "flawless" U.S. military support mission in the Balkans. basis, in concert with the U.S. Army's Military Traffic Management Command that runs the port." The ship was built two years ago for U.S. military support missions. MSC took delivery last November. AB Brian Morris (left) and OMU John Flavin help keep the USNS Bob Hope running smoothly before the vessel embarks on its support mission. August 1999 Nlaersk Acquires Sea-Land's International Fleet The purchase of Sea-Land Service's international liner fleet by Maersk Line was announced as the Seafarers LOG went to press. Included in the transaction are 19 SIU-crewed vessels, which now will sail under the Maersk-SeaLand banner. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez directed the following message to the ship's chaim1en aboard Sea-Land Service vessels: "This morning, Maersk and Sea-Land issued a joint statement announcing that Maersk Line had purchased Sea-Land's international liner business, including vessels, containers and related container terminals. The new company will be known as Maersk-SeaLand. "The domestic Jones Act fleet is not included in this transaction. These vessels will remain under the banner of Sea-Land Service, Inc. "What this means for Seafarers aboard the affected ships simply is a new name will appear on their paychecks. Members should continue doing their jobs and performing their duties to the best of their abilities, as they always have. The standard freightship agreement continues to be in place. "More details will be provided as they become available." A press statement issued by Sea-Land and Maersk quoted CSX Corp. (which owns Sea-Land Service) Chairman and CEO John Snow, "Importantly, the transaction protects national security interests under the U.S. Maritime Security Program." The agreement will need U.S. government approval. As no problems are expected, that could come by year's end. Seafarers LOG 3 �Boatmen at lfaritrans, American Workboats Ratify New Contracts Bosun Teddy Bush Passes Away at 38 Matson Negotiations Conclude Wage increases and continuation of top-of-the-line medical benefits highlighted the contracts recently approved by SIU members at Maritrans, Inc. and American Workboats, respectively. Maritrans boatmen ratified a three-year agreement, while American Workboats employees okayed a six-year pact. Meanwhile, the SIU Pacific District unions in mid-June concluded negotiations with Matson Navigation Company and then submitted a proposed three-year contract for membership ratification. Results of that vote were unavailable as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press. At Maritrans, based in Philadelphia, approximately 170 Seafarers crew dozens of tugs and barges operating throughout the east and parts of the south. Serving on the negotiating com- mittee were AB/Tankerman Charles Bigham, Cook Sam Dixon, Tankerman Richard Forrest, DEU Greg Gibson and AB/Tankerman Thomas Wilburn, along with SIU Port Agent Joe Soresi and SIU Patrolman Joe Mieluchowski. In addition to maintaining benefits and securing a 12 percent wage increase throughout the contract's duration, the committee successfully turned back company proposals that would have increased members' travel expenses and weakened their job security. In southern California, 36 Seafarers at American Workboats operate tugs and water taxis, mostly in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area but also offshore. Captains James Kinsinger and Paul Jernstrom served on the bargaining committee with SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox. The Liberty is one of the SIUcrewed Maritrans tugs covered by a new three-year contract that calls for wage gains and maintains excellent health benefits. Members there identified job security as a key issue, which is why the union negotiated a sixyear pact. The agreement calls for wage increases totaling nine percent, maintains health benefits, and adds provisions intended to enhance job safety. The proposed Matson contract features increased wages and benefits. Recertified Bosun Theodore "Teddy" Bush, known to fellow SIU members as a well-respected and dedicated Seafarer, died June 30 aboard the Stonewall Jackson a a result of injuries sustained from an accident on the ship. He was 38 years old. The accident happened near the Suez Canal. Brother Bush, a New Orleans native, graduated from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship's entry-level training program in 1980. He frequently upgraded at the school, and those who knew him say he fully embraced the union's motto: "Brotherhood of the Sea." "There aren't enough words to fully express the SIU's deep sense of loss as a result of this heartbreaking tragedy," stated SIU President Michael Sacco. "I know Teddy had a very strong religious faith, and in that spirit I speak for the entire union when I say that our prayers and love go out to his family." AB Stanley Williams, a friend of Brother Bush's for 20 years and an occasional shipmate, described him as "very generous. Teddy was a lovable guy and he'd give you the shirt off his back. He looked out for the members of his crew. He was very well-liked by the unlicensed crews and respected by the officers." Williams recalled how Brother Bush helped him return to the industry during the 1980s, going out of his way to assist. Steve Judd, SIU port agent in New Orleans, remembered Brother Bush as "a good guy, very professional. He was a good father, a good family man and a good union guy. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who could say anything bad about him." Brother Bush's surviving family members include his wife and three sons, who range in age from 10-18. Steelworkers Hopeful of Resolution In Newport News Shipbuilding Strike As this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press, spokesmen for the United Steelworkers of America Local 8888 and Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding expressed newfound optimism that the long strike there may be nearing a positive conclusion. The union called off a massive demonstration scheduled for July 23 in Washington, D.C. and replaced it with a local bargaining session. The president of Local 8888, Arnold Outlaw, stated he "fully expects" an imminent contract agreement, which then will be presented to members for a vote. "Both sides need to make every effort to reach a fair and just contract as quickly as possible," he said. A spokesperson for the shipyard also noted that substantial progress has been made in recent negotiations. The strike began April 5, with the local's 9,200 hourly production and maintenance employees and the shipyard far apart on wages, pensions and medical benefits. Workers pointed to Newport News Shipbuilding's growing profits-and the union members' wage concessions in the previous contract-as firm proof that the shipyard's initiaJ offers on wages were unfair. The employees also described Newport News Shipbuilding as having "the worst pensions in the industry," and noted the company proposed to reduce employee medical coverage. Virtually no negotiations took place for two months after the initial talks stopped, until the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service last month spurred new bargaining. In mid-July, the union and the shipyard began nearly round-the-clock negotiations. Less than three months before the fatal accident, Recertified Bosun Teddy Bush (second from right) brought his family to the grand opening of the SIU hall in the New Orleans suburb of Harvey, La. Also pictured in this photo, originally published on the front page of the May edition of the Seafarers LOG, are his sons Isaac and Morocco (front); his wife, Kathy (far right); and (from left) SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, QMED Clarence Scott and SIU President Michael Sacco. Relaxed Assessment Enters Home Stretch the MERPAC meeting next month. MERPAC 'Performance Measures' Are Guides for STCW Compliance Why Relaxed Assessment? Because Chapter VI compliance is required for all deep sea mariners (unlicensed and licensed), shipboard assessment in 1997 was identified as a practical means of adherence. When Seafarers have until the end of the year to take advantage of the U.S. Coast Guard-authorized relaxed assessment period for meeting the requirements of STCW Chapter VI: Basic Safety Training. As reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG, this means SIU members may fulfill some of the Chapter VI requisites by demonstrating certain proficiencies listed in the chapter and then having a qualified assessor verify their performance. Such verification is valid for five years. Once the relaxed assessment period ends on December 31, the only other way to meet the Chapter VI requirements (the tables for which are found on pages 47-52 of the SIU's training record book) is by successfully completing Coast Guardapproved courses. Seafarers should be aware that such assessments must be 4 Seafarers LOB conducted according to standards for basic safety training established by the Coast Guard's Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). These guidelines are detailed in a booklet that has been made available to all SIU-contracted companies affected by the amended STCW convention. Breaks Down Tasks The MERPAC guidelines are intended to make it easier for shipboard assessors to verify a mariner's demonstrated basic safety competencies. There is consensus within the industry that some of the competencies listed in the amended STCW code are too broad for practical assessment. Therefore, MERPAC (which includes representatives from aJI segments of the U.S. fleet, and which is chaired by Paul Hall Center Vocational Education Director Bill Eglinton) broke down the com- petencies into smaller steps. MERPAC is developing similarly detailed assessment criteria for the other competencies in the amended convention. Drafts are scheduled to be submitted at TABLE A·Vlfl-1 Record or Assessment Speciricotinn nr minimum st•nd•rd or competence in Person•l Sul"l'ival Techniques I Soc. Sec. No. N•me c.1.... 1 Column 1 STCW Cnmrettnce Perform Hee Ohjectives P..r-1,... Slll•d1nb (Morlne<lnowlodg< or ICUon (Crttort. agolnwt which perfomt1nce lnehldlflgconuquencHof.-) Dote Of lemuaurod} Knnwproper method of jumping intn waler from a height Demonstnte jwnping into water from a height of not mono than I lifejoclcet using proper methods lo insure prevention of injury. Proper hand position Proper leg position me1er while wearing a Remove suit from beg Unroll ond open suit Check for opcralion of zipper. wbistlc. llld li&ht Don llrit u per manufac:turer's recommendations Fully zipped Face flap closed All stondardt must be met within in2minutes """'°' Forlifejlcll:ct One hand cow:ring mouth ond note Other hand ICIOSS chest lo secure jld<et lo pmoent riding up or coming off. Legs sttlight end tight together or mkles aosoed "-•'• lnitlab T I r AIHS&raenl O.monttr1tlon or OrallWrttte Eura Ocmonstrate proper donning of an immersion suit Remove suit from beg Unroll suit end open suit Check for proper operotion of zipper. whistle. IJld light Don suit per manufacturer's recommendations I c....... , Colu111•3 PerfnrmHtt Meatura ~ 0 0 0 0 0 _j_I_ D p 0 0 0 _,_,_ D Sample page from the MERPAC guidelines shows a breakdown of performance measures for personal survival techniques. an assessor signed off on that section of a training record book (or other appropriate document), the Coast Guard would accept it as meeting Chapter VI requirements. Partly because of unfounded concern regarding assessors' liability, the initial relaxed assessment period yielded low numbers of documentation. The Coast Guard subsequently agreed to reopen the period, and more and more mariners utilized it. Chapter VI requires documentation of training and assessment for personal survival techniques, fire fighting and fire prevention, elementary first aid and personal safety/social responsibility. All Seafarers who sailed prior to August 1, 1998 rnust have documented evidence of Chapter VI compliance by February 1, 2002. For those who began sailing after August 1, 1998, Chapter VI compliance was an immediate requirement. The Paul Hall Center's STCW basic safety courses specifically were designed to meet the Chapter VI requirements. August 1999 �Labor Hails Gov t Contracting Reforms 1 Proposal Would Ban Federal Pacts With Lawbreakers The Clinton administration, in a move praised by organized labor, last month issued proposed regulations to forbid awarding federal contracts to companies that break U.S. labor, tax, consumerprotection or environmental laws. The rules also close loopholes in the contractor reimbursement process that presently allow contractors to receive full compensa- tion for the costs of their antiunion campaigns. So gaping are the loopholes, in fact, that contractors can be reimbursed for defending legal actions brought against them by the federal govemment--even if the contractor loses the case. "These are sensible and important reforms," stated John Sweeney, president of the AFL- Alaska Tanker Signs Pact with Sealarers Seafarers sailing aboard tankers for the new Alaska Tanker Co. will be covered by the standard tanker agreement. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez noted the new company-which provides management services for U.S.-flag tankers owned by Overseas Shipholding Group and Keystone-signed the contract late last month. Tellez also pointed out the pay raise scheduled for July 1 as called for in the standard agreement would be retroactive to the day the first tanker came under Alaska Tanker's operations. Other provisions of the pact include the creation of a trained manpower pool, similar to the one used on the SIU-crewed fleet of LNG vessels. Seafarers, as well as members of the National Maritime Union, will take specific classes at the Paul Hall Center to upgrade their skills for work aboard the tankers. "Alaska Tanker wants to pro- vide first-class service with the best trained, safest mariners possible to crew these vessels," SIU President Michael Sacco stated. "That is nothing different than what we already do and will continue to do." Alaska Tanker marks the first time SIU and NMU members will be sailing aboard vessels operated by the same company. "This contract shows the joint cooperation between the two unions continues to work," Sacco added. "Our members already are studying together with great success at the Paul Hall Center. "However, the most important thing about the Alaska Tanker agreement is it will provide for more jobs and job security for the members of our unions for years to come." Alaska Tanker vessels will move Alaskan North Slope crude oil for BP. The formation of the company was announced in July 1998 issue of the Seafarers LOG. CIO, of which the SIU is an affiliate. "It is basic economic sense that the federal government should not do business and give taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that are chronic lawbreakers." The proposed rules were issued July 9. Comments will be accepted until November 8. Even before the regulations were published, business groups vowed to fight their implementation. According to news reports, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce even suggested that the rules primarily are intended to help labor unions. Nonsense, countered the AFLCIO. The national federation of trade unions described the proposed federal acquisition regulations as "basic common sense and American values." For example, the federation pointed to Avondale Industries as one example of why reform is needed. The viciously anti-union New Orleans shipyard has been hit with record fines for hundreds of safety violations, yet continues raking in billions of dollars in U.S. Navy contracts. Furthermore, government officials were embarrassed recently when Avondale billed the Navy $5.4 million to pay the shipyard's anti-union lawyers for their protracted efforts to undermine the outcome of a pro-union vote there six years ago. Incredibly, such reimbursements are allowable. However, the labor federation also pointed out that Avondale is just one of hundreds of federal contractors found guilty of violat- ing various laws. The proposed rules are not about unionization, but rather about simple fairness to law-abiding contractors and taxpayers, noted the AFL-CIO. A spokesperson for the White House Budget Office seemed to indirectly support that contention when she told The New York Times, "This rule says if you expect to do business with the government, then you had better follow the law. There is no reason for the American government to do business with companies that don't pay their taxes, don't respect our environmental laws and don't follow health and safety regulations." In other news reports, administration officials emphasized that the rules have been "carefully crafted" to ensure that an isolated incident or otherwise minimal mistakes will not bar a contractor from bidding for any of the more than $170 billion in contracts annually awarded by the federal government. Backing New York Workers Seafarers joined members of other unions during a late-June rally in Detroit-where New York Governor George Pataki was speaking to a business group. The unions protested proposed New York state budget cuts and the governor's delaying of contracts with public employee unions. Among the other unions participating in the June 23 rally outside Detroit's Cobo Center were the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Hundreds of people turned out for the event, including (left photo, from left) SIU Patrolman Todd Brdak and SIU Representative Don Thornton. A much larger demonstration took place earlier this summer in New York City, with an estimated 30,090 union members and their families jamming the streets around City Hall. SAO Report: Alaskan Oil Exports Increase U.S. Mariner Employment Royal Caribbean: More Guilty Pleas The General Accounting Office (GAO) last month released a report concerning the effects of exporting Alaskan North Slope oil, and its Runaway-Flag Cruise Line Admits Dumping findings support the SIU's position taken when the export ban was lifted in 1995. As forecast by the SIU and others in favor of exporting Alaskan Toxic Chemicals in #ew York, Miami, L.A. North Slope oil, the price of that crude has risen during the past four Slightly more than a year after first pleading guilty to routinely dumping hazardous chemicals at sea, the runaway-flag cruise line Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. entered a startling series of similar pleas July 21 in six Federal District Courts. Altogether, Royal Caribbean, the world's second-largest cruise ship operator, pied guilty to 21 counts of polluting and lying to authorities about it. The company also admitted that hazardous waste illegally had been stored on some of its vessels, which signi- fies additional transgressions. Among the specifics, Royal Caribbean, which agreed to pay a record $18 million fine: • dumped toxic solvents in New York Harbor; • dumped oil and other toxic chemicals in Miami, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Los Angeles and the Inside Passage in Alaska; • repeatedly misled the U.S. Coast Guard about its pollution activities; and • continued dumping hazardous materials within a month of its first guilty plea. New Bedford Remains a Top Fishing Port Fisheries Service [NMFS] in Gloucester, Mass. recognize that these species are being restored. As a result, Seafarers in New Bedford are clamoring for an increase in allowable fishing days. "The fish are back," said Francois. "Now we are asking the government for a good faith return for our lost time. If we could get more fishing days, it's possible we could pick up our number one ranking again." The NMFS periodically reviews its fishing regulations, but no changes in its groundfish policies are imminent. years. The result: more jobs for U.S. mariners because of increased demand for American-flag tankers, and increased state revenues for Alaska. "The review confirms what we projected back in 1995," stated Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a key supporter of permitting the exports. "Lifting the ban would increase domestic production, bring higher prices for crude oil, bring additional revenues for Alaska and more jobs to the U.S. maritime industry- all with no adverse impacts to the environment." While acknowledging that about 95 percent of Alaskan North Slope oil still is shipped to the U.S. West Coast, the GAO report also states that allowing exports has created as many as 115 jobs for mariners aboard U.S.-flag tankers. That is because U.S.-flag tankers replaced foreign-flag, foreign-crewed ships that previously had transported Alaskan oil to the Caribbean. Although not quite back to its 1980s dominance as the nation's leading seafood port, New Bedford, Mass., where the SIU represents some 350 fishermen, is the second-ranked port in landed value of fish, according to the most recent data available. Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska ranks first. According to SIU Port Agent Henri Francois, New Bedford has kept its status as a top port only because of the rebounding groundfish--cod, haddock and August 1999 flounder-on which union fishermen rely. "The [non-union] scallopers have been cut back in their fishing days," said Francois. "It is only because the dragger fleet is once again pulling in landings of 30,000 to 40,000 pounds per trip that New Bedford remained No. 2. We are finally getting results from our years of sacrifice." Draggers, or trawl vessels, have been restricted in the number of days they could fish since 1992 when federal rules were implemented to help restore groundfish stocks. Currently the scallop fleet in New Bedford and coastwise is facing similar dramatic reductions in their allotted fishing time, from 120 days in 1999 to as few as 51 days in 2000. Prior to the restrictions, a vessel might have fished for as many as 220 days per year. Groundfish rebuilding, however, began much earlier and today even government biologists working at the National Marine By no means did Royal Caribbean readily acknowledge these violations. According to press reports, the Miami-based company hired two former U.S. attorneys general to submit that it is immune from prosecution in the U.S. because its vessels are registered in Liberia and Norway. Royal Caribbean also apparently fumbled the public-relations spin in the initial aftermath following last month's pleas. The president of the company (Jack Williams) signed a statement that in great detail described Royal Caribbean 's willful misdeeds. Almost at the same time, the company issued a statement describing the chemical dumping as a "mistake." A spokesperson told The New York Times, "We did think we were complying" with environmental laws. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said Royal Caribbean's pollution was "on a scale far greater than previously acknowledged." Another federal official characterized Royal Caribbean as operating in "a culture of crime." Seafarers LOS 5 �Paul Hall Center Certified As Authorized Provider of Continuing Education Units Separate Review Approves 7 STCW Courses The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month made two announcements that should prove beneficial for Seafarers. First, the school has been certified by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) as an "authorized provider" of continuing education units (CEUs). Thi means students at the Paul Hall Center may use courses they complete at the Piney Point, Md. facility to help "build a permanent record of their learning activities for personal, career advancement and professional use," notes the a sociation. Meanwhile, the American Council on Education (ACE) has AB Brosius Receives Safety Award AB Duane Brosius is matterof-fact about shipboard safety. "It's a constant topic out there at sea. Everyone emphasizes safety," says the five-year Seafarer. "You only have one set of eyes, so many fingers and toes .... Like the old saying goes, 'Better safe than sorry.'" Putting a premium on accident-free operations led to Brosius receiving a safety award last month from SIU-contracted Maritrans, Inc. in Philadelphia. He earned the certificate by discovering and quickly reporting a potential problem with the anchor chain aboard the tanker Integrity. On May 17, with the vessel doing cargo operations at the Hog Island pier in Philadelphia, Brosius made his rounds on deck around 6:30 p.m. While on the bow, he looked over the Integrity's side noticed the pin that supports the anchor almost had broken loose. The AB then reported the problem, leading to repair. This undoubtedly prevented a potentially tragic and definitely costly accident. Brosius downplayed the award, though he expressed appreciation. "It's cool, but I didn't think anything of [the inci- dent]," he notes. Interestingly, within a few days of that incident, Brosius helped stem another problem, this one involving a foreign-flag vessel. He noticed (and reported) that the nearby ship was leaking fuel during lightering operations, due to a faulty valve. The leak was stopped only a very nominal spill. Hoskins Urges Others to Take Advantage of Center's Programs 6 Seafarers LOG Point may receive college credit for it. The college or university decides, but the ACE backing usually leads to a desirable outcome. Along those lines, CEUs are completely separate from college credit recommendations. As explained by IACET, CEU s are recognized by thousands of organization throughout the nation. They help students receive credit for completing courses, seminars and similar instruction that, for whatever reason, is not applied toward college credit. IACET still is determining the exact number of CEU s applicable for each course at the Paul Hall Center. In a letter confirming the school's authorization as a CEU provider, the president of IACET, Jacqueline N. Parochka, wrote, "We are proud of your achievements to promote and enhance quality in continuing education and training. Your program has been fully reviewed, both on paper and on site, and meets all the national standards as maintained by IACET for quality continuing education and training programs." With the SIU-crewed Integrity in the background, AB Duane Brosius (second from right) receives a safety award for helping prevent an accident aboard the tanker. Making the presentation in Philadelphia are (from left) SIU Patrolman Joe Mieluchowski, Capt. Eric Gruelund and Maritrans VP Don Voge. Electrician Earns Degree Alter 8 Years of Study Eight years of hard work came to fruition on July 6 when Chief John Hoskins Electrician received his Associate of Applied Science in Marine Engineering Technology diploma from the Paul Hall Center. "I am happy to tell you that I have achieved a long term goal of mine today," Hoskins told his fellow Seafarers during the monthly membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. "I am receiving a college degree in marine engineering." Hoskins began working on the degree in 1991 after he upgraded to QMEDl. "I wanted to learn, and this place is more than willing to teach you," he noted while talking with a Seafarers LOG reporter after the meeting. "It was very hard, but the school works with you." Hoskins, who sails from the port of Baltimore, added that he gave up a lot of his time on the beach to study for the degree. "They pack a lot of information into a short period. You really have to be devoted." The engine department member thanked everyone who helped him earn the degree during the eight-year period. "There are so many people that once I start naming them I know I'll forget someone." However, among those he sin- approved seven courses contained in the center's unlicensed apprentice program as meeting the requirements of the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for mariners. Along with that approval, ACE okayed six of the classes-vessel familiarization, shipboard anitation, galley familiarization, ocial responsibility, vessel maintenance and operations, and physical fitnessfor college credit recommendations. ACE's audit of the curriculums is part of an STCW requirement known as a quality standard system (QSS). Under the QSS, ACE may approve Paul Hall Center courses as fulfilling STCW guidelines, much the same way as the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center has okayed applicable classes in the past. The college credit recommendations are not STCW-related. As reported in the March issue of the Seafarers LOG, students who successfully complete one or more of the vocational or academic courses available at Piney Before the membership in Piney Point, CE John Hoskins receives his associate's degree from SIU President Michael Sacco. gled out were Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the Paul Hall Center; and instructors Jim Shaffer, Eric Malzkuhn, Russ Levin, Grace Davis and Shawn Nicholson. He also thanked "the brothers and sisters before me who fought for the rights we all have today in thi industry. Their vision created the strongest maritime union today-the SIU!" Hoskins started his career with the union in 1983 as a graduate of trainee class 384. In that same class was his brother, Green, who also sail in the engine room. (A younger brother, Steve, is the third member of the family to ship in the engine department.) He worked his way up the ladder in the engine room, upgrading at the Paul Hall Center as he became eligible. When he reached the highe t unlicensed rating, he wanted to keep learning so he tackled the associate's degree program. "I encourage everyone in the SIU to take advantage of our great school here in Piney Point, as I have done." Besides his work aboard ship and in the classroom, Hoskins also serves as a chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. In that position, he has recruited several of the soldiers with whom he has worked to join the SIU. SIU President Michael Sacco (left) and CE John Hoskins show off engine department member's well-deserved diploma. Representatives of the American Council on Education (ACE) tour the Paul Hall Center as part of an STCW-mandated audit. ACE later approved several classes as STCW-compliant and also certified them for college credit recommendations. Legal Department Clarifies Tax Exempt Status for Seafarers in Arabian Gulf A number of inquiries from SIU members recently have been directed to headquarters regarding the possible tax-exempt status of merchant mariners sailing in the Arabian Gulf aboard vessels contracted to the U.S. military. In order to clear up any confusion on the part of Seafarers who are working aboard military vessels in that region, the SIU legal department has issued an all-ports memorandum concerning the situation. Contrary to some rumors and misinformation, the memorandum states, non-military personnel are NOT eligible to enjoy taxexempt status when serving in a "combat zone" or "qualified hazardous duty area." Even though some of the vessels on which Seafarers sail are carrying military ordnance and ammunition, and despite the fact that these Seafarers-who are receiving "imminent danger" pay and are restricted to the ships at all times-have been vaccinated against the Anthrax virus at the direction of the military, this taxexempt status benefit is, nonetheless, reserved solely for officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in the United States armed forces. Some Seafarers who are working "in support" of the militaryand their spouses-may, however, be able to enjoy an extended period of time for filing a tax return or fulfilling other tax obligations. To take advantage of this benefit, the individual Seafarer must be positioned in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area. These areas consist, in part, of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; the Gulf of Aden; the Persian Gulf; the Red Sea; and the Gulf of Oman. The legal department's memo additionally states that while this extension may be available to some members, it does not recommend that any SIU member rely on it to fulfill his or her tax obligations. August 1999 �Seafarers remain hard at work transporting cargoes throughout the Great Lakes. Among the many SIU-crewed vessels under way are the J.A. W Iglehart (left) and the St. Clair, both pictured in Detroit. Second Cook Ali Musleh Iglehart Great Lakes Seafarers Enjoy Routine Season But Steel Crisis Still Impacts Trade Gateman Scott Coristine St. Clair Despite a drop in cargo movement compared to the record volumes of recent years, Great Lake Seafarers are working through a "fairly routine sailing season," according to Tim Kelley, SIU port agent in Algonac, Mich. SIU members crew a number of Lakes vessels and tugs. Steel imports, low water levels and other factors combined to cause a IO-percent drop in May cargo movements, compared to last year. Altogether, more than 13 million tons of cargo were moved on the Lakes in May. Reduced domestic steel production (a direct result of the illegal dumping of foreign steel) particularly has impacted the iron ore and stone trades, although an international trade agreement reached last month may provide some relief. In mid-July, the United States and Russia agreed to limit Russian steel shipments to the U.S. for the next five years. A group of five U.S. steel companies said the pact will not do nearly enough to stem the flow of dumped steel, even as the Clinton administration insisted the opposite is true. Meanwhile, the administration also is considering several proposals to assist the domestic steel industry. An announcement was expected late last month. In June, the Senate defeated a bill passed by the House that would have placed global quotas on steel imports. AB Mark Nicholson Tug Wyoming Porter Richard Smetana St. Clair AB Robert Timmons Iglehart AB Abdo Fotaih McCarthy Second Cook Doris Sabin St. Clair August 1999 Wheelsman Nels Johnson St. Clair AB John Spezia Tug Wyoming Seafarers LOG 7 �Runaway-Flag Ships Create More Unwanted Headlines Four Tons of Cocaine Seized from Freighter; Tanker Detained in L.A. for Safety Violations Two major stories recently emerged involving runaway-flag ships detained in the United States. In June, four tons of cocaine were seized from the Greekowned, Panamanian-flagged China Breeze-reportedly the eleventh-largest such confiscation in U.S. history. According to press accounts, U.S. Coast Guard personnel (operating from a British navy ship) boarded the China Breeze off the Puerto Rican coast in late May. Acting on a tip from Greece, they discovered the cocaine hidden in 16,000 metric tons of Cuban sugar. They subsequently arrested the ship and diverted it to Houston, where federal authorities took into custody the captain and five crew members. All were charged with drug trafficking. Authorities believe the sugar was destined for Portugal, while the drugs were bound for the Netherlands. More recently, the Bahamianflagged, Malta-owned Tomis West-laden with 275,000 gallons of jet fuel-was confined in Los Angeles in mid-July when Coast Guard inspectors found major safety hazards that could have caused explosions or fires. Among the most serious problems was the malfunctioning of Union Label Urges Members To Help Stop 'Saipan Scam' The head of the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department is urging fellow trade unionists and their families to support legislation aimed at protecting workers and preserving the integrity of the Made in USA label. "Each of us can help put an end to the truly outrageous scandal that has become known far and wide as the 'Saipan Scam,"' stated Charlie Mercer, president of the department. "All it takes is a letter, a postcard, a telephone call or an email message to the member of the U.S. House of Representatives from your district and to both the U.S. Senate members from your state." Earlier this year, identical bipartisan bills were introduced in the House and Senate to stop abuses in the garment industry in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI/Saipan). Titled the "Made in USA Label Defense Act of 1999," the bills (H.R. 1621 and S. 922) wouJd forbid continoed use of the Made in USA label on products made in the CNMI and would end the dutyfree treatment of Saipan-made goods shipped to retailers on the U.S. mainland. Seafarers attended the April press conference on Capitol Hill announcing the legislation. More than $1 billion worth of clothing was shipped into the U.S. last year from the CNMI, and most of it was composed of foreign-made cloth from foreign-owned and/or managed factories by thousands of indentured foreign workers-many, if not most, from China. Most of the garments carry the Made in USA label. CNMI garment operations have cost thou- sands of U.S. workers their job and, according to a recent U.S. Interior Department report, cost U.S. taxpayers $200 million a year in duties lost to the U.S. Treasury. "There are powerful vested interests working hard to convince Congress to leave things as they are and permit the continuation of the scam," noted Mercer. "But remember, it was just a couple of years ago, in 1997, that the Federal Trade Commission withdrew its proposal to weaken the standards for use of the Made in USA label. Opposition to the proposal was widely considered a lost cause until union members and other consumers rallied to the cause with a letter and postcard campaign directed at Congress." He concluded that the current fight against Saipan sweatshop and abuse of the Made in USA label will resuJt in similar success "if Bosuns' Brotherhood Extends to the Beach After sailing as recertified bosuns on vessels such as the Sea-Land Producer and Overseas New York, operating this relatively tiny pleasure boat in Hubbard Lake, Mich. was a breeze for longtime Seafarers Joel Lechel (left) and Carlos Loureiro. The bosuns met three years ago while upgrading at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. and have remained friends since then. This photo, sent to the Seafarers LOG by Lechel's wife, Kasandra, was taken earlier this summer. Mrs. Lechel reports that Loureiro and his wife, Debra, who live in San Diego, were vacationing in Boston but detoured to Hubbard Lake for a visit. B Seafarers LOG the ship's system for controlling dangerous fumes while transferring cargo. The Los Angeles Times quoted a Coast Guard inspector as saying the vapor levels in the Tomis Wests holds were more than twice the safe amount. Additionally, two of the three water pumps for the vessel's fire fighting system were inoperative -and even the working one was not completely functional. Other conditions included corroded fire-hose nozzles, malfunctions in engine-room fire fighting equipment, problems with the steering gear, and a faulty outside sprinkler system. The Times noted that an inspector for the International Transport Workers' Federation had notified the Coast Guard about the safety hazards. The inspector helped the Tomis West's Romanian crew members recover enough of the voters in their states and districts let (elected representatives) know that they should support the bills to end the Saipan scam." Meanwhile, the Labor Department recentJy announced it has fined a foreign-run garment maker based in the Northern Mariana Islands almost $1 million for its failure to pay overtime to workers. The department reported that Micronesian Garment Manufacturing Inc./Diorva Saipan Limited paid $986,661 to cover overtime owed to 336 factory workers, mostly from China. Exactly one year earlier, the company paid $560,000 in back wages for 427 workers at the same factory and signed an agreement with the department pledging to abide by overtime laws. While the CNMI is exempt from the minimum wage provision of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act (it has its own minimum wage of $3.05 an hour), the territory is covered by the law's other provisions, including child labor, overtime pay and record keeping. Illegal practices involved included requiring work off the clock, confining workers to living quarters without pay, requiring them to clean barracks without pay, deducting from their wages various fees connected with their recruitment, and charging excessive fees for room and board. Tracking the 'Saipan Scam' Stay up-to-date on the push for federal legislation forbidding the use of the Made in USA label on clothing made in Saipan via the following internet sites: • www.takepride.org • www.unionlabel.org (click on the "hot issues" button) $167,000 in back wages. Although these two cases are more extreme than many, it is quite typical for runaway-flag vessels to be detained in U.S. ports due to various safety violations. Frequently Detained In May, for example, the Coast Guard reported the following detentions (among many others): •The Greek-owned, Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Capetan Harris, restricted in Albany, N.Y. because of faulty fire equipment and the crew's unfamiliarity with auxiliary and remote steering gear control. • The Chinese-owned, Honduran-flagged general cargo ship Carnival I, detained in Houma, La. because of hatch covers that were not watertight and inoperable air pipe closures. •The Greek-owned, Cypriotflagged bulk carrier Crane, kept in Port Everglades, Fla. because crew members could not perform fire drills nor abandon ship drills, and also due to insufficient fire fighting equipment. • The Japanese-owned, Cypriot-flagged general cargo ship New Grace, detained in Newport News, Va. because of an inoperable main propulsion engine and excessive fuel oil leaks throughout machinery spaces. •The U.S.-owned, Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Petrojam Navigator, restricted in Hampton Roads, Va. because four crew members were intoxicated. •The Greek-owned, Cypriotflagged general cargo ship Pipitsa Petrakis, held in Tampa because the crew could not execute an abandon ship drill and because of an inoperable lifeboat engine. •The Japanese-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Super Queen, detained in Portland because the captain and officers were not familiar with the ship's safety management system and because the crew failed fire drills. • The Liberian-owned, Honduran-flagged general cargo ship Alexander, held in Miami due to an absence of a global maritime distress satellite system (GMDSS) and lack of a valid SOLAS safety radio certificate. •The Greek-owned, Bahamian-flagged bulk carrier Ariston, detained in Long Beach, Calif. because of an inoperable emergency generator. ITF Launches New Commission To Reform Shipping Regulation The International Transport Workers ' Federation (ITF) recently announced the launching of "a major new and independent international body which will seek reform of the rules governing the global shipping industry." Known as the International Commission on the Regulation of Shipping, the group is based in Amsterdam. "Although initiated by the ITF, the three-member commission has wide-ranging support among the shipping community and reflects a growing consensus that firm action must be taken to force the increasing number of low-quality flag administrations to accept their moral and legal responsibilities," the ITF said in it announcement. Chairing the commission is Peter Morris, a former Australian government official who i very knowledgeable about the maritime indu try. He is "consulting widely within the industry" in preparation for appointing his fellow commissioners. According to the ITF, the commission will con- duct hearings worldwide "and take evidence from all interested parties with a view to making concrete proposals for change. It is hoped that these proposals will be taken up and pursued by all those who have an interest in a profitable, sound and decently run shipping industry." The new group aims to finish its work by the end of next year. Commenting on the announcement, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said, "A radical overhaul of the regulation of the shipping industry is long overdue. The current system lacks teeth and is not only failing seafarers but reputable shipowners and flag states as well. We hope this new commission will become a driving force for those changes which are so desperately needed." Based in London, the ITF-of which the SIU is an affiliate-includes more than 500 transportation-related unions from more than 125 countries. Those unions represent more than five million members. August 1999 �Surfing The Internet's Crowded Waters Electronic Medium's Growth Challenges Info Seekers SIU Site Offers Union News, Useful Links The magazine ad touting a new computer chip presents the internet as the proverbial haystack, in which web surfers are commanded to locate a needle. Even the most internet-savvy individuals probably appreciate that analogy, as the world wide web continues its explosive growth. The sheer volume of web sites, numbering in the millions, can make it difficult for users to locate the information they seek. Capt. Boothe Heads NMC Succeeds Capt. Rosecrans at USCG Captain Myles Boothe Jr. last month succeeded Captain Michael Rosecrans as commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC). A ceremony took place July 9 near the NMC in Arlington, Va. The NMC, established four years ago, manages the Coast Guard's 17 regional examination centers (RECs). It also maintains records for merchant mariner licensing and documentation, and oversees the National Vessel Documentation Center, among numerous other functions. Boothe becomes the NMC's second commanding officer. Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training in Piney Point, Md., commended Rosecrans for his work at NMC, noting that he "has been an invaluable resource during a time of tremendous change in the maritime industry. He has been very supportive of our school's efforts in terms of STCW compliance, testing and record-keeping." Eglinton expressed optimism that the school "will enjoy a similarly cooperative, productive relationship with Captain Boothe. We look forward to working with him to ensure that the Paul Hall Center keeps up with the industry's needs and requirements." Boothe brings an extensive background in marine safety, including assignments as the head of Coast Guard safety offices in St. Louis and Seattle. Capt. Myles Boothe Jr. (top photo, center) recently succeeded Capt. Michael Rosecrans (below, center) as commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center. Congratulating them after the July 9 ceremony in Arlington, Va. are Bill Eglinton, director of the vocational education department at the Paul Hall Center (pictured at Boothe's left); and John Mason, head of American Service Technology, Inc. August 1999 Moreover, as reported last month by the Associated Press, the most-used search engines sift through less than one-fifth of what is on the web. Those challenges have not slowed the medium's growth, however. At the end of last year, there were an estimated 150 million internet users worldwide, with slightly more than half residing in the United States. This year, on average, more than 700 American households per hour become first-time web surfers. Many of those families undoubtedly will correspond by electronic mail-some 7 .3 billion email messages are sent in the U.S. every day. Fortunately for Seafarers, there are a number of established, reliable and fairly easy-to-find sites offering useful information about the U.S. maritime industry. For starters, the SIU's internet site-located at http://www.seafarers.org-has been active since 1997. It contains links to a number of potentially helpful maritime and labor sites. The SIU site also features email links to Congress and the White House; downloadable benefits applications; selected articles from current and past issues of the Seafarers LOG; course listings and course descriptions from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education; a list of SIU halls and upcoming meeting dates, and more. The following sites, all of which are accessable through the SIU site index, also may be of interest to SIU members and their families: The SIU's web site (www.seafarers.org) includes selected articles from the Seafarers LOG (as pictured here), information about courses at the Paul Hall Center and much more. • AFL-CIO (includes comprehensive links to affiliated international and local unions) http://www.aflcio.org • U.S. Coast Guard (see the agency's internal links to its own STCW and Y2K sites) http://www.uscg.miV • International Transport Workers Federation (features detailed and updated information about the ITF's campaign against runaway-flag shipping) http://www.itf.org.uk/ • Maritime Cabotage Task Force (offers the latest news concerning the Jones Act and Passenger Vessel Services Act) http://www.mctf.com • International Maritime Organization (covers worldwide maritime issues) http://www.imo.org/ • Military Sealift Command (often include recent news about SIU-crewed ships) http://www.msc.navy.miV • Maritime Administration (provides updates on key happenings in the industry) http://marad.dot.gov Many SIU-contracted companies also have their respective presence on-line, including SeaLand, Maersk, Crowley, American Hawaii Cruises, American Steamship Co, The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. and others. Links to those locations are available at the SIU site, and the union gladly will add other relevant links if so requested. Please direct such requests to the Seafarers LOG at SIU headquarters. 1999 AOTOS Awards Go to TRANSCOM and Marine Transport Line's Richard duMoulin The head of a shipping company that oversees an SIU-contracted firm and the agency that supervises the worldwide movement of goods and materiel to American troop will be honored with the annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) award later this year. Richard duMoulin, chairman and CEO of Marine Transport Lines (MTL), and U.S. Air Force General Charles T. Robertson, Jr., commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), will receive the AOTOS on November 5 in New York. Considered by many to be one of the most prestigious awards in the maritime industry, the AOTOS is sponsored by the United Seamen's Service. SIU President Michael Sacco received the award in 1994. In announcing the honorees, AOTOS Committee Chairman John Bowers, president of the International Longshoremen' s As ociation, noted they were chosen from more than 200 nominees. "This year's AOTOS recipients embrace two important sectors of ocean transport in the United States: the tanker/carrier community and the military," Bowers said. "Richard duMoulin' steadfast leadership in his broad-based activities on behalf of U.S. shipping and Richard duMoulin Gen. Charles Robertson American seafarers and TRANSCOM's important role as a user-rather than a providerof American ships make them ideal recipients of this year's AOTOS awards." After spending 15 years with OMI Corp., duMoulin joined MTL in 1989. That firm operates more than 30 U.S.-flag vessels. Among its subsidiaries is SIUcontracted Intrepid Ship Management. MTL is the oldest U.S. shipping company tracing its roots to 1816 where its predecessors operated whaling boats as well as provided boats for the California gold rush. TRANSCOM was created in 1987 to consolidate the military 's logistic efforts that had been performed separately by the Army, Navy and Air Force. It is the largest single user of U.S.-flag vessels. Robertson, accepting the award for his agency, assumed command of TRANSCOM in 1998. Upon graduating from the Air Force Academy, he joined the ervice in 1968. He served more than 150 combat missions in Vietnam. Seafarers LOG 9 �Weddings, family reunions and the births of children and grandchildren-these are the everyday events so important in the lives of SIU members, who often are away from home for several months at a time. As always, the LOG welcomes your photos and will publish them on a periodic basis. 10 Seafarers LOG August 1999 �SIU Lauds AMMV Chapter At Memorial Dedication The SIU last month took part in a dedication ceremony in downtown St. Louis sponsored by the Samuel Parker Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) and the Navy League of the United States. Becky Sleeper, the union's port agent in St. Louis, delivered remarks on behalf of SIU President Michael Sacco on July 5 as the AMMV chapter-which includes many retired Seafarers -and the local Navy League dedicated an anchor in tribute to past, present and future mariners as well as Naval armed guard members. The well-attended event gen- erated media coverage and attracted numerous local dignitaries. It took place outside the Soldiers' Memorial, a downtown museum used for displays from various wars. The nine-ton anchor is from the World War II-era aircraft carrier USS Langley. It is almost 13 feet tall. Its plaque reads, "Dedicated to American merchant seamen and Naval armed guard who lost or risked their lives for our country in World War II and all wars of Left, SIU Port Agent Becky Sleeper delivers remarks on behalf of SIU President Michael Sacco at the anchor dedication July 5 in St. Louis. Above, a plaque on the nine-ton memorial praises past and present mariners. this century, and al1 those American merchant marine and Navy seamen standing by to deliver the goods through the world's oceans today." Relaying Sacco's remarks, Sleeper noted, "It's important to establish the connection between today's active mariners and those who went before them. In fact, we in the SIU make it a point to educate all of our new members about their maritime heritageand the fact that they may be called upon as the nation's fourth arm of defen e .... "I am extremely proud of the SIU 's long-standing and very strong relationship with the American Merchant Marine Veterans. Your issues are our i ue ; your fights are our fights. " She added, "This anchor in part is a tribute to the tens of thousands of merchant seamen who carried the Allied effort in World War II. Included in tho e ranks are thou ands of SIU members, more than 1,200 of whom gave their Ii ves during the war ... Today, we honor that brave history as well as the courage shown by U. S. mariners in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War and other risk-filled assignments. They are patriots. They are heroe . And they de erve thi recognition ." Members of the Samuel Parker Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans greet SIU Port Agent Becky Sleeper (third from right) following the ceremony. Lighthouse Replica to Educate Public Baritinte Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Saved from Crashing Into Sea The 208-foot-tall Cape Hatteras Lighthouse -the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States-stood 1,600 feet from the ocean when it was built in 1870. After more than a century of incoming and outgoing tides and soil erosion of about 10 feet per year, only 150 feet stood between the black-and-white striped tower and the Atlantic Ocean-until last month. That is when the structure arrived at its new concrete foundation 1,600 feet from the surf. Moving the lighthouse began June 17. Resting on a nest of steel beams mounted on rollers, it was pushed along rails by seven hydraulic jacks. Original estimates were for the move to take four to six weeks. It was accomplished in three at a cost of $10 million. The twin beams, which were extinguished March I for the first time in 50 years, are scheduled to be re-lit on Labor Day, and officials of the National Park Service plan to reopen the Jighthou e to visitors next Memorial Day. Mississippi Queen Among Best U.S. Cruises The SIU-crewed Mississippi Queen, a paddlewheel passenger vessel operated by the New Orleans-based Delta Queen Steamboat Company, has been rated as one of the best cruise options for U.S. consumers. Cruise Reports, a newsletter which annually evaluates cruise lines' performances, declared the Mississippi Queen a "top value" by measuring cruise quality against the cost per person per day. The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. also operates the SIU-crewed Delta Queen and American Queen along the Mississippi River as well as other routes. SIUNA Vice President Ed Pulver stands before a 14-foot replica of the Sandy Hook Light House which was given to the Liberty State Park at the Historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal by a group of volunteers who participate in community projects. The model lighthouse will be used to educate the public about the historical, cultural, economic and navigational importance of the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. Now a national historic landmark, the lighthouse continues to be lit 24 hours a day, and the light can be seen for 19 miles on a clear night. ·· Greetings from Oceans to Lakes c American Home Foods ;::;,~·ills, Basic 4 Corn Flakes Boo Beny. Bran Che•: Cheerios; {plaln, Apple Cinnamon. Honey Frosted. Honey ut. and MulllGralo) ; Cinnamon Toast Crunch: Clusters : Cocoa Purrs: Cookie Crisp; Covnt Chocula; Counlr)I Com 1'1alr.es; Com Cbex: Fiber One; Frankenbem-; Golden Grahams; Kaboom; Klx; Lucky Charms: Ral In Bran 'ul Rice Chex Total (rcgul>r. raisin bran and corn natcs) ; Trix ; Wheal llea118 hot cereal ; V.beat Chex: WbeaUes (frosled and plain) AB Tim Kacer, an eight-year member of the SIU who sails in the deep sea division, spent part of his recent vacation watching lakers and greeting fellow Seafarers as they sailed through the Sao Locks on Lake Superior. Among the SIU-crewed vessels spotted by Kacer last month was the H. Lee White, pictured here. August 1999 Raisins. Low Fat Granola, Low Fat Granola •1lll Ral IDB. Musenx Raisin & Almond Crunch. 'J'oas"'d Bro1>n Sugar Squares) : JuSl Right (!rulL & out and "1lll Cnmch ·uggelS); Marsbmallo" Blasted Proot Loopo; Nut & Honey Crunch: ut & Honey Crunch O's: Nu1cH;raln (Almond Raisin. Golden 'Wbeat. Golden V.beat & Ralstn) ; Product 19. Raisin Bran; Raisin Bran Crunch ; Raisin Squares Mlnl-IHcalS ; Rice Krlsples (plain . fro led . Apple Cinnamon . TrealS) ; Smacks; Smart Start : Snack Pact. Special K: Strawberry Squares , Strawberry Squares Mlnl-V.bealS Gralolleld's; 'Wbectablx Nabisco Miscellaneous Cream or wheat Kelloggs Post All-Bran (plain, Bran Buds, Extra Plber); Apple Jacks; Apple Cinnamon Square Mlnl-WbealS : Blu eberry Squares: Breakfast Mates: Cocoa Frosted Flakes; Cocoa Krlsple s: Comple"' Bran Plates: COmplelt Oat Bran Flakes: Complt"' Wbtal Bran Flakes: Corn Flakes ; Corn Pops ; Cractlln' Oa1 Bran : Crlsplx: Froot Loops; ProSled Plakes: Frosted MlnlWb ta ts (regular and bile size) ; Healllly Choice (Almond Crunch with Alpha - BllS (plain and marshmallow)· Blueberry Morning; Bran Flakes: Fruit n' l'lbre: Frui Pebbles; Grape ulS: Great Grains : Honey Bunches or OalS (plain , wllh Almonds and with Graham) : Honeycomb. Oreo Os: Post ToasUes : uper Golden Cr1 p Quaker Apple Zaps; Cap'n Crunch: Cinnamon Toasted Oatmea l Squares ; Cocoa Blasi: Frultangy Ohs; Har>est Oat Flakes (plain and 1>ilh apples). Boney Dlpps: Honey Graham Obs. King \1lamln ; Lile: Marshmallow Safari: Oatmeal : Quaker 100% Natural Cereal: Quaker I OO'lll Low Pal NaUJraJ Cereal; Qulsp; S~t Crunch: Toa led Oatmeal (plain , hooey and nut); Toa ied Oatmeal 5«1uares Wheetabix Belly Crocker Muffin Mixes : Betty Crocker Pancake Mix: Belly Crocker Special Mullln 'dl.<'8: camauoo break· la t bars: Washington Pancake Mix: Raga Mumns; Indian Head Cornmeal; Mrs . Crutcbfteld Muma Mix; Lender's ba&els: ulri-Graln cereal bars (all na\"'8): RJce l\rtsples neats (squares and Chocola"' Chip Squares): Pop-Turts; Eggo Frozen V.ames (all na.ors and coonguraUoos) ; Chewy Granola Bars (all llaYors); Pop-'lllrts (all llaYors and coongurallons); Quaker Oats Rice Cakes, Menu Magic lostanl breakl'as~ Brook)ln Bagel: Cllex Mlxts (TradJUooal. Cheddar, Bold. !AA' Spicy) Seafarers LOG tt �THOMAS FAY BUILDING At far left, Doris Fay unveils the ide survival building named in memory left, poses with Paul Hall Center Vic beneath the new sign. The Thomas classrooms, offices, a damage-cont survival trainer. At right, Bull Shepard's son, Earl covering from board naming th father and, at far right, poses in building. The Earl "Bull" Shepat structure with moveable par se Dedications 'Embrace Our Past While Working Ior the Future' Buildings Named in Memory of Tom Fay, Bull Shepard S weltering temperatures did not spoil the occasion July 15 as two buildings were dedicated at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, located in Valley Lee, Md. As Seafarers, SIU officials and guests applauded, facilities were named in memory of Tom Fay, former vice president of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, and Earl "Bull" Shepard, a charter member of the SIU and a founder of the center. The Thomas Fay Building houses classrooms, offices, a damage-control room and a water-survival trainer as well as areas for monitoring and servicing various fire fighting equipment. The Earl "Bull" Shepard Building is a two-story maze with moveable partitions. It primarily is used for search-andrescue training and to teach students how to maneuver through a darkened ship. Both are part of the state-of-the-art fire fighting and safety school that opened in late May. Unveiling the new signs on the respective building were Tom Fay's widow, Doris, and Earl Shepard Jr. , who sails as an AB. SIU President Michael Sacco stated that the dedications "point out that fact that we're a group which embraces our past while planning and working for the future. Anyone who has been to the Paul Hall Center can tell right away that we're very proud of our history." He praised Fay as "a very efficient, level-headed and dedicated individual-first-class all the way." Sacco also pointed out that Shepard "is someone who literally fought for better working conditions for the American mariner. He played a major role in helping build the SIU into what it is today." Additionally, he said the dedications spotlight "the fact that we in the SIU are a family. We may have disagreements, like any family. But in the end, we're on the same side, working together for the same goals and a brighter future. "In some cases, we literally are a family," he continued. "The SIU has a long legacy of one generation following the next to sea-from the rivers to the Lakes to the oceans. It makes me proud that so many people think so highly of this organization that they encourage their brothers and sisters and sons and daughters to join us." SIU Executive Vice President John Fay, Tom's brother, spoke about both men for whom the buildings were named. "Tommy was my sibling, but Bull Shepard also was my brother," he stated. "The one thing I knew about both of them is that when Tommy or Bull touched someone's personal life, it was always for the best. They never said no to anybody who was in trouble. I could tell you incident after incident, story after tory about the positive deeds both Tommy and Bull did." Carolyn Gentile, general counsel to the Seafarers Plans, mentioned that although Shepard and Tom Fay were "from different generations, they shared the common bond of being dedicated to improving the lives, working conditions and upgrading abilities of their fellow members. They were men of their times, but they also were members with foresight. Their vision is alive and well right here today." Representing the employer trustees for the Seafarers Plans was Anthony Naccarato, who said Fay's and Shepard's work has helped the SIU "reach the very top of the labor hill. Today, the American labor movement looks to Mike Sacco and the SIU with pride and admiration." He added that both officials undoubtedly would be pleased with the fire fighting and safety school, which "is a monument to all who have come before us and all who will follow. It looks to the future and proudly says, 'We are prepared to train the finest Seafarers to face the challenges of the 21st century. Fire fighting classes officially began in late May at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School , located in Valley Lee, Md., where the two newly named buildings are located. 12 Seafarers LOG Employer Trustee Anthony Ne,ccarato praises those who have made the Paul Hall Center a world leader in training mariners. ·~~..,..,,,,. August 1999 �=---::----o:--"'~:-:-::-::---:-:;;;-;~;-;;-L1 tification on the water f her husband and, at President Don Nolan Fay Building houses ol room and a water- EARL 'BULL' SHEPARD BUILDING hepard Jr., removes the maze building after his ront of the newly named d Building is a two-story itions, primarily used for rch-and-rescue training. SIU President Michael Sacco (above) opens the dedication ceremony. Below, Carolyn Gentile, general counsel to the Seafarers Plans, notes that Tom Fay and Bull Shepard were SIU members with foresight whose vision is alive today. Below, Unlicensed Apprentice Miles Wade Ireland Jr. leads the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Located near the classrooms are photos and plaques in memory of Shepard (left) and Fay. Tom Fay October 18, 1936 - February 27, 1995 John Fay, SIU executive vice president, speaks about both men for whom the buildings were named, one of which was his brother, Tom. - Tom Fay began his career with the Seafarers in 1958. Sailing in the engine department, .· he worked his way to becoming a chief electrician before coming ashore. Tom served the union in many different ways, including Honolulu port agent. He became the vice president for the Paul Hall Center in 1993. No matter what job Tom undertook, he performed it with courage, dignity and a sense of humor that made him a friend to all. The water survival building will proudly bear his name. Earl "Bull" Shepard September 4, 1913 - December 19, 1978 The maze building will carry the name of a charter member of the SIU and a founder of the Paul Hall Center, Earl "Bull" Shepard. Whether it wa aboard a ship, at a union hall or in the U.S. Capitol, Bull was totally dedicated to improving the lives and conditions faced by Seafarers. He had the respect of all who came his way. Besides being part of the crew to find a centralized location for training and upgrading, Bull also helped develop the center's early curriculum. August 1999 Seafarers LOG 13 �Reminder to WWII Mariners U.S. merchant mariners who sailed between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946 may be eligible for certain veterans ' benefits. To qualify and become eligible for benefits, a mariner must not only have served within the qualifying period, but also meet the following eligibility criteria: 1. Was a member of the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was (a) operated by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation (or an agent of the Administration or Office); (b) operated in water other than inland waters, the Great Lakes, and other lakes, bay , and harbors of the United States; (c) under contract or charter to, or property of, the government of the United States; and (d) serving the Armed Forces. 2. While so serving, was licen sed or otherwi se documented for service a a crewmember of such a ves el by an officer or employee of the United States authorized to licen e or document the person for such service. Before you can receive veterans benefits, you must first submit a DD Form 2168. This fonn is available from Veterans Administration offices, merchant marine veterans organizations, and from the offices listed below. A copy of DD Fonn 2168 can also be downloaded on the world wide web at http://www.uscg. miVhq/g-m/nmc/wwiimm.html. Completed forms should be sent to the appropriate office: For Merchant Marine: WWII Merchant Mariner Qualification Highland Community Bank P.O. Box 804118 Chicago, IL 60601-4118 (Please note that the address on the reverse of the DD2168 to which Merchant Mariners are directed to send their applications has changed to the above address.) For Army Transport Service: Commander Army Reserve Component ARPERSCOM-PSV-V 9700 Page Ave. St. Louis, MO 63132-5200 For Naval Transportation Service: Commander Naval Per onnel Command (PERS-312) Millington, TN 38054-5054 If you have copies of your cer- tificates of discharge or other documentation of sea service, plea e ubmit them with your DD Form 2168. Under the Privacy Act, a certified copy of the death certificate will be needed if you are applying for a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) for a deceased mariner. If you have qualifying sea service between August 16, l 945 and December 31, 1946, and you wish to have this period certified, Public Law 105-368 requires that the Coast Guard collect a $30 processing fee. Please send a check or money order, payable to the U.S. Treasury, with your new DD Form 2168. Updated List of U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center Bldg. 14, Rm. 109, Coast Guard Island Alameda, CA 94501-5100 Phone: (510) 437-3092 US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 510 L Street, Suite 100 Anchorage, AK 99501-1946 Phone: (907) 271-6736 Regional Examination Center 9820 Lake Forest Blvd, Suite P New Orleans, LA 70127-3077 Phone: (504) 589-6183 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 Activities New York Regional Examination Center Battery Park Building New York, NY 10004-8545 Phone: (212) 668-7492 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center 2760 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A Juneau, AK 99801-8545 Phone: (907) 463-2458 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center U.S. Custom House 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: (410) 962-5132 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 165 N. Pico Avenue Long Beach , CA 90802 Phone: (562) 980-4485 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 1519 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA 98134-1192 Phone: (206) 217-6115 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 Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 196 Tradd Street Charleston , SC 29401-1899 Phone: (843) 724-7693 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 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 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center Federal Building, Room 501 234 Summit Street Toledo, OH 43604-1590 Phone: (419) 259-6395 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office AFL·CIO NATIONAL BOYCOTTS FARMLAND DAIRY Milk sold under the Fannland Dairy label in stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York Ill> Teamsters • MT. OLIVE PICKLE CO. Pickles and relishes sold under the Ml Olive and other labels, including the Food Lion and Harris Teeter supermarket 'house" labels Ill> Fann Labor Organizing Committee FURNITURE STRAITS FURNITURE CO. Jackson, Miss., manufacturer of entertainment centers, dining-room and bedroom furniture. Brands include: Canbrough Oak Collection, Downing Street Collection, Cheny Creek Collection, Hood, Straits Annual Blessing of New Bedford's Fleet Ill> Electronic Workers, Furniture Workers Division TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL JULY/AUGUST 1999 ............................•••.• ALITALIA AIRLINES Air transport for passengers and freight Ill> Machinists BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS BEST WESTERN-GROSVENOR RESORT Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; located at Disney Wol1d, BROWN & SHARPE MFG. CO. Measuring, cutting and machine tools and pumps Ill> Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees JET EQUIPMENT & TOOLS, INC. CROWN CENTRAL PETROLEUM Auburn, Wash., distributor of "JE'T" brand metal- and woodworking power and hand tools for home and commercial use Ill> Teamsters Gasoline sold at Crown, Fast Fare and Zippy Mart stations and convenience stores Ill> Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers SOUTHWIRE CO. FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Commercial and industrial wire and cable; OoltYourseH brand homewire Ill> Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Ill> Electrical Workers HOLIDAY INN SUNSPREE HOTEL MASTER APPAREL Men's and boys' trousers. Labels include Hills and Archer, Seafarers LOG Ill> Longshore & Warehouse Union NEW OTANI HOTEL & GARDEN and Ivy Hil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles Ill> Bectronic Workers Ill> Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION 14 Hotel in Watertiury. Conn. Hotel in Kapaa, Hawaii CLOTHING Twelve SIU fishing boats were among many vessels of all shapes and sizes participating in the 30th annual blessing of the fleet in New Bedford, Mass. This year's event, part of the city's annual Summerfest celebration, took place July 4. The fleet blessing paid tribute to those fishermen who passed away during the ~~yearand asked for protection, good luck and safe and bountiful seas for the year ahead. Awards were given for the bestdecorated boats. The SIU-crewed FN Sunshine (above) took top honors, and last year's winner, the SIUcrewed FN Lutador, came in third. but separately owned and operated Ill>- Machinists OTHERS BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION BET cable television. Action payperview, BET on Jazz Ill> Electrical Workers Steel, including rod, bar, rail, pipe and steel plate Ill> Steelworkers REGAL CINEMAS WELLS FARGO and NORWEST BANKS Chain of 250 movie theaters: "Regal Cinemas" & "Cobb Theaters• Ill> Stage Employees & Moving Picture Technicians FOOD/BEVERAGES CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES Table grapes that do not bear the UFW label on their carton or crate II> Fann Workers DIAMOND WALNUT CO. Diamond brand canned and bagged walnuts and walnut pieces Ill> Teamsters UN I ON LABEL AND SERV I CE CF&I STEEL and OREGON STEEL MILLS, INC. Wells Fargo has branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington; Norwest has branches in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska. Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas. Wisconsin and Wyoming Ill> Steelwor1<ers R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Cigarettes: Best Value, Gamel, Century, Doral, Eclipse, Magna, Monarch, More, Now, Salem, Sterling, Vantage, and Winston; plus all Moonlight Tobacco products Ill> Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers TRADES DEPARTMENT. AFL-CIO The LOG Welcomes Your Digital Images ... But please be sure they have a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch and measure no smaller than 3 inches by 5 inches. This ensures good publication quality. They may be saved to a disk or sent via email to dhirtes@worldweb.net August 1999 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1999 *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 22 5 6 12 12 21 38 15 l9 30 13 9 27 1 2 233 21 2 8 16 7 14 19 5 12 14 5 6 7 0 4 15 4 4 8 7 6 Totals Totals Totals All Departments 6 11 1 58 3 16 l 0 154 80 200 114 2 0 2 11 5 6 3 10 ll 8 7 2 5 2 7 19 22 1 10 7 I 2 3 7 11 5 1 0 3 4 7 6 23 10 10 10 3 3 2 0 3 8 3 2 6 0 6 9 2 2 3 4 0 0 3 2 0 4 2 4 3 2 90 401 185 101 8 8 4 2 l 0 0 5 2 0 4 7 l 0 2 2 59 0 19 20 2 11 I 3 4 6 7 1 3 4 2 5 7 23 22 12 5 0 0 1 2 1 10 9 4 I 0 1 0 2 0 115 37 7 3 0 18 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 25 7 1 0 4 3 11 9 2 2 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 6 2 12 10 12 2 8 San Juan .................. Thursday: September 9, October 7 6 3 3 2 10 11 9 12 3 11 7 4 6 45 I 5 4 26 37 4 14 18 2 0 10 4 0 2 0 3 1 3 5 0 1 0 8 3 1 1 0 53 2 11 2 0 I 241 81 0 31 0 0 9 0 43 0 0 0 2 2 2 11 7 11 8 6 0 0 7 16 33 29 4 12 2 21 7 1 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 11 21 21 4 40 14 2 17 2 19 12 6 11 9 l 15 0 0 0 155 165 32 10 0 123 465 300 450 353 0 0 0 0 2 9 1 12 0 112 0 86 253 258 214 197 924 631 434 0 9 BILLY CARL WALKER Call Mrs. Edna "Ed" Scott a( (757) 857-3753. FRIENDS OF JAMES E. HILL James E. Hill would like to hear from shipmates who served with him aboard the Penn Vanguard or the Keva Ideal. His address is: G. Pierce Memorial Hospital, 5847 S.E. Highway 31, Room 1, Arcadia, FL 33821; or telephone him at (941) 494-3323, extension Franklin Ward. BOB, THE ELECTRICIAN AB John A. Morales is trying to contact Bob, the electrician from New Jersey wf!o sailed with him aboard the El Nuevo San Juan in 1991. Bob may write Morales at 2725 S. Nellis Boulevard, Suite 1124, Las Vegas, NV 89121; or telephone (702) 432-7417. Welcome Back to Piney Point 99 0 0 0 4 WILLIAM LEONARD SMITH Bill F. Hudson would like William Leonard Smith or his wife, Alma, to contact him at 1501 South Fountain Green Road, Bel Air, MD 21015. The annual SIU-Marine Cooks & Steward picnic is scheduled for September 12, from noon until 5 p.m. at the barbecue area (site #7) at San Bruno Park. This is a pot luck, BYOB picnic. Plenty of parking available. 2 8 1 2 I 15 11 6 9 5 Personals I Notice 9 0 0 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. 42 7 4 11 2 72 Wilmington .............. .Monday, September 20, October 18 7 1 2 25 Tacoma ................... Friday: September 24, October 22 0 26 5 6 27 St. Louis ................. Friday: September 17, October 15 2 14 10 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually regi tered for hipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. August 1999 11 10 San Francisco .........Thursday: September 16, October 14 9 5 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 14, October 12 4 1 0 12 0 6 14 16 28 13 13 2 15 New Bedford .......... Tuesday: September 21, October 19 Philadelphia ............ Wednesday: September 8, October 6 5 17 4 0 0 6 44 5 0 1 7 0 10 4 Mobile .................... Wednesday: September 15, October 13 Norfolk ................... Thursday: September 9, October 7 112 2 8 Jersey City .............. Wednesday: September 22, October 20 1 1 0 196 0 Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 9, October 7 7 3 2 1 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 10 2 1 7 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 2 2 7 1 6 7 2 13 2 7 4 0 7 0 0 5 25 3 4 54 5 20 26 1 Houston .................. Monday: September 13, October 11 New York ................ Tuesday: September 7, October 5 6 2 2 5 0 26 0 1 0 36 50 Honolulu ................. Friday: September 17, October 15 2 3 79 12 18 15 16 1 8 18 9 20 Duluth ..................... Wedne day: September 15, October 13 9 13 4 10 0 3 8 21 9 22 2 103 3 3 Baltimore ................ Thursday: September 9, October 7 (*change created by labor Day holiday) 6 13 41 3 0 I 17 2 8 0 0 3 0 0 Algonac .................. Friday: September 10, October 8 1 15 I 2 36 1 0 21 4 2 4 3 13 3 8 23 9 ll 4 5 1 4 I 3 1 4 18 32 Piney Point ............. Tuesday: September 7* Monday: October 4 24 11 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 7 1 8 1 1 3 0 6 3 3 1 0 575 Totals 4 3 1 4 lI 8 11 6 6 1 0 0 0 54 1 3 5 1 8 6 0 0 8 1 0 3 21 27 6 5 5 2 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis ·Piney Point Algonac 9 9 0 1 0 9 151 67 42 0 2 2 9 10 13 2 1 7 6 5 0 13 13 6 4 6 10 42 10 9 6 9 7 0 24 3 5 5 3 8 4 3 2 3 17 6 8 11 24 21 7 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 8 3 7 18 19 Port 5 9 25 5 0 6 0 97 New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac 13 25 l3 4 7 3 8 8 23 I0 10 17 5 2 22 2 3 0 137 Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT 6 22 15 4 6 5 3 6 3 2 4 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. ouis Piney Point Algonac TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C - September & October 1999 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Visiting the Paul Hall Center are Chief Steward Lonnie Jones and his wife, Denise. The couple from Columbus, Ohio shares a laugh with SIU President Michael Sacco. Seafarers LOG 15 �- Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers lntematlonal Union Directory JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 1999 Mi.chael Sacco President CL- Company/Lakes John Fay Executive Vice President *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez Vice President Contracts Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley 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 . ~ HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 Port 0 24 9 0 14 7 0 4 2 Algonac 0 14 22 Totals All Depts 0 56 40 Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port L-Lakes NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 14 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 13 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 4 2 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 9 11 0 40 23 0 10 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 5 11 0 16 17 *"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. ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #lC Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 JUNE 16-JULY 15, 1999 BALTIMORE 12 J 6 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 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 (7 I 8) 499-6600 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 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 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region Atlantic Coast 0 Gulf Coast 2 Lakes, Inland Waters 41 West Coast 4 Totals Region 47 Atlantic Coast 0 Gulf Coast 0 Lakes, Inland Waters 27 West Coast 1 Totals Region 28 Atlantic Coast 0 Gulf Coast 0 Lakes, Inland Waters 23 West Coast 0 0 2 0 7 0 3 5 0 4 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 15 Totals 23 0 0 0 0 0 Totals All Depts 98 5 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 1 0 1 20 0 0 8 1 4 29 2 4 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 51 2 5 0 1 21 6 28 0 2 0 4 6 0 13 0 9 22 0 4 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 57 6 28 0 0 13 1 1 5 I *"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. PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner William Gonzalez of Brooklyn, N.Y. The year was 1949-the SS Chrysanthstar had sailed into the port of Venice, Italy, and the crew members set up a "barber shop" on deck to get a quick trim before going ashore. Included in the photo are AB Luis G. Figueroa (seated at left) and FOWT Gonzalez (seated at right). Between them is Wiper Willie Gallardo, and waiting his turn in the back is "Skinny," the oiler on the 12-4 watch. Gonzalez, now 78, joined the SIU in 1942 in the port of New York. He was active in many union organizing drives throughout his seafaring career and last sailed aboard the SS Borinquen in April 1976. He retired the following month. 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. August 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. mong the 13 Seafarers retiring this month are four recertified bosuns and one recertified steward. Recertified Bosuns William S. Byrne, Jon C. Humason, Calvain A. James and Robert H. Stuverud and Recertified Steward Raymond E. Loretta graduated from the highest level of training in the deck and steward departments, respectively, at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. and represent more than 175 years of active union membership among them. Including the five recertified graduates, eight of those signing off shipped in the deep sea division, four sailed the inland waterways and one plied the Great Lakes. This month's favorite region for retirement is the East Coast, where eight pensioners have settled. Two have retired to the West Coast, one resides in the Gulf region and one each lives in the Midwest and Hawaii. Ten of the retirees sailed in the deck department, while two worked in the steward department and one shipped in the engine department On this page, the Seafarers LOG pre ents brief biographical a c unts of this month's pension- A DEEP SEA WILLIAMS. BYRNE, 71, started sailing in 1968 from the port of New York. His first ship was the Beatrice Victory. Born in England, the deck department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. and graduated from the bosun recertification program there in 1975. During his career, Brother Byrne was active in union organizing drives. He has retired to Navarra, Fla. JONC. HUMASON, 46, graduated from the union's entry level training program in 1971 and joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. He first sailed aboard the Ogden Yukon. The Virginia native worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1992. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the USNS Capella, operated by Bay Ship Management. Brother Humason makes his home in Chesapeake, Va. CALVAINA. JAMES, 71, started his career with the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Born in Virginia, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the union's school in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1973. During his career, Brother James was active in union affairs and organizing drives. From 1953 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Anny. Teaneck, N.J. is where he calls home. RAYMOND E. LORETTA, 64, graduated from the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) training school in Santa Rosa, Calif. in 1959 and joined the MC&S in the port of San Francisco. Born in Ohio, the steward department member upgraded his skills at the Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG t940 The constitution adopted in 1939 provided for the establishment of two separate districts: the Atlantic District and the Gulf District, with two separate headquarters, one in New York and one in New Orleans, and two separate bookkeeping and financial systems. The membership of the two districts, in a 30-day referendum vote, elected overwhelmingly to amalgamate the two districts. The amalgamation resolution, which was adopted in August, 1940, provides that the Headquarters of the Atlantic and Gulf District will be in Washington, D.C., until the next election, and that all of the financial and bookkeeping work shall be done in that office. Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School and graduated from the steward recertification program there in 1990. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1955. Prior to retiring, he sailed on the Comet, an American Ship Management vessel. Brother Loretta makes his home in Calistoga, Calif. PAULC. McMAHON, 65, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1964 from the port of New York. His first ship was the Steel Director, an Isthmian Lines, Inc. vessel. Brother McMahon worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills in Piney Point, Md. From 1951 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Prior to his retirement, he sailed on the Sea-Land Endurance. Born in New York, he has retired to Las Vegas. GEORGE SAPP JR., 63, joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. His first ship was the Steel Age, operated by Isthmian Lines, Inc. The Georgia native sailed in the steward department and upgraded to chief steward at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. He last sailed in 1996 aboard the Sea-Land Consumer. Brother Sapp makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. ROBERTH. STUVERUD, 56, started his career with the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Seattle, first sailing aboard the to make port by 5 p.m. had to anchor out and wait overnight for Quarantine inspection the next morning. Even more affected were ships that came into port on a Saturday night since they had to hold over until Monday morning. Then gangs of longshoremen hired to handle the ship's cargo would be idle until the ship docked. It's been estimated that 40 percent of the shipping entering New York harbor is affected by the delays. THIS MO.NTH l.N SIU HISTORY t954 The often cussed overnight waits by crews arriving in U.S. ports before clearing Quarantine appear to be at an end. The Senate has completed action on a bill permitting shipping companies to pay overtime for inspections between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. The bill was supported by all shipping companies and port interests as a means of eliminating expensive delays in port. Up until now, any freighter or tanker that failed August 1999 1982 The officers and SIU crew of the USNS Southern Cross were honored in Washington, D.C. recently by the American Institute of Merchant Shipping for their "humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese refugees adrift in the South China Sea during late September 1981." The USNS Southern Cross, part of the SIU Government Services Division fleet operated by the Military Sealift Command, Pacific, picked up 58 desperate "boat people" from a small 35-foot boat on July 15, 1981 while en route from Subic Bay, the Philippines, to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. At the time, their actions were lauded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Singapore .... On the small boat were 18 men, 13 women and 2 7 children. Bangor. Born in Washington, he worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1989. Brother Stuverud last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Anchorage. He has retired to Seattle. the U.S. Army. He last sailed in 1984 aboard an Interstate Oil Co. vessel. Boatman Mason has retired to Salisbury, Md. EDUARDO TOMAS, 73, first sailed with the SIU in 1991 in the port of Honolulu aboard the SS Independence, operated by American Hawaii Cruises. A native of Hawaii, he worked in all three departments, last sailing as a deck engine utility. Brother Tomas upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. From 1945 to 1948, he served in the U.S. Army. Prior to retiring, he worked on the Sea-Land Pacific. Waipahu, Hawaii is where he calls home. ARTHUR P. O'NEILL, 67, began his career with the Seafarers in 1987 from the port of Philadelphia. Born in Pennsylvania, he sailed as a member of the engine department. Boatman O'Neill last sailed aboard a Crowley American Transport vessel. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Navy. He calls Philadelphia home. INLAND HENRYM. FOSTER, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North Carolina, he worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. From 1954 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Army. Boatman Foster last sailed as a captain aboard an Express Marine vessel. He makes his home in Pinetown, N.C. RICHARD MASON, 62, first sailed with the SIU in 1956. The Maryland native sailed as a captain. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. From 1961 to 1963, he served in PATRICKW. THOMAS SR., 65, started his career with the SIU in 1965 in Port Arthur, Texas. A native of Texas, he sailed as a captain. During his career, he attended an educational conference at the union's training facility in Piney Point, Md. Boatman Thomas last sailed aboard the Helen Moran, operated by Moran Towing Co. From 1954 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army. He makes his home in Port Arthur. GREAT LAKES GLENNH. CONRAD, 71, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1949. Born in Iowa, he worked as a member of the deck department. From 1951to1953, he served in the U.S. Army. He last sailed in 1981 aboard a Great Lakes Dredge & Dock vessel. Brother Conrad calls Dubuque, Iowa home. American Victory Headed for Tampa The group that is pearheading the effort to convert the historic ship American Victory into a floating museum announced the vessel will arrive in Tampa this month. The Victory Ship, Inc. also recently said it has secured several sizable donations from Florida shipyards, publications and other businesses for use in the project. Built in 1945, the American Victory has been part of the U.S. Reserve Fleet on Virginia's James River since the end of the Vietnam War. Formerly crewed by SIU member , the 454-foot vessel was one of more than 500 Victory ships that debuted near the end of World War II. During Vietnam, it wa operated by Hudson Waterway Corp. The Victory Ship, Inc., which took possession of the vessel via an act of Congress, has indicated that the museum "will honor all mariners who served our country in times of war and peace. The American Victory will provide an educational and entertaining maritime experience to visitors." Plans call for the ship to be moored next to The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa's Channelside District. Joint ticketing with the aquarium is in the works. For more information, contact The Victory Ship, Inc. at 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL. 33602; or telephone (813) 2288766; or visit them on the web at http://www.americanvictory.org. U.S. merchant mariners who sailed between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946 may be eligible for certain veterans' benefits. See page 14 for additional information. Seafarers LOG 17 _....... �final Departures DEEP SEA ENOS E. ALLEN Pensioner Enos E. Allen, 76, passed away May 20. Born in Canada, he joined the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of New t...L..O"---""'---"- Orlean . Brother Allen sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1974. A resident ?f. Novato, Calif., he began receivmg his pension in April 1988. ~.,_,...,,...._=""_ ____, EDWARD L. ATKINS Pen ioner Edward L. Atkins, 74, died June 8. Brother Atkins began sailing with the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. His first 1..---~--- ship was the John H.B. Latrobe. A native of Virginia, he worked in the engine department. Prior to his retirement in January 1987, he worked on the Borinquen, operated by Puerto Ri~o Marine Management. Brother Atkins was a resident of Baltimore. CLARA B. BENNETT Pensioner Clara B. Bennett, 96, passed away June 22. A native o~ Texas, she began her SIU career m 1951 in the port of New Orleans. Sister Bennett sailed as a member of the steward department. A resident of Picayune, Miss., she began receiving her pension in April 1968. ISAIAS F. CAMBRONERO Pensioner Isaias F. Cambronero, 71, died June 14. Born in Costa Rica, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of New Orleans, first sailing aboard the Del Sud. He started out in the steward department and later transferre.d to the engine department, upgrading to QMED at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Cambronero, who retired in August 1982, resided in Terrytown, La. ~--=----. Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement in July 1987, he sailed aboard the Robert E. Lee, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Grimes lived in Virginia Beach, Va. LEROY GULLEY ..----=-----,Pensioner Leroy Gulley, 85, pas ed away May 14. A native of Alabama, he joined the SIU as a charter member in December 1938 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Gulley sailed in the steward department and attended an educational conference at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. A resident of Mobile, he started receiving his pension in February 1975. MICHAEL A. HALL Michael A. Ha11, 28, died May 8. Brother Hall graduated from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education entry proL......s.......::;~~......_____J gram and joined the SIU in 1992 in Piney Point, Md. His first ship was the USNS Persistent, operated by U.S. Marine Management, Inc. A native of Maryland, he worked in the deck department and frequently upgra~ed his skills at the school. He last sailed aboard the USNS Antares, a Bay Ship Management Co. vessel. Brother Hall was a resident of Glen Burnie, Md. FREDH.HEAD Pensioner Fred H. Head, 70, passed away May 26. After a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, he joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of New York, first sailing aboard the American Victory. The Alabama native sailed in the engine department and_ upgrade?. his skills at the union's trammg facility in Piney Point. Md. Prior to his retirement in March 1994, he worked aboard the USNS Denebola, a Bay Ship Management, Inc. vessel. Brother Head lived in Scotland, Conn. JOHN T. KELLY Pensioner John T. Kelly, 76, died May 7. Brother Kelly began his SIU career in 1969 in the port of New York, sailing aboard the EUGENE CROWLEY Pensioner Eugene Crowley, 83, passed away March 18. Brother Crowley joined the SIU in 1941 in the port of '"--"'----' New York. A native of California, he sailed in the deck department and began receiving bis pension in September 1976. Brother Crowley was a resident of Naples, Fla. WILLIAM E. GRIMES Pensioner William E. Grimes, 75, died May 6. He joined the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of Norfolk Va. The North t.__ ___:::::..___ ___, Carolina native sailed in the steward department and upgraded to chief cook at the tB Seafarers LOG ______._.....,...____ ___.~ Minot Victory. The New York native worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills to quartermaster at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. He last sailed aboard the Gulf Banker, an All Marine Services, Ltd. vessel. He retired in September 1990 and made his home in Bethlehem, Pa. Brother Kelly was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945. ARTHUR J. McGINNIS L____::..___ _ ___, Pen ioner Arthur J. McGinnis, 73, pas ed away May 20. Born in Connecticut, he joined the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the union's school in Piney Point, Md., graduating from the bosun recertification program there in 1974. A resident of Metairie, La., he started receiving his pension in May 1988. HAROLD H. McVAY - - - - - - - - - , Pensioner Harold H. McVay, 86, died May 2. A native of Ohio, he joined the SIU in 1948 in the port of Mobile, Ala. During his career, he sailed in the engine department and was ~ctive i~ uni?n organizing drives. Pnor to his retirement in March 1981, he worked aboard the Portland, a Sea-Land Service vessel. Brother McVay made his home in Seattle. JOHN NIEMIERA Pensioner John Niemiera, 73, passed away May 16. Born in Maryland, he joined the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Niemiera sailed as a member of the steward department. A resident of Jacksonville, Fla., he began receiving his pension in August 1984.. During World War II, he served m the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. ~---=----, JOHN H. PONSON Pensioner John H. Ponson, 77, died May 31. Brother Ponson first sailed with the SIU in 1943 from the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native worked in the steward department as a chief cook. Prior to retiring in May 1984, he sailed aboard the Del Norte, operated by Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. Brother Ponson was a resident of Metairie, La. JOHN C. REED JR. Pensioner John C. Reed Jr., 79, passed away April 3. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of New York. ILE:i:...::..L.............'--'a.- Born in Montana, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarer Harry Lundeberg School, where he graduated fro~ the steward recertification program m 1981. A resident of Des Moines, Iowa, Brother Reed began receiving his pension in November 1983. -~---. JOHN T. STATIDS Pensioner John T. Stathis, 72, passed away May 18. Born in California, he began hi sailing career in the 1940s and joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1956 in the port of San Francisco. His first s?ip wa the Matsonia. Brother Stathis came ashore in 1961 as a union repre entative and served as port agent in Portland, Ore. A resident of Carmichael, Calif., he began receiving his pension in February 1976. FRANK RIDRIGS Pensioner Frank Ridrigs, 73, died May 18. A native of Maryland, he graduated from the Andrew F_m:useth Training School in 1962 and JOmed the SIU in the port of Baltimore. His first ship wa the Chi/ore. Brother Ridrig worked in the steward department. Prior to retiring in November 1993, he sailed aboard the Global Mariner, a Transoceanic Cable Ship Co. vessel. He was a resident of Baltimore. RAMON L. VARGAS Pensioner Ramon L. Vargas, 71, died May 15. Brother Vargas first sailed with the MC&S in 1952 aboard the President Van Buren, an American President Lines vessel. A native of Puerto Rico, he worked in the steward department. Prior to his retirement in February 1978, he sailed on the Illinois. Brother Vargas made his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. ALFREDO C. VARONA Pen ioner Alfredo C. Varona, 64, passed away May 27. A native of the Philippines, he began his career with the Seafarers in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. His fir t ship was the Overseas Ulla, operated by Maritime Overseas Corp. Brother Varona worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Sea-Land Innovator. A resident of San Francisco, he started receiving his pension in January 1998. Barge Lines and joined the SIU in L960 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Samuel sailed as a captain. A resident of Paulsboro, N.J., he began receiving his pension in January 1964. He also was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. JOHN D. SPUEHLER Pensioner John D. Spuehler, 72, passed away May 30. He joined the Seafarers in L97 4 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. A native of ..___ _,__ .....__IL..__, New York, he sailed in the deck department. Prior to his retirement in May 1989, Boatman Spuehler signed off a Crowley Towing and Tran port Co. vessel. From 1944 to 1953, he served in the U.S . Navy. He made his home in Jacksonville. ~--....,,,,.,,=,.--. GREAT LAKES ROBERT E. CROTTY Pensioner Robert E. Crotty, 72, died April 15. Brother Crotty first sailed with the SIU in 1947. Born in Texas, he worked in the deck department, last sailing as a captain. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945. He was a resident of Chicago and started receiving his pension in December 1988. FRANK F. WALKER HUSSEIN A. SAID Pensioner Frank F. Walker, 88, died April 12. Born in Montana, h~ started hi career with the MC&S m 1941 . He worked as a member of the steward department. Prior to his retirement in August 1973, he sailed aboard the Mariposa. Brother Walker made his home in Spokane, Wash. Pensioner Hussein A. Said, 59, passed away May 25. Born in Arabia, he joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Detroit. He worked in the deck department and upgraded his kills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement in February 1997, he sailed aboard the H. Lee White, an American Steamship Co. vessel. Brother Said made his home in his native Yemen. ELSA R. WILSON Pensioner Elsa R. Wilson, 88, passed away May 27. Sister Wilson joined the MC&S in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. Born in Germany, she sailed in the teward department and began receiving her pension in May 1977. She was a resident of Santa Cruz, Calif. INLAND ROBIE J. HALL Pensioner Robie J. Hall, 85, died April 21. Born in Virg~nia , he ?egan his SIU sailing career m 1968 m the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman -~all worked as an engineer, last sailmg aboard a Steuart Transportation Co. vessel. During the World War II years of 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Navy. A resident of Heathsville, Va., he began receiving his pension in November 1978. RICHARD K. MORRELL! Richard K. Morrelli, 43, passed away April 6. Boatman Morrelli first sailed with the Seafarers in 1996. Born in California, he worked as a captain , last ailing aboard an American Workboat vessel. He was a re ident of Kaneohe, Hawaii. JAMES M. SAMUEL ,----......,...~ ........,............._~- Pen ioner James M. Samuel, 87, died May 11. Born in Virginia, he began his sailing career in 1927, working for Gellenthin SALEH A. SALEH Saleh A. Saleh, 49, passed away May 1. Born in Yemen, he joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Detroit. Brother Saleh rw worked as a member of the deck department, last sailing aboard the St. Clair, an American Steamship Co. vessel. He was a resident of Dearborn, Mich. LEHAM J. TEEPLE Pensioner Leham J. Teeple, 78, died January 5. A native of Michigan, he started his career with the SIU in 1961 working as a dredgeman aboard ves el operated by Dunbar and Sullivan. A resident of Bay Mills, Mich., Brother Teeple started receiving his pension in February 1982. GORDON L. TRAINOR Pen ioner Gordon L. Trainor, 78, passed away April 16. Born in . Canada, he joined the Seafarers m 1964 in the port of Frankfort, Mich. Brother Trainor sailed as a member of the deck department. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He made his home in St. Ignace, Mich. and retired in April 1986 . August 1999 �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. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Service), March 20-Chairman Lothar G. Reck, Secretary Lito G. Acosta, Educational Director Robert Mayer. Chairman stated ship assisted Coast Guard in search of Cessna plane downed in ocean 345 miles northeast of Maui. He noted new TV in crew lounge and reminded everyone to rewind movies when through. Secretary encouraged crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., especially those without fire fighting endorsements. Treasurer announced $150 in ship's fund to be used for barbecues. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for great job. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND KODIAK (Sea-Land Service), April 19-Chairman Dan Fleehearty, Secretary Melvin E. Morgan, Educational Director Ronald Belcher, Deck Delegate. R.J. O'Connell, Engine Delegate J. Haidir, Steward Delegate Thomas M. Curle . Chairman announced pa off on arrival in Tacom ash. He reminded crew bers to separate plastic from trash in rooms and check with union rep before leaving. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made and forwarded to contracts department to allow crew members to bring spouses on board. EA-LAND QUALITY (SeaLa ervice), April 18Chairman us Koutouros, Secretary Fran yn J. Cordero, Educational Director Brian J. Sengelaub, Deck Delegate Larry Garvin, Engine Delegate James E. Sieger, Steward Delegate Tracey Newsome. Chairman announced new lounge chair, microwave oven and washing machine on order. Still need two gangway safety nets. He reminded crew to observe safety practices on deck, particularly when ship is working cargo. He also said to wear hard hat and reflection vest in terminal when not immediately going ashore. Educational director stressed importance of taking all medications and drinking plenty of fluids to remain healthy. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Elizabeth, N .J. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (SeaLand Service), April 21Chairman Jay C. Dillon, Secretary William J. Bunch, Educational Director DiMarko Shoulders, Deck Delegate George P. Barber, Engine Delegate Ahmed Alaidares, Steward Delegate Munasser T. Omer. Chairman announced payoff on arrival in Long Beach, Calif. Crew laundry deck to be repaired there. Educational director suggested everyone keep up-to-date with all paperwork required for shipping: benzene card, STCW, TRB. No beefs or disputed OT. LOGs received in Yokohama, Japan. President's report from LOG and letter from VP Contracts Augie Tellez regarding days off read at shipboard meeting. Suggestion made and sent to contracts department to have fixed crew of stand- August 1999 bys for all departments waiting in Long Beach. Crew discussed possibility of getting shuttle bu in port of Pusan, South Korea to take mariners to gate. New VCR for crew lounge requested. Next ports: Long Beach and Panama. USNS REGULUS (Bay Shipping Corp.), April 28-Chairman Wilfredo C. Rice, Secretary Wayne Howard, Educational Director Marc Poniatowski, Deck Delegate Arthur Machado, Engine Delegate Allen J. Pettis, Steward Delegate Siu L. Chan. Chairman reminded crew of no smoking rule on mess decks. He noted ship sailing to Hawaii in June. Upon return in July, it will dock in Violet, La. Educational director advi ed all members to attend upgrading classes at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made and sent to contracts department to have spouses' prescriptions covered under health benefits. Vote of thanks given to all departments. USNS YANO (Bay Shipping Corp.), April 25-Chairman John Wolfe, Secretary Mohamed Abdelfattah, Deck Delegate Randy Powell, Engine Delegate Stephen R. Harrington, Steward Delegate John Nunez. Chairman reported vessel in Persian Gulf for i ur on h . e advi e crew t drink lots of water and be careful when going ashore. He also reminded them of no smoking in cargo holds. Educational director suggested everyone upgrade skills at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Situation of expired stores to be looked into. Next port: Dubai, UAE. CLEVELAND (Sealift), May 3Chairman Fareed A. Khan, Secretary Miguel E. Vinca, Educational Director Dennis Swords, Deck Delegate Robert Trahan, Engine Delegate Lenzy Barney Jr., Steward Delegate Julio Arzu. Chairman thanked everyone for doing good job, especially cleaning cargo holds. Secretary reminded those getting off to leave rooms tidy with clean linen, towels and bath soap. Educational director urged crew to take advantage of educational facilitie at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $60 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good meals and keeping ship clean. Next port: New Orleans, La. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), May 223-Chairman Ramon Castro, Secretary Lee N. Frazier, Deck Delegate Willie Chestnutt, Engine Delegate Charles Earl Bibbs, Steward Delegate Joyce Bernardez. Chairman stated all going well aboard Liberty Star. He said he was very happy to be part of such a good crew and hoped all would continue to work safely. Secretary announced payoff in New Orleans, La. May 17. Treasurer announced $145 in ship's fund. He reminded crew members of importance of upgrading at Paul Hall Center and contributing to SPAD. Some disputed OT reported in deck depart- ment. No beefs or OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Suggestion made and sent to contracts department of need for medical plan to issue ID cards. Vote of thanks to teward department for good service. LNG ARIES (PRONAV), May 6--Chairman Monte Pereira, Secretary Robert Brown, Educational Director Jose A. Quinones, Deck Delegate Angel L. Perez, Engine Delegate David Dinan. Secretary reminded everyone to do jobs as usual and not pay attention to rumors about reflagging LNG ships. No final word announced. Educational director advi ed crew members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $1,846 in ship's fund. Suggestion made to evenly split fund among all on board if and when ves el is reflagged. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Deck delegate Perez reminded ABs to keep taking on stores after docking until properly relieved. Message from VP Contracts Augie Tellez read at meeting concerning PRONAV reflagging ituation. Crew told of recent changes made by PRONAV: no more Horizon air mail after July 1 and restriction of crew to direct flights to and from ves el. Vote of thanks given to steward department for putting on fea t every night. Next port: Tobata, Japan. OSPREY (Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management), May 20-Chairman Robert M. Wiles, Secretary Michael A. Pooler, Educational Director Nicholas Vieira, Deck Delegate Robert E. Thompson Ill, Engine Delegate Antonio Simon, Steward Delegate Lawrence E. Winfield. Chairman led discussion on need for STCW endorsements in order to sail after February 1, 2002. He reported to crew on NMU now being able to take advantage of training facilities at Pin Point and impres ed upon everyone how important it is to bring all certifications up to date. Secretary has new movies, thanks to some crew members. Educational director echoed statements by chairman on need to continue upgrading skills. No beefs or di puted OT reported. Ship to lay up in Wilmington, N.C. for repairs . All hands will stay on board. New lines on bow and stem needed. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Next port: Baltimore. OVERSEAS OHIO (Alaska Tanker Co.), May 2-Chairman Tim Koebel, Secretary Jeff Smith, Educational Director Byron Elliot, Deck Delegate Carl Sands, Engine Delegate Mike McNally. Chairman reported on Tacoma port agent's visit to ship and held discussion on news regarding shipping arrangements with new company. Payoff announced for San Francisco at which time more information will be available about any contract changes, including company's low transportation rates. Educational director noted that with increased emphasis on training in tanker industry, crew members should enhance credentials by taking necessary upgrading courses offered at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made and forwarded to headquarters to have union lobbyists work with legislators to amend OPA '90 work-hour rules to say "no more than 15 hours a day" rather than "no more than 36 hours in a 72hour period." Crew expres ed gratitude to steward department for fine fare. Next port: El Segundo, Calif. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), May 26Chairman Hayden Gifford, Secretary Franchesca Rose, Educational Director Ray Chapman, Deck Delegate Manolo V. Delos Santos, Engine Delegate Robert Harder. Chairman reminded crew members to be aware of and not forget to apply for additional benefit following completion of commitment. Secretary noted four new mattresses brought aboard this voyage. Four more will be ordered each time consumable stores are ordered until all crew members aboard ship but also at home. Treasurer stated two new picnic tables now on board. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read letter from VP Contracts Augie Tellez in answer to previous question regarding pension plan. He also read article from LOG about money purchase pension plan. Suggestions forwarded to contracts department regarding reducing amount of time needed for retirement and extending vacation time. Fresh Sashimi, Anyone? Peter Schmitt, chief steward aboard the 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez proudly shows off his latest catch. The 30-pound big-eye tuna was caught using live mackerel as bait, a heavy duty Penn Senator 11 reel and 100-pound test line. Schmitt says, ''The fishing out here is the best I've ever seen." The Lopez is one of four AMSEA mjlitary prepositioned ships based in Saipan. receive one. Educational director urged everyone to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department given vote of thank for great food. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), May 9-Chairman Noberto Prats, Secretary Pedro Laboy, Engine Delegate Jorge E. Bermeo, Steward Delegate Fernando L. Vega. Chairman advised SIU members to upgrade skills and get better jobs. Educational director agreed, telling crew to apply for course needed to keep up with indu try. No beefs or disputed OT rep.orted. Special vote of thanks given to Steward Laboy for good job keeping crew happy and well fed. Next port: Elizabeth, NJ. SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land Service), May 4-Chairman Billy Hill, Secretary Norman Evans, Educational Director James Roberts, Deck Delegate Robert J. Milici, Steward Delegate Isaac Vega Mercado. Chairman announced payoff on arrival in Elizabeth, N.J. Sanitary inspection went well and everything running smoothly. Crew members asked to return all movies before arrival in port. They also were encouraged to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT. Suggestion made to ask contracts department to reduce number of days needed for retirement. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), May 21Chairman Joel Lechel, Secretary David A. Cunningham, Educational Director Keith Jordan Sr., Deck Delegate Danny Miller, Engine Delegate Victor Sapp, Steward Delegate Clifford Elliott. Chairman announced payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. and thanked deck gang for hard work keeping hip looking it best. He wished everyone a safe vacation-and good ailing to departing apprentices. Educational director reminded crew about advantage of upgrading at Paul Hall Center, particularly when new fire fighting chool opens. Fire can strike any time, any place, not only Next ports: Jacksonville; San Juan, P.R.; and Hawaii. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Service), May 8-Chairman Jerry Borucki, Secretary Kevin Dougherty, Educational Director Joe Holzinger, Deck Delegate Norm Taylor, Engine Delegate Eric L. Campbell, Steward Delegate Nathalie Norie. Educational director spoke about taking advantage of many free educational opportunities available at Piney Point and chance to bring families there while upgrading. Some disputed OT reported in engine department; none in deck or steward departments. Bosun reviewed president's report from April LOG, including new cruise ship, Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting School and U.S.-built double-hulled tankers. Vote carried to reimburse crew member from ship's fund to cover cost of missing clothing from laundry room. Clarification reque ted on amount of taxes taken out of vacation check and why retirement pension has not been raised since 1987 to account for inflation. Chairman complimented steward department for keeping ship dean and serving very good meals and extra treats. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; and Honolulu, Hawaii. SGT MATEJ KOCAK (Waterman Steamship), May 2Chairman Angelo Urti, Secretary Lonnie Gamble, Educational Director Jerald Graham, Deck Delegate Robert A. Hudas, Engine Delegate Robert C. Hines Jr., Steward Delegate Clarence Robinson. On behalf of captain, chairman thanked crew for patience. Ship went into yard in Newport News, Va., but shipyard worker went on strike so vessel sailed to Blount Island in Jacksonville, Fla. to get some work done. Vessel now returning to shipyard. Educational director noted that all eligible crew members should attend Paul Hall Center to upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked engine department for keeping everything running smoothly in galley and teward department, in turn, was thanked for job well done. Next port: Norfolk, Va. Sealamrs LOii 19 - �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes On-Site Training for Tankerman (PIC) Barge Course Tankerman (PIC) Barge - With their instructor, Mitch Oakley (front right), boatmen who completed the tankerman (PIC) barge class on May 14 are (in no specific order) Elijah T. Collins, Curtis A. Hintze, Sterling J. Adams, Louis Perez Jr., Ted North, Floyd Ellis, Leo M. Venegas, William V. Hudgins Jr., Paul R. McCread, Derek Ross, Samuel Scott, Bob Borcester, Michael Rosenthal, Stephen K. Thompson, Michael John White and James J. Boyce Sr. Advanced Fire Fighting - Upgrading SIU members completing the advanced fire fighting course on May 21 are (from left, kneeling) William Bryan, Richard Buchanan, Fitzgerald Joseph, Vern Andrews, Ali Al-Kassemi, David MacCollister, Jonn Noel, (second row) Stormie Combs (instructor), Mathew Sandy, Charles Washington, Lawrence Griffiths, Gloria Detiege, Lothar Wick, Mary Ann Schade, Janusz Smolik, Curtis Jackson, Jamie Landeira, Roger Ollivierre, Roy Martinez, Nestor Ramirez and Robert Rogers. Philadelphia, Pa., January 12-15 - Maritrans boatmen completing the tankerman (PIC) barge course include Sherrie Fuller, Jim Serrell, Anthony Mathews, Gregory Lynch, Michael MacNeil and James Rudin. Their instructor is Mitch Oakley. Philadelphia, Pa., January 26-29 - More Maritrans boatmen completing this course in Philadelphia are John Peden, Melissa Terry, Aaron Findley, Jeffrey Hardy, William Taylor, Andrew Lyon, Luis Sosa, Bryan Kosegi, Lincoln Fraser, William White, Jerry Willis, William Eden, Phillip Yeomans and Kenneth Johnson (from Penn Maritime). Instructor Mitch Oakley is seated. Lake Charles, La., February 16-19 - Boatmen working aboard Crowley equipment in Lake Charles who completed the on-site course include Howard Clark, Jerry Fontenot, Larry Gaston, William Travis, Frank Aronsen and Michael Sanchez. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) - Receiving their certificates for completing the tanker familiarization/assistant DL course on May 28 are (from left, kneeling) Sean Cripps, David Gray, Rafael Clemente, Charles Hobbs, James Pierce , Gregorio Clotter, Wilfredo Acevedo, (second row) Jim Shaffer (instructor), William Thomas, Demetrius Simmons, Christopher Kicey, Patricia Geras, Raymond Oglesby, Edward Nelson, Wilfred Jones, William Sheehan and Clarence Fortt. Water Survival - Practicing their water survival skills are (in left boat) Brett Parkins, Mitchell Gustafson Jr., Melvin Ratcliff, Mohamed Mosa, Tina Larson, Kris Anderson , Jess Chalker, Amin Ali, (middle boat) David Green, Kevin Johnson, Robert Parker, Tawnia Stucker, George Travis, George Kankam, Susais Ali, (right lifeboat) Sales Amed, Raheem Owens, Cas Garza, Ernie Evangelista, Wayne Abell, Rashad King and Angel Melendez. 20 Seafarers LOG Government Vessels - Marking completion of the government vessels course on June 4 are (from left, kneeling) Daniel Buffington, Anthony Jordan, Joshua Davenport, Samuel McDaniel, Cole Bridwell, Joseph Sotelo, Christopher Ledlow, (second row) Mark Case (instructor), Tom Larusso, Hazel Galbiso, Clifton Doonis, Aaron Thomas, Nabil Ahmed, Christopher Barrow, Kwasi Manu, Timothy Bixby, Joel Encarnacion, Michael Snow and Tim Kager. August 1999 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes .i' . J Chief Cook - Completing one of the required modules in the chief cook course are (from left) Jann Noel, Cleotilde Mejia, John Agugliaro, John Dobson (instructor), Dulip Sookhiram, Bienvenido Pagan, Alba Ayala and Jasper Jackson. STCW Water Survival - Upgrading Seafarers who successfully completed the water survival class necessary for their STCW endorsements are (from left, kneeling) Hazel Galbiso, Tina Larson, Jason Bonefont, Lolita Thomas, Ali Al-Kassemi, Ben Cusic (instructor); (second row) Bernie Hutchins, Wayne Abell, Curtis Isaac, Edward Nelson, Ruben Siclot, Sean Cripps, Jamahl Fadigo, (third row) Arnulfo Calderon, Basil Waldron, Louis Morris, Jay Linx, Eric Van Benthuysen and Wilfred Jones. STCW Safety and Fire Fighting - Upgrading graduates of the STCW safety and fire fighting course are (from left) Stormie Combs (instructor), Arnulfo Calderon, Basil Waldron, Lolita Thomas, Eric Van Benthuysen, Ruben Siclot, Bernie Hutchins, Curtis Isaac and Wayne Abell. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) - Radar - With help from instructor Mike Smith (standing), students completing the radar class on June 18 are Samuel McGuire, Mathew Sandy, Jerome North, Horatiu Vintila, James Pierce, David Lupton and Raymond Fernandez. Earning their graduation certificates for completion of the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course on June 25 are (from left, first row) Monty Smith, Kwasi Manu, Anthony Simon, Admed Sharif, Roland Perreault, Michael Kennedy, (second row) Jim Shaffer (instructor), Kenneth Salgado, Victor Harvey, Edric Hernandez, Rachel Sanner, Jason Pratt, Ray Avie Jr., Adel Alameri, Bert Reynolds, Randy Ledesma, Shaib Juma, Dennis Wilson, (third row) Peter Czichomski, Melton Sam, John Barut, Billy Pinkston, Edward Devlin and Jerry Leonard. FOWT - Earning their FOWT endorsements on June 11 are (from left, kneeling) George Murphy Jr., Luis Alvarez, Elaine Watts, Joey Canlas, Courtney Price, Adedeji Adegunwa, Ameon Fuller, Brad Neathery, Anthony Neathery, Lewis O'Neal, (second row) Mark Jones (instructor), Charles Valencia, Arnido Sindac, Emmanuel Adeoti, Jose Liwag, Peter Poree Jr., James Van Dyke, Andre Terrell, Rohmy Butler, Hassan Mohamed, Christopher Sykes, Jaime Velasquez, (third row) Dean Macfarlane, Nigel Jefferson, Robert Racanelli, Paul Maitoza, Gregory Vliek, Terrance Maxwell, Jonathan Ncuokeh and David Ayou. August 1999 Seafarers LOB 21 �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.) Remember Voting Records When Electing Leglslators Peter Salvo wrote about the unfair treatment received by American merchant marine veterans of World War II [June 1999 Seafarers LOG]. The American merchant seaman has never received fair and equal treatment since 1775. He wrote that Pennsylvania paid a $500 bonus to each state veteran after WWII. The great state of New York paid only $250. WWII American merchant seamen were finally declared veterans in 1988, but they did not get full GI bill benefits. Those ended in 1965. What they did get was too little, too late. A few states, Louisiana for one, have given a one-time bonus. For the past four years, I have worked tirelessly to obtain a $250 recognition bonus for New York AMMV WWII survivors. Each year, the bill was introduced into both houses of the New York state legislature but died in committee. Last January, Senator Marchi and Assemblywoman Connelly introduced the bill again. New York state AMMV members wrote letters and made phone calls. We were assisted in this effort by other maritime and veterans' organizations. Guess what? Once again, the bills died in committee. Election time is around the comer. I hope that every merchant seaman, whether a veteran, retired, inactive or active, will inform legislators from coast to coast that regardless of political affiliation, we will vote only for those who support the cause of the American merchant seaman. In addition, I hope that merchant marine veterans from coast to coast will demand that every state award a one-time recognition bonus to those who served in WWII-now, in this lifetime! Yes, we merchant marine veterans are still waiting, and unless we all stand together with firm determination, we shall continue to wait into eternity. Gloria Flora Nicolich PR Officer, American Merchant Marine Veterans Brooklyn, N. Y. SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR SIU PACIFIC DISTRICT PENSION PLAN This is a summary of the annual report for the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, EIN 94-6061923, Plan No. OOI, for the year ended July 31, 1998. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (BRISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by the trust. Plan expenses were $14,152,499. These expenses included $929,782 in administrative expenses and $13,222,717 in benefits paid to participant and beneficiaries. A total of 4,953 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 $156,888, 193 as of July 3 I, 1998, compared to $154,916,757 as of August 1, 1997. During the plan year, the plan experienced an increase in its net asset of $1,971,436. This increase includes unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had a total income of $16,123,935 including employer contributions of $24,928, realized gains of $1,795,754 from the sale of investments, earnings from investments of $14,298,988 and other income of $4,265. Minimum Funding Standards An actuary's statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance with the minimum funding standard of BRISA. 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 independent auditor's report; 2. assets held for investment; 3. transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets; and 4. actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of Che ter Hazel, administrative manager, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3104; telephone (415) 495-6882. The charge to cover copying costs will be $3.00 for the full annual report, or 25 cents per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on reque t and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes 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 94105-3104 and at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the DOL upon payment of copying costs. Reque ts to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, Room N-5507, Washington, DC 20210. SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR SIU PACIFIC DISTRICT SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FUND, INC. This is a summary of the annual report of the SlU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc., E.1.N. 941431246, Plan No.501, for the year ended July 31, 1998. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Board of Trustees of the SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. has committed itself to pay all supplemental benefit claims incurred under the terms of the plan. Basic Financial Statement The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $3,143,615 as of July 31,1998, compared to $3,097 ,064 as of August 1, 1997. During the plan year, the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $46,551. During the plan year, the plan had a total income of $6,092,305 including employer contributions of $5,832,348, earnings from investments of $188,316 and other income of $71,641. Plan expenses were $6,045,754. These expenses included $220,576 in admini trative expenses and $5,825, 178 in benefits paid to participants. 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: l. An independent auditor's report; 2. assets held for investment; and 3. transaction in excess of 5 percent of plan assets. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of Chester Hazel, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3104; telephone (415) 495-6882. The charge to cover copying costs will be $3.00 for the full annual report, or 25 cents per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on reque t and at no charge, a statement of the as et and liabilities of the plan and accompanying note , or a tatement of income and expen es of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, the e two statement and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying co ts given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because the e portions are furnished without charge. 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 94105-3104, and at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the DOL upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addres ed to: Public Disclosure Room, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, Room N-55C7, Washington, DC 20210. 22 Seafarers LOii 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 tru tees in charge of these funds sha11 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 hipping 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 employer , they hould notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper addre s for this is: 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 DONATIO SPAD. SPAD is a separate segre- EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained gated 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 uch objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solici·ted 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. 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 member hip 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 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 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. 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 time , 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. Member hould 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 believe 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. NOTIFYING THE UNION-If August 1999 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER 1999 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The fo11owing is the schedule for etas. es from Augustw through the end of the year 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 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 be/ore their course's start date. The courses listed here 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. wm Recertification Programs Course Start Date Date of Completion Bosun Recertification August23 October 4 Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL) August 2 September 27 November 1 August 20 October 15 November 19 Basic Firefighting August2 September 27 October 18 November 22 August 6 October 1 October 22 November26 Advanced Firefighting August2 September 13 Novembers August 13 September 24 November19 Government Vessels August 16 September 6 September 27 November 1 November8 November29 September 3 September 24 October 15 November 19 November 26 December 17 Lifeboatman/Water Survival August 9 September 6 October 4 November 1 November29 August 20 September 17 October 15 November 12 December 10 STCW Basic Safety (refresher) August2 August 9 August30 September 20 September 27 October 25 November 1 Novembers ovember 22 November29 December 13 August 6 August 13 September 3 September 24 October 1 October 29 November 5 November 12 ovember 26 December3 December 17 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman September 20 October 29 Radar Observer/Unlimited August9 September 4 August20 September 15 Radar Recertification (one day) August 19 October 14 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids August 23 October 18 (ARPA) August 28 October23 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Fireman/Watertender & Oil r August9 October 11 September 17 November 19 September 20 October 29 September 13 December 3 Power Plant Maintenance September 27 Novembers Refrigeration Systems Maintenance November 8 December 17 Maintenance I Steward Upgrading Courses Start Date Galley 0 tions/ perations Advanced Gal e (Every week, starting ~ August2,9,16,23,30 September 6, 13, 20, 27 October 4, 11, 18, 25 11) Certified Chief Cook/ Chief Steward (Every other week, starting Jan.11) 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 August 9, 23 ep ember 6, 20 October 4, 18 Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. ------~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ Arrl.lllHI nn1 ,,,. JI Tlnll IUll 11n~n JI ft Ill~ UrUIJHUlllU 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, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seati.me 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 application. The pavment should be made with a monev order only. payable to LMSS. Name Address COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member 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# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? D Yes D Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - - - Date Off: No If yes, c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes D No If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 No Firefighting: D Yes 0 No CPR: 0 Yes 0 No Primary language spoken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - August 1999 SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ DATE NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you 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.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? 0 Yes LAST V E S S E L : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ _ __ 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 otherwi e quali fied, of any race, nationality or ex. The chool complies with applicable Jaws with regard to admission, access or treatment of student in its program or activitie . 8199 Seafarers LOB 23 �SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS SIU Pacific District Pension Plan -page22 SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. -page22 S-L Integrity Crew Enjoys Run to Nortliem EW'Ope There were no complaints when the Sea-Lcmd Integrity paid off recently in Elizabeth, N.J. There were, however, compliments given to the steward department for the outstanding job they performed and the delicious meals they prepared. It was a good run to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for the crew members aboard the SeaLand containership, and AB Pedro Lopez snapped these photos during the voyage. The vessel will head south to Norfolk, Va. before crossing the Atlantic again and then return to Boston and Elizabeth to complete its monthly run. All crew members on the Sea-Land Integrity agree that the steward department does an outstanding job. From the left are Chief Steward Stephanie Sizemore, Chief Cook Luis Ruiz and GU Kevin M. Brown. AB Phillip A. Morris steers a straight course at sea. DEU Ali S. Mohsin (left) and AB Pedro Lopez secure deck equipment. Prior to docking, AB Nelson R. Rodriguez checks that the winch is working properly. Chief Electrician Dennis R. Baker looks for some reading material aboard ship. ... AB Robert S. Vazquez prepares a winch for docking in the port of Rotterdam. Taking a 15-minute coffee break aboard the Sea-Land containership is Bosun Leon AB Pedro Lopez puts on a brake to disengage the winch aboard the Sea-Land Integrity. As the vessel approaches the port in Rotterdam, AB Earnest Oxendine prepares for docking. � 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 August 1999 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SEN. ROBB: STRONG MERCHANT MARINE IS CRITICAL TO THIS NATION’S DEFENSE ALLEGED SEX ASSAULTS DISCLOSD BY CARNIVAL SEAFARERS’ WAGES, BENEFITS INCREASE UNDER NEW FIVE-YEAR T-AGOS PACT SIU-CREWED USNS BOB HOPE COMPLETES BALKAN OPERATION MAERSK ACQUIRES SEA-LAND’S INTERNATIONAL FLEET BOATMENT AT MARITIRANS AMERICAN WORKBOATS RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS BOSUN TEDDY BUSH PASSES AWAY AT 38 STEELWORKERS HOPEFUL OF RESOLUTION IN NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING STRIKE RELAXED ASSESSMENT ENTERS HOME STRETCH LABOR HAILS GOV’T CONTRACTING REFORMS ALASKA TANKER SIGNS PACT WITH SEAFARERS GAO REPORT: ALASKAN OIL EXPORTS INCREASE U.S. MARINER EMPLOYMENT NEW BEDFORD REMAINS A TOP FISHING PORT RUNAWAY-FLAG CRUISE LINE ADMITS DUMPING TOXIX CHEMICALS IN NEW YORK, MIAMI, L.A. PAUL HALL CENTER CERTIFIED AS AUTHORIZED PROVIDER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS AB BROSIUS RECEIVES SAFETY AWARD ELECTRICIAN EARNS DEGREE AFTER 8 YEARS OF STUDY LEGAL DEPARTMENT CLARIFIES TAX EXEMPT STATUS FOR SEAFARERS IN ARABIAN GULF RUNAWAY-FLAG SHIPS CREATE MORE UNWANTED HEADLINES FOUR TONS OF COCAINE SEIZED FROM FREIGHTER; TANKER DETAINED IN L.A. FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS UNION LABEL URGES MEMBERS TO HELP STOP ‘SAIPAN SCAM’ ITF LAUNCHES NEW COMMISSION TO REFORM SHIPPING REGULATION ELECTRONIC MEDIUM’S GROWTH CHALLENGES INFO SEEKERS CAPT. BOOTH HEADS NMC 1999 AOTOS AWARDS GO TO TRANSCOM AND MARINE TRANSPORT LINE’S RICHARD DUMOULIN SIU LAUDS AMMV CHAPTER AT MEMORIAL DEDICATION DEDICATIONS ‘EMBRACE OUR PAST WHILE WORKING FOR THE FUTURE’ BUILDINGS NAMED IN MEMORY OF TOM FAY, BULL SHEPARD REMINDER TO WWII MARINERS S-L INTEGRITY CREW ENJOYS RUN TO NORTHERN EUROPE 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 08/01/1999 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. 8 1999 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/0e9959f1ed15d40daba716648c48186b.PDF 0000f16c4f0f72e176c25f90ce2a9761 PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District» Seafarers International Union of North America NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. AUGUST 2. 1946 Vol. VIII. New Draft Rules I II NEW YORK—Selective Service Headquar­ ters announced recently that as of July 15, men with 24 months substantially continuous sea service had become eligible for Certificates of Service. They also announced that on October 1, 1946, the sea service requirement will be fur­ ther reduced to 18 months of substantially con­ tinuous sea time. Both provisions apply only to men actively engaged in sailing as merchant seamen at the time the new rule goes into effect. That means that if you anticipate the rule, and retire too soon, you may get an Army address anyway. Complete details on this very important mat­ ter will be in next week's edition of the Log. SlU Pledges All-Out Aid To The Eight Victims Of CoastGuard Military Rule NEW YORK—The full resources of the Seafarers International Union were pledged to the eight men whose papers were suspended for six months by an autocratic, dictatorial Coast Guard decision. This support was pledged by a special meeting of the New York Branch, which authorized Paul Hall, ^ew York Agent and SIU Director of Organization, to take all steps neces- Ii'j Shipowners StallAs Strike Voting Closes NEW YORK — With victory over the Waterman and Missis­ sippi Steamship Companies al­ ready in the bag, and with the SIU strike vote being tabulated, •the Seafarers Negotiating Com­ mittee is now being faced with the stalling tactics of the "die­ hard"' operators who persist in their attitude that the wage agreement should be signed first, and that general rules and work­ ing rules be discussed later. This proposal was definitely turned down by the Committee, Secretary-Treasurer John Hawk, chairman of the committee re­ ported. "These people have no inten­ tion of settling anything," said Hawk. "They are 'boxing the compass' hoping that Washing­ ton will step in to help beat us down. We will not go to Wash­ ington; there are no SIU ships there." BALLOTING ENDS The position of the other com­ panies, led by Parks and Cherbonnier, is that they will sign the same wage agreements that Mississippi and Waterman signed, bul that the general rules and working rules be left for later discussion. When this came out in the meeting held on Wednes­ day, July 31, the Union Commit­ tee nixed it, and immediately broke off further negotiations. On the same day that the con­ ferences broke down, the SIU Strike Vote, which started on July 1, finally came to an end. In all SIU ports balloting com­ mittees were elected at the regu­ lar coastwise meetings, and the .results will be announced in the very near future. From the tenor of the men's thoughts, there is every reason to believe that the (Contimted on Page }) MILITANTS, EVERY ONE OF THEM Here are six reasons why the Coast Guard will never get away with fascist control over members of the Seafarers. These are the men whose papers were suspended by the CG for six months, and the lawyer who defended them, and is now appealing their case. Left to right, Eduardo Bonefant, AB; Ben Sterling. Attorney; Charles Moats, Bosun and leading spirit in the activity aboard the SS Helen; Joe Volpian. SIU Special Services Rep.; Marino Cortez, AB; and Clinton Fjerstad, AB. The four remaining victims of the CG gestapo methods were not avail­ able for the picture taking. Brass Hat Hospital Red Tape Almost Becomes Seaman's Shroud By T= E. CLOUGH BALTIMORE — This is the story of a Union Brother off the Isthmian's Beaver Victory who was denied hospital treatment at Attention Members! Seafarers Sailing As Engineers All members—retired mem­ bers and former members— of the Seafarers Internation­ al Union who are now sailing as licensed Engineers: Please ~ report as soon as possible to the Seafarers Hall at 51 Bea­ ver Street. New York City. Your presence is necessary in a matter of great impor- ianco. No. 31 the Marine Hospital until all* the red tape and boondoggling could be disposed of. A Brother who was horribly burned in a fire set while a boiler was being lighted, and who was left without treat­ ment in the hospital while burn­ ed flesh peeled off him and fell to the hospital floor. This is a story that could be told by hundreds of merchant seamen who have run up against Coast Guard control. It is a tale that has lost some importance in the telling because some of us were beginning to take this sort of inefficiency and cruelty for granted. But as this story of Brother Eugene Stewart bears out, CG control almost lost adman's life in this case, and there is no telling t-sary to have these Brothers reinstated. The eight men were members of the Deck Gang on the SS Helen, Bull Lines, who refused to sail the ship on July 8 and 9 on the grounds that she was un­ dermanned and therefore unseaworthy. These men took this oppor­ tunity to demonstrate with their Union Brothers against Harry Bridges' attempted raid on SIU ships, and also to assist, by ap­ plying pressure, the Union Ne­ gotiating Committee push its de­ mands against the shipowners. ""We are not going to tolerate the use of kangaroo courts to stop SIU job action," said Brother Hall. ""We intend to use economic and job action wherever and whenever possible, and in all likelihood rnembers of the Sea­ farers will refuse to sail tber~.^i^ Helen until these men have had their papers returned to them." This is the importance of The Helen Case: The brasshat action against these Brothers is a definite part of the ship­ owner—Coast Guard offen­ sive against the militancy of the SIU. If the Coast Guard gets away with this and eS"tablishes a precedent, it will mean the end of any kind of economic action and the be­ ginning of a new era of slav­ ery for seamen. how many men died, or bear scars, due to other examples of CG pigheadedness. ACCIDENTAL FIRE Eugene Stewart was in the act of lighting a boiler on the Beaver Victory when, through no fault of his own, his clothes v/ere set on fire. Before they could be extinguished, he suffered severe burns of the right hand and arm. As soon as Stewart could be moved, he was taken to the dock where he waited for at least three quarters of an hour for an am­ bulance which was called as soon as the accident occurred. The ambulance removed Stew­ art to the Baltimore Marine Hos­ pital Out-patient Department where he remained, untreated, for Hall also indicated that actioif of the same nature would prob­ ably pass to other ships whei'e CG control results in men being deprived of their right to earn a living. The job which the CG has done on the militant men of the SS Helen has been interpreted by the Union as an attempt to embarrass the Union during the course of the present negotiations with the operators, and also as the CG way repaying certain shipowners who did not oppose them in their fight to continue peacetime jurisdiction over mer­ chant seamen. Here is how the story started: On July 8, the crew of the SS {Continued on Page J) (Continued on Page 4) �THE SEAFAHERS "dge Two LOG Friday. Augiisi 2, 1343 SEAFARERS LOG • Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated leith the American Tederatiou of Labor At 51 Beaver Street, New York, 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 i, S- S- HARRY LUNDEBERG President 105 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK - -- -- -- - Secy-Tteas. P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 The Pity Of It Pity the poor shipowner. Pity the poor guy who has cleaned up a fortune during the war, and who is now crying his eyes out over the prospect of giving working seamen a living wage. This is truly a heart-breaking spec­ tacle, and we wish that we could spare a little time to shed a few tears for these champagne and caviar eaters. But strangely, we cannot force even one tear to fall. When we think of the seamen and their families, we are thinking of people who want only three meals a day, and a decent.way of life\ We are thinking of people who have no security for their old age, no backlog of money to be used in case of illness, and no funds to help a child through school. That is why the new contract with the Waterman anJ Mississippi Steamship Companies is so important. Not only does it represent the best contract ever won by any maritime union, but it proves that the economic power of seamen is a force to be reckoned with. Just as the garment workers, the coal miners, and the auto workers have forced the bosses into giving them decent wages and conditions, so have we wrested conces­ sions from our employers. • For a long time, seamen were treated like slaves, and it has taken the shipowners a little time to get over such old-fashioned ideas, but they are learning. And this is not the end. The fight for a living wage is a continuing struggle. ,— We have seen in the past, and the story of the SS Helen also bears it out, how the shipowners ally them­ selves with the Coast Guard in an effort to grind down These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, the merchant mariners. It pays off to both partners in as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by writ­ this alliance, and it pays them both well. ing to Ihem. Just recently, it helped the CG maintain control over STATEN ISLAND HOSP. L. L. OWENS seamen in peacetime, and on the other hand, the operators M. C. BROOKS G. A. SMITH will expect the Coast Guard to try to break any strike along T. L. KEITH V. HAMMARGREN the waterfront. R. A. YOUNG . E. H. ENYART M, FEUCTANO So let us pity the poor shipowner. Before the SIU he J. E. TUCKER T. J. DAWES had the right to dictate how much he would pay, and how H. NEILSEN S. T. PATTERSON long you would have to work for the meager salary he A. NELSON t 1 & offered. Now the circumstances are changed, and unless L. KAY L. A. CORNWALL BALTIMORE HOSPITAL he pays a decent wage, and agrees to better working rules, R. G. MOSSELLER the seamen will refuse to ship and his vessels will be tied W. B. MUIR CHARLES DUNN up until they rot. STANLEY BUZALEWSKI J. M. DALY HARRY BENNETT Mississippi and Waterman read the handwriting on J. L. WEEKS M. A. 'CARRAWAY L. R. BORJA the wall. They came to terms and their ships are running. E. J. DELLAMANO L. L. MOODY, Jr. It would be smart of the other steamship companies to G. T. A. CARROLL P. RAEBURN follow suit. PETER LOPEZ C. A. MILLER Men Now In The Marine Hospitals Totalitarian Step The many outrages perpetrated by the Coast Guard reach new heights in the persecution of the eight men of the SS Helen. In our wildest nightmares about what CG control could mean, we never thought that they would have the nerve to pull such a barefaced piece of fascism. To all members of Congress who voted to keep seamen under military control in peacetime, this should seive as a good warning. If dictatorship ever comes to the United States, it will start just like this, and these represejitatives will have had a major shar^ in bringing it about. M. J. FORTES W. J. GEIGER W. G. ROBERTS E. WEINGARTEN G. KUBIK C. KUPLICKI E. B. HOLMES R. SAVIOR G. JANAVARIS C. G. SMITH R. MORCIGLIO G. H. STEVENSON C. T. DYER A. M. HAM J. S. SEELEY, Jr. •, JAMES KELLY MOSES MORRIS MORSE ELMSWORTH JR. HORG WALSH FLOYD LILES JAMES STEWART WILLIS BUCHANAN MATHEW LITTLE BENJAMIN THOMAS » » ft NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL ROY PINK ARTHUR MITCHELL E. A. NOONAN Hospital Patients When entering the hospital notify the delegate by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward. Staten Island Hospital You can contact your Hos­ pital delegate at the Staten Island Hospital at the follow­ ing 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.) J. GAHAN JESSE LOW WILBUR MANNING J. W. DENNIS EDWARD CUSTER R. M. NOLAN JOHN R. GOMEZ JAMES LEWIS W. F. LEWIS RICHARD BUNCH GURNEY OWENS JOSEPH WALSH JOHN ANNIL H. TRAHAN E. P. BERTHELET DELBERT SNYDER f ft ft ft BOSTON HOSPITAL P. CASALINUOVO A. CHASE T. MOYNIHAN M. GODBUT H. STONE M. KOSTRIVAS T. DINEEN S. KELLEY W. SILVERTHORN E. JOHNSTON B. MACK , - 1 �Friday. August 2, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG WHO SAYS THEY'RE NOT SIU! Pago Tbrow ji Governor Vetoes Finky Louisiana Open Shop Bill By C. J. STEPHENS I':'/ By PAUL HALL Someone is always trying to pound the idea into someone else's head that you can't fight this or that. Generally the idea is that there are too many odds against you so there is "no use trying." The shipowners prospered for many years by spreading- this idea. After World War T, when the seamen were .successfully locked out, the idea was spread that the shipowners were invincible, that the shipping board had trained a reserve sufficient to sail all the ships, that discharged Navy men alone could man the ships, and th?.t on top of it all there was a big reserve of seamen who would fink on each other^ I "I 1934 Proved Otherwise lf)34 wasn't a prosperous year by a long shot, but the seamen finally got together sufficiently strong to give the shipowners an argument and went on strike on the west coast. History was made when the seamen, after a long and bitter struggle, won recogni­ tion for the first time in 13 years. 1936 and 1937 followed in quick succession and the seamen again on the picketlines proved that the shipowner wasn't such a big, bad wolf after all. ^ Many fight have been-, won since that time: bonuses, con­ tracts, certificates instead of fink books, riders, overtime and a thousand and one other concessions. It has been conclusively proven that by fighting and fighting well a man can win most anything he goes after. The Coast Guard There arc cry babies and calamity howlers who today put up the same kind of wail that has been heard throughout the years. Today the cry is "you can't fight the government." This is pure unadulterated crap. According to all the text books, the government is "of, for, and by the people." Now there is no doubt whatsoever that there are those who don't consider seamen people. Among those are the shipowners, the Coast Guard and the W.SA bureaucrats. In the meantime, however, the seaman is shelling out his 20 per cent in taxes to keep the government running, sail­ ing the ships to keep the American flag showing, and earning tens of millions of dollars for the shipowners while doing it. Regardless of what these bureaucrats think, the seamen are part of the people and are going to fight until hell freezes over to assert every right and privilege coming them. The Coast Guard today is using every means possible to take away everything that has been gained in a lifetime of struggle. The SS Helen The revocation of the certificates of the eight militant seamen on the SS Helen was not a disciplinary action against these men but a foul blow at maritime unionism as a whole. These men re fused to sail a ship because the operator was evading the issue of wages and conditions, evading common sense and practical negotia tions. They were exercising their constitutional right of petition and redress. The Coast Guard entered the picture as, a strike-breaking agency. The revocation of these men's certificates was intended to set a precedent whereby men could not strike, take job action or in anyway act as free men without being faced by the iron hanc of military supression. Hitler, Stalin or Mussolini could have done no moie than the U. S. Coast Guard in this case. This action was a direct attack on everything free men have always fought and died for. The Coa.st Guard took their orders from the shipowners and carried them out. The eight men of the SS Helen symbolize a fight that has gone on for years and will grow in intensity—the fight of the seamen for freedom. This Isthmian crew from the Sea Triton voted recently at New Orleans. Their resounding choice was the Seafarers by a 70 percent vote—wild claims of the NMU Pilot to the con­ trary. The SIU's victory was in large part due to the swell job done on the Triton by ship's organizer R. Michaud. ably as­ sisted by Luther Borden and others. Front row (left to right): Pete Karr, E. Gretsky. ship's or­ ganizer R. Michaud, and W. Burroughs, Second row: L. Borden, M. Rodriguez, Shorty Seay, J. Hintt, J. Payne, and B. Morton. Back row: J. Seifert, W. Dixon, Bud Lenz, J. Halliday, E. Kunickas, and L. Shearer. Isthmian Seamen Impressed By New Seafarers Contract By EARL SHEPPARD Isthmian line crews are already beginning to consider the com­ pany as good as signed with the Seafarers. The first inquiry that meets the boarding organizers is always about the coming agree­ ment. The crews are especially interested in the newly signed Waterman, Mississippi contracts which will be the standard for other Seafarers agreements. News and radio reports had given these crews the idea that the $17.50 increase was the pat­ tern for the industry and that they would have to accept it. Then along came the NMU claim­ ing a "great victory" and they were almost sure that the Wash­ ington "peanut" increase was all they were going to get. When they were shown the Seafarers contracts with in­ creases ranging from five to forty-five dollars over and above the CIO-CMU scale, they realized that the Seafarers was one Union that would fight for real increases and not take the handouts of the WSA and the shipowners. zers don't know the word "quit." Most of them are staying aboard Isthmian ships even thou the ship has already voted. They are going to stick it out until the election is won and the new agreement signed. They are doing a real job in helping the unorganized men still on Isth­ mian ships learn the structure of the Union and the way Union men men run a union ship. Others have left Isthmian for various reasons. The company has managed to fire some of them on one pretext or another, quite a few have simply worn out on the job and had to payoff for a rest period ashore, and there has been the usual quota of ships being tied up. These men after a short period ashore have, almost without ex­ ception, volunteered to keep on working at the same job they have trained themselves to do so well. NEW ORLEANS—At the last minute, and v/hen all hope had been abandoned. Governor Jimmie Davis vetoed the notorious "open shop" bill sponsored by Representative Cleveland, and issued a statement setting forth fully his objections to the highly controversial measure. I believe," the Governor's statement said in returning the bill to tlie House of Representa­ tives, from which it had origin­ ated, "the bill interferes with and substantially impedes the right of collective bargaining. It imposes criminal sanctions, the accumulative affect of which would seriously hamper the legi­ timate functions of labor and would in effect take away the right of collective bargaining. NO BACK STEP The Governor further explain­ ed that the National Labor Rela­ tions Act, the Fair Labor Standard.s Act, the Railway Labor Act, and some decisions of the U. S. Supreme Court have all extend­ ed bargaining rights which are enjoyed between labor and man­ agement. He pointed out that the Cleveland Bill would severely limit the state in the sphere of labor regulation. The veto had immediate rever­ berations. W. J. Cleveland, auth­ or of the Bill, publicly charged that the Governor had been in­ fluenced by James Petrillo, lead­ er of the AFL Musician's Union, and that the will of the people had been disregarded. This is not in accordance with the known facts since the majority of Louisianans expressed themselves as against the Bill, and public hear­ ings were marked by much sup­ port from the citizenry. The only anti-labor support which rallied to the defense of the legislation came from the farmers and the industrialists. Shipowners Still Stall As SIU Strike Vote Ends The are going out and getting jobs on other unorganized ships and swear that they are going to keep on-organizing until all {Continued from Page 1) JOINING UP T ... • I unorganized companies are under vote to strike will be carried bv Isthmian line men are flocking the Spafarpr<. „ . . • cdiuea oy the Seafarers. & ine beaiareis. an overwhelming majority. into" the Union faster than ever A few of them have filled in on' REAL REASON before. Among these are quite a few who frankly state that they shoreside jobs for the Union, but The Seafarers is not willing to voted NMU in the elections, but these too have itchy feet and submit the working rules to argu­ want to get back on "point of after looking things over from all ment after the first part of the angles realize that the Seafarers production" organizing. agreement is signed, because it PROPOSED CONTRACT is the only Union that can give has taken the operators over a them adequate representation. A complete proposed contract month and a half to come this Every Effort Included also are a few NMU for Isthmian covering wages, distance, and the rules will give organizers who manning scales, working condi­ them many more oportunities to The Seafarers is carrying this fight through to the extreme. paid , ships changed their minds about things tions, living conditions, stand by stall and haggle. . and every last resource of the Union will be used in the fight. after talking with rank and file paj', etc., has been drafted with The Union has Weapons in reserve and as they are needed these This is in the back of their Seafarers. the aid of men right off Isth­ minds, and it is borne out bv the weapons will be brought into play. The best feature of these new mian ships. All Isthmian seamen Already the Union has tried to play the game according to the fact that they persisted, until rules of Congress and attempted by discussion and conferences to members are the way they are are invited to look over this pro­ July 29, in the idea that no raises ghe the bone-headed and shipowner Washington politicians a clear falling into Union activity. They posed contract and offer sugges­ over $17.50 per month, and no are discussing the current nego­ tions. picture of the situation. new overtime rate.s, are to go in­ This legislative fight failed: Congress sees through their pock­ tiations, helping in the analysis This proposed contract asks for to effect until the entire agree­ ets and the shipowners are able to pay the freight. Now is the time of the Isthmian drive and help­ the same wages and overtime ment can be concluded. for action, action if necessary that will empty those shipowners' ing plan new and .greater organi­ rates as those in the Mississippi Meetings so far have proved poi^kets and force thehi to rescind their orders to the brass-bound zational drives. These are the and Waterman SS Companies that the shipowners group is kind of men that build and main­ contracts. It covers every type Broadway heroes of the Coast Guard hearing units. tain a Union, and the Seafarers of ship operated by Isthmian adept at double-talk, and is rely­ is proud to have them as mem­ plus other types they might ac­ ing heavily on Government inter­ A Few Ideas vention. bers. quire. One of the feature points As a starter, there is no reason why ships should sign on be­ "We won't buy any of that," of the proposed r;ontract is a VOLUNTEER ORGANIZERS fore 12 hours prior to departure. It may mean that the operators say the committe members. "This will have a little trouble getting pay-rolls made up to that hour, Despite the tough time they clause calling for the establish­ battle will be won on the water­ ment of shoregangs to be hired and that-the Coast Guard Shipping Commissioners may have to have "had sailing unorganized front, or by direct negotiations ships, the volunter ships organiWith the shipowners." (Continued on Page S) (jOontinued on Page 14) J.s,. �THE SEAFARERS LOO Four Friday, August 2. 1946 SlU Battles Coast Guard Kangaroo Courts (Continued from Page I) Helen, Bull Line, was ordered to cast off so the voyage could bo-r giii. The ship was undermanned, Tacking two ABs and a Carpen­ ter, so the crew contended that the boat was unseaworthy, and refused to loose the lines. When the Skipper insisted that his or­ ders be carried out, the Deck Gang asked to be paid off. At this point, the Captain re­ ported the events to the com­ pany office, and Assistant Port Captain Svendsen called in the companj' allies and stooges, the CG. The morning of July 10 the brass hats came hustling on board and placed charges against eight men in the Deck Depart-ment. The men thus affected were Charles Moats, Bosun; Eduardo Bonefont, AB; Mariano Cortez, AB; Clinton Fjerstad, AB; Johnny Crenca, AB; Pedro Cardona, OS; William Gooden, OS; and Juan Acosta Soto, OS. Ringleader Coast Guard Is Threat To All: Seafarers Te Ship's Officers liiiiiii Charles Moats, SIU oldtimer who led the Deck Gang of the SS Helen in their protest against sailing a ship that was unseaworthy. cision was announced, Paul Hall The charge placed against each immediately sent a letter to the man was "Misconduct" and the A. H. Bull Company and all other specifications read as follows: operators contracted to the SIU. Specification 1—On or about In this letter, Hall said in no un­ July 9, without reasonable cause,, certain tei-ms, that such perse­ you refused and persisted in your cutions cn the part of the CG, refusal to obey a lawful order of with Company connivance, •he Master, to wit. to take station would not be tolerated by the for unmooring ship while the Union. (The text of Brother vessel was at Pier 22, foot of At­ Hall's letter appears on this lantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. page.) Specification 2—On or about UNITY CAN WIN July 10, without reasonable cause, you refused and persisted At the same time as the letter in your refusal to obey a lawful, was sent to the companies, an order of the Master, to wit, to open letter was issued to all Mas­ take station for unmooring ship ters, Mates, and Engineers, in the while the vessel was at Pier 22, name of the Seafarers Interna­ "foot of Atlantic Avenue, Brook­ tional Union. This letter called lyn, N. Y. upon the licensed personnel to The trial took place on July 17, take their places at the side of before the New York Coast the unlicensed seamen in this Guard Hearing Unit. At this trial all-out struggle against the Hool­ the men were represented by At­ igan Navy. torney Ben Sterling, SIU lawyer, The broadside pointed out that and Joe Volpian, SIU Special it is to the advantage of the CG Services Department. to widen the rift between the TALE UNFOLDS officers and the men, and that in so doing, only i the shipowners The Union took the position and the Coast Guard will bene­ that the Articles under which fit. (This letter is on page 4.) the men were to sail were null and void because the ship was undermanned and therefore un­ seaworthy. But this argument had no affect on the Hearing Unit. The trial was carried on in a -manner that was characterized by Mr. Sterling as "unfair and biased." In order to keep the member­ ship of the SIU up to date on the developments, a third letter was drafted, this one aimed only at the rank-and-file of the Seafar­ ers. In this flyer, the CG action was analyzed, and it was pointed out "A former merchant marine officer was used as a Hearing of­ ficer," the lawyer said, "and he should have disqualified himself. It seems to m.e that the CG ex­ pended every effort to convict these men. They had everybody July 29, 1946 from the office boy to the head A. H. Bull Steamship Company of the Hearing Unit looking up And all contracted operators enough law so that they could Gentlemen: get a conviction," Eight crew members of the SS The decision was finally ren­ Helen have had their certificates dered on July 24. The men were revoked for a period of six found guilty, and sentenced to months by the New York Coast have their papers suspended for Guard Hearing Unit. the period of six months. This action took place not as That this decision was unjust a result of a cursoiy survey of and unexpected goes without the ship log by the Coast Guard saying; but the harshness- of the investigators but rather upon di­ sentence also aroused a lot of rect request of the Bull Com­ feeling. pany's Port Captain acting on in­ "In over 150 previous cases," structions received from his em­ said Joe Volpian, "there has nev­ ployers. er iheen a punishment as drastic This unwarranted abuse of au­ as a six month suspension of pa­ thority was a flagorant attempt pers. And it should be remem­ to intimidate the crew of the bered that those other cases took Helen, all members of the Sea­ place during war, and were in all farers International Union. U- ~ instances more serious offenses The Union will not tolerate any m than in the present case." IJ' further actions of this .sort on the If As soon as the Coast Guard de- part of the company or the com­ that the punitive measures tak-'? en by the desk-borne sailors, was in payment of their debt to the shipowners who supported the CG in its bid-for peacetime pow­ er over merchant seamen. More than anything else, this July 29, 1946 powers. The legislative battle letter clarified the issues, and The authority and jurisdiction was only the first step however. outlined a concrete program for The entire matter will be taken action to get rid of the brass hat of the U. S. Coast Guard has been to the courts of the land and if menace. (See page 5.) continued by act of Congress necessary to the picketline. This means that even though the FIGHT CONTINUES This is no time for threats or war has ended, wartime regula­ name calling. The Coast Guard The fight against Coast Guard tions will be continued. have their place guarding the control over civilian workers, in It is time to call a spade a coast, manning life saving sta­ a peacetime world, will go on. As spade.' During the war some Biulhei Hall said, "The Union ships' officers have used the tions and pati'olling the icepacks. will not take this decision laying Coast Guard as a club over un­ Let them do theif job as well as down. We have fought the Coast licensed crew members. In the the Merchant Marine has done Guard on other cases, and we majority of cases this has been theirs and no one will complain. have beaten them. We will fight used as a threat but in many They are meddling in affairs of them this time, to the Supreme other cases ships' officers have which they know nothing and in Court or on the docks if neces­ preferred charges and acted as so doing creating distrust and suspicion where cooperation is sary, and we will lick them complaining witnesses. — most needed — among seamen, again." In a few cases crew members who have proved their worthi­ Arrangements have already have preferred charges against ness equally or more than any been, made to appeal this case on ships' officers and aided in their other group of men anywhere. the grounds that the men were prosecution. Tell the Coast Guard nothing. guilty of no crime since the ves­ HAS EITHER THE SHIP'S Do nof use their authority as sel was undermanned and there­ OR UNLICENSED a threat. fore unseaworthy, and also on OFFICER the grounds that the trial was CREW MEMBER BENEFITED Participate in the fight against conducted in an unfair and bias­ BY COAST GUARD CONTROL? Coast Guard control. The answer is No! The Unions ed manner, and with a biased Work closely with the unli­ Hearing Officer, in the person of and associations of both licensed censed man in his fight against an ex-Merchant Marine officer, and unlicensed men have un­ military control. equivocally stated their opposi­ on the Hearing Board. Protect your heritage—the tra­ tion to continuation of the Coast The continuing fight against dition of the sea that says the Coast Guard jurisdiction is a call Guard "kangaroo court" hearing men who go down to the sea in to arms that all must answer. units and control. ships are capable of running their The fight is not limited to the One of the aims of the Coast own affairs without the unwant­ Seafarers. All other maritime Guard is to widen the rift be­ ed interference of a brass-hatted unions have a stake in this strug­ tween the bridge and foc'sle. The Hooligan's Navy. gle. If the CG vultures win this wider this split, the easier it will Do this or the gains of a life­ round, and the ones to follow, be for the shipowner to lower time will be lost. seamen who have a tradition of wages and conditions. By using Come up to the SIU Hall and freedom second to none, will be­ the Coast Guard, the ships' of­ discuss this personally—you are come slaves of a military cheque. ficer, or the unlicensed man, if he always welcome. The Seafarers International does so, is cutting his own throat. Union has set itself firmly against Seafarers Iniemalional Union WHY? any such fate. of North America Because the Coast Guard acts New York Branch only against a man's papeis— even under its greatest authority all it can do is to take away a man's right to earn his living by In times of stress, the spirit suspending or permanently tak­ of SIU solidarity is most evi­ ing up his papers. This can hap­ dent. Word received this pen and has happened, to masters week from New Orleans Ma­ as well as oi'dinary seamen. rine Hospital points up this A ships' officer comes up from fact. the foc'sle and derives his au­ The crew of the SS Delthority from the knowledge of If the Captain of the SS John valle has contributed toward his job and his training of dii-ectB. Waterman, which pulled out the personal comfort expens­ ing men on the job. The Coast es of their hospitalized broth­ Guard authority is a presumed of New York Harbor on July 25, ers, who want the Delvalle authority, an authority created bound for Shanghai, has any men to know their kindness by Congi'ess and not earned by questions while at sea, he can ask and generosity is deeply ap­ expeiiience. It has swept aside practically any member of the preciated. the tradition of the sea and sub­ stituted a handful of brass for Deck Department. Solidarity Open Letter From The Seafarers Te A. H. Bull Steamship Company Ex-Serangs Hold Convention On J. B. Waterman a lifetime of knowledge. ALL MAKE MISTAKES The continuation of Coast Guard control can easily mean that all shipboard efficiency, trust, and cooperation will soon be end­ ed, The crew memher.s, licensed and unlicensed, will be running around with notebooks trying to catch each other in some violafion of the Coast Guard code— a dog eat dog, and the shipowner take all fight can easily bo the result. The Coast Guard is in the Mer­ chant Marine in the role of a policeman playing the ward heel­ er politics of the shipowner. Their aim is to divide and rule and to hell with anyone whose skull gets cracked in the meantime. Any seaman who plays their game is a traitor to his shipmates and un­ worthy of being called a seaman. The Waterman was the first ship to sail after the new agree­ ment was signed between the SIU and the Waterman Steam­ ship Company. As a bonus per­ haps, this ship left port with probably the best Deck Gang ever assembled. Seven men of the Sailors Department, in addi­ tion to the Bosun, have sailed as Serang at one time or another. pany representatives. In instan­ ces where such persecution takes place on the initiative of the Coast Guard alone, the issues will be met and handled accordingly. In this case, however, there is no conceivable alternative for the Union other than to consider the operator guilty of abuse of sea­ Here's the lineup of the entire men's rights in an effort to em­ Deck Gang, and the positions barrass the current contract and they are sailing in at present: wage negotiations. Johnrjy Weir, AB; Tommy The crew of the Helen, and the Massey, Maint.; Cecil Kean, AB; crew members of any other ship John Jacobson, AB; Harold involved in any similar company Butts, Maint.; Reginald King, blackjacking, will be protected AB; Keith Forrester, Maint.; to the limit with the full re­ Red Haines, OS; Sal Frank, OS; sources of the Union, Bill Powers, OS; Whitey Peurala, Once again, the Seafarers con­ AB; and Paul Sanford, an exsiders the Helen action an abuse piecard. Deck Engineer. FIGHT WILL GO ON of privilege and authority and The Skipper of this ship wdn't expects all operators to see to it The legisaltive fight against have ail easy time throwing his that such actions are «ot repeated. Cdast Guard control was ex­ weight around with this crew if Very- truly yours, : hausted iwith:the action of Con^ he has any ambitions in that diPAUL HALL, Agent gress giving them their present I rection, at all, at all. •• rSkl}! �Friday. August 2. 1946 Him mil ITHWK ' QUESTION:—What do j'oii think of the settlement that was arrived at between the Union and the Mississippi and Waterman Steam­ ship Companies. JOHN LUKAS. Deck Engineer: I interpret the agreement as most ideal over signed by any waterfront union. In every thought I ever had during the course of the negotiations. I nev­ er had the idea that we would be able to get a contract like this one. Of course, that doesn't mean that we should relax and stop fighting for better wages and conditions, but it does mean that we maintain our record of being in the forefront of all advances made by seamen. Our officials should be commended for the hard and brilliant work they did. THE SEAFARERS LOG Pago Fi C Sea Triton Crewmembers Refute Pilot Story—They're For The Sill Despite wild stories in the transferred over from the George NMU Pilot of last week about Uhler. Bosun Peteren was form.the Sea Triton, the Log reaf­ erly on the Sea Hydra, and a former NMUer, AB Sees, who firms its's story of last week in was fed up with that outfit turn­ which it was asserted that the ed SIU. The ship is crewed up SIU took this vessel with a 70 mainly with a pro-SIU group, percent vote. On Page 3 of this and left for Alexandria, her first issue of the Log is a picture of 16 stop, on the 31st. She'll make crewmembers from the Triton the regular Isthmian Indian run. who state most emphatically that NINE TO GO they and a number of their ship­ With the voting of the Francis­ mates voted for the Seafarers. co -Morazan at Seattle last week, However, the fincjl proof of the conceded as a doubtful SIU ship, pudding will rorne when the there arc still nine ships left to Isthmian ballots are counted vote before the election deadline shortly after the election's end set for September 21. The nine on September 21. are the Atlanta City, Cape Junc­ Results of the SIU's victory on tion, Kathleen Holmes, Monroe the Triton were achieved through Victory, Pere Marquette, Robert the good work of Bosun Michaud, C. Grier, Sea Hawk, Sea Lynx, assisted by a few other crewmen and the Steel Inventor. who wanted the SIU as their Both the Sea Hawk and the Union. Incidentally, Isthmian has Kathleen Holmes arc due in from taken over the Triton from the Hawaii .some time next week, WSA, and will continue to op­ around the 6th of August or later. erate the ship as part of their The Cape Junction is due in postwar fleet. from India via Boston around the On July 24, the Archer was 15th, and both the Steel Inventor taken over by Isthmian at New and Sea Ljmx ai'e scheduled to York. A number of the men were arrive from the Far East and Da\ao, P. I. aiound the 23rd or 24th of August. The other four vessels are stragglers who will come rolling in at later dates. Gulf organizer Charles Tannehil reports that the St. Augustine Victory had an overtime beef amounting to 150 hours settled while the ship was docked at New Orleans. As a result of the crew's request, Tanehall took up their beef with the Isthmian agent in that port, and secured his con.sent to the payment of this legitimate overtime. The crew was well satisfied at Tannehill's representation, and declared that if his handling of their beef was a good sample of the way the SIU handled beefs, it was the Union for them. Inci­ dentally, the .St. Augustine was voted on the Coast some time ago, hanging up a 100 percent vote for the SIU at that time. Red Tape Rules Marine Hospital (Continued from Page 1) at least another ninety minutes. JOHN C. DRUMMOND, During all this time, while pieces Chief Cook: of burned flesh and skin were It's a swell settlement and dropping to the floor, the hospital should be accepted by the mem­ authorites were checking to make bership. It marks a great step Eight members of the crew of since long before the war ended, sure that the injured man was forward in the history of the the SS Helen, A. H. Bull Steam-' Thees efforts have been largely eligible for treatment. merchant seamen. Every seaman ship Company, have had their directed towards securing legis­ It was the Third Assistant of I see is excitedly talking about ceidificates revoked for a period lative support and killing Coast the ship who finally got qction. the contract and we all think that of six months by the New York Guard powers in Congress. These He became so disgusted that he it is grand. I'm ready to ship out eforts in the legislative field started to take Stew-art to a pri­ Coast Guard Hearing Unit. any day now, and I will be able have failed and now other means vate doctor. At this point, a hos­ If this were an ordinary case to go with a lighter heart because must be adopted. ordinary times, these men m pital medic came along and said I know that my wages will be would not have received even This is a fight the Seafarers not to get excited because, al-. able to go a little further than an admonishment, much less a cannot, and will not, fail to carry though Stewart was in great they used to. With this new suspension. on to the last ditch, even though pain, there was very little chance contract, we have better wages, The wartime powers of the it means possibly hitting the that he would die. conditions, overtime, and other Coast Guard have been continued bricks. The whole thing is a mat­ facilities. Now this Brother was not a flyby Act of Congress in spite of ter of life or death for the Union by-night. He had a previous rec­ strong opposition by the SIU. and ranks second to nothing in ord at the hospital, was right off The shipowners have pushed for the Union's program of action. a ship, and definitely met every this legislation and the Coast CG regulation. Unless, of course, WHAT TO DO Guard is now paying its debt. Talk this matter over with the the brass hats refused to believe .WILLIAM SMITH. Steward: The Seafarers is in the midst the ambulance crew when they It's the kind of contract that of negotiations with the opera­ ships' officers ;.'you know and told where they had picked up nakes NMU members want to tors and have already set the sail with. Point out to them the the patient. get into the SIU. I paid oft in pace by winning the highest gains that have, been made by Anyway, the hospital authori= Norfollc. and the first thing I wages ever known in the indus­ both licensed and urilicensed men ties were finally efficient enougS pulling together. Let them knowknew was when all the boys were try. This victory was won largely to call the Isthmian Company that by using the Coast Guard talking about our great victory. through the militant activity of office where they obtained the and appearing against seamen in We were all confident all through the individual crew members like information that the man was the Hearing Units, they are cut­ negotiations, and we were ready the crew of the SS Helen who re­ a member of the crew of the ting their own throats. at any time to hit the bricks if fused to sail until the operators Beaver Victory, and therefore en­ that would serve to bring the If you run afoul of the Coast quit stalling. titled to treatment. ship owners to their senses. We The operators appealed to the Guard, don't tell them anything All of the foregoing should are ready now to do the same Coast Guard and the response until you have contacted the thing to any of the other oper­ was a decision more vicious than Union Hall. Under no conditions, give you a good idea of the situa­ ators who refuse to sign. The any rendered during the entire surrender your papers. If a ship­ tion here, but what happened others better sign soon, or their ponr.se of the war. The Union is mate is summoned to appear be­ later really topped it off well. ships will not leave port until going to fight this case to the fore a Hearing Unit and you i Brother Stewart's wife was natuthey do. limit, but it is Coast Guard con­ know anything that can help him,; rally nervous about his condition, called the hospital by tele^ trol as a whole and not this one stick by him and appear as a de-! phone. She was informed, reincident that is being discussed fen.sp wilness. here. This fight against Coast Guard I sP^ctfully of course, that they control is going to be carried on i give her the infonnaWHAT CONTROL MEANS tion by phone, but that she could until the Hearing Units are dead Coast Guard control is being come out the next day and see used as a means to split the and seamen are treated like him for herself. RAYMOND MILLER, FOW: workers in any other industi-y. If we can get the same deal gi'owing unity between ships' of­ This is a fight that all members This is how the CG operates, from all the other companies, it ficers and crew members. For must participate in; a fight to and as time goes on, they will will be swell for all concerned. reason, they encourage the bring­ determine whether a seaman is' become worse, not better. These Of course, this contract is noth ing of charges by officers, know­ a free man or a slave. Pitching people have no feeling for mer­ ing more than seamen deserve. ing that this will create resent­ and fighting together will malce chant seamen. As far as they We work hard and we need the ment enabling them to play off victory for the Seafarers certain. are concerned, we are no bet­ money. The shipowners make one against the other. An open letter to all licensed ter than dogs, and are treated ac­ Coast Guard control, if allow­ money hand over fist and they men has been prepai-ed — dis­ cordingly. We cannot get better should not feel too bad about ed to continue, wil mean the ul­ tribute the letter to them—discuss conditions in Marine Hospitals giving some of it to us. If it timate smashing of ail seamen's the Coast Guard problem with while the Coast Guard is in con­ wasn't for our work, they would unions. With each passing day, them — work together and win trol of seamen's lives and facili­ be starving to death. Overtime they will increase their powers ties. this beef. and weekend pay is something and authority until all forms of What happened to Brother Fraternally yours, that we have been cheated out of union activity are illegal. Stewart should be another clin­ Seafarers International Union cher in the Seafarers determina­ for a long time. AGAINST REGIMENTATION of North America tion to fight to the bitter end The Seafarers has been fight­ against Coast Guard jurisdiction. ing against Coast Guard control New York Branch 'To All Members': The Story And Importance Of Helen Case i- �THE SEAFARERS Ra bix Friday, August 2, 1946 LUG SlU Wage Victory Will Make CP Unions Pull Their Horns In By SONNY SIMMONS TAMPA — The news about the the commies will be tearing out SIU victory over the shipowners I their hair now. Their high pres­ is causing lots of talk up and sure tactics failed and they got very little out of their widely down every waterfront in the publicized meetings in Washing­ United States. And rightly so. ton with the bureaucrats and the With the increases in wages and shipowners. These phonies will overtime, plus the better work­ have a hard time explaining to ing conditions, the SIU continues their members how the SIU was able to wind up with more than Silence this week from the to lead the field in both depart­ the CMU asked for originally. ments. Branch Agents of the follow­ BUSY PORT Too much credit cannot be ing ports: given to the men who negotiated Things here are back in the SAVANNAH the contract. They must have groove, and we are getting quite HOUSTON been strictly on the ball to have a few ships and shipping plenty CHARLESTON won so many major concessions of men in all ratings. Last week MOBILE from the operators, and they we shipped 40 men, which is JACKSONVILLE therefore deserve all the credit something of a record in these SAN JUAN in the world. parts. It is an even money bet that Part of the Ellenor crew is still here, but they will be shipping soon, probably this week. Many men are nuW coming in who sailed away from here over a year ago on the N3's which were built and crewed up here. After being out for 12 months or more, they turned the ships over By RAY SWEENEY to the Chinese and came back as GALVESTON — Business and collection and gave the eleven passengers. These fellows have shipping in the port of Galveston men in the hospital two dollars plenty of money, and they have been spending it very generously. each. has really been on the upgrade. COME DOWN It seems as if all the tankers, that are tying up have headed for Just in case any of you fellow the Long Horn State, and it has wish to see a real clean Hall kept all hands on the ball, in­ come on down to 308'/^ 23rd St., cluding the dispatcher, paying Galveston. This is the best Hall I have seen in the Gulf. ships off. Don't forget to vote on the We have two West Coast men here to help handle these tank­ Strike Ballot, regardless of how ers but still a patrolman from you vote. This is your organiza­ the Atlantic and Gulf district has tion. to be on the job. Here is a list of the men who We have been getting quite a received the two dollars at the few Liberty ships in here the past hospital: week and they have all come in J. J. Spinks, N. West, E. Plank, with very few beefs. W. E. Patterson, M. Costello, E. Most of the men relax by buying The F. Von Stubben of the Brown, B. Larson, R. V. Jones, J. a Sport Coupe, meeting a couple Robin Line was in, and the mate Muenster, W.- W. Potts and J. of nice chicks, and from there on they let recreation take care vho has been sailing NMU ships Longtemps. of itself. jaw fit to dispute the overtime The above Brothers received Bull Line will have two ships the Bosun had for painting the the money sent to the U.S. Mar­ inside passage ways. His mind ine Hospital, donated by the in here this week on the regular run, and Alcoa starts regular was changed and the Bosun col­ crew of the SS John Henry. West Indies trips on August 4. lected. These ships will sail from, and BE GOOD NOW! payoff in, this port; and with Waterman planning several runs, The John Henry of the Eastern things here continue on the up­ SS Co. paid off here last week swing. and the crew saw fit to prefer Right now we have probabljy charges aginst the Master of the By WM. (CURLY) RENTZ vessel. The ship had three men the best Hall in the country, and sick on board and when they all hands are pretty well pleased BALTIMORE — Realizing that asked the master for a hospitail with the set-up. We have no a sick man's life is not a happy trouble getting the men to hang ship his reply to the men was "I one. Seafarers from four ships in out here now. Yep, with ship­ don't carry those ships around this port contributed $84.50 to in my pocket." ping good, and a comfortable Hall the Hospital Committee enabling The ship went into Charleston it to somewhat brighten the drab to hang out in, Tampa is an A-1 for water and bmikers, but a days being spent by their broth­ sea port from now on. man's liealth meant nothing to ers in the Marine Hospital. this Captain. The Coast Guard John Taurin, Committee chairgave him three months suspen­ main noted in his report that the sion if he was brought up on contributing crews were: SS R. charges again within 12 months. Rush, $22.00; SS E. Weelock, Better be a good boy Captain— $20.00; the H. Monroe, $16.50; and The Great Lakes District for some of the boys may remem­ the crew on the Wm. fepperall, of the Seafarers Internation­ ber you. This was a very light $26.00. al Union wishes to extend its penalty and possibly would have Each man received $6.05. SIU deepest sympathy to the been much more severe if the members benefiting by - the family of Miss Ethel Hurst, men who were refused hospi­ thoughtfulness of their fellow talization would have stayed in stenographer in the Detroit members are: F. Liles, Wm. M. Galveston Monday and testified Branch, on the loss of her Hodges, Harry Walsh, Moses Ells­ against him. worth, Moses Morris, T. A. Car­ father, Samuel Hurst, who The two men who left town roll, James E. Kelly, E. J. Delpassed away on July 3rd only made a monkey of the bal­ lamano, Peter Lopez, M. A. Car­ while attending a Bakery ance of the crew who stayed here. away, Harry Bennett, Stanley Drivers Convention in Kan­ Thanks to Bro. E. L. Redman— Buzalewski, Charles W. Dunn Pro book, for staying and facing and Ben Thomas. sas City. the old man in what some one Mr. Hurst had spent his else had started. entire life in the Detroit La­ Hats off to the crew of this bor movement and at the ship. The boys in the hospital lime of his death was Presi­ also wish to thank each and dent of the Detroit local of > every one of the men who help­ the Teamsters Union. ed donate the $21.30 to them. Johnnie Williams added to the Excursion Boats Are Focal Points NO NEWS?? For Organizers In Port Boston By JOHN MOGAN Committee to stand by for the day. This hot spell has seen eveiybudy and his brother head ing for the beaches or the ball games, and committee work is only a sepond best bet. At the last meeting a couple of members who attempted to scab the Nantasket boat strike, and who were hauled off the ships as a result of this action, appeared before the full mem­ bership to appeal the vote of their shipmates. Since one of them was a wom­ an cook, who put on quite an act, the meeting was unusual and not without some good comedy. The other member involved, a fireman, attempted to justify his staying aboard during the walk­ out, and demanded that his re­ instatement provide for restoring him to the same job on the same ship. Both requests were denied in the face of the action of both par­ ties prior to, during, and after the walkout by the rest of the employees. So much for this week; we • OR ELSE! hope that we'll be able to report At a meeting held on Satur­ a little business and shipping in day, it was voted to notify the next week's issue. owner of his employee's extra­ curricular activities and to re­ quest his dismissal, or suffer a boycott which would hurt his business plenty. Then, of course, there is the usual group which advocates sterner measures so that, all in By LEON N. JOHNSON BOSTON—Business and ship­ ping picked up a little this past week, though not nearly enough to take care of the surplus men now around the Boston Hall. Only one ship paid off in the vicinity during the week, and that was the SS John Milledge, which paid off in good style in Portland. There were a couple of tankers also, the Hovenweep and Fallen Timbers, which took quite a few replacements. And thus far, the only payoff in sight for the immediate future is the SS Nicholas Labadie, which is scheduled for Thursday of this week. There is plenty of activity around the Avenue, what with the excursion boats being the focal point of organizers for both the NMU and the SIU. It also provides a little excitement for the members on the beach, who have F>egged a bartender in a nearby gin mill as a fink-herder for the still unorganized excur­ sion boat. Men Protest Co. Stalling PORT ARTHUR — From what I hear, the happenings in this Port are being duplicated in all other SIU ports. The men down here are refusing to sign on any ship of companies that have not :ome to terms with the Union. This is all rank-and-file protest; he men do not feel like working until they can be assured that orogress is being made in the ne­ gotiations. Last week the crew of a Mis­ sissippi ship, the SS Del Mundo, walked off and refused to sign all, the bartender probably wish­ Articles until the company indi­ es he never got interested in any­ cated that it would bargain in thing other than getting a proper; good faith. head on his beer. Only three Firemen remained Not a great deal remains to be aboard for safety. Since the Mis­ Steamship Company done on the building before we'll sissippi be ready to move in; but it does signed soon after this event took seem that every day there are place, the men of the Del Mundo a half-dozen new problems to be feel that they had a little to do ironed out, problems which with the victory. NEW HALL should have been foreseen by all I know that the men who ship concerned. It has taken considerable of the out of this port will be glad to Agent's time to be on the spot to know that our new Hall will make these decisions as they soon be ready for us to move arise, hence at the last meeting into. Since the SIU established it was voted to elect a commit­ an office here, we have been on tee of members who would not Lhe lookout for quarters v/hich ship out until the building was would be suitable. And now we completely finished, and until have finally signed a lease for a then they would participate in Hall which will be on a par with the discussion of problems and my along the Gulf Coast. Shipping has not gotten any assist in making the decisions worse lately, and so we have solving them. been able to place quite a few NO DICE men on the various ships that Balloting on the strike refer­ pass through this harbor. So far, endum has been going pretty all ratings have had equal call good, although there are days on the jobs, and we hope this v/hen it is impossible to get a trend continues. Galveston Is Cialled A Haven For Many West Coast Tankers Baltimore Still At Good Work Final Departure �Friday, Aooust %, Itifi THE SEAFARERS LOG Page ^ • NMU's Ballyhooed Lakes Meeting Proves Flop As Seamen Stay Away By FRED FARNEN This special meeting, held in Philadelphia, agreed that the contract signed between the SIU and the Mississippi and Wat­ erman Steamship Companies is the "best ever." On the right is a picture of the wreath sent in memory of Brother William Dieolo, who died in a shipboard accident on board the SS Yaka, in Philadelphia. He was a good trade unionist and a good Union Brother. I For A Small Port Philadelplila Is Really Shipping The Men By JAMES "RED" TRUESDALE PHILADELPHIA — Although lines. A wreath, in testimony of business in this port continues to the high esteem and affection hum like a contented bee, never­ that we had for our Union Broth­ theless we are on the outside of er, was sent to the funeral. To things. A lot of ships' come in him, and to all other Brbthers here from other ports to load who have died, we say that we grain or coal, so as a result, they will continue the fight that they were a part of. are already all crewed up. We seldom have a chance to ship any men on these boats, but if any beef comes up while the vessel is here, we are johnny-onthe-spot to help settle things in a hurry. Still and all, we have establish­ By C. J. "BUCK" STEPHENS the Maritime Training ship Amer­ ed an all time record for this port ican Seaman. She is tied up NEW ORLEANS — Shipping here in New Orleans again with during the last month when we shipped a total of 800 in all de­ and business is really at a new the crew refusing to sail her until partments. That is quite a few low here in New Orleans. The they get their- new agreement and men, even for a port larger than bottom has fallen out of .shipping raise. and jobs on the board are really this one. When the crew beefed about In view of the many beefs that, scarce. From the information in not sailing until they got their arise due to the difference in in­ the shipping guide it will not new agreement, the famous Cap­ terpreting the contracts in force pick up for weeks to come. tain Blood of Seatrain Line fame on the various vessels, we won­ Out of the ships in port, four came about with a pi-oposal for der when the Skippers and Chief of them are tied up with beefs. them that was even tinkler- than Engineers of the various lines The MV Fire Island came in with the agreement reached between will stop trying to act like shyster a few beefs and the company the WSA and the CMU, and ex­ lawyers and will allow the Port figured the best way to get rid pected the boys to sail. The ci-ew Agent and the Company repre­ of the beefers was to fire the sentative to iron out any ques­ whole crew and get a ftew crew. tion that comes up regarding the When the crew was laid off and meaning of any disputed part of another crew caUed the next day the contract. we began to smell a rat so the CAN BE FRIENDS company was contacted and ask­ This would stop some of the ed why this was done. bad feeling that exists between In a roundabout way it came the licensed- and unlicensed per­ out that there were two militant sonnel. The officers of a ship SIU membere on board that the have no reason to act like watch­ company did not care to have on dogs, and they do not help either the Fir» Island. Immediately, in the seamen or the officers to get fine SIU fashion, the original 3031^ what they really deserve from crew and the two SIU Brothers the shipowners. that were hot wanted were sent on the Seatrairr New Orleans has The signing of the terrific con­ back to the MV Fire Island. They been through too many labor dis­ tract with the Waterman and the were immediately turned down putes to go for such malarkey, Mississippi Steamship Companies by the company. so they flatly refused and the was^ the occasion for a large The company was then inform­ Seatr-ain New Or-leans is now in special meeting. All of the men ed that the Fire Island would her old surroundings down in present, and there were quite a stay here until the bottom drop­ BeUe Chasse under the over­ few, wanted to take the deck to ped off unless the original crew hanging willows. talk about the glorious victoiy was taken back. Speaking ef Seatrains, the lat­ we won over the operators. There The company insisted that they est on the new Seatrains is that is no doubt about it: this is the would rather .boneyard the ship the Seatrain New York, Seatrain best contract ever won by any than tal«e the two Brothers in New Jersey, Seatrain Texas and union of merchant seamen. In question back; so it looks like the Seatrain Havana are now in this, as in all other matter that the boneyard will have a new the Chester, Pa. shipyards under­ concern men who go to sea for addition, namely the moran going repairs before being put a living, the SIU leads the field. Tug MV Fire Island because we into service sometime in October. Our celebration over the vic­ will not allow them to .shove our Just about right for the Seatrain tory was tempered by the bad member's around as they see fit. Line stiffs to get ready and hit news that Brother "^Vm. Dieolo The good ship SS Seatrain New the shipping list so they will be had been killed on the SS Orleans is again in the limelight. number one on the list when the Yaka. He got fouled up on a coil For a deep sea vessel she stays new ones .are ready. of rope, while bringing in the alongside the docks more than Rumors coming from down Ha­ DETROIT—The NMU meeting held in Cleveland, Ohio, on Mon­ day July 22nd proved to be a complete flop. The only union represented at meeting besides the NMU was the CIO longshore­ men, which cannot be called an active union on the Great Lakes as 95 per cent of the longshore.men on the Great Lakes are AFL. In his letter of invitation to this •neeting, Joe Curran stated it was for the purpose of setting up a program to fight the shipowner for the 40-hour week for all Great Lakes seamen, and they have already set August 15th, as the day to strike. Curran does not state that the main reason in calling this strike is for the Communistic leadership of tKe NMU to gain control of all Great Lakes shipping, wlilcli in the past nine years they have failed to do although spending approximately $750,000 of their memberships fund for this pur­ pose. COMMIE POLITICS The manner in which a large portion of this money was spent does not seem to me to be for the purpose of organizing sea­ men. One instance was the ap­ pearance of Jack Lawrenson and a group of land-locked seamen in front of the Cadillac Automobile plant in Detroit whose employ­ ees are members of the UAWCIO, shouting "Down With Ructhcr." (Ed. note; Walter Rfcuther is the anti-communist president of the CIO auto worker.';.) Cumn!is.sar Lawrenson and his soap box orators narrowly es­ caped bodily injujy at the liands of the Cadillac workers who re­ sented any commie blaspheming their able leader. This incident is. only one of thousands that have been brought to light and is now causing much dissension among the rank and file mem­ bers of the NMU. WANT SIU GAINS After the meeting Curran, in a statement to the Press, said that the Seafarers International Union was not interesfed in the Welfare of the seamen. I believe the 40-hour week for fit-out and layup which we have had in all Sea­ farers conti-acts on the lakes since 1942, and which the NMU is now trying to obtain through its threatened strike, is sufficient proof that this is a falsehood that Curran was forced to make in order to save face. The one and only reason the Mai-ine Council AFL, of which the Seafarers Union is an active member, had in not attending this or any other meeting called by the National ;^aritime Union is that wc know that the leader­ ship is nothing but a Communis­ tic front—whose one and only.| aim is to turn the American ship­ ping industry over to Russia and intends to use the American sea­ men as a means to do so. Shipping Drops To A Low In Old New Orleans New Law Helps But SIU Militancy Maintains Its Usual High Filipino Seamen vana way that are pretty au­ thentic are that in the place of the IZlic per man, per car and 17 men working the Seatrains, the longshoremen are asking for 75c per man, per car with 54 men working the Seatrain. According to the fastest rumor they reached a settlement with the Seatrain Lines keping the same rate of pay and men, but the Cuban Gov­ ernment is kicking in with G,000 bucks a month to offset the raise they asked for. The SS Fail-port is now here in port and the famous Captain "Red Lead" Anderson is her Skipper. TIKUO are rumors com­ ing from the ship that he picked on one man too often and the Chief Engineer squared him away. He was so ashamed that he stayed in his room for two days; or it may have been he didn't want to show his shiner to the passengers and crew. Voting is going on down here on the strike ballot with a great showing by the membership. All members should take time out to vote because this is our way of showing the shipowners we mean business, and it puts a big stick in our Negotiation Committee's hand. Notice To Agents The deadline for port re­ ports, monies due, etc., is the Monday preceeding publica­ tion. While every effort will be made to use in the surrent issue material received after that date, space commitments generally do not permit us to do so. So play safe—send your copy in on time. Filipinos who have lived in the United States continuously since May 1, 1934 or served on U. S. merchant ships for five years now are eligible to apply lor their second citizenship pa­ pers, according to the U. S. Im­ migration and , Naturalization Service. The preferential status for Filipinos was contained in a bill passed by Congress on July 2. It becomes operative immediate­ ly. and Filipinos who come under the re.sidence requirements need not take out first papers. Filipino members of the SIU are eligible for their second pa­ pers after five years service on U. S., Panamanian or Honduran ships, as is the case with other aliens. Filipinos also may apply for entry under the Immigration Service quota, which is 100 per year. Further recognition of the rdie alien seamen played aboard U. S. ships during the war is contained in two bills now under considera­ tion by House and Senate com­ mittees. Senate Bill 1040, introduced by Senator Claude Pepper of Flor­ ida, would grant legal entry (first papers) to alien seamen with one year's wartime service in the American merchant marine. Senate Bill S 659, introduced by Senator George L. Radcliffic of Maryland, and House Bill HR 4956, introduced by Rep. Hugh DeLacy of Washington, would gi-ant citizenship (second papers) to alien seamen with three years wartime service in the American merchant marine. J �THE SEAFARERS LOG Eighi ' '• Friday, August 2, 1946 Men Who Make It A Point To Know The Agreements Reduce Their Beefs And Make Payoffs Smoother not insist on us wearing a nice blue uniform and having to sa­ BALTIMORE — Shipping has lute CG officers wherever we been very good in this town, might chance to meet them. with rated men being badly need­ The decision to transfer us ed and no men around to take permanently to the CG was made the many jobs that are listed on by a bunch of bureaucrats -who the board. With all the activity have no knowledge of the sea. of shipping, there are also plenty rhey do not know of the prob­ of payoffs to keep us all hopping. lems of the men who follow the We realize that it is our job to .sea as a means of livelihood. straighten out anything that may They do not kifow, or do not have been fouled up during the care, about the fact that the CG trip, and to make sure that the has been, and will probably concrew is paid every cent they tine to be, very quick about pick­ have coming to them in over­ ing up a seaman's papers and time. But we find that niosl of thereby deprivirig him of the way the men who come into this port to earn a living. do not even know anything about It is certainly not democratic the agreement under which they to put a civilian industry under are sailing. the supervision of a military part That state of affairs simply of the Government, especially in akes money out of your pocket peacetime. A free country is ind puts it into the pockets of what we fought for, and for he shipowners. Next time you which many men died. But what ship out, go to the company of­ we are getting is far from free­ fice and get a copy of the agree­ dom or democracy. ment. That will help every man For the time being we have in each department, and it will no alternative. We have to do avoid many beefs at the payoff. the best we can, but we don't The Patrolman has a tough job have to enjoy it. We should also to do, and it is well known to watch ourselves so as not to give SIU members that the Patrol­ those gold-braid vultures a men will got to bat on any beef, chance to get anything on us. and will help out in every pos­ HOSPITAL MONEY sible way. But you cannot expect them to make fools of them­ Baltimore has been doing a selves. So help them out by swell job in collecting money for studying the agreement. Don't the Brothers in the hospitals. ask for overtime unless it is com­ This money is donated at the ing to you, and be sure to list Pcjyoff, and it gives the well all the overtime that is legiti­ Brothers a nice feeling to know mately yours. that they are helping their sick Brothers out. STILL PITCHING It would be a good idea for all Because the merchant marine ports to do the same. A dollar has been delivered into the hands of the Coast Guard is no reason doesn't mean much when you are to.believe that the fight is over paying off, but it means quite a forever. We fought and did our bit to a guy who is flat on his best, but as things go in Washing­ back in some hospital. ton, we are lucky that they did Recently we had a talk with By JOHNNY HATGIMISIOS John Calvin „! • Sometimes a run of hard luck can really get a man down. Sometimes lliiiigs get so bad that you can't blame a man if he walks around with his chin drag­ ging along the ground and look­ ing like he lost his last friend. But when you meet John (Jack) Colvin, FWT, he appears like a man with a million dollar? in the bank, and with everything else that a man requires to make life happy The strange thing about it is that Jack has less to be happy about than anyone we know right now. His ready smile masks a lot of heartbreak caused by the hardships suffered after being torpedoed in the Arctic Ocean, and the resultant loss of a leg due to wounds and exposure Sounds like enough to really JOHN COLVIN make a man into a permanent sour puss. this because Coast Guard brass Jack was on the famous Mur hats, in control of the Marine mansk run, supplying food and Hospitals, refuse to take into munitions to the Russians. The consideration the fact that he morning of July 6, 1942 dawned cannot sail until he gets a new cold and drear. It's always cold leg. in the Arctic Ocean, and this day ORIGINAL MEMBER was no exception. Colvin has been going to sea WITHOUT WARNING tor fifteen years. He is a real SIU He had a good ship under him, oldtimer, holding full book 96, the John Witherspoon, Robin indicating that he was one of Line, and since they were near- the men who helped organize the ing territory which could be call­ Union. Jack is a militant Sea­ ed fairly safe, he wasn't too much farer, and can show picketcards worried. Suddenly the torpedo for every action participated in came from out of nowhere. In a by the SIU since he joined. flash, the Witherspoon started to "What made me go to sea in settle and the command came to the first place?" he repeated the abandon ship. question. "Well, I guess I al­ For two days and two nights, ways wanted to be a-sailor, but Jack and the other survivors it took the depression to give were adrift in the icy waters. me the final push. I used to be a Finally, when all hope had gone, mechanic, and also could do odd they were picked up by the El jobs, but I was never as happy Capitan. However, this rescue as I have been since I started was only a short respite, since going to sea." early the next morning the El The SIU is proud of men like Captain, part of a thirty-six ship Jack Colvin; men who helped convoy, was attacked by German build the Union when the going bombers, and was sunk. Of the was tough, and men who did not AH members—^retired members and former members—of other ships in the convoy, only flinch or duck when the United rhe Seafarers Inlernalional Union who are now sailing as licensed six escaped. Engineers: Please report as soon as possible to the Seafarers Hall States was in danger. Both the at 51 Beaver Street, New York City. Your presence is neces­ A day later he was picked up U. S. and the Union are better sary in a matter of great importance. ^ an English trawler, and the off for guys like Jack. following day he was transferred to an English rescue ship. By that time he was in horrible pain, and it was evident that the leg would have to be amputated. He was therefore taken to Arch­ angel, where the operation was performed. By JOE ALGINA There is no reason why things ships cannot be crewed up for love or money. should be diferent now. Finally, after two months. NEW YORK — With all the Jack was" ready to be moved, and In no other industry has the Payoffs have slowed down, but ships that are being tied up by the next stop was a hospital in the men due to the failure of the company the right to freeze a the Patrolmen continue to be Glasgow, where he spent another companies to negotiate honestly man to a job. From the way the just as busy as they usually are. forty days. News that the Queen with the Union, add another tie- men of the SS Cape Poge are They contrive to make every ship Elizabeth would return him to up for a different, but equally acLing, the Bull Line, and other that ties up in the port of New the United States came at a wel­ good reason. List the name of shipowners,' will not be able to York, and they take with them come time, and upon his arrival the SS Cape Poge, Bull Lines, as get away with this sort of dirty plenty of Union literature, and on these shores he was taken to copies of the Log. a ship that will not sail under dealing either. the Marine Hospital on Staten slave conditions. PORT STUFF At the same time, they keep Island. The Poge is one of the first In view of all the job action their eyes open to observe how CO SNAFU Bull Line vessels to go on the that is taking place, it is a won­ conditions aboard* these ships are Here Brother Colvin was fitted coastwise run, handling coast­ der to me that I am able to report shaping up. In this way, the SIU with an artificial leg which he wise trade. The Company con­ that shipping in this port is not lives up to its slogan that, "An still wears. "I need a new one," tends that the men must make too bad. Of course there are SIU ship is a clean ship." he says, "but I can't get one be­ one complete voyage before pay­ many men on the beach due to cause I don't have enough recent ing off, instead of being able to the tie-up of so many ships, but sea time. And I can't go to sea payoff in any port where they on the whole we are shipping a unless I get a new leg. It's a can be replaced by the Union. good number of men each week. vicious cycle and I'm caught So once again, the shipowner is The dilly-dallying of the com­ trying to freeze the seaman to If you don't find linen right in the middle." panies is getting the men angry, the job, and the men will not when you go aboard your Jack has been able to make and even when dispatched to a only one trip since the removal stand for this. ship of one of the lines that is ship, notify the Hall at once. of his leg, and that was a trip Before "the war, a man could stalling on negotiation^, these A telegram from Le Havre or to the Marshall Islands in 1944. get off a coastwise ship on this men refuse to go. Ships belong­ Singapore won't do you any He is not able to work ashore, run by simply telling the Old ing to the Mississippi and Wa­ good. It's your bed and you can't go to sea, and has been re­ Man that he wanted to payoff. terman Steamship Companies, have to lie in it. fused a new leg because he does And the company could fire a and those owned by the WSA, not have enough time at sea. All man just as easily for cause. [ are manned rapidly, Imt the other ATTENTION, MEMBERS! SEAFARERS SAILING AS ENGINEERS Bull Line Comes Up With Some Very Bright ideas And Tries To Freeze Crewmen To Their Johs AnENTlON! some NMUers who came in on the Benjamin Rush. You should have seen their faces when we finished telling them the facts about our democratic Union. One of them, a man who was sailing as a passenger, wanted to turn his book back and sail with us. We told him that our books were closed for the present, but he is willing to wait, and will not sail with the NMU anymore. Plenty of the NMU men are fed up with the fighting that is going on in that union. The election that was just completed is leaving a bad taste in every- one's mouth. The rank-and-file is all in favor of honest union­ ism and they don't like the idea of their officers spending all their time doing work for the com­ munist party, or in fighting the officers that are not friendly to the CP. Let's give the honest men in the NMU a helping hand when­ ever we can. It will be a good thing for the whole waterfront if they clean the commies out, and go back to honest trade union principles. isthmian Men Like Contract (Continued from Page 1) directly through the Union Hall. The minute the elections are over, and the Seafarers certified as officially winning, the Union will move for the opening of ne­ gotiations and present this pro­ posed contract together with such amendments and agenda as have been decided upon in the meantime. The Union will insist that the same retrocative dates apply as in the other contracts, so it is possible that even now Isthmian Seamen are enjoying the full benefits of the Seafarers increase and stacking up a pile of retro­ active pay. THE JOB AHEAD In the meantime the organiza­ tional drive on all fronts is goin'g ahead at full speed. This covers everything organized from tug and ferry boats to the biggest tanker companies. Many men on unorganized tankers are coming up to the Union on their own, signing up, getting a kit of organizing ma­ terial and going right back on the same job as a volunteer organi­ zer. The recent attempted raid by Harry Bridges and the CIO-CMU disgusted many unorganized men. "When they compare those tactits with the steady stream of Seafarers victories, they decided that the SJ^U was the place for them and they are coming over fast. It's "full speed ahead and no slow bells." �•4/•: .ir^-y-- :-!:-'^i ;?V« THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, August 2, 1946 Lynn Victory Crew Just Waiting For SiU Contract—And Then! Ji Late Brother 1y Page Oh, For The Life Of A Seaman, And You Can Take It Brother! Isthmian crewmembers of the wanted anything. He was the By JOHNNY ARABACZ Lynn Victory had a Skipper who lord and high master. I was wearing out a chair in with some salve that he uses to However, the crewmembers really liked to chip, do construc­ the Recreation Room, just watch­ keep his shoes shined. SOFT, tion work and carpentry. This were happy over one thing. They ing life, and got to thinking about DON'T YOU THINK? figured that with the voting prac­ the soft life we seamen have. individual, Captain M. Suglian CIGARETTE FINE tically over, and the SIU leading Now, I want it understood that actually chipped the deck for by a better than 2 to 1 score, it Yippee! You're in Antwerp. I'm not a writer or whatever But what's this? Don't tell me three days while the Lynn was at won't be long until Isthmian those people are called who put you didn't hide ten cartons of sea between Los Angeles and the comes under the terms of a Sea­ out all those words that we lose cigarettes you meant to finance farers contract. Panama Canal. our eyesight reading. I'm only your stay in Antwerp with? On another occasion. Captain icribbling this because my Isth­ Well, the fine is only 300 franca mian vacation money hasn't a carton—a little over six bucks. Suglian constructed a sort of :ome in yet, and so I can't do I ask you, SOFT, ISN'T IT? windbreak in front of the wheelwhat I'd like to do. house, assisted by the Carpenter. So, you notify the Chief En­ He also installed two extra Guess I'll stop wandering gineer that you're thinking of whistle pullers on the bridge, and around, and get down to the soft staying on for another trip. Yuu made a canvas awning for the things — a few anyway — that flying' bridge. All of this work come from all sides, whether on By HENRY W. CHAPPELL would have been done by the board some scow, ashore, or even seamen on a Union ship, and most ASHTABULA — You will no­ in the Union Hall. I'm including of it would have been paid for tice that a new organizer is now the Hall because as I sat here a at overtime rates. But not on the signing the reports from this area few minutes ago, one of the boys ROBERT SMITH Lynn Victory! lost a checker game, and it cost due to the fact that I was recent­ him the drinks. While on the Pacific Coast, be­ ly assigned here to work on the tween June 4 and July 5, none campaign to organize the Mid­ Oh, yes. Life is soft for us. of the crew got any cigarettes land Steamship Company. You ship out, and you have to from the slopchest. In addition, lug six suitcases out to the scow. Since I arrived here last week, another beef had arisen regard­ Of course, take it for granted only one Midland scow has been ing the Skipper telling the Junior that the ship is at anchor—about in, but at least three more are Engii&er and Chief Electrician halfw:^/ to England—and you expected within the next little The kind expression of sym­ that they had to clean their own have to make six trips up and remember what he said about while. pathy which the shipmates of the quarters. five trips down the pilot ladder that. SOFT! Like everyone who takes on late Robert Smith, former Bosun (no gangway) with your gear. Nice trip back you're having, SETTLE BEEFS a new job, I am looking forward on the SB William R. Davie, ten­ Did I mention that you're crazy isn't it? The storm outside? Upon their arrival at Coos Bay, to meeting the crews of the var­ dered to his wife, Emily C. enough to be a weight lifter, and Thing nothing of it! You'rb only crewmembers were thoroughly ious Midland boats because I am Smith, has been deeply appre­ have bars and bells in two suit­ rolling like heck, and the buck­ disguested about the cigarette sure that what I have to say to ciated by her. Brother Smith died at sea cases? Also, you are studying for ets. shoes, and bottle.s holling all situation, and requested the SUP them will be more than inter­ aboard the Wm. R. Davie, April a Bull Wiper's endorsement, and over the deck only keep you Agent there to assist them in esting. have one suitcase full of books. awake between watches, Pooh, 6th. clearing up their accumulated The SIU has a record that The Deckhands wouldn't haul think nothing of it. The next Unable to get in touch with beefs. speaks for itself, and if these each individual crew member, the gear up with a line because trip will be different! Agent Jack Barton contacted men, who are not really anti­ In case you don't know it, Mrs. Smith conveys her thanks you're an Oiler, and the Mate the Captain, and after consider­ union but who just dont' seem doesn't want to pay overtime for you're back in an American port, to all the crew through the med­ able discussion managed to set­ to want the NMU or a company all gassed up in Sloppy Sue's, taking on engine room stores. ium of the Log. Mrs. Smith's tle the beefs regarding cigarettes union, want any more proof, then SOFT, ISN'T IT? and you decide you're going to letter, addressed to the " Davie and cleaning of crew quarters. the latest Seafarers victory get tattooed. So, you end up EASY JOB crew, follows: All of the Lynn seamen were should, be enough to turn the' So, you're aboard now and the with a propeller on each rump, "The very generous purse of highly pleased at the results ob­ tables. I am confident that the $327.00, which, you sent to me first thing you. know, on such a and wording "twin screws, keep tained by the Union represen­ SIU will win the election when upon the death of my husband, hot day (it's only 93 degrees), clear" embossed on your hide. tative, and had a first hand op-, these ships are voted. Robert Smith, former Bosun on you are working your head off How did you like standing up portunity to see how much Union BOTH STOOGES the SS William R. Davie, was in the engine room, watching the while you ate during the next representation actaully accom­ clocks as you stand underneath two weeks? Soft! I fully realize that we are up very much appreciated^ Please plished in settling a beef. OTHER POSSIBLE DANGERS accept my heartfelt thanks and the blower. SOFT, EH? According to volunteer ship's against competitors who are If I wasn't such a happy-mind­ Let's jump ahead a week. You strong, and who will stop at apologies for not having acorganizer Earl Law's, Jr. Engineer ed fellow, I'd have you in the knowledged your gift sooner. Not are at sea, and the sun is nice and and Chief Electrician Byron Mc- nothing in attempting to gain only was the gift appreciated, but hot. You want to strip, and get a hospital with the tattoo infected. Candles, they had a good Stew­ their ends. The company union also the very lovely anchor of nice tan all over so that your I'd also include a smashed finger ards Dept. on the Lynn Victory. and the NMU, which has a repu lilies which you sent. wife (???) can't make any cracks or a broken leg in the trip, and Food was excellent and the serv­ tation scarcely more savory than about the white skin between ni^be somebody losing hi.s "My husband spent 28 years on that of the stooge union, are put ice was good. the sea, and had been retired for the tan on your legs and stom­ whole payoff at poker, or maybe ting out a lot of propaganda. But The Lynn is on a steady intereven some cop banging you on ten years, when he heard his ach. as I said before, we have a good coastal run, and is at Port New­ the skull while you were drunk: But, no!! There are eight wo­ country's call and returned to the record, and that will swing things ark, N. J. at this writing. She's You only asked her, "howf Merchant Service. men passengers aboard bound for in our favor. headed for Philly and Baltimore, "In closing let me say, some of Antwerp, and the ,01d Man says much . . .", and before you could As of this writing, the NLRB you I know personally, but to all no soap. So, you leave your shorts and will payoff in either city the rest of the words out of most likely. At least, the crew has not yet set an election date of you, I wish every success and on, and fall asleep on the cot. | your mouth, ". . . .further to the We are not allowing this to slow happine& in the future. hopes for a payoff. Well, a few hours later the Old docks," she screamed for help. us down. Any work that we can Sincerely, Man is smearing your red, blis­ WHO SAID WE HAVE AN TWO SOLID DEPTS. do now will bear fruit when the Emily C. Smith" tering, and of course, aching back EASY LIFE? Both the Deck and Engine De­ balloting does finally take place partments on the Lynn are solid Of course, as our strength in­ •for the Seafarers. However, most creases, the NMU and the stooges of the Stewards Dept. men are will make every effort to stall non-union. Crewmen are still the election. It won't help them working on them with the hope because no matter what they do that the majority can be per­ the ihen uf the Midland Steam­ ing been reprimanded and al­ were very much impressed by By RAY WHITE suaded to see the Union light of ship Company will still vote to most yanked off in Philadelphia the new Hall and the way it ig day, joining with the SIU to be represented by the SIU, NORFOLK—Shipping in Nor­ by the Patrolmen before the voy­ fi.xed up, e.specially the pool make Isthmian a good I^ion Since I have just taken over folk has taken a definite slump age started, Davis, still failed to table. company. this port, I must apologize for the last two weeks. Although see the light. They noted that someone was One of the Oilers was taken off my small report. You may de­ He refused to sit down with in San Diego and an AB in Fris­ pend on me for a more compre­ business was good, most of the the Patrolmen to even discuss playing all the time and sug­ gested that they be allowed to co. Both of these men blew hensive report next week, anc: ships were boneyard bait. overtime, so the Delegates and make a donation toward getting We had the occasion to pay off their tops. The AB was an old every week thereafter. This situ­ Patrolmen had to go into a three a second table for the Hall. timer of 65 who went screwy ation is important for us Seafai> two long trips, both over six day combat with the Company The crew of the SS Adenaus while the Lynn was at Coos Bay, ers, and I will do all I can to months, which is considered a Agent to get the mess straight­ Burke at time of payoff donated and lasted as far as San Diego. keep the membership informed fair trip now days. One, the SS ened out. $75.00, and the crew of the SS Charles Nordoff of Alcoa waS The Oiler finally went off the of what goes on here. Every SIU Hall should take a Charles Nordoff, $101.00 This paid off without much trouble; deep end after parading up and note of his name (Oscar T. Davis, was turned over to the Agent and but on the SS Adenaus Burke down his foc'sle with a crucifix Chief Engineer) and refuse to he was instructed to purchase an­ of Mississippi there were beefs in one hand and a bible in the crew any ship with him aboard. other table. galore. other. He ordered everyone out He was proven in a Coast Guard Imagine a six and a half months hearing to be a drunkard and his who came into the foc'sle, and Although most of these men trip with the Bosun high man license is now on probation for were from other ports, this shows insisted on keeping the portholes in overtime, with a total of 157 a year. closed. the concern and interest they hours. But that was only the have in their Union and in mak­ Yes, sir! The boys on the Lynn UNION SPIRIT beginning, as the Chief Engin­ ing each Hall a better and a more really had a hectic trip. And to eer, O. T. Davis, had refused to The crews of these two ships, comfortable place to spend time make matters Worse, everyone accept any overtime. After hav- while waiting around for payoff, in and ship from. had to run to the Skipper if they Ashtabula Ready For Midland Mrs. Smith Gives Thanks To Crew Keep Your Weather Eye Open For This Engineer: He Has Never Heard Of Overtime Fc/ Seamen ^3 �THE SEAFARERS LOG Tea FridBT' August Z, 1946 SHIPS' MINUTES AND NEWS Milledge Men Merry Time X SIU Crewmen Make Arrow A Model Ship The crew of the SS John There's a company stiff aboard Milledge made a trip that was the SS Philip Thomas—a Chief chock full of the better things Engineer who gets the cold in life—from palate-pleasing sweats at the sound of the word cream puffc to Jull blown frsu leins. Here are some of the "overtime." But he is going to crew, still smiling over their have to sweat it out. At a ship­ experiences. From left to right; board meeting the ci-ew agreed Guy Don loxia, towards Dept. this attitude no longer goes. Delegate: Tony Zalewski, Ship's Delegate, who had the dames The ship's minutes point out stampeding, and John Beach, that after the ship had dragged Black Gang Delegate. the hook, the Chief Engineer Pictured below, in the bot­ called a Fireman from his bed, tom row, from left to right.*. Ferando Valles, Messman; Guy and had him oil the engines while Don lozia. Utility; Richard the vessel was being moved to Young, Utility; Ruddy Weyse, another anchorage. Utility, and Jack Wiant, MessThe Fireman put in three man. Top row, from the left: Robert Maupin, Second Cook hours on the job, but the c6mand Baker: James E. Powell, pany nickel-nurser maintained Chief Cook, and Teddy Grad- that the work was performed for jelick. Utility. the safety of the vessel, and therefore, he would only sign for one hour. BY A CREW MEMBER • The SS Flying Arrow has un­ dergone a rejuvenation in the short time she has been crewed by the SIU. It seems like a mere day or two ago since the Union rescued this .young but rapidly aging ship from an indifferent crew. The to'csles were dirty, the heads were in a sad state, and the chow was nothing to whistle about. ; There were countless cans of the i war-style coffee put up in five gallon tins, old spices, condi­ ments, etc., and old soap that made a better lubricant than de­ tergent. These were all left to us with the good graces of the old ship operators and the tol­ erance of the MU&S. The SIU crew, at a special meeting, lost no time in straight­ ening out the poor conditions. From this first emergency ses­ sion right through the last regu­ lar meeting the crew has done much to improve living condi­ tions on board this ship. Several things have attracted my attention on this ship. There is universal representa­ tion aboard the Arrow. There are in the crew, a New Zealander, a Canadian, men from all sections of the USA, and several ex-serv­ icemen from all branches of the services. Being an ex-Army man, I was a bit apprehensive at the reception I'd receive at the wa­ terfront, but ccmditions on thi.s ship prove thai the SIU has room for ex-servicemen. % % XXX Willis MILITANCY Another thing is the militant spirit that prevails aboard. Par­ liamentary procedure is observed and respected at the meetings. Most important of all, when some­ thing constructive has to be done the men make practical sugges­ tions and then follow through with action- Another noteworthy thing is the keen, interest the crew is showing in the Isthmian drive. We will do our best to see that any Isthmian ships in port with the Arrow, will be shown the benefits of sading SIU. Lastly, the youth, spirit and vigor of the crew has made this ship .the closest thing possible to a seagoing home. The Bosun is an easy going chap with a magnetic personality, which draws both man and beast into his sphere of influence. I was under the impression that only Bosuns whistle while they work, but Bosun Bartlett has every last man in his gang' whist­ ling all the time. "RED" COLORFUL "Chips" Knickerbocker is a -phantom carpenter who can ' make furniture or what have you with dunnage that isn't on board. The most colorful character in (Continued on Page 11) Thoinas Crew To Curtail Chief Stiff All Hands Happy; Gal For Every Guy Cooks And Lovers— Chief Steps Out, Sun Goes Down They're All Good By TONY ZALEWSKI On June 16, the good ship Milledge headed her bow up the Weser River for Bremen, with the Deck Engineer, Lawrence (Hogan's been here) Hogan stand­ ing up in the forepeak, trying to get a first glimpse of the frauleins, who abound thereabouts. The ship docked at 8 p. m. and by 10 p. m. most of the boys were playing at the good old game of Romance. Most of the boys had been here last trip and were al­ ready established. However, the first trippers to Bremen had plenty of the frauleins to choose from at Frau Weiss' bar. The boys went on picnics with their frauleins. The party at Frau Weiss' bar for the whole crew including of­ ficers, was an affair that will be remembered by all. It sure is a pleasure to sail with a bunch of fellows such as the crew of the Milledge. All departments got along well this trip, which helped to make the Milledge a home away from home. By JOHN BEACH The entire crew of the SS John Milledge acclaims the Galley crew—James Powell, Ch. Cook; Robert Maupin, 2nd Cook and Baker, and Theodore Gradjelick, Galley Utility—as the bunch of cooks they ever sailed with. It has been a pleasure to eat the food this trip with tender pieats, good pastries (cream puffs and eclaii's), and as good a bread as you'll find anywhere. It seems to the Cooks that the ship's Delegate, Anthony Zalew­ ski and Rudolph Japel had a whole harem of frauleins under their care. These two shipmates are honest-to-goodness Casanovas, ' Specially Big Tony. We don't know what the guy has besides good looks, but it must be something the girls go for. He was mobbed in Bremen and in Fowey, England, where we stopped off for a cargo of China clay on the way back. By ROBERT MAUPIN On every ship the boys see a certain amount of gold braid, among the Messboys, Wipers, Or­ dinary Seamen, etc. But they will have to take a back-row seat now, because when the Chief En­ gineer goes ashore, he wears enough gold braid and "scrambled eggs" to gold plate the top of the Empire State Building. Believe it or not, fellows, the Chief is a full Commodore. His identification card from Sheepshead Bay says so, and if anyone hints that the gold on his uni­ form is in abundance, they should see his pajamas, with the gold striped epaulets on the shoulders. Our hats are off to you. Chief Engineer, you're a whole damned hurricane in disguise. (But all joking aside fellows, he is a good skate). DOES NOT WORK The minutes state, further, "that this company stiff has only about 15 hours of overlirne in his entire department." If there is any electrical work to be done, the Chief Engineer does it. He has even been seen doing car­ pentry work, such as putting kick-out panels in the Wiper's doors. "These sort of things are not accepted on SIU ships," the min­ utes add. A vote was taken and the crew instructed the delegates to see the Chief Engineer, and get him straightened out on these matters. The crew also placed the blame for the impossible conditions ex­ isting in the Black Gang's living quarters and showers. They charged that "the heads and showers of this department were in a very disgusting condition," and that "it would be almost im­ possible for anyone to fake a shower there." REPAIRS TO WAIT The company stiff in question, when confronted with these con­ ditions, stated that repairs to the heads and showers would have to wait until the vessel was on its way back to the States, as he could not spare the Wipers at the time. This meant that the quarters of the Engine depart­ ment would also remain unpainted until the ship was homeward bound. The quarters of the other departments had been painted, and the crew couldn't see treat­ ing the Black Gang as a "bunch of orphans." It was at this point that all hands agreed that this matter would be straightened out before the vessel proceeded any further. Delegates aboard the Thomas are Millburn Tuttle, Deck; Ger­ ald Laura, Steward, and Fi-ank Morrison, Engine. Constentmus Voulgaris served as the meeting's chairman and FE. McGillicuddy was secretary. Make Istliniiaii SIU J �Friday, August 2, 1946 THE SE ArARERS LOG Digested Minutes Of SIU Ship Meetings i CAPE ROMAIN, (Date.-chair­ man and secretary not noted), Alcoa taking over ship at mid­ night. Good and Welfare: Fu­ migation of ship. Fan for 124 watch. Soap dishes in show­ er. Matches and soap for Deck Dept. Fix ice boxes in mess and pantry. Check lights in all quarters. Clean pillows and mattresses. New tools for Deck Dept. Repair lockers and locks on quarters' doors. New and better slopchest stores. Destroy or replace flour, medicines (full of bugs), etc. Keys should be made for all quarters. 1 & 1 Some Guys Ilave iToo Much Crust Every morning the crew's Messman aboard the SS Earlham Vic­ tory went to the pantry and put several slices of bread in the toaster. Then he went about some other chores. But when he returned for the toast—it wasn't there. Neither were the bread slices. On one such occasion, he spot­ ted some crumbs of evidence. He followed the trail. It lead right to the officers' saloon. The Messman informed the Steward of this crumby trick, and the Steward promptly had toast •—crumbs and all—removed from the officers' bill of fare. And the crew, not to be de­ nied a voice in the matter, voted that the toaster be moved from the pantry to the crew's niesshall. Let's see if the character has enough crust to try the snatch job, now. X t % BERNARD RODMAN. June 23—Chairman Charles Kull: Secretary Walter Pupchyk. Motion carried to contribute proceeds from fines to the Log fund. O. D. Drawdy, Ray Thompson and Emil Gomez to represent crew at Hall and to take all disputed overtime there before payoff. The nine tripcard men present were accept­ ed by the crew. Good and welfare: Crew asks for glass port holes. Engine Delegate asks tor tood on arrival day. Pantryman to clean coffee urn regularly, and washroom is to be cleaned. X X a BERNARD RODMAN. May 26—Chairman Roy Thompson; Secretary Walter Pupchyk. Minutes of previous meeting read and accepted. Good and Welfare: Too much noise by crew in passage at night. Mess dirty in morning. Crew wants clean glasses and silver, cabi­ nets and coffee urn. Motion carried giving suggestions and favoring Union-operated slop- ' chests. Evidence of petty lar­ ceny aboard ship. Chief Cook asked to season food. Motion carried reguestinq inner spring mattresses for crew. XXX CAPE CORWIN. June 6 — Chairman W. J. Holland; Sec­ retary Robert Rivera. Motions carried: that decision be an­ nounced whether or not work­ ing on the wheel watch when the iron mike is on constitutes overtime. This decision is to be made by members in New York. A motion passed urging collection of overtime for the deck gang for the time they were deprived of by working stowaways. Good and Welfare: water was off at intervals due to low supply caused by stop­ page of water system in Mayagues. P. R. XXX IRVIN S. COBB, June 9 — Chairman H. M. Galphin; Sec­ retary A. C. Lutey. Previous meeting's minutes read and ac­ cepted. Good and Welfare: Mo­ tions carried calling for set of rules to keep mess, toilets, quarters and laundry clean, with fines to go to Log. A blanket fine of 50 cents to beimposed for placing feet on chairs, throwing cigarettes on deck, leaving cups and dishes dirty after use. for entering mess with shorts on. leaving clothes in laundry tub. and leaving trash around. XXX ROBERT G. INGERSbLL. June 30—(Chairman not noted) Secretary Eugene Greco. All tripcarders recommended for pro books. Discussion on amount of time required on a trip card before getting pro book, and time required on pro book before geting full book. Answers were left for settle­ ment in New York. Bedroom Steward logged because he rerefused to soogie bulkheads, overhead, and overhead pipe lines in the heads without pay­ ment of overtime. Matter to be left to Patrolman. Good and Welfare: Check all stores for better stuff on next trip. Leave a clean ship for the benefit of the next crew. ARTHUR M. HURLBERT. June 26 — Chairman Charlie Simmons; Secretary Robert Mansfield. Chairman gave a brief talk to all departments on the need for Union brother­ hood, stressing that a ship is no place for prejudice or hate. "This ship will be a Union ship for Union men. Let's keep it that way!" Chairman inform­ ed Dept. delegates of their du­ ties and responsibilities. Good and Welfare: Steward put out one percolator for Deck dept. and one for Engine dept. He says they were burned and thrown around. 4-8 watch on deck agrees to take care of percolators. XXX Advocate Crew Advocates Terms The announcement of the rec­ ord-breaking contract which the Negotiating Committee wrest­ ed from the Waterman and the Mississippi outfits got an enthu­ siastic response from the crew of the MV Coastal Advocate, a Smith and Johnson scow, at the July 24 shipboard meeting held in the Port of Jacksonville. The crew heard the news in the form of a letter from John Hawk, Secretary-Treasurer. Port Patrolman J. Redden read Broth­ er Hawk's communication. In a rising vote, the crew ex­ tended its thanks, and compli­ ments, to the Negotiating Com­ mittee, for achieving the best contract on the waterfront. XXX T. J. MCCARTHY. June 17— Chairman Raininen; Secretary Ragsdale. Minutes of previous meeting read and accepted. Motion carried: Hold meetings once a week at 12:45 p. m.. Sat­ urday or Sunday on lake. Dis­ puted overtime settled satisfac­ torily. Good and Welfare: Mo­ tions carried: Delegates to see about getting fans where need­ ed; Delegate to see Steward about not setting chairs on tables while cleaning in mess. Crew to watch smoking on deck because of the fire hazard in­ volved. Crew should know their fire stations and lifeboat drill duties. XXX JAMES JACKSON. (Time not noted) — Chairman Townley; Secretary Buser. Election of officers; reading of previous meeting's minutes and accep­ tance. Complain lodged against 1st Asst. Engineer for not turn­ ing any one to on heads and showers as agreed upon at be­ ginning of voyage, and that ship be painted on overtime. Motion carried to take this matter up with Patrolman in port. SIU Crewmembers Make Flying Arrow A Model Ship (Continued from Page 10) the Deck department is "Red"— a dog of doubtful ancestry, who followed the Bosun all the way from Washington to the ship. I wonder what the Bosun will do when "Red" follows him around in Capetown. The Belly Robbers Department has a few characters in its fold. Steward Kanouse is the most ob­ vious, or he was, with his re­ alistic impersonations of the late Rudolph Valentino, which lasted until he crossed the Equator. Danny Boy Johnston claims the distinction of being the young­ est lad on board ship. His next big claim to distinction is the coal passers endorsement on his E papers. (Anybodjy know of a coal-burner manned by the SIU?) Brother Robelear, in addition to being messman 1st class and chow hound par-excellence, is an expert checker player, who through sheer benevolence is al­ ways losing at the game. The Cooks are improving day by day and if the trip doesnt' last over three months no one will be forced to recuperate in a marine hospital. The Black Gang is a cohesive unit of grease monkies who keep the ship's screw turning at full speed. They are led by Delegate Jimmie Eschinger, who claims to be the most completely tatooed man on board. However, "Frenchy" LeBlanc disagrees, so the Bosun is arranging to have a "tatoo beauty conte.st when we cross the Equator on the homebound voyage. "Wiper" Mahoney hopes to run a direct line from the Castle brewery in Capetown to the bow­ els of the Arrow. He says that the SIU needs is a beer tank .Cor the exclusi\fe use of/ the Black Gang on watches. Page Elesi .,^ SEAFARER SAM SAYS. ASS6SSMEMTS, FINES, UK /ANY /^lONEf lb THE- UfiiON MAXe SURE you PAY IT To AN AUTHoRi^eP REPRESENTATIVE AND THAT You GETANOFFlC/AL RECEIPT — NO AlATTER NoW MUCH OR HOW/ LITTLE. CUT AND RUN By HANK While proud, strong and honest history is being made in our good old Union, we're in this small corner, chipping out another fish-day column of Log-worthy items. This week we haven't much of a interesting menu of literature because our voluntary UNO (Unexpected News Owls), especially in other ports are importantly busy otherwise. Anyway, fellas, whether you take a long trip or a shorty, take some Logs along with you. You'll always find a ship (SIU, Isthmian or otherwise) which could really appreciate them or some foreign bar where sailors visit to chew the fat and wet the voices ... X X X X Skoal, skoal and double skoal. Bob Porter grabbed a ship to Norwayscotia! We hope it's warm enough up there for him TO write to the Log about the ship's characters and how the Norwegian waterfront is welcoming the seamen, too . . . Whether or not such an event is in the cooking, we still couldn't separate enough cabbage from the corned beef so we could make a pier-head jump aboard Herbert Hutchin's spicy and splic)/ voyage into the sea of matrimony. The lucky brothers who brought their dry oars must have enjoyed the landlubbing trip indeed. Well, to you and the Mrs., lots of happiness and salty meals. Brother Hutchins. from all cheerful distant hearts, X X X X Gene Dauber just came in from the Port of Danzig. We'll bet he has a story about the trip and how the merchant seamen are being treated in that port-. . . Oldtimers Fred Johnson, the smiling Deck Engineer carrying Book 117, is in town, trying to ship out Can't get the Tulsa, Fred, because Argentit.c, she take it awa|5r . Two of our shipmates. Bill Todd and Raymond Duhrkopp, are waiting for the ships to come in, so they can get down in the en­ gine room for a trip! . . . Linden Weber, another oldtimer, just came in, asking if the payroll of the SS Eleanor, came in . . . While Frank Devlin is in town now, Baltimore Ski, the night mate, took a topside cruise of two weeks for Texas, for a bit of change and ch.anged scenery . . . Rafael Santiago sure must have got tired of those milk runs to the islands. He took a long voyage to the China Coast. They have no rum over there, Pana, have they? . . . Enrique Cortez is ready for a trip, too, but it will probably be down the island.s again, as usual. X X X X We met three swell people last week. They were Frank Waller, a Mobile man, if we're not mistaken, and-bne of Bera Smyley's pals; Frank's jolly wife Tina and good old "Foyepe" Harry Cronin. We'll have more of an interesting story cibout them next week, anyway . . . ome time this year will find Dan Butts. ex-Puerto Rico piecard. back again on his good and clean home. SS Cape Nome, for those steady island trips and seeing his wife and two kids more often, too . . . Our good old shipmate, Paul Gondzar. just came in from his home down in Michigan, and is now on a ship for Antwerp. D on't forget to get that swell tasting beer in the village near the docks called Hoboken; don't waste your time up Skipper street and don't worry aobut those buzz-bombs anymore, either. Paul. i 4" J. 3/ We met a swell Seafarer recently, and he's Robert Rutledge, We'll have a little more about Brother Rutledge next week, too . .. Bosun Herman Christensen is ti-ying to get out of New York while he's stone cold broke and sober in the slow-shipping market. Herman sUys that his shipmate, Pete Gvozdich is down around outh Africa right now. �.fV-t;/'••<^^.;(^^j^4^:rf;-'. •_ :"• ^ - Vri^ ':' ; • •; • • •• i '- THE SEAFARERS LOG f^a Twelve Friday. August 2. 1946 THE MEMBERSHIP SPEAKS Them Ain't Roses You Smell In Old Chi, Writes Ropeyarn Dear Ed.: Well I bet, Ed, that you think I am a hell of a feller to being tearing from so dern far from jBie New York waterfront, and you are probably thinking that I have turned out to be just a plain damned landlubber, after all of^the years of patient tutor­ ing in seamanship under your expert direction. Well it ain't quite that bad, Ed, You see, Ed, Chicago is not all together a landlubbers town, for .there is supposed to be a Port here; only it is so damned far from the town you wouldn't. |mnw if it was or not. In fact, Ed, it would seem to me that it wouldn't be so hot to ship out of, on account of by the time that you got to the dock; it be­ ing far, you would be pretty dry jand naturally you would ask the Old Man for a draw right off the bat, and that right there, Ed, would be the end of the job for you and me, 'cause, Ed, the Lake Skippers wouldnt go for any­ thing like that—Ed, you and I had better stay close to the deep water where we can guzzle a beer or two now and then and not get fired. WHAT SCANDAL? I know, Ed, you are just writh­ ing in pain to know what kind of \ scandal is going on here in the "Windy City—in fact, I bet by the time you have read this far your temperature is up to at least 188—Well you know me, Ed, if there is scandal I will know about it; in fact you accused me of scandal mongering on the last rustbucket—when the old man's --whiskey was missing—and you and I didn't turn to for a couple days; only, Ed, the Old Man said that wasn't scandal, it was Just plain damn thievery when he logged us two for one—You just mistook scandal for confession of that mess boy who done the dirty work. Well there is a real scandal down here Ed, it is one of them scandal's that "stink" — a gar­ bage scandal. Down here in Chicago they have two methods of collecting gar­ bage; they call it the two v/ay system—"Municipal Free and the Private Ent^prise." Under the "Municipal Free" you are not supposed to pay anything, but under the "Private Enterprise" you have to shell out some dough. HIGH CLASS GARBAGE BEER COMES HIGH IN DANZIG Log -A- Rhythms man opposed to them getting a raise in pay, they just don't pick-up any garbage there until he changes his mind—and of course, Ed, the stronger the stench, the more likely the po­ litico is to change his mind; Night Comes By Joseph F. Ferran Refracted through the crouching fog The land still hazy gleams To where the ocean's mightiness Runs to a thousand streams. Dear Editor: Don't throw away them old dungarees. Brothers. Save ihem in case you have to make a trip to Danzig, Poland. They are good shore-going clothes. The other day an NMU zoot-suiter was rolled for his clothes, so you know these people must be pretty hard up. especially, Ed, with them dele­ gations that live in his ward pay­ ing him them uninvited social calls. OPEN-NOSED Say, Ed, I run across an old 'news hawk' that is a friend of mine and was up to see him yesterday, and he said to me right off the bat, "pardon me the wind just blew in two columns of garbage for the next edition— see you in an hour." Ed, I sure hope them there Chi­ cago City Fathers get this gar­ bage question settled before August 12th, so that the Dele­ gates who are going to form the National Maritime Council don't become suffocated and have to go home. Rope Yarn The cartoon is the truth; you have to sneak ashore for a beer. So watch yourself. Brothers! John J. Bluitt BROTHER WHITMER ENTHUSED OVER TAMPA'S NEW HALL Until the fingers of the night Explore the sleepy sea And so at last a perfect day Blends with eternity. Dear Editor: After a quick five-week trip to Bremen and back, our thoughts were of news. For a bigger and better Log, we donate $16.00. Crew of SS John Milledge (Editor's note:—Thanks, fel­ lows. Names of the contributors appear in this week's Honor Roll. For your pictures and story, see the ship's news page, this issue.) DEAR BROTHERS: WHY DON'T YOU WRITE THE LOG Dear Editor: From the way these Chicago landlubbers are howling at the city father's you would think that only this here system of "Private Enterprise" is working as it only functions for the busi­ ness class, for they are the ones ' that have the 'mazuma' to grease ' them garbage collectors plams— hence they get service. These here garbage collectors have been getting ideas from We have good conditions and somebody, Ed, for if they find cuntracts, and anybody with a « block where lhe.ve is an Alder­ fair amount of ..intelligence can But now as far as eagle eye May search is naught but calm And peaceful lies the blue bound sky Like echoes from a psalm. MILLEDGE CREW CONTRIBUTES TO LOG FUND FULL BOOKERS' OBLIGATION TO ACT AS DELEGATES It seems to me that it was mentioned in the Seafarers Log, that on different voyages, full bookmembers do not want to be delegates in their respective de­ partments, and that they allow, elect, or appoint tripcaid and pro book members to act in that ca­ pacity. While this is in all fairness to the new members and gives them a chance to act and prove their ability as such, I think a full book member should act in the posi­ tion of delegate. The new members do not know, or are not well up on the contracts, and when there is a beef or misunderstanding aboard ship they like to lay the blame on the wrong party, which is the Delegate. Men like the Bosun, Deck En­ gineer, Steward, and Chief Cook are key men, and they can't act as Delegates in their depart­ ments. If they could, they would be accused of favoritism, and a lot of other isms. I don't think it fair for full book men to hold back and not try to help our new Brothers— and to try to keep what we all fought for. And on the lee, the soft-ridged sea Lies deep and blue and dark; Scarce would you think its quies­ cent flow To raging angry heights may grow As fire from a spark Seafarers Whitmar and Wiseman. Dear Editor: .Just a few lines from a Brother "Beachcomber" down here in the fair city of Tampa—the land of palm trees and lovely Spanish girls—"Ybor City Style," that is. Our new Hall, so far, is a knock-out. In fact, it is fast be­ coming one of the best Halls on the coast. The floors are covered with a composition that looks swell. There are also a couple of divans and easy chairs and tables. It looks as though it were a read them. And they can al­ ways receive all the information they want at any of the SIU Halls. What is holding them back from acting as delegates is more than I can fathom or understand. Therefore, if possible, print this in the Log, and maybe we will get an answer,i»or the reason why. Charles Hartman business men's club. As an added attraction, there is a sliding door in the rear—the only sailors' Hall in the country to have one, I im­ agine. Upstairs, there' are rooms, as this building was once a hotel. It's quite a classy jernt. By the time Agent Sonny Sim­ mons and Patrolman "Sailor" Hall finish getting the place fixed up, it will be as classy as head­ quarters. By the way, the Hall's new ad­ dress is 1811 Franklin Street, so come on down, boys, to the land of Southern comfort and hos­ pitality. Enclosed is a picture of an­ other Brother and myself taken in Baltimore a few minutes be­ fore we took leave of the "lux­ urious" scow, the Gov. John Lind. Until I write again, I remain yours for a bigger SeafarerB Log. Alan E. Whitmer Here's a chance to do a little, loggin' of your own, only no­ body is going to get hurt by it. In fact, the 62,000 Seafarers and countless other readers who read these pages every week will probably eat it up. They want to know what you and your shipmates are doing, thinking and saying. Pictures, poems, stories, let­ ters make good Log material. Ideas for Union action, or trouble-saving tips for your Brothers—send 'em in. No matter how often it is said. Seafarers and ships— yop/j •7^ raoeABW m espeoMtot where they go, and what they, do, their laughs and their beefs —are new^. So, whaddya say? Let's Log ai �Friday, Augiist 2, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG Marine Hospitals Give Seamen A Dirty Deal Hospitalized SlU Member Urges Brothers To Act Deplorable Situation Public Appeal Would Help, Says Seafarer's Wife Letters condemning the dis­ criminatory effect of the Ma­ the men who offered their lives rine Hospital rulings as applied Dear Editor: Marine Hospitals? If they do not, Dear Editor: in the first line of defense, and to Merchant Seamen continue and the merchant seaman does, 1 should like to suggest that you First of all, I'd like to thank later in the forefront of the at­ to pour into the Log. and without adequate benefit, you for sending the Log so print and distribute among the tack? As I see it, the Coast wherein lies the proverbial scales The two lead letters on this promptly to the folks at home. Guard is still ruling over us, so page are typical. But they are general public, leaflet copies of of justice? Ic'/ They all "think it is a grand paper why not, give us a few rights particularly noteworthy be­ the article captioned, "Merchant and are enjoying it very much. SCHEDULE FOR PAIN among all the obligations the sea­ cause the writers base their Marine Hospitals Do Not Serve I am home on a 30-day leave man MS burdened with. Let us Must the merchant seaman etc., ap{3'eaiing in criticism on actual personal ex­ Seamen . . from the Staten Island Marine do away with the 60-day clause, train himself so that the events periences. Seafarer Bill Bause the July 12 issue of the Log. Hospital. I have a cast on my and serve more adequate food in This may not be an original leading to his disability corre­ right leg, but it is great to be the hospitals. Something, too, has been confined to the Staten Island Marine Hospital for idea to you. I, therefore, apol- spond with a particular date home and eat just what you like. should be done about the cry­ ngi7e for any poasihle intri.wion based on his past, present or fu­ Ilo'vvevei, uiy lime is Up on July ing need tor recreational facilities many months. A seaman's wife, in her let­ into your line of thought. How­ ture employment schedule? The 2G, and I shall return to the hos­ in the hospitals. ter. compares the treatment ac­ ever, I still deem it to be a prof­ Coast Guardsman can develop a pital hoping to leave in the near Due to the war, all hospitals corded merchant seamen with itable form of promotion. I also pain any time from the first of future to go to sea. are sadly overcrowded, working that of the Coast Guard and suggest that you use in the leaf­ the year to the last. The mer­ I have read with great inter­ many hardships on the hospital the civil service employees, let, the cut from the Log with chant seaman, in order to get any est, the article by "Ropeyarn," staffs as well as on the patients. among whom are members of the cut-line, "He, TOO, Is Hu­ attention at all, must confine his and in the same issue, the article All hospitals ailment to some Monday, Tueshave spacious her own family. man." from New Orleans, both of which grounds around them. They Many times during the last These letter bear the truth. pointed the deplorable hospital should be opened to the pa­ They are a challenge to the war, I visited the Marine Hos­ tients; the same applies to the right-thinking and the fair- pital in Staten Island, N. Y. The roofs. Fresh air and a little sun­ merchant seamen there were in minded. shine does wonders for the mo­ the minority, although hundreds, Until that time when therale of the patients—or doesn't with illnesses and injuries susmorale matter anymore now that merchant seaman gets the fair 1,- '-ii tined in the war, were in dire and proper treatment which h«( •fi A the war is over? justly deserves, the SIU will need of medical attention. But LONE FIGHT be in the forefront of the fight there was "no room." As Brother Joe "Volpian point­ to eliminate the Marine Hos­ DISCRIMINATION -J!''ft • ied out 'n the Log of July 12, pital abuses. ifff ...fl My own Civil Service family , ft. • 3 the Marine Hospital is not just goes there whenever necessary. a hospital for seamen, but also Why not any merchant .seamen, open to the Coast Guard and cer­ WIFE THRILLED if and when the emergency tain civil service employees. We AT LETTER IN day or Wednesday, etc., and that arises? Get rid of the time-limit can't look forward to those groups to be within a certain time limit. admittance clauses that apply to fight for better conditions, as A RECENT LOG Nice going! situation. Again, I would like to only to merchant seamen, for their views are different than Dear Editor: The merchant seaman certain­ call all Seafarers' attention to the whom the marine hospitals were ours. But let's have "Log action." ly deserves if not a better break,fact that hospitalization is a mat­ Believe it or not, I received the founded, and, supposedly, main­ Brothers, the Log is a publication then certainly, at least an even ter of grave importance to all. tained. The 60-day time limit rule which is read the world over, by thrill of my life when my hus­ one. Personally, I believe he Remember, a seaman's job is al­ seems to be a carefully studied the general public as well as sea­ band wrote, me that my letter to would not take a better one. But ways dangerous, and Brother, discrimination against the mer­ men. Arouse public interest and you was printed in the June 14 the Coast Guardsmen and civil you may be next. Then what, chant seamen. acquaint them with the true issue of the Log. He was in Mo­ service men—well, they're lying '•little man?" Do the wives and families of facts. Brother Dambrino of New bile on an Alcoa ship and left in, and all over the lot. Orleans, in his article of July 19, yesterday for the West Indies. the Coast Guardsmen, or those CHANGES NEEDED "When you juggle a real estate ably pointed out that we should His copy of the Log did not get of the civil service emploj^es, man around for his advertising, The laws covering the hos­ here until after the letter. suffer more intensely, more often, "keep up the pressure." That is pitalization of bona fide sea­ Well, though I endeavored to or do they have less money for he invariably tells you that he our obligation. is already taking space in some men are obsolete. The 60-day express rrty views of the SIU and hospitalization or medical aid I wish to thank the Log for its other "rag," and he is reaching clause stinks to high heaven. A the Log, I never dreamed it was than the merchant seaman and cooperation in publishing the ar­ "class." But you soon show him change must be made whereby worthy of being printed. At first, his family? that his top interest is money, not any seaman will be accepted re­ ticles in behalf of the men in dry- I feared I'd have to buy a larger Does the. Coast Guardsman, or class, and he cannot reach all the gardless of how many days he dock, and Brothers "Ropeyarn," hat. It made me very happy. civil service' man, contribute in money through one medium. He and Dambrino for their able pre­ has been ashore. There must be any way to the preservation of is soon convinced and his results Mrs. John Heitzenroeder. no difficulties for admission to sentations of the plight of some of the patients in the various bring him back to you. hospital for a seaman, regardless of the time since his last dis­ marine hospitals. New Orleans REACH MAJORITY proved what is meant by pres­ charge. sure. Keep up the good work. The minority reads the "Higff" The American Seamen by his Bill Bause Hat" stuff. Get your sales talk wartime service has earned the before the majority. Don't miss sacred right,' the same as any any legitimate means of adver­ armed forces member, to be BROTHER URGES tising. The fellow with the fuU taken care of in his time of need stomach can never see how the COOPERATION; KEEP resulting from sickness. That other guy stays so empty. It right was earned by 6009 men HALL CLEAN takes energy, atomic in force, to lost at sea as a result of enemy Dear Editor: make him cognizant of some action. It was also earned by the things—especially the other fel, shell-shocked seamen drifting I want to address this to the low"s predicament. Give it to Ivelple.ssly and despised along the members and the officers of this him! Reach the PEOPLE! waterfront. It was also earned Union. Put the plight of your men in by the seamen maimed, or cripI have been sitting in the cor­ Dungarees before the .PEOPLE. pied for life while serving his ner and keping quiet and watch­ CLARIFICATION ON PRO MEMBERSHIP We have no pigeonholes; no con­ country in war. ing the Rp.aver .Street building venient wastebaskets. You won't SIU Brothers, this is your ob­ going to pot. Now is the time for ASKED BY UNION OLDTIMER get results from all whom you « ligation to all seamen, and your­ me to wake up and tell some of reach, but you will get a pretty self, and it is far more impor­ the Brothers the score. I heard a fellow raise the beef that, in his opinion, probation­ good .average. And when a day tant that you realize it while For instance, things like throw­ ary members should not be given the same shipping privileges arrives for a vote on the Mer­ you are healthy. Take time out ing chewing gum and newspapers as a full book man, and should only be shipped if a full book chant Seamen's Bill of Rights, the next time you pay off and on the floor. It isn't necessary. that pretty good average will get man doesnt want a job. look around in some Marine Hos­ I really know that I am in order the men what they rate—unqual­ How about clearing up this question so that some of the pital, and see your fellow sea­ on this. ified marine hospitalization. men who will never sail again Because we pay $2.00 a month men who don't know the score can avoid being confused? Through the people, let those in through no fault of their own. is no reason to abuse or lower ' Oldtimer Washington learn that we who As Brother "Ropeyarn" so ably our prestige. So Brothers, please are not in dungarees are genu­ pointed out, the basis of our dif­ help to keep this pleace clean. inely interested in those who are. Probationary Members Given ficulties is not at the different For this is our home. The way for every one to hear Samuel Hodges Marine Hospitals, but at "Circus One Year To Prove Union Caliber about that unfair play to the Hill," also kn«wn as "Washing­ merchant seaman is to tell THE ton, D. C. Probationary members enjoy the same full privileges as PEOPLE—NOW! full book members. Only difference is, as the designation im­ NATION FORGETS (Editor's note:—^This letter was f plies. they are on probation for one year in order to deiQon- Can anyone tell me why a vic­ written by the wife of a nier- .; strate that their conduct is such as to entitle them to permanent torious nation^ can give away chant seaman. She requested tiisl Union membership. bmions to a foreign natiori, and her name be withheld.) • '^'-1 jret fall short in taking care of fe- W" ft �rPf#'-—.-''• " "'r "'- rage Fourieen Friday, August 2, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG FED UP WITH SKIPPER Weisberger Reports On Decisions Of ILO Maritime Conference By MORRIS WEISBERGER Isthmian duo from Lynn Victory, Ship's organizer Earl Laws. Jr. Engineer (left) and Chief Electrician Byron McCandJess, both of whom had a bellyful of the Lynn Victory's Skipper. The following is a brief resume of the points taken up at the Conference, and the results of the deliberations: SOCIAL SECURITY Under this heading, four items were dealt with in the follow­ ing manner, 1. A "Convention" concerning the social security of seafarers. This provides for insurance against sickness, accidental death, unemployment and oldage. We voted in favor of this as it would give us the necessary cov­ erage on various points where we were not covered by collective agreement or National law. It would also set a minimum stand­ ard where there is no standard in the industry based on what the workers ashore enjoy, and are protected by. 2. A "Recommendation" con­ cerning agreements relating to the social security of seafarers. This provides to insure that a seafarer belonging to one coun­ try and serving on a ship of an- other, may remain within the scope of his own , countries' schemes as tar as social security benefits. We voted in favor of this as it was desired by the workers and gave them protection when serv­ ing on ships of other flags. 3. A Recommendation concern­ ing medical care for seafarers dependents. This would provide proper and sufficient medical care for the dependents of seafarers, We voted in favor of this as we have been on record time and again to have this provision ap­ ply in this country. (Depen­ dents of Coast Guard, Post Of­ fice workers, etc., enjoy this con­ dition now in USA.) 4. A convention concerning Seafarers' Pensions. Provides for alternative, pen­ sion schemes at different ages and on a contributory basis. We abstained from voting, and so did the rest of the American Delegation. This would not be ratifiable by the United States, and further could not favor any­ thing that would put a compul­ sory tax of as low as five per cent on the seamen's earnings. HOLIDAYS WITH PAY 1. A Convention concerning vacation holidays with pay for seafarers. We voted in favor of this Con­ vention as it means a definite gain to our men, since it gives 12 days per year for unlicensed personnel and 18 days for offi­ cers. In addition to wages, it further provides for payment of a suitable subsistence allowance. We fought to get 18 days for both officers and unlicensed per­ sonnel, but were unable to win it. berg. $3.00; C. J. Admunson. $5.00; F. D. Burroughs, $5.00; C. L. Ellis, INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS $5.00; C. D. McNeil, $5.00; J. Reed, SS Nicholas Labadie. $17.00. $5.00; C. E. Ray. $1.00; E. H. Vance, M. Collins. $2.00; O. Woods. $2.00. $4.00; D. Daloa. $5.00; A. Manuel, GALVESTON $5.00; J. V. Cordova. $6.00; A. M. INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS Ribadeneria, $6.00. SS Baldwin Hills. $7.00. A. Mayberry. $5.00; R. W. School­ M. Danzey, $2.00; F. Wherrity, $1.00; craft, $1.00; J. Wilaszak, $1.00; W. F. Z. Tountasakis. $2.00; W. Saylor. $2.00; Valiton, $1.00; P. O'Brien. $3.00; J. T. H. Kocanda. $2.00; J. Baldwin. $2.00; Ravino. $1 00; J. J. Slattsry. $2.00; D. Williamson. $2.00; M. Moore, $1.00; I G. F. Pratt. $2.00; D. F. Spencer. $lilO; _ JS. Matson. $2.00; F. Molder. $1.00; M. L. Philip, $2.00; T. C. Deale, $2.00; F. Angerlello. $2.00; J. Drummond, ^ C. S. Harriman, $1.00; K. W. Lang$2.00; J. Christopher. $2.00; V. Smith. I ham. $1.00; J. M. Kruszynski, $1.00. $3.00; H. Butts. $3.00; L. Colombo, PHILADELPHIA $2.00; S. P. Neugent. $2.00; G. Norte. I INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS $2.00; H. Meinhardt, Jr., $2.00; C. A. ' J. Loffey. $2.00; A. Melouron, $4.00; Burrough, $2.00; R. G. Pattison. $2.00; I F. Wells, $1.00; A. Willis, $2.«0; A. P. J. Semor. $1.00. R. Vaughn. $2.00; G. E. Cleason, Dube, $2.00; Kato, $2.00; D. Waters, $2.00; J. C. Stennett. $2.00; "J. Lamb, $2.00; J. Manson, $2.00; D. Johnson, $2.00; W. Safor. $2.00; H. A. Mix. $2.00; E. Jachew, $2.00; R. Owen, $8.00; $2.00; L. L. Gormandy. $2.00; F. H. W, Yee, $2.00; W. Newberg, $1.00; , Hannah. $2.00;»J. E. Wylie, $1.00; V. J. Di Vito, $11.00; Kiraland. $4.00; II. Copeland, $2.00; T. Jackson, $2.00; L. Richards, $2.00; E. Dolliver, $2.00. H. C. Sanford, $1.00; Francis PlopM. Thome, $2.U0; L. G. Hartang, $1.00; J. H. Geuganus, $2.00; B. F. Rollins, oert. $1.00; H. R. Guyman, $2.00; Henry $2.00; M. Kyle. $2.00; L. Tarnowski. Fov. $1.00; E. Ron-dash, $1.00; R. J. $1.00; R. M. Stover. $2.00; V. F. Kel- C'Keefe, $1.00; M. L. Ryherd, $2.00; len. $2.00: D. H. long, $2 00; D Hi, I Harry Holstrom, $1.00; Marco Lecrisce, $1.00; B. J. Dunnagan," $1.00. ' aa.ure, $1.00; John Hamilton, $1.00; F. C. E. Dinger. $1.00; C. C. Warren, ' Morcighlio. $1.00; L. M.aidonado, $1.00; $2.00; R. Hanks, $1.00; R. Mandigog. A. A. Matt, $10.00; C. Allen. $4.00; H. $1.00; H. Brown, $2.00; B. Brown. j G. Bardsley. $4.00; J. Ricciuti. $1.00. $1.00; E. E. Sexton. Jr.. $2.00; M- O. NORFOLK Cerrelli, $2.00; R. R. Hills, $2.00; E. INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS Dagostina, $1.00; K. Wertz. $2.00; G. L. Morgan. $2.00; J. A. Rainey. W. Wallace, $2.00; C. Somlin. $2.00; ,.$3 00; L. E. Wise. $1.00; R. J. Fer­ G. F. Hart, $1.00; C. H. Lanahan, guson. $1.00; M. E. Wilson. $2.00; J. •$$.00; T.. Wadsworth. $5.00; A. M. B. Seay. $2.00; L. Farone. $1.00; F. Fusco, $2.00; N. Delano, $2.00; R. C. M. Jones. $2.00; B. Jensen. $1.00; T. Dobson, $2.00; W. A. Adamson. $1.00; T. Harrin. $2,00; C. H. Green. $2.00; B. E. Ruggie. $2.00; F. A. Tousinau, A. A. Arteaga. $2.00; F. C. Page. $2.00; $1.00; J. Donas, $2.00; J. W. Kempr, C. H. Bowen. $2.00; W. LaChance. $200; J. • M. Staebler^ $2.00; N. E. $1.00; W. J. Wilkins. Jr.. $2.00; B. F. Nunn, $2.00. Craven, $1.00. J. D. Kern, $2.00; G. W. Brickley, " NEW YORK $2.00; O. Y. Smith, Jr., $2.00; J. McSS JOHN WATERMAN Cawley, $1.00; C. Caccamo, $1.00; R. Alev Antoniou. $7.00; M. Reynolds, .Miller, $1.00; P. Matan. $2.00; J. Clif­ ford, $1.00; J. C. Shaffer, $1.00: W. $2.00; C. Foster, $2.00; W. E. Kennedy, j 'Foley, $2.00: J. M. Troope, $1.00; W. $2.00; M. W. McLaughlin, $2.00; W. E. J. Smith, $2.00; C. Allen, $1.00; J. P. Reynolds, $1.00; John M. Waters, $1.00; ' Blackman, $1.00; T. Duncan, $1.00; J. N. . Atchinson, $1.00; Allan J. Mor­ C. A. Mosley, $2.00; R. E. Burrow, gan, $1.00; Robert T. C. Norton, $1.00; $1.00; .1. Procell, $2.00; J. Barber, J. E. Davis, $4.00; E. Walker, $2.00; John DeZee, $2.00. Total—$28.00. $i.OO; H. A. Murray, $2.00. SS WEBB MILLER F. R. Hallaway, $5.00; E. D. Allen, K. Perry, $2.00; P. Bergeron, $2.00; |4,00; J. Baldwin, »4.00i N. E. Gron- , BOSTON T. E. Maynes, $2.00; Stanley Smith, $2.00; S. Cullison, $2.00; W. Stewart, $2.00; Carroll Goneig. $1.00; W. G. Klunder, $3.00; D. A. Ward. $3.00; R. E. Boivin. $3.00; J. Kavoian, $3.00; M. Peinoto, $35.00; R. D. Malsicino, $3.00; F. J. Greaves, $2.00; J. G. Pelletier, $3.00; Raymond Christina, $1.00; Jo­ seph Casalino, $1.00. Total—$70.00. SS COLOBEE R. O-Niell. $1.00; G. Brown. $1.00; M. H. Robb, $1.00. Total—$3.00. SS JOHN MILLEDGE Delegago, $1.00; Hogan. $1.00; Beach, $1.00; Maupin, $1.00; Harmon, $1.00; Igis, $1.00; Kuler, $1.00; Byrne, $1.00; Mullone, $1.00; Young, $l.00r Weyse, $1.00; Powell. $1.00; Rue, $1.00; Polke, $1.00; Acabeo, $1.00; Zalewski. $1.00. Total—$16.00. SS A. LEWIS D. C. Gaboon, $3.00; J. Bohanan, $5.00; A. V. Eynden, $5.00; B. F. Rhodabarger, $5.00; C. Sciortino, $10.00; W. B. Douglas, $1.00; F. H. Maloney, $10.00; R. Baumer, $10.00; W. R. Harden, $3.00; B. E. Sparks. $10.00; N. E. Jeanson, $10.00; A. J. Gosh, $5.00; ACayiness, $5,00; F. W. Diggers, $10.00; M. P. Pavlov. $10.00; C. E. Walters. $25.00; J. C. Callahan, $20.00. Total—$156.00. SS CAMBRILL D. C. Craddock. $1.00; W. Groencveld. $1.00; M. D. Kennedy. $1.00; G. Kospellick. $5.00; W. C. Allman, $1.00; L. Bizor, $1.00; W. M. Hardenstein, $1.00; G. Ruttloff. $10.00:- J. L. Brechan, $1.00. Total—$22.00. SS FARALLON G. B. Gundei^son, $1.00; C. P. Parker. $1.00; C. Bornhurst, $1.00; E. F. Benson, $1.00; E. F. ..^Benson, $1.00; . R. Garofalo, $2.00; A. Valinski, $2.00. Total—$8.00. SS KASSUTH J. Adams, $2.00; R. N. Sawyer, $3.00; T. Harrison, $3.00. Total—$8.00. INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS P. C. Roberson, $2.00; E. A. Nord­ strom, $5.00; Kerinith Zcni, $1.00; H. D. Linton, $1.00: C. Hawthorne, $1.00; J. Kwasnoza, $1.00; J. J. Anderson, $1.00; M. Steffen, $1.00; H. Vingen, $3.00: E, M. Yeager, $1.00: Jose Valentine, llOflOO; R. G. Ferryman, $3.00; G. Williams, $1.00; Charles Wolf, $1.00. V CREW ACCOMMODATIONS A Convention concerning crew accommodation on board ship. The entire American delega­ tion voted against this proposal, because it provided a standard of crew accommodations lower than on existing US vessels, and con­ siderably lower than on our new vessels. It was hoped that the adoption of the convention would raise the standard of crew accommoda­ tions of foreign vessels, and thus provide a basis for further impi-oving the accommodations on our own vessels. However, the proposed draft convention was so amended with relaxing and generalizing clauses, that it became obvious that the Convention as finally drawn would not raise the standards of any nation desiring to operate vessels with sub-standard crew accommodations. Provision to crews by shipown* ers of bedding, mess-utensils and other arlicles. We voted in favor of this, as we have all of these items cover­ ed in our collective agreements. However, in most of the foreignflag ships, they have been unable to secure a good many of these items. It was a struggle to get even this adopted, and it might be in­ teresting to point out that on just such an item as toilet paper, they argued in Committee for five days whether the crews should be furnished toilet paper. (Concluded Next Week) A Few Notes On Recent Operations The Federal Trade Commission, with a resounding burp, caught up with Thompson's Garlic Tab­ lets last week. Holding its nose ever so slightly, the FTC ordered the Thompson Co. to stop claim­ ing that its liquid garlic will "cure diphtheria or scarlet fever, or symptoms of dizziness, head­ ache, nervousness, loss of sleep, high blood pressure or tubercu­ losis. % % % We couldn't believe our eyes recently as we started reading a press release from the American Legion. It began: "Washington— The Arherican Legion today call­ ed upon Congress to wipe out all discrimination between officers and enlisted men of the aiined. forces . . ." No! That was too much to believe! And then we finished the rest of the sentence: ". . . when assigning burial plots in national cemeteries." Clearing The Deck (Continued from Page }) work a litle overtime and turn out on Saturdays and Sundays, or even in the rain. What the hell, seamen turn out at all hours of day and night, and if the operators want their ships to sail they have to learn new y tricks. And, for that matter, ships moving up and do'wn the coast don't have to sign on at all. This can be just shifting ship, and each shift can be thoroughly discussed. So far as that goes,- this whole business of riders can be taken up all over again. No Tough Guys The Coast Guard isn't such a tough proposition—they are only hungry—hungry for the pie that goes with control over a civilian industry—for power they do not deserve. and patrols the ice packs, mans the life saving stations and patrols and patrols the ice packs, mans the life saving station, and patrols the coasts, charts the weather and sinks derelicts. This is a fight aglnst the misuse of a branch of the service that has a job of its 03vn to do—a fight against brass-hatted gays who haven't the qualifications to hold an office boy's job in a regular law firm; a fight against the "shipowners being able to use a government service as their private union-busting agency. This fight will go on regardless of v/ho's toes are stepped on, or what feelings are hurt. The sea is the life and blood, meat and bread of the seaman. The Union is the protector of all the rights of the Seamen. Whoever gets in the way of the Union seaman making a living for himself and his family is geing to be pushed aside, but quickl sis., �Friday. August 2, 19^8 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Fifteot- m. BIJLLETI^ -W-- • ;1 •h4- _ L-A I' ' 1 —Unclaimed Wages— Mississippi Shipping Company, Inc. I Laris, Joseph W 23.42 Larrimore, E. H 3.98 Larrison, Joe 5.94 NEW YORK 51 Beaver St, HAnover 2-2784 Larson, Holger R 3.56 BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. Larsen, John A 79 Liberty 40ST Larson, N 2.38 BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. This list comprises unclaimed wages as of December 31, 1945, some of Calvert 4539 Larsen, Robert A 59 8 5ouiIi 7ifa St. Larivee, Adolph 1.07 which may have already been paid. If you still have a claim, write to Mis­ nilLADELFHIA Phone Lombard 3-7651 127-129 Bank Street Lsh3', John ?... 21.38 sissippi Shipping Company, 339 Ohartres St., New Orleans, La., enclosing NORFOLK 4-1083 Laskaris, George M 23.62 CHARLESTON 68 Society St. your z-number, social security number, date and place of birth and present Phone 3-3680 Lasla, W 18.50 NEW ORLEANS 339 Chartres St. Lalella, John 17.20 address. Canal 3338 Latty, Roger 7.54 SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. 3-1728 Latzgcsell, Albert 74 Lillis, J .33 MOBILE 34 Lunt, Harold D 7.38 Louis, Jose M 7 St. Michael St. Laughlin, Richard L 3.10 Lilly, E. J 2-1754 2.13 11.25 Lusgber, Dale 5.64 Love, Marion Ponce da Leon Lauzon, Stuart -79 Linder, A. R 9.55 SAN JUAN, P. R. ... .45 12.00 Luther, Wm. B 3.96 Lowe, Carl San Juan 2-5098 Lavador, Diosdado 2.96 Lindsey, Walter G 5.35 GALVESTON 13.50 Luttrell, Sam B 3.23 Lowe, R. A 305 Vt 22nd St. 2-8448 Lavender, Robert 4.44 Lindsjo, Nils H .45 TAMPA 33 Lutz, Frederick F 4.42 Love, Charles F. 1809-1811 Franklin St. Lavoie, J 5.40 Lingerman, John 7.92 1.42 Luxenberg, Robert 2.25 Lovell, Coy G. . M-1323 La vole, L. J 11.98 Link, George 920 Main St. 5.51 JACKSONVILLE 99 Lyies, Elton L 2.25 Lovett, Roy E. . Phone 5-5919 Law, Douglas D 1.37 Liotta, Ben .85 PORT ARTHUR 89 Lynch, Albert P 11.61 Lowe, Chas 445 Austin Ave. .... 2.00 Lipkowski, Henry A Lawes, Noi-man Phone: 28532 11.48 8.26 Lynch, Harold J 7.52 Lowe, Geoffrey D HOUSTON 1515 75lh Street .... 8.26 Lippert, George Lawrence, Chas. D. .. Lynch, H. J 418.80 .08 1.78 Lowe, Jesse Phone Wentworth 3-3809 .... 2.25 Lisken, V Law.skowski, Ray J. 2.49 RICHMOND, Calif 3.22 Lyons, Albert 7.24 Lower, David P. 257 5th St, .... 8.07 Litnonko, Wasil Lax, Hei-bert 59 Clay St. 6.43 SAN FRANCISCO .99 Lyons, Arthur E 98.75 Lowry, Joss Garfield 822S .... 2.75 Little, Hugh A Lay ton, Joseph D. .. 7.92 SEATTLE .74 Lyons, Ed. R. 3.43 Lozes, Frederick L., Jr. 86 Seneca St. .02 Littlejohn, Chas, Ray Lazzarinni, Peter Main 0290 5.94 16.40 Lyons, Emil R 4.00 Lozoda, J. R 11.85 Livormois, Roland C Ill W. Bumside St. Leach, Otto L 10.22 PORTLAND 5.00 Lyons, Eddie 2.60 Luba, Peter WILMINGTON 440 Avaion Blvd. 64 Livingston, Alexander Lcaman, C : 7.42 5.92 Lyons, James H 70 Lubinski, Walter C Terminal 4-3131 4.91 Livingston, Alexander Lear, Duke C 16 Merchant St. 1.42 HONOLULU 14.25 Lyons, Russell, L .70 Lubma, David 10 Exchange St. 5.05 Livingston, Wm Leary, D. J 19.59 BUFFALO 1.00 Lyons, T. F 5.79 Lucas, Douglas U Cleveland 7391 10 Livingston, Floyd R Leather, Hugh Lysk, Paul .59 CHICAGO 7.50 15.27 Lucas, Eai-1 24 W. Superior Ave. Superior S17S 67 Llampart, Francisco ....: Leathern, Luther 1.82 2.06 Lytcll, Paul 74 Lucas, George S CLEVELAND 1014 E. St. Clair St13.06 Lloyd, L. P Lecina, Dan Lucas, George 2.97 23..50 Main 0147 Mc 38.76 Lobasz, Peter Lc Court, Henery J DETROIT 1038 Third St. 3.20 53.77 Lueiana, Toribio Cadillac 6857 7.42 Lobczowski, J. E Lee, Bert J 11.59 McAllister, Thomas 16.50 Luciano, Dominic 1.98 DULUTH 531 W. Michigan SL 59 Lobek, Norman B, Lee, Fong S Melrose 41 ID 3.96 McAnally J 1.15 Luigo, Cirilo .01 CORPUS CHRISTI 1824 N. Meafluite St. 5.94 Lociano, Toribio Lee, Hugh 89 McAndi-ews, J 2.12 Lukas, Geo 1.58 VICTORIA, B. C 602 Boughton SL 9.81 Lock, Hester L Lee, Wm. O 4.13 McAnespy, F 2.25 Lundquist, Niis H 10.08 VANCOUVER 144 W. Hastings SL 10 Lockwood, Thomas C Lee, Robert W 7.64 McArdle, Alvin E 1.69 Lundstrom, Hjalmar 6.50 Lee, Seth Robt 95.62 Lodigiani, Guieseppe 5.92 Lupieu, H .01 McBrayer, Thomas L. 13.72 Lee, William T 1.05 Loeffler, Theo. L 7.11 McBride, Boyd C 11.07 Luster, Milton B. 5.64 Lee, William W. • 3.56 Logan, John W .79 McBride, James J 4.95 Liuzza, Michael ... 164.45 Leeuwerke, Klass 1 235.00 Logan, Thomas V 2.00 Luke, Bertal 1.83 McBride, Sampson F. 1.64 GREAT LAKES Lcfakis, Antonios 6.26 Loggina, James R 45 TRANSPORT CORP. Leftwich, R. E 45 Lomas, Arthur J 79 Lehane, Lawrence J 1.34 Lomax, Clarence W Following are the names of 60 Lehay, Thomas R 99 Lomroch, Harold the men for whom the Great 18.59 Lehman, David 2.25 Loneigan, R Books and papers are being Roy Tucker 42817 Lakes Transport Corp. is holding 2.25 Lehn, Edward A 24.61 Lonering, J. B 46852 retroactive pay checks: 14.00 held for the following in the Thomas E. Walker Leideman, Geo. A 2.23 Long, C, J Atler, S. B., $5.20; Barrow, James E. Whalen 35617 4.17 Philadelphia Hall; Leister, Dave 3.20 Long, Edward R. Gene A. Wijliams 40256 Floyd, $5.o5; Bayley, Donald, 5.35 Full Books Leman, Lester ...-. .05 Long, Harold Woodrow W. Wolford 7079 $1.18; Boncel, Anthony, $5.89;. 2.25 Lemmos, D. 2.25 Long, John M. Brewer, Frank, $2.76; Buschel, Probalionary Books 2.97 Pedro R. Arteaga 46527 Lendquist, G. W 33.47 Longworth, Norman A. . Joseph, .58; Cease, Charles, $4.61; 49672 .59 Robert J. Bittner 45432 Charles Finkel Lennox, Robert J 2.71 Loobey, Maurice E Davis, Gordon, $8.88; Diemer, Walter Sibley 47480 21.63 Stanley Bojek 574 Lontine, W. J 5.15 Looney, Donald E Carl, $3.32; Grady, Henry, $2.08; Raymond M. Mlicki 35537 3.03 Nonte E. Blue 45876 Leonhard, C 2.22 Lopeman, Gerald M Hart, John, $18.98; Hell, Wm.. Gerald G. Smith 46397 12.00 Maurice C. Brodey 41059 Leopoldi, Gennard 01 Lopey, S. G $13.15; Heinbsuch, $13.75; Henry. 2.67 Richard Burbine L. Ponton 49579 35472 Lepape, Noel Marcle F 1.07 Lopez, Jenaro A 49612 Fi-ancis, $5.89; Homme, Russel, 1.48 Eugenio Busante 34128 Gaetano Savino Lc Ray, Chas. Theo. Jr 5.40 Lopez, J. C. .' 49608 $7.28: Kirkpatrick, D., $35.55; 4.27 Oswald Christiansen 21896 R. Mandgroe Lerina, Roberto 6.40 Lopez, Jose C. Pescador.... 14.05 Eaton Clifton 49696 Klass, A., $23.61; Kramp, Ber­ 36550 John H. Whittaker Lemon, L. J .45 Lopez, Manuel F 49457 nard, $10.37; Lande, Geo., $14.85; 6.65 Daniel J. Comer 42501 Lewis Waites Le Saya, Mike E 33 Lopinsky, C 35592 Lange, Adolph, $7.52; Mallory, .79 Daniel L. Conner *. 42501 Elmer Schwamleii Lesley, S. W 1.07 Lorentsen, Fred 47602 Allan, $6.28; Morgan, Robert, 2.82 Eillian F. Cox 6670 Carman Duffield 8.46; Morrison, B., 8.41; Nauman, Leslie, Carl L 5.94 Lorentz, John C Trip Cards 3.13 Michael Evanosich 35697 Elmer, $.58; Nutton, Monte, $12.Lester, A. M. 2.54 Lorenz, Wm. D John E. Balch Z-574959 8.26 Albert C. Fish 26931 Levy, II. L. (Harold Irwin) 1.44 Lorenzo, John, 80, Pauuzzu, I., $3.50; Paskler, David C. Hingson Z-698692 7.91 Joseph Gilmore 39658 Geo., $5.52; Potaky, C., $16.59; Lewis, Alfred D 3.46 Lorett, Wm Alan P. Todd Z-367728 6.79 Roy Gore 44638 Rachfal, C., $8.85; Rekst, Ed., Lewis, C. C 01 Lorio, A John McCloskey Z-365557 2.80 Thomas A. Gorman 35606 $8.64; Richardson, W., $.67; SherLewis, John, Jr 14.88 Loriz, Cai-los ..'Z Stephen Logan Z-366186 8.03 Alvaro Green 2408 Lewis, Richard C 1.65 Loriz, Fernando 8.03 Gordon F. Hart 44529 Oskak L. Holmstrom ... Z-96356 an, Pat, $1.99; Shuler, Wm., $.66; Lewis, Richard D 89 Lough, Vernon Wm., Jr. Z-235506 Slife, Douglas, $5.69; Sment, 4.21 H. F. Henry 38816 E. T. Newborn Lewis, Wm. H 1.34 Z-189218 Frank, 20.40; Smith, Howard. Frank Huddle 35607 Wm. Fitzhee Lezcnby, Alfred J 117.50 Z-365264 $4.29; Statmen, Leo, $10.27; W. Keller 38822 Ralph DaFermo Libby, G 3.00 (SUP) Thompson, F., $3.65; Trappy, Charles Kinser 42826 John A. McAllister Liberatore, Edward C 3.32 (SUP) John, $96.40; White, Dan, $75.57. Paul Lamb 5533 William A. Harmer This is a complete listing as it Labit, Joseph R .• 1.24 Retiring Cards Wallace E. Lewis ;.. 38198 GILBERT C. ISNOR includes checks from the Febru­ Liford, R 4.50 Wilbur Jay Kane 49520 Get in touch with Richard M. Paul C. Madinski ary increase which have not as Light, Paul A 4:87 George J. Price Frank Malley 43776 yet been claimed. Lii, Joseph, Jr 45 Cantor, attoi-ney, at 51 Chambei-s John Men-y Robert C. Wright 31872 Street, New York City, at your W. H. Bowman Thomas E. Moore 43205 earliest convenience. Hance Tull Jr. B. L. Parsons, Frank D. McCallen 7577 Fred P. Tochterman B. R. Meelt Peter J, McCormick 33269 JULIUS THATCHER Papers and Passports Bernard Ash Robei-t G. Panders 24866 SS MALCOLM M. STEWART Contact your sister immed­ Robert W. Pohle Edward Savio Everett S. Canney Jr. 46826 Will members of the crew of iately. Geo Penders Michael Dougherty '. ti:/ James V. Reigel ;.... 44653 the above named vessel on the J. J. Ryan Raymond D. Bossert % % % James W. Riley 30041 voyage commencing June 6, Geo. Henry Mack Erwin L. Halterman JAMES TATE Robert Smith 40900 1945 and terminating January 15, James J. McLinden James Malfara W. J. Smith (Pacific) 618 Get in touch with your mother 1946, contact Attorney Richard C. Taylor Pedro Kurhimilisi Henry Thompson 1765 immediately. M: Cantor, 51 Chambers St., N. Y. SlU HALLS • «• X Money Due Notice! PERSONALS- NOTICE! vtm 'I �linage Sixfeea yi>-> — • l-cf.'- •l.ff.'.J • Friday. August 2, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG ISTHMIAN SEAMEN l Of l^age Scaus IVITH DECK DEPAETMENT SIU Old Wage Scale Rating . $162.50 Bosun's Mate Carpenter Storekeeper AB Maintenance Quartermaster AB Watchman OS 162.50 157.50 155.00 •- ••— 155.0O 150.00 132.50 5lO Hew Wage Scale $205.00 192.50 180.00 205.00 197.50 187.50 172.50 172.50 172.50 150.00 NMU STU Amount of Wage Increase New Wage Scale $42.50 $175.00 172.50 42.50 40.00 32.50 17.50 17.50 22.50 17.50 175.00 167.50 162.50 167.50 162.50 162.50 14^00 SIO Wages Above NMU Wages $30.00 20.00 30.00 30.00 25.00 5.00 10.00 10.00 5.00 ENGINE DEPAETMENT ^ „ $252.00 Chief Electrician 2nd Electrician ^^2.50 Asst. Electrician ~ ^ Unlic. Jr. .. 187.50 Unlic. Jr. Eng. 194.50 Machinist-Plumber 162.50 Beck Engineer 252.00 Chief 'Reefer Engineer -. 1st Reefer 2nd Reefer Engine Storekeepei Engine Utility Evaporator Maint Oiler-r-Diesel Oiler—Steam Water-tender Fireman-Waterten Firemen s^k 2OI.OO 155.0O n2.50 155.OO 155.OO ^5590 155.00 99 132.50 $294.50 227.50 230.00 205.00 •237.00 205.00 "269.50 237.50 218.50 197.50 205.00 $42.50 45.00 42.50 17.50 42.50 17.50 17.50 $269.50 246.50 205.00 205.00 212.00 180.00 $25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 � 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 August 2, 1946 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. VIII, No. 31 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 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU PLEDGES ALL-OUT AID TO THE EIGHT VICTIMS OF COAST GUARD MILITARY RULE SHIPOWNERS STALL AS STRIKE VOTING CLOSES BRASS HAT HOSPITAL RED TAPE ALMOST BECOMES SEAMAN'S SHROUD THE PITY OF IT GOVERNOR VETOES FINKY LOUISIANA OPEN SHOP BILL ISTHMIAN SEAMEN IMPRESSED BY NEW SEAFARERS CONTRACT COAST GUARD IS THREAT TO ALL: SEAFARERS TO SHIP'S OFFICERS EX-SERANGS HOLD CONVENTION ON J.B. WATERMAN OPEN LETTER FROM THE SEAFARERS TO A.H. BULL STEAMSHIP SEA TRITON CREWMEMBERS REFUTE PILOT STORY--THEY'RE FOR THE SIU 'TO ALL MEMBERS': THE STORY AND IMPORTANCE OF HELEN CASE SIU WAGE VICTORY WILL MAKE CP UNIONS PULL THEIR HORNS IN GALVESTON IS CALLED A HAVEN FOR MANY WEST COAST TANKERS EXCURSION BOATS ARE FOCAL POINTS IN PORT BOSTON MEN PROTEST CO. STALLING BALTIMORE STILL AT GOOD WORK FOR A SMALL PORT PHILADELPHIA IS REALLY SHIPPING THE MEN SHIPPING DROPS TO A LOW IN OLD NEW ORLEANS BUT SIU MILITANCY MAINTAINS ITS USUAL HIGH NEW LAW HELPS FILIPINO SEAMEN MEN WHO MAKE IT A POINT TO KNOW THE AGREEMENTS REDUCE THEIR BEEFS AND MAKE PAYOFFS SMOOTHER BULL LINE COMES UP WITH SOME VERY BRIGHT IDEAS AND TRIES TO FREEZE CREWMEN TO THEIR JOBS LYNN VICTORY CREW JUST WAITING FOR SIU CONTRACT--AND THEN! OH, FOR THE LIFE OF A SEAMAN, AND YOU CAN TAKE IT BROTHER! ASHTABULA READY FOR MIDLAND MRS. SMITH GIVES THANKS TO CREW KEEP YOUR WEATHER EYE OPEN FOR THIS ENGINEER: HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF OVERTIME FOR SEAMEN MILLEDGE MEN HAD MERRY TIME THOMAS CREW TO CURTAIL CHIEF STIFF SIU CREWMEN MAKE ARROW A MODEL SHIP ALL HANDS HAPPY; GAL FOR EVERY GUY COOKS AND LOVERS--THEY'RE ALL GOOD CHIEF STEPS OUT, SUN GOES DOWN MARINE HOSPITALS GIVE SEAMEN A DIRTY DEAL WEISBERGER REPORTS ON DECISIONS OF ILO MARITIME CONFERENCE Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/2/1946 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1946 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/8f10fd30b99fe91e7d18612c963047cc.PDF 29b59e407c3c838eea4d847479c3930c PDF Text Text •?S?T7 SEAFARERS f LOG • f^.-r ,.>!i - I " \-y^1 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THi SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CiO • COAL CO. UPS SlU FIRINGS TO AID NMU I' f • 1^'. •' I -I mI M\ ^ . •:? . ':A§ - 4 i -'C;:V J -Story On Page 3 DETERMINED TO AID NMU by any means, American Coal Shipping has sharply stepped up the pace of phony firings of SIU oldtimers on the ships. The increased discrimination against SIU came after NMU showed its inability to overcome the SIU lead in the fleet. Bu*t de­ spite the company's tactics, the SIU, with the staunch aid of oldtimers from the A&G, the Sailors Union, Ma­ rine Firemen and Marine Cooks and Stewards, is still maintaining its lead which now stands at 103 to 94. On the last ship alone, the Coal Miner, the company fired three SIU men for transparently flimsy reasons and at­ tempted to fire a fourth in order to give the NMU an edge. (Story on page 3.) SIU Fights Strike Ban In La. Town -Story On Page 3 "I IBL Asks Curran Ouster From Labor Ethics Body Story On Page 2 a •£ -As C Seafarer aboard Jean Lafitte Lite At (above) leans anxiously over rail as motor launch crew of MSTS transport General Pat­ rick takes Lafitte's stricken third mate aboard for trans­ fer to transport. Mate had suffered stroke at sea. Photo by William Calefato. At right, lifeboat crew of Robin Wentley rows back to ship after picking up canister of medicine dropped from Coast Guard plane. Medicine was for AB James Girolami who suffered asthma attack. Photo by Charles Matthews. (Wentley S-tory on Page ,15).,, • , ' . M:-: '-SI :-S �•^ -I •ft !• i-f t • r- ' •t - I SEAFARERS :Pa*®. Tifir®:. 'Oust Curran' IBL Demands; Lakes Drive On CHICAGO—A full-scale organizing drive in the Great Lakes area has been voted by delegates to the convention of the International Brotherhood of Longshoremen, AFL-CIO. At the same time, the assem-^ bled delegates called for re­ dores operating the main piers in moval of Joseph Curran, presi­ Milwaukee. Toledo, Cleveland, Chi­ dent of the National Maritime cago, Detroit and Buffalo, and has Union, from the AFL-CIO Ethical long been active in the Great Lakes area. It hopes to have every long­ practices Committee. The convention on the motion of shore worker on the Lakes carrying a rank and file delegate charged an IBL book aftea the St. Lawrence that Curran was "unfit to continue Seaway opens. as a member of the Ethical Prac­ The organizing drive will be pro­ tices Committee" because of his moted by MTD port councils, which open support of the AFL-ousted are being set up international Longshoremen's As­ throughout the sociation against the IBL in the last region. Councils ^ew York dockworkers election. have already Curran had come out with a public been established statement on the eve of that elec­ in the head of tion urging dockthe Lakes region, workers, to vote Buffalo, Detroit for the discred­ and St. Louis, ited ILA. and are being or­ The MTD-affilganized in Chi­ Slaughter iated dockwork­ cago, Milwaukee ers union has set and other Great Lake ports. its sights on in­ Full support for the IBL drive creasing its mem­ was pledged by leaders of the bership in Great Maritime Trades Department and Lakes ports from high officials of other AFL-CIO Long 8,000 to 20,000 imions. Among the speakers ad­ when the St. Lawrence Seaway is dressing the convention and pledg­ completed next year. ing cooperation were MTD Secre• The IBL has contracts with steve- tai'y-Treasurer Harry O'Reilly and SIU of NA President Paul Hall. The IBL also heard from William Lee, president of the Chicago Fed­ eration of LabolFand vice-president of the Int'l Brotherhood of Team­ sters. Lee pledged the IBL his support "now and in the future" because he said, "it stands for clean and wholesome trade union­ LAKE CHARLES—Seafarers and ism." ether union members in this area Hall reiterated the SIU's "un­ •re still at work assisting victims qualified support" of the IBL as oi Hurricane Audrey who lost their authorized by niembership action. homes in the big blow. Union build­ In other actions, IBL President ing tradesmen are putting up new Larry Long and IBL Secretaryhomes on the weekends for storm Treasurer E. L. "Buster" Slaughter victims who are unable to replace their dwellings and port agent Le- were reelected to another term. roy Clarke reports good progress toward the goal of the campaign. Seafarers on several ships in this area have contributed heavily to the relief of the hurricane victims. Prominent "among them was the Lucille Bloomfield out of Houston which raised over $400 for this purpose. Shipping has been moderate in WASHINGTON—A 12V^-percent the past two weeks with tankers pay increase for the nation's SOO,supplying all of the business there was. The Chiwawa, Royal Oak, 000 postal workers was voted by Council Grove, Bents Fort, Cities the House of Representatives last Service Norfolk, Winter Hill, Gov- week by a margin of 379 to 38 after enrment Camp and Cities Service a union-sponsored drive for a dis­ Miami kept things hopping for charge petition was successful. The discharge petition was made Cities Service. The Val Cfiem, (Valentine); Maxton (Pan Atlantic) necessary by the fact that the and Mermaid (Metro) also called House Rules Committee had bot­ tled up the bill. The petition was In the area. signed by 218 House members, a sufficient number to get the bill out of committee and onto the Aug. 2,1957 Vul.XIX No. 16 floor of the House. President William Doherty of the National Association of Letter Carriers had asked ' AFL-CIO unions to write to members of the PAOT. HALL. Secretary-Treasurer House urging them to sign a dis­ HEBBERT BRAND. Editor. BERNARD SEA- charge petition. Accordingly, SIU VAN. i4rt Editor. HERMAN ARTHUR. IRWIN SPIVACX. AL MASKIN, JOHN BRAZIL. Staff Secretary-Treasurer Paul Hall sent Writers. BILL MOODT. Gulf Area Repre­ personal letters to all of the mem­ sentative. bers of the House on behalf of the Published biweekly et the headquarters •f the Seafarers International Union, At­ postal workers. lantic • Gulf District, AFL-CIO. *75 Fourth More than 100 of the Represen­ Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. HYaclnth f-4<00. Entered as second class matter tatives acknowledged the letters at the Post Office In Brooklyn, NY. under and affirmed that they would sign tha Act of Aug. 24, 1912. or had signed the discharge petir . Avrqst 2, 1!!57 LOG Speak Out At SIU Meetinge Hire Panama Crews To Sail US Ships Under the Union constitution every ihember attending a Un­ ion meeting is entitled to WASHINGTON-:^A strong protest against the use of Paiianominate himself for the elected manian crews'to move picket ships for the US Air ForcG Has posts to be filled at the meeting b^en registered with the Defense Department by Rep. John F. —chairman, reading clerk and Shelley (Dem.-Calif.). Shelley recording secretary. Your Un­ has called on the Department at "'established local rates" in ion urges you .to take an active to hire American seamen for Panama and flown back to, that part in meetings by taking these the remaining five ships which are country after delivering the ship. posts of service. 1Q his letter Shelley declare'd"I being employed in guided missile serlouMy question the policjr of And, of course, all members test operations. have the right to take the floor The ships in question are beiu? having a vessel operating under a and express their opinions on moved from the Rodman Air Force United States; Government contract any officer's report or issue un­ Base in Panama to Patrick Air manned by a foreign crew, not sub­ der discussion. Seafarers are Force Base in Florida. The latter ject to security clearance. . . . Fur­ urged to hit the deck at these base is a guided missile testing ther I question the propriety of meetings and let their ship­ center and the vessels are stationed using- such a crew at substandard mates know what's on their as picket ships in various parts of pay scales, undercutting American minds. seamen, in any activity supported the missile-firing range. The Panamanian crew was hired by the Gtfvernmcnt." SINK... orSWIM (or, 'How To Make A Six Out Of A Nine') Written by: "Big Joe." Starring: "Big Joe." Produced by: "Big Joe." Directed by: "Big Joe." Sound Effects: "Big Joe." The following item appeared in the NMU "Pilot" of July 10: JOE,/ THE MOSff Howooyou voir? 'Audrey' Aid Work Cains In Lk. Chas. House Hikes Postal Wage SEAFARERS LOG 1'^-' v^- tion.: - 'i,-,',/'. I Big Joe is on the ball. Ya know what I mean?" Here's how the above story CHARACTER: "Yeah, gee Big may have come about: Joe, you're wonderful. How (Big Joe is hunched over a do ya do it? But as I was typewriter, pecking out a letter saying, we gotta do somewhich reads: "Dear Big Joe: thin'. The LOG keeps We the crew of the SS Wind­ printing the American Coal jammer are behind you ICQ per­ score and the boys are ask­ cent because you're the greatest ing how come. After all, and the most. Signed ."). the company is breaking its BIG JOE (to himself):"Man, back for us and w^re still that's what I like to hear. on the short end." Those boys know what BIG JOE: "Never mind the they're talking about." LOG and the facts. Facts (There is a frantic knocking . is for phonies. I'll rally on the door). the membership with the old hoopla." BIG JOE: "Come in!" CHARACTER: "But whadda (Door opens and a character we gonna say in the 'Pilot'?" comes running in). BIG JOE: "Big Joe will have CHARACTER: "Big Joe, Big the answer in a minute. Joe, we just got the latest It's right here in this book, score on American Coal. It writen by another guy ain't good. The skipper named Joe, a guy with real fired four SIU men, but talent." they were replaced by four (Big Joe reaches into a more SIU men. We're be­ book shelf and pulls out a hind 103 to 94! Whadda well-thumbed volume en­ we gonnado? The company titled, "How to Answer the sux-e is giving the SIU the Facts, or. People is Meat­ business but they're still balls Who Think They're out front. I'm getting People," by the old master worried." himself—Joe Stalin). BIG JOE: "Like I said, we'll "Now we'll see how to handle whip 'em down on the this situation. This boy was docks." good. Remember when I CHARACTER: "You said that said 'Hail the great and before. But what do we wise leadership of Comrade "tell the members now, Big Stalin?' Big Joe knows the Joe?" real ones from the phonies, BIG JOE: "You tell them Big don't I?" (Big Joe then flips the pages quickly, Joe is on the ball. And • < stops on ^ one of-- the pages when Big Joe is on the ball, headed, "Why give it to them straight, when you can lie abcmt it?" Big Joe reads the page). BIG JOE: "Here it is. Just what we need. Give me the .dictaphone, quick!" (Big Joe then ,starts dic­ tating from the book). (Curtain) (Scene two.- Big Joe is read­ ing out loud from the July 18 "Pilot"). BIG JOE: "The 'Pilot' stopped publishing its count of men aboard American Coal ships several weeks ago... why get the BlU brass any more scared than they are? ... The fact is that the NMU has the. lead and that is why the SIU has been stalling. As for the figures published by SIU to show otherwise, they aiTive at _ those, by a very simple method — they're . lying." BIG jpE: (looking doum at the character): "See, Big Joe always finds a way." CHARACTER: "Yeah, Big Joe. You're the most." (Curtain) (Ed. note: The American Coal shipping scores printed by the LOG are based on the numbers of SIU and NMU men shipping aboard the company's vessels. The latest figures are SIU 103; NMU 94. The NMU 'Pilot' has the same figures. Apparently that's why it doesn't publish them.) •' • I : �• .f' ' • . '•• :>r,•^../. " ^.'t95T SlSAFAtiEltS 1,000th Seafarer Gets Check-Up LOO ,P!»r» Ttry. Co Firing Of SlU Men In Help NMW Plan The well-developed pattern of partnership between the National Maritime Un­ ion and the American Coal Shipping Company emerged more clearly this week with additional firings of Seafarers aboard the Coal Miner. The stepp^-up bar­ rage of firings of SIU old103; NMU, 64, as oldtimers Coal Boxscore timers, with no comparable SIU, from all SIU affiliates are stand­ The full effects of the NMUaction against NMU men, ing firm under company pressure. company partnership on the However, if the company had not made it plain that the com­ embarked on the campaign of fir­ standings on American Coal pany is intensifing this at­ ings and other discrimin|ition it is ships are shown by the following tack to strengthen the clear that by now the SIU would figures: • NMU was given an original Lab technician John Gearrity prepares oldtimer JaMes Hamilton for his physical check-up at the SlU health center. Hamilton was the 1,000th Seafarer to be examined at the center. Now on the beach in NY, Hamilton was one of the many SlU oldtimers fired by American Cool. He was aboard the Thomas Paine. had a solid majority on the NMU position and try to have coal ships which the NMU could destroy the SIU majority on not have overcome under any cir­ the coal ships. cumstances. The company effort edge of six frozen jobs on the Coal Miner. e Even before the current Coal Miner firings, the SIU had. documented 25 instances of fir­ ing or other discrimination against SIU men which deprived, them of coal ship jobs. Yet de­ spite this situation the count) stands at SIU, 103; NMU, 94, counting the six frozen jobs in' NMU's total. In even-steven competition: then, the SIU would be holding somewhere around 130 jobs by now out of a total of 196. But the company just wouldn't have it that way. Despite this situation, the SIU then, has staved off certain defeat has maintained its lead on the coal for the NMU. ships with the count standing at American Coal's current tactics make it obvious that the company hopes to press the firings, ship by ship, in a campaign of attrition against the SIU's supply of oldtimers. The SIU, of course, is doc­ umenting these instances and filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board accordingly. Admiration for the tenacity of the oldtimers in the face of these NEW ORLEANS—^Refusal of a county sheriff to permit picketing or a strike at an in­ obstacles was voiced by the mem­ dustrial installation in Plaquemines Parish in Southeast Louisiana was under attack by the bers of the four-man coordinating SIU in US District Court here as the LOG went to press this week.. committee — Morris Weisberger, The SIU appeal to the+ Sailors Union; Ed Turner, Marine we are particularly proud of the courts resulted from the jail­ charged. Sheriff'Wooten informed SIU representatives and the em­ Cooks; Sam Bennett, Marine Fire­ way members of all the affiliated ing of SlU-HlWD representa­ ^lU representatives "that when ployees of Superior Derrick of men, and Paul Hall, Atlantic & unions are seeing this beef through tive Martin Gould and Seafarers Superior Derrick Corp. came their civil rights as guaranteed by Gulf District. The committee de­ in the face of company-NMU pres­ Edward Rosen and Louis Camara. down there he had assured them the US Constitution and by Fed­ clared that: "While this develop­ sure. It is obvious by now that (Continued on page 10) ment is not entirely unexpected The three were arrested while that there would be no strikes and eral and state law. picketing at the entrance of a bulk no picketing in Plaquemines Par­ cargo loading facility operated by ish." Superior Derrick Corp., a sub­ Wooten then ordered the pickets sidiary of Atlantic and Gulf Steve­ "to remove the picket line entirely, dores, Inc. to disperse their peaceful assem­ Caught short by the surpirise revelation of its secret blacklist deal with the American SIU attorneys asked the court bly, to stop publicizing their dis­ to restrain Sheriff Chester Wooten, pute and to'leave the vicinity of Merchant Marine Institute, the National Maritime Union was still in process of covering his chief deputy Albert Cosse and the plant under penalty of arrest up last week. Far from revealing the nature of the blacklist dieal, which has been in effect other Plaquemines deputies from and imprisonment." for three months now, the Interfering with SIU members and The employees and the SIU rep­ NMU "Pilot" was conspicuous­ hiring procedure would be a matter rid of a seaman he dislikes is to employees of Superior Derrick in resentatives then removed the of great newsworthiness to seamen, dig up a reason for firing him. exercising their right to picket and picketline, left the vicinity and re­ ly silent on the subject. but the last "Pilot" saw it other­ From there on, the record goes into The only hint of anything re­ assemble peacefully. District Judge assembled at a rural store about the" central files of Marine Index, wise. Herbert W. Christenberry delayed one mile from the plant entrance. motely relating to this taboo sub­ an outfit that makes a specialty That situation is expected to ject was contained in the New York his ruling pending presentation of "At 1:30 PM," the petition con­ port agent's report, buried back on change with the upcoming issue of reporting on personal injury additional sworn statements of tinued, Chief Deputy Co.sse and an­ cases and also was involved in a witnesses. District Attorney Lean- other deputy ordered SIU repre­ page 9 of the July 18 "Pilot." The which no doubt will contain more labor spy apparatus. blood and thunder attacks on the der Perez appeared as attorney for sentatives "to disassemble aU the report stated in an offhand manner Once a man's name winds up in that "A special meeting was held SIU. It can be expected that NMU the sheriff. employees and to leave Plaque­ in the Port today for the purpose President Joseph Curran will work Marine Index' file, any NMU-conFiled on behalf of SIU repre­ mines Parish within five minutes up a fever pitch in a vain effort to tracted company now has the right sentatives Tom Gould and Martin and not stop until outside the Par­ of voting on an amendment to the apologize and defend a system to refuse to liire him, no matter hiring clause. Details on this will Gould and employees of the Su­ ish limits." These orders were ac­ which threatens to deprive all NMU what the circumstances. There is perior Derjick Corp., the SIU companied by "vile and abusive be carried elsewhere in the 'Pilot'." members of their job rights. no hearing procedure and no ap­ For some reason, no details were petition pointed out that prior to language," the court was told. peal. The innocent are hurt along carried anywhere in the issue. Nor­ Attack Under Way the strike, ail but two of the some The petition then recounted that mally, any changes affecting the with the guilty, with the full ap­ In fact, one line already making proval and cooperation of the 60 employees of Superior had ap­ while Tom Gould engaged Cosse the rounds among the unhappy NMU. plied to the SIU Harbor and In­ and the deputy in conversation, NMU-AMMI clique is that the SIU land Waterways Division for mem­ Martin Gould, Camara and Rosen is "defending the performers." bership and representation. The returned by automobile to the road company operates heavy lift float­ leading into the loading plant and As every Seafarer knows, the ing derricks in New Orleans har­ "again began peaceful picketing." SIU for years has had a system of bor and a coal loading installation self-discipline which is written out Almost immediately Cosse and at Wood Park, on the west bank of the deputy "drove up at high in detail in the Union's constitu­ SIU membership meet­ tion and which provides "punish­ the Mississippi River, south of New speed" and demanded to know by Orleans. what authority the picketing was ings are held regularly ment to "fit the crime." What the After repeated unsuccessful ef­ being conducted. When Martin every two weeks on Wed­ AMMI and NMU do not like about SAN FRANCISCO—There was a such a system is that it spells out break in the temporary lull that forts to arrange a meeting with the Geuld said the picketing was being nesday nights at 7 PM in the rights of the membership and has hit shipping on the West Coast company 'to talk contract terms, carried on according to Federal the men on the floating derricks and Louisiana law, Cosse replied: all SIU ports. All Sea« permits a man to defend himself during recent weeks. Shipping has went on strike the night pf July 12. "I am the law in Plaquemines farers are expected to before his Union brothers against almost tripled in the last two week charges. As a result, it often hap­ period in the port and it is hoped The following Monday morning Parish." He then arrested Martin (July 15) employees at the Wood Gould, Rosen and Camara and took, attend; those who wish to pens that such charges have been that it will continue to improve. Park coal facility went on strike. them to the parish prison where be excused should request thrown out as being the product of There were 10 vessels in port they were held under $500 bond permission by telegram personal grudges. Just Two Pickets The NMU-AMMI blacklist on the during the past period. The Kyska, A "peaceful picket line" consist­ each until the SIU finally obtained (be sure to include reg­ other hand, simply condemns a sea­ Maiden Ci'eek (Waterman) and ing of "two striking employees" their release at 8:30 o'clock that istration number). The man to lifetime exile from the Rebecca (Intercontinental) paid was set up, the SIU petition pointed night. The petition pointed out that next SIU meetings will be: shipping industry^purely on the off. The Jean La F^tte, Kyska, out. Some 30 to 35 other employees say-so of the skipper and the com­ Wild Ranger and Maiden Creek were "peacefully assembled" and the Sheriff's deputies threatened August 7 pany hiring boss. The NMU ];as (Waterman) signed on. sitting near a road leading into the to repeat this course of action if The Steel Scientist (Isthmian), nothing to say, one way or another, August 21 Installation. About six Superior the SIU representatives returned Chickasaw, Madaket (Waterman), having washed its hands of re­ employees went to work through to Plaquemines Parish. September 4 sponsibility for defending its mem­ were in port to be serviced. There SIU attorneys contended that the the picket line "without molesta­ September 18 were no reported beefs and all bership's job rights. tion or interference." t ;!.• Plaquemines sheriff and-his depu­ All a skipper has to do to get vessels were in good shape. Shortly thereafter,, the-petition ties had conspired to deprive the SIU Fights La. Sheriff's Ban On Right To Picket Silence Reigns In Blacklist Deal SCHEDULE OF SIU MEETINGS V, •| -'Sv ''\ 5F Shipping Bounces Up "1 N • '^1 ^1 • i\ • :-?\l -I �rajre rour J - i•r; M rl^i SEAFARERS British Builders Plan 65,000-Ton Atom Ships Two British firms have announced plans for construction of giant 65,000-ton atom-powered tankers within the past week. At the game time, an American maritime publication has called for discarding of plans for atom-powered dry- ments of the warship. Funds for a cargo ships as prohibitively nuclear merchant ship "Pacific expensive and offering no commer­ Shipper" believes, could better be applied toward immediate needs of cial advantage. The British tanker plans were maritime for current replacement announced by the HawhMr Siddely programs. Group, a major aircraft producer, and by the British branch of Babcock and Wilco.x, a leading engi­ neering firm. The Hawker Siddely plans are being drafted in collaboration with John Brown and Company, which built the two huge Cunard passen­ ger ships, the Queens Mary and Elizabeth. Few details were made Jn the announcement. Subsequently, Babcock' and Wil­ cox said they had similar plans in Veteran Seafarer Curt Starke, the works and stated, "In view of the high capital cost of nuclear in­ well known to many sailormen as stallation, the nearest approach at the biggest little man in the mari­ the present time to economic com­ time industry, passed away in his petition with conventional power Sarasota, Florida, home last April, is, of course, the large oil the SEAFARERS LOG learned this week. His death from unspe­ tanker. . . ." cified causes came at the age of 57. Skepticism as to the outlook for Once seen, Starke was never to atom-powered freightships was ex­ pressed in a recent is^ue of the be forgotten because he stood just "Pacific Shipper." The magazine four feet tall, making him the called preliminary expenditures on smallest man by far ever to work the subject "a wild goose chase but aboard an SIU ship. But his size dimly related to the American was no index to his strength or aWllty. A circus acrobat by trade, merchant marine." Starke could hold up his own end Nuclear powered-shipping, the on a ship with the best of them, magazine declares, is in the "kin- although he often had difficulty dergarden stage." A ship which can convincing mates of that fact when circumnavigate the world without they first caught sight of him. refueling is "a complete commer­ A native of Germany, Starke cial absurdity" . . . The second 'ad­ vantage' is another lulu: 'quick turn-around in port'—no delay while bunkering! Why doesn't some old-fashioned inventor come jip with an oil barge that could come alongside while the ship is dis­ charging and loading cargo? Oh well, who cares about a nasty thing like cargo?" A cargo carrier it adds, does not need the high speed, the capability of sharp turns and other require- Attenst Z, l9Si LOG cepted. Classes not to be placed In •Ink. Vote of thanks to steward for work well dona while man was ill and one man misains in galley. Dis­ cussion about washing machine] to retain present one. WILLIAM H. CARRUTH (Tran^fuall, Juna 30—Chairman, J. Sandars; Sacratary, P. McNabb. New deleeate elected. Locka on foc'sle doora to ba repaired. Return all cupa to pantry. STEEL ADVOCATE (Isthmian), June 36—Chairman, R. Knowles; Secretary, A. Shrimpton. One man missed ves­ sel last voyage; headquarters notiBed. Letter to headquarters regarding dis­ continuance of travelers checks; let­ ter to be posted on bulletin board and comments pro and con invited by crew members. Most repairs com­ pleted; other repairs to be taken up with dept. heads. Ship's fund $4.76. Discussion regarding locking messhall when in port; vaiious small items regarding stewards dept.—steward cooperation in all cases. Function ,bf safety delegates explained. Steward ANDREW JACKSON (Waterman), July 1—Chairmen, W. Moore; Secre­ tary, P. Lepei. Slop chest lacks many items; poor selection of sizes in work gear. Suggestion to make list of re­ quired items and submit to captain. Captain wiU order from Sea . Chest. Ask voluntary donations to purchase magazines for library. Reporter elected; will buy magazines and ex­ change library books. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine food and •election of menus. Need more pil­ lows; messroom to ba kept clean; return cups to pantry. Mailing meiiu of 4th of July. CANTICNY (CIHasService), June 1« —Chairman, A. Alexander; Secretary, J. Phillips. Some disputed OT. Deck delegate to see about equalizing over­ time. Report accepted. Change idilpping rules for B and C men from M to 90 days. Motion defeated. Need better variety of food. Suggestion made that safety' goggles, rubber gloves and suijta ba furnished by thecompany for men washing paint with acid. Curt Starke Dies; Starred With Circus HURRICANI (Waterman), July 7— Chairman, T. King; Secretary, H. Carv urged members to return linen andexplained proper procedure of issu­ ance. miehaal. Wringer for washing ma­ chine purchased; machine 4n good working condition now. Draw to be made every five days. Report accept­ ed. New reporter elected. Locker In fireman's room to be repaired. Dis­ cussion to have kcya made for aU foc'sles. ROYAL OAK (Cttlaa Service), July 6—Chairman, J. HIggins; Secretary, ROBIN COODFiLLOW (Rebln), June 33—Chairman, E. Cpuldlng; Secretary, J. Wright. Delegate spoke on general bchaviqr during entire voyage. Beef regarding mate working on deck. Sink in laundry to be unplugged. Laundry to be kept clean. Table to bo re­ served for men on watch. Steward requested to order Simmons innerspring mattresses. D. Beard. Noticeable improvement in menus and food. Foc'sles wiU be painted after leaving shipyard. Ship's fund S2.68. Report accepted, 'Vote ef thanks to T. Babkowski for good work in Bridgeport. Steward to put out hot rolls and cold plates. ' Ice box needs repairing. CUBORB (Ore), July 7—Chairmen, 6. Cass; Sacratary, B. Buck. Beef RION (Actlum). June 33—Chairman, S. McCormtck; Secretary, H. Cerdes. about buttermilk and galley clock. Refrain from whistUng and loud talk­ ing in passageways. New delegate elected. Washing ma­ chine to be repaired. Continue to spray as roach situation is pretty bad. ARLYN (Bull), July 1—Chairman, J. Lundy; Secretary, J. Olive. Water pressure In bathrooms low. Ship's fund S3.09. Some disputed OT. One man fired In PR; one man quit dn arrival. Reports accepted, ALCOA PILGRIM (Alcoa), May 35— Chairman, F. Shandl; Secretary^ W. Scott. Discussion on launch service in Maracaibo and St. Salina. Some disputed overtime. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine food served. Vote of thanks to delegate. Need new washing machine. July 7—Chairman, W. Raid; Secre­ tary, F. Shandl. Repair list submit­ ted. Man missed ship in NO. Hall notified man wag Injured In Trinidad, made return voyage. Safety meeting school for fire fighting, one-man from each dept.. all voluntary. Reports ac- DOROTHY (Bull), July t—Chairman, H. Brannan; Secretary, F. Oreaney. Few hours disputed OT. Report ac­ cepted. T-shirts to be worn during meals. Paint out all foc'sles. Need new fans. STEEL ADMIRAL (IstHmlsn), June 33—Chairman, F. Keller; Secretary, E, Conrad. Good job done by all dele- gates. All rooms except engine dept. painted. ,Check on Suez bonus; re­ pairs: quaUty of food put aboard. Considerable overtime disputed. Quar­ ters not painted as yet. Reports ac­ cepted. Order more supplies, soap, etc. Need new fansL spare parts, new wringer for washing machine. Water fountains to be repali'ed; keys to be left in foc'sles: all cots to be re­ turned. Need new. Ubrary. CECIL N. BEAN (Dry Trans), June 10—Chairman, J. Mays; Sacratary, D, Collins. Few hours disputed over­ time. Repair list made up. One man to be reported to patrolman for bring­ ing troubles topside Instead of dept. delegate. Report accepted. AU cots and Uhen to be turned in. Repairs to be taken up with patrolman. Need lockers in bosun's foc'sle. Vote of thanks to steward dept. FELTORE (Ore Navigation), June 30 —Chairman, J. Webe; Secretary, 'W. Strickland. Request bulletin board for recreation room. One man mi.ssed •hip in Baltimore. Need fan, for fire­ man's room. Report accepted. Laun­ dry room to be kept clean. Pantry to be auppUed with more food and kept more orderly. IDEAL X (Pan Atlantic), July 4 — Chairman, R. Bryan; Secretary, HcluIne. Fresh milk question settled. Re­ port on firing chief cook in Houston. Firing of Bryan settled In Houston. Report accepted. New delegate elect­ ed. Night lu^bh beef. Inspect stores as they come aboard—to be taken up with patrolman. PLYMOUTH VICTORY (Isthmian), July 3—Chairman, B. McCaskay; Sec-' retary, J. Balder. One man missed ship in Houston. Repair lists com­ pleted. New reporter elected. Need new washing machine; water cooler for new passageway; new refrigera­ tor; 20-tcay ice machine; chairs for foc'sles. SIU slop chest—see steward for special orders; re-ordering safety wind scoops. Catwalk requested over deck load aftt which is deadly poison acid. Steward dept. given vote of thanks for Job well done. Twenty fans obtained. OCEANSTAR (Triton), June 17 — Chairman, T. Nlll; Secretary, C. ear­ ner.' Minor beef about baker using ovens after 8 AM settled. New, dele­ gate elected. Coffee to be made in small pots. ROBIN SHBRWOOD (Robin Line), June 16—Chairman, W. Kohut; Sec­ retary, S. Johnson. Ship's fund S14. Spent S3 for telegram. Report ac­ cepted. Things not to be thrown out of port holes. One brother injured as a result of this practice. Crew to be careful when dumping garbage on deck. Same to be placed in box be­ fore disposal. Mops not to be washed in laundry room sink. Coffee to be used more carefully in engine I'oom —all to share equally as ship has 7-lb. allowance. See Sfep-Up Iff Savannah SAVANNAH — Shipping opera­ tions have been on the quiet side in this port for the last two weeks with a few in-transits providing all of the action there was. However, the port is preparing for stepped up activity in the coming period. The TMT Carib Queen is ex­ pected to take on a full crew in the next few days whjle the Bull Line Liberty John Chester Kendall is due in Sunny Point, North Caro­ lina for a payoif after a long off­ shore run. The port is looking for quite a few replacements aboard her. The late Curt Starke shown on a visit to SIU hall some years ago. quit that country when Hitler came to power. He had been a member of a traveling acrobatic team since 1919 and upon coming to America he joined an American circus group known as the Royal American Midgets. As an acrobat, the powerful four-footer usually served as the bottom man on the Seafarers who have to enter pyramid. When the war clouds gathered. a hospital from a ship are en­ titled to get a shipping card Curt went to the SIU hall in Tam­ dated the day of entry to the pa to help out his adopted country. He grabbed a ship in the spring of Jiospital, up to 30 days, provided 1941 and sailed throughout World they report to a Union dispatch­ er within 48 hours of leaving War II. With the end of the war, Starke the hospital. However, men who go to the hospital only for out­ signed a contract with Ringling patient treatment are not en­ Brothers and in the next ten years sailed off and on in between tours titled to these cards. Seafarers already registered with, the circus. He owned his own at SIU halls who have to be hos­ home in Sarasota, the circug^ win­ pitalized for over 30 days, can ter quarters. get a new card for 30 days . Starke was buried in the Hack­ ney Cemetery, Hillsboro County, only, from the dispatcher. Florida. Only in-Patlents Get 30-Day Cards If -, • fji.,. Being muscular is an asset, no doubt about it. But it's wise to realize that every man, no matter how strong, has his timits. The man who abuses his body by try­ ing to hoist more than he con handle, or who bends from the waist instead of letting his legs take the strain, is buying himself o fdst ticket to the hospital. Instead of playing Superman, get o shipmate to give you o hand when the load's too heavy. Ploy it safe and leave the muscle ex­ hibitions for the professional othletes. ; • - I - '/•» • .. .. ' -v •).— AN SIU SHIP IS A SAFE SHIP �Auirusi tf 19S9 SEAFARERS Pare Five LOG l«?:•'• ; • '. <•: V-, • •v;-;: V.••'•>.».,;X--;• i-: •->';ft:. ivi, 4 'Arabs Spat As We Passed' After Kern Hills Israel Visit "When we got off in Algiers, everybody in the town seemed to know who we were. The Arabs spat on the street when we passed." That was just one of the little incidents which Seafarer John Farming, AB, described from the now-historic voyage of,the 1-^ tanker Kern Hills, the first US-flag ship to"* enter the Israeli port of Elath. Fanning caught the ship on a pierhead jump in Aruba in Jan­ uary, just as she was about to start on her transatlantic voyage. She went from Aruba to Genoa to discharge, and as the Suez Canal was closed at the time, made the long haul around Africa to get to the Middle East oil fields. Photo gbove shows, signs which skipper removed from midship After loading at Bandar Shahpur, house When ship enfered' Gulf ~ " of Aq' Aqoba. Iran, the Kem Hills started its run jip the Red Sea iiito the Gulf of Aqaba. Chief cook Nelson Norwood re­ called that when the ship got to the Strait of Tii-on at the entrance to the Gulf, UN forces on the heights overlooking the strait waved them on and an unidentified naval vessel signaled "good luck." WASHINGTON-^The apologists for large-scale runaway Going up the Gulf, the skipper transfers have been mechanically repeating "effective con­ took no chances. There was an trol" as the answer to objections against the transfers. Now it eight PM curfew after which every­ appears xthat legislation de--t ; body kept off the deck in the event signed to hiake "effective con­ here to vessels that do not coop­ anybody started pot-shooting at-the ship. As an added precaution, all Tanker Kern Hills takes sea across her deck during course of one of trol" effective is quietly wind­ erate. the ship's name signs were removed ing up in the wastebasket. her voyages into Elath. Photos on this page by Nelson Norwood, The bill was introduced in Feb­ The "effective control" gimmick ruary, but so far nothing has from the superstructure. chief, cook. Once they got to Elath, the atmo­ has been paraded out before Con­ happened. Meanwhile, the Ad­ gress each time the SIU and other ministration is stil maintaining sphere changed. The whole popula­ host of Israeli army and govern­ said, "but everybody wound up on maritime groups have warned that that "effective control" is some­ tion of the tiny frontier town ment officials. "We were supposed the ship and we ended up bis^ serv­ runaways threaten to weaken and thing more than just a quotation. turned'out to greet "them plus a to have a party ashore," Norwood ing a buffet to more than 200 guests." undermine US shipping to a dan­ Both Norwood and Fanning gerous degree. The Defense De­ agreed that the treatment the crew partment has made use of the ar­ received in Elath was nothing but gument to show that even if we the best. They were also impressed don't have a large and flourishing with the energy and determina­ merchant fleet that the US can In a strong statement on behalf of maintaining an American Merchant Marine, "William tion displayed by tiie townspeople "count on" the runaway-flag ships "Whitey" Benz, Portland port agent for the SlU-Sffiliated Sailors Union of the Pacific, in the tiny frontier outpost. in an emergency. While the voyage into Elath To assure "effective control" a has called for amendment of Federal law to permit organization drives on runaway flag passed without incident, the Is­ bill had been thrown in the hopper, ships. Benz, who is also chair' the ship warrants bill, which would of package legislation to redress all other US steamship companies raelis were taking no chances. In have given the Government stand­ man of the Portland Maritime the inequality between US ship­ that have chartered ships from the addition to armed patrols on the by authority to deny port facilities Trades Council, urge^ passage ping and foreign and runaway op­ MariUme Commission. . . Also here beaches, the Israelis had two skin divers checking the bottom of the erators. The statement was sent in are two other ships owaed by West ship every day to make sure that the form of letters to several West Coast Steamship Company that Coast Congressmen and to Su­ cannot get cargoes. On the other Arab frogmen hadn't attached time preme Court Justice William hand, as I write this, there are at bombs to the hull during the night. Leaving Eiath the Kern Hills least half a dozen foreign-flag ships Douglas. put into Djibouti, French SomaliCiting the Sailors Union fight in this port getting a bellyful each land, for water and bunkers. "The on the Liberian ship Riviera, Benz way of Government and commer­ French were in charge there," Fan­ pointed out that the case was lost cial cargoes. . . "If we sit idly by and let this ning said, "but the work gangs when the Svipreme Court ruled Each year five Sea­ vital industry of ours be destroyed were Arabs. The word about us that the Taft-Hartley law and other must have spread pretty fast be­ farers or children of Sea­ legislation did not apply to dis­ by want-to-be-popular politicians, cause they kept sliutting down the people who cater to the foreign farers are chosen by a putes with foreign shipowners. bunkering line, losing the keys and \ board of college admin­ [Many of these "foreign" ship­ shipowners' lobby... and exploiters little things like that designed to under the runaway flags then we istrators as winners of owners, of course, are Ainerican delay us. But we got out of thers tlie $6,000 four-year col­ operators masquerading under a are guilty of criminal negligence to without any trouble." our own people. . .After all, it is foreign flag—Ed.] ~ lege scholarships. The From Djibouti the ship made an­ our duty to ourselves to protect program gives them free He argued then that Congress our own people and our own other run into Iran and back to rein to study at any should act to amend the Taft- economy first. No other country Eiath. Then the vessel picked up a Hartley and Norris-LaGuardia acts gives preference to foreigners— third oil cargo destined for Haifa. college or university of so that they apply to disputes with why should we?" their choice, as long as it Bypassed Suez foreign shipping when such ship­ is a recognized institu­ By this time the Suez Canal was ping is engaged in trade with the tion. open for traffic again but the ship United States. Benz also called for Candidates for the didn't dare go through. Instead of enactment of Senator Magnuson's an eight to ten day run from Ban­ scholarship must have a bill limiting sales and transfers dar Shahpur to Haifa, she detoured superior high school rec­ foreign and Rep. Pelley's bill call­ around Africa again. It was 62 ord and must compete in ing for 100 percent preference for days at sea punctuated by brief the standard college en­ US ships on Government cargoes. stops at Capetown and Aigiers. trance board tests. Now In nth Rank A 30 day referendum vote is be­ In Algiers, all they had in cur­ Requirements are three Bern pointed out that the US ing held this month by the SIU rency was Israeli pounds which years' sea time on SIU has slipped from the second to 11th Great Lakes District to elect of­ made them unpopular right off tha ships for the Seafarer or spot in merchant fleet tonnage. ficers f.r the coming year. Up for bat. It was here that the crew en­ the Seafarer-father of the Large numbers of ships construc­ election are candidates for the post countered considerable hostility candidate, 90 days of ted by the US were given away or of secretary-treasurer and for although there were no incidents which must be in the sold to foreign nations which use seven port agents to cover port of­ of molestation. them in the carriage of American fices maintained by the District on After delivering her cargo to previous calendar year Government cargoes while paying the American side of the Lakes. Haifa, the Kern Hiiis headed back and one day in the crews rock bottom wages. Seamen on the Canadian side are to Corpus Christi, Texas, where last 90. . "As I write this letter there is represented by the SIU Canadian she paid off. All in all it was a 6tilaying idle in this port of Poi-t- District. month trip with just 17 days shore land a ship, the Clarksburg Vic­ Incumbent officers of the union, leave, so the entire crew from tory, which has been chartered h e a d e d by Secretary-Treasurer skipper on down took off in Texas. from the US Government for an Fred J. Farnen, are all candidates The ship is now running in the annual charter fee of $185,138 per for reelection. coastwise trade between the Gulf year. Under this charter the op­ Ballots can be cast by union and the northeast coast, because erator. .. . has to pay the fee members either aboard ship or In it has been put on the Arab blackwhether they run or not and so do any SIU Great Lakes hall.' ' . , llB*, 'Runaway' Controls Bill Heading For Scrap Pile Seeks Right To Organize Transfers YOUR SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN 14-Yr. College \ I Scholarships: Gt. Lakes SIU Vote Underway SEAFARERS INTL UNION, A&G DISTRICT r V't'' , �Fiwe Six SEAFARERS IPG Unions Await Action On 'Vital' Ship Fleet! Shelley Hits Delay 1 i]: Jf. Aociut t, 1957 QUESTIONi What would you like to see as the next forward step "WASHINGTON—While encouraged by the Navy's official statement to the effect that of the Seafarers Welfare Plan? US merchant shipping is still considered vital to national defense, the SIU and other unions are still waiting for signs of implementation of that policy. Joe Thomas, Deck: As far as I Coner Haynes, FWT: Something Navy Secretary Thomas S. am concerned, everything in the should be done about the out­ Gates, Jr., put. an end to un­ haps a large part of the reason for your aggressive and construc­ plan is fine. But patients. They certainty and rumors when he why Maritime Administration re­ tive sponsorship of an AmericanI think, especial­ should be able to declared that the Defense Depart­ quests for funds for fiscal 1958 did manned Merchant Marine." ly for the men collect medical Commenting on the present sit­ ment had not changed its concept not receive more sympathetic at­ with families benefits, as well uation, SIU Secretary-Treasurer of the merchant fleet. There had tention. . ." that the Union asone in the hos­ A companion letter to Rep. Bon­ Paul Hall remarked; "We have been stories to the effect that the ought to see if pital. Most of Pentagon was ready to write off ner congratulates 'him for "having long held that there is only one they could lower them can't work, laid on the line the whole sorry merchant marine, not two or three, merchant shipping in the guided the Initial pay­ and yet must pay story of Administration failure to and that merchant marine is com­ missile-nuclear warhead age. ment a man must their bills. I However, there is still no clear carry out the policies laid down in posed of all the ships that sail un­ make when he don't need any­ evidence coming out of Washing­ the Merchant Marine Act" of der the American flag. For practi­ goes Into the hos­ thing more my­ cal purposes it is our firm opinion pital. I think $50 is kind of steep, self, but for men with big families, ton to the effect that the Admin­ 1936 . . ." An important aspect of the prob­ that this means Government aid and $25 would be more realistic. istration intends to take the neces­ I imagine this would make quite sary measures,—including the lem, in the view of the SIU, lies in should be extended without dis­ a big difference. ^ needed requests for funds—to as­ the subsidized lines' willingness to tinction or discrimination to all 4 4„. 4 sist all segments of the merchant discard the American flag on their those who are -willing to operate 4 4 4• Jan^es D. Paricer, Eng. DepH.: fleet, including non-subsidized old ships for temporary financial under this country's flag, pay taxes think that the Welfare should do Moses A. Lucas, Steward: The shipping, tramps and other miscel­ advantage, plus their desire to to the US and employ American something about Union should bring the time laneous operations. Nor is there monopolize the benefits of Govern­ crews. needed under the "That, in our way of thinking, cutting down the any indication that Maritime will ment aid to the exclusion of out­ pension down to siders and new operators who are is the way to assure a healthy and time required for give up its plans for permitting a pension. I think seven years seatransfer foreign of present subsid­ not part of the "family." On the stable merchant ship fleet." it should be that time, or set a Government side, there has been ized fleets. any man, with 20 fixed age, say 65 Should such transfers be per­ an absence of determination, in the years of seatime, when a man can mitted in addition to the contin­ face of the budgetary outcry, to whether he is disretire. It Is very uing transfers of tramp and come forward and openly spell out a b 1 e d or not, good the way It tankers, then in the Union view, the costs and. the needs to Con­ should be allowed is now, but some the Defense Department's "vital" gress. to retire and take people may be The SIU of NA position, as de­ merchant fleet will be greatly it easy for the rest of his life. He disabled, but not tailed by SIUNA vice-president weakened. deserves it. in a manner that qualifies them The basic contradictions and Morris Weisberger in a letter to under the present plan. confusions in Government circles Shelley, recalled that Congress 4 4 4 on the issue have been under­ adopted a firm declaration.of pol­ 4 4 .4 George Bjnnemans, Eng. Dep'L: scored in a letter written by Rep. icy on maritime back in 1953. That go along with what the rest of John F. Shelley (Dem.-Calif.), a declaration called for a "sufficient" John P. Doyle, Eng. Dep't.: I am the men said, very content with what the Union staunch maritime supporter, to merchant marine able -to service BALTIMORE — With shipping especially about Secretary of Commerce Sinclair both domestic and foreign routes is giving me now, lowering the pay­ Weeks. Shelley urged "quick ac­ and "owned and operated under stili on the sleepy side in this port. and am sure that ment a man must tion to resolve the confusion which the United States flag by citizens Seafarers in the harbor are con­ if there is some­ tinuing the organizing push which make before he seems to exist and to eliminate the of the United States ... ." thing more they can fiie for bene­ Weisberger remarked that in has been so successful up until contradictions ^jetween adminis­ could give us, fits. The same trative action and national pol­ light of this statement, "This now. Port agent Earl Sheppard they would see with lowering the Union has repeatedly protested reported encouraging progress be­ ice . . ." to it that we ing made among the remaining retirement age, He added, "I am sure you are the unjustifiable sale and transfer would get It. so a man can en­ aware of my long standing concern of American ships to other nations unorganized outfits in the Balti­ After all, they are joy himself. But over the future of our Merchant . . . Just how this sale can be con­ more harbor area. the ones who The port" had 11 payoffs in the I am very well-covered and have Marine and of my personal efforts strued as a means to foster and have to figure out to bring about a solution to the encourage an American merchant previous two week period with the no complaints about the way things what it is going to cost, and the vexing problems faced by the sev­ marine ... is utterly beyond com­ future looking like more of the are now. best way of getting it. same for the coming two weeks eral segments of our maritime in­ prehension . . . "Yes indeed, our merchant ma­ at least. The payoffs included the dustry. . . I have tried to further such a solution by supporting the rine policy, as laid down by Con­ Cubore, Chilore, Santore and Veappropriation of funds for the pur­ gress . . . has been kicked around nore (Ore); Pennmar (Calmar); Jean and Emilia (Bull); Robin pose. , . the conditions which Con­ and flaunted as of no account. "Please accept our appreciation Doncaster, Robin Kettering (Rob­ gressman Bonner outlines are perin); Young America (Waterman) and Orion Planet (Colonial). Seafarers and their families, as well as the rest of tha Signing on were seven ships, the Cubore, Chilore, Santore, Venore, population, are continuing to pay more for almost everything Pennmar, Young America and the they buy, according to the latest information from the Labn* Bethcoaster for Calmar. Seventeen Department's Bureau of Labor'" in-transits for Alcoa, Bull, Cities for the setting up of a special com­ Over a 100 former Kohler Co. Service, Isthmian and other com­ Statistics. The BLS reported employees, now employed in Cali­ mittee in the different areas to panies added to the port's business. that the cost of living in June ^eAGARetlS fornia, held a reunion recently and make a fast on-the-spot check of Beefs were on the routine side. rose another .6 percent to 120.2, pledged greater support to the boy­ such disputes. Sheppard urged Seafarers in the the highest level to date. The cott against the Wisconsin manu­ 4 4 4 port with those old-time discharges figure represents a 20.2 percent facturer. The strike is entering its The House has passed a bill sup­ to line up for American Coal jobs increase in living costs since the fourth year. The strikers downed ported by the Amalgamated Meat so that the SIU could take the fleet base period, 1947 through 1949. Sheboygan-style bratwurst and Cutters enforcing compulsory in­ despite the tie-in between the com­ . The largest Increase In living beer, sang songs familiar to the pany, its stooge company union and costs took place during the Kor­ picket line, and tape-recorded spection of all poultry. The bill the NMU, required the inspection of all poul­ ean War period, when prices rose ^ dow IN gap/ messages to the members of UAW approximately IS percent. Follow­ locai 833, who are still picketing try sold in interstate commerce ing the end of hostilities, living the company's plant. Guest speak­ and in major consuming areas de­ signated by the Secretary of Agri­ Turned Down 0T7 costs Inched up another 2 percent, ers informed the attending former strikers of the events now going on culture. It also calls for inspec­ Don't Beef On $$ fell off briefly in Juno 1955, and! tion both before and after resumed their climb by June 1956, and of future plans for the boycott. Headquarters wishes to re­ slaughter, and establishes the au­ All of the strikers are members of thority of the Secretary to promul­ mind Seafarers that mqn who when the level was 116.2. Since that time the cost of living has California unions and most of gate rules for sanitation in the are choosy about working cer­ gone up steadily to the current them are doing the same type of poultry Industry. tain overtime cannot expect an level of 120.2. work. equal number of OT hours with 4 4 4 Among major items, the cost of 4" 4 4" the rest of their department. In The Amalgamated Clothing some crews men have been housing has gone up most, while AFL-CIO President George Meany has announced an agree­ Workers of America has strongly turning down unpleasant OT clothing has registered the smallest ment designed to settle jurisdic­ protested the granting of a $2 mil­ Jobs and then demanding to advance. Total housing costs are tional disputes between buildings lion federal contract to a non-union come up with equal overtime now 25 percent above the 1947trades, and Industrial unions. The clothing firm in Tennessee. The when the easier jobs come along. 1949 levels, while rents alone are agreement recognizes that new con­ order for 180,000 air force jackets This practice is unfair to Sea­ 35 percent higher. struction should be handled by was Tranted to Southern Athletic farers who take OT jobs as they Food, which was pegged at 101.1 members of the building trades Co. of Knoxville, Tenn. The com­ come. in June 1949, rose 13 percent dur­ while production and running pany is headed by "Breezy" Wynn, The general objective Is to ing the Korean War, and then re­ maintenance should be the work of brother-in-law of Robert Tripp equalize OT as much as possible mained fairly steady until this Industrial union employees. As to Ross, foi^aer Assistant Secretary of but if a man refuses disagree­ June. Then it jumped to 116.2, the the difficult areas, namely major Defense. Ross was forced to re­ able jobs there Is no require­ highest level to date. repairs, alterations and relocation sign last February after a Congres­ ment that when an easier job Clothing prices, which have ad­ of existing facilities, the past prac­ sional investigation into charges of comes along he can make up the vanced less rapidly, are now at tice in a plant, area or injclqstry conflict of interest .with federal overtime he turned down before. 106.6 or 6.6 percent above the 1947iRootavN RAaMoeecoi , ' will govern,^ l949 1ieveli(.• S' I »cf J--. < Sir Bait Pushes Harbor-Wide Union Drive VJ Living Costs Take Upward Leap; Rise 20% Since '49 lUmMm rr i �idst' SEAFARERS LOG Pate S^eii^'' YOUR DOllAR'S WORTH ScRlarer's Guide To Better Buying By Sidney Margoliua Salesmen in Your Living Room Working families hava been subjected to (credit abuses-not only from credit stores but from house-to-house canvassers selling goods of all des'criptions on time-payment plans. Such "in-home" selling has expanded to phenpmenal nevir proportions , in recent years, already 4otals about four billion dollars a year and is growing fast, One reason for the sudden girpwth is television advertising, which has given pitchmen new access to family living rooms. One "in-home' selling organization operating in several large cities depends almost wholly on TV advertising to gain entry to people's homes. Another factor has been the increasing size of families, which has made out­ side shopping more difficult for young mothers and fathers. For low-income families, unscrupulous canvassers have proved to be another source of misrepresentations and deceptive practices leading often to real financial tragedies. In some large cities, where new housing developments have sprung up in recent years without established shopping facilities, the invasion . Italian passenger liner Andrea Doria shown as she was about to go under lost year. Plans are afoot to salvage the ship, but no progress has been made to remedy lax safety conditions exposed by the of door-to-door salesmen has been especially costly to residents, says sinking. William Kirk, a leading settle­ ment-house worker who has been bringing this problem to the at­ tention of municipal authorities in large cities, and to working fam­ ilies themselves. He reports that Lax safety regulations that led to the Andrea Doria disaster are still in effect today, one the canvassers are selling not only costly items as television sets and year after the Italian luxury liner collided with the Swedish liner Stockholm and sank off freezers, but even clothing and Nantucket Island on July 26, 1956. Fifty lives were lost in the acfcident when the 30,000home furnishings. The canvassers ton Doria was struck by the'*-" keep many families in perpetual Stockholm in foggy weather by side and steel chains passed NO, chairman of the House Mer­ debt by persuading them to buy on one of the most-traveled underneath the wreckage from chant Marine Committee. Rep. new goods before they have paid sea lanes. one ship to another. Then the ore- Bonner said the committee would for previous purchases. Subsequent investigations ships would take in sea water as consider the possibility of requir­ Even when the selling organiza­ brought out testimony that the ballast in their holds and when ing "foreign flag ships that come tion is completely honest (and Stockholm was off its course and they were riding as low in the in to our ports ... be subject to there are established house-to- virtually in the track rested to water as they could go, .the chains the same rigid inspection for safe­ house firms which do not engage inbound ships. Both vessels were would be tightened up. ty imposed on American flag in trickery) merchandise bought also believed to have been travel­ Theoretically then, when the sea ships." this way generally costs more than ing at top speed and relying al­ water was pumped out and the ore in retail stores. Stanley Kempner most completely on radar for in­ ships gained more buoyancy, they an authority in this field, has re­ formation about the presence of would pick the Doria off the ocean ported that house-to-house selling other vessels. bottom with them. From there, But despite reams of testimony according to the proposal, the .organizations need to take a mark­ up of "three for one," compared to a markup of two for one, or less, and the findings of a committee of sunken liner would be dragged to exacted by retail stores. Thus you often pay $3 for an item which costs American experts, no action has shallower waters where her hull the seller,$l ab wholesale, and which carries a tag of $1.60 to $2.00 been taken as yet to amend the could be sealed up by divers and 1948 International Convention on eventually refloated. at retail stores. This is logical, because door-to-door selling is the Safety of Life at Sea to bring costly and inefficient distribution system. An investigation last year con-, it in line with present safety Stores Get In Act ducted by a committee of Ameri­ needs. Now even the largest department stores and chains are establishing Meanwhile, it was reported that can experts placed the blame for WASHINGTON —The St. Law­ "in-home" sales departments for such household equipment as drapery accident claims arising out of the the loss squarely on international rence Seaway will accoinmoclate safety regulations for ship con­ and upholstery, rngs, home freezers, sewing and knitting machines and disaster were being cleaned up ships that are up to 7.10 feet in struction and operation, and called other goods. They secure their leads through television commercials with final settlements expected to length and 75 feet in beam, it was on foreign governments and ship­ and newspaper ads. In the case of the big local stores who send sales­ total $6 million or better. announced here last montli. The men to your home, the prices are the same as charged in the store for The anniversary date brought ping lines to bring their vessels most efficient use of the passage the same goods, and service is usually reliable. But there also'are forth another proposal for salvag­ and practices up to US standards. The committee's sharpest criti­ will be made, however, by ships risks in this growing method of buying, although they are more subtle. ing the Doria. which still lies on cism was aimed at the construction that are less than 715 feet long and For one thing, you are likely to spend more. The department stores the ocean floor off Nantucket. The plan it this way. In a recent report to a merchants' group, Robert latest proposal would involve the of the Andrea Doria. It said the 72 feet wide. The dimensions for ships using Lauter, executive for one of the country's largest stores indicated the use of two Lakes-type ore-carriers. Doria met the subdivision require­ technique is (1) to get into the customer's house, generally when she The ships would be lined up side ments of the 1948 Safety of Life at the new inland waterway were re­ Sea Convention "by a very narrow ported by the St. Lawrence Seaway requests some specific service advertised on TV or in the papers and margin." These standards are con­ Development Corp. and the St. (2) to pre-select the salesman's samples, as in drapery, slip covers or siderably below the compartnien- Lawrence Seaway Authority of other upholstery, so that the customer is more inclined to buy highertation required aboard US-flag Canada. priced goods. ships. If the Doria had been built The authorities said tliat ships ;Mr. Lauter himself reports that "often a call to re-cover a chair has WASHINGTON—If you pay a to US standards, the report said, exceeding 715 feet in length or 72 ended in a complete refurbishing job.'' rakeoff, kickback or bribe, its "she would have survived." feet in beam would be subject to Another pitfall to watch out for in responding to television and news­ perfectly okay with Uncle Sam. special handling, and would have The report also called for more paper ads for drapery and upholstery goods is that these sometimes are What's more, you can deduct it» adequate training of deck officers to be scheduled so as not to inter­ poorer-quality fabrics, in less desirable colors and patterns, deliberate­ from your income taxes. for utilizing radar, direct bridge- fere with the passage of smaller ly offered at a low price just to get the salesman into your home. Once This unusually tender treat­ he has his foot in the door, he has an opportunity to sell the house­ ment is reserved for American to-bridge radio communication and vessels. They also announced that wife a better-quality product; one which is far more costly than the corporations. It doesn't apply observation of the recognized fixed bridges over the Seaway will lanes. The Stockholm, which be at least 120 feet above the advertised item. to the average American who struck and sank the Doria, was water surface of the navigation Buying at home from a reliable store does have advantages of con­ would most likely be jugged channels. venience,' and with draperies and upholstery fabrics, enables you to •twice for the act—once for the admittedly traveling eastbound virtually on the westbound track The report indicates that the visualize hoW these look with your other furnishings. But you still get payoff and the second time for and about 20 miles off the recom­ Seaway will be open to C-3 type the widest choice of the more moderate-priced goods if you go to the income tax evasion. mended course. There is no legal ships, and other offshore cargo stores, themselves, and are more likely to buy only what you can But what's criminal for the compulsion requiring ships to fol­ vessels, with plenty of room to afford at the time. individual is treated as a "neces­ low the recommended tracks. The spare. It will also be able to ac­ sary business expense" by the Swedish-American Line and the commodate most of the large Great August Fabric Sales Treasury when corporations do Italian Line, which were not par­ Lakes ore carriers, which run to August actually is one of the best months to shop the stores for so overseas. Bribes and other curtains, draperies and household fabrics, with most stores offering payoffs to foreign Government ties to the tracking agreement on greater lengths than the average special values in the August sales. For draperies, cotton is the mate­ officials have been excused by the North Atlantic at the time the cargo ship. rial voted most preferable by housewives in a survey by the US De­ the Treasury on the ground Doria sank, have still not adopted partment of Agriculture, with blends of cotton and rayon next choice that "the Service [Internal Rev­ the agreement. Furthermore, the committee flat­ and all-rayon lagging behind in third place. Cotton and cotton-rayon enue Service—Ed.] would find it blends are comparatively easy to launder and thus save on dry clean­ difficult to sustain the position ly stated, the collision "could have ing. Nor do cotton or cotton-rayon blends shrink or stretch as much that the expenses were not or­ been prevented if the information or need cleaning as often as costlier all-rayon. Chief advantage of dinary and necessary to the tax­ provided by radar had been prop­ erly used." rayon is that it drapes well and has a dressy appearance. 'These char­ payers' business." acteristics also appear in cotton-rayon blends, with an added advan­ Committee members included The information about the tage of easier cleaning and resistance to stretching. Cotton also makes unusual ruling was revealed by high Coast Guard officials and a the most durable drapes with less tendency to rip or split than rayon. Senator John Williams .of Qela-; professor of marine engineering. # The ndtural fiber thehiv. has;* many advantages over ballyhbqpd wn•^ ivare. The investigation was authorized thetics; . by Rep. Herbert Bonner (t)em.. No Safety Gain Since Doria Sank Set Size Limit For Seaway US Okays Bribes As Tax Deductible ,m - -.Ti •'.4' ' i'l /?• 'd cl .:3 r- -•( • •| ''i\ 'V«| -ill '^m �Pace Elcht SEAFARERS Every day on the world's well traveled sea lanes scores of SIU ships' crews gather together in shipboard meetings. Similarly every second Wed­ nesday thousands of Seafarers on the beach meet in the Un­ ion's various branch halls to dis­ cuss and*act upon the Union's business. Whether the meetings consist of a gathering of 30 men on ship or 1,000 in port, they are all part of the same process and serve the same purpose. It is at these meetings that Seafarers bring their opinions and experiences directly to bear on the function­ ing of the Union. In turn, the decisions of the meetings have considerable effect on the lives of every Seafarer. The way in which these meet­ ings are conducted is all impor­ tant, and knowing the rules can count for just as much in the Seafarer's life as knowing the skills his rating calls for. The Union wants every Sea­ farer to become thoroughly fa­ miliar with the standard meet­ ing rules, so that he is fuUy competent at hitting the deck and chairing a meeting. A heads-up membership and a wide-awake crew is a guarantee of business in a truly demo­ cratic fashion. bership is away at sea, the quorum established at shoreside meetings is seven members. Aboard ship the quorum is no problem inasmuch as all crewmembers not on watch attend the meeting. Meetings On Ship Aboard ship, meetings should be held regularly to take care of the ship's routine Union busi­ ness. Special meetings should be called when any disputes be­ tween individuals or depart­ ments arise that,cannot be set­ tled by the departmental dele­ gates. If the dispute is entirely within one department, a meet­ ing of the personnel of that de­ partment only should be called and should not involve the other two departments. There is no specified meeting time aboard ship. The usual procedure is to fix an hour at which the greatest majority of the crew is off duty. Time Of Meeting Rules Of Order ajmct w Senaibr andjh&s&oman... Robert's Rules of Order are the accepted rules governing meetings of all types through­ out the English speaking world. Special rules are adopted to fit special needs. fi The Quorum '.i The word quorum simply de­ notes the number of members in good standing necessary to constitute a working attendance at a meeting. Due to the fact that the majority of our mem­ Aucust,2, 1957 100 Meetings ashore are held every other week on Wednes­ days. The meeting hall opens at 7:00 PM at which time the., meeting is called to order. All SIU men are allowed to attend meetings. All have a voice, but only full members in good standing have a vote. All officials are requir-ed to at­ tend all meetings unless occu­ pied on official Union business. Masters-At-Arms As many masters-at-arms as are necessary may be appointed to act as ushers, doormen and to keep order at all meetings ashore. ott/er'^ bashess The agenda is simply the order in which the business of the meeting is conducted. At shoreside meetings it runs as follows: 1. Call to order. 2.. Election of meeting officers. 3. Action on minutes of previ­ ous port meetings. 4. Presentation of financial re­ ports. 5. Branch agent's report. 6. Reports by committees, pa­ trolmen, auditors; other re­ ports. 7. Communications. 8. Charges and appeals. 9. Action on written motions and resolutions. 10. Secretary's verbal report. \ 11. Obligations. 12. One minute of silence. 13. New business. 14. Good and v^elfare. 15. Adjournment. Shipboard meetings, too, need an agenda to keep the meeting going on an even keel. "Since many things that are taken up at shoreside meetings will not occur aboard ship, the following agenda should fit the bill: 1. Calling the, meeting to order. (ship's delegate). 2. Election of officers — chair­ man, etc. 3. Action on previous minutes. 4. Ship's delegates' reports, re-' ports of committees, etc. and action thereon. '5. Old business. 6. New business (motions and resolutions only). 7. Good and welfare. 8. One minute of silence. 9. Adjournment. Election Of Officers The meeting is called to order by a .temporary chairman for ship's delegate) who calls for the nominations for chairman. He recognizes only those who raise their hands. Names shouted from sections of the as­ sembly are not recognized. To nominate a brother for chair­ man after you have been recog­ nized, you rise and state, 'T nom­ inate Brother . . . ." After a suitable number of nominations have been made, the nominations may be closed by a motion. The temporary chairman asks for acceptances or declinations. Those wiaO accept are voted upon by a hand vote and the one re­ ceiving the largest number of votes is declared chairman. The chairman then follows the same procedure in the elec­ tion of other meeting officers. , The Right To Spealc 'ihs yibhf jv The chairman is the conduc- I tor and regulator of the meeting. | Every" member has a right to speak but no member has the right to infringe upon the rights of any other members. For that reason no one should speak until he has been recognized by the J chair. He may obtain this rec­ ognition by holding up his hand or by rising, as the chair shall direct. Malcing A Motion The method of bringing any­ thing to the attention of the membership or crew for action| is to make a motion. This is : an orderly way of initiating ac- ij tion by , a proposal, written or^/j verbal. |j If everyone started flipping || lids and sounding off at once || every time a report was made, nothing would ever be accom­ plished. The making of a mo- -jl Note: As a guide for shipboard meetings, SIU crews are urged to remove this section and post it on the bulletin board. v..- , �A««iist< 2, 1957 SEAFARERS Tnge Nine LOG ¥" ..ri -a The democratic meeting Is the pleasure of the democratic union tion is the way to initiate dis­ cussion oh any giyen point of the agenda or any issue that arises. D ISCU S SION CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE AFTER A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED, EXCEPT IN THAT PART OF THE AGENDA ENTITLED GOOD AND WEL­ FARE. A motion is "in order" when it has something-to do with the fixed order of business, such, as motions "to accept" or "to re­ ject" a report. The same holds for resolutions which should be acted upon with motions "to concur" or "to non-concur." If you are in doubt as to the con­ tent of any report you are al­ ways in order to make the mo­ tion, "I move to refer this mat­ ter to new business." The object of such a motion is to permit the regular business of the meeting to continue accord­ ing to the agenda or order of business, and then later to dis­ cuss the issue. No motioif is valid until it has been "seconded." The procedure is to be recognized by the chair and then to rise and say, "I sec­ ond the motion." Chair's Authority f/e aht It is the chairman's duty at all meetings to decide whether or not a motion is in order. It is well to remember, however, that a chairman may be wrong and therefore the voting mem­ ber always has a right to appeal the decision of the chair. If any member disagrees with the decision of the chairman all he has to do is to rise and state, "I appeal the decision of the chair." After this • motion is made and seconded, the chair­ man turns the gavel over to the recording secretary. No discus­ sion is permitted except by the maker of the appeal and the chairman, who are allowed to explain their points. The re­ cording secretary then takes a vote as temporary chairman by asking, "Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?" The vote is taken by "ayes" and "noes" and if the chair is sus­ tained by, an "aye" vote major­ ity, the appeal is lost and the meeting continues under the de­ cision of the chairman. Discussion ^^iejrs cbse Hie discussion A motion is open to discussion only after it has been seconded and entered in the minutes by the recording secretary. Before any. discussion takes place the chairman requests the recording secretary to read the motion as entered and then opens the fioor for discussion. Discussion should continue only so long as the pro and oppo-^lte '' viewpoints are clearly ex­ pressed by the membership and then a motion "to close discus­ sion" should be acted upon. Discussion on the motion can also be closed by any member being recognized and saying, "I call'for the question," meaning that it's his wish that the motion be acted upon by the member­ ship at the meeting. Generally, motions are acted upon by those in favor answer­ ing with "ayes" when called upon, and those opposing an­ swering with "noes." In close counts where the voice is uncer­ tain, a show of Union books can be called for at the discretion of the chair. The chair determines the re­ sult by announcing that "The ayes have it—the motion is car­ ried," or if the motion is lost, "The noes have it—the motion is lost." amendment will be amended. This creates general confusion and can be eliminated by some member taking the fioor and in­ corporating the whole thing into a single motion" not con­ flicting with the original motion or amendments. The vote is 'taken on the substitute and if it is carried it becomes the regu­ lar motion, replacing the regu­ lar motion offered at first. Substitutions Often a motion will be made, seconded, amended and the To Postpone If something comes before the meeting which you think is un­ wise to have brought up, you can make a motion to postpone the matter indefinitely. Specfo/ Privilege • Jv* Limits On points of sharp debate where the matter is liable to consume the entire meeting if unhampered, a motion can be made to limit the number of speakers and the time allotted to each. To Table A motion, to "table" means simply that you do not desire to take action at that time on the subject being discussed. It may be because information is in­ adequate or because it is not an immediate issue. This should never be used to kill action or discussion on any matter but merely to postpone it for later consideration. It can be moved to table temporarily or to table until the next meeting. To Refer Another way of stopping too much tonsil bursting on any subject is to move to refer it to a committee. The committee is elected and reports on the en­ tire matter at a later time. Point Of Order Amendments A motion may sound good but it may be weak because it does not clearly express its intent. In this event an amendment to the motion is in order. No amendment is in order, however, if it destroys the meaning or the force of the mo­ tion. In other words the amend­ ment must in,no way replace or change the original intent of the motion as the vote on the aimendment carries the motion automatically. In addition there can always be an "amendment to thd amendment" which is limited simply to clarifying the word­ ing, to add clarity or to broad­ ening the scope so as to lend force to the original motion and amendment. :m\ Point of Orkn!' This is the headache of the chairman — the most misused privilege of all meetings any­ where. A "point of order" can never be used as a pretext to gain the floor. It is simply what it calls for. A "point of order" is a question on procedure. For example, a motion is under dis­ cussion and a speaker starts to discuss something else. A "point of order" can and should be called for to have the chair­ man clarify the rules of. order so that the business in issue can • be handled. This holds good in all matters where there is a question as to whether or not the proper procedure is being followed. . -'m J: "Privilege" is the right of any Union member but must never be used except where it benefits the members as a whole. If the room is too hot, a point of "priv­ ilege" can be called for to have the fans turned on or the port­ holes opened. If some drunk has slipped past the doorman, then it is in order to call for a point of "privilege" to have him removed from the meeting. In plaip words, "special privilege" is a -point to be used in any event where the entire assem­ blage can be aided and never used as a pretext to stifle any point of business. Good And Welfare Good and welfare is that part of the meeting where you can get up and talk about what you think should be done by the Union and in the Union, and forthe benefit of the Union. This is a good place for the oldtimers to clarify issues and give the score to the newcomers. No motions can be made or actions taken during good and welfare. It is strictly a discus­ sion period where the member­ ship can clear .the air; and give and get information. Prepare Your Talk An old and wise philosopher once wrote: "It is not enough tp know what we ase to say. We must say it the right way." In other words, all of Robert's Rules of Order will not put your point across to the membership. The rules will/only provide for an orderly meeting so that you can be heard. How effective you are when given the floor— depends upon yourself. And Remember • Keep to the point. Convince with facts. Don't become personal. Keep it short. A pint of tact is worth more than a case of scotch. • 1%: •, J.' -ji "i! �,v: • ;• i- SEAFARERS Par* Ten * ;•, Auffiist 2,' 19llf LOG Rest For Weary Visitors At Health Center f1 i! JIAN LAriTTI (WaUrmin), May M—Chairman, J. Touarti Sacratary, F. Amora. Dlacussed repair Ust. US currency draw, ateward dept. com­ plaints: disposal of mattresses. Ship's fund SIS.SS. Pantry shelves to ha cleaned. Mattresses to be sprayed. InstaU hand wringer in wash room. May as—Chairman, J. Touart; Sec­ retary, F. Amora. Throe mattresses put aboard. Need new percolator. Dis­ cussion on use of iron: work rules: feeding system. New delegate elected. June If—Chairman, C. Smith: Sec­ retary, F. Amora. US currency draw unsatisfactory. Stores missing. Repair list submitted. Ship's fund $16.99. One MFOW man picked up in Yokohama. Report accepted. Pilfering ships' stores Is against Union prac­ tices and anyone caught will be. put on charges. Repair Usts reviewed by mate stop practice of securing gear for saUing ^th only five men a good eight hours before letting go. Need bigger and better slop chest. , ALCOA CORSAIR (Alcoa), June U —Chairman, G. Meting; Secretary, M. T. Costello. One man missed ship in Ciudad TruJiUo, rejoined in La Guaria. Men to dress properly when showing famiUes ship on saUing day. No gambling in cross-passageway. Next man missing ship wiU be fired. Ship's fund S182. Some disputed overtime. Few minor beefs. Commu­ nications for hq. jread to member­ ship. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), June It —Chairman, T. Watiluk; Secretary, S. Bernstein. Locks fixed. One man missed ship ' in Ponce. Ship's fund S9. Report accepted. Would like to get moving picture projector. ANDREW JACKSON (Waterman), Chairman, C. White; Secretary, I. Llenos. Electric fans obtained. Some repairs made. Few minor beefs,—to be settled in Boston. Few hours dis­ puted overtime. Report accepted. Need more night lunch. June 11—Chairman, C. While; Sec­ retary', P. Lopez. Repairs to be taken care of. No slop chest before arrival in Panama Canal. Ice to be ordered In Tampa. Need new water pump for cooler. Members of a Japanese trade union research team rest in the lounge of the SlU health center after a tour of the headquarters hall and facilities. Members of the team are Z. Kinoshita, Seaman's Un­ ion; K. Koi, Mitsubishi Workers' Union; S. Kammoe, Shipbuilding Union; H. Sakuma, Heavy Indus­ tries Union; T. Takemoto, White Collar Union, and K. Taniguchi, Chemical Workers. NMU, Company Now 'Partners' (Continued from page 3) • American Coal is operating in the classic union-busting pattern like the operators did back in the. 1920's and 19?0's. We urge , men who want to keep this company from turning back the clock to step for­ ward and volunteer for this fleet." The company's action on behalf of the NMU emerged when the NMU filed its election petition even though it was trailing in coal ship jobs. At the time of. the filing, the NMU announced it was assured "victory" by supposed "defections" of SIU men, thus tacitly admitting that NMU was, in fact, behind in the fleet. The NMU even made gestures toward obtaining defections by em­ barking on vote-buying efforts, but these moves fell through in the face of the determination of the oldtfmers to stand by their Union despite lush offers of NMU "Hiring Hall Defense Fund" cash. It was then that the company turned on the steam. With the arrival in port of such ships as the Martha Berry, Cleveland Abbe and Coal' Miner, it started bouncing SIU men for a variety of irrelevant reasons, incliicling one black gang man who was fired for asking the mate to take off his hat in the crew's messroom. When the Coal Miner came in last week with more NMU men quitting than Seafarers, the com­ pany quickly moved to shift the balance in NMU's favor. As re­ ported by SIU representatives on the spot, here's what happened: • One SIU fireman, L. P. Hogan, was fired because he missed one watch even though he made ar­ rangements for the engine dayman to cover the watch for him. SIU representatives attempted to sign Hogan on the ship again after the skipper was reported to have said that "no one was fired to his direct knowledge." However, the com­ pany representative was furious at the skipper and declared he was willing to put up an extra month's pay to get rid of Hogan. He barred Hogan from the ship and put up the month's wages. • Engine ulilityman W. C. Sim­ mons, who stood Hogan's watch, was also fired. The reason given was that he "wouldn't take orders" from the second assistant. • prdinary seaman James Stu­ art was fired for taking seven days off in Yugoslavia on doctor's or­ ders. This flagrant action was sud­ denly reversed when SIU repre­ sentatives came up with the evi­ dence. "The company rppresent^ tlve," SIU men reported, "got hot as a pistol" when he heard of the SIU's success-in this instance. • SIU wiper K. P. Bane was also fired. Bane had a reputation of being a very hard worker but he was bounced anyway, the reason being that he missed all of one day in the course of two trips (bet­ ter than two months). Normally speaking, all Bane would have been subject to would be a logging, but American Coal is apparently embracing the AMMINMU blacklist system of "Don't log 'em, just fire 'em." • On the other side of the fence, two NMU deckhands, who, in the words of the mate, should have been fired were permitted to quit the ship. The result is that they are eligible to compete for future coal ship openings without any questions asked. The company's action is not un­ expected because it has staked its whole operation on being, able to set up a company union rig from top to bottom. The shabbiest as­ pect of the picture is the manner in which the NMU has crept into the company's corner. One reason for NMU's action is Its failure to live up to its loudly-proclaimed promise that it would "whip the SIU" down on the docks. State Dep't Caught Short On Ship Act Violation WASHINGTON—A State Department plan to move two diplomats abroad on foreign-flag ships has been slapped down by the Comptroller General because it violated the US Mer­ chant Marine Act. The incident involved plans which was also opposed by foreign for transporting the new am­ maritime interests. They have bassador to the Netherlands, and his predecessor's return at Govern­ ment expense. The State Depart­ ment asked for permission to let them travel on Holland-American Line ships, arguing that the gesture would improve American relations with thr Netherlands. The Comptroller General ruled that the request was in violation of the Merchant Marine Act, which requires US officials to travel on American ships unless "necessity" requires them to use foreign ves­ sels. He then ordered the diplomats to use American-flag ships in travelling to and from their Gov­ ernment posts. The gesture, which would have amounted to a $5,000 handout to Holland-American Lines and some free publicity for the company, was regarded by maritime representa­ tives as a typical State Department scheme to buy good will abroad at the expense of the US shipping industry. The plan might also have led to demands by other foreign maritime countries" that American "diplomats be permitted to use their ships when traveling at the Gov­ ernment's expense. The State Department's attitude towards US-flag shipping has been under frequent union attacks. In recent years, the unions have been especially critical' of State Depart­ ment opposition to-the "50-50" act, noted with alarm the Department's pressure to let countries use ships they bought from the US in their offshore trades, although the sales contracts called for exclusive use in domestic trades. Ship Pick-Up Cheers Seattle SEATTLE — Shipping in this area, as in most of the West Coast ports, has picked up greatly during the past period and shows signs of continuing to do so. There was some difficulty in filling jobs for Class "A" men in the engine de­ partment as shipping in that group ran ahead of registration. There were 13 vessels in port during the last two weeks. The Wild Ranger, Fairport (Waterman) and Samuel F. Miller (Boston Shipping) paid off and signed on. The Sea Garden (Penn. Nav.) also paid off but was laid up tempo­ rarily. The Ocean Evelyn (Ocean. Trans.), Rebecca (Intercontinental), George A. Lawson (Penn'. Ship­ ping), Portniar, Kenmar and Maryrifeir (Calmar) were in transit dur-. ihg the period reported. BENTS FORT (Cities Service), May 30—Chairman, A. Herbert; Secretary, delegate. Magazines and books to be circulated. Let delegates handle pay­ off only. Variety of slop chest articles requested. Medicine chest to be re­ plenished. DEL VIENTO (Miss.), June >—Chair­ man, H. Hunt; Secretary, C. Tresclair. Shi£'8 fund lost ($29). Repairs not completed. Report accepted. New delegate elected. Sea delegate about repair list. Catwalk to be put up if deck cargo Is carried. ROBIN DONCASTBR (Robin), June 30—Chairman, J. Toro; Secretery, M. Dclaney. Few hours disputed over­ time: also, restricted ship in Luderitz Bay and Walvis Bay. Few men missed ship. Companies carrying dangerous cargo to have better safety measures. Delegate to take this up. Delegate paid $7.28 for telegram to hall and asked members to donate 25c or 35c -each for ship's fund. SEATRAIN TEXAS ($ealraln), June 10—Chairman, W. Hall; Secretary, K. Pappan. New delegate elected. Ship's fund $70.79. Twelve houi's dis­ puted overtime. Report accepted. To ger new TV antenna .and rotor motor. Vote of thanks to steward dept. STEEL ARTISAN (Isthmian), June 20—Chairman, D. Grant; Secretary, M. White. Reports accepted. Contact patrolman about shortage of milk on coastwise. Steward claims there were- 200 quarts on^beard when ship left port. MV PONCE (Pence Cement), June 22—Chairman, H. Goodwin; Secre­ tary, G. Knowles. Sliip's fund S2Z.43. New delegate elected and new secre­ tary. Steward to supply bug bombs for crew. Need larger drain line in washing machine. ROYAL OAK (Cities Service), June 2—Chairman, R. DaVlrgilee; Secre­ tary, D. Beard. Delegate to contact company representative about cots. Ship's fund S2.68. One man missed ship in Boston. Two hours disputed overtime. Reports accepted. Stew­ ard to prepare menus with chief cook. Need more variety in menu.s—sug­ gest another vegetable, canned fruits, ice cream, fresh salads (to dress up evening meal), fresh fruit drinks, omelette and cheese items lacking in hot weather. JOHN B.. KULUKUNDIS (Mar Trade), May 3S—Chairman, H. Sojak; Secretary, G. Bellenelt. Repairs being completed. No American money available for draws. Some dis­ puted overtime—^to be settled at pay­ off. New delegate elected. Bath­ rooms and showers to be painted. All members to be properly attired in messhall. Wiper and OS on sanitary to keep laundry clean. Coffee cups to be placed In sink after using. Let­ ter enclosed regarding cargo. Vote of thanks to steward dept. WILD RANGER (Waterman), June 1 —Chairman, B. Mclnis; Secretary, D. Ruddy. Repairs attended to except two items to be finished in Japan. New reporter elected. Ship's fund S7.69. Purchased new clothes line and magazines, postage. Each mem­ ber to donate SI to ship's fund. Dele­ gate retained and given vote of con­ fidence. Discussion on gafety meet­ ings. Advised to declare a small amount of American money at Keelung. AFOUNDRIA (Waterman), June I— Chairman, W. Kumke; Secretary, J. Guard. Repair Usts to be made out in duplicate: to be turned In weU before 72-hour period for ship-side work, and checked for Items not taken care of: additional safety suggestions to be added to list. Letters concerning safety meetings to be mailed after discussion with patrolman in Port­ land. Ship's fund S19. $7 spent for shipping gear and maUing letters to headquarters. Soma disputed .over­ time and delayed saUing from Port­ land. One man Joined vessel at Yo­ kohama to replace wiper who was promoted to oUer. New reefer to re­ place present one secured by Une in messhall. To see captain about port draw. No chipping after 9 PM aft near crew quarters. Suggest chief R. Alston. Few hours di.sputed over­ time. Replacement for mcssman taken off ship due to illness. New delegate elected. Good food served. Return used cups to pantry. CALMAR (Caimar), June U—Chair­ man, J. Kain; Secretary, A. Bryant. Some disputed overtime. Repair list to be submitted. Coal beef commu­ nications received. Fans to be re­ paired. CARIB QUEEN (TMT), June i — Chairman, R. Brown; Secretary, E. Eriksen. Report ship's payoff 'about every 28 days: draw list not up to date: air conditioning on ship. Need more fans. .Some disputed overtime. Delayed sailing in .Jacksonville dis­ puted. Repair list to be submitted. Vote of thanks to steward dept. CHiLORE (Ore), May U—Chairman, W. Thomas; Secretary, C. Borti. >ihip's fund S21.71. Larger fans to be placed in foc'sies. Fan installed in laundry. Patrolman to investigate cold drink situation. Recreation room to be painted.. Crew's mess tg^ be sougeed. Steward refused to put out night lunch for fireman. Vote of thanks to radio operator for typing and posting news bulictiii daily. Pay­ master not to shoulder crew away from patrolman. ANTINOUS (Waterman), June 23— Chairman, G. Champiin; Secretary, C. Elizey. Good crew. Captain to try to have coastwise articles signed in Port Newark so permits getting off ship will be able to ride to Gulf. Sug­ gest reimbursing cook for movies. Cooperation urged in preparing re­ pair Ust and items. Ship's fund $90. To check rate of 90P per hour for work removing grain fittings from holds. Reports accepted. $2 each do­ nation suggested for movies. Need Lifebuoy soap. BENTS FORT (CS), June 22—Chair­ man, F. Nelsen. (no Secy.). Reports accepted. Insufficient milk aboard. Repair list submitted. CLAIBORNE (Waterman), June 2— Chairmen, C. Batson: Secretary, T. Sanchez. Wiper to sougee engine dept. rooms. Disputed OT from, last voyage wiU be paid off on this payoff. Some additional disputed OT. Day's lodging disputed for fireman while In port. Couldn't sleep—chipping around portholes. FLOMAR (Caimar). May S—Chair­ man, R. Henry; Secretary, K. Morgan. New delegate elected. Steward to vary vegetables. Undated — Chairman, R. Frazier; Secretary, C. Welch. Need more vari­ ety In night lunches. OT to be paid up In full at payoff. Beef on locking up stairway from engine room while In port. FLORIDA STATE (Ponce Cement), June 13—Chairman, S. Varn; Secre­ tary, J. Cersey. Ship's fund S18.10. Fine food served. Coal hoat discus­ sion. New delegate elected. To see about scuttlebutt as workers In Ponce using water to fast; also to keep same out of passageways. Need more cots: also "No Admittance" sign on door. Vote of thanks to steward dept. and chief cook for fine food. KATHRYN (Bull), June 22—Chair­ man, A. Gonzalez: Secretary, L. Vile, Ship's fund S6. Report accepted. Ven­ tilator system to be fixed. Need cold water in showers. KENMAR (Caimar), April 12 — Chairman, J. Rice; Secretary, S. Kar- lak. New delegate elected. One man missed ship at Baltimore. May 25—Chairman, J. Rice; Secre­ tary, S. Kerlak. Dlsoiission on door locks. Crew asked not to ask captain for more money day after putting out drqw. Discussion on washing ma­ chine; oldtimers: ship's fund. MARORB (Ore), June 12—Chairman, 8. Centreii; Secretary, D. Carey. One man missed ship In Baltimore: one man left ship In Panama for hospital. Repair list to be submitted. Ship's fund S9.02. Donations requested. Some disputed OT. Mate refused to give water palls to deck dept. for laundry. To be put on repair list. Pantry to be kept elean. Change rags In pantry occasionally. S^.md by at end of each watch. Place "cups In soap water. Need plug for sink. �Anciuil; SEAFARERS 1957 Pace EICTCB lOG Heat Frys New York; Shipping Warmer Too NEW YORK—^With this town steaming in summer heat reaching up close to 100 degrees,, for the past few days. Sea­ farers have been looking for something on the "iceberg run." Fortunately, Claude Simmons-, assistant secretary treasurer Georgia; Steel Seafarer (Isthmian) reports, shipping has been and the Ames Victory (Victory Reveal New Details On SS Atlantic Raymond Loewy, the well-known Industrial designer, has been com­ missioned by Arnold Bernstein to handle the interior decoration for Bernstein's passenger liner, now under construction in the Ingalls yard at Pascagoula, Miss. The new passenger ship, a converted Mari­ ner, will be christened the Atlantic. Loewy has done interiors for 12 •hips including the three passen­ ger ships of the Panama Line. The plans for the ship's rooms call for Installation of upper berths that fold back into the walls and lower berths that convert into sofas. The main dining room can handle 500 diners at one time out of a total passenger list of 900. All rooms will be air-conditioned and offer private bath In the one-class tour­ ist set-up. , Present schedules call for In­ galls to complete the conversion next winter and for the ship to enter the transatlantic service on March 29. She will run between New York, Zeebrugge, Belgium, and Amster­ dam. The fare schedule announced by the company calls for an in-season rate ranging from $207.50 to $220 for a one-way crossing tourist class. The ship will also carry 50 pas­ sengers in first class accomodations to conform with the North Atlantic Passenger Conference regulations. First class fares are $315 and $335 respectively in season. Off-season rates are $187.50 to $300. A seven-day sailing schedule will be maintained eastbound with an exfra day' in Amsterdam. A possible way out of . the dilemma posed by foreign-flag transfers has been proposed by William "Whitey" Benz, Port­ land port agent for the Sailors Union of the Pacific and chair­ man of the Maritime Trades Department port council in that city. Benz says in effect. "These ships are American-owned, carrying American, cargo, very often, US-Government cargo. Under such circumstances, the Taft-Hartley and Norris-LaGuardia Acts should be amended to allow American maritime unions to organize these ships." Of course the experts in international law and the State Department would throw up their hands in horror at such a thought. These people insist on the polite legal fiction that Liberia, for example, is an "independent sovereign" country (about as independent as Monaco) and that the runaway ships are in fact "Liberian" corporations which are to be recognized as under foreign law and not our own. Everybody else knows of course, that this legalistic stand has absolutely no relationship to the reality of the situation, which is that the Liberian registries are the purest kind of fake and fraud by Americans on their own Government; fakery which is tolerated by that same Government for the benefit of over-greedy shipowners. Liberia, of course, has no more control over these ships than the man in the moon. Yet in the past, when the Sailors Union and others have at­ tempted to overcome this legalistic difficulty they have found that they have been butting their heads against a stone wall because the courts have held that this legal fiction is valid, no matter what the underlying hypocrisy of the situation. The remedy, Benz says, is up to Congress. • • * State Vs. Maritime Speaking of the Government's attitude on maritime, two recent incidents prove illuminating on that score. One was the State Department's effort to violate the Merchant Marine Act by having its diplomats travel on foreign-flag ships. The other was the action of the Air Force in hiring Panamanian crews for ships that are to perform picket duties in connection with guided missile tests. The State Department's action, while inexcusable, is pretty much what one would expect. It is no secret that the De­ partment regards US shipping as some kind of nuisance which interferes with State's tender concern for the well-being of the foreign shipowner. Such an attitude may have had some justification 12 years ago when European industry was on the rocks, but it is laughable today. As for the Air Force behavior, it sounds like a typical brass hat snafu,. The Defense people, the first to holler about "security," hire unscreened foreign nationals for missile test duties. It jiist'doesn't make sense.' ' ' f running at a good rate in the porf for the past two weeks with the dispatcher hard pushed at times to secure black gang replacements. "Most of the boys are ready to go and are looking for ships headed for a cooler climate," Simmons added, "so we shouldn't have much trouble securing replacements for cmything except the Persian tlulf run which some of the men always back away from." Seventeen ships paid off during the past two weeks, two signed on foreign articles and another 17 ships were in transit. All of the ships were in good shape with only minor overtime and repair beefs which were quickly settled at the point of production. Simmons looks for equally good shipping for the coming two weeks as there are a number of ships due in for payoff. A couple of vessels in temporary layup are also ex­ pected to take on crews shortly. Despite the scorching heat, the organizing drives of the Marine Allied Workers Division and of the Harbor and Inland Waterways Di­ vision have been pressing forward without let-up. Ships paying off here were the Frances, Elizabeth, Beatrice, Arlyn, and Kathryn (Bull); Coalinga Hills (Pan Atlantic); Topa Topa (Waterman); Robin Kirk (Robin); Cantigny (CS); the Alcoa Pegasus, Runner, Puritan and Pilgrim (Al­ coa); Seatrains Savannah and New Orleans Upturn NEW ORLEANS —Although job activity has quieted down during the past two weeks, shipping has continued to be good in the engine department. All but two of the Class "A" men registered in the black gang obtained berths. Be­ sides crewing vessels, there were some 40 relief and HIWD Jobs to be filled by Seafarers in tliis port. Reports indicate that shipping should be better next period. There are two scheduled payoffs, four signing on and some 15 vessels due in transit. The Del Mundo will be taking on a full crew next week and should help boost ship­ ping. Money Exchange Rates Listed The following Is the latest available listing of official ex­ change rates for foreign cur­ rencies. Listings are as of July 81, 1957, and are sub­ ject to change without notice. England, New Zealand. South Africa: $2.80 per pound eterling. Auatrallai S2.24 per pound aterling. Belgium: 80 franci to the dollar. Denmark: 14.48 centi per krone. France: 360 francs to the dollar. Germany: 4.2 marks to the dollar. Holland: 8.7-3.8 guilders to the dollar. Italy: 624.8 lire to the dollar. Norway: 14 cents per krone. Portugal: 28.78 escudos to the dollar. Sweden: 19.33 cents per krone. India: 21 cents per rupee. Pakistan: 81 cents per rupee. Argentina: 18 pesos to the dollar. Brazil: 8.4 cents per cruzeiro. Uruguay: 82.63 cents per peso. VeMiuqlaj 98,88 .cents. per -bollvu. Ti J —r Carriers). The Pegasus and Steel Seafarer signed on again. The in-transits during the period included the Seatrains New Jersey, New York, Texas and Louisiana; Hastings (Waterman); Ideal X, Almena, Maxton and Coalinga Hills (Pah Atlantic); the Cities Service Norfolk; Val Chem (Heron); Steel Admiral and Steel King (Isthmi­ an); Losmar and Massmar (Calmar) the Orion Planet (Colonial) and the Cabins (Terminal Tankers). Waterman Alters Bid For Aid WASHINGTON — Waterman Steamship Company has announced the withdrawal of its request for a Government subsidy on the com­ pany's US Gulf - Mediterranean service. The action was revealed by FMB examiner Edward C. Johnson during a prehearing con­ ference. 3 The FMB had previously re­ ported that it could not prepare the statistics necessary for the for­ mal hearing before March 15, 1958. This would mean that the public hearing on the subsidy requests would have to be put off until after that date. It was also disclosed that Isth­ mian Lines withdrew from the FMB proceedings when Waterman asserted that it was not interested in operating a subsidy service be­ tween Hawaii and the US Atlantic. This service, an Isthmian spokesinan said, was the company's only interest in the case. Waterman, an SlU-contracted operator, had originally filed re­ quests early this year for a Gover.nment subsidy on five trade routes. They are: • Atlantic and Gulf-California service to the Far East, some 18 to 30 sailings annually. • Pacific Coast to the Far East, 30-42 sailings annually. • US Gulf to the United King­ dom and northern Europe, 30 to 42 sailings annually. • Northern Atlantic to Northern Europe, 18 to 30 sailings annually, • US Gulf to the Mediterranean and Black Sea, 18-39 sailings annu­ ally. Fair Shipping, BostonReports BOSTON—Shipping is just jog­ ging along in this port, doing pretty fair but nothing to get ex­ cited about. Port Agent Jimn.y Sheehan had no payoffs or sign ons, but eight in-transits gave the port enough action to^go by. The usual run of tankers in­ cluded the Winter Hill and Royal Oak (Cities Service); Pan Oceanic Transporter (Penn. Nav.) and Orion Planet (Colonial). Freight ships hit­ ting the port were the Robin Kirk and Robin Wentley (Robin); Grain Shipper (Grainfleet) and Water. man's La Salle. ' n. -t r (.•: ' :: ; f•r>T , i' ' i' i i| �Pagre Twelve SEAFARERS Short Takes LOG-A-RHYTHM: Approaching Storm By WBliam I. Terry From south to north, Has no course of its own. A golden radiance Atop sky-blue velvet. Flaming red at break of daum. A storm approaching With black horizon. Blows a gale. My ship a pawn. August t, 1957 LOG MATTHIW THORNTON . (OralnRest), Juns IS—Chairman, D. Murphyr Secratary, C. Carlson. . Beef about mattresses to be taken care of in Baltimore. Shower and bathroom to be painted. Discussion on foulups to be referred to patrolman at payoff. Repair list to be submitted. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for Job well done. PORTMAR (Calmer), Juna <-«halrman, W. Yorka; Saerafary, N. Robin­ son. Not enough food aboard. Repair list tui-ned in. Delegate to call hall in - NY because of large number of men paying off. Some disputed over­ time. Patrolman In NY to glarlfy work for engine room members. Re­ ports accepted. New delegate elected. Try to procure ice on west coast. Shelves in wiper's lockers to be re- When at dawn The SU71 arises. With deep affection I see it come; • Clouds in swift Race 'cross heaven. Fugitives on the run. Chariots in close formation, Rollmg thunder; Bolts of lightning flashing down. A chilling breeSe, A sign of warning. The wind, quickly shifting The clouds will open up the lock; Humidity an exit. Falling drops of rain H^ sweating bodies loith a shock. The membership is again cau­ tioned to beware of persons soliciting funds on ships in be­ Farewell to darkness Soon again half of memorials or any other Brilliant daylight gains one more; so-called "worthy causes." No Fast arriving, "can-shakers" or solicitors have Fast departing. been authorized by the SIU. Another day, an encore. 'Can-Shakers' Have No OK paired. Ice box to be repaired. Soapwater backa up In galley — to be checked ' when in port. Jurie U—Chairman; O.' PalrcloHii Secratary, J. Smith. New delegate elected. Report accepted. Comment made on coal beef. To set np ship's fund at time of first draw. By 'Red' Fink SUZANNE (Bull), June 1—Chair­ man, C. Baback; Secretary, C. CHI. Moat repairs ' completed. Delegate advised there Is sufficient money aboard for draws. In foreign port*. Request for library. Report accepted. Suggestion for use of coffe at night time. Temperature of meat boxes too high. "I can hardly wait for you to ship out, so I can get my first allotment...« USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MD. Howard Abell Albert Esnino Feiicito Aponte Claudius Fisher Ludwik Borowik Gorman T. Glaze Edward Broadus William McHveen Victor B. Cooper Robert O. Smith MONTEBELLO CHRONIC DISEASE HOSPITAL BALTixMURE, MD. Francisco Bueno USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK. VA. Francis J. Boner Frank Peskiir'.c A. Czeczemski Maximo Tangalin Lucien F. Drew Chas. T. Taylor USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. Fred L. Comerford Sung C. Wang lohn J. Morrison G. L. Warrington Chas. T. Nangle David A. Wood USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. lose Blanco Jimmie Littleton Grover Duncan W. M. Stanley J. H. Ferguson Leslie F. Swegan USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS, LA. Leo Lang William Bargone John W. Bigwood Harry R. Lewis Joseph McCabe Daniel Bissett George McFaU Dennis Bohler Simon Morris Henry Chemel Michael Miizio Joseph Curtis Chas, R. Nicholson Rosfoe Dearmon Winford Powell Serio M. DeSosa Randolph RatuUS William Driscoll Toxie Sam ford Harold Ducloux Toefii Smieielski Lucien Elie Jan Englehardt Herman Smith Leon Gordon Wert A. Spencer Herbert E. Grant Gerald Thaxton William Haekett Lonnle R. Tickle James Hutison James E. Ward Samuel Hurst Charles Williams John Jakubaszek Clifford Wuertz Oliver Cendriek Robert Young Edward G. Knapp Jacob Zimnier USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEXAS H. M. Bumpass F. G. Lafcwyk M. N. Gendroft Harold J. Romero Editor, SEAFARERS LOG, 675 Fourth Ave., ^ Brooklyn 32, NY I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG— please put my fiame on your mailing list. (Print Information) NAME ^ STREET'ADDRESS CITY .....ZONE STATE TO AVOID DUPLICATION: II you are an old subscriber and have a change of address, please give your former address below: iii. ADDRESS k I CITY K ...; ". X. 20NE . , KATHRYN (Bull), July 6—Chair­ man, L. Vila; Secratary, S. Ortiz. Water beef to be taken up with pa­ trolman again. Ship's fund $6. Re­ port accepted. See first assistant about cold water and blowers for bathrooms. Request salads and cold drinks at each table. Suggestion to change to Lifebuoy or PalmoUva soap. Liquid soap dispenser to ba installed in steward dept. bathroom. ROBIN KETTERINO ($aas Ship­ ping), Juna 30—Chairman, L. Ames; Secratary, J. Hsnnay. Repair list to be made up. Crew's radio to be raffled off. Ship's fund $18.50. Some disputed OT. One man- missed ship in Mombasa. Chief cook drunk In galley and had to be removed by chief mate and captain. Reports ac­ cepted. Motion to dispense of shjp's fund; to buy refreshments for cte\7. Request that man who- missed thlp In Mombasa pay debts, incurred be­ fore shipping out. STEEL CHEMIST (Isthmian), July J .—Chairman, B. Werthlngton; Secre­ tary, C. NIchy. One man missed ship in PI; returned to ship in Saigon. Reports accepted. Food not up to par—too many starchy foods on menu; members prefer jced water to iced .coffee, tea and cocoa. Night lunch is poor; request more baked goods, ham sausage or minute steaks for breakfast. Suggestion to draw up petition to remove steward. t 'Sea-Spray' cated. Cups to be returned to pantry. Pantryman thanks crew for aasistanca and contribution when wifa passed away this voyage. Concentrating to hard on lighting up a smoke, James Terry, deck engineer on the Charles Dunaif (top), never caught on that he was snapped by a shipmate's comera. The photog was equally secretive about his name. Above, William Kieswetter, AB on the Sunion, takes a lensing in his stride during coffeetime. Steward Fred Hicks sent this one in. USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. Frank J. Bradley John L. Grimes Michael Delano Eugene G. Plahn USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TENN. Claude F. Blanks Charles Burton VA HOSPITAL NEW YORK, NY E. T. Cunningham USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH, TEXAS B. F. Deibler W. E. Orzechowskl Siegfried Gnittke John C. Palmer James Hodges A. J. Panepinto VA HOSPITAL HOUSTON, TEXAS J. P. WiUIamson USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND, NY Genaro Bonafont Thomas Moneho G. F. Crabtree Jens P. Nielsen Raymond M. Davis Pedro Pudro Isidore Dongen Robert A. Parker David B. Dunn . Frank S. Paylor Antonio Fernandez Markos Potiviaflis. Rufus Freeman James W. Risr Burl Haire Salvator Rivera Hans R. Hanssen Joso Rodriguez Lowell Harris Manuel Rodriguez Henry Herkinhein Antonio Russo Oskar Kaelep John Sander Alfred Kaju Cooper E. SavpfrtSimon Keudall P. W. Seider.oerg John Klepadlo Thomas Toonii Mauro J. Matunta Alfred Yarborcugh USPHS HOSPIT.\L MANHATTAN BEACH BROOKLYN, NY Manuel Antonana B. J. Marti-i Eladio Aris Albert Martinelll Fortunato Bacomo Vic Milazzo Juan Deoopra Joau'.iin Miniz John I. Driscoll W. P. O Dea Robert Gilbert C. Osinski William Guenthcr George G. Phlfer Bart E. Guramek G. A. Puissegur Howard Huiley F. Regalado Percy Harrelson Winston E. Rerny Taib Hassen S. B. Saunders Billy Tt. Hill G. E. Shumaker Thohias Tsaksen Kevin B. Skelly In H. Kilgore E. R. Smallwro.t Ludwig Krlstiinsen Henry E. Smith Frederick Landry Michael Tolh Leonard Lcidig Harry S. Tiittle Patrick McCann Virgil E. Wjlmoth Archibald McGulgan Don P. .Wing H. C,. Melesao ^ ^ . Dexter Woyrell. . MAROARET BROWN IBIoomfleld), June M—Chslrman, A. WhWmen Sec­ retary, W. Thompson. Crew can draw on wages. No liquor or beer to be taken aboard: if there Is there wiU be a shakedown of crew quarters and ship. New feeding system started on ship. Request for safety meetings. Headquarters reports to be posted. Ship's fund $8. Inform engineer when oilers and firemen change watches. Reports accepted. Fund to be built up by donations of tl. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine Job. Each watch to clean up messroom before going pff watch. Safety meeting to be held going to and from Europe. Make safety suggestions. ORION PLANET (Orion), June JO— Chairman, A. Browni Sacretary, J. Dunn. New delegate elected. Two men short. No payoff until all beefs arc settled by Union. Delegate to sea captain regarding difference in trans­ portation to Japan and Honolulu be­ tween first class and air cpach. STEEL EXECUTIVE (Isthmian), April 27—Chairman, None. Secre­ tary, None. Meetings not called reg­ ularly due to work in evenings. Short­ age of cigarettes and draw in Capo Verd. Steward requested to be in messhall at meal time. Some disputed overtime. Delegate's report to be re­ ferred to patrolman on arrival in NY. Go on record that this vessel is the worst feeder in Isthmian fleet; bad menus; no baked meats; steward not present at meal time. May 26—Chairman, W. Helms; Sec­ retary, A. Brodie. Some disputed overtime. Ail non members to be kept out of house and foc'sles. Each department to take turns at cleaning laundry. Vote of confidence for stew­ ard dept. . WACOSTA (Waterman), July 7 — Chairman, C. Nalla, Jr.) Secretary, E. Ray. Expect payoff in Mobile. Day­ man hospitalized In Japan; NMU re­ placement missed ship, San Pedro. Expect to stay in NY three days. Good cooperation among crew. New reporter elected. Ship's fund S18.5S. Repair list turned In. Some disputed overtime. Report accepted. Thank all old-timers helping in ACS beef. Donate ship's fund to LOG. Any member going to hospital to be checked at clinic first. Crew to re­ port back one hour before sailing time—otherwise replacement may be ordered. Members to pick up shot records when leaving ship. - Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine food served this voyage. -t STEEL RECORDER (Isthmian), Juno 23—Chairman, J. Nash; Secratary, D. Swicker. Repair list to be turned in. Food and store shortages. Garbage to be dumped aft: Keep mess rooms clean. Few hours* disputed overtime. Ship's fund $11.40.. Discussion on food shortage. DEL NORTE (MiiS.), June IS—Chair­ man, G. McFall; Secretary, M. Sporich. One man left in Montevideo; one man signed on in Buenos Aires. Members not on duty in passenger area to keep out of same. On sailing days the promanade deck, outside rails, etc. are for passengers only—not for crew. Telegram sent for deceased mother of crew member. Ship's fund $155.18. Have $96 for movies. Some disputed OT. Report accepted. To purchase new movie screen from fund. Receipts to be issued for Union books—not carried. No member to attend meeting Intoxi­ r • p". If" «'•« «. e's .Vi.--A '• SANTORE (Ore Nay.), July 1 — Chairman, C. Kellogg; Secretary, E. Debardelaben. Eight new mattresses put aboard; also new washing ma­ chine. Repair lists to be made up. Letter for LOG commending baker for beautiful birthday cake baked forlnember. Vote of thanks extended to all old timers for work they are doing on the American Coal beef. Ship's fuiid S8.10. One man missed ship; reported to hospital. Third cook missed ship; refused to pay two days' pay to man who was fired. New delegate elected. Patrolman to check meats; woui'd like more steaks; at least . twice a week. Check on new mattresses and washing machine— promised this trip. Strainer to be re­ paired in galley under sinks. ALCOA RANGER (Alcoa), July 10— Chairman, J. Torras; Secratary, M. Simon. Some repairs accomplished. New delegate elected. Coffee cups not to be used for cigarette butts. See patrolman for repairs not made. FAIRPORT (Waterman), May 20— Chairman,,T. Tucker; Secretary, W, Stark. No beefs; smooth sailing. To take entire load in Seattle area. Chips and-cards purchased. Ship's fund $28. Vote of thanks to delegates for work done on behalf of crew. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine work. Turn in soiled linen. Clean lockers before leaving. Repair lists submitted and most of work has been done. Discussion about transportation money from various parts in this area. ARMONK (NJ Industries), April 2» —Chairman^ C. Cantwell; Secretary, D. O'Connor. Captain to issue US currency. No expectorating on deck. Doors to be kept closed during cold weather at meal time. One promo­ tion. New delegate elected. Linen to be distributed on Friday instead of Sunday. Canned fruit to be served for dessert. June 9 Chairman, C. Cantwell; Spcretary, D. O'Connor. If payoff not made on arrival day there will bb a draw. Refrain from throwing ciga­ rette butts in passageways. Request pay statements to speed payoff. CITY OF ALMA (Waterman), June 30—Chairman, J. Nolsenbeck; Secre­ tary, K. Brock. Steward to put canned fruits, juices, chocolate syrup, canned soup aboard. Supply slop chest with all necessary items. Min­ utes of last meeting posted. Request cooperation In conserving water: all faucets to be turned off after using. Purcliased new .steam iron from ship's fund. Crew instructed on operation of same. Pictures sent to LOG for printing. Ship's fund $.33.41. New delegate elected. Reports accepted. ACS beef and Magnuson hiring hall bin discussed: membership concurs and gives headquarters full backing.Wind breaker to be secured on after poop deck so men can sleep and use day and night. Delegate re-elected. Soiled laundry to be taken midship— not to be left on benches. Suggestion to leave pathway when slushing decks. Need screens for all portholes. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for fine service; Pantry and messhall to be kept clean. CHIWAWA (Cities Service), July 1 —Chairman, L. Hagmann; Sacretary, F. Keelan. One man Injured, sent to doctor. Ship's fund $30.15. Replace one man. Reports accepted. Reports from headquarters to he posted be­ fore meeting. Motion to donate ship's fund to hurricane victims. Vote of thanks to L.ike Charles agent for radiogram regarding welfare of crew's families during hurricane. ARTHUR M. HUDDELL (Bull), June 24—Chairman, W. Young; Secretary, R. Tapman. New delegate elected. Crew agreed to donate 50c for emer­ gency fund at next draw. New re­ porter & secretary elected. Messhall to he kept clean in port. Request for special dishes to be referred to stew­ ard who will prepare same. BEAURESARD (Waterman), June 23 —Chairman, P. Ca|iao; Secretory, J. Myers. One member hospitalized In Bremerhaven. One man missed ship ifi NO. Wash' room to be cleaned. Repair, list to be turned in. �Auinist 2, 195T STEEL KINO (IsthmUn), Jun* 33— Chalrmarf, J. Purcall; Sacratary, J. Kaaviiay Three men paid off without . proper relief in Honolulu. Ship'a fund $16. Garbage to be dumped aft. Food beef.to be discussed at meeting. Ship­ ping rulca to be posted in mcssroom. JOHN B. WATERMAN (Waterman), June 23—Chairman, B. Crawford; Secretary, A. Aronlca. New treasurer elected. Ship's fund $10.72. Few hours di.sputed overtime. Crew requc,sled io read headquarters communications. Laundry room to be cleaned after using. Linen to be carried forwtird. Delegates to square away beefs at payoff. Vote of (hanks to slcward department for fine meals. Juno 2—Chairman, B. p-rker; Secreiary, A. Aronlca. ,Ship'.« fund S10.70. Report accepted. Vote of tiianks to SEAFARERS ber hospitalized. Report accepted. Vote of thanks to cooks for fine cookink and baking. OREMAR (Ora Navigation), Jung 16 —Chairman, C. Parker; Secretary, R. Bullock. New delegate elected. Ship's fund $39.85. Report accepted. Need new refrigerator. .Water cooler to be repaired. Submit repair list. IRENESTAR (Triton),June 16—Chair­ man, R. Hay; Secretary, J. Tomllnson. New delegate elected. Ship's fund $11.52. Report accepted. New sec­ retary-reporter elected. Razor blades not to he thrown in shower room. SEAMAR (Calmer), June 10—Chair­ man, J. Eichenberg; Secretary, C. Inman. Ship's fund $17. Report ac­ cepted. New delegate elected. No beefs. Smooth sailing; hope to bring ship in clean. CHICKASAW (Pan-Atlantic), June 16 —Chairman, D. Beck; Secretary, H. Hastings. Sink stopped up: will be repaired in Baitimare. Some dis­ puted OT. Man missed ship in San Juan. No book and regular foul up; paid off on consent. New delegate elected. Money should be available before arrival in port. Catwalk to be made over cargo on deck. Need first aid kit in galley: no equipment. Bath­ rooms to be checked for leaks. Beefs to be settled in own department. STEEL SEAFARER (Isthmian), June 14—Chairman, E. Parr; Secretary, C. Carr. Some disputed, OT. Reports accepted. Need more' dishes, fresh fruit: repair list to be made up; mos­ quito netting- or repellent next voy•age. steward dept. for exceUent mCals. Cots to be stored away before arrival In port. Cups to be . relumed to pan­ try. Proper attire to be worn in pan­ try. Garbage to be carried aft, not to be thrown over side midships. MANKATO VICTORY (Victory Car­ riers), May 26—Chairman, J. Meehan; Secretary, J. Long. Two disputed hours cleared at payoff. Two men mi.ssed ship in Baltimore, fines paid. New seats for messhall ready for next trip. Ship's fund $44. New delegate elected. To check on milk in foreign ports. Use ship's fund for expenses such as buying checker board and other amusement games. June 26—Chairman, J. Meehan; Secretary, J. Long. Beet' concerning chief mate being on deck too much to be discu.ssed with patrolman. Part of fund used to pay line of one man in Iceland. New members to donate $1 toward ship's fund. Fund now $22.40. Some disputed overlimd; Re­ pair Ust submitted. Votf of thanks to ' steward dept. JOHN C. (Atlantic Carriartb Juna *—Chairman, M. Bartan; Sacratary, R. Aguiar. - One man miss(^d ship. Sliip's fund $19.30. New delegate elect­ ed. Few rooms have been sougeed, others will be taken care of. SEAGARDEN (Penn Nay.), May If— Chairman, R, Merrisette; Secretary, H. KnaflUh. Ship sailed short a few Items. Repair work not completed. New treasurer and delegate elected. Bathrooms to be kept clean; cups to be returned to pantry. No perform­ ing while In Japan and Korea, YAKA (Waterman), May 26—Chair­ man, J. Danalt; Secretary, S. Jeseph. Benches to be made for crew back aft. Screen doors put up back aft. Money draws to be put out in green­ backs and yen. ExceUent safety rec­ ord. No injuries. Ship's fund $14.55. Some disputed OT. Reports accepted. Suggestion to stop chipping around messhall during luneh—^refcr to head­ quarters for approval. Bad sanitary conditions in bathrooms. Recreation and mess rooms to be kept clean. Wash cups after use at night. JEFF.ERSON CITY VICTORY (Vic­ tory Carriers), June 26—Chairmen, E. Goodwin; Secretary, C. Makuch. Repair lists to be submitted. Members requested to keep off topside deck after hours. Short one 2nd electrician. Communications read. Rep,ort ac­ cepted. Request for air conditioning on all ships. Need duplicate set of keys. Request exterminator. Cots to be put away upon arrival in port. Locksmith to repair all locks and make kj:ys. Steam to be left on urn to keep water hot for coffee. Fan' for deck bathroom requested. CITY OF ALMA (Waterman), May 11—Chairman, A. Sirignano; Secre­ tary, F. Airey. All repairs completed. Ship's fund $31.41. When leaving ship LA SALLE (Waternian), May 12— ail foc'sles to be stripped and left Chairman, T. James; Secretary, A. clean. Slop chest to be checked and Foster. New delegate • elected. New more variety of clothes carried. Vote man taken on in Fusan. Ship's fund of thanks to cooks and messman for $7. Communications read. Discussion fine service. regarding time off in lieti of OT. June 16—Chairman, J. Burke; Sec-, Laundry hnd washing machine to be ratary, P. Whitlow. Men desiring to cleaned after using. pay off in Tampa may do so on mutu­ June 17—Chairman, T. James; Sec­ al consent. Class B and C men en­ retary, J. Bailey. Six men missed ship titled to mnke another trip as 60 days —various reasons. Ship's fund S7. are not up. One electrician caused Lost two daymen. One beef—to be confusion—missed and delegated du­ referred to patrolman. One man ties at most ports. Ship's fund $31.41. missed ship, re.iolned in Kilo: logged. ' Members to contribute at payoff to Report accepted. Need larger fans build up fund. Some disputed over­ in rooms. Steward to be custodian time. Communications read and dis­ of iron. Ship to be fumigated. Vote cussed. Suggested another foc'sle for ,of thanks to steward and speedy re­ engine room watch. Suggested hos­ covery from operation. pital room. Vote of thanks to dele­ gate for fine cooperation. Suggestion C S NORFLOK (Cities Service), May that a better slop chest be carried 12—Chairman, M. Fyke; Secretary, R. with all needed items. Set time Ruttksy. No first aid kit in engine.for slop chest opening. Suggestion room. Report accepted. New delegate that all seasonal fresh fruits be cur­ and treasurer elected. Need OT, ried. Temperaure of ice boxes to be Sheets and library. Messroom to be adjusted—not cold enough; need bet­ cleaned; garbage cans to be emptied ter grade of bacon. Messhall to ba after every meal. Shower heads to locked in port. Key to be hung in be replaced after removal. Safety pantry for crew members. When meeting held. decks are slushed, boards to be laid June 26—Chairman, A. McCullen; down, from quarters aft to midships Secretary, D. Shields. Food not up to to keep passageways cleaner. standard. Ship's fund $7.32. Few hours disputed overtime. To check port­ SEATRAIN NEW YORK (Seatrain), holes.'' June 27—Chairman, J. Cole; Secre­ tary, D. Wagner. Repairs to be taken PENNMAR (Calmar), June 23—Chair­ care of. Ship's fend $8.37. Some dis­ man, V. Monte; Secretary, J. Clarke. puted O.T. Reports accepted. New Few hours disputed OT. All foc'sles delegate elected. Repair list to be to-be left clean. Good trip, no beefs. sent to headquarters. Need fresh milk. Report accepted. Pantry.man to co­ Cold drinks to be served with meals. operate. BRADFORD ISLE (Cities Service), June 2t—Chairman, W. Thompson; Secretary, M. Hitchock. New washing machine and mattresses ordered. Re­ frain from making unnecessary noise which distrubs men sleeping. Few hours disputed OT. Report accepted. Fans to be repaired and one replaced in quarters. ALMENA (Pen Atlantic), June 23— Chairman, W.. Snell; Secretary, A. Janes. Some disputed OT. One m:in short. Union to bo contacted regard­ ing taxi in Port^Nueches from ship to gate—continuous trouble. No.smok­ ing on dock. Report on cooking. New delegate elected, FORT HOSKINS (Cities Service), June 13—Chairman, J. Lanahan; Sec­ retary, R. Shaynick. Few hours dis­ puted overtime. Lost fireman due to illness: picked up one in Australia. Ham steaks too big: string beans too stringy. ^ OCEAN DEBORAH (Ocean Trans.), June 9—Chairman, O. Haskell; Sec­ retary, C. Slovcr. Some disputed over­ time. New delegate elected. Quality of food to be improved. Garbage to be kept aft in port. Schedule to he made for cleaning laundry. Discussion on special agreement allowing man an wheel to work while on gyro-pllol. Members ere not In favor of this practice. MORNiNO LIGHT (Waterman), June 16—Chairman, W. Waidrop; Secre­ tary, W. Morse. Linen to be changed when new linen is issued: turn in soiled linen. Vote of thanks to .stew­ ard dept. and delegate for job well done. Need new library. TEXMAR (Calmar), June 22—Chair­ man-, J. Bowman; Secretary, J. Nuckols. Ship's fund $3. He.tdquarters com­ munications read. Report accepted. Crew to donate 50c to buy gteam Iron, ALCOA PIONEER (Alcoa), June 12 —Chairmen, C. Wiggins; Secretory. C. Gregory. Safety meeting held. Trini­ dad shore gang working in engine room—disputed overtime. One mem­ Rourka. Reports accepted. Suggestion, to hold meeting every other trip. Not enough business - to warrant meeting every twelve days unless there is a beef, Dl.scusslon on garbage disposal. I ELIZABETH (Bull), July 1—Chair­ man, L. Ramirez; Secretary, B. O'- -m Paire Tbirteen LOG Sorry, No Souvenirs This Trip -By Seafarer William Calefato- Cabbies and other driversfor-hire everywhere in the world seem pretty much alike to a seaman. The guy who jockeys a hack around a stateside port and his Oriental namesake who pedals a rickshaw are brothers under the skin. They'll haggle over the amount of a fare and/or tip like a fishwife and seldom take you where you want'to go unless you spell it out out in simple A-B-C Btyle. Very often this doesn't turn the trick either. For Danny, a carefree wiper, -things started to happen right away when he met Tommy at the gate in Moji, Japan. Tomniy is a Jovial rickshaw driver, who talks fair English, sprinkled with Brooklynese, Hobokenese and Alabaman. Danny told him he wanted to go shopping for souvenirs. With prodigious bows, smiles and all kinds of gesticulations, he seated Danny in the ramshackle vehicle and buttoned the canvas cover securely. Enroute to the shopping district where Daimy thought he was be­ ing driven, he wondered, if the canvas shield was a device used when people were "taken for a -r-; Bosun Norman Kirk (left) and Joke Powell, AB, take a turn around th» deck before heading in to the messhall en the Frederic C. Col­ lins for coffcetime. From the looks of things, that oil drum has to go. The ship already has. It transferred foreign soon after this was token by Calefato. go shopping. I don't care to waste time with a snaggled-toothed geisha girl." Tommy pedalled around for i while. When he stopped to unbut­ ton Danny out of the rickshaw Danny saw they were back at the same hotel. Tommy whistled into the doorway, and now another girl shuffled out. "This one—good teeth," Tommy announced proudly. "Look, Buster. Now you can take your old wagon and—and junk it. I'm walking." That was a grave insult to a con­ servative Japanese gentleman, even if he was a rickie. Still, bewildered and exasperated, he followed for numy blocks until Danny was lost. Now, when Tommy waved toward the rickshaw, it was a sign that a foreigner had to depend on a public servant, especially since Tommy was the only one in the area at the time. Resigned to his fate, Danny let Tommy fasten him under the canvas hood again, on the condi­ tion that the next slop would definitely be the town s, shopping Chief cook Charles Pitchard center. They wound up outside the - (left) and Herbert Pomeroy, cocktail lounge of a high-class saloon MM, team up to give hotel. Tommy ceremoniously let the glad-eye to cameraman Danfiy out and motioned toward William Colefato on the the door. Frederic C. Collins. They "Ship-friends inside,'" he said, must hove had a run-in with still smiling and bowing. the rickshaw boys, too. By this time, the wiper was too tired and thirsty to argue. The ride." He couldn't see where he was going in spite of the two small bar looked like a good refuge, and squares of celluloid; the way a chance to get away from it ail— Tommy was pedaling his figure blocked the entire view and made tl:e whole affair seem not quite right. That was what it turned out to be when Tommy stopped at a hotel and told his passenger it was a good place if he intended to stay • -A. i in town overnight. "Damn it, Papasan, I told you to take me shopping," Danny pro­ tested, "not to a hole in the wall." Just then, the proprietress came out. Her manner, when she asked him to stay for a beer, was too hearty for him to refuse so he stayed on and had one. The girl who brought it tried to tell him she was one of the hospitable geisha girls that he had seen pic­ tures of in "Life" or one of the otier nice big American publica­ tions. She would be glad to shop with him. In the meantime, Danny looked around for a 1000-yen note he had put on the table. There wasn't Considering the evidence of even any change, but for polite­ hand, Bill Soucfer stacks up as ness' sake he searches himself any­ a _ pretty good fisherman. way. Then, in a gentlemanly fash­ Souder caught this fair-sized ion, he accused her of being an dolphin on tho intercoostal run accomplice in a clip joint and left aboard tho Texmor. Ho the premises. ;• ' "Look here, Tommy, I want to • lent tho picture in to' prove it. Any Questions? and Tommy. And, as a discussion with various shipmates bore out, it was a custom in Japan that once you sit in a rickshaw, that driver is yours as long as you're in town. So Danny realized he was trapped. The next time out, he sat back and let Tommy have full rein. After three more stops like the others, he'd found he didn't really want any Oriental trinkets anyway. He'd send a postcard instead. DelSudFunds Ease 'Audrey' Relief Chores The open-handed generosity of Seafarers in the face of all kinds of calamities is no secret, but the case of the Del Sud in the wake of Hurricane "Audrey" rates special mention. Mindful of the havoc and loss of life left behind by the big blow along the Texas-Louisiana mast, SIU men and officers on the New Orleans-based cruise ship acted to help out. Many had families and friends ashore in the devastated area; others just felt grateful that "Audrey" hadn't touched them personally. At the ship's meeting following the disaster, ship's delegate Joe Cave reported that a fund of $446.50 had been gotten together in contributions from all over the ship and would be turned over to relief authorities. With the crew's authorization, another $50 was added to this kitty from the ship's fund, and $50 more from the special baseball funtl. In addition, Cave urged that a second collection be t-aken up later to supplement this contribution. As far as the Del Sud is concerned, "Audrey's" victims won't be for­ gotten. --wl m •?i| M •M 1! ^ •'jj .51 .4 Use Only One Mail Address Seafarers with beefs regard­ ing slow payment of monies due from various operators in back wRges and disputed ovei-time should first check whether they have a proper mailing address on file with the company. SHJ headquarters officials point out that reports received from sev­ eral operators show checks have been mailed to one address while a beef on the same score is sent from another, thus cre­ ating much difficulty in'keeping accounts straight. d •M\ �SEAFARERS Pair* Fourteen Rebecca Takes 'Em In Stride LOG Suggests Change On Money Draws To the Editor: I am writing on behalf of the crew and myself in regard to Article II, Section 28, of - the freightship agreement, regard­ ing money draws in foreign ports. During the previous voyage a meeting was held here on the Steel Advocate and a lengthy discussion erupted on travelers' H- Letters To The Editor ?)• • Sailing on the Rebecca, Seafarers get accustomed to female com­ pany, so they also take it in stride while ashore for a cool one at Inchon, Korea. This particular spot is "Mary's" on 4th Street in Inchon, which is said to be a familiar hangout for SlU men. ,On hand, besides the gals, are Malyszko, Grooves, Sol, Thompson, Martin and Casey. Malyszko submitted the picture, and has ar­ ranged for LOGs to be sent there in the future. SUP SlU, A&G District BALTIMORE . . 1216 E. Baltimore St. Earl Sheppard, Agent EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 276 State St. James Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 ' HOUSTON 4202 Canai St. Robert Matthews. Agent Capital 7-6558 HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND ail SW Clay St. CApital 3-4336 RICHMOND. Calif... 910 Macdonald Ave. BEacon 2-0925 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. LAKE CHARLES. La 1419 Ryan St. Douglas 2-8363 Leroy Claike, Agent HEmlock 6-5744 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Main 0290 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner. Agent HEmlock 2-1754 WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave. . Terminal 4-3131 MORGAN CITY 912 Front St. Tom Gould. AgentPhone 2156 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6165 NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. Lindsey Williams. Agent Tulane 8626 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn HYacinth 9-btiOO HALIFAX. N.S laOVi HoUis St. NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Phone 3-8911 Ben Rees, Agent MAdison 2-9834 MONTREAL 634 St. James St. West PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. PLateau 8161 S. Cardullo. Agent Market 7-1635 FORT WILLIAM 408 Simpson St. PUERTA do TIERRA PR 101 Pelayo Ontario Phone: 3-3221 Sal Colls. Agent Phone 2-5996 103 Durljam St. SAN FRANCISCO ... 450 Harrison St. PORT COLBORNE Ontario Phone: 5591 Marty Breithoff. Agent Dougias 2-5475 272 King St. E. SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St. TORONTO. Ontario EMpire 4-5719 E. B. McAuley. Age>nt Adams 3-1728 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. VICTORIA. BC 617Vi Cormorant St. Jeff Gillette. Agent Elliott 4334 EMpire 4531 TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. 298 Main St. Tom Banning. Agent Phone 2-1323 VANCOUVER. BC Pacific 3468 WILMINGTON, Calif ... 505 Marine Ave. Reed Humphries. Agent Terminal 4-2874 SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St. Phone: 6346 HEADQUARTERS. . 675 4th Ave.. Bklyn. BAGOTVILLE. Quebec 20 Elgin St. SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall Phone: 545 ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS THOROLD. Ontario 52 St. Davids St. J. Algina. Deck C. Simmons. Joint CAnal 7-3202 J. Volpian, Eng. W. Hall. Joint 44 Sault-au-Matelot E. Mooney. Std. R. Matthews. Joint QUEBEC Quebec Phone: 3-1569 SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St. NB OX 2-5431 Canadian District USPHS Has Last Say On Duty Slip Under the SIU contract, US Public Health Service doctors have the final say on whether or not a man is fit for duty. If there is any question about your fitness to sail, check with the nearest USPHS hospital or out-patient clinic for a ruling. Great Lakes District ALPENA 1215 N. Second Ave. Phone: 713-J BUFFALO. NY 180 Main St. Phone: Cleveland 7391 CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave.. NE Phone: Main 1-0147 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Phone; Woodward 1-6857 DULUTH 621 W. Superior St. Phone: Randolph 2-4110 SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 92nd St. . Phone: Essex 5-2410 All letters to the editor for publication in the SEAFAR­ ERS LOG must be signed by the writer. Names' will be withheld upon request.- checks. A letter was written giving all particulars. Now this crew and myself wish to go on record as proposing a change in Section 28. To the knowledge of the crew and myself. Isthmian is the only company that makes a practice of issuing travelers' checks in foreign ports. In view of this fact it would not be a hard, long struggle to negotiate this issue. Any and all immediate action, without waiting for the official negotiating date of the agree­ ment, would be deeply appre­ ciated by the crew of the last voyage, and of this voyage, and many others, I'm sure, who have not taken the time to write about it. Offer Proposal We ask that a proposal be offered at the next official headquarter's meeting and sent to all outports for action, as fol­ lows: "Whereas, Article II, Section 28, of the freightship agreement reads: 'Monies tendered for draws in foreign ports shall be in United States currency, fail­ ing which, travelers' checks shall be issued at the company's expense'; "Be it resolved that this be changed to read: 'Monies ten­ dered for draws in foreign ports shall be optional to the crew in United States currency or travelers' checks, if available, which shall be issued at the company's expense. Travelers' checks or local currency shall be optional when the issuing of United States currency conflicts with the existing laws of the country'." It has already been stated in the letter by the crew and my­ self of the last voyage about the inconvenience, hardship and loss involved in cashing travelers' checks. In many small ports the Auirtui X. 1957. banks or agents will noi cash them. You might wonder why-we do' not ask that the travelers' checks be eliminated altogether. The fact is many brothers have committments back,: home and, in ports where American money conflicts with the existing laws of the country, travelers' checks are legal and can, be used to send money home. I know it is hard to realize these facts because travelers' checks are advertised as "good anywhere in the world" and "the best means of currency when traveling." They probably are in Tokyo, Rome, Paris, etc., but try to cash them in Semerang, Java. Luke A. Ciamboll Ship's delegate (Ed. note: This question has been " brought up at. various membership meetings and re­ ferred for action to the nego­ tiating coinmittee since d num­ ber of companies besides Isthmiasi issue these checks. The provision for travelers' checks was originally negotiated to cover cases where US currency could not be issued legally or where Seafarers lost out on dratvs in local currency. Since draws in local currency were given at the official rate but everything the crew bought ashore was at black -market rates, crewmembers were often at a serious disadvantage. Add­ ing a new option of draws in local currency may be deemed advisable _ if black market con­ ditions have really eased up so that no one will be short­ changed. The negotiating com­ mittee invites more comment on this subject so that it can determine how to handle it.) t> Says 'Pitcher' Rates Picture To the Editor: Enclosed is a snapshot of Gerald Guy Gage, son of Sea­ farer Guy G. Gage, who sails with the SIU in the " stewward depart­ ment. I am Guy's father and grand-dad of • Jerry. Jerry is a pitcher in the Babe Ruth league; he's a Jerry 150-pound fel­ low and only 14 years old. I just wondered if you could run his picture in the LOG which our son sends to us reg­ ularly. It's the way we've kept track of him during the 20 years he's been sailing as a union sea­ man. I think it would make tiiiA happy to see the kid's face in the LOG. We certainly enjoy bur LOG and watch for it regularly. Jay A. Gage (Ed. note: Yes!) To the Editor: Some of our Union brothers sail in ratings such as bosun, carpenter and deck maintainance so as to work during the daylight hours at sea as much as possible, and especially to es­ cape the trick at the wheel and the lonely lookout required of a watchstander. On the other hand, some chief mates complain about the way the crewmembers walk all oyer each other to break out or stow lines when they have the added advantage ' of the windlass. About the only company con­ tracted to our Union which has bee known to use the quarter­ master system of manning is Seatrain Lines. But it is my firm conviction that the quarterrrtaster system could be p*iplied to our manning scale in such a way as to specialize this particular job aboard all ships. This .is the age of specializa­ tion anyway, and would permit men who are experienced helms­ men, but of an age too advanced for climbing the mast or going aloft in a bosun's chair, to do the work which is required of a wheelsman on the bridge in its stead. I'd also like to suggest that if and when this plan is adopted, and wherever feasible, men of 40 years of age or over who ar* in good standing, be given these openings as they come up un­ der the rotary shipping system. In any case, I know there are other of my Union broth­ ers who will approve of this suggestion. I know it would work out especially well on the fleet of Pan-Atlantic "containerships," the TMT trailerships, Calmar Line vessels and com­ bination passenger-cargo ships. What do you think. Brothers? C. L."Buddy" Cousins Yokohama Bar To Hold LOGS To the Editor: We are a firm dealing in souvenir items,, conducting a saloon on the side. We are the H. Ono Trading Se Company, exporters and manufacturers, and the saloon is the "Club High Society" in Yokohama, opened on the North Pier side f the bridge near the customs check point. Many seafaring men come to our establishment and very often ask for your papers. We would like to have your papers on hand to distribute to them upon request. Therefore we would be pleased if you could supply us with them regularly. H. Ono (Ed. note: Copies of each is­ sue of the LOG mill be furn­ ished regularly from now on.) By Bernard Seaman Burly LOOKS LIKE ( THEM DODGERS BIROOKLVAJ ^WlUUlVlN-^ THIS i> Urges Using QM Manning System ITS BROCHCM! J �SEAFARERS AittWt 2. MM ARRIVAIS Pare Fifteen LOG i.' ~ Gonzalez Family At Home. Linda Cheryl Brannon, born SZerry Alynt Thomas, born June 27, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Mel- July 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. George L. Brannon, Collingdale, vin £. Thomas, Mobile, Ala. 4" 4* 4" PiU. I EVERY I SUNDAY IDIRECT VOICE IBROADCAST i : I I TO SHIPS IN ATLANTIC EUROPEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN WATERS "THE VOICE OF THE MTD' WFK-39, 19850 KCs Ships in Caribbean, East Coast of South America, South Atlan­ tic and East Coast of United States. WFL-65, 15850 KCs Ships in Gulf of Mexico, Carib­ bean, West Coast of South America, West Coast of Mexico and US East Coast. _ WFK-95, 15700 KCs Ships -in Mediterranean area. North Atlantic, European and US East Coast. Meanwhile, MID 'Round-The-World Wireless Broadcasts Continue ... Every Sunday, 1915 GMT (2:15 PJM EST Sunday) WCO-13020 KCs Europe and North America WCO-16908.8 KCs East Coast South America \ WCO-22407 KCs West Coast South America Every Monday, 0315 GMT (10:15 PM EST Sunday) WMM 25-15607 KCs Australia WMM 81^1037.5 Northwest Pacifia MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT Wentley Crew Aids Shipmate All of the following SIU families have received a ^200 maternity benefit phis a $23 bond from the Union in the baby's name: Btchard Thomas Edwards, born 4 4 4 May 23, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Charlene Fay Cooper, bom June Howard A. Edwards, Gulfport, 28, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Rob­ Miss. ert Lee Cooper, Port Arthur, Texas. t i Vivian Sue Moser, born June 22, 4 4 4. 1957 to Seafarer and Mrs. Pat L. Jan Elizabeth Bontwell, bom Moser, Norfolk, Va. May 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. ,• 4. . 4i ^ Colon H. Boutwell, Bayou La Batre, Mark Anthony Sorei, born June Ala-. 28, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Jo­ 4 4 4 hannes Sorel, Brooklyn, NY. Carolyn .Kendrick Lewallen. 4. 4i bora April 20, 1957, to Seafarer Lee Ander Burrowes, born June and Mrs. Joseph C. Lewallen, Ashe14, .1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. boro, NC. -Clarence Burrowes, Mobile, Ala. 4 4 4 4" 4 i Kyle Lee Clouse, born July 12, Mark John Williains,,born June 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Albert 27, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Row­ L. Clouse, New Orleans, La. land Williams, Baltimore, Md. 4 4 4 4> 4 4 Juliette Hannibal, bom July 15, Susann Marie Roxbnry, born 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Roberto May 21, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Hannibal, Bronx, NY. Roland P. Roxbury, Middle Village, 4 4 4 NY. * Charles Kevan Shirah, born July $ $ Janimie Cecile Brannon, born 6, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. May 21, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Charles L. Shirah, Mobile, Ala. James C. Brannon, Mobile, Ala. 4 4 4 Debra Linda Gendron, bom June 4 4 4 Rita Faye Buck, born March 20, 28, 1957, lo Seafarer and Mrs. 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. John W. Maurice N. Gendron, Manchester, NH. Buck, Jr., Blounts Creek, NC. -•>• '• 11))-'.. Mrs. Carmen Gonzalez holds baby Myra while other children Frances, Mario Jr. and Danny look-«n. Dad is Seafarer Mario Gonzalez. file deaths of the following Sea­ farers have been reported to the Seafarers Welfare Plan and the SIU death benefit is being paid to their beneficiaries: farer William F. Healy of Philadel­ phia on July 11, 1957. Death took place in the Public Health Service Hospital in Baltimore. Brother Healy had been a member of the Union for the past two years, sail­ ing in the deck department. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edana M. Healy. Burial was in Holy Cross cemetery in Philadellihia. Seafarer Jkmes Girolami, AB, is resting comfortably in the Boston Public Health Service Hospital thanks to the efforts of his ship­ mates on the Robin Wentley and to the Coast Guard. Girolami was brought ashore in Boston after a'sticeessful attempt to deliver badly-needed medicine to the ship en-route to port. He had suffered a severe attack of asthma and was having diffiedlty breathing. Ship's reporter Charles Mktthews said that Girolami had been troubled off and on during the trip but had been ajble to work most of the way. However on Saturday morning, July 20th, he was in bad shape. The ship had used up its own medical supplies in treating him and was still some 400 miles east of Bermuda. The skipper radioed the Coast Guard in Bermuda and the latter sent out a flying boat with a canis­ ter containing badly-needed medi­ cine. The canister was dropped to the ship Sunday morning, July 21, by parachute, but blew into the water. Immediately the Wentley sent a boat-crew which picked it up and brought it aboard. The medi­ cine gave Girolami immediate relief. Matthews had high praise for the skipper, Harvey MacDermid, and for members of the crew who main­ tained a 24-hour watch on Girolami while he was ill. Samuel Comogr, 56: Heart failure was the cause of death of Brother Cornog on May 5, 1957. He was aboard the Robin Hood in Belra, Mozambique, at the time. Brother 4 4 4 Cornog sailed in the engine depart­ Clarence R. Haun, 52: An ap­ ment and had been a member of parent heart attack at sea aboard the SIU since May of last year. the SS Oceanstar Place of burial is not known. proved fatal to 4 4 4 Brother Haun on John 6. Glenn, 43: Serious fire May 13, 1957. Injuries on bis head and body The burial took proved fatal to place at sea five Brother Glenn on days later. Broth­ er Haun sailed in October 10, 1956. Death took place the steward de­ Retired Seafarer Charles Son­ partment and was in Hickory, Mis­ wald was the victim of a fatal acci­ a member of the sissippi. Brother dent on Friday evening, July 19, Union for the past 12 years. He is when he was run­ Glenn sailed in survived by his wife, Mrs. Willie down by a train the steward de­ V. Haun of Fairfield, Alabama. partment joinlng^ in Paoli, Penn­ the Union in sylvania. He was 4 4 4 William V. Horton, 54: A liver 53 years old. March, 1955. He « was burled in Pleasant Ridge ailment caused the death of Sea­ Sonwald had farer William V. apparently taken Cemetery, Newton County, Missis­ Horton in Balti­ a short cut across sippi. more, Md. Broth­ the tracks when 4 4 4 er Horton sailed he was struck Francisco Garcia Delgado, 65: in the engine and One of the veteran SIU members instantly Sonwald department and killed by the on the disabilityjoined the SIU in pension list. train. His body was found on the August, 1948. He station platform the following Brother Delgado was buried in the morning. Authorities theorized that passed away on Moreland Memo­ he had made it to the platform July 4, 1957. A rial Cemetery in safely but had been pulled intd'the lung ailment was Baltimore. Surviving is Mrs. Jo­ side of the train'by the suction of the cause of his death. He joined seph Valdez of Atlanta, Georgia. its high-speed passage. the Union in its Sonwald had joined the SIU in early days on De­ November, 1945, and had sailed for cember 20, 1938, many years out of the Port of New and sajled in the engine depart­ York. Three years ago he had to ment on SIU ships. His body was quit the sea as the result of an eye interred in Colon Cemetery in ailment which barred him from Lawrence R. Edwards Tampa. He is survived by. Elena deck department jobs. Since then Get in touch with your mother. Garcia of that city. Your letter sent to Paul was wait­ he had been working ashore in the 4 4 4 ing a month for him. Mail sent trucking bitsiness. Daniel W. Fischer, 38: Brother you was returned as you had al­ He is survived by his wife, Helen Fischer died as the result of an ready left. Tel. ER-1-3731. Sonwald. accident in Bal- , * 4 4 4 boa. Canal Zone Crewmembers, CS Miami on June 26. De­ Seafarers who were aboard this tails of his death ship in October, 1956, are re­ were not known. quested to get in touch with Albert • Seafarers mailing in checks Brother Fischer J. Hart, 61 Old Kings Highway or money orders to the Union had been a mem­ South, Darien, Conn. Important. to cover dues payments are ber of the SIU 4 4 4 urged to be sure to make all of for 18 years, join­ Ernest L. Magus them payable to the SIU-A&G ing the Union on Contact Mrs. Ada Bishop at 7008 District. January 28, 1939. Homestead Dr.-, Louisville 14, Ky. Some Seafarers have sent in He sailed in the engine department. 4 4 4 checks and money orders in the Surviving is his mother, Mrs. Eliz­ George Elliott King names of individual headquar­ abeth Fischer, of Mobile, Alabama. Your property in Nanainio. Brit­ ters officials. This makes for a Burial took place in New Orleans. ish Columbia can still be redeemed. problem in bookkeeping which Contact Charles A. Macbeth, Town- can be avoided if checks are 4 4 4 , William F. l^ealy, 55: A, blood site Realty J^d-i 71 Front Street, made ou,t tp the Union directly. «ell'Mlllicnt proved Jatal to Sea­ Nanaimo, . _ 7 , i Night Train Kills Seafarer Make Checks To 'SlU-A&G' �SEAFARERS .August 2 1957 • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF.THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO • Bill Offers Tax Aid For Non-Subsldlzed Ship Operations WASHINGTON—A bill designed to help unsubsidized op­ erators replace their present fleets with new 'tonnage has been introduced by Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (Dem., Wash.), chairman of the Senate For--* eign Commerce. Committee, shipowners could deduct as much 10 per cent of the cost of their The measure (S. 2568) would as new tonnage from their annual offer help in the form of rapid tax write-offs. Under the Magnuson proposal, non-subsidized operators would be allowed to depreciate their new tonnage in 20 years instead of the 25 now allowed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Subsidized op­ erators already have the right to depreciate the cost of their new ships at the rate of five per cent a year. In addition to the five per cent permitted by the 20-year de­ preciation, the Magnuson bill would allow unsubsidized opera­ tors to take an additional five per cent a year in depreciation. The result is that in practice Scholarship Winner On Dean's List Now entering his third year in Lafayette College under the SIU Scholarship plan, Lembhard "Lem" Howell, son of Seafarer Cleveland Even while resting, Howell keep's a book handy. A. Howell, is compiling an impres­ sive scholastic record. The elder Howell was recently notified that his son has been named to the dean's list "as a result of his fine record during the spring semester." Howell made the .list by grading three 85s and two 90s in the five courses he took during the past term. He is currently majoring in history at Lafayette. Before winning the SIU $6,000 scholarship, award in June, 1955, Howell had a year at the New York City College. Howell's college honors are of a pattern with his high school rec­ ord when he garnered five awards at graduation including a general award for scholarship, character and ability, and separate citations in science, social studies and school service. Howell's father has been sailing with the SIU for the past ten years in the steward department. Lem is the third in a family of five, chil­ dren. earnings before taxes until the ship was fully depreciated: The reductiin would permit them to pay substantially lower taxes, and to put money aside for additional construction. A bill similar to this proposal was introduced in the 83rd Con­ gress, but was not acted upon. The legislation is considered one of the simplest plans to aid unsub­ sidized" lines. It is also regarded as of particular value to opera­ tors in the domestic trades, who are not eligible for subsidy. Up to this time, rapid tax-write offs have been restricted generally to defense industry, though they have been given to operators building tankers for MSTS opera­ tion. While ships usually are not considered defense plants, a num­ ber of people believe ship opera­ tors should receive additional help because they must compete with foreign competition. Past Aid Given In the past. Congress has recog­ nized the special needs of the maritime industry by offering op­ erating and ship construction i^ubsidies and mortgage insurance. The present administration has tried to solve the construction problem' by permitting owners to transfer their ships for^eign in re­ turn for new toonage. The SIU and other maritime unions have pointed out that the major saving in transferring ships is in evading US taxes. The Magnuson bill, in effect, might provide a substitute for the transfer program, by permitting owners of subsidized vessels to build new tonnage, at lower costs. It would also be a companion to Sen. Magnuson's proposal halting virtually all foreign transfers. At the same time it would not destroy US tax income from shippinft'or the jobs of American seamen the way the transfers do. Pick Up 'Shot' Card At Payoff Seafarers who have taken the series of inoculations required for certain foreign voyages are reminded to be sure to pick up their inoculation cards.from the captain or the purser when they lay off at the end of a voyage. The card should be picked up by the Seafarer and held so that it can be presented when signing on for another voyage where the "shots" are required. The ino­ culation card is your only proof of having taken the required shots. Those men who forget to pick up their inoculation card when they pay off may find that they are required to take all the "shots" again when they want to sign on for another such voy­ age. 7..V July 10 Through July 23 Registered Port DOCK B Dock A Boston New York Philadelphia ...... Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile New Orleans Lake Charles Houston Wilmington San Francisco Seattle _ Total .. 6 17 4 21 5 0 4 3 13 10 13 12 10 20 86 Deck A - Dock B Eng. A •ng. Stow. Stow. Tetol 10 73 21 37 4 9 3 19 37 11 23 12 29 14 3 12 9 27 5 2 2 4 20 9 10 9 10 17 9 65 20 29 5 5 8 25 42 5 19 18 21 15 31 224 80 114 21 24 20 74 138 30 78 53 81 . 51 eng. A Eng. B Stow. A 3 12 7 10 4 4 2 4 10 7 12 6 9 8 stow. 302 128 ... A B 139 B B 286 98 Total A Tofal B Total A 1019 Reg, 12 41 20 58 14 6 8 11 43 26 35 27 29 45 43 265 100 172 35 30 29 85 181 59 113 80 ' 110 96 Total B Total Rag. 374 1394 Shipped Port Boston New York. Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile New Orleans Lake Charles .... Houston Wilmington . .< San Francisco...... .... Seattle Dock • A Dock B Dock C fng. A 7 3 17 5 15 0 2 2 2 7 2 11 2 15 6 3 14 5 4 0 2 3 1 0 0 19 0 2 0 5 60 15 26 7 6 3 16 35 7 31 3 17 16 Deck C Eng. A 8 34 17 Dock A Total .... 314 Deck B 89 53 247 Eng. B 4 16 7 12 2/ 2 0 6 14 7 8 4 8 9 Eng. B 99 . Eng. Stow. c A 2 4 13 54 6 11 6 25 17 1 ]L 1 6 2 17 5 29 14 10 19 0 1 5 18 1 9 Eng. C 54 Stew. A 205 Stew. B 1 5 1 6 1 0 1 4 6 2 10 2 8 7 Stew. B 54 stow. Total c A 16 3 191 6 46 1 3 86 . 0 29 0 10 1 11 8 55 104 4 19 0 6 84 8 0 7 66 3 42 stow. Total c A 767 42 Total B 8 38 13 33 3 4 3 12 27 11 29 8 31 22 Total B 242 Total Total c Shin. 8 . 33 12 13 1 3 5 11 9 1 35 0 14 4 32 262 71 132 33 17 19 78 140 31 148 16 111 68 Total Total Ship. C 149 1158 The shipping picture brightened somewhat in the past two weeks as the West Coast bounced back and Houston especially continued strong. The outlook for the coming two week period is just fair to middling, with some slackness in the tramp and tanker trades show­ ing up in the shipping picture. -• All told, the District ship­ ped 1,158 jobs, a considerable WC Cooks Plan Housing Facilities For Oldtimers improvement over the prior two v/ceks. But registration continued to rise, touching 1,394 class A and B men. Eight ports were up over the previous two week period with SAN FRANCISCO—Proposals for construction of housing San Francisco making a very strong comeback and Baltimore facilities for retired members and for joint negotiations with coming up from an abnormally-low the Sailors and Firemen on forthcoming wage reviews high­ figure. New York just about held lighted the agents' conference its own, while small increases were vided under California law. The recorded in Boston, Norfolk, Mo­ of the SlU-affiliated Marine action would have the effect of bile and Houston. Seattle showed Cooks and Stewards Union. establishing uniform' standards all good improvement. The port agents, meeting at the along the coast for men working On the downside were Philadel­ MCS Training School center, made for companies whose headquarters phia, New Orleans and Lake are in other states. Charles. Wilmington, Savannah several recommendations for fu­ Minor changes in the shipping and Tampa were pretty much the ture union action. They reviewed rules were called for including same. Registration ran pretty much plans for building facilities for re­ more frequent job calls on Satur­ ahead of shipping for all depart­ tired members, vacationers and days when large passenger ships ments including the black gang convalescent union men at the are in port. which usually shows a big turn­ training center site which has am­ over in the summertime. ple space for such facilities. It is Figuring it by seniority classes. expected that actual groundbreak­ Class A showied a very considerable ing will get under way shortly. gain, class B stood about the same Wage Review and class C dropped off during a The MCS agents noted that the period of rising shipping. The West Coast unions haye a wage figures indicate that the class A review coming, up on September men who have been hanging back 30th and voted to get together be­ during the summer are bidding for forehand with the SUP and the jobs again. As a result, class A MFOW to present joint demands shipping accounted for 66 percent to the shipowners. The agents of the total, up from 61 percent in .noted that a fine working rela­ the previous two weeks. Class B tionship has been established be­ got 21 percent and class C, just 13 tween the three West Coast unions percent. which promises added benefits for The following is the forecast the membership. An immediate re­ sult of this relationship is ex­ port by port: Boston: slow. . . New York: pected to be an increase in pen­ Steady. . . Philadelphia: Fair. . . sion benefits for retired members Baltimore: Slow. . . Norfolk: Slow of all three unions. The pension . . . Savannah: Good. . . Tampa: now stands at $100 a month. Slow. . . Mobile: Fair. . .New Or­ Also in the area of welfare, the leans: Improving. - Lake CJharles: agents went on record to obtain Fair. .... Houston: Slowing down compensation, disability and death \U/VEWYOfiK IN dAiriMlUB . . . Wilmington:. Improving. . . benefits under the Steward Sdn Francisco:- t?opdr V . Seattle; DepartmeujvSecujity' Agreement Which are'e^ual td those'now pro­ Good. 'A ^BAPA^BR^ \ WRr&aLL � 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 August 2, 1957 Description An account of the resource Headlines: COAL CO. UPS SIU FIRINGS TO AID NMU SIU FIGHTS STRIKE BAN IN LA. TOWN IBL ASKS CURRAN OUSTER FROM LABOR ETHICS BODY HIRE PANAMA CREWS TO SAIL US SHIPS HOUSE HIKES POSTAL WAGE SILENCE REIGNS IN BLACKLIST DEAL BRISTISH BUILDERS PLAN 65,000-TON ATOM SHIPS ‘RUNAWAY’ CONTROLS BILL HEADING FOR SCRAP PILE UNIONS AWAIT ACTIONS ON ‘VITAL’ SHIP FLEET; SHELLEY HITS DELAY BALT. PUSHES HARBOR-WIDE UNION DRIVE NO SAFETY GAIN DORIA SANK STATE DEP’T CAUGHT SHORT ON SHIP ACT VIOLATION HEAT FRYS NEW YORK; SHIPPING WARMER TOO WATERMAN ALTERS BID FOR AID REVEAL NEW DETAILS ON SS ATLANTIC BILL OFFERS TAX AID FOR NON-SUBSIDIZED SHIP OPERATIONS 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 8/02/1957 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. XIX, No. 16 1957 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/c4f4ddda2d74d97add7c18301dcc3734.PDF 37eefb1a688da0ed04c78a1b8e250cca PDF Text Text SEAFARERS <H.OC • OFFICIAL GROAN OF THI SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND OULF DISTRICT • AFL CIO • COURT VOIDS BAN -Story On Page 3 Farm Lobby Raps '50-50' Again -Story On Page 5 fit This issues *1# AS Cg^gm Shipboard conditions enjoyed by SIU • •' ijeil# men are described by Seafarers John Calamia (left) and Pete Valentine during television in­ terview by announcer John Kent aboard the Del Sud (Mississippi) in New Orleans. Local TV viewers were taken on a tour of the Delta Line passenger ship during an hour-long program presented by Station WDSU-TV. Ship's stack provided backdrop for the cameras. New Orleans Seafarers turn to with AFL-CIO building trades­ men to build homes for victims of Hurricane Audrey at Cameron, La. Red Cross donated the mate­ rials for the volunteer building ef­ fort. Seafarer Bernie Guarino (white cap) is visible on roof. An SIU contingent from Lake Charles worked nearby. (Story on Page 16.) . ., PHS SPEAKS OUT ON CANCER Strong PHS statement linking can­ cer and cigarettes arouses new concern Page 8 SIU Holds Coal Lead .. .Page 2 Seek Robin Ship Vote .. .Page 3 �SEAFARERS Pace Two Aociut 18, 1951 LOG SIU Retains Coal Job Lead Despite Co. Aid To NMU Court Voids Ala. Fee On Organizers American Coal Shipping again intervened vigorously on behalf of the National Maritime Union in the past two weeks' fight for the coal ships. Three more Seafarers were fired to give the NMU a hand. In-*addition, four NMU members of American Coal Shipping. But who were fired off the Walter being a member of management, so GUIN, Ala.—A Federal judge has thrown out this town's licensing restrictions on labor union organi­ zers. Judge H. H. Grooms invali­ dated the local ordinance requiring organizers to pay a $1,000 fee and $25 for each worker signed up. The ordinance is similar to bills passed in Baxley, Ga., and other .southern towns which are the sites of anti-union firms. In the Alabama instance, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union was try­ ing to organize a plant of the Munsingwear Company, manufacturers of women's hose and undergar­ ments. An ILGWU organizer, William von Bach, was jailed while visiting the home of a company employee. He was later released and warned that he would be arrested every time he came back to town. The union filed an application for a temporary injunction against enforcement of the ordinance, which was granted by the Federal court. Hines Page were reinstated by the company's shoreside brass, and the chief engineer who had made the mistake of firing NMU members got his walking papers. One of the Seafarers fired, Moses Lucas, had gone aboard the Cleve­ land Abbe originally as night cook and baker and had been promoted to chief cook. But the company shoreside officials simply plucked him off the ship claiming he had been hired "illegally." They based this claim on the fact that he had two different discharges, one say­ ing "2nd cook" and the other "baker." Lucas' Job was not thrown up for grabs, but was handed to the NMU by the company on the grounds that the NMU man whom -f Curran Ducks Out On Blacklist; Passes Buck To Shipowners After three months of total silence on the existence of an industry-wide blacklist cov­ ering the membership of the National Maritime Union, NMU President Joseph Curran was compelled to acknowledge it in the last "Pilot," the NMU's official organ. At the same time, Curran attempted to disavow • any connection with the sys­ with the National Maritime sake of the expediency of the mo­ ment are a pattern which the NMU Union and the Union Indicated tem he negotiated. a desire to cooperate, draft president has followed since his Curran's belated admission fol­ lowed publication of the blacklist (tory in the LOG of July 19. The LOG related how the Ameri­ can Merchant Marine Institute put the blacklist into effect last April 30 after winning the approval of the NMU and amending the em­ ployment clause in the NMU agree­ ment. Under the blacklist system, a.ny seaman who was ever fired off an NMU ship can be refused employ­ ment by all NMU-contracted com­ panies. Curran's silence on the blacklist until the LOG forced his hand is understandable in light of the sen­ sitivity of seamen on the issue. Since seamen do not normally work steadily on one ship but con­ stantly have to be hired for jobs, their livelihood is particularly sus­ ceptible to this kind of pressure. In fact, it is understood that a number of NMU members have al­ ready been barred in the last few months with the NMU's tacit ap­ proval. Under the circumstances, Curran attempted to sidestep the issue by blasting the SIU at great length, as predicted in the LOG, and at­ tempting to obscure the existence of the blacklist as some kind of offhand arrangement (a "hairbrained scheme" he calls it) be­ tween the institute and Marine In­ dex instead of the full-fledged blacklist machinery he had nego­ tiated. Further, Curran claims, NMU first heard of the plan "with­ in the last two weeks," that is, when it appeared in the SEAFAR­ ERS LOG. Curran's account fails to jibe with the statement of Ralph Casey, president of the American Mer­ chant Marine Institute, who wrote to all AMMI-affiliated companies on April 30, 1957, the following: "This problem [of shipboard 'discipline—Ed.] was taken iip proposals were prepared, dis­ cussed, and finally, the em­ ployment clause in the collec­ tive bargaining agreement was amended . . . "As a corollary to this re­ vised employment clause the Committee for Companies and Agents has developed a system whereby serious breaches of discipline on the part of any unlicensed crewmember con­ cerning which an official log book entry is made and for which a man is subsequently fired will be reported to the Marine Index Bureau . . From there the letter goes on to describe how the companies can get information on any man from the bureau for $1 and can refuse to hire him if they so desire. According to the AMMI presi­ dent then, his committee met with the NMU, the union agreed to go along and the union and the com­ panies amended their hiring clause in the contract to pave the way for the blacklist. Acording to Curran, no such thing ever happened and he just heard about it all two weeks ago. Further, according to Curran as of October 25, 1956, "We have told the shipowners we are prepared to meet with them at any time to dis­ cuss discipline" as a corollary to the agreement reached with the companies for a one-for-one log­ ging limit such as the SIU had. All of this would seem to prove to a rational observer the LOG'S charge that the blacklist was agreed to by NMU in exchange for outlaw­ ing the two-for-one loggings. The wide inconsistencies between Curran's own statement of Octo­ ber 25, 1956 and his position in the August 1 "Pilot," and between Cur­ ran's and Casey's accounts of how the blacklist developed are no sur­ prise. The SIU has maintained that these direct contradictions for the entry into the maritime labor move­ ment. While Curran now thunders against the SIU for revealing the blacklist he conveniently ignored for three months, he gives little indication of what action NMU will take, if any, under the prod of the LOG'S exposure. He declared only that NMU "took firm steps to as­ sure that nothing like that is going to operate in our end of the indus­ try." What these "firm steps" will be was not revealed. The only "firm step" known of so far is that Cur­ ran has written a letter denouncing the system he negotiated, but we are told that "a full report will be made when the issue is resolved." Two SIU men fired ofF the Walter Hines Page are bosun Otto B. Hansen, SUP (left), and Seafarer Tom Bubar, OS. Lucas had beaten out was entitled to the post. The incident on the Page stripped away all pretense of com­ pany neutrality in the fight. It provided the strongest evidence yet obtained by the SIU of open part­ nership between the company and the NMU. But despite it all, the SIU still continues to hold the lead. The latest count stands at 101 to 95 with the SIU due to pick up an­ other job in replacing an NMU member whom the company was forced to concede it had hired in violation of the court order. Ironically enough the chief engi­ neer is a member of Mine Work­ ers District 50, which is part owner How The NMU-AMMI Blacklist Works Under the blacklist agreement negotiated between the NMU and the AMMI any NMU man can be barred by any shipping company if he has been fired just once from an NMU ship. There is no provi­ sion in the agreement for any appeal from the blacklist. Here is the step-by-step procedure: • An NMU member gets fired. The skipper enters the reason for the firing in the log book as a "serious breach of discipline." • A record of the firing goes to the Marine Index Bureau, an out­ fit which specializes in collecting information about injured sea­ men and which once was part of a labor spy apparatus aimed at the SIU. • The seaman who was fired goes to another shipping company on a job referral. The company calls Marine Index and asks th?m if there is any record on the seaman. This request for information costs them $1. • Marine Index simply reports what the skipper said about the seaman. Then the company is within its rights, under the amended NMU hiring agreement, to reject the man. The net effect is to deprive the seaman of his employment rights anywhere in maritime. • Since it is the company hiring boss who makes the final deci­ sion on the basis of the skipper's word, there is no way under this system to protect good union men from company retaliation. Skip­ pers who want to get rid of militant men for good simply have to fire them once and that's the last time the man will set foot on a ship. The system is open to all sorts of abuses since it can be em­ ployed for vengeance on any NMU man who is the target of some­ body's personal dislike. * •. I t j'O. I .1 . . . ' <• to speak, was no protection for him when he stood in fhe way of the NMU-company partnership. The company's obvious objective is to press its discriminatory ac­ tions ship by ship in the hope of using up the SIU's supply of oldtimers. Countering the company's action, the four-man coordinating committee in charge of the cam.paign called for more intensive or­ ganizing activity to supply replace­ ments for the coal ships. The committee consisting of Mor­ ris Weisberger, Sailors Union; Ed Turner, Marine Cooks; Sam Ben­ nett, Marine Firemen, and Paul Hall, Atlantic and Gulf District, characterized the company's action as "more of the same type of com­ pany collusion with NMU that we have been faced with since the start of our organizing drive. The only difference now is that the company is going to greater and greater lengths in frantic efforts to stack the deck for the NMU. "This calls for intensified efforts on the part of our membership to back up the coal ship oldtimerg who have been doing such a splen­ did job in the face of this companyNMU discrimination." FCC Urges Inter-Ship Radiophone The Federal Communications Commission has revived proposals for the Installation of bridge-tobridge radio telephones, to cut down on the number of collisions between .merchant ships. Present means of communica­ tions between two vessels in a harbor or on a sea lane are too slow, the Commission said. Mes­ sages must go from the bridge of one vessel to the radio shack, then be wired to the radio shack of tho other vessel and then down to tho bridge. But Federal rules, the Commis­ sion said, allow for the installation of low-powered, short-range, VHF (very high frequency) radio-tele­ phone equipment on vessels. Coast Guard officials have held that such equipment could have prevented the collisions in New York harbor between the Exbrook and Marine Courier and the Alcoa Pilgrim and the African Star. SEAFARERS LOG Aug. 16,1957 Vol. XIX No. 17 PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treaiurer HERBERT BRAND. Editor. BERNARD SEA­ MAN, Art Editor. HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN SPIVACX, AL MASKIN, JOHN BRAZIL, Staff Writers. BILL MOODY, Gulf Area Repre­ sentative, PubllshDd blWMkly DT th« h«adquart«rD of the Seafarart International Union, At­ lantic a Gulf District, AFL-CIO, <75 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 33. NY. Tel. HYaclnth 9-4600. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office In Brooklyn, NY, under the Act of Aug. 34, 1913. �'• •M! Annut l§i 1951 SEAFARERS PR Dock Conditions Spotlighted Longshore condifions In Puerto Rico shared spotlight with planned Great Lakes drive by AFL-CIO Int'l Brotherhood of Longshoremen at last month's IBL convention In Chicago. Here, SlU Sec­ retary-Treasurer Paul Hall |2nd from left) discusses situation on the island with Council IS prexy-Juan Perez Roa. Maritime Trades Dept. secretary Harry O'Reilly (left) and IBL president Larry Long look on. Hall reaffirmed SlU's support for IBL as voted by SlU membership, In his address to the convention. LOG Par* Uvea Court Throws Out La. Sheriffs Picket Ban On Seafarers I NEW ORLEANS—A Federal jurist has slapped down efforts by a southeast Louisiana sheriff to bar an SIU picket line from his jurisdiction. By refusing to permit picketing at the Superior Derrick Corp., a subsidiary of Atlantic and Gulf Stevedores, Sheriff Chesissued a temporary restraining but not participating in the picket­ ter Wooten had deprived order against the sheriff, his chief ing. Albert Cosse, or any other It was then, the SIU petition SIU representatives and deputy, law enforcement officers in the charged, that the sheriff told th* members of their constitu­ parish from interfering with, pre­ SIU "there would be no strike* venting or molesting SIU repre­ and no picketing in Plaquemin* tional rights. That was the sentatives and company workers Parish" and warned Seafarers to conclusion reached b y "from peacefully assembling, stop the picket line. Subsequent­ Judge Herbert W. Christen- peacefully picketing and peace­ fully publicizing their dispute with berry of New Orleans in or­ the employer." dering the sheriff and his ly, the SIU men were ordered out of the parish when they gathered at a site one mile away from tho struck property. The arrests fol­ Must Permit Visits deputies not to interfere with The court also ordered the sher­ lowed their refusal to abide by th* peaceful picketing at a bulk cargo sheriff's illegal orders. loading facility operated by Super­ iff to stop interfering with SIU representatives' visits to the par­ ior Derrick. Accordingly, the Federal jurist ish "for the purpose of contacting and visiting employees of Superior Derrick Corporation or other mem­ bers, applicants or potential mem­ bers." The SIU's attorneys had gone to court asking for the restraining order when the sheriff and his deputies ordered Seafarers to stop picketing the plant and to leave the parish "within five minutes." When the picketing was resumed WASHINGTON — With a cargo the sheriff had four Seafarers ar­ rested; SIU representatives Tom slump now plaguing the shipping Gould and Martin Gould and Sea­ industry, the Maritime Adminis­ farers Louis Camara and Edward tration has announced that it i* Rosener. They were subsequently willing to take back some of tho Government - chartered Victory* released under bond. The Superior Derrick Corp. had and Libertys before the charters been organized by the SIU pi'ior are up. The tonnage will be ac­ to the strike with all but two of cepted by the Government if the approximately 60 employees sign­ operator retains other charter ing SIU Harbor and Inland Water­ ships for a period of time sufficient ways Division pledge cards. The to cover the charter hire on tho company operates heavy lift float­ first ship for 12 months. Otherwise, the operator will ing derricks in New Orleans harbor and a coal loading installation at have to pay 50 percent of the charter hire rate even if the ship Wood Park south of that city. is already turned back to the Gov­ Company Barred Pact ernment. When the union was unable to It is reported that about 20 arrange a meeting with the com­ ships now out on charters will be One of tfis eight Robin Line vessels covered In election petitions filed at the labor board by the SIU, pany to talk contract terms, the turned back to the Government. the Robin Sherwood is shown on arrival at Capetown some time ago. men on the derricks and the em­ Many of the ships were broken ployees at the Wood Park facility out last fall when a shipping short­ The SIU has filed with the National Labor Relations Board seeking certification as bar­ went on strike. age threatened as a result of tho gaining representative for the Robin Line ships now owned and operated by Moore-McCor- The SIU set up a two-man pick- closing of the Suez Canal. How­ mack Lines. SIU petition action calling for voting on these vessels to determine who should etline at the entrance to the Wood ever, the reopening of the canal have the right to represent • Park facility. Six employees went coupled with a decline in demand and negotiate for the crews' The Robin Line issue arose in was not to compete against Robin through the line without any in­ for some bulk cargoes, particular­ was taken at the NLRB's re­ March when Moore - McCormack Line in the South African trade cident. The rest of the striking ly coal, has reduced the need for gional oifice on Friday, August 9. purchased the ships from Seas for which Robin ships had a sub­ Wood Park employees, about 30 the breakout ships. A number of to 35 in all, were sitting nearby them are idle for lack of cargo. The SIU took this step to pro­ Shipping. Part of the purchase sidy. Once before, the NMU had at­ tect the job rights of Seafarers agreement was that Seas Shipping tempted seizure of Robin Line aboard the Robin Line ships after ships when it challenged SIU rep­ Moore McCormack, the new own­ resentation in the fleet back in ers of the ships, placed them and 1940, along with similar challenges their crews under the jurisdiction against Calmar and Ore vessels of the National Maritime Union Somebody in the NMU got their wires crossed the other and ships of the Baltimore Insular contract. This was done despite day, and unintentionally tipped the NMU's mitt as responsible Line. The results were a series of the wishes of the men involved and anonymous, scurrilous attack on the SIU. for an election victories for SIU—three a lengthy record of SIU bargaining SIU membership meet­ to one over NMU in Baltimore In­ It seems it was thought a-^ — rights for Robin Line crewmemings are held regularly sular; 323 to 9 "no union" votes bright idea to ring out an ships even before the "rank and bers. NMU Pressured Men every two weeks on Wed­ in Calmar and 199 to 1 "no union assortment of phoney-baloney file" mimeograph machine opera­ Following Mooremack's action, nesday nights at 7 PM in vote in Robin out of 210 eligible charges and distribute them to SIU tors got the stuff off and into the votes. Robin Line signed a con­ ships under the guise of a letter mails. Seems awfully odd that the NMU put pressure on Seafar­ ers on the Robin Line ships either all SIU ports. All Sea­ tract with SIU in July, 1941, fol­ from "rank and file" Seafarers. NMU officials should know all to join the NMU or get off the farers are expected to lowing the outcome of the vote The letter exposed such imaginary about it even before it happened. and has been under SIU agree­ misdeeds as hushed-up thefts from Ships altogether and lose their Of course, this kind of tactic is jobs. Seafarers who signed on attend; those who wish to ments ever since. tlie Welfare Plan, blackmail pay­ old hat for NMU dating back to the these ships under SIU contract be excused should request In addition to the Robin Line offs, purchase of stocks by union "good old days." Back in May, conditions and with SIU welfare permission by telegram ships, Mooremack operates ans. officials and similar drivel. The 1955, a similar set of mimeographed protection have been compelled to other division known as Pacific authors tried hard to sound like anonymous letters from so-called accept NMU wages, contract and (be sure to include reg­ Republic Lines which is under con­ seamen but some of the phrase­ "rank and file" SIU members by The tract to the SIU Pacific District. ology was a dead giveaway. welfare provisions. Some of these istration number). strange coincidence echoed NMU provisions, particularly In the wel­ next SIU meetings will be: Two other major operators, Grace Well, all turned to with great President Joe Curran's attack on fare area, are inferior to the and Luckenbach, have similar con­ enthusiasm and started to crank up the late Harry Lundeberg in efforts August 21 SIU's. ye olde mimeograph machine as to drive a breach between the tractual arrangements. The petition action then, seeks September 4 Ships involved in the petition per the traditional NMU way. The Pacific District and the A&G. to win for these crewmembers the are the Robin Trent, Robin Locks- only trouble is that some eagerSomehow, the tactic of the September 18 right to a union of their own ley, Robin Hood, Robin Goodfel- beaver NMU patrolmen got their anonymous letter hardly seems October 2 choosing, instead of one imposed low, Robin Gray, Robin Mowbray, signals mixed and started spouting suitable for one who professes to on them by Mooremkck. Robin Sherwood and Robin Kirk. the anonymous letter line on board be an authority on ethical practices. SIU ASKS ROBIN SHIP VOTE SCHEDULE OF SIU MEETINGS BlameSlump In Return Of Gov't Ships WHO GOOFED IN NMU ? �•! Page Four SEAFARERS LOG Aufosi 16, 1957 SlU Scholar Draws $ Awards In Pairs Seafarer Gene Sinclair right) is pictured with two other US trade unionists also attending Ruskin College, Oxford, England, on labor scholarships. Sinclair also won on SlU scholarship this year. With him are William Paul of the electrical workers (left) and Nick Styronovski of the oil workers. Taking the good news in his stride, Seafarer Gene Sinclair found out he'd won one of the five $6,000 SIU scholarships for 1957 while he was winding up a year's study at Oxford, England, under an earlier^" ~ This is the third in a series grant. of articles about the winners of Sinclair and fellow Seafarer the 1957 SIU scholarship John Sweeney, competing with trade unionists from all over the US, won two of the three scholar­ ships awarded by the Institute of International Education last year. These awards covered a year's study at Ruskin College, Oxford, and Coleg Harlech, Wales. This was the first time on record that any American union had two winners at the same time. Two other SIU men won similar awards In previous years. With that kind of background Hub Quiet; Pick-Up Due BOSTON—Thei e were not many vessels hitting this port during the past period and as a consequence, shipping slowed down. But with a couple of payoffs and in-transit vessels expected during the next two weeks, there should be more jobs available for Seafarers on the beach here. The Bradford Island (Cities Serv­ ice) paid off during the period and later hit port in transit. The Steel Architect (Isthmian) and Valley Forge iPenn. Nav.) also pulled into port to be serviced. The Valley Forge will remain here for a while, taking on a load of scrap iron for Spain. All hands around the hall here are keeping their eyes peeled for oldtimers to help out in the Amer­ ican Coal Shipping beef. With the company firing SIU men it's be­ come more important than ever to find Seafarers with those old-time discharges. Be Sure To Get Dues Receipts Headquarters again wishes to remind all Seafarers that pay­ ments of funds, for whatever Union purpose, be made only to authorized A&G representa­ tives and that an official Union receipt be gotten at that time. If no receipt is offered, be sure to protect yourself by immedi­ ately bringing the matter to the attention of the, secretaycy-treasurer's office. • ' A • awards. behind him, Sinclair hopes to enter Columbia University this fall and work towards a degree in econo­ mics. He'll return on a much more secure footing this time, thanks to the generous terms of the four-year SIU scholarship. He previously accumulated a year's credits at the school, spread over a three-year period. His scholastic successes thus far are all the more unusual because be never actually completed high school and whatever formal training he had came in fits and spurts. The 28-year-old Seafarer shipped out on his own after five attempts at finishing school in as many different cities got him nowhere. He was being boarded out at various foster homes during this time. Once he began sailing, Sinclair stayed with it for most of the past 12 years, except for a wartime stint with the army in Korea. He en­ tered Columbia originally by piling up top grades on a special entrance exam, and continued shipping with the SIU between semesters. Last year he worked his passage over to Europe on a Wateiman ship, but wound up in Bremerhaven and had to make his own way back to England. The year's study on the scholarship at Ruskin was an "eye-opener," he pointed out. All the students, like himself, had trade union backgrounds, and were tbere for serious study, rather than frills. "While conditions there weren't exactly austere, there was no strict emphasis on 'tradition* as there seemed to be at the other colleges in Oxford. This put everybody on equal terms. Labor problems are pretty much the same over in Eng­ land as here and everywhere else," he added. The Ruskin scholarship provided an award of 325 pounds ($910 in U.S. currency), which covered room, board and tuition and left him about $10 a week for odds and ends. Sinclair returned in style on the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth and is now trying to make a couple of trips before resuming classes at Columbia this fall. He lives In New York and sails in the deck depart­ ment " ponjt Drop What You're Holding I " Working overhead has obvious risks so fhe wise Seafarer sees to it that the rig—whether bosun's choir or stageis sound and steady. But sometimes a secondary precaution Is overlooked; the necessity of seeing to it that the tools being used are secure as well. Even as small an item as a screw­ driver or a pair of pliers can do a considerable amount of damage to somebody's noggin if dropped from a height of 50 feet. And the smaller the tool, the easier it is to knock off Q stage if it is put down without first being secured either to the rigging or the Seafarer's clothes. Just from the point of view of con­ venience, a falling too! is a great nuisance because it means descending to the deck again, picking up the tool and re-rigging the stage or bosun's chair—a time-consuming and wasteful process. So after you've mode sure the rig is safe, make sure your tools ore safe too. It will make for more pleasant relations between you and your ship­ mates. j An SIU Ship is a Safe Ship i �August 16» 1957 SEAFARERS INQUIRING SEAFARER QUESTION: li if easier for a seaman lo save money than for a man In a shoreside job?. Manuel Landron, bo sunt I think it is much easier for a sea­ man. For one thing he has no room and board to pay. It he goes easy on the draws, as I think most family men do, he comes home with more and can put It away. I have found it much easier to save in my 16 years at sea. It's also a much better life. Al Freund, FWT; Sure its easier for a seaman to save than for a guy working ashore. He has no ex­ penses to pay His meals are given him and he has no rent worries. But he has to keep down his spending in foreign ports Actually it is just as easy to spend it in Japan as it is in New York. Personally, I have saved more at sea. LOG Page Five Farm Bloc Launches Renewed Attack On '50-50' Practices WASHINGTON—A dispute between American and Japanese shipowners over the sharin of farm cargoes purchased by Japan with American money has become the springboara for a new attack on the "50-50" law. The American Farm Bureau Federation, a powerful farm lobby, has jumped into^—— ^ the dispute on the side of the stances where US taxpayers pro­ Japanese and is attempting to vide the cash for the cargoes. The AH Is Quiet scuttle the "50-50" principle. concern of the industry is aggra­ At last word the Maritime Ad­ vated by the existing slump in ministration is reported close to shipping and by a further decline agreement between the contending in US ships' share of the country's parties, but the incident reveals foreign commerce. That share now BALTIMORE — "Affairs of the that the farm lobby-foreign ship­ stands at 22 percent according to Union in this port are in very good owner . bloc which came danger­ latest Department of Commerce shape," is the report from Balti­ ously close to scuttling "50-50" two figures. more. "There weren't any beefs of years ago is still very much alive. The Farm Bureau pitch is that a nature that could not be handled the Japanese have "threatened" to by the patrolmen. The ships' crews Japanese Loan seek Canadian assistance if generally have things under con­ The dispute in question devel­ they do not get their way. There­ trol" said Earl Sheppard, port 4 4 4 oped when the Japanese received fore. the Bureau argues, the US agent. 4» it 4" Thomas Filippelli, OS: I would a ?175 million E,xport-ImiK)rt Bank should bypass "50-50" and let the say that a seaman It has been quiet on the shipping has a better Angelo Romero, cook: It is up to low interest loan and sought to Japanese have as much of the side during the last period. There the particular man. If he is thrifty chance to save apply it to the purchase of farm cargo as they want. than a guy work­ were 13 vessels paying off, seven at sea, or on commodities. Under a 1934 law. Dollar Discrimination ing ashore. But it signed on, and 14 were in-ti-ansit. shore, then there commodities purchased under such is up to the sea­ There have been reports of dis­ The vessels paying off were the is no reason why loans are supposed to go 100 per­ man himself to crimination against Americans bj Jean. Angelina. Evelyn, Mae, he can't save. A cent on American ships. In prac­ try by not draw­ Japanese banks over payment in Emilia (Bull); Marore, Feltore, seaman may save tice the ."50-50" law has been ap­ ing too heavily in US dollars. Under the loan, credits Baltore, Oremar (Ore); Council It for two months plied wherever the nation receiv­ Grove (Cities Service). Bethcoaster the various ports. at sea and spend ing the loan does not discriminate given are not to be used to pay for (Caiman and Valley Forge (Penn, I'm sailing be­ the freight charges for transport­ the whole amount against US exporters and US ships. cause I want to ing the commodities. This is to be Navigation!. in one shore In this instance, American ship­ paid in "free" US dollars held by put something in ^ The Orion Planet (Colonial); leave. Same with the bank and not to go and spend it ping groups have been charging Japan. But it has been hinted that Steel Fabricator (Ishmian); An­ a shoreside Job. such discrimination while the if American-flag ships are to be gelina, Mae. Emilia (Bull); Feltore It ii just as easy to spend it all on the other side. Japanese, on their side, have been used exclusively to transport the and Baltore (Ore) signed on. 4 4 4 overy weekend. i Gordon Bell, FWT: It is much seeking to cut the American cargo goods, Japanese banks will not In transit were the Oremar, San4 4 4 easier to save while at sea. I know share to less than 50 percent, by make the dollars available. tore. Venore. Cubore, Marore (Ore); attempting to split the cargo on Vernon Douglas, eook: No, it is for I am a plum­ What all of this amounts to is a Pennmar, Losmar, Alamar, Betheasier for a man working ashore to ber ashore, and the basis of freight revenue in­ request by Japan for a low-interest coaster (Calmar); Robin Kirk, save. He has to although I make stead of tonnage. loan of American money, to pur­ Robin Wentley (Robin); Alcoa save every week much more work­ Maritinie interests in the United chase surplus American commodi­ Planter (Alcoa) and the Sea Comet in order to pay ing on that Job States are concerned that a waiver ties at low prices, and permission 11 (Ocean Carriers). the rent, food, than I do sailing, in this instance may lead to fur­ to ship them in Japanese vessels in Despite the slack shipping, local etc. But a sea­ I found I save ther whittling away of the cargo direct competition with American- organizing efforts are moving along man usually more at sea. A preference principle in other in­ flag ships. well throughout the harbor area. blows it away man ashore gets every time he paid every week hits port. He and has much could, if he real- more of a chance to spend it where­ ^ ^ ly wanted to, as a seaman, outside of his draws, save much more. But there are gets it all at once and does not many more temptations for a sea­ have his hands on the money so man than a shoreside worker. often. In Baltimore PHS Warns Of Asia Flu Outbreak Throughout US An outbreak of Asiatic influenza has been forecast for this fall and winter by the Public Health Service. The PHS said that 11,000 cases of the disease, which orirfnated In the Far East earlier this1 year, have al- • ^ ready been reported in the fhat drug manufacturers were step United States, and that many ping up production of antibiotics more cases are likely when bad weather sets in. The government health agency said the disease could, in bad weather, sweep from San Francisco to Boston in four weeks, incapacitating from 10 to 20 percent of the population. Just last week 100 flu cases were reported on the passenger ship Arosa Sky. Asiatic flu, which Is caused by a new strain of the influenza virus, has a very low death rate. PHS said, and only three deaths—all from secondary infections—have been reported among the 11,000 American cases. The PHS added like penicillin to combat pneu­ monia and other secondary infec­ tions. Vaccine Being Readied The PHS also announced that American manufacturers of Asiatic flu vaccine are working to turn out four million doses for the Armed Forces and another four million for civilians by mid-September. The Feb. 1 target is 60 million doses, enough to Immunize onethird of the population. The agency said it is developing a vaccine that will immunize in one dose, and give protection for a j'car. It added, however, that it takes ten days to two weeks after the injection before Immunity is acquired. The PHS recommended that InA reminder from SIU head­ noculations should be given first quarters cautions all Seafarers to medical personnel and,then to leaving their ships to contact civilians in essential services lilra the hall in ample time to allow communication, transportation and the Union to dispatch a replace­ utilities. The transportation cate­ ment. Failure to give notice be­ gory would presumably cover mer­ fore paying off may cause a de­ chant seamen. layed sailing, force the ship to The vaccine will most probably sail short of the manning re­ be administered to seamen by the quirements and needlessly make Public Health Service. Tlie SEA­ the work tougher for your ship­ FARERS LOG will notify Unionmates. members when the vaccine is available. Quitting Ship? Notify Union Pres. Hayes Crew Heading Home Glad to be back in the States after round-the-world trip, West Coast crewmen on APL's converted Mariner SS President Hayes stop off in New York on final lap of long voyage. The Presi dent Hayes is one of four airconditioned c.ombination ships now operated by APL Above, representing the Marine Cooks and Stew­ ards Union con tingent aboard, are (seated, I to r) F. Garcia, steward Charles Hawkins, A. Leone, Roland Smith. Standing, P. Lopez, L. Roberson and Alberto Villore. At left. Sailors Union mem­ bers, bosun Glen Peterson [left] and Vic Tatko, DM get in some necessary repairs on one of the hydraulic batch covers featured aboard the ^qriners, Ln-i- - �Pare Sfar I m |g L;. Franc Now 420 To $1 SEAFARERS Aucast 16, 1957 LOG All This ... And Hawaii Too PARIS — Seafarers in France will be getting more francs for their dollars now. Through a series of measures, the French government has granted tourists and other individuals a 20 percent premium over the official exchange rate of 350 francs to the dollar. The new rate is 420 francs to the dollar, or just about equal to the going black market rate. Finance Minister Felix Gaillard said that the measure was neces­ sary and inevitable because of the nation's shortage of foreign cur­ rency. Tourists had been avoiding official exchanges and dealing with the black market for their dollars. This move, Gaillard said, will now bring those dollars into the Gov­ ernment treasury. Exporters Favored Under the new rate French tourists and businessmen going abroad will have to pay 20 percent extra for foreign currencies. But French exporters will get a re­ imbursement of 20 percent when they convert their funds back into francs. July 24 Through August 6 Port Deck A Boston .. 10 New York .,. •••••••••••••••• .. 55 Philadelphia . .. 28 Baltimore .^. •••••••••••••a** .. 52 Norfolk .. 9 Savannah ... .. 8 Tampa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 9 Mobile 20 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. New Orleans aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 53 Lake Charles aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 6 Houston aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ..29 Wilmington .. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 23 San Francisco aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 22 Seattle 28 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. Deck A Another Billion Farm Aid Okayed; '50-50' Intact WASHINGTON—Congress has given approval to a bill in­ creasing the amount of surplus commodities to be sold to foreign nations from $3 to $4 biHion, and extended the "50-50" law which governs transpor-"*tion of the commodities sold policy of easing the cold war and of to 1958. The amendment, drawing borderline Communist na­ which is expected to meet with tions from Russian domination, the presidential approval, also in­ Senate included a provision permit­ creases the amount of funds avail­ ting barter transactions with such able for famine relief and other countries. It left intact the provision assistance from 500 to 800 million barring any barter transactions with the USSR itself, with Com­ dollars. • Following the Administi-ation's munist China or any territory controlled or dominated by the Communist Chinese. Under the provision, the Presi­ dent has the authority to assist friendly nations to be independent of trade with the USSR and to assure that none of the agricultural products so sold would be made available to Russia or Communist China. LAKE CHARLES—In coopera­ A $95 million deal covering agri­ tion with the state's Building cultural surplus and farm machin­ Trades unions, reports Lcroy ery to be .shipped to Poland is al­ Clarke, port agent. Seafarers on ready in the works. These ship­ the beach here and in New Orleans ments will mark the first return of have been giving their time to help US seamen to Poland since 1939. The "50-50" law, which has been construct homes that have been de­ stroyed in hurricane-swept Camer­ termed the lifeline of the American on Parish and other areas on the Merchant Marine, requires that at least 50 percent of any surplus Louisiana-Texas border. "We have been sending in 20 or commodities sold to foreign nations more men every weekend to as­ be carried in American-fiag vesesls. sist in the laying of the foundations for these homes," he said. United Effort "It is really a pleasure to watch Labor working as if they were one man In the re-building of the houses," Clarke stated. "We are waiting for the Labor Committee Seafarer Sidney Mojel lost his ©n disaster relief to call and tell life when he fell overboard from us how many more men we can furnish to do whatever we are the Hudson Belle, a Wilson Line Deeded for." (See story on Page 16.) excursion vessel, while the ship Shipping in this port has held was getting ready to dock at 134th Its own during the last two week Street and the Hudson River. According to reports, Mojel was period but is not rebounding as expected. There were 13 vessels handling a heaving line on the Calling Into the area during that HIWD-contracted ship when he lost his balance and fell overboard. time. The vessels were the CS Nor­ Initial efforts to recover the body folk, Council Grove, Chiwawa, C were unsuccessful. Police later S Miami, Bents Fort, Bradford Is­ found a body at 125th Street which land, Winter Hill (Cities Service); is believed to be that of the the Maxton, Coalinga Hills, Almena missing Seafarer. (Pan-Atlantic); Petro-Chem (Valen­ Afterwards, crewmembers on the tine); Del Alba (Mississippi) and ship took up a collection for the Pan Oceanic Transporter (Penn. Mojel's family and flowers for the funeraL • . ( . Navigation). Shipping Slow, Lake Charles Aids Relief Excursion Boat Crewman Lost -J Eng. A 5 24 2 18 3 0 0 2 10 6 19 14 18 15 3 44 14 37 5 6 1 24 36 10 23 13 23 22 Eng. A DecR B Total .... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. 352 Pictured above are just two of the almost 50 waitresses who serve both passengers and crew aboard the Matsonia. The ship, on the Motson Line's Los Angeles-Hawaii run, is manned by SlU-West Coast affiliates. DecK B 136 261 Eng. B Stew. A Stew. B 6 18 6 24 6 4 2 7 17 7 13 15 18 20 6 40 14 26 2 0 6 14 27 6 22 22 18 20 Total A 1 5 6 15 5 2 0 4 2 2 7 7 13 10 19 139 56 115 16 14 16 58 116 22 74 58 63 70 Eng. B Stew. A 163 223 Stew. B Total A 79 836 Total B 12 47 14 57 - 14 6 2 13 29 15 39 36 49 45 Total a 378 Total Reg. 31 186 70 172 30 20 18 71 145 37 113 94 112 115 Total Reg. 1214 Shlipped Port Deck A Boston New York ... Philadelphia . Baltimore .... Norfolk Savannah ,.... Tampa Mobile New Orleans ., Lake Charles . Houston Wilmington San Francisco Seattle Deck B Deck C 3 I 6 2 2 I 17 5 0 0 3 0 0 2 3 0 10 0 10 3 0 3 0 14 5 6 0 Deck A Deck B 71 Total Deck 1C 16 Eng. A 1 45 12 29 2 10 2 16 37 6 21 7 17 10 Eng. B'" C 2 0 14 12 6 4 15 2 4 1 5 0 3 2 3 4 6 7 8 4 7 5 3 0 10 0 10 2 Eng. A 215 Eng. B 94 Stew. A Stew. B 4 40 9 26 0 8 1 12 25 5 17 6 13 8 1 6 4 9 1 1 0 2 5 4 9 4 12 3 Eng. C itew. A Stew. B 45 174 61 stew. C Total A Total B 7 133 35 90 3 27 6 40 113 20 65 22 46 32 6 26 10 41 5 9 3 8 21 13 19 10 36 19 Total A Total B 639 226 1 6 2 3 1 0 0 2 3 2 1 8 2 1 Stew. c 32 Total Total Ship. C 2 20 9 10 2 0 4 6 10 6 6 8 7 3 Total e 93 15 179 54 141 10 36 13 54 144 39 90 40 89 54 Total Ship. 958 SIU shipping fell to the lowest point of the past year and a half during the last period, matching the steady drop to the bottom which bulk cargo and tanker charter rates have been experiencing all this year. Even so, relatively few US-^ flag ships are idle now for lack of cargoes. The difference rests, instead, on reductions in the size of the active American mer­ chant fleet caused by transfers for­ eign and lay-ups for conversions and modernization programs. Total shipping for the district was 958 jobs. Registration dropped a bit, but was still high. Only four SIU ports showed shipping gains over the previous period, but the improvement was of little consequence in all of them. Baltimore, Savannah, Lake Charles and Wilmington listed the gains while all the rest declined. New Orleans, in turn, remained the same: fair. Reversing the usual pattern, en­ gine department shipping was heavier than job activity in the deck department. The black gang also accounted for almost half of the class C jobs dispatched. Reg­ istration and shipping for the stew­ ard department were almost even. Class C activity generally re­ flected the overall shipping pic­ ture. Jobs filled by this nonseniority group hit an 18-month low, while class A continues to fill fully two-thirds of the total shipping. Class B shipping rose to 23 percent of the total. A and B men aren't holding back on jobs while the pickings appear slim. The following is the forecast port by port: Boston: Slow ... New York: Holding its own . . . Philadelphia: Steady .. . Baltimore: Fair . . . Norfolk. Slow ... Sa­ vannah: Fair . . . Tampa: Slow . . . Mobile: Fair . . . New Orleans: Good . . . Lake Charles: Fair . . . Houston: Good . . . Wilmington: Good . . . San Francisco: Good ... Seattle: Good. .71- m A group of 156 prominent citi­ zens of the Gaspe peninsula have petitioned Quebec's Premier Duplessis to interv.e'ne and settle the four-month-old strike of steelworkers at Gaspe Copper Mines, Ltd. at Muedochville. The group in­ cludes 36 Gaspe mayors and 16 deputy mayors. The strike started on March 10 when the president of the union local was fired. The petition started when one striker was killed and two others injured in a dynamite blast near the mine. 4- 4- 4" Wage Increases averaging 7.5 cents an hour have been won by 20,000 teamster members in 56 locations under a new contract with Montgomery Ward & Co. The agreement includes a guaranteed minimum weekly income, arbitra­ tion of grievances, improved over­ time and holiday pay provisions and other gains. The company also agreed to grant automatic wage increases after three and nine months of service. Most of the workers in mail order houses, pools and warehouses and non-selling employees of attached retail stores will get an average increase of about 11 cents an hour. 4" 4- 4" The United Rubber Workers have announced the signing of con­ tracts with five major companies calling for a 15-cent-an-hour pack­ age increase for over 85,000 rubber employees. The settlement, under a reopening clause in their contract which expires May 15, 1959, covers workers of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., B. F. Goodrich, US Rubber, Firestone Tire and Rubber and General Tire and Rubber Com­ pany. Part of the increase is for previously-negotiated night shift differential increases and to correct local intra-plant inequities. 4i 4" 4" The "Lima Citizen," a newspaper mannqd by employees striking at !the t ^'Lirna (Ohio) News»''.v claims " qo i n o 7';.S *• 0w' that it is being read in 92 percent of the homes in Lima. The "Citi­ zen" also claims to have taken more than its share of classified and display advertising from the News, It has an average daily circulation of around 25,000. The pre-strike circulation of the "News" was about 34,000. The "News" was struck by the Newspaper Guild when the company refused to sign a contract. They were soon fol­ lowed by the ITU, stereotypers and pressman, as well as other unions involved with the paper. 3) 4» 4" 4" 4) 4" A nationwide boycott of chairs made by the Streit Manufacturing Co. was instrumental in winding up a three-year union fight for the Upholsterers Local 156, said business representative J. E. Chap­ man. The boycott not only ended the strike, he said, but also re­ sulted in the removal of the conv pany's management board and ths installation of a full union shop. A1 Hartnett, secretary-treasurer of the International Union of Elec­ trical Workers has denounced ths Russian Embassy in Washington for employing a non-union paint­ ing and decorating firm for exten­ sive renovation work in the em­ bassy. He said that the embassy, located directly across the street from the lUE headquarters, delib­ erately selected the scab firm in spite of the large choice of union firms in the city. USPHS Has Last Say On Duty Slip Under the SIU contract, US Public Health Service doctors have the final say on whether or not a man Is fit for duty. If there is any question about your fitness to sail, check with the nearest USPHS hospital or out>patient cllnio for a ruling. iI �Anmst K, 1957 SEAFARERS TOUR DOllAR'S WORTH Page Seven LOG SlU Hosts New Orleans AFL-CIO Meeting Seafarer's Guide To Better Buying By Sidney Margoliua Food Staples Cause Of HCL "Convenience foods," meaning factory-prepared foods like frozen French fries, waffles, chicken pot pies and cake mixes now are being widely blamed for the current rise in food prices. Everybody from Agriculture Secretary Benson, state extension agents, newspaper .writers and even some consumer spokesmen are telling you that to­ day's big food bills are your own fault because you're buying more foods with "built-in maid service." True, factory-prepared foods cost more, as you'll see in the com­ parative-cost list with this report. And there are many more of them. Just among frozen foods, more than 170 different partly or fully-cooked dishes are in the markets. ^ But the fact is, the increase in the use of factory-prepared foods has nothing to do with the jump in food prices of 1.2 percent in just two months this past Spring, of 3.2 percent in one year, and of 14 percent New council officers preside as SlU New Orleans hall plays hosi to regular meeting of the Central since 1950. Such foods still take only four cents of your food dollar. The other 96 cents still goes for staples—fresh meat, eggs, milk, vege­ Labor Union council of New Orleans and vicinity. AFL-CIO. At rostrum (I to r) are Charles D. Win­ tables. Changes in the retail price index of the Bureau of Labor Sta­ ter, Teamsters Union, secretary-treasurer; A. P. Stoddard, Typographical Union, president, and H. tistics are not affected by the increase in the use of prepared foods. C. Moore, Barbers Union, secretary of the executive board. Louisiana was one of the first states to The price index merely measures the cost of the same foods each effect statewide merger of AFL and CIO central bodies in 1956. month. These are 60 basic items, such as white flour, fresh meat, milk, coffee, etc., generally in non-prepared form. As the food price index goes up this summer, don't swallow the story that you're getting more "maid service" for your money. You're not. Market Costs Up . The real culprit is higher marketing costs—^the cost of bringing the food from the farm to your shopping cart. Recently about 59 cents of WRANGELL, Alaska—Aiter a ten-day strike, SlU-affiliated fish cannery workers, mem­ your food dollar has been going bers of the Alaska Marine District Union, have won all their demands from the employers , to marketing costs, and 41 cents to despite sabotage by Harry Bridges' longshore union. the farmer, compared to a ratio of The SlU-affiliated fisher^ • ten years ago of 48 cents for mar­ men were aided in their sue- • Jf M #« 0g m keting costs and 52 cents to the cessful fight by several West producer. Of these currently high­ Coast SIU of NA unions, including er marketing costs, labor costs the Sailors Union of the Pacific generally have been selected as the and the Inland Boatmen's Union. whipping boy by the US Agricul­ Other AFL-CIO unions including ture Department and the food in- the Carpenters and Machinists 1 dustry. But the truth is, the Gov- aided the fishermen's fight through WASHINGTON—There are 39 active applications for US ' ernment's own figures reveal that the intervention of the Maritime Government aid in the form of 87% percent mortgage insur­ labor costs have remained a re­ Trades Department. ance, the Maritime Administration announced. Seventeen markably steady part of the total John "Whitey" Hawk, SIU of NA other applicants under the law"*^"" marketing cost and even decreased a bit in the most recent years for secretary-treasurer, who helped have ships under construction two pullman-style supcrliners. The seventeen contracts in force which figures are available. In handle the negotiations along with or in service. 1950, labor costs were 47.1 per­ Captain John Fox of the Inland Among the pending applications cover the West Coast passenger cent of the total food marketing Boatmen, reported that the Bridges' are eight container ships to be ships Matsonia and Leilani, both bill; in '51, 46.9 percent; '52, 46.7 cohorts had filed a petition with built for American-Hawaiian which of them already in service, the percent; '53, 47.1 percent; '54, 47.4 the National Labor Relations Board is under contract to the SIU Paci­ TMT Carib Queen, a supertanker in efforts to seize control of the fic District; one ship for the SIU- for Ocean Transportation; a C-4 percent; |55, 46.8 percent. Two reasons for higher food approximately 700 workers in­ contracted TMT Trailer Ferry; a conversion job for the Coastwise prices are not publicized as much volved. However, AMDU represent­ bulk-carrier for the SlU-contracted Line and the Mariner conversion as labor costs. One is the increased cost of supermarket retailing. The atives appearing at Labor Board Ocean Transportation Company for Arnold Bernstein. big markets used to take a margin of only 16 cents of your shopping hearings demonstrated that the and the wine tanker now under Petri wine tanker is due to be' ready for service from the West dollar for their operating costa and profit. Now, a sample survey by petitions were defective and won construction for Petri Wine. Super Market Merchandising, a trade publication, indicates the mar­ certification from the board. The Also on the application list is Coast to the East next month. She gin is getting up to 18-19 percent. The fact is, the big markets are NLRB also threw out the ILWU's H. B. Cantor, New York hotel man, will operate out of a Stockton, who has bids In for construction of Calif., terminal. adding more and more costly services and fixtures from carry-out bid. Strike Called boys to air conditioning, piped-in music and night opening hours. Food Chains Rake It In with NLRB certification won, the Another reason for advancing food costs is simply higher middlemen AMDU called its strike for the profits. The First National City Bank's annual survey showed that food opening of the salmon fishing sea­ chain corporations increased their profits 29 percent last year, the son. As a consequence, the union third highest gain of any kind of business, and food processors boosted won the minimum season guaran­ their take 7 percent, compared to the average profit gain of 3 percent. tee it sought, plus a union shop If you are using many factory-prepared foods these days, your own and other concessions. eating costs are likely to be up more than even the price index indi­ The Alaska Marine District rep­ cates. Factory-prepared foods are a home labor-saver, especially for resents a reorganization of several A popular fealiii-e of the a woman who works. But some are especially costly. Frozen potato separate and widely-scattered fish­ Seafarers Welfare Plan, products have become one of the most popular of all factory-prepared and fish cannery groups the interest-free loan pro­ LiOaUf dishes. One researcher found he could buy ten pounds of potatoes for ermen's in Alaska into one organization. gram for Seafarers on 65 cents, but had to pay $3 for ten pounds of frozen French fries. An The set-up was the result of especially ridiculous example is sugared dry cereals which actually actionnew the beach, handled over taken at the last SIU of NA cost 50 percent more than if you sprinkled the sugar yourself over the convention $100,000 In loans in in San Francisco. game type of cereal. 1956. It is open to quali­ Here is a valuable comparison of a number of prepjred and fresh fied Seafarers on the foods, and processed and fresh produce, as calculated by the New York shipping list. Extension Marketing Service. In addition to loans, Cost per Cost per several ports offer tem­ Serving Serving porary lodging, so that Potatoes Dry mix 4o Seafarers in a port where Frozen whipped Canned condensed 5c 5o they do not maintain a SEATTLE—Shipping in this area Home-made whipped Frozen condensed 3-40 7o permanent home ran ob­ has been good for the last period Cole Slaw Fruits tain shelter. Packaged Canned peaches 4c 4.4Q and promises to continue so for These benefits reflect Home-made 1.2o Frozen peaches 8.3c the next few weeks, reports Jeff the Welfare Pian''8 con­ Snap Beans Canned blueberries 10.3a Gillette, port agent. The port had cern with the problems the Mary Adams (Bloomfield) and Canned, French 6c Frozen blueberries 13c Ocean Joyce (Ocean Transport) which are related to sea­ Canned, cut style 4.3c Canned cherries (tart) 6c 3.3o Fresh in season faring and are not found Frozen cherries (tart) 8.3a paying off and the Joyce and Sea 6.3c Frozen Canned pineapple chunks 6.2a Garden (Penn. Navigation) sign­ in shoreside industry. Orange Juice Frozen pineapple chunks 8.3c ing on. The Flomar (Calmar) was in transit. 3.5c Home-squeezed fresh Canned grapefruit 2.6a Canned segments "We are receiving very enthrtsl5.4a 3c Frozen concentrate Frozen grapefruit astic support from the Sailors Un­ Grape Juice segments 9.4a ion, Marine Cooks and Marine Fire­ 6.2o Ham Canned men in the American Coal beef," Frozen concentrate 3.7c Canned, skinned, boned 30a Gillette said, and th* kkid of Soup (Green Pea) Uncooked biitt half •' 26o teamwork that 'will seii us through . Home-made "ie Uncooked shank half 22c on top.' Alaska Fishery Pact Won MA Says 39 Seek US Mortgage Aid YOUR SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN Housing Program Seattle Lauds WC Oldtimers SEAFARER'S INT'L UNION, A&G DISTRICT �I I ; Pace Eirht SEAFARERS LOG Aufost 19, 1957 WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT e i g a t e i t es For the past couple of years there have been re­ peated reports linking cigarettes and cancer, and each time a number of smokers have sworn off cigs for life, or at least for a month. The repeated claims, and counter-claims from the tobacco in­ dustry, have left the public confused to say the least. But just recently, the United States Public Health Service had its say on the matter and stirred things up all over again. The PHS Surgeon General, Dr. Leroy E. Burney, re­ leased an announcement reviewing the findings of no less than 18 independent studies. The conclusions can be boiled down this way: • There is a definite connection between cigarettes and lung cancer. The more you smoke the greater your chances are for developing the ailment, which Is fatal In more than 95 percent of the cases. • At the same time, nobody has demonstrated in the laboratory that anything in a cigarette is defi­ nitely cancer-causing. Tobacco Co's Object The tobacco industry has jumped on the second fact to argue that cigarettes shouldn't be condemned until some­ body can show proof in the lab by regularly producing cancers in laboratory animals from any material used in cigarette manufacture. But there's no escaping the cold statistical fact that people who smoke get cancers far more often than pmple who don't smoke. What's more, those who smoke t\.'o packs a day or more seem far more susceptible. Since seamen are well-known for consuming more Java and smoking more butts than any comparable group of men, the findings of the Public Health Service have par­ ticular bearing. As a matter of fact, it might not be a bad idea for the Public Health Service to do a little statis­ tical checking among seamen as a group and see how their experience compares with the rest of the population. Some of the findings of the American Cancer Society and the Public Health Service should be pretty sobering to heavy smokers. For instance, the odds are 275 to one against a non-smoker getting lung cancer. The heavy smoker, the two-pack-a-day man, rates only a one to ten chance to escape the disease. And the lung cancer death rates for heavy smokers are fantastically higher, 64 times as great, the American Cancer Society says, than the death rate among the non-smokers. In terms of over-all death rates, the figures add up to pretty small potatoes compared to other major causes of death like heart disease, accidents and the like. For ex­ ample, lung cancer death rates annually are about 25,000 a year while heart disease rates run up into several hun­ dred thousand. But what the figures do show is that the heavy smoker may be- cutting a few years off his life. Always Time To Cut Down To the man who says, "It's too late now," I've been puffing this way for 20 years," the Public Health Service and the American Cancer Society both believe that a time­ ly reduction or halt in smoking even on the part of the heaviest smokers can prolong life and lessen the chances of contracting the disease. When it comes to the other side of the coin, finding just what it is in cigarette smoking that is responsible for the death rates, the investigators have been pretty thor­ oughly baffled so far. The one significant clue turned up so far, is the fact that pipe and cigar smokers do not ordinarily get lung cancers at anywhere near the rate of cigarette smokers. That pointed suspicion at the paper wrapper around the cigarette. A number of scientists have been poking into the various compounds used in processing the paper to see if they are responsible. But nothing definite has been proven. Temperatures Hiirh Another point of suspicion is the temperature at which a cigarette burns which is much higher than that of cigars. Various tars and other chemicals in cigarette tobacco or in the tobacco curing and manufacturing processes have been examined in efforts to find a definite link. Unfortunately, there are oodles of compounds, acting singly or in combination with each other, and all kinds of chemical processes involved in the manufacture and the smoking of a cigarette. It will probably be a number of years before anybody can come up with a conclusive answer. The complications were spelled out by Dr. John R. Heller, director of the National Cancer Institute before a Congressional committee recently. Dr. Heller put it this way: "There is mounting evidence that when tobacco is burned at about 800 degrees there is a chemical change in certain hydrocarbons which bring about certain cancercausing compounds. "We do not know which of these compounds is the cul­ prit. They are very complicated chemical compounds First P-A Box Ship Due On Maiden Run lu Sept MOBILE—The Gateway City, first of four C-2s to undergo conversion, is expected to be put into service as a trailership by early September. This will mark the start of PanAtlantic's unusual coastwise sea-land trailership program. in the near future. Work on the other three ships, The containership is equippped the Azalea City, Bienville, and with special electric cranes run on Fairland, is expected to be finished tracks along the decks of the ves­ sel. The trailers will be hauled up under the cranes which will lift them from the chassis and deposit them in the hold. The trailers have special corner posts to enable them to be safely stacked on top of each other without crumpling. Seafarers manning the ship can expect plenty of cargo overtime as present plans call for the ships to hit one and possibly more ports New York is in the last stages every day. of a drive for permanent personal Shipping Slows Up registration during the month of Shipping in this port has con­ August. Voters who register dur­ tinued to be on the slow side but ing the month will be carried per­ it is expected to pick up next pe­ manently on the registration lists riod. The Alcoa Corsair and Cava­ and will avoid having to repeat lier (Alcoa); Monarch of the Seas, the process this November and be­ Claiborne (Waterman) and Little fore all other election.s. Rock (Fairfield) paid off and Central Offices signed on. The Del Alba (Missis­ Central registration offices have sippi, Steel King (Isthmian), Ames been opened in all five boroughs Victory (Pan-Atlantic) and Alcoa for this purpose. These offices Pennant (Alcoa) were in transit. are open all day 9 AM to 5 PM. There are 13 vessels expected in Branch offices are also open every this port during the next period. evening. In addition to these the Wacosta Permanent registration is partic­ (Waterman) will take on a full crew ularly useful for seamen in light of in the next couple Of days for the the fact that they are not always Korean run and Cities Service's in port during the annual registra­ Canti^ny will take on a full crew for the coastwise tanker operation. tion period. NY Permanent Vote Register Drive Ending Pick Up 'Shot' Card At Payoff Seafarers who have taken the series of inoculations required for certain foreign voyages are reminded.to be sure to pick up their inoculation cards from the captain or the purser when they nay off at the end of a voyage. The card should be picked up by the Seafarer and held so that it can be presented when signing on for another voyage where the "shots" are required. The ino­ culation card is your only proof of having taken the required shots. Those men who forget to pick up their inoculation card when they pay off may find that they are required to take all the "shots" again when they want to sign on for another such voy­ age. 9 Summary of PHS Findings The following are excerpts from the text of the Public Health Service's statement on smoking and lung cancer: ". . . In June, 1956, units of the Public Health Servic* joined with two private voluntary health organizations to establish a scientific study group to appraise the available data on smoking and health. We have now reviewed the report of this study group and other recent data .... "In the light of these studies it is clear that there is an increasing and consistent body of evidence that excessive cigarette smoking is one of the causative factors in lung cancer. "The study group, appraising 18 independent studies, reported that lung cancer occurs much more frequently among cigarette smokers than among non-smokers, and there is a direct relationship between the incidence of lung cancer and the amount smoked . . . "The study group also reported that, in laboratory stud­ ies on animals, at least five independent investigators have produced malignancies by tobacco-smoke condensates . . . Thus some laboratory and biological data provide contributory evidence to support the concept that ex­ cessive smoking is one of the causative factors in the in­ creasing incidence of lung cancer . . . "The Public Health Service supports the recommenda­ tion of the study group that more research is needed to Identify, isolate and try to eliminate the factors In ex­ cessive cigarette smoking which can cause cancer." about which we need to know more." As for filters, the Public Health Service is pretty skepti­ cal that present-day filters make any particular differ­ ence. Dr. Heller declared that "we don't believe any fil­ ter can selectively, filter out the component or compo­ nents in the tars that are responsible for lung cancer." But at any rate, the weight of the evidence suggests that the best thing a heavy smoker can do is to stop smok­ ing cigarettes; the next best thing, to cut down to less than a pack a day or switch over to cigars and pipes. WC Pension Merger Hearing final Okay SAN FRANCISCO—Member unions of the SIU Pacific Disr trict have virtually completed the merger of their pension plans, the "Stewards News" reported last week. The basic language of the new trust agreement has been com­ will pave the way for increases in pleted. Only minor technicali­ present pension benefits. ties have to be dealt with before the program is put into effect. The merged plan will provide standard benefits and standard eligibility requirements for all men sailing West Coast ships, whether they are Sailors, Firemen or Cooks. At present, there are some varia­ tions in eligibility clauses which are in the process of being ironed out. In addition, merger of the plans The close working relationship established between the West Coast unions is further reflected in plans for a joint Labor Day edi­ tion, due out on August 30. The three West Coast union newspa­ pers, the "West Coast Sailor," "Marine Fireman" and "Stewards News" are planning a special com­ bined publication with special sec­ tions devoted to the activities of the three member unions. !=• A fae Sf Shipping PORT C CALL Rolls Along ^ e75'-4-"»»<AVEMCF -12/6 B.BALTiAYXE SAN FRANCISCO—As has been predicted, shipping continued to hold Its own the past two weeks. Men with top seniority had no difficulty obtaining berths in all three departments. The Longview Victory and Coe Victory (Victory Carriers), Ocean Dinny and Ocean Deborah (Ocean Carriers) paid off during the past period. The Deborah, Dinny and Fairport (Waterman) signed on. There were three vessels in port for servicing. They were the Mor­ ning Light, Yoiing America (Water­ man) and Steel Admiral (Isthmian). �-<z<. ••U'[r'/\:-'i'jy/; Aucust 1957 SEAFARERS O Andrew Daniluk displays certifi­ cate showing completion of intro­ ductory training course in New York hall. SlU LOG RIGINALLY designed as on upgrading school for Seafarers, the Andrew Furuseth training school, in con­ junction with facilities in other blU ports, is now also training newcomers to introduce them to *some of the rudiments of ship­ board work. The introductory program is In accordance with the employ­ ment clause of the Union contract (Article I, Section 4) which notes that "The Andrew Furuseth Train­ ing School, jointly operated and administerecf as an upgrading center for unemployed seamen, shall also be jointly operated and administered, pursuant to ar­ rangements and details to be worked out, to train class C per­ sonnel. The company prefers to hire class C personnel regardJess of rating or department, with a certificate of satisfactory com­ Instructor (standing) discusses point In first aid course offered to all train­ ing candidates at the Furuseth school. r*gt> NIM pletion of the course therein over other class C personnel whenever possible." Under this arrangement, the shipowner has the assurance that in most coses, those class C men who might come into his employ hove some familiarity with their duties. In addition to the Furuseth training facilities for all three departments in the port of Mo­ bile, the Union mokes use of its Baltimore and New York cafe­ teria set-ups to offer on introduc­ tion to galley and messroom work for class C men. After 30 days the class C men receive a certificate of comple­ tion of the course. Then when any jobs are open in the class C category, these men hove prefer­ ence over other class C regis­ trants who have no training for shipboard duties whatever. Basic fundamentals of seamanship are taught to all students. This group is getting instruction on how to read compass. 1 :^l Cliff Wilson, SIU chief steward, explains coffee-making procedure to three trainees in the New York cafeteria. , ^ ^ Black gang men get their introduction to engine room gauges with Eobert. Jordan, SIU Mobile patrolman, doing the honors. �Pace Ten J SEAFARERS Why Mamsan Gets Gray: $50 For AB Recently the SEAFARERS LOG reported on conditions under which English seamen sail, citing a letter from a night watchman who makes $91 a month after 25 years' service. Now the LOG has received data on Japanese seamen s of these additional amounts are wages which make the $91 picayune indeed. For instance, there is an extra-pay provision for look, pretty good. long cruises which in the case of Japanese seamen's wages are subject to a whole series of com­ the sailor amounts to about three plicated formulae, but when all of cents more a month up to about the allowances, annual increases 17 cents more a month for the and subsistence provisions are skipper—in other words, nothing added up, the average Japanese to write home about. Yet in terms of Japanese stand­ deck hand winds up with around $45 to $50 a month at present ex­ ards, the 1951 agreement was eonsidered in Japanese maritime change rates. Cooks are in the same pay range cireles as an "epochal mea.sure while oilers are a little higher, $66 which went a long way toward to$75monlhly. Quartermasters are vindicating the bad reputation in the $60 a month range. Bosuns Japan once suffered for 'cheap rate $120 to $137 a month while labor'." skippers get $212 to $240 depend­ Here again is a good example ing on how you figure the rate of of 'the great gap between an exchange. Those totals are based American wage scale and the for­ on a ycn-to-dollar range of 350 to eign competition faced by US ship­ 400. owners. The present wage scales are the result of an agreement reached between the National Seamen's Union and Japan Shipowners As­ sociation back in 1951. Under this system, the entry rating starts off at a minimum scale of around $15 a month. Actually, Japanese s e a m e n's wages are based on an entirely different hiring arrangement. When it comes to fine eating, While the seaman is on the beach, the crew of the Coeur d'Alene he is still considered as being in Victory can boast of gastronomical the employ of a particular shipping delights not normally on the menu. company, so that he receives a It was noted that minimum initial salary while he is Gordon -Dolan, waiting In the shipping pool. crew messman, made coffeetime Periodic Increases an occasion for The 1951 agreement provided mixing up and for periodical annual wage in­ serving an assort­ creases which vary with the ship, ment of cold the run and the rating. At best, drinks — K o o 1 the annual increases are small by Ade, and lemon­ American standards, amounting to ade, we presume, little more than a $1 a month for Dolan and what have unlicensed men; sometimes less you. Then Seafarer Kenny Coates than that. In addition to the extra pay for evidently felt that good shipmates actually serving aboard ship, the deserve a token of esteem now and Japanese seaman receives small then so he went ashore and came additional amounts on Persian st'iggering back to the ship under Gulf summer runs, on tankers, the weight of what was officially when working the ship short- described as a "large quantity" of handed, for overtime after 56 fancy ice cream for the crew. No hours and other provisions. Some further details on the nature of sam.e. What was it fellows? Pista­ chio? Burnt almond? Baked Alas­ ka????? SUP Blocks CC Bid To Ban Diabetic SAN FRANCISCO — A Sailor who had been going to sea regu­ larly since 1942 with a diabetic condition was suddenly hauled up on the carpet by the Coast Guard here as incompetent to sail. When the Sailors Union of the Pacific in­ vestigated the situation it was found that orders on the charges had come directly from Coast Guard headquarters in Washing­ ton. The Sailor in question has been treating his condition all through the years as per doctor's orders and was just recently certified "tit for duty " at the San Francisco Public Health Service hospital after a check-up there. Neverthe­ less, the Coast Guard was out to pull his papers and deprive him of his job rights. The SUP promptly protested the Coast Guard's action with the re­ sult that the action was dropped. The Coast Guard was forced to ad­ mit there was nothing in the rules and regulations which authorized it to bar a man who is a diabetic. 4" 4" t Add to the list of hard-working ship's delegates Brother Melvin Bass of the good ship S e a t r a i n Georgia and Sea­ farer John G. Brady who was reelected ship's delegate on the Antinous with a very special vote of thanks from the appreciative gang aboard her. 4" 4 4" Stewards, as usual, came In for a lion's share of mentions. Votes of thanks went to many, but head­ ing the list was W. Young, steward on the cable ship Arthur M. Huddel. He offered to out on the menu any special dishes the boys had in mind. Who could ask for more? Honorable mention was given to the cooks on the Matthew Thornton, Ocean Evelyn, Falrp'ort, Margaret Brown, City of Alma, Samuel F. Miller, John B. Water­ man, and the Mankato Victory. Then of course it should be noted that the gang on the Michael (Carras) thought very highly of their night cook and baker, Sea­ farer Vkior Perea. LOG ALCOA CORSAIR (Alcoa), July 7— Chairman, M. Costallo; Sacratary, J. Prostwood. One man left in hospital in Kingston. Jamaica. Delegate va­ cates post as he's served prescribed three trips. General discussion of movie films. Financial statement to be posted on bulletin board after payoff. M/S/C to have prices checked with purser on the slopchest by shoreaide patrolmen. Ship's delegate elect­ ed. Cleanliness aboard ship discussed. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), July 10— Chairman, J. Velaquez; Secretary, S. Bernstein, Someone took new mat­ tress by mistake? Was told not to do again. Moved and accepted. $7 In ship funds. CHILORf (Ore), June 30—Chairman, t. Mills; Secretary, C. Bortz. Elected ship's delegate. $21.71 in ships fund. Ancast 18, 1957 payed. Request cooperation of crew on care of washer. (26 in ship's fund. Treasurer elected. Keep laundry room clean. VALLEY FORGE (Penn. Nay.), July 7—Chairman, O. Martin; Secretary, W. Harris. Repair list submitted. One man hospitalized. List of men logged to be turned over to patrol­ man at payoff. Captain withholding medical treatment and poor launch schedule in Rijeka. Captain uncoop­ erative. Wiper promoted to AB as replacement for hospitalized man. Report accepted. Vote of thanks to SUP, MFOW. MCS & A4G men participartlng In American Coal beef. Re­ quest a name brand of soap. Steward to order more stores in Brazil due to extended trip. TOFA TOFA (Waterman), June 22— Chairman, A, Capote; Secretary, F. Van Wygerden. One man missed ship in Okinawa, joined in Yokohama. Cap­ tain requests M-hours notice for men leaving ship in Frisco. Ship's fund $20. Vote to have draws made accord­ ing to Union rules. Discussion on draws. Present method of issuing draws not satisfactory. Some repairs not made. Beefs to be discussed at meetings. STEEL SCIENTIST (Isthmian), June 2-Chairman, C, Bush; Secretary, K. Collins. Repairs to be made on West coast. Steward to submit own requi­ sition. Members to keep all problems below deck. New delegate elected. Alien seamen discussed. Ship's fund $89. Third cook missed ship. Motion passed that patrolman be ad­ vised for need of new refrigerator and wringer for washing machine. Steward asked of having juices more frequently, he asks that cups be re­ placed in pantry after use. Vote of thanks to radio operator for posting news in recreation room. AMES VICTORY (Victory Carriers), July 7—Chairman, C. Starling; Sacra­ tary, B. Feeley, M/S to send repair list from canal. All spoke of repairs. CATHERINE (Drytrans Corp.), June 27—Chairman, N. Pattersen; Secre­ tary, C. Shirah. $7.06 in ships fund. Sick men to see doctor, fix washing machine, take cots off deck and bring in. DEL SUD (Mississippi), July t — Chairman, J. Cave; Secretary, P, Val­ entine, Meeting called to order for purpose of collecting money from crew for the Cameron, La. hurricane victims. Motion passed to take $30 from ships fund and $50 from baseball fund and borrow $50 from baseball fund which will be replaced next trip. July 14—Chairman, W. Perkins; Sec­ retary, N. Funken. Collected sum of $446.50 for hurricane victims during last trip. Ships fund balance leaving New Orleans $204.50. Expended in New Orleans, $43.40 for projector, $50 for hurricane victims and $4 for four springs for movie projector, bal­ ance $106.71. Ship's delegate elected. Receipt for money collected for hur­ ricane victims was to be sent to St. Thomas. Keep washing machine clean in crew laundry, fiuwers to be bought for Brother Williams missing at sea last trip. EVELYN (Bull), July S—Chairman, P. Allan; Sacratary, J. Yuknas. Re­ pair list given to captain and chief engineer and most repairs were done. $54.36 in ship's fund. Motion made to build ships treasury at payoff. Steward to take orders for new mat­ tresses for members of crew that are in need. Repairs still to be done in galley and painting In passageways and crews quarters. CEOReS A. LAWSON (Pcnn), July 9—Chairman, L. Schmidt; Sacratary, W. Dunham. Request made on repair list last voyage for crews quarters to be painted, only engine department quarters have been painted to this date. $14 in ship's funds. Crew mem­ ber offers use of iron if crew will get ironing board, ships fund will by board. HASTINGS (Waterman), July 7— Chairman, R. Taylor) Secretary, J. Walls. Get new mattresses, better grade of meat, make up repair list. Check with patrolman about disputed delay sailing from New Orleans. Vote of thanks to Steward Dept. DREMAR (Ore), July 13—Chairman, C. White; Secretary, C. Farker. Let­ ter from C. Simmons concerning re­ pairs answered, various repairs taken care of. $36.10 in ship's fund. Return books to recreation room, only take one from case at a time. Bookcase to be locked while in port. ROBIN KIRK (Seas), July 7—Chair­ man, J. Hennass; Secretary, S. Bargesla. All beefs settled. $50 in ship's fund. Some overtime disputed. Mo­ tion; no one aboard ship talk to strangers in Boston on ship replace­ ments, on who is paying off and stay­ ing on. Fresh fruit more often, men donate $2 each for films. WILD RANGER (Waterman), July 4 —Chairman, D. Ruddy; Secretary, R. Utz. Discussions on excellency of crew, safety aboard ship, repair list and good conduct at payoff. $36.34 in ships treasury. Overtime for cleaning tanks on watch disputed. Crew thanked for hospitality by two hospi­ tal returnees. Delegate to forward/ papers of man who missed ship In Japan. Paint needed in messrooms. Request for logs in NCO club, Inchon. Wiper claims difcrlmination by first engineer. WINTER HILL (Cities Service), June 2S—Chairman, I, Cox; Secre­ tary, W. Bllger, See. patrolman about overtime that waa okayed but not STEEL VOYAGER (Isthmian), July 14—Chairman, S. Oonzalas; Secretary, A. Kowalskl. Ship's fund $19.82. Sug­ gestion made to increase fund. Dis­ cussion of general good and welfare of crew. REBECCA (Transcontinental), July 14—Chairman, N. Vrdelak; Secretary, M. Culp, Few hours disputed OT. Ship to be fumigated for roaches. Quality of meat to be changed. MADAKET (Waterman), July 11— Chairman, M. Rossi; Secretary, C. Corront. New delegate elected. Need new washing machine, or repair old one. Request clock in recreation room. All dept. sanitary men to alter­ nate in keeping laundry clean. Dept. delegates to attend safety meetings. HASTINGS (Waterman), July 7— Chairman, R. Taylor; Socratary, J. Wells. Some disputed OT. Need new mattresses; better grade of meat. Re­ pair list to be made up. To see patrolman about disputed dela.ved sailing from NO. Request for large lima beans. Vote of thanks to men Working on American Coai beef. DEL NORTE (Miss.), Juno 30— Chairman, H. Crane; Sacratary, E. Leonard. Discussion on performer.s. Ship's fund $107.68. One man short. Report accepted. New delegate elect­ ed. Motion to hold weekly delegates' meetings to discuss disputes in over­ time and unnecessary beefs that might come up. Discussion on cleanli­ ness of living quarters and proper use of laundry. ANTINOUS (Waterman), July Chairman, J. Brady; Secretary, B. Walker. Ship came to Gulf on coast­ wise articles and no transportation was paid. "C" card men replaced in Tampa. Obtained new toaster. Repair ll.st to be submitted. Overtime not checked. New delegate, secretary and treasurer elected. Vote of thanks to delegate. Pantry to be kept clean. AFOUNDRIA (Waterman), Juno 2* —Chairman, O. Ruf; Secretary, J. Guard. Delegata discharged in SF. Ship's fund $10.50. Several hours dis­ puted OT. New delegate, secretar.vreporter elected. Repair list, submit­ ted. Light to be placed on aft on catwalk. Election of dept. represen­ tative to safety meeting. First safety meeting to be called Sat. 7/6. SEATRAIN SAVANNAH (Seatrain), July 17—Chairman, F. Fatrick; Sacra­ tary, O. Constant. Ship's fund $44.22. Some disputed OT. Reports accepted. New delegate elected. Poop deck to be swept down each day and washed down at least three times a week. Discussion on linen. Steward claims enough linen for round trip if every­ one turns in soiled linen each week. Delegate to get more cabs in NO on arrival. KYSKA (Waterman), June 23— Chairman, I. Music; Secretary, D. Maehan. One man missed ship; one man hospitalized; lodging and sub­ sistence, etc. to be turned in to pay­ off patrolman. Ship laid up in Osaka for emergency repairs—engine plant failure. Ship's fund $335. Short two men. Electrician to be turned in to patrolman for misconduct. Not enough pressure in bathrooms. Beef on OT. To see patrolman about same. Need new washing machine. Water rusty. Repair list to be made up by all de­ partments prior to payoff. SEAGARDEN (Fenn. Nov.), July 7— Chairman, D. Masslmer; Secretary, D. Coker. Some repairs completed. Clean ship. Ship's fund $23. Ask for contributions to fund. One man hos­ pitalized for eye injury—rejoined ship later. Vote of thanks to galley force for fine service. Men warned to re­ main sober for payoff. Members to clean rooms and return solihd linen when leaving ship. DEL SUD (Miss.), July 14—Chair­ man, W. Ferklns; Secretary, N. Fun- ken. Smooth trip, very good cooper­ ation from dept. delegates. Collection of $446.50 taken for hurricane victims at Lake Charles and Cameron. Ship's fund $106.71. Purchased new projector and four springs. New delegate elect­ ed. Receipt for money collected for hurricane victims sent to' St. Thomas. Washing machine to be kept clean. Flower wreath to be bought in Rio and thrown over side for brother -missing at sea last trip. ALCOA FEGASUS (Alcoa), July 9— Chairman, L. Phillips; Secretary, (none). Repair list submitted. Ship's fund $10.63. New treasurer elected. Rooms painted. New delegate elected. Suggestion to install fans in all bath­ rooms. DEL ALBA (Miss.), June 2»—Chair­ man, J. Mathews; Secretary, J. Halpln. Ship's fund $22.51. More stores needed for 120-da.v voyage. Letter sent to headquarters. Steward to check stores. Silence to be observed; doors to be locked to keep crew boys off passageways. SEATRAIN SAVANNAH (Seatrain), July 21—Chairman, E. Eriksen; Sac­ ratary, C. Yow. Four taxis available . for in NO. RepaU- list submitted. Ship's fund $44.22. Ship sailed short one man. Report accepted. Need good second-hand washing machine. Chairs in messhall need rei>airing, Foc'sles need painting. AFOUNDRIA (Waterman), June S— Chairman, W. Kumke; Secretary, J. Guard. Delegates to make out repair lists in duplicate and to be submitted before 72-hour period for ship-side work. Check list for all items not completed. Aditlonal safety sugges­ tions to be added to list. J.clters con­ cerning safely meetings to be mailed after discussion with patrolman; Ship's fund $10. $7 paid for sliipped member's gear and headquarters mall. 24 hours disputed OT—delayed sailing from Portland. One NMU man Joined vessel to replace wiper who was pro­ moted. New reefer to replace present one secured by line in me.sshall: to be-placed in usual position in pantry. Delegate to see captain about port draw. No more chipping after 5 PM aft near crew quarters. Sugge.st stop­ ping practice of securing gear foe sailing with only five men at least eight hoOrs before letting go. Need bigger and better slop chest. HASTINGS (Waterman), June ._ Chairman, R. Taylor; Secretary J. Wells. One man missed .ship: to be reported to patrolman. Headquarters to contact company regarding ship convcr.sioni Each watch to havo own room; two to a watch for engine and three for deck—not more tlian three to a room. Rathroom to be kept clean. Watch table in mcs.srooin to he restenciled; also deck dept. room. New library to be obtained In .4meriean port. Delegate to see captain about 2nd mate. ALCOA POLARIS (Aicoa), July 14 —Chairman, L. Echoff; Secretary, J. Hannon. Beef on shifting sliip from Paramaribo to Paranani. One man paid off in .San Juan. Few hours dis­ puted overtime. Men not to be put over side in Paramaribo because of plrhana fish. Washing macliine to be fixed, new spare parls needed. Cups to be returned after using. Keep bathrooms clean. SEATRAIN LOUISIANA (Seatrain), July 26—Chairman, V. 'Szymansklf Secretary, C. Krelss. Five hours de­ layed sailing time Ok. Need air con­ ditioner for messhall—headquarters notified. Headquarters requested crew to extend articles for day and to •Ign. Ship's fund $50.09. Vote of thanks to steward dept. for job well done. ALCOA ROAMER (Alcoa), (ne date) —Chairman, J. Westfall; Secretary, J. Delgado. Reef in deck dept. to be discussed with patrolman. Reports accepted. STEEL ARCHITECT (Isthmian), July 24—Chairman, N. Vosklan; Secretary, R. Knowles. Few minor beefs, to be taken up with patrolman at payoff. Ship's fund $10..32. Some di.sputed OT. One man hospitalized In Sur.ibaya; rejoined ship later Reports accepted. To purchase new maga­ zines. New washing machine prom­ ised. Would like pasteurized milk in foreign ports. Need more lemons, name brand cigarettes. Drinking water tanks rusty, need cleaning. Pantry and messhall, showers, bath­ rooms need painting. Need more fly spray bombs. SEATRAIN LOUISIANA (Seatrain), July 12—Chairman, C. Collins; Sec­ retary, V. Whitney. Ship's fund $43.34. Reports accepted. New dele­ gate elected. TV rotor to be repaired. MAE (Bull), July 27—Chairman, H. Schwartz; Secretary, J. Kakelskl. New delegate elected. Story and pictures sent to LOG. Purchased playing cards and new TV antenna. Ship's fund $22.37. Repair list submitted. Report accepted. Request air conditioner on ship—patrolman to be notified. Dis­ cussion on air conditioning for all SlU ships; food situation—want mora variety in menus. Laundry to be kept clean. SEASTAR (Triton), July 21—Chair­ man, J. Starks; Secretary, M. Bugawan. Some disputed OT. New dele­ gate elected. Need new washing ma­ chine; new mattresses. Mate warned crew about public drinking In messrooms and passageways while ship i( In port. .Steward asked for sugges­ tions to Improve menu. ELIZABETH (Bull), July 31—Chair­ man, W. Janlsch; Secretary, B, O'Rourke. One man permitted to leave ship to attend father's funeral. To be cleared with headquarters. Beefs to be reported to delegates and discussed at meetings. Two members have beef—to be referred to patrol­ man. ORION STAR (Orion Shipping), July 7—Chairman, J. BIssonnet; Secretary, A. Morales. One man missed ship; one •man hospitalized. Report, accepted. New delegate elected. �• , ':y:m Aofost 16. 1987 SEAFARERS Pare Elerea IPG Lovers' Knot Hot Weather, Fair Shipping, NY Says NEW YORK—Seafarers in this port have managed to weather July's heat, but are still anxious to get off the beach. Shipping has continued to be favorable anchjobs are moving rapidly. — Among the vessels paying a very good job for the Union," off during the past period reports Claude Simmons, port were two Robin Line vessels, the agent. "Needless to say how much Robin Wentley and the Robin Gray. the Union and the membership "The boys on these ships are doing appreciates these crews staying on and doing such a bang up job, even though they are working un­ der adverse conditions." " Organizing Continues In other imion activities, the' Marine Allied Workers Division organizing drive in New York is continuing in high gear. Brothers on the beach have been coming forward to help maintain aroundthe-clock pickets around a few holdout companies. But it is ex­ NEW DELHI, India—Faced with pected that they will sign up cargo pile-ups and a threatened shortly. On the shipping side there were increase in freight charges, India has launched a drive to cut the 18 vessels paying off, six were in cargo jam that is tying up her port to be serviced and two signed major ports. If the government on. Simmons also announced that succeeds, the long spells Seafarers the SS Arlyn (Bull) would be crewspend in Indian ports will be ing up this week and then will sharply reduced by November, make a couple of trips to Bilboa, and dock operations will proceed Spain, with coal. The vessels paying off were the at a more normal rate. Seatrain New York, Seatrain Texas, Many Causes Seatrain Louisiana, (Seatrain); Behind the log jam is the Robin Wentley, Robin Gray (Robin); tremendous upsurge in cargo move­ Frances, Elizabeth, Beatrice (Bull); ments into India, the lack of mod­ Maxton, Almena, Ideal X (Water­ ern piers and cargo handling facili­ man); Alcoa Roamer, Alcoa Part­ ties, and the reluctance of Indian ner, Alcoa Ranger (Alcoa); Cities longshoremen to use whatever Service Norfolk, Royal Oak (Cities automatic unloading machinery is Service); Grain Shipper (Grainavailable. Grain, for example, is fleet); and the Steel Architect sacked by hand in the hold. (Isthmian). The result is that although cargo The Steel Architect (Isthmian) is being unloaded at a record pace, and Robin Kirk (Robin) signed on. it is piling up on the docks and The Cities Service Miami (Cities snarling future loading operations. Service), Seatrain Savannah, Sea- , The bulk of the tied-up cargo is train New Jersey (Seatrain), Seawheat and grain from the United mar and Texmar (Calmar) were States. in transit. While not disclosing what it plans to do to eliminate the jam, India has announced that it hopes to have the bottleneck eliminated in three months. Seafarers who've been spending weeks in Indian harbors are hopeful that the gov­ ernment will be successful. More Than A Month's Wait POINT BARROW, Alaska.—The At present, ships calling at Government formally took posses­ Indian ports have to wait upwards sion of the $500 million Distant of a month to discharge and load Early Warning radar alarm system outbound cargo. One of the ships currently tied up is the Steel Trav­ Tuesday while a fleet of 100 supply eler (Isthmian), which was sched­ ships continued their urgent stor­ uled to clear Calcutta in 32 days. ing mission here and at other The ship has notified the Union Arctic outposts. Civilian technicians will operate that it will be there at least 15 the 3,000-mile line under an Air days longer. Earlier this summer, the SlU-contracted Northwestern Force contract. It is designed to Victory (Victory Carriers) spent 44 provide advance warning of ap­ days in Vizagapatam completing its proaching enemy bombers using loading operations. The situation the polar route to attack US and is just as bad in Bombay, where Canadian targets. Ships Supply Bases ships have had to spend 30 days The supply mission, generally waiting for a berth. known as "Operation Blue Jay," has been carried on for the past three summers during construction of the vast radar network. Each year ships from East and West Headquarters wishes to re­ Coast ports carrying a year's supply mind Seafarers that men who of replacement stores and parts are choosy about working cer­ converge on the Arctic bases dur­ tain overtime cannot expect an ing the summer while the northern equal number of OT hours with waters are free from ice. This is the only time ships can the rest of their d partment. In some crews men have been enter the area. During the rest of turning down unpleasant OT the year, emergency supplies and jobs and then demanding .o small parts are air-lifted in. Any come up with equal overtime ships caught in the area once the when the easier Jobs come along. ice closes in are truly "stuck" This practice is unfair to Sea­ there until the next summer. As in the past, this years' fleet farers who take OT jobs as they contains a number of privatelycome. The general objective is to operated ships manned by civilian equalize OT as much as possible seamen plus a large nucleus of but if a man refuses disagree­ Government-operated supply ships able jobs there is no require­ and oilers. Fewer than 20 civilianment that when an easier job manned ships are being used this comes along he can make up the summer. The entire supply fleet is overtime he turned down before. about 20 percent smaller than In 1956. - . [ India Seeks Solution For Port Jams Senate OK's Inflatable Life Rafts WASHINGTON —The United States has joined 30 other nations in approving the use of inflatable liferafts to supplement or replace conventional lifesaving apparatus on offshore passenger vessels. Adoption by the Senate of the liferaft amendment to the Interna­ tional Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea means that prac­ tically two-thirds of the nations which are parties to the conven­ tion have now okayed it. Unani­ mous approval by all 47 nations Is required before the amendment can actually be put into effect. Once the amendment has unani­ mous approval, shipowners will have the option of using either the inflatable rafts or conventional life­ boats and noninflatable-type rafts. The international safety conven­ tion sets forth uniform principles and rules for the promotion of maritime safety and can be amended from time to time by unanimous consent. The United Kingdom originally proposed the lifeboat amendment, following suc­ cessful experiments with this type of lifesaving gear on British fishing and passenger ships. One of the specific advantages of the new type of apparatus is its compact size and weight. Most of the rubber rafts can be stored In a lightweight suitcase and inflate automatically on contact with the water. They are similar to those used for many years on both mili­ tary and commercial aircraft. ^30-50'Again The shipping industry, long notorious for its boom and bust cycles, is currently in the mood for a slump which is com­ pounded of many causes. Part of it is the reaction to the closing and opening of the Suez Canal. The canal's closing brought about lots of breakouts and a rush of tanker business. Now that the crisis is over, there seems to be a surplus of ships on hand. Cutbacks in foreign aid and a decline in pur­ chases in the US by some nations who are trying to cut down on imports are other factors. In a situation of this kind, the "50-50" cargo preference act becomes even more important to US shipping. But along comes a farm lobby and starts crying for shipment of agricul­ tural products on foreign-flag ships. The only reason the outcry comes forth now is the avail­ ability of foreign-flag tonnage. The farm lobby figures the lower the ocean rates, the more farm products can be peddled overseas. But in its shortsightedness, it forgets that if US ships are laid up, the shortage of ships would put farmers at the mercy of the rate-makers. Nobody heard the farm lobby hollar last fall and winter when Suez was shut down and shipping space was at a pre­ mium. Farm groups were glad then that US ships were avail­ able to carry their cargoes. They can't have it both ways— cut-throat rates and plenty of shipping space. 4" Hurricane Relief Congratulations are in order for the many union men who donated their time and energy to help build homes for the families left desolate by Hurricane Audrey. Many of them worked around the clock on their weekends. Members of the building trades unions supplied the necessary technical skills while those unfamiliar with construction work chipped in where they could. Bus drivers drove the trucks and buses transporting the construction gangs from distant cities while Seafarers and unskilled laborers swung picks and shovels clearing sites and laying foundations. This unselfish service on the part of these union members means more than just the reconstruction of homes. Their work will help put hurricane victirhs back on their feet with­ out the burden of heavy debt which might in the end have fallen on the community. Many of them lost everything they owned—^homes, furnishings, livestock and cars—and were left without a cent to their name. But because of the helping hand from these trade union members they will at least have a roof over their hea^s. Seafarers and others whp are taking part in this^ op^eration^ have a. right to feel proud. • ^ • » 9-.m-thmtm• k m m.m DEW Line Job Ends Turned Down OT? Don't Beef On $$ cJ.-S I'l'l k ; < i.' * ft.. f >'• - ip. �Par# Twelve ¥ SEAFARERS LOG Aurust 16, 1957 Director Visits Singapore ^Garden Spot* One of the highlights of the last Far East trip by the Steel Director was Singapore, with its famed "Tiger Balm Gardens," an outdoor museum of horrors and torture methods. Shutterbugs like John Carey (left) andjdeinx Ulrich made It a must on their list, because the gory, realistic tableaux spread over acres of parkland "have to be seen to be believed (right, and below)." Ritual slaying* of dragons and brutal forms of torture appear true to life in finely-detailed statuary and woodcarvingi at the Tiger Balm. Tongue-pulling methods (above) and butchery like the body-grinding machine (bottom, left) get full ploy. Animals por­ trayed are far cry from friendly chimps at the zoo. ..y.. * Aboard ship, crewmembers joe Bracht, Eddie Burke, Joe Bonilla and Leon White gag it up during a breather on decb. Burke pictures oldtimer Herman Meitx (left) and Joe Bonilla in sharp close-ups. Meitx has since pitched in on the American Coal beef as AB on the Thomas Paine. At right, Teddy, BR, gives Vince^ Mackelis a haircut in open air "barber shop." All photos are by Burke, John Carey and Reino Pelaso. T . ^PHS HOSPITAI. ORLEANS. LA, Simon Morrit John W. Bigwood Michael Murls Lylei Brunsoa Edward Northrof Cloiso Coat* William Paris Salem Cop* Winford Powell Chas. Cunningham Randolph RatcliS Roscoe Dearmon Lavon A. Ready Serlo M. DeSosa Wmtanr Reynolds Glrard E. Doty Joseph A. Ricks Sr. WUIlam Driseoll Toxie Samford Jan Englehardt Toefil SmigielskI Leon Gordon Wert A. Spencer Richard Graliski Paul J. Tate James Hudson Gerald Thaxton Samuel Hurst Lonnie R. Tickle William Jones James E. Ward Oliver Kenclrick Thomas Willis Edward C. Knapp ClilTurd Wuerll Leo Lang Robert Young George McFall Jacob Zimmer Robert P. Marion USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. Wm. M. Barnett James McCoy Frank J. Bradley Fred Sulllns Wayne T. Center S. L. Woodruft Michael Delano USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND. NY Oscar Adams Robert Larsen Gomer J. Bassler John D. Lewis Gordon Bell John L. Madden John H. Bove Damian G. Mercado Juan Burgos Robert A. Parker G. F. Crabtrea Frank S. Paylor Michael Delancy Cliarles Price David B. Dunn Michael Rendon Arthur Englehart James W. Rlst Antonio Fernandea Salvator Rivera T. S. Finnegan Jose Rodriguez Rufus Freeman Antonio Russo George Hall S. B. Saunders Lowell Harris P. W. Scidenberf Robert Henninger Thomas Tooina Henry Herkiniiein Fred L. Travis Alfred Kaju Harvey Tratvlck USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MASS. Amos Buz7elle Norman J. Moor* James J. Girolnml A. H. Ramos USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEXAS G. B. Anderson F. G. Lakwylt H. M. Bumpass Harold J. Romero Clarence Fontenot Alfonso Sandino M. N, Gendron William Shaw USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH BROOKLYN, NY Manuel Antonana H. C. Mclssac Eladio Aris Albert MartinelU Fortunate Bacomo Vic Milazzo Joseph J. Bass Joaquin Miniz Juan Denopra W. P. O'Dea John J. DriscoU C. Osinski William Guenther George G. Phifer Bart E. Guranick G. A. Puissegur Howard Hailey F. Regalado Percy Harrelson Winston E. Renny Taib Hassen George Shumaker BUly R. Hill Kevin B. Skelly Thomas Isaksen Henry E. Smith Ira H, Kilgore Stanley F. Sokol Ludwig Krlstlansen Michael L. Toth Frederick Landry Harry S. TuttTe Leonard Leidig Virgil E. Wllmoth Patrick McCann Pen P. Wing A. McGuigan Dester Worrell USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VA. Claude Bibb C. M. Sturgls Francis J. Boner; Maximo Tangalla Frank Peskurlc Chas. T. Taylor USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF, Noah C. Carver E. A. Rodriguez Vincent D'Amato Sung C. Wang Thomae D. Foster G. L, Warrington Michael J. Gaudio '' USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. Jose Blanco Charles A. Mosf Wade B. Hnrrell H. E. Skipper Wm. V. Kouzounas Leslie F, Swegaa Jlmmie Littleton USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TENN. Charles Burton VA HOSPITAL e NEW YORK, NY K. T, Cunningham USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH, TEXAS B. F. Deibler W. E. Orzechowskl Siegfried Gnittle John C. Palmer James R, Hodge* August Panepinto VA HOSPITAL HOUSTON, TEXAS J, P, Williamson VA HOSPITAL BROOKLYN. NY Robert McCutcheon USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MD. Howard Abell Lucas Hernandei Ludwik Borowik David Miller Victor B. Cooper Edward Morales Clarence Crevier James Portway Emil Dupont John Rekstln Leo Dwyer Charles Rice Alberto Espino Walter Saichuk Gorman Glaze Robert O, Smith MONTEBELLO CHRONIC DISEASE HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MD, Francisco Bueno Ti/.,.. Union Has Cable Address 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 assure speedy transmission on all mes­ sages and faster service for the^ men involved, �SEAFARERS Auffust 18, 1957 KATHRYN (Bull), July 30—Chilr. man, M. Zaionskat tacratary, P. Cor* nlor. Bosun'a Job open due to illness, ^placement aent. Beef concerning Snd officer and OS to be discussed with patrolman in NY. Ship's fund 06. Beport accepted. Contact patrolBian about hot water. Menus to ba typed and placed on tables. NATALIE (Intercontlnantal), July 10 —Chairman, J. NIcholscn; Secratary, B. Tonar. One man logged. One man missed ship after failing to perform duties for 19 days. Report accepted. Delegate discussed chief steward and pantryman's failure to turn to and warned crew about fouling up. Dis­ cussion on draws. MV PONCE, (Ponca), July 30— Chairman, F. Millar; Secratary, W. Haatar. Beef with chief mate about on time for draw* and opening of slop chest. Coalship Vet Tells All In Verse KERN HILLS (NO. Atlantic Marine), July 14—Chairman, F. Throp; Secre­ tary, J. Oorello. One man missed ship; one man hospitalized. Crew getting off after a fiVi mo. trip. New iron purchased. Ship's fund $10.55. Some disputed OT. Ship to be fumigated. Discussion on repair list. Rooms to be left clean for new crew. Nobo(Jy can argue the fact that the SIU veterans and oldtimers from the SUP,,MFOW and MCS active in the American Coal beef really have it on the ball. These brothers of the SIU of NA, acknowledged "Ancient Mariners" in maritime today, are sailing below their regu--* lar ratings under substandard low from SUP Brother George aboard these ships in the front­ non-union conditions, again Gourdin, who's sailing OS on the line of the beef. LUCILLE BLOOMFIELD (Bloomfield), June 30—Chairman, J. Parks; Secretary, W. Walker. Two men logged. Cable to headquarters. Do­ nations for relief of disaster victims In La. and Texas totaled $440 from officers and crew. Amount to be sent* via radio to Salvation Army. Ship's fund $1.24. Discussion on loundry facilities. Suggestion to secure new drain for washing machine and new scuppers in laundry room. 8EATRAIN GEORGIA (Seatrain), July IS—Chairman, M. Chapman; Sec­ retary, A. Lambert. Headquarters no­ tified to have patrolman pay off ship Sunday. Chief mate has foc'sle keys. Clothes not to be left too long in washing machine. Use bulletin board for ship business oniy. Ship's fund $22.10. Any raggestions for new con­ tract negotiaiions to be brought up at meeting. Food orders mixed up. More cooperation requested. Vote of thanks to ship's delegate. Request air conditioning be installed. Discus­ sion about dill pickles in messhall. SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY (Seatrain), July 21—Chairman, T. Montemarlno; Secretary, P. Brady. One bosun. Patrolman to meet ship in Tampa. Ship's fund $18.03. Laundry to be kept clean. Obtain stoppers for laundry sink. STEEL SEAFARER (Isthmian), July 14—Chairman, E. Parr; Secretary, O. Payne. Some repairs made. Other repairs to be listed. Shore leave hours which were not ailowed will be claimed as OT and taken up with patrolman: list times correctly. Trav­ elers' checks draw in Halifax. Soma disputed overtime to be taken up with patrolman. 585'/i shore leave re­ striction. Reports accepted. All cots and extra linen to be returned. Mid­ ships house, foc'sles to be kept clean­ er. All rooms to be cleaned for pay­ off. COEUR D'ALENE VICTORY (Vic­ tory Carriers), July 6—Chairman, W. Simpson; Secretary, K. Foster. Most repairs completed. Ship's fund $7. Two members fined $50 for not stand­ ing watch. . New delegate elected. Vote of thanks to two crew members for purchasing large quantity of fancy Ice cream and making cold drinks at coffee time during hot weather. DEL ORO (Miss.), May 25—Chair­ man, U. Sanders; Secretary, H. Gar­ des. Disputed overtime. Awaiting New York decision on penalty cargo wages from voyage No. 40. Commit­ tee to obtain safety report for cap­ tain on two accidents. Sanitary men to work two hours daily and keep ship clean. Ship's fund $70A.5, Pur­ chased reading material. Few hours disputed OT. New delegate elected. Suggestion that ship be stored for 90 days instead of 80. Discussion on cleanliness of laundry. July 22—Chairman, U. Sanford; Sec­ ratary, W. Davanncy. Five men logged. One man hospitalized, return­ ing on Del Norte. Ship's fund $32.02. Some disputed OT. Question on OT for man carried to Bahia. and signed on as repatriated seaman. To call meeting with patrolman about over­ due OT and penalty cargo pay. Keys to be made for messhall and pantry. Messhall and pantry to be locked while ship in port. Porthole screens and hooks for coffee cups to be or­ dered. Discussion on rancid butter. DEL SOL (Miss.), July 7—Chairman, W. Murrell; Secretary, R. Simmons. Ship's fund $15. No beefs: everything running smoothly. Report accepted. To set up laundry cleaning schedule. Numbers to be stenciled over bunks for fire boat drills. Bunks to ba made and kept clean. man missed ship. Reports accepted. Remove cots from poop deck. Need new screen for portholes. Repair list to be made up. STEEL FABRICATOR (Isthmian), July 10—Chairman, B. Hanford; Sec­ retary, C. Chandler. Ship's fund $37.50. Some disputed OT and launch service. Delayed sailing. Vote of thanks to steward for job well done. Cots to be removed from deck. Ship to be sprayed for roaches. STEEL NAVIGATOR (Isthmian), May 25—Chairman, R. SIrols; Secre­ tary, P. Haraye. Ship's fund $21. One man missed ship. Report accepted. Keep messroom clean. Doors to be locked while in port, except gangway side door. TOPA TOPA (Waterman), July 1?— Chairman, P. Van Wygerden; Secre­ tary, A. Smith. Everything running smoothly. Reports accepted. Officials to investigate trouble between 3rd assistant and oiler. Suggestion that hospital be put In shape for any emergencies. proving the time-worn adage that "good union men never grow old." Now, an added talent is showing itself, typified by the verses be­ coal ship Martha Berry. Writing Making no apologies for his from Spain, on his way ''home. rhyming efforts, he makes his point Brother Gourdin sent in this "LOG- plain, showing how keenly the oldA-RHYTHM" on behalf of the men timers on the coal ships feel. LOG-A-RHYTHM: The Ancient Mariners .By GEORGE GOURDIN, SUP. The American Coal Shipping Company, With John L. Lewis laying the keel. Has Joe Curran acting as bosun With an NMU man at the wheel. Well, the court finally reached a decision That it thought was mighty swell. It ruled that the oldest discharges Would solve the problem well. They started with just a few ships. Good old Uncle Sam promising more; To ship the coal the miners work. Costing the taxpayers money galore. The sailor men came from far and wide. To compete for their organization; Some of the discharges were tattered and torn, But they passed ev'ry examination. This set-up started like a dream Till John and Joe concluded. To recruit the mates and engineers With only mine union men included. Joe Curran tried all angles to win. He dug deep in his larder; Shanghaied a few that had retired. Sent an SOS to Snug Harbor. The MEBA and MM&P Went into action on this phony deal. They asked injunctions and won it in court, To teach John and Joe not to steal. The SIU really challenged this move; With the percentage of men in its favor. It'll sign this contract and sail these ships. And be an asset to organized labor. Curran and NMU could've had these jobs Jf he'd agreed in a good union way. To sail with the mates from the MM&P And engineers from the MEBA. Just as I end this line of chatter, I learn from an NMU man. That the retired and disabled aboard these ships Were depriived of their pension plan. The SIU was full of fight. About this time, you can bet, They didn't like the shady deal That the rank-and-file mates would get. They were told their wives would get the checks While they sailed on this flea-bitten scow, But it seems the promise wasn't well kept. As the landlord wants the rent right nowl VENORE (Ore Nay.), July II—Chair­ man, C. Webb; Secretary, T. Cummlngs. One man short. Baker left ship at Canal for wife's burial. Thanked crew for $345 donations. Re­ ports accepted. New delegate eleeted. Recreation room to be kept clean. Cups to be returned. ..Soiled linen to be turned in. Washing machine to be turned off when finished and kept clean. Vote of thanks to steward dept. Ropeyarn Art Not Lost Yet Seafarer Frederik Ouwe­ neel has sailed under ten dif­ ferent flags in the last quarter DEL CAMPO (Miss.), June 21 — Chairman, J. Gelssler; Secretary, E. Mcsley. Repairs completed. More stores put aboard. No beefs. Good crew, fine cooperation. Almost all hands equipped with deep water fish­ ing tackle for fine eating fish. Ship's fund $11.25. Coal beef communica­ tion read. Old timers doing fine job to help win beef. Report accepted. Delegate re-elected. Laundry to be kept clean: keep noise down in pas­ sageways. Vote of thanks to delegate for good Job. ~ May 25—Chairman, J. Lapatle; Sec­ retary, R. TIndell. All repairs com­ pleted. Members warned about foul­ ing up. Food beef—70 days' stores for 80 day trip. Ship's fund $11.25. Delegate did good job in settling beefs. Some disputed OT. Report ac­ cepted. Need new pump for washing machine. Delegate and steward to see about shortage of stores. MATTHEW THORNTON (Grain Fleet)—Juno 29—Chairman, C. Carl­ son; Secratary, R. Lee. Beef made FAIRPORT (Waterman), July 14— on small sized mattresses, turned Chairman, J. Nelson; Secretary, W. over to patrolman in Baltimore, noth­ Stark. No Logs received. Two men ing could be done since former stew­ missed ship—squared away. Ship's' ard had accepted them. Company fund $28. Few hours disputed OT. should not be penalized for mistake Repair list turned in. Three men made by one of our men. Repairs fired. Motion that headquarters try have been taken care of. Motion made for better retirement plan. Need new to donate $1 each for ship's fund. iron. Suggestion to use three per­ Take good care of fans and washing colators for coffee each meal. Vote machine, no spare parts aboard. Re­ of thanks to steward dept. To check turn cups to pantry from deck. Burly Pace Thirteen LOG Frederik Ouweneel shows ofF some of the designs he's mode dur­ ing the current voyage of the Fort Hoskins. He soys he used 17 fathoms of 21 thread in the sunflower alone (left). The statuettes flanking the lamp are made from yellow soap and the lamp itself out of rope yarn. It looks like he's earned that nickname. century and, to the surprise of no one, "none of those ships can com­ pete with the stars and stripes." Starting with his native Hollajid. Ouweneel has also sailed under the English, Greek, Norwegian, Swed­ ish, Liberian, Panamanian, Syrian and Israeli flags but "the best thing that ever happened to me w.-^a when I got my SIU book. I am very proud of it." Known to his shipmates on the Fort Hoskins and other SIU ships as "The Flying Dutchman" or "Rope-Yarn Dutch," Ouweneel h.3s put his varied sailing experiences to good use. Using odds and ends of ropeyarns, he's following in the tradition of the old sailing ship hands who made mats and designs with intricate knots and splices to while away their time. This may be a kind of a lost art form today, but it won't disappear altogether while sailors like Ouweneel are at it. By Bernard Seaman �F««* FAorteen SEAFARERS '5ea-Spray' —By S»afanr Robert fink *'Back again? You must have made same ports as last trip/ SlU, A&G District SUP HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND Ill SW Clay St. CApltal 3-4336 RICHMOND. Calif....810 Macdonald Ave. BEacon 2-0925 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Main 0290 1 WILMINGTON NEW YORK 505 Marine Ave. Terminal 4-3131 678 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYaclnth 9-6165 Canadian District HALIFAX, N.S MONTREAL 128V4 Hollls St. Phone 3-8911 634 St. James St. West PLateau 8161 FORT WILLIAM Ontario 408 Simpson St. Phone: 3-3221 PORT COLBORNE Ontario 103 Durham St. Phone: 5591 TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E. EMplre 4-5719 VICTORIA, 61714 Cormorant St. EMplre 4531 VANCOUVER. BC 298 Main St. Pacific 3468 SYDNEY, N3 304 Charlotte St. Phone: 6346 BAGOTVILLE, Quebec 20 Elgin St. Phone: 545 82 St. Davids St. CAnal 7-3202 THOROLD, Ontario Editor, SEAFARERS LOG. 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG — please ut my name on your mailing ist. (Print Information) 1? NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY ZONE.... STATE TO AVOID DUPLICATION; If you ar* an old subscriber and have a change of address, please give your former address below: ADDRESS • ••••••• CITY STATE ,1. ZONE... QUEBEC Quebec SAINT JOHN NB 44 Sault-au-Matelot Phone: 3-1569 177 Prince William St. OX 2-3431 Great Lakes District ALPENA Ancnat 19, 195T Asks Reduction In Job Calls II as ordinary seaman on thia vessel on a voyaga from trio Gulf to Santos and on to the Far East. Crewmembers whoso To the Editor: _ names I recall are Frenchy To the Editor: There has been much discus­ Michelet, Rebel Haskell and The following is a copy of a sion recently around the hall Singletary. letter which the chief aboard about reducing the number of I guess I was what you would the Samuel F. Miller sent to the daily shipping calls. I feel It call a charter member of the company's marine superlntendwould be a good Idea. SIU, Joining in April, 1939, and ant. A reduced number of calls being issued book G-133, Dur­ William C. Brown would allow members on the ing the war I was in the Navy Engine delegate beach to give more care to (drafted), and after it back to affairs at home, to other busi­ sailing as AB, 3rd mate and 2nd "Captain J. A. Johnson nesses If they have them, and to mate. Vice President St Marine Super­ things like reporting to the un­ My present occupation as a intendent employment Insurance office. salesman gives me ample time Everybody would then have to think about times gone by. Boston Shipping Corporation time to do these things and still I have pictures of all the ships 153 Milk Street not miss out on the shipping I have sailed in except the old Boston 4, Massachusetts calls at the hall. Arizpa. Certainly I would be I would suggest having two grateful for information leading "Dear Captain: "We are due to make arrival calls in the morning and two in to a copy of same. I can be the afternoon. The AM calls reached at 8376 Arnold Street, in about six hours having com­ pleted voyage No, 1, As you could be at 10 and 11, and at 2 Dearborn 6, Michigan, know the first voyage after and 4 PM on weekday afters Maurice £. Llxotte breakout is generally a pretty noons. There could be one busy one from an engineering Saturday morning call at 10 AM, standpoint. This has been no as well as calls at any time for exception. emergencies. On the same subject, there "For all practical purposes I seems to be no reason for hav­ To the Editor: have had no first assistant for ing our regular membership I'm writing to let the mem­ the entire voyage. One paid off meetings start at 7 PM, when bership know about the good in Honolulu with a back injury they could be started at 6 PM, food and pastries the Steel and I have had the other as a or even earlier, once the daily Advocate has been enjoying two passenger from Pusan to the calls are completed. This would trips running to Japan and States. allow the members time to ful­ Korea. "If it had not been for the full fill other commitments they Last trip we had Sherman cooperation and over-contract can't take care of after the Wright and Herb Knowles hand­ obligation of the entire unli­ meeting and would still enable ling the key jobs in the galley. censed engine department per­ men on the ships, who wished This trip we again have Herby sonnel I would really have had to, to get to the meeting after putting out the food "mother a rough time. As it is, the plant work. used to cook" and if you don't Is in excellent condition. Voyage John Jellette like the first entree, he's got repairs will be very minor. two more you can choose from. "I am handing a copy of this Tom Ulisse is the pastry chef letter to William C. Brown, and his French bread and garlic engine department delegate for bread is out of the Seafarers International To the Editor: this world. Pizza Union. I would be happy to have The following note was re­ pie, jelly dough­ him or any other member of the ceived from the chief engineer nuts and cream unlicensed engine department on this vessel after a fire at sea. puffs are a few with me at any time in the Ship's delegate of the delicacies future as a shipmate." SS Grain Shipper that help make Charles B. McCoy this a happy Chief engineer "To All Departments: crew. t t i "My own personal thanks to That's not all. all of you, each and every one, We got them Ulisse for a job well done, for your co­ right down to operation In the assistance you the last man. Chief cook Know­ gave in fighting the fire we had les swears by his third cook, To the Editor: in the boiler room on the 19th Berton Meade, and galleyman, I wish to express my thanks of June at sea. Through your ef­ Johnny Jackson, as two of the and appreciation, through the forts and attention to duty wa greatest to work with... medium of the LOG, to the offi­ averted what could have been a Keeping a clean pantry and cers and crew brothers of the catastrophe, only because every­ dishing out fine salads we have SS Venore. Their kind and gen­ one did his bit. We controlled Ralph Fitzpatric. In our spotless erous donation, plus their sym­ the fire and brought the ship messroom we have A1 Rios, a pathy, excelled anything I have in." mighty sharp first-class waiter. ever run across. They donated G. F. Brady Sitting back in his arm chair, enough money for my plane fare Chief engineer smiling because he's got such a home and to help with the it it bunch of good, dependable guys funeral expenses of my wife working for him is Chief Stew­ who died when I was a week at ard Aussie Shrimpton. He's the sea, man who doesn't get any credit I also wish to thank the offi­ To the Editor: when the food is good. cers of the welfare services de­ Would any of you oldtimer.4 In closing I want to thank the partment in Baltimore for their have any idea where I may crew and delegates for full aid and help. They took care of obtain a photograph of the old cooperation and thereby making all matters until my return and SS Arizpa belonging to the my job an easy one. helped me after I had gotten Mobile Oceanic Line? I made Luke A. Ciamboll back. my last trip prior to World War Ship's delegate Ronald P. Hannigan Chief Engineer High On SIU Advocate Boasts Culslnog Not Chow SIU HAIL DIRECIORT BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Earl Sheppard. Agent EAstern 7-4900 ,...276 State St. BOSTON James Sheehan. Agent Richmond 2-0140 HOUSTON 4202 Canal St. Robert Matthews, Agent Capital 7-6558 LAKE CHARLES, La 1419 Ryan St. Leroy Clarke, Agent HEmlock 6-5744 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner, Agent HEmlock 2-1754 MORGAN CITY 912 Front St. Tom Gould, Agent Phone 2156 NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. Lindsey Williams, Agent Tulane 8626 NEW YORK 673 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYaclnth 9-6600 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Ben Rees, Agent MAdison 2-9834 PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. S. Cardullo, Agent Market 7-1635 PUERTA de TIERRA PR 101 Pelayo Sal Colls, Agent Phone 2-5996 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Marty Breithoff, Agent Douglas 2-5475 SAVANNAH 2 Ahercom St. E. B. McAuley, Agent Adams 3-1728 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Jeff GiUette, Agent Elliott 4334 TAMPA 1609-1811 N. Franklin St. Tom Banning, Agent Phone 2-1323 WILMINGTON, Calif 505 Marine Ave. Reed Humphries. Agent Terminal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS 675 4th Ave., Bklyn. SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS J. Alglna, Deck C. Simmons, Joint J. Volpian, Eng. W. Hall, Joint E. Mooney. Std. R. Matthews, Joint LOG 1215 N. Second Ave. Phone: 713-J BUFFALO. NY 180 Main St. Phone; Cleveland 7391 CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave., NE Phone: Main 1-0147 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Phone: Woodward 1-6857 DULUTH 621 W. Superior St. Phone: Randolph 2-4110 SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 92nd St Phone: Essex 5-2410 Chief Praises Men For Saving Ship Venore Rates Tops With Him Has Soft Spot For Old Arizpa Seafarer Makes Splash On Return To PI Home Back for a visit to his native town of Botolon, in Zombalei province, Philippine Islands, Seafarer Max Felix (seated, canter) played host to provin­ cial and local officials at gath­ ering in his lister's^ home. Flanking Max were Jaime Ferrer, Under-Secretary of Agriculture for the notional government (left), and Manuel D. Barreto, Governor of Zomboles Province (right). Others present included Mayor Juan Gunem of Botolon (seated, 3rd from left). Senator Ferrer was private secretary to the Iota Philippine President Ramon Mogsoysay, who also come from ZamDoles province. " �SEAFARERS Aufust 16. 1957 LOG Happy Birthday! All of the follovAng SIU families have received a $200 maternity bene/ efit plus a $23 bond from the Union in the baby's name: $> - t $1 t 3» » » Sandra Kay Smith, bora July 1, 1957, to. Seafarer and Mrs. Robert G. Smith, Houston, Tex. 4" t Melba Jean Rynes, born January 1, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Lawson P. J. Rynes, Summerville, Fla. 4> t • 4" Maria Trinidad Garcia, bora Bryan Lewis Wallace, born July 21, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Earl June 26, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Trinidad Garcia, Galveston, Tex. C. Wallace, La Marque, Tex. 4> 4» 4" i i 4> t 4^ » * Konff Yuen Yuengr, born July 19, Gordon L. Peck Jr., born April 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Yuen 13,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Gor­ Pow Yueng. New York City. don L. Peck, New Orleans, La. Dewey L. Milton Jr., born July Donna Marie Booth, bora June 15, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. 22, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Al­ Dewey L. Milton, Roanoke, Va. ton R. Booth, Tickfaw, La. Shorthanded? If a crewmember quits while a ship is in port, delegates are asked to contact the hall immediately for a replace­ ment, Fast action on their part will keep all jobs aboard ship filled at all times and elimi­ nate the chance of the ship sailing shorthanded. I t. ^ i. Miriam Torres, born July 7,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Raymond Torres, Brooklyn, NY. 4> 4> Joseph E. Thomas, Jr. born June 29, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Joseph £. Thomas, Berkeley, Cal. Looking mighty spry, retired Seafarer Walter Stoll of Savannah sends greetings to for­ mer shipmates as he prepares to celebrate his 75th birthday next Wednesday, August 21st. Stoll is one of the SIU brothers receiving the $150 monthly disability-pension. Israel Trade Now Normal TEL AVIV — A spokesman for 4 4 4 Ernest Charles Biinkerhoff, born the Foreign Ministry here said that July 23, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Israeli shipping through the Gulf Albert Brinkerhoff, Yulan, NY. of Aqaba is back to normal and that disruption is not expected. Confidence, informed sources in­ dicated, was placed in Secretary of State Dulles' recent assurance to the Israel ambassador that Saudi Arabia would not interfere with Aqaba shipping. It was also an­ nounced that the freighter Athlit is enroute from South Africa to Israel's port of Elath. EVERY I SUNDAY I DIRECT VOICE I BROADCAST I I TO SHIPS IN ATLANTIC EUROPEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN WATERS "THE VOICE OF THE MTD' WFK-39, 19850 KCs Ships in Caribbean, East Coast of South America, South AHantic and East Coast of United States. WFL-68, 15850 KCo Ships In Gulf of Mexico, Carib­ bean, West Coast of South America, West Coast of Mexico and US East Coast. WFK-95, 15700 KCs Ships in Mediterranean area, North Atlantic, European and US East Coast. Meanwhile, MTD 'Round-The-World Wireless Broadcasts Continue • • • Every Sunday. 1915 GMT (2:15 PM EST Sunday) ' WCO-13020 KCs Europe and North America WCO-16908.8 KCs East Coast South America WCO-2240? KCs West Coast South America Every Monday, 0315 GMT (10:15 PM EST Sunday) WMM 25-15607 KCs Australia WMM 81-11037.5 Northwest Pacific MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT U.S. Passenger Liners Safest, CG Stndy Finds /-'Ai! WASHINGTON—^When it comes to safety, American pas­ senger liners are far ahead of foreign carriers. That was the decisive conclusion of a Coast Guard report released last month compar-^ ing US and international holm. The Coast Guard implied standards for ship construc­ that an American ship hit the same Donna Lynn Bryan, born July 14, Brian Anderson Alston, bom July 15, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ernest Oscar Wm. Alston, Berkeley, Calif. K. Bryan, Houston, Tex. Patricia McKinney, born July 23, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Melville McKinney Jr., Camden, NJ. J. i Vivian and IVilllam Mora, born June 29, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Joseph A, Mora, New York, NY. Pare Fifteen Personals Walter Yeoke, Losmar Contact William Davies at 2727 De Anza Trailer Harbor, San Diego 9, California. Phone — Broadway 3-3211. 4 4 4 Chief Mate Thomas Heaney Nick Leone Bob Walker would like to get in touch with you. His address is 219-48th street. Union City, NJ. Telephone—Union 4-8627. 4 4 4 Former Matthew Thornton Crewmembers Will the men who worked on the Matthew Thornton on April 29th in the No. 5 hold please contact Stephen Emerson. He lives in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas. 4 4 tion. The report, detailing the way would probably have been case for American construction able to keep from heeling as badly, standards, was made public by the and might not have capsized. The Coast Guard also pointed House Merchant Marine Commit­ tee, which asked for a study after out that American ships are less likely than foreign ships to be the sinking of the Andrea Doria. The Coast Guard pointed out destroyed by fire. The 1948 Conven­ that American passenger liners tion provides for three types of outstrip foreign competition most structural fire protection, with one sharply in compartmentation and setting out a comprehensive stand­ damage stability, two of the most ard of structural fire protection, important areas involving safety. and the other two methods merely The US is in a class by itself in requiring specific detecting and ex­ provisions for structural fire pro­ tinguishing equipment. The Coast tection, which combines protection Guard pointed out that American and control. It also tops foreign ships use the first method, which shipping in lifeboat launching pro­ eliminates combustible materials cedures, safety communication and from -the structure work of the vessel, and requires a series of fire other fire-fighting devices. American ships are built to barriers to minimize fire spread. higher standards of compartmen­ All European carriers use methods tation than foreign carriers, the 2 and 3. The report concludes: "Safety is Coast Guard reported. According a comparative quality that is meas­ to the 1948 International Conven­ tion lor the Safety of Life at Sea, ured in terms of probabilities. ships must be built with a subdivi­ Accordingly, it cannot be positively sion factor of .48. American ships, stated that a particular vessel will constructed under Coast Guard or will not be involved in a catas­ standards, must have a subdivision trophe. However, the accumulation factor of .35. The difference means of "extras" of the type previously that foreign ships can barely with­ indicated in this letter, definitely stand damage to two adjacent main increases the probabilities of an compartments without sinking, American Merchant Marine with a while American ships might bf safety record second to none." able to stand up even if three adja­ cent main compartments were damaged. US ships also lead foreign com­ petition in damage stability, or the ability of the vessel to keep from The iceberg season is finally capsizing or heeling over exces­ sively after damage. The 1948 over, one month later than usual. convention and the Coast Guard's The international ice patrol has standards require ships to be able been closed down until next spring to withstand safely damage to two after an unusually heavy plague of adjacent main compartments ex­ 'bergs. Normally, the ice menace ends tending inboard approximately 18 feet. But American ships must about July 1 and the patrols are also be able to remain afloat and withdrawn on the 15th of July. But on a reasonably steady keel if the this year the big ice mountains damage length is 46 feet, while the have been so numerous that ocean 1948 convention allows a damage shipping has been forced to travel length of only 291^ feet. The on track B rather than the normal Coast Guard said the ability of the northernmost track C used gener­ ships to survive under the greater ally in the summertime. The huge 'bergs break off the assumed damage is particularly important where wing tanks are Greenland ice pack because of melting due to warmer weather in involved. Differences in compartmentation the Arctic spring season. This year, and damage stability were high­ apparently, milder weather in the lighted by the sinking of the An­ far north resulted in a heavier than drea Doria, which had its wing usual production of bergs with con­ tanks ripped open by the Stock­ sequent peril to shipping. Atlantic Ice Danger Ends 4 M. Roy Fraiser Sam Spade left money for you with Chris at the Green Frog in San Francisco on July 19th. 4 4 4 Ralph Ewing Please contact J. W. Hamilton, 20 Grand Avenue, Hicksville, NY. It is urgent. 4 4 4 Mike M. Perez Lilly Saldana (Mrs. Eddie Roe) would like you to get in touch with her at 9619 E. Avenue N., Houston 12, Texas. 4 4 4 Merwyn E. Watson Would you please contact M. E. Lizotte at 8376 Arnold, Dearborn 6, Michigan. 4 4 4 Samuel Joseph Anderson Contact your wife at 8023 Stedman Street, Houston, 1*0X38. She will be, thereja a Seafarer! 7wa •pRicesAraifio<fj/<i BAffm/lgAMPAEWYC^S/UC/lfF^/^S ARe SSAKPD fVP. rue MEMBERS OF W Wf/^e/.T TIME YouksArrHE fiAU. •\ �Vol. XIX No. 17 » OFFICIAL SEAFARERS ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION * LOG AlHIHtf U 1957 ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT > AFL.CIQ Union Men Rebuild For Storm Victims Seafarers Aid In La, Home-Building Drive NEW ORLEANS—In the wake of hurricane Audrey and its devastating tidal wave that left thousands homeless and claimed a toll of more than 600 persons dead and missing in the Cameron, La., area,-*^ AFL-CIO unions organized flood and wind-devastated area, quickly to join with other the AFL-CIO and the American agencies in relief for the disaster Red Cross joined forces to restore victims. homes which had been completely Spurred by the knowledge that demolished. The Red Cross pro­ many SIU members and their fam­ vided building materials, food and ilies suifered great loss and hard­ shelter for the home builders. AFLship, Seafarers in Louisiana have CIO trade unionists, responding to taken a leading part in the trade a program outlined by Victor Busunion effort to provide prompt and sie, president of the Louisiana needed relief. In New Orleans, the State Labor Council, volunteered SIU membership gave generously their labor to build houses on week­ to a disaster relief fund raised by ends. the New Orleans Central Labor Ten Seafarers were members of Council which, as the LOG went the first New Orleans team of 37 to press, had climbed to nearly workers that moved into Cameron $25,000. on the weekend of August 3 to Seafarers also pitched in to do launch the big volunteer mass con­ their part to help building trades struction project. craftsmen with one of the most The New Orleans contingent was dramatic phases of the relief pro one group of nearly 150 AFL-CIO gram^mass construction of homes union members who worked in 100Group o Seafarers are up bright ond early at 4 AM to fofn New Orleans contingent of volunteer for the homeless. degree heat that weekend in a con­ home buildws headed for Cameron, Louisiana. Men are front (I to r) Herman Troxclair, SIU patrol­ As thh waters receded from the struction marathon which com­ man; LOUIS O Lwry, John Calamla; middle rowfl to r) lames Lea, Larry Von Lofton, Douglas "Smiley" pleted five new homes for families Clauisen, Tom Goul^ patrolman; rear {I to rj Bill Mitchell, Bernle Guarino, Bob Creel. Other Sea­ left desolate by the hurricane. farers left from Lake Charles. Under the glaring sun construc­ tion crews from Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Shreveport joined the New Orleans men in the massive task of clearing sites and reconstructing homes WASHINGTON — Proposals to from foundations to rooftops. The extend the trade-in authority of work on the five homes was com­ the Maritime Administration for pleted in less than 36 hours. Some another five years have been ap­ of the gangs worked far into the proved by the House Merchant night under floodlights powered by Marine Committee. Specifically, portable generators. Houses were the proposed legislation would ex­ built for two families in Creole, tend until June 30, 1962, the MA's one in Cameron and two In Grand power to buy trade-in ships 12 Chernier. years old or older from private Putting into full play the tradi­ operators. tional trademarks of the seafaring The original legislation had pro­ trade—special skills, brawn and vided for the trade-ins to take ability to work as a team—the Sea­ place when the ships were 17 years farers, by all accounts, made a of age. This was amended subse­ valuable contribution to the pro­ quently with the amendment due gram. In hours of diligent and to run out on June 30, 1958. conscientious labor, extending over Maritime wants the extension of Saturday and Sunday and sand­ the amendment so that it can get wiched in between two six-hour bus earlier action on replacement of rides, the New Orleans construction Foundation for new home In Cameron goes up as soon as gang arrived. Even bus driver W. A. Pollc shipping fleets and spread out the team, which included skilled crafts­ pitched in, shedding his uniform to lend a hand. Homes were put up In other flood-stricken towns with men from the various building replacement program. some of the volunteers working far Into tho night under floodlights to make the target of completing a Shipowner groups have also trades union, completed a house number of houses each weekend. gone on record for the measure, and turned it over to the owner, inasmuch as it gives them more ready for occupancy. leeway on the ships they trade in. The following weekend, more than a dozen Seafarers moved into the area to assist in the important work of laying foundations on which other teams would erect houses during the weekend. SAN FRANCISCO —Former The work was carried on within President Herbert Hoover was sight of fields still littered with a guest of American President debris from homes hit by the hur­ Lines aboard the liner President ricane. "I sure never thought it was Hoover on the occasion of his as bad as this," said C. K. Carter, 83rd birthday. Members of the Shreveport contractor and member Marine Cooks and Stewards of the AFL-CIO Carpenters Union Union in the ship's steward de­ there. "I saw the London Blitz and partment turned out an elab­ a lot of other things in World War orate birthday feed including a II, and this would sure match it. birthday cake modeled after the It may even be worse." ship with a lighted candle in its The AFL-CIO councils and the single stack. Red Cross plan to build at least 25 The party was served cham­ houses in the same manner on com­ pagne, shrimp curry, lobster ing weekends, depending of the Newburg, prawns and other weather and the amount of mate­ elaborate culinary preparations. rials on hand. The attitude of the One hundred fifty guests were volunteer workers was summed up Smiling members of New Orleani AFL-CIO volunteer team pose for photo In front of completed at the party which was hosted by one man who paused to say, "I house. Picture was taken by John Herrmann, New Orleans photographer, and AFL-CIO member by Ralph K. Davies and George came down here for the sake of my who volunteered his services to make film documentaiy. Other volunteer groups from Lake Charles, Killion, board chairman and city and my union, but now I just want to be here to help these Pfesident of APL. Shreveport, Baton Rouge and Alexandria also workea on home-building projects which are scheduled people." to continue for several more weeks. Ask Wider Trade-In Bill APL Liner Is Host To Hoover 1: I � 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 August 2, 1957 Description An account of the resource Headlines: COURT VOIDS BAN ON SIU PICKETING FARM LOBBY RAPS ’50-50’ AGAIN SIU RETAINS COAL JOB LEAD DESPITE CO. AID TO NMU CURRAN DUCKS OUT OF BLACKLIST; PASSES BUCK TO SHIPOWNERS COURT THROWS OUT LA. SHERIFF’S PICKET BAN ON SEAFARERS HUB QUIET; PICK-UP DUE FARM BLOC LAUNCHES RENEWED ATTACK ON’50-50’ PRACTICES PHS WARNS OF ASIA FLU OUTBREAK THROUGHOUT US ANOTHER BILLION FARM AID OKAYED ; ’50-50’ INTACT ALASKA FISHERY PACT WON FIRST P-A BOX SHIP DUE ON MAIDEN RUN IN SEPT. WC PENSION MERGER NEARING FINAL OKAY INDIA SEEKS SOLUTION FOR PORT JAMS SENATE OK’S INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS U.S. PASSENGER LINERS SAFEST, CG STUDY FINDS ISRAEL TRADE NOW NORMAL UNION MEN REBUILD FOR STORM VICTIMS ASK WIDER TRADE-IN BILL 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 8/02/1957 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. XIX, No. 17 1957 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/2b1e04f52c27378793303e2a1c1a3540.PDF a3785ee6d4e76de40892cc9dda70c22e PDF Text Text SEAFARERS .LOG Vol. XXX No. 16 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION . ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT . AFL-CIO An independent MARAD Story Page 3 . . • •• I^ i • :' r > ".,. . -, A ..• i. iV*'• - •"'• Nominations for SlU Office To Close on August 15 Story Page 3 Soviet Fleet Gaining Steadily In Competition for World Trade Story Page 5 • '-S'VJ'* �Page Two SEAFARERS Authorization Bill Passes Congress; $211 Million for Ships and Research WASHINGTON—A maritime authorization bill which calls for $200 million for new ships and $10.9 million for research and development was pushed through Congress last week by members of the Senate and House Merchant Marine Committees who have been fighting to secure enough budget funds in fiscal 1969 to removed after the Senate-House amounts had at first been reduced upgrade the merchant fleet. The bill which now goes to conferees worked out a compro- to $119.8 million and $6.7 million the White Hoqse for the Presi­ •mise on how much should be made by the Senate, which made nec­ dent's signature, provides that available in fiscal 1969 for new essary the joint Senate-House con­ these amounts will be included ships and research. This action ference to settle on the final fig­ in the Appropriations Bills of the came after the Senate failed to ures for the authorization bill. Representative Edward E.' GarSenate and House when they come go along with the original rec­ matz (D-Md.), chairman of the ommendations contained in the up for a final vote. House Merchant Marine and Fish­ House authorization bill. The joint Formerly, all budgetary funds eries Committee, led the battle to committee settled on conference for the Maritime Administration have the bill pushed through the the $200 million for construction were recommended by the Appro­ House and also had served as and $10.9 million for research. priations Committees of both chairman of the House conferees houses. Generally, the proposals A 'Sad Picture' , at the Senate-House conference. • of the two Merchant Marine Com­ Senator Warren G. Magnuson Both Garmatz and Magnuson mittees were ignored, especially (D-Wash.), chairman of the Sen­ are hopeful that the full $200 mil­ their requests for funds that ate Commerce Committee, which lion can be spent to build as many would help revitalize the merchant includes the Merchant Marine as 25 vessels in fiscal 1969 de­ fleet. Such a condition prompted Subcommittee, steered the author­ spite the economy drive on the the Merchant Marine Committees ization bill through thp~ Senate part of the government. to seek passage of a bill that after he declared the new ships They have been waging a conwould empower the committees were needed because of the "sad to authorize how mu^ money picture" of the American mer­ tinous fight since the beginning Of the Ninetieth Congress to have should be allotted to MARAD. chant marine today. funds allotted for the replacement This maritime authorization bill He also pointed out that the of the overage vessels in the de­ was passed and signed into law "House was adamant" in its stand teriorating U.S.-flag merchant last year. A number of obstacles had to to obtain sufficient funds to build fleet. After the Budget Bureau and be overcome in the final moments new ships for the rapidly declin­ the Administration cut back the before the authorizing legislation ing merchant fleet. The House proposed budget of MARAD to was passed—first by the Senate, had wanted $237 million for con­ $119.8 million for additional struction of additional vessels and ships, both Merchant Marine and then by the House. The first stumbling block was $11 million for research. These Committees pushed the figure ahead to $237 million. Then the authorization bill ran into trouble because of a concert­ ed effort to cut the government's budget by $6 billion in order to pass the Administration-sponsored bill for an income tax surcharge of 10 percent. The authorization bill got Four more Seafarers have upgraded to second or third mate after completing the course of study at the Deck Officer's School through the House but was de­ sponsored by the SIU and the American Marine Officers Union. layed in the Senate. As a result, when it came time to include the Two of the men are new second <?>mates while two received a The training program, operated $237 million in the House Appro­ priations Bill, the item had to be third mate's license. A total of under a reciprocal agreement bedropped—along with the research funds—on a technicality because the new law provides that both houses must ffist pass authoriza­ tion bills before the maritime al­ lotments can be annexed to the appropriations bills. SlU Deck Officers School Upgrades 4 More Seafarers Lebtonen • P i Donnelly 37 Seafarers have their licenses after attending the school. Leo Lehtonen is a new second mate. The 52-year-old Seafarer joined the SIU in 1960 in New York. He was born in Finland and makes his home in Lake Worth, Florida. Brother Leh­ tonen previously sailed as AB. Adrian Donnelly is a new sec­ ond mate who formerly sailed as AB. He joined the Union in 1948 in the Port of New York. The 42-year-old Seafarer was born in Midland Park, New Jersey and lives in Hawthorne, N. J. Eimert DeQuartel is a new third mate. A resident of Westwood, N. J., the 45-year-old Sea­ farer was bom in Rotterd^, Hol­ land. He sailed as AB and joined the Union in 1958 in New York City. Edward Nooney is a third mate. The 47-year-old Nooney is a for­ mer AB and bosun. Joining the Union in New York, hp has sailed with the SIU for 16 years. Broth­ er Nooney was born and lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. DeQuartd Angnst 2, 1968 LOG Nooney Score Top Cains in St. Louis Pact tween the SIU and the American Marine Officers Union, is the first of its type in the industry. Applicants can begin training at any time. The period of in­ ST. LOUIS—^Taxi drivers of struction is determined by each the SlUNA-affiliated Transporta­ member's individual ability and tion and AUied Workers of St. knowledge, and the instructor's Louis, Local 1, have won substan­ satisfaction of his readiness to tial gains in a new three-year con­ take the examination. tract signed with the Yellow Cab The training program was in­ Company. stituted in line with the SIU's Quincy Nickels, president of Objective of encouraging and as­ Local 1, said the contract offers a sisting unlicensed personnel to substantial increase in income for upgrade themselves. the drivers and bars any company Seafarers can participate in the lockout. The pact also provides course of instruction at no cost that the entire fleet of the com­ to themselves. They will be pro­ pany-owned cabs are to be airvided with meals, hotel lodgings conditioned. and subsistence payments of $110 A meter rate increase on the per week while in training. flag pull from 45 cents to 55 cents This in-training assistance is is guaranteed as well as a sub­ the same as that available to en­ stantial increase in the existing gine department Searfarers who light mileage charges. are enrolled in the union training program to prepare engine depart­ The agreement also insures that ment men for their licensed engi­ -grievance procedures will be cut neer's examination. from 13 days to five days and that SIU deck department men in­ seniority shall prevail at all times terested in the program should on hours of work, on shift assign­ apply at any SIU hhU. ments and on days off. Report of International President by Paul Hall A new impetus for the creation of an independent maritime adminis­ tration was signalled by the recent unanimous approval by the Senate Commerce Committee of legislation which would make the maritime administration a separate federal agency. The legislation, which still has to be approved by the full Senate, gained the overwhelming support of the House last year when it voted 324 to 44 for the creation of an independent maritime agency. The SIU and the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department consider this bill a top priority measure in our fight to revive the flagging U.S. merchant fleet. As a part of the Department of Commerce, the Maritime Administra­ tion has found itself mired in a welter of red tape and bureaucracy which has seriously interfered with the implementation of a suitable program to prevent the entombment of the U.S. merchant fleet. The decline of the U.S. merchant marine can be traced to 1950 when it was formally annexed byj^he Department of Commerce. During the period from 1936-1950 when the Maritime Administra­ tion functioned as an independent body, the U.S. fleet represented a vital and growing industry. However, since 1950 when it became an appendage of the Depart­ ment of Commerce, the U.S. merchant marine has experienced a precipitous decline. It is curious to note that with the exception of the U.S., every major maritime nation has embarked on a massive shipbuilding program which will insure them of independent means to transport their cargoes. The most significant, and perhaps the most ominous, is the crash shipbuilding program that has been undertaken by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union long ago outgrew its caricature as a nation of Ivans bent only on guzzling their daily rations of vodka. Today, the Soviet Union is a vast, self-sufficient monolith bent on g'obal supremacy. It is no coincidence that they consider their merchant marine as a potent weapon in expanding their military and economic influence around the world. Compared to other nations. Communist and free-world, the U. S. stands conspicuously alone as a nation bent on the absolute destruction of its merchant marine. It is hard to understand this neglect of our merchant fleet at a time when the U.S. is spending vast sums of money to stay apace of the Soviet Union in an arms race which began with the Soviet introduction of the Iron Curtain. Any rumor, true or false, that the Soviets are taking the lead in any facet of military endeavor sends waves of anguish throughout the entire defense community. How is it that such an obvious breach of our defense capabilities as the decline of the U.S. fleet represents is met only by inaction and stony-faced silence on the part of those entrusted with our national welfare? We believe that the decline has been nurtured by indifference and that this indifference is the direct result of the lack of a federal mari­ time agency to fill the void of inaction that now exists. In a preface to the 1967 Annual Report of the Maritime Administra­ tion, President Lyndon B. Johnson said the following in praise of the U.S. merchant fleet: "Throughout American history, the merchant marine has been indispensable to our security and prosperity. Today our merchant marine binds us in peaceful commerce with the increas­ ingly interdependent nations of the world." With an endorsement like that, the U.S. merchant fleet deserves much more than the efforts of Transportation Secretary Alan S. Boyd to have it scuttled. New Oceanography Commissioner SlUNA Vice President James Ackert, right, is sworn in as Massa­ chusetts Commissioner of Oceanography by Governor John Volpe. Ackert's duties will include advising the Governor on matters pertaining to oceanography and various other ocean-related topics. �Ancnst 2, 1968 SEAFARERS Showing Where They Stand LOG Pmga Tim* Senate Cemmene Committee Votes Toestablish anIndependentMARAD WASHINGTON—By a unanimous voice vote, the Senate Commerce Committee has approved a bill to remove the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce and establish it as an independent agency. The House had long since passed the bill by an overwhelming vote of 324 to 44 last year—some nine AD was also supported by the 1936 Act The report is to include months ago. The SIU and other represent­ AFL-CIO convention in 1965 appropriate recommendations for atives of maritime labor and man­ and this support has since been such further legislation or pro­ agement have long advocated such reaffirmed by the AFL-CIO Ex­ grams as the Board deems nec­ essary. a move on the grounds that an ecutive Council. For a time it had appeared the Proponents of the independent independent MARAD would be bill might not be reported out of free to revitalize the rapidly de­ MARAD bill (H.R. 159) point to committee at this session but a the fact that the U. S. merchant teriorating American merchant marine, which has been allowed marine has been on a downhill hearing of the Senate M»chant to become increasingly obsoles­ course since the agency was ab­ Marine and Fisheries subcommit­ cent because of bureaucratic red sorbed into the Commerce De­ tee last May prompted renewed The Seafarers contingent among labor unionists lending support to tape in the Commerce Depart­ partment in 1950, while under an efforts for its adoption. Secretary Boyd appeared at the striking Metropolitan Insurance Company workers in New York last ment. independent maritime commission hearing — which was aimed at week included (l-r); Headquarters dispatcher Ted. Babkowski, SIU Senator Warren G. Magnuson from 1936 until 1950, however, seeking action on pending legis­ Rep. George McCartney, Jim Demetrius, Dominick Branccoccio, Pat (D-Wash.X chairman of the Com­ the U. S.-flag fleet was built up. lation to revitalize the merchant Santoro, Paul DiFata. Holding up sign at rear is Hans Gottschlick. merce Committee, which includes The Commerce Committee's marine — and proposed a mari­ the Merchant Marine Subcommit­ action on the bill, which now goes tee, said an independent MARAD to the full Senate for a vote, was time program of his own that ig­ was vital if a modem merchant a rebuff to government officials nored all measures offered by marine is to be achieved in the who have been striving for two maritime labor and many mem­ face of the continued lack of an years to have MARAD shifted bers of Congress. Also, leading adequate maritime policy by the into the Department of Transpor­ senators and members of the Administration. tation, headed by Secretary Alan House charged Secretary Boyd's Establishment of an Independ­ S. Boyd. The Administration also program was a complete reversal DELANO, CaliL—^The AFL-CIO United Farm Workers Orga­ ent Maritime Administration has favors the shift and has been op­ of the arrangement they had made nizing Committee has signed a new contract with Schenley Indus­ been a high priority legislative posed to the bill creating an inde­ with the Administration in Sep­ tember, 1967. tries, Inc., setting rates the union believes are the highest paid any goal of the nearly seven-million- pendent MARAD. As a result. Senator E. L. Bartmember AFL-CIO Maritime agricultural workers in the con­ Cites Lack of Program lett (D-Alaska), chairman of Mer­ piece rates for pickers will aver­ Trades Department which suc­ tinental United States. Following the Committee's vote, chant Marine and Fisheries sub­ UFWOC won wage increases age $3.25 an hour, the union said. cessfully opposed inclusion of the Magnuson said the "establishment committee, said he was going to Vine tying will bring $2 an hour agency in the new Transportation of 15 cents an hour for grape of a high-level maritime agency call - up the bill, pending in the laborers and irrigators — from or 2.5 cents per vine, whichever Department in 1966. Independent status for MAR- independent of the Department Senate for the creation of an inde­ $1.75 an hour to $1.90; 20 cents is higher. of Transportation is necessitated pendent MARAD for immediate for tractor and truck drivers, to a by the failure of the Administra­ consideration. new rate of $2.05; 30 cents for Boyd's program proposed the tion to assume a responsible role crew leaders—from $1.95 to in development and implementa­ transfer of MARAD to his own $2.25. tion of maritime policy." department, called for all-out Also agreed to were pruning building in foreign shipyards, and Under the provisions erf the rates of $2.10 an hour for hand elimination of existing tax-free measure, an agency known as the pruners and $2.25 for operators Federal Maritime Administration capital reserve funds—among of recently introduced pneumatic would be created. This FMA other proposals—^but he offered pnming rigs, a step toward auto­ would not be under any other de­ no plan for upgrading the U. S. mating the fields. NEW YORK—Ndminations for union office m the 1968 SIU- partment in the executive branch flag merchant fleet to its tradi­ Ranch Committee Chairman tional status of supremacy on the Paul Vargas announced, in addi­ AGLIWD elections which opened on July 15 will continue until of the government or under the oceans of the world. authority of the head of any such tion to wage improvements, midnight August 15. A total of 45 elective posts will appear on department. Detrimratal Flan Schenley representatives agreed the ballot, with voting to be At the head of the FMA would the candidate and contains his conducted from November 1 Secretary Boyd's policies would to set aside 10 cents per hour per worker into a health and welfare through December 31 of this book number and the date on be a Federal Maritime Adminis­ greatly hurt, rather than help, the trator, appointed by the President maritime industry. which it is made out. fund keyed to retirement, and for year. with the advice and consent of the After Boyd released the details dental and medical care for work­ Any member may submit his Qualifications ers and their families. name or be nominated by others Senate. With the exception of the of his program, SIU President To properly qualify, nominees first Administrator, whose term Paul Hall declared: Director Cesar Chavez signed must have their credentials in as a candidate for Union office. would expire June 30, 1969, all "Anybody who may have had the agreement for UFWOC, with headquarters by midnight August In order to qualify each candidate future heads of the FMA would delusions about a marriage be­ AFL-CIO Director of Organiza­ 15. The requirements for nomina­ must meet the following constitu­ serve four-year terms. tween maritime and the Depart­ tion William L. Kircher also sign­ tion are set forth in Article XII tional requirements: at least three The bill also calls for a Mari­ ment of Transportation must now years of sea time in an unlicensed ing as a witness. and Article XIII of the Union It was a memorable occasion constitution. Among the require­ capacity, at least four months of time Board composed of three realize how futile their hcq>es have for both men, who performed the ments, Article XIII of the consti­ which must be between January 1 members and established within been. Secretary Boyd has made it same function Apr. 6,1966, when tution provides that each candi­ of this year and the time of his the FMA. Chairman of the Board plain that, if he ever gets his Schenley first agreed to recognize date must submit with his creden­ nomination; has been a full mem­ would be the Administrator of , hands on the merchant marine, the infant union after a bitter tials a signed statement testifying ber of the Union in good standing FMA and the other two members he'll administer the coup de grace eight-month strike and a boycott that he is not prohibited from for three years prior to his nomi­ would be appointed by the Presi­ as quickly as possible. . . ." At the time that the House orig­ widely supported by U.S. unions. holding union office under the nation; is a U. S. citizen and has dent—also with the advice and consent of the Senate. inally passed the bill last October completed the form referred to This is the union's third con­ Law. The text of this statement 17, Hall, who is also president of Transfer of Authority tract with Schenley. The first one is contained in Section 1 of above. the MTD, spoke of the need for was for $1.75 an hour minimum. Article XIII. Credentials Certain powers now vested in an independent MARAD, free of the Secretary of Commerce would the restraints of being under a The second was a renewal con­ The necessary documents set­ In order to assist members in­ tract maintaining the same mini- terested in filing for a place on ting forth each candidate's quali­ be transferred to the Administra­ Cabinet-level Secretary and capa­ mums. This year the workers de­ the ballot, Secretary-Treasurer A1 fications should be delivered in tor, and other powers would be ble of going directly to the Presi­ cided it was time for a raise Kerr has prepared printed copies person or by mail to the Creden­ transferred to the Board. dent and Congress. and management wanted some of this statement and they are tials Committee in care of the Sec­ Further, the Administrator changes also. Nine days of peace­ available in all SIU port offices. retary-Treasurer so that they are would appoint a Deputy Maritime ful talks brought agreement on a Members may also obtain the in headquarters no later than mid­ Administrator who would serve in two-year contract. his absence or disability as Acting printed form by contacting the night of August 15, 1968. Due to a printing error in The farm workers' paper. El SIU Secretary-Treasurer, A1 Kerr, In accordance with the Consti­ Administrator. The Deputy could the July 19, 1968 Issue of tiie Malcriado, said of the new pact: by telephone, mail or telegram tution, the Credentials Committee not sit as a member or acting Seafarers LOG, the starting "This is the way labor and man­ for_a copy. will be elected at the regular mem­ member of the Board under any circumstances, however. date for voting In the 1968 agement should deal with each The Secretary-Treasurer points bership meeting in the headquarSIU election was incmrecdy other, with mutual respect and out that in the event the printed ter's port on August 5, 1968. The Another requirement of the bill announced as November 4. consideration, on a rational and form is not available it is permis­ Committee will process all cre­ is that within one year of enact­ The correct date for com­ humble basis." The Giumarras sible for a member to write out dentials received up to August 5 ment of the proposal, the Board mencement of voting is Noand other growers who refuse to the statement, as contained in and will continue checking on all must submit to the President and vembo- 1, and ballotbig w31 sign "are hurting themselves as Section 1 of Article XIII of the credentials received up to mid­ the Congress a report on the "cur­ continue through December well as their workers." Constitution, in his own hand night August 15, and will submit rent condition" of the American 31. "When wiU they learn?" writing and that it will be ac­ its report as soon as possible merchant marine in relationship Under the new Schenley pact. cepted provided it is signed by thereafter. to the criteria set forth by the Farm Workers Wu Sizable Cms laNewfyX^eJPact WihSeb^y Nominations for SIU Office To Close on August 15 Correction �SlB-SaB Page Four SEAFARERS Anciut 2, 1968 LOG V'KC President Humphrey Rules Out Any Chunre of Veuf With Wuiiute The Atlahtie Coast by Earl (Bull) Shepard, V/ce-PresMent, Atlantic Coast Area WASHINGTON—^Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey has made it unmistakably clear that he It was heartening to see Congress pass its first maritime author­ would have no part of a "deal" with former Alabama Governor George C. Wallace even if that ization bill after the long struggle by House and Senate merchant means losing the presidential election. Humphrey, resuming his campaign for the Democratic nom­ marine committees to have it brought up for a vote before the ination after a bout with the flu, current session ended. We hope the measure will be promptly declared at a New York press the Democratic convention Plat­ ment, higher incomes and rising signed so that the $200 million for new ships it calls for in fiscal form Committee, outlined seven living standards. . . . conference: 1969 can be not only appropriated ^ 5. "The strengthening of our but actually spent toward upgrad­ drydock. His last ship wa^ the "themes" he suggested the party "I would rather not be Presi­ Robin Goodfellow. free enterprise system to insure ing the U.S.-flag fleet. dent, I would rather not be nom­ platform must stress: 1. "Peace, national security continued economic growth with­ inated as the presidential candi­ Norfolk out inflation. date than depend on a racist vote and arms control. 6. "An open presidency in an Robert Greene was steward on 2. "Civil peace and social jus­ to get the nomination or the elec­ open society, designed to insure the Transyork until he left that tice—firm order in our cities with tion." vessel on the West Coast. Bob citizen participation at all levels programs to insure a decent life The Vice President issued his returned to Norfolk and is wait­ of government. ... for all our citizens. . . . declaration amid mounting con­ 7. "The adaptation of the in­ ing for a good ship to Europe. 3. "A 'Marshall Plan' to en­ cern among both Democrats and stitutions which maintain and hance the quality of life in our Lester Smith was AB on the Republicans that Wallace's thirdstrengthen our society to the dis­ great metropolitan areas. . . . Seatrain Puerto Rico, running to party candidacy could draw Buzzdle Gihowicz coveries of science and tech­ 4. "Programs and policies to the Far East on a three-month enough electoral college votes to nology." voyage. After taking a vacation prevent either of the major party achieve the goals of full employ­ Michael Gison will be ready to and catching up on some work ship in about a week. "Big Mike" candidates from achieving a ma­ around the house, he's ready to was last aboard the Cabins, where jority. This would throw the sail again. choice of President into the House he> held down an AB's job. P. G. Vaughn has been hos­ of Representatives, where each Joseph Di Santo was chief elec­ pitalized twice since his last job, trician on the Battle Creek and state would cast a single vote con­ but is now FED and ready to will be ready to ship after his trolled by the dominant party in ship. His last job was second honeymoon. Joe took the plunge its House delegation. cook and baker on the Merrimac. and all his shipmates wish him the This is precisely the goal Wal­ WASHINGTON—^The development of mobile emergency port lace's strategy is aimed toward. best of luck. Baltimore facilities—enabling the American Merchant Marine to more effec­ The former Alabama governor, Puerto Rko Jan Swiatdi just paid-off the who stands little chance of win­ tively carry out its role as the nation's fourth arm of defense— Armando Ortego is doing a fine ChiliMe, running between the West will be considered in a seven^ ning an Electoral College major­ operations, and responsibilities for job in the steward department of Coast and India for 18 months. ity himself, would then be in a month study authorized by the operating and maintaining the the Fioridian. Jimmy Botana is Brother Swiatek sails as FOWT position to seek what he calls "a Maritime Administration. equipment under various condi­ and has 15 years in the Union. also on hand to help turn out fine covenant" to throw the support MARAD said it had awarded tions will be defined. Criteria will chow. Waiting for a good job is 30of his electors to either of the a $82,230 contract to the Bechtel be developed by which it can be Basilio Bonafont shipped as OS other candidates in exchange for Corporation of Vernon, Calif., to determined whether to return the year man Harry Bennett, recently on the Afoundria after a long stay concessions on legislation, federal make a three-part study of the re­ equipment used in this type emer­ on the Baltimore as utility. Harry on the beach. This ship is run­ appointments, etc. quirements to restore essential gency to a reserve depot, or to will take any run. ning from San Juan to the West In other developments: Joseirih Gihowicz was on the functions of ports damaged in incorporate such equipment into Coast. Seatrain Ohio for nine months. • The Glass and Ceramic natural or military disasters. The long range rehabilitation plans for Luis Ramirez is back in town He's looking for a good ship, any Woikers joined the list of unions proiect will detail how much port th^port. j after several trips to Europe <on ruh. / giving direct and formal endorse­ facility equipment-—with related in Phase HI, requirements for the Chariestmi. ' M -irp' ment to Humphrey's candidacy. manpower and planning data—is new equipment or major modifica­ Boston Alberto Santiago is holding President Ralph Reiser, announc­ needed in the event of emergency tion of existing equipment for the Amos Bnzzefle will take the first down an AB's job on the Rio ing the action of the union's ex­ for various ports, as well as the port "packages" will be identi­ good third cook's job to hit the Haina. This ship is running be­ ecutive board, cited the Vice unloading of essential civilian and fied, based on the conclusions of board. Amos is anxious to hit the tween San Juan and Santo Do­ President's 23 years of service in military support cargo, including Phases I and 11. high seas again after a spell in mingo, making three trips a week. elective office and said: "In that fuel and perishables. time, he has never lost touch with According to the announce­ the working people, minority ment by Acting Maritime Admin­ proups, the poor and dispossessed. istrator James W. Gulick, "the He never stopped building a better availability of emergency post fa­ _ ^ _ countrv for all." cilities will improve the degree to • Humphrev, in response to which the U.S. Merchant Marine an invitation from Representative will be capable of providing dis­ Hale Boggs (D-La.), chairman of aster relief, and of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in WASHINGTON—Oceanography could boom into a $15-biliion-a-year industry by 1975 pro­ time of war or national emer­ vided the government accelerates its investment in marine technology. Representative Philip E. SEAFARER&^XXHS gency." Ruppe (R-Mich.) declared here recently. Three Phases "The Congressman, who is a^ August 2, 1968 • Vol. XXX No. 16 The study itself will be con­ member of the House Merchant cated creation of a Cabinet-level tity capable of implementing such Official Publication of the ducted in three phases, with Phase Marine and Fisheries Commit­ Department of Maritime and Ma­ a policy or program, and no na­ Seafarers International Union I considering emergencies which tee, charged that marine research rine Resources to end the present tional budget for ocean develop­ of North America, permit no advance planning and and development is being treated "hodge-podge" under which 22 ment." Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes While the United States has and Inland Waters District, which assume urgent need for as "some sort of national step­ government agencies are involved AFL-CIO in one phase or another of mari­ been "plodding along with lim^ port facilities based on the pre­ child," despite its economic po­ Bxeevtive Board time, fishing and oceanography. ited funds and limited interest," sumption of the existence of criti­ tential. PAUI. HAU,, President he went on, the U.S.S.R. has cal suffering and deprivation. Port Most Logical Action CAL TANNER EARL SHEPARD Ruppe noted that the United mounted a program that is "so Exee. Viee-Pret. Vice-President "packages" will be designed which States has made a $4 billion com­ The Michigan Congressman LINDSEY WILLIAMS ambitious, so far-sighted, that in AL KERR take into consideration the com­ mitment to the aerospace program pointed out that this would be the just 20 years her capabilities in See.-Treaa. Vic«-President binations and number of particu­ for the current fiscal year. By logical follow-up to House action ROBERT MATTHEWS Vice-President lar items of mobile port facility contrast, he said, the' investment last year in voting to create an the field of oceanography have become equal to ours." equipment required. in oceanography "is less than the independent Maritime Adminis­ Director of Publications Citing comparative statistics, HIKE POLLACK Also included will be a com­ cost of building a single space tration, free of control by the Ruppe declared: Editor parison of alternative means of vehicle." Department of Commerce, where HARRY WITTSCHEN procuring the needed equipment, Russia has over 9,000 person­ "A national investment in ma­ the agency is now lodged, or the Assistant Editor including the feasibility of utiliz­ nel engaged in oceanography to Department of Transportation as TOM FIKNBGAN rine technology surely must make ing double bottom structures of our 3,700; some 1,500 profes­ proposed by the Administration. Staff Writer as much sense as our national in­ PETEB WEISS surplus Liberty ships as mobile vestment in aerospace," he said. sional oceanographers to our If maritime were an integral piers or causeways, and will deter­ 1,000; offers undergraduate de­ 'To date, American oil compan­ part of a Department "devoted Staff Photographer ANTHONY ANSALDI mine the safest and most eco­ ies have paid over $4 billion to exclusively to maritime and ma­ grees in oceanography at 12 dif­ nomical means of transporting the the federal and state govemmenjs rine resource interests," Ruppe ferent schools compared to our Pikllibcd felKsskIr at 810 Iksts Itlsst Anais "packages" wherever needed. I.E.. WSfklsitsR, D. C. 20018 by tfct Ssafvfor offshore oil and gas drilling said, it would be "in the logical one and has 200 oceanographic sn istsniittsaal Oslsa, Atlaatls. Gslf, Ukss rights. If all, or a substantial por­ position to make its most effective ships to our 150. In Phase II, the study will con­ ssA tslaat Watsn Dlitrist, AFL-CI8, 875 Fssrtb AiWiS, irttUyR, a.Y. 11232. Tsi. sider emergencies in which spe­ tion, of that money were rein­ contribution to the development "Obviously," he said, "we are NYitlatk 9-8SOO. Stasad slaM psstass paid at WaiklRitia. D. C. cific advance planning and selec­ vested in the sea, we would be able of a proper program of ocean ex­ losing this race for the ocean's PtSraAITErS ATTE8TI8B: Fans 3579 tion of equipment to suit spe­ to make major strides in develop­ ploration and ocean utilization." potential, and we're losing it to aardi akeald ka aaat ta Saafaran lataraaHaaal naha. Atlaatls. Calf, Lakaa aad lalaad Watsn The Congressman was critical the nation that has openly boasted cific port rehabilitation plans is ing this potential." OMilat. AFL.CI8. C75 Faartb Asaaas, inakpossible.' One function of port Speaking at a meeting spon­ of the fact that "we have no over­ of its plan to 'bury' the United lya. 1.7. 11232. packages in such emergencies will sored by the AFL-CIO Maritime all national ocean policy, no de­ States through economic compe­ be to supplement military logistic Trades Department, Ruppe advo­ finitive national program, no en­ tition." Mobile Units to be Studied For U.S. Port Emergencies Cconomk Potentiui of Oteunogruphy Ignoredhy Govt^ Congressmdn Suys •.I • i . I •i �'^ Angnat 2, 1968 SEAFARERS Climbing the Upgrading Ladder J''.J, Seafarer Thomas J. Reno (center) is congratulated by Toledo port agent Don Bensman on his approval for upgrading at Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Brooklyn. Looking on is his father, Frances Reno, former Ohio State Representative. Young Reno originally received his entry rating training at the Lundeberg school and spent a year on the Oceanic Ondine in the engine department. Soviet Fleet Making Inroads On Carriage of World Trade UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.—^New evidence that the Soviet Un­ ion is using its expanding merchant fleet more and more as an economic and political tool is reflected in the latest copy of the United Nations "Monthly Bul­ India. It is expected that India letin of Statistics," which indi­ may replace all of its aging ves­ cates the growth of the Com­ sels with new ships from Russian munist nation's foreign trade. yards Singh said. The statistics show that Rus­ The Soviets recently sold a new sia's exports to developing coun­ cargo vessel to West Germany's tries—including many that have Africa Line, and another Soviet received their independence in ship has also been placed in the recent years—^rose 17 times be­ West German merchant fleet. A tween 1955 and 1967, while the third is on order and currently imports from these countries in­ under construction. These sales creased six times. reverse the previous situation At the same time it was noted wherein Russia had had to pur­ that Soviet Union's exports to chase vessels from West Germany other socialist countries doubled to meet its own needs for years. and those exports to marketOnly 10 years ago, Russia had economy countries multiplied al­ just 150 merchant ships. Today most four times. it has a fleet of 1,400 vessels, This increase in the amount of while the number of United goods shipped depicts how fast States-flag ships has declined dras­ the Soviet merchant fleet, which tically with no significant replace­ is state owned and designed for ment at all. Also the Russian merchant fleet quick conversion to military use if necessary, is growing each year. now carries all of the Soviet Un­ Russia's total imports in 1955 ion's foreign trade while Amer­ were $3,061 billion. This rose to ica's merchant fleet carries less $7,913 billion in 1966 and in­ than seven percent of U.S. for­ creased its percentage gain in 1967 eign trade. In addition, Russia has by rising to $8,537 billion. Equally enough ships to hire out for char­ impressive are her exports which ter to other nations, enabling her climbed from $3,427 billion in to grab more and more of the 1955 to $8,840 billion in 1966 and world's foreign exchange. The U.S. on the other hand, must $9,648 billion in 1967. frequently charter foreign-flag In Washington last month no­ vessels to meet this nation's com­ tice was being taken by the House mitments. Appropriations Committee of the tremendous progress attained by the U.S.S.R. The committee's report on ap­ propriations for the Department of Defense in fiscal 1969 cited the Soviet Union's expansion of its world influence through a BATON ROUGE, La—A greatly increased naval and mari­ new "right-to-work" proposal time presence on the world's seas. was soundly beaten in a com­ "The Soviet merchant marine," mittee of the Louisiana legis­ the, report said, "now numbers lature. over 1,400 ships and is growing Its sponsor asked for con­ rapidly." sideration by the House La­ Russia's emergence as one of bor and Industry Committee the world's major shipbuilding of a proposed constitutional nations was recently pointed up amendment to outlaw the un­ in two other developments. ion shop. India's commerce minister Dan-i . The committee considered ish Singh, said his nation may it—and then voted 13-3 to solve its balance of trade deficit kill the bill. with Russia by buying cargo ships Louisiana once had a from the Soviet Union which has "work" law—and repealed it been purchasing vast quantities of 12 years ago. iron, steel and railway cars from Ledsiane Re/ects Ri^t-To-WM BB! LOG Page FITC Mode!Cities Employment Guidelines Adopted by Building Trades Unions WASHINGTON—^The presidents of 17 building trades unions have unanimously adopted guidelines for employment and training of residents of areas earmarked for rehabilitation under the model cities program. C. J. Haggerty, president of ^ the AFL-CIO Building and pertains to the entire Model Cities struction work experience are to be paid an entrance wage as ne­ Construction Trades Depart­ program "and will be rigorously gotiated by the parties. observed," Weaver said. ment announced the guidelines In recruiting residents of the Under the guidelines, building after a meeting of the union pres­ area to be rehabilitated, the trades councils are advised to take idents here. He cited the "proud B&CTD presidents recommended tradition" of the building trades the initiative in establishing a joint that the agreement provide a pro­ labor-management Model Cities in responding effectively to na­ Administrative Committee for cedure for the preliminary screen­ tional emergencies. each area. They are urged to ne­ ing of applicants and training be­ The announcement brought fore on-site work. statements from Labor Secretary gotiate special local agreements "Such preliminary training," as supplements to existing agree­ W. Willard Wirtz commending the the statement said, "should in­ ments, specifying wage rates and building trades department for its clude orientation to work opera­ "sound blueprint" and from Sec­ conditions of employment. tions and safety." The training Residents of slum areas who are retary Robert C. Weaver of the programs are to be developed in eligible for work within the scope Department of Housing and Ur­ cooperation with representatives of the special agreements will be ban Development congratulating of federal and local government Haggerty and the union presidents grouped according to their experi­ agencies and community groups. ence on construction work, as fol­ for their "initiative." The guidelines recommend that lows: The quidelines implement a de­ the local agreements provide • Those fully qualified to be cision made in Bal Harbour, Fla., where needed additional basic last winter when the union presi­ laborers or mechanics. education programs under gov­ • Those with appreciable con­ dents pledged cooperation with ernment or industry financing. struction work experience but not efforts to open up job and train­ ing opportunities for residents, of qualified to be mechanics or la­ This, it was noted, may result in the workweek for some employ­ borers. inner-city slums. ees being divided between on-site • Those with little or no con­ Since that time, Haggerty told work and specified classroom in­ a news conference, unions and struction experience. struction. The statement says that area contractors, cooperating with the The number of employees in residents who are fully qualified Labor Department under the Out­ the second and third group of would be assigned at the rates for reach program and other govern­ trainees—those with less than full laborers or craftsmen provided in ment-funded efforts, have screened experience—"shall be determined the agreement. Those with appre­ about 12,000 applicants from mi­ locally" where circumstances vary nority groups and trained some ciable experience would be "given from craft to craft and job to preference in employment oppor­ 2,000 workers who have been ad­ job, the statement said. tunities" over beginners, and em­ mitted to unions in 45 U.S. cities. Other provisions include: ployed at a wage step in accord­ May Take Year • "The determination of size ance with a schedule to be nego­ Work under the Model Cities of workforce, establishment of tiated. program may be a year or more 'The negotiated schedule quality standards and judgment away, Haggerty said, but the un­ should provide for wage step in­ of workmanship required, and the ion presidents reconunended that crements . . . dependent on the maintenance of discipline shall be all affiliated unions and councils experience and performance of the responsibility" of the contrac­ be prepared to "take into account the employee," the presidents' tor. not only the urgent need for do­ • "Provision" should be made policy statement said. "T^is sched­ ing the job but also for getting for uniform starting times and ule may or may not be identical it done in good time" when the for shift work at shift rates. with the wage schedule for ap­ first contracts are awarded to em­ • "The agreement should pro­ prentices" but should "provide ployers. vide specifically that there will the possibility for advancement Haggerty noted that the policy be no work stoppage over juris­ to the top group." statement is a guide to local un­ dictional disputes. Those with little or no con­ ions and councils in seeking agreements with employers in their area on rehabilitation and new construction work, including de­ molition repair and alteration of residential structures in urban areas under the Model Cities pro­ gram. WASHINGTON—Five more ships have been added to the North "We want an orderly procedure that will not destroy our very val­ Vietnam blacklist and three additional vessels, including the first uable apprentice training pro­ from Japan, have been placed on the "Cuba blacklist, according to grams," he said. "We are willing the Maritime Administration, to accept suggestions for future and are now barred from carry­ ported two vessels were removed from the North Vietnam list by procedure from the unions in­ volved, and from the government ing U.S. Government-generated virtue of having been broken up. This list now stands at 53 vessels agencies" responsible for develop­ cargoes. Blacklisted for calling at North of 359,720 gross tons as of June ing the Model Cities program. Wirtz said in his statement that Vietnam ports are the 6,718 ton- 25, 1968. The vessels broken up the guidelines on the involvement Emilia Plater, the 6,904 ton-Lud- were the British-flag Santa Granda of slum residents in the rehabili­ wik Solski and the 4,911 ton-Pa- of 7,229 tons, and the Lebanesetation of their neighborhoods wel Finder—all flying the Polish flag Nagos of 7,092 tons. llie Cuba list, as of the latest "form the basis for significantly flag—as well as the British-flag Pundua of 7,295 tons and the MARAD Report, includes 193 improving the employment pros­ Lebanese-flag Rio of 7,194 tons. ships of 1,382,201 gross tons fol­ pects of these disadvantaged res­ The additions to the Cuba list lowing removal of two vessels idents" not just to prevent dis­ are the Bridsh-flag tanker Athelafter they were lost" or scrapped. crimination "but to enable a large number of unemployed to become aird of 11,150 tons, the Somali- These were the Cypriot-flag Free flag Thios Costa of J,258 tons and Enterprise of 7,805 tons and the productive wage earners." Weaver expressed the hope that the Japanese-flag Chokyu Maru Lebanese-flag Tertric of 7,045 tons. the policy statement "will pro­ of 8,627 tons." MARAD, which keeps records MARAD further stated that the vide a framework for -a satisfac­ tory construction manpower pro- of all ships from Free World Italian-flag Agostion Bertapi had pram to be neeotiated with all ele­ countries and Poland to determine been removed from the North ments in each local community." what foreign-flag" vessels call at Vietnam list upon a promise from While the agreement applies to Cuban ports, said it was the first the Garibaldi Societa Cooperative residential structures and com­ time a Japanese ship had- been di Navegacione A.R.L. that it mercial construction is not specifi­ listed since the blacl^st was be­ would keep the ship and six others it controls out of North Vietnam cally covered, the "maximum op­ gun on January 1, 1963. At giie same time MARAD re­ and Cuban ports. portunities" clause in the law Eight Free WwU Vessels Added To Uuth Vktram, Cuba Bheldists �Page Six SEAFARERS Angiut 2, 1968 LOG i4:« The Gulf Coast July 12 to July 25, 1968 DICK DiPAIITMINT ERBD TOTAL SHIPPED fay Lindsey Williams, Vice-Pnsldent, Guff Aroa -K' •t •S The Louisiana AFL-CIO was successful during the recent ses­ sion ol the state Legislature in passing several major changes in the Workmen's Compensation Law. These changes increased the maximum weekly benefits from the present $35 per week to $45 per week, increased the death bene­ fits frmn 400 weeks to 600 weeks, Robot Chaisson was on the and fm- total and i>ermanent dis­ Falmouth for two trips to India. ability the duration was increased After a rest, he'll ship, preferably from 400 to 600 weeks. These as bosun, the same job he held were the first changes made in down on the Falmouth. Bob's not the Workmen's Compensation law particular what ship or run he here m 12 years. makes. Governor McKeithen vetoed After 14 months on the Del the bills, July 12, however, and Sad as bosun, Paul Tomer is on the State AFL-CIO has held sev­ the beach for a much needed rest. eral meetings to discuss this ac­ Paul will probably stay on the tion. The Executive Board has beach until Labor Day. called for a special convention MobUe of the State AFL-CIO for August E. M. Mercer just shipped on 11, in Baton Rouge to take what­ ever action necessary in regards the Claiborne as chief electrician, making a Far East run. Brother to the vetoes. Although New Orleans has Mercer said he prefers the twoproblmns, including a need for more wharves, the port has ex­ perienced a growth in the amount of tonnage moving in and out of the public facilities during the first half of this year. Statistics show an increase in general cargo imports. The SIU got its share as shipping has been very good and the number of SIU ships passing Turner Curtis through this port has increased. The U. S. Corps of Engineers week run to San Juan and back. conducted a hearing here in New H. C. Weeks was BR utility on Orleans to consider plans to widen the Robin Locksley. He made the and deepen the Mississippi River maiden trip on the Delta Argen­ Gulf Outlet from the Industrial tina but said he still prefers the Canal to the Gulf, outside of old ships. Still, H. C. liked the Breton Island. The Dock Board air conditioning and fine quarters has proposed that the channel be on this new Delta vessel. deepened to 50 feet and widened V. O. Guest just left the hos­ to 750 feet Delta Lines ships use pital after an operation and is the channel regularly and there back on his favorite ship, the Del have been some problems with Sud, as AB. vessels running aground in the Houston past Other companies have been Shipping still remains good similarly affected. here with the outlook just as New Orleans promising for the next two weeks. L. Grabban recently sailed as A. C. Wilson made a trip to bosun on the Maury, formerly Vietnam on the PeccKS and is known as the Alice Brown. Broth­ ready for more of the same next er Grabban told us he was greatly time out. pleased with the new company, Charles Hill was on the Steel Krest Shipping, and will t^ to Seafarer. After spending some get a bosun's job on another of time at home, his wife , said it's thdr vessels. time to go again, so Charles is Qyde "Whttey" Lanlor is on looking for a good job. the beach after serving as steward . Roy Curtis registered for a on the Del Sud for quite a spell. good third cook's position. He Clyde isn't certain about his fu­ hopes to land on the Cottonwood ture plans. Creek, going to Brazil. Burt Lanpher (right), secretary-treasurer of the SOA, greets Phar­ macist Mate Chester Robbins (center), and Captain E. A. Olssen after Export Bay bypassed quarantine inspection in New^Yorlc. Port Boston New York ... Philadelphia . Baltimore •... Norfolk Jacksonville . Tampa Mobile New Orleans Houston Wilmington .. San Frandsco Seattle To^l, All Groups Class A Class B 7 2 60 42 7 7 20 21 16 14 12 7 8 6 28 26 62 39 70 34 16 30 31 64 9 16 316 319 All Groups 6 40 6 11 13 7 1 17 22 29 19 18 7 194 4 25 3 11 17 4 2 19 16 29 27 60 9 226 0 7 3 6 ft 7 0 1 4 10 19 46 8 120 ENGINE DB>ARTMENT TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups All Groups Port Boston New York Philadelphia ...... Baltimore Norfolk JacksonviUe Tampa Mobile New Orleans •... Houston Wilmington San Francisco ... Seattle Totals aassA Class B 2 1 38 42 6 5 20 12 6 11 15 10 2 4 27 13 30 63 22 42 18 11 48 41 12 8 207 292 (iassA Class B Class 0 3 1 36 38 15 6 3 3 11 17 4 10 11 11 10 10 14 • 0 1 2 11 14 11 17 23 % 2 23 26 17 13 16 15 39 36 49 10 12 11 149 184 216 An Groups ClassA ClaasB 13 6 238 78 24 20 74 22 30 27 20 2 9 10 64 28 147 74 151 96 30 1 68 10 41 7 909 381 REGISTERED on BEACH ClaasA ClaasB 5 4 122 60 16 16 64 17 12 14 20 13 6 11 48 30 86 96 97 102 14 0 60 8 28 41 667 412 STEWARD DEPARTMB4T TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Port Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Jacksonville Tampa Mobile New Orleans .... Houston ......... Witmington San Francisco, J..' Seattie ToUla 1 42 7 15 10 4 1 14 40 26 10 33 18 221 1 20 4 7 9 7 1 11 21 27 9 79 16 211 TOTAL SHIPPED AH Groups CUssA ClassB ClassC 0 0 1 28 13 .20 0 7 2 . 3 11 1 14 15 12 6 16 6 3 0 0 10 18 3 11 12 3 26 10 3 9 9 8 76 25 44 3 12 7 105 181 161 REGISTERED on BEACH All Groups ClaasA ClaasB 4 3 138 50 17 11 48 36 12 13 5 8 5 8 57 39 69 122 107 67 24 0 46 43 40 11 358 625 SlU-SOA Phariiiacist Mate Clears First Cargo Ship Throagh Quarantine NEW YORK—^For the first time since U. S. Foreign Quarantine laws were enacted 100 years ago, an American-flag cargo ship was able to bypass quarantine inspection in the Port of New York last month due to the presence aboard of Staff Officer Oiester Robbins, a graduate of the Pharmacist Mate Training School sponsored by the SIUNA-affiliated Staff conferring on the new clearance was on board when Captain program—and agreed to it in prin­ Everett A. Olssen wrapped up the Officers Association. ciple—^but no date has been set "Q" (Quarantine) flag and handed Arrangements for the new clear­ for putting the plan into use. it to Robbins. ance procedure that enabled the Lanpher said Robbins, like all Under this plan, incoming ships, freighter Export Bay to go directly when they are a day out at sea,' 27 members of the second graduat­ to dock at the Naval Station in will advise by radio whether there ing class of Pharmacist Mates, re­ Bayonne, N.J., rather than drop­ is any illness abroad. They also ceived nine months of highly ping anchor at the Quarantine will explain the status of vaccina­ specialized medical training—in­ Station at Rosebank, Staten Island, tion certificates, previous ports of cluding foreign quarantine instruc­ were worked out last May by the call and other quarantine data. tion—at the U.S.P.H.S. Hospital, U.S. Public Health Service with After assessing the information. Stapleton, Staten Island. He the SOA when the school's second Public Health Service officers will pointed out that the cost of the class of Purser Pharmacist Mates decide if the vessels should pro­ entire training of each Pharmacist graduated. Now all cargo ships ceed to their berths. Mate was in excess of $9,000. with qualified Purser-Pharmacist It is estimated that AmericanMany WHl Qualify Mates abroad will be given auto­ flag operators whose ships have matic radio pratique—permission It is expected that about 90 the Pharmacist Mates abrard will to dock and unload—^when re­ percent of the 37,000 ships arriv­ save $100,000 a year by avoiding quested as Staff Officer Robbins ing each year in the United States stops for quarantine inspections. did from the Export Bay. will qualify under the new system Port of New York Authority es­ As the Export Bay's clearance and in many instances it will not timates show more than $1 million was completed, the U.S. Public be necessary for quarantine offi­ is spent by all shipping because Health &rvice also announced cers to examine passengers or of such delays. that a more simplified system of crewmembers. However, such Within a year, more than 100 quarantine clearance procedures clearance will not be granted auto­ SOA Purser Pharmacist Mates will had been agreed on to facilitate matically as in the case of U.S.- be clearing their ships directly to the entry of other ocean-going flag vessels. the docks. Lanpher said Pharma­ vessels entering the United States, When the Export Bay docked cist Mates from World War II as well. it was boarded at the pier by and the 26 graduates of the Phar­ Officials of the National Com­ quarantine offiicials who ceitified macist Mate Training School's municable Disease Center in At­ that the first free entry was carried first class in June 1967 will be lanta, Ga., and steamship associa­ out correctly. Burt Lanpher, sec­ given quarantine training some­ tion executives have been retary-treasurer of the ^A, also time this year. �Augnst 2, 1968 SEAFARERS LOG Union Anthorization Cards Upheld as Valid by HLRB 4P A WASmNGfON—^The National Labor Relations Board will con­ tinue to apply the rule that a worker who signs a clearly-worded authorization card in a union organizing campaign has signified his intention to designate the union as his bargaining agent, NLRB members said recently in a unanimous 5-0 decision. The board, in a case involving Levi Strauss and Co., Tyler, Tex., and the Clothing Workers, reviewed the rule it has followed for more than five years in card-check cases and spelled out the reasoning behind its orders to employers who destroy a union's majority by illegal means. Noting that the validity of its card-check rulings "has been ques­ tioned by some courts and in some other quarters," the board afiSrmed a trial examiner's findings that the union had, in 1966, secured author­ ization cards from a majority of workers at the pants manufacturer's Tyler plant; that management later destroyed the union's majority by tlneats and promises and caused it to lose a 1967 election; and that the company should be ordered to recognize the ACWA and bargain with it. The employer challenged the union's contention that it represented a majority of employees before the election. It claimed some of the cards should not be counted because they were obtained "under the alleged misrepresentation that they would be used only for the purpose of obtaining an NLRB election." Trial Examiner John P. von Rohr ruled after hearing testimony that the union had 87 valid authorization cards in a bargaining unit with 163 employees, and the board agreed. Authorization Signified "The cards on their face," it said, "spell out in clear and unam­ biguous language an authorization for the union to represent the signer for collective bargaining." The examiner held that, in some instances, the possibility of an election wa's mentioned but none of the employees was told that the cards would be used only for the purpose of getting an election. The cards signed by the 87 employees were labeled "applications for membership" in ACWA and stated; "I, undersigned, hereby apply authorize the officers thereof to represent and negotiate for me in all matters pertaining to wages, hours and other conditions of employ­ ment" The board commented: "Without ascribing to such cards ... all the solemnity and binding effect associated with deeds, or wills, or contracts, or bills and notes, there is ... in the case of clearly expressed authorization cards ... no valid basis ... for denying face value to the signed cards" without proof of misrepresentation or coercion in getting signatures. The board added that "declarations to employees that authorization cards are desired to gain an election do not, under ordinary circum­ stances, constitute misrepresentations either of fact or of purpose." Board Member Sam Zagoria signed the decision but said in a foot­ note that remarks made to two card signers could be interpreted as meaning that the cards would be used only for an election. Accord­ ingly, Zagoria "would not rely on their cards in affirming the examiner's finding of majority status," the report said. The Machinists have won a $1.15 hourly raise in wages and fringe benefits for 1,016 members at Menasco Manufacturing Com­ pany in Burbank, Calif., following a seven-day strike. The three-year contract is the first settlement since the union began negotia­ tions with several aerospace com­ panies late in April (Menasco manufactures airmWt and space vehicle compcments). Employees of Menasco walked off ffie job aiter rejecting the compai^ offer of $1.04 an hour. The new con­ tract will boost wage and firinge benefits 50^ an hour retroactive to May 20—^when the previous contract expired—and provides for additional raises of 30^ next year and 35# in 1970. agements served sweeping coun­ ter-proposals calling for cutbacks in benefits and a 20 percent pay cut. * *, m Another 1,100 Steelworkers, at nine plants of seven major com­ panies, have completed a unique program to upgrade the educa­ tional level of workers to qualify them for advancement to higherlevel jobs. The pilot program, which graduated 650 union mem­ bers last January, has now come to a close and a joint union-man­ agement evaluation of the pro­ gram will begin. * • * The Commercial Telegraphers announced-that as of August T * * « the name of the union is changed Negotiators for the Railroad to the United Telegraph Workers, Signalmen and the nation's rail­ and that of the union's publication roads failed to reach agreement to the Telegraph Workers Jour­ on the union's wage proposal nal. The name-change was author­ during three days of conferences ized by delegates to the 1967 in Chicavo. They announced that CTU convention in San Fran­ talks will be resumed August 14. cisco. It was later approved by The Signalmen served notices in the union executive board and the March on individual roads calling AFL-CIO Executive Council, for .sizable wage increases, skill Secretary-Treasurer John T. differential pay and a cost of liv­ Dowling said. CTU's history goes ing escalator clause. The dispute back to December 6, 1902, when went to "national handling" ^ter Samuel Gompers, first president negotiations on an indiyidual basis of the former AFL, signed its proved fruitless and many man­ charter of affiliation. Page Seven Swamped? The growing impact of the Soviet mer­ chant fleet on the world's sealanes was dra­ matically illustrated by the Soviet export and import totals cited in the July issue of the "United Nation's Monthly Bulletin of Sta­ tistics." Based on flgures submitted by -the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Trade, the totals reveal that Soviet exports to developing nations in­ creased 17 times between 1955 and 1967 and imports from these same countries rose six times in the same period.' The significance of these figures to the U. S. and the free world can only be de­ scribed as ominous. The drastic upswing in Soviet export and import totals to newly-emergent nations re­ veals that the Kremlin is making everincreasing use of their merchant marine as an economic and political tool. At the present time, the Soviet merchant fleet transports all of that nation's export cargoes as well as half of its estimated 92 million tons of foreign import trade. The Soviets charter free world shipping to meet the balance of their foreign trade needs, but with the accelerated pace of construction in Russian shipyards, the necessity for char­ tering out any cargoes is expected to be cut by 50 or 60 percent in the near future. In addition, the Soviets utilize their mer­ chant fleet for foreign charter, thus gaining foreign exchange to help pay for programs at home and in their satellite countries. Many Congressmen have evinced concern over the continuing Soviet fleet buildup and the threat that it poses to the free world. The most recent example of this concern was contained in a report by the House Ap­ propriations Committee on a Defense De­ partment authorization bill. The committee warned that "the Soviet merchant marine now numbers over 1,400 ships and is growing rapidly." They also noted the expanded Soviet influence result­ ing from that nation's naval and maritime presence on the high seas. It is apparent that the Soviets are taking full advantage of the debilitated state of the U. S. fleet and are proceeding with all de­ liberate speed to build a merchant marine that will be an asset both on the military and economic fronts. The continuing Arab estrangement from the Western world and the subsequent tight­ ening of bonds between the Soviet Union and the Arab nations is a good example of how the Soviet Union can utilize her fleet to put economic pressure on other nations. Like it or not, a great deal of the world's oil supplies come from Arab nations. . The Russians and the Soviet Union have already signed a bilateral shipping agree­ ment, which means that a deal has already been struck on the carriage of cargoes out of the United Arab Republic. It should be apparent to the U. S. govern­ ment that a nation which controls the car­ riage of vital cargoes can tie an economic noose around the country of its choosing. During his reign as Premier of the U.S.S.R., Nikita Khrushchev noted that there are many ways to win a war. Through the buildup of their merchant marine, the Soviets have served notice that they are preparing for an all-out economic war. The Question is—Can the U. S. afford to bring up the rear? �• fi|! il 'arr;.^-'';v| • . ii .' Vviif:'f /S\vC'j=toi^^v-v.-h ..-^. • •.•''' " '-I •• •'•' One of the busiest Ocean-go­ ing routes in the world today is the Seaiift from the United States to Vietnam as SlU-contraeted vessels steam into Saigon and other ports with ne^ed miiitary cargo. Pic­ tured on these pages are a few of the ships and some of the Seafarers who have sailed to Southeast Asia re­ cently, Crewmembers of the Whitehaii, Bowling Green, Beauregard, Overseas Rose, Oceanic Tide and Cortland have ail become familiar with the typical Saigon River scene shown at left. •.''••"*i •;f •" • rii'." Ir - , • \ if II': ,l' .1 • '{v il' I; Ity, iHI 1.4, Delegates on Bowling Green,' (l-r): Louis Haclcy, ship's dele­ gate; Jim Smart, eng.; Jim Wallis, deck; Grady Faircloth, stwd. .IfV W. Ingebord sailed on the Bowling Green (Pan Am. Tank­ ers) as electrician. The vessel is heading up the Saigon River. \\vvvv\ irniri/// l\ -"•.A »« % ! litASiSI I I ' il f U •-.yii « . 'J I It-'N - f H: fi •''• .-ir-' • if !|i ' f g^Ccrpo«tlcn Si a&«~77^rn5t of P»n Amerian port of Soi^on «•=. •n„ Cortland, from IS„tood her militarY c^°™ docbid. in S.n90" Other SlU.controct.d ships were 0, usual, bustling with activity: ^ li port, Among the many ships sailing to Vietnam is the Beaure­ gard of the Sea-Land fleet (above). The vessel has just tied up at dockside in Newport, South Vietnam. 1 '•*' r- ' ^ r' / , •i -t[I. - :{• I • f; .-. I • - At upper right are delegates on Beauregard. From left are ship's delegate Tom Lundy; Mike Canidy, deck; Jack Wheeler, steward; and Dick Backlock, engine dept. Among the Seafarers on the Cortland (upper right) are: Johnny Kennedy of the | steward department at (eft; W. G. McClinton, steward dept. delegate, Rudolph « Paschal, deck dept., and ship's delegate Mike Doherty^ of deck department. _ • . SlU Far East Representative Frank Boyne (holding board) goes over crew list i'^'- ' of Seafarers with delegate Mike Doherty, at his leftl Looking on are depart­ ment delegates, R. Pascal, W. McClinton and other Coftland efeW jiiSmb©>s. > i.v' ' -S r. ' ' Ben Freedam (at right) sailed aboard the Beauregard as the chief electrician. Seafarer Freeman is a native of Massachusetts and joined the Union in Port of New York. .'.•Mit -fi ' il • '• '•.rJ'If'-'V' ' ••'ftl''- • •'••'•"•I...,.— ., a-. • The Ocean Tide (at le^) does her part in keeping steady flow of needed supplies coming. . iiI'l 'S:-:-r" Saigon River as seen from a local sampan. The sampan is used as a launch for ships. the Whitehall (Whitehall Navigation Corp.) passes a I buoy as it makes it's way up Saigon River. Seafarers aboard reported they had enjoyed an excellent voyage. I• \ i.t. I • if; li:|: While cargo from Overseas Rose unloads in Saigon, Seafarers have opportunity to relax. From left: G. Libby, R. Henley, G. Owen, N. Paloumbis, and M. Little. Children are always interested in ships and these you'ngsters were no exception as they visited the Cort­ land, to delight of Seafarers, during a stop in Saigon. v! ,1 Wf liiaa.'JiSft I .1 �SEAFARERS Page Ten Aniput 2, 1968 LOG Lebanese Unionists Visit SlU Headquarters The Great Lakes by Fred FanrMn,S«cr«tary-Treasur«r,arMt Lakaa The SIU, Great Lakes District, Credentials Committee report on nominations for the 1968 union elections was concurred in all Great Lakes District ports in special meetings held July 18. The report was submitted in compliance with the Secretary-Treasurer's pre-balloting report and the Union constitution. The offices to be filled and the. ' of support for the striking farm qualifying nominees are: Secre­ workers. tary-Treasurer Fred Famen; As­ The Mayor said that communi­ sistant Secretary-Treasurer, Roy Boudreau; Buffalo Agent, Stanley ties which enjoy certain rights Wares, Richard Gordan; Chicago should attempt to help other com­ Agent, "Scottie" Aubusson; Du- munities where those rights are luth Agent, Donald Bensman, jeopardized. He said that Cali­ Arnold Perry; Frankfort Agent, fornia farm laborers are "living Harold Rathbun. (Frankfort bal­ in an age we should have passed loting is on a separate ballot in long ago." accordance with the constitution. The election will be held be­ tween August 1 and August 31, 1968. Polling places will be lo­ cated in all SIU Union Halls in Duluth, Chicago, Frankfort, De­ troit, Alpena, Cleveland, and Buf­ falo as well as aboard all SIU, Great Lakes District-contracted Modzelewskt Womwofl vessels as per the Constitution. Members are reminded that they Jeiry Powell is back in town must present their full union after attending the funeral of his Three Lebanese trade union leaders visited SlU headquarters in New York, recently. Lett to right are: books (in good standing) before brother at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Jerry is a wheelsman aboard the John Saba, president of American University of Beirut Employees Union; SlU Representative Frank Pec- they will be allowed to vote. Ste. Clare in the Bob-Lo Com­ A Credentials Committee No­ quex; Ali Houmani, president of Beirut Port Dock Workers union; team manager James Peake; interpreter pany fleet. His brother was in the tice of Election Report has been Qais Al-Sharvati. Kneeling is Samih Zein, president of Port Company Employees and Workers union. The SIU, sailing mostly out of New sent to all members at their last men were interested in internal structure of the SIUNA, its facilities and its ties with other trade unions. known address, utilizing the Un­ York. ion's records. Notices were also Richard Forgays is on the sent to all SIU-Lakes District beach after sailing aboard the W. contracted vessels and union halls A. Reiss. Among the old timers for posting. on the beach are Andy Rebrik, Credentials Committee mem­ Caii Green, John IIHiite and bers elected July 15, were: Otto Harry Bnccilii. Nitz, Louis Nowaczewski and Jo­ Chicago seph Pilkey. Alternates are: John Shipping is still good here and White, Tony Womwoll and Alex all jobs called in are being filled. WASHINGTON—The only way America can maintain supremacy at sea and overcome the chal­ Lemanski. In addition to having A couple of old friends have lenge of the Soviet Union is through the establishment of a government-sponsored "crash" maritime been submitted and approved at phoned us from tfie West Coast the special meetings in Great project, according to Charles F. Duchein, president of the Navy League of the United States. Lakes ports, July 18, the Cre­ where they have been shipping Speaking to League members dentials Committee report* has the past few years. Cart •Whitey'* and the oflBcers and crew aboard sign and building materials, as of a compact reactor; pressing re­ been posted in all Great Lakes Nelson still maintains his Chicago the aircraft carrier USS Essex off well as a frontal effort in the anti­ search for missilization of the District Union Halls in accord­ address, he told us. Stanley ModNarragansett Bay last month, submarine warfare field, to meet fieet, and conduct of the compre­ ance with Article XIII, Section 2, selewskl chatted with us about old times. We still remember the Duchein declared that the current the rapidly growing Soviet sub­ hensive ASW (anti-submarine of the Constitution. warfare) research under a "congreat way he puts together a Mul­ scientific and technological effort marine threat. Detroit ligan stew. The Navy League president, trol-of-the-sea" concept now going into maintaining a Duchein declared that the All vessels contacted are in The SIU, along with other un­ modem Navy that can control citing examples of the growing House Armed Services Commit­ good shape with crewmembers ions, attended a rally to help sup­ the seas, and toward development Soviet challenge to American su­ tee "added credence to the Navy awaiting the outcome of contract port the United Farm Worker's premacy on the seas, continued: of a modem competitive merchant League's plea for a real increase negotiations being conducted in Union. The rally was held out­ marine, is far below what is re­ "The recently disclosed crea­ in oceanic research in -recom­ Detroit. On the local level, the side the huge Detroit Fruit and quired. tion of a permanent Soviet naval mending the allocation of $50 mil­ Produce Terminal at 8 p.m. as IBEW is negotiating with the Bell He wamed that the govatiment squadron in the Indian Ocean, lion for submarine research, sub­ TV cameras rolled. Later that Telephone Company. The next must set up a "crash" effort like moving into a potential vacuum in sequent to the Scorpion disaster. evening on TV, Mayor Jerome move is up to the company, a the Manhattan Project, which de­ a highly cmcial and volatile area The resounding overtone of past Cavanagh ordered the City Pur­ situation wiiich also applies to ffie veloped the atomic bomb in World as British military power with­ neglect of maritime research is chasing Commission to avoid buy­ dispute between the Yellow and War II, or a top priority program draws, is a direct threat to our inescapable," he concluded. ing California Grapes as a sign Checker Cab Companies and like the Polaris and Atlas, Titan national security, approaching DUOC Local 777. and Minuteman land-based mis­ that of a threat of attack on South Duluth sile development efforts, to meet Vietnam cities." Ehiluth is back on the map the burgeoning maritime chal­ He added that the development again now that the seaway strike lenge over a broad scope by the of Soviet cmise missile ships for is over. The docks were deserted Soviet Union. the Russian and Communistfor awhile but everything is get­ bloc, and Red-supported coun­ Cites Soviet Challenge ting back to normal. Shipping tries like Cuba and Egypt, requires WASHINGTON—^If you didn't order it and don't use it; you remains about the same as last "Soviet Russia is now building the ranid missilization of the don't have to pay for it—or even return it. period with rated men practically a million tons of the most mod­ U.S. Fleet This is evidenced by That's the advice the Federal Trade Conunission gives in its able to write their own ticket. em shipping a year, as well as a the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Consumer Bulletin No. 2, dealing with unordered merchandise. modem navy, with which they in­ Elath by Soviet-made STYX mis­ Cleveland •Unless the recipient has signed a contract—as with a book or tend to bury us at se^t. Our mer­ siles fired from speedy SovietThis port** is starting to look record club—to pay for or return merchandise, he is free to chant marine largely is aged and built Egyptian missile ships. He alive again, but shipping is still throw, all the dunning letters he receives in the wastebasket, replacements are sorely inade­ stressed that the U.S. Fleet needs a bit slow for some entry ratings. along with the unwanted merchandise. quate," declared Ehichein. AB's and oilers, however, have four-dimensional defenses with In fact, the FTC bulletin says, firms that seek payment or no problem in finding a ship. "We need a Manhattan-like missiles against submarines, air­ return of unordered gck>ds must include a clear statement that program, adequately funded and craft, satellites and now surface BID Loveless is back in town the recipient "is under no obligation either to return the mer­ strongly pushed by the Adminis­ missile ships, such as the Soviet after sailing salt water for 10 chandise to the sender or to preserve it intact" and is required tration and Congress to cope with missile task forces of cruisers and months. Bill will take a rest, then to pay for it only if he uses it or decides to purchase it. this real threat," said Duchein. find a job on the Lakes. destroyers in the Mediterranean. Another FTC pamphlet, titled Fight Back, tells consumers what steps to take to "avoid being gypped" and to put a stqp to The "crash" national maritime Duchein called for five nation­ Frankftni business cheats. project proposed by General Du­ al research goals. These, he said, Henry Bramer, oiler, and Roy Both pamphlets are available on request from the Federal chein would endeavor to attract should be: designing a tmly fu­ Rommel, fireman, both from the Trade Commission, 6th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Wash­ top scientific talent in the coun­ turistic surface ship; launching a Arthur K. Atldnsbn, are applying ington, D.C. 20580. ' try to add their efforts toward major merchant marine research for pensions and losing forward gaining the most modem ship de­ revitalization program; production to a happy retirement. •0 Jifayy League Head Asks Crash Plan To Meet Soviet Challenge on Seas Umnkrei Goods in Ma^x Cm Bo Jmked, FTC Says 'V : �Angiut 2, 1968 SEAFARERS The Pacific Coast by Frank Drozak, West Coast Representative EOG Page EAtren US land-Bridge'CouU Recapture Lost Sea Trade, MTD Seminar Toid WASHINGTON—Creation of a national corporation similar to the Communications Satellite The United Farm Workers hiring hall is just two years old, but it is already one of the most important departments in the union. Corp., to develop an American "land-bridge" for the movement of cargo between Europe and the It has grown from a small and rather confused office in 1966, to Far East, was proposed last week by Senator Frank E. Moss (D-Utah). Moss, a member of the Sen­ an efficient operation that dispatches hundreds of workers on a ship groups calling for a unitized ate Commerce Committee, said sider abandoning plans for an­ train of 80 cars moving between few hours notice. ^ — other ocean-level canal between In addition to the one in Del­ from a trip as bosun aboard the U.S. steamship lines and rail­ the Atlantic and Pacific, declar­ New York and California on a ano, there are hiring halls in La- Manhattan, while John Indorf is roads could tap a multi-billion- ing that with the "land-bridge" in five-day schedule in each direc­ mont, Hollister, and Earlier, and taking his vacation after sailing dollar market now controlled by the offing "it may never become tion. foreign shipping interests if goods another will soon be operating in as baker on that vessel. necessary to build another Pana­ In proposing a corporation pat­ were to move "across this nation Livingston. Manuel Sanchez, who terned after COMSAT, «Moss said ma Canal. instead of going around the runs the hiring hall in Delano, it would combine both federal Challenges Snbsidized Lines United States." comments that some of the newer and private investment. Federal The "land-bridge," he said, Captain Richard W. Stone, di­ funds, he said, would be "seed ranch committees sometimes have would shorten by 2,000 miles the rector of maritime operations for money" to get the project going, trouble handling grievances and supply line between Europe and the Transportation Institute, a while private capital would give setting up hiring halls. "But this the Far East, and could cut the Washington-based research orga­ the "land-bridge" what he called always happens at first," he said. time in transit from the present nization, said the "land-bridge" "the long-range capacity to grow "They soon get used to working 45-day span to "25 or 30 days," offered the nation's subsidized together. This is the best way and serve." thus providing lower-cost ship­ steamship lines "one last chance to build the Union on their The Utah Senator said that ping while giving "an enormous to show whether or not there's Indorf Schwartz ranches. such a move "would demonstrate boost to the rail and ship seg­ any profit to the taxpayers" in "They won't be dependent on our national determination to tap A. "Frenchy" Michelet returned ments" of the American transpor­ continuing multi - million - dollar Delano. Soon the members will be the great potential that this new to the sunny Northwest after tak­ tation industry. ship operating and construction organizing their friends on the transportation plan contains, and ing the Piwrtiand to the East Moss spoke at a day-long semi­ subsidies. Stone said the subsi­ other ranches in the area. It is al­ would make the maximum use of nar sponsored by the nearly dized lines should use government ready hapnening in Hollister and Coast, sailing as oiler. our public and private resources Wilmington seven-million-member AFL-CIO aid "to compete for cargo that Lamont This is the way we will Shipping has been excellent for Maritime Trades Department. He now moves in foreign bottoms," in its implementation." unionize this state." Dennis said that the feasibility all ratings and the outlook for the joined with labor and manage­ adding that this was the reason San Francisco ment representatives from the na­ for giving subsidies in the first study of the "land-bridge" versus next period looks bright with sev­ Shipning in this port continues another sea-level canal should be tion's railroad and maritime in­ place. at a brisk pace. Our ranks have eral pay-offs scheduled. We paid dustries in exploring the economic J. A. Grygiel of Chicago, man­ accompanied by two other fed­ been augmented to a good degree off ten ships, while six signed-on. potential that could be generated ager of market research for the eral actions: Assistance in "the by trainees coming in from Piney There are six vessels in transit. A1 Schwartz, a member for 21 by the "land-bridge." Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe promotion of American bottoms Point and New Orleans. Any Another speaker, President C. Railroad, told the seminar that his for transporting containerized AB's, firemen, oilers, waterend- years, is FED again after a spell on the beach and is looking for a L. Dennis of the Brotherhood of rail line, in cooperation with Penn freight," and development of "a ers, can find a good job here. high-speed cross-country network We have paid-off 22 ships dur­ good ship. He was bosun on the Railway and Airline Clerks, urged Central, already has offered "a of transportation." ing the last period, while 11 ves­ Western Clippa* the last time out the federal govenunent to con­ package of proposals" to steamThe union official said that the sels signed-on. A total of six ships money that could be saved if the are in transit. One. pay-off was new canal idea is abandoned held at Port Hueneme. "would be best invested in de­ SeaMp veloping a sound merchant ma­ Shipping has been good during rine fleet and rail network that the last period and the outlook is would offer the world of interna­ very good for the next two weeks. tional trade a high-speed service, We have paid-off five ships and a premium service at premium signed-on three others. A total of WASHINGTON—^The new International Load Lines Convention of 1966, which increases the rates with premium pay for the seven vessels are in transit. legal cargo-carrying limits of the world's merchant vessels and replaces a treaty dating from 1930, owners and employees." Kari HeDman just returned officially went into effect on July 21 following ratification by the required number of signatory counStone called on maritime and tnes. rail interests to "work together" The new agreement, approved because of their- greater structural "winter" zones which govern the in coordinating the flow of traffic by the U.S. Senate in C)ctober efficiency and safeguards against amount of cargo vessels may carry to make the "land-bridge" con­ 1966, permits deeper loading of flooding. All other ocean-going during seasonal periods. This is cept work. because ships must load less ships—up to 15 inches in many ships are in Class "B". "The ships have to be assured deeply in the winter months due Actually, some of the larger cases—^than was provided in the that the unitized trains will be to the more frequent possibility tankers and dry cargo ships, have previous Convention and recog­ nizes that larger and better de­ been carrying more cargo since of storms. Heavier cargoes have standing by, ready to be loaded WASHINGTON—A HouSe- signed vessels are capable- of the convention was first agreed traditionally been allowed in sum­ and to roll," he said. mer months. passed bill to continue for two safely carrying more cargo. The upon in 1966. "The trains are going to expect This was made possible because Now a permanent "summer the ships to move on schedule, so more years the present 55-per­ resulting increase in the overall ca­ cent ceiling on construction sub­ pacity of all oceangoing vessels the 1930 convention made no pro­ zone" will extend along the North that the trains won't have exces­ sidies, allowed by the U.S. Gov­ covered by the convention has vision for tankers over 600 feet Atlantic coast of th^ U.S. for all sive amounts of dead time in port. ernment to subsidized operators been estimated at some 10 million long nor dry cargo vessels over ships longer than 328 feet and a 750 feet long and this left longer "seasonal tropical" zone—similar whose ships are built in American tons. shipyards, has been approved by Additional loading is accom­ ships under authority of individ­ to a "summer" zone—^will be in the Senate Commerce Committee plished by reducing the vessel's ual governments. Vessels under effect along the Pacific Coast as and sent to the full Senate for a required freeboard, which is the these measurements, however, fir noith as San Francisco. vote. PrcAiously "winter zones" were distance between the loaiding were not permitted the increase in The bill, which also continues water line marked on the ship's their cargo-capacity until the con­ ill effect during the cold months WASHINGTON —The SIUa 60 percent subsidy for recondi­ side and the level of its main deck. vention became effective last ill thesj areas even though affected contracted Delta Steamship Com­ tioning and reconstructing pas­ The loading line—etched on the month. vessels would reach "summer The Coast Guard is charged weather conditions" within a few pany has been granted permission senger vessels, extends the existing hull—designates the legal limit to ceiling until June 30, 1970. which a ship can be loaded with with supervising the provisions of hundred miles of loading the re­ by the Maritime Subsidy Board to Action was taken on the meas­ cargo. These markings, which the Load Lines convention in the quired lighter cargo. withdraw its C-2 Del Santos from ure despite a move to block it in vary according to length and type U.S. Admiral Willard J. Smith, A "summer" zone corridor subsidized service and sell it. commandant of the service, said favor of a draft bill submitted by of vessel, will now be changed. around the Cape of Good Hqpe It was announced by the MSB Transportation Secretary Alan S. In the United States, official the new rules recognize shipbuild­ in Africa has also been established that the SlU-contracted Columbia Boyd to limit the extension of the loading line certificates are issued ing advancements made in the to replace the previous "seasonal subsidies and encourage construc­ on behalf of the government by maritime industry over a period of winter" zone, which required Steamship Company would pur­ tion of U.S. ships in foreign yards^ the American Bureau of Shipping. nearly 40 years—such as con­ ships to carry less cargo. This chase the vessel tar $625,000. Senator Daniel B. Brewster In foreign countries this is done struction improvements, better change was doubly necessary with Meanwhile, the board delayed (D-Md.), who filed a report on by Lloyd's Register of Shipbuild­ hatch closures and improved steel more and more ships sailing a decision on whether Delta could hulls. the bill (H.R. 17524), urged its ing. around Good Hope following the place the Del Alba back into sub­ passage and declared the Boyd Smith noted that AmericanThe convention provides that closure of the Suez Canal by the sidized service. It requested that backed legislation proposes a U.S.-fiag vessels holding 1930 cer­ flag vessels, certified for coast­ the company supply its plans for number of untried concepts that tificates have until July 21, 1970 wise trade and not covered by the Arab-Israeli War in June 1967. the introduction of three new are unrealistic and destructive of to apply for and be issued 1966 international convention, had been Because of the Suez closing, most the objectives of a U.S. national Intematicmal Load Line certifi­ permitted to apply for load lines nations informally agreed to move ships to be completed in 1968, based on the new treaty since early up the effective date of the Cape and furnish details on any vessels maritime policy. He said the bill cates. Horn corridor between Capetown to be retired, before the board was necessary to keep American Tankers, which are designated in 1967. operators on a parity with foreign as Qass "A", are granted the The new convention also read­ and Durban to facilitate carriage would act on the status of the Del competitors. " Alba. greatest reduction of freeboard justs the various "summer" and of vital cargoes via the Cape. Legal Cargo Loading Limits Raised As Load Linos Treaty Takes Effect Semrte Group m 55% Top On Ship AU Doha Gets OK On Solo of C-2 i • :l �Pmge Twelve SEAFARERS Spitfire Seafarers in Casabiama Laaded as Good WHi Ambassadors "One of the best crews to visit this port" was the proud distinction earned in Casablanca by the Seafarers aboard the Spitfire (General Cargo Corportation), according to Ship's Delegate Alex Vasquez. The seamen from the Spitfire helped to promote the image of the U.S. seaman as well as that of Americans in general, im­ pressing both local Moroccans and Americans currently in that Mid-East nation, he rep<^ed. "After three weeks in the port of Casablanca, we can truly say we had a wonderful trip," Brother Vasquez wrote the LOG. The Captain of the ^itfire, S. Kersgaard, is a "regular guy" who con­ tinuously showed "his concern for the crew." Not only was this trip "one of the best many of the men had ever made, but many thought it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable periods in their lives," said Vasquez, a Seafarer since 1947. As the ship prepared to leave for home, the crew was still "re­ ceiving compliments from people in the maritime industry, includ­ ing the local United Seamen's Among those attending the July 4th celebration at the Ameri­ Service, steamship agents and the can Consul General's home in Casablanca were: first row (L-R) staff of the American consul for Captain Kersgaard, Don Woolf, U.S. Consul General, C. Martinez, the exemplary conduct of the S. Reyes, P. Reys, I. Farhi, J. Thayer, radio officer, B.' Savant, crew during the ship's long stay M. Hopper. In second row: J. Yawn, D. DeSantos, D. Davis, S. in Casablanca." The ship's acents Carman, R. Glasscock, J. Verbraken. Third row: John Welles, F. commented that this is the "best Yadon, third mate, G. Betts, Audrey Baker and Jim Frowe. crew that has come to this port lately," Vasquez said—a distinc­ tion the entire crew is "S'ery ever "had the good fortune to sail gave an American-style barbecue with." For instance, on Father's at his residence for Amerit:ans in proud" of. Day, which was spent at sea, he the area. It is believed the Sea­ During the three weeks in port, provided a special menu of par­ farers were the first ship's crew all crewmembers took particular ticularly festive proportions. to be invited to this annual affair. care to insure that none of their Since Casablanca is a port "well Captain Kersgaard arranged that actions or conversation would cause any uncomplimentary re­ known to seafaring men for it's it would be possible for the crew many scenic attractions," Captain flection on Americans, especially Kersgaard arranged for all crew to attend and the men conducted in a period "when the prestige of members who could be spared themselves in an outstanding man­ the American people abroad is from regular watches to take a ner, earning the Consul General's dependent to a large extent on complete tour of Casablanca and praise as "an exceptional ship's the behavior of our citizens in Rabat—including all the popular crew." foreign countries," Vasquez noted. tourist attractions. Food, transpor­ The residence of the American "We have reason to be proud of tation and a guide were all pro­ Consul General in Casablanca is ourselves as members of the SIU vided by the Captain. Six taxi- quite historical, with many impor­ and we feel our Union and the cabs were needed to escort the 26 tant meetings having taken place industry as a whole deserves no men who made up the party. *To there. The most famous was the less than the fine performance of a man, we appreciated this gen­ Casablanca Conference in 1943, erous gesture," said Brother Vas­ attended by President Franklin D. such a crew as this," Vasquez quez, and a fine time was had by Roosevelt and British Prime writes. all. Minister Winston Churchill. The Captain Kersgaard deserved a To make the stay in Casablanca leader of the Free French forces, large share of the compliments, more memorable for the Spitfire's now France's president, Charles the men believed, as he is one of Seafarers, on the Fourth of July, De Gaulle, was also in attendance. the best Captains most of the men . the American Consul General, The Seafarers enjoyed meeting the numerous children at the cele­ bration and brought along a car­ Two Pensioners Welcomed ton of fresly baked doughnuts es­ pecially for them. One crew mem­ ber, steward Phil Reys, was pleas­ antly surprised to meet one of his relatives, who he had not seen since 1960. The relative was the Consulate's Conununication OflRcer, Mr. Di Gregorio, a cousin of Brother Reys, who was unaware that Di Gregorio was a member of the staff. A very happy family reunion ensued. During the voyage to Casa­ blanca, Brother Vasquez pointed out, the crewmen "got along very well with one another, 'without any logs, missed watches, foulups, reprimands, arguments and unsatisfactory conduct. As the men prepared for the trip home— on King Hassan of Morocco's birthday, as it happened—^the Sea­ farers "expressed their sincere thanks to the Captain for his thoughtfulness and many acts of SiW Representative Joe Di Giorgio (center) welcomes two Seafarers consideration.^ We hope to sail to the pension list. At left is John Pawlowich who sailed for 22 years. with him again and wish him fair His last ship was the Asbury Victory. On the right is Joe Stod- weather on all future voyages," olski who joined the SIU in N.Y.C. His last vessel was Penn Sailor. Brother Vasquez declared. "i- V'..- A-f i,' ' t. i s F.1 - -tf I • ? f « • ): ' .• • 'I.' f-, i' • ^ Axmtut 2, 1968 LOG FINAL DEPARTURES Edward Myer, 40: Brother Myer died on April 19, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Superi• or, Wisconsin, t from injuries sus­ tained in an auto­ mobile accident. He was born in Minnesota and resided in Superi­ or. A ntcinl>er of the deck depart­ ment, Brother Myer sailed on the Great Lakes and was last em­ ployed by the Chicago and Duluth Co. He joined the Union in Detroit. Surviving are his widow. Donna, and two children, Edward, Jr., and Pearl. The burial was in Greenwood Cemetery, Superior. ^ Fritz Samot, 68: Brother Samot died May 31 in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was on SIU pensi^^n at the time of death. Brother Samot had sailed as a mate on New York Central tugs from 1926, until his retirement in 1964. He joined the Union in New York. A native of Latvia, he made his home in Brooklyn. Brother Samot is sur­ vived by a friend, R. J. Hennessy of Coram, New York. The body was cremated in Greenwood Cre­ matory, Brookljm. ' George Smith, 59: Brother Smith died on June 17, at Elmer , Township, 8^°- DeathMichiwas caused by a car|| dial infarction. A " native of Michigan, Brother Vv Smith made his V home in Mio, V Michigan. He " sailed as a cook and was last employed by the Ann Arbor Towing Company. He joined the Union in the port of Frankfort. Brother Smith is sur­ vived by a son, Owen, and a daughter, Karen, both of Mio. The burial was held in Kittle Cemetery, Oscoda County, Michi­ gan. r Thomas Trolllnger, 46: Pneu­ monia claimed the life of Brother Trollinger on No­ vember 6, 1967, at the USPHS Hospital in San Francisco. A member of the steward depart­ ment, he had joined the Union in the port of San Francisco. Brother Trcrflinger lived in that city and was"a na­ tive of Seattle. His last vessel was the Hastings. Seafarer Trollinger served in the Army from 1946 WRITE .TLQ-T.M.E to 1948. He is survived by an aunt, Hattie Adair, of San Fran­ cisco. A cremation ceremony was held in the Cypress Lawn Ceme­ tery. ,1, Robert Barich, 81: Brother Barich died on March 5, in Phila­ delphia. At* the time of his death, he was on an SIU pension. He had been employed by the Philadel­ phia Tugs and Curtis Bay Tow­ ing Co. Brother Barich, joined the Union in Philadelphia and lived in that city. He was a native of Austria. Brother Barich held a cook's radng. Surviving is a son, Lucian Barich, of Philadelphia. Burial was in Holy Cross Cem­ etery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania. William Shaw, 52: Coronary sclerosis caused the death of Sea­ farer Shaw on April S, at Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay, India. The body was returned to the United States aboard the Steel Artisan. A Sea­ farer for ten years. Brother Shaw sailed as an AB and bosun. He joined the Union in the port of New YorkBom in Beaumont, Texas, he had made his home in Galveston, Tex­ as. Brother Shaw served in the Army from 1934 to 1937. At the time of death, he was a crewmember of the Steel Age. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Ada Mattes, of Galveston. Lumas Rose, 36: Brother Rose died on Sept. 30, 1967, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Death was caused by cardiac fail­ ure. He was born in Louisiana and lived in New Or­ leans. Brother Rose joined the Union in that city. A member of the steward department, his last vessel was the Del Sol. Broth­ er Rose is survived by a daughter, Shelia Ann Rose, of New Orleans. Burial was held in the Civil Ceme­ tery, New Orleans. vt^ Edward Lowe, 67: Brother Lowe passed away on May 12, at his home in Sap Francisco. A member of the steward depart­ ment, he sailed as cook. A Seafarer since 1958, he joined in the port of San Francisco. Brother Lowe was a native of Florida. His last ves­ sel was the Desoto. He served in the Army from 1920 to 1923. Surviving is his wife, Lillian. The body was cremated' in the Olivet Memorial Park, San Francisco. •I •! "2 �Angnat 2, 1968 SEAFARERS Going Ashore mm.:: »ja* LOG Page Thirteen Robin Hood Sent on Mercy Mission To Heip Sicilian Carthquake Victims NEW YORK—"I saw what Berlin was like after World War 11, and I thought that that devas­ tation was terrible. But these cities—Castle Novengo, Salemi, and especially Gibellina—were flat. Completely flat." That's the way Seafarer Jack "Aussie" Shrimpton, in a recent LOG interview, described &e situation as he saw it in Sicily three months after the island was rocked by violent earth tremors early this year. Shrimpton had gone there aboard the SlU-contracted Robin Hood, which was sent on a mercy mission by the United Nations. Through the U.N., the Robin Hood carried 1,265 quonset huts, donated by the United States Navy, to provide temporary Seafarers aboard the Transeastern head for shore leave in Yolcohama homes for the disaster victims. during a recent voyage. From left, Lloyd Thomas and Gerald For eight hours in the early Koscielak of deck department and Frank Van Dusen, steward dept. dawn of January 15, 1968, a se­ ries of 62 earth tremors shook the island, killing 311 people and leaving thousands homeless. The Robin Hood pulled into the Sicilian port of Trepani in April, and was the first ship of its size—10,000 tons—^to go there. Angdique Garcia, bom June Robert Pierce, bora April 29, Special charts had to be obtained 22, 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. 1968 to Seafarer and Mrs. Robert for the ship, in order to navigate the port. Juan Garcia, Jr., Houston, Texas. E. Pierce, Cloucester, N.J. Because there was no cargo- Seafarers from the Robin Hood visited Gibellina, Sicily, after handling equipment at the port, it was struck by an earthquake, last Japuary. The town of 7,000 Emfly Lawsin, born March 7, Patrick Wllllanison, bora June the vessel had to use its own gear inhabitants was totally ruined. Aussie Shrimpton, one of the crew­ 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Vln- 7, 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. to unload. The process took 15 men .who made the visit, recalled the experience in LOG interview. cente A. Lawsin, Seattle, Wash. Robert R. Williamson, Milwau­ days. kee, Wisconsin. In the midst of the somber long as three months for the three when they had been in the United Anthony Mitchell, bora April events, however, there was an un­ stricken cities to receive all the States and helped to build the 15, 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Bernard Mark Torres, Jr., born expected note of humor. At one huts. New York City subways. Lawrence Mitchell, New Orleans, June 15, 1968, to Seafarer and end of the dock, the village priest After the Sicilian venture, the Brother Shrimpton and fellow La. Mrs. Bernard Torres, Bay Min- was busy blessing the cargo, while Seafarers rented cars to go to the Robin Hood sailed to Rotterdam ette, Ala. at the other end, the local Com­ three hardest-hit towns of Castle and then Zeebrugge, Belgium, James Patrick Quanico, born munist Pa^ was busy holding an Novengo, Salemi, and Gibellina, where it picked up a cargo of January 5, 1968, to Seafarer and Charles C. Longerbeam, Jr., anti-American meeting. which were to receive the quonset NATO ammunition destined for Mrs". Isabelo B.' Quanico; San born May 29, 1968, to Se^arer huts. They were stunned by the the small port of Volos, Greece. Added Donation Francisco, Calif. Coincidentally, as when the ship and Mrs. Charles C. Longerbeam, In an effort to lend whatever devastation they found. "Nearly had pulled into Trepani with its Berryville, Va. ^ assistance possible, Shrimpton all of the old buildings had been shopment of quonset huts, this Angel Gnerra, bora June 11, ^ consulted wiA the head of the leveled by the tremcws," Shrimp­ might also been the first time an ton recalled. "They were reduced 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Raul Chaiyl Stonebridge, born April disaster relief committee and or­ to'rubble. But some of the mod­ SIU ship ever had pulled into L. Guerra, Hitchcock, Texas. 20, 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. ganized a donation of a number ern buildings were still partially Volos, said Shrimpton. Phillip Stonebridge, Longview, of ship's mattresses and never- up. Here and there, I could see a From there, the vessel went to before-used World War II galley David Greer, born June 10, Washington. Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, and whole wall or an entire sittingequipment. 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Wil­ back to Bayonne, New Jersey. The room still standing." liam Greer, Mobile, Ala. The Sicilian government sent a Ho^ is now on its way to Robin Frank Edward Vollva, bora There was evidence in some of ^ April 3, 1968, to Seafarer and truck especially for the galley the homes that people "just ran," Vietnam with military cargo. Tamrha Dene ffickenbottom, Mrs. Jack Edward Voliva, Bel- equipment and mattresses, and re­ leaving all their belongings be­ quested "anything that had born February 27, 1968, to Sea­ haven, N.C. wheels" to help transport the hind. farer and Mrs. C. L. Hickenbot^ "It was pitiful," Shrimpton said. quonset huts. Because of the un­ tom, Shreveport, La. Mayra Aragones, born June 16, developed and winding roads, and "One of the most striking things 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Abra­ the fact that each truck could I can recall seeing was a baby Kelly Susan Hill, bora June 13, ham Aragones, Puerta De Tierra, carry only half of a hut, it was carriage hanging from a window" 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ray­ Puerto Rico. estimated that it would take as of a crumbled building. And mond M. Hill, Virginia Beach, "worst of all" was the "stench of Va. decaying animals buried beneath On His Way the rubble." Keren Ray Hlckenbottom, born Lived In Tents September 21, 1965, to Seafarer Most of the survivors of the STEEL FLTER (Isthmian Lines), June and Mrs. C. L. Hickenbottom, none; Secretary, W. KarGibellina quake, he said had cho­ 23—Ghairman, piak. Ship's delegate nominated. Brother Shreveport, La. sen to stay "just around the cor­ W. Balch. No beefs or overtime disputed in any of the three departments. Discus­ ner" from^their home town with sion held on keeping ship cl^n. their friends—apparently unwill­ Ramtm Fdhnar, bora April 28, MOUNT VERNON VICTORY (Victory ing to leave. They lived in tents Carriers), June 29—Chairman, A. Brodie; 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Don­ Harvey Trawick.' Ship's dele­ massed together with their posses­ Secretary, ald A, Follmar, Houston, Texas. gate reports ship will pay off at port of discharge. Everything running smoothly. sions piled up in front. Food was — Plenty of draws. Requests new crew be dispensed from community kitch­ given plenty of overtime sheets to bring Christophw Bowen, born to ship. No beefs or disputed overtime ens. reported. Crew quarters have been paint­ March 6, 1968, to Seafarer and ed. Everything shipshape. Enough new l^rimpton noted that the sur­ mattresses Mrs. Richard F. Bowen San Fran­ on board for new crew. Vote of thanks to Brother Travick for being vivors all welcomed the crew of cisco, California. ready to fix anything damaged on board. the Robin Hood, but were "very Vote of thanks to A. Brodie for good mad at weekend visitors from the menus. Dawn Condns, bora June 3, big cities, who came to view their DEL VALLE (Delta), June SO—Chair­ 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. man, George Annis; SMretary, A. Mor­ misery." ales. Ship's delegate reports new TV put Clarence L. Cousins, Butler, aboard vessel in N. O. No beefs or over­ He talked with many people in time Pennsylvania. disputed. the cities, and found them to be WESTERN HUNTER (Western Agen­ "good people," who "bent over cy), June 21—Chairman, H. Silverstein ; Tawana Ltds Robotson, bora H. Pousson. Ship's Delegate backwards to help out." Some Secretary. Pousson explained that repair lists will June 7, 1968, to Seafarer and be given to department delegate, proudly showed him the old $20 and instructedeach Mrs. Trevor Lincoln Robertson, the crew on taking pre­ against theft while the ship is "yellowbacks" — out-of-print cautions Contra Costa, California. in Subic Bay. There was a discussion Ronald Littleton (left) fust got his endorsement as second elec­ American bills that were green on about the retirement plan. It was also <|> suggested that the ship get a new cubetrician. Brother Littleton chats with patrolman Mike Sacco (cen­ one side and yellow on the other type ice-making machine, and that headEdwin Bondont; bora April 12, quartefs be contacted in this regard. It 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Carlos ter) and acting dispatcher Luigi lovino before leaving for Hous­ —which they had kept ever since was noted that the mess hall should be kept clean and that cups and glasses ton to catch the Mankato Victory. Littleton joined SlU'in 1964. earning them many years ago should Bonefont, Brooklyn, New York. be returned to the. pantry. ,1, i i ^1> ^1> —4>— �Hps- Page Fonrteen )' SEAFARERS LOG Angiut 2, 1968 1 Reagan Is Seen As National Threat To the Editon Ship's delegate William Ekins reports from the Del Norte (Delta) that chief purser Bill Sistnmk asked that men who are leaving the ship in Mobile, notify the heads of their departments after the ship leaves Curacao, so enough money will be on hand in port. "We have a few hours of disputed overtime. overtime." Brother Ekins wrote. The deck department has some wrote. After calling at Haifa, the Orleans. Annis resigned from the disputed overtime, department vessel will pay off in Galveston, post of Ship's Delegate. Among delegate Robert Hubbs said. Hor­ Texas, Meeting Secretary Andrew those then nominated for the post were Brothers E. Mltchle, L. Wet­ ace Curry, steward department del­ Berry reported. zel, J. KeDy, Frelmanls Lewis, egate, said that there was some and, once again, Annis. All nom­ "disputed port Anthony F«Tara was elected to inees declined and Brother Annis time for Houston serve as ship's delegate on the was again pressed into service as and disputed de­ Steel Vendor the Ship's Delegate for doing such layed sailing time (Isthmian), ac­ a wonderful job on the last trip. from Montevicording to Meet­ deo," that has to ing Secretary be settled in port. John Marclmo. Treasurer Bill From the Seatrain New Jersey The first thing Kaiser reported (Seatrain) meeting, Chairman M. Brother Ferrara that after the de­ G. Meadaranz did was explain Kaiser partment dele­ said that some how the draws gates made their contributions, the repairs were will be distrib­ Ferrara movie fund has $124, and the made, but that uted, and in what ship's fund has $62.80. Movie di­ kind of currency, in foreign ports. the water tanks rector Leroy Rinker intends to Several Seafarers have suggested were not taken look around in Mobile "to see that the draws be made in "green •yi care of. One man if cheaper movies can be found." money in these ports. Fred A missed the ship Brother Jtrfui Tojaque said he Shaia made the motion and it was HBHjum on sailing day.. finds the ham steaks are "too large seconded by Brothers G. Renale Meadaranz also and, in general, the. portions of and P. Pacheco. Departnient dele­ reported the election of Seafarer meat are too large." Quite a change gates report no beefs or disputed Thomas J. HilHwm as the new from the old da}^, when there fre­ overtime as the vessel heads for Ship's Delegate. The Deck Dele­ quently wasn't enough to cat. San Francisco after calling on gate reported a complaint about Yokohama, Pusan, Inchon and the shower which, it seenis, either Bangkok.' The repair list includes pumps salt water or no water. Seafarers on the Tamara Gufl- painting the rooms in the engine Engine Delegate Burton Churchill den (Transport Commercial) who department. The ship's treasury and Steward's, Delegate Josefrfi enjoy a good movie "have 12 good contains $17.60, it was reported. Whalen report the same problem. films for this voyage," Meeting Brother Marcimo wrote that one It was suggested that all tables Clerk and Treas­ man was hospitalized in Panama. ought to be cleaned after each urer Eddie Rogg meal and at night, and that each reported to the man should clean up after himself. LOG. The cost of Aboard the Del Valle (Delta), The water situation is to be taken the films was Chairman George Annis presided up with the patrolman. A motion $235, he stated. at the June 30th was also made that inquiries be "At the end of meeting, with A. made about getting air-condition­ the last voyage, W. Morales as ing. the movie fund Meeting Secre­ tary.- A motion Kolenovdty had a balance of $529.30, but, was made by the after extensive repairs to the pro­ Bosun, and sec­ jector, the balance was down to onded by the $225.30." Rogg reported that the Steward, that the movie fund should be boosted by minutes from the Annis contributions from the arrival previous meeting pool. Meanwhile, the ship's fund and voyage be read .orally to the John Hof^ has $14.68, he said. Ernie Kol- entire crew, since there were many Important mail, is being held enovsky, meeting chairman, re­ new personnel aboard. The mo­ for you at the Ritchie Hotel in ports that some repairs from the tion was accepted and this was Baltimore. Please contact them as previous voyage are still incom­ done. Ship's Delegate George soon as you can. plete and they hope to take care Aimls reported that a new tele­ of them shortly. "No disputed vision was not aboard the vessel ——overtime, no complaints," he prior to her departure from New Gordon -Chambers Your mother asks that you get Lifeboat Class No, 200 Casts Off in . touch with her as soon as pos­ sible at 208 N. Fourth Street, Bethpage, N. Y. 11714. • —4^— <t> ^— Conrad Tyknda Please call your sister, Helen Staples, at 202-559-2397, as soon as you can. —— Jerry Allen Please contact your wife, Linda, at once at Route 1, Brundidge, Ala., in regard to a very impor­ tant matter. —— I ^ These men have just received lifeboat endorsements from the Coast Guard after passing their examination. The Seafarers attended Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in New York. R. Apodaca and T. Reim are kneeling, while in the second row, left to right: Ca Hensley, J. McLaeghlin, R. Starr and O. Bermeo. In back: Instructor Paul McGaharn, R. Moore, W. Chouinard, L. Malia, J. Gallagher, R. Imhof. Tbe 200th lifeboat class graduated on July 16th. 1 -I l«vrWW|i^5^>'S5WW»-^%-p* C. Wiggins, Jr. Please contact your wife, Maxine, at Rt. 1, Box 223, Ben Wheel­ er, Texas, 75754, as soon as possi­ ble in regard to a very important matter. v|> James Crawford, Jr. Please contact your sister in New Orleans as soon as you possi­ bly can. Your family is anxious to hear from you. It seems incredible to me, as I read the papers, that Califor­ nia's Governor Ronald Reagan is moving so fast in his efforts to wrest the Republican nom­ ination away from Richard Nixon. Reagan is currently sweating out a recall petition in his home state—a petition that has garnared some 70,000 signatures so far and may yet gain enough strength to force him to face the electorate in order to keep his seat in Sacramento. In spite of this, Reagan openly woos the far right, the Southern del­ egate bloc, and the arch con­ servatives on a national level. Reagan's record in Califor­ nia doesn't have to be recounted here. His anti-labor attitude is well known, as is his opposition to care for the aged, health aid for the poor etc. What is most frightening are the reports that he, not Rocke­ feller, Percy, Hatfield or Lind­ say, will be the beneficiary of a Nixon's slip. The fact that Reagan has done nothing whatever to war­ rant serious consideration for the presidency should be obvi­ ous enough. That supposedly serious dele­ gates can think of turning to him as the leader of our nation is a matter of grievous concern. Surely, even the Republican Party could not be so' com­ pletely deprived of its senses as to attempt to push this bad ac­ tor into the White House. Or could they? I hope not! Sincerely, Roland Brown terials in numerous factories are causing workers to die a slow death, or at least contrib­ uting to long, sometimes per­ manent diseases. Every worker, no matter where he is employed, should write his Congressman and Senator demanding that strong safety measures, such as the original gas pipeline safety bill, be enacted. BIB Peten Insurance Strikers Need Full Support To the Editon A number of labor unions have come to the aid of a brother union, the insurance agents, in their strike against the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. This company has al­ ways been a militant anti-union organization. Metropolitan has insisted on it's right to fire any one of the striking agents—a time-honored method of union busting. Metrop>olitan takes the position that the 13 men who were fired were threatening nonstriking employ­ ees, but as usual in the case of anti-labor charges such as this, the company has been able to offer no proof of this whatso­ ever. These men are entitled to a fair deal from Metropolitan. We hope that all union workers will lend a hand to the strikers byrefusing to purchase insurance from this company, or else, by changing their policies already held. After all, money does talk. Kevin Mor^n k I <|> Strong Safety Bill A Must for Workers To The Editor: I am shocked at the action of the House of Representatives in passing a weakened version of the gas pipeline safety bill. The Senate bill passed last Novem­ ber would have given the Sec­ retary of Transportation the power to set and enforce safety standards for pipelines carrying natural gas from wells to trans­ mission lines, to distribution points and the distribution lines running under city streets. Far too many deaths and in­ juries have occurred recently from gas pipeline explosions. Perhaps these deaths, injuries and the destruction of homes and other property isn't deemed important enough to interfere with the interests of the gas companies. But the horrible fact proves a strong bill is man­ datory. In the three months since AFL-CIO President George Meany testified before the House hearings to urge the pro­ posed Occupational Health and Safety bill over 4,100 workers have been killed on the job. More than 600,000 have been injured. This is indefensible. There are countless factories all over the nation where safety standards are vastly inadequate and, in some cases, non-existant. Chemicals and other ma- Praises Labor Unity For Farm Workers To The Editon The clothing drive by the Cleaners and Dyers Joint Board of the Clothing Workers to aid the California Farm Workera is an excellent example of unions sticking together to aid one an­ other. Some 12,000 garments have already been collected and a drive is under way to round up at least 40,000 more. I cer­ tainly hope all trade unionists and their families with clothing on hand which they don't need will donate them to the fanri workers. The farm workers have been fighting hard for de­ cent wages and conditions and are in need of these garments. There are signs that their long fight is beginning to pay off. The fact that a number of unions have been sued by Cali­ fornia growers, who charge the trade unions with "illegal boy­ cott" of their grapes, indicates they are worried. This is a sign that the growers, in spite of their statements to the contrary, are beginning to feel the effects of the strike. Continued team work by the labor moveqient and the farm workers will have their long-awaited victory. John Slate 1 �Aoffsst 2, 1968 SEAFARERS LOG Pttge Fifteen JASMINA (Delaware Marine), June 14—Chaii-man, W. Rudd; Secretary, A. Psnagopoulos. Ship's delegate reports $35.00 in ship's fund. No beefs reported. Some disputed overtime. Three men hos­ pitalized in Bahrain. Discussion held on Pension Plan. A vote of thanks was given to Steward Department. SIU-AGLIWD Meetfngs New Orleans Aug. 13—^2:30 p.m. Mobile Aug. 14—^2:30 p.m. Wilmington Aug. 19—^2:00 p.m. San Frandsco Aug. 21—^2:00 p.m. Seattle SlU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters Inland Boatmen's Union United Industrial Workers PRESIDENT Paul Hall EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Cal Tannar Earl Shapard VICE PRESIDENTS Lindsay Williams Robart MaHhaws SECRETARY-TREASURER Al Karr HEADQUARTERS <7S 4th Ava., Iklyn. (212) HY 9-4400 ALPENA, Mich 127 Rtvar St. (517) EL 4-3414 •ALTIMORE, Md 1214 E. laltlmora St. (301) EA 7-4900 •OSTON, Mass 177 Stata St. (417) Rl 2-0140 •UFFALO, N.Y 735 Washington St. SlU (714) TL 3-9259 IBU (714) TL 3-9259 CHICA60, III 9303 Ewing Ava. SlU (312) SA 1-0733 IBU (312) ES 5-9570 CLEVELAND, Ohio 1420 W. 25lh St. (214) MA 1-5450 DETROIT, Mich ID22S W. Jaffarson Ava. (313) VI 3-4741 DULUTH, Minn 312 W. 2nd St. (218) RA 2-4110 FRANKFORT, Mich P.O. Box 207 4IS Main St. (414) EL 7-2441 HOUSTON, Tax 5004 Canal St. * (713) WA 0-3207 JACKSONVILLE, Fla 2400 Paarl St. (904) EL 3-0907 JERSEY CITY, N J 99 Montgomary St. (201) HE 5-9424 MOBILE, Ala I South Uwranea St. (205) HE 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS, U 410 Jackson Ava. (504) S29-7544 NORFOLK, Va 115 3rd St. (703) 422-1092 PHILADELPHIA, Pa 2404 S. 4th St. (215) DE 4-3010 PORT ARTHUR, Tax 1340 Savanth St. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., 350 Fraamont St. (415) DO 2-4401 SANTURCE, P.R 1313 Famandai Juncos Stop 20 724-2048 SEATTLE, Wash 2S05 First Avanua (204) MA 3-4334 ST. LOUIS, Mo 005 Dal Mar (314) CE 1-1434 TAMPA, Ha 312 Harrison St. (013) 229-2780 WILMINGTON, Calif. .. 50E N. Marina Ava. (213) 034-2528 YOKOHAMA, Japan..Isaya BIdg., Room 801 1-2 Kaigan-Dori-Nakaku 2014971 Ext. 201 Aug. 23—2:00 p.m. New Yoric .. Aug. Philadelphia Ang. Baltimore .. .Aug. Detroit Aug. Houston Aug. 5—^2:30 p.m. 6—^2:30 p.m. 7—^2:30 p.ni. 9—^2:30 p.m. 12—^2:30 p.ni. United Industrial Woriiers, New Orieans Aug. 13—^7:00 p.m. Mobile Aug. 14—^7:00 p.m. New York .. Aug. 5—^7:00 p.m. Philadelphia Aug. 6—7:00 p.m. Baltimore .. Aug. 7—^7:0^p.m. ^Houston .. .Aug. 12—7:00 p.m. Great Lakes SIU Meetings Detroit Aug. 5—2:00 p.m. Alpena Aug. 5—^7:00p.m. Buffalo Aug. 5—^7:00 p.m. Chicago Aug. 5—^7:00 p.m. Cleveland .. .Aug. 5—7:C0 p.m. Duluth Aug. 5—^7:00 p.m. Frankfort .. .Aug. 5—^7:00 p.ni. Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Regimi Chicago Aug. 13—7:30 p.m. tSault St. Marie Aug. Buffalo .... .Aug. Duluth .,.. .Aug. Cleveland .. .Aug. Toledo Ang. Detroit Aug. Mflwaukee . .Aug. 15—^7:30 p.m. 14—^7:30 p.m. 16—^7:30 p.m. 16—^7:30 p.n3. 16—^7:30p.ni. 12—^7:30 p.m. 12—^7:30p.ni. SIU Inland Boatmen's Union New Orieans Aug. 13—5:00 p.m. Mohfle Aug. 14—^5:00 p.ni. PhDadelphia Ang. 6—5:00 p.m. Baltimm-e (licensed and un­ licensed) Aug. 7—5:00 p.ni. Nmfolk Aug. 8—^5:00 p.ni. Houston Aug. 12—^5:00 p.ni. Raflway Marine Region Philadelphia Aug. 13—10 a.m. & 8 p.m. Baltimore Aug. 14—10 a.m. & 8 p.m. ^Norfolk Aug. 15—10 a.m. & 8 p.m. Jersey City Aug. 12—10 a.m. & 8 p.m. t Meeting: held at Labor Temple, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. * Meeting held at Labor Temple, New­ port News. t Meeting held at Galveston wharves. FINANCIAL REPORTS. The eonatitution of the SIU AtUntie, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes speeiflc provision for safeguarding the membership's money and Union ^nances. The constitution requires a detailed CPA audit every three months by a^ank and file auditing emnmittee elected by the membership. Ail Union records are available at SIU headquarters in Brooklyn. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atiantic, Gulf. Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agreements. AU 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. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exchuiv^ by the contncts between the Union and the shipowners. Get to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If /on 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 mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Earl Shepard, Chainnan, Seafarers Appeals Board 17 Battery Place, Suite 1080. Now Yorit 4, N. Y. , , . Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at all times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarm Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracU are avaUable In all SIU ^lls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which you work and live abo^ ship. Know your contract righU, as weU as your obligations, such as flUng to OT on the pnmer sheeto and in the proper manner. If, at any time, any SIU wtrolman or other Union official, in your opinion, fails to protect your contract rights prop-erly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. BDlkORIAL POLICY-GBAFARBRS LOG. The LOO hs» tradl^al^ from publishing any article serving the poUti^ purposes ^ "V indlvMual in the Union, officer or member. It has also refrained from publUing articles deemed tnm uessg ito MIU, OB* individual to mrrp out thlo lanoiialbllltip. Kayser-Roth Hosiery Co. Inc. Women's Hodery Schiaparell, Kayser, Phoenix, Mojud, Suppose, Sapphire, Bachelor GIri, Fascln^on. Men's Hosiery & Underwear Esquire Socks, Bachelors' Friends, Supp-bose, Suiq>-hose Underwear, Slendo Children's Products Kaysar, Fruit of the Loom Mojud. Slippers Jiffies, Mercury (Textile Workers Union of America) Stltzel-Weller Dlstfllcrics "Old Fitzgerald," "Old Elk" "Cabin Stiff," W. L. Weller Bourbon whiskeys (Distillery Workers) Kingsport Press "World Book," "Childcraft" (Printing Pressmen) (Typographers, Bookbinders) (Machinists, Stereotypers) Genesco Shoe Mfg. Co. Work Shoes . . . Sentry, Cedar Chest, Statler Men's Shoes . . . Jarman, Johnson & Murphy, Crestworth, iBoot and Shoe Workers* Union) -if Boren Clay Products Co. (United Brick and Clay Workers) "HIS" brand men's clothes Kaynee Boyswear, Judy Bond blouses, Hanes Knitwear, Randa Ties, Boss Gloves, Richman ^ Jamestown Sterling Corp. (United Furniture Workers) ^ Baltimore Luggage Co. Lady Baltimore, Amelia Earfaart Starilte luggage Starffite luggage (International Leather Goods, Plastics and Novelty Workers Union) i Brothers and Sewell Suits, Wing Shirts (Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America) White Furniture Co. (United Furniture Workers of America) Gypsum Wallhoard, American Gypsum Co. (United Cement Lime and Gypsum Workers International) ^ R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Camels, Winston, Tempo, Brandon, Cavalier and Salem cigarettes (Tobacco Workers International Union) Comet Rice Miffs Co. products (International Union of United Brewery, Flour, Cereal, Soft Drinks and Distillery Workers) Pioneer Flour Mill (United Brewery, Flour, Cereal, Soft Drink and Distillery Workers Local 110, San Antonio, Texas VANTAGE PROGRESS (Vantage Steamship), June 2—Chairman, J. EIwell; Secretary, John Mims. Ship's dele­ gate reports everything running smoothly. $48.00 reported in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed overtime reported. James Keavney was elected ship's treasurer. Compliments to Chief Mate Horace Gould for medical care aboard ship. A vote of thanks to Steward Department. MANHATTAN (Hudson Waterways), June 15—Chairman, K. Heliman; Secre­ tary, T. Bolton. Ship's delegate reports some disputed overtime to be taken up with patrolman at payoff. No major beefs. Everything running smoothly. All hands agree. A vote of thanks to Steward Department for good food, well prepared and served under sanitary conditions. ALBION VICTORY (Bulk Transport), June 6—Chairman, J. T. Myers; Secre­ tary, H. Patterson. Ship's delegate re­ ports no beefs or disputed overtime. Re­ pairs have been made to water cooler. One man missed ship in Danang, re­ joined ship in Saigon. STEEL AGE (Isthmian) July 7— Chairman, W. R. Gammons; Secretary, R. A. Robichaux. $10.05 in ship's fund. Disputed OT in engine department. Patrolman to be contacted regarding few minor beefs. Vote of thanks was ex­ tended to the steward department for a job well done, SEATRATN GEORGIA (Hudson Water­ ways), June 30—Chairman, W. Leonard: Secretary, W. Messenger. No beefs and disputed OT. Discussion held on retire­ ment plan. DEL RIO (Delta) June 30—Chairman, N. W. Dubois; Secretary, E. O. Johnson. There were no beefs and no disputed OT reported by department delegates. Everything is running smoothly. DEL MONTE (Delta), June 16—Chair­ man, L. R. Franzio; Secretary, N. Pat Rages. Brother L. R. Frazier was elected to serve as ship's delegate. No beefs were reported by department delegates. Everything is running smoothly. Giumaira Grapes (United Farm Workers) Peavy Paper Mill Products (United Papermakers and Paperworkers Union) —4>— Magic Chef Pan Pacific Division (Stove, Furnace and Allied Appliance Workers International Union) ^ SEATRAIN FLORIDA (Hudson Waterwa]rs), June 26—Chairman James J. Reeves; Secretary, Woody W. Perkins. Brother David H. Ikirt was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. It was suggested that a letter be written to Headouarters concerning the rusty water aboard ship. Other than that there were no beefs or disputed OT reported by de­ partment delegates. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (Insurance Workers) RAPHAEL SEMMES (Sea-Land), July 7—Chairman, Richard Feddem; Secre­ tary Raymond P. Taylor. Few hours disputed OT in engine department Vote of thanks was extended to the steward department for a job well done. Tennessee Packers Rerifoot Packing Frosty Mom Valleydale Packers (Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America) RICE VICTORY (Victory Carriers), June 23—Chairman, George Schmidt; Secretary, H. L. Meacham. Brother George Schmidt was elected to serve as ship's delegate. No beefe were reported by department delegates. 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 pajrment 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. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBUGATIONS. The SIU publishes every six months in the SBAFAREXS LOG a verbatim copy of its constitution, In addition. copies are available in all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarise themselves with its contents. Any time you feel any member or officer is attonpting to deprive you of any constitutional right or obli­ gation 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. RETIRED SEAFARERS. Old-time SIU membos drawing disabUity-pension bene­ fits have always been encouraged to continue their union activities, including attend­ ance at membmhip meetings. And like all other SIU members at these Union meet­ ings, they are encouraged to take an active role in all rank-and-file functions, in­ cluding service on rank-and-file committees. Because these oldtimws cannot take shipboard emDloymoit, the membership has reaffirmed the long-standing Union pol­ icy of allowing them to retain their good standing through the waiving of their dues. EQUAL RIGHTS. All Seafarers are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitutioa and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employers. Conse­ quently, no Seafarer may he discriminated against because of race, creed, color, national or geographic orQrin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should noti^ headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIYITY DONATIONS. One of the basic rights of Seafarers is the right to pursue legislative and political objectives which will serve the best interests of themselves, their familfas and their Union. To achieve these objectives, the Seafarers P<ditical Actlvi^ Donation was established. Donations to SPAD are entirdy voluntary and constitute the funds thrauih which legislative smd political activities are conducted for the heneflt of the membership and the Union. If at any timo a Seafarer fecb that aiv of the above thHrts have bean vislatad. r that he has been deaisd his ccastttatioaml right of access to Ualon records ar iafarMtiaa, he ahrndd faamsdUtely notify glU Prsaidsnt Paul HaU at headqnartars by cartlfiad xaall. ntm raea^ rsgnaotod, JOPLIN VICTORY (Marine Carriers), July 1—Chairman Jerry Ange; Secre­ tary, David M. Eby. Crew request that the slop chest be replenished. Some disputed OT was reported by engine delegate. BEAVER VICTORY (Bulk Transport), July 4—Chairman, P. C. White; Secre­ tary, R. Kwiatkowski. Some disputed CT was reported by engine delegate redelayed sailing. Vote of thanks was ex­ tended to the steward department for a job well done. SEMAR (Calmar), July 13—Chairman N. A. Barbour; Secretary, R. E. Taylor, Jr. $17.00 in ship's fund. No beefs and no disputed OT on board. Discussion held on retirement plan. CITADEL VICTORY (Waterman), July 14—Chairman H. A. Smith; Sec­ retary. Pat Fox. No beefs on board and eventing is running smoothly. Brother Harry Smith was re-elected to serve as ship's delegate. Vote of thanks to the steward department for good food and service. LYNN VICTORY (Victory Carriers), July 14—Chairman, W. Sibley; Secre­ tary, K. Blackwell. Some disputed OT in deck and engine departments. Suggestion was made to see about getting a new washing machine and chairs in place of benches in the recreation room. Also to ' have patrolman see about getting an ade­ quate slop cheat. COEUR D'ALENE VICTORY (Vic­ tory Carriers), July 7—Chairman, J. Craft; Secretary, T. Simms. Brother Jesse T. Spivey, Jr. was elected to serve as shin's delegate. No beefs and no disputed OT. OVERSEAS HORACE (Maritime Over­ seas), June 17—Chsirman A. W. McCullum; Secretary, William B. Prip. Brother Alva W. McCummum was elected to serve as ship's delegate. No beef* and no disputed OT on board. �Vol. XXX No. 16 SEAFARERS4U.OG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLA||D WATERS DISTRICT • AFL-CIO TAe Desofo~ A IVOIiLD TIUVELER � 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 August 2, 1968 Description An account of the resource Headlines: AUTHORIZATION BILL PASSES CONGRESS; $211 MILLION FOR SHIPS AND RESEARCH SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE VOTES TO ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT MARAD VICE PRESIDENT HUMPHREY RULES OUT ANY CHANCE OF DEAL WITH WALLACE MODEL CITIES EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY BUILDING TRADES UNIONS SIU-SOA PHARMACIST MATE CLEARS FIRST CARGO SHIP THROUGH QUARANTINE SEALIFT TO SAIGON NAVY LEAGUE HEAD ASKS CRASH PLAN TO MEET SOVIET CHALLENGE ON SEAS US LAND BRIDGE COULD RECAPTURE LOST SEA TRADE LEGAL CARGO LOADING LIMITS RAISED AS LOAD LINES TREATY TAKES EFFECT SPITFIRE SEAFARERS IN CASABLANCA LAUDED AS GOOD WILL AMBASSADORS ROBIN HOOD SENT ON MERCY MISSION TO HELP SICILIAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS THE DESOTO – A WORLD TRAVELER 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 08/02/1968 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. XXX, No. 16 1968 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/9342fa3e29d63eb859cd7771b43f5eb4.PDF 720035d1c93e18208d9d62cb4b37dc44 PDF Text Text fjsjtEnsjoa  OFFIOIAL OROAN  OF THE ATLANTIC AND OULF  DISTMCT,  SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA  VOL.  IV.  ,  314  ­NEW  YORK,  N.Y.,  AUGUST  20,  1942  Committee Set Up  Week's Ship Losses  To  Distribute  Show Sub Shift  Fur  Vests  Seven  Allied  merchantmen  were  No.  29:  Nominations For 1943 Office  Will Open On September First  •".'• I­ destroyed  by  enemy  undersea  raid­ ers  in  the  Western  Atlantic,  an­ At  last  the  sailor's  dream  has  nouncements  last  week  disclo^d,  as  come  true.  Low  and  behold,  we  Candidates  for  regularly  elected  union  oflSces  are  required  by  the  Constitution  the  Axis  submarine  net  in  that  have  in  the  offing  a  fur  lined  vest  to submit  to headquarters,  proof  of  their  qualifications  between  September 1st  and  Oct­ to  be  given  for  the  use  of  Seamen  area  appeared  to  be  slowly  shifting  ober  15 th. The  regular  nominations  take  place  'at  the  branch  meetings  the  last  two  at  absolutely  no cost  to him. How­ southward  and  east  out  of  the  weeks  in September.  ever,  when  we  say  to  be  given  to  United  States  East ..Coast  and  Ca­ The  SIU  Constitution  provides  for  the utmost  democracy in the selection  of  of­ him,  possibly  we  should  explain  ribbean  warship  ­  escorted  convoy  • ficials. Any  man  (possessing  neces­'  lanes.  more  in  detail.  sary  qualifications)  may  nominate  sea  service in  any  department,  can­ N. Y.  Information  The  deaths  of fifty­six  seamen  When  a  man  goes  aboard  a  ves­ himself  for any  office  in  the Union.  didate  for  departmental  patrolman  sell  that  is  on  a  cold  run  he  majr  were  reported  last  week,  but  134  Service  Inaugurated  Two  full  months  are  allowed  for  must  have  three  years  sea service  in  others  were  rescued  and  safely  present  himself  to  the  Master  and  the  particular  department,  and  landed  at  United  States,  Caribbean  For  Merchant  Seamen  voting,  thus  insuring  the  rights  of  ask  that  he  have  the  use  of  a  fur  the  membership  to  cast  their  bal­ 4.  Must  not  have  misconducted  lined  vest.  He  will  be  allowed  to  and  South  American  ports.  himself  previously  if  a  former  of­ Large  posters  announcing  the  es­ lots.  Sinkings  since  August  9  includ­ use  the  vest  while  he  is  a  member  ficer  of  the  Union.  tablishment  of  a  free  information  As  for  qualifications  for  office,  of  that  crew,  'BUT*  before  he  ed  two  British  vessels,  two  Dutch,  each  candidate  should  read  and  be  So  that  there  can  be  no  confu­ leaves  the  ship  he  will  be  required  two  Cuban  and  one  Norwegian,  service  for  all  merchant  seamen  in  thoroughly  familiar  with  them  be­ sion in anyones  mind  about  the en­ to  turn  the  vest  back  into  the  boosting  to  426  the  tall  of  an­ the  Port  of  New  York  have  ap­ fore  throwing  in  for  any  job.  The  tire  election  machinery  and  pro­ nounced  ship  losses  in  Western  At­ peared in  the  last  day  or  two on  all  Skipper  or  the  Steward.  ceedure,  the  Lag  prints  below  the  lantic  waters  since  Pearl  Harbor.  New  York  City  and  Brooklyn  elections  committee  has  been  .  These  vests  are  being  supplied  forced,  in  past  elections,  to  dis­ Article  XIII  of  the  Constitution.  The  tabulation:  docks.  by  the  Fur  Industry.  This  group  qualify  brothers  because  they  did  These  Constitution  provisions  will  Since  A  merchant  seaman  arriving  in  not  comply  with  the  Constitution­ be  run  in  the  Log  from  time  to  of  patriotic  citizens  have  banded  Week  Pearl  port  need  only  phone  GRamercy  al  provisions.  If  you  intend  to run  time  until  the  elections  have  been  themselves  together  in  the  hopes  Aug. 9­15  Harbor  completed.  7­8866  at  any  time  between  nine  for  office,  you  must:  that  they  can  be  of  slight  service  in  the  morning  and  ten  at  night  in  to  the  ever  forgotten 'Man  (Sea­ Off  the United  States  ..0  171 CONSTITUTIONAL 1.  Be  an  American  citizen;  2.  order  to  get  • a  ny  information  he  Be  a  full  member  of  the  SIU  in  man).  PROVISIONS FOR Off  Canada  0  41 wants,  particularly  in  regard  to  ANNUAL ELECTIONS We  had  quite  a  discussion  on  In  the  Caribbean  ........0  continuous  good  standing  for  139 lodgings.  o——  this  matter.  This  committee  of  the  In Gulf  of  Mexico  period  of  6  months  immediately  2  43 ARTICLE XIII Fur  industry  contacted  us  through  Off  South  America  ....5  The  service  is  administered  by  prior  to  the  date  of  nomination;  3.  32 Noviinatio',1 and-Ejection of a  Mr.  Siiverberg  who  arranged  a  The  American  Seamen's  Friend  Candidate  for  Agent  or  Joint  Pa­ Officers, Atlantic and meeting  in  the  Hotel  Pennsylvania.  Society.  trolman  must  have  three  years  of  426 Gulf District Luncheon  was  served  and  among  those  present  were  the  Committee  Section  I.  'Ihe  regular  officers  from  the  Fur  industry,  Mr.  White,  shall  be  elected  annually  and  shall  hold  office  for one  year,  or until  re­ the  Chairman;  and  Mr.  Siiverberg,  Captain  Sheppard  of  the  United  lieved  by  their  regular  successors  in  office.  States  Coast  Guard,  a  Representa­ tive  of  the  N.M.U.  and  myself  for  Section  2.  Nomination  of  regu­ the  S.LU.  It  was  pointed  out  dur­ lar  officers  shall  be  made  at  ^  ing  the  meeting  that  the  Commit­ After  four  months  of  fruitless  negotiations,  referred  the  matter  to  his  government.  branches  in  "the  regular  meeting  tee  was  trying  to achieve  a  certain  held  during  the  last  two  meetings  officials  of  the  Dutch  officer  and  seamen  unions  The  announcement  of  the  men's  position  was  goal  of  50,000  garments,  and  in  in  September.  Any  member  who  yesterday  morning  notified  the  Netherlands  made  yesterday  afternoon  in  the  offices  of  the  .  our  opinion  if  they  produce  that  can  qualify  may  nominate  himself  Government  that  500  members  had  voted  Mon­ International  Transport  Workers  Federation,  21  number  that  will  be  enough  to  for  office  by  submitting,  in  writ­ day  night  to  refuse  to  take  their  ships  to  sea  Pearl  Street,  by  P.  Boonstra,  representing  the  give  every  bonafide  seaman  in  the  ing,  accompanied  by  the  necessary  until  an  agreement  on  present  working  condi­ Netherlands  Officers  Organization,  and  P.  J.  industry  a  vest.  proof  of  qualifications  listed  in  tions  was  reached  and­  assurance  was  given  on  Vandenberge  and  J.  J.  Vendeville  of  the Nether­ sub­sections  (a),  (bj,  (c),  and  Believe  you  me,  I  think  that  the  post­war  economic  status  and  social  security.  lands  Central  Transport  Workers  Union.  (d),  his  intentions  to  run  for  of­ Fur  Industry  will  have  jthe  grati­ Union officials  declared  that  the  men  were  in­ "Our  men  are  unprepared  to  take  the  ships  fice,  naming  the  particular  (Mce.  tude  of  the entire  seafaring field.  censed  over  "irtterminable  and  unjustified  de­ out  to  the  open  sea  and  expose  their  precious  Such  notification  to  be  in  Secre­ .  —H.  J.  COLLINS  lays" on  the  part  of  the  Netherlands  authorities  cargoes  and  their  own  lives  to  sudden  destruc­ tary­Treasurcr's  office  not  before  and  that  the  officers  and  crews  of  Dutch  vessels  September  1st,  and  not  later  than  ­tion  until  we  have  convincing  proof  that  the  Toledo  Yard  Builds  October  15 th  of  the  year.  in  New  York  harbor  and  other  American  ports  Netherlands  Government  is  willing  to  sit  down  DUTCH  UNIONS HAVE SHOWDOWN  WITH  BOSSES  AND  GOVERNMENT  I» .  •  I  • ' < •   Iff'  Lakes  Ice  Breakers  '4. j'ji  .•   I'':.  'if..­'*  TOLEDO,  Aug.  9.—In  an  ef­ fort  to  keep  the  Great  Lakes  open  in  the  winter  for  the  movement  of  badly  needed  iron  ore  and  coal,  several  ice  breakers,  which  are  de­ scribed  as  capable  of  breaking  9­ foot  ice,  are  being  constructed  in  the  yards  of  the  Toledo  Shipbuild­ ing  Co.  here.  Contract  for  the  largest  ice  breaker  ever  built  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  equal  to  size  to  the  5,­ 950­ton.ice­breaking  ships  built  on  the coast  in  1941  for  ocean service,  has  been  awarded  to  the  Toledo  Co.,  Coast  Guard  headquarters  in  Washington  has  announced.  .The  Detroit  ferries,  the  T  aSalle,  the  Cadillac  and  the  Halcyon,  also  are  in  dock  at  the  Toledo  yards  awaiting .conversion  into  auxiliary  ice  breakers.  T  would  keep  their  ships  in  port  until  the  Neth­ erlands" Government  shows  good  faith  in  its  dealings  with  them.  Union  spokesmen  took  great  pains  to  point  out  that  the refusal  to take  the ships out  of  port  was  not  to  be  construed  as  a  strike  or  that  the  men  were  already  on  strike.  The  Dutch  ships,  they  said,  will  be  loaded,  worked  and  serviced  as  heretofore,  and  nothing  will  be  done  to inter­ fere  with  the  shifting  of  the  vessels  within  the  harbors.  However,  until  some  satisfactory  agreement  on  higher  basic  wages  and  conditions  aboard  ships  is  reached,  the  vessels  will  not  be  taken  out  to  sea.  At  present  the  monthly  basic  wage  i§  $40  for  seanian  and  $120  for  a first  mate,  on  which  rises  of  60  and  20  per  cent,  re­ spectively,  are  sought.  Notice  of  this  decision  was  served  yesterday  morning  on  A.  B.  Speakenbrlnk  of  the  New  York  office  of  the  Netherlands  Ministry  of  In­ dustry,  Comipcrce  and  shipping.  Mr.  Speeken­ brink  refused  to  comment,  saying  that  he  had  with  the men  in good  faith  and  reach  an  under­ standing  acceptable  to  all,"  their  joint  state­ ment  said.  "This  is  not  the  time  to  ignore  the  demands  of  seamen  and  treat  them  with  silence  and  con­ tempt.  Nor do  the Dutch  seamen  ask  for special  treatment.  Qur officers  and  men  have  kept  quiet  notwithstanding  interminable  and  unjustified de­ lays,  no  improvement  in  their  basic  wages  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  the  fact  that  the  shipping  spokesmen  of  the  Netherlands  Gov­ ernment  saw fit  to  drag  out  the  negotiations  over  a  period  of  four  months,  "When  P.  A.  Kerstens,  Netherlands  Minister  of  Industry,  Commerce  and  Shipping,  returned  almost  three  weeks  ago  to  England  he  promised  an  immediate  answer  after  we  had  warned  him  of  the  temper  of  the  men.  No answer  has  been  received.  It  is  understandable  therefore;  that  our  men  do  not  wish  to  be  treated  in  such  a  manner  and  it  is  equally  understandable  why  they  have  taken the  only action  open  to them."  The  names  and  roll­numbers  of  nominees,  if  obtainable  at  the  time  shall  be  recorded  in  the  minutes.  The  Secretary­Treasurer  shall  pre­ pare  a  list  of  names  of  nominees  for  each  office  and  forward  copies  thereof  to  each  Branch.  Such  lists  shall  be  conspicuously  posted  in  each  office  or  hall.  All  full  mem­ bers  shall  be  eligible  for  any  regu­ lar  office,  provided:  (a)  That  he  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  America.  (b)  That  he  be  a  full  member  of  the  Seafarers'  International  Union  qf  North  America,  in  con­ ,  tinuous  good  standing  for  a  period  of  six  (6)  months  immediately  prior  to  the  date  of  nomination.  (c)  Any  candidate  for  Agent  or  joint  patrolman  must  have  three  years  of  sea  service  in  any  one  or  thiv;  departments.  Any  candidate  {Continued ow^Page  4)  "  .1* • /  ;  >  ­  V  •  •  ­  • I :  •  TT  Snl  �Page  Two  THE  SEAFARERS'  LOG  Thursday,  August  20,  1942  STRIKE  BROKEN  BY  NAVY,  PuWtheA  by  th0  SEAFARERS'  DSTTERNAUONAL  UNtON  OF NORTH AMERICA  Atlantic and Guli District  AfHliatm tdtth  fht  Amttican FederaUon. of  Labor  •   ^:p'"  HARRY  LUNDEBEHQ,  International  President  110  Morlcet  Street,  Room  402,  Son  Francisco,  Colli.  ADDRESS  ALL  OORREBPONDENVS  CONCERNING  THIS  PUBLICATION  TO:  "THE  SEAFARERS'  LOG  P. O.  25, Station P,  New York,  N^Y.  Phone: BOwling  Green 9­8346  ,  5;,  i  W  I  ;^iV:  hii.  t  'f..  RESOLUTION TO APPEAR ON  1943 BALLOT  Whereas;  At  the  present  time  the  seamen  of  America  are  making  more  money  than  ever  before  in  the  history of  the  seamen;  Whereas:  When  the  present  war  is over  the  seamen  will  again  be  engaged  in  a  fight  for  existence  with  the  shipowner  who  at  the  liresent  time  is  filling  his  war  chest  in  preparation  for  the  coming  struggle,  and  Whereas:  The  history  of  the  seamen's  labor  movement  proves  conclusively  that  after such  an  upheavel  as at  present  is going  on  in  the  world,  they  are  always  throttled  and  browbeaten—  as  for  instance  1921  and  the  Lake  Carriers  set  up,  and  Whereas:  The  19i34  and  36  and  37  strikes  proved  the  need  of  ample  funds  when  engaged  in  a  major  strike,  therefore  BE  IT  RESOLVED;  That  the  Constitution  shall  be  amended  by,  adding  a  section  to  Article  No.  26,  this section  to  be  known  as  Section  No,  3,  A  strike  fond  shall  be  maintained,  the  strike  fund  to  be  kept seperate  and  apart from  any  or all  other funds  in  the  Union.  An  annual  assessment  of  $3  shall  be  levied  for  this fund.  And  further,  BE  IT  FINALLY  RESOLVED:  That  if  the  members  accept  this  resolution,  it  be  published  from  time to  time, as  space  permits,  in  the  Seafarers'  Log  before  the  time  of  the  election. This  is  to  acquaint  all  members  with  the  intent  of  the  Resolution.  And  further,  that  the  resolution  shall  be  placed  on  the  annual  election  ballot.  (signed)  Alfred  Stewart  No. 764  Adalbert  Gaxvromki  No.  21265  WiKiam  Hamilton  No.  3400  Harry  f. Collins  No.  496  Arthur  Tfx>mpson  No.  2888  Editor's Mail Bag  Workers  at  General  Cable  Ccnnpany,  Bayonve,  N. /.,  read  notices  thai  the  Navy  has  taken  over.  The  strikers,  members  of  the  International  Brotherhood  of  Electrical  Workers,  (AFL),  ivete  out  for  four  days  over  NWLB  order  denying  a  raise.  Rusisian Ship Sunk  in  Guif  of  Mexico  Seafarers' Log­ The  sinking  of  a  mediUm­sized  Russian  merchant  ship  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico'—first  of  that  national­ ity  reported  torpedoed  in  that  area  —was  announced  by  the  Navy.  Two  women  crew  membters  and  six  seamen  were  killed  in  the  en­ counter  with  the  Axis  submarine  on  July  4.  With  the  sinking  of  the  Soviet  vessel,  announced  Allied  and  neutral  ship  losses  in  the  Western  Atlantic  since  Pearl  Harbor  reach­ ed  408,  an  Associated  Press  com­ pilation  disclosed.  HONOR ROLL  S.  S.  ALCOA  RAMBLER  J.  KELLOGG  S.  S.  ROBIN  DONCASTER  $41.00  5JOO  30.00  J. DUNN, No, 21401 $ ^ TOTAL  $  7fi.0(r'  INFORMATION  Included  in  the  total  were  nine  ON  INSURANCE  united  and  neutral  nations'  ships  which  were  reported  last  week  as  PAYMENTS  New Facilities to Speed  Phila.  Turnarounds  August  4,  1942.  operation.  Fraternally "yours,  Editor,  Seafarers'  Log  Thomas  J.  Beione,  PHILADELPHIA,  Aug.  4  —  Sedretary­Treasurer  sunk.  Two  other  merchant  vessels  Dear  Brother;  Completion  by  the  Pennsylvania  Ice  Cream  Drivers  and  were  damaged  by  torpedoes  ap­ .  We  wish  to  take  this  opportun­ After  you  have  designated  your  Railroad  Co.,  of  the  superstructuffi  Employees  Union,  No.  757  proximately  5 0 • m   iles  off  the  East  ity  of  thanking  you  for  the  splen­ Coast.  Thirty­two  seamen  lost  beneficiary,  inform  that  person.  In  on Municipal  Pier provides  the rail­ did  cooperation  which  you  gave  to  their  lives  in  the  encounters  with  the  event  that  you  are  one  of  the  road  with  "its  most  modern  ma­ our  Union  in  our  efforts  to organ­ July  29,  1942  the  undersea  raiders  but  more  than  unfortunate  .seaman  who  does  not  rine  rail  terminal  in  the  Philad<d­ ize  the  Pioneer  Division  of  the  Editor,  Seafarers'  Log  320  others  escaped.  Twenty  crew  return  from  sea,  it  is  not  necessary  phia  harbor,"  according  to  Edwin  BORDEN  COMPANY.  Your  in­ members  were  reported  missing.  2  Stone  Street,  terest in our  campaign and  the pub­ for  your  beneficiary  td  retain  R.  Cox,  Director  of  Wharves,  Survivors  of  the  Russian  ship­^  lawyer  to  collect  the  $5,000  in­ licity  which  you  gave  and  are con­ New  York,  N. Y.  Docks  and  Ferries.  He  said  it  will'  numbering  two  women,  two  Brit­ tinuing  to  give  to  our  organizing  Dear  Sir  and  Brother:  surance  benefit.  also  provide  additional  facilities  at  drive  are  indeed  gratifying.  I  have  beert  receiving  the  Log  ish  gunners  and  thirty­two  other  Tell  your  beneficiary  to  contact  this  port  for  the  quick  "turn­ May  we  ask  yqu  to  continue  regularly  since  my  request  for  seamen—said  four  torpedoes smash­ your  efforts  to  publicize  the  fact,  same,  and  wish  to take  this  oppor­ ed  into  the  vessel.  All  of  the  sur­ your  union  hall  for  full  informa­ around" of  ocean­plying  ships.  to your membership  that  the BOR­ tunity  to  convey  the  deep  appreci­ vivors  were  picked  up  by  a  Swed­ tion.  Tills  money  could  be  collect­ The new superstructurci  built  by  JD]^  COMPANY  which  manu­ ation  felt  by  all  of  our  Union  ish  merchantman  and  later  trans­ ed  without  a­lawyer  and at  no cost  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  the  ferred  to a  United  States  naval ship  factures  ice  cream  products  under  brothers  up  here.  ,  to  the  beneficiary;  Some  attorneys  lessee,""will  cost  upward  of  $600,­ the  names  of  HORTON,  REID'S,  The  copies  of  the­Log  that  are  which  brought  them  to  an  East  000  and  will  revert  to  the  city  in  are  charging  as  high  as  $1^000  to  BORDEN,  RICCIARDI,  FUSSEL  received  up  here  go  like  wildfire—  Coast  port.  ten  years.  Director  Cox  said  the  collect  the  insurance.  and  POLAR,  is  a  non­union  com­ they're  all  so  anxious  to  read  up  City  of  Philadelphia  haS  demon­ pany  which  manufactures  its  pro­ on  the  general  information  of  our  5 BRAZILIAN  SHItPS  strated  its  confidence  in  the  port  ducts  under  non­union  conditions.  organization  as  is  contained  in  by  its  investment  of  more  than  SUNK  BELOW  BULGE  $40,000,000  in  waterfront  im­ the  Log.  We  once  again  urge  you  and  provements,  and  has  constructed  Am enclosing  a  few  verses,  writ­ your  membership  to  refrain  from  Sinking  of five  more  Brazilian  the  most  up­to­date  group  of  purchasing  ice  cream  products  ten  by my.self,  as a  kind of  "honor"  passenger  and  cargo  ships  by  Axis  CHICAGO,  Aug.  7.—The  Am­ municipal  piers  to  be  found  in  the  xnaAufactured  by this  company,  in­ to  the  men  (especially  of  our  or­ submarines,  including  one  that  was  world,"  asmuch  as  your  efforts  in  this  con­ ganization)  who  go  to  sea  in  these  carrying  soldiers,  was  announced  erican  Federation  of  Labor'  is  nation  will  be  of  invaluable  as­ turmulous  times.  Hope  you  can  yesterday  by  the  Brazilian  Govern­ aligned  with  the  CIO  in  opposing  use  it!  sistance  to  us  in  improving  the  ment  at  Rio  de  Janeiro  as  our  creation  of  a  new^super­agency  to  ON  CLOTHES!  Looking  forward  to  each  and  wages  and  working  conditions  of  Navy  Department  announced  two  contrirf  wages.  the  iCe  cream  employees  in  the  every edition  of  the  Log,  other  sinkings,  Panamanian  and  Urging  that  settlement  of  wage  I  am,  fraternally  yours,  Metropolitan  area.  United  States  merchant  ships.  The  disputes  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  We  wish  once  again  to  thank  C,  T.  Skipper,  No,  4509  latter  were  sunk  after  a five­day  j  War  Labor  Board  (WLB),  William  you  for  the  good  will  which  you  lull  in  which  no  new  sinkings  of  Green,  AFL  presideftl,  yesterday  U.  S.  Coast  Guard  Merchant  expressed  in  publicizing  this  in­ merchant  ships  had  occurred  in  said  the Federation  objected  to "in­ Marine  Training  Station  formation  and  we  trust  that  yotf  American  waters,  a  period  without  terference"  by  other  Government  will  continue  your  sicndxd'  co­ •   New  London,  Conn.  precedent^ince  mid­January.  agencies  with  the  WLB,  AFL  OPPOSES  PAY ^ CZAR  PLAN  If  you  are  not  claim­ ing more than $ 150 for  loss  of  personal  ef­ fects,  you  do  not  have  to  bother  making  out  an itemized list.  ­ >­^• 5  '.;1'  U'­;­ �THE  SEAFARERS'  LOG  Thttrsdijr,  AuguM  20',  1942  Page  Three  SEAFARERS*  INTERNATIONAL  UNION  OF  NORTH  ABIERICA  VSTHATS  DOmC  Around  the  Ports  NEW  ORLEANS  H:  ATEJUITIC  and QULF I»8TBICT  Secrotar^­.TnKXSurer'B Office  Boom 213  —  2 Btetm  Straot New  York City  Bi  0, Box  25, Stodra  9  Phonee  BOwliag  OfMn  ^A.M.,  noon  and  anytime  between* 'anytime  a  quorum  shows  up  in  the  5:00  P.M.  and  midnight,  and  Hall.  IXRBCTORY  OF BFIANCHES  Btothef,  if  you  wanted  to  stay  Beefs  lately  have  been  along  the  See  that  things  are  all  O.K.  The  aboard  you  were  there  to  shift.  naAi«;H  ADDBESB  PHONE  stooges  have  recommended  that  the  You  were  also  there  to  turn  to at  usual  lines  with  no  great  difficulty  HEW  YOBS  2 Stono  St  BOwIing  Green  54946  Disperteher's  Office  BOwUng  Green  9­MtQ  t^xes  on  the  corporations  be  low­ 8:00  A.M.  and  you  didn't  ask  for  encountered  in  straightening  them  BOwling  Green  9­3437  out.  The  matter  of  paying  the  ered  ten  per  cent  to  make  up  for  overtime  either.  ­^0  Atlontle  Ave  Liberty 4|057  crew  of  one  of  the  Ore  Boats  for  P^VIDENCB  465 South  Main St  .^...Manning  3572  this so  that  the  Government  won't  To  ship  you  either  beat  the  <—­Calvert 4533  the  difference  in  the  short  rations  bf  caught  short,  they,  (the  U.  S.  ®  North  6th  St  Lombard  7651  docks  or  you sweated  the fink­halls  they  got  and  what  they  were  en­ Chamber  of  Commerce)  would  ^ Commercial  PL  Norfolk  4­1083  ­—^9 Chortres St  Canal  3336  have  inauguated  a  5%  holding  tax  and  after  sweating  long  enough  to  titled  too  has  been  passed  on  to  SAVANNAH  218  Eoat  Boy St  „..Savannah  3­1728  put  you  where  you figured  it  was  headquarters  for  the  attention  of  from  your  wages  and  a  10%  re­ TA^A  206 So.  Franklin St  ..._.Tampa MM­1323  Conception St....Dexter  1449  tail  tax  collectable  on  all  transac­ about  your  time to ship, you  would  the  District  Representative  as  it  ­1^  Ponce  de  Leon  Puerto  de  "neTTa  see  some  punk  with  a  ten  spot  take  was  stymied  down  here  for  lack  of  tions.  The  moral  to  this  as  I  see  GALVESTON  2014  Market  Street  Galveaton  ^8043  it,  is  for  all  hands  to  become  big  your  job  —  or  some  friend  of  a  anyone  in  authority  who  could  executives  so  that  there  will  be  no  friend  with  a  note  from  some  settle  it.  wages,  but  that  we  can  all  collect  farmer  get  the  cream  while  you  Getting  ah  agreement  out  of  the  big  bonuses,  and  I  don't  mean  the  shipped  on something that  was div­ local  Hooper  boys  is  proving  to  be  ing  bilges  or some  such  thing.  You  a  tough  assignment.  Bull  Line  gets  100%  kind  for  going  to sea.  didn't  get  overtime,  just  hell  if  Things  are  slowing  to  4  dead  you  even  looked  as  though  you  the  reputation  of  being  tough  peo­ ple  to negotiate  with  but  you  ain't  stop around  the Crescent  City. The  wanted  it.  negotiated  nothing  until  you've  only  ships  we  see  around  here  are  Brothers,  if  you  don't  expect  to  had  a  turn  with  Cap'n  Hooper  of  the  new  ones.  On  this  beef,  when  There is  a  scheme afoot  to get  all  merchant seamen  into a uniform.  go  back  to  the  same  sort  of  con­ the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  all  points  afe  the  ship­builders  going  to  rig  Anti­union  forces  have  informed  the  local  papers  of  the  worthiness  ol  ditions  with  night  work,  prunes  east.  sdmething  to  where  an  oiler  does  their  plan  and  are  attempting  to  formulate  public  opinion  in  favor  of  not  have  to  be  crossed  with  a  for  desert,  dried  milk,  and  all  such  That  shadow  you  see  slipping  things,  then  now  is  the  time  to  down  alleyways  and  peeking  at  it.  If  merchant  seamen  are  not  allowed  in  USO  quarters  because  they  mountain  climber  to oil  one of  these  prepare  to  meet  the  shipowner  you  from  the  scuttlebutt  is  Bill  haven't  a  uniform,  then  they  don't  want  that  privilege.  The  brothers  Ifon  Maidens.  ^  when  he  ttys  to  throw  the  chocks  McKay  holding  down  the  patrol­ should  take  an  interest  in  this  matter  and  write  the  local  papers  in­ To  see  some  fun,  go  aboard  one  to  you.  man's  job  while  John  Vechio is  on  forming  them  of  reasons  why  merchant  seamen  don't  need  a  uniform  of  these  new  Beaumont  built  In  case  any  of  you  guys  ddn't  vacation.  Brother  Vechio  will  use  to  make  them  qualified  seafaring  men.  C­l­A's  and  watch  the  engineers  know  it,  the  manning  scale  of  the  part  or  most  of  his  vacation  trying  AAA  chasing  each  otlier  around  the  ship.  M.C.  calls  for  a  third  man  in  the  to  get  an  extra  gas  ration.  Judg­ Howard  Guiner finally  arrived  in  New  York  to tell  us  about  some  "Was  on  one  the  other  day  and  all  cooking force  if  over fifty  men  are  ing  by  the  haunted  look  on  the  of  the  incidents  that  occurred  aboard  his  ship  when  it  was  torpedoed.  were sweating,  J>ut  the ice  box  was  aboard  the  scow.  This  does  not  traffic  cop's face  and  the succession  He  led  Winifred  Grey  through  the  crew  passageway  to  the  boat  deck  fouled  up  and  no  one  was  doing  eliminate  the  galley  man,  but  adds  of  traffic  jams  that  appear  every  and  told  her  to  get  into  a  lifeboat.  She  refused  and  thus  was  lost.  anything  about  it.  time  Brother  Vechio  hoves  into  another  cook.  We  had  a  beef  about  the  unli­ sight,  what  he  needs  more  than  Howard gives  a  great  deal of  credit  to the  men  in the  Deck  department,  Having  beefs  here  with  the  through  whose  efforts  all  but  twenty­five  were  saved.  Two of  the De­ censed  Jrs.  aboard  these  scows  extra  gas,  is  a  car.  company  trying  to  dodge  putting  fense  workers  were  trampled  to  deith  by  other  frantic  passengers.  Broke  out  the  West  Coast  (Black  D.  D.  STORY,  Agent  toilet  articles  (tooth­paste,  shav­ AAA  Gang)  agreements  and  even  went  ing  cream,  etc.)  in  the  slop  chest.  so  far  as  to  check  the  NMU  so­ Larie Owens,  after  being  torpedoed on  his first  ship,  came in  to tell  The  angle  on  this  is  that  the  pooj:  called  agreement.  We  threw  the  us  how  lousy  the  tin­can  sailors  are  as  seamen.  They  can't  swim,  and  company  can't  get  insurance  on  last  named  out  and  settled  for  the  they  just  can't do  anything right,  according to his  version.  I.arie Owens  this  (one  hundred  bucks  worth  M.F.O.W.  Asked  for  it  and  was  a  well­dressed  man,  after  he  secured  the  money  for  the  loss  of  will  take  care  of  a  ship  for  a  year's  Had  the  S.S.  (  ..)  drop  thought  that  we  had  it.  Company  his  gear.  voyage)  but  they  are  willing  to let  in  here  from  Australia  this  week.  offered  $20.00  less  than  the  West  AAA  the Stewards  on  the  scows  buy  and  The  whole  crew  paid  off  her  but  Coast  scalej  with  the  result  that  run  it.  Asked  if  the  Company  are  still  arguing  about  transporta­ We  never  believed  that  Matthews  County  men  joined  Unions,  but  the  legalized  finks,  the  Cadets,  are  shouldn't  be  willing  to  take  a  tion  money.  The  company  claims  we  have one  in our  organization  and  he is  a  good  Union  man.  James H.  taking  the  Jrs.  jobs.  Strange  as  it  chance  with  the  dough  they  are  they  got  in  touch  with  the  Navy  Ashberry  is  his  name  and  he  survived  his first  torpedoing.  Brother  may  seem  the  Company  was  all  set  making,  they  state  the  Steward  Department  in  Washington  and  Lynne  Fields,  stationed  in  an  Army  Technical  School  in  Florida,  in­ to  put  the  Jrs.  from  the  hall  in  makes  money  on  it  any  way,  so  were  instructed  not  to  pay  any  quired  whether  the  Union  could  get  him  out  of  the  Army.  That's  the  dinky  little  rooms  where  the  should  take  the  risk.  No  wonder  transportation  back  to  the  coast.  jjsual  unlicensed  close  quarters  pre­ impossible.  we  have  millionaires.  I'll  stay  in  Texas  Davis  and  O'Brien  from  vail.  Now  that  the finks  are  AAA  the  hundred  grand  class.  Portland,  happened  to  be  on  this  aboard  they  are  placed  up  on  the  John Saunders,  back from  a  trip to the Persian Gulf, inquired  about  ship  and  evidently  had  a  good  trip  Keep  'em  Floating.  top  deck  in  the  best  rooms  on  the  his  brother,  Roy.  We  regretted  to  inform  hi*^  that  his  brother  was  for  I  have  only  seen  them  one  in  ship.  Well,  it  just  goes  to  show  —"ARMY"  lost  two  months  before.  Charles  Wilson  (who  is  well  known  by  the  three  days.  that  tlie  best  is  none  too  good  for  Brothers in Philly),  was recently lost on  the Marymar, we'll all  miss him.  would­be  sailors  while  the  com­ At  the present  time I am  looking  Ramon  Morales,  No.  7599,  is  stationed  at  Camp  Edwards,  Mass.  After  pan/  can  tise  them­  But  when  for  ABs,  Oilers  and  Watertenders.  surviving  two torpedoings.  Brother  Edward  B.  Rhodes  was finally  grab­ their  usefullness  is  over  then  where  It  is  even  tough  t6  get  Ordinary  bed  by  the  Army.  Fie  won't  have  to  worry  about  being  torpedoed  will  they  sleep?  Seamen  now.  Business  continues  moderately  any  more.  It  remirids  me  of  a  trip  I  made  good  in  this  port  but  shipping  is  That's  all  for  now.  on  the  scow  called  the  Western  fast  reaching  the  height  of  some­ —CHARLES  WAID,  Agent.  as  all  seamen  look  forward  to  go­ Queen.  We  were  loaded  down  with  thing  or  other  with, 228  brothers  ing  ashore  whenever  they  hit  port.  work­aways  for  the  round  trip,  all  shipped  in  the past  two weeks. The  We  need  every  encouragement  and  han^s  kissing  the  Mate's  butt  local  shipyard  is  putting  a  new  NATHANIEL  J.  NEWSOME  should  not  be  discouraged.  to  gef'a'steady  job  when  she  paid  Liberty  ship  into  service  every  Cousin  Fish  Ruberey  was  in  the  Your  local  draft  board  is  look­ off  in  the  States,  with  the. result  sixty  hours  right  now  and  shoot­ Everything  going  on  as  usual  other  day  and  looked  to be  in  good  ing  for  you.  Square  things  away  as  that  when  we  got  back  they  were  ing  for  9  mark  of  one  every  30  with  many  youths  coming  to  the  shape.  I  think  he  is  related  to  soon  as  you  hit  the  beach.  all let  go and  another  new  crew  of  Jiours.  Despite  the  number  of  hall  daily  asking  how  can  they get  Harry  Collins,* they  look  so  much  CHARLES  L.  THURBER  workaways  were  shipped  for  the  members  around  the  port,  we've  a  job  on  a  merchant  vessel.  Plenty  alike,  around  the  waistline.  He  Get  in touch  with  your  mother  at  next  trip.  I  don't  know  how  they  been  unable  to hold\a  regular  busi­ of  material  here  but  untrained.  At  ought  to  put  on  about  ten  pounds  once.  She  is  very  ill  at  Greenville,  made  out  but  expect  they  got  the  ness  meeting  for  some  time  now.  least  four  hours  are  consumed  each  this  next  trip  as  he  had  the  cook  Rhode  Island.  same dose.  I know  that  around  this  You  can't  blame  the boys  too much  day  answering  their  questions  and  out  on  a  tour  visiting  all  the  tav­ time,  when  the  ships  paid  off,  the  because  the  demand  for  men  is  so  CARLISLE  MOSS  advising  them.  erns  in  Southie.  He  seems  to  be  A.­B.'s  pay  was  cut  from  the  Ship­ acute  they  just  don't  get  much  Your  book  and  discharges  have  All  our  veteran  seamen  that  hit  ycry  impatient  about  getting  un­ ping  Board  scale  of  $62.50  to  time  to  hang  around  attending  been  found  and  turned  into  the  $50.00  while  the  ship  was  loading  meetings,  etc.,  but  for  the  good  of  Boston  complain  about  not  getting  der  way,  which  reminds  me  when  headquarters  office.  on  the  coast.  Then  when  you  the  union  we  should  have  occa­ shore  leave  on  the  other  side  and  we  had  our  convention  in  'Frisco,  JOSEPH  LANDWERSICK  signed  on  foreign  again  it  was  sional,  regular  meetings  and  ^ven,  some  state  that  they  are  kept  and  our  visit  to  the  Seven  Seas,  raised  to  the  scale.  REMEMBER?  although  we  know  it  is  against  the  aboard  for  months  at  a  time  while  when  all  of  a  sudden  the  Professor  Get  in  touch  with  your  mother  the ship's  officers  may  go  ashore  at  jumped  up  and  shouted,  'Well,  at  once.  You  lads  that  have  come  since,  constitution,  we  believe  it  might  what  are  we  waiting  for?"  (Re­ will.  H.  FRANCAIS  "jand  don't  ferneniber, •   should  take  not  be  a  bad  idea  to  Ibwcr  the  member  Whitey?)  If  so,  this  condition  should  be  Stop  in  Headquarters  office  next  time  out  and  listen  to some  of  the  quorum  requirements  for  the  dur­ time  you  are  in  New  York.  —JOHN  MOGAN,  Agent  remedied  by  the  proper  authorities  ation.  Either  that or  call a  meeting  boys  that  do.  Shift  ship  at  6:00  5i:  .• j'i •   4  ­  h  Out  of  the  Focs^l  by  <X.  SAVANNAH  ­ '•   *1  BALTIMORE  PERSONALS  BOSTON  /a  ..  'mi  �.­'Ar»i;.,ii^:;s«r^sHCv.' u.­  Page  Four  CHARGES  UTILITIES  RETARD NEW LIGHT  (From  the  New  York  Times)  THE  SEAFA'RERS*  LOG  ­ IJ'­S  Thursday,  August  20,  1942  Baltimore Asks Monument  Nominations For 1943 Office  Will Open On Sept First  For Lost Brothers  as  an officer  of  the  Union.  '  {Continued  from  Page  1)  (By  D.  D. STORY  WASHINGTON,  Aug.  18—The  Section  3.  A  committee  con*  for  departmental  patrolman  must  From  talking  with  the  mem­  to be  cast  on  the ^a  during  her  General  Electric  Company,  the  have  three years  sea service  in  their  sisting  of  six  full  book  members In  Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manu­ bers  and  from  the  informal  dis­  voyage;  and  a  moVement  start­ ed  by  the  men  on  the  Calmar  respective  departments.  Sea  service  good  standing,  two  from  each  de­ facturing  Company  and  more  than  cusslons  that  are  always  taking  ,  . ,  ships  to create  a  fund  to erect  a  as  specified  in  this  article  shall  partment,  shall  be  elected,.  whoM  duty it  shall  be  to prepare  the  bal­ 100  public  utilities  companies  place  around  a  umon  hall,  it s  monument  to the  men  mean  on  merchant  vessels.  lot.  (d)  He  has  not  misconducted  were  accused  today  by  John  W.  easy  to  learn  that  most  of  the  of  tjjg  merchant  marine  is  himself  previously  while  emplpyed  All  nominees  who  desire  to  be­ Walker,  Justice  Department  attor­ boys  are  feeling  the  loss  of  growing  fast,  with  more  than  come candidates shall  have  the nec­ ney,  of  operating  together  to  re­ shipmates  keenly  and  are  g«>p­  two hundred  dollars  already do­ essary  qualifications  and  acceptance  General Pay Rise  tard  the  development  of  fluores­ ing  around  for  some  means  of  nated.  We  believe,  however,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary­ expressing  their  respect  for  the  that  this  last  movement  is  too  Treasurer  or  the  Committee  on  cent lighting  throughout  the coun­ men  who  didn't  come  back,  much  for  a  branch  agent  to  Is Denied To  21,000  Candidates  prior to the 15 th day of  try  because  it  requires  only  one­ Seamen  as  a  class  are  not  emo­  take  care  of  and  if  anything  is  October  of  each  year.  Nominees  WASHINGTON,  Aug.  18  —  third  to  one­half  the  current  re­ tional  or  soft­hearted,  but  it  done  along  the  lines  of  building  who  shall  fail  to  comply  herewith  would  be a  tough customer  who  >  ^  monument  it  should  be  on  a  The  National War  Labor  Board  re­ quired  for  incandescent  lighting.  shall  be  regarded  as  having  declin­ didn't  feel  bad  about  the lc»s  of  national  basis.  The  members  are  jected  unanimously  today  a  pro­ Mr. Walker,  member of  the anti­ so  many  good  men.  Now  and  anxious  to  see  this  thing  done,  posed  general  wage  increase  of  10  ed  the nomination. Ballots  shall  (a)  cents  an  hour  for  21,000  employes  bear  the  name  of  the  Union,  thq  trust  division  ,charged  before  the  again  somebody  does  something  They  are  enthusiastic  about  do­ month  and  yar  of  election  and  in­ Senate  committee  investigating  about  it.  Jimmie  Stevens  help­  nating  and  we  can't  turn  them  of  the  Western  Electric  Company  structions  to  votes;  (b)  bear  the  at  Kearny,  N.  J.,  but  approved  patents  that  as  a  i*esult  of  the com­ ed  get  a  memorial  service  in  a  down.  The  money  ctfllected  names  of  eligible  and  duly  quali­ here  makes  a  good  start  so what  rises  of  3  to  5  cents  an  hour,  re­ panies'  actions  the  lighting  and  local  church;  a five  foot floral  fied  candidates  for  each  office  ar­ anchor  donated  by  members  do  you  say  fellows—shall  we  troactive  to  June  1,  for  workers  ranged  alphabetically  with  voting  power  bills  of  customers  in  homes  receiving  less  than  the  standard  and  inscribed  "Shipmates  at  get  together  and  jnahe  it  a  na­ squares  to  the  right  of  names;  (c)  rate  in  ten  wage  classifications.  and  industries  were  held  at  propor­ Rest"  was  taken  aboard  a  ship  tional  affair?  have  one  blank  line  for  each  office'  The  board  said  the  general  wage  tionately  high  levels,  totaling  $2,­ in  which  member  may  write  the  increase  demanded  by  the  unaffili­ <65,000,000  last  year,  while a  con­ Barracks for Workers  ated  Western  Electric  Employes  name  of  any  member  whose  name  servation of  electrical energy  which  MONEY  DUE  KO'd By  AFL Unions  Association,  Inc.,  would  be  "con­ does  not  appear  upon  the  ballot  would  aid  the  war  production  pro­ to  the  national  pro­ who  must  be  qualified  under  the  trary  provisions  of Action  2  of  this. Ar­ PHILADELPHIA,  Pa.—A  plan  gram  materially  was  blocked.  gram  for  wage  stabilization.'  Stewards  department  of  8.  S.  ticle;  and  (a)  be  perforated  at  tWs  of  National  Housing  Administra­ "The  principal  factor  that  made  Alcoa  Gadet  collect  $18.0P  from  Al­ tor John  B. Blandford,  Jr., to erect  upper  edge  and  perforated  stubs  it  impossible  for  General  Electric  coa  office,  17  Battery  Place,  New  barracks  instead  of  decent Jiousing  PITTSBURGH,  Aug.  19  —  numbered  consecutively,  beginning  for  500  Navy  Yard  workers  here  Committeemen  of  the  Aluminum  with  No.  1.  The  Secretary­Treas­ and  the  utilities  to  completely  re­ York  City.  has  been  defeated  by  the  combined  Workers  of  America,  led  by  their  urer  shall  cause  to  be  printed,  and  tard  and  control  the  development  efforts of  the Building &  Construc­ president,  Nicholas  A.  Zonarich,  shall  forward  to  each  Branch  and  of  the fluorescent  lighting  indus­ try,"  Mr.  Walker  testified,  "was  Newton  Williams,  2nd  Cook  on  tion  Trades  Council,  the  Philadel­ sent  a  telegraphic  demand  to  the  retain  for  use  at  Headquarters,  a  the  aggressive  promotion  of fluor­ 8.  8.  Jean,  paid  off  Aug.  7,  collect  phia  Navy  Yard  and  the  Philadel­ War  Lqbor  Board  tonight  for  an  sufficient  number  of  ballots,  and  "immediate  explanation  of  its  de­ shall  keep  a  record  of  the  numbers  escent  lighting  by  an  independent  $14.85  at  Bull  Line office,  115  Broad  phia  Housing  Authority.  manufacturer,  the  Hy­Grade  Syl­ Street,  New  York"  City.  The only  excuse  given  by Bland­ cision  refusing  pay  increases  to em­ of  the first  and  last  ballots  so for­ vania  Corporation,  and  the  activi­ ford  for  his  proposal  was  an  al­ ployes  of  the  Aluminum  Company  warded  and  retained.  None  but of­ ficial  ballots  shall  be  used  in  any  ties  of  this  independent  are  the  leged  lack  of  building  materials.  of  America."  The  action  followed  a  three­ general  election.  only  bgrrier existing  today  to Gen­ Money  for  extra  meals  due  the  James  L.  McDevitt,  business  man­ hour  conference  called  to  discuss  eral Electric,  Westinghouse and  the  ager  of  the  building  council  and  following  men  from  the  M.  8.  utilities  getting absolute  control of  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fed­ the  insistence  of  the  union  mem­ Trucking Concerns  Blendheim:  Edwards,  Satchfield,  the  new  industry  and  operating  it  eration  of  Labor,  pointed  out  that  bership  that  a  general  strike  be  Spurn Pay  Demand  Harold,  Chong  and  Jack.  Collect  at  solely  in  conformity  with  their  it  takes almost  as  much material  to  called  in  the  aluminum  industry.  19  Rector  Street,  New  York  City.  own  interests."  build  barracks  as  it  does  proper  Decision  on  the  strike  demand  was  The  Merchant  Truckmen's  Bu­ deferred  and  the  meeting  recessed  housing.  reau  of  New  York  yesterday  re­ until  tomorrow  morning. Mr.  Zon­ "No  one,"  McDevitt  asserted,  arich  said  Army  representatives  jected  as  "preposterous"  the  de­ MEN  OF OUR  MERCHANT MARINE  "knows  how long  the war  will last.  would  be  asked  to attend  a  second  mands  of  three  locals  of  the  Inter­ Certainly  it  will  not  be  a  short  session  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  national  Brotherhood  of  Teamsters  There  they  wait  in  their  Union  Hall,  war.  And  even  after  its  close,  we  a  decision  might  be  made on  "what  for  a  new  contract  which'  the  In  answer  to  their  country's  Call,  trucking  interests  estimated  would  will  be unwilling  to shut down our  further  steps  we  are  to  take."  Those  hardy  men  of  the  merchant  marine;  Awaiting  the  test  of  nerve  supreme.  ^  entire  war  production  program  Ben  Fischer,  research  director  of  involve  wage  increases  of  40  per  cent.  The employers suggested  that>»  over  night.  the  union,  said  the  WLB  would  be  A  call  comes  in  for  a  sailor  or  two.  "With  this  in  mind  it  seems  un  asked  to  explain  how  it  reached  the  union  revise  its  demands  td  Urgently  needed  by  some  tanker's  crew,  reasonable  to  erect  a.lot  of flimsy  the  decision  that  aluminum  work­ bring  them  "within  the  scope  of  They're  ail  anxious  to  get  back  to  sea.  and  unsafe  sheds  and  expect  war  ers  had  received  more  than  a  15  reason."  And  do  their  bit  for  liberty.  workers  to  live  in  them  without  per  cent  wage  increase  since  Jan.  Later  a  union  spokesman  ex­ privacy  of  any  kind."  Where  she's  going  none  seem  to  care,  1,  1941,  which  he  said  was  not  pressed  surprise  that  the  bureau  There's  one  thing  sure  she's  needed  there.  conceded  as  a  fact  by  the  union.  had  made public  its letter  of  rejec­ Be  it  to  the  islands,  or  the  far  off  Russian  coast,  Extension  of  a  night  shift  "pre­ tion  without  consenting  to  DO  NOT  SHIP  They'll  take  her  there  and  bring  her  back,  they  boast.  mium"  system  to  ail  Alcoa  plants,  down  with  tcantster  representatives  (under  any  circumstances)  while  not  making  it  retroactive  to  to discuss  terms.  it  takes  untold  courage,  to  go  to  sea.  WILLIAM  E.  FARRELL.  No.  6089  John  J.  O'Rourke,  a  member  of  Feb.  10  as  the  union  had  under­ Armed  only  with  the  Powers  that  be,  JAME8  MARVIN  HART  the  union's  Wage  scale  committee  stood  it  would  be,  also  requires  8till these  men  do  it  day  after  day,  |  L.  J.  CANNON  ...No. 20284  clarafication,  Messrs.  Fischer  and  and  president  of  Local  282,  de­ They  are  our  country's  mighty  stay.  WILLIAM  SCHWARTZ  clared  that  the  brotherhood,  for  Zonarich  stated.  two  weeks  had  been  trying  to  ar­ There's  not­a  slacker  among  these  men  of  the  sea  range  a  conference  with  the  Mer­ Who  fight  for  us  all, and  our  liberty.  Rules on Personal  Effects:  chant  Truckmen's  Bureau.  He ex­ They  take  them  to  they  know  not  where,  V  'Cause  they  know  they  are  needed  there.  plained  that,  any  action  by  fhe  IF  YOUR  SHIP  IS  SUNK  AND  YOU  LOSE  YOUR  GEAR,  union  would  await  the  return  to  YOU  ARE  ENTITLED  UP  TO  AND  INCLUDING  $250  COM>.  Ducking  and  dodging  and  twisting  at  night.  the  city of  Michael  J.  Cashal,  in­ PENSATION  ONLY  IF  YOU  HAVE  MADE  OUT  A  LIST  AND  Not  daring  to  show  a  bit  of  light.  VALUATION  OF  YOUR  BELONGINGS  AND  FILED  IT  WITH  ternational  vice  president,  and  Lest  some  wandering  sub,  either  Nazi  or  Jap,  THE  SKIPPER. BEFORE  SAILING.  FAILING  THIS,  YOU  ARE  other  officers  attending  the  State  Blow  their  ship  right  off  the  map.  ENTITLED  UP  TO  AND  INCLUDING  $150.  IF  YOU  FAIL .TO  Federation  of  Labor  Convention  iff  LIST  AND  FILE  YOUR  GEAR,  THERE  IS  NOTHING  THE  Rochester.  .  Many  a  torpedo  has  rung  the  bell.  UNION  CAN  DO  TO  AID  YOU  To  COLLECT  MORE  THAN  The  agieemeiit  Covering  10,000  And  blown  some  tanker  right  into  hell.  THE  $150.  drivers  engaged  in  general  truck­ An  explosive  blast,  a  sheet  of  flame.  ing  here expires  on  Aug.  31.  Wil­ What  once  was  a  ship  is  now  only  a  name.  Rules  on  Death  Benefits:  liam  S.  Devery,  president  of  Local  ALWAYS  NAME  A  BENEFICIi|,RY  FOR  YOUR  f5,000  So  here's to "the  men  of  our .Merchant  Marine,  ' '  807,  acting  as  chairman  of  a  joint  GOVERNMENT  INSURANCE  IN  CASE  OF  DEATH  AT  SEA.  Whose, equal  for  courage  is  seldom  seen.  wage  scale  committee  for  Locals  •   MANY  CASES  HAVE  BEEN  HUNG  UP  FOR  MONTHS  BE­ They're  taking  them  to  they  know  not  where,  807, 282  and  816, submitted a  pro­ CAUSE  OF  THE  FAILURE  OF  A  MAN  TO  NAME  A  BENE­ 'Cause  they  know  that  they're  needed  there.  posal  to  the  employers  that  they  FICIARY.  PROTECT  YOUR  FAMILY  BY  NAMING  A  BENE­ sigq  a  new  agreement  effective •   FICIARYI  C. T.  S., No.  450is.  'Sept.  1.  'r i  •  (isaie­i.;;,".  � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including 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Title A name given to the resource August 20, 1942 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 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Description An account of the resource Headlines: COMMITTEE SET UP TO DISTRIBUTE FUR VESTS WEEK'S SHIP LOSSES SHOW SUB SHIFT NOMINATIONS FOR 1943 OFFICE WILL OPEN ON SEPTEMBER FIRST N.Y. INFORMATION SERVICE INAUGURATED FOR MERCHANT SEAMEN DUTCH UNIONS HAVE SHOWDOWN WITH BOSSES AND GOVERNMENT TOLEDO YARD BUILDS LAKES ICE BREAKERS RESOLUTION TO APPEAR ON 1943 BALLOT RUSSIAN SHIP SUNK IN GULF OF MEXICO INFORMATION ON INSURANCE PAYMENTS NEW FACILITIES TO SPEED PHILA. TURNAROUNDS 5 BRAZILIAN SHIPS SUNK BELOW BULGE AFL OPPOSES PAY - CZAR PLAN CHARGES UTILITIES RETARD NEW LIGHT BALTIMORE ASKS MONUMENT FOR LOST BROTHERS GENERAL PAY RISE IS DENIED TO 21,000 BARRACKS FOR WORKERS KO'D BY AFL UNIONS TRUCKING CONCERNS SPURN PAY DEMAND MEN OF OUR MERCHANT MARINE Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. IV, No. 29 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/20/1942 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1942 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/800a392e0746e55df2fe58ee304617ec.PDF 48d4f4179846e35fab0a3b9878682335 PDF Text Text «• SECURITY IN UNITY VOL. V. .UT ^J^^ARERS JOQ OFFICIAL CROAK OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT, 1 SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK, N. Y.. FRIDAY. AUGUST 20. 1943 No. 21 Crew Gets $7,000 Overtime; Our Working Rules Are Upheld WYCKOFF'S SABOTAGE BACKFIRES; SOUTH ATLANTIC UNE PAYS THROUGH THE NOSE The South Atlantic Steamship Line must pay 18 SIU men 90 cents an hour overtime for over 7500 hours! This was the de­ cision handed down this week by a U. S. Conciliation Service Referee, Bryce Holcombe, who had been appointed to settle the dis­ pute between the union and the company over the breaking of watches on the S.S. Schoharie when she was waiting for a convoj^ but was not in port. This was an extremely important victory for the union, not only because of the money involved and because it smashed the shipowner attempt to chisel our contract, but because it gave sharp answer to Mr. Hubert Wyckoff of the Wai^ Shipping Administration who sabotaged a security wztch^s^y, Atlantic Steamship Line agreement negotiated between the SIU and the operators. Savannah, Ga. Last May the union negotiated security watch agree­ Gentlemen: ments with the Mississippi, Waterman and South Atlantic In joint conference July 9th, Lines—^such agreements designed to meet war time condi­ 1943, at New York, N. Y., your undersigned representatives have tions which required security weu. this week he was instru- mutually agreed that pursuant to watches for ship safety in mental in forcing the South At­ Section 5 of the Labor Agree­ port. In order to conform lantic Steamship Company to pay ment which exists between the with the rules laid down in through the nose in order to in­ above named Company and the Security Watch Agree­ dulge his anti-union bias. And Union, the Director of the U. S. Hubert Wyckoff is also going to Service shall appoint ment, the Union agreed to be responsible for many thous­ Conciliation a referee, whose decision shall be amend certain working rules and dollars more that will be paid final and binding for the settle­ regulating breaking watches indirectly by the government be­ ment of the Union's wage claim in all ports. This agreement, cause he sabotaged the security for twenty (20) or less of the Company's employees, who serv­ negotiated in collective bar­ watch agreement. Mr.^ Bryce P. Holcombe, Com­ ed aboard the SS "SCHOHARIE" gaining between the union missioner, U. S. Conciliation Ser­ —said twenty (20) seamen were apd the operators, was- set vice, was the referee in the dis­ paid their regular wages March aside in a high handed and pute between the Union and the 12th, 1943. bureaucratic manner by Mr. South Atlantic Line. His analysis The parties herein named have pointed Bryce A. Holcombe, to act as such arbitrator. The Union states that the fol­ lowing ratings are involved in this proceeding: Able Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, Oilers, Watertenders and Firemen. THE ISSUE Under date of January 9th, 1941, the Seafarers' International Union of North America, herein­ after referred to as the Union, and the South Atlantic Steam­ ship Line, hereinafter referred to as the Company, entered into a sole bargaining agreement. This agreement is still in force. Specifically, the claim of the Union is that the members of the crew of the SS SCHOHARIE with the ratings heretofore set forth are entitled to overtime payment for work performed outside of their regular watches when the aforesaid vessel was detained at. . . . awaiting convoy. It bases its claim upon the existing agreement, which has heretofore been referred to, while the Company contends that it has abided by all the conditions of said agreement that the claim of the Union is unwarranted and should be rejected. It was agreed by the parties that the matter would be sub­ mitted upon brief. and decision is so lucid and em­ agreed that they would separate­ inently fair and impartial that ly submit to the U.S. Conciliation When Wyckoff pulled this fast we herewith print it in its en­ Service a written brief within one the Union said, "OK, if that tirety (eliminating port names the next few days. The Service Is the way you want it we'll slop and dates). shall render its decision based trying to reach any special agree­ ments for war time and demand PRELIMINARY STATEMENT upon the Labor Agreement and enforcement of our collective A dispute having arisen be­ the briefs submitted by the par­ bargaining contracts as they tween the parties whose names ties. stand." Bryce A. Holcombe. appear in the above caption, the Commissioner of U. S. Because Mr. Wyckoff was a following agreement was entered Conciliation Service. smart guy. because he thought he into; was successfully chiseling the New York, N. Y., (Holcombe's Report continues) seamen, the South Atlantic Line July 9th, 1943. must now shell out close to $7,000 Seafarers' International Union In accordance with the terms in overtime on one ship. And this 2 Stone Street of said agreement, the Director, is only the beginningi New York, N. Y. U. S. Conciliation Service, ap­ There are any number of skip­ pers, not only on the South At­ lantic Line ships, who thought they had the Union over the bar­ rel and they have been sticking the men with overtime work without paying for it. They are going to be called to line—and quick. The Journal of Commerce has a new mari­ type which marshalls overwhelming evidence • Wyckoff no doubt sold his su­ time editor. Ordinarily this would be an event to prove that while union men may mean well, periors the idea that he was sav­ of little interest to the seamen, but on this oc­ they aren't quite bright and for their own weling the government thousands of fa^-e the Shipowners must lead them around casion it is something to note. dollars by chiseling the seamen One of the requisites for getting a job as with a ring in their nose. out of their security watch agree­ The new Journal of Commerce maritime maritime editor op the Journal of Commerce ment. But the result has been is the ability to write about unions in such, a editor, one Stanley Ferguson by name, appears just the reverse. The operating manner that they appear as a bunch of gang­ to be of the latter school. This week he wrote costs are going to be much high­ sters intent upon blackmailing the shipowner a long editorial on the question of unemploy­ er now than they would have out of his hjrd earned, pityfully small profits, ment benefit for seamen. He assured his read­ been had the security watch and in raping his wife and daughter when his ers that the shipowners have always been in agreement been allowed to oper­ favor of such insurance for the men, and in back is turned. ate, The Journal of Commerce has had two the present Congressional hearings on the sub­ Mr. Wyckoff, the labor rela­ types of maritime editors in the past. One type ject they are bucking such legislation only tions Director of the JWSA is the is of the blood-and-guts school of journalism because the unions are demanding that the shining example of a labor-hating and attacks the seamen and the unions with a hiring hall be designated as the registration small-time bureaucrat who forthrightness that would do justice to Pegler. headquarters for the men — such a demand counts no cost too great if it reThe other type is the scholarly and objective (Continued on Page 3) suits in a blow at the Unions. WyckoflF. Journal Of Commerce Gets A New Maritime Editor—Same Scab Line • STATEMENTS OF FACTS The claim for overtime pay is asserted on behalf of eighteen (18) members of the crew of the SS SCHOHARIE; said voyage being from the . . . to . . . and ... At. . . the vessel was detain­ ed awaiting convoy. At these places, • where the vessel was an­ chored to await convoy, th^ Mas­ ter broke watches and the crew were required to work eight (8) hours a day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CONTENTION OF THE UNION The Union in support of its position states that when a ship is ready to leave port the watches are set; that when these watches are set they are, under the terms of the agreement not to be bro­ ken, that is, they are not to be set aside either to suit the con­ venience of the Master, until the vessel arrives "in port". The Union points out that there are times when there may very well be a temptation to break watches; that such an instance may occur where the ship arrives near a port and for some reason drops anchor; that under such circumstances the crew might desire that watches be broken and the "in port" working rules put into effect in order that they might go ashore; that this might conflict with the Master's plans, and, of course, the men would have no right to have watches broken; that, conversely, in a similar situation, the Master might desire to break watches in order to get more work done. The Union contends, however, that the Master under the terms of the agreement would not be free to break watches. This, the Union alleges, is what the Master did in the instant case. The Union aserts that the Mas­ ter, sensing that the enforced an-_ chorage might last for an indefin­ ite period of time broke watches in order to get more work out of the men, working them between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. instead of maintaining the watch­ es as they had been set; that by keeping watches he could not have had the seamen, especially on watch 3 do certain types of work without the payment of (Cotttinued on Page 4) V .t;> Miiii . ' 'Mi.'itl ' Jii -Tfl-'-r'rV*:f-t' �rK£:i^»£ AFAR EES ' Page Two 111'I SEAFARERS LOG Published by the 15?. SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNIGIi OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor HARRY LUNDEBERG - - - - - - President 110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK ------- Secy-Treas. p. O. Box 25, Station P., New York Gty MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep, 424 5th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. Directory of Branches BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE NEW YORK (4) 2 Stone St „ „ Deck & Engine Dispatcher. .BOwlingr Green 9-3430 Steward Dispatcher BOwling Green 9-6786 Agent BOwling Green 9-3437 BOSTON (10) ..330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 40S7 BALTIMORE (2) 14 North Gay St Calvert 4539 PHILADELPHIA « North 6th St Lombard 7651 NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI Norfolk 4-1083 NEW ORLEANS (16)... 309 Chartres St Canal 3336 SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St. Savannah 3-1728 TAMPA r..:.:.r........423 East Piatt St MOBILE PUERTO RICO GALVESTON FT. LAUDERDALE 55 So. Conception St 45 Ponce de Leon ;219 20th Street. 2021 S. Federal Highway. •w "w Tampa MM-1323 Dial 2-1392 Puerto de TIerm Galveston 2-8043 .Ft. Lauderdale 1601 PUBLICATION OFFICE; ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET New York Gty BOwling Green 9-834d Dushane On WLB Biggs Organizes Maritime Panel Florida Fishermen Matthew Dushane, Washington Representative of the SIU=SUP, has been appointed official AFL member of the newly created maritime panel of the National War Labor Board. The Panel has been created to study and make recommendations to the WLB on disputed cases and voluntary wage adjustment cases involving all personnel employed on all ships. Chairman of the Panel is Prof. E. M. Morgan, acting dean of Harvard Law School, and Burton Oppenheim, deputy executive di­ rector of the WLB will serve as vice chairman. Bjorne Hailing, Washington Representative of the NMU will serve as the CIO member on the panel. i t: •. ir • ii'S' 111 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —For the first time in history, Florida fishermen are organized under the aegis of the American Feder­ ation of Labor and are assured a living wage for the present. There are more than 450 com­ mercial fishermen in the new lo­ cal, which is a branch of the Sea­ farers International Union of North America. The organization work was done by Matt Biggs of New Orleans, international rep­ resentative of the SIU. The fishermen recently tied up their boats and refused to leave the docks until the price of grouper had been raised. The wholesale price had dropped from 8 to 6 cents a pound. So, finding individual action as useless as individual action al­ ways is, the fishermen barkened to the words of Biggs. Now most of the boats are on the job and the price of grouper has returned to 8 cents. Like an oldtime Sun­ day school book,,this story has a —MORAL: ORGANIZEI" J. B. Bryan, president. Pacific American Shipowners Associa­ tion; San Francisco, Calif.; and Edward J. Barber, president of the Barber Steamship Lines, New York City, wiU be the industry representative on the panel. Edward J. Neary, United Fruit The panel, which started ses­ Co., New York City; Willard A. sions at its headquarters at the Kiggins, A. H. Bull Steamship WLB on Monday, will make Co., New York City; T. N. Cook, findings and recommendations to Ocean Steamship Co., New York be filed with the NWLB which City; Philip Iglchart, Grace will make final determination of Lines, New York City; WiUiam all cases. Applications for volun G. Mull ins, American Merchant tary wage and salary adjustments Marine Institute, New York City, will be referred directly to the and Baired Tewksbury, Midland panel by the regional War Labor Steamship Co., Cleveland. Boards. Labor: ^ Frederick M. Myers, National Maritime Union (CIO); The board's order. creating the' Harry Martin, Masters, Mates, commission stated that the panel and Pilots (AFL); J. H. Blake, may sit as a three-man tri-partite Marine Engineers' Beneficial As­ panel, provided its tri-partite sociation (CIO); Harry Morgan, character is retained. American Communications Asso­ The following alternates were ciation (CIO); John Evans, In­ also announced by the WLB to- land Boatman's Union of the Pa­ flay: Industry; Chester W. Wil- cific (ClIO); John R. Owens, In­ letts, Great Lakes Towing Co ternational Longshoremen's As­ Cleveland; Captain O. Slack Bar- sociation (AFL), and Andrew Mc­ i-ett, Barrett Lines, Cincinnati; Donald, Radio Officers' Union. LOG Friday, August 20, 1943 ^ fR€POT?T OI\ -"^^ASHirVGTOIV JBVMATTJIWJJUSHAM^ LEGISLATION: C o ntinuation to be subject to revocation by any of the fight that was led by An­ ships officer at any time for any drew Furuseth for s e a m e n's reason or no reason, such revo­ rights, and the action that was cation being an absolute black taken at the conventions of the list and exile from the calling. American Federation of Labor. Not even the shipoAvner had the power -to return or replace it. 1909 19IQ Re-endorsed biU abolishing in­ voluntary servitude of American Condemned attempt to amend Seamen in foreign ports and pro­ New York pilotage law; Con­ hibiting under and unskilled demned "WELFARE PLAN" of manning of American Vessels. the Steel Trust. Urged Congress Nine thousand sailors, marine to make the seamen a free man, firemen and cooks had been com­ give him the right to help him­ pelled to struggle against condi­ self and improve the safety of tions sought to be imposed on travel at sea.'^his petition des­ them by the vessels' owners on cribing the status of seamen was the Great Lakes, who had declar­ endorsed: To those who govern ed for the so-called "OPEN nations, to those who make laws, SHOP" and almost immediately to humanitarians, democrats. had opened employment agencies Christians and friends of human tlirough which aU seamen were freedom everywhere, do we, the employed after renuciation of seamen, the yet remaining bond­ membership in any union. men, humbly, yet earnestly sub­ The ship owners in a large mit this< our petition that we may number of instances made it a be made free men and that the condition of employment that the blighting disgrace of bondage be men already employed, or seek­ removed from our labor, which ing employment, must make af- once was considered honorable, fadavit that they are not now, which is yet needed in the world nor will they be, affiliated with of commerce, and which has been any organization of labor while held to be of great importance to earning their bread as seamen. nations with sea coasts to defend. Still feeling that men might be Existing Maritime Law, except in willing to make such illegal af­ the domestic trade of these U. S., fidavits in order to continue in makes of us the property of the employment at times when em­ vessel on which we sail. We can­ ployment in other vocations was not work as seamen without sign­ scarce and difficult to obtain, and ing a contract which brings us' that, after all, they needed some under this law. stronger and, in their opinion, more enduring means of absolute The contract is fixed by law or control over seamen, they sent authorized, by governments. We special representatives to Great have nothing to do with its terms. Britain with a view of investi­ We either sign it or we sign it gating and, if suitable to their not and remain landsman. When purpose, employing a system signing this contract we surren­ which had been used by the ship­ der our working power to the will of another man at all times owners of that cDuntry. while the contract runs. We may These representatives returned not leave the vessel, though she and evidently reported that the is" in perfect safety. We may not English Shipping Federation Lim­ without the master's permission ited had been the means in that go to a mother's sick bed or fu­ country of depriving the seamen neral, or attend to any other of such hope and faith as, for a duties of a son, a brother, a long time, was sufficient to pre­ christian or a citizen. If the own­ vent any efficient organization er thinks he has reason to fe^ amongst them. At the same time that we desire to escape, he may, reducing the wages to such fig­ without judicial investigation, ures that it has been found in­ creasingly impossible to induce cause us to be imprisoned for white men to ship, and as- a re­ safe keeping until he shall think sult, 65,000 Chinese and Lascars it proper to take us out. If we arc now employed on British ves­ have escaped, he may publish our personal appearance along with sels. The Lake Carriers Associa­ a reward for our apprehension tion determined to adopt this and return. He may through system and impose it upon all its contracts between nations cause maritime employees. the peace officers and police to The ihain features, of it are: A aid him in recovering his prop­ certificate of membership' in the Shipping Federation, Limited, erty. Tbe paptain may change, containing an agreement in writ­ the owner-may change, we are ing to serve under any terms and sold with the vessel, and so long conditions imposed by the ship­ as the flag does not change there owners; a registration of name, is nothing except serious illness age, personal appearance, signa­ or our masters pleasure that will ture, if any visible personal pe­ release us from the vessel. The culiarities, such as birthmarks, master, acting for the vessel, may scars or other still more effective release himsejf and the vessel by paying a few dollars, with no al­ means of identification; an in­ dustrial passport, the holder of ternative. which is to be thus identified, He that owns another man's and a system of character mai-ks, labor power owns his body, since such as the master of a vessel the two cannot be seperated. We may choose to give, and upon stand in the relation to the vessel which future employment or non as a serf did to the estate, as the employment is to depend. In slave to the master. When serf­ fact, it was decidedly more vi­ dom was abolished in Western cious than even the English sys­ Europe, we were forgotten by the tem in that the Lake book was liberators and our status remain­ ed. When the slaves of the U.S^ and Brazil were emancipated our, status continued. When serfdona was abolished in Russia nd change came to us. We now raise our mancied hands in liumbls supplication to restore, to us our rights as brother men, to our laibor that honor which laelonged to it until your power, expressing itself through your law, set upon it the brand of bondage in the interest of cheap transporation by water. We respectfully submit that this serfdom of the men in our calling is of comparatively mod­ ern origin. Earlier maritime law bound while in strange countries and climes the seamen to his shipmates and his ship, and the ship to him, on the principle of common hazard. In his own coun­ try he was free—^the freest of men. We further humbly submit that, as the consciousness of the seamen's status penetrates through the population, it will be impossible to get free men to send their sons into bondage or' to induce free men's sons to ac­ cept it, and we, in all candor, re= mind you that you, when yoii travel by water, expect us—^the serfs—to exhibit in danger the highest qualities of free men, by giving our lives for your safety. At sea the law of common haz­ ard remains; there must be dis­ cipline and self-sacrifice, but in any harbor where the vessel and you are safe, we beseech you, give to us that freedom which you claim for yourself and which you bestow upon others, to the end that ^ we may be relieved, of that bitterness of soul that is the heavy burden of him who knows and feels that his body is not his own. I 1911 Urged passage of bill freeing seamen, and we hope and trust that the importance to the na­ tion, to the traveling public and to seamen employed is now suf­ ficiently well understood to stop further opposition and to pass ai just and to-long delayed measure. 1912 Seamen's bill passed the House. It restores freedom to the sea­ men; it provides a standard of skill for seamanship. It is draft­ ed with the design of equalizing the operating expenses of foreign vessels and American vessels. It will tend to build up the Ameri­ can Merchant Marine without subsidies or subterfuge. It will encourage the American to fol­ low the sea as a profession. Tt will provide in a much greater measure improved conditions of life on board ship for seamen. Its safety provisions wiU, to a con­ siderable extent, increase secur­ ity of life and property at sea. Above all and of vastly most im­ portance, it will abolish the last provisions in our statutory law for compulsory labor within the jurisdiction of the U. S. Seamen will no longer be deprived of their individual liberty, or be • compelled to suffer hardships and wrongs beyond what are natur­ ally inherent in their dangerous, hazardous "calling. {Contimied on Page 3) �'*5''fsSW/' j- •' • ;•'•• V Friday, August 20, 1843 THE ilEAFARERS WHAT'S DOING Around the Ports LOG Page Three 1 Washington Report {Continuei from Page 2) 1913 After many years of persistent endeavor we seciued the passage of the seamen's bill by Congress, March 2, 1913—but were astound­ ed to leam the President in the closing hours of that body had permitted the bill to die«by ap­ plying what is known as the "POCKET VETO" on the plea that it would interfere with "TREATY RIGHTS." The bill was again passed by the Senate and it is our firm conviction the House will pass it without amendment at an early date. Iramediate passage by the House and its approval by the President urged. , 1914 Insisted on passage of the sea­ men's bill, and urged the imme­ diate writing of letters to mem­ bers of Congress by citizens of their respective home districts. Urged Congress to so change our registration laws that any ves­ sel rated in the highest class of any responsible classification so­ ciety may be registered as an American vessel to sail in any trade, provided that she be com­ pelled to carry citizens of the U. S. as licensed officers. Absence of any standard of efficiency in the men employed is the direct causes of such man slaughter at sea as occured in the wrecks of the TITANIC, VOLTURNO, MONROE, EMPRESS OF IRE­ LAND and many others. We therefore call on Congress to pass the seamen's bill and for its im­ mediate signing by the Presi­ dent. The shipowners had op­ posed the bill ostensibly on the ground that it would be neces­ sary to change .sixteen treaties if it became law. pretty much of a shame to see a these ports and have them stand­ crew sail a ship when the orig­ ing by to take over when the We note in local publications inal crew got off in protest be­ union crew refuse to sign on. that some Congressmen and Sen­ cause of something that was de­ Well, I guess that I have bent ators are going to introduce a bill trimental to them. However, the your ears long enough, but in calling for the death penalty for men that sailed these two ships parting let me ask you this, when any one responsible for deliver­ were informed by the members you are on the beach come to ing defective material to our on the beach just what the score the halls on Monday night and armed forces. We, of course, are was, but the ship stiU sallfB. A by doing this we will be able to wholeheartedly in- accord with couple of our members out of the have meetings, ^d at the meet­ this, but if such a bill becomes two crews that got off were not ings you will be able to find out the law of the land the first ones in sympathy. One in particular just what the score is on matters to be prosecuted under it should wanted to throw in his book as pertaining to you and your union. Dushare, Agent of the NMU, will HARRY COLLINS. Agent get the Secretary's job in the be the RMO. If ever defective he staled that there was a war , material existedj we would like going on and he was pretty weU USS when it opens. That is if it to know what is more so than fed up with this kind of Malarky. does. We are waiting any day GALVESTON those so-called trained men this Well, when you consider the now for them to start a drive for outfit sends aboard ships. After length of time that this man is in Well, the sweater boys of the old and discarded clothes for the spending somewhere in the the Union, and the. lack of knowl­ NMU have arrived in town. The destitute seamen. With the neighborhood of $2,000 to teach edge as to the principles of other day they were around pass­ money we are making today, we these boys how to dance, and Unionism, wellj maybe you can ing out the convention Pilot and sure need old and discarded sing old Glory, they are eventu­ overlook his feelings, but my an­ there sure was a bunch of paper clothes. I hear that the Komally given berths on ships with swer to this is, that if the men to pick up from the streets. They rades believe in free love, I won­ the instructions that if they don't on the beach will miss a few have been trying to get a foot­ der if that is the inducement that know what the score is, the old- drinks on Monday night and at­ hold in the city of Galveston ever Curran is using to get the Ad­ timers will teach them. Of course tend a meeting, possibly they will since 1937, but to date no dice. miral to put haybags on the ships, *the oldtimers have no alternative, be in a better position to under- And the gazoonies in their sweat­ in lieu of good working condi­ for as a measure of protection stand that the m.ajority and their ers did not make an impression tions. And the boys would be all for them and the ship, they find opinions are always superior to the on the natives what-so-ever. The taken up with their love affairs, themselves obliged to do so. So opinion of one individual and people of this town are wise to they would not mind the cheekthese boys' real training period that the majority must always the fakers. The town is getting off system, that is being pushed becomes effective when they ac­ rule. back into shape again after the down their necks. The writer is given to under­ hurricane, and we are still doing tually join a vessel. Ask some of It is almost cotton picking them where they learned sea­ stand that the old shark chaser business at the same old hall. time here in the vaUeys and manship and invaribly they an­ Casey Jones is now gracing the Have a new ship out in a few plains of Texas. I understand swer ABOARD THE SHIP THEY deck of one of the Palatial Bull days for Waterman. Some time that Harry-the-Bridge organized SAILED ON. Hence we call this liners in the capacity of Chief ago we had in this port what was the sheep shearers of Calif. (How ruthless spending of taxpayers' Steward. However, we do hope called the Ladies Merchant Ma­ about you Joe, getting the cot­ money an oUt-and-out act of sa that his experiences on the Car- rine Aux. They collected some ton pickers organized into the Ships sailing under the control of the War Shipping Administra­ botage, which, of course, nothing nabuUe of the Cuban Distillery money and would go out to the fold of Mustache Joe?) tion which do not have ship's will not be repeated at this time Marine Hospital and give some shall be done about. Well, time is wasting, as in doctors aboard henceforth will be Another important gathering as we have very reliable infor­ of the boys a pack of smokes, every paper that I pick up, "Hey stocked with a revised rm'nimiiTn at Washington by the biggies of mation that Casey blinded 2 then the NMU and the USS came Rube, give up your horse, the standard supply of drugs and the WSA agreed with our con­ sharks that were after him. (We into the picture. They promised merchant marine needs seamen, medical supplies prescribed by tention that the Liberty ship was wonder where he got the mud to one woman the big job of run­ why follow the plow all day, the U. S. Public Health Service. a very obsolete type of carrier kick in their faces). ning the USS. She fell, hook, when you can get some of this The revised edition of "Ship's and that it would be impractica This RMO business is getting line and sinker, nothing was too gravy, that some of the newspa­ Medicine Chest and First Aid at to use in post war competition rather serious these days. I call­ good for the boys. She was per columnist brag about." We Sea," published by the Health Also for other reasons, it was a ed them 12 times for AB's and finally pushed aside, and out of in the SIU are doing fine, mighty Service, lists 99 standard articles damnable contraption at best, finally at the end of two weeks I the picture of being the big shot fine, although we do not have and how to use them. The list but decided for expediency's sake had to circle the skid road and of the USS at a big salary of any fellow travelers in Washing­ includes a wide variety of recog­ to keep on building them any­ get enough AB's to sail the ship which she was promised, the ton or any members in the rightnized medical supplies. Fortyhow. Well, just so, long as these myself. Of course, they sent me Aux. broke up. They had some hand pocket of the C.P. We fight six of the prescribed items, such fannie sitters don't have to sail some men, but they only worked dough in the bank, some of the for what we get, if you don't as phenobarbital, sulfanilamide them and live on them. We will long enough to get the price of good ladies were in favor of think so—compare wages, work­ and sulfathiazole, are listed as have to take the consequence a bottle. It is reported here that turning the dough over to the ing conditions, yes, overtime "drugs", while the remainder, SQ be it. they are recruiting rated men in NMU but to date, as far as I can where there is- no security such as adhesive plaster, ice bags, Captain O'Sullivan of the New York and giving them learn, there were some ladies watches.' We got 'em Joe, and hemostats and tongue depressors, crews' quarters committee gave standby pay and when they have who knew all about the NMU we did not get them under false are under the "surgical and gen­ me his solemn promise he would a ship in a port that they are go­ and -the money is still in the colors or deceive the men in the eral supplies" category. send me a communication which ing to put the WSA rider No. 64 bank. SIU. Although WSA operated ships would certify the ships Hospital on and ship these rated men to It is rumored around that E. R. WALLACE. Agent almost always travel in convoy, for the crews use until such which always affords doctors, the time as the so-called plan 10 was Administration is now in the put into effect on ships sailing midst of a training program from this area. However, I have which will eventually provide not as yet received same. If he pharmacist's mates aboard all daesn't do something about re­ merchant ships. In addition, all lieving the conjested situation qn officers are required to pass aa those Liberty ships he will be extensive first aid course. obliged to allot more space for In its order to General Agents, the Hospital, as that is where (Continued from Page 1) the WSA stated that the items it most of the crew may wind up. being a request for "special favors". This is ing (that's right, nothing) that would jeopar­ listed as standard were consid­ Shipping for the time being being resisted by,the shipowners who "neither dize their hiring halls. The hiring haUs are ered minimum for the protection has approached normal, and ~wc asked special favors nor opposed a sound and the very foundation of union security in mari­ of the crew. Agents will be per­ haven't shipped any from RMO, equitable plan." time, and if they are to be undermined as the mitted to add additional items but hang onto your life belts He then attacks SIU Washington Repre­ price of unemployment insurance — then we which they consider advisable. anyhow. sentative Matthew Dushane for betraying la­ don't want that insurance! JOSEPH FLANAGAN. bor by threatening to reject unemployment For reasons of efficiency and job security Agent compensation if this "special favor" was not the union halls should be designated the regis­ included in the plan. tration point for men applying for compensa­ All of Mr. Ferguson's high class journalism tion. This is not asking "special favors," it is PHILADELPHIA McLAUGHLIN: You have 8 deceives no one, least of all the seamen. We the minimum requirements of men determined hours overtime coming from the know that the shipowners have always op­ to maintain their gains and security. Well, here we go again, doing Robin Line. posed unemployment insurance for the men The seamen deserve unemployment com­ business at the same old place as Any members of crews of fol­ because it means a few pennies out of their pensation — being one of the few groups of usual. We have had two ships in lowing vessels at time of attack, swollen pockets. We know that any fair com­ workers in this country not now covered by here in the last ten days, one was should collect $125 attack bonus pensation will only be passed literally over such insurance. But in obtaining it, they don't a Robin Line ship and the other from companies: Benjamin Latheir fat protesting bodies. intend to jeopardize the hiring hall they fought a Waterman. They both signed trobe. Robin Gray. Panama City, And as for Dushane betraying the interests so long to obtain. on a crew from the RMO an4 Richard Henry Lee, John Daven­ of the men—Dushane said at the House Com­ Mr. Ferguson's concern for the rights of sailed with the WSA rider No. 64 port. Pan Gulf, Kofresi. John mittee hearings that the seamen wanted noth- the seamen is touching, but transparent. attached to the articles. It seems Sevens. Francis Marion. BALTIMORE Increased Medical Aid Abroad Ships Journal Of Commerce Gets A New Maritime Editor—Same Scab Line MONEY DUE .. V. �Page Four THE SEAFARERSLOG Friday. August 20. 1843 i: {'• |il^|l-1 ii'' I . •i i Crew Gets $7,000 Overtime sel is secured at the cargo ition set forth in the agreement pany has already paid aU avaU- incidental to the real purpose. {Continued from Page I) berth. This is to mean wh6n are to be foimd in Section 20, Ar­ able seamen entitled to this over­ Indeed, the Union asserts that overtime, inasmuch as the agree­ the finished with the engines ticle No. 3 of the agreement, time, and that in cases where the the breaking of watches was for ment provides that watches can­ bell is rung." men were required to work be­ the purpose of getting "more which reads as follows: not be required to do certain "Art. 4= Section 3= Breaking fore 8 a.m= they were compen= work put of the men=" types of work, such as mainten "Selling Walches. Sea watch sated at the overtime rate, and Watches. In aU ports when ves­ ance work, etc., except between es shall be set not later then that they also received overtime The Company also stresses the sel is alongside of a' dock the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. watches shall be broken if the noon on sailing day. When the pay for painting accommodations, fact that the agreement was a The Union asserts that to es­ vessel sails before noOn watch­ etc. peace time arrangement, and that tablish a principle which would schedule stay of vessel will ex­ es shall be set when all lines the circumstances of this case ceed twenty-four (24) hours, permit the Master to deny over are on board and vessel is all The Company further states were brought about by war time When, scheduled stay of vesse! time for work which members 0: clear of dock. that the Security Watch Agree­ conditions. In the opinion of this will be less than twenty-four the crew performed outside o: "(a) When the watch below ment was submitted to the War referee this of itself does not (24) hours, watches shall be the hours which fell within their i^ called out to wofk they shal! Shipping Administration, but was authorize or warrant the Com­ v/atch, would be to destroy the maintained. be paid overtime for work per­ not approved; that subseauently pany in failing to live up to the "When a ship is anchored or existing agreement, the ultimate formed during their watch be­ the Union contended that inas­ terms of the agreement. The effect of which would be that the tied up to a buoy for the pur­ low." much as its agreement on the agreement was reached as a re­ pose of loading or unloading seamen would feel that they need overtime claim was a concession sult of negotiations between the cargo, watches shall be set and From all of which the Union for having negotiated the Secm*- Company and the Union, and not be bound by the terms of the broken the same as if the ship insists that since on the occasions agreement siiice the Master felt ity Watch Agreement, such agree­ any change in its terms can be is alongside a dock." for which overtime pay is claim­ ment on the overtime pay claim made only by' mutual agreement and acted as though not bound by its terms; that under such cir The Union contends that the ed, the vessel was not "in port" was no longer binding. of the parties. cumstances the seamen would above provisions conclusively re­ within the meaning of that term The Company, asserts that the In its opinion in the case of the take the position that they were quire that a ship in order to come as defined in the agreement, existing agreement with the at liberty to break watches any within the designation "in port" watches should not have been Union is a peace time arrange­ Tennessee Coal, Iron and R. R. time they desired and the whole must enter the port with the broken, and the members of the ment and that the circumstances Co. and the CIO Mine, MiU & stability of the Maritime industry definite purpose of loading or im- crew are entitled to overtime for of this case were brought about Smelter Workers Union, the Na­ would be set at naught. loading cargo, or in lying along­ all time they were required to be by war time conditions, inasmuch tional War Labor Board had the on duty outside of their regular as a vessel would not lie at an­ following to say: The Union further insists that side the dock; that at none of the watches. chor in the various ports for any "It cannot be too strongly when new situations arise which ports involved in this dispute was lengthy period of time in com­ emphasized that by insisting CONTENTIONS OF THE may call for different treatraent, the ship alongside dock, nor in mercial trade. upon the sanctity of contract in such new situations can be met fact was there any loading or un­ COMPANY loading of cargo which is the labor relations the Board is only by mutual consent of the The Company admits that at The Company further contends acting as the best friend bl parties—the Company and the conclusive test as to the purpose that the vessel was neither "in both labor and industry. Un­ Union, and until changed by mu­ in entering port; that it is clear all places where the vessel was port" nor at sea and that the tual consent, the existing agree­ that the ports in this case were anchored to await convoys the existing agreement fails to define less parties to collective-bar­ simply temporary and/or con­ Master broke watches, and the gaining can depend mutually ment must be lived up to. working conditions under such a upon the terms of their written Referring specifically to the venient places of refuge which crew worked eight (8) hours a situation, and that, therefore, the agreements, there is little value agreement the Union in its brief were contr^olled by the expedi­ day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. general working rules should ency of the situation; that the in the collective - bargaining points out that Able Seamen and The Company asserts that while apply. mere fact that the stay in some process. Labor relations which Ordinary Seamen are governed the vessel was not "in port" as cases was protracted to as much will redound to the benefit of The Company further makes by Article No. 3, which is en­ defined in Section 12, Article No. as two months or over only fur­ employer, employee and the reference to the fact that by titled "Deck Department" "Base 3, of the agreement between the country can best be promoted Rate" and "Working Rules Deck ther emphasizes the fact that the Company and the Union, never­ breaking watches the Master ports were not entered for the by living up to contract obli­ benefitted th^crew to the extent Department" and that Oilers, theless its position is fully cov­ gations. A contract which may Watertenders and Firemen are purpose of loading or unloading ered under Section 3, Article 2 that they worked only forty-four be breached at will rests upon governed by Article No. 4, en­ cargo. of the agreement, the pertinent hours per week, instead of fiftya foundation of shifting sands." six (56) hours. titled "Engine Department The Union insists that the fore­ part of which is as follows: Wages." going provisions of the agreement The undersigned referee is of DECISION "Article No. 2. Section 3. preclude any contention on the the opinion and so decides'that It refers to various provisions Members of all departments of the agreement which it con­ part of the Company that the shall perform the necessary and In reaching his decision in this when the SS SCHOHARIE was at anchor awaiting convoy at tie tends supports its claim. Its first ship was "in port", and tljat such customary duties of that de­ matter the undersigned referee provisions also describe the terms various places heretofore men­ reference is to Article No. 2, Gen­ partment. Each member of aU has given careful study to the which control after the ship is tioned, she was not "in port'' as jriefs of the parties outlining eral Rules, Section 12, page 3, departments shaU perform only defined in the agreement; that their respective views with ref­ which defines "Port Time." This "in port". the recognized and customary Section reads as follows: The Union further contends duties of his particular rating. erence to the proper interpreta­ the,Master was not authorized or tion of the contracts in the light empowered to ireak watches and "Port Time. The words 'in that the terms which "control from The hours of labor for aU mem­ of the facts presented. that those members of the Deck port' shall mean the time a the time the ship originally sails bers of the ship's crew not on Department and the Engine De­ On its face the agreement is watch as required by law, or vessel is at its dock and proper- until its final destination is reach­ partment represented by the clear and precise in its terms. It , ly secured, or from the time ed er until it comes "in port" their ratings, shaU be from 8 states as emphatically as the Eng- Union are entitled to be paid the anchor was dropped in any within the meaning of the defin- a.m. to 5 p.m.; any work out­ ish language can make it when overtime rates for the work side of these hours and on Sat­ safe port, during the trip for which they performed which was urday afternoons, Sundays and watches "shall be set", when the purpose of loading or un­ outside of the hours which or­ watches "shall be broken", and Holidays shall be paid for at loading cargo or awaiting a defines what the words "in port" dinarily fell within their respec­ the regular rate. • • • " , berth; until the raising of an­ tive watches. shall mean. chor, or casting lines off dock." The Company further asserts BRYCE C. HOLCOMBE, The only time the Master is that in compliance with Section It is the Union's , contention permitted, under the agreement, Referee 3 of Article 2, overtime at regular that, this general rule is to be to break watches is when the ves­ Done at New Orleans, La. CHARLES RUSH rates was paid to all seamen for read in conjunction with the J. V. NOVITSHI all work on Saturday afternoons, sel is "in port", that is "at its this 14th day of August, 1943. specific rules for the two depart­ dock and properly secured", or Sundays and Holidays and all ments. These sections of the P. E. GUSSEL anchored "in any safe port" * • • E. BARCUMBE time in excess of 8 hours per day. agreement are as follows: for the purpose of loading or dis­ S. M. BROMBEG The Company states that the charging cargo or awaiting berth, "Art. No. 3. Section 19. Break­ J. BRUNNELL voyage ended and the crew was until the raising of anchor, or ing Watches and Work in Port. D. BALLOCH paid off before a U. S. Shipping casting lines off dock." "(a) In all ports watches shall ARTHUR L. MANNING JAMES TIPPETTS Commission on at be broken alongside the docks JOHN R. SHEFFIELD which time no complaints was On none of the occasions when Your wife is very worried and immediately after ship is se­ ROBERT B. PEROICH registered; that subsequently the he Master broke watches and wants to see you. She is sorry cured, except in those ports AXEL J. PEDERSON Union claimed that watches placed the men on port time, for for what happened. Flanagan where stay of vessel will not JAMES A. MASTIN should not have been broken as which the Union is claiming over­ says it is OK. exceed 24 hours, there watches NICHOLAS DIESSO the vessel was not "in port" as time, was the vessel "at its dock 'may run consecutively. Any TOLLIVER H. WILLIAMS defined by Section 12 of Article and properly secured, or • * * in work performed on watch be­ FRANKLIN A. HOOKER No. 2 of the agreement; that later any safe port, • * • for the pur­ low will be overtime. Any part STANLEY J. COOPERSMITH on representatives of the respec­ pose of loading or unloading car­ PHILADELPHIA •. $21.25 of a watch between midnight NOAH J. NIMS tive parties met and negotiated a go or awaiting berth * * *'" ' S. S. GRACE ABBOTT ... 12.00 and 8 a.m. shall constitute a ROBERT L. INDVIK Security Watch Agreement; that The Company argues that the A. B. BLALOCK 12.00 complete watch. WILLIAM G. TANNER at this meeting the Company men benefitted by the breaking B. L. ROGERS 6.00 "(b) In port the hours of la­ ROBERT L. HARDMAN agreed to pay 975'hours overtime of watches to the extent that M. L. RILEY 6.00 bor shall be between the hours HENRY J. WITT to the Deck Department for the their hours of work were reduced J. FLANNERY 5.00 of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. All work ALFRED A. AMBOZAK time the vessel was anchored at from 56 hours per week to 44 MICKEY QUINN 5.00 -performed after 5 p.m. and be­ WILLIAM J. HARPE , inasmuch as it hours per week. It ik not assert­ S. S. SAMUEL GRIFFIN.. 5.00 fore 8 a.m. shall be overtime. ALVIN J. CHAPPELLO was established that the Master ed that the breaking of watches J. PIRES 4.00 "Art. 4. Section 1. Setting JOHN GRECU had restricted one-half of the was for the exclusive benefit of Hi WESTFALL 3.00 Watches. GENE H. WISNER deck crew- to the vessel for se­ the crew so that it must be as­ V.SMITH............... 3.00 "On day of arrival, watches HOMER L. NANCE curity purposes each night, and sumed that whatever benefit ac­ shall be broken when the ves­ PHILLIP TUMILTY in fulfiUment thereof the Com­ crued to them must have been TOTAL $81.25 Honor Roll � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. 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Title A name given to the resource August 20, 1943 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 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. V, No. 21 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Description An account of the resource Headlines: CREW GETS $7,000 OVERTIME; OUR WORKING RULES ARE UPHELD JOURNAL OF COMMERCE GETS A NEW MARITIME EDITOR--SAME SCAB LINE DUSHANE ON WLB MARITIME PANEL BIGGS ORGANIZES FLORIDA FISHERMEN INCREASED MEDICAL AID ABROAD SHIPS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/20/1943 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1943 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/ace302087c53d32e136cb1f19c3c647f.PDF 5ad4117acd41d0e96a3211a37d3a02f5 PDF Text Text 4y Job Actions Force 8 Companies To Sign NEW YORK — Eight stalling operators were forced this week to meet the Atlantic and Gulf District's demands for a two-year contract, with the all-time high in wages, working conditions and protective Union security clauses won by the SIU last week, by a potent display of the Seafarers' traditional action at the point of production. This development followed hard on the heels of the precedent-shattering move in New Orleans last week, when the SIU job action pounded out an Official Organ, Atlantic & GiUf District, Seafarers International Union of NA identical contract with the Mississippi Shipping Co. In addition to the two-year duration, the new No. 34 NEW YORK, N. Y.. FRIDAY. AUGUST 20, 1948 VOL. X contracts call for the highest wages ever ob- Pact Calls For Bulletin Boards And Book Rocks In addition to securing the best contract in the industry covering wages and conditions, the Sea­ farers also scored when the ma­ jority of the operators agreed to provide a glass-covered bulletin board and book rack for Union literature aboard all their ships. The operators—those of the At­ lantic and Gulf Ship Operators Association — have agreed to something no employer — mari­ time or shoreside—has agreed to before: To construct and place aboard ships facilitfes for Union property and literature. The glass-covered bulletin board, will be of sufficient size to contain a copy of the SIU foc'sle card, and the book rack will be large enough to contain the Edu­ cational Library prepared for use aboard SIU ships. PROTECTS INVESTMENT By winning this concession from the operators, the many thousands of dollars the SIU has invested in Union literature will be protected. The Union's Negotiating Com­ mittee vigorously pressed this matter all through the contract talks so as to furnish the proper set-up for a real Union library on every ship. In the Union Educational Li­ brary to be included.on all ships of the Association are the fol­ lowing: Bound volumes of the SEA­ FARERS LOG; "Strikes and Strike Strategy;" "Listen, Tankermen;" "Shipboard Handbook for Crewmcmbers and Dele­ gates;" "Charges;" "Organizers' Handbook;" "Order! How to Conduct a Union Meeting;" "The SIU at War," and "The Seafarers Organizing Program." The buletin boards and book racks will be placed aboard the ships as soon as possible—the plans already being in the hands of the companies. Committee's Report The SIU Headquarters Ne­ gotiating Conunittee's com­ plete report on the contract just signed with eight com­ panies of the Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators ASM• elation appears on page 12 of this issue. ttained in the maritime industry by virtue of a $12.50 across-theboard increase for all hands, with the exception of Bosuns, whose pay will be hiked by $25. The new pact also guaran­ tees maintenance of the present manning scales for the life of the contract. Other improve­ ments previously incorporated in New Rate of Pay Old Rate of Pay the Mississippi agreement are Rating contained in the newly-signed Boatswain $285.44 $260.44 contracts. •Carpenter 255.04 242.54 Companies which capitulated to the Union's demand late Fri­ Able Seaman—Maintenance ; 234.34 221.84 day evening, Aug. 13 are the Al­ Quartermaster 222.51 210.01 coa Steamship Company, Bull Able Seaman 222.51 210.01 Steamship Company, Baltimore Ordinary Seaman 189.97 177.47 Insular Line, South Atlantic Steamship Company, Seas Ship­ •When the Cazpenfer is required to furnish his own tools, he shall be paid $7.50 per ping Company, Seatrain Lines, month in addition to his basic wage per month. Inc., Eastern Steamship Com­ pany and Smith and Johnson. The contracts will expire Sep­ tember 20, 1950. $360.93 $348.43 JOB ACTION 321.22 The eight companies, members 284.62 272.12 of the Atlantic and Gulf Ship Unlicensed Junior Engineer (Watch Work) 255.04 242.54 Operators Association, halted 1292.90 280.40 their stalling tactics and signed 255.04 242.54 the Mississippi-type contract af­ Engine Uti! 255.04 242.54 ter the SIU resorted to job Evaporator action. 237.29 224.79 Up t) that point the SIU had . 222.51 210.01 refi-ained from using the job ac­ 243.51 231.01 tion weapon because of the pos­ . 222.51 210.01 sibility of cease and desist in­ 222.51 210.01 junctions, which previously had been served on the NMU and . 210.68 198.18 other CIO unions. . 219.55 207.05 In fact, the Union has in­ • 331.35 318.85 structed SIU crews to "fulfil Refrigerator Engineer (When Three Carried): the present contracts to avert . 331.35 shipowner chiseling." 318.85 This attitude of fair play on . 293,49 280.99 the part of the Union proved . 271.01 258.31 fruitless. Instead of negotiating in good faith and attacking the Previously an Assistant Electrician was carried. His rale of pay was: $269.16. contract problem sincerely, the operators stalled the sessions and sent many telegrams to the. Union stating that the Union $278.25 $265.75 was using job action to illegally 255.04 242.54 force the companies into sign­ 255.04 242.54 ing the contract Second 231.38 218.88 By this tactic the operators ob­ viously were trying to put the 219.55 207.05 SIU on the defensive by making 189.97 177.47 {Continued on Page 3) 189.97 177.47 NEW AsG WAGE SCALE Deck Department Engine Department Stewards Department PIUS THESE OTHER FEATURES O'K'iMci, 4c^. so,. �Page Two THE SEAFJiRERS LOG Friday, August 20, 1948 SEAFARERS LOG • Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 K' 1^1: Entered as second-class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., xmder the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 ''i-r Keeping It Steady Shortly after it had successfully negotiated what is indisputably the finest contract to cover any group of seamen in the world, the A&G Negotiating Committee made a statement of considerable significance to all en­ gaged in the maritime industry. The committee stated, in effect, that it hoped all maritime unions would be able to obtain the same high wages and improved working conditions,, which the SIU Jhad won as a result of forceful action. Only in such a way could conditions in the maritime industry be stab­ ilized, the committee pointed out. There can be no smooth sailing for ail men in mari­ time until that much-needed stability has been achieved. So long as there are wide differences in the wages and working conditions of the various sections of the industry, instability quite probably will be the rule rather than the exception. This fact has already been clearly demonstrated. The differential between the wages and conditions set forth in SIU contracts, and those embodied in the agreements of other unions, has made for a considerable amount of confusion and misunderstanding in the past. How this •situation was born is easy to see. While the SlU-contracted shipowners have been forced by the Seafarers to pay top wage scales and pro­ vide superior working conditions, operators contracted to other unions have been able to sail their ships more cheap­ Hospital Patients ly, through payment of lower wages and under less When entering the hospital sstringent working rules. notify the delegates by post­ For a sound, up to date example of how this worked card, giving your name and the number of your ward. out in actual practice wc can refer to the coal and Mimeographed postcards ,coke cargo situation. A couple of years ago, the SIU can be obtained free at the was successful in negotiating provisions calling for penSocial Service desk. 'alty payments for these cargoes. At the time, the SIU Staten Island Hospital had a large number of contracted ships which were used You can contact your Hos­ in transporting these products. pital delegate at the Staten It was the Union's hope and expectation that other Island Hospital at the follow­ These axe the Union Brothers cuxzenlly in the marine hospitals, ing times: unions would follow suit and demand that these cargoes be classed as penalty under their contracts. But they as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging heavily on their hands. Do what you can, to cheer them up by Tuesday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. didn't." As a direct result of their failure to similarly writing (on 5th and 8th floors.) to them. bolster their agreements, the SIU was placed at a serious Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. disadvantage. We lost hundreds and hundreds of jobs as SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITAL C. MORALES (on 3rd and 4th floors.) R. J. PURCELL our operators gradually stopped carrying the penalty D. P. GELINAS Salurciay — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. JOHN J. SCHWABLANK cargoes, which were being hauled at comparatively bar­ J. RYAN (on 1st and 2nd floors.) SIMMONS W. BELLOWS gain rates by operators contracted with other unions. STANLEY GELAK J. J. KEALY As a trade union primarily interested in the econ­ WM. T. ROSS S" 3^ S" EDWIN MAXWELL omic protection of its membership, we can no longer ig­ BOSTON MARINE HOSPITAL EDW. A. MORGAN FRANK WAGNER M. C. EL MORES nore the harm inherent in a lack of uniformity through- E, MARSH P. E. CUMARE 4 * ifc cut the industry. Although we may have contractual H. R. HOMER ,H. FERDRICKSSON SAN PEDRO HOSPITAL as.surance of unmatched conditions and wages, the possi­ J. B. FLANNERY H. MASON L. TICKLE E. CROMWELL G. L. DUXWORTH bility of "bargain rates," made possible by other unions V. MILAZZO T. C. KELLY ED MILLER less aggressive than we, is always a danger. M. BYERS A. HICKEY S, % % X t S, All of us must do our part to make sure we are not 4. i i similarly victimized in the future. Our record wages BALTIMORE MARINE HOSP. NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL STELLY C. FORMAN A. EWING won in contracts this week must become a pattern for L. C. HOLMES A. VANELZUELA E. LIPARI JACK McCRANIE all seamen. It is for our interest as well as theirs that this M. CASTRO R. F. BLACK GETTIS LIGHTFOOT be accomplished. Instability is the alternative. J. McNEELY J. DENNIS WILLIE WHITE Each of us should make every effort to impress JOSEPH W. BOURGEOIS L, C -MASON A. JENSBY D. DeDUISEN ' , A. LOOPER members of other unions how important this objective is. WM. T. ROSS T. ZEMRZUSKI " C. ANDERSON They in turn must convince their respective union officials STANLEY GELAK W. H. NUNN RALPH PIEPHET to make a fight of it to secure the same high wages and PERCY BATSON V. R. NORTH J. BOUYEA 1 M. C. EL MORES conditions enjoyed by seamen sailing ships under contract J.W.SPENCER V. P. BALLINGS W. HUNT to the A&G District of the SIU. R. L. JOHNSTON . C. GREEN CHRIST B. VIKIN K. e. CROWE .0. B. GRIMES Our membership can help in this respect. It is a big JAS. K. CHARLESWORTH C. OPPENHEIMER W. H. .COLBOURNE joly—but it is a must. The spirit that won Isthmian is the EDW. A. MORGAA •M. C. GADDY W.H.PERRY -u J. ROOS . spirit that can convince other seamen of all unions that, H. L. SEYMOUR T. MANDICK DAVID WARDEN unless all hands regardless of affiliation, force conditions H. W. SPENCER JAMES fVkRRIOR e. NANGLE up to the SIU level the threat of destruction of all con­ JOS. W. BOUHJOIS C. W. HALLA ! - i -• • E. .MULHOLLAND P. G. DAUGHERTY '' 'j A. SYLVERA ditions for all seamen is ever present. F. BECKER Afe/r Now In The Marine Hospitals �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, August 20. 194t ^age Three Crews' Job Actions Bring Quick Rosuits the traditional method of "action at the point of producion." Policy was drafted based on this course of action. All port agents were immedi­ ately notified to take action on vessels of the companies' in­ volved. Some 30 ships, from Boston to Texas, were immo­ bilized almost at once. SHIPOWNERS WIRE This direct answer to ship­ owner stalling began producing results very quickly. On August 11, after only two days of action. shipowners were sending tele­ grams to the Union, asking for contract meetings. Representa­ tive of the company messages is a wire received from Seas Ship­ ping Company. It stated, in part: "Suggest our respective ne­ gotiating committees meet at office of Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators Association, 39 Broad­ way at three-thirty P.M. Thurs­ day, August the twelfth Stop Feel sure it will be possible to negotiate full agreement without any considerable delay but be lieve negotiations would be ex­ pedited if all ships delayed by action are moved promptly." Upon receipt of these overtures from the companies involved, the Secretary Treasurer confirmed a meeting with the operators for August 12, so that the Union goal of establishing new wage work­ ing conditions throughout the industry could be attained with a minimum of delay. Agents in all SIU ports were notified to begin moving the af­ fected vessels, on the assumption that.the operators were ready to "talk turkey" on the Mississippitype contract. The SIU strategy bore fruit on August 13, when the operators' representatives agreed to the agreement put forth by the SIU Negotiating Committee. The announcement of the Seafarers militant action and its re­ Once again the Seafarers International Union carried the entire sultant success in achieving an maritime industry with it when it won the $12.50 raise across the outstanding contract touched off NEW YORK board from the Mississippi Shipping Company and eight companies a barrage of comment. Members of the SIU, in inter­ of Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators Association. HERALD TRIBUNE views with LOG representatives, Hardly had the SIU's smashing victory been made public than expressed the opinion that the Joe Curran and the NMU were demanding "parity" with the SIU. new contract was possibly the Up to then, the NMU's negotiators were ready to accept some­ Union's most significant victory since the winning of the Isthmian where between $7.50 and $10.00 a month—and think they had won fleet. a victory of their own. I Corigress of industrial OrganP Reaction in shipping circles As the LOG went to press, it was reported that the NMU had pointed up the extreme likeli­ zatipOB seamen told Atlantic and obtained its "parity," which the SIU Negotiating Committee believes hood that the SIU's contract vic­ Gulf Coast ship operators yester­ is a good thing for all seamen. tory would set a pattern for the day that they must meet ia $12.30 However, the SIU. does not ex­ industry. a month increase awarded during pect to be thanked for its "as­ Maritime observers almost unithe week end to American Feder­ TnE NEW YORK TIMES. sist" to the NMU. formerly took the view that the ation of ]^bor seamen or face a If the NMU gets "parity," it NMU negotiating committee, now strike on Sept. 2 when a Taftwill only be history repeating it­ deadlocked with its contractedself. In 1946, when the SIU companies, would be helped con­ Hartley injunction against a walk­ called the great General Strike siderably by the SIU accom­ out expires. plishment, in its attempt to up to protect the Wage Stabiliza­ The demand set, negotiations t. ..ling ctmn. Che ARA. the shipowners latest offer of tion Board's attempt to cut the tliftt had promised to lead to a Negotiations between the NMU $7.50 across the board. wages the SIU had won by ne­ settlement "back tc where we and ship operators represented by gotiation, the NMU cried "Me,^ started," according to Prank J. the American Merchant Marine NMU WANTS "PARITY" too" and, hung on tight to the Taylon chairman of the ship oper-' Institute continued here yesterday The correctness of this view SIU coattails. ators' .negotiating committee. tin at th6 regional office of the Fed­ was established late Monday eve­ The Negotiating Committee Joseph Curran, president of the eral Mediation and Conciliation ning when the NMU president, points out that the NMU should National .Marltl^ Union, who Service under the direction of Com­ Joe Curran, announced that his get its "parity" for the good of missioner Harry Winning of the presented thfr demand to obtain agency. organization would accept "noth­ "parity." for his union's 60,000 all maritime workers. When one At the conclusion of, the threeing less than parity" with the members, said his organization section of the industry works for hour parleys operators reported was prepared to bade it up with a record wage scales won by the poorer wages than another, the that they had been "torpedoed" by strike when the injunction is SIU. top conditions are always in a new wage demand by the union •7.,llfted. This situation was exactly danger. Had other maritime which based its latest stand on pacts obtained by the Seafarers what the SIU Negotiating Com­ • The $12.50 a month settlement unions fought for the coal and International Union, AFL, last signed Friday by hine members mittee hoped for, when, shortly copra penalties, for instance, week. dx the Atlantic and ,Gulf Coast after its successful sessions, it de­ there would be no necessity for The SIU reached agreements S vip Operations Association and clared: the SIU to give those penalties with the Atlantic and Gulf Ship the A. F. of L's Seafarers Inter"It is our hope that all unions, cargoes up. Operators Association and the .Mis­ xiitional Union, a rival of the regardless of affiliation, will soon sissippi Shipping Company calling The NMU, plunged into confu­ N M. U., forced the latter union for raises of $25 a month for boat­ be able to obtain the same gains sion by its previous tactic of de­ tp take a '-'new approach" in meet­ swains and $12.50 for other per­ estahlished by the SIU and thus fending on government bureau­ sonnel. ings at the offices of the Federal benefit by the direct action ta­ crats for favors, and by its pres­ Mr. Curran, who heads the NMU Mediation and Conciliation Ser­ ken by our Union." ent internal fight, threatened to negotiating committee,' made a de­ vice at 341 Ninth Avenue, Mr. Contending that stabihzatiou strike and found itself under a mand yesterday for parity with Curran said Mr. Taylor said he wi of conditions would be fruitful the SIU. It was unofficially re­ bureaucratic injunction. would have to take the demands ported that before the announce­ for all engaged in the maritime For the past several months, back to his principals. \A meeting ment of the SIU settlement the industry, the. SIU Committee NMU negotiators have been sit­ of operators with Harry Winning. NMU negotiators would have ac­ said: ting with the operators and Federal conciliator, is scheduled cepted a $10 a month increase. "The maritime industry should for today. Federal conciliators. Yet the Shipping dperators^eplored the be stabilized for the good of all NMU got nowhere—imtil the Raise Was Refused concerned. The gaining of the SIU, without the help of Fed­ June the open-tor same high SIU wages and condi­ eral conciliators, set the pattern tions by seamen of all unions for all seamen. would greatly contribute toward that much-needed stability." The committee announced that it would continue arranging meetings with other contracted- made and the ships properly little hai-d to ship. The Coast Guard considers all companies as their contracts ap­ By CAL TANNER MOBILE—A marked improve­ stored and slopped. Waterman We therefore cannot too tickets issued during wartime as proached their respective expir­ ment over the previous week met these demands promptly, but stioiigly urge all blue ticket blue tickets. ation dates. After most of the was noted in last week's ship­ Alcoa was a little slow in get­ ABs who have enough time The biggest topic around the freighter and passenger compan­ now is the signing ies are in the fold, the Union in­ ping in this port. Approximate­ ting the ships okayed for the (36 months) to get their green Hall right ly 131 bookmen and 24 permit- sign ons, and they were held tickets right away, so they can of the contract with Mississippi tends to tackle the 16 newly-or­ Shipping Company over in New ganized Atlantic and Gulf tank­ men were shipped during the up a bit until everything was get out a helluva lot faster. week, and prospects look fair straightened out. Another point to remember is Orleans by the sub-Negotiating er outfits. for the coming week, with the Although Mobile has a lot of that, even though you had to Committtee headed by Bull Negotiations will then be di­ two big companies scheduled for ABs on the beach, it seems that show three years discharges to Sheppard. The feeling of the rected at the Unions contracted three to seven ships for pay­ most of them have blue tickets get your present ticket and it is membership here is that this tug and inland boat companies, and, since the Coast Guard has stamped "good for the duration contract will set a pattern for the committee said. The same offs and sign ons. While the payoffs were good, started to enforce the directive of the war and six months the industry. type of contract wrested from nevertheless Negotiations witli the Water­ the larger operators will be ' the sign ons were just. the op­ that two-thirds of the ABs must thereafter," you posite. The crews refused to have green tickets, the men with have to get it changed for an man Steamship Corporation are sought throughout the industry, it a unlimited ticket. sign on until all repairs were blue tickets are finding still proceeding favorably. according to the committee. (Continued from Page U claims that had no foundation in fact. When the operators intentions became clear, the SIU decided tp take further action to sup­ port its contract demands. The Negotiating Committee, com­ prised of Secretary-Treasurer Paul Hall, Assistant SecretaryTreasurers Robert Mathews and J. P. Shuler, Joe Algina, Lindsey Williams and Charles Raymond met with other Union officials and several delegates from ships lying in New York harbor at the time and discussed the entire is­ sue. The possibility of the operators building a legal case drew the heaviest attention from the group. The prevailing opinion was that, if the Union did not take immediate and drastic ac­ tion, it might find itself stymied by legal restraints similar to the "cease and desist" injunctions crippling other maritime unions. The Union group held that the SIU must take the initiative by Seafarers Once Again Shows The Way To NMU: Carran Cries For 'Parity' With A&G Wage Scale » I -- - Mobile Reports Shipping Shows Noticeahie Improvement �T WE SEAFARERS L O G Page Four ^ Galveston Sees Good Shipping Sammy Stein Returns To Friday. Augutl 20r 1948 PR Strike End Booms Shipping Seafarers will be rooting hard for a doughty little scrapper by I • By SAL COLLS the name of Sammy Stein when GALVESTON — There are he squares off against his op­ SAN JUAN—Shipping was re­ some encouraging prospects that ponent at Croke Arena Monday sumed with a bang as the In­ seem to indicate * an improve­ night, August 30. ternational Longshoremen's As­ ment in the shipping picture for sociation strike ended in victory Stein, who is better known to this port in the near future. Of for our AFL Brothers. It was so his many SIU friends and ship­ €X)urse, it's the sign ons and not good that all hands waiting for mates as Sammy Weinstein, will the signs that count, but one jobs were shipped right away. be donning the leather mitts pro­ leads to the other. Meanwhile, The' SS Ponce paid off here fessionally for the first time shipping is fair here. during the past week. There since he left the ring to go to Obviously, the most widely were a few beefs aboard, but discussed matter at the moment sea as a member of the Sailors they were ironed out satisfac­ Union of the Pacific in 1938. He is the new two-year agreement torily after a session between the signed with the Mississippi Ship­ returns as a featherweight. Skipper, company officials, the Although his opponent on the ping Company. This new contract Delegates and the Agent. is outstanding because it seems card has not yet been named, In the interests of the crew's to have concentrated on the most Sammy says he isn't concerned. welfare we found it necessary to He's confident of victory, no mat­ important thing facing seamen remove three performers from ter who provides the opposition. today—^job security. the vessel. Despite the layoff, he declares Aside from wage increases, the Cuba Distilling's two ships, question of jobs is almost fore­ he's in better shape than he was the Catahoula and the Carabullci most in the minds of men sailing. at any time as an amateur ban­ were in here during the past And the new contract has taken tamweight champ back in 1937. week and both were contacted. that into account. A hearty vote AMATEUR CHAMP Crew's of both ships cooperated, of thanks is due Bull Sheppard Never a religious trainer with the Union in fine fashion. and the New Orleans sub-Nego­ in those days, Sammy neverthe­ All unorganized ships that hit tiating Committee for the fine less was king of the Kings this port were also contacted. job they have done. As in the previous week, the County (Brooklyn) 118 poimd "rhe, new contract with Missis­ local scene has been very quiet. simon pures. Although he was sippi .stirred up a lot of con­ Sammy Stein assumes a familiar ring pose. The summer has taken its toll, I barely out of short pants in versation down here. The wage guess. But everything will be 1937, he smashed his way fight game around these parts. worked closely with the SIU- increases, of coiurse, were wellOne of Stein's latest seagoing SUP during that major beef. humming again when the brisk through to the runnei>up posi­ received but the two-year fea­ tion in the AU-American cham­ jobs was skippering the SS. Ste­ A very large crew of Seafarers ture and the guaranteed man­ weather sets in. If you were on the beach in pionships, held that year in New phen Leacock, a South Atlantic will be on hand at the arena ning scales, along with the ad­ Galveston this week, you prob­ York's famed old Hippodrome. Steamship Company vessel. Sam­ when Sammy sets out to make justments made to increase the ably ran into the following He holds a silver belt from that my was Master of that ship from his first crack at a new job a number of ships and jobs vmder Jan. 28 to'Oct. 11, 1947. Letters clean payoff. Brothers; L. Gardiner, A. Walk­ tournament. our banner, came in for much The onetime SUP Deck Gang came to the SEAFARERS LOG Tickets for the tussle are on "avorable comment. er, W. Zieler, Buddy Jordan, W. man, who also sailed as a Mate during that time from SIU mem­ sale on, the Sixth floor of the Reagan and F. Pence. The San Juan AFL Port Coun­ And that about completes the and Skipper, is tackling his re­ bers hailing Sammy as "one SIU Hall, 51 Beaver Street, New cil is now operating in full Texas roundup for the moment. sumed boxing career mighty swell guy and a pleasure to sail York. Better buy one before swing. Yours truly is serving as seriously, however. He says he's with." they're sold out. president of the recently-formed living clean, doesn't drink or The seafaring featherweight is Croke Park Arena is at 240th Council. smoke and is following bis treiin- mighty proud of the fact that Street and Broadway, New York We were kept pretty busy during instructions to the letter. he took an active part in all City and can be reached by 7th , ng the ILA strike getting men Sammy is boxing under the waterfront beefs since he's been Avenue-Broadway subway. Get i;o take jobs left vacant by helm of the wily A1 Weill, an going to sea. In 1946, he was off at 242nd Street Station. Brothers who, rather than sit it oldtime manager whose name is a member of the strike strategy Opening bell sounds at 8:30 P.M., out indefinitely, paid off and flew By A. S. CARDULLO practically synonmous with the committee of the MM&P and Monday night, August 30. jack to the States to take their SAN FRANCISCO—The doors chances on shipping there. of our new A&G Hall at 85 The men here are still talking Third Street are open for busi­ about the possibility of a new ness, but there is still plenty of Hall for this branch. We just set work to be done before the Jeremiah C. Sheehan, known up a new literature rack in the place measures up to what we've to his shipmates as Neil, died Hall, whereby all hands can very ' planned. in Santos, Brazil on July 13. easily obtain copies of Union As soon as our new quarters By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTZ Brother Sheehan had contracted publications. are ship-shape, we'll send some pneumonia in Buenos Aires and BALTIMORE—Shipping hit a pictures to the LOG—and we're new low in this port during the was hospitalized ashore when hoping it will be very soon. past seven days, just as we pre­ his ship, the Del Norte, 'arrived Everjmne here in Frisco has dicted it would in our last re­ in Santos. been busier than the proverbial At his bedside when death Because of the space re-' port. one-armed paper-hanger, trying came were several SIU members quired for the publication of The unpleasant truth is that to get everything ship-shape as of the Del Norte crew, among the complete contract in this we paid off one ship and no quickly as possible. them Bill Kaiser, Osmond Mcissue, several regular fea­ more. That was an Isthmian NOT BAD Machon and Blackie Bankston. tures do not appear. The scow, the SS Steel Worker. Brother Sheehan, Second Shipping, meanwhile, hasn't series of articles by the Port At the same time, we signed Steward on the Del Norte, was Agents dealing with mat­ been too bad. In the three days on two Bull vessels, the SS Edith ters of interest to the mem­ since we've been at our new ad­ and Mae, and the SS Charles 42 years old at the time of his dress, we'v^ shipped 47 men, Nordhoff, Alcoa — after the re­ death. He had been a member bership will be resumed in mostly in the Black Gang and pairs were made. There wasn't of the Union since 1942, when the next issue, as will the cartoon strip "Seafare" and Stewards Department, although even an Ore Line scow to hold he joined in New Orleans. He held Book No. 22240. the other usual features. The the Deck Department got its us up. Well liked by his crewmates, Membership section will sdso share, too. But that is the way things go. he was known throughout the be back to full size. We crewed up the Governor NEIL SHEEHAN One week is good and the next Gulf Area as a good Union man Comer, Waterman, and the "Miss Until the contract is and shipmate. hers to be turned dfer to his America", another Waterman week things are shot to hell. printed in the usual format, Money was collected for a widow. job, which is shifting to Everett, There was nothing very seri­ it is suggested that mem­ Wash. The initials of the man ous in the way <of beefs. But floral wreath before the Del Brother Sheehan was born in bers keep the Agreement who shipped as Steward on the there was one on the Steel Norte left Santos and on the re­ Massachusetts and made his section in this issue for shift are Frenchy Michelet, as Maker concerning overtime for turn trip to New Orleans over home in New Orleans with his reference. Oilers taking temperatures in $1,000 was given by crewmem- wife. in F. M. " The only business we expect the holds. The crew played this one right. next week is a few in transit jobs, but you can never tell They didn't .say a word during when something will sneak in the trip, but they did keep track for a payoff. They'll do it every of the hours. When they paid off, the Patrol­ BY JOE ALGINA time. shipping when the first cold Right now we're handling the The honor of being the finst man got the money for the Oilers NEW YORK—Shipping in this winds come blo.wing down from usual number of ships in port. man to be shipped out of this —^because the Isthmian agree­ port is pretty much the same the north. This week's good payoffs were new A&G Frisco Hall goes to ment says that the Black Gang way it has been for the past Then all the people in this the Steel Recorder and Steel Charles Covilie Harris, who went gets overtime for working out­ month or so, both good and bad area will start checking their Scientist, Isthmian; the Loyola to the SS Oberlin Victory as side the Engine Room. So Isth­ good if you're a rated book­ oil tanks and put in their orders Victory, Waterman, in port from mian learned again. man, and bad if you hold a to "fill 'er up." Tankers will the intercoastal run. Waterman an OS replacement. All we can say is that anybody permit. The first complete crew ship­ then start lugging the oil along also sent us the Topa Topa and ped from the Hall was the gang hinking. of heading for Baltimore At the moment it looks like it the coast, and jobs will come up James Jackson. that signed on the Governor right now would be wiser to stay will continue that way for the on the Iraard.' That's what we The Evangeline was in port Cdmer. We'll have more about away—iinless he's got money next few weeks. We believe hope it will be, anyway. for a clean payoff, too. She's in there will be an upswing in That's in the future, however. good shape with a good crew these lads when the ship sails. enough to stay a while. By KEITH ALSOP Frisco Branch Shapes Up Hall Shippiug Slumps In Baltimore Neil Sheehan Dies In Santos Back Next Week New York ShippingHoids To Steady Course �c z'?, •• 't-''''- Friday/ August 20. M48 TxH E S Eiyt F A R E.R S LOG Page FiV» AGREEMENT Between Seafarers International Union Of North America — And — Alcoa Steamship Company, Inc. A. H. Bull Steamship Company Baltimore Insular Line, Inc. South Atlantic Steamship Line Seas Shipping Company, Inc. Seatrain* Lines, Inc. Eastern Steamship Lines, Inc. Smith & Johnson Mississippi Shipping Company, Inc. « This agreement is entered into this 17th day of August, 1948, by and between the Seafarers Inter­ national Union of North America, Atlantic and Gulf District, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, hereinafter refeiTed to as the Union, and the undersigned company, and any of its subsidiary com­ panies which may be formed to operate ships in the off-shore, coastwise^ or intercoastal trade, hereinafter referred to as the Company and remains in "effect until September 30, 1950, and shall continue for two year periods thereafter, unless either party hereto shall give written notice to the other of its desire to amend or terminate same, which notice shall be given at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date. After such notice has been given, specific proposals must then be submitted within ten (10) days and negotiations commenced at a time which is mutually agreed upon. If, during the sixty (60) day period, the parties fail to agree with reference to such proposals, the parties may, by mutual consent, extend this agree­ ment for a specific period beyond such expiration date for the continuance of negotiations. Application by either party to open negotiations for changes in the wage scale or any monetary matters any time during the life of this agreement shall not be deemed cause for termination of this agreement. Monetary matters for the purpose" of this section shall be the following: Overtime, Standby Rate, Longshore Rate, Tank Clean­ ing Rate, Explosives Handling Rate, Extra Meals Rate, Subsistence and Room Allowance, ARTICLE I Employment Section 1. The Union agrees to furnish the Company with capable, competent and physically fit persons when and Where they are required and of the ratings needed to fill vacancies necessitating the employment of Unlicensed Personnel in ample time to prevent any delay in the scheduled departure of any vessel covered by this agreement. To assure maximum harmonious relations and in order to obtain the be-st qualified employees with the least risk of a delay in the scheduled departure of any vessel covered by this agreement, the Company agrees to secure all Un­ licensed Personnel through the hiring halls of the Union. Section 2. If for any reason the Union does not furnish the Company, as provided in Section 1, with capable, competent and physically fit persons when and where they are required and of the ratings needed to fill such vacancies in ample time to prevent any delay in the scheduled departure of any vessel covered by this agreement, the Company may then obtain members of the Unlicensed Personnel from any available source. Section 3. The Company recognizes the Union as the sole collective bargaining representative of all members of the Unlicensed Personnel. It is specifically understood and agreed that membership in the Union rshall not be a condition of employment of any member of . the Unlicensed Personnel, furnished or obtained in '.the manners specified in this agreement. It is further agreed that there shall be no discrimination against any member of the Unlicensed Personnel because of non-membei'ship or membership in the Union. Section 4. (a) The Union agrees that the Company has the right to reject (by written notation on the job assignment slip) any applicant for employment who the Company considers unsatisfactoiy or unsuit­ able for the vacancy, or to discharge any member of the Unlicensed Personnel, who, in the opinion of the Company, is not satisfactory. If the Union considers the rejection of any applicant for employment or the discharge of any member of the Unlicensed Personnel as being discriminatory such actions by the Company shall be dealt with under the grievance pi'ocedure, and the Union agrees that any such rejection or discharge shall not cause any vessel to be delayed on her scheduled departure. (b) In the event any decision of the Company physician is challenged by the Union, as to the physical fitness of a Union member, said member shall be re-examined by a Public Health physician and his decision shall be binding. Section 5. The Company agrees not to discriminate against any member of the Unlicensed Personnel for legitimate Union activities. Section 6. The term Unlicensed Personnel as used in this agreement shall not include super-cargoes, cadets, pursers and livestock tenders. Section 7. The Union shall have the right, upon written notification to the Company showing proper reasons for such action, to re-negotiate any part or all of Article I. Upon receipt of such notification by the Company, the parties to this agreement shall meet within 7 days for negotiations on this issue. ARTICLE II General Rules Section !. Passes. The Company agrees to issue passes to the Union representatives for the purpose of contacting its members aboard vessels of the Company covered by this agreement. • Representatives of the Union shall be allowed on board at any time but shall not interfere with men at work unless said men are properly relieved. (The relief gets no exti'a compensation.) Section 2. Port Committee. For the adjustment of any grievances arising in connection with performance of this agreement which cannot be satisfactorily adjusted on board the vessel there shall be established a Port Committee at the port where articles are terminated. The Port Committee shall consist of three (3) representatives from the Union and three (3) representatives from the Company, and it shall be the duty of the Port Committee to meet within twenty-four (24) hours, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded. In the event the Port Committee cannot agree they shall select an impartial arbitrator whose decision shall be final and binding. In the event the Port Committee cannot agree on the selection of an impartial arbitrator then a judge of the district Fedwal Court shall appoint an impartial arbitrator whose decision shall be final and binding. Expenses of the arbitrator shall be paid by the party whom the ai'bitrator rules against in the decision. Section 3. Stoppage of Work. There shall be no strikes, lockouts, or stoppage of work while the pro­ visions of this agreement are in effect. Section 4. Emergency Duties and Drills. Any work necessary for the safety of the vessel, passengers, crew or cargo or for the saving of other vessels in jeopardy and the lives thereon, shall be performed at any time and such work shall not be considered overtime. Whenever practicable, lifeboat and other emergency drills shall be held on weekdays, between the hours of 8 a.m. and -4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon. Preparation for drills, such as stretching fire hose and hoisting and swinging out boats, shall not be done prior to signal for such drills, and after drill is over all hand.s shall .secure boat and gear. In no event shall overtime be paid for work performed with such drills. Section 5. Ships Chartered by Company. This agree­ ment is binding with respect to American Flag Freight ships chartered by the Company (if charterer furnishes crew.) Section 6. Safe Working Conditions. The employer shall furnish safe working gear and equipment when in any harbor, roadstead, or port. No man shall be required to work under unsafe conditions. Ordinary hazards of the sea shall not be considered unsafe conditions in applying this section. Se^ion 7. Securing Vessel for Sea. All vessels of the Company must be safely secured before leaving the harbor limits for any voyage. Vessels sailing in the daytime must be safely secured before leaving the harbor limits. In the event the vessel is not safely secured before reaching the harbor limits, the vessel shall proceed to a safe an­ chorage and be secured before proceeding to sea. Vessels sailing after dark shall be safely secured be­ fore leaving the dock or may proceed to a safe anehorage to secure vessel before proceeding to sea. When lights can be maintained on the after deck, gear and hatches may be secured on this deck enroute to anchorage. Secfion 8. Sailing Board Time, (a) The sailing time shall be posted at the gangway on arrival when the vessel s stay in port is twelve (12) hours or less. When the stay exceeds twelve (12) hours the sailing time .shall be posted eight (8) hours prior to .scheduled sailing, if before midnight. If scheduled between mid­ night and 8 a.m. sailing time shall be posted not later than 5:30 p.m. (b) All members of the unlicensed personnel shall be aboard the vessel and ready for sea at least one (1) hour before the scheduled sailing time. In the event any member of the unlicensed personnel fails to com­ ply with this provision, the Company shall call the Union and the Union shall furnish a replacement. If the original member reports after the Company has called for a replacement the man sent by the Union as sUch replacement shall receive two (2) daj's' pay, which two (2) days' pay shall be paid by the member who was late in reporting for duty. (c) If the vessel's departm-e is delayed and the delay is due to the loading or discharging of cargo, the new time of departure shaU immediately be posted on theioard and if such delay exceeds two (2) hours the watch below may" be dismissed and shall receive two (2) hours' overtime for such reporting. \ (d) In the event, after cargo is aboard or dis"- -• �Page Six THE SEAFARERS LOG charged and ship is ready to proceed, the full com­ be paid at the regular overtime rate and the watch be­ plement of unlicensed personnel is not on board, no low shall be paid at the rate of overtime and one-half. overtime shall be paid. Section 19. Holidays. The Company agrees to rec­ (e) The overtime prescribed above shall not apply ognize the following as hoKdays: when sailing is delayed on account of weather, such 1. New Year's Day 6. Labor Day as rain, fog, or any other condition beyond the 2. Washington's Birthday 7. Thanksgiving Day vessel's control. 3. Memorial Day 8. Christmas Day Section 9. Ship's Delegate. One man in each de­ 4. Armistice Day 9. Independence Day partment on each vessel shall act as delegate for 5. Lincoln's Birthday such department. Such delegates are privileged to In the event V. E. or V.J. Days are observed as present to their superior officers, on behalf of the National Holidays, they shall be included in the list. members in their department, facts and opinions Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Holidays, while concerning any matter wherein adjustment or im­ at sea shall be considered holidays for the unlicensed provement is thought proper. personnel not on watch. Men on watch shall perform Any matter so presented which is not adjusted only the routine duties necessary, for the safe naviga­ satisfactorily to all concerned shall be referred to the tion of the vessel on these days. Union officials and Company officials upon vessel's Overtime pay shall be paid for all work performed arrival in the first U.S.A. port where the Union eind the Company have officials for adjustment as pro­ by the unlicensed personnel on any of the nine holi­ days described in this agreement at sea or in port. vided under Article II, Section 2, of this agreement. In the event any of the above-named holidays fall Section 10. Aulhori^ of Master and Obedience of Crew. Nothing in this agreement is intended to, and on Sunday while in port or at sea, the Monday follow­ shall not be construed to limit in any way the auth­ ing shall be observed as such holiday. Any day that ority of the Master or other officers, or lessen the is a recognized holiday for the longshoremen in obedience of any member of the crew to any lawful Continental U.S. ports shall also be a recognized holiday for the crew while in that particular port. order. Section 20. Port Time., For the purpose of applying Section 11. In Case Vessel Runs Aground. In the event the vessel runs aground, this agreement shall port overtime provisions of this agreement, "port time" be lived up to regardless of whether the Company or or the words "in port" shall be defined to mean the the Insurance Company is paying the wages and following: Commencement of Port Time: overtime. (a) From the time a vessel is properly secured to Section 12. (a) Medical Relief. Full medical at­ tention as required by law shall be given to all un­ a dock, buoy, or dolphins for the purpose of licensed personnel. Except where such is assumed by loading and/or discharging cargo, ballast, pas­ the U.S. Consul or the U.S. Public Health Service, sengers or mail; imdergoing repairs; taking on medic^ attention shall be furnished by the Company fuel, water or stores; fumigation; lay-up; await­ ing orders or bei-th. at the expense of the Company. (b) Penicillin. The Company agrees, when stocking (b) From the time the vesselI is properly moored or m^cine chests, to include penicillin which shall be anchored for the purpose of: loading {and/or dis­ furnished free of charge to seamen in need of same. charging cargo, ballast, passengers, or mail; The rules of the UJS. Public Health Service shall be undergoing repairs; taking on fuel, water, or observed with respect to dosage and administration. stores; fumigation; lay-uP; awaiting orders or berth. Section 13. Retiim to Port of Engagement. In the event a ship of the Company is sold, interned, lost (c) Port overtime provisions shall not apply to or laid up, the crew shall be given transportation back vessels entering a port and anchoring for the to the port of engagement with subsistence, room and sole purpose of avoiding inclement weather. wages, as per Article II, Section 14, of this agreement. (d) Port time shall not commence until the vessel When room and subsistence is not furnished aboard has shifted from quarantine anchorage to a berth the vess^ room and meal allowance will be paid as or other anchorage for the purposes as provided prescribed in Article H, Section 36, until crew is for in sub-sections (a) and (b) of this section. furnished repatriation by train, plane or vessel. (e) Vessels lying at the same anchorage after obtain­ In the event a ship of the Company is lost, the ing quarantine clearance shall be considered crew shall be i-ecompensed for the loss of clothing not awaiting berth and port overtime provisions to exceed tlnee hundied ($300) dollars and to be shall apply except in cases where vessel cannot repatriated to the port of engagement with subsist­ move due to weather conditions. ence, room and wages, as per Section 14 of this (f) Port overtime provisions shall not apply to article. vessels _ mooring or anchoring for sole purpose Section 14. Traveling. Members of the Union, when of awaiting transit of canals such as the Panama transported by the Company during the course of Canal. their employment, shaU be provided with first-cl^ (g) Port overtime provisions shall not apply to transportation by rail; when travel at night is in­ vessels mooring or anchoring for sole purpose of volve, a lower berth shall be provided or the cash landing sick or injured persons. equivalent thereof, and with subsistence at the rate However, a vessel taking on fresh fruits, vegetables, of $4.25 per day in addition to their regular monthly wages. When traveling by ship is involved, men shall or milk while transiting the canal shall not be con­ be provided with second-class transportation or the sidered to be in port under subsection (b) of this Section. cash equivalent thereof. .Termination of Port Time: Section 15. War Zone. In case any vessel of the Company traverses waters adjacent to or in the proxi­ (h) Port time shall terminate when the first ahead mity of a declared or undeclared war or state of hos­ or astern bell is rung the day the vessel leaves tilities, it is hereby agreed that a petition on the part the harbor limits, however, this paragraph shall of the Union for the opening of negotiations for added cases where the vessel is being remuneration, bonuses, and/or insurance, shall in no shifted as provided for in Article II, Section 21. way be deemed cause for the termination of this _ Section 21. Shifting Ship. After the vessels arrive agreement. m port as outlined in Article II, Section 20, any subseSection 16. Customary Duties. Members of all de­ inland waters, bays, rivers, and sounds partments shall perform the necessary and customary shall be regarded as shifting ship and overtime paid duties of that department. Each member of aU de­ for men on duty while such moves are performed on partments shall perform only the recognized and Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays and after 5 p.m. until customary duties of his particular rating. 8 a.m._weekday.s with the following exceptions: Section 17. Explosives. On vessels carrying explo­ Port Alfred to Montreal or vice versa. sives in fifty (50) ton lots or over, as permitted by • Port Alfred to Quebec or vice versa. law, the Company agrees to pay each crew member Montreal to Quebec or vice versa. of the imlicensed personnel in addition to" their regu­ All moves from American ports to Britishlar monthly wage, 10% per month of such wages while Columbia ports or vice versa. such cargo is on board the vessel or is being loaded Norfolk to Baltimore or vice versa. or discharged. When the unlicensed personnel is re­ Montevideo to Buenos Aires to Rosario or quired to work explosives, at. any time, they shall points above or vice versa. be paid for such work in addition to their regular Boston to New York or vice versa. monthly wages at the rate of $5.00 per hour. New Orl^ns to Baton Rouge or vice versa. Moves fmm Baltimore through the Chesapeake and For the purpose of this agreement, explosives shall Delaware Canal to Wilmington, Camden, or Philadelconsist of the following items: phia or vice versa, shall be considered a move of the Black Powder ' Nitro-Glycerine 1,1?, S P-'"- and before 8 a.m. or Blasting Caps ' T.N.T. Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, shall be paid for at Detonating Caps Poison Gases the overtime rate. Loaded Bombs Loaded Shells of one Dynamite pound or over, but not When men are hired by small arms ammunition the Company for standby work in port by the day and board and lodging are not furnished to them on the Section 18. Penalty Cargoes. When members of ^ip, they shall be paid at the rate of $1,537 per hour. tlie unlicensed personnel are required to clean holds in which penalty cargo has been carried, they shall Their regular hours of work shall be from 8 a.m. to 12 \ P "® P-'"- Monday through be paid for such work in addition to their regular K", u performed by them outside their wages, at the rate of straight overtime for the watch shall be paid for at the rate of on deck and overtime and one-half for the watch W to perform standby work below. shall perform any work that shaU be assigned to them IN BULK by their superior officer, and they shall not be subject Bones Caustic Soda forth in this agreement unless Green Hides Soda Ash oil stooni in the boilers or ^oohes. When standby work in any particular Manure Creosoted Lumber depmtment is to be performed, an effort shall be made IN BAGS OR BULK i??®" ^^th ratings in such department if they Bone Meal Greave Cakes are available and are competent to perform such work. Chloride of Lime Saltcake u standby work that reports Lampblack or Super Phosphate hmfr^ w^riT® ^ be guaranteed not less than four Carbonblack Cyanide and shall be paid in accordance with the Sulphur Cement rates of pay outlined in this section. Copra (3000 tons) Gasoline carried in any manner ^!®n9sbore Work by Crow. In those longshoremen available, On vessels carrying penalty cargo in bulk in lots A crew may be required to do longshore of one thousand tons or over, unless otherwise speci­ SJ inches for the purpose of handling fied, the Con^any agrees to pay. the members of the performed they shall be paid unlicensed personnel in addition to the regular month­ ?n regular monthly wages, one dollar ly wages 10% of such wages from the time the load­ i?,.f P®"^ hour for their watch ing of the penalty cargo is started until penalty cargo ^ .1 doUars and thirty-eight and one-half is completely discharged. cents ($2.38%) per hour for the watch below. When members of the. imlicensed personnel' are re­ P";»-,.and before 8 a.m. and On Saturdays. quired to clean.. holds where - lead , concentrates, coal or coke, have been carried, the watch on deck sha)l raoxf. August 20, 1948 This section shall not be construed as to be applicable to any work where longshoremen are not available due to labor trouble. Section 24. Working Ballast. Whenever membci"s of the crew may be required to discharge ballast other than water ballast, out of holds or handle or discharge ballast on deck, the watch on deck shall receive their straight overtime rate for such work. The watch be­ low shall receive time and one-half their overtime rate for such work. Day men shall receive their straight overtime rate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon and 1 p.m. P*™' 5 P-i"- arid before 8-a.m., day men shall receive time and one-half their overtime rate. If watches are broken, day men's scale applies to the ®"^if®.®^®^' .When sand ballast is washed off decks with hose, the watch on deck shall receive their straight overtime rate for such work. The watch below shall receive time and one-half their overtime rate for such work. . Division of Wages of Absent Members. (a) When members of the unlicensed personnel are required to do extra work because the vessel sailed Without the full complement as required by vessel's certificate, under circumstances where the law permits such sailing, the wages of the absent members shall be divided among the men who perform their work, but no overtime shall be included in such payments. (b) At sea, when day men are switched to sea watches and promoted for the purpose of replacing ntwn who a^e injured or sick they shall receive the diff®rential in pay and overtime for watches stood on the first Saturday afternoon of standing sea watches. (c) When men standing sea watches *are promoted f9r the purpose of replacing men who are injured or sick, they shall receive the differential in pay only. (d) But in no event shall any member of the un­ licensed personnel work more than eight (8) hours in any one day without the payment of overtime. Section 26. Overtime Rate. The overtime rate for unlicensed personnel receiving less than $235.73 per ^ $1,125 per hour. All ratings receiving more per month, the overtime rate shall be $1.41 per hour. Section 27. Computation of Overtime. When over­ time worked is less than one (1) hour, overtime for one (1) • full hour shall be paid. When overtime worked exceeds one (1) hour, the overtime work perfoi-med shall be paid for in one-half (%) hour periods, and fractional part of such period shall count as one-half (%) hour. S^ion 28. Commencement of Overtime. Overtime ,, employee shall be called to report for work outside of his regular schedme, provided such member repoits for duty within fifteen (15) minutes. Otherwise, overtime shall com­ mence at the actual time such employee reports for duty and such overtime shall continue until the em­ ployee IS released. S^on 29. Checking Overtime. After authorized overtime has been worked, the senior officer of the department on board will present to each employee who has worked overtime a slip stating hours of overtime and nature of work performed. An overtime book will be kept to conform with individual slips for settlement of overtime. Officers and men shall keep a record of all /disputed overtime. No claim for overtime shall be valid unles.s such claim is presented L ®®'^ department within seventy-two (72) hours after completion of the work. When work has l^en performed and an overtime claim is disputed, the head of the department shall acknowledge in writing that the work was performed. Section 30. Continuous ' Overtime. When working overtime and crew is knocked off for two (2) hours or less, the overtime shall be paid straight through. Time flowed for meals shall not be considered as overtime in this clause. Section 31. Payment of Overtime. All money due for crew overtime shall be paid at the signing off. In the event payment of overtime is delayed by the ' Company beyond twenty-four (24) hours after signing off articles, additional compensation shall be' paid at the rate of $10.00 a day for each calendar day or fraction thereof aforesaid payment of overtime wages is delayed. This shall not include disputed overtime being settled between the Union Representatives and the Company. Periods. When members of the Unlicensed Deck and Engine Personnel are required to ti^n to on overtime between midnight and 8 A.M. thfy shall be entitled to a rest period of one hour lor each hour worked between midnight and 8 A.M., such rest periods to start at 8 A.M. the same day if ship is under port working rules and sea watches have not been set. Such rest periods shall be in ad­ dition to cash overtime allowed for such work. If rest period is not given, men shall be entitled to additional overtime at the regular overtime rate, in lieu thereof. This section shall not apply to men turn­ ing to on overtime at 6 A.M. or after. Section 33. Work Performed by Other Than Mem­ bers of the Unlicensed Personnel. Any work per­ formed by cadets, workaways, passengers, prisoners of war, staff officers, or any member of the crew other than the unlicensed personnel that is routine work of the unlicen.sed personnel, shall be paid for at the regular overtime rate. Such payment to be divided among the unlicensed personnel ordinarily required to perform such work. Section 34. Carrying of Cadets, etc. in Lieu of Crew. No Cadets, workaways, or passengers shall be carried in lieu of the crew. Section 35. Launch Service. When a ship is an­ chored or tied up to a buoy for eight (8) hours or over, for the purposes outlined in Article II, Section 20, each member of the unlicensed personnel while on his watch blow shall be allowed one round trip to shore at the Company's expense every 24 hours. In Port where regular boat service is not available, members of the crew may make their own arrange­ ments for transportation and the company agrees" to i^imburse either the crew member or the owner df the boat up to $2.00 per round trip per man carried once each 24 hours; . 80(diOtt 38. Iloom and Mc>&} Allowance. When board IS not furnished imlicensed members of the creW they shall receive a meal allowance of $1.05 for �Fri(lay, Augusi 20, 1048 breakfast, $1.05. for dinner and $1.05 for supper. When men are required to sleep ashore, they shall be al­ lowed $3.00 per night. Application by the Union to open negotiations for increased meal and lodging, allowances due to increased living costs at any period during the life of this agreement, such application shall not be deemed cause for termination of this agreement. Section 37. Meal Hours—Relieving For Meals. The meal hours for the unlicensed personnel employed in the Deck and Engine Departments shall be as follows: "Breaikfast 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Dinner 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Supper 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (a) At sea the 4 to 8 watch shall relieve itself for supper. (b) The 12 to 4 watch on sailing day is to be knocked off at 11 a.m. in order to eat at 11:30 a^m; and to be ready to go on watch at 12 noon. (c) These hours may be varied, but such varia­ tion shall not exceed one hour either way, provided that one unbroken hour shall be allowed at all times for dinner and supper when vessel is in port. When watches are broken, if one unbroken hour is not given, the man involved shall receive one (1) hour's overtime in lieu thereof. This penalty hour shall be in addition to the actual overtime worked during the meal hours. (d) When crew is called to work overtime before breakfast and work continues after 7:30 a.m. a full hour shall be allowed for breakfast, and if breakfast is not served by 8 a.m. overtime shall continue straight through until breakfast is served. (e) If one unbroken hour is not given, the men involved shall receive one hour's overtime in lieu thereof. (f) When the watch below or men off duty are working on overtime at sea or in port, they shall be allowed one unbroken meal hour. If one unbroken meal hour is not given, the men involved shall re­ ceive one hour's overtime in lieu thereof. This penalty hour shall be in addition to the actual overtime work­ ed during the meal hour. The provisions in this section shall be applicable at all times at sea or in port to men on day work. ^ Section 38. Fresh Provisions. Adequate supply of fruit juices shall be provided for the unlicensed per­ sonnel. Fresh milk, fruit and vegetables wiU be fur­ nished at every port touched where available, and if supply is possible, a sufficient amount to last until the next port or to last until the food would ordi­ narily, with good care, spoil. Shore bread shall be furnished at all U.S. Ports when available. Section 39; Midnight Lunch. If crew works con­ tinuous overtime until midnight, men shall be pro­ vided with hot lunch at midnight, one hour to be allowed for such meal, if the work continues. If this full hour is not allowed, an additional hour overtime shall be paid. If the crew works as late as 9 p.m., coffee and lunch shall be provided. Fifteen minutes shall be allowed and be included in overtime if work continues. If crew works as late as 3 a.m., coffee and lunch shall be provided. If crew works as late as 6 a.m., coffee shall be provided. Fifteen minutes shall be allowed and be included in overtime if work continues. Section 40. Coffee Time, (a) All hands shall be allowed fifteen (15) minutes for coffee at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or at a convenient time near those hours. (b) When crew is called to work overtime, coffee shall be made by the watch or watchman and be ready at the time of callmg, and allowed during fifteen minutes of readiness period. Section 41. Crew Equipment. The following items shall be supplied the imlicensed personnel employed on board the vessels of the Company: 1. A suitable number of blankets. 2. Bedding consisting of two white sheets, one spread, one white pillow slip, which shall be changed weekly, except that in the tropics pillow slips shall be changed twice weekly. 3. One face towel and one bath towel which shall be changed twice weekly. 4. One cake of Lux, Lifebuoy, or Palmolive soap with each towel change. 5. One box of matches each day. 6. Suitable mattresses and pillows shall be fur­ nished but hair straw or excelsior shall not be suitable. 7. All dishes provided for the use of the unlicensed personnel shall be of crockery. 8. One cake of laundry soap, one cake of lava soap, one box of washing powder weekly. 9. Sanitubes shall be available for the unlicensed personnel at all times. 10. Cots shall be supplied to the crew while in the tropics, except on the new type passenger vessels. Any member wilfully damaging or destroying linen .shall be held accountable for same. When linen is not issued, men shall receive $2.00 each week for washing their own linen. Crew shall turn in soiled linen before receiving new issue of linen. Section 42. Uniforms. In the event a man is re.quired to wear a uniform, other than provided for in Article V, Section 24, he shall fm*nish his own uniform and shall be paid an additional $12.50 per month for same. Section 43. Mess Room. Each vessel shall be fur­ nished with a messroom for the accommodation of the crew, such messroom or messrooms to be in each case so constructed as to afford sitting room for all and to be so situated as to afford full protection from the weather and from heat and odors arising from the vessel's engine room, firoroom, hold and toilet. Section 44. Electric Refrigerator. An electric refrig­ erator shall be furnished for the use of unlicensed crew on each vessel. The location of this refrigerator shall be as may be determined by the Company. Should the refrigerator break- down or go out of commission it is understood and agreed that the Company will not be expected to make repairs until the vessel arrives in a port where the manufacturer has a service represen­ tative available. ' Section 45. Crew's Quarters. All quarters assigned for the use of the unlicensed personnel are to be kept THE SEAFARERS LOG free from vermin inscrfar as possible. This is to be accomplished through the use of extermination facilities provided by the Company, or fumigating the quarters every six months with gas. Room allowance as provided-in Section 36 shall be allowed when vessel is in port and: 1. Heat is not furnished in cold weather. 2. When hot water is not available in crew's wash­ rooms for a period of twelve (12) or more conse­ cutive hours. 3. When the crew's quarters have been painted and paint is not absolutely dry and other suitable quarters are not 'furnished aboard. 4. At all times when vessel is on diydock overnight. 5. When linen is not issued upon man's request prior to 6 p.m. on the day the seaman joins the vessel. 6. When vessel is bemg fumigated and not cleared before 9 p.m. Men standing midnight to 8 a.m. watch shall be entitled to room allowance in any event. Section 46. Ventilation. All quarters assigned to the unlicensed personnel and all messrooms provided for their use shall be adequately screened and ventilated and a sufficient number of fans to secure ventilation shall be provided. Section 47. Washrooms. Adequate washrooms and lavatories shall be made available for the unlicensed personnel of each division, washrooms to be equipped with a sufficient number of shower baths which .shall be adequately equipped with hot and cold fresh watei*. Section 48. Lockers. A sufficient number of lockers shall be provided so that each employee shall have one locker of full length whenever space permits, with sufficient space to stow a reasonable amount of gear and personal effects. Section 49. Copies of Agreements to be Furnished. Copies of this agreement shall be furnished to the Master, Chief Engineer and Chief Steward, who in turn shall supply each departmental delegate with a copy at the commencement of each voyage. Section 50. Jury Toilets. When and wherever neces­ sary for sanitary reason, jury toilets shall be rigged on the poop-deck. Section-51; Money Draws in Foreign Ports. Monies tendered for draws in foreign ports shall be in U. S. Currency, or equivalent at official rate of exchange where the issuance of U. S. Currency conflicts with existing laws. Section 52. Calendar Day. For the purpose of this agreement, the- calendar day shall be from midnight to midnight. Section 53. Manning Scale. It is agreed and under­ stood that the present manning scale carried on the Company's vessels shall not be changed unless such changes are mutually agreed to by both the Union and the Company. It is agreed that this section applies to the Deck and Engine Departments. The Stewai'ds Department will be manned for the life of this con­ tract in accordance with manning scales in Article V. This section also does not apply to ships that are not on articles, or to ratings that might be carried for a particular purpose, as for example: Reefer Engineers, etc. Section 54. Vacation. For the first year of con­ tinuous service on the vessels of the Company, com­ mencing July 31, 1947, every unlicensed member of the crew shall receive a vacation of seven' (7) consecu­ tive days with full pay, and each subsequent year of continuous service a vacation of fourteen (14) consetive days with fuU pay. Such vacation shall be cumulative to the extent mutually agreed upon and shaU be allowed at such time as may be convenient to the operating necessities of the sei-vice. No cash allowance in lieu of vacations shall be made. If, after six months of continuous service, employ­ ment is terminated through no fault of the employee, he shall be entitled to such vacation as has been accrued on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual period per month. Continuous service shall not be deemed to be broken by leaves of absence on account of illness, accident, vacations, lay-offs for lack of work or leaves of absence granted iii" writing for yalid reasons from the service of the Company, provided, however, that no vacation shall accrue during such periods of absence. If employment is terminated for any reason within less than six months continuous service, no vacation time will be allowed. Section 55. Transportation and Paying Off Pro­ cedure. 1. (a) Vessels in the Bauxite trade or on foreign voyages shall be signed on for one voyage only for a term of time not exceeding nine (9) calendar months. Vessels in the Far East trade shall be signed on as herein stated except the term of time may be twelve (12) calendar months. (b) It is also agreed that the articles shall terminate at the final port of discharge in the Continental United States of America. If the final port of discharge is located in an area other than the area in the Con­ tinental United States in which is located the port of engagement, first-class transportation shall be provided to those men only who leave the vessel, plus wages and subsistence to port of engagement in Continental United States, or at the seamen's option, cash equival­ ent of the actual cost of first-cla^ rail transportation shall be paid. If the vessel departs from the final port of discharge to return to the area wherein is located the port of engagement within ten (10) days after arrival, the above shall not apply. For the pui-pose of this Section, the Continental United States shall be divided into four areas—the Pacific Coast area,the Atlantic Coast area North of Cape Hatteras, the Atlantic Coast area South of Cape Hatteras, and the Gulf Coast area. It is further agreed that in the event a ship returns light or in ballast to the Continental United States,articles shall terminate at first port of arrival in accordance with voyage description set forth in the articles, except that when the arrival at the first port is for the pui-pose of securing additional bunkers, stores, or making emergency repairs of not more than seven (7) days duration, articles' shall continue until the vessel can proceed to. another Continental United States port. It is further agreed that if within thirty (30) days Page Seven of signing clear of the articles a seaman who accepted first-class railroad transportation in cash, presents himself in the Company's or Agent's office at the port of engagement, he shall be paid an amount equal to wages and subsistence for the number of days ordinarily required to travel frofn port of sign­ ing off back to the port of engagement. 2. (a) Vessels making a voyage, or voyages to Bermuda, Mexico, West Indies, including Cuba, Can­ ada, Newfoundland and/or coastwise in any order, either direct or via ports, shall be signed on for one or more continuous voyages on the above described route or any part thereof and back to a final port of discharge on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast of the Continental United States for a term of time not exceeding six (6) calendar months. (b) When a vessel is on Domestic articles or Har­ bor payroll prior to proceeding on a Foreign voyage' a member of the Unlicensed Personnel shall not be entitled to transportation to the port of engagement if he fails to make the Foreign voyage, unless the Company terminates his employment through no fault of his own. (c) If the port where the articles are finally ter­ minated is located in an area other than the area in the Continental United States in which is located the port of engagement, first-class transportation shall be provided to those men only who leave the vessel, plus wages and subsistence to port of- engagement in Continental United States, or at seaman's option, cash equivalent of the actual cost of first-class rail transportation shall be paid. If the vessel departs from the final port of dis­ charge to return to the area wherein is located the port of engagement within ten (10) days after arrival, the above shall not apply. For the purpose of this Section, the Continental United States shall be divided into four areas, the Pacific Coast area, the Atlantic Coast area North of Cape Hatteras, the Atlantic Coast area South ofCape Hatteras, and the Gulf Coast area. It is further agreed that if within thirty (30) days of signing clear of the articles, a seaman who accepted first-class railroad transportation in cash, presents himself in the Company's or Agent's office at the port of engagement, he shall be paid an amount equal to wages and subsistence for the number of days ordinarily required to travel from port of sigh­ ing off back to the port of engagement. It is also agreed that the transportation provisions contained herein shall not apply until the articles are finally terminated. Any member of the unlicensed personnel will be allowed to pay off the vessel in any port in Contin­ ental United States or Puerto Rico upon twenty-four(24) hours' notice to the Master, prior to the sched­ uled sailing of the vessel. In like manner, the Master shall be allowed to discharge any member of the unlicensed personnel upon twenty-four (24) hours notice. If the seaman exercises his rights to be paid off, as provided for in this paragraph, transportation provisions shall not be applicable. If the Master ex­ ercises his right to discharge a seaman as provided for in this paragraph, transportation provisions shall be applicable. However, a member may be discharged in Puerto Rico for just cause and shall not be en­ titled to transportation. Should the Union object to the discharge, the matter shall be handled in ac­ cordance with grievance procedure. (d) On GAA vessels when a seaman accepts the cash^ equivalent of first-class railroad transportation," the railroad tax shall not be included. Operations Regulations 55 and 72 of the W.S.A. shall apply on: GAA vessels. ARTICLE III Deck Department WAGES Section 1. Wages. Effective August 17, 1948, the monthly rates of pay of Unlicensed Personnel in the Deck Department when the respective ratings are carried shall be as follows: Monthly Rate Rating Of Pay Bosun $285.44 "Carpenter 255.04 A.B. Maintenance 234.34 Quartermaster 222.51 Able Seaman 222.51 Ordinary Seaman 189.97 . ""When the Carpenter is required to fuimish his own tools, he shall be paid $7.50 per month in addition to his basic wage per month. Section 2. Setting Watches. Sea watches shall be set not later than noon on sailing day. "When the vessel sails before noon watches snail Pe set when • all lines are on board and vessel is all clear of the dock. Section 3. Breaking Watches and Work in Port. (a) In all ports watches shall be broken except in those ports where stay of vessel will not exceed twenty-four (24) hours, then watches shall run con­ secutively. Any work performed on watch below shall be overtime. Any part of a watch from midnight until 8 a.m. on day of arrival shall constitute a com­ plete watch. This shall not apply to men required for gangway watch. "When such arrival occurs on Sunday, overtime shall only be paid for hours actually worked on such watch. (b) In port when sea watches are broken, the hours of labor shall be 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any work outside of these hours or on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be paid for at the regular overtime rate for the respective ratings. (c) In all ports when watches are broken a gang­ way watch shall be maintained at all times. A sauor shall be assigned to maintain this watch and eight (8) hours shall constitute a watch. No ovei'time shall be paid for these watches on weekdays between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Overtime shall be paid �Page Eight watches stood from midnight to midnight on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Sailors standing gangway watches shall not be re­ quired to care for cargo lights without payment of overtime. Sailors standing gangway watches shall not be required to do any other work except raise or lower gangway, tend gangway lights, and man ropes. (d) In port all work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be paid for at the regular overtime rate. Section 4. Work at Sea. Men Standing Sea Watches. (a) Men standing sea watches shall be paid overtime for Sunday and holiday watches and for all work in excess of eight (8) hours between midnight and midnight each day. No work except for the safe navigation of the vessel is to be done after 5 P-m- and before 8 a.m. and on Saturday afternoons, without payment of overtime. (b) Sanitary work shall be done on weekdays be­ tween 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. without the payment of overtime. Sanitary work in this section shall mean cleaning ttie wheelhouse, chart room, cleaning win­ dows and mopping out wheelhouse. fc) If a man standing regular watch at sea on Sundays or holidays for which he receives overtime is required to do work other than routine work for the safe navigation of the vessel, cleaning quarters as outlined in Article m. Section 17, and docking or undocking as outlined in Article III, Section 16, he shall be paid overtime in addition to the overtime that he receives for standing the regular sea watch on Sundays or holidays. (d) If a man standing sea watches on Sunday is required to do longshore work, tank cleamng or handling explosives during his watch, he shad not receive the regular overtime but he shall be paid the overtime rate as specified in this agreement for that type of work in lieu of the regular overtime rate. Section 5. Division of Watches, (a) The sadprs while at sea shaU be divided into three watches which shall be kept on duty successively for the performance of ordinary work incident to the sailing and main­ tenance of the vessel. (b) Not less than three seamen shall constitute a complete sea watch at all times. When any of these three ratings are missing and the watch is not coinplete, the wages equivalent to the rating that is missing from the watch shall be paid to the other member or members making up the remainder of the watch. (c) When the watch below is called out to work they shall be paid overtime for,work performed dming their watch below, except for such work as defined in Article II, Section 4. Secliori 6. Day Workers, (a) The following ratings shall be classified as day workers: Boatswain, Car­ penter, Storekeeper, AB Maintenance. (b) The working hours at sea for all men classified as day workers shall be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Satmday. Any work performed by day men outside of these horns shall be paid for at their regular overtime rate, except for such work as defined in Article II, Section 4. (c) Working hours in port for all men classified as day workers shall be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1 pjn. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any work outside of these horns or on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays to be paid for at their regular overtime rate. Section 7. Relieving Helmsman. No mate shall re­ lieve the helmsman except in an emergency. Sougeeing, chipping, painting, etc., shall not be considered an emergency. Section 8. Unsafe Working Conditions. Working in holds into which cargo is being loaded or discharged jghnii be considered imsafe working conditions. (Men working or watching cargo shall not be included in this clause.) Section 9. Securing Cargo, (a) If cargo is not properly seemed before going to sea and the watch below is required to secure such cargo, they shaU be paid at the rate of overtime and one-half for such work performed. If the watch on deck is required to perform such work they shall be paid at the overtime rate. (b) Routine tightening up of cargo lashings and relashings of cargo which has come adrift shall not constitute overtime. Section 10. Call Back for Shifting Ship. When ves­ sel is in port and watches are broken and men are called back to work after 6 p.m. and before 8 a.m. or on Satmdays, Sundays, or holidays for the pmpose of shifting ship in inland waters, a minimum of two (2) hours overtime shall be paid for each call, except when meii are knocked off for a period of one (1) hom or less, in which case time shall be continuous. Section 11. Using Paint Spray Guns. When mem­ bers of the crew are required to use paint spray gims they shaU be paid at the regular overtime rate during straight tune horns and at the rate of time and one-half the overtime rate dming overtime homs. Section 12. Division of Overtime. All overtime shall be divided as equally as possible among the members of the deck crew. In any event the Boat­ swain shall be aUowed to make as many hours over­ time as the high man's overtime hours in the Deck Department, except where such overtime has been paid for routine sea watches. If the Boatswain is required to work with and supervise the watch on deck on Sundays or holidays at sea for which the watch on deck receives addi­ tional overtime, he shall receive the same amount of overtime per hour as paid to a member of the - watch on deck, in lieu of his regular overtime rate. When the Boatswain is working alone, or with men on watch below only, on Sundays or holidays, he phfill receive the regular overtime rate prescribed. Section 13. Cleamng Bilges and Deck, (a) When members of the Deck Department are required to dean bilges or clean roseboxes wherein the residue of crain or organic fertilizer is present, the watch on deck ShaU be paid at the regular overtime rate, and the watch below shaU be paid at the rate of over­ time and one-haU. This is also to apply to bilges and decks that have been flooded with fuel oil. (b) When members of the crew are required to enter bilges that have contained animal, vegetable. THE SEAFARERS LOG petroleum oil or creosotes including bunkers or mo­ lasses, for the purpose of cleaning or makmg repairs therein, the watch on deck during straight time hours shall be paid at the rate of $1J&9 per houi*. Section 14. Additional Work, (a) In aU ports, mem­ bers of the Deck Department may be required to chip, sougee, scale, prime and paint the vessel over sides. (b) Overtime shaU be paid when sailors are re­ quired, either in port or at sea, to chip, sougee, scale, prime or paint gaUey, pantry, saloon, living quarters, forecastles, lavatories and washrooms which are not used by the unhcensed Deck Department. This shall also apply to aU enclosed passageways with doors or bulkheads at both ends. Section 15. Going Ashore to Take Lines. The prac­ tice of putting sailors ashore on dock to handle lines when docking or undocking is to be avoided as far as possible. If, however, no other means for handling lines is avaUable and sailors are put on the dock to catch the lines or to let them go, the sailors actuaUy going on the dock are to receive $1.00 each in each case. This is to be in addition to overtime, if they are working on overtime at that particular moment. Section 16. Docking and Undocking. The watch on deck shall receive overtime for breaking out or stow­ ing away mooring lines, docking or undocking after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m, and on Saturday afternoons. AU hands, when available, shall be used to perform this work. Section 17. Cleaning Quarters. One Ordinary Sea­ man on duty shaU be assigned to clean quarters and toilets of the unlicensed personnel of the Deck Depart­ ment. Two (2) hours shall be aUowed for this work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon daUy. Section 18. Handling Hatches, (a) When the sailors are used to remove hatches, strong backs, and tank tops for the purpose of loading or unloading cargo, or to cover up hatches when cargo is in the vessels, they shaU receive overtime as per Article II, Section 23, of the (jeneral Rules of this agreement. (b) No overtime to be paid to day men and watch on deck between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for covering up when no cargo is in the ship or taking off hatches for any purpose other than actual cai'go operations. (c) This section shaU not be inte^reted to mean that the Deck Department shaU do this work, where it conflicts with the longshoremen and the longshoremen have contracts that they shaU do this. Section 19. Cleaning Steering Engine. When saUors are required to clean steering engine or steering engine bed, they shaU be paid overtime for such work per­ formed. However, saUors may be required to clean steering engine room and grease tiUer chains in their watch on deck during straight time hours without the payment of overtime. Section 20. Ships Stores, (a) SaUors may be re­ quired to handle deck stores both on the dock and on board ship during their regular hours without payment of overtime. Regular hours are defined to mean 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. (b) When saUors are required to handle Stewards or Engine Room stores, both on dock and aboard the ship, they shaU be paid overtime at the regular over­ time rates during straight time hours and at the rate of time and one-half the overtime rate during overtime hours. (c) DaUy supplies of fresh provisions such as mUk, bread and vegetables shall be brought aboard by saUors when required to do so without payment of overtime. (d) Ship's officers shall determine the number of saUors to be used in handling ship's stores. (e) The Company reserves the right at any time to use shoregangs to handle ship's stores. Section 21. Topping or Lowering Booms, (a) When aU hatches are to be rigged or unrigged, aU hands avaUable are to be used in topping or lowering booms. If the booms of only one hatch are to be topped or lowered, not less than two fuU watches are to be used. (b) Hie watch on deck may stretch guys, topping lifts and generally make ready cargo gear for topping booms. (c) When booms are lowered and properly secured, the watch on deck may clear the deck and secure guys. (d) The watch on deck shaU perform this work without the payment of overtime during straight time hours. (e) All hands shall be used for docking and undock­ ing the vessel at aU times. (f) When members of the Deck Crew are required to spot booms for longshoremen, they shaU be com­ pensated at the longshore rate as contained in Section 23, Article II. Section 22. Handling Mail or Baggage. When saUors are required to handle mail or baggage, they shall receive the overtime rate provided in Article II, Sec­ tion 23, of this agreement. Section 23. Boatswain or Carpenter Standing Watch, (a) If the Boatswain or Carpenter are required to stand watch due to shortage of men, such watches stood between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. and aU watches stood between the hours of 12 noon Saturday and 8 a.m. Monday and from midnight to midnight on holidays shall be paid for at the regular overtime rate. However, all watches stood shall be in addition to their regular duties as boatswain or carpenter. In such cases, there shaU be no division of wage.s. (b) AB Maintenance may be required to replace any unlicensed member of the Deck Department when said member is sick or missing without payment of overtime, except on first Saturday afternoon of standing sea watch. Section 24. Carpenter's Work, (a) .Carpenters shaU paint, chip, or clean the windlass and sound bUges, fresh water and ballast tanks. Such soundings shall be taken daily. They shall shore-up cargo, and do customary carpenter's work aboard the vessel. (b) Carpenters shall be required to stand by the windlass when mooring or unmooring or anchoring or when necessary. (c) 1. The Boatswain shall stand by the windlass and shaU take soundings when no carpenter is carried. Friday, August 20. 1948 2. An AB Seaman may be required to relieve the Boatswain at the windlass during the Boatswain's regular working hours. (d) When soundings are taken after 5 p.m. and be­ fore 8 a.m. Saturday afternoon, Sundays, and holidays, overtime shall be paid for such work performed. (e) Only members of the unlicensed deck personnel shall be required to take soundings in the absence of Boatswain and Carpenter, except in an emergency. When this work is done after 5 p.m. and before 8 am. and on Saturday afternoons, Sundays or holidays, overtime shall be paid at the regular overtime rate. (f) When members of the Deck Department are required to do carpenter work they shall be paid at the rate of $1.06 per hour for watch on deck and $1.59 per hour-for watch below. Driving wedges, chipping, painting or cleaning windlass shall not be considered carpenter work on ships thai do not carry a ship's carpenter. Section 25. Cleanliness of Quarters. The unlicensed personnel of the Deck Department shall keep their respective living quarters clean and tidv at all times, however, this shall not be construed to mean the daily cleaning by the ordinary seaman each morning. Section 26. Dumping Garbage. When members of the Deck Department are required to handle garbage by hand or shovel, the watch on deck shall be paid at the regular overtime rate, and the watch below shall be paid at the rate of overtime and one-half. Section 27. Sea Watches in Port. When sea watches have been set or have not been broken, aU members of each respective watch shall be on duty and shall be paid overtime on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Section 28. Chain Locker. Able Seamen only shall be sent into the Chain Locker to stow chain. In the event the Chain Locker is located lower than one deck below the windlass, a suitable signaling system must be installed. System to consist of two way bell or buzzer or voice tube. This shall only apply when men are sent in the Chain Locker for the purpose of stowing chain. Section 29. Removing Soot from Smoke Stack. When members of the Deck Department are required to remove soot accumulated inside of the smoke stack, they shall receive overtime during regular working hours and time and one-half during overtime hours. Section 30. Tank Cleaning, (a) When members of the crew are required to enter any tank in which water is regularly carried for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs therein they shall be paid straight overtime for straight time hours for such work; for such work between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, overtime and onehalf shall be paid. (b) When members of the crev/ are required to enter tanks that have contained animal, vegetable, petroleum oil or creosotes including bunkers or molasses, includ­ ing use of Butterworth System for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs therein, the watch on deck during straight time hours shall be paid at the rate of $1.59 per hour. On Saturdays, Sundays and Holi­ days or between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. the rate for such work shall be $3.18 per hour. Three hours overtime at the rate of $1.59 per hour shall be paid for this work in addition to the overtime actually worked, however, this three hours' overtime shall be paid only once when tanks are being cleaned on consecutive working days. Section 31. Laying Dunnage for Cargo. When the crew are required to actually lay dunnage in prepara­ tion for cargo, they «haU be paid at the regular over­ time rate for the watch on deck and overtime and onehalf for the watch below. This does not mean handling of dunnage in order to clean holds or stacking dunnage or removing dunnage from holds, but only refers to actual flooring off with dunnage for cargo. When, crew is required to install grain fittings or otherwise prepare holds for grain cargo, except as outlined above, they shall be paid at the overtime rate for such work performed. Section 32. Tending Livestock. When livestock is carried, the sailors may be required to feed and clean up and otherwise tend the livestock. During stra^ht time hours they shall receive the regular overtime rate and overtinie and a half during overtime hours. ARTICLE IV Engine Department WAGES Section 1. Wages. Effective August 17, 1948, the monthly rates of pay of unlicensed personnel in the Engine Department when respective ratings are car­ ried shall be as follows: Monthly Rate Rating Of Pay Chief Electrician $360.93 2nd Electrician 321.22 Unlicensed Jr. Eng.—^Day 284.62 Unlicensed Jr. Eng.—^Watch 255.04 Plumber-Machinist 292.90 Deck Engineer 255.04 Engine Utility 255.04 Evaporator Maintenance 237.29 Oiler 222.51 Oiler-Diesel 243.51 Watertender 222.51 Fireman Water (FM-WT) 222.51 Fireman 210.68 Wiper 219.55 Ref. Eng. (when only 1 carried) 331.35 Ref. Eng. (when 3 carried) Chief 331.35 First Assistant 293.49 Second Assistant 271.01 Section 2. Arrivals and . Dejpartures — Saturdays. Upon vessel's arrival in port, as defined in port time clause. Article II, Section 20, overtime shall begin �Friday. August 20, 1848 , ii When "finished with engine^' bell is rung. Upon vessel's departure for sea, overtime shall be paid up until first "ahead" or "astern" bell is rung. Section 3. Setting Watches. Sea watches shall be get not later than noon on the day of departure, except When vessel sails before noon, in which event • sea watches shall be set not later than one hoiu: before scheduled departure. Sea watches for men standing "donkey watches" shall be set at midnight prior to scheduled sailing time. Section 4. Breaking Watches. When a vessel is in port as defined in port time clause. Article II, Section 20, and is scheduled to remain in port twenty-four hours or longer, sea watches shall be broken. When scheduled stay of vessel is less than twenty-four hours, sea watches shall be maintained. If sea watches are to be broken, they shall be broken when "finished with engine" bell is rung. Sea watches for men who are to stand "donkey watches" shall be broken at midnight on day of arrival where stay of vessel is to exceed twenty-four hours. Any part of a watch from midnight until 8 a.m. on day of arrival shall constitute a complete watch. This shall not apply to men who are to stand donkey watch. When such arrival occurs on Sunday or holi­ days, overtime shall only be paid for hours actually worked on such watch. Section 5. Using Spray Guns. When members of the crew are required to use spray guns they shall be paid at the straight overtime rate during straight time hours, and at the rate of time and one-half the overtime rate during overtime hours. Section 6. Tank Cleaning, (a) When members of the crew are required to enter any tank in which wa­ ter is regularly carried for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs therein, they shall be paid straight overtime for straight time hours for such work, tor guch work between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, overtime and one-half shall be paid. (b) When members of the crew are required to enter tanks or bilges that have contained animal, vegetable, petroleum oil or creosotes including bunk­ ers or molasses, including use of Butterworth System for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs there­ in, the watch on duty during straight time hours shall be paid at the rate of $1.59 per hour. (c) On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays or be­ tween the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. the rate for such work shall be $3.18 per hour. Three hours overtime at the rate of $1.59 per hour shall be paid for this work in addition to the overtime actually worked, however, this three hours overtime shaU be paid only once when tanks are being cleaned on consecu­ tive working days. Section 7. Work Out of Engine Spaces. No member of ,the Engine Department Personnel other than the Deck Engineers, Engine Utility, Storekeeper, Un­ licensed Junior Engineers, Electrician, Wipers, .Plum­ bers, and Machinists, shall be required to work out­ side the engine spaces without the payment of over­ time. Engine spaces to consist of fireroom, engine room, and ice machine room. For the purpose of rou­ tine watch duties the engine spaces shall consist of fireroom, engine room,, ice machine room, steering engine room, and shaft alley. Section 8. Supper Relief, (a) At sea the four to eight watch shall relieve itself for supper. (b) In port the man detailed to oil winches shall relieve the fireroom watch for supper when cargo is being worked, except when two or more men are standing fireroom and/or engine room donkey watches together. Section 9. Work on Sundays or Holidays at Sea. (a) If a man standing regular watch at sea on Sun­ days or holidays. for which he receives overtime is required to do work other than routine work for the safe navigation of the vessel, he shall be paid for such work at the regular overtime rate in addition to the overtime received for standing the Sunday or holiday watch. (b) If a man standing sea watches on Sundays or holidays is actually required to do longshore work, tank cleaning, or handling explosives during his watch he shall not receive the regular overtime but shall be paid at the overtime rate as specified in this agreement for that type of work in lieu of the regular overtime rate. Section 10. Equalization of Overtime. Overtime for men of same ratings shall be equalized as near as possible. Section 11. Refrigerating Engineers, (a) While re­ frigerating plant is being operated at sea, refrigerat­ ing engineers shall be assigned to watches of four hours on and eight hours off. (b) When refrigerating plant is required to be operated continuously in ports, refrigerating engineer may be required to stand donkey watch of eight hours on and sixteen hours off without overtime, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. (c) When refrigerating plant is not being operated and no refrigeration cargo is on board, they shall be assigned to day work and their hours shall then be the same as those for day workers as defined in Article IV, Section 33. ^ . (d) Refrigerating Engineers may be required to supervise the stowing of reefer cargo. In any event, while reefer cargo is being worked between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays, the reefer engineer actually engaged in supervising the stowage of reefer cargo shall be paid overtime. (e) At sea while on watches, no overhauling work, breaking calcium, shifting or moving CO 2 bottles shall be done between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. or on Saturday afternoons, Sundays or holidays, without the payment of overtime. In case of emergency such as excessive gas leakage or loss of brine, the refrigerat­ ing engineer on watch shall correct this condition as part of his regular duties without payment of over­ time. (f) While on watch duty, refrigerating engineer shall be required to leave safe working conditions, keeping the spaces around the ice machines and their auxili­ aries clean of oil, water, and refuse accumulated dur­ ing his watch, but he shall not be required to do THE SEAFARERS LOG any painting, cleaning paint, chipping, scaling, or shining bright work. They shall maintain and operate all refrigeration and air-conditioning machinery, in­ cluding taking temperatures at refrigeration machin­ ery, fan rooms, and boxes. (g) When on Day Work refrigerating engineers shall work under the direction of the Chief Engineer or licensed engineer in charge of refrigerating plant. Their duties shall consist of overhauling and repair work necessary in connection with the upkeep and maintenance of refrigerating machinery, its auxiliaries, and equipment. They shall not be required to paint, sougee, chip, scale, shine bright work, or do cleaning work unless overtime is allowed for such work. (h) Recognizing that there may be extended pe­ riod when no refrigerating cargo will be on board the vessel and the refrigerating plant will be shut down, the foUowing 's provided: When the refrigerating machinery has been shut down and secured, the refrigerating engineers, at the discretion of the Chief Engineer, may be assigned to day work in the engine room in accordance with the working rules for oilers on day work. (i) At no time shall they pull or shift ice. Section 12. Electricians, (a)' The Chief Electrician shall be responsible to and take orders from the Chief Engineer, or, in absence of the Chief Engineer, he shall take orders from the Senior Engineer aboard; all Assistant Electricians to be directly responsible to the Chief Electrician. In the absence of the Chief Electrician, the Assistant Electrician to take orders from the Senior Engineer aboard. In the case of Watch Electricians, Assistant Electricians to be re­ sponsible to the Senior Watch Engineer. (b) They shall do no work other than electrical work and shall not be required to work on steam or diesel end of any machinery. (c) When cargo is being worked with electrical winches after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m., or on Satur­ days, Sundays and holidays, overtime shall be paid to electricians on duty, and they shall be required to do any work necessary to keep electrical cargo handling machinery in operation. (d) When Electricians are required to install any new or additional equipment, it shall be classified as overtime work and shall be paid for at the overtime rate. This shaU not apply, however, to renewals or replacements, or repairs to worn-out equipment. (e) They may be required to do any and all run­ ning or breakdown, repairs to electrical equipment only. (f) Refusal to do electrical work which would sub­ ject him 'to electrocution wiU not be considered refusal of duty. (g) On ships where less than three electricians are carried, tlie electricians shall be classified as day workers at sea and in port. (h) He will not be required to reline brakes on electric winches or anchor windlasses or capstan. (i) It shall be the responsibility of the Chief Elec­ trician to keep an inventory of all supplies and equipment on hand and he shall make requisitions for all needed electrical supplies and tools, subject to approval of the Chief Engineer. Taking voyage in­ ventories, however, shall be confined to straight time hours. (j) When three electricians are carried, they shall be put on regular sea watch at sea of four hours on and eight hours off for the performance of then- duties. In port, the electricians shall be classified as day workers. Section 13. Plumber-Machinist, (a) All PlumberMachinists shall be directly responsible to the Chief Engineer or First Assistant Engineer, or in their absence, to the engineer in charge. (b) The regular hours of work at sea shaU be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and T p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays. Work performed outside of these hours and on holidays shall be paid at the regular overtime rate. In port, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. (c) All Plumber-Machinists shall be requix'ed to do repair work on fresh and salt water lines and small steam lines connected with the domestic department of the vessel, bathroom wastes and fixtures, radiators, galley fuel oil lines, steam cookers and coffee urns and shall do general machine shop work. They shall be required to take on water between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays without payment of overtime. For taking on water on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and Holi­ days, the regular overtime rate shall apply. (d) They shall not be required to do any chipping, scaling, painting, or sougeeing, cleaning or polishing work at any time. Section 14. Unlicensed Junior Engineers, (a) On vessels can-ying only three unlicensed Junior Engi­ neers, the Unlicensed Junior Engineers shall be classed as watch standers and they shall, while at sea, be put on regular sea watches of four hours on and eight hours off, for the performance of their duties. In port the Unlicensed Junior Engineers may be put on day work and their houi's then will be the same as those for day workers. (b) Duties At Sea. They shall assist in the opera­ tion of the plant as directed by the Watch Engineer. They shall be required to do maintenance and repair work as directed by the Watch Engineer between the hom-s of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Satmdays, without the payment of overtime. On Sundays and holidays the regular overtime rate shall apply. Such maintenance and repair work shall be confined to engine room, fireroom, machine shop, storeroom in or adjacent to engine room, shaft alley, and ice machine room. They shall not be required to do general cleaning, painting, cleaning paint, polishing work, wirebrushing, chipping, or scaling, without the payment of overtime. (c) Duties in Port. They shall be required to do maintenance and repair work between the houi-s of 8 a.m. and 12 noon, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Such maintenance and repair work shall be confined to engine room, fireroom, machine shop, store­ room in or adjacent to engine room, shaft alley, ice machine room, and steering engine room. If required to replace another member of the unlicensed personnel, they shall receive overtime in accordance with the Page Nine provisions of the working rules covering that particular rating. (d) On vessels carrying day Unlicensed Junior Engineers* in addition to Watch Unlicensed Junior Engineers, their duties' shall be as follows: At sea and in port they shall be required to do maintenance and repair work as outlined in subsection (c) above under the direction of the Engineer in charge. They may assist in taking on Engine Depart­ ment stores including water and fuel. Their working hours shall be the same as, specified for Day Workers. (e) On those vessels where three Unlicensed Junior Engineers are carried, they shall be paid at the $255.04 monthly rate. On those vessels where less than three Unlicensed Junior Engineers are carried, they shall be classed as day workers and they shall be paid at the $284.62 monthly rate. (f) On those vessels where more than three Un­ licensed Junior Engineers'are carried, three Unlicensed Junior .Engineers shall be classed as watch standers and the additional Unlicensed Junior Engineers shall be classed as Day Workers. Section 15. Evaporator Maintenance Men. (a) All Evaporator Maintenance Men shall be directly respon­ sible to the Chief Engineer or First Assistant Engineer, or in their absence, to the Engineer in charge. (b) They shall stand two watches of four hours each per day while evaporators are in use at sea. When evaporators are used in port, watches shall be changed to eight hours on, sixteen hours off. (c) When evaporators are in use, their work shall be to tend evaporators and other auxiliaries in the evapoz-ator spaces. (d) When evapoiators ai-e not in use, their working rules and houis of work shall be as follows: 1. At sea woiking hours .shall be from 8 am. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays, holidays excepted. In port, hours shall be 8 a.m. to 12 noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fiuday. 2. While on day work in port, they shall be required to perform general maintenance and repair work that is under the jui-isdiction of the Engine Department, and they may be required to assist in taking on water, fuel oil, and Engine Depart­ ment stores but shaU not be required to clean boilers, tanks or tank tops, or do any cleaning, sougeeing, scaling or painting. They may be required, however, to do minor sougeeing or spotting up in the evapoi^tor room. 3. At sea when they are on day work, they may be required to do maintenance or repair work as outlined in Paragraph 2 above, or they may be requii-ed to replace oilers, watez'tenders, or fire. men who are sick, injured, or missing. When they are, assigned watch duty as oilers, watertenders, or firemen, they shall be paid overtime for watches stood the first .Saturday after 12 noon. Thereafter, they shall not receive any overtime for Saturday aftezmoon watches while serving continuously as oilers, watertendez's or firemen. 4. At sea when they are on day work and are z-eassigned to evapoz-ator watches, they shall be paid overtime for watches stood on the first Saturday afternoon. Thereafter, they shall not receive any overtime for Saturday afterizoon watches when evaporator watches are maintained until arrival at next port. Section 16. Deck Engineer's Duties, (a) It shall be the duty of the Deck Engineer to oU and maintain winches and do pzaintenance and repair woz'k to deck machinery and decTc piping and when electrician is not carried he may be requiz-ed to caz-e for lights, fuses and ovez-haul electric fazzs. (b) The Deck Engineer shall not be required to do any cleaning or repair woz-k in the engine z-oom, firez'oom, or shaft alley, without the payment of overtime. (c) The Deck Engineer shall not be requized to do any additional work while oiling deck machinez-y, except for running or breakdown repairs. (d) Deck Engineer shall oil and maintain winches until midnight on days of arrival and departure. An oiler or engine utUity shall be assigned to those duties on all other days after 5 p.m. and befoz-e 8 a.m., how­ ever, the oilers (or engine utility) a.ssigned to oil winches from 5 p.m. until midnight shall be knocked off from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for supper. (e) It shall be the duty of the Deck Engineer to turn steam on and off deck machinery and warm up same when deck machinez-y is needed to handle ship's lines, woz-k cargo, etc. (f) In freezing weathez-, if deck machinery is being tuz-ned over to keep fz-om fz-eezing, the Deck Engineer or another competent, member of the Unlicensed Per­ sonnel shall stand by on overtime hours to turn winches or capstans over to keep from fzeezing. For such work he shall receive the applicable overtime rate of pay. (g) Deck Engineers shall not be requiz-ed to do any general painting, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chip­ ping, scaling or polishing work without the payment of overtime. Section 17. Duties of Utility Mazz. (a) The wo'rking houz-s of the Utility Men shall be the same as working hours for day workers. (b) They shall be required to assist engineers or deck enjgineers, etc., in all engine department work. (c) Utility men shall be required to have qualifi­ cations as oilers, watertenders, and firemen. (d) They may be required to replace any iznlicensed member of the Engine Department when said member is sick, injm-ed or missing, without the payment of overtime except for the fiz-st Saturday afternoon of standing sea watches. (e) The Utility Men shall not be used to replace any member of the urzlicensed personnel except when such zziezizber is missing or imable to perform his regular duties, due to illness or injizry. (f) All work classed as overtime for wipers during their regular working hours, with the exception of z-epair work, shall also be classed as overtime for the utility men when performing the same type of work. Section 18. Diesel Vessels, (a) Duties of Diesel Oil­ ers on Sea Watch. They shall make regular rounds on main engines and auxiliaries, pump bilges, clean «» �* Page Ten THE SEAFARERS LOG ' Friday, August Zff, 1948 strainers and centrifuges, watch oil temperatures and (b) When cranes or other shore equipment is em­ tender, Fireman-Watertepder, or Firetube Fireman pressures. If required, they shall drain oil from pis­ ployed exclusively in the handling of cargo, and if may be placed on day work. His work shall then ton oil tanks every hour and shall pump up. water for ship's gear-and deck machinery is not being used, no consist of repair and maintenance work on all boiler gravity. They shall be required to tend small donkey overtime will be paid to men on watch except on mounts and boiler auxiliaries which are located in boiler for healing purposes without payment of over­ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. the fireroom. time. However, when boiler is being used for heat­ (c) When cranes or other shore equipment is em­ Section 31. Wiper's Duties, (a) Wipers working ing cargo oil, an overtime allowance of two (2) hours ployed for the handling of cargo and the ship's gear hours shall be the same as working rules for day worki. per watch shall be allowed the .^oilers. and deck machinery is used to trim cargo, conveyors, (b) Wipers shall do general cleaning, scaling, sougee(b) They shall do no cleaning or station work but etc., and ship's steam furnishes the power for such ing, and polishing work in the Engine Depart­ shall be required to leave safe working conditions for operations, the Watertender or Fireman-Watertender mentpainting, and take on stores including standing by on their relief, provided such work shall not be donf or Firetube Fireman on watch will receive overtime when Wipers are on duty. after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. and on Saturdays, water and fuel oil lines. (c) Wipers shall not be required to paint, chip,(c) Duties of Diesel Oilers in Port, (a) In port, Sundays and holidays. fougee or shine bright work in fireroom fidley except oilers shall maintain a regular donkey watch. They Section 25. Combination Fireman-Watertender's in port. shaU oil auxiliaries, tend small donkey boiler, and Duties, (a) They shall be required tO' watch' and tend (d) One wiper shall be assigned to clean quarters look after entire plant. Between the hours of 5 p.m. water, clean strainers, drip pans,- punch and toilets of the unlicensed personnel of the Engine and 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, this work shall carbon, keep burners, steam, watch water, watch fuel oil be done without the payment of overtime except when pressure and temperatiues and oil fuel' oil • pumps Department daily. Two (2) hours shall be allowed for this work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon cargo is being worked. When cargo is being worked located in the fireroom only, except as in Article IVj daily. He shall be allowed two (2) hours for this after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. the oiler on watch Section 35. work on' Sundays and holidays and shall have two (2> shall be paid at the regular overtime rate. On Satur­ (b) On all watches, they shall clean up excess oil hours overtime. days, Sundays and holidays the oilers on watch shall occasioned by changing burners and strainers and shall receive the regular overtime rate. (e) Wiper may be required to paint unlicensed (d) Oilers shall not be required to do any painting, leave the fireroom in a safe condition when relieved. Engine Department crew quarters without payment (c) Firemen-Watertender on watch shall be paid of overtime during Wiper's regular working hours. cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scaling or overtime when cargo is being worked with ship's polishing work without the payment of overtime. (f) Wipers shall be paid overtime for cleaning in winches after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. Monday through Section 19. Duties of Oilers on Sea Watches—Steam, Friday, firesides and steam drums of boilers. He may be and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. (a) Shall perform routine duties, oil main engine required to wash out steam drums with hose without (d) Firemen-Watertender shall not be required to payment of overtime. (if reciprocating), watch temperatures and oil circu­ lation (if turbine), oil auxiliaries, steering engine and do any painting, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chip­ (g) Wipers shall be paid overtime when required: ice machine. They shall pump bilges and tend water ping, scaling, or polishing work without the payment to clean tank tops or bilges by hand or when required" where gauges and checks are in the engine room and of overtime. to paint in bilges. However, cleaning bilge strainers; (e) When on donkey watch, Firemen-Watei-tenders cleaning away sticks or rags shall be considered part no watertenders are carried. (b) Oilers shall do no cleaning or station work shall be required to keep steam, tend auxiliax-ies and of a Wiper's duties and shall be done without the but they shall be required to leave safe working con­ take care of entire plant, without payment of overtime, payment of overtime. ditions for their reliefs, keeping the spaces around except as provided in (c) above. (h) It shall be the duty of the Wiper to assist the* main engine and auxiliaries clean of any excess oil. (f) If the ship arrives in port after 5 p.m. and Engineers in blowing tubes. The Wiper shall also* It wiU be part of the oiler's routine duties to clean before midnight on such day of arrival the Fireman- assist the Engineer in putting XZIT and similar' lube oil strainers and lube oil piurifier. Watertender shall continue on sea watches until mid­ preparations and boiler compounds in the boiler. (c) On vessels with small cargo refrigeration plants, night and shall, in addition to maintaining steam, tend (i) Wiper may be required to assist in repair work'' oilers shall oil plant, but shall not be required to auxiliaries and wafer and ice machines and be paid for but he shall not be assigned to a repair job by himself such work at the regular overtime i-ate until midnight. take temperatures. On vessel carrying watch freezers, without the payment of overtime. This is not to oilers sh^l not handle refrigeration plant. (g) Overtime shall not apply as provided in para­ include dismantling equipment in connection with' graph (f) of this section in cases when the oilers (d) Starting and blowing down evaporator equip­ cleaning, such as grease extractors, bilge strainers and ment on freighters or vessels that do not carry special remain on sea watches until midnight on day -of evaporators, etc. evaporator men shall not be a part of the oiler's rec­ arrival. (j) Wiper shall be required to pump up galley fuel ognized duties. Section 26; Duties of Firemen—On Sea Watches tank during straight time hours without the payment (e) When such equipment is placed in operation, (Water Tube Jobs.) (a) Shall be required to do routine of overtime. ! oilers may be required to check the equipment at duties of the watch such as keeping burners clean, (k) While vessels are transiting the Panahia or regular intervals, mal^ necessary adjustments to in­ clean strainers, drip pans, punch iarbon. He shall not Suez Canal one Wiper shall be assigned to trim" sure proper and even now of condensate and salt Wa­ be required to leave the confines of the fireroom at ventilators to insure breeze for men below regardless ter, oil and tend any pump or pumps operated in con­ any time to do any work outside of the fireroom, of whether it is outside of their regular working^ nection with such equipment without payment of except as in Section 35 of Article IV. hours or not. When the Wiper performs this work overtime. (b) Firemen on watch shall be required to keep outside of his regular working hours, overtime will' (f) When oilers are required to start or blow down their respective stations cleaned and painted between be allowed. evaporator equipment they shaU be aUowed one hour - the lowest grating and the floor plates. On vessels 32. Storekeepers, (a) Shall be classified for each operation at the regular overtime rate. with irregular gratings, 10 feet from the floor plates asSei^aon day workers. (g) On turbine propelled vessels which are certi­ shall be considered the fireman's station limit. (b) When carried, the Storekeeper shall supervisefied as passenger vessels and are carrying passengers, (c) Cleaning work for Firemen on watch shall be the oiler on the 12 midnight to 4 a.m. watch may be confined to the hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. work of the Wipers under instructions from the First required to assist in blowing tubes, where automatic weekdays and between 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Satur­ Assistant Engineer and have charge of storeroomsoot blowers are in use. days. Any cleaning work performed outside these and stores, and maintain inventories. (c) Storekeepers shall not be required to do any (h) Oilers shall not be required to do any paint­ hours shall be overtime. However, on aU watches ing, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scaling, Firemen shall clean up any excess oil occasioned by painting, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scal­ or polishing work without the payment of overtime. changing burners and strainers without payment of ing or polishing work without the payment of over­ time, except in the Engine Department storerooms. overtime and not leave it to his relief to clean up. Sgction 20. Duties of Oilers on Day Work—Steam. Section 33. Hours of Work for Day Workers, (a) Shall assist the engineers in maintenance and repair (d) The practices of fanning tubes and the use of work in engine room, machine shop, shaft alley and XZIT and similar preparations shall be classified as Working hours in port for all men classified as day. noon and 1 p.m. to storeroom when located in or adjacent to engine room, general cleaning work and shall be confined to regular workers shall be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any work outside provided, however, he shaU not be required to do cleaning hours. any- cleaning of boilers, painting, cleaning baint, polish­ (e) Blowing tubes shall not be a part of the Fire­ these hours or on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, toing work, wirebrushing, chipping or scaling. Their men's recognized sea duties on ships where tubes are be paid for at the applicable overtime rate, except work shall be confined to maintenance and repair blown by hand. However, the Firemen on watch may as provided in Article II, Section 4. work only. (b) Working hours at sea for all men classified as be required to assist to the extent of helping to open Section 21. Ships Carrying Both Watertenders and and close breeching. doors, and turning steam on and daj workers shall be 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. Firemen. In port, as defined in port time clause. off. Where automatic soot blowers are used. Firemen to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday. Any work performed outside these' Article II, Section 20, and sea watches are broken, will handle valves connecting with same. watertenders shall stand all donkey watches and Section 27. Duties- of Firemen on Day Work (Water hours to be paid for at the applicable overtime rate,firemen shcdl be put on day work. When sea watches Tube Jobs), (a) In porh Firemen on day work shaU except as provided in Article II, Section 4. are set or have not been broken the watertender only be required to do general cleaning, polishing and paint­ 34. New Equipment. Not Carried At Present. shall receive overtime for working cargo after 5 p.m. ing work in the fireroom, sponging and blowing tubes InSection the event the Company secures a type vessel dif­ and before 8 a.m. and assist the engineers in making repairs to boiler ferent from those now operated and covered by this Section 22. Duties of Watertenders on Sea Watches. mountings, etc. a^eement, or if the Company should install new or (a) Watertenders shall perform routine duties, tend different equipment than that presently in use and (b) They may also be required to wash down steam, water and boiler auxiliaries, oil temperatures, stack drums of water tube boilers. covered by this agreement, the Company and Union draft and supervise firing. He shall handle any valves meet immediately to consider working rules to (c) When required to do any cleaning, of boilers and shall m connection with the operation of the boilers as cover such vessel or equipment. fireboxes other than the above, they shall be paid directed by the engineers. Section 35. Fireroom—Engine Room Boundaries. On (b) Watertenders shall not be required to crack overtime. Section 28. Duties of Firemen on Sea Watches (Fire vessels having no bulkheads separating engine room any main or auxiliary steam stop valves. When stops iireiuuin, an imaginary line is to be drawn at have been cracked, however, they may be opened wide Tube Jobs), (a) On sea watches firemen shall per­ and after or forward end of boilers, depending on lo­ form routine duties, clean burners, clean strainers, by watertenders. cation of boilers, for the purpose of defining Engine clean drip pans, punch carbon, keep steam, watch (c) Watertenders shall not be required to do any Room or Fireroom boundaries. This imaginary line painting, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scal­ fuel oil pressure and temperatiire. shall not exclude from the duties of the firemen, (b) On all watches he shall clean up excess oil fireman-watertender,_ ing or polishing work without the payment of over­ watertender, and oilers any work occasioned by changing burners and strainers without as time. outlined in their' respective working rules. Section 23. Duties of Watertenders in Port, (a) In payment of overtime and shall leave the fireroom at port watertenders shaU maintain a regular donkey the end of the watch in a safe condition. (c) Firemen shall not be required to do any paint­ watch between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. with­ out the payment of overtime except when cargo is ing, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scaling or being worked. When cargo is being worked after polishing work without the payment of overtime. 5 p.m. and before 8 ^ a.m. the watei'tender on donkey (d) If the ship arrives in port after 5 p.m. and watch shall be paid at the regular overtime rate On before midnight, on such day of arrival the Firemen Saturdays, Sundays and holidays they shall receive shall continue on sea watches until midnight and shall, the regular overtime rate; donkey watches shall be in addition to maintaining steam, tend auxiliaries and maintained for the purpose of keeping steam for the water and ice machines and be paid for such work at~ auxiliaries, winches and the safety of the ship. the regular overtime rate until midnight.. (b) If the ship arrives in port after 5 p.m. and (e) Overtime shall not apply as provided in para­ before midnight on such day of arrival, the water- graph (d) of this section in cases when the oilers tender shall continue on sea watches until midnight remain on sea watches until midnight on day of and shall in addition to maintaining steam, tend aux­ arrival. iliaries and water, and ice machines and be paid for Section 29. Duties of Firemen on Donkey Watches Section 1. Wages. Effective August 17, 1948, the such work at the regular overtime rate until midnight. (Fire Tube Jobs), a) Shall keep burners, strainers and monthly rates of pay of unlicensed personnel in the" (c) Overtime shall not apply as provided in para­ drip pans clean on all watches. They shall also clean Stewards Department when respective ratings aregraph (b) of this section in cases when the oilers up excess oil occasioned by changing burners and carried shall be as follows; remain on sea watches until midnight on day of strainers without payment of overtime and not leave Monthly Rale^ airival. it to his relief. They shall do no boiler work. Their Rating Of Pay (d) Watertenders shall not be required to do any job shall be to keep steam for, the auxiliaries and Chief Steward $278.25 painting, cleaning paint, wirebrushing, chipping, scal­ safety of the ship and take care, of the entire. plant. Chief Cook 255.04 ing or polishing work without the payment of over­ When cargo is being worked with the ship's winches time. Night Cook & Baker 255.04 he shall receive overtime after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. Second Cook 231.38 Secli.on. 24. Working Cargo, (a) The Watertender and on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Fireman-Watertender, or Fire-Tube Fireman detailed (b) Firemen shall not be required to do any paint­ Assistant Cook .....'219.55 to look after the plant shall receive overtime while ing, cleaning paint, wirebrushing chipping, scaling, or Messman 189.97 cargo is being worked with ship's winches at all polishing work without the payment of overtime. Utilityman 189.97 » times between the hours of 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. Section 30. When Plant Is Shut Down. When vessel and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Section 2. Manning Scales. On Hog Island types. is in port and the entire plant is shut down, the Water- ARTICLE V Wage And Manning Scales For Stewards Department �' Friday, August 20. 1948 THE SEAFARERS Liberties, Lakers and other types not specified in this agreement there shall be carried: 1 Third Cook 1 Steward 1 Steward's Utility 1 Chief Cook 3 Messmen 1 Night Cook & Baker On Hog Islands and old type vessel when more than three passengers are carried, $2.50 per passenger per day for each passenger in excess of three passengers shall be paid and divided among members of the Stewards Department who perform the work. On Liberties and MAV-l's when passengers are car­ ried $2.50 per passenger per day shall be p^id and divided among members of the Stewards Department who perform the work, or a Steward's Utility shall be added at the option of the Company. On C-1-2-3 and Victory type ships there shall be carried: 1 Steward 1 Third Cook 1 Chief Cook 4 Messmen 1 Night Cook & Baker 1 Stewards Utilityman 1 Galley Utilityman On all C-1-2-3 and Victory type ships carrying from 1 up to and including 12 passengers there shall be carried: 1 Steward - 1 Second Cook 1 Chief Cook 1 Galley Utilityman 1 Night Cook & Baker 4 Messmen 2 Stewai-d Utilitymen On Victory C-1-2-3 type vessels carrying extra men from 1 up to and including *12 that are served as crew, such as stock tenders, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Steward 1 Second Cook 1 Chief Cook 1 Galley Utility 1 Night Cook & Baker 5 Messmen 1 Steward Utility On Victory C-1-2-3 type vessels carrying from 13 to 20 inclusive served as crew such as stock tenders, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Steward 1 Second Cook 1 Chief Cook 1 Galley Utility 1 Night Cook & Baker 5 Messmen 2 Steward Utility On Victory C-1-2-3 vessels that carry over twenty men such as stock tenders, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Steward 1 Second Cook 1 Chief Cook 1 Third Cook 1 Night Cook & Baker 4 Messmen 4 Steward Utilities On Liberty and other type cargo ships that are not specified in this agi-eement that carry extra men up to twelve that are served as crew such as stock tend­ ers, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Third Cook 1 Steward 2 Steward Utilities 1 Chief Cook 3 Messmen 1 Night Cook & Baker On Liberty and other type cargo ships that are not specified in this agreement that carry extra men from 23 to 20 inclusive that are served as crew, such as stock tenders, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Second Cook 1 Steward 4 Messmen 1 Chief Cojpk 2 Steward Utilities 1 Night Cook & Baker On Liberty and other type cargo vessels that are not specified in this agreement that carry over twenty men, such as stock tenders, etc., there shall be carried: 1 Steward 1 Second Cook 1 Chief Cook 1 Third Cook 1 Night Cook & Baker 4 Messmen 2 Steward Utilities I Stewards Department Working Rules Cargo Vessels Section 3. Working Hours. Steward — eight hours between the hours of 6:30 a.m.—6:30 p.m. Chief Cook—8 a.m. to 1 p.m.—3 p.m.—6 p.m. Night Cook & Baker—2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Second Cook—7 a.m. to 1 p.m.—4 p,m.—6 p.m. Third Cook—7 a.m. to 1 p.m.—4 p.m.—6 p.m. Messman—6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Steward Utilityman—7 a.m. to 1 p.m.—4 p.m.— € p.m. Section 4. Routine Work, (a) The regular routine laid out below shall be carried out within the scheduled working hours as specified above and it shall be the duty of the Stewards Department to organize their work so that it is accomplished within their eight (8) hours per day as scheduled in this agreement. Routine duties of the Stewards Depart­ ment shall be to prepare and serve the meals, clean­ ing and maintaining of the licensed personnel quarjters including the Radio Officer, Purser and Passenigers, all dining rooms, messrooms, washrooms, galley and pantry. Unless otherwise specified in this agree­ ment no overtime applies to the above routine work. (b) Routine duty for the Stewards Utility shall in­ clude work in storerooms, linen lockers, toilets and Stewards Department passageways and do general cleaning within his eight (8) hours as directed by the Steward. Section 5. Number of Hours. No member of the Stewards Department shall be required to work over eight (8) hours, in any one day without payment of overtime. All work performed at sea on Sundays and • holidays and in port on Saturdays, Sundays and holi­ days shall be paid for at the regular overtime rate, except as provided in Article II, Section 4. . Section 6. Handling Stores. Members of the Stewards Department shall not be required to carry any stores by linen to or from the dock. But when stores or Imen are delivered at the store room doors, meat or LOG Page Eleven chill box doors, Stewards Department shall place same all tools for the galley including knives for the cooks. in their respective places and overtime shall be paid Section 24. Aprons and Uniforms. White caps, to all men required to handle linen or stores. How­ aprons, and coats worn by the Stewards Department ever, daily provisions such as fresh vegetables, fruit, shall be furnished and laundered by the Company and milk, or bread shall be stored by messman and/or white trousers worn by the galley force shall be Utilitymen when placed on board, without the pay­ laundered by the Company. ment of overtime provided such work is done within Section 25. Entering Engine or Fireroom. Members their prescribed eight (8) houi's. of the Stewards Department shall not be required to Section 7. Serving Meals Outside of Messrooms. enter the engine or fireroom; except as may be re­ When any member of the Stewards Department is quired by Article 11, Section 4, required to serve anyone outside of their respective Section 26. Sundays and Holidays at Sea. All mem­ messrooms for any reason, he shall be paid at the regular overtime rate for time required. However, bers of the Stewards Department shall receive over­ meals may be served on the biidge to the Master time for work performed at sea on Sundays and holi­ and/or Pilot without the payment of overtime when­ days, regardless of the number of hours worked per ever it is necessary for the Master and/or Pilot to be week. on the bridge for the safety of the ship. The Captain's Section 27. Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays in office or Stateroom shall not be classified as the bridge Port. All members of the Stewards Department shall of the ship. This section shall not be construed to receive overtime for work performed on Saturdays, apply to passengers or unlicensed personnel served Sundays, and holidays in port, regai-dless of the num­ during regular working hours on account of illness. ber of hours worked per week. This applies only to Section 8. Late Meals. When members of the members of the Stewards Department who are actually Stewards Department are required to serve late meals on board and work. due to the failure of officers eating within the pre­ Section 28. Toilets and Bath. When Stewards Util­ scribed time, the members of the Stewards Department ity is aboard, no member of the Stewards Departactually required to stand by to prepare and serve bent who is required to handle food shall be required the late meals shall be paid at the regular overtime to clean toilets or bathrooms. rate. Section 29. Receiving Stores. The Steward shall be Section 9. Shifting Meals. When meal hours arc required to go on dock to check stores or linen with­ extended for any reason and all of the unlicensed out payment of overtime. personnel are ufiable to eat within the regular pre­ Section 30. Dumping Garbage. No member of the scribed time, all members of the Stewards Department Stewards Department shall be required to go on dock required to standby to prepare and serve the meals for the purpose of dumping garbage. shall be paid at the regular overtime rate for the time Section 31. Work Not Specified. Any work per­ meal is extended. formed by the Stewards Department that is not spe­ Section 10. Meals in Port, (a) When meals are cifically defined in this agreement shall be paid at served in port to other than regiilar members of the the regular overtime rate. crew, passengers and/or Pilot, fifty cents per meal Section 32. Day Work, (a) When the ship is not shall be paid. This is to be divided among the mem­ feeding and members of the Stewards Department bers of the Stewards Department actually engaged in are on day work, the houi's shall be 8:Uu a.m. to preparing and serving meals. 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. . (hi When food is prepared for persons who do not members of the Stewards Department require the service of messroom, two (2) hours over­ arc(b)onWhen day work they may be required to work in time per meal shall be paid for the first group of six storerooms, Imen lockers, toilets, passengers and offi­ (6) persons or fractions thereof, hnd one hour overtime quarters, messrooms, galley. Steward Depart­ for each four additional persons or fraction thereof. cers ment passageways, handle stores and linen placed This money is to be equally divided among the galley aboard ship, and do general cleaning without the for'ce. payment or overtime. (c) No extra meals are to be served without the members of the Stewards Department authority of the Master or officer in charge of the are(c)onWhen day work, all hands shall be allowed fifteen vessel. minutes for coffee at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or at Section 11. Extra Persons Sleeping Aboard. When a convenient time near these hours. two or more persons other than regular crew members (d) When the Stewards Department is on day work, and passengers sleep aboard, the member of the they shall receive one f'uU hour from 12 noon until Stewards Department who takes care of the room 1:00 p.m. for lunch. This hour may be varied but shall be paid one hour's overtime per day. This does such variation shall not exceed one horn* either way, not apply when a ship carries the i-equired complement provided that one unbroken hour shall be allowed at to accommodate passengers and the number of extra all times for dinner or supper when men are on day persons aboard do not exceed the full complement work. If one unbroken hour is not given, the men of passengers allowed. involved shall receive one hour's overtime in lieu Section 12. Cleaning Meat and Chill Boxes. Mem­ thereof. (e) In American ports, the Night Cook and Baker bers of the Stewards Department shaU be assigned by the Steward to clean meat and chill boxes and shall work on a schedule between 6:00 a.m. and shall be paid at the regular overtime rate for time the 6:00 p.m. set forth by the Steward, except on days of arrival. «. work is performed. (f) Extra members of the Stewards Department who Section 13. Shore Bread, (a) The Company shall furnish bread from ashore in all Continental U. S. axe caxried to take care of passengers may be assigned Ports. When bread is not furnished in Continental to day work when passengers leave the vessel. In this U. S. ports within twenty-four (24) hours, excluding case such members shall work as directed by the Sundays and holidays the night cook and baker shall Chief Steward. In addition to the work outlined in be required to make the brfead and will be paid three subsection (b) of this section, such members may be xequired to sougee in passenger quarters, including hours overtime for each batch of bread baked. (b) When a new Baker is employed he may be toilets, washrooms and alleyways; during their regu­ required to bake a batch of bread, during regular lar hours of work without the payment of overtime. This agreement is being signed subject to the rati­ working hours, without the payment of overtime. Section 14. Oil Stoves. Members of the Stewards fication of the membership of the Uixion and in case Department shall not be required to pump oil for the no notice is given the Company within sixty (60) days from August 17, 1948, it shaU be deemed rati­ galley range. fied by the Urxion and binding on both parties hereto. Section 15. Making Ice Cream. When a member of This agreement shall automatically go into effect the Stewards Department is required to make ice on 17, 1948,. for all ships owned and/or bare­ ci-eam he shall be paid at the regular overtime rate boatAugust chartered by the Company. for the time required to make the ice cream. It is agreed that the increase in wages and over­ Section 16. Chipping, Scaling, and Painting. Membei-s of the Stewards Department shall not be re­ time dividing line shall become effective with the effective date of this agreement. It is also agreed that quired to chip, scale, or paint. th changes in General Rules and Departmental Work­ Section 17. Sougeeing. When members of the ing Rules shall be effective with the next signing of Stewards Department ax-e required to sougee, overtime Articles after the effective date of this agreement. shall be paid for the actual number of houre worked. Section 18. Midnight Meals and Night Lunches. Members of the Stewards Department actually engaged Dated: August 17, 1948 in sei'ving hot limches at 9:00 p.m. or midnight or 3:00 a.m. are to be allowed thi-ee (3) hours overtime COMPANIES: for preparing and serving same. Section 19. Shifting Ship. When a ship is making ALCOA STEAMSHIP COMPANY, INC. a shift as prescribed in this agi-eement. Article 11, Section 21, it shall be considered "in port" and over­ A. H. BULL STEAMSHIP COMPANY time shall be paid for all work performed by members BALTIMORE INSULAR LINE, INC. of the Stewai-ds Department on Saturdays, Sundays SOUTH ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP LINE and holidays. Section 20. Extra Work Due to Absent Members. SEAS SHIPPING COMPANY, INC. (a) When members of the Stewards Department ai-e SEATRAIN LINES, INC. required to do extra work because a vessel sailed without the full complement required by this agree­ EASTERN STEAMSHIP LINES, INC. ment or because of illness or injury, the wages of the , SMITH & JOHNSON missing or disabled men shall be divided among the members of the Stewai-ds Department who perform •MISSISSIPPI SHIPPING COMPANY his work. No overtime shall be included in such wages. Negotiating Committee for the (b) In port, members of the Stewards Department SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNICH shall be paid overtime for work in excess of eight (8) OF NORTH AMERICA, hours caused by shortage in the Department, but there shall be no division of wages because of such shortage. Atlantic and Gulf Di.strict Section 21. Minimum Overtime. When any member of the Stewards Department is called out to work PAUL HALL j between the hours' of 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., a JOE ALGINA , minimum of^wo (2) hours overtime shall be paid. ROBERT MATTHEWS Section 22. Full Complement, (a) A full com­ plement of the Stewards Department shall be main­ J. P. SHULER I tained when the vessel is feeding. This shall not LINDSEY WILLIAMS apply when skeleton crew is aboard. (b) When shortage is caused by termination of CHARLES RAYMOND articles, or men leaving the vessel, overtime shall be paid as provided in Article V, Section 20, paragraph (b). • Effective contract date for Mississippi is August & Section 23. Galley Gear. The Company shall furnish 1948—^for the others, August 17, 1948. �THE SE AF.ARERS LOG Page-Twdve Friday, Auguri 20, 1948 Report Of A&G Negotiating Committee Your Committee, acting on instructions from ^e membership, has had numerous meetings over^ a period of weeks with various SIU contracted operators. Reports of these meetings have been made to regu­ lar SIU membership meetings and occasionally re­ ported in the SEAFARERS LOG. As a result of these meetings and actions, the Ne­ gotiating Committee has reached a final agreement on the matter of a contract with the following com­ panies: Alcoa Steamship Company, Bull Steamship Company, Baltimore Insular Line, Eastern Steamship Company, South Atlantic Steamship Company, Smith and Johnson, Seas Shipping Company, Seatrain Lines. Mississippi Shipping Company 11 This agreement had been previously reached with Mississippi Shipping Company by an SIU sub-Nego­ tiating Committee, headed by New Orleans Agent Earl Sheppard, and is dated to go into effect approxi­ mately one week earlier for the commencement of new wages and new contractual conditions than are the above companies. For brevity, as well as clarity's sake, your Com­ mittee will make this report in a seriatum manner and, after each new clause as negotiated in the con­ tract, will make "Committee's Remarks," giving the reasons and motivations for actions taken on each section. (THE COMMITTEE'S COMMENTS APPEAR IN BOLD FACE TYPE THROUGHOUT THE REPORT.) In this report, only those clauses actually changed or entirely new clauses are dealt with and, unless so noted, the balance of the old contract remains in effect. Two Year Contract The Prologue of this new contract, states that this contract shall remain in force for a period of two years, with the expiration date set September 30, 1950. Your Conuniitee insisted in the demand for a two year contract with the operators because of the unsettled conditions in the Maritime Industry, as applies to jobs, wages and conditions, and the possibilities of the situation getting even worse within the next year or so. Your Committee points out that this present time in this industry in certain respects is com­ parable with the 1921-1922 period after the first World War, when the maritime union of that time was smashed, and conditions for seamen destroyed for many years, because of not being able to recognize and cope with the problems of that era. Your Committee feels that, with the signing of this two year contract, it shall greatly aid the Union in coming through this trying period with cis much security as can possibly be achieved. Continuity Clause The Union has negotiated back into the contract a continuity clause providing that unless either party notifies the other party 60 days prior to the expira­ tion date of the contract of its desire to terminate or modify the contract, the contract shall then remain in effect for an additional two years. This clause had previously been dropped from SIU conlracts and Ihe Commiilee feels that by re­ negotiating the clause, it will thus allow the Union ample time before the. expiration date of the contract to know what the intentions of the operators are. We will thereby have at the ex- ' piration date of this contract, September 30, 1950, a 60 day warning in the event the shipowners intend to attempt to change the contract. We therefore would have sufficient time to prepare if signs at that time show a fight Tyith the ship­ owners is coming up. Artiele I—Employment The Union has embodied as part of this new full contract the Hiring Hall Clause which has been previously negotiated with these same contracted operators. Your Committee points out that this Hiring Hall Clause as previously negotiated represents a tight Union-controlled Hiring Hall Clause emd has, as a further protective stipulation, that the Union may, at any time it sees fit, go back and negotiate any part or all of the question of em­ ployment. This will be added protection for the Union in .the event further anti-labor laws are passed or present ones changed. Article II — General Rules SECTION 12. MEDICAL RELIEF The Union has negotiated a new paragraph to be known as paragraph (b) under this section which provides that penicillin shall be carried in all ship­ board medicine chests and supplied free of charge to ^amen needing same, with administration and dosage to be handled in the manner as prescribed by U.S. Public Health Service. Various members of the Union have had trouble on board ship over the past wherein certain Skippers have forced seamen to pay for penicillin when they were treated with same. This problem has now been eliminated, and crewmembers will be able in the future to have greater medical protection > on all vessels, at no personal cost, as a result of this new section. SECTION 17. EXPLOSIVES A The Union negotiated a clause under this heading to allow that gasoline shall be considered in the future as a 10% penalty rather than as an explosive. All other explosive items in the contract were left as before. This contract change puts the SIU in line .with most all other Unions on this matter, and wiU thus not penalize SIU operators carrying this type cargo in the future, as it has in the past. Having this item as explosives never has been a means for a much greater earning capacity for SIU mem­ bers, but it definitely has been a means of SIU loss of jobs wherein SlU-contracted operators pre­ viously could not and would not bid for this type cargo in competition with other operators contract­ ed to other'Unions, who were not required to pay for gasoline as an explosive bonus. SECTION 18. PENALTY The Union has dropped as a 10 percent penalty cargo the items of coal and coke. The Union did main­ tain a clause under this section that provides that overtime shall be paid to men on watch and over­ time and one-half for men off watch who clean holds which have been used to carry this type cargo. The Union further re-negotiated the penalty clause making an allowance that copra, before it is to be classed as penalty, shall be carried up to 3000 tons, rather than in lOOO-ton lots, as carried in the old contract. All other items contained in the contract as penalty •cargoes were left as before. Your Commilfee feels Ihaf the move of chang­ ing in this confracf the penalty clause is of an important nature, and that the membership should understand it thoroughly. Since a previous SIU Negotiating Committee of several years forced a clause requiring SIU contracted operators to pay 10 percent for coal and coke cargo, the Union has lost every single vessel contracted to it which formerly had been carrying this type cargo; a loss of all jobs on more than seventy ships. No other maritime union heis ever had, and does not have at the present time, any such clause. The SIU membership, as a result of these pre­ vious negotiations, lost thousands of jobs which now, in most cases, belong to members of other Unions. Your Negotiating Committee feels that, by changing the contract in the manner it did, it makes it possible for SIU contracted operators to go back into this type of traffic and therefore allow for more possible jobs for our own members. SECTION 19. HOLIDAYS The Union has negotiated a clause under this section providing that, whether at sea or in port, when a holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following shall be recognized as a holiday. » „ This represents an increase in the earning ca­ pacity of the SIU membership in all ratings. SECTION 24. WORKING BALLAST The Union has negotiated, for the first time, a new clause in the contract providing that when sand baUast is washed off deck by hose that those men on watch doing such work shall be paid at the over­ time rate, and those men off watch doing same shall be paid overtime and one-half. This represents an incretise in the earning ca­ pacity of the SIU membership in all ratipgs. SECTION 53. MANNING SCALE The Union has negotiated, for the first time by any Union, a clause guaranteeing the carrying of no less than all present manning scales on all SIU vessels for the duration of the contract. A further stipulation in this clause points out that this, however, does not apply to special ratings which are carried only, for one or a given number of trips, but deals with the specific regular manning scales for all • departments that are now carried on board aU our vessels. Your Commiitee feels thai Ihis represents a real guarantee to the Union of top job security for the next two years. It Will prevent the operators from cutting down or chiseling in any ..manner'on the manning scales now in effect. SECTION 55. TRANSFCHtATrON The Union has revised Transportation to the extent where, in the future, when SIU vessels reach their final port of discharge in a Continental American port after a foreign voyage, they shall not be entitled to paid transportation back to the port of engagement,, if the vessel is to continue to that area within a 10 day period. Other clauses on transportation remain the same. Your Commiitee feels thai this new transporta­ tion clause shall be beneficial to the membership, ^ because of the fact that we have had considerable, co^usion on the matter of transportation in the a past. Bitter beefs have developed with the ship­ owners because they have complained that iii the former SIU transportation clauses, in some in­ stances, SIU crews receive transportation as many as three times for one voyage and even then remained on board the vessel. Your Committee further clarified this trEmsportation in such a manner that, in the future, all SIU members receiving transportation shall be required to get off the ship and new replacements shipped from the Union Hall. Your Committee points out that it is of the very strong opinion that the sole purpose of any transportation clause is for the actual securing of transportation for any crewmember rating same. This Negotieiing Committee is of the further opin­ ion that any time a member is entitled to transpor­ tation, and receives same, he should get off that vessel. This not only will greatly increase the number of jobs to be made avedlable to our mem­ bership, but also will be a basis for eliminsition of a great many disputes of all kinds arising on this issue. The fact, too, that the Atlantic and Gulf is the only District in the SIU at this time which allows members to receive transportation and still stay on board a vessel has caused many ' beefs between Districts of the SIU. This should now be eliminated. Your Committee regards this change as a gain for the membership as a whole, not only as a means for creating further employment on board . SIU vessels, but of making for better relations in the frcimework of our Uxiion. Article III—Deck Department SECTION 1. WAGES The Union has secured $12.50 increase across the board for all ratings with the exception of the Boat­ swain, who shall receive $25. • ' SECTION 12. DIVISION OF OVERTIME The Union has clarified the contract so that in the future the Boatswain High Man Overtime, as guaran­ teed in the contract, shall not include the 8 hours overtime which is paid watch standers in the Deck Department for routine watches on Sundays at sea. Your Committee feels that this clarification shall be of benefit to SIU Boatswains. The SIU is the only Union in the industry that has such a clause for. the Boatswain. In addition to this, SIU Boatswains are now the highest paid on ;any American vessel. It has been agreed with the operators that in the future^ whenever the Boatswain is called out to do overtime work, that he shall be called out in reasonable hours to perform regular shipboard work. In the past, some Mates have czilled Boatswuns out at all hours of the night to do ridicu­ lous jobs, simply for the purpose of attempting to have the Boatswain refuse to do such overtime, knowing that if he did refuse, he would there­ fore lose all claim for high man overtime. This shall not happen in the future ahd, as a result, shipboard working conditions should be much better for the Boatswains on this matter than they were before. SECTION 21. TOPPING AND LOWERING BOOMS The Union has successfully negotiated a new clause undet* this heading, to be known as paragraph (f), spelling out for the first time in plain language that when the deck gang is required to spot booms for longshore work, they shall be compensated at the longshore rate. The Union has always meiintained that this is overtime work, and as a general rule we collect this beef. The shipowners, however, have made many beefs over the issue in the past because it was not clearly written in the contract. This new clause shall eliminate that chiseling in the future.. SECTION 24. CARPENTER'S WORK The Union has revised paragraph (a) of this section to provide that Carpenters shall sound all bilges, fresh water and ballast tanks at sea or in port dailyi, Your Committee feels that this will create > greater earning capacity for the Carpenter. Pre-' viously, a few of the shipowners occasionally • would attempt to' chisel on Sundays and holiday (Cotttimied on Page 14) �Friday, August 20, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Thirteen • ';3 Brother Feel& Item In Log Harmed 111 Seamen, Doctors To the Editor: GETTING SOME SUN ON THE ARROW Please withhold my name for obvious reasons. An Sni patient EUU Island Marina. Hospital(Ed. Note: The'Editors-of the LOG and Hank share the Brother's concern over the^ gravity -of these illnesses and agree that psychopathic dis­ orders are not to be treated lightly. Like the writer of the letter, the Editors of the LOG have respect for the doctors who are devoting their lives to the study and relief of thesn affitctioas. It is hoped the LOG' -will shorRy .be able to cany, a story on. the lino work being- done in- m^ne hospitals -in this field. WhUe Hank's attempt' at- humor missed the mark, it is btfieved the bro&ers will' bear-in-mind the spirit in which it wo»>. in­ tended.) I am writing this as an answer to an item carried in the JJOG column "Cut And Run" by Hank. In his column of July 30, he at­ tempted to create a humorous joke out of psychopathic dis­ orders. The joke, I'm afraid, fell rather flat for us imdergoing treatment here at the Marine Hospital on Ellis Island, which specializes in neurology. The statement by Hank but proves the ignorant and misunformed attitude of the general public towards modem psycho­ pathic therapy. Ta anyone still believing it to Six Seafarers on Robin's Marine Arrow pause in their be a great joke, I extend., them an invitation to make a visit to sunning long enough for Jack Dietrich to snap this picture. the hospital here. I need not go The boys are, left to right—Chalo'wltch, Oiler; B. Rami. Assist­ into details, but a few of the ant Electrician: J. Vann, AB; J. Disto, AB; Ray Hullgren, sicknesses (most of them war D.M.; R. Woodford, AB. calised) resulting from psy­ chopathic disoi'ders are twisted limbs, nervous pains, neuritis, pleuresy, arthritis, tuberculosis and paralysis. To the Editor: But I thank the SIU Members chocolate for my old mother. I have met aboard the ships in However I am very, very happy No, to "us it is far from being In the late afternoon of Sun­ a laughing matter. It also was day, August 1, I boarded the SS Rotterdam for the pleasant time and glad that I have been able no laughing matter when the LaSalle, Waterman Line, to dis­ I had with them. If a Seafarer to do the SIU a favor. L. Pleysier radio operator aboard the Carson tribute as usual the SEA­ is in the hospital, I will visit him Rotterdam anyway to cheer him up. And dived over the side of the ship. FARERS LOG. I wish the if he needs something, well, (Ed. Note: We are discon­ The man was definitely ill. membership of the SIU to know leave it to me! tinuing the bundle of 40 LOGS that I never got a penny for this FAITH IN DOCTORS Will you please publish this in which you have been recemng social work. the LCXJ in order that the mem­ in past months for distribution, We believe in the doctors I've done it on my own with­ bership will know. as you have requested. We whom Hank condemns. We are out any intention of making TOO EXPENSIVE wish to thank you for Ihe grateful to these "brain butch­ money out of it. I thought it Distributing the LOG cost me services you have rendered to ers" who had the courage and to be my duty to distribute the fortitude to pioneer and explore LOG in my spare time, as a re­ so much money in trolly-car Ihe membership in Rotterdam, the field of psychiatric medicine. ward for what the American fare, launch fares, etc., besides and regret the unpleasant­ Because of their work many of Seafarers did for the liberation the losses incurred in buying nesses you have encountered, stamps and other things for SIU and the fact that this contact the present disorders can be of Holland. I had to leave the SS LaSalle members who never paid me, •has prove too costly for youcured. Many men in Rotterdam and that I cannot afford to continue Remember, too, that this is no on account of the fact that I it. other ports find occasion to science of the study of rare presented to the Master a book­ I have spent about 100 guilders contact seamen under various let "In TheAt Sea." AU maladies. It has been proven in distributing the LOG. During motives. We find that those that 70 percent of the people at Masters o f American vessels this time I have met several you have expressed are the have thanked me for this book­ some time during their lives will good guys who have given me a most exemplary that have be in need of psychiatric guid­ let, and I thought to do him a pack of cigai'ettes, or some come to cur attention.) favor by presenting it to him. ance. A blue card is inclosed to show 1 would appreciate it if you you why said booklet is pub­ would print this in the LOG. lished. (The card states that The LOG is widely read here funds realized from the booklet in the hospital by' the doctors, go to the families of dead sea­ nurses and the patients. I would men—^Ed.) for two weeks. I am on out­ like to have them know that not On the LaSalle were some To the Editor; patient treatment now, enjoying all members of our excellent wise guys who thought I wanted I would like to put in a good life around the Tampa Hall with Union share the "joke" recently to buy ship's stores and linen. word for the Municipal Hospital plenty of time to think things stated by Hank. To them and the man who in Tampa. When I was in there over. wanted to sell me a packet of recently, I found the Marine I want all concerned over this cigarettes for two guilders, I doctors, Bush and Hammond, 'Thanks For LOG' tragedy to know that everything want to say that I only came very attentive. They made their Says Brother Headed possible was done for the victims aboard to distribute the LOG. rounds regularly and gave the at the Hospital. Inland On Trip patients every consideration. VISITS HOSPITALS I hope to be back out at sea Furlliennore, the cooperation To the Editor: I sometimes take things to SIU with you fellows shortly. It, men in the hospitals. In fact, given the doctors and patients, .1 have enjoyed reading the that day I bought one of your by the nurses, aids, and or­ won't matter to me whether it's LOG very much during the year brothers in the hospital a pack derlies was indeed gratifying. the "Rum and Calypso," or the I have been on the beach here. of cigarettes from my own ra­ Tampa Agent Hall, Brother "Rupee"- runs. But now I am going on the road tions. Someday they may be in Bob Sheppard and his wife, as James L. Jones for an indefinite period, and the hospital themselves without well as other SIU men visited wdlild like to have you discon­ cigarettes and they will 'know me and, George Griffin almost tinue my copy until I settle what it means. every day, bringing cigarettes, down again with a permanent A good many Ship's Delegates radios, etc. Quite a bit of this address. have asked me to become the was donated by Brothers on To the Editor: I haven't said anything lately I hope to be in New York Patrolman for Rotterdam, Ant­ ships in port and around the about my seagoing experiences. this fall for a short visit and I werp, giid Bremen. I beg them Hall. I got married and spent a few can then pick up the back is­ and the rest of the membership I was steamrcooked on the SS sues that I have missed, and at of the SIU to know that I am Bartram, when a main steamline weeks with my wife in Char­ the same time look up some of finished with distributing the broke, July 3, as she was lying lotte, N. C. and am now in my old shipmates. LOG in Rotterdam. I have more along side the dock here. Mo­ Weehawken, N.J. — right across maritime union papers to dis­ hammed Elysaid died immedi­ the river. I'm heading back to Richard S. Young tribute in this port—about four. ately, and George Griffin lived sea shortly for what I think will Pipostono, Minn. Log Dh^butor In Netherlands Bows Out Navigator Man Finds 'Pineapple Run' Dull Trip To the Eklitor: Greetings from one and all aboard th^ Steel Navigator. I will enclose a war-time picture from Le Havre which many members will recognize. This pineapple run has proven to be the dullest trip I ever made. We do have a good crew —but, after all, that is to be expected of an SIU gang. The only sour apple aboard is "Mad­ man Spilker," Chief Engineer, who jumps on his men for no reason at all. We have two very lucky men aboard, " Buddy" the PO Messman and "Harvey" the 4-8 Oiler. But "Chips" is the unlucky one. I'd like to post a notice to any . one stopping at Honolvdu to be­ ware of "Young's Honolulu Laundry Service." The only thing these guys are good for is cleaning your pockets. For ex­ ample, two shirts poorly done cost 66 cents, and one suit, two shirts, one pair of dungarees, four T-shirts, one pair of shorts, and three pair of socks cost $7.50. Here's hoping the shipping is good in the States now and stays that way tiU we get there. Rocky Gomino Engine Delegate Remember? Victim Of Bartram Blast Praises Tampa Hospital, Branch Officials This sign, before which three Seafarers stand, should bring back memories to those who visited Le Havre right after the war, says Rocky Gomino, who sent the photo to the LOG. Erected by the Army when Le Havre was an embarkation center for GI's returning to the States, the sign reskds: "Go West, Young Man. To The Lady With The Lamp In Her Hand." From left to right the pictured Sea­ farers are George, Tobin and Fries. Says 'So Long' To Sea—Time Will Tell _ ... , be my last trip. But I'm going to continue to write in to the LOG whenever I have anything to say; and I won't miss a meeting when I am in a port town. I want to say best wishes to all of you who have been my shipmates. John R. Cbakor �THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Fourteen No Patrolman At Ship; Seafarer Beefs — Offers Possible Solution To the Editor; Blowing off steam for the sheer delight of making a noise is a good thing, but if at the same time a cure for the" cause is offered it's even better. I've got a beef to air and I believe, the solution to the beef. about any selves, shortages by our­ had happened the beef never have materialized. Friday, August 20, 1948 From 'Here's What I Think' To Here's Who I Am would PASS THE WORp The Mate, seeing that the crew wasn't represented, took the at­ Second. If a Patrolman wasn't titude that the Union doesn't available the Hall should have give a damn about this crew and told us so the first time we took great license with the called. They should have told agreement. He figured nothing us why a Patrolman wasn't able would happen to him as no one to make the ship. A couple of months ago I was would call him on the carpet for If this had happened the Dele­ aboard the SS Kyska as Ship's his misdeeds. gates could have gone to the Delegate. We signed on in New As a result of all this the Hall with the crew's grievances. York and went to Mobile for crew's morale suffered a sever-e There an official could have stores. From there we were blow. The men felt the Union handled the beef over the phone headed for the Far East on a had deserted them. Too, the with a company official. This three-months trip. crew and the Union lost face j method is often used. We arrived in Mobile at 9 with the officers of the ship. If The official at the Hall also A. M. and took- on slopchest the crew wanted to demand any­ could have called the ship's of­ stores. As per SIU procedure, thing it would have a hard time ficers and possibly settled the we called the Mobile Hall for a as long as the officers the Union beef directly. Even if the beef Patrolman. We were told, "Sure, would not back up the crew weren't settled the ship's offi­ a Patrolman is on his way when the ship hit port. cers would then know the Union down." When he didn't show up was aware of the crew's beef and That pretty well sums up the was solidly behind them. Tiiat at 10 A. M. we called again. beef and here is what I feel is would have eliminated the Again the same answer. some constructive criticism: Mate's skirting the contract. By 4:30 P. M. we were getting Those are my suggestions as to First. A Patrolman should kinda sore. No Patrolman, and how the beef on the Kyska could have contacted the ship. If this the ship was to sail at 5 P. M. have been handled, but inasmuch We called once more and, as be­ as that trip has ended and noth­ fore, we were told a Patrolman ing can be done about it now, was on his way. He never this letter is for the pui-pose of • showed up. The next regular member­ eliminating similar beefs on The ship then pulled out of ship meetings will be held other ships. port without having a Patrolman Wednesday evening, Aug. 25 I don't hold the faiTUre in the having been aboard. at 7 P.M. in all ports. With Kyska case to any person in the exception of New York, As a result of this the Kyska Mobile. The chances are that all branches hold their meet­ men received no representation they were vei-y busy and the ings in their own halls. at a time when it was soi'cly call for a Patrolman got lost in New York meetings are needed. This was the ship's last the shuffle, but I do want to call held in Roosevelt Auditor­ port before heading to the Farit to the attention of the officials ium, 100 East 17th Street, East and if the ship were short in all ports so that crews will corner of Fourth Avenue. on stores when it left Mobile it not have to leave port in the These sessions are a good was going to be a long trip and future under the conditions chance for you to hit the a beef-filled one. forced on the Kyska men. deck and speak your piece. This is the sort of beef that That was what happened to From the meeting place can come up in any port. I hope the Kyska. The slopchest was comes the ideas, rules and as a result of this letter it will found to be short many • items. regulations responsible for not have to come up again. The crew, however, suffered the effective functioning of greater harm that just short sup­ Robert Niedermery our Union. plies. Ship's Delegate Take an active part in the SS Kyska NO INSPECTION SIU. Make sure you're at The Mate refused to allow the the meeting. • Remember, the (Ed. Note: The Mobile Port Delegate to check the slopchest time is 7 P. M. All Brothers Agent, of course, is welcome without the Patrolman being must show up promptly. to give his views on this beef present. This cut off finding out i in the pages of the LOG.) CARRASQUILLO FERRARA Branch Meetings BONAFONT ERIKSEN Dut to an unfortunate error in the press room while running off last week's SEAFARERS LOG, the pictures .of the above Brothers, appearing in the LOG feature "Here's What I Think," were incorrectly captioned. With all due apologies to the four Seafarers, here they are correctly identified. From time to time (sometimes too embarrassingly frequently) this happens—but this week we are glad to set the rec.ord straight. To these Brothers: it won't happen again. Of A&G Negotiating Committee {Continued From Page 12) soundings so as to prevent payment of overtime. This revision of the Carpenter's clause shall inthe future prevent such happening. Article IV — Engine Department SECTION 1. WAGES Second Electrician's Union Hiring Hall. wages . shipped from the SECTION 31. WIPER'S DUTIES The Union has agreed in this new contract that Wipers nay be required during their regular work­ ing hours to paint out unlicensed Engine Department forecastles and toilets without the payment of over­ time. The Committee points out that this action is in keeping with the Union's position that an SIU ship is a clean ship. The Committee further points out that the Wiper is now making top wages and should be allowed to do this type oF work which is of great benefit to unlicensed members of the Engine Department, as it will allow tor neater and cleaner forecastles. The Union has secured $12.50 increase acro.ss the board for all ratings. The Union also negotiated under the question of wages that in the future, in,stead of carrying AssistElectricians on board SIU vessels, there shall Instead be carried a Second Electrician at the new Second Electrician wages. The Union feels this is a big gain. In the past, SIU contracted operators have carried Assistants and paid them at the Assistant rate, which is con­ siderably less than the Second's, wages. The Un­ Article V — Stewards Department ion further negotiated with the operator that any SECTION 1. WAGES man who is now sailing as Assistant Electrician on their vessel, and who has Electrician's en­ The Union has secured $12.50 increase across the dorsement, shall, upon the signing of the next board for all rating.s, set of ship's articles, be signed on at the new SECTION 32. DAY WORK Second Electrician wages. The Union further agreed that those men now The Union has agreed under this section, para­ sailing SlU-contracted vessels as Assistant Electrigraph (D, that on vessels which carry passengers cijuis, and who do not have Electrician endorse­ the purpose of taking care of those passengers, once ments, shall have the opportunity to remain in extra Utilitymen who have been placed on board for that company's employ on board that vessel as those passengers are discharged, such extra Utilitylong as they care, and shall be at the next sign­ men as carried may then be required to sougee pas­ ing of ship's articles given, in addition to Assist­ sengers quarters as part of their routine work. ant Electrician wages, the $12.50 increase. It was Your Conuniltee points cmt that this change in further agreed that, when this particular type of contract wiU make it more desirable and possible Assistant Electrician quits the vessel he is on, for SIU contracted operators to go into the com­ the job shall be filled by a Second Electrician at bination freight ship-passenger ship trafific of the eleven pB.ssenger type, thus creating more jobs for our membership. Your Committee further points out that the Utility Messman is the only member of the SIU Stewards Department under this agreement who may be required to do this type work, and he may be* required to do such work only after passengers' are discharged. Commencement Date Your Committee has agreed and stipulated in this new contract that the effective dale of wages on all vessels shall be August 17, 1948. Youi- Committee further agreed that the commencement date of the new contractual terms other than wages shall be on the first signing of articles of vessels after the date of the signing of this new contract August 17, 1948. Your Committee points out that this was necessary due to the fact that, while it is possible that wages could go into effect on all vessels, it is an impossi­ bility to apply new working conditions in the same manner. Conclusion • Your Committee recommends tb you the full adop­ tion of this report. We base this recommendation on the fact that this contract, as outlined in this report, fepresents great gains for our members not only in their earning capacity and working rules but, equally important, more actual job security than ever before ' achieved, not only by oiu: own Union, but by any Union in the Maritime Industry at anytime. PAUL HALL ROBT. A. MATTHEWS J. P. SHULER JOE ALGINA LINDSEY J. WILLIAMS CHARLES HAYMOND �Friday. August 20. 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Fifteen Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings in Brief Juan resolution to the Head,TAMPA—Chairman. Tony Soquarters Committee. sa. 24467; Recording Secretary. Ralph Seckinger. 307; Reading 4 4 4 NEW YORK — Chairman, Clerk. Bob Hall. 26060. Charles Haymond. 98; Recording New Business of all Branches REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL holding regular meetings was PORT DECK ENG. STWDS. REG. DECK ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED Secretary. Freddie Stewart. 4935; read and all were accepted with Boston 39 27 34 100 12 5 18 35 Reading Clerk, Eddie Parr. 96. Minutes of previous meetings the exception of Savannah, New York ...v191 226 227 644 164 174 165 503 in other Branches read and ac­ where that part giving the Ag­ Philadelphia 123 65 41 229 * 60 49 33 142 cepted for resolution in San ent authority to excuse members Baltimore 277 152 134 563 1.56 94 82 332 Juan proceedings calling for pur­ was not concurred with; and Norfolk , 88 52 38 178 62 20 ' 21 103 Puerto Rico, where that part of Savannah 76 54 50 180 9 5 5 19 chase of new Hall there. In dis­ the minutes referring to the Tampa 28 40 32 100 27 30 29 86 cussion, several members pointed purchasing of a building was Mobile 216 263 190 669 97 79 79 255 out that it was more important referred to Headquarters Com­ New Orleans 188 128 150 466 164 129 153 446 that buildings be gotten in other Brother Dan Butts, mittee. SUP and Great Lakes Galveston 102 47 • . 21 170 71 24 13 108 ports first. former Port Agent in San Juan, minutes were posted on the San Juan (FIGURES NOT AVAILABLE) held that the locality under con­ board. The Agent reported that *San Francisco 43 28 19 90 18 15 14 47 sideration was not a good one, shipping was holding fair with GRAND TOTAL 1,371 1,082 936 3,389 840 624 612 2,076 and that the px'ice asked was too bookmembers having no trouble 'Note: Szui Francisco figures cover one week period only. high. The motion to non-concur getting a job within a few days carried. Port Agent pointed out after registering He reported that the building was coming along that the Secretary-Treasurer in­ ship dated July 28, were read the SS Yarmouth. Report ac- that despite lull in maritime, nicely with the likelihood that struct the Baltimore Agent to and accepted. The Dispatcher cepted. The reports of the Pa­ shipping in New York was conour side would be finished by investigate and submit a report made his report—229 registered, trolman, Dispatcher, and the Ag- t'nuing at fair clip. He also inthe last of the week. Showers on property suitable for a new and 142 shipped—which was ac- ent's Financial Report were made | formed membership that the could be had by membex-s by Hall there. Carried. Motion to cepted. One minute of silence and accepted. The resolution Bernstein Shipping Company asking the Dispatcher for the request Headquarters to send ad­ for departed Brothers. Meeting from Puerto Rico was voted was scheduled for a hearing be­ key. Report accepted. The Sec­ ditional copies of Branch min­ adjourned at 8:00 P.M. with 195 down with 90 bookmen against fore Maritime Commission, on its retary-Treasurer's report on the utes and reports so that they members present. and none in favor. One minute application for subsidy to oper­ signing of a two-year contract could be posted on bulletin of silence for departed Brothers. ate two passenger ships to Ant­ 4 4 4 with Mississippi was accepted, board. One minute of silence foxwerp and Rotterdam. In verbal 4 4 4 SAN FRANCISCO — Chair­ with a vote of thanks to the departed Brothers. report the Secretary-Treasurer man. A. S. Cardulio. 24599; Re­ GALVESTON—Chairman. Val New York Negotiating Commit­ announced record gains won in 4 4 4. cording Secretary. A1 Bernstein. James. 7803; Recording Secre­ tee, and a rousing vote of thanks SAVANNAH—Chairman. W. J. 21065; Reading Clerk. G. Mett- tary. Keith Alsop, 7311; Reading Mississippi contract signed in to New Orleans Port Agent, Bull (Bill) Brantley. Gill; Recording ing. 49839. New Orleans. He also discussed Clerk. R. WilUirn. 37739. Sheppard, for a good job. One status of negotiations with oper­ Previous minutes dated July Secretary. Frank Richardson. Galveston Branch minutes for ators of Atlantic and Gulf Ship minute of silence was observed 38220; Reading Clerk. Charles 21, were read and accepted. New July 28, and Financial Report 'for departed Brothers. Business only of Branches hold­ for July 31, and August 7, x-ead Ownex's Association and declared Starling. 6920. Motions made to accept and ing x-egular meetings was read and accepted. Moved and car­ that the same contract as Mis­ 4 4. 4. sissippi's demanded of them, in­ BALTIMORE—Chairman. Ben file minutes of all Branches af­ and accepted. Motion by ' San- ried to accept the Tx-casurcr's cluding the $12.50-$25.00 wage -Lawson. 894; Recording Secre­ ter reading New Business only. ford, 33251, to notify Harry Financial Reports for July 24, hikes and other prominent fea­ Assistant Secretary and 31. New Business of Bran­ tary. Robertson, 30148; Reading West Coast and Great Lakes Johnson, minutes were posted. The Agent Treasurer, SUP, to ask all SUP ches holding meetings was read tures. Vai'ious matters of gen­ Clerk. A1 Stansbury. 4683. eral interest were discussed xmBaltimore minutes for July reported that shipping had been Agents to forward minutes of and- accepted. Special meetings. der Good and Welfare. One min­ 28, Baltimore Financial Report slower for the past couple of their Branch meetings to the Agent's Reports, West Coast and ute of silence was observed for for July 31, and the Secretai-y- weeks. He reported that he had San Francisco A&G Branch at Great Lakes Minutes were ac­ departed Brothers. Treasurer's Weekly Financial paid off the SS Southland (South their new address, 85 Third cepted and filed. Galveston Ag­ 4 4 4 Report for July 21, were all read Atlantic) in Jacksonville, with Street. Second by D. Bell, and ent's, Patrolman's,, and Dis­ NEW ORLEANS — Chairman, a few beefs, and that he ex­ several. Carried. The West Coast and accepted. Only New Business patcher's reports were accepted. Leroy Clarke. 23062; Recording of Branches holding meetings pected to pay off the SS South- Representative's report and the A wire from the Secretary- Secretary, Johnny Johnston. 53; was read. All were accepted. wind Friday. Two ships were Patrolman's report were read Treasurer notifying of the sign-, Rg^^ing Clerk. Buck Stephens. West Coast and Great Lakes expected for the next week but, and accepted. Under New Busi­ xng of the new contract with ^0 Minutes were posted, and all being on regular runs, there ness, there was a motion to ex­ the Mississippi Shipping Co. was New Ox'leans previous minutes ship's minutes were forwarded would be few replacements. Ac­ tend a vote of thanks to the read and accepted with a vote for July 28, read and accepted. to the Editor of the LOG. The cepted. The Secretary-Treasurer's San Francisco Building Commit­ of thanks to Bull Sheppard, New New Oxdeans financial reports for Secretary-Treasurer's report on Report, and his Financial Report tee. Carried. Under Good and Orleans Agent. Under New Bus­ July 31, and August 7 accepted . the signing of a two-year con­ for July 17 and 24 were read Welfare it was decided to fol­ iness thex-e was a motion that as x-ead and audited. The Secre­ tract with Mississippi was ac­ and accepted. The Dispatcher's low the Building Committee's profits from the coca cola and tary-Treasurer's financial reports cepted with a vote of thanks. Report was made £ind accepted. report in laying out the new cigarette machines be u.sed at of July 24 and July 31, read and Under Good and Welfare there HaU. The Building Committee the Agent's discretion. Carried. The Agent's, Patrolmen's, and accepted with exception of San Dispatcher's Reports were made was discussion on why the move explained that the delay in Motion by J. Petro, G-133, that Juan. It was moved .to non-con­ had not been made to the new opening the San Francisco Hall he be aUowed to ship. Amend­ and all accepted. One minute of cur in that part of the San Juan silence was observed in mem­ Hall which is being paid for. was caused by the difficulty in ed, that Petro go back tc Balti­ minutes relating to the purchas­ Meeting adjourned 7:35 P.M. with finding suitable quarters, and more and square away with the ory of departed Brothers. The ing of a new building, and re­ 88 men present. that the final success of the situation on the Ore Line ships Union if possible, but that if Committee was not the result Galve.ston Branch meeting of commended that the Union con­ 4 4 4 was discussed on the floor under PHILADELPHIA — Chairman. of good luck, but rather came July 28th is concurred in up fine the buying of buildings to Good and Welfare. L. A. Gardner, 3697; Reading about through hard work and and down the Coast that he be the main-land. The Agent re­ 4 4. 4• Clerk. M. Cerelli. 24820; Record­ walking all over town until the placed in the Social Register. ported that the business aff£dx:-s of the port were. in very good NORFOLK—Chairman. Ander­ ing Secretary. D. C. Hall, 43372. right place was located at a Carried. shape. In line with the Union's reasonable rent. One minute of son. 5510; Recording Secretary. All New Business of Branches 4 4 4 program of saving money when­ silence for departed Brothers. Baker. 30907; Reading Clerk. holding meetings was accepted, ever possible, the Union has MOBILE — Chairman. Oscar Roundlree. 36979. except that part- of Savannah 4 4 4 rented the old Hall which it Stevens. 115G; Recording Sec­ BOSTON—Chairman. J. GreenNorfolk minutes for July 28 minutes pertaining to the Agent owns at 339 Chartres Sti-eet, to retary. Jeff Morrison. 24213; read and accepted. The Nor­ acting on excuses, which was baum. 281; Recording Secretary. Mrs. J. Randall for $100 per folk Financial Reports for July non-concux-ed with. The New C. L. MacDonald. 50632; Read­ Reading Clerk. H. J. Fischer. month. It is stipulated that the G-59. 31 £md August 7, accepted. Sec­ York Special Meetings of July ing Clerk. J. Arabasr. 29836. place is rented on a monthly Minutes of meetings held in The Boston Branch minutes retary-Treasurer's Financial Re­ 15, and 19 were accepted, as basis so that in event of strike ports for July 24 and 31 read well as the Norfolk Special for July 28, were filed. All New Philadelphia, New Orleans, and and the space is needed, the and accepted. New Business of Meeting of July 24. Great Lakes Business of other Branches hold­ Baltimore were referred to New Union can take possession. The Branches holding meetings were and SUP Branch Minutes wex-e ing meetings were read and ac­ Business. All other Branch min­ read and accepted with the ex­ posted. The Agent reported that cepted except Puerto Rico, where utes were accepted with only Agent further reported that an ception of Puerto Rico Min­ shipping was holding fair, and a motion was made to non-con- New Business being read. Motion agreement had been signed with utes, which were held over to that half of the payoffs were cur with the resolution on the to accept the communication the Mississippi Shipping Co., in New Business. The Agent re­ A&G-contracted tankers. He urg­ new building, as it was felt from the Secretary-Treasurer on which many gains had been ported on the progress of the ed the members to take these that it called for too much the signing of the Mississippi achieved for the Union, includ­ Negotiating Committee, on the jobs. The* membership was given money for a building in Puerto agreement, and a vote of thanks ing a substantial raise, a twoefforts being made by the Un­ a "report on the negotiations be­ Rico, and further that we should was given to New Orleans Ne­ year contract, and the maintainion to obtain draft deferment ing carried on by Headquarters set up new Halls in the States gotiating Committee for their ance of the Union Hiring Hall. for seamen, and he gave a res­ Negotiating Committee with var­ first. Ernest Tilley reported that good work. The Headquarters The report was accepted with a ume of business and shipping ious SS operators and he ex­ he had been appointed by the Report was accepted. The Ag­ vote of thanks. The Patrolmen for the past two'weeks. He re­ plained the necessity for com­ Secretary-Treasurer to relieve ent, Patrolmen, and Dispatcher reported on various beefs, with ported that shipping would not plete cooperation by the entire Brother Siekmann who had gave their I'eports which were nine payoffs, and seven signons be good in th^ following weeks. SIU membership at this time. asked for leave. He further re­ accepted. One minute of silence in the past two weeks. Ac­ Report accepted. Motion made Report accepted. A communica­ ported that the membership had was observed for departd Bro­ cepted. Dispatcher reported 466 that the New Business and Res- tion on seaman's imemployment been cooperating in hitting the thers. Under Good and WeKare, registered and 446 shipped. The Dlution from Puerto Rico be compensation was accepted and Cities Service ships that come the membership was warned to Secretary-Treasurer's report on tabled until the Union completes posted. The Secretary-Treasurer's to this area. Negotiations were turn all overtime in within 72 the new contract with the Mis­ the building program in Con­ Financial Reports for July 24 and expected to start with Eastern hours as per the agreements. sissippi Shipping Co. was continental U.S. ports. Amendment 31, and his Report To Member­ on a winter manning scale for Motion carried to refer the San cur-red with. A&C Shipping From /ufy 28 To Aug 10 I �• Page Sixteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. August 20, 1948 WHAT ttmMK., .V. QUESTION: The A&G District of the SIU has signed eight more companies to the same contract previously won from the Mississippi Shipping Company. What do you think of the contract and which of its features do you consider to be outstanding? • • ' A - - ir-"' "V ~ A. GOLDSMIT, Ch. Steward: G. W. (BUI) CHAMPLIN, Bosun: HAL (Sandy) WILLIAMS. GUer: T. MOVER, Night Cook & Baker: p. SCHOENBORN, Carpenter: I think our Negotiating Com­ mittee deserves the thanks of all seamen for setting up the high­ est wages and best conditions in maritime history. It's another record gain for the Seafarers. With such a remarkable con­ tract, I think it's damned diffi­ cult to pick any particular fea­ ture as the best. Our manning scales are guaranteed for two years, something very important in this critical times. And the way has been opened for get­ ting more jobs through elimina­ tion of penalty clauses, which Other less aggressive unions had been capitalizing on. We've won e lot. The best contract in maritime history has just been signed. It is good, not just because of the pay increased, but it is good be­ cause of the conditions that are insured. Making the contract for two years instead of the usual one, is a piece of foresightedness on the part of the nego­ tiators. Often, to those ashore, a contract Ipoks good because it carries a pay increase, but the smooth working of a contract at sea is the real test of the actual conditions under which we work and live. The many clarifica­ tions are what guarantees this smooth working. From what I have reaif of it, the contract appears to be about the finest that could be ob­ tained. The wage increases, of course, are okay. So is the twoyear duration, with the set man­ ning scales. These provisions show the Union has foresight, especially in view of the state of maritime today. The penalty clauses were wisely amended, because the old provisions had us at a disadvantage. Now we'll be able to get some of those jobs back that have been going to other outfits. And the more jobs we can get at our monthly pay rates the better it wUl be for our members. The contract just signed, espe­ cially with the provision making it run for two years, is a very good one. Every one of its fea­ tures are outstanding: the wage increases, guaranteed manning scales and so on. The commit­ tee used good sense in paving the way for more jobs by amend­ ing the penalty clauses that were causing us to lose ships. My only objection is that chances for overtime in the Stewards De­ partment are being narrowed down. I have observed that the men themselves have been re­ sponsible by attempting to stretch jobs. I've objected to this right along. We were successful in ironing out several sore points that have been a drawback to us. Now they constitute a strengthening of our economic position for the days ahead. One of our major gains is the two-year contract, replacing the usual one-year agreement. The clause with re­ spect to penicillin was sorely needed. Up to now many men have been in a trying position when they became ill aboard ship. Such won't be the case any more. I believe that, in time, the adjustments in the coal, coke and copra penalty clauses will bring a vast im­ provement in shipping for Sea­ farers. ANTONIO CRUZ, MM: ROY GRUNDER, Utility: ROBERT MCQUEEN. Bosun: JOHN W. RIEBEL. Wiper: THOMAS CULLY. AB: As far as I am concerned the contract is, in general, a big gain for the men of the SIU. As a Steward Utility I'm not too crazy about the part where the Utility is to sougee out pas­ sengers' quarters without the payment of overtime. It's a lot of work cleaning these quarters two times a trip. Of course, if the company, through this, is going to add another man to the manning scale, then it's okay with me. I think they should put a man aboard to do the sougee work solely. I'm also solidly behind giving up the penalty pay for coal and coke if it means more jobs. I feel we' have a very good contract here, especially since the Bosun receives a $25 in­ crease in pay. I've been pulled out of my sack too many times in the night for foolish jobs; I'm glad to hear that's now in the past. I've always been of the opinion that a Bosun shouldget 3rd Mate's pay, or at least a greater differential from the AB. This brings that close into line. I also like the two-year period. The "Taft-Hartley law is bad enough, but there's no tell­ ing what Congress will try to add to it to make it tougher. This way we're covered' for a long time to come. Any contract that advances the cause of unionism and the wel­ fare of our own membership as this new contract has is 100 per cent okay with me. I've been a member since 1941 and, with each new contract won by our Union, I've seen the member­ ship's well-being improved. With this new contract, the SIU has ably met the threat to our liv­ ing standard by record wage in­ creases. I think the new coal and copra clauses are more im­ portant than many guys will think. It is a move to increase employment for Seafarers and anything that will, mean more ji^ I endorse wholeheartedly. I think that the boost in pay is the most important thing. And I like the feature that enables the Union to reopen talks on wages and other monetary mat­ ters. Getting a two-year con­ tract in these times was a smart move. And the two-year pro­ vision is made even more im­ portant by the fact that the present manning scales are .guar­ anteed for the life of contracL This is additional job security for the membership. I look for other maritime unions to foUovir, our lead. All seamen will eventually profit by our con­ tract, as in the past V While you'll hear no kick com­ ing from me on all the gains in the new contract, the one part that I most like is the two-year period. As far as I am con­ cerned, the longer the contract is in force the better I like it. Under the two-year set-up the wages, overtime and subsistence can be boosted while the rest of the contract holds fast. This way there is little chance of the op­ erators worming out of any of its provisions. Of course, the manning scale is assured of re­ maining as it is, thanks to the new clause won by the SIU's eiegotiating committee. ; � 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 August 20, 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. 34 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES JOB ACTIONS FORCE 8 COMPANIES TO SIGN PACT CALLS FOR BULLETIN BOARDS AND BOOK RACKS CREWS' JOB ACTIONS BRING QUICK RESULTS SEAFARERS ONCE AGAIN SHOWS HE WAY TO NMU:CURRANS CRIES FOR PARITY WITH A&G WAGE SCALE MOBILE REPORTS SHIPPING SHOWS NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT GALVESTO SEES GOOD SHIPPING SAMMY STEIN RETURN TO RING PR STRIKE END BOOMS SHIPPING FRISCO BRANCH SHAPES UP HALL SHIPPING SLUMPS IN BALTIMORE NEIL SHEEHSN DIES IN SANTOS NEW YORK SHIPPING HOLDS TO STEADY CORSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA AND ALCOA STEAMSHIP COMPANY,INC A.H. BULL STEAMSHIP COMPANY BALTIMORE INSULAR LINE,INC SOUTH ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP LINE SEAS SHIPPING COMPANY.INCC SEATRAIN LINES,INC EASTERN STEMSHIP LINES,INC SMITH&JOHNSON MISSISSIPPI SHIPPING COMPANY,INC ARTICLE 1 EMPLOYMENT ARTICLE 2 GENERAL RULES ARTICLE 3 DECK DEPARTMENT ARTICLE 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT ARTICLE 6 WAGE AND MANNING SCALES FOR STEWARDS DEPARTMET STEWARDS DEPARTMENT WORKS RULES REPORT OF A&G NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/20/1948 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/d8abc0fbb042ba45cabcd4cfdaaa786c.PDF c360e9f6914181d9d0edc96fc064ad37 PDF Text Text g',»jr^,'-'-sn.-;;--^.r~-f •''^v., SEAFARERS LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THi SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • '50^ BILL PASSES SlU WINS 7-YEAR RGHTFORCARGOES -Story on Page 2 Nominations Open For 49 Elective Offices In Union -Story on Page 3 Union To Probe Georgia Tax Levies On Seafarers "• ^^ ^ -Story on Page 2 'Ml-'-. M",' • .•v.'Vii �ihiffs Tw* SEAFdREnS lOG SIU Hails As 'SO-SO' Passes Aucusi 30. 1954 Union Probes Georgia Income Tax Garnishees Action by the State of Georgia in slapping tax garnishees on Seafarers sailing South Atlantic ships is now under study by ' WASHINGTON — The SIU and other maritime groups have scored a surprise the Union counsel to see if any redress can be obtained for upset victory to end a seven year fight for a permanent "SO-SO** law. The bill now the membership. Four Sea-" the men were paid off. ' The com­ farers sailing with the Savan­ pany had no choice but to comply awaits President Eisenhowers signature. steamship company for otherwise the men would not Passage of the bill by the House of Representatives came after strong pleas from nah-based were the victims of the garnishee be able to get their pay. union and shipowner groups succeeded in shaking the bill loose from the House procedure instituted by the local The case was called to the atten­ Georgia tax collector. tion of the Savannah port agent Rules Committee, where it^ gress, some countries require 100 been passed year by year, because What happened was that the and was referred to Welfare Serv­ appeared doomed to die. percent of Government cargoes to it also applies to overseas pur­ state tax collector put a lien on ices in headquarters to see if any­ chases by the Armed Forces. Up the company for state income tax thing could be done about it. Since The action of the Rules be carried on their own ships. The permanent "50-50" law is in until now, such purchases had claims. The lien was to compel it was a legal matter. Welfare Committee came after a-direct been free to move on the ships of the company to deduct back taxes Services has turned it over to the appeal to the White House by some respects more far-reaching any nation. plus penalties and Interest before attorney for study. than the temporary bills that have maritime spokesmen. It was a Federal Law Question major triumph for US-flagFederal laws governing the pay­ More Runaway Competition For IIS Ships shipping and the SIU over the offs of seamen list certain, head­ stiff objections of the State ings under which money can be Department, the Defense Depart­ deducted from seamen's wages, ment and other administration such as for family allotments and representatives. other items. The law says that the Ends Yearly Battle money can be deducted only for The success of the permanent the specific purposes listed in the "50-50" bill climaxes a seven year statute. fight by the SIU for the principle The purpose of the law is to pro­ that American flag shipping is en­ tect seamen from all kinds of titled to at least half of cargoes shady deductions from theicpay; a bought and paid for by the US practice which flourished for many taxpayer. Each year since the Maryears in the old days. ehall Plan began, followed by While the law on deductions other economic and military aid from seamen's wages is quite programs, the SIU and other mari­ stringent there is at least one Fed­ time groups have had to battle eral Court ruling, issued by a fierce opposition in Washington to Court of Appeals, which holds that get a "50-50" provision attached to the law was never Intended to de­ foreign aid bills. prive a state government of its From now on, once this new bill right to collect 'taxes. Other rul­ is signed into law, ttie principle of ings by lower Federal cpurts have "50-50" will be firmly fixed in fu­ held the opposite. Of course, the ture maritime dealings. Its im­ Court of Appeals ruling would portance to the well-being of mari­ tend to take precedent over the time is indicated by the fact that lower courts. US-flag shipping for the past year has been carrying less than 30 per­ Up uptil now though, the num­ cent of all commercial cargoes en­ ber of such court cases is limited tering and leaving this country. so it would be hard to draw a con­ That includes oil cargoes. clusion one way or the other. As one maritime spokesman said Residence Question in effect in testifying for the bill, Another factor at issue is the "Subsidies are fine but subsidies in question of the seamen's residence. themselves don't provide cargo. Another 60,000-ton runaway ore ship presently a-building for US Steel is the Ore Transport. She's The Seafarers involved dispute the This legislation goes a long way shown here under construction in a Kure, Japan, shipyard. Like her sister ship, the Ore Chief, she claims of the State of Georgia that toward assuring US merchant will be registered by the company under the Liberian flag. they are residents of Georgia. If ships of cargo for their opera­ they are not, the state has no legal tions." right to collect state income taxes International Lobby from them. Through the years, the most Since this kind of case can af­ vigorous opposition to "50-50" leg­ fect a considerable number of Sea­ islation has not come from any farers sailing out of the port of domestic source but from foreign Savannah, for the time being Sea­ shipowners who have utilized their farers in that port who reside in diplomatic services in this country Georgia should make sure that to lobby extensively against the WASHINGTON—The often cussed overnight waits by crews arriving in US ports before their state taxes are taken care of. bill. The State Department has carried the ball for them on the clearing Quarantine appear to be at an end. The Senate has completed action on a bill per­ Otherwise they can be socked with grounds that it is to the Depart­ mitting shipp'iiig companies to pay overtime for inspections between 5 PM and 8 AM. The the same kind of penalty pro­ ceedings. ment's interest to maintain friend­ bill was supported by all ship--*' ly relations with foreign nations. However, the State Department's ping companies and port in­ cers requested by shipping com­ The latest bill has already been arguments were overcome by two terests as a means of eliminat­ panies in off hours are already passed by the House and is ex­ paid by the companies .under simi­ pected to get speedy Presidential Aag. 20, 1954 majon considerations: The obvious Vol. XVi. No. 17 lar bills passed several years back. approval. need of US-flag ships for a "50- ing expensive delays in port. As I See It.. Page 4 Up until now, any freighter or 50" law to prop their operations Burly Page 16 and the existence of similar legis­ tanker that failed to make port by Crossword Puzzle Page 8 lation in other maritime countries. 5 PM had to anchor out and wait Editorials Page 9 As witnesses pointed out to Con- overnight for Quarantine inspec­ Galley Gleanings Page 15 tion the next morning. Even more Inquiring Seafarer Page 8 affected were ships that came into Labor Round-Up Page 8 port on a Saturday night since Letter of The Week Page 9 'EUis island' they had to hold over until Mon­ Letters Page 16 morning. Then gangs of long­ Going Ashore? day Maritime Page 8 shoremen hired to handle the Meet The Seafarer Page 8 Ellis Island, a familiar New ship's cargo would be idle until the SAN FRANCISCO—Beneficiaries of the 45 lost crewmem- Notices, Personals Page 17 York harbor landmark for Sea­ ship docked. It's been estimated bers of the ill-fated Pennsylvania have received $520,000 in Off Watch Page 14 farers and for over 60 years that 40 percent of the shipping en­ Port Reports Pages 12, 13 tering New York harbor is affected settlement of their suit against the States Steamship Com- Quiz the chief immigration station Page 14 4 by the delays. pany. The Pennsylvania, a for the US, may become a Ships' Minutes Page 17 Passage Long Sought Victory ship, went down in dio reports from the ship were that SIU History Cartoon Page 6 municipal version of the Fed­ Consequently shipping interests the Pacific on January 9, 1952, it was out of control and had suf­ Sports. Line Page 15 eral Government's Alcatraz fered a cracKfed hull. It was be­ Top of The News for the last four years have urged with loss of all hands. Page 6 Prison in San Francisco Bay if - passage of this kind of a bill which As a result of lawsuits filed on lieved that crewmembers aban­ Vote of Thanks Page 9 present plans go through. The would do away with these expen­ behalf of beneficiaries, the com­ doned ship as the Coast Guard Washington News Letter. .Page 7 Immigration and Naturaliza­ sive delays and permit more flexi­ pany took legal action in the courts later found two overturned life­ Welfare Benefits ....Pages 18, 19 Welfare Report Page 18 ble scheduling. The cost of paying to limit its liability. This action boats in the area. tion Service, an agency of the The Pennsylvania was manned Your Dollar's Worth led to the lump sum settlement Page 5 the overtime is considered slight Justice Department, has asked in comparison to the savings in­ which will be allocated among the in the deck department by the Publlthtd biwtckly at fha haadquarUr* permission to transfer its oper­ volved in having the ship cleared beneficiaries. Sailors Union of the Pacific and be­ of tho Seafarorx Infarnational Unian, At­ ft Gulf DUtrlcf AFL, 675 Fourth ations inland to its offices in and at the dock the same evening The Pennsylvania was caught in low decks by the Marine Firemen, lantic Avanua, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tal. HYaclnth 9-6600. Entarad as lacond class mattar Oilers and Watertenders, both'af­ it arrives. a severe winter storm 700 miles upper Manhattan. at tha Post Offica In Brooklyn, NY., undar tho AOt of August 24, 1912. .Customs and Immigration offi­ northwest of Seattle. The last ra­ filiates of the SIU. OK Near On Bill To End Long Quarantine Delays SEAFARERS LOG $520,000 Paid Kin Of 45 Lost On Pennsylvania p.'" Il- �m 20, rosi SEYFI^^W the' ^=.n~ • — • Page Thre* - i/ 'StSesear'^ybposJi. (The following intefoiew never took place, and, fortunately. Professor Entwhistle doesn't exist, but the line of thinking followed in the story could conceivably arise if we were to take seriously the suggestions re­ cently offered' by the former head of thp Maritime Commission and apply them to the entire nation. We hope no one will take "Professor Entwhistle" seriously A proposal by Vice-Admiral Emory S. Land (retired) that US merchant ships ought to transfer to foreign flags because it costs less to run them that way has inspired a super-duper plan to revamp the entire American economy. Dr. Frabjous R. Entwhistle, professor of economics at Secaucus University, has submitted a draft of the plan to the SEAFARERS LOG. In short, it involves transferring all of American industry to the Panamanian, Honduran and Liberian flag, abolishing all subsidies, tariffs, throw­ ing'out union contracts and getting rid of all the high costs that plague our country. "The possibilities are terrific," Dr. Entwhistle said at a press con­ - New Orleans port membership meeting of August II votes overwhelmingly by show of books to ap­ prove secretary-treasurer's report and recommendations for number and posts of elective offices in ference called to reveal the plan. "By cutting costs to the bone we can the Union. Similar votes in all ports paved way for opening of nominations on August 12. assure the most, profitable era in the history of our flourishing Ameri­ can economy." The economist admitted that one prospect that was troubling him was the fact that our productive resources might not be readily avail­ able to us in time of war and might even fall into the hands of the Communists. But he said# "in the words of Admiral Land this is a 'calculated risk' we.have to take to assure higher profits for our in­ dustry." Admiral Land has stated that we might not get our ships back in a national emergency# but that's a "calculated risk." When qheried by one reporter as to how this would affect the Gov­ ernment's tax income, the doctor snorted that he had that problem licked too. "Everybody realizes," he continued, "that the bulk of our Govern­ ment expense is for defense purposes. All we have to do is transfer our Army and Navy too. In other words we will set up a big foreign legion and be able to hire soldiers, sailors and airmen for a few cents a week. The savings will be immense." Entwhistle gives fullest credit to Admiral Land for his proposals. The Admiral will be remembered by Seafarers as the war-time head of US shipping and the' old Maritime Commission. He is best known fur his famous statement that he would like to shoot union leaders be­ fore sunrise for calling strikes. Admiral Land said in brief, "The high costs of operation (of US ships) are brought about by American wage standards, repair costs, taxes and stricter inspectiqp laws." Hence the need for transfers. A strong merchant marine, *he Admiral said, was impossible without Government subsidy—and subsidies cost money. ^ Carrying Land's ideas a few steps forward. Dr. Entwhistle called for abolition of all subsidies, minimum wage laws, tariffs, restrictions on foreign labor, safety laws and other regulations that might hinder lowcost operations. "Look at the airlines," he said. "The Government spends millions each year to keep American planes running. Foreign-flag planes can do just as well,, and we're sure that they woiild be available in times of defense—at least we hope we're sure." Then, he went on to explain, there were people in the Government spending thousands- each year to catch Mexican "wilbacks" and send them back to Mexico. "It's ridiculous," he exploded, "Here we have people who will work for 15 or 20 cents an hour and we're chasing 'em awav! We should invite them in with open arms." ^ Enlarging on his subje«t, the doctor tleclared: "Let's take US Steel for an example. There's a good sized company that really could operate if it wasn't subject to all sorts of foolish red tape and r^trictions like union contracts, minimum wage laws, taxes and all kinds of, expenses. These eat up all but a part of the profits and the shareholders aren't getting anywhere near the amount of money they should. "But I have high hopes for t^e company," he added. "They're finally beginning to wake up to the economic facts of life. For example they are putting all their brand new ore ships under the Liberian flag. The savings are tremendous! Now if the company could only transfer all -^ts rolling mills, blast furnaces and blooming mills to Liberian registry can't you imagine the profits that would roll in! I'm sure we could get workers to man the mills fur 40 or 50 cents an hour. It would be a boon to the economy." "But Dr. Entwhistle," called one reporter from the back of the room, •-'if all that you say is true and we follow your suggestion, what will happen to the nation's purchasing power and our American standard of living and the millions and millions who wijl be out of work?" "No comment," he said. "Conference closed. No further questions, gentlemen." . • Nominations Open In SIU Elections Nominations are now open for all qualified SIU members who desire to run for Union officeJn the SIU's biennial election. The action by membership meetings in all ports Wednesday night approving a total of 49 elective posts cleared the way for nominating to begin the morning of August 12. The nominating period will end at midnight, September 11. In accordance with the Union's constitution, the nominating procedure is simple. All a Seafarer has to do to nominate himself is to write to headquarters stating the office for which he wishes to run. With this letter he is required to submit proof of The membership - adopted resolution opening the elec­ tions for SIU 4>fficials and the qualifications necessary for nomination are on Page 5. three years' seatime as an unli­ censed man, proof of citizenship and of two year's continuous mem­ bership in the Union. , Four months of the seatime must be in the current year ex­ cept in cases where the candidate has already been serving as a Un­ ion official. 100-Word Statement ^ In addition, each candidate is re­ quested to send in a passport photo of himself and a statement of ICQ words or less summarizing .his Union record. The photograph and the statement will be published in the SEAFARERS LQG before the election gets underway. Candidates' qualifications will be examined by a credentials com­ mittee that will be elected at a later date. Voting will begin on November 15 and run for two months through January 15, 1955. The newly-elected officials will take office on midnight, March 31, 1955, for a two-year terra. The number and distribution of elective posts in this year's voting will be the same as it was two years ago with but one change. In­ stead of electing six joint assistant secretary-treasurers three will be elected representing the shipboard departments and three will be joint. This step has been taken to assure that every shipboard de­ partment is represented at the headquarters level. Consequently the roster of posts open is as follows: Headquarters: One secretarytreasurer; one deck assistant secre- 1 I Reading clerk Buck Stephens reads report and recommendations on SIU election procedure to attentive New Orleans membership. tary-treasurer, one engine assistant West Coast officers will continue secretary-treasurer and one stew­ to be appointive as has been tradi­ ard assistant secretary-treasurer; tional in the Union due to the three joint assistant secretary- fluctuating nature of SIU shipping treasurers. on that coast. Boston: One port agent, one joint In urging qualified members to patrolman. nominate themselves, SIU Secre­ New York: Three deck patrol­ tary-Treasurer Paul Hall declared, men; three engine patrolmen; "Large scale participation by the three steward patrolmen; six joint ^membership in the activities of the patrolmen. SIU has been one of the pillars of Philadelphia: One agent, one our Union's strength. To maintain joint patrolman. the vigorous activities of our Un­ altimore: One agent, four pa- ion, every qualified Seafarer is men (one deck, one engine, one urged to participate in the eiecsteward, one joint patrolman). tion of officials, just as these Norfolk: One agent, one joint members have been elected t» patrolman. serve as delegates aboard ship and Savannah: One agent, one joint as Union committee members patrolman. ashore. i Tampa: One agent, one joint "All Seafarers who want to con­ patrolman. test for office are urged to get Mobile: One agent, four patrol­ their nominations in so that their men (one deck, one engine, one names can appear on the official steward, one joint patrolman). A&G election ballot." .New Orleans: One agent and In 1952 there were 75 candidates four patrolmen distributed as in running for the 49 offices open. Mobile. This was the largest number of Galvestpn: One agent, one joint candidates ever to file for an elec­ patrolman. • tion in the SIU. S �.. ^/ i,fTTr.-.i", ^ SEAFARERS r»ce Four IE. f/i.: '• rv-"V.".'-"'. ^>-r. • LOG AvffWt <#,1954 Hope Fades For Hospital Reopening MOBILE—Any possibility that the old marine hospital here, now operated as a USPHS out-patient clinic, ever will be reopened as a full-fledged hospital will be a dead issue pro­ vided plans now under consideration are put into effect. The Sixth District Tubercu-"^ losis Sanitorium Assn., repre­ clinic. Tentative plans call for re­ two dentists> a dental hygienist, two nurses, a pharmacist. X-ray senting six South Alabama locating the out-patient clinic in technician; physical therapist, ad­ the old US Court and Customs counties, has been seeking the hospital building for use as a dis­ Building at St. Francis and N. ministrative personnel and a fourtrict sanitorium, a proposal which Royal Streets In downtown Mobile. man maintenance staff. Mobile Seafarers requiring hos­ Closed For Z Years would require relocation of the out-patient clinic. The Marine Hospital was closed pital attention must go to New Frank S. Keeler, Mobile, presi­ two years ago after more than 100 Orleans, site of the nearest USPHS dent of the Association, said the years of continuous operation. hospital. Emergency cases are ad­ General Services Administration, Since then, limited space in the mitted to local hospitals. The out-patient clinic has per­ which administers public buildings, building has been utilized by the had approved transfer . of the USPHS as an out-patient clinic formed a worthy service for Sea­ building to the association as soon staffed by four medical officers, farers living in Mobile. It enables as it can be vacated by the USPHS including the director of the clinic. them to obtain adequate medical care while living among family and friends once they have been placed on out-patient status. Other­ wise they would be required-to remain in New Orleans or com­ mute the 154-mile distance be­ tween the two port cities. BuUdlng Is Old The proposed relocatip.n plan would require other governmental offices in the old Customs Build­ ing to vacate to provide adequate space for the clinic. The clinic staff would prefer to be located in some other building,-preferably a new one designed for efficient clinical use. Services provided by the clinic will not be curtailed by the shift, provided adequate space is pro­ vided to house all present facili­ ties, staff members said. New Orleans Shuffles Offices, Ups Services Keep Draft Board Posted At new patrolman's office behind. dispatch counter in NO SIU hall. Seafarers Thomas "Whitey" Plunkett (left) and Andy "Schnozz" McCloskey get interpretation of clause in new SIU freight contract supplement from Patrolman C. M. Tannehill. NEW ORLEANS—^In a move designed to improve service to the membership, several departments have been shifted to new quarters in the New Orleans SIU hall. SIU headquarters urges all draft-eligible seamen to be sure they keep their local Se­ lective Service boards posted on all changes of address through the use of the post cards, furnished at all SIU halls and aboard ships. Failure to keep jour draft board Informed of your where­ abouts can cause you to be listed as a delinquent and be drafted into the services with­ out a hearing. The Union in such cases can do nothing to aid Seafarers who fail to com­ ply. FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW THE SIU HAS BEEN FIGHTING, YEAR by year, to make sure that US ships would receive at least half the cargoes Uncle Sam sends to his allies overseas. .After seven years the fight hSs come to an end because Congress has passed a law which says that "50-50" will be permanent from now on.. This fight is as good an illustration as any of the value of seeing a good beef through to the bitter end. If at any time during the past seven years the SIU and supporters of "50-50" had backed away from a fight, the issue would be dead and buried for all time. As it is right now, "50-50" appears far more important to the jobs of seamen and the well-being of US shipping than it did when the beef first started. That was when the Marshall Plan administrator threatened to throw "50-50" out the window because the rates offered by US operators were not to his liking. At that time, nobody expected foreign aid programs to- last ^s long as they have. It was figured all around that two or three years would do the trick and put jvartime allies back on their feet again. Now though, it looks like the foreign aid programs will continue indefinitely. For that matter, the carriage of Government cargoes wasn't as vital to US ships then as it is now, because then US^fiag operators were carrying a respectable share of foreign commerce.. Today it's another story. The foreign flag operator has taken-over the great bulk of commercial cargoes, over 70 percent of them. So looking back at the situation from today's point of view, the fight the SIU put up on the issue from the very beginning has paid off year after year for Seafarers and will continue to pay off for an indefinite number of years to come. The membership will agree that seven years is a long time to fight a beef through. It goes without saying that your Union could not have been successful in this issue if the Seafarers in the first instance seven years ago had not^ taken this up as a personal beef of every member of the Union. The result was that your Congress and your Government was thoroughly impressed by the fact that this issue is of vital concern to the well being .of a large number of Americans. 4 4 4., IT'S A GOOH THING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE FOR THE Union brothers to remind themselves of the valuable services per­ formed by the shipboard delegates. The job of a ship's delegate is not an easy one, but itris a key cog in the functioning of the Union and the successful settlement of shipboard beefs. Since the shipboard delegate is elected by the membership on board the ship to represent them, he can do the very best kind of a job for his shipmates when they back him up'all the way. That way the skipper and the other officers know that he represents the entire crew and will be less likely to try to pull any fast ones. And of course, the companies know that the Union will back up the i delegate on every legitimate berf. With an efficiently-functioning; system of shipboard delegates, crewmembers tend to get along much better and are a lot more satisfied on the job. That helps the membership in niany ways because smoothrunning, clean ships meam-more jobs for the, entire membership. It's been the Union's-experience that where a delegate has the con­ fidence and support of his shipmates that the ships come in for payoffs a lot cleaner than otherwise. That's why with the Union's delegate system well established qn board ship, most SIU ships have only minor problems tcdispose of when they reach that payoff port. The patroUnan's office was"* moved from "the third down to the second deck and in­ stalled behind the dispatcher's counter for the greater conveni­ It's been a long roundabout trail to a college diploma for ence of the membership. All vacation applications and Seafarer Ed Larkin but after detouring via several years at other welfare services are now sea, Larkin is now assured of his goal. One of the four being handled over the dispatch­ winners of the SIU's $6,000' er's counter on the second floor, .scholarship award, the 28- the. Lakes that he had his first which is the shipping floor, instead year-old Seafarer intends to taste of sailing. By the time he of from the third floor as was the return to his studies this fall at graduated grammar school in 1939 former practice. Cornell University's School of In­ his father had passed on and two Service Consolidated dustrial and Labor Relations after years later, while he was a student Forms which the .membership completing a summer's shipping as at a trade high school his mother may use to apply for retroactive chief electrician on the SIU- died, leaving him on his own. pay due them from various compa­ manned Wacosta. Variety of Jobs nies under the new freight con­ In the years since 1941 when For the 'next year and a half tract supplement are available at he left high school in mid-stream, he drifted in and out- of a variety the new patrolman's counter. Larkin has been knocking around of tough, low-paying jobs. They The biggest advantage to the as sawmill hand, ranchhand, oil included a six-month stint on an membership resulting from the field worker, construction worker, Iowa farm just for room and board. move is that members now will be seaman and shipboard organizer, He worked for a while on Civilian • able to attend to welfare applica- always with the idea of complet­ Conservation Corps projects and tiohs and all other Union business ing his education somehow. He served as a woodworker and ranch at one place without the necessity hand in the northern Middle West. of climbing the stairs to the third In September, 1942, he ,took This is the fourth and last in a floor. The compact arrangement what he described as "the most Ed Larkin series of feature articles on the also will add to efficiency in the important step in my life" when four. 1954 award winners un­ operation of the, New. Orleans the he shipped as coalpasser on the without; incident, and der the SIU Scholarship Plan. branch. J. E. Upson, an ore-carrier out of fighting was over he answered the An office for stenographic per­ Duluth, Minnesota. He returned to SIU's c^l for volunteer organizers sonnel .was established in the of­ took a big step in that direction the Lakes for a;while the follow­ in , the Isthmiane S.teanjship .Comr fice previously occupied by patrol­ when he won a labor scholarship ing summer, later in the year goi pany drive. All the while though, men on the third floor. The port to Coleg Harlech,' Wales, in 1952, ing. to Baltimore anff stalling -qn he still hung .onto the ddeg. of .re­ agent's office remains on the third and now this second scholarship deep sea ships! .'.'The following turning to .school..... ; ^ deck, but was moved into the space award will fulfill the, long-held year," he said,. "I joined what was "The*Wprst post-war shock I re­ .fonnerly used as stenographer's ambition. ...... .. then » small iitilon (after making ceived" he says, "was that all mer­ r office. The Gulf Area LOG office. Larkin was born in the Great a trip to the.^Fa^ East. That uniop, chant seamen were to be excluded was_set .uB. in the office siiace for-, Lakes port of; Milwaukee,: on the, SIU, -wM my .turning; .point". from the- GI BilL of.(JUghts and dts meriy occupied by the MSmUi t vember/ 11, .1925, and it was oi EetJtiB Shipped 41Vough,;the .waredM5)t,tional,jirngrathSg .1 -Jiad, # few SIU His Reason For College Aims m fcrvv. years of high school to -make up, not to mention college and the cost was terrific." However, he managed through correspondence courses to win a New York State high school equivalency diploma in 1948, only to find that the admis­ sion jam caused by veterans and shoreside , high, school graduates made it next to impossible'to get into school. Disgusted, he signed a two-year contract as electrical foreman for an oil company in Venezuela. He*" returned to New York in 1950 and made a round, the world trip on the <Eteel Age. A brief interlude working on a US Air Force-Base in Casablanca followed. Finally in 1952, Larkin got his first major break when he was accepted by the Institute of In­ ternational Education as a labor scholarship winner for a one year course , in Coleg Harlech^ Wales. Tbe good news: came to him while he was aboard the Robin Eberwood in lifombassa., "I'm studying labor relations now at, Cornell,'!, he concluded, "but U.wasr.ten.years ago in the SIU that the. meaning of unionism dawned oil me. When I complete my schooling t bope to b,e able itp.aa^t the-cause thot'S:done so 0!uck^,fue,V. �Aatust 2«, 1954 SEAFARERS LOG Cr0w Finds 33-Day Stay In PR 'Okay' Pare Fire Ask US Probe Of Onassis Oil Crab MOBILE—The SIU crew aboard the Claiborne (Waterman) returned to Mobile August 6 after a. 33 day tie-up in the Puerto Rican long­ shore strike with a clean ship and in good spirits. "Sure, some of the guys were in convenicnced by the long stay in San Juan," said Chief Steward Charles "Red" Turner. "But every­ body was in good spirits, morale was high and the crew took the tie-up in typical SIU style.' Every­ body knew the Puerto Jlican long­ shoremen had a good beef and we knew it was for a good cause." The Claiborne and the Azalea City, also a Waterman ship, were caught at dockside when the strike began. Although the ships had stores for only a normal 14-day trip, feeding Checking unclaimed luggage is Frank Bose, in charge of head­ was not too great a problem. Tur­ quarters baggage room. Under Union rule of long standing, bag­ ner said. gage not claimed in 90 days is forwarded COD to Seafarer's last No Food Problem address. Seafarers should make sure to fill out luggage tickets The Ciaiborne had j)lenty of fully and retain their half of stub so that they will havve no dif­ meat, chickens, canned goods, rice ficulty in claiming their property. and a quantity of fresh fruit in her reefer cargo, part of which was used to supplement the stores on both ships. The fresh fruit and vegetable cargo oh the Claiborne included lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, peaches, plttms, watermelons and cantaloupe. "We got plenty of work done and came back with the cleanest ship The skillful and dramatic rescue of 26 crewmembers of a we have had in many a trip," said Liberian-flag tanker by the SlU-manned Claiborne last year •"Andrews. AB, who wasn't too con­ has been retold in the October issue of the magazine "For cerned with the length of the tie-up Men Only." It was in March, • * since his wife resides in Puei^to 953, that the Claiborne came The magazine story is told by a Rico. upon the stern half of the Greek AB aboard the Angy who, tanker Angy and successfully took as it turned out, was an old friend off the remaining crewmembers. of Lazzaro's, having known him The Angy had broken in two in the from previous shoreside meetings course of a severe North Atlantic in Germany. Took Photos storm with the loss of ten lives. One of Lazzaro's photographs Appeared In LOG The story of the rescue first ap­ was ufed to illustrate the story of peared in the aSAFARERS LOG the rescue. Crewmembers of the of March 20, 1953. In a subse­ Liberian ship had been drifting quent issue of the LOG Seafarer helplessly for three days without V Augie Lazzaro, who was on look­ power or radi<^ when the stricken out at the time, submitted photo­ vessel was sighted by the Clai­ borne. graphs of the rescue operations^. Magazine Features Rescue By Claiborne pi A US Government investigation of the agreement between Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis and the Saudi Arabian government has been proposed as a means of blocking a potential monopoly of Saudi-* ^ Arabian oil shipments. Other ment on charges of illegally dis­ maritime nations are actively posing of Government surplus protesting the agreement which in tankers,- but there is some ques­ the long run would freeze all SlU- tion as to when he would ba manned tankers from the Saudi brought to trial as he has not been Arabian trade. in the United States for severad The terms of the agreement months. would give Onassis the right to The wealthy shipping magnate transport all oil not handled by the .has claimed that he only made the Arabian-American Oil Company. deal with Saudi Arabia to beat Aramco has been transporting his competitors to it. He was last about 40 percent of the Saudi Ara­ reported to be in Monte Carlo bian oil with the rest carried by where he owns the famed Mont# independent tankers from all na­ Carlo gambling casino. tions. In recent years, a good number of SlU-manned tankers have been utilized in the Saudi-Arabian trade, and have provided a considerable amount of employment for Sea­ farers accordingly. * See Law Violated The initiative for a Government investigation came from Repre­ sentative Emanuel Celler, Brook­ lyn Democrat, who charged that the Onassis agreement was a viola­ tion of US anti-trust and shipping MOBILE — A shipside import laws. Celler pointed out that the Onassis agreement, in his view, cargo storage warehouse to accom­ was a conspiracy in restraint of modate an increasing volume of im­ trade by persons or corporations ported goods is being constructed engaged in importing articles into as part of a half-million dollar e.xpansion and modernization pro­ the United States. A very large percentage of Saudi gram at the Alabama State Docki Arabian oil is hauled to the US here. The warehouse will be used for and consequently its importation falls under US laws and regula­ storage of such imports as crude tions. At present the rate for such rubber, copper ingots, peat moss, haulage is $4.90 a ton. The Con­ canned goods and jute bagging, gressman estimated that the On­ said J. P. Turner, general manager assis agreement will nearly double of the docks. It will provide the haulage rate, to $9.26 a ton, 1,100,000 cubic feet of storage thus increasing oil prices to con­ space and will have -rail sidinge and truc^ platforms for 4iandling sumers in this country. The US State Department has freight. Other improvements will include already announced that it has pro­ tested the Onassis agreement to roundhouse expansion and modern­ the Saudi Arabian Government. ization of the docks terminal rail­ Similar protests have been made way, a machine and repair shop by Great Britain, Finland, Norway for the bulk material handling plant and a new crane for moving and Denmark. Onassis already is under indict­ genera]^ cargo. Build New W'house For Mobile Port -f- YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH SEAFARERS GUIDE TO BETTER BUYING Women Worst Fed in Family This is a column about wives, but addressed to the husbands too. Judging •from pictures of Seafarers after a trip, and letters to the LOG, Seafarers are fairly wellnourished, at least while aboard ship. But if the wives are like those of wage-earners' wives in general, the story is quite different. In most families, nutritional surveys have found, the babies are best fed, then the small children and the father, with the older children and mother gelling the least ade­ quate meals. , ' . One reason seems to be that when food costs are high, especially protein foods like meat, women tend to cut down on their own needs first. A survey by New York State health authorities found only 40 per cent of the housewives eating enough protein, compared to 83 per cent of the men. Furthermore, only 33 per cent of the housewives drank enough milk, and 20 per cent of the pregnant women (who especially need calcium), as com­ pared to about half the men. Wrong Fpods No Help But keeping down expenses is not the only reason for the poor eating habits of many women. Lack of nutritional knowledge is another, and so is plain indifference. Among adolescent girls and some Womein iob, the de,sire to keep slender is a big factor. ' (Actually, however, fat is no sigh you're well-nourished either. Stout people too often suffer from mainourishment, nntritionists point-oqt.) "jThe most urgent nutritional leswh women haye to learn is the importance of PCoteinf food like ni(eat, chee;5e,. f ggu and fish.;. For one thingit 'hciP you better utilize thh iron you get froni'your food; P^egnSnt wmnen Written exclusively for THE SEAFARERS LOG. by Sidney Margolius, Leading Expert on Buying If you're concerned about high costs of meat at this and adolescent girls particularly need iron, but all women require it because they lose a certain amount of iron dur­ time, as you should be, use more eggs and cheese to ing menstruation. A high-protein diet helps the body supplement the protein in meat in dinner dishes. Eggs better utilize the iron it gets from other foods too. In have been comparatively reasonable in price this year. fact, a weli-balanced diet in general is necessary, because . US Agriculture Dept. nutritionists recommend families the calcium in milk and the vitamin C in fruits and vege­ try combinations of eggs or cheese with meat for main dishes. You'll also do better if you use other meat than tables also help your system utilize iron. x. Much of the malnutrition found among women is trace­ bacon at breakfast. able to insufficient breakfasts, nutritionists report. Many Other foods that are excellent sources of protein at com­ women eat only toast and coffee, and some just coffee, paratively low prices are canned pink salmon, canned when actually breakfast should supply one-quarter to one- corned beef hash, smoked beef tongue, dried skim milk third of the day's food intake, and besides should include in powdered or fiuid form. In cheese, cottage cheese and liberal portions of the protein foods. Cheddar give you the most nutrition for your money. As a matter of fact, breakfast is an inexpensive meal Suffer 'Hidden' Hunger at which to get a good ration of protein. A combination How is it people can be undernourished without feeling of a whole cereal with milk gives you a good helping of protein at low cost. Cereals themselves only supply what hungry? The reason is that most of us satisfy the hunger are called "incomplete" proteins, as compared to the com­ pangs withirhigh-calory snacks like coke and candy. But plete proteins from animal sources, but the milk roi^ds such snacks do not give us the vitamins and minerals we need for best health. Rather than an open hunger for food out the cereal nutritionally. as is often found in countries where food is scarce, we More Milk Necessary in this country. often have a hidden hunger because we Most women urgently need to drink more milk, and eat sugar products so abundantly. Men too often do them­ older women most of all. In general, older women eat ' selves injustice in this manner. A recent survey in New even more poorly than the younger ones.^ Jersey of 600 industrial workers found the men tended The average-sized, moderate-active women needs about to skimp on their regular meals, especially breakfast, when 60 grams of protein daily (the average man needs, about they were likely to eat only a sweet bun and a cup of 70, more if he has to do much manual work). A third of coffee. Then they would ease their mid-morning hunger this requirement shopld be supplied by your breakfast. with candy bars. While most men do drink more milk .When you consider an egg has about six, grams of pro­ than women, the survey found about a third don't get tein, a slice of bread two, grams,-, three-quarter of a cup . the pint of milk or its equivalent in milk products which of cereal with half a cup of milk'six .to eight, you see how is recommended for an adult man. About one^fourth of hearty a breakfast you iie^« ' ; the men surveyed were i jund to be low in calcium, which • Teenrage children heed; even ipoi^ protein than their they needed for sound bones and tseth, and proper func­ parents; about 75 to 90. gramSia dajr. • :; tioning of muscles and nerves. :3 1 �ras« Sis SEAFAtlERS Ancnst 2«. 1984 LOG Resolution On SIU Elections WHEREAS, under the constitution of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic and Gulf District, Article X, Section 1 d, the Secretary-Treasurer shall sub­ mit a pre-ballcting report; and WHEREAS, the office of the Secretary-Treasurer has carefully appraised the needs of the Organization in all ports and in Headquarters, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the following offices be placed on the next referendum ballot of the Union for the election of the Officers of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic and Gulf District, as per the Constitution: f- HEADQUARTERS. 1 Secretary-Treasurer 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Deck) 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Engine) 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Steward) 3 Assistant Secretary-Treasurers (Joint) NEW YORK 3 Deck Department Patrolmen 3 Engine Department Patrolmen 3 Steward Department Patrolmen 6 Joint Patrolmen ' ^ BALTIMORE I Agent 1 Deck Department Piatrolman 1 Engine Department Patrolman 1 Steward Department Patrolman 1 Joint Patrolman ~ . , V MOBILE 1 Agent 1 Deck Department Patrolman 1 Engine Department Patrolman 1 Steward Department Patrolman 1 Joint Patrolman NEW ORLEANS 1 Agent 1 Deck Department Patrolman 1 Engine Department Patrolman 1 Steward Department Patrolman 1 Joint Patrolman • BOSTON 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman PfflLADELPHIA 1 Agent '• 1 Joint Patrolman *ONE OF DIONNE SISTERS DIES—^The famed Dionne were reduced to four with the death of Emilie Dionne at age. The cau|^ of her death was listed after an autopsy complicated-by lung congestion. It was revealed that she ing from the disease for a great many years. NORFOLK 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman SAVANNAH 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman TAMPA 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman ^ GALVESTON 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that in addition to the regular constitutional requirement, each candidate for office be requested to furnish with his acceptance for office a regu­ lation passport picture of recent taking as well as a statement of not more than 100 words, giving a brief summary of his Union record and activities, such picture and statement to be run in the SEAFARERS LOG just prior to the commencement of voting. This to be done in accordance with previous membership action to familiarize the membership with the names, faces, and records of all candidates for office. i-! i' 'i' -^ , ~ PAUL HALL Secretary-Treasurer I r * hi-' Qualifications For Nomination In A&G Election K- . ^tAN OIL TO FLOW AGAIN—^Agreement has been reached be­ tween Iran and eight major oil companies providing for production, shipping and refining of Iranian'^oil. The big terminal at Abadan will go back into business within three months. British,^ American and Dutch oil companies participated in the a^eement. Iranian oil pro­ duction and distribution was cut off in 1951 when Iran seized the propnties of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. quintuplets 20 years of as epilepsy was suffer­ NEW COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE MCCARTHY—The McCarthy iSfeue remained very fnuch alive as the Senate adopted a pr.oposal call­ ing Tor a new six-man body, three Republicans and three Democrats, to investigate charges made against the Wisconsin Senator. The charges were an outgrowth of a censure resolution submitted by Senator Flan­ ders, Vermont Republican, who asked the 'Senate to rebuke Senator McCarthy for his past..conduct. y t .REH NATIONS ACCEPT FOOD OFFER —An offer by President Eisenhower to supply free food to victims of Danube River floods has been accepted by the East German government and Czechoslovakia. Similar offers made to other Iron Curtain countries have met with-no response to date. The offer was.made after disastrous floods all along the course of the Danube destroyed homes, communications and crops. 4^ 4^ $ JAPAN'S PLIGHT WORRIES US—A severe drop in Japanese trade since the end of the Korean War has US officials worried that the Japanese will be forced to turn-to Communist nations to sell their products. Japan is buying far more abroad than the country can sell and may be forced into bankruptcy unless drastic steps are taken. 4 4> . 4i KEFAUVER VICTORY HEARTENS DEMOCRATS—An overwhelm­ ing primary election victory for Senator Estes Kefauver has heartened Democratic Party regulars. The Tennessee Senator defeated Repre­ sentative Pat Sutton by better than two to one in his race for re­ election. The nomination of Senators Kefauver, Sparkman of Alabama, Kerr in North Carolina and the failure of Governor Shivers of Texas to win a clear-majority for reelection are viewed as rebuffs to South­ ern backers of Eisenhower in 1952. 4" i 4i' ITALIAN TEAM CLIMBS K-Z-^An Italian mountain climbing ex­ pedition has reached the summit of Mt. Godwin Austin or K-2 as it IS known, in the Himalayas. The 28,500-fOot mountain was one of the two major Himalayan peaks that had not been climbed before. Its conquest, following the successful Everest climb, leaves 28,000-foot Kanchenjunga as the last major Himalayan peak not climbed by man. 4l' 4" 4" BALKAN DEFENSE PACT SIGNED—Turkey, Greece and Yugo­ slavia have signed a 20-year agreement pledging mutual assistance in Qualifications for candidates for A&G elective offices are as follows: the event of An attack by a foreign power. Signing of the treaty is 1. The candidate must be a citizen of the United States^ considered another victory for the West and assurance- of Yugoslavia's 2. The candidate must have held an SIU meihbership book for a miniihum of- two years permanent break with the Soviet Union. r J.,7:*^^ -:.ii\- ' . •^,- prior to the election; ' • 3. He must have served a mfliimum of three years' actual sea time in any imlicensed capacity aboard ship; 4. Four months of that sea time must be in the jurrent year, except that service as a Union official in the current year is considered the equivalent of this requirement; 5. The candidate must submit a recwit reflation-size passport photo of himself, plus a statement of 100 words or less summarizing his record since joining the Union. Cartoon History Of The SIU 4" 4? , 4" CHICAGO GANGSTER FREED, JAILED —Roger "Terrible" Touhy, leader of a prohibition-era mob and rival of A1 Capone, was freed briefly, after 20 years in prison. A Federal judge threw out a total of 298 years in sentences on the grounds that Touhy was "framed" by the Capone liiob in a kidnaping and wrongly sentenced to 199 years after an escape attempt. Two days later, legal action by Illinois jailed him again. Fishermen For SiV No. 70 wm Early in 1949, the SIU of North America had char­ tered two new affiliates, the Marine Allied Workers and, Brotherhood of Marine Engineers. Then, in, December, the SIU of NA gave a strong push to the AFL drive for "One Million M«nbees in '50" when 4,090 Gulf Coast fishermen voted to go SIU. & • Allied now with thousands of other SIU fishery craft workers, the 4,000 nbw members of the "Brotherhood of the Sea" had belonged to the Gulf Coast Shrimpers and Oystermen's Ass'n. The organizing success.was paced by the leading jrole played by SlU-A&G Dis­ trict officials in the merger talks. •.-*7 -i; In the spring of 1950, the AFL drive got another big book, when 4,000 Missiskppi flshemen voted unani­ mously for a link with the SIU of NA. Also aided by SIU-A&G officials, the afiUiation of the inde­ pendent Oyster Shuckers Aes'n meant a total of 8.000 SIU members in less Uiah six months. �Aurnst 20, 1954 SEAFARER S LOG^ Pacre Sevea SIU NEWSLETTER from WJ^HINGTON ' • ' —I THE OUTLOOK IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS FOR THE SHIPbuilding industry in this country has completely changed. Whereas just a couple of months ago the future for American shipbuilding and repair yards was bleak indeed, recent Congressional appropriations of more than $160,000,000 for the repair and building of vessels prom­ ises to produce a boom In that Industry, the likes of which thd nation has never known in peacetime. Under the emergency ship repair program. Congress is earmarking money for the repair of many ships now in our laid-up fleets—an emergency security move to. put these vessels in shape for any future emergency. The repair contracts will be entered into within 24 months, and/spread among the yards on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts. It's estimated the whole job will cost upwards, of $45 million, so that more money for this purpose will be requested of Congress next year. Two tanker programs approved by Congress call (1) for the trade in by industry of tankers 10 years of age or older, and construction - by private operators of about 10 new tankers, with the traded in tank­ ers to go into the Government's reserve fleet, and (2) construction of 20 new, high'^speed tankers. 5 by the Government and the remaining 15 by private operators, with the latter to be chartered by the Navy. Art editors" E. P. Eckhardt, USCG, and J. L. Abston, tugboatman Commenting on these two new tanker Acts. President Eisenhower (I-r, standing) discuss new publication of patients at USPHS Hos­ said that they will help to modernize our tanker fleet, reduce our se= pital in New Orleans with SIU member Spider Korolia, acting rious mobilization deficit in such .tonnage and create a Governmenteditor. » owned and maintained tanker reserve for defense purposes. In another program, involving construction of combination passen­ ger-cargo ships by two American lines, the Government will advance its share of $44.6 million dollars in construction subsidies. . Additionally, Congress has approved an appropriation of $11 million for the experimental modernization of four Liberty ships now in the reserve fleets, with the idea of increasing their speed to determine their suitability in event of any future emergency. American shipyards also can look forward to substantial Naval NEW ORLEANS—^Beginning with an eight-page mimeo­ construction as well as construction by the Military Sea Transportation graphed edition distributed in August, patients at the USPHS Service in private yards of about 4 special-purpose type cargo vessels. hospitaLhere have published the first of what is intended to 4" 4" 4" be a series of monthly publi^— IT WAS A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED MOVE WHEN BOTH cations. notes of interest about various pa­ Senate and House recently passed the permanent 50-50 bill, under which The inaugural issue was tients and contained news about at least 50 percent of US Government cargoes moving abroad must be named simply "First Edition" and members of the hospital staff. carried in American-flag vessels. The successful fight, in which launched with a cover page draw­ This bill had been held up in Congress chiefly by the US State De­ ing by E. P. Eckhardt, a patient, the SIU took a leading part, to pre­ partment. Foreign lobbyists, principally Great Britain had forcefully of a ship in full sail. The publica­ serve the Federal budget for attempted to have our own State IJepartment block passage of this tion is conducting a contest among USPHS hospitals, was referred to major maritime law. For a while, as reported earlier in this column, the» patients for selection of a name in an editorial comment that "the it looked as though the foreign lobbyists would be successful in their for future editions. unions and all seafaring men put efforts. , ^ up a terrific fight to keep the hos­ Packed With News pitals operating."' Due to last-minute pressure by American maritime unions and steam­ The first issue, edited by SIU "This same fight will come to us ship lines, the permanent 50-50 shipping law was approved by both Houses of Congress on August 12, 1954 and sent to President Eisen­ member DuskaJ>. "Spider" Korolia* next year, so keep in touch with hower for approval. with Mrs. Miriaqi Phillips, hospital your Senators >and Congressmen The legislation has met with White House objection in the past so recreation director, serving as staff urging them-to keep all USPHS that it remains to be seen whether the President will approve the advisor, was packed with personal hospitals open," the editorial said. 50-50 bill. PHS Patients Begin Own H/lontltly Paper 4' SINCE 1939, SOME 13 NATIONS WHICH DID NOT EVEN HAVE merchant fleets have sincejentered the maritime scene. . Even land-locked Switzerland noy^ has a 30-ship merchant mar^e^ 4> 4 3^ - . MOVING TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF US CITIZENS, CONgress has approved a bill under which the Secretary of State, in cases where our vessels are seized by foreign countries, will take action to attend to the welfare of the vessels and crews while so held by the • foreign nations, and to secure release of the vessels and crews.' The new law will apply to any private US vessel documented or certificated under our laws, but does not apply to a seizure made by a country at ymr with the US or a seizure under the provisions of any fishery convention or freaty to which this country is a. party. While thus far seizures of vessels upon assertion of lerritorial claims not recognizedv..by the US have been limited to fishing vessels, the danger of expansion of such assertions of right to other US-flag ships must be recognized. ^ 3^ 4 4 STATE DEPARTMENT SOURCES INDICATE THAT MOSCOW IS planning to pool the whole shipping of the East Block nations, as well as the shipbuilding industry of those countries. According to State, the plan is to standardke all shipbuilding in the East Bloc nations to the point where repairs and equipment of the whole East Bloc fleet can be carried on without loss of time in the ports. In the Soviet Zone of Germany alone, there are some 17 large yards employing over 60,000 personnel.' , 4 , 4 4 WITHIN'THE NEXT 24-MONTH PERIOD, AND PRESUMABLY IN the fah'ly near future, this country will again open up the 1,946 Ship Sales law, covering war-built ships (long since expired) in order to sell 8 C-I's to the Republic of Korea. This liberal move, adopted by Congress recently as an amendment to the Mutual Security Act, eventually will be a Ijlow to US ship lines. The ships probably'will be sold, or chartered, to Korea without any trading restrictions, meaning that they will be free to compete wth American-flag ships in the Pacific, and hot be confined to Korean costal waters. In the past Korea has purchased some C-I's from private US oper­ ators and these ships, under Korean flag, have competed in the Pacific. Under the new law,, although President Eisenhower has authority to impose comhiions on the sale of the 8 C-I's to Korea, it is not ex­ pected thsiX he will confine their use to the domestic whten «f that country. • « t' i a j y aha a'a »' « a » «- 4 a r * 9 4 k 4 « h i * e tt;» n t t ^ f P t Your SHJ Meeting Rights In order to constantly remind all SIU members of their constitutional rights in SIU membership meetings, the following state­ ment is read at the opening of all SIU meetings throughout the nation. These are the democratic'principles which guide all SIU meet­ ings: Any member present at this meeting and in good standing, who so desires, has a right to nominate himself to any official meeting job in this meeting. This also applies t^ a place on any committee that may be elected at this meeting. Any member present in good standing has the right at any time, if he so desires, to challenge the decision of the chair or ask for a division of the house on any sucn question. Any member may also request a show of books of- each man present who may votb on any question. Copies of the minutes of tonight's meeting will be available in Sdvance of the next regular meeting in the business office for the benefit of any member in good standing who wishes to read or study same before the next regular meeting commences., In addition to tonight's minutes being made available, the mem­ bership is advised that in each SIU business office where a Port is maintained in the continental United States, minutes of all SIU meetings, regular, special, financial, or otherwise are always avail­ able to any member in good standing who desires and so requests to read and study same. The officials and committeemen who will be elected at our meet­ ing here tonight as well as all of our other members present will be guided in the conduct of this meeting by the following. 1. The Union constitution. 2. Majority vote of the membership. 3. Robert's rules for order. If, in the opinion of any member in good standing present, he is denied by this meeting any of the above-mentioned rights, he is requested to call this to the attention of the secretarytreasurer, by registered mail, special delivery, return receipt re­ quested, before the next regular meeting so that, the secretarytreasurer will have sufficient time to submit copies of any such protest and a report on same to the membership 4t the following, regular membership meeting for actfon'thereon. In order to establish whether or ndt there is a quorum present, will all of those members in good standing please hold^ their books . up so that they can be counted. The membership count shows that there Is a quorum present. Therefore, this meeting will now come to order. The first point on the agenda tonight will be the election of oflidals for this meeting. Rule Eases Absentee Fed. Voting New federal regulations on vot­ ing provide that the Maritime Ad­ ministration will supply merchant seamen with the necessary infor­ mation and forms to apply for ab*'sentee ballots in their home states. Designed to make voting easier for merchant seamen and members of the Armed Forces, the regulation makes it possible to vote on a State ballot only. As part of the procedure, the SIU is being supplied With the necessary application cards, which require no postage, and a voting information bulletin. Seafarers interested in qualify­ ing to vote in the fall Congressional and State elections should write to Mr. Louis S. Rothschild, Maritime Administration, Washington 25, DC, for their ballot application forms. Or they can get them through the SIU headquarter^ of­ fice, which has received a limited number of these applications from the Maritime Administration. Name NY Lawyer To M'time Bd. President Eisenhower has ap­ pointed a Brooklyn attorney, G. Joseph Minetti, to fill a vacancy on the Federal Maritime Board. Minetti succeeds Robert W. Wil­ liams, as the lone Democratic member of the three-man board following Williams' resignation. The law provides that no more than two members of the board come from any one political party, requiring the appointment of an­ other Democrat to take William's place. Minetti was formerly Commis­ sioner of Marine and Aviation in New York City and also served on the city's Board of Transportation. He is a resident of Brooklyn and is considered a strong supporter of US flag shipping. Approve $ For Mobile Ship Depot MOBILE — Congress has ap­ proved an appropriation of $6,152,000 for start of construction of a new ammunition depot and ship loading facilities at Point Aux Pins, In South Mobile County near Grand Bay. The new installation, expected to serve many SlU-manned ships, will replace similar facilities at Theo­ dore which the Defense Depart­ ment considers inadequate. The appropriation will be for the acquirement.of land and the dredg­ ing of a ship channel during 195455, the US District Engineer's of­ fice here said. When completed, tha depot is expected to cost $26,951,000 and will occupy 15,380 acrei of land. ^ I •J M -•_v, I ' -^1 �Pace Eicht SEAFARERS Aocast 20, 1954 LOG msiiSiJi jiiiJBi SKivlr AKKII hp. The Port of New York Authority has under consideration a $14 mil­ lion project for construction of a 50-acre terminal at Point Breeze, Jersey City. The projected terminal would provide eight vessel berths, railroad sidings and other cargo-handling facilities... The Federal HARALD WESTPHAL, Steward. Maritime Board has approved two new passenger-combination vessels It may bp only for public con­ kets, soap and other necessities of for the Grace Line. The ships will replace the existing passenger ves­ sumption, but most seanien who life with him. sels Santa Paula and Santa Rosa. They would carry 300 passenger Question: .Do Americans who have bepn sailing ships will be By 1919, Westphal was sailing berths and cruise at 20 knots.. .The government of Israel has placed visit foreign countries help or hurt heard loudly proclaiming the vir­ regularly on American ships,' and orders in German shipyards for construction of seven vessels, two of. tues of canvas as against steam. consequently, he joined the old In­ them passenger cargo ships, at a coist of $17 million. The ships will the US? Not so with Seafarer Harald West- ternational Seamen's Union. He toe built as part of German reparations to- Israel. Most of the present Anthony Maniere, OS; Most peo­ phal. Although he started, fioine to still has his old book home, al­ Israeli fleet consists of vessels built in the 1930's. ple in foreign countries are glad sea on sailing., vessels and spent a though shortly afterwards the' to see us because couple of years-on th«n, he's all union disintegrated under a com­ School children in Gladwin, Michigan, have "adopted" the Ameri­ it means money for progress, particularly when it bined Government-shipowner qtcan President Lines freighter Lightning as part of a program to ac­ 11 for them from means more sPaworthinecs. better tack. He sailed on a variety of quaint the nation" with the work of the merchant marine. The children selling food, liq­ equipment and supplies and par­ ships until he went to jvork for will write monthly letters to the ship and will receive regular answers uor, souven i r s ticularly good chow for the steward Moore-McCormack in 1927 and as to developments on its transpacific run.. . The Kings Point Mer­ and other things. department to work with. stayed wifh them for nine years as chant Marine Academy graduated just 60 cadets, its smallest class in But when we go 12 years... Yugoslavia has completed five 4,200 to 4,700 ton freightWestphal concedes that, his last cook and steward. overseas it also trip on a sailing vessel had more ships as part of a ten year building program to revive that nation's Hog-Island Conversion hurts us, because than a little to do with his change merchant fleet . The last Mariner cargo vessel, the Silver Mariner, Most of the time he was on the the American of heart. It was an American ship Scanmail, a Hog Islander that had has been deUvered and will be operated by Moore-McCormack for six money, we spend going out of the Gulf for a trip to been converted into a combination months before being put into the mothball fleet. winds up in the black market and Fremantle,' Australia, carrying a passenger-freight ship. It went to J" t 4" Passenger cruises to Spitsbergen and North Cape will be offered is used for Commie purposes. cargo of oil iq small drums. What Baltic Sea ports like Copenhagen for the first time in 15 ^ears when the new Norwegian motorship statted out as a long voyage to the and Leningrad, carrying up to 130 J. Cruz, 2nd cook: I think it other side of the world came to a passengers and taking wood pulp Meteor goes into service next summer.. .Testimony has resumed in helps a great deal because it gives swift end four or five days oi^ on the return trip. "Those Hog Is­ the 3rd month of Arnold Bernstein's suit against the Holland-America Line. Bernstein charges he was forced to sign over his Red Star Line the people there when the ship ran into a hurricane. landers looked like cigar boxes but to Holland-America while a prisoner of the Nazis in 1937.. .Vacation a chance to see Among the casualties were two they were good sailors, and this trips on the installment plan (no down payment, two years to pay) what we are like, masts and all the captain's chick­ one had been pepped up so it could are being offered by American Express to prospective cruise travelers and how we live ens. "The old man tried very hard do 151/6 to 16 knots." ...A fire wrecked the Japanese freighter Asahisan Maru in thb'port in America. Most to save his chickens but they got In 1938 the SlU was formed and of Karachi, Pakistan. The ship was carrying a cargo of rubber, cotton of them don't Westphal was one of the first to washed overboard." know what free-; and rice. After that Westphal say's, he de­ join, getting his book in Mobile on dom is. They can if i> if cided to go modern and sail under November 23 of that year. For a The first cargo of iron ore from Labrador was unloaded at Buffalo understand it a steam. He's never run into much while he sailed pretty steadily out ^ from the Canadian freighter, John H. Price. It followed shortly after lot better when of the Gulf but in the last couple sailing trouble since. unloading of a cargo of .ore at Philadelphia from the same source, the we show them of years has shifted to New York Potato Diet newly-developed Ungava range on the Quebec-Labrador border.. .The the things we have and, can ^joy runs, coming off the Mankato Vic­ The bill of fare on that last sail­ tory his last trip out. Norton-Lilly company has added the 3,250 deadweight ton freighter in the US. ing ship was enough to discourage it Valencia to its South .^erican run out of New York . Salvage ex­ ' Has Four Acres Tom DriscoII, AB: One thing the him both as a professional cook , Westphal has a home and about perts are examining the wreckage of the 1,177 ton British freighter Spanker off the Netherlands coast to see if the ship can be saved. people in foreign countries don't and as a man who likes his food. four acres of land in Satsuma, Ala­ under stand i5 "The menu was the same eaci} bama, roughly halfway between The Spanker went aground off Hook Of Holland, Netherlands, and was what Aitiericans day," he said. "There were two Mobile and Birmingham. There he abandoned by its 18-man crew.. .The Anglo Iranian Oil Company re­ are like. They potatoes for breakfast, two potatoes grows enough vegetables for home ports that 10,000 tankers have 'taken on cargoes at Kuwait, Persian only know about for dinner, and if there was any­ use and keeps a few chickens. His Gulf, in the .last ten years. us from some old thing left over, the-crew could have wife is quite proud of her huge t t movies and what it for supper." The Navy has asked all ships in the Pacific to keep watch for a 35flower garden which is an absorb­ their -papers tell foot balsawood sailing raft, the Siete Hermaaitas. _ The raft is manned Westphal, who was born in Den­ ing hobby. fhem. When mark 56 years ago, started goipg by William Willis, 60-year old New Yorker, who is attempting a trans-' "Usually," 710 said, "1 stay home Americans go to to sea in 1917. His first ship was a about 2'/6 or 3 months a year at a pacific drift from Peru to Polynesia in the path of the famed Kon-Tikf . other countries, Norwegian three-masted barquen- time, -which is easy enough to do expedition... MSTS has ordered 100 lifeboat radios for lifeboats on they build a lot tine in the coal and ore trade. He because l ean make a good living Its troop transports. The radios can automatically send distress signals on two wave lengths...A $500,000 modernization program is under of good will and help explain our recalls it took 59 days from Den­ on SlU ships. So 1 have a real va­ way at the Alabama State Docks in Mobile. A new storage warehouse way of life 4o others. mark to the Delaware breakwatfer. cation and don't have to do any­ for import cargo is included in the program.. A 10,000-ton- Norwegian 4 4 From there they went to Norfolk, thing. Charles Stambull, chief electri­ picked up. a load of coal for Rio tanker, the Austanger, went aground on the Elbe River while headed "1 tried working ashore a few for Hamburg.. Test runs are planned in the near future for the Iberia, cian: It seems to me. we build g and then from Rio a cargo of ore times in hotels, restaurants, baker­ a new 30,000 "^ross ton liner under construction in Belfast for the lot of good will for home. ies and different places, but it Peninsular and Oriental Line. The new ship is 718 feet long and will in other coun­ Westphal was one of a two-man never worked out and 1 always carry 1,400 passengers on a i-un from England to Australia... Monte­ tries. Most sea­ steward department on the ship. gave it up. This way 1 have much video harbor operations were halted briefly last week by a 24-hour men today are He had to bri^g his own tools of more time off, I enjoy my work educated and stoppage of longshoremen seeking higher wages. the trade, knife and a fork, blan­ and travel all over the world." have some school­ ing and know how to act with other people. Be­ sides, we bring ACROSS DOWN IL Idle talk in everything to 34. Where the''New York trucking interests and The agreement between the Hotel 16. A European Liffey flows 1. Dame 1. Go to right them: food, equipment and even AFL Teamster Union locals are Trades Council, AFL, and the Ho­ country 36. Painting stand 4. A shipping line 2. New England 17. Fruit drink our own dough that we spend there. attempting to negotiate an area- tel Association of New York City 39. Dress 9. Navigation cape 20. Where Abadan 42. Eggs hazard wide agreement covering 30,000 calls for 25 years of service and 4 4 4 ' Parts of a is 44. Drive forward 12. Compass sailing race 21. Sufficient G. Wade, 2nd cook: When we drivers. The agreement would set age 65 as the minimum qualifica­ 47. What the trop­ hearing 22. White bear The Yokum ics have lots of 13. Loop rope go visiting other countries it helps up uniform contract terms through­ tions for the' pension. 24. Helps 49. Tht Fleet boy around pin 26. Curved people in those out New York City, Long Island, 50, Greek island Sheltered spot 27. Bright signs 14. Old Danish 4 4 4 . " 51. Wartime Swabs places to get a Northern New Jersey and the Hud­ coin 29. Another name agency Merger talks, are underway be­ Rowers 15. Member of b frt t e r under­ son valley. Fourteen local unions for the 53. Reguiation: An exclamation crew Marianas Abbr. standing of Amer­ and 18 employer associations are tween two Gift afdliates with a It carries the 17. God of war 31. He killed 54. Born fore-skysaU 18. Sault ica. - They only meeting regularly on the problem. view toward strengthening their or­ Hamilton 55. Greek letterMarie 10. Cargo from ganizations and coorcUnating op­ Duluth know what they 19. Away from , (Puzzle Answer On Page 17) 4 4 4 erations. Leaders of the CIO Oil center read about us - 21. A news agency All American Airlines planes Workers. International Union and and that's not 23. Island off have been grounded by a strike of the Gas, Coke and Chemical Work­ Donegal really enough. 1 25. Put new crew ers Union are in favor "of the step pilots in a dispute over working think we improve aboard hours. The dispute revolved about which would eliminate overlapping 28. Girl relations rather 30. Log house in jurisdiction and give them a com- ^ than hurt them by showing others the length of time of certain trans­ Russia continental flights which run 8V6 bined membership estimated at 32. Part of "to be" what Americans are like. 33. Frolicked hours. The striking pilots are 180,000. 35. A UN agency 4 4 4 members of the AFL Airline Pilots 37. Boy 4 4 4 Louis H. Goldberg, OS: It helps 38. River flowing Association. Studebaker auto plant workers in some ways and hurts in others. into Danube 4 4 4 . 40. Egyptian solar have approved a' company re­ For one thing, it disk Lumber workers in the North­ quest for a wage cut on premium shows us how 41. Mistake west US have been out on strike pay to bring rates closer to levels 43. Mr. Speaker of good we have it baseball for nearly two months in g dispute at "Big Three'' auto plants.' plant here, and helps 45. Doctor of over .yirages. Some settlements employeesj members of the United Science: Abbr. those overseas fi­ 46.. Open to view have been madp on . the basis of Automobile. Workers (CIO) voted nancially because 48. Crew members increases ranging from five to 12V6 down the cut but the plan was 80- Navy depot in the money we • Hudson cents an hour, but most employers accepted later when the company spend is needed S2. Flying machine Have refused to sign new contractis. said it would cancel its contract 56. Be in debt ' there. But it also 57. Funeral music 4 • 4. 4 with the union. A similar cut was hurts us because 88. Ex-G.L Pensions of :|40. a month' have approve^' some months i ago at ^ the foreigners make 59. Girl's nickname «... Part of -flsfa^ a profit on us and get the dough been negbtiated' for 35ibO,0(. workers Kaisec^Wlilys plant in« Toledo,: ^ book n. Yes vote .iht •that lwit'A*ft«Wei#S«.here. LABOR ROUND-UP i �|^»^;M-ly^/ y«_^, 5P«v«,.;3 Auriul 2«» 1954 SEAFARERS LOG SEAFARERS #L06 Aagait 20. 1954 Vol. XVI, No. 17 Published biweekly by the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic & Gulf District, AFL, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 92; NY. Tel. HYacinth 9-6600, CaWe Address; SEAFARERS NEW YORK. PAUL HALI., Secretary-Treasurer Editor, HZRBERT Bitiitra-,. Managing Editor, RAY DENISON; Art Editor, BESNARD SEAMAN; Photo Editor, DANIEL NILVA; Staff Writers, HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN SPIVACK, AL MASKIN, Gulf Area Reporter, BILL MOODY. ^ Pagre. Nine The Open Door! LETTER of the WEEK I^ominations Open This coming November 15 Seafarers will begin voting on 49 Union elective posts for the next two-year term. But be­ fore the voting starts, there is a one-month period of nomina­ tions, now open, in which those Seafarers who want to run for any Union office can do so simply by submitting their own names in writing to headquarters. •• - The SIU nominating procedure, is unique in that it is one of the few arrangements anywhere in which a man can nom­ inate himself. This is done, purposely to make it as easy as possible for a Seafarer to run for office. There are no compli­ cated slates and no involved nominating systems whereby a candidate has to get somebody'else to put up his name at a shoreside meeting. As a result o| this procedure, SIU elections have always attracted a sizable number of candidates, and in past years there have been a number qf new faces in the official family, . year by year, as rank and file Seafarers get chosen by their brothers for elective office. Now is .the time then for those Seafarers who want to run to put in their bid. The simple qualifications for the candi­ dates and the posts that will be up for election are listed in the pages of this issue. The rest is up to the membership. Wants US Flag For US Ships To the Editor: / The recent visit to New York harbor of the new million tanker, the W. Alton Jones, thrilled the people of this great port—par­ ticularly the seafaring people. Soon the Alton Jones' sister ship, the Statue of Liberty, will make her maiden voyage here and the public will again be told by ex­ pensive newspa­ per advertisements and fan­ \ fare what a mar­ velous feat of American inge­ nuity this vessel WHEN SUMMER'S HEAT farer comes from Australia and represents. really strikes on the Atlantic and joined the SIU in New York back Yet, I wonder Gulf coasts, all the fans in the on April 4, 1943'. He sails in the if the thrills and world don't seem to be of too deck department. e X c i t ement of much use. That's why Seafarers Rushton seeing these two Stanley Johnson and Allan W. McIT LOOKS AS IF THE ftlAKEnew ladies of the sea would not Arthur are out hunting for an air- up of the crew of the Yorkmar on turn to bitterness if the public conditioning unit for the mess- its next voyage is going to depend knew that these vessels, with their room of the Seatrain Savannah. a great deal on whether chief cook Cities Service stacks, fly the Liber­ iif it if Johnson and McArthur were Antonio Lalli stays on board. If ian flag and are manned by foreign elected a committee of two by the crew's -aves about the cooking crews. their shipmates are any indication, it appears that Also I wonder if the lavish ex­ after a thorough a number of men are likely to pile discussion at a off and follow him wherever ho It would be hard to exaggerate the importanc^-^of the per­ penditures on the advertisements shipboard meet­ goes. which appeared in the metropoli­ manent "50-50" bill that has been passed by both Houses of tan To put it briefly, the crew re­ ing on the pros newspapers, extolling the won­ Congress. While by itself no'cure-all for the ills that beset ders of the Alton Jones, could not and cons of air- corded in the ship's minutes that conditioning the Lalli should be "especially com­ the maritime industry, it should form part of a solid founda­ have been put to better use in crew mess. It was mended for fine food,preparation. equalizing the difference in wages tion for sustaining US-flag shipping on the higb seas for years agreed that after The crew indicated unanimous de­ between an American and a for­ ~ to come. the two Seafarers sire for him to be reshipped as eign crew. look into the chief cook." I wonder if Cities Service would Johnson There's no doubt that had there been no "50-50" legislation Lalli has been pleasing Seafar­ matter the crew tacked on to foreign aid bills in recent years, US-flag shipping not have found it far more advan­ would decide what, if anything, er's appe.tites for three years, since tageous to be able to say in its ad­ would be far worse off than it is now. As it is. Government- vertisements that "this vessel flies would be done. Generally speak­ he first started shipping out of in May, 19.51. He's owned cargoes have been the bread and butter for'^a good the American flag ana carries an ing though, the concensus of Philadelphia 48 years old and a native of the opinion was that each crewmemAmerican crew." I wonder if the segment of the industry. Keystone State. ber would make a sizable donation goodwill thus gained would not 4" 4- 4From the very beginning of the "50-50" issue, back in the have offset by far the wages saved at the payoff to cover all or part of the cost of a machine. PORT MOBILE HAD A Si^IALL days of 1948-49 when it was hotly fought over in Congress, by using a foreign crew. Johnson, who sails in the stew­ problem in membership discipline Asks Public To Awaken the SIU and its membership has been active up front On be­ ard department, has been an SIU which was settled to the satisfac­ I wonder when the American member for two years, getting his tion of all conceitied through the half of US-flag shipping. Membership action time and again public will finally awaken to the book in New York on July 24, 1952. action of a five-man membership ' in letting individual Congressmen know the feelings of Sea­ fact that greedy companies are 27 years bid and comes orig­ trial committee. The difficulties farers and their families undoubtedly had a great deal to do registering their ships under for­ He's inally from Georgetown, British arose because of the actions of an with the outcome. The words "well done", certainly apply to eign flags and stop patronizing Guiana. oiler on one of the Alcoa ships, Seafarers who took part in this fight. them. And I wonder if such an ac­ McArthur is a native of Tar-off who, it was charged, was repeated­ tion will make these companies Wellington, New Zealand, a distant ly getting gassed up on the job t t change their greedy policies. port that sees few American-flag and by his actions causing consid­ I wonder when the stockholders shigs. He joined the SIU in New erable unhappiness aboard ship. of this great company. Cities Serv­ York in May, 1947, and recently Left His Post A strangely fatalistic attitude toward the US merchant ice, will rise up in protest and celebrated his 27th birthday, The specific violation with which j; marine which almost seems to welcome foreign-flag transfers shout, "Stop this foreign registra­ the man was charged by all four tion of our ships!" I wonder when A TRIP TO KOREA IS QUITE shipboard dele­ was expressed recently by Vice-Admiral Emory S. Land (re­ these stockholders will realize that a different experience than most gates dealt with tired) who was head of the World War 11 shipping program. American prosperity depends on because it means entering one occasion The gist of Admiral Land's^ statement was that foreign-flag American employment, that their avoyages country that's still technically at when he left his registration by American shipowners is the only way out of petroleum sales depend on Ameri­ war and under military control. in mid-watch the present maritime situation. Otherwise, he says, US flag can labor, on American buying "Briefifig sessions" to acquaint post ostensibly to get shipping will disappear. power, on America's ability to con­ new men with what to expect some cigarettes The Admiral admits that there is a certain "calculated risk" sume. I wonder when they will ashore are certainly in order under and never re­ in^all this because crewmembers of ships under Panamanian, realize that their dividends come those circumstances, and that was turned. He was from a prosperous American labor what crewmembers of the Sea- later found sleep­ Liberian or Honduran flags might not be very friendly to the front. monitor received from Seafarer ing in the messYoung US and could be members of a Communist-dominated union. Carl Lawson on the outbound leg hall and one of Finally, I wonder when all of Along these lines, the Admiral could take note of the fact that these people will realize that a of the last voyage. the wipers had to take over for him right now a Panamanian freighter, the Amaryllis, is under a strong American merchant marine for the remainder of the watch. Union Procedurea 24-hour Coast Guard security watch in the port of Chacrleston, is one of the surest safeguards of While he was at it, Lawson dis­ As is the regular procedure, th« South Carolina. our liberties, and that the transfers cussed some of the procedures of Mobile membership elected a fiveThe "calculated risk" in'Admiral Land's outlook seems to of ships to foreign flags could deal the-Union, the way the delegate man trial committee consisting of be mostly risk and very little calculation. A few moments our national defense a stunning system works and other matters- H. B. Bette, Johnny Johnston, for the benefit of men who hadn t Wille A. Young, Johnny Ward and calculation should convince anybody that such a course would blow; Yes, I wonder about all these sailed much with the SIU before. H. Hurlsione to hear the case. The ^ be potentially disastrous to this nation. things. But at the same time I Lawson, of course, was,well ac­ committee look evidence and then There is an answer to US shipping problems but it does not hope—^hope that tht future will quainted with his subject-matter decided that it would recommend lie in abandoning the US^flag. That is an admission of defeat. see the c^apges made that are nec­ since he at one time had served as a $50 fine plus six months' proba­ The answer lies in more programs like the p«-manent "SOrSO" essary. For L still have faith in Union patrolman in San Franeisco tion on good behavior. The ae- « law and other legislative assists to US shipping, BB well as a America. and in other portobefore returning cused agreed that the findings had halt to redeless and self-defeating transfers to runaway Hags. - . BiiHh T. Bvahfoa to wiiUn»4b>TJi>R4> yean-old 5ea~ been-iiiMwe tihan-falr. ,7! Vote <m Thanks *50-50' Victory Flag Of Surrender '•i •J • 1 '•'i \ 'A 3 �SEAFARERS Fatre Ten LOG Aucust 20, IDS* IfeiiiiiiiSi': -• '\ mwrnmii i Traditional blessing of Father Herbert J. MulliJ Church, while standing! ing shrimp boat is spr p--' I K " best grade of shrimp down from $67.50 for a .210-pound barrel a year ago to $45. Prices of all grades werewolf about one-third, said Joe Murray, president of the SlU-afliliated Shrimpers and Oystermen's Association. . . • S Shrimp fishermen have been beset by difficulties since tha Federal gnti-trust division in April, 1952, charged the union with operating in violation of anti-trust laws. One trial of the case ended in a mistrial. A second trial is expected to be held this fall. Meanwhile, said Howard A. McDonnell, attorney for tha fishermen, the union is "pursuing, the same policy it has pursued since it was organized. "The union always has complied with state and Federal laws," he said. "There has been no violation of^'^Federal anti-trust laws. The action of the fishermen's union and its position is, and always has been, that of a labor union which has the right to bargain collectively for a fair return for the labor of its members." Some Feel Market Pinch b fe-*' Heralding the start of the 1954-55 shrimp fishing season, the biggest of the celebrations has just concluded in this Mississippi fishing and resort center. Several thousand SIUalfiliated fishermen along with cannery workers joined witH management and Biloxi civic groups to present the threeday Biloxi Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fishing Fleet. The fishing industry, amply supported by a thriving beach resort trade, is the backbone of the economy of -this longestablished Gulf Coast community. t- y f .: " ^ • i-.i:-::,-, riT j/,5v.'i3''-i :riW ^ r. Both fishing and resort industries put forth their best efforts to contribute to a joyful three-day festival that included a street parade, coronation of the 1954 Shrimp Queen, shrimp boat races, public merrymaking and the annual shrimp boat parade and blessing of the fleet. Thousands of visitors were- on hand to take part in the festival, sponsored jointly by the Chamber of Commerce and the Slavonian Benevolent Association of St. Nicoli, an or­ ganization of descendants of Slavic forebearers who were attracted to this region by its excellent fishing resources. Thousands On Parade' The big day for the fishermen was Sunday, closing day of the festival. Then they put out intathe Gulf—^the families • and friends aboard their gaily decorated trawlers to parade for hours close to the beach, jammed with an estiipated 20,000 spectators, and then pasr in single file to receive the,! ^blessipfr-of-the/.priest. J.,,,. !'!,!• Tbe funmakiftg wks - not: ifoticeably daippened by V de-: y. As for the fishermen, who often are at sea as long as 15 days on trips of up to 120 miles info the Gulf in search of shrimp, the declining market has resulted in hardship for some. „ .. . All, however, are hopeful that the beginning of the new season, which .is-expected to produce n-catch of hgarly Ifl. million pounds, will bring pCospeiity to skippers and crews who operate aboutrwiO trawlers oh a hasis of shares M)f the yield of each boat. ; . '! • The fleet supplies about 30 processing plants which can, freeze and prepare, the crustaceans for the fresh shrimp •..itnhirket. The'fishing and canneiy . workyiB done by the loeel im No fiesta or other^cej floats like the one ab| ; ; .ixi lliiiiipii ifc iiifc �'• / / August 20, 1984 SEAFARERS Page Eleven LOG ith- ' ) i1//' If ' ; /i I •Jr . ••?;;• .• :| vt:'m f .... . / t % I t» Mm ilpPI .J L ^ IsSgSSSsf? : m-MMi .. -1• M "J •l P;s • 'S :ii . - ,;i ••i\ the shrimp fleet is" offered by 1, pastor of Biloxi's St. Michael's' m anchored trawler. Each passikled with holy water. Visitors examine elaborate apparatus for de-veining shrimp. Newly-developed machine which featured ex­ hibit at Biloxi Community Center removes back veins of shrimp before they are put in deep freeze. 1954 Biloxi Shrimp Queen, 'Miss Kay Freeman, left, lends a hand at preparing shrimp barbecue. S Judges in huddle smile in agreement on prize-winning shrimp boats. Rear, right, is R. Matthews, SIU. pbration is complete without floats a nd a few pretty young maidens. Street parade featuring /e took place on the opening night of the three-day Biloxi Shrimp Festival. iv X iiiiiii V ^ t Joe Murray, head of SlU-affiliated Shrimpers and Oystermen, chats with SIU Asst.-Sec.-Treas. Bob Matthews. J 1 , IBg" j iiiSiilS iiiiliii:': ' - : . liiiiiP JV k ''s J ^ |S,0< ^iXnri Ed by JqhttiBoUrgeoiSi won. thejVdgesV hcK^ias shrhnii^^l^ Elabbrjately-decorated with pennants flying gaily in the i';| " wind, the trawler Steve M. Sekul passes the. judges., « . ^.v < M �JSEAF4RERS FW Twelve 'W- tOG PORT REPORTS Mobile: Dnion's On The Ball In Pnerto Rico Strike in Mobile, and recently he worked for the Sea Chest here, but is now planning on going back to sea. His favorite sport is boxing and he attends all the boxing shows in and around here. Although he has never cashed in on the mater­ nity benefit^ he thinks it is one of the greatest gains made by the Union. In the hospital here are Willie Reynolds and W. G. Moore. On the beach are H. S. Wilson, W. Matthews, D. McCorvey, M.. D. Hibbs, E. Aedoin, F. H. Haynes, J. O'SuUivan, L. Jackson, W. L. Kitchens, J. R. Bradley,' J. Hicks and H. Pizatowski. Cat Tanner Mobile Port Agent* Lake Charles: Crew On The Excello Is A Happy SIU Gang here are figuring out how much back pay they have ^omMg'under the new contract and are sendirig> in for it as fast as the lists come out. And the smiles are plenty big on their faces. ' • The fishing continues to be good here and. big catches are reported every day. However, our luck is best in the fish markets. ^ Leroy Clarke Lake Charles Port Agent Baltimore: Men Awail Opening Of New Baltimore Hall •Things have been running along One of the ships we paid off dur­ Our new hall has shaped up to smoothly down here in the bayous ing the past two weeks was the the extent that the members can of Louisiana, but there has -been Claiborne (Waterman). This ship now^see what the fellows coming no shipping to speak of during the was one of the seven that were laid Into this port will have. I have past two weeks. up in San Juan during the recent talked to a lof" of the brothers on Calling into this area but only longshoremen's strike in Puerto the beach here, who have been taking a few men were the Cities keeping an eye on the progress of ' ^ Rico, arid the crew report that dur­ Service tankers Salem Maritinie, the hall, and all of them are anx­ ing the month they were down Chiwawa, Bents Fort, Winter Hill, Boston: iously awaiting the day when there everything went fine with Lone Jack, Bradford Island and they'll be using it. As things look them, due to the on-the-spot repre­ Cantigny. now, this should be around Oc­ sentation the Union gave them.. We also had the Excello of the tober 15. Judging by the small number of Excello Corporation in here. There replacements on the ship, the crew sure was a happy Shipping here cqoled off con­ must have had quite a field day as crew on the ship - The crew of the Evangeline siderably during the past two most of them had very little dough except for a cou­ (Evangeline) dbnated $30 for a weeks, and there are no signs that ^ ple - of diehards coming at the payoff and stayed on it will improve during the next Seattle: who still think wreath for the funeral of Brother two weeks. ' for another trip. the company can Frank Burns, anil also donated All in all, shipping in this port During the last two weeks the do more for them $34.50 to his widow, Brother following ships paid off: Massmar Jiasn't been too bad during the past than the Union. Burns, who had been sailing as and Bethcoaster .(Calmar); Cathe­ two weeks, ^^th 154 men shipped How stupid can quartermaster on the Evangeline, rine (Drytrans); Yaka (Waterman); to regular jobs and 93 men sent ydu get? ' 5 left the ship July Edith (Bull); Steel Age"" (Isthmian), to various relief jobs in and Shipping has been slow in this The outlook for 30 to see a doctor and Felto're, Venore, Chilore, Maaround the harbor. Pritchett port during the past two weeks, the next two because he wasn't rore, Baltore and Oremar (Ore). Paying off and signing on were due mostly to the lumber strike feeling well. On the Pennant, Corsair, Pilgrim, here and the fact that wheat has weeks is just fair as we expect Signing on were the Steel Vendor August T he was (Isthmian), Yaka (Waterman) and Cavalier, Patriot stopped moving to the Far East. only about eight ships to call here. taken to the Feltore, Venore, Chilore, Marore, and Ranger (Al­ We have several ships laid up and However, three of these are com­ ing in from offshore and may pay Brighton Marine Baltore and Oremar (Ore). coa) and the Clai­ the future does not look hopeful. off here, so that could give a few Hospital and borne and Wild During this last report period men jobs. In transit were the Robin Locksdied 30 minutes Ranger (Water­ ley and Robin Kirk (Seas Ship­ we paid off the Kyska (Waterman); All is quiet on both the labor later of heart man). ping); -Seavictor (Bournemouth); Liberty Flag and political fronts. We have no failure. In transit were Bums (Gulf Cargo)>Sea- men in the hospital here at present. Shipping has Steel Vendor and Steel Architect the Steel Advo­ (Coral), coral For our Seafarer of. The Week been fair in this port during the (Isthmian); Alcoa Pointer' and Al­ cate (Isthmian), S e a w 1 n d (Sea- we nominate Brother A. T. (Ted) past-two weeks. We paid off and coa Roamer, (Alcoa); Bethcoaster De Soto and traders); Alcoa Weaver, who joined the Union in signed on the Cities Service tanker (Calmar); Chickasaw (Waterman); Iberville (Water­ Linch Pioneer (Alcoa); 1948 during the Cities Service or­ Lone Jack and In transit were the Evelyn (Bull), and Bents Fort man), Del Viento Trojan (Trojan); ganizing drive. He rode those tubs Afoundria, Wacosta and De Soto (Cities Service). and Del Bio (Mississippi) and Western Trader through to the successful conclu­ (Waterman); the Robin Kirk and In the marine., hospital here, for Southwind (South Atlantic). (Western Naviga­ sion of the drive and is now riding Robin Trent (Seas Shipping); the minor or extensive repairs, are Prospects for the coming two tion); Seamonitor them under the best conditions in Steel Age and Steel Architect Samuel Doyle, Antonio ' Johnson, weeks do not look too bright as (Excelsior), and the maritime industry. Ted suf­ (Isthmian); the Ann Marie (Bull), Tony Mastantuno, Steve Boides, Nicholson many of the offshore ships schedJohn C. (Atlantic fered a bad accident last year and the Western-Ranger (Western Gorman Glaze, Jesse Clark, Eugene - uled to hit this port are in the when his car left the road and is Navigation). Plahn, Samuel Mills, Adolph Sadlaid-up status awaiting cargo. Carriers). enwater, Algot Bogren and Jess Signing on were the Kyska just now able to ship again. As These include the Alawai, Morn­ James Sheehan Brinkley. These men in drydock ing Light, Arizpa, Golden City and (Waterman); George A. Lawson he puts it, there-is only one place Boston Port Agent to go, and that is to, sea on an do get lonesome sometimes and (Pan-Oceanic), and Alcoa Pioneer City of Alma (Waterman) and the SIU ship. He sails as pumpman always appreciate hearing from 4^ (Alcoa). Alcoa Pegasus (Alcoa). their buddies. In transit were the Young but figures tp take an oiling job Wilmington: In addition, the following ships until he gets the feel of a ship The address is are due to hit the port and go back America and Fairland (Waterman), under his feet again. But when­ USPHS Hospital, •= out again: Chickasaw, Monarch of and the Portmar (Calmar). 29th and Rem­ Our man of the week is Seafarer ever and wherever he goes there the Sea and Fairisle (Waterman^ will be a good man on board. He ington Ave., Bal­ and Polaris, Clipper, Pennant and J. (Nick) Nicholson, who is 31 years says it is a real Measure to be timore, Md. . old, single, and plans to stay that Corsair (Alcoa). able to tell the same men who Among the men way. He has been shipping out Shipping was very slow in this Del Rio Shorthanded used to order him to do work that on the Ipeach here the West Coast for the past two When the Del Rio was in transit wasn't his that. "this is an SIU port during the past two weeks, are George Nutt­ years, but says he prefers the with no pay-offs or sign-ons. How­ here we found out there were two ship now, and we get paid for ing, John Taurin, ever, we had 11 ships in transit men missing—a bosun and a mess- European ports for shore leave. that." Charles Kellogg, He says his vacation money is the Fox and were able to put 14 men ton man. None of the delegates or the - Moore Is Chairman Harry Johnson, feature of the SIU that appeals ship's delegate reported this to the At the last meeting. Brother T. these as replacements. The outlook George Fosset, Norman T. Jack­ most to him. for the coming, two weeks is poor. Union and the ship was scheduled J. Moore, Jr., was chairman, and son, John Flynn, Alfred Sjoberg, On the beach here are W. E. Brother Walter (Whitey) Pritchett to go to New Orleans for payoff, so In transit were 4he Portmar, Pete Solberg, Danny Lippy and Weddle, R. L.,Welch, G. Sims, H we told all the delegates it was a was recording secretary, and both Pennmar and Alamar (Calthar); Paul Strickland; part of their job to report all short­ C. Wirtz and C. Aycock. men did a fine job. Brother Moore, Steel Chemist and Steel Scientist This week we would like to give Men in the hospital are G. W. who sails on deck as AB, hails (Isthmian); Alcoa Planter (Alcoa), ages to the hall and see that the special mention to Patrick Fox, Flint, H. Harvey, S. Johannessen, company ordered all necessary re­ from Massachusetts but now is a and Fairland, Bienville, Topa Topa, J. Kackur, V. K. Ming, I. Peder- dyed-in-the-wool rebel from Texas. John B. Waterman and Kyska who has been sailing on the Atlan­ placements before sailing. tic and Gulf coasts as a full bookBrother Pritchett comes from Mon­ (Waterman). The Ore Chief, US Steel's phony sen and G. Rasson. member of the SIU" since 1942, Jeff Gillette Ernest Tilley tana and sails as pumpman. flagship, called at this port last and who has participated in all Seattle Port Agent Wilmington Port Agent All the boys around the hall week with a partial cargo, being the activities of the Union sihce unable to bring in her full cargo that time. of 83,000 tons as the harbor here Earl Sheppard is not deep enough. The news­ Baltimore Port Agent papers gave her quite a write-up ^ 4i but what they failed to play up ~ was the fact that she was sailing Galveston: under a foreign flag, paying coolie wages and beating American sea­ Shipping Figures July 28 to August 10 men and the American public in REG. REG. BEG. TOTAL SHIP. SHIP. SHIP. TOTAL general out of their jobs. PORT DECK ENGINE STEW. BEG. DECK ENG. STEW. SHIPPED Both Waterman and Alcoa are Boston , 19 10 12 50 ^2 13 35 19 Shipping is still holding Its own now paying their retroactive wages. New York 117 149 85 308 134 111' 394 106 here, and the next two weeks Alcoa has paid most of its back pay Philadelphia should be good for us, whh the and has mailed~the balance to the 31 . 83 42 33 101 .33 19 26 Alexandra (Carras) and Lucile last known addresses of the re­ Baltimore 128 76 79 .75 53 333 204 126 Bloomfield due in for payoff. cipients, while Waterman is cur­ Norfolk 17 4 8 18 11 40 12 rently paying off either in person Paying off xnd signing on during Savannah 8 5 19 7 . 4 19 or by mail. the last two weeks were the SeaTampa 14 21 5 19 ^ .. 2 • 18 51 For pur Seafarer of the Week cliff. (Coral) and Genevieve PeterMobile we nominate Eugene J. lilnch who 59 46 , 33 154 30 100 kin (Bloomfield). In transit were 37 joined the Union in 1942 and has the Southern Districts (Southern New Orleans ...i, - ' 66 57 147 63 167 40 47 shipped steadily out of the Gulf Galveston •• ' 28 • 28 35 82 -84 " Trading); Bepublic (Trafalgar); 24 23 since then. He is qualified in The Cabins (Cabins); Mae (Bull); • 80 Seattle —....... 38 77 19 87 54 188 57 engine room ratings hut lately he Val Chem (Valentine); and Sea28 33 San Francisco 36 30 32 98 v"'., T;;. ; ^^9 has switched to ':the ateward de­ trains Savannah, Texas and New partment and sails in various pasT V- .4 . ... 14. . 'Jers^.' Wilmington 11 11 f -/• 91' senger ship ratings out of this port. KeHk Alse#- ^ He is married and miUtei ills home f Gsteoilsu SB3 /Iijm 1,558'^ 928 : - Evangeline Grew Aids Widow Of SIU Brother Lumber Strike Slews West Coast Shipping I- e;" 11 Ships In Transit Take On 14 Crewmen <-t. Good Shipping Seen For Hoxl Two Weeks" ' 'Xm :<• • U- I . n n •X .i • "f �SEAFARERS Anffust 20. 1954 Page Ttalrteea LOG ..PORT REPORTS New York: * Port Shipping Record At New High For Year We h'hve again set a record high for the year in shipping in the port of New York. There have been plenty of jobs in all three depart-^ ments. This, of course, makes ^us all happy, and is a big boost for the morale. Shipping has been especially good for rated engine department * men,/with jobs on the board for several calls, with no takers. Pumpmen and machinists are at a premium—in fact, they are as scarce as the proverbial hen's teeth. So all of you tankermen who have the qualifications should go up and secure those endorsements. During the past two weeks we paid off 20 ships, signed four on foreign articles and serviced 16 intransits. We had two ships come out of lay«up during this period and three- ships went into tempo­ rary lay-up. The ships coming out of lay-up were the Rosario (Bull) and Western Rancher (Western Navigation), while those going into lay-up were the Seatiger (Colonial), Mankato Victory (Victory Carriers) and Seavictor (Orion). Ships Paying Off The following were the ships paid off during this period: Steel Navigator, Steel Vendor and SteelArchitect (Isthmian); Chiwawa, Bents Fort, Cantigny and French Creek (Cities Service); Val Chem (Valentine); Mankato Vic­ tory and Northwestern Victory (Victory Carriers); Afoundria and Wacosta (Waterman); Robin Kirk (Seas Shipping); Lawrence Victory (Mississippi); Seatiger (Colonial); Seavictor (OWon); San Mateo Vic­ tory (Eastern), and Seatrains Sa­ vannah and Louisiana. The Chi­ wawa paid off twice. The ships signed on were the Steel Artisan and Steel Navigator (Isthmian), Robin Locksley (Seas Shipping) and Lawrence Victory (Mississippi). In transit were the Chickasaw, Arizpa, Wacosta, La Salle, Madake^ DeSoto and Antinous (Water­ man); Steel Age and Steef Vendor (Isthmian); Dorothy (Bull); Brad­ ford Island (Cities Service), and ' Seatrains Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, New York and New • Jersey. Increase In Performers Now that we have given you the good news, we will give you some that is not so good. If you have been reading the New York re­ ports, you have probably noticed that for a long time we have not said anything about gashounds or performers on ships paying off here. The reason has been that we were not bothered with any of these men.' The crews have been carrying'^on in good SIU fashion, and where there were one or two performers or gashounds on a ship, the crews took care of them. In the last couple of weeks, how­ ever, we have paid off several ships with an^ over-abundance of drunks 'and performers and men who have been failing to perform their duties properly aboard ship. These men were dealt with accord­ ingly at the time of payoff, and we are again putting the few men who persist in continuing these prac­ tices on notice that they will be dealt with according to the Union constitution. The members of the SIU enjoy the best contracts and. conditions in, the maritime industry, and they are not going to let a few men who don't care tear dovrh what it has taken them so long to build. As in the past, most of this perform­ ing has bepn dpne^aboprd Isthmian and,Bit^^ibifisaiii)lMla«ire on long runs, so my advice would be that if you can't stand these long hauls without going off the deep end, you should take a ship on a short run. \ Claude Simmons Asst. Sec.-Treasurer 4^ 4. 3^ Miami: Foreign Operations Peso Threat To Pert Shipping has been fair in this port during the past two weeks, but tAe future looHs somewhat better. Foreign flag operations, however, are reaching menacing proportions here. , During the last report period we paid off and signed on the Florida (P & O). In transit were the Iber­ ville, Yaka, Alawai, Azalea City, Chickasaw and Raphael Semmes (Waterman), the Ponce (Ponce Cement) and the Florida (P & O). . We have succeeded in getting standby men aboard a small survey ship, the Coptic, being fitted out for a Red Sea and Persian Gulf s e i s m ographic survey, and nego­ tiations for sup­ plying a crew are now underway. We also have a few standby men Mu^o aboard an LCM fitting out for the Caribe Ferry Company. Mike Muzio, storekeeper on the Florida, is taking a two-weeks vacation. He has sailed SIU ships of aR companies .since the Union was chartered. His hobby is fish­ ing. Cabrera Is Buried Regina Cabrera, who died at sea aboard the Del Norte (Mississippi), waS buried in" Miami on August 7 with rites under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Edwin Davis is in the Key West Naval Hospital, while L. McLaugh­ lin and Clayburn Reed are in the Miami Veterans Hospital. William Gregory is in the Jackson Memo­ rial Hospital here. Eddie Parr Miami Port Agent 4^ 4 t Tampa: De Solo, Chickasaw And Iberville Gall Shipping has been slow here during the past two weeks, with no payoffs or sign-ons. In transit were the Waterman ships De Soto, Chickasaw 'and Iberville, the last calling here twice. Ray White Tampa Port Agent New Orleans: Alcoa And Mississippi LisLDrydecking Dates Of interest to memben in this area is the drydocking schedule for Alcoa and Mississippi passenger ships. Schedules recently supplied by the companies call for drydocking on the following dates: Alcoa Clipper, September 6; A1CO9 Cavalier, September 20, and Alcoa Corsair, October 4. Del Sud, October 7; Del Mar, October 28, and Del Norte (all Mis­ sissippi), November II. Recently a number of ^ requests hgve gone from this branch to the Union's Washing­ ton office for sign-on clearance for men who have lost their papers. The SIU's Washington rep­ resentative has been successful in obtaining this ap­ proval in all such Bambrino cases. He reports, hpwever. that the Coast Guard is showing signs of adopting a more rigid policy toward men who are overly careless and lose their papers. Dambrino's the Loser Brother Donald D. Dambrino is still in the USPHS Hospital here. From all reports, he is doing fine, but his friends may not recognize him when he comes out. , He has been on^ a reducing diet and has discharged some 30 pounds of sur­ plus cargo. Other Seafarers still in the hos­ pital and reported to be con­ valescing in good style include Eric R. Eklund, Andrew Stauder, Mon­ roe Gaddy, John Rehm, James D. Thomas, Edward A. Saul, Virgil L. Harding, Thomas Fields, Milford E. Alexander and Jesse M. Lyles. C. E. Brady and Duska "Spider" Korolia recently were discharged to outpatient status and hope to obtain their "fit. for duty" slips soon. Others who have" been dis­ charged and hope to be ready to ship out soon include Salbata Serio, H. Ledbetter, Francis Pastrano, B. W. Tingley, Claude Gilliam, Sam Marihello and Arthur J. Nelson. Shipping Is Fair Shipping during the last report period was fair and the outlook for the immediate future is about the same. During this period we had six payoffs, four sign-ons and 16 ships in transit. The Alcoa Partner (Alcoa), Del Norte, Del Rio and Del Valle (Mis­ sissippi) and the Iberville and Chickasaw (Waterman) paid off. San Francisco: The Alcoa Partner and the Del Campo, Del Viento and DeL Norte (Mississippi) signed on. The Alcoa Clipper, Alcoa Pen­ nant, Alcoa Corsair apd Alcoa Pilgrim (Alcoa), Del Campo and It has come to our attention that Del Viento (Mississippi), the Sea­ when ships lay up in Portland or trains Georgia and Louisiana (Seatrain Lines), the Monarch of the Seattle men who have one day's Seas, Choctaw, Wild Ranger, Mada- pay and subsistence coming are ket and Claiborne (Waterman), not collecting it. We would like to Evelyn (Bull), Queenstoh Heights! remind these men that they have (Seatrade) and Southwind (South this money coming, and if they Atlantic) called here. 'continue to overlook this pay and Lindsey J. Williams subsis4pnce the shipowners may New Orleans Port Agent want to leave it out of the contract at the next negotiations. So be 4 4. 4^ sure you get your money when you Philadelphia: have it coming. We would also like to remind all permitmen making application for books to,be sure to get their ap­ plications signed Now that peace has once more by the port agent been established on the waterfronts in the port of ap­ in Philadelphia and Puerto Rico, plication. Some things have been considerably better here. Two Bull Line ships permitmen are that were laying idle in this port turning in appli­ because of the Puerto Rico beef cations signed by have recalled their crews, and we bookmen, but. had one Waterman ship In for pay­ Skaalegard these applications m'ust be signed off. This event—a rarity—enabled us to put quite a few replacements by the port agents. on the ship and this was a great Shipping in this port was slow help. during the past two weeks and the Besides this Waterman ship— future does not look too hopeful. the Alawai—the Republic (Trafal­ We paid off the Mother M. L, gar) also paid off here. These two (Eagle Ocean) but had no sign-ons. .ships signed on and so did the In transit were the Portmar (CalDorothy and Arlyn (Bull). • mar). Steel Chemist (Isthmian), In transit were the Hilton, Su­ and City of Alma, Fairland,, J. B. zanne " and Evelyn (Bull); Winter Waterman and Topa Topa (Water­ Hill (Cities Service); Chickasaw, man). There were no beefs on any Fairland, Afoundria, Yaka, Antin­ of these ships. ous and Azalea City (Waterman), Sailing 18 Years and Southern Districts (Southern For our Seafarer of the Week Trading). we nominate Dave Barry, who has A. S. Cardullo been sailing for 18 years and has Philadelphia Port Agent . been with the SIU for approxi­ mately five years. Brother Barry 4J' * 4 4 was one of the first men to join Norfolk: the NMU, in 1937, but says that after two years he realized that the NMU had nothing to offer. For a couple of years he sailed with Esso, then switched to Cities Service and During the last two weeks we got his SIU book during the Cities had two payoffs here, one sign-on Service organizing drive. He says he knows now that he belongs to and eight ships in transit. Paying off were the Show Me the best union in the maritime in­ Mariner (Bull) and Salem Mari­ dustry, and that the benefits of its time (Cities Service). The Salem Weifare Plan are unexcelled. The paid vacations especially appeal to Maritime also signed on. him. In transit were the Alcoa Point­ In the hospital here are S. er and Alcoa Roamer (Alcoa); Hawaiian Banker and Steel Ven­ Bunda, C. Mize, J. Childs, O. Gusdor (Isthmian); San Mateo Victory tavsen, J. Perreira, W. Singleton (Eastern); Southern States (South­ and P. S. Yuzon. ern); Robin Locksley (Seas Ship­ On the beach are H. Skaalegaard, ping, and Southland (South Atlan­ T. Moriarity, W. Kramer, H. John­ son, G. Fourn'er, P. Robertson, C. tic). Ben Rees McKee, A. Brown, B. Talbert, J. Norfolk Port Agent Simon, V. Valencia and J. Batson. ,Tom Banning San Francisco Port Agent Coiiect Snbsisfence When Ship's Laid Up Shipping Up As Peace Conies Te Waterfronts Biiii, Cities Service Ships Are Paid Off 4 Savannah: SIU, A&G District BALTIMORE 1,4 North Gay St. Earl Sheppard. Agent Mulberry 4540 BOSTON 276 State St. James Sheehan. Agent Richmond 2-0140 GALVESTON 21st & Mechanic Keith Alsop. Agent Phone 2-8448 LAKE CHARLES. La 1419 Ryan St. Leroy Clarke. Agent Phone 6-574^ MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner. Agent Phone 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 523 BienvUle St. Lindsey Williams; Agent ' Magnolia 6112-6113 NEW yORK 675 4tb Ave.. Brooklyn HYaclnth 9-6600 NORFOLK °. 127-129 Bank St. Ben'Rees. Agent • • Phone 4-1083 PHlLADELjPlnA...., 337 Market St. S. CarduHo, Agent" Market 7-1635 SAN FRANCISCO 450, Harrison St. T. Banning. Agent UOilglas 2-5475 Marty BrelthoR. West Coast Representative PUERTA de TIERRA, PR . Pelayo 51—La 5 Sal Colls. Agent Phone 2-5996 SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St. Jeff-Morrison. Agent .Phone 3-1728 SEATTLE ' 2700 1st Av4. Jeff GUlette. Agent ' EUiott 4334 WILMINGTON. Cam.....505 Marine Ave. Ernest Tilley. Agent Ternunal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS . 675 4thKAve.. Bklyn. SECRETARV-TREASURER Paul Hall ASST SECRETARY-TREASURERS Robert Matthews Joe Algina Claude Simmons Joe Volpian WUllam HaU SUP HONOLULU.*...; FORT WILLIAM....llBti Syndicate Ave. Ontario Phone: 3-3221 PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. Ontario » Phone: 5591 TORONTO. Ontario 272 King St. E. EMpire 4-5719 VICTORIA, BO 617H Cormorant St. Empire 4531 VANCOUVER. BC 565 Hamilton St. Pacific 7824 SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St. Phone 6348 BAGOTVCLLE. Quebec 20 Elgin St. Phone; 545 THOROLD. Ontario 52 St. Davids St. » CAnal 7-3202 QUEBEC 113 Cote De La Montague Quebec Phone: 2-7078 SAINT JOHN .177 Prince William St NB Phone: 2-5232 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND 522 N. W. Everett St. Beacon 4336 lUCHMOND. CALIF 257 5th St. Phone 2599 SAN FRANCISCO.; 450 Harrison St. Dougias 2-8363 Great Lakes District SEATTLE ... 250S 1st Ave. Main 0290 ALPENA 133 W Fletcher WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave. Phone; 12:i8W Terminal 4-3131 BUFFALO. NY , 180 Main St. ^one: Cieveiand 7391 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn *734 I.akesido Ave.. NE STerUng 8-4671 CLEVELAND Phone: Main 1-0147 1038 3rd St. DETROIT Canadian District Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857 531 W. Michigan St. MONTREAL «94 Stl James St. West UULUTH Phone: Meirose 2-4110 . „ PLateau 8161 3261 E. 92nd St HALll. AX N A..., V,... laa'A «0UiS St. SgUTH CUICAGO. .. Phone: fissgs !.5-34W . -J" Phonei 3-8911 4 'x • fi J j M 4 Shipping Is Average; Twe Payeffs Are Une Shipping here during the past two weeks has been average, with 19 men shipping. During the next two weeks we have the Sduthstar and Southport (South Atlantic) due in for payoff. The Royal Oak (Cities Service) paid off here during the past two weeks and we had no sign-ons. In transit were the Fairport and Arizpa (Waterman); Carolyn (Bull); Southern Cities (Southern); Steel Fabricator (Isthmian); Robin Locksley (Seas Shipping), and Seatrains Louisiana and Georgia, which both called here twice. Jeff Morrison V "''Mi �Face Foorteea SEAFARERS LOG Aacnst M, 198i In Saigon, Seafarers Talk Over indo-Cinna Truce ^ With the Communist threat still hanging heavily over the. city. Seafarers met recently in the Con­ tinental Palace in Saigon to discuss the Indo-China truce. Left, crewmen of the Steel Admiral, Alcoa Pioneer, Seacomet and Beauregard listen intently while (right) chairman Ray Queen addresses them. Flanking Queen are reading clerk Jimmy Hanners (left) and Edward Mattison, who served as secretary.- ^DonfV Outweigh ^DoY For Seafarers In Korea For the Seafarer in Korea, the "dent's" still far outweigh the "do's." In other words, a Seafarer hitting a Korean port such as Inchon or Pusan still finds himself prohibited from doing a lot more things than- he is allowed to do. So says Max Lipkin, chief steward on the Pelican Mariner (Bloomfield). "In the port of Inchon," Lipkin reports, "they issue a pass the size of a newspaper, list­ ing all the 'do's'and 'd o n t' s.' William MacDonald is an oldtimer in the SIU who's been Come to think of sailing the seas for a good many years. But he's convinced it though, I can - now that there's a lot to be said for travel by air. remember only , MacDonald was particularly one 'do' in a sea impressed by the efficiency men's papers and other important of 'dont's.' That was one which displayed by Eastern Airlines papers. "Believe me," MaoDonald says, allowed us to in getting back to him the sea­ Lipkin breathe the fra­ men's papers he los^ pn one of "I was plenty worrie'd there for a little while after I looked over my grant aroma of garlic and kimchi, their planes. ^ MacDonald's difficulties occurred things when I got home and dis­ which is a native delicacy of ques­ a couple of weeks ago when the covered my SIU book and seamen's tionable-origin and quality." Writing to the LOG from Pusan, Del Mar (Mississippi), on which papers were missing. Fortunately, I didn't lose any money, but losing Lipkin says that the American he sailed as en­ those other things could- have merchant seaman still has a very gine utility, caused me a great deal of incon­ tough time of .it in Inchon, regard­ reached New Or­ venience." leans and he got ing shore leave, and in Pusan it is even worse. off to visit his Turn Up In Newark home in Wood "In Pusan," he writes, "three MacDonald called the airport in lyn. Pa. Philadelphia, and the airport con­ merchant seamen were arrested by MacD o n a 1 d tacted Eastern which, in jig time, the military authorities, tried in a caught an East­ discovered that the papers had court martial, and given the choice ern Airlines been brought to Newark Airport of 30 days at hard labor or a $75 plane in New Or­ by the plane MacDonald left in fine—because they had violated the MacDonald leans apd went as curfew by exactly 10 minutes." Washington. far as Washington. Then he had to "I got my papers back in ho time Black Market Flourishes transfer to a United Airlines plane at all," MacDonald reports,- "and which took him to Philadelphia. Eastern even paid the postage for The black market In Korea, Lip­ kin says, is still flourishing, and When he reached home in Wood- sending them to me." lyn, near Philadelphia, he discov­ MacDonald feels that for this American beer and whiskey are ered that somewhere along the line fast service Eastern deserves some plentiful—^if one is willing to pay he had lost his SIU book, his sea- sort of a pat on the back. This is it. the price. American beer costs over '$l a can in Korean money, whiskey is of a comparable price, and in the bars black market prices are freely quoted on all items. Yen, script, dollara and Korean won are all interchangeable, and__many (1) If you were a diva would you probably be; (a) physically ill, (b) items there is a bartering of prod­ in opera, (c) looking for lost treasure, (d) a piece of furniture? ucts without any exchange of cur­ (2) What relation is the son of my* father's nephew to me? rency at all. For a carton of ciga­ (3) If Johnny has twice as many marbles as Tom, Harry has three rettes, for instance, one can obtain times as many as John, and Charlie has three times as many marbles as a pair of GI shoes worth at least Tom, and there are 108 marbles altogether, how many does each have? $7, Lipkin reports. (4) What vitamin is available to the human body through sun­ Overall, Lipkin says, the Army bathing? is doing a good job of representing (5) Which state in the Union has the smallest population: (a) Dela­ the US, but there dre individuals ware, (b) Rhode Island, (c) Nevada, (d) Arizona? in the Army who create conditions (6) Prior to 1930, what was the tallest building in the world: (a) that could stand investigation, par­ Woolworth Building, NYC; (b) Washington Monument, (c) Eiffel Tower ticularly in the treatment of Amer­ (d) Statue of Liberty? ' ican merchant seamen. (7) What figure represents Great Britain just as "Uncle Sam" rep­ "It's about time," Lipkin writes, resents the US? (8) In what continent are the ten highest mountains in the world- "that we An^erican seamen were fa) Europe, (b) Africa, (c) Asia, (d) North America? * treated with the same respect that American citizen and taxpayer ^(9) If a man "walked one mile at the rate of two mlWs per hour, and any has right to expect. I have rode 15 miles at 45 miles an hour, how long would it take him to seen the incidents occur to American cover the 16 miles? merchant seamen L don't (10) What prize-fighter gained fame as the "Wild Bull ofthe Pampas"? believe ever would which have occurred (^uiz Answers on Page 17) •s ft i H i I, .. . : f IB to. /ipy, pthey, A»ej^<ian. .citizens." Seaman's Papers Wan<der But Airline Finds 'Em Fast WATCH This feature is designed to offer hints and information on hobbies, new products, developments, publications and the like which Seafarers may find helpful in spending their leisure-time hours,<both ashore and aboard ship. Queries addressed to "Off Watch," SEAFARERS .COG, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY, will- be answered in the column or by mail, wherever possible. 4— ^ right there in the partlcular'coun. .While tiiey may not make every­ body sit up and take notice the try. Customs regulations have to same way the now-famous Marilyn be watched, however. 4i. 3; J* Monroe calendar art did. Seafarers Established stamp collectors and who've had-some success in-color photography may be interested-in would-be philatelists may be in­ trying to sell their transparencies terested in the fact that the US to calendar publishers, as sea and Post, Office Department will be • ship scenes are always populw. A issuing four new stamps in coming handy "Guide to Calendar Tub- weeks—a Ic, 2c and 4c regular * lishers," available from the Loft- issue and a 4c airmail (for post­ house Co., Box 832, Binghamton, cards), all of which are, being NY, elaims to have the up-to-date issued in sheets of 100. The green has a portrait of Washington and ' details on the specific needs of will have its first-day sale at Chi­ each company and their prefer­ cago On Aug. 26. The 2c red ences pn subject matter. features Jefferson and will be sold ^ Si Si first at San Francisco on Sept. 15, Those who like their sea lore on while the 4c lavender design fea­ wax, either to take with them on tures Lincoln and will bow in at the ship to or send home to the New York on Nov. 19. The blue folks to help them understand airmail issue will have its first what seafaring is all about, should day sale in Philadelphia on Sept. get some pleasant listening from a 3. Those who want first-day can­ new long-playing record release cellations of these stamps should called "Poems and Songs of the send self-addressed' envelopes Sea," on the Audie Masterpiece (cards in the case of the 4c air­ label. It has Bill Forrest alternate­ mail), plus a money-order to cover ly reciting the poems and Oscar the cost of the desired stamps, in Brand . singing the songs, with an envelope addressed to the post­ Brand also providing a light guitar masters of the fitst-day cities. Re­ background for the poems. member that postal rates require at least three one-cent stamps or . 4) 3) 4 . With an opportunity like few fwo two-cent stamps on the en­ other people to pick up odd stamps velopes. and new issues in all comers of the world, many Seafarers take A new aid to the hobbyist who advantage of their calling to pursue fashions his own pottery is a small, the hobby of stamp collecting^and practical pottery .wheel which can make a beeline for the local post operate on the power supplied by office every time they hit a strange an electric food mixer. It weighs port. Valuable collections for only four pounds, measures themselves or for the kids are built 7"xll"x9", is readily demountable up this way, particularly with the and easily stored. Its manufac­ savings made by buying up lopal turers claim it can be used right issues cn the spot and - thereby in the kitchen or practically any­ cutting out the middleman's "take." where else and that no workshop is In addition, those who have the needed. Thus, for shipboard en­ inclination and the ener^ to do thusiasts of this craft, it could be jso can build up a mighty profitable ideal. The wheel lists at $14.95 and sideline in the way of a mail-order is made by the Mecce Division, stamp business, since foreign Marine "Enterprises, Pasadena 56, stamps can be purchased In bulk Maryland. It can probably be at handsome savings when you're prdered through any hobby shop. LOG-A-RHYTHM: St. Nicholas Bells By Edward Joseph Kelly St. Nicholas bells are chiming out Across the windswept sea. They are sending out a message Calling you back to me. •j.V' f" B< , Jv-:' ii- ' • You are in my every thought. No one can take your place. The day is slowly davming And I shall see your smiling face, I kneel in St. Nicholas Chapel And to God I pray To guide your ship home safelyHome safely to the quay. Quiz Corner m • \ Your ship sails home so .slowly Across the windswept sea. But very soon our parting, dear. Will be a memory. ^Cati'Shahers^ Have 2Vo OK At New York's Jones Beach, Seafarer Frank Boyne tries diving practice. Frank's been down 80 feet; Hydropak has 200-foot limit. The membership is ag'aln 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-i tion from SIU head.quarters to' collect fun^s. The National Foundation for Infantile Pa­ ralysis Is the only charitablei organization which has re^ ' ceived. membership endorse­ ment. Funds for this caus# are collected through nonnal Union channels at the pay-off,^' Receipts are issued on the spot' ' �w '' i: ^^Trr-rrTT-: Anetui 20, 1954 "T;ry^.7p^-?scr;-rpr.-r^ SEAFARERS LOG Lure Of The ^Open Road' Can't Match Call Of Sea Once a seaman gets the yen for salt water in his blood, it's pretty hard to get it out of his system, even when he's on dry land and is trying to see a few shoreside sights. One Seafarer who has learned this is Edwin S. Harris, who has been on a cross-country motorcycle tour ever since he paid off the .Cities Service, tanker Paoli in Houston a . month ago. Like almost every other seaman, at some time in his life, Harris got the urge, while sailing as pumpman on the Paoli, to see a few shoreside sights. And so, when the Paoli hit Houston,' he paid off, bought himself a motorcycle, and started off on his cross-country trek. But the so-called lure of the open road is no match for the call of the sea, Harris soon learned, and instinctively he found himself heading his 'cycle ior cities where there are SIU halls, and then to the halls themselves! "• As a result, when he wasn't actually traveling, Harris spent much of his time at places like the SIU halls in New Orleans, Mobile and Lake Charles, . where he could swap stories with the other SIU men he found there. Reunion With Family Harris disrupted this pattern only long' enough Astride motorcycle, which he bought after pay­ to stage a brief reunion with his family in Crawfordsville, Ga. Then he headed for New York and, ing off Paoii in Houston, Edwin Harris poses in naturally, made his first stop SIU headquarters in front of SIU Haii in Mobiie. Harris also visited Brooklyn; where he reported on his trip to the LOG. SIU halls in New Orleans, Lake Charles and If Harris goes on with his present plans, he'll New York during his trek. continue on up the East Coast to Toronto, and then go all the way back across the country to ^he West when a seaman has been on dry land.for a while, Coast before shipping out again. and in the middle of his jaunt Harris may very well But even he himself is not certain these plans will decide to trade in his 'cycle for another pumpman's work out. The call of the sea gets mighty strong berth. Speak Your Mind At SIU Meetings ^Give Credit Where Due' Is Seafarer's Philosophy . Under the Union constitu- " tlon every member attending a Union meeting is entitled to nominate himself for the elected posts to be filled at Seafarer Dave Barry is a guy who believes in giving credit the meeting—chairman, read­ where credit is due—and he thinks everyone else ought to ing clerk and recording secre­ do the same. * = tary. l^our Union urges you Barry put his philosophy workers in the place are volun­ to take an active part in meet­ into practice recently when he teers who are interested only in ings by taking these posts of sat down and wrote a long seeing that the customers are well service. letter to the LOG telling about taken care of. And; of course, all members That letter, printed in the LOG, Bond's, a bar and restaurant run have the right to take, the floor created quite a stir, Barry now re­ by a gent named Tom Sullivan at and-express their opinions on J51 Market Street, San Francisco. ports, and many other Seafarers any officer's report or issue At Sullivan's place, according to wrote him about it. That set him under discussion. - Seafarers Barry, no one is asked how much to wondering why these men had are urged to hit the deck at money he has. He's just told to never bothered to write about the these meetings and let their sit down and eat all he wants. place themselves, and he came to shipmates know what's on There's a "Jar on the bar for stew- the conclusion that it is human na­ their mind. pot donations, and most of the ture to be quick to condemn the bad but slow to acknowledge the good. "In so many of the letters I've read," .Barry says, "there always seems to be some sort of con­ demnation. Either some laundry has gypped somebody, or some dry cleaning place has ruined some­ body's suit or somebody has taken somebody else over the hurdles. WARD VACATCW Some Places Help PAY FOR AULTIME "Yet many of these same men," Barry says, "have also been in WORKED A8CARD places where they have been helped SM\P YOU MUST —where they have been fed and made comfortable in many ways. SET PISCHARSES However, there is a tendency to FOR PORT TIME . take good things for granted and THESE ARE OVtYSlVEAl then promptly forget about them, I don't think this is.^the right way. UPDM REQUEST. TO So how about a few less letters SAVE YOURSELF TIME griping about the bad things, and a few more praising the good ANDTROUBLE LATER, ones?" ASK FOR A'PORT TME. . 'We think perhaps Seafarer Bar­ ry has a point. DISCHARGE WHEHYOU 6tryOOR POKT'TiMB , MOtAKSe/ SET CREDIT LEAVE A 4^: ':;i'f^vi-y!-l!t;»?^«ii^-:l Fare FiftecM :| v.-,,-' •«->v.j,isr Spike Marlin When something goes wrong have to leave town. This announce­ with a baseball club and the ment was greeted with a monu­ empty seats far outnumber the mental shrug of indifference. full ones there are a few tried The sorry part of the whole story and true procedures which are fol­ is that moving to another city won't lowed, none of which may have necessarily help the ball club. The any bearing on the situation. The move will give it more cash to first, and most ineffective, thing spend but while cash is a necessary that's done is to fire the manager. ingredieift to success, it isn't the The second is to fire the general whole answer. manager, who usually bears a little It's pretty obvious that if teams more direct responsibility. Then like Philadelphia are to amount to the new manager and general man­ anything, some new way of dis­ ager get together and announce tributing minor league talent must "We'll trade anybody. Everybody be found. The A's have bera on this team is expendable." The second division stuff with few ex­ trouble is the rest of the league ceptions for the past 23 seasons. feels the same way about the trad­ With a record like that no city is ing bait—they don't want any of it. going to support them for very If things really get serious, the long. question of control of the ball club always comes up. The ~ existing owners try to peddle their lemon to some businessman so wealthy that the club will help sjlve his tax headaches. Or they may an­ nounce that "unless the fans pa­ tronize the club it will have to le^ve town." None of these moves offer any real solution. The only way a bad Seafarer ^Antonio Goncalves ball club can be helped is with always knew that the SEA­ good ballplayers. But since its FARERS LOG is a popular easier to , dilly-dally around than newspaper, but now he has good „ , , , find good ballplayers the dilly-. reason to believe it's even more dallies come first. ' popular than he had thought. * Pay The Morigage Goncalves, who is now serving Something of that sort is hap­ in the Army at Fort Myer, Va., pening down in Philadelphia. The came to this conclusion when a Athletics, who showed some signs copy of the LOG, which he had of rejuvenation in 1948 and again been receiving regularly, mysteri­ in 1952, have sagged hopelessly ously disappeared. the last* two seasons. Their good "Only recently," Goncalves ballplayers, like Ferris Fain, writes the LOG, "I returned from George Kell and Harry Byrd, were two weeks in the field and asked sold off to pay the mortgage, while our mail clerk if he had received Bobby Sehantz, their ace in the my copy of the LOG. After search­ hole, went bad with a sore arm. ing around for about 10 minutes, The result is a colorless, inept club he sheepishly told me that he had that has-"been doing very badly at received it, but that somehow it the gate and on the field. had gone astray." * Obviously Connie Mack, that Goncalves believes his copy of baseball ancient, is in no position ,the LOG didn't just get up and to breathe fire into the club. But walk out of the mail room by his two sons are breathing fire at itself. More likely, he thinks, it each other trying to get control exercised a fatal fascination for of the half-dead horse. The man­ someone who was in a position to agerial and front office shifts were lay his hands upon it. made last year in Philadelphia. Goncalves suffered no loss be­ All that remain's now is the move cause new copies of the LOG were to %nother city, with Kansas City mailed to him. And as for. the spoken of as the site. Phila- present owner of his missing LOG delphians have . already been —well, Goncalves is sure he is en­ threatened that the Athletics will joying good reading. .<1 .-:v| Who Cut Caper With His Paper, Seaman Asks -1r' i\ I The LOG opens this colvmn as an exchange for stewards, cooks, bakers and others who'd like to share favored recipes, little-known cooking and baking hints, dishes with a national flavor and the like, suitable for shipboard and/or home use. Here's Seafarer Bob Lambert's recipe for home-made potato salad. It's the traditional custom in American cookery when the summer heat comes up to turn to such side dishes as potato salad and cole slaw to accompany both hot and cold meats. They are easier to take than' hot, steaming vegetables and about ten pounds of potatoes which for this purpose are -boiled with if properly made sit lightly their skins on until tender. After on the stomach in warm weather. Potato salad can be made in dozens of different ways. Bob Lam­ bert's recipe is more unusual than most since it makes use of tabasco, an ingr e d i e n t that is usually re­ served for sea­ food seasonings such as shrimp sauce. Tabasco undoub t e d 1 y tends to make the salad a good deal tangier than the bland concocLambert tion that often passes for potato salad In restau­ rants, but he warns that the ta­ basco had better be put on with a light hand. Otherwise there's bound to be fire-eating-responses from the customers. Lambert starts hit salad with the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, they are peeled and diced. Five good-sized onions, chopped very fine are added as well as five cups of diced celery. The-whole mix­ ture is seasoned with salt. Added next are 323 cups of may­ onnaise and then comes the spicy part of the concoction—5 tabl^ spoons of wine vinegar, 5 table­ spoons of prepared mustard and VA teaspoons of tabasco. The en­ tire salad is turned lightly with a fork with care to be taken not to break the diced potato sections. When chilled before sei-ving, the salad is, the traditional accompani­ ment of frankfurters, cold tongue, cold roast ' chicken and similar dishes. Lambert has been sailing with the SiU for ten yeai*s in the stew'ard department, joining the Union in the port Tampa. • "?f. itsw'i • - ••'»=••- r- •"" -" n I .1 • :ll - .41 vll - .'••r .'.'ia �Pake Sfattedi 'At W^st Pointf He Wants Mail SEAFARERS Aukiut %»; 1954 LOG L E T T E R S Food Sittiation OK On Torkmar To the Editor: To the Editor: if any of the brothers could write After sailing for a good many This is the first opportunity I at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. and answer them, I'd sure appre­ years with various companies, and have had to write to the LOG and "The job pays fairly well, but there's no such thing as.OT and again ciate it. First, how do I go about always being able to stay away it is a pleasure to do so. getting a 21-months or early dis­ from Calmar and Ore ships. I am I'd like to get on the mailink there's no job protection. If the To the Editor: Due to circumstances beyond charge? Second, would I be sub­ list, since the armed guard supervisor doesn't now on the Yorki LOG is the only like the way you comb your hair my control, I'm now in the Army. ject to the draft again? I've tried mar. and I find way I now have he can fire you, and there's noth­ I thought that at 27 I would be too- getting the answers here but all I that the food sit­ old for this sort of thing. But the get is buck-passing. of keeping up ing you can do about it. uation is very I am constantly bragging to my Army didn't think so. I am enclosing a small donation with tt® news of good. This is be< Before getting in here, 1 was for the LOG and again I would the Union and friends what a great union the SIU cause we have a the gn y s I've is, and about the fine agreements chief electrician on the Morning like to say it is the best labor very good SIU we have. But when I tell them Light. Our ship got into New Or­ paper there is. sailed with. steward and very The reason I about such things as penalty -pay leans from Korea and Japan and good cooks. If all Pvt. A. M. Pietrowskl * the next week I can't pick up the and the living conditions aboard men could pre­ US 52335913 was running LOG myself is our ships, they think I am handing pare food the Hq. Co., 1st Bn., 278 RCT )Voodruff Skonberg around In OD's that Uncle Sam them a line. If at all possible, I way these men Fort Devens, Mass. decided the Army couldn't do would appreciate it very much if at Fort Leonard do, it would be a very big help in ^ is, is, yoju could send me a copy of the Wood, Mo. You without me. sailing on the ships of so-called I was drafted last .January for agreement.- I want to prove to my talk about it be­ bad-feeding" companies. The chief two years. Then for 16 weeks they friends that I am telling the tilith ing hot in the steward on this ship is John Jelput me through the mill, trying to about the SIU. Persian G u 1 f— lette and the chief cook is Anthony LaUi. make an infantry soldier out of it's been 120 de­ To the Editor: Anthony Thomas We, the crew of the Steel Maker me. They didn't do a bad job, but grees here on Our ship did have a food beef on (Ed. note: Copies of the SIU after ail that training they stuck freighter and tanker agreements Peterson several occasions. (Isthmian) feel that when our ne­ it, but due to the cooperation of me behind a typewriter. I suppose have been mailed to you.) As everyune gotiating committee sits down to our steward and the Union agent I shouldn't complain, though. It's knows, we get 'plenty of OT—18 talk about our next contract, it, in San Francisco we got the stores better than an M-1 rifle. hours or more a day in basic. Any­ should include on the agenda a we needed. I think they deserve Don't get the idea that because way, we only have to pay $4 a plan for hospitalization and group credit for' fixing up what could I'm up here at West Point that I'm month in income tax. And the soap insurance under which a seaman have been a bad situation. a cadet. I'm just a private making situation! I wish I had some of the could be taken care of in his own , S,-L. Woodruff 85 bucks ^ a month with no OT. To the Editor: stuff that used to lie around in my, town and by his own doctor. j/ 4 4 Many members of pur great However, the chow up here is locker. This' Army life makes me I am now with my parents in Union do not come frorh cities pretty good compared with the appreciate more and more the usual Army grub. But ifs nowhere South Africa, waiting for my visa good conditions that the SIU got where there is a marine hospital, so I can get back to the US and and it would be a great help and near SIU standards. for us, on the ships. To the Editor: comfort to them to be able to go I'd also appreciate it if you'd start Sailing SIU ships again. Has Sailor-Pal I'd like all my old shipmates to So far I have/ been getting the print my address in the LOG so There's a seaman from the NMU to a hospital of tlheir own choice, know I'm stationed in Korea. I've my old -shipmates can see if and LOGs from the SIU ships that here in my barracks, so I at least where their families and friends got 16 months to pull here and I have called at Capetown, but I have someone to shoot the breeze could easily visit them. maybe write to me. was ready to leave after the first Should Include FanMles Pvt. Kenneth M. Skonberg would like very much if you would with. I don't think the rest of week. There's nothing like being put me on your regular mailing We also suggest that the plan US 51298231 these guys know what a seaman is. on an SIU ship with an SIU crew list. include the seaman's wife and chil­ Combat Arms Detachment After basic I'm going to try to Reading'the LOG of June 25 I- get into the marine operations dren, if he is married, or his par­ under an SIU contract, and I'm 1802nd Special Regiment looking forward to the time when came across a story about the West Point, New York branch of the Transportation ents, if he is single. I'll be sailing again. McCarran immigration bill. All I We feel the Government is still (Ed. note: Your name has been Corps. I've got a license so that Would you please send me the can say to the alien brothers is to anxious to close the marine hos­ added to the mailing list and you might help. LOG while I'm here and also the will receive the LOG regularly put in for their visas as soon as I'd like to hear from some of my pitals, and we would feel more se-.. last couple of issues since I haven't possible as they take a long time from now on.) old shi{unates if they can find time cure if something were done about to get. I have been waiting two to drop me a couple of lines or this group insurance and hospitali­ seen the paper since the June 11 t 4issue. years for my residence visa and *Ven a postcard. Also I'd like to zation plan as-soon as possible. Pvt. Henry J. Kowalski the consulate tells me I still won't We would like to see ail the have the LOG sent to me so I can US 51294117 get it until the end of this year or keep up with the news of the brothers think over this plan and Hq. Btry., 955th the beginning , of next year. write their ideas into the LOG. We Union. F.A.Bn., APO 264 To the Editor: Anyway, I hope that by next also suggest that- all ships dele­ Pvt. Richard J. Peterson r/o JPostmaster, I am a retired member of the year I'll again be sailing SIU ships, gates take the matter up-and send US 55455898 San Francisco, Calif. SIU, but I still keep in touch with and in the meantime I'd like very in reports to headquarters. Company A, 3rd Pit. (Ed. note: The back issues have Union affairs^ via the LOG, which much to hear from some of my old 6th QM Bn., 6th Af-m. Div. Edward G. Tesko been sent to you and your name I enjoy very much. I'd like to ded-, shipmates. The last ship I sailed Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Ship's delegate has been added to our regular mail­ icate this letter to the SIU mem­ on was the John Kuiukundis, and (Ed. note:Your name has been ing list.) ^ * bers who may not realize just how I'd especially like to hear from the added to the mailing list and you 4 4 4 wonderful the SIU is, or who may men who were on that ship with will receive the LOG regularly.) ® take the benefits it has gotten for me. them for granted. Arthur Ronald McCree 72 Dublin Street I was an active SIU man for five To the Editor: Woodstock, South Africa years, and enjoyed . sailkig very I am very much interested in To the Editor: much. I retired my book when I . (Ed. note: Your name has beenyour SEAFARERS LOG, being - I recaU'reading an article in the was drafted, but now I am out of added to Our rnailvng list and you To the Editor: secretary of an-association. dealing} LOG recently gbout Lubie, the service and am looking forward to villi receive the LOG regularly Thanks for'so promptly sehfting with different capacities of seamen. manageress of the Wilmington Ho­ the day when I can go to sea again. from now on.) tel, extending credit to SIU men. me the first LOG I've seen in three In India our $eaman's unions are I always thought the SIU was a 1 know a few gu.vs who did' not months. Not only did I read it is, is, having financial difficulties, but fine union, but like a lot of other thoroughly, but so did nearly still we are doing our utmost to come back and nay u^. To these guys I used-to take a lot of things guys I say, "Why don't you get everyone else in my barracks, and continue bur services. i back there and square off?" for granted. Since getting out of they all agreed it is the best labor Under^ these circumstances I service, though, I've learned what . Pete Walsh newspaper they ever saw. I was request you to be good enough to To the Editor: the scor^really is. 4 4 4 especially interested in the article favor me by sending me the For instance, I worked in a con­ I was deeply shocked to read of on runaway US merchant ships. SEAFARERS LOG regularly. I struction crew on the Pennsyl­ Brother Moon Kouns' death. He One Saturday recently I got a vania Turnpike for about six helped me when I came into the three-day pass, so I went into Bos­ intend to study it in the hope that months, where I joined a union. SIU in 1939, and he also taught ton and visited the hall there. On I may rentier better service toHhe To the Editor:^ Nobody seemed to care anything me what a union really is—some­ Monday I was in Philly so I went seamen of India. I am writing this letter from St. about our beefs, and finally I was thing I've never forgotten. Joseph N. Chatterjee, Secretary Vincent's Hospital, and I hope you into the hall there and ran into laid ofif by the foreman so he could Indian Saloon Workers' Associa­ will publish it in the LOG, as I I want Moon's family to know some of my old shipmates, includ­ give my job to a friend of his who that I've lost a good personal ing Johnny Flanagan, Joe Fusella tion, Calcutta, India. would publicly .like to thank the was out of college for the summer. friend and the SIU has lost a fine and Joe Kologzewski. It sure was (Ed. note: Your name has been SIU Welfare Services Department I am now working for the State union man. good to see them agaim added to our mailing list and you for the fine work they are doing. of Pennsylvania as an armed guard John J. Flynn I have some questions to ask and will receive the LOG regularly.) Joe Pllutis Life in Aring Not Like SiU Crewmen Seeking insurance Plan Old Shipmates Ashed To Writef 'Si' Iff Armg^ Would Re Rack in SiU Sailing SMU Tops ^horeside dobs !;• IK-- • LOG Rates High With Army Men . : iu' Wants IHG For . Seamen in india Credit Extended^ Pag I7p, He Says Kouns^ Passing Real Union Loss Writes To Thank Welfare Services u ^- ' 10-"• IP' Burly •' P': fe' • I |:T- I ^ -r- • 'i y- • • SggSiiSS--'-" Fame Ot fli« Own 'By Bernard Seaman 1. �-VV : u Angwt SEAV ARERS 1954 Pasc Seventeea • LOG .. . DIGEST of SHIPS' MEETINGS ... OOLDEN CITY (Watarman), July IS— men were in the habit of coming in the Repairs have not been completed. Motion and all torn or damaged Unen issued Pthe repair list from the former voyage. CIralrinan, Jasia. L. Oraan; Sacratary, L. messhaU in their underwear and this made and carried that a letter be sent them, and he wiU turn It over to the Most of these repairs were not taken care • P. Hagmann. The ship's delegate re­ ported that the captain advised him that if crew had not received enough fans In Mobile to comply with the new agree­ ment he would see the chief engineer and have him get the rest. The captain Bald he. would get blank money orders so as to give draws in foreign ports. Motion made and carried to give the negotiating committee a vote of thanks for the swell Job done on the new freighter contract. Delegate will see the chief mate regard­ ing the painting of the steward depart­ ment rooms. The chairman complained about the whistling In the passageways as men are trying to sleep all the time. He also brought out the fact that several PERSONALS Elwood Louis Hempton tfrgent you contact your ifiother Immediately at 1425 16th St., Two Rivers, Wis. » 4^ 4- t . Julius Rosen Contact your wife at '3919 Bon­ ner Rd., Baltimore 16, Md. 4" Richard Dineen Contact your wife at 6 Canal Lane, Somerville, Mass. Elmer (Ted) Wheeler Get in touch with Pvt. Albert M. Pietrowski, US 52335913, HQ & HQ Co., 1st Bn., 278th Regimental Combat Team, iFort Devens, Mass. X, ^ • t, Jimmy McGuffey Urgent you call or -write Ruby. 4> 4i 4" 4" 4" , 4> 4> 41 ilf if if if Ossie Telefer Anyone knowing his where­ abouts, please contact his wife at 88-73 Scott Rd., Surrey, Canada. - practice should stop. These two com­ plaints by the chairman are generally on all ships and it was suggested that an article be written in the LOG about same. ROBIN SHERWOOD (Seas Shipping), June 27—Chairman, Ray Brault; Secre­ tary, A. J. Tursl. Ship's delegate re­ ported that Brother PhlfEer will be ex­ amined by the doctor in Capetown to establish Itis fltness for duty. JVashing machine has been repaired. Since the refrigerator was repaired in New York it has not worked properly. SuggesUon made to have more of a variety in the night lunch. WINTER HILL (Cities Service), July 13 —Chairman, Al Larson; Secretary, August Souza, Jr. Crew should get keys to their sleeping quarters before going into the shipyard. When any member has a beef he should go to the delegate and not the crew. The ship's delegate is to inform the steward about sougeeing the passage­ ways and the messhall. Milk will be served for breakfast instead of every day three times a day. $33 reported in the ship's fund. A Vote of thanks went to Ben Brice lor handling the fimd. MARSARETT BROWN (Bloomfield), June 13—Chairman, John Hanks; Secre­ tary, Raymond L. Perry. it was sug­ gested that the tubs in the wash room be kept clean, (jrew was asked to put dirty linen on deck where dirty linen locker is located. It was decided that the laundry would be kept clean one week by the ordinary seaman on sanitary and one week by the - wiper on sanitary. The steward's department will keep the rec­ reation room clean. , July 17—Chairman, E. C. Hill; Secre­ tary, Raymond L. Perry. All minor re­ pairs have been taken care of that could be done aboard ship. Complaint tha't no midnight lunch was served leaving Ant­ werp. It was suggested that the ship's delegate try to get American money for draws in foreign ports. Vote of thanks given to the steward's department. STEEL DIRECTOR (Isthmian), June 2i —Chairman, Charles P. Moore; Secretary, A. G. Anopal.- Motion made to build a ship's fund, which now stands at $25.50. Anybody wishing to donate to the ship's fund see their respective department del­ egate. All screen doors to be kept closed in foreign ports. Crew members were asked not to leave the washing machine running longer than necessary. Members asked cook and baker to put out some kind of pastry for coffee time at least three times a week. Charlie Muscarella Get,-in touch with A1 at the New Orleans hall. SHOW ME MARINER (Bull), July 11— Chairman, John C. Reed; Secretary, M. t 4i i . .Sterne. Ship's delegate tried to straighten Gerry Dwyer out shortage of fresh fruit through ball. Albert Leahy wishes to contact you. His address is ,7420 Boyer St., Philadelphia 19, Pa. NOTICES , Lester Jenkins Arthur R. Hindman. Call or writer for your seabag at Contact Mrs. L. Jenkins at Route 2, Smithdale, Miss. the SIU hall. Mobile. 4 4 4 John J. iKshun The retroactive pay checks for Contact Mrs. Adele Leshun at the following men have been re­ 38 S. Catherine St., Shenandoah, turned to the "Bull Line office be­ cause of incorrect addresses. These Pa. checks can be claimed by writing 4> 4> 4> Robert Delmont or calling at the office at 115 Broad Walter Szepanek wishes his suit­ St., NY 4. NY: Hubert J. Andrews, Valentin Acabeo, case, left in your car in Baltimore, PAnce James R. Boone, Denhis. H. sent to him at 524 N. 10th St., Brazell,Baker, Brigido Flgueroa. Alfred W. Flatts, Julio Flores. Reading, Pa. Selig s: Freilich, Ramon Galarza, Wal­ i. ^ if ter Gustavson. Thomas N. Johnson,. Melvin E. Jones, Raymond .W. Kaboska, Ver­ S. L. Wilson non E. Keyne, Clifford A. Kintoade. Jr., L. C., at Red Bay, Ala., wishes to Leo Koza, Antonio Melendez. Juan Nieves, Julio P. Rey, Antonio hear frpm you. ' if Lawrence G. ReaYour wife wishes you to contact her at once. 4i • 4> 4" John W. Bigwood'' Contact your mother'at 68 Rob­ ert St., Roslindale 31, Mass. if if 4" ' C. Woodrow Pritchett - Your relatives are having a re­ union at the Jarrett Club on Sun­ day, Aug. 22. Try to attend. -1 • • 4 4' 4« Allan W. McArthur Your father has sent an impor­ tant letter to you c/o the Seatrain Savannah. 4 4 Rivera, Carlos Rodriguez, James E. Rose, Miguel Salcedo, Andres Sanchez, Efrain R. Sierra, Joseph A.. Stevens. Eloris B. Tart, Angel Valdes, Leopold Wareham, Henry Watson, John R. Bailey, Joseph F. Billiot, Jr., George R. Black, John A. Blaine, Julin Blomgren, Carl £. Chandler. Melburn W. Clark, Raymond R. Crane, George P. Crimmins, Frank P. De Las Reyes, James Doyle, Robert W. Duff, Wil­ liam J. Dwyer, William Etty. Guillermo Garcia, Isabelo Garcia, James H. Griffin, Grady Halty, Charles F. Henry, Thomas C. Hickey, Robert S. Jerigan, Charles R. Johnson, William J. Keenan, Newell Kgyes. William F. McDonald, Teraal McRaney, William Norris, Oliver Valle Ortiz, Julio F. Pacheco, -William J. L. Peters, Juan Pola, Jr., Ellis D. Poppesco, N. Burton Potts, Jr. Jerbert Reeve, Jose Rodriguez, Robert P. Rogerson, Jose Ross, Clair A. Rothman, Fred R. Ryder, Richard J. Smith, Harold Steve;-, William Vander Xist, Kenny R. Warren, Julio C. C. Zamora. 4 Oswald Smith Contact K. K. Hansen c/o SIU hall, Baltimore. -•.lliji.vl Puzzle Answer to the Union, in the event that the ship should sail again, to have a wringer in­ stalled or have the old one repaired, inasmuch as three trips have passed since the wringer was broken. Discussion about American money draws. -Motion made and carried that union, accident reports be put aboard all SIU vessels to help in­ jured seamen coUect compensation easier. STEEL DIRECTOR (Isthmian), July 13 —Chairman, A. E. Gi'oovar; Secretary, C. P. Moore. Chief engineer discriminat­ ing against men that refused weekend overtime. Delegates will sec the captain and clarify once and for aU launch serv­ ice schedule. Cots should ' be made up during working hours and any man fail­ ing to dq this be fined $10 and have pa­ trolman collect same for LOG. Motion voted down. Brief discussion on food situation. STEEL CHEMIST (Isthmian), June 2t— Chairman, F. Keller; Secretary, H. C. Kilmon. Captain will have crew sign draw and slop chest receipts before hitting port. Motion made to donate $5 from the ship's fund to the American Merchant Marine Library Association in port. Cap­ tain offered extra cigarettes to some crewmembcrs and not to the others, but this was actually to have been a personaL loan from the chief mate to some mem­ bers of the deck department. The paint­ ing of the showers, toilets and rooms will be put on the repair list and turned over to the patrolman at the payoff. The logs in the steward's department were dis­ cussed and it was decided that the is­ sues involved will have to be derided with the patrolman at the meeting in port. Ship's delegate sug.gested that all disputed overtime be listed on a separate sheet for convenience at payoff. DEL VIENTO (Mississippi), May 16— Chairman,. Wilson Thomas; Secretary, John R. Tllley. There is a total of $77 in the ship's fund. One member de­ clared that aU hands should b'e more careful about reporting on board one hour before sailing as per requirements of our working agreement. The steward asked the membership to turn in any Quiz Auswe^ wm ansaii QSD mum mmmm 4. r.-rij'r of as the ship had been laid up. ANTINOUS (Waterman), July 18—Chair­ man, Eddie Callahan; Secretary, Frank Keelan. Captain wants aU hands aboard one hour before sailing. Washing ma­ chine to be repaired in Mobile. AU dele­ gates were reminded to make out repair lists and turn them In. Ship's treasurer suggested that crew send flowers to de­ ceased mother of crewmember, and the money to be taken out of the ship's fund. Paul Carter wiU coUect donations for fund. Men taking water from coffee urn wcke asked to replace same. FAIRLAND (Waterman), July 14—Chair­ man, Fete Walsh; Secretary, Louis B. Thomas. Ship's - delegate elected. Crew messman commended the crew for good cooperation in the messroom. ORION COMET (Oil Carriers), Juno 20 i —Chairman, J. Gavin; Secretary, A. M. Branconl. Notice posted on fire hazards. Ship's delegate or department delegate will make sure that any man being hos­ pitalized wUl get his gear, pay voucher and a copy of overtime. The launch service at Yokosuka is out of Une.. WACOSTA (Waterman), July IS—Chair­ man, C. Wallick; Secretary, J. J. Guard. Ship's delegate wiU see the first mate concerning gaskets for port holes in after crew quarters. The entire crew voted the chief steward and his crew a vote of ALCOA PIONEER (Alcoa), June 4— thanks for the fine way in which the Chairman, Douglas Claussen; Secretary, department is run. Charles T. Dyer. Linen locker door will fixed. Missing oiler will be replaced DEL MAR (Mississippi), July 18—Chair­ be in Seattle if possible. Crew was asked man, Blackle Bankston; Secretary, R. E. to stop bothering the captain for money Svough, ir. Ship's delegate reported that going south one man went to the ho^mi- as the delegates handle all draw sheets. tal in Rio and was given $50 out of the SEACLIFF (Coral), April 12—Chairman, ship's fund. In Buenos Aires the SiU's movie was shown to the local seamens Harvey O. Mesford; Secretary, H. R. Hutchins. Special meeting was called to union and we are going to try and help them. A vote of thanks was given to the discuss bringing . crewmember up on bakers and cooks for the fine paslrv .--n-f charges for performing. He threatened a they prepared. $49 was coUected brother's life at sea in the messroom. PENNMAR (Calmar), May 2—Chairman, fond for-the movie fund and given to d-" • Sam P. Drury; Secretary, Julian Dedlca- ond and third electricians. Motion made SOUTHSTAR (South Atlantic), May 9— torla. Motion made that all rooms and carried that $25 worth of magazines Chairman, L. Blizzard; Secretary, R. Por­ messrooms be insulated. AU port holes and are to be bought by Brother Mouton. arc to be furnished with wind scoop and Brother Spina wiU contact patrolman in ter. Deck delegate spoke about mates screen. Request for toaster In the mess- order to get more chairs on sliip for doing unlicensed personnel's work. De­ layed saUing disputed. Cooking and prep­ room for men going off and on watch Motion made and carried that the aration of meats could be better. Black­ and others of the crew-who desire toast .crew.. agents be told that men on the beach in board in mqssroom needs painting. Lock between meals. foreign countries are entitled to $8 per on messroom door and locks on crew's day instead of 100 cruizeros. Crew was FELTORE (Ore), June 4—Chairman, asked to check with the purser to see quarters wiU be repaired. Jim Keavney; Secretary, Frank P.vgano. that a .sufficient amount of cigarettes, LIBERTY FLAG (Dover), June 12— Jim Keavney elected as ship's delegate. all. brands except Camels, are on board. Chairman, G. Glennon; Secretary H. R. One man missed ship in Baltimore. Fan Hutchins. on draw in Ameri­ to be fixed in. recreation room. MORNING LIGHT (Waterman), July 1— can-ports. Discussion Money is hard to get in Long Chairman, H. Whismanf; Secretary, D. MARORE (Ore), June 13—Chairman, Sicry. There was a discussion over the Beach and Portland. Messman wiU take .toe D. McPhee; Secretary, Bert Shannon. shortages in the slop chest and the stew­ care of the recreation room and engine deck departments will take care of Steward was .asked to serve cold suppers ard department stores. Suggested th.-;t and the laundry room. Recommendation made now an dthen while in the warmer lati­ new crew be sure to see that ade­ to have our own slop chest on the West tudes. All hands wiU help to keep p.mtry the stores are aboard before leaving Coast as.it is badly needed. The companyand laundry clean and will cut down the i quate the port of signon. supplied slop chests have nothing that noise in the passageways. July 11—Chairman, Joe D. McPhee; GREECE VICTORY (South Atlantic), fits or that you can really use. Secretary, Bert Shannon. Motion made 24—Ch-lrman, Pat Ryan; Secretary, and carried to see the patrolman about July CHICKASAW (Walermr-n), May 1— H. Krohn. Ship's delegate asked all crev!a fight involving two crewmembcrs. Cap­ members stay sober for the oaycfE. Chairman, Ralph Burrieed; Secretary, A. tain gave one man the choice of getting New fans to wiU be put in foc'sles for the Dsnne. W. Cunningham elected ship's off ship er being logged. All hands will next voyage, and the washing machine delegate. Motion made and carried that return coffee cups to pantry when they will be repaired. There is no protecti'>n department delegates and ship's delegate are through with same. ) on .the flying bridge for the men on be changed every trip. Discussion on watch and it was suggested that dodgers putting SIU slop chest aboard. Brother CHILORE (Ore), June 2£—Chairman, J. be put up. A new library is needed on Darley was requested To wri'.e to the Sea P. Crowder; Secretary, W. Trolle. Ship's board and the old one should be taken Chest in New York concerning same. Dis­ delegate to see about new books for off. Crewmembers were asked to return cussion on cold water, ice box, and keep­ crew. all cots to the steward. Members gave ing the pSntry and messroom clean at steward departinent a vote of thanks for night. BALTORE (Ore), July 2—Chairman, the excellent food served. Eddie Eriksen; Secretary, George Prota. KYSKA (Waterman^, June 26—Chair­ June 27—Chairman, Pat Ryan; Secre­ Ship's delegate elected. Discussion con­ tary, H. Krohn. Library will be locked man, Gilbert G. Parker; Secretary, John cerning the playing of the radio in the in foreign ports or books transferred to J. Doyle. Captain asked crew's coopera­ recreation room late at night. Everyone another locker. The steward's department tion in keeping all quarters clean. Dis­ agreed, to a 10:00 PM curfew. Water WiU watch garbage and see that it is cussion on the pressure in the deck, en­ cooler in the port passageway is to be put in Us proper place. Captain is to gine and steward department toilets. repaired before leaving port. give draws-in American money and each Ship's delegate to see'the chief engineer member should 'declare the proper abobt t^s and to get same fixed. ROBIN GRAY (Robin), June 19— Chair­ amount on his customs sheet. man, Steve Fulford; Secretary, Tony STEEL DESIGNER (Isthmian), July 8— waslluk. Delegate to see that each room VENORE (Ore), July 9—Chairman, W. Chairman, Robert Foy; Secretary, Thomas has the proper amount of fans in it, and Glick; Secretary, S. J. Hutchinson. Me.ss- McAifrey. Ship's delegate suggested that in good working condition. Each foc'sle halls and galley need painting. All h<vnds all crew cooperate with foreign customs. to have the proper number of buckets were asked to keep washing machine Cots are to be kept off deck. Port screen for laundry purposes. Departments to elean at all times. Water in afterpeak of doors should be closed and locked while -take turns in cleaning the laundry and ship has been rusty and has ruined sev­ in port except for the one near the gang­ therecreation room. Vote of thanks was eral crewmembers clothes. way. Ship's delegate will try to obtain a giv^n to the steward's department for June 20—Chairman, W. GlIck; Secre­ date schedule of ports for mailing pur­ the fine job they are doing. tary, Tex Jacks. It was suggested that poses. Gangway watchman will keep na­ July 12—Chairman, Sieve Fulford; Sec­ crew messman try a little harder to sat­ tive workers out of midship housing. retary, Tony Waslluk. Motion made and isfy the men. The bosun gave an inter­ Safety meeting was held by order of carried to have the minutes of the last esting talk on the. advantages of buyin.g skipper and some enlightening sugges­ meeting .posted. All departments have working gear and sundries from the Sea tions were made. The meeting was con­ disputed overtime for not having a launch Chest. Brother Sheldrake gave an educa­ ducted by the second officer. while iiT Leonardo. Ship was in»port over tional talk on the advantages of unionism eight hours overnight and..was waiting to in general and the Seafarers International ALCOA POLARIS (Alcoa), July 11— load cargo. Motion made to write patrol­ .Union in particular. " Chairman, E. Yates; Secretary, J. E. Hanman in Norfolk and let him know about non. Extra ^mons are needed for next the man who paid" off in New York. The CCE VICTORY (Victory Carriers), July trip for fresh lemonade instead of using" reefer in the*crew's pantry has been fixed 16—Chairman, Albert De Forest; Secre­ concentrated juice. Crew will contact the several times and still is not in working tary, Johnson. After considerable discus­ Sea Chest to see if members can't charge order. Screen doors have to be fixed. All sion Brother Johnson agreed to act as through the Union. .Steward will put hands to kebp out of the pantry messhall temporary delegate whUe the ship is in three pounds of coffee out each night and the recreation room in their under­ port. It was decided to hand in again after supper. clothes. The slop chest that was ordered in New York was delivered and everyone is satisfied. ' (1) (b) in opera. A diva is a dis­ SEH BHaaa ea® tinguished female singer. [DgHESa asB (2) Second cousin. 4 4 4 (3) Johnny has l8: Tom 9; Harry •vBenedicto T. Tagle . 54 and Charlie has 27. , Contact your daughter in the >(4) Yitamin D. The sunlight Philijppines. , . B[d BraBGD BUCaBII] comlpnes with a substance present 4 • 4" 4 ... , in the; bO!fly to form Vitdhiin p. - Harold ThOmpisoh (5) (c) Jfevada (160,000). ' Get JIQ touch with Mrs. George HH® naEEi . - (ei^'ia) jydolworth Building! The Harville'. . sEmplre Building in New 4 4 4 'York was'completed fti 1931. Leslie R. Perry (7) "John Bull," Anyone knowing the. where(8) (c) Asia./. aboutli ol this man, please contact (9) 50 minutes. Franli Kifer, 3013 Madison St., i UQ). Luis i. -t ' WUijjfagto^ Hel. mum Bsnas raami assB BSS company as condemned and get new linen. It was explained that in the past there had been an arrival pool set up by both north and south bound. There were sixty chances at $2 per. The win­ ner received $60 and the two adjoining winners received $20 each, and the re­ maining $20 went into the ship's fund. The fund in the past was used to hold a shrimp and beer party in South America. This was discussed and a hand vote de­ cided the same would be done this trip. July 17—Chairman, Harvey Share; Sec­ retary, .John R. Tllley. The deck delegate cautionfed the crew that now is the time to bring up any beefs if they have any, and not wait tiU the patrolman is on board. 'The repair list calls for the instaUation of night latch type locks on nine rooms of the unlicensed crewmembers that stiU have old type locks that can be opened with almost any key It was decided that the engine delegate and the ship's delegate get together on the black gang beef before arrival. Edifor, -I •:«l •'I41 •m , SEAFARERS LOG. 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY • ^ I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG—please put my name on your moiling list. (Print Information) NAME • •ti •••I STREET ADDRESS CITY .^i.. .. .v.: ZONE ..... STATE Signed . . ..n TO AVOID DUPLICATION: H you^are «n old tubscribar and hava a chanqa of addrats, plaasa giva your formar addrass below: ADDRESS CIT*. ...^.>...1. .....i...... ..ZONE- • aaaa a MoaaaaMaaavaaaaaaaa••••••••< .. STATE. 3^1 i] �-•:;> i, . , '<_j ••• T*. ^... Pare ciahteeB '.•v.iiiw sET/lPliiCiW^ twd'' ' ;;^":";1^--"'^-''--" Helping Hand In Jhe Hospital Aarm^ 26; i$!i4 SEA FARE R S :C.ASl <>;• , 5 V 5" " SEAFARERS WELFARE, VACATION PLANS If:. "'U" • REPORT OH BENEFITS PAID T. NQ, Seafarers Receiving Benefit, thim Pyyjyl Averaite Benefits Paid Each Seafarer Total Benefits Paid this Period m .31 WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS PAID THIS PERIOD Seafarer John Brennan gives a light to Frank Napoli while Seafarer Nils Lundqulst looks on. Bed­ ridden patients get assists from those weU enough to walk around on little items that doctors and nurses can't attend to. ifaiBitai Benefit. DeuhBenefitn -DisnUlitv Benefit. Matcniitv Benefit. YacMloo Benefit. aL 9,1 aa »o _Jbwl '7 1' Ls-liX A* WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS PAID PREVIOUSLY All of the following SIU families will collect the $200 -maternity benefit plus a $25 bond from the Union in the baby's name. Denise Katherine Boyle, born July 10, 1954. Parents, lAr. and Mrs. Neil J. Boyle, 143 E. .97th Valley Street, Sunrise Acres, Las Street, New York 29, New York, Vegas, Nevada. it ^ Michael Gordon Adams, born Willard Walter Bickford, born June 2, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. William G. Adams, 2711 June 29, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willard W. Bickford, 7204 Coast Highway, Newport Beach, California. III Wife Of Seafarer Receives Best of Care t> 'i, Hi, Richard ' Charles Paquette, born June 26, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Paquette, 4416 Paris Avenue, New Orleans, La. Seafarer Wincenty Gontarski doesn't get to the headquar­ ters port of New York very often, but when he arrived here ^ recently the first thing he did was to hustle up to headquarters David Allen Doucette, born July and thank Welfare Services 9, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. for the help the Union had connected with clearing Mrs. Gon­ M^le Doucette, 7 Horton Street, given to his sick wife. tarski through Immigration. Then Newburyport, Massachusetts. Gontarski Explained that his he took her into New York and 3^ wife had been quite ill for some saw to it that she was put up in a time as a result of which she was unable to walk. He had sent her back to Scotland for treatment after which she was to return to New York. However, ps it turned out, his wife's plane was due to arrive from Scotland while he was en-route from Louisiana to New York on the tanker Bull Run. Consequent­ ly, he got in touch with Welfare Services asking them if they could meet his wife at the airport, as she was unable to get around her­ self. A Welfare Services representa­ tive went out to meet the plane and took care of ail the details Dolly White, boi'n July 5, 1954. local hotel. "It was a tremendous relief to Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Derreli W. me" Gontarski said, "when I found White, 3441 Newton Avenue, Port -out that my wife was met at the Arthur, Texas. plane and all these details were 3^ 4 tak^n- care of. I don't know how Daniel James Sullivan, born she could have managed withouM July 22, 1954. Parents, Mr. atjd the Union's help." The incident took place some Mrs. John Sullivan, 128 E, 9th months ago, Gontarski explained, Street, New York, New Yorl^. but he hadn't had a chance up to '444 now to come -to headquarters per­ Mary Nora Vaughan, born May sonally and thank Welfare Services 6, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mss. Wil­ for their help. liam F. Vaughan, 520 W. 175th "I've been around a long time Street, New York, New York. he concluded, Vbut there's no un­ ion I've seen anywhere that does 4 4 4 as much for the men as the SIU," Joyce Marie Takacs, born July 11, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Takacs, 167 West Norris Street, Philadelphia^ Pa. TUB- SIU s^cffEsr /« cioni(}h^y •ioanz. ptomu^ UEBtsh Hoipital Benefits Paid Since lulv 1. 10S0» Death Benefits Paid Since Tuly 1. |OTO« Dioabilitv Bencfita Paid Since May 1. 10S2' Maternity Benefits Paid Since AtwrU 'l. lOSZ* Vacatioo Benefits PaiASinr, ^eb. 11. 10S2» Tptaj * Dste Benefit. B..... tiUiUsS -S^MS .jOiVtfii £2. zz Rn*F5rfii WELFARE, VACATION PLAN ASSETS ajLumuuJ ^.nsuou ii.ua ^relfnre ki ®0 US iiovermnent Bonds (Weifwe) Renl Escue (Velfue) Otiier Aysets - Training Ship (WeU^e) TOTAL ASSETS lai nvt KVo Vlt AO m .in /f9oCi 97 #!r noMM?.HT.q, For some time it has been the practice, for a great many of the eligibles under the plan, to sign a new Welfare Plan beneficiary card each time they sign on for a new voyage, regardless of the fact that they do not change the name of the beneficiary, • t is only necessary to fill'in and sigh a new beneficiary card when it is the intention of the eligible to change the name of the beneficiary or when he has never filled out a card before, A great deal of time and filing space will be saved for the Plan if eligibles under the Plan will keep this in mind. S^ttud 8-16-54 At Kerr, Assistma'Xdw^ dwUmistrator Injury Heported, 4-Month Delay Just Melts Away A Seafarer who originally faced a four-month stay in a German hospital is back in the States instead because his ship's delegate made sure to report his injury to W.elfare Services at headquarters. Sea--*^ farer Willam Sargent is now dowm.to the ship before it sailed recuperating from a broken and came back to the States in a 4 4 4' leg qt Slaten Island, having re­ few days instead of the several Sara Lynn Watford, born June ceived immediate repatriation at weeks' delay he had been expecting 7, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy the Union's request. up until then. Alton Watford, V 921 Smith Street, Sargent, who was a erewmember Prichard, Alabama. of the Show Me Mariner, suffered his injury while in, the port of 4 4 4, Dorothy Robinson, born June 27, Bremerhaven, Germany. He was Seafarers with beefs regard­ 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. taken to a local hospital and his ing slow payment of monies Thomas A. Robinson, 1941 Whit­ leg put in a cast. There the com­ due from various operators in pany agent was informed that it ney Avenue, Algiers, La. back wages and disputed over­ would be*31^ to 4 months before 4 4 4 he could get discharged from the time should first check wheth* er they have a proper mailing Beverly Kay Little, born,July 1, hospital. address on file with the com­ 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. BelIV^anwhile the ship's delegate pany. SIU headquarters offi­ don N. Little,-PO Box 247, Auland- had notified Welfare Services at cials point out that reports er. North €!arolina. headquarters of the nature of the received from severM opera­ accident. Welfare Services • con­ 4 4 4^ tors show checks* have been MichaKI Ivan Mesford, born July tacted the company on the matter mailed to one address while and was informed that the doctors 19, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. a beef on the same score is Harvey Mesford, 5055--7 Street, at the hospital would not release sent from another, thus creat­ Sargent for repatriation.. NW, Seattloi Washington. ing much difficulty in keeping Further investigation showed > 4 4 4 accounts straight. Seafarers that nobody had informed the are urged to use one perma­ Gordoih Hall Grimes, Jr., born hospital of the Seafarer's desire nent address for mail so that July 4, 1954. Parents; Mr. and for immediate repatriation. Once claims can be checked speedi­ Mrs. Gordon .K. Grimes, 1041 the hol^pital authorities were no­ ly and payment made right William Street, Baltimore, Mary- tified, they readily agreed to move away. land. him, cast and all. He was sent Vse Only One Mail Address '.4. 4 �SEAFAREnS Aociist *9, 1954 (SIU Director of Welfare Services.) We would like to Insert here Just a word of reminder to the brothers about a subject we have made mention of before: letting the Union know when a man has had to leave a ship. As was reported In the last issue, the new Union clause on continuing family allotments makes this all the more important, as the allotment can only be con­ tinued when it is known definitely that a crewmember left the ship because of illness or injury. And as all the brothers know, notifying the Union is a big help in getting a man repatriated as rapidly as possible. The little effort made in writing an airmail letter to Wel­ fare Services at headquarters is worth its weight in gold to a sick or injured brother. » » Among several new patients recently admitted at the Staten Island Public Health Service hospital is Seafarer Vernon Manuel from down in Mamou, Louisiana, the town a song put on the niap. Manuel was pumpman on the Bents Fort and had to get treatment for some foreign matter that got into his eye. Seafarer Paul Albano of Boston, Mass., a fireman on the Seatrain New Jersey, had to call it quits for a while because of stomach trouble. Rocco Albanese, who had to be treated for a head Injury in April, w?is readmitted for further care, while Robert Ellis, chief cook On the Seanah was O'NeiU laid low by an attack of diabetes. A couple of hernia cases^ under treatment are Frank O'Neill and Chester Jensen. O'Neill, who is from New York City, was oiler on the Tagalam his last trip out while Jensen was utility messman aboard the Captain N. B. Palmer. He's from Wor­ cester, Mass. An accident on board the Mankato Victory put Seafarer John Doherty out of action for a while. He's now getting treatment at the hospital. Sea­ farer Flemming Jensen also got hurt on a ship. He lives in Brooklyn while he's ashore. Two other brothers who entered the hospital re­ cently a.<i. Leo Burino of Staten Island and Michael Lesko of Brooklyn. Burino was OS on the Steel Albano Flyer while Lesko was working as oiler on the Seatrain New Jersey. Seafarers In Hospitals USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. Charles Neumaler Simon Bunda Joe Perreira Henry J. ChUds BUwood Rost Myron Folts W. S. Singleton Olav Gustavsen Vigio W. Sorensen Anthony Kuberskl P. S. Yuzon Cyril Mize USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK. VA. Alvah H. Jones Henry B. Riley Hugh Meacham Anthony Scaturro USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE. WASH. Stephen Buzskey Svcrre Johannessen James Krohn Calvin G. Durham V. K. Ming George W. Flint G. Rosson F. Fondiia Howard Garvey USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON. MASS. Frank Aiasavlch Joseph Garrello Frank Albano Charles McCarthy Wilfred Beohner James H. Penswick James R. Frotton Joseph Petrusewicz USPHS HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA. PA. Warren Nlelson USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH. GA. Gervaslo Menendez Paul Bland J. T. Moore Benny Brinson John H. Morris •' R. CarrolUon Lucius DeWitt Willie C. Sanders John C. Hughes Randolph Shcdd 'Claud Kent Leslie Swegan Albert WCLima Leo F. Weeks Jimmie Littleton William J. Wolfe Avis Meadows USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE. MD. Algot Bogren Samuel Mills Steven Boldes Oscar Payne ' Jessie Brinkley Eugene Plahn A. W. Sadenwater Delvini Brodeur Jessie Clarke Jesse A. Shonts Samuel Doyle August A. Smith ' Robert Stokes Wendell Ellis Joseph Torra Richard Foust Gorman T. Glaze Warren Whitmer ' Antoine Johnson Henrlch Wlese Tony Mastantino Albert WlUls Charles W. Mathews Wesley Young USPHS HOSPITAL • NEW ORLEANS. LA. Milford Alexander S. Cope WUlinm Aplin D. D. Dambrlno William Austin Joseph Darce Samuel Bailey Emile Davles C. J. Beck J. L. Dlosco Charles Brady Thorn. J. Donaldson Charles Burton Eric R. Eklund Owen Butler Ragnor Erlcson Sebastian c: CarregalAlexander Fabricant Richard Clark Thomas Fields P. B. Cpgley M. C. Gaddy Nathan Gardner Claude Gilliam Jack Gleason Raymond F. Gorju Curtis L. Hancock Virgil L. Garding John L. Hinton Lylc Hipp Robert Hommel James Hudson Henry Humphrey E. G. Knapp D. Korolia Leo Lang Jesse Lyles John M. McDavitt Oscar Madere S. Marinello George Mitchell. William Moore William Murphy Arthur 1. Nelson William D. Ott Stanley Palfrey Francis Pastrano Harry G. Peek William Presley John C. Rehm W. E. Reynolds M. J. Rodriguez Edward Samrock R. L. Skinner J. M. Smith Andrew Stauder J. D. Thomai. Jack Thornburg Lonnie Tickle B. W. Tingley J. E. Ward USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND. NY Lorenzo Ajon Robert A. Barrett Birdie Biggs John Brennen Charles Cantwell Ho Yee Choe Ervin Crabtree France DcBeaumont Peter Devries Robert Ellis Frederick Fa'rrell Andrew Franklin David Furman Horace Gaskill Estell Godfrey Abram Goldsmith Carolos Gomez Hans Hanssen Joseph Hoffman John Horn Walton Hudson Jacobus Huisman Chester Jensen Vincent Jones Noral Horgensen Herbert Loge Nils Lundquist Perfecto Mangual Julius Martin Esteban Morales Harxey W. Morris Raymond C. Myers Charles Nangle Joseph Neubauer T. Papoutsoglov Joseph Pasinosky Charley Rhodes George Robinson Matti Ruusukallio Herman Sampson Stanley Sargeant Warren Smith Hendrik Swartjes James Thomson USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH. NY Fortunato Bacomo Frank W. Bemrick Claude F. Blanks Robert Booker Thomas Bryant Joseph Carr Jar Chong John Driscoll John Edwards Matthew Gardiner Bart Guranick John Haas Thomas Isaksen John Keenan . Frederick Landry Pat* mnctecB Welfare Services Has The Answers SEEIN' THE SEAFARERS USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEXAS C. Barboza Duane R. Fisher George Chang M. McDonald William D. Crawley James F. Owens Frederick Davis Jack E. Slocum Robert Davis CecU E. Strickland LOG James Lawlor Kaarel Leetmaa James Lewis Francis Lynch Joseph McGraw Archibald McGuigan David Mcllreath Vic Milazzo Eugene Nelson George Shumaker Robert Sizemore Harry Tuttle Renato VlUata VlrgU Wilmoth KNICKERBOCKER HOSPITAL NEW YORK. NY Rafael Caraballo USN HOSPITAL KEY WEST. FLA. Edwin Davis USPHS HOSPITAL CHICAGO. ILL. Anton Prulsaltls PILGRIM STATE HOSPITAL LONG ISLAND. NY Arthur Lomas ; . Ordinarily, under the procedures established by the Seafarers Welfare Plan, collection of death benefits by a designated beneficiary is a relatively simple matter. All the benefi­ ciary has to do to receive the benefit is to present a death certificate and a notarized appli­ cation form certifying that he"^ or she is, in fact, the benefi­ will help speed prompt payment of just a matter of the beneficiary benefits to a family deprived of its performing certain routine actions. ciary named by the Seafarer. breadwinner. Welfare Services will explain just Obviously it isn't necessary to hire Welfare Services can be of con­ how the procedure works. an attorney for this kind of thing. siderable help on a variety of de­ In any case, it's wise to consult The Welfare .Plan purposely estab­ tails such as these. Where it's nec­ Welfare Services before hiring an lished the procedure in that way essary to get legal assistance. Wel­ attorney because such action can so that no part of the death benefit fare Services will inform the bene­ often save the family a consider­ would be siphoned off in legal fees. ficiary accordingly. But where it's able slice of the Union benefit. Aside from the actual collection of benefits, there are additional de­ tails to be dealt with. Welfare Services can usually be of help on these as well. Disposing of Gear For example,, if the death takes place on a ship, there is the ques­ tion of disposition of personal possessions and gear. The regular procedure is for the master of the ship to take inventory of the Sea­ farer's gear and then turn it and the gear over to the shipping com­ missioner. In turn, the shipping commissioner has to hand the prop­ erty over to the Federal District Court in that particular region. If the value of the gear is small, the beneficiary can obtain title to it by filling out a form. But if the property is worth more than $200 then a more complex procedure has to be followed. Some families and beneficiaries often find it difficult in time of stress to make funeral arrange­ ments and are often bewildered by Information about her uncle's gear is obtained by Mrs. Edward the whole thing. As such they could H. Keegan from Milton Flynn, headquarters Welfare Services be fair game for unscrupulous representative. Mrs. Keegan is the beneficiary of the late Sea­ members of the undertaking pro­ fession. Welfare Services often will farer Joseph H. Wilkin. arrange funerals at the request of the family as well as pay funeral bills out of the death benefit. The amount that will be paid out is held within strict limits so that the major part of the benefit will go William Mettair Lawton, 35: A 1954, while-in San Francisco, Cali­ to the family instead of going as funeral expenses. heart disorder caused the death of fornia. He had been a member of Brother Lawton in New Orleans on the SIU since May 16, 1942, join­ Under-Age June 30, 1954. A member of the ing in the port of Boston. Before Another problem that comes up on occasion is one in which the engine department, Lawton was that he had spent several years on beneficiary is under age. In such one of the Union's earliest mem­ the Great Lakes. He was buried circumstances a guardian has to be bers, joining in the port of Miami at Holy Cross Cemetery, San Fran­ appointed by the courts before the in September, 1939. He is survived cisco. His sister, Mrs. William by a brother, Milton W. Lawton, Elliott of 123 Sylvan Terrace, Harbeneficiary can be eligible. risburg. Pa., survives. When the Seafarer has not des­ of Washington, DC. 4 4 4 ignated any beneficiary, then it is Henry Arthur Currier, 41: Joseph HaroM Wilkin, 62: up to the court to appoint some­ body to act as administrator of the Brother Wilkin died of a cardiac Brother Currier died of natural estate. Normally the closest kin in ailment while a patient at the causes while receiving treatment the eyes of the court will be so USPHS hospital in Baltimore, on as an in-patient at the Staten named. Even if a Seafarer has not June 26, 1954. He had been sail­ Island USPHS hospital on July 19, with 1954. He started sailing with the designated a beneficiary with the ing as fireman-watertender Welfare Plan, he may have a will the SIU since April 23, 1951, start­ SIU out of New York in March, on file which will simplify matters ing out in the Port of New York. 1951, holding ratings in the engine Burial took place in the Cedar department. Burial took place at all around. Questions of Social Security Lawn Cemetery, Paterson, NJ. the Evergreen Cemetery, Brook­ benefits that may be available for A niece, Mrs. Nancy Keegan of lyn, NY. He is survived by his the wife and children of a Seafarer 102-09 186th Street, Hollis, Long mother, Marie C. Jennings of 401 also have to be taken into consid­ Island, NY, is beneficiai-y of his Suydani Street, Brooklyn. eration. Welfare Services can sup­ estate. 4" 4 4 Joseph Marshall Israel, 33: ply information on these which 4" 4" l" John Thomas Edwards, 66: Brother Israel lost his life when an Brother Edwards, a long-term airplane he was aboard crashed patient at the Manhattan Beach into the sea south of Elba, Italy, on USPHS hospital, died of natural January 10, 1954. He was a resi­ causes on August 11, 1954. He had dent of Sulphur, Louisiana. joined the Union in Baltimore on 4 4 4 Francis P. O'Connor, 44: A heart May 3, 1944, and sailed in the deck department. Burial took place at attack while aboard the SIURose Hill Cemetery, Linden, NJ. manned Seatiger took the life of A daughter, Mrs. Annie E. Pecken- Brother O'Connor on July 20, 1954. paugh of 1233 Peachtree Street, He had been an SIU member for 11 years, sailing in the deck depart­ Cocoa, Florida, survives. ment. He was buried at Boston 4 4 His James Clyde Battle, 36: While a Cemetery, Boston, Mass. crewmember aboard the Atlantic mother, Mrs. Catherine O'Connor Water, Brother Battle died of of 8 Cornelia Court, Boston, Mass., drowning in the Pacific Ocean just is his beneficiary. off the California coast on June 28, 4 4 4 Esper Durant Tate, 37: A crew­ 1954. He joined the Union in New York on July 16, 1942, and sailed member aboard the Santore in the in the steward department. He is deck department. Brother Tate survived by his wife, Irene Battle, died of a heart ailment on July of 1525 Bryant Avenue, Bronx,' New 2, 1954. He had been sailing with the SIU for a little over two years, York. starting in Lake Charles, Louisi­ 4 4 4 Paul T. Cassidy, 45: An oiler in ana, ill March, 1952. He is sur­ Here's what Joseph P. Moore the engine department on SIU vived by his wife, Bessie Lee Tate looked like to his dad, Seafarer ships. Brother Cassidy succumbed of 315 E. 'Virginia Ave., Bessemer J. S. Moore, shortly after his to a . liver ailment on July 8, City, NC. birth, July 25. FINAL DISPATCH Father's-Eye View r �SEAFARERS^ LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS I NTE R N ATI O N Ai UNION : • •: MOBILE—The USS Hartford, Yankee Admiral David Farragut's flag ship in a crucial Civil War naval engage­ ment here, is the center of a hot controversy that is becom­ ing recognized locally as the Second Battle of Mobile Bay It was from the deck of the Hartford in the historic Battle of Mobile Bay that Admiral Farragut uttered his now-famous command: "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead." The Hart­ ford led the Union fleet up the torpedo-infested channel and engaged the ships of the Confederacy in a battle that resulted in completing the blockade of Gulf ports during the War Between the States. It appears the Hartford also will be victorious in the present warfare which erupted two years ago when the American Legion and Knights of Columbus here proposed that the old warship be restored and berthed permanently in Mobile for use as a historic shrme. Recently President Eisenhower signed into law a bill prorestoration and perpetual care of the Hartford, USS Constitution and the USS Constellation. *An Insult to the South* men efforts to station the Hartford at Mobile first became public, the United Daughters of the Confederacy here rose to artillery, contending that the wnnM n vfi 1 Semmcs, Confederate Naval chief, Jf ?he Old South traditions Rm?i? should rise up in arms." militant UDC members. "The South On April 17, 1862, Farragut, aboard the Hartford, led the Union fleet up the Mississippi River to attack New Orleans. For a week the guns of two Confederate forts guarding the river approach to the city kept the Union forces at bay. ^^'^^.^eut's patience was worn thin and he ordered ° run the gauntlet. The Union ships were camouflaged iirp w pilot houses arounrSSeM. and sand were piled Hartford signaled the advance and the fleet steamed forward under a haU of Confederate shell^ An Incmdiary raft Jammed the Hartford, but the flames were brought under control. New Orleans fell despite a valiant defense, and later the Hart­ ford took a leading part in the bombardment of Vicksburg, As the war went on. Mobile became the sole Confederate strong­ hold in the Gulf. The port was defended by the Tennessee, an ironclad ship launched at Selma, Ala., and described as "the most powerful warship afloat." After completing his mission at Vicksburg, Admiral Farragut turned his attention to Mobile and the Union fleet was assembled outside the entrance to the bay. Early in the morning of August 5, 1864, he gave the. order to attack. When his staff reported the entrance to the bay was a virtual death trap of torpedoes, Farragut uttered the command that has become an oft-quoted part of US Navy tradition and the Union fleet steamed into the bay to engage the Confederate ships under the comniand of Admiral Franklin Buchanan. Battled With Ironclad The Tennessee attacked the Hartford. Farragut ordered a con­ centration of fire on the Tennessee. The Hartford was set ablaze briefly as the Tennessee pulled alongside, but one by one the gune on the Confederate ship were silenced. Her plates began to fall off and finally her flag came down. The battle ended In the surrender of Buchanan's squadron and resulted in Union occupation of forts guarding the bay. The Hartford was decommissioned in 1886. She was rebuilt, bark-rigged and her tonnage increased to 2790 tons. She was fitted as a training ship and served the Navy until she was final­ ly decommissioned in 1926. It is planned to berth the Hartford at the new Meaher Stats Park on the Mobile Bay Causeway. There the old ship would be open to the public and would be. a shrine for safe-keeping and di^ay of historic relics associated with this,area of the Gulf. The storm that arose when the proposal to move the Hartford • to Mobile was first advanced has subsided somewhat. It is sus- ^ pected locally, however, that thA nnnnsitinn hao nniT, ' -i '-i;''-'-... • "V;'' pi ^ > ; : i??' " ' •f '"r^t• � 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 August 20, 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. 17 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU HAILS VICTORY AS '50-50' PASSES UNION PROBES GEORGIA INCOME TAX GARNISHEES $520,000 PAID KIN OF 45 LOST ON PENNSYLVANIA NOMINATIONS OPEN IN SIU ELECTIONS HOPE FADES FOR HOSPITAL REOPENING NEW ORLEANS SHUFFLES OFFICE, UPS SERVICES SIU HIS REASON FOR COLLEGE AIMS CREW FINDS 33-DAY STAY IN PR 'OKAY' ASK US PROBE OF ONASSIS OIL GRAB MAGAZINE FEATURES RESCUE BY CLAIBORNE RESOLUTION ON SIU ELECTIONS RULE EASES ABSENTEE FED. VOTING PHS PATIENTS BEGIN OWN MONTHLY PAPER NAME NY LAWYER TO M'TIME BD APPROVE $ FOR MOBILE SHIP DEPOT NOMINATIONS OPEN '50-50' VICTORY FLAG OF SURRENDER BILOXI SHRIMP FESTIVAL OFF WATCH 'DON'T' OUTWEIGH 'DO'S' FOR SEAFARERS IN KOREA SEAMAN'S PAPER LURE OF THE 'OPEN ROAD' CAN'T MATCH CALL OF SEA WHO CUT CAPER WITH HIS PAPER, SEAMAN ASKS 'GIVE CREDIT WHERE DUE' IS SEAFARER'S PHILOSOPHY ILL WIFE OF SEAFARER RECEIVES BEST OF CARE INJURY REPORTED, 4-MONTH DELAY JUST MELTS AWAY WELFARE SERVICES HAS THE ANSWERS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/20/1954 1954 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/78073c17fbc04669ba133308dee94c3e.PDF 3c77e04612d5234a7ea16055fa3e0d1b PDF Text Text «^ SEAFARERS^ OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION . ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT • AFL-CIO �tmti Tw* SEAFAREUS ^AagvMt 29, 196S tb'G Senate Kills Move To Block One Man, One Vote Decision By Paul Hall WASHINGTON — The Senate has banged the door shut on a proposed constitutional amendment which would allow state legislatures to evade the Supreme Court's "one man, one vote" ruling, Senator Joseph D. Tydings Only 57 senators, well short by a two-thirds vote of the Hoiuse man and Senate, then ratified by three- (D-Md.), picked up support steadily of the needed two-thirds ma­ fourths as they hammered away at the of the states. jority, voted for the constitu­ prospect of stalemated state gov­ The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has recently concluded a world congress, its eighth congress since the founding of that organization in 1949. At the congress, which convened in Amster­ dam, Holland, representatives from trade unions in all parts of the free world met in order to develop plans to combat the spread of Communism and strive toward achieving the traditional goals of the ICFTU, namely, "bread, freedom and peace." Labor and civil rights groups ernment threatened by the Dirk­ tional amendment authored by At the founding of the ICFTU, one primary task was seen to demand Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen played a major role in what at sen Amendment. the immediate attention of the free trade unions of the world. Moscow (R-Ill.). Thirty-nine senators voted the start of the session had seemed was attempting to reach out and subvert all free trade unions. Today, Tried Hard against the Dirksen Amendment, an uphill battle to block the amend­ sixteen years later, Moscow is still using the same tactics in an at­ thus defeating the resolution with ment. An original small band of Dirksen several times modified tempt to grasp control of our free institutions, which, of course, seven votes to spare. A constitu­ liberals led by veteran Senator his plan in an effort to halt the labor unions. tional amendment must be passed Paul H. Douglas (D-III.) and fresh- erosion of support. Its final ver­ include In 1949, the ICFTU chose to face the challenge of helping to build sion would have permitted one bona fide trade unions in the newly emerging countries and to assist house of a legislature to be appor their people in gaining national independence and achieve economic tioned on factors other than popu and social progress. lation, subject to referendum ap The problems remain with us, the challenges still to be met. This proval after every census—with task deserves our paramount attention because it involves the very voters having a choice of alternate existence of free trade unionism in the world. If communism were to plans. triumph, there would be no free labor anywhere. A turning point In the bat­ It might be argued that the Communist threat against free trade tle came when Dirksen lost his unionism has lessened somewhat today as compared with 1949, the Swiftly implementing the new Voting Rights Act signed majority In the Senate judici­ year the ICFTU was founded. It might further be argued that the ary Committee and was unable against Communism has therefore lost much of its urgency and into law last week by President Johnson, federal examiners to bring the amendment to the fight significance. While it is possible that the Communists' tactics have began registering Negroes in Selma, Ala., and nine other floor under normal procedure. changed since 1949, in terms of style, their basic goals have not changed. We must not forget one basic fact about the Communist move­ "hardcore" county seats. In a ^ Abandoning the committee route, ment. The Communists are still determined to capture control of parallel move, the Justice act with equal dispatch in enforcing Dirksen then moved on the Sen­ (he free trade union movement and transform It Into their tool. ate floor to substitute his amend­ this act." Dept. filed a series of court With this in mind we must not relax our guard nor can we close ment for a minor unrelated bill— Speaking "to every Negro In this to proclaim National American Le­ our eyes to the different rorm the Communist tactics ta;r.e. One way challenges to the constitutionality we can do this is through the ICFTU, an organization experienced and of poli taxes imposed by four country," the President said: gion Baseball Week. "You must register, you must specially geared in this area. states. For nearly two weeks, the Senate vote; you must learn so your I had the honor of serving as part of the American delegation headed Local officials in many other choices advance your interests and conducted an off-and-on debate on southern communities, including the interests of our beloved na­ the issue—putting it aside peri­ by George Meany, President of the AFL-CIO, at the ICFTU Congress. It was agreed among the entire American delegation that an effective strife-torn Americus, Ga., acted vol­ tion." odically to take up other legisla­ and militant ICFTU is needed today as much as it was in 1949. The untarily to register long lines of tion. Meanwhile both sides and purposes, the goals, the ideals of the ICFTU are as valid in 1965 as 'A Different Battlefield' Negro applicants under the new their supporters lobbied actively they were in 1949. With energy, imagination, and with dedication to voting law, dropfiing the patterns The "struggle for equality," he for votes. its fundamental democratic principles and aims, the ICFTU can fulfill of harassment and discriminatory said, "must now move to a differ­ the new tasks it faces and make new historic contributions to the Showdown Vote tests. ent battlefield," to expanded and progress of free trade unionism, human well-being and freedom every­ The showdown came Aug. 4. where. The machinery of government new programs of economic oppor­ began turning just hours after tunity and education to "forever First there was a vote on a sub­ + * * President Johnson went to the Cap­ end the special handicap of those stitute amendment proposed by Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara told a Congressional com­ itol to sign the legislation and tell who are black in a nation that Senator Jacob K. Javits (R-N.Y.), mittee about four years ago, that there was no further need to build an original co-sponsor of the Dirk­ the nation, in a televised address, happens to be mostly white." or subsidize American-flag passenger ships because all troop move­ sen Amendment who subsequently of its significance. ments in the future would go by air. But now with the Viet-Nam Johnson asked "understand­ withdrew his support. Javits He termed enactment of the vot­ ing" for those In the South wanted to make any reapportion­ build-up, the Defense Department has asked for a total of 54 ships ing bill "a triumph for freedom as of which about 23 are now in use or being preparea for use. "who see the old ways crumb­ ment not based on population sub­ huge as any victory that's ever been Once again the need for a ready and adequate merchant fleet ling," but told them that "you ject to court review as to its "rea­ won on any battlefield." for military purposes has become apparent. As we have pointed will find a burden has been sonableness." Both Dirksen and the out in the past, a large modem fleet manned by professional sea­ lifted from your shoulders, The President recalled the Douglas group opposed this and men is essential to the defense capabilities of this country. too." bondage of the Negroes it was rejected, 85-12. It has always been the American merchant marine and the Ameri­ brought to America "In chains" Men, he said, "cannot live Only a majority vote was can seaman who are called upon in times of crisis. It is unfortunate and their long exclusion from with a lie and not be stained needed to substitute the Dirksen that it takes a crisis to remind people just how important a role the democracy which evolved by IL" Amendment for the baseball bill, the American merchant marine plays in securing the welfare of all In the United Stales. The President spoke in the Ro­ and that was done. But the 39 U.S. citizens . "Today," he said, "we strike tunda of the Capitol and then went votes against the substitution Surely, the American seaman, who has unstintingly risked life away the last major shackle of to the nearby President's room, doomed the resolution on its and limb in any conflict that has threatened the welfare of the those fierce and ancient bonds." where 104 years ago that day final passage test. United States deserves a better fate than our presently declining Johnson praised the speed with Abraham Lincoln had signed a bill On this showdown, 28 Democrats merchaiit marine offers him. which "this good Congress" acted freeing slaves impressed into the on the legislation he proposed last Confederate service, to sign the and 29 Republicans voted for the March, adding; "And I intend to voting legislation. Guests at the Dirksen Ameidment; 36 Demo­ historic ceremony included, in ad­ crats and three Republicans op­ dition to leading members of Con­ posed it. gress, representatives of the civil Issues Warning Aug. 20, '65 Vol. XXVII, No. 17 rights, labor and religious groups Dirksen earlier had served notice which had worked together for en­ Official Publication of the SIUNA that he didn't plan to give up the actment of the legislation — the Atlantic. Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters same broad alliance that helped fight even if he lost on this round. District AFL-CIO The International Transportworkers' Federation has char­ win passage of the 1964 -Civil He might, he said, try to attach Executive Board his amendment to other legislation tered the Seafarers International Union, of Canada as a direct Rights Act. PAVL HALL, President such as the bill to repeal Section EARL SHEPARS CAL TANNEH affiliate, the SIU has announced. The ITF, which has its Action to carry out the new law 14 (b) of the Taft-Hartley Act. Vice-President Exec. Vice-Pres. came as swiftly as the President headquarters in London, is-*-LINDSEY WILLLAMS AL KERR had promised. Most observers thought, how­ made up of 340 unions repre­ Vice-President Sec.-Treas. "As a result of the direct affilia­ AL TANNER ROB. A. MATTHEWS The day after the legislation was ever, that the 57 votes for the senting some 6^/^ million tion," Hall said, "the SIU of Cana­ Vice-President Vice-President signed, Atty. Gen. Nicholas deB. amendment represented the high da will now be able to directly HBIBERT BRAND Katzenbach asked a three-judge point of his support. Tydings said workers in all transportation fields represent the point of view and Director of Organizing and Publications federal court to invalidate Missis­ that several senators who had in 83 countries of the Free World. interests of Canadian Seafarers in Managing Editor: MIKE POLLACK; Asst sippi's poll tax as a condition for voted with Dirksen to fullfill The announcement of the SIU dealing with the issues of concern Editor: NATHAN SKYER; Staff Writers: earlier commitments had promised voting in state and local elections. ROBERT ARONEON, PETE CABMEN; ROBEBI of Canada's direct affiliation was to them and to the other trans­ MILGROH; Art Editor: BERNARD SEAMAN. Similar suits have since been filed to switch if their votes were ever made by SIUNA president Paul portation workers in the Free in Alabama, Texas and Virginia— needed to defeat the measure. Hall. The SIU of Canada is an af­ World." the other poll tax states. Poll taxes In other action at the ITF's re­ Vice President Hubert H. filiate of the SIUNA. are already prohibited under the Humphrey, who actively opposed cent 28th Congress, International Hall was a delegate to the re­ 24th Amendment to the Constitu­ Lohgshoremen's Association presi­ the Amendment, was credited with cently-concluded ITF 28th Con­ tion for elections to federal office. a major assist in the turn of the gress in Copenhagen where rec­ dent Teddy Gleason was elected Publlfhed biweekly at the haadqiiarter The new voting law does not tide. Dirksen, whose embellished ognition was given to the SIU of to the Executive Board of the, ITF. of the Seafarars International Union, At tantie. Gulf# Lake* and Inland Water* specifically outlaw state poll taxes. brand of oratory is a delight of Canada as a separate unit of the In addition to the SIU and ILA, District, AFL-CIO, *75 Fourth Avanoa, Brooklyn, NY, 11232. Tel. HYaclnth 9-««00. But it declares a finding of Con­ Capital Hill newsmen, related that SIUNA for the purpose of affilia­ other American maritime iffiions Second clas* postage paid at the Pott Office In Brooklyn, NY, under the Act gress that such taxes are discrimi­ he had protested in vain to Presi­ tion with the ITF. Until now, the represented at the ITF Congress natory and directs the attorney dent Johnson—a declared neutral SIU of Canada has participated in were the Marine Engineers Bene­ 'Of Aug. 24, 1912. general to challenge their constitu­ in the battle—asking "what is the activities of the ITF as an af- ficial Association and the National tionality in the courts. Hubert doing lobbying?" fUlate of the SIUNA. Maritime Union. President Signs Voting Rights Bill SEAFARERS LOG SlU Of Canada Becomes Latest Member Of ITF �Aarost tf, IMI An Editorlqh- MARAD-Pros And Cons As th« maritime industry continued its downwaM trend almost without interruption since World War n, it has been rather clear that inertia was at least one of the many factors that has contributed to the descent. Those in a position to exercise some influence toward correcting this situation generally had little to say or contribute other than to bemoan the fact, or to blame unions or union wages and conditions for the industiy's decline. The Maritime Administration, the agency with the greatest responsibility for the Industry and the one in the best position to start pumping some life into American shipping, for the most part did little more than issue its periodical statistical reports over the years. And the men who were chosen to ad­ minister the functions of Maritime Administration did little to distinguish themselves or to be remembered by. In fact, it requires a little reflection to recall the names of some of the recent Maritime Administrators. Other than to take to the road on the speakers' circuit to pay lip service to the American Merchant Marine they said little that was stimulating and did less. They made not a ripple in the stagnant waters in which U.S. shipping was slowly but surely settling. The present Maritime AdmlnistraUon leadership in this respect Is strikingly different. That It Is « center of contro­ versy is quite true. But it is also true that it is a force for stimulation that has been badly lacking. In the short time that Nicholas Johnson has been on the Job as Maritime Administrator, there has been more discussion on tlie whole subject of maritime, with sharper focus on every area of its operations, than Jn ail the previous administrations since the war. This, of course, by itself is not necessarily an Indi­ cator of what is to come, and whether it will be good or bad. We do not know what effect the influence of the present Mari­ time Administrator will have on the industry. Decision in this regard must be reserved until a judgment can be made ^based on the record. A New Look But the state of maritime when Nicholas Johnson took over the agency was such that it was necessary that the waters be churned, that every aspect of maritime policy and operation, so long in stagnation, be exposed to the light of day and examined, and discussed, and debated. All of this was, and is, prerequisite to a determination of what should be done to restore U.S. ship­ ping to its proper role in the nation's total transportation picture in peace and war. From where we sit there is no question but that Nicholas Johnson accepted the challenge. Obviously com­ pletely unawed by the time-worn assumption that you don't tamper with status quo, the Maritime Administrator departed • sharply from the lethargy and apathy that had characterized his predecessors' time in office. Stimulated Thinking He made it his business to amass, in the short time at hand, a knowledge of the industry, its competitive position^ and the views of the various and diverse interests which make up the industry. Even his most ardent critics must acknowledge ha tackled his job with vigor and an obviously intense desire to find out what the problem is. Certainly none can deny that ho has stimulated and sharpened the thinking of those in the industi-y. His comments from time to time have been provoca­ tive. To put it mildly, he has on occasion caused concern in every quarter of the industry over his views about the ultimate role of American shipping. Fears have been voiced over the possible influence these views may have on new maritime policy. The Maritime Administrator has also expressed doubts that the Government is getting ail it can for its subsidy dollar, and he has also indicated doubt that subsidies provide incentive. Nicholas Johnson's expressions on these and other aspects of U.S. shipping policy have not only evoked concern, they have touched off reactions that range from mild apprehension to out­ right demands for his dismissal. Effective Contribution Nevertheless, it can be said that the Maritime Administrator has made an effective contribution at this point by virtue of the fact that he has given the industry a shot of adrenalin. And now, at last, everybody is talking about the subject from A to Z. There is an awareness of the need for change and new thinking in the search for answers. Without the discussion, without the exchange of views and the difference of opinions over what must be done to revitalize the American Merchant Marine, there can be no substantial movement in that direction. It may be that we will have reservations or even strong objections to the poli­ cies that arise from the Maritime Administrator's influence. But that is not the issue at this time. We believe that the pros and cons of every facet affecting the future course of the industry on which we as seafaring people depend, and which the nation needs, is an appropriate subject for a full airing before effective and helpful policy can be made. Fonim For Discussion We believe this was the intent and purpose of President Lyn­ don Johnson in establishing the Maritime Advisory Committee. The President's Committee has provided the first forum wherein the interested parties have an opportunity to fully discuss every issue involved in thg improvement of the maritime industry. To this end the Maritime Administrator is making a tremen­ dous contribution to the industry, and to our country. We hope that Nicholas Johnson will continue in his job. $E'AFARERM cut LOG -./r $IU fight Mns Svnpori Senate OKd Measure Would Bar USPHS Hospital Closings WASHINGTON—^The fight by the SIU and other maritime unions to keep USPHS hospitals in operation has begun to make headway as the Senate has approved legislation which would ban any future closings of Public Health Serv­ ^ ice Hospitals. The USPHS The measure is now being consid­ upon extensive use of Veterans' hospitals have, since the ered by a joint House and Senate ent Administration hospitals, an ar­ earliest days of our na­ committee. rangement which would benefit tion's history, been of great importance to the health and welfare of American merchant seamen. The Senate-approved ban on USPHS Hospital closings is contained in the Departments of Lahoi', and Healtn. Education, and Welfare Appropriation Bill for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1966. MEBA OKs New Pact With 8 Companies The important section of the appropriations bill, banning the closing of any USPHS hos­ pitals states: "None of the funds con­ tained in this Act shall be used, either directly or indirectly, for the closing, or planning for closing, or for any activity in connection with the closing of any Public Health Service 4iospital." The SIU and other maritime un­ ions have been fighting to prevent the closing of the PHS hospitals since the Department of Health, Education and Welfare announced, early this year, a plan for the fu­ ture closing of these facilities. In reporting the bill to the full Senate, Senator Lister Hill (D.­ Ala.), a member of the Appropria­ tions Committee, submitted a writ­ ten statement which said. In part: "This committee, along with many other committees of Con­ gress, did not find the arguments supporting these closures, depend­ neither veterans nor seamen." Planned Closings It was the intention of th# Health, Education & Welfare De­ partment that with the closing of the PHS hospitals, merchant sea­ men in need of medical care should be treated at Veterans' Administra­ tion hospitals instead. However, as a result of a statement by the Comptroller General, which held that seamen could not be accorded special priority at VA hospitals, the HEW Department reversed its po­ sition with regard to the closing of three of the hospitals and an­ nounced that the Savannah and De­ troit facilities would be subject to further evaluation and possible closing. As passed, the Senate appropria­ tions biii not only prevents the clos­ ing of any of these facilities by HEW without the prior consent of Congress, but provides increased funds for modernization and the replacement and purciiase of much needed equipment f.ir these facili­ ties. NEW YORK—Members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial As­ sociation have overwhelming voted to accept a new agreement be­ tween the union and eight ship­ ping companies. The agreement was substantially based on ^ plan proposed by Labor Secretary W. Wilard Wirtz to end MEBA's dis­ pute with the shipowners. As the LOG went to press, neg­ otiations Were continuing between the Masters, Mates and Pilots, the American Radio Association and the shipowners aimed at bringing the 65-day old maritime strike to an end. The Government-proposed solu­ tion had previously been accepted WASHINGTON—^The Seafarers International Union has by Jesse Calhoun, MEBA president, strongly endorsed a recommendation that presently tmsubbut was turned down by Ralph Casey, president of the American sidized American-flag berth line vessels be replaced by mod­ Merchant Marine Institute, which ern and efficient vessels and-* represented the eight shipping be given operating subsidies pand the size of our subsidized companies in contract talks. This by the Federal Government. liner fleet by bringing presently week the eight companies issued The SlU has also urged that unsubsidized liners under the sub­ a statement accepting the settle­ Congress grant emergency ap­ sidy program. ment plan. propriations, for a crash ship­ • In order, however, that the Under the Wirtz proposal, AFL- building program, in order to Government may pay operating CIO President George Meany will achieve the above purposes as subsidies only on the most efficient be asked to work out a formula quickly as possible. tonnage available, it is desirable resolving manning disputes with that the obsolete and uncompeti­ The SIU position was set forth a panel including Assistant Labor tive vessels presently being oper­ Secretary James Reynolds; Lane in a statement made by SIU Presi­ ated by these unsubsidized compa­ dent Paul Hall to the members of Kirkland, assistant to President nies be replaced at a rate of at least Meany, and Theodore Kheel, Jabor the "President's Maritime Advisory 25 ships a year. Committee at their meeting here arbitrator. on August 6. • In order to achieve the above Approximately 100 ships have goals, there must be a substantial The SIU statemeni. was made in been affected on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The MEBA began its support of a report presented to increase in subsidies. strike on June 16. A week later the full committee by a sub­ The SIU, while endorsing, they were joined by the MMP and committee consisting of Deane these recommendations, noted ARA. The talks were undertaken Malott, president emeritys of that they applied only to some in Washington by Secretary Wirtz. Cornell University; Russell Berg, 100 American-flag berth liners Up to that time virtually no col­ president of the International being operated by companies lective bargaining had taken place. Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and which presently have subsidy Although MEBA negotiators had Joseph Andreae, general manager applications pending with the indicated their desire to meet on of the marine department of the Maritime Administration. an around-the-clock basis, the Humble Oil Company. The SIU further noted that com­ shipowners showed no willingness The report, which dealt with the to discuss the issues and few meet­ advisability of extending sub­ panies which now have sub.sidy ap­ plications pending with the Mari­ ings were held. sidies to presently unsnbsidized time Administration are States Meanwhile the SIUNA deep sea American-flag vessels, in essence Marine, for 36 ships; Isthmian, 24 units—the MFOW, A&G District, stated that: ships. Waterman, 25 ships; Cen­ SUP and MCS—which previously tral Gulf 19 ships; Atlantic Ex­ • The disappearance of the extended their contract deadlines press, 5 ships, and Coordinated presently unsubsidized Americanto August 15, have agreed to con­ would seriously Caribbean Transport, 4 ships. tinue their bargaining talks with flag liner fleet The SIU, while urging the management so long as there is damage the best interests of the committee members to support evidence of good faith on the part United\ States. of the shipowners. •, It is therefore advisable to ex­ (Continued on page 19) SIU Urges Building Aid For Unsnbsidized Liners �SEAFjfRERS XOC On The Mend ''s CargoMutiny, Murder KEY WEST, Fla.—Early this month, the bloodstained death ship Seven Seas was towed into Key West, Florida by the Coast Guard. Aboard the sway-backed banana boat, authori­ ties found a grisly cargo of-*bodies, a 17-year old survivor, his chain locker hiding place when and a tale of terror, mutiny the vessel was boarded by a Coast and mui-der on the high seas. The Guard party, said that he saw ill-fated vessel, American-owned Ramirez shoot the first mate to but sailing under Panamanian death in his bunk, flag, was the scene of one of the "I'm lucky to be alive," nodded most gruesome massacres in recent the short, slight Hondouran youth maritime histoi-y. When the gory who spent 18 hours in the chain details were untangled, officials locker. announced that of the original Burywaise said that he had never eight man crew, five were known even seen the .38-caliber murder dead, one was missing at sea, one weapon until he was leaving the had survived by hiding in a chain bunkroom about 10:15 on the Temporarily in drydocic at locker, and the murderer — a murder night. He was going on the Philadelphia USPHS pro-Castro Cuban exile — had deck because it was too hot to been apprehended aboard a Ger­ sleep. hospital, SlU old timer man freighter 60 miles South of Philip (J i g g s) Jeffers "When I was walking out of the Miami. keeps up with the latest room, this fellow Robert (Ramirez) At first, with nothing more to was coming out of the kitchen," news in the LOG. Jeffers go on than the spotty testimony said Burywaise. "He was walking was last ab.oard the of 'l7-year old Honduran survivor very fast." Oceanic Wave. Elvin Burywaise, Coast Guard and Fires Three Shots F.B.I, investigators were led to be­ Without a word, Ramirez leaned lieve that members of the multi­ national crew had mutineed and over the bunk of first mate Aldmurdered the ship's officers in an rick Hinds, firing three shots point argument over working conditions. blank into his sleeping body, Bury­ But with the arrest and confession waise claimed. "I ran up the stairs to let the of Roberto Ramirez, a muscular Cuban seaman, the facts surround­ captain know," he said. ing the mass murder rapidly Burywaise found the Spanishemerged. born captain dead, lying crossways According to Ramirez, he and on the bridge. Trembling with NEW YORK—Former Seafarer Spanish-born captain Rogelio Diaz fear, Burywaise said he bolted aft had engaged in a running dispute and ripped open the hatch to the Leon Climenko has been appointed over the present Cuban political cramped chain locker, a dark damp to the post of Deputy Industrial situation. The argument had hole too small to stand in. He grown hot and heav.v, and Captain scurried inside, snapped the hatch Commissioner for the New York Diaz, supported by first mate Ald- shut and sat on the anchor chain. City office of the State Industrial rick Hinds, Cuban chief engineer "It was hot and dark," he said. Commission. Jose Abad, 2'nd engineer Franco Climenko, now an assistant com­ "The sweat ran out of my ears." Solomon, and seaman Antonio missioner attached to the Depart­ He said he did not hear the shots Fronier had threatened to turn ment's Division of Employment, that killed two more crewmen — him over to Anti-Castro refugees in Tampa. Terrified and enraged, one found face up in his bunk, and has been with the Depatrment Ramirez shot all five and then the other found on the deck where since 1945 when he was named editor of the Industrial Bulletin. pointed the Seven Seas towards his he had been sleeping. Cuban homeland. Unable to switch Burywaise said that later he In 1947 he was appointed executive over to the auxiliary tanks when heard the whistle of the Coast assistant to former Industrial Com­ the vessell ran out of gas, he Guard cutter Cape Shoalwater, missioner Edward Corsi. lowered a lifeboat for an attempted which was dispatched to the Seven Commissioner Climenko also get-away. He was picked up by the Seas the day after the murder by served. as executive secretary to German freighter Bellavia near a patrol plane which spotted the the New York State Committee Alligator Reef. Soon afterwards, vessel wallowing in the Gulf on Displaced Persons, having been he was arrested and taken from Stream. appointed by former Governor the vessel by the Coast Guard. Thomas E. Dewey. He also served A three-man boarding team Denies Shooting with the New York State Commit­ Ramirez denied shooting Seven armed with .45's and a sub- tee on Refugees. Seas Honduran cook Gerald Davi­ machinegun went aboard, found Prior to his 20 years with the son, who has been reported miss­ the bodies, fixed a tow cable and headed for Key West. Labor Department, Climenko was ing. Authorities believe that Davi­ a member of the SIU and in 1943son probably jumped overboard in Bury waise's account tallies 44 was an assistant to the late terror on the night of the murders. closely with that of Ramirez. Ac­ Matthew Woll, a first vice presi­ Asked why he had not attempted cording to the Cuban seaman, his dent of the American Federation to kill Davison or Burywaise, Rami­ running beef with captain came to of Labor. rez replied that he had nothing a climax in the wheelhouse. He had He and his wife Sylvia have two against them. "They were not part again been defending the Castro of the argument," he said. regime and the captain threatened daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Johnson III, and Johanna. Burywaise, who emerged from (Continued on page 22) Ex-Seafarer To Hold State Labor Post Drifting aimlessly with three deed men abpard and one terrjfied 17-year-old crewmpmber hld; ing in the chain locker too frightened to come out, the Panamanian-tlag Vessej Seven ^pas was ' pliptpgfashed by the Coast Guard 100 miles soutfi of MiamC By Earl (Bull) Shepard, VicC'PresldMf, Atlantic Warm Weather Means Good Shipping We've had some very warm weather in New York recently and the boys have been registering and signing on as soon as possible to get some of those cool ocean breezes. Some of the oldtlmers who were In the New York Hall recently were Bob Hayee who recently got off the Spitfire after making the Phllly to Rotterdam run. Also around the New York Hkll recently was George Kerr who recently signed off the Puerto Rico. Delmar Craig recently paid off the Coure D'AIene Victory after making the run to North Africa and Del says that he's ready to ship out again. John Kozar was in and out of the New York Hall after paying off on the Azalea City and signing on the Mayaguez as oiler. Philadelphia Shipping has been running fair in the port of Philadelphia and should continue at a steady pace. During the last period we had two payoffs and two sign ons and serviced 5 ships in transit. Jfdia Bergeria, a member of the SIU for twenty years, is ready for the first bosuns Job to come along. Joseph Brooke, 25 years with the SIU, is just out of dry-dock and ready to go go on the first coal ship to Europe. Kosta Hatgimision, a member of the SIU for 25 years, is still in drydock but will be ready — to go back on the Glebe Progress Alcoa Marketer, Beloit Victory, soon. Keva Ideal. Signs ons included the Beloit Larry Savior spent a wonderful vacation with the family and is Victory, Globe Progress, Keva ready to go to work again as soon Ideal. as possible. Joe Grabber, a mem­ Ships in transit included the ber of the SIU for 25 years will Steel Executor, Overseas Joyce, take the first firemen's job on a Achilles, Alcoa Runner, Steel Ex­ coal ship to Europe. ecutor, Steel Chemist, Natalie, Kyska, Northwest Victory, Alcoa Baltimore Explorer. Shipping has been pretty good Shipping was slow during the in Baltimore during the past two month of July but looks much bet­ weeks. We crewed up the Colum­ ter for August. bia, and Meridian Victory. During We have negotiated a new threethe past 2 weeks we paid off 7 year contract with Ca.ne Fear Tow­ ships, signed on 6 and had 6 ing Company of Wilmington, N,C. intransit. We now have negotiations under­ Voldemar Pold, has been sailing way for a new contract with M. L. with the SlU 23 years and is wait­ Hudgins Associates. The present ing around for a Calmar ship after contract with this company expiree being on beach for a couple of August 31st, 1965. months. He thinks the SIU's Wel­ We are awaiting a decision from fare plan is the best in the busi­ the NLRB on the appeal by NBC ness. Lines to the election which we won Floyd Fritz Is waiting around for May 28th, 1965. anything after being on the beach A hearing on unfair labor for three months. He has been charges against Shepheard Air A sailing with SIU 20 years and has Plane Corporation was scheduled Been many gains in those years. for August 3rd, however, this hear­ Ed Broaden la unfit for duty ing has been postponed until Sep­ after hurting his foot on the tember 8th. Cbilore. As soon as he gets FFD Puerto Rico he will take anything going any­ An air, sea, and rail network where. Ed has been a member of linking the Eastern United' States, the SIU for 22 years. the Caribbean Islands, and the Central American isthmus may Boston start taking shape next year. Shipping has been on the slow Constructibn on the island dur­ bell in Boston recently due to the strike. We have two Robin ships ing the past fiscal year reached a laid up here that will re-crew as new high of nearly a half million dollars—an increase of 32% oyer soon as the strike is over. the previous fiscal year. Stanley Yodris who last sailed The four-year exploratory phase aboard the Robin Trent as AB was sorry to see the ship lay up and of the search for copper deposits is waiting to ship as soon as the in the Utuado-Ad juntas area by the Ponce Mining Company will end strike is over. in the next few months. Elton Hamaty a member of the Pat Dunhy has left his oiler's . SIU for twenty years ^ working job on the M.U. Flortdian with the on the summer boats in Wood's prospect of getting his engineers li­ Hole so that be can be close to cense. With Pats experience and his new baby and his family. "know how," he'll have no trouble Peter Jomides who's last ship passing the exam. was the C-S Baltimore just got out We lost Julio Colon's pleasant of dry dock and is now looking for company around the hall when he another coast hugger. grabbed a galley job on die "Bien­ John Farrand a member of the ville." SIU for 25 years last shipped on Paul Maitin, Ex Chief Cook of the Steel Designer as 2nd electri­ the Monarch of the Seas, who kept cian. ''Jack" was glad to get home the crews appetites satisfied for and spend some of the summer over nine months, dropped by the with his family. hall to say "hello" to the boys. Also, around the hall we haVe Norfolk Andres Molina, Mario Farrulla, and Sixty-six men were shipped from Herbert Miranda. Phil Miranda, the Norfolk hall during, the month one of our bosuns is busy super­ of July 1965. ' vising his new restaurant, "Phils Ships pgyi^ off included the Shriipp House," on Central Avenue. �AMfiMt Eff, IMI SEAFARERS Pace FIT« LOG I^LEGEND ^BIGFOOT WALLACE T^HEN seamen around the world learned that the old liberty ship Bigfoot Wallace was being broken out of mothballs to be sold for scrap, a wail was heard across the seven seas. For years sailors have been spinning yarns about the legendary Texas Ranger for whom the World War n vessel was named. Now, with the hoary old rust bucket destined for the scrap heap, tall-tale-tellers will be deprived of one of the more colorful anecdotes in their Bigfoot Wallace story bags. Seamen who have never heard a Bigfoot Wallace story are few and far between. William Alexander Anderson Wallace—^better known as Bigfoot because of his enormous shoe" with bows and arrows. So he size—has provided material made his way into a stand of for yarn spinners in every hickory trees and filied his port the world over. What buckskin shirt and breeches with hickory nuts. Then he many seamen do not know crept close to the Indian camp however, is that Bigfoot and let out a blood-curdling actually existed and that war whoop. many of his exploits really He just stood there, rifle at the took place. ready, while the indians fired Born In Virgrinia away. Soon bigfoot was standing chest-high in the middle of a Bigfoot was born in Virginia in 1817. When he was 19, an oldet brother who had gone to Texas, was killed in a battle with the Mexicans—probably the massacre at Goliad. Bigfoot swore vengeance and made his way to Texas to become a scout, woodsman, ranger and Indian fighter, as well as one of the most murderous Mexicankillers of all time. Like Paul Bunyan, bigger than life, tales of Bigfoot's adventures swept across the frontier like wildfire. Robert C. Casey, in his historical "The Texas Border," wrote that Bigfooi Wallace "came as close as any human being can to being a super­ broken pile of spent arrows. He man without losing his popular­ didn't have a scratch on his body, but the arrows had split and ity." shelled every single one of those One well-known Bigfoot hickory nuts. story tells how Bigfoot once Lunch Time stood off a "passei of ComThen, while eating nuts with one manches who had stoien his hand, Wallace drew a bead and string of horses whiie he slept began firing with the other, rue­ in his camp in a 'hoiier' on the fully drawling, "it don't pay to Trinity River not far from the mess with old Bigfoot." Big Thickette. When he Perhaps one of the best tracked the indians down he Bigfoot tales comes from saw that they were oniy armed around Navasota way. "One day," it goes, "a traveller rode up at high noon on a hot day astride a huge grizzly bear. Townsfolk gathered around to stare and wonder. The stranger asked if they had anything to drink thereabouts. He said that he had been riding hard and fast and was mighty dry. to share em with you, the wife and me,' the fellow said. But the stranger shook his head. " 'Sorry, cain't do it,' he said. 'Bigfoot Wallace is on my trail and I got to be on my way.' " The 88 Bigfoot Wallace was one of the 2,480 Liberty Ships built in the War and named for legendary men of yore. Built in Houston in 1942, the old 10,000-tonner "One of the town people re­ plied, 'we've been having a dry turned in a solid performance as spell here recent', stranger, and did most of her sister ships. Ic there ain'f nuthin wet we can give ye but some sheep dip out of that trough yonder.' "The bear-riding hombre, who might be described as tough, dipped him up a hatful of that sheep dip and tossed It off at one swallow. Then he gave the bear a drink. "Then someone cried out, 'hey mister, watch out, look out behind you.' The stranger turned and there was a full-growed, nine-foot rattler coiled and ready to strike. The stranger, he Just reached down and grabbed the snake by wasn't till the War was over, how­ the neck, put him in his saddlebag ever, that the vessel began to live and said: 'Now dammit, you Just up to the history of her. namesake. stay there till I tell you to git out.' She Just refused to stay down and out. She kept coming out of re­ Not THAT Tough serve after the War to sail and "The stranger climbed back sail again. Standard Fruit and Steamship aboard his big bear and got ready to pull out when one of the men Company operated her for a few asked why he didn't stop a while years. Then she was put into the and come out to the house for a reserve fleet at Lee Hall, Va. in mess of ribs. 'We'd be mighty proud 1946. But she came out again in TNB S\G(5BSr the following year and sailed for another year for United States Lines and Dichmann, Wright and Pugh. In 1948 she was in the reserve base at Wilmington, N.C. but once again the Government needed her and this time she kept at it, in one ocean'and another, until the final retirement to the Mobile mothball fleet, at 10:25 A.M. June 14, 1952. And her engines never turned again there­ after. Listen—He's There There is one final tale about Bigfoot Wallace. Texans insist that the legendary ranger never died and, on clear cool nights, they swear that a giant, ghostly stranger moves silently across the untracked western wilds. Out Cut 'n Shoot, Texas way, natives are eager to show the unsuspect­ ing tourist foot-prints three times the normal Texas boot size. "Big­ foot Wallace," they whisper softy, looking cautiously over their shoulders. "Bigfoot Wallace," they say, feeling the crumbling print, "must have been here sometime this week . . ." With the SS Bigfoot Wal­ lace soon to fall into a pile of rusty iron beneath the wrecker's hammer, it won't be long till some salty Sea­ farer will swear that he saw her Just off the starboard bow, "just a few seconds ago, right there." And who knows, he might be right. All Hands Reported Safe As SIU Lakes Ship Hits Bridge By Al Kerr, Secretary-Treasurer File Welfare Claims Properly DETROIT—Poor visibility and rough weather combined last week to severely damage a bridge and an SlU-manned Great Lakes Freighter. Hampered by dense fog and heavy crosswinds, the SIU Great Lakes District-manned John T. Hutchinson was forced off course and blown up against a Grosse He, Michigan toll bridge. No one of the vehicles, which had stopped passage of a vessel, there Is ade­ was injured in the mishap on the bridge to let the center quate time for back-up cars to 8ince the inception of this column. Seafarers have been asked to forward any questions or complaints they may have regarding the processing of applications for various benefits to the SecretaryTreasurer's office. The result has been a small numbeis.of complaints about the processing of some types of applications, and we are cur­ which toppled a bridge span into swing-span open for the vessel's rently tightening up areas of administration where these items seem the Detroit River and dropped passage, anticipated the crash and to crop up. three unoccupied vehicles Into the had leift their cars before the col­ lision occurred. The complaints that have come in, as far as the majority of cases Is 21-foot Trenton Channel. concerned, have been the result of claims filed improperly at the time "They saw it coming and they Warned of the impending colli­ they were originally submitted. Therefore, in an effort to assist the sion, passengers and pedestrains took off running," said a Grosse membership in filing complete applications for the various benefits fled the bridge before impact. He police officer. they may be entitled to under the SIU Welfare, Pension and Vacation Apparently, negotiating the , Bridge - tender Vincent ArmPlans, we will continue to spell out the steps to be taken in filing for bruster described the crash. "The each type of benefit available, and to deal with one of them at a time. tricky Grosse He water is hazard­ boat dropped anchor about ten ous, and officials have long ex­ 8ince the dependents benefits are the ones about which we receive pected a ntajor accident there. feet from the bridge before it hit," the most inquiries, this area seems a good place to start. "We've been expecting it for he said. "This had no effect. There A seaman who is filing for benefits must have been employed at years," said Patrolman George was an awful crash. It sounded least 90 days during the previous calendar year, and at least one day Clare of the Grosse He Police. like metal rending metal." within the past six months immediately preceding the date his claim "Every so often they hit the Armbruster reported that there accrued. All of this employment must have been with an SlU-con- bridge." was no screaming or panic on the tracted company which was a part-f—— The crash occurred at about four bridge. "They all got off before of the Seafarers Welfare plan dur­ dependent benefits, a patient must In the afternoon. The 620-foot the boat collided," he said. ing the period the seaman worked have been admitted to a hospital freighter was proceeding north­ The John T. Hutchinson, owned for the conrtpany. and/or surgery must have been bound after unloading a cargo of by the SlU-contracted American Who is termed a dependent? performed. In the event of sur­ Iron ore pellets at the McLouth Steamship Company and operated The "dependent" includes -an em­ gery, it is not necessary that this Steel Plant in Trenton. Caught in by Boland and Cornelius, suffered ployee's wife, unmarried children surgery be performed in a hospital a crosswind and blinded by fog, a three-foot gash in her port under 19 years of age, and any in order to be entitled to payment she was thrown against a concrete prow. The ship was towed to the other person whom the member is of this surgery benefit. The sur­ pier supporting the permanent span Nicolson Docks for inspection. entitled to claim as a dependent gery benefit is paid in accordance on the Island side of the bridge. There were no reports of injuries on his current Federal Income Tax with the Surgery Schedule for De­ The span collapsed with one end on board. return, under the U8 Internal pendent Benefits. splashing into the water and the According to police, the accident • Revenue Act. Any claim, as well as proof of a other held up by concrete piers. came Just about the time when Copies of legal documents es­ claim for dependent benefits, must Two autos and a telephone serv­ many islanders were leaving their tablishing proof of dependency be submitted to the office of the ice truck were dumped into the homes to report for afternoon status must be filed with the Sea­ Seafarer's Welfare Plan within 100 river while two other cars hung shift jobs on the mainland. farers Welfare Plan office. days of the performance of such precariously on the sloping span. Since the span is open for about In order to be entitled to the (Continued-on page 23) Police said that all the occupants flva minutes before the actual spot a crash. The Grosse Ho Toll Bridge, spanning about 1,200 feet of the Detroit River, linlu the downriver community of Riverview with the Island. The bridge was built in 1913. There are two bridges link­ ing the island to the mainland. Prove Eligibility For Hospital $ Seafarers being admitted to a Public Health hospital are urged to carry with them their Union book plus proof of eli­ gibility for SIU b e n e fi t s; namely, a record that they have at least 90 days seatime during the previous year and at least one day during the previous six months. Failure to have the proper credentials will cause a delay in payments to the Sea­ farer. If the Seafarer is admitted to a hospital which is not a PHS institution, he should contact the Union immediately. Tha Union will arrange with tha USPHS for a transfer to a Pub­ lic Health hospital in his vicin­ ity. The PHS will not pick up the hospital tab for private hospital care, unless it is noti­ fied In advance. �SEAFARERS rat* Wz Atmmt M, ifts LOC (Figures On This Page Cover Deep Sea Shipping Only in the SIU Atlantic Gulf Lakes and Inland Waters District.) July 31-Augu»t 15 to 1246. Most of the declineJn registratiohs was concen­ Seafarers encountered sharply increased job oppor­ trated in the Steward Department, where 83 fewer men tunities during the past two weeks. The improvement registered than previously. Deck accoimted for a decline was greater than might be expected at this point in the of 39 men. Engine was the only department to register year. 0*1 an increase, although it was a small one of only 13 men. Total men shipped jumped from 1089 in the previous l«»tM The increase in Engine registrations came exclusively in period to 1484 now. This 395 man climb was reflected Class A, where 25 more men registered. In class B en­ New Yerli.... 17 in all departments. In fact, the increase was spread al­ gine, there were 12 fewer registrations than in the earlier PbHodelplila.. 2 most uniformly among the departments. Of the total period. •altlmore ... . 7 1484 men shipped, Deck accounted for 531, Engineers 503, Class breakdowns of men shipped indicate that Class A Norfolk .... . 2 and Steward 450. increased its share of total men shipped by over 1% to Jocktonvillc ... 0 On the East Coast, New York shipped 295 Seafarers, 52.2%. The increase was at the expense of Class B and Tampa highest of all the ports. This figure represented a rise of Class C men, both of whose share of the total fell slightly. 78 men over the previous period. Other ports which in­ Mobile creased its men. shipped substantially were Baltimore and Largest percentage increases in men shipped came in New OrleoMt... K Mobile. Philadelphia reported a small dip. Class B, Engine and Class A Deck with 59% and 51% rises HoMtoa ....,. 0 respectively. When all groups and departments are com­ In the Gulf, Houston shipped 270 men, second highest bined, Class A increased its men shipped from 552 to 774. Wilmlnfitoa .. 0 of the ports, a lift of 98 men over the earlier period. On Soa Froacifoo.. 4 Class B went from 383 to 510. the West Coast, San Francisco went from 118 to 190 men Seattle . 1 shipped. Seattle, one of the bright spots two periods ago, Payoffs were up by 3, Sign-Ons by 5, and In-transits by drooped this time. 8. New York, with 17 Payoffs, 7 Sign-Ins and 15 InTOTALS .. . S5 Registrations during this period fell by 109 from 1355 transits, led all ports in tot^ shipping activity. Ship Acfivify Si«a In Oat Traat. TOTAL 0 4 4 7 IS 39 2 4 i. 5 4 19 3 7 12 2 10 12 0 - 0 8 17 4 ' 4 4 11 22 S 21 34 0 9 9 4 7 17 1 4 8 40 114 209 DECK DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS A Port Boston : New York ... Philadelphia . Baltimore ... Norfolk .... Jacksonville ., Tampa Mobile New Orleans , Houston Wilmington .. San Francisco Seattle TOTALS GROUP 1 2 7 2 24 4S 7 1 5 14 6 5 2 1 1 2 5 15 19 12 18 18 6 2 13 11 8 6 109 147 Registered CLASS 8 3 AlA 10 1 77 7 12 4 5 24: 1111 0 0 3 3 0 3 23 : 37 i 6 0 36 . 10 ! 2 25 1 5 19 34 1 290 Shipped CLASS A Shipped CLASS 8 Shipped CLASS C GROUP GROUP GROUP 1 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 2 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 3 37 22 73 1 21 13 42 13 15 9 29 0 2 5 2 2 2 6 0 3 3 1 4 0 6 25 37 0 7 8 14 8 4 6 IS 0 6 8 4 5 1 10 2 6 14 1 7 3 1 2 1 4 0 2 11 3 3 9 9 0 2 3 5 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 7 13 0 6 20 0 5 11 7 27 1 21 33 14 27 3 44 0 2 11 13 2 18 13 0 12 11 37 63 1 23 21 5 12 14 27 1 0 3 1 2 1 0 3 2 41 2 1 8 18 38 9 10 7 1 14 23 15 5 26 7 10 0 1 2 3 0 7 1 4 11 2 65 80 1[ 164 8 88 83 1[ 179 96 198 33 1 327 19 TOTAL Shipped Registered On The Beach CLASS A CLASS B GROUP CLASS GROUP GROUP 1 2 3 ALL A B C ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 0 0 1 3 0 1 4 12 13 30 0 1 5 4 8 4 0 6 10 73 4 29 10 112 94 133 23 250 5 83 24 54 15 0 1 0 1 6 11 11 8 4 1 34 0 3 25 28 0 5 37 5 55 39 56 1 4 6 101 13 4 20 31 55 0 25 14 0 1 1 10 14 1 8 1 23 0 2 11 13 0 0 3 3 11 3 23 6 9 6 0 12 0 6 5 11 0 0 0 1 3 2 0 2 0 4 1 7 1 2 2 5 0 0 1 27 21 39 11 1 1 49 25 75 1 2 22 25 0 0 58 56 1 1 44 13 1 58 11 125 4 36 52 92 0 27 2 2 4 63 4 94 57 79 10 146 5 32 42 79 0 0 3 2 2 4 2 9 18 13 35 0 4 4 4 8 5 75 27 0 6 11 38 26 11 15 47 0 5 13 9 22 0 0 10 13 23 0 3 0 19 51 3 9 22 15 40 0 16 24 1 40327 164 "40 1 531 384 458 94 1 936 23 170 276 1 469 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS A Port Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Jacksonville Tampa Mobile New Orleans Houston Wilmington San Francisco Seattle TOTALS GROUP 2 1 1 4 20 57 0 9 7 15 1 5 3 1 0 2 8 15 20 13 32 11 2 1 2 17 0 8 66 188 CLASS B Registered Shipped CLASS 8 Shipped CLASS A Mtipped CLASS C GROUP GROUP GROUP 2 3 ALL 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 1 0 1 5 0 0 1 . 0' 3 1 4 0 0 1 18 17 39 36 12 30 47 4 5 82 5 22 5 9 5 4 9 13 0 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 0 4 10 14 2 21 0 1 9 5 6 11 5 2 24 0 10 7 3 7 0 3 7 2 11 2 15 0 4 1 7 15 8 0 10 4 4 0 4 2 9 1 4' 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 8 7 10 18 8 12 15 25 26 1 4 24 2 3 15 7 40 5 18 16 39 12 22 2 36 2 4 21 37 38 3 15 19 46 0 16 10 26 8 49 3 3 4 3 7 3 0 2 3 0 4 0 2 1 1 1 17 4 23 4 23: 1 5 6 9 10 4 121 2 23 5 0 5_ 2 7 0 4 3 7 1 9 1 4 0 31 1 285 15 89 68 1 172. 50 164 27 1 241 19 100 86 I 205 TOTAL Shipped GROUP CLASS 1 S ALL A 2 B 1 0 1 2 4 1 0 7 6 13 47 39 0 1 0 1 2 9 0 0 2 2 21 10 0 1 1 2 15 10 0 3 5 10 2 15 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 24 25 1 3 36 2 0 1 21 0 5 2 7 49 37 3 5 3 7 1 1 3 9 3 15 23 23 0 0 0 7 0 7 7 31 19 1 57 241 205 Registered On The Beach CLASS AI CLASS a1 GROUP GROUP C ALL 1 2 S ALL 1 2 8 ALL 7 4 2 11 3 18 0 3 2 1 13 99 50 118 9 177 8 84 42 34 12 1 1 20 5 26 0 9 11 20 33 10 2 61 8 79 1 21 20 42 2 27 3 11 3 17 1 6 6 13 5 30 3 6 0 9 0 6 3 9 0 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 3 3 51 12 2 24 5 41 0 7 15 22 60 20 3 82 9 51 11 41 33 83 93 24 7 68 5 97 5 46 41 92 15 8 5 12 5 25 2 2 2 6 61 7 15 26 37 1 4 12 12 25 0 14 5 25 2 32 1 11 3 15 57 1 503 148 435 61 1 644 28 205 184 1 417 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS A Port 1-s Bos NY Phil Bal 0 3 1 1 Nor 0 Jac 1 Tam , . . 0 Mob 3 NO 3 Hou 5 Wil 1 SF 0 Sea 2 TOTALS "20 DECK ENGINE STEWARD GRAND TOTALS Registered CLASS B GROUP 1 2 3 ALL 0 0 1 1 16 7 23 49 1 0 3 1 3 7 1 12 2 1 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 7 2 11 23 [ 11 1 21 36 11 3 11 30 0 1 5 7 7 3 8 18 1 1 4 8 60 19 93 1 192 GROUP GROUP GROUP 3 ALL 1 3 ALL 1 2 2 1 2 3 AI.L 1-s 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 2 1 1 1 2 0 45 0 15 20 7 1 14 1 4 15 14 10 14 3 1 3 0 0 0 2 1 4 5 0 3 0 0 25 2 0 21 23 16 0 11 3 11 1 15 0 6 8 0 11 5 13 2 1 12 1 4 3 0 10 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 3 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 - 0 0i 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 17 0 0 13 13 0 7 3 5 0 7 5 4 30 0 1 21 22 0 4 21 25! 1 2 18 9 30 3 15 17 35 0 5 14 19 3 15 2 10 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 7 3 11 2 4 7, 1 8 1 1 10.. . 20 1 7 0 5 6 2 13! 2 2 1 10 1 2 11 20 109 1 141 6 ~19 103 1 128! 23 75 28 80 1 206 12 Registered CLASS A GROUP 123 ALL 109 147 66 "188 80 19 255 354 Shipped CLASS B Shipped CLASS A 34 31 93 158 I 1 I 1 290 285 192 767 Shipped CLASS C GROUP CLASS C ALL 1-s 1 2 3 ALL A B 0 3 2 3 7 1 0 3 2 0 1 23 15 24 84 21 24 45 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 9 2 0 23 5 53 11 0 5 5 25 1 0 5 13 8 5 26 3 4 0 4 1 5 10 2 5 17 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 11 11 17 13 11 41 10 0 0 1 53 16 1 30 22 1 0 1 17 83 18 18 30 35 18 0 0 2 0 2 5 5 2 3 1 0 22 54 7 23 20 11 23 0 0 7 16 6 3 3 6 3 2 3 98 1 103 206 141 103 1 450 102 SUMMARY Registered SHIPPED CLASS B CLASS A GROUP GROUP 1 _ 2_ 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 8 88 83 179 96_198_33 I 327 J^5 89 68 172 50 164_27_1 241 6 19 103 128 98 28 80 I 206 29 196 254 I 479 244 390 140 I 774i TOTAL Shipped Registered On The Beach CLASS A CLASS B GROUP GROUP 1 1 51 7 28 1 1 0 16 35 39 3 17 6 205 2 1 22 3 15 3 2 0 10 15 29 5 8 5 118 3 ALL 1 5 2 2 43 167 5 11 23 0 73 4 19 5 12 1 0 4 0 0 1 1 55 1 19 63 129 4 42 128 3 8 21 1 46 1 14 11 28 2 267 1 692 25 2 S ALL 0 1 3 44 9 SO 14 2 12 40 1 35 5 12 18 1 4 5 1 3 5 0 13 14 7 71 82 50 10- 37 1 , 6 8 1 11 9 6 27 __35 \ 44 260 1 329 Registered On The Beach TOTAL SHIPPED SHIPPED CLASS A SHIPPED CLASS 8 CLASS C CLASS 8 GROUP GROUP CLASS GROUP GROUP 2 ALL 1 2 3 ALL B 2 3 ALL A 123 ALL 1 JILL 1 19 _ 65 80 I 164 0 16 24 _40 327 164 40 I 531 384 458 94 I 936 23 170 276 I 469 19_100 ' 86 1 205 _7" 31 19 _ 57 241 205 57 1 503 148 435 61 •r644: 28" 205' 184 I 4'7 12 _ 20 109 I 141 2" 3 "98 103 206 T41' 103 I 450j 3^""118 267''I 692 25j 44 260 1 3 9 50 185 275 j 610 •9" SO 141 1 200|774 '510 200 114841 839 1011 422 '12272 "76 '419 720 j1215 mm �„ decided cliange o^ , ?fi^'F^\-^'rJsi?'::^\ •• II-n> V ^ B„„u. ^ijjjtiHW Fast pace ^ „t shipp|^';«„ .u ippins KM '•'° ® peeded to s"'' „ oddWo"'^^. „e.t o»» • „«»<>«" „ „e.d. ^ > frr««*-' -dif oldt^tdd d^etotU.. brr--'z^::'.t:r»."- -? ^ ir.ssJ2Sfe^id?°::j ciorj. ,, VlotoTJ- _ „iiiAed i»® tM "— -— ^ _ort aiw* »<*' ''?i \ Rlteabetli- eanic ®"sVble payo«® \ Victory ate P . — v^een very B . SeSr :,TJ o"^ 'ifdr. «»P rt'-o.:s "'o"^ -"'• ',1 eotry »"«'eJrtm.nlo\tl.. «"' °'" -.?S ' ..vj' ®*r^!d the outlool �SEAFARERS Face Eight LOG August t9, 196S Feinstein Named Council Sec.-Treas, N.Y. Port Council Official Ur^es Maritime Buildup By Al Tanner. Vice President and Fred Farnen, Secretary-Treasurer, Great Lakes NEW YORK — An all-out attempt to save thousands of seamen's jobs by rebuilding the United States Merchant Marine and maintaining New York City's pre-eminence as a All Hands Safe In Collision major port was urged by Charles Feinstein, newly-designated secretary-treasurer of the The Steamer John T. Hutchinson, operated by Roland and Corneliiis Steamship Company, suffered extensive damage to her hull recently Maritime Port Council of New> York City. Feinstein, a vice flags," Feinstein declared. "Thou­ lost to workers in the New York- when she hit the Grosse He Bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel president of the International sands of maritime jobs have been New Jersey area because of com­ connecting Trenton, Michigan with the upper portion of Grosse He, mitment of passenger traffic and whkh is an island in the Detroit River. Damage to the bridge was con­ freight to foreign flag ships. Aside from this loss in revenue to Ameri­ siderable with one section of her span completely off its mounting. can flag ships, if the war in Viet­ Several autos were on the bridge at the time of impact, but fortunately nam is expanded further, our na­ no one suffered any injuries. Travel, between the island and the main­ tion will be confronted with dis­ land will be greatly hampered for several months while repairs are aster unless our Merchant Marine being made. The J. T. Hutchinson is in Chicago undergoing repairs. The With increased passenger and is strengthened." forward end has been laid off until the week of August 16th when cargo traffic being committed to Increased unemployment among repairs are scheduled for completion and the vessel will return to ships flying foreign flags, in the maritime workers also involves a service. face of a stepped-up war effort, the great reduction in purchasing Detroit U.S. Merchant Marine faces the power among maritime workers, worst crisis in its history, Fein­ Army Engineers urged a House Public Works subcommittee today to Feinstein pointed out. This can be stein said. And if New York's approve a proposal aimed at overcoming obstacles encountered by Great corrected, he suggested only maritime industry is to be saved through an extensive campaign to Lakes shipping during the winter because of ice conditions. The sub­ from disaster, no effort should be restore passenger travel and cargo committee is considering projects for inclusion in an omnibus water spared to revitalize the Merchant projects authocization bill. A bill passed by the Senate includes au­ to American vessels. Marine, he maintained. thorization for a study of the icing problem on the Lakes. Feinstein said that the Maritime "It is imperative. that we have As outlined by Lieut. Col. Sam-"*" Port Council will also press for a first rate Merchant Marine if our Duluth other measures sought by organ­ uel W. Pinell, the study estimated nation hopes to retain its role as ized labor. These include repeal to cost about $75,000, would involve Shipping has slowed down in a first rate nation, and this means of section 14-b of the Taft-Hartley evaluating available data on condi­ this port. We have been receiving more shipping under American Feinsfein Act, establishment of a Federal tions and possible remedies. At more job calls lately for unrated minimum wage of $2.00 an hour, present, he said, the Great Lakes men and have been filling these enactment of anti-strikebreaking and their connecting channels are wipers and porters jobs with no legislation and tariff revision. He closed to shipping from mid-De­ difficulty. noted that the International cember until early April each win­ The Norman B. Reem has been Leather Goods, Plastic and Novelty ter. Possibilities for preventing obtained by the Kinsman Transit Workers Union's efforts in this icing in the harbors and channels. Company to replace the C. S. area were partly responsible for Colonel Pinell said, include bub­ Robinson, which hit the dock in securing elimination of an excise bling, dusting, snow drifting and the Soo. The Robinson is now in ice breaking. The house committee tax on leather goods. the Fraser Shipyard in Superior. approved a similar proposal last The Administration stood at the threshold of victory in a The Reem has been laid up in this Feinstein is director of the four year flight — begun by the late President Kennedy— Health and Welfare fund of his year, but it did not clcrr Congress. Port for approximately three for a Cabinet-level Dept. of Housing & Urban Affairs. years. She is a steel trust boat. Chicago international union; secretaryThey should be fitting out in ap­ The Senate voted 57-33 ap­ treasurer of Local 111, Frame, Shipping again for the past pe­ proximately 10 days. Bipartisan support was higher Plastic and Novelty Workers proval of a House-passed bill riod has been extremely good, with Union; a member of the executive on the Senate vote, with 10 Re­ Leon Cliff, a member of the to coordinate multi - billion permanent jobs available always, Dredge Section of the SIU Inland dollar housing and transit pro­ publicans joining 47 Democrats board of the United Hebrew plus many vacation relief jobs. Boatmen's Union, had a mis­ grams under a Cabinet department In voting for the bill. Nineteen Trades; and an executive board Carl "Smoky" West recently re­ fortune in his family. His wife was which would also deal with special Republicans and 14 Democrats member of the Jewish Labor Committee. covered from a month's illness and in the hospital and needed six problems of the nation's cities. were opposed. is now reporting to the John Kling pints of blood which was supplied Differences between the two bills of Reiss Steamship Company as by the Seafarers' Blood Bank. Mrs. must be worked out In a HouseWiper. This is a new job for Smoky. Cliff is all right now and back Senate conference before the home. IBU member, Tom Lease, legislation can be cleared for the Leon Striler also just finished a had to bring his son to the hospi­ President's signature. relief job on the Steamer Chicago tal. Three pints or Mood were re­ Establishment of the new Cab­ Trader and is registered and wait­ leased at that time. Needless to inet post has long been urged ing to ship again. Harold Murphy say our blood bank is very low and by the AFL-CIO, which stressed has not been able to ship at any we are striving to build it up in that the number of city-dwellers, A seafaring life is full of interesting surprises. time during Hiis season because of this Port. So, fellows, make your already 70 percent of the nation, a stomach problem. Harold is home contributions please. Appointments Upon completion of an operation,-an MSTS cargo vessel started will nearly double by the year collecting his S&A benefits, but can be made at the Hall anytime to heave up the anchor, preparatory to getting underway. As 2000. wishes he could get back to work between 8 and 5. the anchor chain came aboard, a neat overhand knot was discov­ "A scattered array of federal and real soon. Buffalo ered in the chain about 15 feet from the anchor. agencies simply cannot deal ef­ Would again like to suggest that This Port is still getting calls Figuring out how the knot got there of course t0(A second fectively with this staggering all unrated men with time to sit for men and we are able to replace place to the immediate prob­ growth of urban areas," the fed­ for the upgrading of their papers them as they are requested. We eration said at Senate committee lem of getting It out. At first do so at once and take advantage are having a little trouble getting hearings. it was decided to get a of the available higher rated jobs. Second Cooks. Other ratings have "mike" boat from the beach, Action by both the House and been moving fairly good. lower the anchor on the stem, Cleveland Senate ranked as a major achieve­ The Port of Buffalo, through the and take out the knot. But be­ ment for the Administration since Maritime Trades Department, This port was honored about ten of the sea and swell, cause two earlier attempts to set up the days ago when three destroyers Buffalo Port Council, hosted a this was found impractical. new Cabinet department were stopped here for three days to dis­ delegation from Washington, D. C. killed in the House in 1962. Finally number 1 booms charge Naval reservists from other on August 14th, with a ride along Earlier Defeats were rigged with % inch areas and take on a new group the waterfront on a tug. wire, and the anchor was That year the House Rules Com­ from this area on their yearly tour The purpose of this was to lifted on the foc'sle head. mittee defeated, 9-6, the Kennedy of duty. While here, the ships were better convey the deplorable state Administration's bill to set up the The knot was removed by open for public inspection and a of affairs on our waterfront with department. Kennedy then sought opening the loop in the few thousand i>eople took advan­ the inactive grain elevators and to bypass the committee by creat­ chain and pulling the anchor tage of the opportunity to go the other Port facilities which are ing the department through an through. aboard for a tour of the ships. not being utilized. Senators Javits executive order. The House re­ and Kennedy will be represented, Figuring out how the'knot Shipping is still very good in all buffed this move on a 264-150 and representatives of the Niagara got in the chain took a little longer, and no one will ever be ratings except the Steward Depart­ rollcall. Voting against the sure that the right explanation was put forth. ment. I guess the Porters and Frontier Port Authority will also measure were southerners, who Cooks are holding on pretty good. be present for the tour. opposed Kennedy's announced in­ When the ship first arrived at the assigned anchorage, the Alpena tention to name Housing & Home sea was calm, with a very slight swell and no wind. It was Radio Pete is around and waiting Finance Administrator Robert C. Shipping for rated men is still decided to have a little way on the vessel so that when the to ship after getting off the Joe Weaver, a Negro, to the Cabinet very good in <his Port, although anchor was let go, the chain could be paid out, and when the Morrow. Another visitor to this post, plus Republicans opposed to vessel fetched up it would be securely anchored. port to try his luck is Harold Car­ there is a slight slackening. expanding government activities roll, who manages to hit here at As the vessel changed heading it probably made a round turn The construction work on Huron and congressmen from both parties least once a year. Quite a few of Portland Cement Plant was shut around the anchor and when the wind increased, fetched- up, representing rural areas. the boys off the C.S. Robinson down ftr one day as "a result of a pulling part of the chain under the anchor and causing an over­ This year, even though only have also hit town waiting to get dispute concerning the millwrights hand knot in the chain. nine Republicans supported the out, but since the Company now doing work other than their own. Most likely. But no one will ever really know for sure. bUl, the House passed It, 217has the Norman Reem, they won't This situation has been reSolved have long, to wait.. and everyone is back to. \vork. 184. Leather Goods, Plastic and Novelty Workers Union, was appointed to his new post by the executive board of the Port Council, which repre­ sents some 450,000 maritime work­ ers. Senate OKs Bill To Create Dept Of Urban Affairs Like It Or Not, A Knot Is A Knot /• (- •< - • • �Aociist IMI SEAWAkl^RS n««NiM LOG Secff 'Dual Rate* TesHmony Released I- By Lindsey Williams, Vice-President, Gulf Area Favorable Outlook For Gulf Shipping With the exception of a few key ratings, shipping has been very good in the Gulf area, and from all indications It will continue to be good in the very near future. The Maritime Trades Council of Greater New Orleans and Vicinity, at its last regular meeting, went on record to support a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Paul Rogers (D., Fla.) to rescue the American Merchant Marine from its present declining status. This bill (H.R. 9603) would require that a minimum of 75 per­ cent of US Government-generated cargoes be carried in American-flag vessels. The existing cargo preference law calls for only 50 percent. The Maritime Trades Department (AFL-CIO) objects to the present law for two main reasons: • The ail-too frequent granting of waivers by Government agencies which make the 50-pereent requirement a mockery. • Even if there were complete compliance with the 50-50 require­ ment, our country's . Merchant Marine would still need additional as­ sistance if it is to take its rightful place among the major fleets of the world and provide sufficient jobs for American seamen. The tragic fact is that American-fiag ships now carry a mere 9 percent of this country's foreign trade. This unjustified and unsupporttable situation must be corrected. > An effective way of bringing about Picon and Gervais Babin. An SIU a healthier condition would be pas­ member since the Union's begin­ sage of the Rogers Bill. The Mari­ nings, Cook will be taking things time Trades Council of Greater easy at his home in Hattiesburg, New Orleans and Vicinity instruct­ Mississippi. Picou, who has been ed the Secretary to contact the sailing in the steward department Louisiana delegation, and as this since 1941 but has been ailing is an important piece of legislation, lately said he has no intention of all members are asked to contact losing touch with his old shipmates their Congressmen and Senators, and plans to visit the hall regularly urging their support of this bill. in his retirement. Babin, a mem­ The Louisiana Supreme Court ber of the SIU-IBU is also planning recentiy placed its stamp of ap­ to keep in touch with his friends proval on a state law moving up at the hall. He makes his home in the dates of the Democratic pri­ Norco, La. mary elections in New Orleans. The Anxious to ship here are Broth­ six-judge court thereby unanimous­ ly overruled the decision of Civil ers Otto (Pete) Peterson, bosun District Judge Clarence Dowling. and Henry (Smokey) Schreiner, steward. Both say they are ready Judge Dowling had said the 1965 to go any place at any time on act of the Louisiana Legislature anything that floats. Brother was unconstitutional because it vio­ Ignace Decareaux is somewhat lated the state constitutional pro­ more particular however. After hibitions against enactment of a two mouths on the beach he's local or special law pertaining to looking ior a run to South Amer­ elections. Suits attacking the eon- ica. His last ship was the Del atitutionality of the act were filed. Norte. The act changed the first primary Houston election for mayor and other city Shipping has been moving along and parish offices from January 29, 1966, to November 6, 1965, and at a very good pace here and is moved the second primary from expected to hold good in the com­ ing weeks. Among oldtimers March 5 to December 11. around the hall has been Denis Now that the Louisiana Supreme Boullit who admits a liking for Court has upheld this new law, old Liberties arid Victories. His bringing about an earlier election last ship was the Warm Springs on date, early registration takes on a which he says he had a great trip greater urgency. Under the provi­ to India. Now hVs waiting for a sions of the law, registration books steward department slot on the must be closed 30 days in advance Choctaw Victory and doesn't care of the voting. Therefore, the date where she's going. ' that the registration books will be Deckman Ralph Palmer is look­ closed in New Orleans will be Oc­ tober 7 Instead of December 30, ing for another ship after starting and all members are urged to reg­ out for the Far East aboard the ister and have their friends and Empress Baltimore which had to families registered in order to vote turn back to Frisco because of a hole in the #3 hold. A. S. Freeman in these important elections. says Seafarer fishermen should Delta Steamship Lines, Inc., of try a run to Somoliland. He said New Orleans was advised that the that his last ship, the Steel SeaMaritime Subsidy Board and the •farer, anchored off the coast there Maritime Administrator at Wash­ and the fishing is great. Freeman ington, D.C., have approved the sails as chief xook. Mike Chandoha, company's application for a 50 per­ engine department, is expecting to cent increase in its service between make just one more trip before U.S. Gulf ports and West Africa. retiring. He said he's taking things The decision will allow Delta Line easy and wants to choose his last vessels to sail from the Gulf to trip very carefully. West Africa at intervals of 10 days. Mobile New Orleans Shipping has been pretty fair New Orleans shipping has been here for the last few weeks and moving along at a fast clip and is should continue that way. Among expected to continue this pace In oldtimers on the beach here is the near future. bosun Robert Lambert who makes We had the pleasure of passing his home in Mobile. He was all along their first pension checks to set to ship when he fractured his several SIU oldtimers at New Or­ wrist in an accident was put out leans recently. The new retirees of action for a while. His last are W.< H; . (Shorty) > Cook, < John ship was the John Bi' Waterman. Aiiti-U.S. Rate Bias is Real, FMC Head Tells Congressmen WASHINGTON — American exporters pay higher ship freight rates for sending U.S. products to England than the British do for sending the same type of products to the United States, according to secret testimony given by Federal Maritime Commission chair­ man John Harllee over two months ago but released only cember in Paris^ with 11 foreign tible rate structure would aid the last week by a congressional maritime nations to allow them U.S. eccmomy, Harllee disclosed In sufoconvmittee. In his testimony, Harllee pre­ sented an FMC analysis of the rate disparity on the outbound and in­ bound routes between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. According to the study, the American exporter had to pay 33 percent more to move 1 revenue-ton of cargo to the U.K. than the foreign exporter rnqying cargo to U.S. pwts. A study of the 33 percent dis­ parity led to the conclusion that "in this trade American export­ ers were not only paying more than their fair share of the round-trip costs of transportation but, in fact, were subsidizing for­ eign exporters to this country," Hariiee declared. The testimony was given before and finally released by, the Joint Economic Committee's Subcommit­ tee on Federal Procurement and Regulation, chaired by Senator Paul H. Douglas (D.-Ill.), who is also vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. It was at the insistence of these groups that the FMC undertook studies of alleged rate disparities that seemed to be putting American exporters at a disadvantage in competing with traders of other nations and there­ fore adversely effected the alreadyserious U.S. balance of payments deficit. Senator Douglas has concluded that "the testimony reveals wide­ spread ocean freight-rate discrim­ ination," ind added that the study on United Kingdom trade would be followed by studies on other trade routes. British Protest The FMC study was immediately attacked by the British embassy in Washington and by spokesmen of various shipowning groups in Europe. The British charged that the findings are misleading and drawn from Inconclusive evidence. The two and a half month delay in releasing the testimony was due to an agreement reached last De­ time to inspect the testimony and cmne up with rebuttals. For a long while, the foreign shippers refused to comply with U.S. regulations to make information avaiiable to the FMC, describing the request as "unilateral regulation" in an inter­ national activity and a violation of "freedom of the seas." As an example of how an equl- his testimony that tiie FMC had insisted on the equalizatim of rates for carrying Scotch whisky to the U.S. with those of carrying American bourbon in the other di­ rection. previously the rate on Scotch was only half that of bour­ bon. Since the equalization went into effect, U.S. exports of bourbon increased 45.8 percent, he said. Plastic Seaweed To Halt Erosion Of Jersey Shore NEWARK—Modern technology, which often likei to boast that it can build a plastic duplicate of anything in existence, is now turning out fake seaweed. While the average Seafarer might question the wisdom of this accomplishment, the State sheltered feeding area for of New Jersey has just pur­ fish, giving the state's fishing chased six tons of the imitation weed and is industriously dumping it on the ocean bottom off Barnegat Lighthouse. Officials from the state Bureau of Navigation admit they are hav­ ing difficulty explaining what their purpose is to dubious tax­ payers, but marine conservation officials across the nation are watching the New Jersey experi­ ment to see if it can halt beach erosion and improve the region's declining fishing industry. Erosion Weapon By anchoring clumps of the artificial seaweed, made of thin strips of polypropylene plastic, over 10,000 feet of ocean floor. New Jersey officials hope to slow erosion of the state's beaches by waves which will be moving over a sandy bottom (hopefully) held in place by the thin plastic fronds. Normally, severe storms erode the sand off the ocean's floor and then suck the bathing beaches clean. In addition to preventing erosion, the plastic seaweed is also intended to provide a New Pensioner industry a new lease on life. Tests in. Denmark and in Philadelphia have shown that fish find the fake seaweed . compatible and that it can build up deposits of sand where it is "planted." The state of New Jersey Is sowing its plastic seaweed crop 800 feet offshore in about 15 feet of water. The planting is taking place along a 900 foot stretch of ocean floor which is 90 feet vude. This area is criss-crossed by ropes to which are attached the phony seaweed, anchored to the bottom by four-pound lead weights. This arrangement permits the plastic weed to float free nine feet beneath the surface of the sea. The plastic seaweed experiment had its origin in Denmark where it was observed that fishermen took refuge from storms in Kelp beds which appeared to break up the violence of the waves. The Danish government grew interested in the studies of this unusual occurence and backed the planting of a polypropylene seaweed crop in the Tyboron Channel. At the end of four months, it was found that sand had accumulated in the "planted" area and on the ocean floor around it. Valdez, Alaska Receives Ferry Service Again SIU Inland Boatmen's Union member Richard Tuggia (left) get hearty congratulations from Norfolk port agent Gordon Spencer at the Norfolk hall where Tuggle picked up his first regular $ i 50 monthly pension check recently. A veteran deckman aboard SIU-IBU contracted Gulf Atlantic Towing Company tugs, Tuggle makes his home in Trevillians, Va. SEATTLE—The SlU-PacIfio District contracted Alas­ ka Steamship Company has resumed regular service to the port of Valdez, Alaska, for the first time since the earthquake of March, 1964. Service was begun this week with the departure of the SS Tonsina, from Seattle for the Alaskan port. Service will be on a weekly basis from now on. The ships to be used on the service will be "vanship" types with cargo being carried in containers. The town of Valdez was de­ stroyed during the earth­ quake and tidal wave that re­ sulted. The entire town is in the process of moving to a new location, a few miles from the old site. �Paf* Tea SEAFARERS LOG JLagiMt XOy IBM Blast ICC, Railroads By Robert A. Matthews, Vice-President, Contracts, & Bill Hall, Headquarters Rep. Water Carriers Protest Switching Charge Boost Qntattom In all your years at sea, have you ever seen a flying saucer? • John Szczepanskl: I've never seen one, but they must exist be­ cause a whole lot of people have spotted them. Out in the south­ west I keep run­ ning into people who say they have seen them. Once I saw Scott Carpenter, the astronaut, orbit­ ing the earth from the deck of the Steel Admiral The following question, dealing with overtime for deckmen standing WASHINGTON—Regulated U.S. domestic water carriers oiler's watch, comes from Seafarer AI H. Schwartz, deck delegate are vigorously protesting a decision by the Interstate Com­ aboard the Ridgefleld Victory. merce Commission which will give the railroad industry a Questions The Deck Maintenance has been signed on as Deck Main­ competitive advantage in the^ > tenance on the articles, and is receiving Deck Maintenance wages. rates charged for the shipment rates and water carriers do not, However, at the time the vessel was Scheduled to sail, the full com­ of cargo. explained a spokesman for the plement of oilers was not on board the vessel. The Master asked Common Carrier Conference of The protest la against recent ICC everyone on the ship if they had an Oiler's endorsement. It was estab­ approval of a railroad plan which Domestic Water Carriers, "it is lished that the Deck Maintenance had such an endorsement. He is now would oblige users of water trans­ obvious that the railroad device standing the Oiler's watch and putting in eight (8) hours overtime for port to pay a 10 percent increase of this double standard of switch­ all watches stood. I would like to know if that is ceilectabie, or does in switching charges beginning ing charge increases directly discriminates against regulated he receive Oiler's pay up until such time he Is relieved, plus Deck August 27. water carriers and those who use Maintenance pay. The water carriers point out that Answer: He is entitled to overtime for all watches stood since he the increase in switching charges their services. If water carriers are obliged to absorb rail switching is working out of his department. would not apply to the majority of charges in their costs to avoid the Reference: Standard Freightship Agreement, Article II, Section 10, line-haul rail carriers because rail­ 10% rate increase, the railroads first paragraph, which reads: "Members of all departments shalf per­ roads normally include switching will have achieved their purpose Arthur Sankovidt: I never saw a form the necessary and customary duties of that department. Each charges in through rates. Water of narrowing the rate gap between flying saucer and I never met anyone who did. member of all departments shall perform only the recognized and carriers do not however, and rail low-cost water transportation and switching charges involved in all-rail service." They probably customary duties of his particular rating." water movements are normally don't exist. I Several interesting questions pertaining to blowing tubes, working paid directly by the shipper or He added: "It should be obvious, think what peo­ since under this proposal the rail­ cargo and blowing down boilers were received from Seafarer Gleason consignee. ple see as saucers roads will not recover from lineWeaver aboard the Bethtex. -f are atmospheric "Double Standard" haul carriers any larger portion d i s t u r bances Question: Is it the duties of the the F.W.T, has to put in extra burn­ "Since railroads normally in­ of their switching costs, that the caused by the ers. I would like to know if this Is F.W.T. to blow tubes? jet stream. If overtime after 5 p.m. and before clude switching charges In through entire scheme is a transparent means to impose new cost burdens Answer: No. It is the Wipers 8 a.m. they really were upon water shippers while pre­ duties to blow tubes. around, we would Answer: No. The only time that serving the rail rate structure." have heard from them by now Reference: Standard Freightship an F.W.T. receives overtime is U.S. water carriers have often ^ i> $1 Agreement, Article IV, Section 28, when the ship's winches are being charged that the ICC regularly ' Angelo O'Neill: Although I've paragraph (b), which reads as fol­ used to work cargo after 5 p.m. displays a strong bias for the rail­ never seen one, flying saucers prob­ lows: and before 8 a.m. roads and against the nation's ably do exist. "Wipws. It shall be routine du­ Reference: Freightship Agree­ water carriers in its rulings. I've become con­ ties for the Wipers to do general ment, Article IV, Section 29, para­ Through such IOC-approved rate vinced that they cleaning, including oil spills on graph (a)—Working Cargo, which juggling, the railroads are con­ are real after deck, painting, cleaning paint, wire- reads as follows: COPENHAGEN—The art of tat­ tinually trying to nullify the cost reading the ac­ brushing, chipping, sealing, sougee"The Watertender, Fireman Wa- tooing, already taking a beating savings enjoyed by water carriers counts of people Ing, polishing work in the Engine from lawmakers and sociologists all over trail tsansport In the move­ who have seen Department, including resistor tertender, or Fire-tube Fireman over the world is now under fire ment of cargoes. them. I think houses and fanrooms, cleaning and detailed to look after the plant in one of its strongholds — Den­ they come from shall receive overtime while cargo painting steering engine and steer­ another world. mark—^where it is estimated that ing engine bed, and to take on is being worked with ship's winches five percent of the male population I've seen bright, between the hours of 5 p.m. and stores. However, when taking on mysterious lights at night while on sports tattoos, including Denmark's fuel oil or water and the hoses are before 8 a.m. Monday through Fri­ King Frederik IX. deck, but I don't have the slightest day. connected and disconnected by idea what they were. Two plastic surgeons in Copen­ Question: We have a salt water shoreside personnel, the Wipers 4- t shali not be required to assist. leak in the main condenser and hagen have called for legislation Larry Schroeder: I never saw a to curb the activities of tattoo art­ When the ship's personnel handles we assist the Second Engineer in flying saucer, but I've seen many the connections, the Wiper shall blowing down both boilers. It takes ists, claiming that many clients dis­ y a missle^ pass be used to assist in connecting and around two (2) Hours to do this. cover too late that such body art over the ships can be a serious social and eco­ • disconnecting and putting hoses They do this on sea watches and I've been on away but should not be required also on port watches. Please advise nomic handicap. while sailing off to standby. if this is overtime. TOKYO — Japanese shipbuilders The doctors reported that of 17,the Florida coast Answer: No this is not overtime. 000 young men called before mili­ are still thinking big. or down in South Pumping of galley fuel tank shall The F.W.T. can be required to as­ America. When be performed on Saturdays, Sun- sist the Engineer in the circum- tary examination boards last year. In spite of increasing concern you're out at sea dajs and Holidays during the two .stances outlined in your letter. that modern mammoth tankers may and those missies hours sanitary work." be outgrowing their usefulness and iOUk^\AJ flash by, you The following questions, dealing Question: A ship I recently with Firemen-Watertenders over­ never do know if turning into gigantic white ele­ IGAAI'T sailed had cranes on Deck to un­ time while using diesel evacuators, phants, a Japanese shipbuilder has they're American or Russian. It's load cargo with special steam was submitted by engine delegate announced plans to build a 250,000- hard to say if flying saucers exist, but I know that I'm not spending winches to raise hatches. In port Carlos Troncoso aboard the Transdwt or 300,000-dwt shipbuilding my time looking for them. they raise them up and down and India. dock instead of the "small" 150,t 44» 000-dwt dock originally intended. Jerry Saunders: I never saw a Either a 250,000-dwt or 300,000- saucer, but a friend of mine on dwt dock would be the largest in the Steel Sea­ farer saw one in the world. The same company, the sky over Mitsubishi Heavy industries, also Hawaii once. He owns the present title-holding dock told me that he WASHINGTON—"Caution, cigarette smoking may be injurious saw this strange more than 800 bore tattoos. Many of 200,000-dwt capacity. to your health." Under a new law signed by President Johnson thing flying low admitted, say the doctors, that the last week, every pack, box and carton of cigarettes sold in the Is Bigger Better? over Pearl- Har­ art work had become a social and United States after next January 1 must carry a label with the Japanese maritime interests have bor at dusk. It economic handicap. Cases were above legend inscribed on it. cited in which the tattoos barred become increasingly concerned sure shook him The new legislation, was prompted by the Surgeon Generals individuals from job promotion and about the "bigger-than-thou" atti­ up. It wasn't a report of 1964, which linked lung cancer and other diseases to advances in social status, and even tude which has become the vogue. question of him seeing things cigarette smoking. either, because the newspapers some broken engagements and Manufacturers who do not comply with the new law will be wrecked marriages were blamed on It was recently pointed out that were full of the news |- fined $10,000 for every offense. In practice, a penalty could be there are no tugboats large enough bodily art work. 4" 3i» 4imposed for every cigarette package that does not have a label. Robert Russ: I personally never Reputable tattoo artists counter to pull some of these huge tankers The size, color and position of the label on the package is not these charges by insisting that they to port should they become dis­ saw a flying saucer. These days specified in the bill. These details will be left to the cigarette you can never never accept minors as clients and abled at sea. industry. tell what to be­ reject people who come to them for To tow vessels over the 100,000lieve, since any­ After the industry decides on the composition and dimensions decoration while drunk. The two dwt class, they point out, a tug of thing turns out of the label, it must then go the justice department, which can doctors point out however, that 10,000 horsepower is required to be possible. either approve the design or order the Industry to come up with boys of 12 have found some pro­ whereas the largest tugboats in For all we know, a new one. fessionals who would tattoo, them. Japan have engines of only about our own Air The bill has come under heavy criticism from many quarters Under present Danish law, there 4,000 horsepower. Negotiations Force might be as being too weak. One provision of the bill which has come un­ is no official interference with the were recently reported for the con­ behind them. If der exceptionally ^^trong attack would bar the Federal Trade tattooing trade and the tattooing of struction of a service vessel capable you want to talk Commission from requiring similar health warnings In cigarette minors is now forbidden. Many of towing a 150,000-dwt ship — about things in advertising until July 1, 1969. other countries have adopted strict which would still not be able to the sky, the prettiest sight I've laws governing! the art.- . handle the newer,vessels. eyer seen was the. aurora borealis $ Tattoo Ban Called For In Denmark 150,000-DWT Too Small For Jap Shipyard Cigarettes To Carry Warning On Health $1 �Aaftfst t9, SEAFARERS Fag* liem. LOG "Why Not Call If Union Day ? The Federal Communications Commission has held that a radio or television station cannot Insist on payment for "equal time" It is required to provide for reply to controversial programs. The FCC position is one that has long been maintained by the AFL-CIO in cases involving stations which have loaded their air time with right-wing broadcasts. Elaboration of the FCC's "fairness doctrine" was contained in a letter from the agency to Radio Station WGCB in Red Lion, Pa. The atation's policy, the FCC -said after an investigation, appeared to be that it would sell time to present conflicting views, but not make the time available as a public service. "Such a policy is inconsistent with the public interest," the FCC said. The agency added that the station could try to get payment lor the presentation of other opinions but stressed: "You cannot reject programming—otherwise suitable to you—solely on the ground that it is not sponsored where you have not presented and do not plan to present the conflicting viewpoints in other programming. The para­ mount consideration is the public interest in an informed electorate.. ii t 4. The Texas AFL-CIO has asked Gov. John Connally to leave the Demo­ cratic party unless he is able to support the national party platform. The request came in the form of a resolution on repeal of right to work laws that was adopted at the closing session of the ninth annual state convention of the AFL-CIO. Governor Connally has publicly supported retention of section 14-B of the Taft-Hartley Act, which permits states to have right to work laws. Texas has had such a law since 1947. A strong anti-Connally theme pervaded the convention. The resolution noted that remarks made by Mr. Connally at the national governor's conference prompted a Republican, Albert Fay of Houston,~"to publicly commend him and invite him into the Republican party." "If the Governor continues to refuse to support the platform of the Democratic party, then it is further recommended that he seek a political party more in line with his own views and political positions," the resolution said. •ver. The Firemen & Oiliers have Initial wage increases of 10 to elected John J. McNamara of 15 cents an hour for all employes Boston, Mass., as secretary-treas­ of Fields Plastic of Tennessee, Inc., urer to fill a vacancy and also are called for in an agreement an­ named James B. Zink as executive nounced by the United Textile vice president assigned to the Workers of America for the com­ union's headquarters in Washing­ pany's Cleveland, Tenn., plant. ton, D. C. Additional automatic increases in The actions were taken at a spe­ specified job rates, five paid holi­ cial meeting of the union executive days now increasing to six in 1967, board. The union, one of the non- vacations up to two weeks after operating railroad brotherhoods, two years of service and companysaid about half its 50,000 members paid life and hospital insurance work on the railroads. send the total contract value to McNamara fills a post left va­ more than 60 cents an hour for cant by the elevation of William the five-year pact. E. Fredenberger to the IBF&O 4^ 4^ 4^ presidency July 1. A union mem­ More than 12,000 shipyard work­ ber since 1934, he had been a vice ers won two maJiMr objectives in a president for 15 years. ^ settiement ending a 24-day Zink, a vice president since 1957, strike at the Electric Boat yard of has been chief spokesman for the the General Dynamics Corp. union in rail contract matters. In Besides economic gains totaling addition he has been a member 26.5 cents, unions in the New of the Railroad Adjustment Board's London Metal Trades Council won secortd division, which hears a three-year contract containing grievances. the yard's first sick leave clause, and the right to follow the griev­ 4, 4> 4. The Texas Dept. of Corrections ance procedure to arbitration over paid public honor to Pres. Harry the transfer of work to the firm's Bark of the Harris County AFL- Quincy, Mass.,. yard or other out­ CIO for "outstanding contribu­ side location, tions'^ to a state training program The yard is one of the nation's major buildiers of nuclear sub­ for prison inmates. For two years Burk has given marines. The strike started July 1 a day a month to teaching a class and work was resumed on full of prisoners at the Richmond, Tex., schedule after a union ratification pre-release center. Burk said he meeting. was grateful to the department for The new pact also provides im­ giving organized labor a chance to proved pensions and vacations, an helpi" Only 7.1 percent of the additional paid holiday for a total center's 4.294 students have re- of nine, additional hospital cover­ trtrned to prison, Corrections Dir. age and another $1,000 in life in­ George J.^-Bsto- said. ' ' •- ' surance for covered workers: As Labor Day 1965 approaches, the Ameri­ can Labor movement can look back on a year which saw many of the major legislative goals of organized labor become reality. Health care for our aged citizens through Social Security (Medicare) is one of these goals for which labor has fought and won despite strong opposition. Medicare is now a reality. The recent Voting Rights Bill which assures every citizen a voice in the governing of the nation of which he is a part is another goal for which labor has fought a winning fight. The recently passed Housing Aid Bill is another labor-supported measure which goes a long way towards assuring every American a decent home in which to live and raise a family—as is the Aid to Education Bill whose purpose is to assure all Americans the best education available regardless of their financial ability to meet the skyrocket­ ing costs of education. Another labor goal, the repeal of anti-labor Section 14(B) of the Taft-Hartley Act, is well on its way to final passage. These legislative advances, although spon­ sored, supported or fought for by the Ameri­ can labor movement, benefit not only labor but the entire population. They represent not only labor legislation but social legisla­ tion—much of it badly needed and longoverdue. " In this sense, the achievements of this year are not anything newj The entire nation f# has benefited many times in the past from legislation which organized labor has called for and fought for. Legislation abolishing child labor was brought about largely through the efforts of organized American labor. The system of free public education for which our nation is justifiably proud became a reality largely through the efforts of organized labor. Social Security, which guarantees aid for those who are disabled or too old to work is another measure which organized labor fought for. Looking back on these past achievements it becomes increasingly clear that Labor Day might more aptly be called Union Day. It was the organization into strong unions that made it possible for American workers to be heard and to exert an influence on their \ nation's future as well e<s their own. It was their organization into unions that gave them strength, broke the shackles of exploitation under which they suffered, and made it possible for them to attain a position of dignity in society. What was true in the past remains true today. Much of the basic social legislation aimed at bettering the lot of all American citizens is -coming into being through the direct action of organized labor—American workers organized into strong unions. Whether it is called Labor Day or Union Day, every American will have much to be thankful for on September 6 because of the active part played by organized labor in the shaping of American society. �SEAFARERS Pare Twelve Anrnet SO, 19U LOG A U S. Congressman Speaks Out o a t< t P e li s a h li INTERNATIONAL OIL, SMALL BUSINESS AND THE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS The SPEAKER. Under previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Patman] is recognized for 30 minutes, Mr. PATMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan­ imous consent that on Monday and Tuesday next after the legislative business of the day and the conclusion of special orders hereto­ fore entered I may be privileged to address the House for 30 minutes and to revise and extend my remarks and include extraneous matter. The SPEAKER. Without objection, it is so ordered. There was no objection. Mr. PATMAN. Mr. Speaker, much is being heard these days about the contribution which international oil companies are sup­ posedly making to our Nation's balance of payments. Today I would like to discuss the possibility that favored treatment to our American international oil companies is a principal factor in the present payments gap —as well as a primary cause of the distress in which the small businessman in the domes­ tic oil industry now finds himself. There is evidence that international oil comoanies may have done less than they can +Vio i-.p^T,r>r>T>+(5 ppKi T+ m"-" not be entirely coincidental that the large 1 I fd oinpani's are enjoyi ; un­ precedented prosperity at a time when the domestic independent oil producer is having a fight for his very survival. This is a very serious matter, one which the Congress may very well look into. The President of the United States in his February 10, 196.5, message, pointed out that balance-of-payments measures so far taken have resulted in impressive gains totaling well over $3.5 billion. However, he pointed out that these gains were largely offset by a $2.5 billion raise in the level of capital outflow since 1960—and $2 billion of this raise oc­ curred from 1963 to 1964. American interna­ tional oil companies, it is interesting to note, were large contributors to this adverse, private capital outflow which has so far thwarted all our efforts to close the pay­ ments gap. My message here today might be keynoted this way: Our Nation cannot afford to lose the current battle to close the payments gap, but neither can it afford to lose the domestic independent oilman who finds over twothirds of our oil reserves. Leading companies on which statistics are published by the Chase Manhattan Bank have steadily increased their expenditures for ex­ ploration and development abroad, as indi­ cated below: Exploration and davalepmant cxpandlturos by American companies overseas [In millionsj 1960 1961 1982 1963 .. .. ET-IO 758 763 789 I. THE OIL IMPORT PROGRAM Interior officials should be called upon to justify the present oil import program, that it is being administered in a manner consist­ ent with our balance-of-payments objectives. I hope they will also explain wljy they appa­ rently feel that the program, as inherited from the Eisenhower administration, is pro­ perly responsive to the congressional purpose in providing for oil import controls. The cost in balance-of-payments terms of our present Oil import policy can be seen from the following figures which clearly in­ dicate the relationship between the deficit in our petroleum trade balance and our overall balance of payments deficit. Since 1958, our petroleum trade deficit has exceeded $1 bil­ lion each year, representing from 30 to 40 percent of our total payments deficit. These figures are exclusive of residual fuel oil and do not include the dollar-outflow cost of em­ ploying foreign-flag tankers: U.S. petroleum trade balenee and ttie balance of International payments (In millions of dollars] 1958 1960 1961 1962 1963 1984 Petroleum trade balance —1,068 —1,049 —1,064 -1,171 —1,325 —1,314 (') U.S. net balance of payments —3,477 —3,897 —3,918 —3,071 —3,605 —3,286 —3,000 1 Not available. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce. The oil import problem is far from new. The importance of preserving a healthy home oil-producing industry was long ago recog­ nized, both from the standpoint of national security and prosperity. Inasmuch as we depend upon small independent producers to explore for and find some two-thirds of the oil and gas reserves in this Nation, we cannot CONGRESSMAN Wright Patman's re­ marks ore of special importance to Sea­ farers and the entire maritime indus­ try. Congressman Patman, who is chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency, reveals how the giant international oil companies, through favorable tax treatment under U.S. laws, have been able to reap huge profits while at the same time contributing substantially to our bal­ ance of payments deficit. A major contributing factor to this deficit has been their almost exclusive employ­ ment of foreign-flag vessels to import oil to this country. More than 95 percent of U.S. oil imports are moved in foreign flag tankers, thus putting a serious strain on our payments balance. allow a handful of international oil compa­ nies to squeeze them out of business with un­ limited oil imports. As chairman of the Select Committee on Small Business, I had the privilege of con­ ducting the first full-scale congressional in­ quiry into oil imports. That was in 1948, the year in which this Nation became a net oil importer. Imports at that time were only a few hundred thousand barrels daily. The following year, a bill to limit total oil imports to a 5-percent ratio with domestic consump­ tion failed by a single vote in the other body. Today imports total 2,300,000 barrels daily and this constitutes a 29-percent ratio with domestic production, almost double the 16.6 percent which was declared to be the maxi­ mum consistent with national security when the Trade Act of 1955 was anaended to provide for import controls. Let it be understood that I am not suggest­ ing any drastic rollback in oil import levels. I do not believe a big reduction in imports is necessary to the preservation of a healthy home industry—and such action might be injurious to broader national commitments. I do say, however, that the time has come for the Interior Department to develop an oil import program which keeps imports "from continuing to grow disproportionately to domestic growth. Aafiut 20. 1065 SEAFARERS LOG Pace Tbirteen Congnssman Wrig ht Patman (D-Tex.), Chaiman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency, recently addressed the Hot se of Representatives and revealed how our present oil import policy contributes to the U.S. Balance of Payments deficit and how it adversely affect ; U.S. shipping. The full transcript of Congressman Patman's remarks as they appeared in the May 20, 1965 Congressional Record, is carried h hw. (A) FOREIGbl TAX CREDITS Excuses for the present patchwork arrange­ While some percentage depletion might be import quota—whereby they bring foreign economy, Jersey Standard is trying to shift ment are no longer adequate to the needs, However sound the irinciple of foreign tax justified on foreign production, on grounds oil into this country in the amount of 35,000 the burden and the blame for a great portion particularly in the light of our persistent credits, clear abuses i lust be curtailed. It is of returning capital investment, there is no barrels each day. of our balance-of-payments deficit from itself balance-of-payments problem. responsibly charged tl at royalty payments to logic whatever in the argument that because to the general economy, risking recession here U.S. military purchases of foreign oil (excluding 27y2 percent is proper for domestic produc­ residual fuel oil) at home so that it can continue its massive The attitude of the Interior Department oil source nations, by being labeled "income tion no less should be allowed foreign pro­ Percent of oil imports into the United States which concerning the effectiveness and appropriate­ taxes," are deducted < ollar-for-dollar against duction. Differential percentage rates are ap­ Barrels total the net tax obligatid i of American compa­ Fiscal year daily domestic causes hundreds of millions of dollars in gold ness of the oil import program should be a purchases plicable in case of other minerals in the U.S. outflow losses. matter of no small interest to the Congress, nies. 1954.. ""40 000 13.0 1955 . 89.000 22.5 This fact, combined with what were called Revenue Code. especially the reasoning behind the present 1958.. Mr. Speaker, my purpose here in part is to 25.2 100000 19.57.. In summary, there would seem to be no 25.9 "techniques" used for diverting profits from 127,000 import-quota allocation arrangement. Op­ question whether in fact American interna­ 19,58 . 31.9 145,000 .pan to another, gen­ reason why percentage depletion should not- 19.;9.. position to a major overhaul of the program one branch of a coirj.pany 29.9 169,000 tional oil companies have been made to face 19S0... 20.5 164,000 inherited from the Eisenhower administra­ erally have had the ef pet of enabling oil com- be amended to scale the 27^ percent sharply 19.51.. 32.8 134,000 up to their obligations in helping to close the 19S2... 203,000 33.4 panies with internal )nal operations to pay downward for foreign oil production. tion should be explained and analyzed. 1933 . . balance-of-payments gap to which they are a 34.4 210,000 1934 .: 34.8 a consistently lower 1 \x rate than strictly do210.000 major contributor. I trust my remarks here (C) TAXES ABROAD ON FICTITIOUS Administration view-points concerning so- mestic companies. T I Treasury Department Source: Office of Oil and Gas, Interior Department. will not be overlooked by the companies in­ VERSUS ACTUAL PRICES called "country quotas," its attitude toward has cited "excess for gn tax credits" which volved or by the appropriate executive de­ the Organization of Petroleum Exporting accrue in aggregated ^reign operations. Said Further, State Department officials should Some time ago the Internal Revenue Serv­ partments which have jurisdiction in each Countries (OPEC), and related issues will Secretary Dillon: ice of the Treasury Department indicated detail AID oil-buying practices. I am sure of the matters here discussed. also be welcome. Specifically, Congress plans to consider disallowing depletion de­ the Congress and American people will want Theft excess foreign ta i [credits are permitted under should loiow why the "commodity pact" ap­ Perhaps one result will be an intensification present law to offset, in i I number of different situaductions by American companies abroad to know why this country uses AID funds to tions, the U.S. tax on nonrfineral foreign income. Thus proach is favored on other commodities in buy foreign-produced tnl, some allegedly pro­ of measures toward early closing of the pay­ based on "posted prices" which often the excess credit attribullable to mineral operations in a particular foreign co ntry may be used to reduce world trade, and yet is roundly rejected by duced by French companies. We need also ments gap. When our international oil com­ are far in excess of actual prices. In the or eliminate the U.S. tax m income from a marketing, State and Interior officials where interna­ to know why fictitious posted prices are paid panies begin to fulfill their full oblitrations reHning, or a compietely unrelated operation carried United States, percentage depletion is al­ on in the same or a diffei mt foreign country, tional oil is concerned. lowed only on the actual value of the oil at for AID oil, and why it is moved in foreign- in this regard, I am convinced that one con­ The use of developmen] deductions and foreign tax credits from mineral ope tions abroad, offsets tax on the well, and not upon the posted prices bear­ flag tankers — all adding to our payments sequence will be to provide a much needed domestic and on other fi ign income. Several questions arise concerning the deficit and seriously hurting the domestic shot in the arm for the domestic small busi­ ing little or no relation to reality. present oil import program, and the quota(B) FOREI DEPLETION small business oil producers. nessman in this great and vital petroleum allocation procedure under it. For instance: I believe we should know the status of this The time may be t hand, in the light of industry. Is the present oil import control arrangement our payments proble I, to question the exten- study, particularly in relation to balance-ofIV. FOREIGN-FLAG TANKERS (Mr. PATMAN asked and was given per­ fully effective in terms of the national secu­ sion of statutory per entage depletion at the payments pressures. More than 95 percent of U.S. oil imports are mission to revise and extend his remarks and rity purpose? Is the present program the full 271/2 percent to jreign production. moved in foreign-flag tankers, constituting a to include extraneous matter.) (D) TAX HAVEN ABUSES most suitable in terms of our balance-of-pay­ American interna mal companies for tax serious burden on our payments balance. This ments objectives? Is the present import ar­ Rcsslulion No. 134 The Kennedy-Johnson administration un­ rangement conducive to a concentrated trend purposes enjoy the ame percentage allow- dertook to correct abuses by some American contrasts with the requirement that when Whereas the U.S. Department of Interior seeks, in ance for minerals de etion abroad as do comits March in-n hearin? on oil import regulation, infor­ U.S. - produced oil is moved by oceangoing within the oil industry? mation relating to the need for new and more effective panies in this count: This seems not only companies in their utilization of so-called vessels to another U.S. port it must be moved import programming; and I am sure that the Johnson administration inconsistent with c< igressional intent, but "tax havens" aboard. The law which emerged • 100 percent in American-flag tankers. Whereas this .S'ate is vitall.v concerned with achiev­ ing effective re.gulation of imports in that a significant will soon insist upon a comprehensive reeval- may have come to c nflict with the original in 1962, however, was modified by a series of portion of Texas State revenues and a vital part of its To illustrate, Texas oil moved by tanker econom.v re'v on a healthy domestic oil producing uation of the import arrangement, inherited objective of depletio: that being to maintain amendments virtually exempting interna­ industry: and to New England must be shipped in high-cost tional oil company operations. In the light from the Eisenhower administration. First a healthy home-pro^ cing industry. Whereas this ob.iective has not been achieved by the current mandatory oil import program inasmuch as of our payments problem. Department offi­ •American-flag tankers while Venezuela oil steps in this direction were taken by Presi­ since 1936 Texas oil production has declined by approxi­ A study of the hisfory of the 27^ percent approximately the same distance to mately 300,000 barrels per day, drilling activity has dent Kennedy's Petroleum Study Committee. statutory depletion [early indicates that it cials might indicate what plans they may moving declined sharply and continues to do so in 1965, hun­ same New England port comes in foreigndreds of domestic producers have left the business It found that the present system "places the was designed to stir ilate domestic explora­ have to see that international oil companies the flag tankers at one-half the cost>and still greater numbers are sharply reducing their Federal Government in the role of dis­ tion. No one serio ily attempts to justify are treated no better than other American oil activity, and thousands of Texans have had to seek companies in this regard. emplo.vment in other industries; and I believe we are entitled to an explanation tributing a considerable economic advantage. 27percent depletic i strictly in terms of re­ Whereas despite sincere and extensive efforts by this legislature and the Texas Railroad Commission in re­ The distribution of an economic advantage turning capital inv( tment. It is explained The Treasury has charged that foreign of these practices In the light of our pay­ cent times to strengthen oil conservation and maximize of this magnitude is bound to bear upon the in terms of (a) retu ling capital investment, earnings in large amounts can be held abroad / ments situation. inaustry cffic'enc.v through such measures as increasing minimum statewide acreage development patterns, enfinancial return of individual companies, the in order to prevent axation of capital, and indefinitely, yet used on a "loan" basis by the forced pooling of small tracts, reorganization of the V. OTHER MATERIALS State allowable s.vstem, and encouragement of sec­ structure of the industry, the functioning of (b) providing an ir entive for maintaining U.S. parent company. That money, owed as ondary recovery,- operations, the slowdown of industry activity continues to worsen: and the economy, and other national objectives." adequate supplies v ;hin the United States. taxes, is withheld for use by the companies There are, of course, other aspects of this Whereas throughout this period total oil importe to further their own operations—and provide problem which should be considered and on have continued to increase, resulting dlrectlv in re­ Mr. Speaker, both the house and senate of But neither of tl se bases are fully ap- themselves an advantage over strictly domes­ duced markets for Texas crude, recurring weakness in which legislation may be indicated. bo'h crude and product prices and a loss of several the Texas Legislature recently importuned plicable where fore: 1 oil is concerned. The tic companies. million of dollars in oil production tax revenues to the State of Texas: and the administration to revise and make ef­ present full 271/2 p ^cent depletion can be In particular, I hope we will have the ad­ Whereas the present imports program is inadequate It would be interesting, I am certain, to vantage of full and up-to-date information on fective the oil import program. A copy of justified on foreigi production neither as both by reason of the "leaky seams" cited bv Gov. John Connally, through which the level of importe that resolution, unanimously adopted by the necessary to return pital investment nor to learn the status of oil in this respect. Secre­ the "voluntary" balance-of-payments pro­ has increased disproportionately to domestic market tary Dillon commented on this point as gram under Commerce Department officials. Texas Legislature, is appended. growth, and by reason of failure to neutralize the preserve self-suffici cy. economic advantake which imported oil enjoys over follows: domestic production: and The 5 big intern nal companies in 1963 I note that the board chairman of a leading H. FOREIGN TAX ADVANTAGES Whereas the advantage accruing to U.S. international Partlculariy when It is enhanced by the resort to tax produced 2,270,000 rrels of crude oil per oil companies through inadequate oil import regulation international oil committee has been named havens, the tax deferral has given artificial encourage­ has discouraged the independent producer who tradi­ ment to foreign investment and has acted as a deterrent In the light of our international payments day in the United tes and Canada, but at chairman of the Commerce Department's tionally finds most of the new oil reserves in Texas to the repatriation of dividend income. Deferral thus and in the Nation from adequately maintaining such adversely affects our balance-of-payments position by problem, I am convinced that the Congress, the same time they uced 6,152,000 barrels balance-of-payments advisory committee. defense-vital activity; and increasing payments and reducing receipts. as well as the executive branch, must take per day outside |e United States and Whereas the security of this State and Nation re­ This advisory group came out, according to quires that sufficient U.S. oil reserves be discovered Also the arbitrary assigning of expenses the Secretary, "in favor of a flexible approach a new look at the tax and other economic Canada. In other |rds, for each barrel of as the result of exploration to meet the heavy demand predicted for the near future: Now, therefore, be it advantages permitted American oil cohi- domestic oil upon ich statutory depletion between domestic parent companies and for­ that enables each company head to work out panies in their foreign operations. Accord­ was taken by th^ companies, they took eign subsidiaries often has the effect of his own program" rather than "having the Resolved by the House of Representatives ingly, officials of the various executive de­ statutory depletio: n almost 3 barrels of giving a tax break to the internationals over Government prescribe some formula of gen­ of the State of Texas, That the house of repre­ partments concerned, including Treasury and the very foreign oi at is causing the havoc strictly domestic independents, which they eral application." We should know soon sentatives importune the President of the State, should speak to this subject. in this industry. I quite illogical for this employ to gain advantage even on domestic whether the "voluntary" approach by interna­ United States and the Secretary of the In­ operations. tional companies is doing the job, or whether terior to revise import regulations in such On several bccasions, administration spokes­ Government to su ize a handful of internew legislation or some formalized pro­ .manner as to preclude any further increase men have noted that there is preferential national companies that they can make it HI. FOREIGN OIL BUYING for do impossible tic producers to comcedures are indicated. treatment to foreign oil investment. The late in imports until such time as domestic pro­ Particular attention should also be given pete even on the estic market. President Kennedy, in his 1963 balance-ofYesterday, at the annual stockholders' duction has been permitted to achieve a bet­ to just how effectively the Defense Depart­ Fsrtlgn crud* *11 pre |lon by Amtrlcan companict payments message, called for "tax neutrality ment is carrying out President Johnson's ad­ meeting of one of the world's largest interna­ ter balanced share of domestic market eempered with U.tl >rt( (•xeludlng rptldual) in the choice between investment here and [In thousanJ barreli per day] monition on February 10, 1965, to "shift de­ tional oil companies—Standard Oil Co. of growth, and to nullify the economic advan­ investment abroad." Treasury Secretary Dil­ Crude oil U.S. fense buying from sources abroad to sources New Jersey—the new chairman of that com­ tage which cheap foreign oil enjoys over do­ lon, as early as July 1961, testified: production Imports pany called on the Government for higher mestic production in meeting U.S. consump­ in the United States.'" (Chase (excluding interest rates to stem the gold outflow and tion requirements. group) residual) DurinE the po^war period, the promotion of private foreign investment in both advanced and Icss-developcd 1958 Defense officials should be given an op­ prevent a further drain on the balance of 1...•• 4.871 1,201 countries was in the public interest. Times have 1959 1 5,238 1,170 portunity to explain to our committee why payments. BEN BARNES, chanced, and the need to-stimulate investment in ad­ 1960 5,791 1..... 1,178 vanced countries no longer exists. Hence, there can be 1961 6,309 1,251 1.,, military purchases of foreign oil has risen no proper claim that preferential treatment should be Speaker of the House. 1962 ; ; 1 7,091 1,3!58 Despite recent expressions by the Johnson continued mercljr to perpetuate private gain. 1963 ....1..... 7,754 1,376 from 13 percent in 1954 to 34.8 percent in 1964. 1964 1 >8,709 1,452 Attest: administration that the present balance-ofincreaac, 1964 ve^ L958,. 3,831 251 Specific examples of preferential treatment Total Also, the Defense Department might ex­ payments program is working well and that Average Increaap per DOROTHY HALLMAN, 639 42 f..... warranting attention at this tinje inclu,de!: ; . > iictiniated.plain any Ip^, and necessity for Its,special tighter, money can .only harm the domestic . Chief ^le^ �•:?5' Par* Fourteen SEAFAItERS Aururt tt, ifW LO& Congressman Urges More Ocean Research U.S. Action Needed To Stop Red 'Wet Sputnik' Launching m By Fred Stewart & Ed Mooney Headquarters Representatives According to a U.S. congressman, if America doesn't get her "ocean-auts" off the Responsibility Is Mark Of SiU Crew ground and into the sea, Russia may beat us to an "ocean sputnik." Warning the House Although many ships under the SIU banner are noted for fast turn­ Oceanography Subcommittee that Cuba-based Soviet scientists are already exploring the arounds with comparatively little time In port, crew members missing the ship or failing TO join are rare. Gulf Stream for future sub--^marine use, congressman Paul Gulf Stream. Many Navy men ducted In limited areas—off Miami, In cases when one or more members miss a ship it entails an Rogers (D-fla.) pointed to agree that the Gulf Stream could Charleston and Cape Hatteras, plus undue hardship upon fellow crewmembers and the shortage of a full become a major future subma­ a stretch of ocean reaching rough­ complement Involves other possibly serious matters. Therefore an rine battleground. "In case of ly froni North Carolina to Nova SIU man is very much aware of his duty to show up on time. enemy attack," says one expert, Scotia. Although the research team This commitment is spelled out specifically in the Union's Constitu­ "the Gulf Stream could well be­ is behig coordinated by the Coast come our closest point of vuiner- and Geodetic Survey, aimost every tion and traditionally, the Union membership has taken a firm stand on abillty. To prevent drifting sub­ major oceanographic group in the this matter. Except under reasonable or extenuating circumstances a regulated fixed fine is imposed. Anyone who makes a practice or habit marines from dropping down United States will participate. of missing his ship will promptly recognize that his Union brothers into it and being swept noise­ Long A Mystery will not tolerate nor condone such action. lessly up the coastline, we must The Gulf Stream has puzzled investigate it thoroughly. There It is the duty of every Seafarer to be self disciplined. He knows would-be researchers since it was that one of his duties is to keep Himself accurately informed of the is no time for delay." discovered centuries ago. In 1575, sailing time prior to leaving the vessel when going off duty. A major break-through in he | ^ For this reason the Union strongly urges that, "the sailing time shall area may soon be provided by the. be posted at the gangway on arrival when the vessel is scheduled to massive yearlong survey of he ^ Mississippi River. A Gulf Stream just launched by the later; Benjamin stay in port 12 hours or les^. When the stay is scheduled to exceed 12 hours the sailing time shall be posted 8 hours prior to scheduled Coast and Geodetic Survey. The Stream is far too huge to be cov­ Franklin studied its effect on trans­ sailing, if before midnight. If scheduled between midnight and 8 A.M., sailing time should be posted bjr4;30 P.M., but not later than 5 P.M." One ocean phenomena of grow- ered in a single year by a single atlantic sailing. Today, most oceanographers be­ In? concern to the Navy is the survey, so the work is being conPermission, of course, must be obtained from the heads of the re­ lieve that the stream is formed spective departments to exchange watches or to get a short leave if through the interaction of various a member so desires. It is understandable that on occasion a crewmemnatural forces—sun, wind and the ber may want td contact home or conduct other personal business. rotation of the earth. According to After being granted a "leave" the cfe\vmember must immediately this theory, warm air rising at the equator is replaced by cooler air report his return. This, however, has no bearing on scheduled sailings. from the north. Part of this cool It would also be wise for crewmembers to leave an address and tele­ air mass is diverted down onto the phone number with the department head at which they can be con­ tacted. It is the responsibility of the seafarer to keep constant contact SAN FRANCISCO — The first regularly scheduled hover­ water by the earth's rotational with the vessel. Failure to keep in touch may cause the vessel to sail spin. There it triggers the north­ craft service in the United States was begun last week ward flow of water from the Carib­ short handed. The Union and companies agree that "all members of the unlicensed between this city and Oakland. The craft, which can skim bean and the Gulf of Mexico. personnel shall be aboard the vessel and ready for sea at least one over water or land on a'*" As it leaves the Florida Straits, hour before the scheduled sailing time . . . cushion of air, is being given Housing and ^ Home Finance the Gulf Stream resembles a huge "If the vessel's departure is delayed and the delay is due to the Agency, which is picking up the river, 40 miles wide and 2,000 feet a one-year test to see if it tab for two thirds of the $1,062,311 deep, moving northward at a sur­ loading or discharging of cargo, the new time of departure shall im­ repre.ients an answer to big-city cost of the operation. The project face speed of approximately four mediately be posted on the board and if such delay exceeds 2 nours transit problems. will be studied by the University knots. Every hour, the stream the watch below may be dismissed and shall receive 2 hours overtime of California Institute of Trans­ moves an estimated lOO-'billion for such reporting." Two seven-ton hovercraft, or portation and Traffic Engineering tons of water. Occasionally, it is difficult to determine the exact sailing time of a "jet skimmers" as they are known for the HHFA to learn how accept­ After the Stream passes by cargo vessel. It is therefore the duty and responsibility of licensed Florida, it becomes more and deck officers, with respect to the handling of cargo,, to check as close locally, will be operated by San able passengers find the craft. more diverse, Even its boundries Francisco-Oakland Helicopter Air­ The hovercraft test will continue begin to change, becoming fluid as possible the correct sailing schedules. By doing this a seafarer off lines, Inc., making a total of ten for one year, after which the re­ as the stream continues its north­ duty will be aided in taking care of his personal business without being deprived of reasonable shore leave. Ample off-time ashore to' the round-lrips a day across San Fran­ sults of the project will be evalu­ ward journey. Now more like a professional seafarer Is at a premium and is appreciated. cisco Bay. The craft, which cost ated. Decisions about future use spiral of ribbons than a single SIU crews are regularly commended for being consistently on the of the air cushion craft will be $300,000 apiece, will carry 15 pas­ based on the information gathered massive river, the Gulf comes in alert, and these commendations are well deserved. as close as 10 or 15 miles to shore sengers between the airports of during the year of operation. and then veers 40 or 50 miles out both cities or to downtown San} The hovercraft are 39 feet in to sea. Francisco. The 20-mile trip be- ] length with a beam of 25 feet. They Many Theories tween the airports is scheduled to i draw their power from two gas Flowing through cooler ocean take 15 minutes. turbine engines which operate a depths that may reach as deep as fan behind the passenger compart­ 8,000 feet, the Gulf Stream re­ One-Year Test ment which is forward. The fan mains suspended, retaining its The hovercraft service will be produces a cushion of air which is constant temperature and its 2,000operated as a test by the U.S. enclosed by "skirts" extending four foot depth. There is even a theory feet below the bottom of the ve­ that north of Cape Hatteras, there WASHINGTON — The number of major job areas with 6 hicle. It is this cushion of air on is a southward-moving counter- percent or more unemployment dropped to 21 in June, the which the hovercraft rides. current under the Stream itself. lowest number since May, 1957. Really Skims An important result of the Pacing the drop was the re-"* Gulf Stream's flow is the effect Since the skirts on the craft ex­ classification of South Bend, smaller and very small areas. JACKSONVILLE, Florida it has on weather. The warm tend within six inches of the sur­ Ind., from the substantial un­ Eighteen major areas have gone —The SlU-contracted Seawater it transports across the face of the water, an observer gets employment category of 6 to 9 per­ off the list of substantial unem­ Land Service has signed a Atlantic has long been ack­ cent to the moderate unemploy­ ployment in the last year while lease with the Jacksonville |i the impression that the vessel is nowledged as a major reason almost skimming the water when ment group of 3 to 5.9 percent. The only two were put on. ; ; Port Authority under which why Northeastern Europe en­ Labor Department termed the ; Sea-Land will build a new J actually it is four feet over the In the June report four areas joys a more temperate climate water's surface. This perimts the change in the South Bend situation were classified up froni the 3 to 13-acre terminal. The project than other regions In similar "especially significant." The area 5.9 percent range to the 1.5 to 2.9 J is expected to be completed |i craft to clear obstacles of up to latitudes. three-feet in height. had been in the 6 percent or more percent unemployed—Wilmington, by November, 1966. As for the peculiar weather vari­ Passengers who have taken test- ations along our eastern seaboard, category since November 1963 Del.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Built on the site will be a if rides on the craft report that its it is hoped that the current survey when defense cutbacks and the Canton and Youngstown-Warren, i i wharf and bulkhead 1,220 motion was smooth, even though may unlock the mystery surround­ closing of the Studebaker plant Ohio. ; feet long and able to accomthe effects of waves can be felt. ing the strange body of frigid caused a sharp increase in jobless­ 1:1 modate two ships at the same Fall River, Mass., moved from time. A 27y^-ton gantry The test-passengers report the waters locked at sea off the mid- ness. the 9 to 12 percent range to the S A year ago in June the number to 9 percent classification. The San |i crane will operate over the craft has a tendency to fly side­ Atlantic states. An expert guess of major job areas with substantial Bernardino - Riverside - Ontario, 11 entire length of the wharf. ways, forcing its pilot to head it is that this cool water pool may I The crane alone will cost ap­ into the wind. Even though the be the prime cause of the severe unemployment was 37. The all-time Calif., area was classified from proximately $700,000. craft may be headed to starboard, four-year drought that has been high of 101 was reached in the -moderate unemployment to the the passengers note that it might plaguing the East and the heavy spring of 1961. In the past three more than 6 percent group. In the I The $3 million terminal months the number of areas had latter case the department said the slip to port a bit. rains sweeping the Midwest. I for Sea-Land will replace dropped from 25 to 21. growth in the local labor force out­ i the present company termAlthough the use of the hover­ Scientists agree that such a cold Based On Surveys paced gains in employment. I Inal at Pier 3^ Construction craft in San Francisco Bay will be water pool could well cause an I of,the new facility under the the first time the craft has been almost constant low pressure area. The department said the report Among the major cities with sub­ i lease eventually provide for used commercially in this country, This of course could change pre­ reflected a continued reduction in stantial and persistent unemploy­ t a 25 percent increase in it has been providing regular pas­ vailing wind patterns and influ­ unemployment in the nation. The ment remaining on the June list I available.. docking space ip, senger service between England ence the offshore weather that classificaticms are based on surveys are Buffalo, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; |„.fhe, porti.; . • j and the Isle of Wright for the last usually brings rain to the sea­ of local employment conditions in Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia, Pa.; three-years. • board- states; n • . • 45®- major tlabor- area* as well -as and Toledo,; Ohio.'. the need for a concerted, consoli­ dated oceanographic research pro­ gram. "We must not let the Soviets get ahead of us with an ocean sputnik," he said. "These hearings," he con­ tinued. "will provide an oppor­ tunity to emphasize how important ocean research is to the nation. We know more about outer space." the congressman declared, "than we do about the earth's wet space. U. S. astronauts have gone more than 170 miles into space. But oceanauts have gone only seven miles down into the ocean." Hovercraft Serving San Francisco Area Major Job Areas Report Employment On Upswing Sea-Land Plans p New Terminal r .. �Auftut 20, 196S SEAFARER3 LOO \ m* FUteca A' . -r . SEAFARERS PORTS OP THE WORLD Primarily a workers city, Haifa is Israel's main port on' the Mediterranean with one of the most developed harbor centers in the Middle East, and is also the center of Israel's heavy industries, which are centered in the Haifa Bay area. Haifa is a city where the ancient and the modern dwell side by side. Situated by- the slopes of Mt. Carmel, Haifa is rich in history. On the slopes of Mt. Carmel are the caves of the biblical Prophets Elijah and Elisha. Tours of Galilee and the Jordan Valley and biblical and historic sites in northern IsraeJ often start in Haifa. The Museum of Antiquities has one of the best archaeological collections in the world. ^ By way of contrast, Haifa is also the home of the Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, the leading engineering institution of higher learning in the country, and a fine Museum of Modern Art. The city also has an excellent Maritime Museum located near the Sailors' Home. Almost everything of^interest in the citv can be easily reached by fast, modern municipal busses. The harbor, bay and waterfront areas can best be toured by motorboat and several inexpensive boat trips are available. Occupying what is primarily an arid land, Haifa is justly proud of her municipal gardens, such as Gan Hazikaron, with its unique view of downtown Haifa and the Bay, and Gan Ha'em, where recorded concerts are held twice weekly. Because its population of 210,000 people come from all over the world, language is no difficulty in Haifa. Hebrew is the official tongue, but English, French, and German are almost widely spoken. The Government Tourist Information Office at 2 Balfour Street is a good place to start any sightseeing tour. The Old City of Haifa (left) with Iti narrow, winding streets and rough-textured stone buildings stand In sharp contrast to new Haifa's up-to-date modernity (right). Where much of the land Is mostly arid, cool tree-shaded streets are doubly beautiful. Haifa Is'not a small city, as this view Indicates. The city sprawls on the slopes of Mt. Carmel, which Is rich In Biblical lore and the site of a famous church of the Carmelite Order. Dinghies fitted with lamps for night fishing contribute to the activity In Haifa's busy harbor. �SEAf^RERIS 'Pac* BiitMn LOIR tf/lf6S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,1965 GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE PENSION FUND 17 BATTERY PLACE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 10004 TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK I Notes: (1) All data In the Annual Report is to be copied from the Annual State­ ment. Where .a copy of U.S. Department of Labor Form D-2, has been filed In lieu of pages 8 to 14 of the New York Annual Statement, the Summary Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Exhibit B-1) and the Summary Statement of Receipts and Disbursements (Exhibit B-2) of Form D-2 may be substituted for Pages 2 and 3 herein. (2) The Annual Report is required to be filed, in duplicate, not later than Address replies to New York State Insurance Department, 123 William Street. New York 38, New York. (3) The data contained herein is for the purpose of providing general Informa­ tion as to the condition and affairs of the fund. The presentation is necessarily • abbreviated. For a more comprehensive treatment, refer to the Annual Statement, copies of which may be inspected at the office of the fund, ot at the New York State Insurance Department, 123 William St., N.Y. 38, N.Y. EXHIBIT B-1 ' SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Assets ' Column (1) 1. Cash 2. Bonds and debentures (a) Government obligations (b) Nongovernment bonds 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. to. Column (2) • 6.925.35 11. Total lines 7 to 10, inclusive 7,215.40 2,596.52 0 327.75, 475.75 5,028.82 15,644.24 706.37 706.37 i 18,596.68 12. Excess (deficiency) of receipts over disbursements (line 6, less line 11) 180,981.34 Reconciliation of Fund Balances 13. Fund balance at beginning of year 14. Excess (deficiency) of receipts over disbursements (line 12) 671,302.44 —0— —0— —0— 155.79 155.79 (180,981.34) GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE PENSION PLAN ATTACHMENT TO' THE ANNUAL REPORT FORM D-2 YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1985 Page 1 — Item 1 Great Lakes Tug St Dredge Pension Plan is identified with the Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Region Inland Boatmen's Union, Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFL-CIO and various signatory employers operating the Great Lakes Area. Part III—-Item 12 Valuation Certificate Attached 678,293.61 —0— —0— 678,293.61 18. Total liabilities and funds 180,981.34 15. Other increases or decreases in funds (a) Net Increase or decrease by adjustment in asset values of investments 0_ (b) Reserve for future benefits and expenses ... (180,981.34) 221.61 Liabilities and Funds (d) Total funds and reserves _0_ 16. Fund baiance end of year $678,449.40 16. Total liabilities 17. Funds and reserves (a) Reserve for future benefits and expenses... (b) (c) 10. Other disbursements (a) Trustees' meetings expense (b) 2,246.05 270,717.62 (c) Total bonds and debentures 300,652.01 Stocks (a) Preferred ' 50,573.74 (b) Common 299,273.26 Common trusts Real estate loans and mortgages Operated real estate —0— Other investment assets, U.S. Treasury bills 20,803.43 Accrued income receivable on investments Prepaid expenses Other assets :.... (a) Accrued interest paid on bonds purchased .. —0— (b) ; 221.61 (c) Insurance and annuity premiums payable Reserve for unpaid claims (not covered by insurance) Accounts payable Payrolls, taxes withheld 7. Insurance and annuity premiums paid to insurance companies for participants benefits 8. Benefits provided other than through insurance car­ riers or other service organizations 9. Administrative expenses (a) Salaries (Schedule 1) (b) Fees and commissions (c) Interest (d) Taxes (e) Rent (f) Other administrative expenses $ 29,934.39 11. Total assets 12. 13. 14. 15. Disbursements $678,449.40 Exhibit B-1 Statement of Unrecorded Assets and Liabilities Interest Receivable Contributions Receivable ' Indicate accounting basis by check: Cash • Accrual •. Plans on a cash basis shouid attach a statement of significant unrecorded assets and liabilities. SEE ATTACHMENT. •' The assets listed in this statement must be vaiued in column (1) on the basis regularly used in valuing investments held in the fund and reported to the U.S. Treasury Department, or shall be vaiued at their aggregate cost or present vaiue, whichever is lower, if such a statement is not so required to be filed with the U.S. Treasury Department (Act, sec. 7 (e) and (f) (i) (B). State basis of determining the amount at which securities are carried and shown in column (1): Bonds, stocks and U.S. Treas. Bills-at cost. ' If A (s) in Item 13. PART III is checked "Yes," show in this column the cost or present value, whichever is lower, of investments summarized in lines 2c. 3a. and 3b, if such value differs from that reported in column (1). Assets $ 5,666.83 8,584.18 Liabilities $14,251.01 $1,141.23 $1,141.23 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE PENSION FUND STATE OF New York ..... EXHIBIT B-2 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS Receipts 1. Contributions (a) Employer, See Attachment (b) Employees (c) Other (Specify) 2. Interest, dividends and other investment net income 3. Gain (or loss) from disposal of assets, net 4. Dividends and experience rating refunds from in­ surance companies 5. Other receipts (a) (b) (c) - 6. Total lines 1 to 5, inclusive \ *10i 092 38 73;578!67 _lo_ 24,256.36 650.59 SS. COUNTY OF New York. and Trustees of the Fund and being duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says that this Annual Report is true to the best of his information, knowledge and belief. Employer trustee: 3/Irving Saunders —0— —0— —0— —0_ Employee trustee: s/Robert Affleck $199,578.00 -V• , Ii f 'i-.-y' i V- ' y i -V » V> V Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of July, 1965. a/John J. Raguseo JOHN J. RAGUSEO Notary Public, State of New York No. 30-8482865 Qualified in Nassau County Cert, filled in Nassau Co. & N.Y. Co; Conimissipn Expires March 30, 1966i �Antmt S«» IMI gEAFAHERM Lakes Death Benefit fif* flcfntaca LOO Urst Amwk^n fxptdiffaii fo ttudv Ama U.S. Scientists Explore Russian Arctic Waters A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker is carrying the first American scientific expedition ever to explore the Kara Sea off Soviet Siberia. "Ihe last team of Western scientists to explore the Russian Arctic Sea was the famous l^orwegian explorer Raold Amundsen -who traversed the barren Arctic area over 40 * years ago. from the University of Wisconsin's international incident with the Scientists on the Coast Geophysical and Polar Research Russians. After crossing the Rus­ Mrs. Mary Ann Webster, widow of Great Lakes Seafarer John E. Webster, receives her Union Death Benefit check from Lakes District SlU rep Larry Rice in Detroit. Webster, the father of four children, was a resident of Alpena, Mich. Holding a wheelsman's rating, he sailed on the Diomond Alkali (American Steamship Co.). Navy Trains Porpoise As Divers' Bodyguard POINT MUGU, Calif.—^An Atlantic bottlenose porpoise, ap­ propriately named Tuffy, ia being trained to go into action against savage sharks who menace undersea divers going peace­ ably about their business. The Navy's researchers plan to have Tuffy participate in the Sealab II experiment in which a team of scientists and divers will spend 15 days 215 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific off La Jolla, Calif. Protection against sharks will only bo part of Tuffy's duties In the underwater living experiment. The intelligent porpoise, who has been a pupil at the Point Mugu Naval Missile Center for over a year, is also learning to carry packages from divers on the bottom to men on the surface, as well as to bring guide lines to divers who lose their direction In the gloomy depths. First Practical Test According to F. G. Wood, chief of the Marine Sciences Division of the missile center, Tuf­ fy's training represents the first practical test of wheth­ er a sea mammal can assist man in working under water. Current plans call for Tuf­ fy to go into action should a shark appear outside of Sealab II to trouble Navy divers working In the area. Porpoises are famous for their battles with sharks. In­ cidents of their combat are on the record books where porpoises have been seen to beat off sharks, and some­ times to kill them by ram­ ming the murderous under­ sea marauders with their noses. Tuffy is no shrinking stranger to combat with sharks. His 270-pound, 7-foot frame has numerous scars left from many a ferocious battle with the savage predators. The Sealab II experiment will show if Tuffy's training has conditioned him" to the point where he will protect human divers from their common enemy. Researchers' Goldmine While Tuffy's training will represent the first attempt to get man and porpoise to work side by side, a great deal of research on porpoises has been conducted by scientists in recent years. Researchers have been highly impressed with the Intelligence of porpoises and their ability to communicate by the highpitched sounds they utter. Scientists have also been fascinated by the ability of porpoises to detect tindersea obstacles by echoes from sound waves. "Tuffy The Navy's Sealab project was scheduled to get under way this week when a 12x57-foot steel cylinder housing 10 men will be lowered 210 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific. Teams of Navy divers and scientists will spend 15 days in the undersea structure, working outside the cylinder for at least two hours per day. Guard icebreaker Northwlnd re­ port that the expedition Is taking place because U.S. researchers know less about the Kara Sea than any other major body of water in the world. The Kara Sea is a body of water beneath the Arctic Ocean bounded by the two Islands which make up the Soviet territory of Novaya Zemlya on the east and the Taimyr and Yamal peninsula of the Siberian mainland on the west. The Russians have held several nuclear tests on the island territory of Novaya Zemlya, detonating their 10(J megaton bomb at the isolated site. The area to be explored by U.S. scientists Is in internationl waters. Reds Not Talking Soviet scientists are known to have already explored the Kara Sea region, but so far have failed to publish the facts they have gathered. The U.S. expedition is pledged to make its investigations public. The Northwind expedition is encountering severe problems caused by the ice and weather con­ ditions in the Arctic region. The progress of their exploration work is considerably slowed by six-foo'v thick ice flows. Rajn and fog abound in the area, which is some­ times known as the "Sea of Mj.sts," hindering visibility and forcing the ship to wait for days to get a celestial fix. Two U.S. Teams The U.S. expedition is made up of two teams of scientists. One party of Navy oceanographers is studying salmity, water tempera­ ture, water radiation and plankton life. The second group, which is Center, is Investigating the gravity and magnetic characteristic} of the area. Both groups of researchers have reported excellent progress, even though the expedition has just started. Since leaving Copenhagen on July 15, the Northwind is taking every precaution to avoid an By Joseph B. Logue, MD, Medical Director Bacteria Danger Two British government scientists delivered a strong blow this week to the ivacttce of putting antibiotics and other drugs in animal feeds to speed up the fattening process. Dr. E. S. Anderson, director of the Enteric Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Service, and M. J. Lewis, charged that the widespread use of medicated feeds to hasten weight gains may be making common disease-causing bacteria resistant to the new antibiotics. The drugs change micro-organisms in the ani­ mals' bodies so that they acquire resistance. This resistance is then transferred to bacteria responsible for salmonella, Escherichia coli and even staphylococcus infections, they explained. The further transmis­ sion of drug-resistance to essentially human organisms may then follow, they added, as reported in HEALTH BULLETIN. Explaining their findings in the current issue of the scientific journal NATURE, the government researchers point out that many bacteria are already showing resistance to sulfa drugs, the newer penicillins, strepto­ mycins and tetracyclines—drugs commonly added to animal feeds. They note also that warnings on this new form of infection were sounded two years ago by a Japanese researcher. Dr. T. Watanabe of Keio Uni­ versity School of Medicine said that drug resistance "could become a serious and world-wide problem." Apparently the warning went un­ heeded because it seems that this-f^ —— stage is in sight in Britain, Drs. based on studies of the occurrence Anderson and Lewis charge. and transfer of resistance in Support for their prediction is salmonella typhimurium, the most common cause of food poisoning outbreaks. The British researchers cite evidence that 61 percent of all strains are showing resistance days, the supplies and equipment which they need to fight will still to antibiotics. In addition, labora­ have to come by ship. Under the tory research has shown that the circumstances, it is easy to see why resistance can be transferred American shipping is furnishing readily to Escherichia coli, a wide­ the bulk of the transportation job spread germ which can cause serious infections of the urinary of the U.S. fighting force. Is the U.S.-flag fleet strong tract in man. That hazard is enough to shoulder the job which emphasized by the fact that physicians are accustomed to treat­ it performed so ably in past na­ ing such infections with the very tional emergencies? Maritime ob­ antibiotics that are now becoming servers question whether our mer­ ineffective, they point out. "The chant fleet has enough fast, modern time has clearly come for a re­ tonnage to meet this challenge. This examination of the whole question problem might never have arisen of the use of antibiotics and other if the government had provided drugs in the rearing of livestock," the maritime industry with a sound Drs. Anderson and Lewis con­ program of operating and construc­ clude. tion subsidies years ago. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics, Vietnam actually represents only especially in the treatment of a "small" emergency. With the abil­ simple viral infections, is also con­ ity of the entire maritime Industry tributing to the drug resistance to perform its job in the face of problem. Healtb Bulletin reported this crisis already under serious recently that about a dozen species question, what would be the case of disease-causing bacteria are if our nation were confronted with beginning to show resistance to an all-out emergency? Past experi­ tetracycline. Dr. Trevor J. Frank­ ence in World War II has shown lin of Imperial Chemical Indus­ that a crash maritime construction tries, Ltd., England, said this program in the event of war is a situation poses a serious problem time-consuming and costly process, for future medical practice. Phy­ in a period when delays can lead to sicians are accustomed to using disaster. tetracycline and know its effec­ The Vietnam crisis is proving tiveness in treating disease and that the need for a strong, fast, disorders ranging from acne, modern American-flag merchant abscesses, sinusitus, diphtheria, fleet has never been so urgent. The pneumonia and scarlet fever, he time to act to revitalize the Ameri­ said. "One should avoid at all can-flag fleet is now. Further de­ costs the use of tetracyline in lays could lead only to a national an indiscriminate manner," he tragedy. warned. Jobs Column (Continued from page 7) however. Defense planners began to revise their thinking about the role of U.S. shipping in the overall military picture as a result of "Op­ eration Steel Pike." Ten U.S. mer­ chant vessels, including several SlU-manned ships, participated in this huge land-sea military exer­ cise off the coast of Spain in which 28,000 marines and their vehicles and heavy equipment were success­ fully carried to the scene of the maneuvers. When the strategists at the De­ fense Department surveyed the positive results of Steel Pike, they began to have second thoughts about their previous over-reliance on the role of airpower in trans­ porting troops and equipment to the scene of an emergency. The military strategists were especially impressed with the comparison the job performed by the U.S. fleet in Steel Pike as contrasited to the huge airlift of troops from U.S. t>ases to Germany in 1963. In that exercise, American soldiers were landed in Europe quickly, but it took several weeks before their heavy equip­ ment and vehicles which they need­ ed to fight could arrive by boat. Military planning experts faced with the problem of getting men and supplies to "Vietnam are forced into this same dilemma if they de­ cide to depend on aircraft to trans­ port U.S. troops. While American fighting men may be moved to Southeast Asia within a nwtter of sian-Norwegian boundary, the U.S. ship took a course away from the Russian coastline. To make sure the Russians realized the scientific nature of the voyage, covers were placed over the vessels five-inch guns when it passed into the Soviet or eastern end of the Barents Sea. �Wv SlffkteM SEAFARERS LOG Aaffost M, U«S Sail And Steam Off Hawaii By SIDNEY MARGOLIDS Check Carefully 6n Tire Quality • Tires, their quality and safety characteristics, have been making tks news recently. On* tklng which is certain is that tires must be purchased with cars. Working families seeking to hold down expenses, are especially endangered by the low qualities and confusing termi­ nology in the tire business, as revealed by recent Federal Trade Com­ mission hearings and other revelations. The tire business always has been a jungle of misleading terminology and Juggled prices. This affects your pocketbook. But the low qualities you may be led into buying, because of lack of standards, can affect your safety. According to the testimony, the main trouble is that many tires, even those supplied on new cars, are not adequate for the load they often have to carry. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D., Wise.), is up in arms about this danger to drivers and their families In an age of high-speed turnpike and long-distance driving. "My files are filled with letters from people who have had tires fall on practically new cars in perfectly normal use," Mr. Nelson re­ cently told the Senate. He pointed out, that a tire-industry official had admitted to the FTC that the test for a six passenger sedan is based on the assumption that there will be only three passengers and no baggage. -• = — The Senator revealed that are below even the Government Esther Peterson, the President's minimums set in 1953, and even special assistant on consumer af­ these specifications need to be fairs similarly has received many brought up to date, reports James complaints from the public about Mathers, of Greenbelt, Md. ConThe brigantine Thetis Is caught by the camera as she moves along under full sail off Honolulu, faulty tires and misleading ad­ sume'r Services, cooperative in the providing a striking contrast with the modern ocean liner Luiiine, manned by SlU Paclfia vertising. District of Columbia region. District seamen. The 140-ton brigantlne plays an Important role in the motion picture State officials also are alarmed Mr. Mathers advises that in buy­ "Hawaii" which Is being filmed In the Island state. The film Is based on James Michener's albout both the quality of new tires ing a new car, remember that car best selling novel. and the almost-bald tires some manufaoturers consider steerability drivers keep on their cars. Some and easy-riding qualities important. 23 states have legislation pending But you have to be sure the tires or already passed to require better also can perform beyond minimum quality in both new and recapped safety standards. Ures. As a rule, better-grade tires are A New- York State legislative heavier, have a wider, flatter tread committee bought three tires at face, and noticeably deeper tread $12.84 each and found two of them grooves. They also feel heavier failed to meet even minimum blow­ WASHINGTON—The "astonishing," "dizzying" and "dramatic" surge in corporate out resistance tests. Ironically, the when you lift them, than do cheap tires. Well-made tires also have nu­ profits could lead to a shortage of customers, a job squeeze and a collapse of the boom itself, tires were labeled "Safety Spe­ merous cross cuts or hook-shaped cials." The Association of Califor­ "sipes" in the tread. This aid&.tracaccording to an AFL-CIO analysis. nia Consumers Is urging the pas­ tion, assists in stopping and en­ After-tax profits have been sage there of a biU which would rising for four successive years the danger of the 'employment ilies to consume, it is evident that require that recapped tires be hances skid resistance. In fact, there is a grow­ the current profits boom will lead clearly labeled ae such, and would Station wagons especially need two to three times faster than squeeze.' ing fear that excessively rapid in­ to trouble. And if it collapes, pro­ prohibit the salt of reeut or re- extra heavy duty tires, the hearinga the rise in consumer income, it creases in profits—^moving up much duction and new business invest­ grooved tires. brought out. notes, and adds: faster than wages and salaries — ment, as weli as profits, wiil move "If this trend continues, It will will have a depressing effect upon In buying a new tire, the FTC •' mean the economy's ability to pro­ the economy, resulting, in time, in into recession, too." To head off points out, you can't even be sure such a recession, the analysis con­ duce is far outrunning the ability further unemployment and ulti­ the size is exactly as stated on the of consumers to buy this output." mately in declining profits as well." tinues, wage and salary earners tire and in the advertising. But "must obtain, through collective "Unless public and private eco­ bargaining, a fairer share of the size has an effect on safety as well Profits during the first quarter of this year reached a "spectacu­ nomic policies are redirected, im­ rising output and increasing ef­ as other performance. lar" annual rate of $36.5 billion— mediately and substantially, to ficiency of the nation's economic In a 7.50x14 size tire, for exam­ 17 percent higher than the first raise the ability of millions of fam­ system." ple, the cross section is supposed quarter of last year and a "fantas­ to be inches with a rim size of tic" 67 percent rise since 1961, it WASHINGTON — The Monthly 14 inches. But no Information is was noted in the study, an Eco­ given on the overall dimensions of Labor Review has marked its 50th nomic Trends & Outlook feature the outside circumference. In ac­ year at publication by the Bureau prepared for the AFL-CIO Ameri­ tual practice, this Important meas­ can Federationist by the Depart­ urement appears to vary with the of Labor Statistics with an an­ ment of Research. quality of the tire, the FTC has niversary issue which recaptures said. Two tires both labeled 7.50x14 the past, reports the present and Prali's Grow Fastest can be quite different in actual size, speculates on the future. "The 67 percent rise of after-tax and thus in performance. The Review, the government's profits since 1981," the article says, WASHINGTON—The cost of living, spurred by sharp "has been about two to three times Nor, as ths puhlic has been oldest magazine, is a showcase for faster than the increase of after­ rises in meat and fresh vegetable prices jumped one-half of warned before, can you depend on BLS research and a respected pro­ tax personal income, wage and 1 Percent on June for its greatest lift upward in 23 months. the terminology used to describe fessional journal which has been salary payments and total national tires. In the new publication, hospitable to a diversity of views The Labor Department's"*" production. Between 1963 and U.S. Consumer, Beatrice Schalet and contributors. Bureau of Labor Statistics re­ conditioners dropped as a result pointed 1964, for example, after-tax profits out that designations such A special section of the July of the federal excise tax cut. rose more than twice as fast as ported that its Consumer as "first line," "second line," "100 anniversary issue features brief Price Index went from 109.6 In Department experts believe the level," "original equipment," or essaya by 13 of the magazine's the after-tax income of American families. And in the January- May to 110.1 in June, an increase increase does not set a "trend for premium" have no established blue-ribbon list of readers — in­ March quarter of 1965, after-tax of 1.9 percent from the reading of the future because of the tempo­ meaning. These designations can cluding scholars from universities rary factors" involved in the rise, mean whatever the manufacturer and experts from labor and man­ profits were up 15 percent above 108 in June 1964. the year 1S54 — more than three Increases during the second he said. He predicted that con­ wants them to mean. In fact, one agement. times as fast as the rise of after­ quarter of 1965 totaled 1 percent. sumer prices will continue to rise auto club test found that premium There are congratulatory notes tax personal income. Annual total increases during the at about the normal rate of one- tires of different makers varied from President Johnson and other 20-80 percent in their stopping top officials, from editors of other "The lopsided profits boom is past few years have run about 1.2 tenth of 1 percent a month. to 1.3 percent. magazines, from the presidents of leaving ether forms of income far The quarterly change in the CPI ability. The rise was paced by meat and brought wage increases of 1 to 3 Similarly, the FTC has pointed both the AFL-CIO and the U.S. behind." poultry prices, which increased cents an hour to about 28,006 out that such words as "super" and Chamber of Commerce. And there V/orkers Short-Changred more than 6.25 percent, and fresh workers protected by union con­ "de luxe" appear in the brand is a perceptive discussion of the "First, workers in industry have fruits and vegetables, which rose tracts. Some 11,000 interstate bus names of premium, first, second Monthly Labor Review's function not been receiving an adequate 3.7 percent. Potatoes, in short line employes got 1 cent and and third line tires. The buyer has and goals by its editor of the past share of benefits of the economic supply because of the 1964 5,000 transit got 3 cents. Quarterly no dependable clue to the real 20 years, Lawrence R. Klein. expansion since 1961. Second, the drought, led the parade with a reviews of city indices brought grade of the tire except, to some Reprinted are still-timely laments still heard about the 'profit jump of 10 percent. pay raises of 2 cents an hour to extent, price. And when the tire articles from past issues, includihg squeeze' are totally unjustified." Arnold Chase, assistant BLS 4,000 instrument workers iff the is offered as a purported bargain, perceptive reports from the 1920's The study added; commissioner, said the increase New York City area; 4.5 cents to the price may serve only to mislead on the impact of technological "The surge in profits has de- would hate been another one- 1,800 Baltimore transit workers, as to grade. changes in industry and agricul­ stro.ved the myth of the 'j)rofit tenth of 1 percent higher had not and 5.7 cents to 2,000 lithograph­ Government technicians testified ture and the unrest of Negroes in squeeze' but it has not eliminated the prices of new autos and air ers in San Francisco. that the tije industry's standards the South. Corporate Profit Surge Threatens Business Boom Labor Depf, Magazine Is In SOfh Year Food Prices Pushing Living Costs Higher '.1 �Awgmd M, ms SEAFARERS LOG r»f JfiMtMB Building Subsidies (Continued from i>ag« 8) the reoommendetimii, relaUva to these unsubsidized berth li­ ners, also asked them to en­ dorse, In principle at least, the need for rebnUding other segments of the nnsubskUsed fleet. Including domestic vessels and vessels engaged In foreign tramping operations. Other Business In other actions at the meeting, the SIU: e Presented a rebuttal to charges made by spokesmen for runaway-flag operators, as well as a spokesman for the State Depart­ ment, that an oil import quota for American-flag tankers would be discriminatory and would invite retaliation from foreign maritime nations. • Told the committee members that the State Department had opposed legislative proposals to ban foreign-flag ships which have been trading with North Vietnam from United States ports. • Told the committee members that recent develol>ments, with re­ gard to Vietnam, have raised doubts aa to the adequacy of our merchant fleet, as well as our ship­ MORNING LIGHT (Sea-Land), July 18—Chairman, G. Stanford) Secretary, a. Villariza. No troafa and no dis­ puted or reported. Brother I. Bickford was re-elected to serve as ship's delegate. Letter to be sent to Mo­ bile requesting area bonus for crewmembers that made voyage ffl96. Sanitation in messroom discussed. ALCOA MARKETER (Alcoa), July 11 —Chairman, C. W. Hall; Secretary, J. A. Baker. Ship's delegate reported that everything Is running smoothly so far. $2.62 In ship's fund. $6.00 in TV fund. All hands requested to keep laundry room clean. Motion made -to see the company about an building facilities, to meet a real emergency. • Supported a proposal by the Maritime Administration that ship construction subsidies be awarded to those vessels which promise the greatest productivity, provided that the savings accruing to the Govern­ ment from such productivity be used to build a larger fleet^ and provide greater employment op­ portunities for American seamen. It was announced at the meeting that the next meeting of ttie full committee has tentatively been scheduled for August 27. The SIU is preparing for this meeting a statement relative to a report made at the August 6 meet­ ing by an intergovernmental task force headed by Alan S. Boyd, Undersecretary of Commerce for Transportation. The Boyd group has prepared a report relative to the cost involved in implementing the proposals made by a subcommittee headed by Theodore Kheel, New York lawyer and labor arbitrator. The Kheel subcommittee had recommended the building of a new American-flag fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers—a proposal supported by the SIU. OCEAN EVELYN (Maritime Overw seas), June 27—Chairman, John M. Pasco; Secretary. J. F. Austin. Ship's delegate had nothing to report. All Is going well. Motion made to back the Union's current contract negotia­ tions, and the membership on shi|M be Informed of progress. Crew warned about keeping portholes closed In heavy weather. Vote of thanks to the steward department for the good food and Its prepara­ tion by the cooks. EXPRESS BALTIMORE (Commodore), August 1—Chairman, John O'Reurke; SacraUry, Eugene Ray. No disputed OT and no tieefs reported -by de­ partment delegates. Brother R. Pas­ chal was elected to serve as ship's delegate. Vote of thanks was ex­ tended to the steward department. MT. WASHINGTON (Victory Car­ riers), July 10—Chairman, R. L Mor­ row; Secretary, W. McMillon. Ship had been laid up two months. Brother Jimmy Nelson was elected to serve as ship's delegate. Depart­ ment delegates reported that all Is going well. Held general discussion about presenting beefs in the proper manner. Vote of thanks to the stew­ ard department. Ice machine aboard ship. Also to have an awning over the deck sternside. GATEWAY CITY (Ssa-Land), August S—Chairman, Juan Cruz; Secretary, H. C. Atkinson. $13.50 In ship's fund. Disputed OT In engine and steward departments. Ship's delegate re­ ported that the negotiating commit­ tee Is working on a new contract. The Union Is trying to get a subsidy for all our companies. Boat drill and Independence Day holiday In San Juan to be taken up with patrolman. All hands requested to work together in keeping heads, rooms, pantry and messhalls clean. Entire crew voted on a recommendation made for a raise In wages. Suggestion made for a better" understanding of sailing time being posted. Also that the Union work out a deal for time off with this company. RIDGEFIELO VICTORY (Columbia), July 25 —Chairman, M. J. Boherty; Secretary, F. Hattaway. Brother Claude Blanchard was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. No beefs were reported by department delegates. Complaints made about the galley stack being dirty and smoking, and crew request same be worked on. DEL MUNDO (Delta), August 1 — Chairman, W. Meehan; Secretary, Piggy Sahuqus. Brother Meehan thanked all crewmembers, including delegates, for their cooperation which Is In true SIU style. Motion was made to contact the safety director of the Delta Line, and SIU, on ar­ rival In New Orleans to discuss with them the most appalling disregard for accepted standards of safety aboard this ship. Motion was made to have ship fumigated for roaches. Vote of thanks was extended to the entire steward department for the good chow and good service. STEEL NAVIGATOR (Isthmian), July 25—Chairman, Frank Balasis, Secre­ tary, Bruno iorulli. Ship's delegate reported that all Is running well with no beefs and no complaints. $34.50 In ship's fund. One man was hospital­ ized In Port Said. Ship's delegate to sea chief engineer about crow's pan­ try Ice box... I ANTINOUS (Waterman), August 1— Chairman, Roy Jones; Soerelary, Mil­ ton J. Phelps. $11.75 In ship's fund. No beefs reported by department delegates. Motion made that a new washing machine be acquired by Company for the crew, as the old one Is worn out. LCOKATWf H/^cNmr SHI? The party candles were burning brightly aboard the Walter Rico (Reynolds Metals Com­ pany) recently. Seafarers on hand went all out to give retiring Seafarer H. S. Wilson the biggest and best birthday party that he ovar had. Thera was cake and ice cream and pl«ity of "Happy Birthday" choruses. The crew chipped In the machine, IbosG will be tilt ing, which be does with his son. When he retires, he plans to move to present Brother Wilson fruits WG serve that night." to Florida. "That's great fishing with a watch engraved with best XXX eountry," he says. wishes "From the Crew of the Walter Rice." "We went all out," says ship's delegate Milton Henton. "It was a good blow-out, with all the trim­ mings. We wanted to show tradi­ tional SIU appre­ ciation for a Henton brother Seafarer who has always sailed according to the SIU book." i jr ^ Every break la coffee toeak on board Ilia E^wreee BalttBure (Com­ modore Lines). It seems that the crew of that worthy vessel arc all fanatical ex­ perts when it comes to the hot black stuff. It is not unusual, late at night, to see a deckhand or en­ gine room man mixing up his own concoction of the brew—a few Columbian grinds here, and a few Brazilian grinds there. "But the mixture is not the only thing," says meeting secretary Eagene Ray. "To make java really hefty, hbt and hearty, you have to have'the right equipment—^perfect tools for a perfect job, you know. So we've put in an order for two new large coffee percolators. Once we get that new crockery, our brew will be unmatchable. By the way," Brother Ray reports, "one of the men once suggested tea. But we'd rather fight than switch." t t X Seafarers aboard the Ocean Evelyn (Maritime Overseas) are running into some heavy seas on the way to Subic Bay. In fact, at times the water is so rough that special care must foe taken to see that the portholes are closed and secured. "It Posko doesn't pay to take any chances, in heavy weath­ er," says ship's delegate JiAn M. Pasko. "A stitch in time saves nine," he warns, "so let's all make sure to keep tight portholes." Seafarer Peter Gonzales passes along a great big vote of thanks from the'crew aboard the Del Norte (Delta Steamship) to XXX Joan Medina, C. Bennet, Leroy Ship's delegate WIlHam J. Mee­ Rinker, A. Gnrino han, sailing aboard the Del Munde and all the other (Delta Steamship), extends a hearty brothers who did vote of thanks to the entire crew such a fine and for their fine work and cooperation unstinting job during the voyage. "The men Genioles taking care of one sailed and acted in true SIU fash­ of the brothers who was felled by ion," he reports. "They made the XXX a stroke. "The men worked tire­ ship's delegate job easy." lessly," Gonzales says. "They did Seafarer Herbert C. Gardner a great SIU job." XXX dropped by to talk things over with his buddies at the According to ship's delegate X 3^ XNew York Hall M. Dunn aboard the Del Sud (Del­ the other day. He According to ship's delegate M. ta Lines), the men says that he has Dunn, the flickers aboard the Del have decided to a simple working Sud (Delta Steamship) are flicker­ purchase a new philosophy when ing again and snow is drifting movie screen with it comes to get­ across the ship's t.v. screen. But money from the ting along with ship's fund. the crew has the situation well in people in foreign "There's nothing hand. "We've got a repair order lands. "Peo.ple are like a good movie in for the t.v. antenna," says he says. people," Gardner to while away the Brother Dunn. "We'll have that "Whoever you recreation hours screen cleared In no time at all. go, if you treat people decently, \ Dunn they'll do the same for you. If you Brother Dunn. XXX want to make friends, just be "And we feel that the Del Sud friendly. Mix with foreigners, try Supper meal tables on board the their food and their drinks. One of crew deserves nothing less than the Antinous (Waterman Steamship) the best ways I've found of making very best. So we've decided to use are beginning to pals, is to exchange tobaoco or cig­ the money we've saved for a new look like the slot arettes. It's like going back to the screen. It'll make those 'Late machine faces old pioneer days when they used Shows' even better." down Las Vegas to smoke the peace pipe." Sailing XXX way. Everywhere as a deckhand for 15 years. you* look ther# Ship's delegate John St. John Brother Gardner likes the outdoors. are apples, pears "It's too hot in the engine room reports that a vote of thanks has cherries and who for me," he says. "I like to be up been awarded to the Elizabethport knows what else. topside, especially In rough weath­ (Sealand Service) crew for their According to er. Heck," he remembers, "I've cooperation in keeping the me-isship's delegate J. ChristophGr even sailed through the eye of a room clean at night. "The boys K. Christopher, hurricane. But as long as I'm on really kept it spotless," Brother St. the order of the day is for fresh deck and 1 have SIU shipmates John reports. "It always makes e fruit on the supper table every who I can rely on, heavy seas don't delegate feel good to see all ths night. "Of course," he says, "there bother me a bit." Although he en­ members of the crew pulling to­ is some slight dissention in the joyed his foreign trips. Seafarer gether in true SIU fashion." Ac­ ranks. Some of the boys want Gardner prefers coast-wise ship­ cording to Brother St. John, there plums, some want apples, some ping. "The trips are shorter," he was also a safety meeting held re­ want peaches and so on down the says. "But most of all, I'm closer to cently on board and all crewmen line. We can always draw straws. home in case trouble and that agreed to exercise caution. "SIU Or maybe," he laughs, "we'll get gives my wife and kids more peace safety standards are the highest." our own slot machine on board, of mind." Brother Gardner's fav­ says St. John, "and we mean to and whatever fruits show up <HI orite hobbies are fishing and hunt- live up to them to the letter." WAT HB^BR 5££Af IS-/T? /WYTW/AIS LIKE IT- �Par« Twenty SEAFARERS Seafarer-Novelist Launches Bright New Literary Career It's a long way from a ship's galley gang to a Florida chain gang, but ex-Seafarer Donn Pearce has just written a powerful novel about chain gang life that looks like a sure con­ tender for the nation's best-seller lists, A youthful veteran of the Florida road gangs Pearce was sentenced to two years hard labor after being convicted at 16 of what he himself describes as "the world's most inept, teen-age safecracking job." Now, twenty years later, Donn Pearce's vivid and moving account of prison existence Is earning critical acclamation and has won for him a much coveted scholarship to the world-famous Bread Loaf Writer's Conference at Middlebury College, Vermont. Author Pearce joined the SIU in 1955. First shipping out as a member of the steward depart­ ment, he later switched over to deckside as an OS and then an AB. Most of hts voyages were aboard Isthmian, Alcoa and Robin Line vessels, and his favorite ports were Calcutta and various ports of call in Japan and Italy. While sailing, and on the beach between runs, he began recording .his im­ pressions and experiences. He has a stack of short stories and several ideas for further novels that he Former ieafarer Donn Pearce (left) discusses .his first hopes to soon submit for publica­ published novel, "Cool Hand Luke," with SIU Director of tion. Publications Herb Brand. The book, due to hit the stands Cool Hand Luke soon, deals with life on a Florida chain gang. Cool Hand Luke, Pearce's first published work, centers around a to a LOG reporter. "In it's sym­ he had style. He played a 'real Florida chain gang and its leader. bolic sense," he said, "Cool Hand cool' hand." It is a story about the prison world Luke is probably a parable about Pearce's own life has been one and the men who must leave man and his relationship to God. of rootless wandering and adven­ freedom and society for a life of Man is imprisoned, and sustained ture. confinement and unending physical by perpetual dreams of escape, Drifter labor. Pearce paints a sensitive convinced that somewhere there "I never had a home, at least and human portrait of the men on is freedom and a more perfect the chain gang, the iron dicipline life. . . The immediate story con­ not in the usual sense," says that they live under and the ex­ cerns the life of the men on a Pearce. Actually, I'm sort of 'from' periences they share. He makes Florida chain gang. Cool Hand the Eastern Seaboard. I was bom the point that convicts are not Luke is already dead and gone, in Croydon, Pennsylvania — just merely fi-eaks and stereotypes. but the men still recite and dream in time for the Depression. My They are full-bodied, flesh and of his existence, revering his father was what you migh<: call a blood human beings. One of his memory as a larger-than-life drifter. He was an itinerant sign characters sums it up this way; hero . . . Luke was a super con­ painter and carnival concession­ aire, so we moved around pretty "Ours is world without carpets vict . . . Decorated war hero, an goad." expert banjo player ... He dis­ or curtains, without chairs, sinks Pearce quit high school at the or privacy. Yet we shave everyday played the greatest courage in the and brush our teeth apd somehow face of the cruelties and the beat­ age of 15. A year later he joined manage to carry on our lives ings by the guards, the utmost the army, from which ha was which, although but a pale imita­ endurance and cleverness during prompt'.y dismissed when his true (Continued on page 21) tion of yours, still retain some of his repeated escapes. Best of all. its marvels. We read the funnies and know the football scores. We LOG-A-RHYTHM: gossip and argue and recite . . . There are loafers, comedians, gam­ blers, craftsmen and students. And those that still have someone waiting for them, are writing let­ By Jeff Wheeler ters home. . ." A Sailor's Lament The novel's central and most colorful character is Cool Hand Luke himself, self-appointed spir­ itual leader of the chain gaing. A tough, capable inmate,. Cool Hand ferociously refuses to be broken and, by insisting on his own worth in such inhuman and dehumaniz­ ing circumstances, he becomes the sustaining inspiration of his fellow prisoners. Symbolic Character Dropping into the LOG office to discuss the publication of his book, Pearce explained Cool Hand Luke Quitting Ship? Notify 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. While sailing on through life, boys. You may often lift an oar. To help a shipwrecked shipmate Reach safety on the shore. The voyage is long and hard, boys. Filled with storms and) gales. And sometimes, standing watch alone, You'll hear the night winds wail. And they'll make you think of home, boys. And the friends you've left behind. And she, whose faded picture. Flashes always through your mind. Last night I got a letter, boys, A lettef from my home. Said, "only strangers live here now. Your friends are dead and gone." Tonight I sail again, boys. For some far and distant port. And though the trip is long, I know My own run's getting short. I've sailed before the hard times, boys, I've sailed before the mast. But my journey's almost over now, I'll soon be home at last. So keep the night lamps burning, boys. Steady as she runs, L And hoist Jim Beame, just one more time. Before my trip is done. Anciut 20, loos-- LOG Notify Union On LOG Mall As Seafarers know, copies of each Issue ot the SEAFARERS LOO are mailed every two weeks to all SIU ships as well as to numerous clubs, bars and other overseas spots where Seafarers congregate ashore. The procedure fw mailing the LOG involves calling all SIU steamship companies for the Itineraries of their ships. On the basis of the information supplied by the ship oper­ ator, four copies of the LOG, and minutes forms are then air­ mailed to the agent in the hext port. Similarly, the seamen's clubs get various quantities of LOGs at every mailing. The LOG Is sent to any club when a Seafarer requests it by notifying the LOG office that Seafarers con­ gregate there. As always the Union would like to hear promptly from SIU ships whenever the LOG and ship's mail is not delivered so that the Union can maintain a day-to-day check on the accuracy of its mailing lists. S.S. DE SUD (Delta), July 21 — Chairman, M. Dunn; Secretary, J.' TucKer. $101.50 in ship's fund. No beefs were reported by department delegates. Motion made that when the men who spray the ship for bugs go about the ship, they should have an officer with them. Brother Jimmy Tucker was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. POTOMAC (Empire Transport), July 18—Chairman, Joseph Oecingue; Sec­ retary, Edward Kress. Brother Frank Pasulak was elected to serve as ship's delegate. No beefs reported by department delegates. IBERVILLE (Waterman), August 1— Chairman, Joseph Aleedo; Secretary, Ralph Masters. Some disputed OT in tives be kept out of crew's quarters in foreign ports. Vote of thanks to new baker. Brother Benny Feely, and to the entire steward department for the'good food, baking and service. TpPA TOPA (Waterman), July 27— Chairman, J. 0. Johnson; Secretary, C. Gardner. No beefs were reported by department delegates. New ship's delegate elected. Vote of thanks to the steward department. DUVAL (Suwannee), August 2 — Chairman, Bob High; SecreUry, W. Butterton. $10.00 in ship's fund. No beefs reported. Motion made that Brother B. High be elected as ship's delegate. Several brothers took the floor to commend on cleanliness of recreation room, to be taken care of by BR. Laundry to be taken care of by OS, and wipers on alternate weeks. SEAMAR (Calmar)i August 8—Chair­ man, Basilio Maldonado; Secretary, Eric J. Natwig. Few hours disputed OT in deck and steward department. Washer and dryer were repaired after speaking to patrolman at Long Beach. Motion made that ship's delegate see captain about the wash water be­ ing too hot. Suggested that change to different tanks be made. deck and engine departments. Patrol­ man to speak to Chief Mate and 2nd Mate about the attitude toward the unlicensed personnel. Vote of thanks to the delegates for a job well done. BELOIT VICTORY (Marine Carriers), July 18— Chairman, J. Craft; Secre­ tary, F. M. Jones. Some disputed OT in each department. Crew is request­ ed not to leave used glasses in the sinks. Steward department would ap­ preciate suggestions on menu from crew. STEEL RECORDER (Isthmian), Aug. 5—Chairman, Roy Guild; Secretary, Tom Holt. $258.72 in ships fund. Some disputed OT in engine department, otherwise trip has been smooth. Ship's Safety Award money tabled for futune discussion. Side boards for mess-hall tables were promised at the end of last voyage but were never provided. JOHN B. WATERMAN (Waterman), July 18—Chairman, Stanley Gon'dzar; Secretary, W. E. Morse. No beefs and no disp'u'ted OT repoi^ed by depart­ ment delegates. Furnished Captain and Chief Engineer with Repair list. Mo­ tion made to buy fresh Milk in European Ports. Suggestion to put longer hoses on washing machines. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), August 2 —Chairman, C. E. Turner; Secretary, P. Loik. No beefs and no disputed OT reported by departm^t delegates. Steward department would like some­ thing in contract to give them a meal hour as the other departments 'have. Ship's delegate to ask Captain for new slop chest list on prices. Crew is asked to please help keep messroom clean. ROBIN TRENT (Robin), July 25 — Chairman, W. L. Hammock; Secretary, W. L. Hammock. Some disputed OT In each department, otherwise trip has been smooth. STEEL ROVER (Isthmian), July 11— Chairman, Jandura; Secretary, Huston. One man missed ship in Spain. Com­ pany, is not forwarding mail to ship. Matter of draw in Spain to be brought to attention of patrolman. $19.41 in ship's fund. Vote of thanks to the steward department. STEEL ROVER (Isthmian), May 8— Chairman, Harry Huston; Secretary, Henry Martin. Crew warned to bo careful of customs in Beirut. $25 in ship's fund. No beefs reported by department delegates. WALTER RICE (Reynolds Metals), August 1—Chairman, H. S. Wilson; Secretary, B. A. Maret. No beefs and no disputed OT reported by depart­ ment delegates. Nice trip. Vote of thanks to the steward department. DEL SOL (Delta), July 25—Chair­ man, J. A. Cave; Secretary, R. E. Stough, Jr. Beef regarding washing machine was settled by boarding patrolman. Everything else is O.K. $50.05 in ship's fund Brother E. E. Hunt was elected to serve as ship's delegate. It was suggested that na­ TAMARA GUILOEN (Transport Com­ mercial), June 20—Chairman, K. Gahagan; Secretaiy, Duke Gardner. Brother Winford H. Powell was elected to serve as ship's delegate. No bepfs reported by department delegates. Motion made to put in for lodging because of broken airconditioning unit which was not working when ship left Corpus Christ!, Texas. To contact patrol­ man to ask for emergency spare parts put aboard ship for repairs. Also, to have fresh water tanks cle-jned and cemented whMe ship is In drydock at Mobile, at the end of this voyage. TAMARA GUILOEN (Transport Commercial), July 24—Chairman, K. Gahagan; Spcretary, Duke Gardner. Airconditioning unit broke down. No fans, no Cots and na ventilation. Lodging put in for 28 days. Disputed 8T in engine department. Showers on lower decks are too hot. Request a cooling unit to be installed as a safety measure. Crew requested to keep all doors and portholes closed in order to get maximum benefits' of the repaired air conditioner. Vote of thanks to the steward department. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), August 2 —Chairman, C. E. Turner; Secretary,' P. Loik. No disputed OT and no belts reported by department delegates. Steward departifient would like some­ thing in contract which would enablo them to have meal hour the same as the other departments have. All hands asked to keep messroom clean. Eash department to leave laundry room clean for the next department. LA SALLE (Waterman), July 25— Chairman, C. W. Emanuel; Secretary, Leo J. Gomes. No beefs and no dis­ puted OT reported by department delegates. Discussion held on night lunch and food plan. This to be taken up with food plan representa­ tive. Motion made that personnel should be present when the captain is searching the lockers. Vote of thanks to the steward department. DEL AIRES (Delta), August i4 — Chairman, Charles Lee; Secretary, Eu­ gene Salvador. Ship's delegate re­ ported that two men were hospitaliked. Few hours disputed OT re­ ported by deck delegate. Ship's delegate to see the chief engineer about placinf' another fan in recrea­ tion room. Motion made to have patrolman contact radio officers of ship in , regards to cutting private antenna. Also about using his ham set so many hours each day causing interference on individual radios and TV sets. Vote of thanks extended to the steward department. BEAUREGARD (Sea - Land), August 12—Chairman, M. Fay; Secretary, R. W. Simnkins. Few hours disputed OT in deck department. No major beefs. All repair lists turned in. Mo­ tion made to have membership in­ formed of contract negotiations in advance of voting. To have a vote of the full membership in all ports for a period of thirty days. �Amwrt Mb-lfU F«c* Tncatr-Oa*. S-EAFAKERS ^ EO€ Is Everybofly Happy? An Old Salt Recalls Down And Out Days Captain R. J. Peterson, now retired, is a regular contributor to the LOG. Back around the turn of the Century, sailing was a rough and ready profession. The ships were wood, the hours long, the work hard, and compared with today's wage scale, the pay was a mere pittance. Many^a seaman often found himself bending to the dolly from dawn till stranded, down and out, in dusk. They used to call Newcastle Seafarer Joe Fried caught a bunch of his Nocosta crewmates together, and before anybody could duck, he snapped this picture for posterity. Standing (l-r) Chris Gorfin, 3'd cook; J. Lofton, deck maint.; R. Ferrera, Bos'n; and G. Liebers, chief cook. Sitting is (Ur) R. A. Aiford, steward; and A. Ayler, N.C.B. try to send a partial payment. Those of you who know her, know she keeps an honest book. So you know whatever you send To the Editor: This letter is written in be­ will be credited to your ac­ half of one of our good count. On this, I would stake friends. Every Seafarer who has my life, with no reservation ever visited the port of Inchon, whatsoever. Korea, knows Lee Bo Kyung— If you can send anything, may better known the world-over as I suggest that for safety's sake you use an international money "Whiskey Mary." Who knows how many or­ order rather than cash. You can phans she fed, clothed and make -it out in the following sheltered, before, during and manner: Lee Bo Kyung. Here is Mary's complete ad­ dress: Lee Bo Kyung Whiskey Mary's Tavern No. 8, 4th Street Joongang Dong Til ft Inchon, Korea. Fraternally yours, Robert Ingram AH letters to the Editor for publication in the SEAFARERS LOG must be signed by the writer. Names will be withheld Grateful For upon request. Seafarer's Pal Needs Help Welfare Plan after the Korean Conflict? Who knows how many seamen she helped when they were left be­ hind, through chance of circum-. stance, when there was no one else to turn to in a strange, and sometimes hostile, country? Who knows how much money she has loaned out to seamen who were tapped out? Who knows how many seamen she has sent a twenty or fifty dollar bill when they were hospital­ ized in the States, or elsewhere? Who knows how much money we still owe her? At the present time, Mary Is having a hard time of It her­ self. She is in dire financial straits. Trouble has hit her pretty hard. I have known Whiskey Mary for some twelve years and I know a lot of you have known her a lot longer, and I am sure that you will agree that she is all heart when it comes to doing a seamen a good turn. As we follow the sea and scatter to the four winds and all .points of the compass in search of our. liveli­ hood, we sometimes postpone paying a tab until we get back next trip to square it a\yay, In the goodness of her heart, Mary has^ helped so many people in their time.of need — so .now, please, let those of us who owe her' anything make an effort to pay up promptly. She hannOt afford., any longer, to wait for the "next trip." If it is a bi^g .tab, To the Editor: I was hospitalized on two sep­ arate occasions at the USPHS Hospital in Staten Island, New York. Each time I received wonderful treatment from the hospital staff and both times the medical attention that was given to me was superb. Let me also express my deep appreciation to the SIU welfare representative. He totdc excel­ lent care of me and saw to my every need. Both my wife and I wish to convey our deep sense of grati­ tude to the Seafarer's Interna­ tional Union for the eare and consideration extended to each of us under the SIU Welfare Plan. For example, while I was away at sea my wife underwent surgery at the Long Island Col­ lege Hos:pital in Brooklyn, New York. The operation was for the removal oif a cateract. As a re­ sult of complications that devel­ oped. in the wake of. tliis opera­ tion, she was required to be ad­ mitted three more times for treatment. During each of these periods of hospitalization, the Union welfare staff saw to it that she received all the necessary consideration and treatments. Once again, my wife and I wish to' express Our heartfelt thanks to aU.the membera.and officers of the SIU. ' Fraternally yours, Fernando and; ROd Dacsma^ Novelist (Continued from page 20) age was discovered. Thei came the two year sentence, and the Florida chain gang. Soon after he was released, Pearce took to the sea, excited by a vision of freedom and movement. "As soon as I could," he says, "I went to sea. It's a free life and it helps me to write. I've been shipping out, off and on, ever since." Between runs, Pearce has lived as a beachcomber—both in India and Europe, as a painter —ped­ dling his pictures in Greenwich Village art shows, and finally as a writer. Lucky Break At the age of 30, he crushed his right foot in a motorcycle acci­ dent and was disabled for two years. "That turned out to be the luckiest accident of my life," Pearce told the LOG. "While I was recuperating In a Danbury hospital, I met my wife Christine who was working there as a nurse. As soon as I was back on my feet, we were married." Pearce began writing seriously several years ago. He rewrote Cool Hand Luke five times before finally submitting it to Scribners for pub­ lication. Making his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with Christine, his 7-month old son. Hawser, and seven cats, the 36-year old sailorwriter is presently rewriting some of his old stories and, of course, working on some new ones. Seafariitf Giants As SlU-members are aware, sea­ faring writers are not new to American literary waters. Two of our greatest writers were men of the sea. Mark Twain — author of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Saw­ yer — worked his way up and down the mighty Mississippi, pilot­ ing the legendary, 19th century riverboats. In fact. Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, took his literary pen name from a familiar pilot's depth-reading call. Herman Melville — who wrote Moby Dick, probably the grtatest American novel — worked as a merchant, whaling, and naval sea­ man. Admittedly, Pearce is following in the wake of literary giants. But his newly launched career may well provide an eixample for other talented Seafarers. • some far-flung, out of the way port. It was under such tough circum­ stances that the legendary frater­ nity of the sea was born. Seamen had to extend a helping hand to their mates — there was just no­ where else to turn. Captain R. J. Peterson, who has sailed aboard just about every type of vessel un­ der the sun, recently recalled a few pages of seafaring history. "The other day," he says, "I was reading an account of the <.ld days by a fellow named E. Burkmar. Burkmar was writing about the Afon Alaw—"Musical Waters"—on which he sailed as second mate from 1909 to 1911. I wonder if he remembers the two ragged seamen who got a much needed rest on that vessel as she lay in Melbourne in the summer of 1910, discharging lumber from Norway. "I was one of the down-and-outers, and my friend and shipmate was the other. 'We were 'guests' of the crew for a few days, and Mr. Burkmar may have seen us. We were the two shabby and down on the heels strangers up forv/ard. We were skinny and hungry, hav­ ing skinned out from the ship Glenlui in Newcastle, where we had been working ballast by hand and "Siberia," and you'd better believe it. Gallant Ship "The Glenlui was a lofty and smart ship. We took 52 days from Buenos Aires with 36 days to Bass Straits. For 15 days, under lower canvas with forsail, we logged from 15-16 knots through the 'Roaring Forties.' She ran, she rolled, and the bell tolled. The barque Dunearn sailing from Montevideo, beat us by five days. She sailed from Newcastle for a Saltpetre port and went missing. "The Glenlui later went to Guayaquil and, sailing from that port, was caught in a squall and dismasted. She ended up as an old barge. But while being towed from Texas, she broke loose and drifted ashore on the Virginia Coast. A splendid ship—gone, but not for­ gotten. Jock And Maggie "In the summer of 1910, after we had rested in the Afon Alaw, my buddy and I worked for a fortnight on the Derwent. Then, dissatisfied^ we left her and walked to Geelong, from where we worked our passage in a steamer back to Newcastle. (Continued on page 22) LOG-A-RHYTHM: Seaman's Vigil By S. Petersen On • misty gray morning, with a reluctant sun Fingering the horizon. We sailed. You stood on the dock, wrapped in a hhie coat. With hair totisled. Gaily loauinp. * * * Amid the clankiny of the anchor chain, the hoarse shouts of the deck gang, and a tug gently prodding. We sHd into the channel, Europe bound. 1 saw your face in every cloud, in all the waves end My heart cried. Wait for me. * * * In all the ports, I visited my eld haunts, saw all the familiar faces. But thought only of you. Homeward bound, at last, I prayed for a following wind to speed me back to My love. • • • At last, the long voyage ended, now a conversational tug hooted us into our berth end I eagerly scanned the crowd, looking for your Dear face. All that weary day, I looked and watched and waited. Cursed then prayed and waited some more, but you Never came. Bfoofetyn 32, NY �Fat* TireBtr-Tw» SlU SEAFARERS LOG Three Ports DeparturesI Report Big Traffic Rise Aamst 20, 1981 j^ireczok:^ UNION6AT.T.S The deaths of the following Seafarers hare been reported SIU Atlantic, Guff, Lakes A rise in bulk imports and ex­ to the Seafarers Welfare Plan (any apparent delay in payment & inland Waters ports has been responsible for re­ of claims is normally due to late filing, lack of beneficiary ports of increased traffic totals PRESIDENT Paul Hall for the ports of San Diego, Pascacard or necessary litigation for the disposition of estates) t EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT goula. Miss., and Miami, Fla. dur­ Cal Tanner ing the first six months of 196S. Bozo G. Zelencic, 49: Brother Charles Torgerson, 63: Brother VICE PRESIDEOTS Shepard Llndsey WiUlami Torgerson died of natural caiisos Zelencic died of natural causes on San Diego reported a 23 percent Earl A1 Tanner Robert Matthews January 19, 1965, increase in imports and a rise of on June 24, ISdS SECRETARY-TREASURER at St. Vincent's 11 percent in exports moving at the Baltimore AI Kerr Hospital, New across its piers during the fiscal USPHS Hospital HEADQUARTERS REPRESENTATIVES York. A member year ending June 30. Shipments BUI HaU Baltimore, Mary­ Ed Mooney Fred Stewart of the engine of cotton again represented the BALTIMORE land. A member 1218 E. Baltimore St. department, he California port's major export Rex Dickey, Agent EAstern 7-4900 of the engine 177 State St. joined the SIU in item. Exports of this commodity BOSTON. department, he Ed Riley, Agent Richmond 2-0140 10229 W. Jefferson Ave. 1939. He was were up 30 percent over the pre­ DETROIl joined the Union 3-4741 buried in the vious year, to make 1964-5 the HEADQUARTERS ... .679VInewood a Place of 4th Ave., Bklyn second best year in the port's his­ Calvary Ceme­ HYaclnth 9-6600 Hk \ burial was the St HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. tery, Queens, New tory. Stanislaus Ceme­ Paul Drozak. Agent WAInut 8-3207 tery, Baltimore, Maryland. He is York. Surviving is his sister Katy Statistics for Pascagoula's traf­ JACKSONVILLE. 2608 Pearl St., SE., Jax WUUam Morris, Agent ELgin 3-0987 survived by his wife Mary. Attanasio. fic movements show that the port MIAMI 744 W. Flagler St. experienced the best first half- Ben Gonzales, Agent ....FRanklln 7-3564 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. i year in its history. Export ship­ Louis Neira, Agent HEmlock 2-1754 Joseph Tamborella, 64: Brother ments of grain soared upward, ris­ NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. Hans R. Hanssen, 75: Brother Buck Stephens, Agent Tel. 529-7546 Tamborella died of natural causes Hanssen died of natural causes on ing 48 percent over the previous NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn June. The port reports that the on June 14, 1965, HYaclnth 9-6600 Feb. 16, 1965, at 115 3rd St. 4.5 million total tons it handled NORFOLK at the New Or­ Gordon Spencer. Acting Agent ..622-1892 the Lutheran from January to June this year PHILADELPHIA leans USPHS 3604 S. 4th St. Medical Center, DEwey 6-3818 represented more cargo than John Fay, Acting Agent Hospital, New FRANCISCO 350 Freemont St. Brooklyn, New passed through Pascagoula from SAN Orlaans, Louisi­ Paul Gonsorchlk, Agent ..DOuglas 2-4401 York. A member Frank Drozak. West Coast Rep. 1953 through 1961. ana. A member of SANTURCE PR .. 1313 Fernandez Juncos of the Union the SIU since Stop 20 Miami cargo totals also regis­ since 1940, he Keith Terpe, Hq. Rep Phone 723-8594 1960, he sailed in tered a significant increase, ris­ SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. sailed In the the deck depart­ .MAin 3-4334 ing to 99,268 tons during June, as Ted Babkowski, Agent steward depart­ TAMPA 313 Harrison St. ment. He is sur­ contrasted to 64,856 tons in June, Jeff Gillette. Agent 229-2788 ment. He is sur­ vived by his 1964. Miami's cargo traffic was up WILMINGTON, CaUf 505 N. Marine Ave. vived by his son TErminal 4-2528 daughter Josephine Wingfield. 11 percent for the first six months Frank Boyne. Agent Burial was in the Greenwood Donald R. Hanssen. Place of burial of this year. Great Lakes Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana. was the Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. SECRETARY-TREASURER 4» i Edward Jeanfreau, 56: Brother Jeanfreau died of an internal hemorrhage on December 17, 1965, at the New Orleans USPHS Hospital, New Orleans, Louisi­ ana. A member of the SIU since 1955, he sailed as an FWT in the engine depart­ ment. He is survived by his daughter Mrs. Shirley Carbo. Place of burial was the Metairie Ceme­ tery, New Orleans, Louisiana. 4" 4- Antonio Jason Corral, 74: Brother Corral died of natural causes on May 28, 1965, at the Holy Family Hos­ pital, Brooklyn, New York. A member of the steward depart­ ment, he joined the Union in 1948. Place of burial was the Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, He is survived by Madeline L. Corral, his wife. Runaway (Continued from page 4)' to turn him over to "the people in Ybor City," Tampa's latin sec­ tion now packed with Cuban exiles. Ramirez claimed that the captain then pulled a knife and threatened to attack him. He said he drew his own .38-caliber pistol from his belt and shot the captain and the second engineer, Fi-anco Solomon. Ramirez said he then went to the crew quarters and shot first mate Hinds, the Cuban engineer, Jose Abad, and seaman Antonio Fornier as they slept. The Coast Guard confirmed that each of these men had been shot once in the head at close range. Their bodies were still in their bunks when the Seven Seas was towed into port. Then, Ramirez said, he returned to the bridge and threw the bodies of the skipper and Solomon over the side. Down & Out (Continued from page 21) There we shipped in the Westgate —a ship that was a workhouse un­ der Jock Davidson of Dundee and his wife Maggie of Melbourne. "Maggie had sailed with Jock for seven years, knew the ropes, and gave us our whack. It took us 40odd days to Iquique where the masts and yards of about 100 ves­ sels, lying in tiers, were like a for­ est in winter. Three months we lay there, and every night we turned out to ring the .bell rapidly and cheer the Homeward Bounder In chorus: 'Hip, hip, hurrah!'" ' Fred J. Farnen ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER Roy Boudreau 127 River St. ALPENA EL. 4-3616 BUFFALO, NY 735 Washington TL 3-9259 CHICAGO 9383 Ewing Ave. So. Chicago, ni. SAginaw 1-0733 CLEVELAND 1420 West 25th St. MAln 1-5450 DULUTH 312 W. 2nd St. RAndolph 2-4110 FRANKFORT, Mich 415 Main St. MaU Address: P.O. Box 287 ELgin 7-2441 HEADQUARTERS 10225 W. Jefferson Av. River Rodge 18 Mich. VInewood 3-4741 Inland Boatmen's Union NATIONAL DraECTOR Robert Matthews GREAT LAKES AREA DIRECTOR Al Tanner BALTIMORE ....1216 E. Baltimore St .EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 276 State St. .Richmond 2-0140 HEADQUARTERS 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. WAInut 8-3207 JACKSONVILLE 2608 Pearl St.. SE. Jax .ELgin 3-0987 MIAMI 744 W. Flagler St FRanklln 7-3564 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. HEmlock 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. Tel 529-7546 2604 S 4th St PHILADELPHIA Tel. DE 6-3838 .... 119 Third St. NORFOLK 622-1892 312 Harrison St TAMPA Tel. 229-2788 GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE REGION REGIONAL DIRECTOR Robert Jones Dredge Workers Section ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Richard L. TUlman BUFFALO 94 Henrietta Ave. Arthur MUler, Agent TR 5-1536 CHICAGO 2300 N. KlmbaU Trygve Varden, Agent ALbany 2-1154 CLEVELAND 1420 W. 25th St. Tom Gerrity, Agent 621-5450 DETROIT 2306 Hubbard St. Harold Yon, Agent TA 5-5723 DULUTH 305 W. 5th St. Paul Greco, Agent RA 2-3732 SAULT STE. MARIE Address mall to Brlmley, Mleh. Wayne Weston, Agent. .BRlmley 14-R 9 TOLEDO 423 Central St. Leslie Willard, Agent 243-6859 Tug Firemen, linemen, Oilers ft Watchmen's Section ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Tom Burns ASHTABUI.A. 0 1644 W. Third St. John Mero, Agent WOodman 4-8532 BUFFALO 16 Portland St. Tom Burns, Agent TA 3-7095 CHICAGO 9383 Ewlng, S. Chicago Robert Affleck, Agent ESsex 5-9570 CLEVELAND 1420 W. 25th St. W. Hearns, Pro-Tem Agrnt MA 1-5450 DETROIT-TOLEDO Byron Kelly, Agent 14595 Reglna, Allen Park. Mich. DIH-UTH Box No. 66 South Range, Wis. Agent Export 4-4383 LORAIN, 0 118 E. Parish St. Sandusky, Ohio Harold Rutlisatx. Agent MAln 6-4573 MILWAUKEE ....2722 A. So. Shore Dr. Joseph MUler, Agent ..SHerman 4-6649 SAULT STE. MARIE 219 Brady St. John Bernard, Agent MElrose 2-8963 TOLEDO 2706 106th St. Owen Cone, Agent RA 6-4823 Rivers Section ST. LOXnS, MO 809 Del Mar L. J. Colvls, Agent CE 1-1434 PORT ARTHUR, Tex 1348 7th St. Arthur Bendheim, Agent RAILWAY MARINE REGION HEADQUARTERS 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City 2, NJ HEnderson 3-0104 REGIONAL DIRECTOR G. P. McGlnty ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTORS E. B. Pulver R. H. Avery BALTIMORE....1219 E. Baltimore St. EAstern 7-4900 NORFOLK 119 Third St. 623-1892-3 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4th S'. DEwey 6-3818 United Industrial Workers BALTIMORE 1216 E. BalUmore St. EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 276 Stale St. Richmond 2-0140 HEADQUARTERS 679 4th Ave Brooklyn HYaclnth 9-6600 HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. WAInut 8-3207 JACKSONVILLK 2608 Pearl St. SB 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 2604 S. 4th St. DEwey 6-3818 TAMPA 312 Harrison St. Phone 229-2788 Robert Jordan You are requested to contact your s'ster Marie before making your r.pxt run to Barcelona. $• 4* '4" S. Beckett You are asked to contact your old shipmate Lucky Malloy about the whereabouts of your brother Jack. 4 4" 4- George L. Williams You are asked to contact John De Luca at 633 4th Ave., Brook­ lyn, New York, concerning your automobile. 4 4' 4» Julius Parks You are asked to contact Paul C. Matthews, attorney, 11 Broad­ way, New York City 4, N.Y., tele­ phone DI 4-1936 concerning the ease of Bjorn Lerwick who sailed on the Trustco. 4 4 4 Robert D. Bridges Your mother would like to hear from you at 101-B Hamilton Ave., Charleston, S.C., as soon as pos­ sible. 4 4 4 Louis Samla You are requested to contact your sister immediately at 271 Clin­ ton Street, Brooklyn, New, York. 4 4 4 Howard A. Sampson You are asked to contact Jo im­ mediately at 3232 Francis, Houston, Texas, care of Carolyn Smith. Joe Landry & Mr. Pace—Formerly 4 4 4 of SS Hudson You are requested to contact Harry H. Darrah at Compass Cen­ ter, 77 Washington Street, Seattle, Washington 98104. 4 4 4 George McAlplne You are asked to contact Jon H. Roethke of Sea-Land Service, P.O. Box 1050, Elizabeth, New JerM66284lsey, for your maintenance checks. s �Aopui 99,1999 S^AF'AREHS Fur* Tmmtf'Ttaf LOG i^KiSuiro; Membership Meetings SiU-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 be excused should request permission by tele­ gram (be sure to include registration number). The next SIU meetings will be: New York Philadelphia Baltimore Sept. 7 Sept. 7 Sept. 8 Mobile Detroit Houston New Orleans Sept. 15 Seafarers and tnetr families are urged to support a consumer boy­ cott by trade unionists against various companies whose products are prodw-'i under non-union conditions, or which are "unfair to labor." (This listing carries the Sept. 10 name of the AFL-CIO unions in­ ...Sept. 13.. volved, and will be amended from Sept. 14 time to time.) i West Coast SIU-AGLIWD Meetings SIU 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 Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 c- . 4" scheduled each month in the vari­ ous ports at 7:30 PM. The next Reguiar membership meetings meetings will ue; on the Great I.ake.s are held on the first and third Mondays of Detroit 13 each month in all ports at 7 PM Milwaukee 13 local time, except at Detroit, Chicago 14 where meetings are held at 2 PM. Buffalo 15 The next meetings will be. tSauIt Ste. Marie .. .. Sept. 16 Detroit Sept. 7—3 P.M. Duluth 17 Aipena, Bunaio, Chicago, Cleveland 17 Cleveland, DuK th, F-ankfort, Toledo ... Sept. 17 Sept. 7—7 P.M. (For meeting place, contact John 4> Mero, 1644 West 3rd Street, AsliSIU Inland Boatmen's Union tabula, Ohio). Regular membership meetings for IBU members are scheduled 4" 4» lb each month in various ports. The United Industrial Workers next meetings will he: Regular membership meetings Phila Sept. 7—5 P.M. for UIW members are scheduled B.''"imore (licensofl and un­ each month at 7 PM in various licensed ... Sept. 8—5 P.M. ports. The next meetings will be: Houston ..Sept. 13—5 P.M. New York Sept. 7 Norfolk Sept. 9—5 P.M. Baltimore Sept. 8 N'Orleans .. Sept. 14—5 P.M. Philadelphia .. • Sept. 7 Mobile Sept. 15—5 P.M. ^Houston Sept. 13 RAILWAY MARINE REGION Mobile Sept. 15 Regular membership meetings New Orleans .......Sept. 14 for Railway Marine Region-IBU • Meetings held sT Laoor Temple, New­ members are scheduled each port News. month in the various ports at 10 t Meeting held at Labor Temple, Sault AM and 8 PM. The next meetings Ste. Marie, Mich. 1 Meeting held at Galveston wharves. will be: Jersey City Sept. 13 Philadelphia .Sept. 14 Baltimore Sept. 15 •Norfolk Sept. 16 Great Lakes SIU Meetings GREAT LAKES TUG AND REGION DREDGE "Lee" brand tires (United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum & Plastic Workers) 4. t, i, Eastern Air Lines (Flight Engineers) H. I. Siegel "HIS" brand men's clothes (Amalgamated Clothing Workers) Sears, Roebuck Company Retail stores & products (Retail Clerks) 4. 4* 4 Stitzel-Wellier Distilleries "Old Fitzgerald," "Old Elk" "Cabin Still," "W. L. Weller" Bourbon whiskeys (Distillery Workers) 4- 4" 4> J. R. Simplot Potato Co. Frozen potato products (Grain Millers) 4* 4* 4* Ringsport Press "World Book," "Childcraft" (Printing Pressmen) (Typographers, Bookbinders) (Machinists, Stereotypers) - 4. 4 4 Jamestown Sterling Corp. Southern Furniture Mfg. Co. Furniture and Bedding (United Furniture Workers) 4 4 4 Empire State Bedding Co. "Sealy Mattresses" (Textile Workers) 4 4 4 Pepsi Cola Company (Soft Drink Workers, Local 812) 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 constttntlon requires a detailed CPA audit every three months by a rank aa4 file auditing committee elected by the membership. AU Union record# are a-ailable at SIU headquarters in Brooklyn. Benefits 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 shaU consist equally of union and management representatives and their alternates. AU expenditures and disbursements of ti'ust 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. (iMS^iUEice USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA John E. Adams Lawyer McGrew Luclen Allaire Thomas McNeil Tobe Beans Robert A. Medicus Larry L. Boudoln Ethel Messonier John Misakian S. K. Broussard Ardell Burkett Charles Mitchell Gregory J. Bums Cleon Mixon John R. Buttlner Willis O. Moncrief Allen Collins Charles L. Monks C. E. Cummings B. E. Parnell H. C. Dickmeyer Andrew C. Reed Nelson R. Dorado Eugene G. Plahn Harry J. Duracher James Redden Frank Duplessis Albert Rebane Harry D. Emmett Douglas Robbins Wilson Fontenot Robert Rutledge Marshall Foster Patrick J. Scanlan Hamilton Sebum H. P. Gonzalez Clifton Gullett H. Leonard Shaw lohn A. Hals E. R. Smallwood Oliver J. Kendrick Paul Stanley Lafayette King Robert White George J. Malonev Earl L. Wicker James W. McFarlin Anthony Zarca MSPHS HOSPITAL ni^TROIT, MICHIGAN Theodore Bills Reino MakI All Mohammed Anna Bond Roy Pink Mike Danko Leslie Pluff Ronald Dobson H. Schalkofski John J. Fletcher Henry J. Strvczek Robert Kurkewicz Harold Goethals C'arence • enhart Dale Lucia M<!PHS HOSPITAL CFATTI.E, W.ASHINGTON D. J. Applegate J. W. Karr R. A. Beevers C. W. Lane John Cogiev R. MrPhillip T. M. Carter F. A. Norte Harry Hanrah D. Roditip Bain Gifford L. 0. Sears K. A. Hellman MSPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON, TEXAS Alfred Aana Fred D. Peterson Willis O. Adcock Lole N. Stri-kland "•'"p C. Bernard Earl J. Sillin Joe B. Block J. o. Thomas Charles Cooeman Richard L. Toler Raul DeLaSantos G. Vilkononena .lohn H. Ford James Walker Rueh Grove Walter R. Webster L. V. Hargesheimer I eroy L. Williamson A"en M. Myrex Edward C. Yeaman Richard M. Nelson "SPHS HOSPITAL STATFN ISLAND. NEW YORK E. Boles, Jr. M. Mamello J. E. Brooke G. P. Marcotte A. W. Brower George Mastoras Ralph E. B-mkley Pedro Mena Robert Burton Cos'mo Melpignano Chester Coumas P. Moica D. Covaney J. G. Naooleonis R. E. Cuevas A. Niineberg Jeff Davis •John Novak H. W. D=erking Stan O'Brien K. F. nisen Richard Do-ovan Fdward Di'ffy A. Pedro T. Pere'ra Dominick Fois Harry Pilais Claude Garnett •lulio Quinones M. Goldfinger Robert Roerier R. G. Gustaffson Adin Seraga O. Hernandez F. Soils Emitio Isaac .lohn Kaiiaste Teofilo Torres Sidney Turner F. DeKeyser IsodoTo Vailes R. E. LaGasse Rav E. Waterfield E. P. Lee J. E. Williams K. Leetma J. Wirtas Lucas Lopez Michael Loretto USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VIRGINIA Ernest C. Bell Leon C. Douglas William H. Mason Marion Luksa Henri J. Robin USPHS HOSPITAL CHICAGO, ILLINOIS USPHS HOSPITAL BRIGHTON, MASS. John Keegan William Powers USPHS HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA H. C. Burnsed B. H. McLendon P. C. Lee USPHS HOSPITAL BAITIMORE, MARYLAND Lowell Bailey Andy C. Noah R. W. Collins James Portway John W. Coursey Roy Rayfield David Fair Henry Reynolds Daniel Hill Robert Thornsberry Jennings Hockman Geofpe Williams Eric Johnson Herman Whisnant Lawrence McClone A. E. Zielinski USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. Ruel Barr Charles Kath William Bamtierger Francis Keelan Weldon Casey James McAuley Edward Fernandez Ho Ming Melvin Grant Pablo niera Charles Hylen Ding Woo MSPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH, TEXAS Benjamin Deibler Abraham Mander Abe Gordon Max Olson Thomas Lehay SAILORS* SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK Daniel Gorman William Kenny Alberto Gutierrez Harry MacDorald Edwin Harriman U.S. SOLDIERS HOME HOSPITAL WASHINGTON, D.C. VA HOSPITAL William 1 lomson HOUSTON, TEXAS Thomas Manion VA HOSPITAL WEST HAVEN, CONN. Paul Kolesnick VA HOSPITAL BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Robert McCutcheon VA HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA, PENN. Philip Jeffers VA HOSPITAL LONG BEACH, CALIF. Raymond Arsenault VA HOSPITAL HINES, ILLINOIS Oscar Kvaas VA HOSPITAL ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN Robert Asbahr PUREAIR SANATORIUM BAYFIELD, WISCONSIN Theodore Galazen VWflTE ^LOG Know Your Rights Regular membership meet­ ings for Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Region IBU memlers are (Continued from page 5) surgery, or of the patient's dis­ charge from the hospital. In addition, the applicant must have, on file with the Seafarers Welfare Plan office, copies of the following or originals: An enroll­ ment card, a claims statement (filled in oh both sides and signed by the attending physician or sur­ geon), a marriage certificate, the child's birth certificate (if a child is involved). For any other person whom the member is claiming as a dependent, he must furnish a copy of his latest Federal tax re­ turn as proof of dependency. All hospitalized Seafarers would appreciate mail and visits whenever, possible. The following is the latest available list of SIU men in the hospital: SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by the contracts between the Union and the sliipowners. Get to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and avail­ able in aU 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 mail, 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. copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at all times, either by writing direcUy to the Union or to the Seafarers Anpeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of aU SIU contracts are avaUable In aU SIU halls. These contracts specify the wa^es and conditions under which you work and live aboard ship. Know your contract rights, as well as your obllgalions. 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 opinions fails to protect your contract rights properly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. _ . EDITORIAL POLICY—SEAFARERS LOO. The LOG has traditionally refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union, officer or member. It has also refrained from puliUs^hing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its coUective membership. This estabUshed policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September. 1960, meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for 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 thta 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 circumstance 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 immediately be reported to headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. The SIU publishes every six months in the SEAFARERS LOG a verbatim copy of its constitu­ tion. In addition, copies are available in all Union halls. AU 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 wifh charges, trials, etc., as well as aU other details, then the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. RETIRED SEAFARERS. Old-time SIU members drawing disability-pension benefits have always been encouraged to continue their union activities, including attendance at membership meetings. And like aU other SIU mem­ bers at these Union meetings, they are encouraged to take an active role in all rank-and-file functions, including service on rank-and-file committees. Because these oldtimers cannot take shipboard employment, the membership has reaffirmed the long-standing Union policy of aUowing them to retain their good standing through the waiving of their dues. • EQUAL RIGHTS. All Seafarers are guaranteed equal rights In employment and as members of the SIU. Tiiese rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employers. Consequently, no Seafarer may be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, national or geographic origin. If any member feels that be Is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATIONS. One of the basic rights of Seafarers is the right to pursue legislative and political objectives which will serve the best interests of themselves, their families and their Union. To achieve these objectives, the Seafarers Political Activity Donation was established. Donations to SPAD are entirely voluntary and constitute the funds through which legislative and political activities are conducted for the benefit of the membership and the Union. If at any time a Seafarar 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 Paul Hall at headquarters by certified mall, return receipt requested. :,3 •4 V �f ^ SEAFARERS^LOG Aug. 20 L 196S OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT • AFL-CIO Administration Urges Updating Rap Gov't Plan To Buy Of Jobless insurance Program Fishing BoatsDverseas Legislators, Shipbuilders Protest « 4 r)'" WASHINGTON—The Administration has urged Congress to revamp the 30-year-old un­ employment insurance system to provide higher benefits for more workers over a longer period of joblessness. • —7 work or training would be entitled WASHINGTON—A government proposal to build fishing Labor Sec. W. Willard Wirtz, would not be entitled to the federal benefits after a six-week disquali­ tax credit they would otherwise vessels in Polish shipyards is coming under heavy fire from the leadoflf witness at House to fication period. A state could not receive. Congressmen who are opposed to constructing ships in foreign "Ways & Means Committee reduce benefits to unemployed hearings, said new federal stand­ workers who leave the state in Wirtz pointed out that maximum yards while U.S. shipyards are"*" ards are needed because states benefits have fallen far behind the being closed and American workers idled. Protesting a Department of the Interior plan to farm work out behind the Iron Curtain, lawmakers testifying at a Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing said that the U.S. should be promoting and protecting do­ mestic industries, not considering proposals to further depress them. The plan, reportedly originating in the Interior Department's Bu­ reau of Commercial Fisheries, calls for the purchase of two moden fishing trawlers from Polish shipyards. The vessels would then be leased to American commer­ cial fishing operators. Congressman Garmatz (D-Maryland), acting chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, declared that the proposal was "another evidence of the government's policy running counter the merchant marine policy." Cites Need Emphasizing that there is a need for comm.ercial fishing vessels, the Maryland Democrat said: "They should be built in the United States, with United States funds, in United States shipyards." Representative Garmatz further declared that although Secretary of the Interior Udall had assured him that no contract had yet been signed with Poland, it was neces­ sary to "be on the alert" to insure that vessels are not built abroad. Representative Downing (DVirginia), also challenged the pro­ posal, pointing out that U.S. ship­ yards needed the work and could easily handle the assignment. Several Proposals Congressman Downing an­ nounced that there are not one, but three proposals "circulating Wash­ ington corridors" to ship out ship­ building projects to foreign yards. "In mid-June," he said, "I was shocked to learn that the Depart­ ment of Defense was considering the construction of some 50-60 million dollars worth of non-com­ batant Navy vessels in British ship­ yards. Further," he said, "the Mar­ itime Administrator has made a number of public statements on the possible advantages of building subsidized maritime vessels abroad. And then a few days ago." Repre­ sentative Downing continued, "I learned that the . Interior Depart­ ment is now considering the ac­ quisition of two stern-ramp fishing trawlers from Communust Poland." U.S. Yards Closed "There is no question in my mind," Downing said, "but that those of us who have an interest In protecting our domestic shipbuildftig industry must speak out against these three proposals. I believe the Administration should be considering proposals to protect and promote our shipbuilding in­ dustry. This industry is already depressed. I understand that about 18 private shipyards have had to close their doors during the past ten years. The Government-owned yards at Brooklyn and Ports­ mouth, New Hampshire are scheduled to be closed. It is clear to me that our capacity to build gtates is be­ coming more and more dependent on a declining industry." S/U Pacific Cos To Get 8 WASHINGTON — SIU Pacific District-contracted companies will operate eight additional Victory shijw which are being reactivated from the Maritime Administration's reserve fleet. The eight vessels are in addition to the 15 vessels broken out of mothballs recently—10 of which are slated for operation by SIUNA-contracted companies. The companies will serve as gen­ eral agents for the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service. SIU Pacific District - contracted companies which wiR operate the latest batch of ships to be reacti­ vated are: Alaska Steamship, which will operate the Creighton Victory; States Steamship, which gets the Grove City Victory and Council Bluff Victory; American President Lines, which gets the Hunter Vic­ tory and Berkley Victory; Pacific Far East Line, which gets the Pan American Victory and Morgantown Victory; and Matson Navigation, which gets the Hope Victory. Meany Urges Driver Safety WASHINGTON — AFLCIO President George Meany has called on all union members to join in an all-out campaign to reduce the tragic rise in fatalities on the nation's highways. In a special safety mes­ sage, Meany pointed out tnat more than half of the 50,000 highway fatalities ex­ pected this year will occur to American workers and their families. "Something must be done now to stop this slaughter and it has be­ come the role of trade unionists to take positive action," Meany said. "Over half the accident fatalities to workers can be attributed to off-the-job ac­ cidents and by far the greatest number of these occurred in motor vehicles," Meany warned. The AFL-CIO urges all union members and their families and friends to drive carefully and by all means install and use seat belts. search of jobs. have been reluctant to improve rise in average wages since the • Financing would be strength­ Thirties. In 1939, he noted, 49 of jobless benefits for fear of losing industry to other states with lower ened by raising the taxable wage 51 states and territories had bene­ base from $3,000 to $5,600 and in fit ceilings equal to at least 50 per­ tax rates. 1971 to $6,600. There would also cent of average wages—as against Today's unemployment problems be a small increase in the employ­ only 18 states today. In 1939, 34 are different than those of the de­ er's tax rate. states paid benefits as high as 60 pression era, Writz told the com­ "While states would not be com­ percent of average wages and 22 mittee. "This generation," he stressed, can no longer rest "on pelled to meet the new benefit states had ceilings at least twothe magnificent, but now 30-year- standards, there would be no finan­ thirds of average pay. Today, ho old, achievements of the New cial advantage in refusing to do so said, only one state is eVen at the since employers in such states 60 percent level. Deal." The Ways & Means Commit­ tee has scheduled three weeks of hearings on the labor-sup­ ported Administration bill,' in­ troduced by Committee Chair­ man Wilbur D. Mills (D-Ark.) and by Sen. Eugene J. McCar­ CHICAGO—The American Medical Association has advised thy (D-Minn.). The bill in­ its more than 200,000 members that individual physicians may cludes these key provisions: legally refuse to treat patients who receive Federal Medicare • State benefit standards based benefits. on 50 percent of lost wages, sub­ declaring that it was The AMA, warned its mem­ statement ject to a ceiling which would rise "each physician's obligation" to automatically as average wages in ber doctors that if "physicians decide for himself whether or not the state increased. Initially the acting in concert through medical to participate in Medicare. ceiling would be 50 percent of the organizations" refuse to participate Last week's statement, the first average state wage, and would in the Medicare program, they move up in steps to two-thirds of run the risk of violating anti-trust Issued by the AMA since the the average by July 1, 1971. laws. It pointed out however, that passage of Medicare, assured its members that "an independent • A new federal extended bene­ individual doctors can legally physician, acting independently refuse • to treat Medicare bene­ fit program for workers who have and not in concert with others, can exhausted their state benefits and ficiaries. lawfully refuse to accept any per­ are still unemployed. Such work­ Earlier, the directors of the As­ son as a patient who is a bene­ ers would be entitled to an addi­ sociation of American Physicians ficiary under the program." tional 26 weeks of benefits, fi­ and Surgeons, another doctors* "If," the statement warned nanced partly by a small increase organization, urged its 15,000 in the federal payroll tax on em­ members to follow a stringent however, "physicians acting in ployers, partly by federal contri­ policy of non-participation in the concert through medical organi­ butions from general revenues. plan, although most doctors have zations refuse to participate, such indicated that they will cooperate action would involve exposure to • Extension of coverage to 5 the application of the Sherman with the program. million workers now excluded Anti-Trust Act." The AMA has long opposed under state laws. These are mainly After telling its members how workers in small firms, in non­ Medicare for the aged, which is profit organizations, and on large financed through Social Security. to circumvent the law should they The Association spent millions of so choose, AMA spokesmen an­ farms. dollars in a futile attempt to block nounced that a detailed report on • Limits on disqualification pen­ Medicare would be presented to passage of the bill In Congress. alties. A worker who voluntarily the organization's house 61 dele­ quits his job, is discharged for At its June Convention in New gates when it convenes in Phila­ misconduct, or who refuses suitable York City, the AMA issued a delphia in November. AM As Anti-Medicare Fight Goes Underground SIU Seniority Upgrading Class #9 Smiling graduates of SIU Seniority Upgrading Class #9 posed for this group photo at recent graduation ceremonies. Standing (l-r) are: George Boxter, Victor Prado, Edward Wagner, Adolf Strawinski, David Wakliss, William Cooper, Carmelo Bonefont, Fernando Gonioles. Seated (l-r) are: Thomas Kelly, Donald Cox, Alexander Laxorisak, Rodney Cusson, Edward Sherris, Frank Harris, David Manzanet, William Miller and William Gainer. Seafarers are urged to take advantage of the SlU's Upgrading Program. � 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 August 20, 1965 Description An account of the resource Headlines: ANNUAL REPORT GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE PENSION FUND THE MARAD CONTROVERSY – THE PROS AND CONS WHY NOT CALL IT ‘UNION DAY’? SENATE KILLS MOVE TO BLOCK ONE MAN, ONE VOTE DECISION SIU OF CANADA BECOMES LATEST MEMBER OF ITF SENATE OKD MEASURE WOULD BAR USPHS HOSPITAL CLOSINGS SIU URGES BUILDING AID FOR UNSUBSIDIZED LINERS RUNAWAY’S CARGO – MUTINY, MURDER THE LEGEND OF BIGFOOT WALLACE SCAB RR STILL CRIES ‘SABOTAGE’ BUT NOBODY LISTENS ANYMORE N.Y. PORT COUNCIL OFFICIAL URGES MARITIME BUILDUP SENATE OKS BILL TO CREATE DEPT. OF URBAN AFFAIRS ANTI-U.S. RATE BIAS IS REAL, FMC HEAD TELLS CONGRESSMEN PLASTIC SEAWEED TO HALT EROSION OF JERSEY SHORE WATER CARRIERS PROTEST SWITCHING CHARGE BOOST U.S. ACTION NEEDED TO STOP RED ‘WET SPUTNIK’ LAUNCHING SEAFARERS PORTS OF THE WORLD – HAIFA U.S. SCIENTISTS EXPLORE RUSSIAN ARCTIC WATERS CORPORATE PROFIT SURGE THREATENS BUSINESS COSTS HIGHER ADMINISTRATION URGES UPDATING OF JOBLESS INSURANCE PROGRAM 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 08/20/1965 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. 17 1965 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/fca465180ee65bef665e01bfb653aedf.pdf d366969973229d1f718993ff62e35af3 PDF Text Text Volume 62, Number 8 August 2000 Baltimore Hall Opens; Wilmington Undergoes Major Refurbishment The SIU was on the move last month as the union's newest hall opened in Baltimore (top right photo). Seafarers enthusiastically welcomed the change in location. Meanwhile, major renovations are taking place at the hall in Wilmington, Calif. (upper left). This continues a steady upgrade in the SIU's facilities-the Baltimore building is the second new SIU hall to open this year and the sixth since 1994. Others, including the hall in Norfolk, Va. (directly above), have been improved during the past year. Pictured at the immediate left and right, respectively, are SIU members at the Baltimore hall. Pages 12-13. .Rescue at Sea Union Gains 2 Ships ------------~~~~Page3 The SIU-crewed Sea-Land Quality recently saved a ., French sailboat racer whose vessel capsized in rough Atlantic seas. Page 7. Coalition Urges MSP Expansion Passenger Vessel Construction Starts ~~~~~~~~~~Page3 �Prtsident's Report Resolvlng Differences Even in this era of remarkable cooperation between maritime labor, management and government, occasional disagreements are inevitable. Such is the case in a long-running dispute between the United States Military Sealift Command (MSC) and several U.S.-flag carriers including Sea-Land, Crowley and TOTE, among others. The short of it is this: MSC and the carriers disagree about the amount of money the Michael Sacco government contractually is obligated to pay for cenain services that were provided during Operation Desert Storm. More specifically, the question concerns the application of the McCumber Amendment to the 1904 Cargo Preference Act. That amendment prohibits U.S. carriers from charging higher rates to the military than to private shippers for transporting "like goods." As one might expect of a case that has lasted nine years and involves more than $18 million, the details are complex. But it boils down to Sea-Land contending that its rates are legally justified by differences in the respective services it provided for the military and for commercial shippers during the same period. MSC doesn't see it that way, and argues that the rates should have mirrored those charged to the commercial segment. A few months ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. ruled in Sea-Land's favor. A key part of the ruling stated that the company "cannot be held liable for pricing its contract according to the kinds of goods it agreed to carry, rather than the kinds of goods that MSC actually shipped." I think that Last sentence underscores this case·s complications. If it were a cut-and-dry issue, it wcmldn 't have taken this long to litigate. Along those lines, there are no "bad guys" in this situation. Each side has a different interpretation of the law and believes it i~ Mrrect. People are simply doing their jobs. trying to do what they think is right. That said; it's time to put this issue to rest. The court sent SeaLand and MSC ba~k to the Arm«! Service Board of Contract Appeals to pursue what it describes as more "facrual determinations" aimed at finally resolving the case (consistent with the court's ruling). Whether the resolution is done via the board or through a settlement, I hope it happens soon. I also want to emphasize that, so far, this dispute hasn't spoiled the productive working relationships that have been forged across all components of the U.S.-flag maritime industry. Such cooperation isn't just talk-it's a very reaJ commodity that has helped generate and maintain support for the U.S. fleet. In the long run, that collaboration is critical for America's national security and for maintaining a manpower pool of trained, loyal, U.S.-citizen mariners. That is the "bigger picture," and all concerned would be wise to level their focus on it. Maintaining Professlonal Standards As reported on page 3, the fleet of SIU-crewed LNG vessels has begun reflagging. To the Seafarers remaining on the six ships that will stay under SIU contract, I know you will maintain the same top-notch professional standards that you always have demonstrated. Your excellent work enabled the SIU to retain those ships, and your continued dedication undoubtedly will strengthen your union. Volume 621 Number 8 August 2000 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The &afarers 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 © 2000 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved 2 Seafarers LOB Sen. Inouye Honored for WWII Heroism U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye (DHawaii), for decades a leading proponent of the U.S. merchant marine, was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 21 for heroism during World War II. Inouye and 19 fellow members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team received the nation's top military decoration from President Clinton during a White House ceremony. The senator served as a medic with an all Japanese-American unit in Europe during the war. He lost his right arm during combat in Italy, yet, moments later, used his left arm to toss away a German grenade that had landed nearby. That action saved numerous Allied I ives. In a letter congratulating Inouye for his award, SIU President Michael Sacco wrote, "Your service to the United States during World War II is a shining example for all Americans." He also thanked the senator for "all the hard work you have accomplished to preserve and strengthen the U.S.-flag commercial fleet. The men and women of the SIU applaud your receiving the recognition you justly deserve. We remain proud to calJ you our friend and brother." Inouye, an honorary member of the SIU, deflected credit for his achievement, citing the positive influence of his family and fellow servicemen. "An honor of this nature should be shared with many others," he stated in a communication to the SIU president. A longtime backer of the U.S.-flag fleet, Sen. Daniel Inouye recently received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in WWII. "This Medal of Honor belongs to my grandparents, parents and the men of my platoon. I accept this great honor in their behalr' Among many other actions in behalf of the U.S. fleet, Inouye was an outspoken and effective advocate of the Maritime Security Program, enacted in 1996. He also played a key role in clearing the way for construction of the two deep sea cruise ships being built for U.S. Lines by Ingalls Shipbuilding. New York-Area Seafarers Rally In Support of ILA Local 1814 SIU members and officials joined hundreds of fellow trade unionists June 22 in New York for a demonstration supporting the striking members of International Longshoremen 's Association (ILA) Local 1814. Some 300 ILA members have been on strike for a year against Domino Sugar's Broolclyn, N.Y. refinery. Because Domino is owned by the Britain-based company Tate & Lyle, the recent protest took place outside the British Consulate in New York. In a flyer summarizing its plight, Local 1814 pointed out, "The strike action was the workers' last resort given the fact that they tried for nine months past the expiration date to get a (new) contract." Indeed, a partial list of the company's demands illuminates the union's position. Among other things, Domino calls for: cutting the workforce by about one-third; eliminating the seniority system; slashing overtime; abolishing personal and sick days; unlimited subcontracting; and reopening the contract whenever Domino deems it necessary. "In short, they slashed a 59page contract book to about five pages," the union noted. The International Transport Workers' Federation, to which both the Sill and the ILA are affiliated, accused Domino of "highjacking the negotiations and submitting a series of unreasonable demands for concessions." Photo courtesy of Miller Photography Participating in the recent rally in New York for ILA Local 1814 are (from left} SIU Representative Jack Caffey Jr., SIU VP Atlantic Coast Jack Caffey, Local 1814 Representative Tom Scalla, Local 1814 President Frank "Red" Scollo, New York Central Labor Council Public Policy Director Ed Ott, New York State AFL-CIO Special Projects Director Ed Panarello and Local 1814 Secretary-Treasurer Lou Pernice. Pensioners and Dependents Try Pilot Benetns Program The Seafarers Welfare Plan (SWP) last month announced the start of a one-year pilot program allowing for payment of home health and hospice benefits for eligible SIU pensioners and their dependents. Upon recommendation of the SWP administrator, the board of trustees authorized the trial program, effective July 10. This test benefit is modeled after the program currently in place for active Seafarers and their dependents. A brief description of these benefits follows: • The SWP will pay 100 percent of the actual home health care costs, up to the maximum daily rate set forth in the rules, and subject to certain limitations. •The SWP will pay 80 percent of the reasonable and customary cost of hospice care, subject to cer- tain limitations set forth in the rules. • The benefits for home health and hospice care combined are subject to a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per participant. • Private duty nursing care is subject to an annual cap of $2,000 per participant and is included in the lifetime maximum cap of $10,000. Questions about these benefits should be directed to the claims department at 1-800-252-4674. The trustees directed the administrator to review this program after one year to determine its effectiveness. At that point, the trustees will determine whether or not the program becomes a permanent part of the rules and regulations. Augusf 2000 �Union Gains 2 Ships M aersk Line Ltd. to Operate Converted Ammunition Ships The recent award of a fiveyear operating agreement to SIUcontracted Maersk Line Ltd. by the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) will result in Seafarers getting new job opportunities aboard two additional ships. Two foreign-flag cargo vessels are reflagging under the Stars and Stripes. They will replace two others that are transferring from the Maritime Security Program (MSP) to MSC. The latter two ships are the SIU-crewed Newark Bay and OOCL Innovation. They will be converted for use as ammunition carriers. For the SIU, these developments mean a net gain of two vessels. SIU members will continue crewing the ships that are transferring to MSC's flee~ plus they will climb the gangways to the two vessels that are reflagging. The first reflagging tentatively is scheduled to take place by the end of this year, as is the start of conversion work on one of the current MSP ships. The second will take place some time in 2001. "The SIU welcomes this opportunity and will, as always, provide the best-trained mariners in the world," stated SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. Maersk Line Limited, based in Norfolk, Va., 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. The OOCL Innovation, tying up earlier this year in Port Elizabeth, N.J., will be converted for use by MSC, as will the Newark Bay. SIU crews will remain aboard both ships and will sign onto two others that are reflagging under the Stars and Stripes. Construction Launched for U.S. Lines' Vessel Rep. Abercrombie Says Project Provides 'Foothold' in Foreign-Dominated Industry Photo oourtm;y of Amoriaan Glaoaie Voyages Co. The patriotic theme was impossible to miss during the ceremonial launel"I of eon~truetion on tl"le lergest U.S.-flag cruise ship. Amid fireworks, American flags, red, white and blue confetti and an Uncle Sam lookalike, the building commenced during Independence Day weekend at Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. The vessel is slated for completion in 2003 and will be crewed by SIU members. Amid colorful, patriotic fanfare, constructfon recently was launched on what is planned as the largest cruise ship ever built in the United States. American Classic Voyages and its subsidiary U.S. Lines, along with the U.S. Maritime Administration and Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding, ceremonially kicked off production during Independence Day weekend at the unionized shipyard in Pascagoula. Miss. The steel used in the ceremony will be part of a 1,900-passenger vessel--crewed by SIU members -slated for completion in 2003 . That vessel will sail exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands, while an SIU-crewed sister ship (also operated by U.S. Lines) is scheduled for completion in 2004. Both those vessels-as well as the former Holland America ship Patriot, which in December will sail under the U.S. flag with an SIU crew-resulted from passage of the U.S.-Flag Cruise Ship Pilot Project three years ago. That legislation is expected to help revitalize domestic shipbuilding, create thousands of American jobs and increase U.S. tax revenues, among other benefits. The construction contract for the two new 72.000-ton ships has a potential value of up to $1.4 billion, according to American Classic Voyages. It also includes an option for a third ship. At least one legislator who supports the U.S. merchant marine hailed the construction's launch as the start of America's full-scale entry into the thriving cruise market. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii). in remarks July 17 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, stated, "The cruise SIU Maintains Jobs on 6 LNG Tankers Following a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals which cleared the way, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) on July 12 reaffirmed its approval for the reflagging of eight liquefied natural gas vessels to foreign registry. As reported in previous editions of the Seafarers LOG, SIU members will continue sailing aboard six of the vessels-the LNG Capricorn, LNG Taurus, LNG Libra, LNG Gemini, LNG Leo and LNG Virgo. The economic provisions (including benefits) of the SIU Standard Tanker Agreement will apply to those ships once the reflagging to the Marshall Islands registry takes place. The LNG Aquarius reflagged with a foreign crew last month and the LNG Aries was August 2000 scheduled to follow by month's end. Seafarers sailing aboard those two ships at the time of reflagging will receive a severance package. The schedule for reflagging the remaining vessels was not available at press time. PRONAV Ship Management applied to reflag the ships in August 1999. When MarAd approved the request in November, the Department of Transportation agency emphasized that its decision "should not be taken as a precedent for any other situation." Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart said he ·~reluctantly.. issued the ruling and also stressed that a key condition to the approval .. helps to ensure the continued availability of American mariners for commercial operations and military readiness/' because all the unlicensed jobs for six of the ships will be held by Americans for at least the next five years. MarAd also has authority over any further changes in foreign "ownership, registry or operation." The agency last month confirmed its original stance following an appeal of the reflagging. SIU President Michael Sacco stated, "Our position always has been that the eight ships should remain under the American flag. The union is disappointed in MarAd's ruling. "However, our crewing of six of the LNG vessels will help provided a continued manpower pool of trained American mariners for U.S. national defense purposes," he continued. Sacco added that the application of the SIU's Standard Tanker Agreement wages and benefits will, for the first time, apply American labor standards on foreign-flag ships. In written communications sent during the past 11 months to the SIU LNG crews-and during shipboard meetings between Seafarers and SIU officials-the union noted that its decision to accept continued employment on the reflagged ships was made only after painstaking analysis. Further, the reflagging originally was scheduled to begin in 1998 (under a previous application by the ship operator); and the SIU had negotiated a conditional phase-out agreement ending in 2003 whereby it would not, in fact, sail on the reflagged vessels.s. The union reconsidered its position last year due to unforeseen circumstances involving contract negotiations between a U.S. officers union and PRONAV. Those conditions threatened the Sill's severance agreement and made it possible that all eight ships quickly would reflag, leaving SIU crews without any opportunity for continued employment on those vessels. As noted in a memo from SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez to the LNG crews, "When weighed against the alternatives, the final decision (to sail on the six reflagged ships) was based on the ultimate benefit to our members and their families .... [The agreement] maintains our benefits and will provide jobs and job security for five more years while preserving our severance agreement." Rep. Neil Abercrombie industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel and leisure industry, growing at a pace of about nine percent annually. Loopholes in U.S. laws and regulations have essentially ceded this burgeoning vacation business to companies operating cruise ships under flags of convenience.... The U.S.-flag Cruise Ship Pilot Project ... will change that and will give Americans a foothold in a cruise industry now dominated by foreign cruise lines." Abercrombie also pointed out that the new U.S.-flag vessels "will help maintain the manpower necessary for building and crewing ships in times of national emergencies. The Department of Defense has also expressed interest in utilizing the hull designs for cruise ships for command and control vessels in the future." Finally~ he declared that the new builds "demonstrate that America can build ships competitively on the world market. At a fixed price of $440 million apiece, the ships are only slightly above the price being charged for cruise ship construction in European yards, where nearly all new cruise ships are built. The price of American ships would be even more competitive in the world market if the worldwide ship construction subsidies were eliminated." Sllatal'fll'S LOS 3 �Union Official and Friend to All Advocate for Maritime Labor, Ed Mooney Dies at 84 Edward X. Mooney, a member of the SIU since 1944 and headquarters representative from 1961 until his retirement in 1977, died July 4 at his daughter's home in Goodyear, Ariz. He was 84. Known affectionately as "the Monsignor," Mooney was a strong and constant advocate for U.S. mariners. He was born in New York in 1916 and left a job as a bar manager to catch his first SIU ship in 1944. After the war, he sailed on several of the old Alcoa and Bull Line passenger ships- as a bartender and smoking room steward on the SS Alcoa Cavalier and as chief steward on the SS Alcoa Corsair. He also worked as a steward on Bull Line's SS Puerto Rico. "Ed was a very loyal, caring man for bis family and his union," stated SIU President Michael Sacco, who knew Mooney for nearly 40 years. "He broke me in on the waterfront as a patrolman. "Ed was a good organizer, a good teacher and was very wellliked by the membership. He was very active in the community, too." One of his friends from the Mooney talks with members in the NewYork union hall during the early 1970s. early years was John Gallagher, an SIU member from 1942 to 1985 and now living in Pennsylvania. "It is a sad day," he stated, upon hearing of Mooney's passing. "He went out of his way to be helpful and was good to all Seafarers. We sailed together during World War II and were in Italy when the war ended," Gallagher reminisced. (They were both serving as ABs aboard the Cranston Victory, which was taking war cargo to the Italian front.) "I consider him a very close, personal friend, and I will miss a real good man," Gallagher stated. From the very start of his maritime career, Mooney was active in union programs and played an important role in the SIU's early organizing beefs. He served as ship's delegate on a number of vessels and participated in the Wall Street Strike, the General Strike of 1946, the Canadian beef and the Puerto Rico longshore beef. George McCartney, retired Vice President West Coast and pallbearer at his funeral, said Mooney "was like a big brother to me." They sailed together in 1949 on the SS Puerto Rico and also worked in organizing the SS Atlantic in 1958 . McCartney noted the saying, ''A friend in need is a friend in deed" fit Mooney to the letter. "He was truly a friend in deed." Retired Vice President "Red" Campbell worked on the waterfront with Mooney. He said he was extremely likeable and an excellent official. "Mooney was very pleasant and had a good attitude. No beef was too small for him to deal with, and he maintained a good relationship with the members." In 1951, Mooney ran for union office for the first time and was elected joint patrolman for the port of New York. Two years later, he became assistant secretary treasurer. He also served as manager of the union's Port O'Call Bar and Nightclub in SIU at Fishermen's Memorial Service The SIU on May 29 took part in the annual Fishermen's Memorial Service conducted by the New Bedford (Mass.) Port Society. Above, SIU New Bedford Port Agent Henri Francois (right) and Howard Nickerson, retired director of the Offshore Mariners Association, carry a wreath of flowers to the water. The yearly event is intended to recognize the "contribution and sacrifice of those men who serve aboard our fishing vessels," noted the port society. 4 Seafarers LOil 1951-52. Retired SIU Business Agent John Dwyer worked with Mooney in New York. The pair kept in touch and saw each other every year. "He was a great guy," Dwyer added. In 1961 , Brother Mooney was named headquarters representative by then-SIU President Paul Hall, a post he held until his retirement. In the same year, AFL-CIO President George Meany nominated Mooney to represent the labor movement on the Puerto Rico Wage and Hour Committee. During his years as an SIU official, Mooney mainly worked out of the port of New York. He did, however, spend two years in the port of Buffalo and also taught a union education course at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Mooney helped represent the SIU in the Maritime Trades Department New York Port Council, as well as in the National Maritime Council. He also was very active in promoting the union's political interests in New York on both the local and state levels. When Mooney retired, he was serving as a union trustee for the Seafarers Pension and Welfare Plans and had served as a delegate representing the SIU A&G District at every SIUNA convention since 1953. Following his retirement in 1977 and looking back on his life in the SIU, Mooney said, "The union and this membership have come a long, long way since I joined. And I'm happy and proud to have been a part of it. But as far as we have come as a successful organization, we still have a long way to go." Mooney added, "We have a lot of work left to do, but the SIU has always come out on top, and I don't think that's about to change." Even though poor health forced him to retire, he moved to Seattle and continued to improve the lives of others. This dedication of service to organized labor, the maritime industry and the community did not go unnoticed, and in 1989, Mooney was recognized at a luncheon of the Puget Sound District Council of the Maritime Trades Department, where he was presented with a lifetime achievement award. In his brief remarks following the honor, Brother Mooney said he would continue to fight on behalf of working people and the maritime industry. "Just because I'm retired," he noted, "doesn't mean I've stopped working." Honolulu Port Agent Neil Deitz worked with Mooney in Seattle and remembers "Ed Mooney as someone to whom you could ask any question. He would share every contact and resource with you to get the job done. The first thing he told people was, 'Nothing is too good for the members, so never go to the janitor when you can go to the Edward X. Mooney landlord."' Mooney's wife, Wilma, died in 1991. He is survived by three sons: Edward, Robert and Stephen X. Mooney (who sailed for many years with the SIU); two daughters: Carol Frawley and Patricia Lodico; daughter-in-law Julianne Mooney; son-in-law Carmine Lodico; two sisters and numerous grandchildren. A funeral mass took place July 10 in Bothell, Wash. 0 Edward X. Mooney was known for his ability to get along with everyone-from fellow Seafarers to political dignitaries. In this photo (originally printed in the November 1986 LOG and titled "Kennedy and the 'Monsignor'"), Mooney, already retired but working part-time out of the Seattle hall during the congressional elections, was on hand to greet Congressman-elect Joseph P. Kennedy (D-Mass.). San Fran Rep Meets DOT Head San-Francisco-based SIU Representative Chet Wheeler Jr. (right) recently met U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater during an event hosted by the port of Oakland, Calif. (photo at right). Slater visited the port June 23 to review a major expansion program (dubbed Vision 2000) that is under way. The $700 million project is expected to help the local economy and the environment, said Port of Oakland Executive Director Charles Foster. August 2000 �Coalition Urges MSP Expansion Industry Group Details Recommendations For Improving U.S. Fleet, National Security Answering the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MarAd's) request for an assessment of the Maritime Security Program (MSP), a coalition of unions (including the SIU), shipowners, operators and associations last month offered a detailed analysis of the 10-year plan along with several key recommendations for improving it. "In order to continue to contribute to [America's] national maritime policy goals and objectives, the Maritime Security Program must be extended, expanded and upgraded," stated the group. "It must become a vehicle for the growth of the United States-flag merchant marine and not simply a means to preserve an existing core fleet. "We also believe very strongly that the Maritime Security Program cannot by itself solve America's maritime manpower and commercial sealift problems. Rather, it must not only be modified to better assist in improving the competitiveness of the United States-flag foreign commerce fleet, but must also be accompanied by meaningful maritimerelated tax and regulatory reform and by the full implementation of existing cargo reservation programs." Among the coalition's proposals: •Extend the MSP "for a period of at least 15-20 years. This change would give investors and lending institutions more confidence to provide the funds necessary for the replacement of vessels and the expansion of the U.S.-flag fleet." • Expand the MSP fleet. This will bolster U.S. sealift capability while providing "a greater, much- needed base of employment for American merchant mariners .... It is important to remember that the U.S. Navy is facing recruiting shortfalls and dropping retention rates.... Consequently, predicating a sealift strategy on government personnel to crew commercial sealift shipping is simply not a viable option." • Supplement the MSP via "strict compliance with existing cargo preference laws that require a percentage of military and nonmilitary U.S.-government impelled cargoes be shipped on privately owned U.S.-flag commercial vessels." • Tax reform for U.S. mariners and commercial vessels. Without it, "the American merchant fleet will have to continue to try to compete against foreignflag vessels and crews that receive much more favorable tax treatment from their nations." The group endorsed the pending National Security Sealift Enhancement Act (H.R. 3225, S.1858), which includes tax incentives. Additionally, the coalition claimed the existing MSP and its associated Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) have delivered on their expected goals. They include maintaining both a cost-effective, viable U.S.-flag commercial fleet that strengthens America's sealift capabilities and a trained manpower pool of U.S. citizen manners. The group pointed out that the MSP and VISA programs "have strong, bipartisan support in the Congress and the executive branch. As President Bill Clinton stated when he signed the Maritime Security Act of 1996 into law, 'The American flag must always sail in the sea lanes of the world."' Further, they noted, "Without a sufficient number of militarily useful, privately owned ships operating under the U.S. flag, and without a sufficient cadre of trained, loyal American citizen merchant mariners, our country will be at the mercy of those whose economic, political and military interests may be contrary to our own." The comments were submitted by a group which includes the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department and four of its member unions (the SIU, NMU, MM&P and MEBA), the Transportation Institute, the American Maritime Congress, American President Lines, American Ship Management, Automar International Car Carrier, Maersk Sealand, the Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development, Central Gulf Lines, Farrell Lines, First American Bulk Carrier Corp., First Ocean Bulk Carriers, the Labor Management Maritime Committee, Lykes Lines, OSG Car Carriers, U.S. Ship Management and Waterman Steamship Corp. Union Mourns Loss of Retired Port Agent Reinosa Juan J. Reinosa, retired SIU port agent in Puerto Rico who also served as a patrolman in San Francisco, passed away July 22 in Freemont, Calif. He was 79. Brother Reinosa joined the SIU in 1944 in New York. He was a career Seafarer with more than 25 years of sea time in the steward department. Because of his expertise as a chief steward, Brother Reinosa was among the first mariners assigned to the industry's food pl~n undi;;r thi;; maritime advam;ement program. The late Paul Hall, former SW president, personally assigned him. In this capacity, Brother Reinosa helped to pioneer the art of properly provisioning seagoing vessels based on crew size, duration of voyage and distance between ports. His input on standards for cleanliness and sanitation in galley/dining operations was pivotal in establishing today's norm. Brother Reinosa began sailing in 1936. He came ashore in 1965 as a patrolman in San Francisco, after signing off the Steel Scientist. In 1975, he was elected port agent in San Juan, P.R. He kept that position until his retire- ment in 1984. "He was a proud Seafarer who was devoted to the job and to the SIU membership," said Juan Reinosa Jr. of his late father. "His dedication to the union always came to the forefront of whatever he did. He worked very closely with all the early SIU officials." George McCartney, retired SIU Vice President West Coast, was a longtime friend and former shipmate of Brother Reinosa. McCartney was among the last (c;i;;cluding immediate family) to converse with Brother Reinosa prior to his death. "I called his daughter Marghuerite to see how Juan was doing," said McCartney. "She put the phone up to his ear and I said a few words to him in Spanish reminiscing about our time at sea together on the Bull Line, otherwise known as the Puerto Rican Navy. His daughter told me that I must have said something funny to him because he smiled. He could understand you, but he could not talk. "I sailed with him in the '50s," McCartney continued. "He was chief steward and I was an oilier. Juan was one of the best chief stewards that I have ever sailed with. He was a very competent, responsibk and capabk guy, a great shipmate, a great union brother and a very good friend. He helped a lot of people." "Juan was a good old buddy of mine, a World War II veteran" offered Red Campbell, retired SIU vice president contracts. "You never had any food complaints when Reinosa was aboard a vessel. He was not a cookbook steward. He learned it all the way from ground up--from messman to galkyman to cook and baki;;r to chief cook. He served in all the capacities. When needed, he could jump right into the galley and do whatever was needed to be done. He was an all around quality guy." "I knew him for many years," said Bob Selzer, SIU port agent in Brooklyn, N.Y "He was one of the original charter members. He was on Beaver Street when the hall was there in 1944. I did not sail with him, but I did work with him for a while. I remember him as being a real nice guy and one of the very knowledgeable oldtimers." Steve Ruiz, port agent in San Juan from 1991-1999, remembers Brother Reinosa as one of the most giving union officials he has ever met. "I knew him for about 20 years," Ruiz said. "I knew him when he was port agent in San Juan. Also, he sailed on some of the same ships as I did. "He was kind enough to come down and familiarize me with the port and introduce me to the right people when I became port agent in San Juan," Ruiz continued. "Juan was a great guy, always willing to give a hand and answer your questions. He did so much for so many people." Brother Reinosa is survived by his wife, seven children, 22 grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren. His children, all of whom reside in California, are: Juan J. Reinosa Jr. of Newark; Rose Marie Reinosa of Hayward; Raymond Reinosa of Oakland; As port agent in San Juan, P.R., Juan Reinosa chaired the monthly informational meetings. Linda Reinosa and Marghuerite Reinosa Johnson of Union City; Antonio Reinosa of Tracey and Iris Reinosa of Hayward. GCMA Wins Grant for Mariner Training Training, Legislation Discussed SIU officials met with representatives of the union's contracted Great Lakes operators to discuss the latest issues impacting the industry. A key topic at the June 28 conference (which took place at the SIU hall in Algonac, Mich.) was the specialized training available to Great Lakes mariners at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Proposed legislation that may impact the Lakes also was a prime issue. At left, SIU President Michael Sacco (standing) updates the group on the new simulators being installed at the Paul Hall Center. Also pictured are SIU VP Lakes and Inland Waters Tom Orzechowski {center) and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. Below, the discussion continues. August 2000 The Gulf Coast Mariners Association (GCMA) recently announced it has secured-with backing from U.S. maritime unions including the SIU-a $4 million grant from the U.S. Labor Department to provide STCW certification training to mariners of the Gulf Coast. Pictured at the June 30 press conference in New Orleans announcing the grant are (from left) Masters, Mates and Pilots President Tim Brown; GCMA President Penny Adams; Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association President Larry O'Toole; Louisiana State AFL-CIO President John "Red" Bourg; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; and SIU President Michael Sacco. Others in attendance included New Orleans Mayor Mark Mariole, Louisiana Secretary of Labor Garey Forster and American Maritime Officers President Michael McKay. The grant is available to both union and unrepresented workers alike, but is intended to provide financial assistance only to those mariners whose company or union is not already paying for the STCW training. Seafarers LOG 5 �Left: Before loading provisions on board the tug Gauntlet, (from left) OS Jason Powell, Engineer Steve Williams and OS Mario Morrante take inventory. Right: Operating the forklift on the Crowley dock during cargo operations is AB Kyle Sweep. Jacksonville, Fla. is home to Crowley's 63acre shipping terminal, encompassing that company's containership, barge and tug operations. Seafarers working at the terminal, located on Talleyrand Ave., are involved in many of the activities there. They load barges for the coastal, Caribbean and Puerto Rico trade routes and also work aboard the tugs that haul the barges and help with harbor work, including vessel docking and undocking. Additionally, SIU members assist with the maintenance and repair of Crowley equipment. The photos appearing on this page were taken recently at the Crowley terminal by SIU Patrolman Bryan Powell. AB Ed Sinette helps load cargo onto the tug Pilot. Assisting in unloading waste and lube oils from the tug Pilot is OS Jason Powell. Engineer Apprentice Manuel Little works to repair a portable pump on board the tug Pioneer. Teamwork and safety are essential at the Crowley dock and aboard the tugs, whether the work involves loading, offloading, cleaning or getting underway. 6 Seafarers LOii Augusf 2000 �........'tyCrew Saves Racer In Dramatic Rescue at Sea AB Bill H@nd@rson (l@ft) and oth@r members of the Quality crew speM time witn LaLou Roucayrol (right) shortly after his rescue. Bosun Jim Hassan gets a close-up view of the Frenchman's heavily damaged vessel. Augusf 2000 A French sailor with a fondness for racing today is back home with his family and out of harm's way, thanks to the SIU crew aboard the Sea-Land Quality. The aquatic daredevil had a brush with death on the high seas during the early morning hours of June 10. Fortunately for the Frenchman, the Quality was in the same area near the time of his encounter at sea, making its way to the port of Boston from LeHavre, France. "LaLou Roucayrol was navigating his $2-million dollar trimaran (sponsored by the Banque Populaire of France) from Plymouth, England to Newport, R.I. in a race," said Quality Chief Cook Tom Milovich. Heavy seas severely damaged one pontoon of Roucayrol 's vessel, causing it to capsize, according to Milovich. The Frenchman was thrown overboard and--except for a life vest and the remaining two intact pontoons of his boat-was completely at the mercy of the ocean at 5;30 a.m. Members of the Quality crew spotted him some 12 hours later. The U.S. Ship Management Co. vessel maneuvered alongside the wreckage of the sailboat at about 6 p.m. and picked up the sailor. "At that time, we were located at a position 45 degrees 43 .6 minutes north latitude and 0.38 degrees 29.3 minutes west longitude," recalled the chief cook. "He was cold and a bit shaken, but for the most part was in good shape and good spirits." Quality crew members helped the Frenchman aboard and did what they could to make him comfortable. A tanker arrived on the scene a little later and salvaged his vessel. With Roucayrol aboard and his vessel secured, the Quality resumed its course to Boston. Along the way, several of the Frenchman's race competitors were observed in full sail heading for Newport. Roucayrol filled in Milovich and the remainder of the crew on the details of the competition as well as his brush with death. The Quality docked in Boston three days later on the morning of June 16. Once in Boston, Roucayrol departed for Logan Airport where he boarded a flight to New York. There he was reunited with his wife for their return trip to France. s Lalou Roucayrol (on ladder) makes his way to safety aboard the Sea-Land Quality. Watching the rescue operations is Chief Cook Tom Milovich, who provided the photos on this page. Wiper Carlos Bonefonte takes a look at the $2 million racing boat just prior to it being salvaged by the crew of a nearby tanker. Seafarers LOG 7 �Lessons ed at Sea Still Serve CWA President Bahr Began Union Career as WWII Mariner On his first ship as a radio operator sailing the North Atlantic in 1944, Morton Bahr learned an invaluable lesson that he still takes with him today as the president of the 630,000-member Communications Workers of America (CWA). Bahr, a member of Local 2 of the American Communications Association (ACA), was invited to a meeting in the chief mate's fo'c's'le with other officers aboard the Liberty Ship Thorstein Veblen. The group was talking about negotiations between the unions (Bahr's ACA, MEBA and MM&P) and the War Shipping Administration. Unknown to the group, the ship's captain was standing outside, listening to the discussion. The captain kicked in the door and announced, "There will be no union talk aboard my vessel." At that moment, Bahr said he learned the value of having union protection on the job. He also learned that there are those individuals and companies who are not interested in allowing workers to organize or to have a say as to how things work. That episode. which occurred shortly after he turned 18, has stayed with him for more than half a century. He remembers that hatred toward unions every time he prepares for an organizing effon or c0t1.tract 11egotiation. Bahr sailed for two-and-a-half years before coming ashore in late 1946 to work as a radio operator, which led to his involvement with the CWA. He recently recalled his experiences at sea for a. reporter from the Seafarers LOG. Born in Brooklyn, Bahr had never been aboard any vessel larger than the Staten Island Ferry prior to ~igning on to the Veblen. He had completed one year of college, but realized he was near draft age. He heard about the U.S. Coast Guard's radio officers school on the lower east side of Manhattan and enrolled. Bahr learned how to type and to take Morse code. He earned his FCC license and immediately registered at the ACA union hall-and then was sent to the ship without any nautical training. "My first voyage was one of ignorance," Bahr stated. After meeting the chief mate, who showed Bahr where his quarters were, he realized he knew very little about the ship. He reported on a Saturday, but was told he was not needed until Monday. "I figured out where the gangway was by holding the rail and found dockside." Being new as a radio officer, the union assured him that another radio officer would be aboard to show him the ropes. There was another operator, but he had not sailed since before World War IL "This was Mackay Radio equipment. Fortunately, the instruction books were extraordinary," Bahr remembered. The Veblen left New York just after DDay as part of a 68-ship convoy. The vessel was loaded with high octane aviation fuel and jeeps. Bahr had a fo'c's'le to himself. He was unaware of how others handled life aboard ship, so when he sacked out, he put on his pajamas and slept soundly. After about 30 days at sea, "I grew up very quickly." General alarm sounded. The convoy was being attacked. When Bahr reported to the deck with a life jacket over his pajamas, he learned the rest of the crew slept with their clothes on. The Veblen was sent with others in the convoy to North Africa to assist in the invasion of southern France. During the month there. the captain would not allow mail to be picked up. The vessels left for Toulon where the French had scuttled the port and its fleet when the war started. Bahr said his vessel tied up to two lamp posts and oftloaded the jeeps. The ships then sailed for Marseilles where the captain went ashore. Officials ordered the Veblen to sail with five other ships to another port 25 mites a.way. Without the captain aboard, the crew would not sail. So the Veblen stayed in port, while the five set sail and ended up being sunk. The return trip to the States also was eventful. A load of boxcars for North Africa carried the wrong gauge wheels, so they were loaded into a hold on the Liberty ship. High seas caused the wheels to shift from side to side. The crew feared they would puncture the vessel and cause it to sink. ''No one volunteered to go into the hold. But we threw mattresses, pillows, wood, whatever we had when the load shifted to pack it." The Veblen made it home safely in Morton Bahr is pictured in uniform, shortly after marrying Florence Slobodow in 1945. B Seafarers LOG November 1944. "After that first trip, everything else was downhill," Bahr noted. He sailed aboard two other vessels, taking two trips aboard each. He learned that the captain and conditions on the Veblen were not typical of the U.S. merchant fleet. Bahr's second trip again took him across the Atlantic, but instead of staying in the Mediterranean, the vessel sailed to India to deliver- as the crew discovered later-Post Toastees and cosmetics to the British citizens of that colony. Bahr noticed no other vessels from the convoy were headed in the same direction as his ship, the George Chafee, when they departed Gibraltar. Few were aware of the real cargo within the holds because airplanes covered the deck. The ship was ordered to stay close to the North African shore as it made its way to the Suez Canal. Off the coast of Libya, the captain called for Bahr when a vessel in the distance started signaling. It was nighttime and the vessel was using lights. "It was ordering us to stop. Do not drop anchor. We are by ourselves in waters with enemy subs and we're being told to stop." The vessel was a Briti~h patrol boat and we had strayed into a minefield. We stayed overnight and the boat led us out in daylight." While sailing through the Suez, Bahr experienced something he thought only occurred in Biblical times-a locust attack. "It looked like a thunderstorm. We closed all the portholes and they started hitting the ship." While he took precautions within his fo'c's'le, Bahr forgot about the porthole and intake fan in the radio shack. "That was some mess." The Chafee stay in India stunned Bahr with another lesson he never forgot. For the return trip, the vessel would take on manganese. needed for producing steel. He saw railroad cars loaded with the powder on the dock beside the ship and two 4-x-8 boards leading from the cars to the vessel. "Six women were in the cars, loading the manganese into the top of garbage can covers. They placed the covers on their heads and walked across the boards to dump them in the holds. They did this for 12 hours for 35 days. "I couldn't believe it. I still remember my outrage at how they mistreated and degraded women." V-E Day took place as the Chafee was coming home. "We tied up beside a British hospital ship and celebrated." The vessel was in the last convoy to sail through the Mediterranean to Gibraltar. He recalled seeing all the German U-boats sailing in to surrender and thinking all of them had been in the Mediterranean looking for vessels like his. Before joining the merchant marine, Bahr met Florence Slobodow and visited with her whenever he came home. After the war in Europe ended, Bahr signed on the Abraham Clark, which loaded 2,000 tons of phosphate in Boca Grande, Fla., then sailed to Galveston, Texas to take on food for Europe. However, the ship was overloaded and scraped bottom, causing a leak. When the phosphate got wet, it formed a sealant that s CWA President Morton Bahr reflects on his years at sea. forced the ship to limp back to New York for repairs. While home, Bahr eloped with Florence. The pair has been together ever smce. Bahr made two runs on the Clark. During the second voyage, he received word that his son was born. He got home six weeks later to meet the newest addition to the family. Bahr only knew the sea for a livelihood and told his wife he was going to make one more trip. She had other ideas: "Go ahead. But the baby and I won't be here when you return." She had a stack of ads for land-based radio operators so he applied and landed a job with Mackay in March 1947. Bahr joined ACA Local I 0 and started to work shoreside, until a strike in January 1948. This was the first major strike in the country after the Republican Congress had passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which banned closed shops. The strike lasted three months during which time the union was decertified. Bahr returned to work without a contract and "found out what it is like to be in a big company without a union .. " The company dictated when and how people would do their jobs. The ACA tried to return to Mackay, but was not successful. Bahr met an organizer for the CWA in December 1950 and started working to bring the CWA into the company. Despite tremendous company opposition, the CWA won the organizing fight in April 1954. Bahr became the first president of his local. Three years later, he joined the union's international staff as the lead organizer in the campaign to bring 24,000 workers at New York Telephone into the CWA. After holding several other union positions, he was elected CWA District l vice president in 1969. He became the third president in CWA history in 1985. He followed through on his college education and received his bachelor's degree from Empire State College in 1983. Today, he also serves with SIU President Michael Sacco as a vice president on the AFL-CIO executive council. Bahr has one more sea story he likes to tell. In 1974, while attending a New York state union convention, he was in a room with Paul Hall, then the president of the SIU. They were waiting to meet with the state's governor when they started talking about their backgrounds. It was then that Hall discovered Bahr's maritime roots. "'I knew there was areason I liked you,"' Hall told Bahr. Years after Hall's death, Bahr received the New York Port Council's Paul Hall Award. He is extremely proud of the recognition, which hangs in his private office. 1 Augusf 2000 �Hail to the Chef. • • Culinary Lab Named In Honor of Lupinacci Since 1980, Chef Romeo Lupinacci has dedicated himself to the instruction and professional development of steward department upgraders at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Last month, the school said "thank you" by dedicating its galley training building as the Romeo Lupinacci Culinary Lab. Among those attending the July 10 ceremony were Lupinacci 's family, SIU members and officials, Paul Hall Center staff members and 20 or so members of the Three Rivers Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV), to which Lupinacci belongs. "I'm thrilled. I can't put it into words, but it's a real honor," said Lupinacci, who retired last year but still works for the school as a consultant. SIU President Michael Sacco credited Lupinacci for ''the way he puts his heart and soul into this school. When someone loves their work, it's easy to spot. It comes across in everything they do. That's exactly the case with Romeo. "From the beginning, his love for the school and union has been evident. It shows in his passion for detail, his commitment to training and his pride in the students and the campus." Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan, who helped interview Lupinacci 20 years ago, said the Sewickely, Pa. native "has been a real blessing for this school. His knowledge and experience have benefited everyone who's ever met him, especially the students." SIU Plans Administrator Lou Delma pointed out that Lupinacci's tutoring has had a positive impact throughout the union. "It is a fact that morale aboard ship is greatly influenced by the steward department-how it prepares and presents nutritionally balanced yet varied meals and how it adheres to strict sanitation regulations," Delma stated. "It is to Romeo's credit that many of today's Seafarers reap the benefits of his instruction." Lupinacci sailed in the merchant marine (engine department) during World War II, although he almost didn't survive his inaugural voyage. In May 1943, his first ship was torpedoed off the North Carolina coast. Lupinacci later received an award for rescuing several shipmates from the wreckage; they spent nearly four days in a life raft before a destroyer's escort picked them up. He primarily sailed on troop ships, and made the invasions at France and Sicily. After developing a distinguished post-war culinary career, he arrived at Piney Point specifically to help prepare for the initial crewing of the passenger ship SS Independence. He quickly discovered it was a good fit, and has remained there. A certified executive chef, Lupinacci is a member of many associations, among them the Academy of Chefs and the Golden Toque. He was one of the first 13 chefs in the world to be certified as an executive chef with distinction by the American Culinary Federation. He also has won numerous other awards throughout his career. Welcoming the Newest 'Queen' Romeo Lupinacci (left} and SIU President Michael Sacco stand in front of the new sign designating the Paul Hall Center's primary galley instruction facility as the Romeo Lupinacci Culinary Lab. Comparing today's mariners with those of prior eras, Lupinacci said, "The people today are more educated- more into computers, nutrition, counting calories. They realize what type of diet the seamen need to keep them going and prolong their lives. "I also think the school has improved a lot over the years," he continued. "It's a more dignified educational institute. When the recertified stewards come back here, everyone can see they're great, great chefs. It does my heart good." What made him stay at Piney Point for 20 years? "It goes back to a feeling I had when I first came here," he recalled. "It really wasn't the money, but the people impressed me. They were downto-earth. I was a seaman and I related to them. "I love it down here. The challenge was to teach young people who are very grateful for the education. It's fun doing that." SIU VP WAst CMst Nick Marre>ne (right photo, at left) and American Classic Voyages Co. President and CEO Roderick McLeod applauded the recent christening {below) of the newest Seafarers-crewed passenger boat, the Columbia Queen. Launched in June, the vessel is 218 feet long and can carry 161 guests. It offers cruises in the Pacific Northwest. Leo Bebout (background), president of the Three Rivers Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans, and chapter member Ed Trapp present a lifetime achievement award to Romeo Lupinacci, who also belongs to the chapter. Experience Gained on CSX Hawaii 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 Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2000 voting period, absentee ballots will be available. The SIU constitution ensures that members who are eligible to vote and who find them5elve5 in thi5 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 20746. 2. Include in the request the correct address where the absentee ballot should be mailed. 3. S~md thA request for an absentee ballot by rAgistered or certified mail. 4. The registered or certified mail envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight, Nov. 15, August 2000 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 2000 and must be received at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 no later than Nov. 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 Nov. 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 Dec. 31, 2000 and received by the bank depository no later than Jan. 5, 2001. Roslyn Nikita Brooks recently completed a tour as chief cook aboard the Hawaii (CSX). "This has been a learning experience for me," wrote Brooks in a brief note accompanying these photos. 'The knowledge that I have gained here has been overwhelming, and I am grateful to have such good stewards to assist me in advancing my cooking and communications skills." She also thanked the union officials in Norfolk, Va. for "always giving me encouragement." Some of Brooks' fellow shipmates in the galley include {above left} Relief Steward Michael Baker. Chief Cook Roslyn Nikita Brooks and SA Natalie Norrie. Also aboard the Hawaii (above right) are Chief Steward Edward Herrera, Unlicensed Apprentice Brad Lowry and Brooks. Seafarers LOS 9 �Simulator Complex Almost Ready Liquid Cargo Training Featured in New Facility The cutting-edge simulator complex at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point Md. is only about one month from completion. When finished in midSeptember, the complex will house arguably the finest teaching equipment of its kind and provide maximum training flexibility for Seafarers in a PC-based simulation environment. "All is on track for us to meet our target date for the facility's grand opening and dedication," said J.C. Wiegman, the center's assistant director of vocational education. Besides his normal duties, Wiegman in recent months has been the center's watchdog over the entire simulator venture. He has stayed in close contact with school and union officials, attended frequent meetings, and persistently monitored the project's evolution. "It's been quite an adventure," reflected Wiegman. "Collectively, we have experienced some bumps and bruises along the way, but I'm confident that the final results will be well worth the energies cind resources we have expended." In addition to simulators for training ·in shiphandling, engine room operations and the Global Marine Distress Sequencing System, the pristine complex also will accommodate an apparatus for training in liquid cargo handling. This equipment, christened the Liquid Cargo Handlirig Simulator (LCHS), will be used for the training and assessment of Seafarers responsible for handling liquid cargoes (crude oil as well as LPG ga5) abQard ~hips. The LCHS conforms to all amended STCW, MARPOL, IMO and ICS requirements as well as to other international conventions and regulations, according to Jim Shaffer, an instructor at center. Pursuant to these direc- The simulator building (exterior view in inset) is still under construction but is slated to open next month. It will be equipped with the world's finest simulators and will host a broad range of classes. tives, Shaffer explained, the LCHS is realized as modular software for personal computers that is integrated into a network server. "Training on this equipment is a requirement for anyone who is going to be a tankerma.n person in charge (PlC) or a tankerma.n PIC aboard a barge," Shaffer added. The simulator's nucleus or brain is a mathematical model that imitates the activities of machinery and ship systems in real time. This model has the capability of distinguishing control actions as well as changes in environmental conditions. What1s more, explained Shaffer, it can react to these changes while allowing for the physical characteristics of the elements found in ship systems and machinery. All processes are reproduced and correlated as they actually happen. Output parameters from the model are displayed by a monitoring system. These parameters are checked for abnormal conditions that are indicated by alarms and a logging system. The LCHS features multiple workstations-two for instructors and 10 for students. The instructor workstations will be used for creating exercises, realizing studies and analyzing training outcomes. Trainee workstations will ex pose students to replications of a cargo control room and auxiliary operations. These replications will include remote control of machinery, monitoring of parameters and current conditions of tanks, alarms and load calculators. All student training activity is conducted under instructor supervision, individually or in a Rock-Solid Makeover at School group. All modem tankers are computer-operated, according to Shaffer. "By that I mean they have computer-operated loading and discharging systems that control the handling of all cargo. So what we are doing through simulators is providing our [students] with the expertise they need to be successful in their futures. That expertise must necessarily include the ability to cope and perform in an environment saturated with 21st century technology. "To be in charge of a loading operation. you must have actual time at a console, you must actually on-load and off-load products," he continued. "With the simulator, our trainees learn to do that without putting any oil in the water. It's the closest thing to being there without actually being there." ATTENTION ALL SEAFARERS Check Your Z-Canl; Your Job May Be at Stake A new sign constructed of brick and stone (see detail in inset) now signals the location of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, based in Piney Point, Md. The marker bears the names of several of the center's key compl)nents, including the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. The center's front gate, around the corner from the aforementioned sign, also recently underwent refurbishment. 10 Seafarers LOii According to a law that took effect in 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard requires all merchant mariners to renew their merchant mariner's documents (z-cards) in order to continue sailing. As of December 1999, all mariners must have renewed their z-card in order to continue sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels. That means that as of January 1, 2000, all active z-cards should have been issued no earlier than January 1, 1995. You may renew your z-card beginning one year before its expiration date. No merchant mariner is allowed to ship with an expired document. (Mariners may renew their z-cards up to one year after the expiration date. However, mariners lose their endorsements if they renew beyond that one-year extension.) The expiration date is five years to the day after the card was issued. Z-cards list the expiration date in two different locations: (1) near the mariner's photo on the front and (2) near the mariner's fingerprint on the back. For those z-cards without an expiration date, the date of issuance is located on the back of the document beside the fingerprint. However, any z-cards that do not have an expiration date printed on them will be considered void as of January 1, 2000. If you have any questions concerning the status of your z-card, contact your port agent or patrolman. August 2000 �'Tanks to Tents, Band-Aids to Bullets' Seafarers-Crewed Phillips Deli11ers In 11/larine Corps Cargo Exercise ACU Raymond Alexander prepares a meal in the galley of the Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips while the vessel is tied up in Jacksonville. In addition to the crew, 103 Navy personnel were served during cargo operations aboard the ship. The Pvt. Franklin J Phillips ties up at the Blount Island Marine Corps Terminal for scheduled MPS cargo backload operations. Chief Steward James Kidd carves roast beef for the evening meal. The SIU-crewed prepositioning ship Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips docked at the Blount Marine Corps Terminal in Island Jacksonville, Fla., June 16 for its scheduled MPS cargo back.load operations. The vessel remained in port through June 28. Basically a freight ofiloading maneuver, MPS cargo back.loads normally take place every two years. During such operations, a vessel's entire shipment is oftloaded. It is then repositioned, stored or parked (vehicles) in appropriate land-based facilities. In the case of the Phillips, this cargo consisted of enough equipment and supplies to sustain personnel who compose one-fifth of a U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary brigade, according to Bryan Powell, an SIU patrolman in Jacksonville. "The Phillips ' cargo consists of everything from tanks to tents and bandaids to bullets," Powell said, "H you need anything in the way of supplies for the U.S. Marines, the Phillips has it." Crane operations came to the forefront during the operations, as many items in the ship's payload had to be hoisted from one position to another. Taking advantage of this opportunity for training, 103 U.S. Navy personnel boarded the vessel when it docked. Under the watchful eyes of the Marines who actually did the offload, they took part in the operations. The training lasted for about 10 days, according to Powell. "They went almost around the clock for about a week. They usually broke from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. each day, but then resumed their training." SIU steward department crew members figured prominently during the operation. They had to support the additional Navy personnel. To accommodate the increased popu- All cranes aboard the Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips were rigged with adjustable spreaders in preparation for cargo operations in Jacksonville. lation, the SIU crew was enlarged from 12 to 15 people, Powell said. Once the Phillips ' cargo had been ofiloaded, the vessel made its way to the shipyard in Newport News, Va. for routine repairs. Altogether, it was out of the water for about two weeks. After repairs had been e ffected, the vessel departed Jacksonville on June 28 en route to Durban. Its next destination was its homeport, Diego Garcia. B Ken Cooper plugs in extra deck ights under the vessel's lashing rods. Bosun Ernest Lee (left) and AB Richard Lee work on the deck of the Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips while the vessel is tied up at the Blount Island Marine Corps Terminal in Jacksonville. Great Lakes Crews Greet New VP Ready to meet aboard the Hannah D. Hannah in South Chicago are (from left) SIU VP Lakes and Inland Waters Tom Orzechowski, Deckhand James Bening, Port Agent Don Thornton, Safety Director Todd Brdak and Captain Bill MielickL Hannah Marine Deckhands Steve Nemeth (right) and James Bening (center) welcome SI Li VP Tom Orzechowski to their boat. Augusf 2000 Several SIU tugboat crews met recent- . ly with the union's new vice president "" Great Lakes and Inland Waters District, Tom Orzechowski. Last month and in June, Orzechowski along with Algonac, Mich. Port Agent Don Thornton and Safety Director Todd Brdak conducted shipboard meetings with Seafarers employed by Bigane Four ABs who sail with Great Lakes Towing greeted SIU VP Tom Vessel Fueling, Great Lakes Towing and Orzechowski during a recent conference in South Chicago. Hannah Marine. The sessions took place Pictured from left to right are Stathis Kourtis, Tim Barnaby, Juan in the Chicago area. Sanchez, Orzechowski and Grant Hult. Meetings with SIU crews on vessels AB Juan Sanchez operated by American Steamship, Kins{far left) of Great man, Southdown and others tentatively Lakes Towing disare planned for this month and cusses an issue September. · with SIU VP Tom The inland crews welcomed OrzeOrzechowski chowski and discussed issues including (directly across the Jones Act and the Seafarers Political table) and Safety Activity Donation (SPAD). Director Todd Brdak (center). Listening Meanwhile, cargo movement on the in is SIU Lakes-much of it transported by SIU Headquarters vessels-has been augmented by increased water levels, though it still Representative Leo Bonser (standing). remains behind last year's pace. Seafarers LOS 11 �Members Welcome Move to New Facility Baltimore-area SIU members last month enthusiastically endorsed the opening of the union's newest hall-a completely refurbished facility that opened July 1. Located at 2315 Essex Street, the Baltimore building is the second new SIU hall to open this year and the sixth since 1994 (see box). The finishing touches still were being applied as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press-including installation of the shipping board and an SIU sign adorning the exterior. A ceremonial inauguration was planned for mid-August, but the hall has been fully functional since it opened. Members' initial reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. "I've seen more guys in this hall today than I saw at the old hall in the last six months," observed QMED Bob Oppel on July 21. "People are hanging out more, socializing more. "It's a clean building and it's easy to get to coming off (Interstates) 95 or 83," he added. William "Smitty" Smith, who joined the SIU in 1960 and retired as a QMED in 1997, said the opening "is the best thing that's happened since we moved (to the previous hall on East Baltimore Street) in 1954. It's great for the membership." Eight-year Seafarer AB Steve Keville pointed out that the Essex Street facility, located in Canton near Fells Point, is closer to the waterfront than the old hall. "It looks great and it's in a better neighborhood," he stated. "I feel better coming here and waiting for a job than I would at the old place." AB Eddie King, a member since 1972, said he has "a lot of memories of the old hall, but I think this is a great move. It's convenient and clean, it's in a nice neighborhood and it feels like a new home." Wiper Mike Wroten, a two-year SIU member who is very familiar with the area, described the new hall as "more modem-looking. This entire neighborhood has been fixed up a lot, and the SIU has added to that. It's smaller than the old hall, but it should work." Electrician Peter Stein, who joined the union in 1990, agreed. "It's smaller, but the other place was kind of a bummer. This is an improvement," he said. AB Terrence Carmody echoed the sentiments of his fellow members. A Seafarer since 1992, he said the new location "is safer. This is a lot nicer building to come to, and I don't mind hanging around.'' The hall includes a lounge area with cable television; a member-accessible microwave oven, refrigerator and sink; a large counter area; separate restrooms; two first-floor offices plus a computer room; a loft office and conference room; and storage space. The mostly brick and marble decor blends with the neighborhood, while the hall's air vents and some of the light fixtures are patterned after those found aboard ship. This is the third location for the SIU in Baltimore. From 1939 to 1954, the Baltimore hall was located on North Gay Street. The hall on East Baltimore Street opened in November 1954. Readily accessible to members at the hall are a microwave oven, sink and refrigerator. A conference table is housed in the loft office at the rear of the hall. 12 Seafarers LOS The union hall's brick and marble decoration is consistent with other build revitalized Canton area. �•t With Seafaren ike Wroten drops by the SIU's all. Since opening July 1, the hall has been bustling with membership activity. Port Agent Dennis Metz, Retired QMED William Smith OS Patricia Hausner, AB Pete Woodward AB Frederick Wood Electrician Peter Stein QMED C.A. Long, Retired Bosun RJ. LeRoy AB Eddie King, QMED Bob Oppel AB Terrence Carmody Pictured above and at right are SIU members who visited the new Baltimore hall July 20. Augusf 2000 AB Steve Keville (right) is assisted by Lisa Clark and "Snake" Williams. Seafarers LOB 13 �A VOYAGETOINDIA-1940 This is the conclusion to Pensioner and SIU charter member James Melford Smith sjournal of his trip to India in 1940 as an ordinary seaman on board the SS Steel Age. The first segment, printed in the April 2000 edition ofthe Seafarers LOG, told of his voyage past the Rock of Gibraltar, through the Suez Canal and arriving in Jidda, Saudi Arabia. The second part, in last months LOG, saw the ship sailing to the Persian Gulf and Bombay and ended in Ceylon. ing around the Chinese and native Burmese quarters. Met an English engineer and a couple Anglo-Indian girls with a bit of Chinese mixed in. Really exotic looking. Drank and danced 'til 2 a.m. at Cliftons and Maxims. Uptown are shops, a sou- venir hunter's paradise. Ebony elephants (I bought two), semi-precious stones etc. I hired a rickshaw and went sightseeing in the native village. A curving road beside the sea lined with palms, Ceylonese and Singbalese shopkeepers hawking their wares. The area was very odorous-about the same as any Far East slum district. My rickshaw boy, like a race horse, never stopped running. The sweat was pouring down his brown face, and acting in that capacity, he permitted himself all the gastronomic privileges of a horse, making it rather unpleasant at times. The inland countryside of Ceylon is very beautiful but, unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to make a trip inland. Returned to the ship about midnight and got called out at 0300 to batten down the hatches and get ready for sea. Underway at dawn for Rangoon, Burma. A British mine-sweeper with paravanes streamed preceded us out of the harbor, guiding our way through a mine field. Today we are cruising through the Bay of Bengal. The sea is a very deep blue and there are white fluffy clouds floating lazily along the horizon. A beautiful spring day but what a contrast to yesterday! We had our first real rain since leaving the New England coast of America. The water came down in sheets and was as hot as the wind that was driving it. In the oppressive heat and humidity, I had a hard time keeping awake on my wheel watch last night. For the past three days, I have been reading the sea story, "Capt. Horatio Hornblower," by C. S. Forester, an interesting book about the British navy in 1810. The author knows his seamanship, and the story is full of action and human drama. Tuesday, April 9-0n arrival in Rangoon, it was pleasant cruising up the Irrawaddy River to our berth past the pagodas, the Mayo Marine Club and the Strand Hotel. There were many small boats in the river, their white sails flashing in the early morning sunlight. There were also many brightly colored rowboats of the Venetian style with their high bow and pronged stem; the boatman standing precariously on the stem pushing forward on the oars. Although it was extremely hot and sticky, I went ashore at noon. Had a scotch and soda at the Marine Club, then went to Cliftons, went swimming, then got a rickshaw and went sightsee- 14 Seafarers LO& Waltzed and jitterbugged until I was silly. Had a swell time and a horrible hangover. Got underway for Calcutta at 0800. Off Watch I am writing from notes on "Dorian Gray." It expresses my sentiments almost exactly: "Youth! Nothing else is worth having in the world. And I have it, completely and abundantly. Should I let it slip by in a commonplace quest for riches and respectability, then lament the price that has to be paid for these futile ideals? Let those who wish that sort of life have it. I want freedom. Freedom to do whatever strikes my fancy. Freedom to search the farthermost comers of the earth for the beautiful, the joyous, the romantic. "I must have the freedom of the sea, foreign ports, foreign smiles. I shall continue to follow the prow of a ship-any ship-and sail, Spain, China, India. I shall lie on a beach in the South Seas doing nothing but pleasant and romantic things all day and throw monkeys at the coconuts. I am yielding to temptation before increasing years and responsibilities rob me of the courage!" Saturday, April 13-lt took all day to come up the Hooghly River to the Kidderpore docks which is the terminus of this Far East run for Isthmian Line ships. The Bengal countryside was very picturesque as was the traffic on the river. Low rolling hills and sand dunes. Bengal villages nestled on the banks of the river among groves of trees. What appeared to be floating haystacks drifting with the current turned out to be native houses on floats. Arriving at the dock, we secured the ship and went ashore to the Marine Club for some refreshing drinks as the climate here is hot and sticky. Kidderpore is a suburb of Calcutta, which is a 15-minute ride on the tram. New sights and sounds. Dalhousie Square, The Esplanade, Chowringhe Road and the Grand Hotel (a first-class place with a fifth-rate floor show and orchestra). Not up to our western ideas of entertainment. A tea house on Watgunge Road with Japanese girls serving tea. Cute! During the following week, I went ashore almost every night and went swimming in the afternoon. There were dances at the Marine Club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but the girls-although exotic lookingmost emphatically cannot dance. Felt a bit ill on Thursday-just a slight cold, so stayed aboard. Horrible climate-it takes the zip right out of one. Saturday, April 20-Awoke with chills and fever. Capt. Jones called a doctor who sent me to the Presidency General Hospital in a gharrey (a horse-drawn carriage). On arrival, I was immediately put to bed and soon went to sleep. I woke up Saturday, April 27 for about 10 minutes. A shot in the arm put me back to sleep and I woke up on Wednesday, May 1. Learned from my nurse that I had been hanging on to life by a hair for a whole week. Rather a surprise. Very groggy for several days after waking up. I have lost 32 pounds. It was lobar pneumonia. I expect to get out of the hospital tomorrow, May 18. One whole bloody month in this place. The food here is insufficient in quantity and inferior in quality, but the service is excellent. Very typical of India. Every morning, as soon as I awake, my servant boy brings me bread and butter with my tea. Being a "European," I find I am entitled to special privileges. I have a private room and two nurses besides my personal servant. One of my nurses is a beautiful Anglo-Indian girl; the other is a large woman about 40 who takes no guff from anyone. She is very tough. When she is not around, I call her "The Battle Ax," much to the merriment of the staff. Capt. Jones came up to see me and brought some supplies from the ship before they sailed-canned milk, fruit and cigarettes. A fine man to sail with. I understand from the young British doctor who saved my life by drawing fluid out of my lungs with a large syringe that I was very fortunate. The first shipment of sulfanilamide had just arrived in India from the May & Baker Co. in London where it was first developed last year. I could not have survived without it. (Other notes: The screeching of the Mynah birds on the hospital grounds was extremely irritating. When I was only half conscious, they put an Indian man on a stretcher in the hallway just outside my room. The poor guy moaned and screamed for hours before he died. I was kind of glad when he died-for both our sakes.) I had expected to be in resi- by J. Melford Smith dence at the Marine Club until getting a ship, but Rockley Boothroyd, whom I met in the hospital, invited me to stay at his home in Cossipore. He is the manager of the jute factory here. I have my own personal servants (four of them for mere pennies a day). We usually go to the Grand Hotel on Chowringhe Road every afternoon for "tea time." Almost every night there is a dinner and dance. Britain is at war and the social life seems to be a bit hectic. Roddey is a real popular guy and some of it rubs off on me. Of course being an American with money in my pocket is fascinating to the girls who think all Americans are rich. Notes on Calcutta Dreams of sweet sandalwood, rich brocades and luxuriant gardens which one ordinarily associates with the "romance of the east" theme are quickly dissipated when one walks down a street in Calcutta. Instead, you are almost overcome by the stench of garbage, multitudes of unwashed Hindus, Moslems, etc. There are hundreds of sacred cows which wander about the streets, lie down in the middle of the shopping district and tie up traffic. Their droppings are everywhere. A rather interesting sight is an occasional bull-fight in Clive Row, the Wall Street of India. Moreover, no one will interfere with the animals, and all the might of the British Empire could not induce one of the Hindu policemen to touch them. The poorest class of Hindus in India have no housing problems to worry about. They may or may not possess a straw mat. Wherever darkness finds them, they lie down on the sidewalk and promptly fall asleep. I marvel at their ability to sleep so soundly on hard concrete and withstand the kicking and scufiling of hundreds of pedestrians. Their life span is about 35 years, especially the rickshaw boys who run constantly. One blazing hot afternoon, Boothroyd and I were returning to Cossipore in two rickshaws when his boy suddenly fell on his face, throwing Rockley out into the dirt road. Boothroyd got up swearing and dusting himself off, then lifted the boy's shoulder with the toe of his boot. "Blighter's dead" he said, then gave a whistle for another rickshaw, and we continued on our way. Due to the extreme heat, dead bodies in Calcutta are disposed of in the burning ghats along the Hooghly River within 12 hours. The river is a tributary of the Ganges and sacred to the Hindus. One of the regulars at afternoon tea at the Grand was a delightful old gal whose husband was on duty up at the Khyber Pass in northern India. We were discussing the American efforts to aid Britain in their fight with Germany. I was amazed when she said, "Well, you're still just one of the colonies, ya know." Her favorite drink was gin and tonic. One afternoon she joined our table singing some little ditty about "two old maids and a bottle of gin." When I asked, "Where's the other old maid?" she said, with a wave of her hand, "Oh, she fell down outside." My time in Calcutta after leaving the hospital was very enjoyable. It was the beginning of the monsoon season and, though it rained a great part of the time, the weather was just as hot. I took the opportunity to further my acquaintance with the Carter girls, Gladys, Lulu, Joyce and Rita. Also with Diana, a dancing instructress at the club, and my very good friend, Miss Margaret Chenery, from the inland city of Simla who is at present a nurse at the P.G. Hospital and to my notion the most beautiful and thoughtful girl in India. I am at present aboard the SS Steel Traveler on the way to Singapore. After my months in Calcutta, I left that city with regret, having made many friends there, among them a Danish lad named Eric Hendricksen, who is stranded there by the war, and a Czechoslovakian chap who was interned in a British concentration camp two days before I sailed. I also left with the memories of a month spent in the hospital and a pair of wrecked lungs. So-farewell to India. The past week at sea has been spent reading and sleeping. I am a non-paying passenger so do no work. The weather has been very hot. For the first three days the sea was choppy with frequent rain storms (the southeast monsoon), but due to the speed of the ship and the direction of the wind, these soon pass. Today we are in the Strait of Malacca. Small islands dot the horizon. The jungle-covered Malay Peninsula is to port and the island of Sumatra lies unseen under heavy clouds to starboard. It is night time and the sea is a smooth unruffled blue with white clouds drifting slowly through the star filled sky. A thin scimitar of a moon sheds a pale gleam of light over this Eastern sea, giving a promise of fulfillment to this horizon-chaser's past dreams of the most romantic city of the Far East. On the morrow, my ship arrives in Singapore! Singapore In order to describe my stay here in the right perspective, I must start by saying that Singapore is a very large and consequently a very expensive city. Lying in the narrow part of the Strait of Malacca, surrounded by small green islands and low jungle-covered hills, Singapore is known as the Gibraltar of the East. It is well fortified and has been a British colony since 1826, guarding the only short route to China. The island is connected to the Malay peninsula by a causeway and bridge across the Johor Strait, which carries both road and rail traffic. The architecture is Continued on page 20 August 20IJIJ �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 - JULY 15, 2000 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SIDPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Personal 10 Honolulu 3 17 17 12 7 6 4 2 Wilmington Totals 18 148 50 19 12 I 18 28 8 2 4 26 3 0 0 13·· .. 1 8 11 10 2 10 0 0 9 36 10 4 254 82 41 5 0 3 1 5 13 . 2 .. 19 12 .. 9 27 -~ ll 25 3 27 11 3 21 69 236 294 945 612 480 0 3 8 2 10 4 3 7 0 4 0 0 0 7 44 118 200 43 123 135 0 531 392 347 434 338 263 188 *"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. August 2DlllJ 13 12 32 0 4 3 11 3. 3 0 0 3 St. Louis Wilmington Totals Totals All Departments 12 2 3 0 IN SEARCH OF A PHOTO Raymond Keevins is looking for a photo of his Lifeboat Class #171from1975. Anyone who has a photo of Lifeboat Class # 171 is asked to mail it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746-4275. We will have copies made and return the photo to you. Burial at Sea for OEE Risbeck On Sunday, June 18, 2000, the officers and crew of the Westward Venture committed the remains of Electrician Richard W. Risbeck to the Pacific Ocean in the Gulf of Alaska (latitude 56 degrees 41 .24 minutes north, longitude 143 degrees 10.41 minutes west). The TOTE vessel's bosun, James H. Lewis (far right in left photo above), said Risbeck, who died May 19 at age 60, was a good friend and well thought of by everyone with whom he sailed. He also enjoyed collecting model trains. "As your closest friend," Lewis said, "may you rest in peace." Captain Mark Daly (right in inset) conducted the burial service at 1520 hours, Alaska Daylight Time. Seafarers LOS 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes JUNE 16-JULY 15, 2000 CL - Company/Lakes *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Totals All Depts 0 60 L - Lakes NP - Non Priority TOTAL SIDPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 45 0 47 23 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 13 22 *"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 JUNE 16-JULY 15, 2000 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SIDPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 2 1 7 Totals 0 0 0 0 Totals All Depts 3 1 7 9 0 0 6 12 1 33 *"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. PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Gene Lachappelle of Big Bay, Mich. The picture was snapped in 1955 aboard the dredge Chester Harding, which was heading to Venezuela for a year to help with the dredging of a new channel into Lake Maracaibo. Some of the crew members decided to shave their heads for the voyage. LaChappelle is at left (without hair) and in inset (with hair). Brother LaChappelle, 72 this month, joined the SIU in 1945 in New Orleans. He sailed in the deck department, most recently in 1991 aboard the Gopher State during the Persian Gulf War. 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 Spring MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. 16 Seafarers LOS Augusf 2000 �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. wo recertified stewards and one recertified bosun are among the 15 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Recertified Stewards Raffaele Ascione and Paul C. Stubblefield and Recertified Bosun Giovanni A. Vargas graduated from the highest level of training available to members in the steward and deck department, respectively, at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Including the three recertified graduates, 12 of the retirees sailed in the deep sea division and three navigated the inland waterways. Six of the retirees were members of the steward department, three shipped in the engine department and six sailed in the deck department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers' careers. T DEEP SEA RAFFAELE ASCIONE, 58, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York. A member of the steward department, Brother Ascione first sailed aboard the Crest Overseas Shipping Company's Ne:w York. Born in Italy, he upgraded his skills on several occasions at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Most recently, he completed steward recertification training there in 1995. Brother Ascione last sailed in 1998 aboard the Overseas Marilyn. He calls New Orleans home. JUAN CANALES, 62, began his career with the SIU in 1976 in the port of San Juan, P.R. Brother Canales sailed in the inland division during most of his career; however, his most recent years were spent in the deep sea division. He first worked aboard the Eagle Traveler, operated by Sea Transport Corporation. Born in Santurce, P.R., Brother Canales sailed as a member of the steward department. He was last on the USNS Soderman, a Bay Ship Management vessel, in 1998. Brother Canales currently resides in Rio Piedras, P.R. CHINHUA CHANG, 69, joined the SIU in 1987 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Born in China, Brother Chang first sailed aboard the Altair, operated by Bay Tankers. A member of the steward department, he last worked in 1998 aboard the Sea- August2000 Land Atlantic. Brother Chang currently resides in Keelung, Taiwan. RAYMOND G.CONNOL- ment, Brother New last sailed in 1997 aboard Interocean Ugland Management's Agathonissos. He resides in Toano, Va. PAULC. LY, 65, hails from Ohio. Brother Connolly served in the U.S. Anny from 1952 to 1954 and joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of Detroit. A member of the steward department, he last worked earlier this year aboard the Overseas Vivian. Brother Connolly currently resides in Highlands, Texas. DOMINGO DeCOSTA, 64, began his career with the SIU in 1992 in the port of New York. A member of the steward department, Brother DeCosta first sailed aboard the SS Constitution, operated by American Hawaii Cruises. He updated his skills at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Decosta last worked in 1999 aboard the USNS Gilliand, a Bay Ship Management vessel. Brother Decosta was born in the Philippines but now calls Elmhurst, N .Y. 1 home. JOSEPH DUNN, 65, hails from Brooklyn. N .Y. Brother Dunn served with the U.S. Anny from 1952 to 1955. He joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of New York and first sailed aboard the Steel Artisan. A member of the deck department, Brother Dunn last sailed in 1994 aboard the Sea-Land D.efender. He lives in Redmond, Wash. PEDRO FLORES, 71 , joined the SIU in 1969 in the port of New York. Born in Puerto Rico, he first sailed aboard the SS Antinous, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. He upgraded his deck department skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in 1978. Brother Flores last shipped out in 1993 aboard the Sea-Land Value. He cwnntly resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. STUBBLEFIELD, 65, hails from Woodford County, Ky. A member of the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1957, Brother Stubblefield joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He first sailed aboard the Bradford Island, operated by Steuart Tanker Co. A member of the steward department, Brother Stubblefield upgraded his skills several times at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship and, in 1984, completed the steward recertification program. He most recently sailed last year aboard the Liberty Spirit, a Liberty Maritime Corp. vessel. Jacksonville, Fla., is his home. FREDERICK T. TIERNEY, 55, began his career with the SIU in 1968, joining in the port of New York. Born in New York, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Tierney's first ship was the SS Manhattan, operated by Hudson Waterways Corp. He last sailed in 1999 aboard the Gopher State. Brother Tierney resides in Brooklyn, N .Y. GIOVANNI A. VARGAS, 64, hails from Puerto Rico. Bosun Vargas joined the SIU in 1953 in the port of New York. Brother Vargas first sailed in the deck department aboard the Ponce. He upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center, completing the bosun recertification program in 1993. He last sailed in 1997 aboard the Mayaguez, operated by NPR, Inc. Brother Vargas resides in Bayshore, N. Y. ROLFED. WELCH, 70, joined the SIU in 1991 in the port of San Francisco. A native of Rome, Ga., Brother Welch is a member of the engine department. He first sailed aboard the Cape Mohican, operated by OMI C<'.>rp. His last VQyage took place earlier this year when be sailed aboard the Sea-Land Enterprise. Brother Welch lives in Bremerton, Wash. INLAND GEORGEH. CHAMPION, 65, joined the SIU in 1980 in the port of Houston. A member of the deck depart- ment, Brother Champion spent his entire career navigating the inland waterways aboard G&H Towing-operated vessels. He last sa iled earlier this year. Brother Champion, who was born in London, resides in Houston. LOUIEB. PAYNE, 66, joined the SIU in 1980 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in Wanchese, N.C., Brother Payne served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1974. He spent his entire SIU career aboard Allied Transportation-operated vessels. A member of the engine department, he last navigated the waterways earlier this year aboard the Sea Eagle. Brother Payne upgraded his skills at the Paul Han Center in 1993. He still resides in North Carolina. JAMESR. WILKINS, 62, hails from North Carolina. He joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of Norfolk, Va. A captain1 Brother Wilkins first worked aboard a Gulf Atlantic Transport Corp. (formerly Gulf Atlantic Towing Corp.) vessel. He last sailed in 1984 aboard a Mariner Towing Co. vessel. Brother Wilkins calls Chesapeake, Va. home. THIS MONTH JN SIU HISTORY CLAUDE NEW, 70, began his career with the SIU in 1965, joining in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native served in the U.S. Anny from 1948 to 1950. He first shipped aboard the Sparrows Pt., operated by Curtis Bay Towing. A member of the deck depart- Seafarers LOG f7 �Pensioner Jay Beavers, 72, passed away March 2. He joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Baltimore, sailing in the deck department. His first ship was the Marore, operated by Ore Navigation Corp. A native of West Virginia, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1950 to 1952. Brother Beavers began receiving his pension in 1988. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the cableship Charles L. Brown. Brother Beavers resided in Baltimore. MARION BEECHING Pensioner Marion Beeching, 74, died May 16. The Missouri native began his career with the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of Baltimore. A recertified bosun and a member of the deck department, he first sailed aboard the Calmar. Prior to retiring in 1987, he sailed aboard the Champion. Brother Beeching served in the U.S. Anny from 1951to1953. Houston was his home_ FRANK BOLTON Pensioner Frank Bolton, 68, died May 5. An honorably discharged veteran of the u_s_ Army, Brother Bolton began his career with the SIU in 1970 in the port of Seattle. He first sailed aboard a Colonial Steamship Co. vessel in the engine department. The Anacoco, La. native upgraded his skills several times at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School and began receiving his pension in 1997. Prior to his retirement, Brother Bolton sailed aboard the Overseas Chicago. He last resided in Groves, Texas. BRENT CHICHESTER Pensioner Brent Chichester, 71 passed away May 2. A member of the steward department, he began his career with the SIU in 1974 in the port of Seattle. Brother Chichester was a native of Nevada and first sailed aboard the President Cleveland, operated by American President Lines. He began receiving his pension in 1989, after sailing aboard the Chief Gadao, a Matson Navigation Co. vessel. Brother Chichester resided in Seattle. WINFIELD S. DOWNS Pensioner Winfield S. Downs, 79, died April 26. Born in New Jersey, Brother Downs began his career with the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. A member of the engine department, he first sailed aboard the Calmar. Brother Downs began receiving his pension in 1986. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the USNS Altair. He made his home in New Gretna, N.J. 18 Seafarers LOG Pensioner Thomas Fields, 87 passed away April 24. A native of Georgia, he was a charter memer of the SIU, having joined in 1939 in the port of Savannah, Ga. He sailed in the steward department, first working aboard the Del Compo, operated by Delta Steamship Lines. Prior to his retirement in 1983, Brother Fields sailed aboard the HM/ Petrachem. He lived in Richmond, Va. REYNALD GABAYLO Reynald Gabaylo, 42, died March 3. He began sailing with the SIU in 1983 in the port of Honolulu. A native of Hawaii, Brother Gabay lo was a member of the steward department and worked aboard American Hawaii Cruises vessels throughout his career. The SS Independence was his first as well as his last ship. Brother Gabaylo made his home in Ewa, Hawaii. member of the steward department and first sailed aboard a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Brother LaMonthe served in the U.S. Army from 1951to1953. Prior to retiring in 1983, he sailed aboard Delta Steamship Lines' Santa Adela. Brother LaMonthe resided in Livermore, Calif. DUANE PETERSON Pensioner Duane Peterson, 83, died April 22. Brother Peterson began his SIU career in 1962 in the port of San Francisco. Born in Canada, he was a member of the engine department, first sailing aboard the Globe Carrier. Prior to retiring in 1981, his final voyage was aboard the SeaLand Newark. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Brother Peterson made his home in Napa, Calif. EARL W. PIPPENS Pensioner John C. Griffith, 75 , passed away May 10. He hailed from Pennsylvania and began his career with the SIU in 1968 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Griffith was a member of the engine department, first sailing aboard the Robin Hood. a Sinclair Oil Company vessel. Prior to his retirement in 1986. he sailed aboard OMI Corporation's Cap e Clear. Houston was his home. Pensioner Earl W. Pippens, 83, passed away May 5. A native of Mississippi, Brother Pippens began his career with the sru in 1970 in the port of San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1938 to 1959. Brother Pippens first sailed as a Seafarer aboard the cableship Long Lines. A member of the steward department, Brother Pippens began receiving his pension in 1991. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Patriot. His home was in San Francisco. MICHAEL KALKIS ARCANGEL SAAVEDRA Pensioner Michael J. Kalk.is, 82, died May 5. A native of Shenandoah, Pa., Brother Kalk.is served in the U.S . Army from 1943 to 1946. He began his career with the SIU in 1947, joining in the port of New York. Brother Kalkis was a member of the engine department and first sailed aboard the Steel Advocate. He began receiving his pension in 1981. Prior to retiring, Brother Kalk.is worked aboard the Santa Mercedes, operated by Delta Steamship Lines. He lived in San Francisco. Pensioner Arcangel Saavedra, 84, died May 5. Born in Puerto Rico, he was a charter member of the SIU, having joined in 1939 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Saavedra was a member of the steward department and first sailed aboard the Wild Ranger, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. Prior to retiring in 1980, he sailed aboard the Jacksonville. Brother Saavedra resided in Bronx, N.Y. JOHN E. KENNEDY Pensioner Richard Schaeffer, 74, passed away April 4. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he began his career with the SIU in 1967 in the port of Seattle. A member of the deck department, Brother Schaeffer first sailed aboard the Sea Monitor, operated by Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 and began receiving his SIU pension in 1990. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Explorer. Brother Schaeffer called Reno, Nev. home. JOHN C. GRIFFITH Pensioner John E. Kennedy, 95, died March 29. A native of Louisiana, he was a charter member of the SIU, having joined in 1939 in the port of New Orleans. A member of the deck department, he first sailed aboard the Alcoa Cavalier. Prior to his retirement in 1968, Brother Kennedy worked aboard the Alcoa Explorer. He made his home in Metairie, La. ADOLPH LaMONTHE Pensioner Adolph LaMonthe, 79, died April 18. Brother LaMonthe began his career with the SIU in 1960 in the port of New York. A native of New Orleans, he was a RICHARD SCHAEFFER LEE SCOTT Pensioner Lee Scott, 84, died April 6. He joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of San Francisco. A California native, Brother Scott was a member of the deck department and first sailed aboard the Western Clipper. He started receiving his pension in 1981. Prior to his retirement, Brother Scott sailed aboard a Michigan Tankers, Inc. vessel. He resided in San Anselmo, Calif. EDWARD SPOONER Pensioner Edward Spooner, 75, died April 20. A Pennsylvania native, Brother Spooner began his career with the SIU in 1960 in the port of Baltimore. A member of the deck department. he first sailed aboard the Malden Victory, operated by Delta Steamship Lines. Prior to retiring in 1989, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Producer. Brother Spooner served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He resided in Smock, Pa. JOHN A. TINSLEY John A. Tinsley, 67, died May 7. Born in Kansas City, Mo., Brother Tinsley's seafarrng career began in 1962 when he joined the union in the port of Seattle. He first sailed aboard the Sea-Land Commerce as a member of the steward department. Brother Tinsley's last voyage was aboard the Northern Ligh1. He served in the U .S. Army from 1950 to 1953. He resided in Seattle. LESTER WINETEER Pensioner Lester Wineteer, 80, died April 14. He joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Wineteer sailed in the steward department. His first ship was the Santa Mariana, a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Prior to h is retirement in 1986, he sailed aboard Matson Navigation Co. 's Hawaiian Citizen. Brother Wineteer served in the U .S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. He resided in Yountville, Calif. ROBERT D.WOODSON Robert D. Woodson, 38 passed away April 28. A native of Richmond, Va., Bother Woodson joined the SIU in 1990 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He first sailed aboard the Flickertail State as a member of the deck department. He last worked as a bosun on the USNS Watson. Brother Woodson lived in Roanoke, Va. INLAND ROBERT ANGLIN Pensioner Robert Anglin, 80 died March 6. A native of Saltillo, Tenn., he began sailing with the SIU in 1971 from the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Anglin was a member of the deck department and served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1970. He sailed as a captain during most of his career, the bulk of which was spent aboard Moran Towing of Virginia vessels. Boatman Anglin began receiving his pension in 1988. Haymarket, Va., was his home. WILLIAM E. DIGGS Pensioner Willian E. Diggs, 77, passed away April 13. Born in Labon, Va., Brother Diggs started sailing with the SIU in 1966 in the port of Norfolk. He was amember of the engine department and L.......~--------J worked aboard Virginian Pilot Corporation vessels throughout his career. Brother Diggs began receiving his pension in 1985. He resided in Onemo, Va. THOMAS McCAUSEY Pensioner Thomas McCausey, 64, died May 5. A native of Detroit, Brother McCausey started sailing with the SIU in 1972 from the port of Philadelphia. The deck department member first worked aboard a Gulf Atlantic Transport Corp. vessel. Brother McCausey served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1959. Prior to retiring from the SIU in 1998, he sailed aboard a Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. vessel. Brother McCausey lived in Lakewood, Calif. GREAT LAKES VERNON BELONGA Pensioner Vernon Belonga, 62, died April 24. Born in Ontonagen, Mich., Brother Belonga joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Detroit. The deck department member first sailed aboard a Bo operated vessel. He was a residen Bay City, Mich. Prior to retiring in 1996, Brother Belonga worked aboard the Walter J. McCarthy. ROY LYNCH Pensioner Roy Lynch, 64, passed awa Apri . he Tennessee native began his career with the SIU in 1971 in the port of Detroit. A member of the steward department, Brother Lynch first sailed aboard an American Steamship Company vessel. He had significant time as a captain as well. Prior to his retirement, he sailed aboard the Merle McCurdy, operated by Great Lakes Associates. Brother Lynch called LaF ollette, Tenn. home. LAWRENCE OBERLE Pensioner Lawrence Oberle, 73, passed away April 23. Born in Strongs, Mich., Brother Oberle joined the SIU in 1956. He worked in the deck department during his career and began receiving his pension in 1989. Prior to his retirement, he sailed aboard a vessel operated by Luedtke Engineering Company. Brother Oberle resided in Saulte Ste. Marie, Mich. THOMAS J. SMITH Pensioner Thomas J. Smith, 73, died May 11. He ., began his SIU career in 1950 in the port of Milwaukee. The deck depart~"""""'"-=~- ment member first sailed aboard a Penn Dixie Cement Corp. vessel. Prior to his retirement in 1988, he worked aboard Cement Transit Company's Southdown Challenger. Brother Smith lived in Petoskey, Mich. Augusf 2000 �ATLANTIC (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), April 30--Chairman William E. Stoltz, Secretary Milton M. Yournett. Chairman announced payoff in Jacksonville and thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. Secretary urged crew members to read LOG and attend union meetings in order to be better informed of latest maritime industry news. Educational director stated upgrading at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. is best way to ensure job security. He also stressed importance of donating to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendations made for contracts department to consider lowering sea time requirements for retirement and pension, and to secure 100 percent medical and prescription benefits for family members. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next ports~ Charleston, S.C.; Port Everglades, Fla.; Houston and J acksonvi lie. BLUE RIDGE (Crowley Petroleum), April 28-Chairman Juan M. Rivas, Secretary Ron Malozi, Educational Director William M. Hudson. Deck Delegate Joe Caruso, Steward Delegate Steve Johnson. Chairman read president's report from latest LOG and urged everyone to upgrade at Piney Point to better skills. He also noted importance of donating to SPAD. Secretary thanked everyone for good job. Educational director encouraged crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center: "The school is great!" No beefs or disputt:d OT reported. Suggestion made to ask contrn.cts department to look into possibility of retiring at 55 with 20 years' sea time. Next ports: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Texas City, Texas. CLEVELAND (Sealift, Inc.), April 24--Chairman Fareed A. Khan, Secretary Miguel E. Vinca, Educational Director Oliver L. Celestial, Deck Delegate Cleveland West, Steward Delegate Otello Dansley. Chairman praised crew members for job well done, particularly deck department for good job cleaning cargo hold. Secretary added his thanks to everyone for helping keep mess hall clean. He reminded those leaving ship to pick up clean linen for replacement crew and discussed importance of voting in this year's elections. Educational director talked about upgrading opportunities at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT. Suggestion made to get new movies on board. Videotapes must be checked out from chief engineer. Vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. Next port: Lake Charles, La. DISCOVERY (CSX Lines), April 30-Chairman Nelson Sala, Secretary Donald C. Spangler, Educational Director Roger M. Wasserman, Eng1ne Delegate Joseph R. Perry, Steward Delegate Mark V. Cabasag. Chairman discussed president's report in LOG, reflecting on past decade of shipping and how upgrading is essential to job security. Educational director reminded crew members to check zcards for expiration date and to keep up-to-date on drug tests and physical exams. Disputed OT reported by deck delegate and beef concerning overtime in steward August2000 department. Requests made for radio for crew lounge and new chairs in crew mess. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great food and cookouts. Next ports: Oakland and Long Beach, Calif. and Honolulu. GALVESTON BAY (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), April 22-Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary Andrew Hagan, Educational Director Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate Charles B. Collins, Steward Delegate Willie Grant. Chairman noted this is election year and contributions to SPAD help put those people in office who are for strong maritime industry. Educational director stated Paul Hall Center available to all Seafarers to upgrade skills and help them earn more money. Treasurer announced $22 in ship's movie fund. Beefreported by deck department; no disputed OT in any department. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into allowing crew members to apply for vacation checks after 60days' sea time. Vote of thanks given to everyone for job well done. Next ports: Charleston. S.C.: Port Everglades. Fla.; Houston and Jacksonville. GREAT LAND (lUM), April 30Chairman Ernest J. Duhon, Secretary Antoinette M. Spangler, Educational Director Michael W. Phillips. Deck Delegate Michael R. Hester, Engine Delegate Joseph I. Laguana, Steward Delegate Kassem Saleh. Chairman reminded crew members to remain current in their dues. Educational director advised everyone to have training record books (TRBs) filled out by chief mate. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for Paul Hall Center to establish optional course for advanced seamanship, including carpentry and splicing. Ship's crew requested greater access to movies provided by company. Thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next port: Anchorage, Alaska. blasting operations. He thanked everyone for good jolr-steward department for good food and deck department for helping him become familiar with vessel. Secretary reported new stores due in next port. Educational director urged crew members to utilize facilities at Paul Hall Center, keep up with STCW requirements and keep abreast of union rules. No beefs or disputed OT noted. Request for contracts department to consider requiring 90 days' sea time for vacation benefits. New TV, VCR and antenna needed. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. KENAI (ATC), April 10---Chairman James R. Wilson, Secretary Dorothy Odoms, Educational Director Dale Graham, Deck Delegate Joshua A. Mensah, Engine Delegate Kevin Sullivan. Chairman passed along captain's thanks for practicing safe work habits and pointed out that all should be familiar with and use safety equipment on board vessel. Chairman said all standard forms (union meetings, crew lists, repair logs, etc.) to be sent directly to ship. Educational director suggested possible use of educational books and films for upgrading information be ordered from internet. Funds received from safety awards total about $12,000 and are available for crew's use. No beefs reported. Some disputed OT noted in steward department regarding extra meals. Question raised as to where NMU members ship out from San Francisco and Hawaii now that NMU halls there have closed. Solid vote of thanks to Chief Steward Odoms and her department. Next port: Richmond, Calif. OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS (OSG). April 23--Chairman Daniel N. Laitinen Jr., Secretary Jonathan White, Educational Director John E. Trent, Deck Delegate John W. Yates, Steward Delegate Alberto Falcon. Chairman reported crew dryer fixed and announced payoflf April 28 in Houston, Texas. He advised everyone to upgrade at Piney Point every chance possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members read president's report in LOG and expressed appreciation for work union is doing in keeping jobs for membership. Next ports: Tampa, Fla. and Houston. PACIFIC (CSX Lines), April 10Chairrnan Ray J. Ramirez, Secretary Robert P. Mosley, Educational Director Seller T. Brooks, Deck Delegate Theodore Doi, Steward Delegate J. I. JaFar. help SA by taking dirty linen to 03 level and leaving rooms clean. Secretary reminded everyone to make sure they're eligible to vote in upcoming SIU elections and registered to vote in national elections. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point and contributing to SPAD for job security. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into reducing sea time needed for vacation. Vote of thanks given to stew- on extra vacation benefits for completing tour with no illness. He thanked everyone for keeping noise down in passageways. Educational director explained process of getting STCW renewed. Treasurer announced $33 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made to have contracts department look into raising pension benefits and have company pay for work shoes. Thanks to steward department for job well done, espe- Must Be Doing Something Right ... • It was all smiles when the Developer (U.S. Ship Mgmt.) put into port recently in the Los Angeles area. Above (from left) are AB David Cordero. Bosun Roger Reinke and Steward/Baker Ruben Casin. At right are AB Mark Brenner and QMED Clifford Miles. ard department for job well done. Next ports: Elizabeth; Portsmouth, Va. and Rotterdam, Netherlands. cially for great barbecues. Next ports: Port Everglades and Jacksonville, Fla. HM/ BRENTON REEF (IUM), May 31-Chairman Thomas P. Banks, Secretary Luis A. Escobar, Educational Director James L. McDaniel, Deck Delegate Pedro V. Ramos, Engine Delegate Mark Roman, Steward Delegate Randy A. Stephens. Bosun conveyed chief mate's compliments on job well done by deck department on return voyage from West Coast. He announced payoff June 2 followed by big clean-up job and Coast Guard inspection while vessel still in Gulf Coast. Secretary urged everyone to upgrade at union's facilities in Piney Point. Some beefs reported in deck and steward departments. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into lowering sea time requirements for collecting vacation checks. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great work. HUMACAO (NPR, Inc.) May 28Chairrnan David I. Murray, Secretary Raymond L. Jones, Educational Director Angel Hernandez, Deck Delegate Terry L. McKee, Engine Delegate Terrow T. Franks, Steward Delegate Pedro Rodriguez. Chairman announced payoff in Puerto Rico June 2 and encouraged everyone to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. Secretary asked crew to keep laundry room clean and trash-free. Treasurer noted $313 in ship's movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Several suggestions made, including for contracts department to look into allowing crew members to bring spouses aboard for one round-trip voyage on coastwise vessels, having union pay for dependents' prescription drugs, extending shipyard time for reclaiming job from 30 to 60 days and lowering sea time requirements for collecting vacation checks. Vote of thanks given to steward department for cleaning ship after.shipyard period and also for continued delicious meals. HM/ DEFENDER (IUM), April 25-Chairman Juan Castillo, Secretary Steven R. Wagner, Educational Director Charles J. Brockhaus, Deck Delegate Pedro Lopez, Engine Delegate Roderick I. Frazier, Steward Delegate Isabel Sabio. Chairman announced ship to discharge in Corpus Christi, Texas or Lake Charles, La., then take load of gasoline to Florida. After that, vessel scheduled to go on Corpus Christi to Tampa run. Shipyard period planned for June. Secretary stated new mattresses to be ordered which will properly fit bed insert. Educational director urged everyone to take advantage of Piney Point educational facilities. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for new dryer in crew laundry. Suggestion made that contracts department look into reducing amount of sea time needed to call for relief. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Chairman thanked VP Nick Marrone and Port Agent Vince Coss for visiting ship and updating crew on recent changes. Bosun asked that everyone be on time for customs and immigration, make sure z-cards are up-to-date, and support SPAD. Secretary and educational director urged crew members to take advantage of facilities and upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $40 in movie fund, $60 in ship's fund and $147 in cookout fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Following reading of president's report in LOG, crew expressed gratitude to President Sacco for work he and union officials are doing for Seafarers. Clarification requested on vacation and overtime rates. Vote of thanks to Stewards Larry W. Ballard and Robert Mosley for jobs well done. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Hawaii; Guam and Hong Kong. DEVELOPER (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), May 4-Chairman Dana M. Cella, Secretary Robert A. Castillo, Educational Director Lawoo S. Shete, Deck Delegate George Mazzola, Engine Delegate Julio Paminiano. Chairman talked about shipyard preparations and threeweek layoff. He suggested crew members contribute to SPAD to help union be heard on Capitol Hill. Everything going well, according to secretary, and educational director urged all to attend Piney Point upgrading classes. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications received from VP Augie Tellez regarding issues from last shipboard meeting. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into lowering sea time and age requirements for pensions. Job well done by steward department, and crew welcomed aboard new chief cook, Ray Mohamed. Next ports: Yokohama and Nagoya, Japan; and Pusan, South Korea. /TB PHILADELPHIA (Sheridan Transportation Corp.), April 28Chairman Michael D. Hill, Secretary Thurman C. Johnson, Educational Director Jose M. Ramirez, Deck Delegate Walter Harris, Engine Delegate Ahmed S. Salim, Steward Delegate Cesar Santos. Chairman cautioned crew to be extra careful around sand- PERFORMANCE (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), April 23-Chairrnan Jimmie L. Scheck, Secretary Patrick J. Corless, Educational Director John J. Walsh, Deck Delegate Bennie Spencer, Steward Delegate Luis M. Caballero. Chairman announced payoff in Elizabeth, N.J. April 27. He asked those crew members getting off to EL MORRO (IUM), May 1Chairman Steven W. Copeland, Secretary Kris A. Hopkins, Educational Director Frederick W. Dougherty Jr., Deck Delegate Homar Linefield, Engine Delegate Reinaldo Roman, Steward Delegate Robert G. Maschmeier. Chairman announced clarification INTEGRITY (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), May 7-Chairman James V. Triassi Jr., Secretary Stephanie L. Sizemore, Educational Director Dennis R. Baker, Deck Delegate Clay V. Brown, Engine Delegate Michael McNally, Steward Delegate John A. Padilla. Secretary stated new TV antenna to be installed next trip. Six new mattresses purchased and distributed to members listed on repair list. Educational director led discussion on LOG article about STCW. Crew requested more clarification. Movies purchased last trip with donations from crew. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made that company furnish seamen transportation home from foreign ports due to death of immediate family member. Contributions of $250 collected for Relief Bosun F. Santiago on news of his daughter's death. Clarification needed for relief trip time off. Special thanks to steward department for Easter meal, especially to steward for home-baked goods. Voyage was good and crew worked well together. Next ports: Boston, Mass.; Elizabeth, N.J. and Norfolk, Va. Seafarers LOG 19 �(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.) .. . N ma Ship For Hawaiian Senator As a fitting memorial to the 19 newly awarded Asian Medal of Honor recipients, I request that the SIU lobby on behalf of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) for an Anny prepositioning ship to be named in his honor and to honor all Nisei warriors of the 442nd regimental combat team. Sen. Inouye has been a friend of labor throughout his 38-year tenure as a Democratic senator. He exemplifies courage, integrity and dedication, and has never failed the SIU or the maritime industry. I am proud to be a member of the merchant marine, an American Legion member and Marine Corps Veteran. I hope we can lobby for a fitting memorial to the service and commitment of the brave senator from Hawaii. JMtpb J. Gallo Jr. Jersey City, N.J. . . . . and a second letter from Brother Gallo . .. .. Condolences to Haller Famlly Please accept my sincerest gesture of sympathy for the passing of Brother Chuck Haller earlier this year. I was shocked and saddened when I learned of his passing in the Seafarers LOG. Please take comfort in knowing that Chuck was the finest union brother that I have ever sailed with, and he will never be forgotten by the brothers of the SIU. God bless the Haller family; and if I can ever be of service to you, don't hesitate to contact me. With deep regret, Brother Joseph J. Gallo Jr. Jersey City, N.J. Brown Deserves To Lead Parade As I watched the July 4 telecast of "Ops Sail 2000," the announcer used the word "maritime" a few times. describing the tall ships. If I'm correct in my thinking. I didn't see any merchant ships in the parade, and my thoughts went to the Liberty ship John W , Brown, which is now a museum in Baltimore. If ever a ship deserved to lead this parade, it was the John W Brown. Built in 1942, it brought supplies to the troops wherever needing during World War II, through enemy waters. It was a miracle the ship survived. Life wasn't over for the Libery ship after the war. While other merchant ships and military vessels were put into mothballs, to be scrapped in later years, the Brown was given to the Metropolitan High School in New York in 1948, the year I graduated from there. My class was the first to attend classes on her, to learn what the life of a seaman was really about. Once aboard a real ship, there wasn't any cutting classes or playing hooky because we had pride in the ship and in ourselves. As old as she is now, I believe the John W. Brown still could get under way and should have led the parade. If she were to lead the next Ops Sail, people will see her and start asking questions. And they will learn that the Brown and ships like her helped us win the war. Only then will the public realize how important the merchant marine is to them, both in war and in peace. Pensioner Walter Karlak Woodside Queens, N.Y. Conclusion to Smith's 1940 India Voyage Continued from page 14 is modem in the conventional tropical style, with large windows and doorways. In buildings in the tropics there is usually no glass in the windows. In place of glass, they have wooden shutters which keep out the frequent rain showers. The walls are about two feet thick and composed of what we at home call adobe. The designs on these buildings are usually very intricate and beautiful after the fashion of the Eastern artists. All in all, I seem to derive a great deal of comfort and tranquility while living in these cool, simply furnished buildings among the quiet Oriental people who dwell here. The population of Singapore is a conglomeration of Malayans, Chinese, Filipinos and every other race, religion and nationality. The city is, by virtue of its reputation, a paradise for sailors. There is no end of women, liquor stores and cabarets where a sailor ashore can spend his hard-earned money lavishly in the accustomed manner. As for entertainment, there is the great Raffles Hotel. They have an excellent orchestra for dancing, and good food. Most of the people you meet there are Europeans of the international society set. Soon after arriving, I was introduced to Miss Dorothy Barbara Barlow and immediately fell in love-again. Dorothy's father is a major in the British army and her mother is Cantonese. She is very intelligent and lovely and also very funny. We spend most of our time together and through Dorothy, I have access to the country club and private parties and dances. There are some fine beaches where one can swim in an enclosure which is erected as a protection against sharks. There is also an interesting zoo which is situated some distance from the city. It is reached by a twisting, wellpaved road through dense green jungle and coconut groves. At the zoo, the people are closed in, not the animals. We find it very enjoyable to 20 Seafarers LOii .,. sit at a table on the veranda of the cafe, drinking a cold beer while observing the wild animals and the beautiful scenery. Now it is time to leave Singapore and the good friends I have made. It is tempting to just say "to hell with it" and stay here. In the Marines we have a saying about men who do that: "He went Asiatic," sounding a bit derogatory. Recently, a stuffy official of the U.S. State Department told me I had overstayed my welcome and that I should leave on the next available ship. I mentioned this to a British friend who is fairly high up in the Foreign Service. He said, "Tell that bloody blighter to mind his own business, you may stay as long as you like." I don't know if that consular officer hated Americans or if he was just jealous of Dorothy and me, though I had noticed him staring hard at us at the Raffles one evening during a dinner dance. Anyway, it's about time to go back to work and replenish my finances, but I hope to get another Far East run on my next ship. THE END Notes: The next year, the Steel Age was sunk in the Indian Ocean by the German submarine U129. All hands perished, including Capt. Jones and my two watch partners, Able Seamen Bill Marks and Bud O'Conner. Since the British commander had failed to secure the back door to the island, the Japanese attack on Singapore in 1942 obliterated the area near the Jahor Strait bridge. Major Barlow s house, which was near the bridge, took a direct hit from Japanese artillery. According to the Red Cross report, Dorothy, her mother and a maid died there along with some neighbors. Twenty years later, when I visited the area, I could not recognize anything. The last time I was in Singapore, I didn't even go ashore. JMS 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 (On 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 o 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 pu s o, furincluding, but not Jim· thering the politi , 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. August2aaa �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER 2000 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE ~ The following is the schedule for classes beginning between August through the end of the year 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 be/ore 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 reserva- 'S tart Date ..July3, 10,17, 2.f, 31; Aug.. 7, 14, 21, 28; :· Sept.4, 11; 18, 25; Oct; 2, 9, 16, 23, 3'0; . Nov. 6, 13., lO, 27; Dec. 4, 11, 18 . July 3, 17, 31; ~ug. 14, 28; Sept. 11, 25; Oct. 9, 23, 30; Nov. 6;.26; Dec. 4, 18 · tions 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. ·· Dateof · ;: .CoQJpleti~ll Course · Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman August 7 September 4 October 2 September 1 September 29 October 27 Lifeboatman August 21 September 18 September 1 September 29 Radar Unlimited August 7 October 2 August 17 October 13 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* October 16 October 20 Course (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Electronics August 21 September 15 Fireman/Watertender & Oiler August 28 October 6 M;uioe Ele,trical Maintenance I Seprember 4 October 13 Marine Electronics Teebnician I September 1 October 13 Welding September 18 October 16 October 6 November 3 Academic Department Courses Recertification Programs Start Course Date Date of Completion Bosun Recertification October 9 November 6 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- -·-~· - ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- · - · - ·- · - · - ·- -- · - · - · - · - · - ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·-·-·-·- ·-·- ·-·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- -- -- · - · - ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·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 FOWX AB and OMED lllJlllicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee qf $180 with their 4.11plication, The pq,vment should be made with a monev order onlv. pqyable to LMSS. UPGRADING APPLICATION COURSE Telephone BEGIN END DA.TE DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed Social Security# Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 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 DNo 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? D Yes D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes D No Primary language spoken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Augusf 2000 SIGNATURE Date Off: -------------------- 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, P.O. Box 75, Piney Poinl, 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. 8100 Seafarel'S LOB 21 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes . ~~-0>.ki:;,::,. ..... PAUL HALL CENTER LIFEBOAT CLASS = -=IL~ E=::::-~ Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 602- Unlicensed apprentice class 602 recently graduated from the water survival course. They are (in alphabetical order) Lewis Amundson, Kenneth Dyson Jr., Bryan Field, Charles Fitzpatrick, Sean Fortener, Jafar Gordon, Kenneth Jackson, Nathan Jarmon, Beth Ketah, Ibrahim Muhammad, Jacob Soeteber, Antwan Stafford and Nathan Young. Government Vessels - Students who completed the government vessels course June 9 are (from left, kneeling) Benny Perez, Gregorio Abalos Jr., Carlos J. Castillo, (standing) Tyrone Brown, John Holmes, Karl Roy Jr., Guy Todd II, Kyle Bailey, Shauntay Shavies, Greg Thompson (instructor) Sherrod Frazier, Christopher Cummings, Brian Guiry, Louis Champ Jr., Byron Harris, Louis Nickerson Sr. and Charles Billips. Advanced Fire Fighting - Earning their advanced fire fighting endorsements May 19 are (kneeling) Michael Kaye, (from left, standing) Robert Scott, Mark Wain, Anthony Hammet (instructor) and Joe Walker Jr. Not pictured is Andre Frazier. An End ... and a Beginning Able Seaman - With the help of instructor Barnabe Pelingon and Bill Saul serving as engineer, the May 26 graduates of the able seaman class ready to head out on the MN Osprey to learn proper techniques in standing a bridge watch and steering a vessel. Included in the class are (in alphabetical order) Adel Alameri, Robert Arneel, Benjamin Barnes, Ronald Burris Jr., Jimmie Casey, Antony Cruzvergara, Carey Hatch, David Heindel Jr., Ausberto Laspinas, Lito Mariano, Brian McLarnon, Royal Mobley, Nestor Montoya Jr., Lawrence Richardson Jr., Russell Roberts and Ziting Xu. Unlicensed Apprentice Graduation - After all the hard work, unlicensed apprentices Donald Davis, Larry Hogan, David Jones Jr., Rashad King and Steven Lamb Jr. complete their third and final phase of study and are ready to become SIU members. Above, the graduating students share their special moment with "Momma" Theresa Price. Below, some of them work with instructors Eric Malzkuhn and Maurice Chambers in the deck engine utility class. Limited License for Mate or Master - Graduating from the limited license course July 14 are (from left, kneeling) Michael Cascio, Troy Gros, Gregory Jarvis, Victor DiGiorgio, Blaine Tompson, (standing) Robert Boudreaux, Billy Barletta, William Bruce, Scott Morton and Shane Boudreaux. They are posing in front a a new mural at the school which was painted by Christy Holloway, daughter of the school's commandant, Don Hollaway. Z2 Seafarers LOii AugllSf 2000 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes Steward Department Skills Tankerman (PIC) Barge Course - Graduating from the tankerman (PIG) barge course May 26 are (from left, front row) Richard Chamnes, Ronnie Jackson, Liberato Viray, Raymond Samaria, (seond row) Mitch Oakley (instructor), Matthew Sandy, Eddie Harrison, Thomas Flanagan, Paul Moss, James Reily, Eric Bridges. Manuel Little and Richard Lee. Chief Cook - Learning specific culinary skills which will prepare them to sail as a chief cook are (from left) Natividad Zapata, Instructor/Chef John Dobson, Sixta Batiz, Donnie Cabanizas, Michael D. Harris, Michael Todman, William Daly, Breon Lucas and Jonathan Gibson. On this particular day in the culinary lab, the students learned the art of making pizza with low-fat, fresh ingredients. The results were delicious. Chief Cook - Additional upgraders in the chief cook course are (from left, front row) Tanja Pfi:zenmaier, Scott Burgess, (standing) George Burgos, Mike Kozak, Vern Andrews and Chef/Instructor John Hetmanski. Galley Operations - Radar Observer - Standing at the construction site of the new simulator building are Seafarers completing the radar observer course April 14. From the left are Steve Ruiz, Brock Booker, David Hinson, Mike Smith (instructor) and Richard Roel. The galley operations course teaches students baking skills. Freshly baked breads, rolls, pies, cakes and sweet rolls have a positive effect on crew morale aboard ship. Here, Elida Miguel, who completed the galley operations course May 19, restocks the dessert section in the Paul Hall Center's lunchroom. ~ Unlicensed Apprentice Program - Part of the first phase of the unlicensed apprentice program at the Paul Hall Center involves galley familiarization-including galley skills, sanitation, basic food preparation and good nutrition. Instructor Roy Fairfield (at far right in photo above) helps class 603 with that aspect of their training. It also is a time when the young meh and women learn that healthy bodies as well as healthy minds help keep the number of injuries aboard ship to a minimum. In photo at right, the class enjoys some good old-fashioned calisthenics. Included in unlicensed apprentice class 603 are (in alphabetical order) Joseph Benavente Jr., Christopher Dionio, Lokona Farias, Jackson Gourgue, Byron Graham, Michael Harvey, Michael Herrera, Kevin Ignacio, Haven lussig, Robert Johnson, Nicholas Jones, Ryan Legario, Charles Lewis, Adam Lippe, Samuel Lloyd, Ralph Martin Jr., Jerald Martinez, William Mcintyre, Allyson Pangelinan, Kenneth Simon, Jack Slagle and Sidney Wagner Jr. Augusf 2000 Seafarers LOii 23 �m.seafarers.org Volume 62, Number 8 Balllmon Hall Moves to Eaex Street See pages 12-13 � 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 August 2000 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SEN. INOUYE HONORED FOR WWII HEROISM NEW YORK-AREA SEAFARERS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF ILA LOCAL 1814 UNION GAINS 2 SHIPS MAERSK LINE LTD. TO OPERATE CONVERTED AMMUNITION SHIPS CONSTRUCTION LAUNCED FOR U.S. LINES’ VESSEL SIU MAINTAINS JOBS ON 6 LNG TANKERS ADVOCATE FOR MARITIME LABOR, ED MOONEY DIES AT 84 COALITION URGES MSP EXPANSION INDUSTRY GROUP DETAILS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING U.S. FLEET, NATIONAL SECURITY UNION MOURNS LOSS OF RETIRED PORT AGENT REINOSA WITH CROWLEY SEAFARERS QUALITY CREW SAVES RACER IN DRAMATIC RESCUE AT SEA LESSONS LEARNED AT SEA STILL SERVCE CWA PRESIDENT BAHR BEGAN UNION CAREER AS WWII MARINER HAIL TO THE CHEF… CULINARY LAB NAMED IN HONOR OF LUPINACCI SIMULATOR COMPLEXT ALMOST READY LIQUID CARGO TRAINING FEATURED IN NEW FACILITY SEAFARERS-CREWED PHILLIPS DELIVERS IN MARINE CORPS CARGO EXERCISE GREAT LAKES CREWS GREET NEW VP MEMBERS WELCOME MOVE TO NEW FACILITY A VOYAGE TO INDIA-1940 BY J. MELFORD SMITH SCENES FROM THE PORT OF SAN JUAN 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 08/01/2000 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. 8 2000 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/fb078d92e5621aec9f5aede604af5ed8.pdf 03f87e85598d613347f9cb2f346c373a PDF Text Text r re Hit 0 it SIU members are finding a lot to like about the new standard freightship and tanker agreements. The contracts include unprecedented benefits plus wage increases. Voting began in late June. Among those showing their approval are (clockwise, from upper left) Seafarers aboard the !TB Philadelphia, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Stalwart and, at the Baltimore SIU hall, OMU Efren Redil with his daughter, Jennifer Andrea Redil. Pages 11-14. USNS Stockham Joins MSC's Prepositioning Fleet Seafarers are sailing aboard the USNS Stockham, christened last month in Jacksonville, Fla. The vessel is part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command's prepositioning fleet. Page 3. SIU Crews Up New Ship The Liberty Grace, signifying new jobs for SIU members, entered service July 19. Operated by Liberty Maritime, the ship is 623 feet long, with a 105-foot beam. Page 3. USNS Carter Crew Battles Blaze MarAd Honors SIU-Crewed Potomac ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Page4 Red River to Operate Reflagged Ammo Ship SIU-contracted Red River Shipping Corp. has won a five-year operating charter for a containership that will carry ammunition for the U.S. Air Force. The Therese Delmas will be reflagged under the Stars and Stripes and is expected to be delivered before the end of this year. Page 3. �President's Report Stablllty and Strength Many years ago, merchant mariners couldn't have imagined the kinds of benefits and other gains which are included in the SIU's new standard contracts. You may recall a feature we ran in the LOG early last year about SIU charter members. While their overall recollections of the union's first days were fascinating, one thing that really stood out is the Michael Sacco shipboard conditions they faced. Times were tough, to say the least. But the Seafarers of that era accepted the challenges, stuck together and laid the foundation for the union's success. Today, the SIU continues to move full ahead. Take some time to go back and look at the new standard contract again. The medical benefits alone are fantastic, with expanded coverage for dependents and comprehensive coverage for Seafarers and their families. And the gains don't stop there. With the new contracts, members can collect vaca- tion pay sooner. The pension plan has been improved. The base wages and overtime will increase in each of the pact's five years. Brothers and sisters, these are first class contracts that we all should be proud of. And it's worth noting that our other contracts are being brought closer in line with the standard agreements. I thank all members who provided input for the standard contract negotiations. Through ships' minutes, letters to headquarters, and recommendations at union meetings, Seafarers made clear what's most important to them in the new contracts. Our negotiators acted accordingly, and the result is that the new agreements include substantial improvements in the areas most often cited by Seafarers. These achievements don't happen by accident. They require an active, informed membership who work safely and productively. They require skilled, stable leadership from the officials whom you elect. The SIU possesses all of those qualities. We also have another important characteristic: continuity. As you know, our industry is one of the most heavily regulated in the nation. That means we have to be very active in politics, and it also means we must work closely and effectively with representatives of all segments of the industry. In this regard, I know from experience that our union's best interests have been well-served by your strong support of the union's officials. Such support never is taken for granted, which I believe this administration consistently has demonstrated. Among other accomplishments, we have worked hard to secure new jobs for the membership and to gain better and better contracts. We have stepped up our role in international maritime affairs, specifically to protect the interests of SIU members. We have improved the vocational training opportunities available to Seafarers, and we have expanded the scholarship program for members and their dependents. Quite honestly, I'm proud of our record of achievements over the past dozen years. More success lies ahead. We're equipped with proven leadership and active, productive membership. The standard contracts are the latest proof of what we can accomplish, and they should be a source of pride for Seafarers past and present. Ammo Ship Fire Claims Lives of 2 Mariners Tragedy Could Have Been Worse If Not for Crew's Quick Reactions The tragic fire aboard the SIUcrewed ammunition ship SSG EdwardA. Carter, Jr. claimed two lives but could have been worse if not for the quick reactions of crew members and officers who initially fought the blaze. GUDE Horace Beasley, 45, and Third Asst. Engineer Paul Powell, 35, died as a result of the July 14 accident in Sunny Point, N.C., where the vessel was docked. Beasley, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who didn't know how to swim, either jumped or fell from an engine room side port near where the fire started. Reportedly, no one saw him enter the water. His body was recovered from the Cape Fear River ,Training, v~fety Drills 'Kicked In' for Crew ~pme had fought shipboard fires before, while others hadn't. fact, the crew had completed a drill earlier in the day. But one thing that Sea!ftrers ,1; "Ttte lrainiqg, kic~~~:tJn•., . q~g- : aboard the ammunition ship'SSG ' >'1>firne," '$Sld"Chief'.:,stewar¢/James ; Edward A. Carter, Jr. had in com- Kidd1 · a 1993 ''graduate of .tpe mon was a solid record of safety Paul Hall Center. "It happened<so training. Among the 10 StUmem~ ·.<fast. , Pt,ft. l rernemt>erEld everybers involved in combating the thing, followed · all the proceJuly 14 blaze in $unny Point, dures, with the tittle tim~ that we N.C., five have completed fire had (to inttiatly contain the fire). fighting classes at the Paul Hall Everybody did a good job. Center for Maritime Training and "This was my first time dealing Education, located in Piney with a fire1 and hopefully my la~t1" Point, Md. Two others have taken he added. · drfferent vessel-safety courses at During a long career in the Piney Pointl while the other three U.S. ·NayY, Bosun T.C. Oneyear have completed fire fighting fought fires that he described as courses either through the U.S. worse than the Carter's. But last armed forces or elsewhere. month's experience reaffirmed Seafarers from the Carter said his belief that ''it's probably the such training unquestionably paid most important school that a peroff for them as they successfully son can go to: damage control prevented the fire from igniting and fire fighting.'' any of the 2.5 million pounds of AB Army Joe Leake said that explosives on board. They also as the Carter's fire alarm soundemphasized that the weekly ed. "I was in shock. 1t wasn't until shipboard fire and boat drills helped them react efficiently. In Continued on page 7 four days later. Powell never made it out of the engine room. It would have been the first trip for both men. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the fire's cause, and is required to issue a report within the next six months. The agency noted that the Carter-which was not loading ammunition when the fire began-undergoes annual Coast Guard inspections, most recently on June 12. No deficiencies were noted at that time. During the first few days after the fire, SIU members from the Photo Courtesy Wilmington Star-News/Jamie Moncrief Seafarers helped contain the July 14 fire aboard the ammo ship SSG Edward A. Carter, Jr., docked in Sunny Point, N.C. The accident claimed two lives; many more would have been lost if not for the crew's efforts. 2 Seafarers LOG Carter expressed mixed feelings about the experience. First and foremost, they conveyed sympathies to the families of Beasley (who was from Gretna, Va.) and Powell (from St. Petersburg, Fla.). Crew members attended a memorial service July 18. Yet, they also realized that the fire-which by some estimates reached 2,000 degrees-could have proven more disastrous. The Carter, a prepositioning ship operated by Maersk Line Ltd., was carrying approximately 1,300, 20-foot containers filled with ammunition. That's only half the vessel's capacity, but it still accounted for 2.5 million pounds of explosives, including missiles. In the crucial first moments after the fire was discovered, Seafarers and officers prevented it from spreading to the ammunition. Fire fighters from local and neighboring communities first arrived approximately 30 minutes later, and they continued fighting the blaze for the next eight hours, until after midnight. "I'm thankful it wa n't worse, but that doesn't make up for the two guys we lost," stated AB Army Joe Leake. "All we really did was try to hold the fire down until the fire department came. It could have been much worse if we had been at sea. It's just sad we had to lose two very nice men, good shipmates." SIU Representative George Kenny, who met with the SIU crew in the fire's aftermath, pointed out that local fire officials "praised our guys for the job they did containing the fire. One of them said that if not for the crew's actions, it would have been like dropping a bomb on Wilmington." The Carter recently under- went conversion at the Norfolk (Va.) Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. so that it could join the U.S. Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning fleet. In fact, the 950-foot vessel was expected to sail to Diego Garcia in late July or early August on its first assignment. Instead, it will head back to Continued on page 7 Volume 63, Number 8 August 2001 I The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org ®~13 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 addres changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communication 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/ NMU - All Rights Reserved. Augusf 2001 �Liberty Maritime Launches Another New Bulk Carrier AB Praises Unlicensed Apprentices The Liberty Grace is the newest SIU-crewed ship operated by Liberty Maritime. The vessel began sailing last month. The Liberty Grace's sister ship, Liberty Glory, welcomed aboard Seafarers in April and May before sailing on its maiden voyage. Pictured on the Liberty Glory are (kneeling) AB Corinthis Thomas, (standing, from left) Unlicensed Apprentice Michael McFarlin, Watchstanding AB Arthur "Junior" Machado, Dayworker AB Santos Antonio, GUDE Melvin Ratcliff, Bosun Juan Rivas, Unlicensed Apprentice Jerry Wilder, Dayworker AB Donald Kelly and (standing in back) GUDE Abdoulla Alssoudi. The fleet of SIU-crewed vessels operated by Liberty Maritime Corp. has expanded to seven, following last month's launching of the new bulk carrier Liberty Grace. The vessel sailed from Oshima, Japan on July 19 and headed for Stockton, Calif., where it was scheduled to load 34,000 metric tons of bagged rice for delivery across the Black Sea to Batumi, Georgia. Earlier this year, Seafarers climbed the gangway to the newly constructed Liberty Glory, sister ship of the Liberty Grace. Each vessel is 623 feet long, with a 105-foot beam. Each is listed at 50,601 MT and can travel at 15.3 knots. The ships are equipped with four cranes and six hatches apiece. Liberty Maritime is based in Lake Success, N.Y. Three of the company's bulk carriers also are equipped to carry containers as well. AB Arthur Machado, part of the original crew on the Liberty Glory (delivered in April), recently commended the work of the ship's unlicensed apprentices from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. "In all the years I have been going to sea, I have een a lot of young mariners just starting out. The two apprentices that arrived from Piney Point are tops in my book," Machado noted. "They have the right enthusiastic attitude, are always looking to learn, and are willing to help out. Their names are Jerry Wilder and Michael McFarlin. "Piney Point seems to be doing things right in the apprentice program, if Jerry and Michael are any indication of the young men and women coming through the program," Machado continued. "The crew on here are picking up where Piney Point left off with the training, a everyone is anxious to teach and assist these young men." SIU, AMSEA Welcome USNS Stockham The SIU gained new shipboard jobs with last month's christening of the USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham in Jacksonville, Fla. Operated by American Overseas Marine Corp. (AMSEA) for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), the Stockham recently underwent conversion to facilitate its role in the prepositioning fleet. The 906-foot vessel, formerly named the USNS Soderman, will carry Marine Corps and Navy tactical equipment and supplies at sea, according to MSC. Guests at the christening included U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Gordon S. Holder, commander of MSC; Marine Lt. Gen. E.R. "Buck" Bedard, deputy commander for plans, policies and operations at Marine Corps headquarters; and U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) and his wife, Kitty, who served as the vessel's sponsor. Like many other MSC prepositioning ships, the Stockham is named in honor of a Medal of Honor recipient. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Stockham posthumously was awarded the medal for his heroic actions in France during World War I. MSC noted that Stockham, in a fierce nighttime battle June 13, 1918 against German artillery forces, "noticed that a wounded comrade's gas mask had been shot away. Without hesitation, he removed his own mask and gave it to the young man, fully knowing it would cost him his own life. Stockham directed and assisted in the evacuation of the wounded without a gas mask until he collapsed. He died in agony a few days later." Stockham's company commander, Marine 2nd Lt. Clifton B. Cates, recommended him for the Medal of Honor. Cates wrote, "No man has ever displayed greater heroism or courage and showed more utter contempt of personal danger. His bravery was an inspiration to his men, and his actions undoubtedly saved the MSC's newly christened USNS Stockham, crewed by SIU members, provides prepositioning support for the Marine Corps and the Navy. Augusf 2001 lives of many of his wounded comrades." However, the recommendation somehow was lost. But, in the late 1930s, Cates and Barret Mattingly-the young man whom Stockham saved-realized that the Medal of Honor hadn't been awarded. Cates, who later became commandant of the Marine Corps, wrote another proposal that included sworn statements from surviving members of Stockham's 96th Company, 2nd Battalion. On Dec. 21, 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt directed the awarding to Sgt. Stockham. MSC's prepositioning ships are forward-deployed to the western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. "Sealift requirements have grown since the maritime prepositioning force's inception in the mid-l 980s to require at-sea prepositioned Navy mobile construction battalion equipment, fleet hospital equipment, expeditionary airfield material and a headquarters unit-support set," MSC explained in announcing the Stockham s launch. "Due to the increased prepositioning equipment, 20 percent of the equipment and supplies transported on the original 13 ships has been displaced over time. MSC began acquiring ships for the maritime prepositioning force (enhanced) program in February 1997 in order to expand the MPF fleet." Red River Carp. Wins Charter far Ammo Ship SIU-contracted Red River Shipping Corp. has won a fiveyear operating charter for the containership that will replace the Buffalo Soldier. The Therese Delmas will be reflagged under the Stars and Stripes. The vessel also will be renamed, and it is expected to be delivered to the U.S. Military Sealift Command before the end of this year. The ship will be utilized in MSC's prepositioning fleet, carrying containerized ammunition for the Air Force in or around Diego Garcia. Overall, MSC's prepositioning program has more than 30 strategically located ships carrying materiel for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Many of those ships are crewed by SIU members. Thirteen vessels compose the combat prepositioning force, or CPF segment. These ships carry enough equipment, food, water and other supplies to support elements of two Army heavy divisions- up to 34,000 personnelfor up to 30 days, according to the agency. CPF ships are prepositioned near Diego Garcia and Guam. Fourteen MSC prepositioning ships are specifically designed for transporting Marine Corps supplies and equipment. They are divided into three squadrons, each of which can carry everything needed to support a Marine Corps air/ground task force of up to 14,400 personnel for up to 30 days. Seven other vessels make up the final major component of the prepositioning program. The logistics prepositioning ships contain Air Force ordinance, Navy munitions and U.S. military fuel requirements, according to MSC. These remaining prepositioning ships are assigned to the three maritime prepositioning ship (MPS) squadrons. Photo by Edward Brian·Davis The Therese Delmas will reflag under the Stars and Stripes. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, September 3, 2001 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Seafarers LOG 3 �MarAd Honors SIU-Crewed Potomac The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd), during a June 26 ceremony in Galveston, Texas, bestowed its Professional Ship Award on the SIU-crewed Potomac. The award was presented in recognition of outstanding service by the vessel and its crew in support of the nation's armed forces. Attended by officials from the SIU, MarAd and the U.S. Military Sealift Command, as well as representatives from Interocean Ugland Management Corp. (which manages the ship), the ceremony took place aboard the vessel. The Potomac has been continuously deployed since 1991. It has been stationed in Diego Garcia, where it participated in convoy operations and other exercises. The vessel and its crew supported the Rwandan relief effort by supplying food and water to refugees, and served as a standby supply ship in support of Bo nian aid. The Potomac is one of four MarAd-owned Ready Reserve Force (RRF) offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) tankers. Other OPDS vessels include the Chesapeake, the Petersburg and the Mt. Washington. This select Norwegian Union Threatens Trico Boycott ITF Delegation Shocked by Conditions in Louisiana In an important show of global solidarity, Norwegian oil workers are threatening a boycott of the offshore supply company Trico Marine Services Inc., USA and a subsidiary unle s the Louisiana-based company stops interfering with its workers' right to vote for union representation. The Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers' Union (NOPEF) said the boycott against Trico Marine and Trico Supply (based in Norway) will start Aug. 16 unless the company backs off and lets its employees decide whether they will join a union. The boycott warning came one month after a delegation affiliated with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) attempted to deliver a letter requesting a meeting with Trico Marine Services President Thomas Fairley at the company's Houma, La. office but were refused entrance to the private road leading to the building. The delegation- including, among others, representatives from ITFaffiliated unions which have collective bargaining agreements with Trico in Norway and the United Kingdom-completed a five-day, fact-finding tour of the offshore maritime industry in the Gulf of Mexico. That mission prompted ITF Asst. Secretary Birger Pedersen to say, "In my more than 30 years as a seafarer and trade unionists, I have never seen such treatment (by companies). No company, no civil authorities-not even in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe where I travelhave treated me like we've been treated here in Louisiana." NOPEF Warning In announcing the possible boycott, NOPEF got straight to the point. The union's written ITF delegates join the SIU's Donnie Collins (right) for part of a fact-finding tour in early June with Offshore Mariners United in Louisiana. Pictured from left to right are Georg Rokstad, Geir Hagerupsen, Knut Nikolaysen and Collins. statement issued July 13 noted, "The reason for this action is because Trico Marine Services Inc, USA will not allow its employees to join a trade union and thus be able to negotiate a wage agreement. If Trico does not meet the following demands, the boycott will be implemented with effect from 16 August 2001 against Trico Marine Inc., USA A non-union tug and barge crashed into a bridge across Cypremort, La.'s Intracoastal Waterway July 19, releasing flammable gas and forcing about 350 people from their homes and 650 from their jobs for the ensuing four days. According to press reports, the U.S. Coast Guard closed 10 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway and parts of two state highways. More than 100 ships, tugs and barges were stopped and waiting in line when the bridge (located Retired SIU VP West Coast George McCartney (left) and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown were among the guest speakers during this year's memorial ceremony for "Bloody Thursday." Hosted by the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU), the ceremony took place July 5 in San Francisco67 years to the day after two union members were killed during riots stemming from that city's maritime strike. For a comprehensive look at the strike and related developments, visit the internet site: http://www.sfmuseum.org/hisUthursday.html. Seafarers LOG Senate Announces Assignments for Merchant Marine Subcommittee U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, (D-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, recently announced the members for the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine. Sen. John B. Breaux (D-La.) will serve as chairman for the subcommittee. Other Democrats tapped for this subcommittee are Sens. John D. Rockefeller IV (W. Va.), John F. Kerry (Mass.), Byron L. Dorgan. (N.D.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Max Cleland (Ga.) Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Jean Carnahan, (Mo.) and John Edwards (N.C.). Senator Gordon Smith (ROre.) is the ranking Republican on this subcommittee. Joining him will be fellow Republican Sens. Ted Stevens (Ark.), Conrad Bums (Mont.), Trent Lott (Miss.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine), Sam Brownback (Kan.), Peter G. Fitzgerald (Ill.), and John Ensign (Nev.). Fresh Coat on CSX Anchorage Third Strike: Barge Wreck Forces Evacuations in La. 'Bloody Thursday' Remembrance 4 and its Norwegian subsidiary Trico Supply and of any other companies in which Trico Marine Services Inc., USA has beneficial ownership. "NOPEF requires that [the company] confirm no later than 16 August 2001 that Trico will: • "Let the employees decide Continued on page 7 group of vessels is on standby to support the nation's military needs and humanitarian relief efforts. These specially modified vessels are capable of pumping 1.2 million gallons of petroleum products a day from up to four miles offshore to military ground forces inland without benefit of fixed shore facilities. The Potomac was the first vessel to possess this ability, and the OPDS tankers of the RRF are the only ships in the world capable of performing this mission. The RRF program was initiated in 1976 as a detachment of MarAd's National Defense Reserve Fleet to support the rapid worldwide deployment of U.S. military forces. The RRF supports transport of Army and Marine Corps unit equipment, combat support equipment and initial resupply during the critical surge period before commercial ships can be marshaled. As of Jan. 31, the RRF consists of 76 vessels: 17 breakbulk ships, 31 roll-on/roll off (RO/RO) vessels, 7 heavy lift or barge-carrying ships, 10 auxiliary crane ships, 9 tankers and 2 troopships. Many of the vessels are crewed by SIU members. When activated, the ships are under the operational control of the Navy's Military Sealift Command. MarAd remains responsible for their maintenance and their ability to fulfill their missions. MarAd contracts with U.S. ship managers for maintenance and repair, activation, manning, and vessel operation. Many RRF ships maintain 9- or IO-person crews at all times. Crew members are civilian merchant mariners. When the ships are activated, other merchant mariners, whose regular jobs are on board U.S.flag merchant ships, round out the crews. approximately 110 miles west of New Orleans) reopened July 23. The bridge has been hit three times since May, prompting Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster to exclaim, "Doggone it, it's like a magnet with a target on it." The latest mishap involved a tug owned by Taira Lynn Marine of Houma, La. and a barge owned by Kirby Inland Marine of Houston. The barge, carrying a mixture of propylene and propane, apparently wedged under the bridge and then became further jammed as the tide rose. The accident happened at 4:40 a.m. A report by the Associated Press described propylene, a component used in plastics, synthetic fibers and foams, as "easily ignited by heat or sparks, and containers can rocket if ruptured. The vapors can cause sudden dizziness and asphyxiation and can irritate the throat and lungs." Ten local residents reportedly complained of difficulty breathing and were taken to hospitals after the accident. Because the bridge-recently closed for a month of repairs after being struck in May-provides the only road access from the southwestern peninsula of St. Mary Parish, evacuations were done by boat. A new bridge is being built next to the existing one, but it is not expected to open for at least two years. ABs Tony Carvalho and Rod Clark paint the side of the house on the CSX Anchorage, off the coast of Canada. The photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Chief Engineer Bruce Sherman. August2001 �Adm. Brewer ta Command MSC; Adm. Halder Tapped far Logistics Vice Admiral Gordon S. Holder Rear Adm. David Brewer will succeed Vice Adm. Gordon S. Holder as commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), according to a senior Department of Defense official. Brewer currently is vice chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) in Pensacola, Fla. Born in Farmville, Va., and now a resident of Orlando, Fla., Brewer formerly served as commander, Amphibious Group Three. His current command, one of the largest in the Navy, is composed of approximately 26,000 military and civilian staff members at more than 170 subordinate commands and detachments coast to coast and in Hawaii. President Bush has tapped Holder to become Nurses' Union Joins AFL-CIO The United American Nurses (UAN), with more than 100,000 members, has affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Delegates to the UAN's national assembly in Washington, D.C. on June 28 finalized the affiliation. The UAN joins the other 1.2 million health care workers already represented through AFL-CIO unions. The newest affiliate itself represents RNs in 23 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Though it reportedly is the largest and oldest professional association of registered nurses in the country, UAN had never had any formal external labor affiliation until now. "This new partnership with the AFL-CIO and its member unions can have a tremendous impact on health care in this country," said UAN Chairperson Cheryl Johnson, RN. "With their vote to accept our AFL-CIO charter, UAN delegates sent a message loud and clear that we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of solving-together-the patient care crisis in this country." ANA President May Foley, MS, RN, also expressed her satisfaction with the historic alliance for the UAN and offered, "We are pleased and proud that the union nurses of the UAN have affiliated with the AFL-CIO. It's a step that is good for nurses, patients and quality health care. We look forward to joining forces with the AFL-CIO in the fight for better patient care and safe working conditions for nurses." Many of America's nurses feel that deteriorating working conditions have led to a decline in the quality of nursing care, according to findings in a February survey of more than 7 ,000 registered nurses by the ANA. Specifically, 75 percent of those surveyed feel the quality of nursing care at the facility in which they work has declined over the past two years, while 56 percent believe that the time they have available for patient care has diminished. In addition, more than 40 percent of nurses surveyed said they would not feel comfortable having a family member or someone close to them cared for in a facility in which they work. "Together, the UAN and unions of the AFL-CIO can provide a powerful and effective alliance that will take on the current health care system's inadequacies, unfair policies and unsafe conditions that plague both American families and health care workers," said AFLCIO President John Sweeney in the wake of the historic vote. AFL-CIO unions bargain to provide health insurance for more than 40 million workers and family members, accounting for one out of every four Americans with employment-based coverage. Director of Logistics, J4, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced June 29. He will succeed Lt. Gen. John M. Duffie as head of the J4. In his new position, Holder will review operational, concept, functional and mobilization plans for logistical aspects that support the unified command's operations. He became MSC commander in February 1999 and was promoted to his current grade in March 2000. He has been a strong and vocal backer of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Brewer is expected to assume command sometime this month. Backing Immigrant Workers' Rights During the AFL-CIO executive board's recent meetings in Boston, labor officials and union members demonstrated support for the rights of immigrant workers. Pictured at the rally are AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex (left), SIU Port Agent Henri Francois (right), and members of the Painters District Council #35. Title XI: Fram Zera ta $100 Millian Senate Committee Backs Loan Guarantee Program The Senate Appropriations Committee on July 19 approved $100 million for the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program for fiscal year 2002. Although the exact funding level for 2002 remains uncertain, the committee's strong backing Former Maritime Administrator Andrew Gibson Dead at 79 Andrew E. Gibson, former maritime administrator during the Nixon administration, died of cancer July 8 at his home in Short Hills, N .J. He was 79. Gibson was born in 1922 and graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1942. He served as a deck officer during World War II, rising to commander of a Liberty ship at the age of 22. After the war, he graduated froin Brown University and spent two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He then worked for 23 years at Grace Line, advancing to senior vice president. Gibson went to Washington in 1969 at the beginning of the Nixon administration and served as maritime administrator, assistant secretary of commerce for maritime affairs and assistant secretary of commerce for domestic and international business. It was his role as assistant secretary of commerce for mar- Augusf 2001 itime affairs under which Gibson helped draft legislation that resulted in the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 and negotiated the U.S.-USSR maritime agreement of 1972. The Merchant Marine Act of 1970 was the first comprehensive legislation dealing with the U.S.-flag merchant fleet since 1936. He left government in 1973 to become president of the Interstate Oil Transport Co. in Philadelphia. From 1979 to 1982, he headed Delta Steamship Lines and was chairman of American Automar Inc. In 1994, Gibson earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wales at Cardiff and then served several years as a professor at the Naval War College. In 1999, he co-authored "The Abandoned Ocean," a history of U.S. maritime policy. During a May 2000 panel discussion sponsored by the Propeller Club of the Port of Washington, D.C. to recognize Rear Admiral David Brewer Andrew E. Gibson, as President Nixon's secretary of commerce for maritime affairs, drafted legislation that resulted in the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. the 50th anniversary of the Maritime Administration, five former maritime administrators gave their opinions on the state of the U.S. merchant marineGibson among them. He noted the role that the U.S.-flag fleet has played throughout history in winning America's wars and stated that unless policymakers address the competitive advantages enjoyed by foreign-flag vessels, retaining the U.S.-flag fleet in the international trades will be difficult. of Title XI marked the latest demonstration of bipartisan support for the program. In recent months, 39 senators and 61 members of the House of Representatives have signed bipartisan letters urging that Title XI be funded at $100 million and questioning the administration's plans not to fund the program at all. As noted in the senators' letter, "Title XI has been a stabilizing force to the defense industrial base as it has grappled with major defense reductions over the past decade.. . . With $100 million in this account, the Maritime Administration would be able to leverage $2 billion in commercial construction next year and into the future. As our nation restructures its armed forces for the 21 .. century, it makes sense to reinvigorate this program, which has been so critical to the stability of the shipbuilding industry and our national security." The letter from the House members stated, ''Title XI commercial shipbuilding has sustained the national defense shipbuilding base of 9,080 companies, employing 879,014 Americans in 47 states. In the absence of this critical commercial work, many yards and suppliers would have faced certain financial ruin." Meanwhile, a grassroots coalition supporting Title XI has "The program is a win-win for the nation-$80-plus million in direct revenues to the federal Treasury ... " released details of a study that showed the program has been a revenue raiser during the last eight years-generating more than $80 million for the U.S. Treasury. "When was the last time you heard of a federal program that was a net revenue raiser?" asked a spokesperson from the Title XI Coalition. "The program is a win-win for the nation-$80plus million in direct revenues to the federal Treasury and literally billions of dollars in economic activity generated along the way." The program officially is named the Federal Ship Financing Guarantee Program. It was established under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Seafamrs LOS 5 �SIU Crews in Diego Garcia Complete STCW Training Paul Hall Center Instructors Make Serious Road Trip Instructors from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month combined to provide STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) for Seafarers in Diego Garcia. SIU crews from 11 prepositioning ships accounted for most of the 109 students who completed the training, along with licensed officers who also participated. "They students were the most appreciative bunch of people I've ever been around in this profession," stated instructor Mike Daras, who conducted the fire fighting module of BST July 2-13. "They were magnificent and they provided a lot of positive feedback." Daras is part of the Paul Hall Center staff based in Piney Point, Md. Also providing STCW training in Diego Garcia was instructor Joe Curtis, from the Paul Hall Center's Hawaii safety school. For unlicensed mariners, BST is the key requirement of the amended STCW convention. The dead- line for compliance is Feb. 1, 2002. BST's four elements are personal survival; fire prevention and fire fighting; first aid/CPR; and social responsibility and personal safety. The classes in Diego Garcia blended hands-on exercises and classroom instruction. The SIU, the U.S. Navy and British Indian Ocean Territory representatives coordinated the training, parts of which took place ashore at Fire Station No. 2. Thanks go to Capt. T. L. McKeon, LCDR Rick Lee and Supply Officer David J. Ranney for their help. Daras, who flew 40-plus hours each way between the territory and the U.S. East Coast, noted that the Diego Garcia Naval Fire Department (including Arthur J. Williams, fire chief; George Segool, assistant fire chief; and Neil Hamilton, assistant fire chief) "assisted me greatly with the fire fighting training. They were a tremendous help." Pictured in these two photos are some of the Seafarers who last month completed the fire fighting component of STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) in Diego Garcia. Instructors from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education provided the guidance. While the on-site STCW training was new for Seafarers in Diego Garcia, it has become a staple at the Paul Hall Center, located in Piney Point, Md. Water survival (left) and fire fighting (right) are two components of the class. Steward Endones Veterans' Program AB Herbert L. Scypes Jr. speaks to unlicensed apprentices from class 616 during their social responsibilities class. Brother Scypes, who sails from the port of Mobile, was at the Paul Hall Center while his ship, the Delta Mariner, was docked at the school. He and other crew members took advantage of the opportunity to get their STCW training. Brother Scypes also took time to speak with the social responsibilities class, answering the students' questions about shipboard life, conduct in foreign ports and upgrader training. s T ., "' 6 " Attn: Unlicensed SIU Personnel STCW Certificate Reminder The following Seafarers need an STCW '95 certificate before Feb. 1, 2002: • Bosuns e ABs e QMEDs e FOWTs Steward department personnel are NOT required to possess a certificate, although all Seafarers are encouraged to get one. Seafarers LOB When Jim Battista, executive chef, decided he "wanted to be back in the kitchen," he got there through Piney Point, Md. The Kane, Pa. native answered an ad for the veterans' program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. After fulfilling his STCW requirements and other mandatory training, Battista began his career as a merchant mariner in the SIU. It's a move the U.S. military veteran, now sailing as a chief steward, never envisioned until last year. Nevertheless, he is happy with the change. "I really have enjoyed it. I like to teach people, and the SAs truly want to learn. That's the most important thing," he said. Battista praised the Paul Hall Center and said he recommends it to anyone considering a career at sea. "The school is the way to go, no question," he said. "Everything you need is right there." After sailing as a civilian mariner on Navy weapons ships, as chef to the commandant of the Marine Corps, and later working in the restaurant business, Battista made a graceful transition to the galleys of SIU-contracted prepositioning ships in Diego Garcia. He most recently sailed aboard the USNS Red Cloud, and reports smooth sailing. It's quite a change for someone who has cooked for a United States president (George Bush Sr.), congressmen and famous athletes, but Battista is happy with the move. "I think the SIU is a great organization, and I'm glad to be a part of it," he stated. "Like I mentioned, the opportunity to work with younger people is very rewarding, and the job as a whole is attractive, too." Battista's perspective was impacted last year when he voluntarily joined International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) officials for unannounced inspections of foreign-flag ships in U.S. ports. The inspections were part of an "action week" in which the SIU participated. "I think every U.S. merchant mariner should have to go on a foreign-flag ship to see how some of those men live," he declared. "I recall a Russian ship that had a severe shortage of stores and the crew hadn't changed clothes in two months. It puts things in perspective." Chief Steward Jim Battista says Seafarers demonstrate eagerness to learn and improve. TRB Reminder Alt unlicensed Seafarers sailing aboard deep sea vessels are reminded that, whenever they participate in shipboard safety drills or exercises, please secure evidence of such participation (once per tour}. Such proof can be a letter from the company or an entry in pages 47-52 of your training record book (TRB). Among other benefits, such documentation wi11 help Seafarers when it's time to renew their STCW Basic Safety Training credentials. Augusf 2001 �Burial at Sea on President Adams On May 22 at 7:30 a.m., on a calm morning with the coast of California abeam to starboard, Captain William J. Mahoney Ill and the crew of the President Adams met on the fantail to commit the ashes of Bert Smith and Charles Ferris Watson to the sea on which they had spent so much of their lives. The ship's whistle was sounded in the traditional Hail and Farewell for the sailor gone to rest-three long blasts followed by one short blast. Continued from page 2 the shipyard for repairs that are expected to take at least two months, possibly longer. Seafarers returned to the Carter beginning July 19 for daytime cleanup and salvage operations. At press time, the ship remained at the Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal, located near Wilmington, N.C. , where it has been docked since June 14. The terminal handles worldwide shipment of Department of Defense ammunition and other potentially dangerous materiel. House Takes Safe Road Vote Protects U.S. Highways From Unsafe Mexican Trucks The U.S. House of Representatives, in a move applauded by organized labor, has turned back the latest attempt to allow Mexican trucks free access to U.S. highways. By a lopsided 285-143 vote, the House on June 26 maintained the Clinton administration's restrictions that keep the foreign trucks within a 20-mile radius of the U.S.-Mexican border. The decision came during the House's consideration of an amendment to the transportation spending bill. As previously reported, the socalled North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would have all U.S. roads to Mexican trucks effective March 8 of this year. U.S . officials, however, backed off on that provision of the pact in the face of mounting criticism from trade unions and others concerned about highway safety. The AFL-CIO Executive Council, on which SIU President Michael Sacco serves, during its winter meeting earlier this year adopted a resolution which detailed the dangers of fully opening U.S. roads to unsafe Mexican trucks. The council pointed out that Mexican trucks and their drivers do not meet U.S. safety standards and that U.S. officials are not prepared to inspect a flood of trucks from south of the border. Unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have lobbied legislators to keep the safety of the American traveling public ahead of trade considerations. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in particular, has led the fight to keep unsafe Mexican trucks off of U.S. highways. They praised the decisive vote in the House of Representatives. "This bipartisan victory in the House serves as a warning to those who would sacrifice Americans' safety on our highways in pursuit of unfettered corporate profit," said Teamster General President James P. Hoffa. "The Teamsters have said it before and we'll say it again, real safety inspections in Mexico simply do not exist." Boycott of Trico Threatened Continued from page 4 themselves whether they will join a trade union or not, without any interference, harassment, discrimination or threats from the management. The employees in Trico Marine Services Inc., USA shall have adequate protection against all discrimination, which involves an attack on freedom to organize, i.e., against dismissal and other inconvenience arising from membership or participation in a trade union. Employees shall also not risk having a job application turned down due to trade union activities. • ''The employees' and the employers' organizations shall be protected against interference, control and dominance from either side. Where necessary, an organization shall be established in accordance with the national conditions to ensure respect for the right to organize. Where necessary, measures shall be taken to encourage and promote establishment and use of a voluntary negotiating body with a view to regulation of working conditions using collective agreements. • "Respect the employees' Augusf 2001 2 Die Aboard Ammo Ship choice through recognizing the trade union when employees' in Trico choose to become trade unionists. "From what we have experienced, Trico Marine Services Inc., USA do not act in accordance with articles 20 and 23 of UN's World Declaration on Human Rights, the ILO convention regarding freedom to organize and protection of the right to organize and ILO convention 98 regarding implementation of the principles for the right to organize and the right to hold collective negotiations. Trico Marine Services Inc., USA also does not satisfy the requirements according to Social Accountability International (SA8000), which, among others, is supported by the U.S. State Dept. ''The boycott will be implemented in that NOPEF's members in Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Phillips, Amoco, BP, CCB, Aker Base, Tananger, Aker Base Dusavik, Fjordbase, Vestbase, Forsyningsbase Helgeland in Sandnessjs;en, Mongstad Base and Polarbase will be called on not to execute work which has Alarm Sounds QMED/Electrician Donald Hastings was in the Carter's engine room around 3:45 p.m. on July 14 when the fire alarm went off. "I went outside and saw all the smoke and fire," he recalled. "I took a dry [chemical] bottle to the starboard side, saw the whole deck on fire. I looked up and the fire already was flashing. In no time, it went straight up the stack. Then I ran up around the starboard side. By then, you couldn't see 2 or 3 inches in front of you." Despite the poor visibility and flames that literally caused paint to bubble off some hatches, crew members reacted exactly as needed to contain the blaze. These actions included breaking out fire hoses, donning safety gear, clos- ing dampers and fuel lines, engaging the C02 system and more. "The unlicensed people did their part," stated Chief Steward James Kidd. "I was doing paperwork when the fire alarm went off. I ran downstairs, smelled the smoke and saw that the galley was clear. I told my SA (Antonio Colon) to call the bridge and tell him, 'Fire! ' Then I saw the smoke from the engine room. I got one hose, the chief cook (Gilbert Lewis) got another.... We weren't trying to be heroes, we just had to get to the fire stations and get the water on." Bosun T.C. Oneyear said the smoke "was so thick, you couldn't see anything, and the paint was popping like popcorn. There was no visibility at all. Even on the main deck, you couldn't see the pier." Eventually, emergency crews from five counties-including one from South Carolina-were involved in the operation. Most Seafarers continued to battle the fire for up to two hours, until the generator powering their equipment was exhausted. Hastings stayed aboard until midnight, mainly to help guide fire department personnel who understandably didn't know their way around the vessel. "From the feedback I got from the fire department, they said that without us, they would have had pr blem ' tated Hasting . Similarly, Oneyear said he followed the captain's order to meet with fire officials shortly after they first arrived, to help familiarize them with the ship's layout and contents. "We used a forklift so the fire department could fight · the fire from the starboard side," Oneyear noted. ''They pumped foam in for three hours." Col. Ronald Reiter, commander of the Sunny Point installation, credited the crew for apparently taking every possible and appropriate step to contain the fire. Job Well Done Brad Sauer, president of Maersk Line Ltd., also praised the crew for its efforts, particularly in light of the risk of explosion. "Nobody knows a ship like the crew," he said. "What they do in the first few minutes is critical." A joint-agency news release from the Coast Guard, Military Traffic Management Command and MSC stated, "Due to the immediate action of the ship's crew and fast response of firefighters from the base and local communities, the fire never came in contact with or close to the ammunition containers." The SIU members aboard the Carter when the fire occurred were Beasley, Oneyear, Leake, Hastings, Kidd, Lewis, Colon, and ABs Luisito Balatbat, Walter Jeffords and Anthony Willis. .Fire Fighting Training at Paul Hall Center Pays OI! . Continued from page 2 we started running ou hoses and trying to combat it that I started feeling somewhat relaxed. But at first, f couldn't believe what was happening-especially aboard an ammo ship." He said the safety drills "most definitely helped. With the fire and boat drills, therE} are coµnUess times that we've gone through a~eas where .there could be a fire. Most fires begin .in. the engine ro9m or the galley, so thafs· the focus · 9t most of the driUs ' we run. "The guys reacted the way they were supposed to," he continued. "No one ran •.'~veryone did what they were supposed to do." - ·' QMEQ/Electrician Donald Hastings, wtJs> had "been through some small (shipboard) fires, but nothing like this," said that when the alarm sounded, "it was pretty much reaction at first, rather than , thinking through the situation. Anything could have gone wrong, and that would have been the end of the crew, but they stuck it out. Guys were beat up, but they weren't going to leave." Two years ago, the Paul Hall Center opened a maritime-specific fire fighting and safety school anything to do with Trico Marine Services, its subsidiary and companies where Trico Marine Services Inc., USA has beneficial ownership. This will possibly take place in the form of sympathetic action. ''The boycott will also be followed up with campaigns aimed at Norwegian opinion and the oil industry, where as many as possible will be called on not to have any kind of frnancial dealings with the companies." Rude Greeting The ITF delegation, with representatives of ITF-affiliated unions from Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia, quickly got a taste of the atmosphere faced by offshore mariners in the Gulf. At its first stop (the Quality Shipyard in Houma), the group was detained for 45 minutes by private security near its main campus. The Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School has been weH-received by upgraders and unlice9sed apprentice~ore than 8,200 students have trained there since May 1999. Curriculµms include basic and advanced fire fighting, watei survivai, damage control, confinedspace safety~~STCW oasic safety~ nrst aid and CPR • Like the Carter crew members themselves.' Paul tf~ll Qenter Safety Director Jim Hanson, who over·. ~ees the fire fighting and safety school, expressed . sorrow concerning the two fatalities on the ammo ship, along with relief that the crew helped prevent further losses. ·· · ··' "tam always sadd~q9~ ;tohear of a shipboard fire that results in the loss i;>f:J~fe:·. My sympathy goes out to the families and the of the .Carter for the loss of their loved ones.b Hanson said. ''It fs very gratifying to know that the training some of the crew members r~qeived here at the Paul Hall Center helped them to contain the fire .... In the end, the crew not only saved the ship, but most importantly the rest of the crew. "When there ts a fire, it is nice to hear that the crew of the ship, the Coast Guard and the local fire departments came together and worked as a team, just like it is taught in the tactics cfass." guards. Throughout the week, the representatives were met by similar attempts by sheriff's deputies and others to prevent them from speaking with mariners. Despite such treatment, some of the delegates met with crews who were interested in the ITF's mission. "No one back home would have believed us if we told them what we've experienced here," Pedersen said. "Fortunately, we have a journalist with us who videotaped all of our encounters, crew and we will share it with the interested parties back home." As reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG, the effort to organize offshore mariners in the Gulf is led by Offshore Mariners United. OMU was founded by the SIU; the American Maritime Officers; the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association; and the National Maritime Union, which recently merged into the SIU. Reminder to New SIU Members Who Formerly Were in the NMU All Seafarers who were NMU members in good standing at the time of the SIU-NMU merger should apply for their SIU book as soon as possible. Applications and further details are available at all SIU halls. Seafarers LOG 7 �Port of Saa.Iman During a recent trip by the Perseverance to the Caribbean, AB Luis Escalante secures the gangway upon arrival at the Sun Oil Terminal in Yabucoa, P.R. Right: SIU Representative Amancio Crespo (second from right) talks with crew members aboard the Perseverance following a payoff. From the left are AB Carlos Castillo, AB Luis Escalante and AB Angel Passapera. Oiler Orlando Herrera t~kes his turn standing watch aboard the Expedition, which recently tied up at the CSX dock in San Juan. Left: When the Perseverance pulled in to the Sun Oil Terminal in Yabucoa , AB Juan Chevalier had plenty of work. Reina Mendez, working as a GUDE aboard the Potomac in Diego Garcia, sails from the port of San Juan. SE A F A RERS R O T A R Y SHI PPI NG Recertified Steward Jose Colls (center) receives his first pension check from SIU Rep Amancio Crespo (left) and San Juan Port Agent Victor Nunez. B Seafarers LOG Right: It's all smiles for AB Joel Gonsalez during a June payoff on the Perseverance. AB Carlos Castillo (right) receives his B seniority book from SIU Rep Amancio Crespo. During a monthly membership meeting at the hall in San Juan, Port Agent Victor Nunez reads the president's report to those assembled. AB Rafael Franco (left) enjoys a chat with SIU Rep Amancio Crespo at the San Juan hall. August2001 �SULPHUR ENTERPRISE Following a shipboard meeting on the Sulphur Enterprise, Steward/Baker .Tran Nee (left) and Bosun Marvin Zimbro sign the patrolman's report. camng on Jacksonville HMI DEFENDER Sulphur Enterprise HM/ Defender HM/ Nantucket Shoals HMI NANTUCKET SHOALS GUDE Fermando Mesa grabs a quick cup of coffee during payoff aboard the HM/ Defender in Tampa. Right: Recertified Steward Matthew Scott signs the patrolman's report after the union meeting. Scott sailed this voyage as chief cook. Adding his name to the patrolman's report is AB James Hazelip. AB Rick Wiemer takes readings for the presence of benzene aboard the HM/ Nantucket Shoals. SA Jimmy Laffitte cleans the passageways on the HM/ Defender. August 2001 · Getting ready for the lunchtime crowd on the vessel is Chief Cook Lolita Thomas. Working on the deck of the vessel is AB Terry Cowans. The HM/ Nantucket Shoals pulls into port in Tampa, where it was met by SIU Jacksonville reps. Seafamrs LOG 9 �••• Seafarers who crew the USNS Dahl do a masterful job keeping the 950-foot vessel seaworthy and all its systems in pristine working condition. This is a tribute not only to the dedication they have toward their chosen profession, but also to the fust-rate training they receive at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. As one might suspect, taking care of a vessel such as the Dahl demands great attention to detail, all the while being safety conscious. As some of the photos on this page clearly illustrate, safety i an around-the-clock consideration. Nonetheless, crew members efficiently go about their duties without any hitches and without any mishaps of note. The Dahl is one of the Military Sealift Command's (MSC) 19 large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off hips and is part of the command's 31 ships in the prepositioning program. The vessel is operated for MSC by Norfolk, Va.-based Maersk Line Ltd. Its mi sion is to carry a wide range of equipment, vehicles and supplies to key locations worldwide for the U.S . Army. There's hardly ever a dull moment for crew members aboard the USNS Dahl. OS Tina White (above) slushes the stern ramp while OS Keith Livermon (below right) performs the same type of maintenance duties on the vessel 's crane. Chief Steward Tony Brooks and Bosun Klaus Tankersley, above right, leave the mess area following the conclusion of an evening meal. The STCW Clock Stops Ticking Feb. 1, 2002 Feb. 1, 2002-That is the date by which mariners sailing aboard deep sea or near-coatal vessels must comply with the amended STCW convention. If a mariner has not completed STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) or acquired the 1995 STCW certificate, if required, by Feb. 1, 2002, then that mariner cannot sail aboard deep sea or near-coastal ships. Many Seafarers will be at sea on Feb. 1. Those members should comply with the STCW convention before shipping out for any voyage that will last until Feb. 1 or later. It's better to have all your shipping documents early than be denied a future voyage! Contact the Paul Hall Center at 1800-732-2739 for additional information. Seafarers LOB AB Pat Chalmers performs a "once over" on the Dahl's front crane to see if everything is in proper operating order. Blessings In New Bedford SIU fishermen and their families in New Bedford, Mass. participated in the city's annual "Blessing of the Fleet," part of a weekend celebration known as Summerfest. This year's event took place July 68. The SIU-crewed Bonansa was voted one of the best-decorated boats in the traditional waterborne, pier-side parade where clergy of different faiths bestow blessings on each vessel for success and safe return from the sea. August2001 �Seafarers Laud Standard Contracts Presented with new standard freightship and tanker agreements that call for substantial, wide-ranging gains, SIU members are responding with a near-unanimous ratification. Voting continued as this issue of the Seafare rs LOG went to press, but, based on tallies from 66 SIU-crewed ships and from special meetings conducted at SIU halls in late June, the standard agreements easily were on pace for ratification. In fact, by late last month, 99 .2 percent of the votes were in favor of the new five-year agreements. Among other improvement , the contract e tabli h prescri tion drug coverage for dependents at the same level as a member; allow for collecting vacation pay sooner; secure gains in the pension plan; and call for wage increases of 3 percent in each year of the pacts, for base wages and overtime. These categories were the ones most often cited by Seafarers in recent years, when offering input on what they wanted in upcoming contracts. "It's a great improvement," stated Bosun Charles David Jones. "I have dependents, so, to me, the expanded prescription plan is a real highlight. To (SIU Vice President Contracts) Augie Tellez and everyone else from the SIU involved in the negotiations, I say thank you." "I think it's fantastic, I really do," noted Chief Steward Susanne Cake. "I like the fact that I don't have to stay out (aboard ship) for 120 (consecutive) days if I don't want to.... I thank Augie and the whole team for their hard work." "Any time you can increase August2001 your medical coverage and your retirement coverage, you' re better off," said Chief Steward James Willey. "I think it's a good contract," declared Asst. Cook/Utility Frank Crim. "There are a lot of improvements-something for everyone." "The contract is good," stated AB Kim Brown. "The prescription coverage for dependents means more money stays in your pocket. I really appreciate the job done by Augie. Things keep getting better and better." "I think it's great,'' aid Chief Cook Carlos Sanchez. 'To me, the best part i being able to get the vacation pay ooner." "I like it," noted Bosun's Mate Gerard Costello. "We got a pay raise, better medical coverage for dependents, more flexibility in sailing time. All in all, it's going to help everybody." In a letter to Tellez, Recertified Bosun Michael Proveaux wrote, "I sincerely wish to thank you and your staff for the time, the diligence and the success that you had in negotiating the new standard freighter and tanker contracts on behalf of the membership. It's nice to know that you are in our corner and are successful in bargaining on our behalf." Following are highlights of the new agreements, effective June 16, 2001 through June 15, 2006. • Wages and overtime. Effective July 1 in each year of the contract, wages and overtime are increased 3 percent. Effective July 1 of this year, the overtime rates in the freightship agreement are consolidated into two main rates (the Other Contract News • The union has negotiated a new five-year agreement for the car carrier Overseas Joyce. It increases wages and overtime by 6.25 percent in each of the first four years, followed by a slightly greater increase in the fifth year. The vacation benefit will increase from 10 for 30 to 14 for 30. • The contract covering Tyco's cable ships has been improved and, in many components, brought close in line with the standard agreements. The new five-year Tyco contract features wage and blended overtime increases of 3 percent in each of the first three years, and 4 percent in each of the last two years. Vacation benefits are boosted by one day in the first, third and fifth years. • A new three-year contract has been reached for the ITBs operated by Sheridan Transportation. Wages are increased by 5 percent the first year, then 3 percent each the next two years. Overtime is increased by 3 percent in each of the final two years. The agreement also includes the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan (at 3 percent of base wages) beginning in year three. Diamond State Continued on page 14 Seafarers LOG 11 �HM/ Defender :t,~~-~ ~ Bargaining committee members (from left) ATC Mgr. Labor Relations Bill Cole; Intrepid Ship Mgt. VP Labor Relations Tony Naccarato; SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez; SIU Headquarters Rep Carl Peth ; OSG Asst. VP Jack Craft; OSG VP Jack Robinson . I I I I i i I 12 Seafarers LOG r Augusf 2001 �Bargaining committee members (from left, seated) USSM VP Labor Relations & Administration Joe Fazzari; SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez; CSX Lines VP Operations and Labor Relations Jim McKenna; IUM VP Industrial Relations Bob Rogers; (standing) CSX Director Labor Relations Bob Burlando; SIU Asst. VP Contracts George Tricker; USSM Mgr. Labor Relations Carol Berger; Tyco Sr. Mgr. Labor Relations Chris Marlow; CSX Director of Marine Services Mike Bohlman; NPR Director of Vessel Operations Lee Souren. USNS Watson !) l~ _lI August2001 Seafarers LOG 13 �Standard Contracts Presented Continued from page 11 overtime rate and the penalty rate). As explained in detail during the ratification meetings, the upshot of the consolidated rates is that Seafarers stand to earn considerably more money than under the old system, plus their paperwork is simplified. Those monetary gains would be in addition to the 3 percent increases. • Tours of duty. In response to overwhelming recommendations by the membership, the freightship agreement is amended so that tours will be no less than 75 days on with no more than 120 days on, with time off no less than 30 days and no more than 60 days. Work schedules may be modified to the vessel's operational schedule. Additionally, non-entrylevel mariners possessing class "A" seniority, excluding those designated as permanent ratings, employed aboard dry cargo vessels are permitted to remain aboard a specific vessel for a period not to exceed 22 months, subject to the vessel's operational necessity. The tankship agreement mostly parallels the freightship contract in this category. One exception is that class "A" seniority members sailing above entry level (and excluding those designated a permanent ratings) may remain aboard a specific tanker for up to 48 months. • Engine department. In order to preserve and pro- tect Seafarers' work jurisdiction and provide defined career paths in the engine department, the SIU negotiated the creation of the rating QMED/electrician relief and the option to re-rate the current engine utilities (EU s) employed aboard steam vessels to engine maintenance/ elec tri ci an relief to the list of permanent ratings. • Vacation. Effective in the first year of the agreements, members will be eligible to apply for and collect their vacation benefit after 60 days of covered employment. Members also will be eligible to collect the extra vacation day bonus after the successful completion of each tour, rather than waiting 12 to 18 months as before. • Seafare rs Money Purchase Pension Plan. Effective June 16, 2003, a daily contribution to the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan will be increased to provide a benefit of 5 percent of respective daily wages, on eligible members' behalf. • Seafarers Pension Plan. Beginning next year, members with 3,000 or more days of sea time will receive pension credits for their vacation benefits. For instance, if a Seafarer sails on a tanker where he receives 15 days of acation per month, and that individual works eight months a year, then he will receive pension eligibility for 360 days. Also, members can include their vacation benefit when determining annual earnings upon which the wage-related pension is calculated. This leads to a larger pension. • Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Effective this year, members will receive benefits under plan level "G," the best coverage available through this plan. For the first time, eligible dependents receive prescription coverage at the same level as Seafarers. Other improvements include an increase of the optical benefit to $200 (including provisions for contacts); boosting the graduated death benefit for members from a maximum of $20,000 to a maximum of $50,000; and, for the first time, coverage for organ and tissue transplant surgery, to a maximum of $150,000. • Shipboard e-mail. Unlicensed personnel serving aboard a vessel shall be provided access to sending and receiving e-mail, if available. • Miscellaneous. Certain shipping rules have been amended, including one that requires all SIU members to possess a valid STCW endorsement, effective Feb. 1, 2002, as well as a trammg record book (TRB) in order to register. Members also must pass the English competency exam required by the U.S. Coast Guard. Equality State 14 Seafarers LOS Augusf 2001 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 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 2 0 10 3 1 4 2 7 24 37 17 13 19 15 10 10 22 11 12 8 9 3 25 13 6 9 14 6 10 2 0 3 6 12 12 14 9 12 139 67 2 6 1 5 0 2 0 1 3 0 6 5 Port 0 9 5 2 4 6 12 1 1 1 0 2 3 0 0 7 8 2 2 7 10 84 1 47 17 10 9 7 2 3 0 5 1 2 8 6 0 12 7 2 3 1 3 11 16 Duluth .....................Wednesday: September 12, October 17 20 7 16 2 13 4 Honolulu ................. Friday: September 14, October 19 2 16 43 2 5 1 2 Houston ...........•......Monday: September 10, October 15 11 6 8 4 2 Houston ...•..............Friday: September 14, October 19 (Lawndale Street) 54 38 14 19 10 16 Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 6, October 11 422 178 116 2 l 2 6 9 2 Mobile ............. :......Wednesday: September 12, Oct. 17 0 6 23 0 12 10 1 5 9 New Bedford ....... '. ..Tuesday: September 18, October 23 29 12 19 10 l 16 30 6 5 3 13 13 14 4 7 73 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 16 1 9 19 8 l 3 36 2 3 1 2 0 4 1 1 3 14 2 5 l 9 5 0 6 9 6 2 0 11 3 2 6 8 7 2 1 3 8 0 0 4 7 0 2 0 .7 38 2 34 29 10 1 2 9 0 1 4 0 261 68 63 0 2 2 3 2 3 16 54 14 177 12 22 5 12 6 0 2 0 36 14 31 13 7 1 3 0 0 17 9 20 109 8 32 18 52 ENTRY DEPARTMENT () 0 2 o, 2 1 .. 0 0 2 81 3 5 26 7 5 0 9 2 0 5 12 11 1 2 4 11 0 1 4 2 0 l 0 l 2 l 6 17 9 0 11 2 8 0 6 9 12 0 16 I 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 5 9 1 0 0 0 Moblle "' 0 4 N6vlo.tleans 6 5 6 _23 0 11 0 0 1 13 7 26 12 2 21 5 4 8 6 0 0 14 0 5 2 0 6 7 1 5 4 0 21 8 7 0 19 10 39 155 216 23 87 537 427 360 400 312 21 11 11 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 11, October 16 New York ................ Tuesday: September 4, October 9 Norfolk ................... Thursday: September 6, October 11 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 5, Oct. 10 Port Everglades .......Thursday: September 13, October 18 San Francisco ......... Thursday: September 13, October 18 San Juan ..................Thursday: September 6, October 11 54 15 3 16 Tacoma ................... Friday: September 21, October 26 Wtlmington ...............Monday: September 17, October 22 Each port's meellng starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals MICHAEL LOCKHART ~~~~- · Please get in touch with your mother as soon as possible at (313) 534-5510. Remembering Paul Hall Aug. 20, 1914 - Jillie 22, 1980 5 46 6 5 12 5 19 12 9 0 23 13 2 45 9 17 0 38 17 104 73 297 394 195 179 949 690 646 8 Savannah ................ Friday: September 7, October 12 9 0 0 0 8 Boston ..................... Friday: September 7, October 12 St. Louis ................. Friday: September l 4, October19 0 4 1 19 5 0 Baltimore ........... .....Thursday: September 6, October 11 4 2 11 147 0 27 9 11 7 9 7 12 2 Algonac .................. Friday: September 7, October 12 Jersey City ..............Wednesday: September 19, Oct. 24 12 9 Q 0 11 2 0 13 17 15 15 0 2 1 30 44 6 0 13 0 0 11 3 4 Port 10 11 1 11 9 16 6 6 13 10 30 26 24 7 0 1 49 60 8 5 18 0 0 0 138 16 3 0 8 3 0 0 1 0 45 2 I 2 1 4 0 7 1 0 1 15 4 11 3 0 0 20 2 12 2 0 3 0 18 0 I 1 4 l 7 7 95 73 30 40 STEWARD DEPARTMENT (*change created by labor Day holiday) 2 4 4 1 10 4 7 2 Piney Point .............Tuesday: September 4* Monday: October 8 4 17 4 3 0 l **REGISTERED ON BEACH AU Groups Class A Class B Class C 1 0 1 2 6 NewYork: Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 4 13 6 Honolulu Houston Jacksonville 4 10 11 7 2 0 4 0 8 5 13 16 1 5 2 3 3 2 4 3 0 2 5 18 12 2 4 2 5 3 6 2 0 3 1 0 2 0 5 0 1 4 Port Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 6 1 St._Louis 4 1 8 0 6 0 4 0 5 2 1 Trip Reliefs 173 120 43 87 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 2 0 10 4 2 Guam 2 5 9 2 19 19 5 4 9 5 1 11 9 19 3 5 Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco 4 16 11 14 Algonac Baltimore 0 2 3 237 Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis 1 8 18 20 Guam 1 6 1 3 0 11 7 9 3 17 12 Algonac Baltimore DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 1 6 2 3 20 3 4 32 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 2 6 3 14 18 JULY 15, 2001 September & October 2001 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Totals All Departments *''Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actua1ly registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. August2001 Seafarers LOB 15 �N1'1U 1'1onthly Shipping A Registration Report JUNE 2001 TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group ill Port Dean Cotgey. Vice President Gulf CoasJ Nk,holas J. Marrone, Vk~ President West Coast Kennett Maogram, Vice !'resident Govemment Services . "'~e Lioeanjie, Wee President at Large .. Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 52f'll AuthWay. Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 - Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group ill Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III DECK DEPARTMENT 14 13 9 15 3 10 7 5 76 4 1 0 0 2 10 0 0 0 2 0 11 7 4 12 6 0 0 0 4 2 52 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 24 0 14 7 21 8 3 9 1 12 0 12 3 7 41 1 27 29 0 4 18 0 0 60 157 46 8 14 0 1 4 4 3 1 42 0 2 0 31 8 7 31 9 2 4 3 0 0 0 33 110 40 12 0 0 3 2 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 16 0 0 2 5 0 l 0 ALGONAC St. C1airIDver Pr:, Algonac, Ml 4&001 - (810) 7944988 Port ALTON MmetSt., Suite B. Alton. IL 62002 (618) 462<3456 ANCHORAGE Sesame St., #1 C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON SW Dorchester Ave.• Boston, MA 02127 (617) 269-7877 DULUTH 7(}5 MedlcalArts Building. Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 72241!0 GUAM Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals (671) 64(.1350 I 3 4 0 0 0 2 I 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 9 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 20 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals P.O. Bo:x 23127, Baf;i'i~adt4 125 Sunny Plaz4. Suit Tun Jesus Crisostomo St.. Tamuning. ENGINE DEPARTMENT Nmfolk liEW ~8 Urtion-&.• New:-&edfO:rd.. MA Q274Q (50$) 997-5404 :~~~EW ORLEANS3911 Lapalco Blvd..,Harvey, LA 7005.& (504) 328·7545 NORFOLK 115 Third St.. Norfolk; VA 23510 _ (757)_<a2~ t 892 -'PBILADELPHJA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (211) 33~381& PINEY.POINT r.o. Box 15,,_ Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 0 0 0 6 . 0 0 4 0 1 0 8 2 2 I I 3 3 0 20 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 .o 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 4 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ............ .·~-·~"-··~-h .. J 0 5 0 1 9 1 0 0 0 _2 I 0 o. 3 6 3 14 36 25 6 18 12 5 2 15 0 0 3 E TR DEPARTME T 7 6 4 0 9 5_ 0 0 1 I 0 o· 2 1 l l 0 5 0 4 0 2 14 25 2 l 13 130 48 17 16 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 111 0 3 1 0 ' () 2 3 16 44 0 i 0 54 10 0 0 90 10 3 1 0 0 1 0 5 0 10 161 292 2 3 35 Totals All Departments "" NEWYORK 635 Pounh Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (118) 499-6600 "" San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals 0 14 2 5 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 7 197 58 Pl CS-FROM-THE-PAST These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner Troy D. Smith of Rome, Ga. Both were taken by Smith (so he does not appear in either one). The photo below was snapped in 1955 aboard the SS Robin Hood, which was on a South African run. The picture at right, on the SS Robin PORT EVERGLADES 1221 $.Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 51:H984 SAN FRANCISCO 350. Fremont St, San Francisro,-CA 94105 (41:>) S<Jl-5SS5 G:overnmentpervic~ Division: (415) 861~3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16\ll Santurce, PR 00901 (787) 721-4033 ST.LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave.., St Louis. MO 63ll6 (314) 752-6500 SAVANNAH 2220 :Sui! St., Savannah, GA 31401 (912} 238-4958 • TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave•. Tacoma, WA 984-09 (253) 272~7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave.• Wllmington, CA 90744 (310) 5494000 16 Seafarers LOG Wentley, also was taken in 1955 during a run to South Africa. Troy Smith, now 73, began sailing in 1945 as an FOWT and wiper. He started receiving his pension in 1989. 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 207 46. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. Augusf 2001 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafare rs 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 n inland captain, who also sailed as an engineer, and one recertified steward are among the 10 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Charles R. Matthews navigated the inland waterways for nearly 30 years while Ralph A. Alexander graduated from the highest level of training available to members of the steward department at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. Including Alexander, nine of the retirees sailed in the deep sea division; one navigated the inland waterways. Six of the retirees worked in the deck department, two shipped in the engine department and two sailed in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. DEEP SEA na•~'Yl RAPLH A. ALEXANDER, 64, started his career with the SIU in 1963 in the port of New Orleans. ~~...... Brother Alexander first sailed aboard Venore Transportation's Marore. Born in North Carolina, he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother an er aded his kills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. in 1988, 1989 and 1990. He completed the school's steward recertification course in 1991. Brother Alexander last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Tacoma. He resides in Tacoma, Wash. GREGORIO ALGARIN, 55, joined the union in 1976 in Puerto Rico. Brother Algarin sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions, first shipping aboard a Crowley Towing & Transportation vessel in San Juan. The deck department member, who was born in Puerto Rico, last worked on the Sea-Land Expedition. Brother Algarin continues to live in Puerto Rico. SILVERIO A. ARANA, 70, began his SIU career in 1985, joining in Hawaii. Born in Honduras, Brother Arana first sailed aboard the USNS Algol, an SIU vessel contracted to the military. The steward department member last shipped aboard Liberty Maritime Corp.'s Liberty Wave. He calls New Orleans home. ARTHUR ELLIOTT, 64, started his career with the Seafarers in 1958, joining in New York. Before becom.____ __..~....._____, ing a Seafarer, Brother Elliott served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1956. He sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions. A member of the deck department, he first shipped aboard a Boston Towing Boat Co. vessel. The Queens, N.Y. native was last employed aboard the Arecibo, operated by NPR, Inc. Brother Elliott calls Rockaway Point, N.Y. home. Piney Point, Md. in 1973, 1975 and 1992. Brother Hawkins last shipped aboard Pacific Gulf Marine, Inc.'s Gem State. He lives in Elk Grove, Calif. THEODORE .----,,.-...,..,.;:--------., ALI AHMED MUSAID, 67, began his SIU career in 1964, joining in the port of Houston. Born in Aden, Yemen, Brother Musaid first sailed aboard a Waterman Steamship vessel. The engine department member last shipped aboard the SS Independence, operated by American Hawaii Cruises. Brother Musaid-lives in Yemen. HAWKINS, 71, joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of San Francisco. Prior to joining the Seafarers, the Arkansas native served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1956. Brother Hawkins first shipped aboard the Asbury Victory, operated by Bulk Transport Inc. The engine department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarer training school in LUFTI SALEH NAGI, 69, started his career with the Seafarers in 1966, joining in the port of San Francisco. Brother Nagi first sailed aboard the Express Virginia, operated by Virginia Lines. The steward department member upgraded his skill in 1987 at the SIU's training chool in Piney Point, Md. v. JAMES COLWELL, 65, was born in Pennsylvania. He started his career with the Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG in 7 in the port of an ....__..._--....;."""'"""'--=-~__, _ ._, Francisco. Prior to joining the 1940 Seafarer , Brother Colwell erved After a strike of more than t 4 months, in the U.S. Army from 1955 to the SIU signed a closed-shop contract with 1957. The deck department memPeninsula and Occidental Steamship ber first shipped aboard an Isthmian Lines, Inc. vessel. Brother Company. Ninety percent of the 300 Colwell upgraded his skills in men in this fleet certified the SIU as their 1975 and 1976 at the SIU's trainsole bargaining agent. In addition to fighting school. He last worked on the USNS Regulus, operated by Bay ing the company, SIU also had to fight a Ship Management, Inc. Brother fink union known as the Florida Colwell resides in Sea Level, N. C. 'First-Class Job' Independent Seamen's Union. In addition to all other provisions of the contract, the company agreed to reinstate the SIU men with cash pay for all the time lost since · September 1939. He last hipped aboard Matson Navigation Co.'s Lurline. Brother Nagi lives in Berkley, Calif. EARNEST D. OXENDINE, 64, joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of New York. Before joining the SIU, Brother Oxendine served in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1958. He was born in North Carolina and first sailed aboard the Bienville. Brother Oxendine last sailed aboard the cable ship Global Mariner, operated by Tyco. Pembroke, N.C. is his home. INLAND CHARLES R.MATTHEWS, 63, hails from North Carolina. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1978. Boatman Matthews first shipped aboard a Marine Oil Service, Inc. vessel. A member of the deck department, he sailed both as an engineer and a captain. Boatman Matthews was last employed aboard a McAllister Towing of Virginia vessel. He resides in Norfolk, Va. only to immediate security of this country, I said, b I to he rv f our way of life through a sound economic system. The military factor can be seen clearly in the American merchant marine's role in World War 11, the Korean War, and, presently, in Vietnam, Hall said. Even is this "Age of Air Power," 98 percent of all supplies and two-thirds of all troops go to Vietnam not by plane but by merchant marine shipping. 1991 The complex embodying the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. has been named the Paul Hall Center for 1967 Maritime Training In a Labor Day and Education as a address presented result of action by the AFL-CIO taken by the instituover the nationwide tion's board of trustees. The dedication of radio network of the Mutual Broadcasting the Paul Hall Center was marked with a System, SIU President Paul Hall called on simple ceremony on August 20, the "government, industry and labor to anniversary date of the birth of the late knuckle down to the problem of develop- president of the Seafarers International ing the kind of program that will assure Union. that U.S .. shipping and shipbuilding can In describing the naming of the Piney make their maximum contribution to our Point center, Herbert Brand, chairman of economy and our defense. This isn't just a the Transportation Institute and master of maritime problem -it's an American ceremonies for the event, called it "more problem," Hall said, noting that, "If we as than a dedication-it is an act of remema nation fail to resolve this problem, the brance" for the man who headed the SIU impact of that failure will be felt by every from 1947 until his death in 1980.... American- businessman, farmer and In closing remarks, SIU President Michael worker, alike." Sacco said, "It is a tribute to the remarkHall expressed the vital need for a strong, able man we honor today that all elements growing and modernized American merof our industry are brought together by chant marine. The importance extends not his memory." THIS MONTH IN SIU HISTORY Aboard the SS Lihue, Capt. Tom Stapleton reports the SIU steward department "is doing a first-class job," including preparation of a "delicious barbecue for the entire crew." Pictured from left to right are Steward/Baker Colleen Mast, BR Utility Chris Stearns, Asst. Cook Mohamed Quraish and Chief Cook Benedict Opaon. The Lihue normally runs between Los Angeles and Honolulu for Matson. August2001 Seafarers LOG 17 �....--------------------------..... ----~------~~~~~~~~~- - -~ - final Departures DEEP SEA • ABDUL R. ABDO ~---------.,Pensioner Abdul R. Abdo, 68, passed away Nov. 22, 2000. Born in Yemen, Brother Abdo started his SIU career in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. He first sailed aboard the Halcyon Panther. The steward department member last shipped aboard the President Chester B. Arthur. Brother Abdo started receiving his pension in 1999. He lived in San Francisco. FRANK ANSOTIGUE Pensioner Frank Ansotigue, 90, passed away Dec. 11, 2000. He started his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S). Born in the Philippines, he began receiving his pension in 1973. Los Angeles was his home. ANGEL AROCHE Pensioner Angel Aroche, 74, died March 8. Born in Puerto Rico, he started his career with theMC&S. He began receiving his pension in 1975. Brother Aroche called San Francisco home. ARNE BOEKMAN Pensioner Ame Boekman, 75, died March 20. Brother Boekman began his career with the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of New York. He first shipped aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Boekman ai ed in the deck department, last working aboard the Stonewall Jackson, another Waterman vessel. Brother Boekman started receiving his pension in 1987. Las Vegas was his home. THOMAS BOLTON Pensioner Thomas Bolton, 84, passed away May 5. He joined the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Philadelphia. Born in Anacoco, La., Brother Bolton first sailed aboard Stockard Steamship Corp. 's Strathmore. He worked in the steward department, last sailing aboard the Ewa. Brother Bolton started receiving his pension in 1990. He lived in Groves, Texas. ~=..,.......~ ELPIDIO CARPENTER Pensioner Elpidio Carpenter, 95, died April 16. Brother Carpenter was born in the Philippines. He started his career with the MC&S and began receiving his pension in 1967. Brother Carpenter resided in Daly City, Calif. TOMCOLWAY Pensioner Tom Calway, 98, passed away Jan 10. He started his career with the MC&S and began receiving his pension in 1967. Brother Colway lived in Long Beach, Calif. DELMER CRAIG L-----'.........."'"""'............._____. 18 Pensioner Delmer Craig, 74, died May 21. Brother Craig started his SIU career in 1960, joining in the port of New York. The · Wilmington, Seafarers LOG - N.C. native shipped as a member of the deck department. He last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Liberator. Brother Craig began receiving his pension in 1990. He resided in Reeds, Mo. with the MC&S. Born in Puerto Rico, he began receiving his pension in 1970. Brother Maldonado called San Francisco home. Brother Pelaso started receiving his pension in 1976. He lived in Vallejo, Calif. CELESTINO MILANES GENEROSO CRISPALA Pensioner Celestino Milanes, 93, passed away Dec. 12, 2000. Brother Milanes began his career with the MC&S. He started receiving his pension in 1970. He resided in Sacramento, Calif. Pensioner Alfred Sanger, 63, died Feb. 26. He started his SIU career in 1959. Brother Sanger first shipped aboard an Interocean Management Corp. vessel. The deck department member was born in New York. He last worked on the Mayaguez, operated by NPR, Inc. Brother Sanger started receiving his pension in 1991. He resided in Jacksonville, FJa. Brother Generoso Crispala, 77, passed away March 10. A native of the Philippines, Brother Crispala joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of Baltimore. A member of the engine department, he last shipped aboard the Grand Canyon State. Seattle was his home. WILLIAM HOLLAND Pensioner William Holland, 84, died Nov. 9, 2000. Born in Georgia, he started his career with the MC&S. Brother Holland started receiving his pension in 1978. Detroit was his home. BERNIE HYLTON Pensioner Bernie Hylton, 79, died Feb. 21. Brother Hylton started his SIU career in 1953 in the port of San Francisco. Before joining the Seafarers, he served in the U.S. Army in 1943. Brother Hylton first sailed aboard the Seathunder, operated by Colonial Steamship Co. The deck department member last shipped on the Sea-Land Defender. Brother Hylton began receiving his pension in 1983. He lived in Lincoln, Ark. ~---,..-------, JOHN KUCHARSKI ~--,..,...-------, Pensioner John Kucharski, 76, passed away Feb. 26. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of New .....__~-----· Orleans. Prior to joining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1945. Brother Kucharski first shipped aboard ORE Navigation Corp.'s Oremar. A member of the deck department, he last sailed on the Sea-Land Economy. Brother Kucharski started receiving his pension in 1990. He resided in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. FRANKLEE Pensioner Frank Lee, 82, passed away Feb. 7. The Alabama native began his career with the MC&S.He began receiving his pension in 1973. Brother Lee lived in Pell City, Ala. ROBERT LEE Pensioner Robert Lee, 65, died March 15. Brother Lee joined the SIU in 1964 in the port of New York. Before becoming a Seafarer, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1961. Brother Lee first shipped aboard the Steel Admiral, operated by ISCO, Inc. Born in New York, he worked in the engine department. Brother Lee last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Producer. He began receiving his pension in 1996. Las Vegas was his home. ~-..........., NORBERTO MALDONADO Pensioner Norberto Maldonado, 83, died May 17. He started his career SAMMIE NELSON Pensioner Sammie Nelson, 82, passed away May 9. Born in Ellsworth,Wis., Brother Nelson started his SIU career in 1953 in Seattle. Before joining the Seafarers, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1947. Brother Nelson first sailed aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. The engine department member last worked aboard the Sea-Land Newark. He started receiving his pension in 1983. Brother Nelson called Federal Way, Wash. home. EUGENIO OJEDA Pensioner Eugenio Ojeda, 65, died Feb. 13. Brother Ojeda started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of New York. Born in Puerto Rico, he first shipped aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Ojeda sailed in the steward department, la t working on a Michigan Tankers Inc. vessel. Brother Ojeda began receiving his pension in 1979. He lived in his native commonwealth. JULIO ORTIZ ;:------, Pensioner Julio Ortiz, 96, passed away Feb. 5. He joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Ortiz first sailed aboard a Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. vessel. Born in Puerto Rico, he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Ortiz last sailed aboard the Charleston, a Westchester Marine Corp. vessel. He started receiving his pension in 1973. Brother Ortiz resided in New York. CHARLES PALMER ..---=:::------. Pensioner Charles Palmer, 79, died Feb. 23. Born in Pennsylvania, Brother Palmer started his career with the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Philadelphia. He began receiving his pension in 1989. Brother Palmer lived in Mobile, Ala. REINO PELASO - Pensioner Reino Pelaso, 84, passed away Feb. 19. Brother Pelaso joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. Born in Finland, he first shipped aboard ISCO, Inc. 's Steel Voyager. He worked in the engine department. ALFRED SANGER WILLIAM SHERAR Pensioner William Sherar, 75, passed away March 10. Brother Sherar started his SIU career in 1951 in the port of New York. Prior to joining the Seafarers, the Pauls Valley, Okla. native served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1944. He fust sailed aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Sherar shipped as a member of the engine department. He last worked aboard the Sea-Land St. Louis. He began receiving his pension in 1983. Brother Sherar lived in Cherryfield, Maine. MARIE SLOAN Pensioner Marie Sloan, 79, died April 26. Sister Sloan started her career with the MC&S in 1961 in the port of San Francisco. Born in Clifton, S.C., she shipped as a member of the teward department, ailing primarily aboard Michigan Tankers Inc. vessels. She began receiving her pension in 1978. Boise, Idaho was her home. LLOYD THOMAS Brother Lloyd Thomas, 58, passed away Jan 1. He started his SIU career in 1964 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Thomas first sailed on Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. 's Del Sud. The Louisiana native shipped in the deck department. He last sailed on the Jacksonville. Brother Thomas made his home in Detroit. DONALD THOMPSON Pensioner Donald Thompson, 66, died Feb. 6. The Verndale, Minn. native started his career with the MC&S. He began receiving his pension in 1977. Brother Thompson lived in Syracuse, Utah. OLIVER TRAWICK Pensioner Oliver Trawick, 79 died May 5. ·The Alabama native started his SIU career in 1947 in the port of New Orleans. Prior to becoming a Seafarer, Brother Trawick served in the U.S. Navy from 1941to1945. He first shipped on the Alcoa Patriot. The deck department member last sailed on the Clair Borne. He began receiving his pension in 1990. Fulton, Miss. was his home. .---~=------..., ANGELO VALENTE . . - - - - - - - - - , Brother Angelo Valente, 49, passed away March 11. He started his career with the • Seafarers in 1998 in the port of Piney Point, ~~~~~~~ Md. Brother Valente first sailed on the USNS Watson, operated by Maersk Lines, Ltd. He last worked aboard the USNS Sisler, another Maersk vessel. The engine department member was born in Italy and lived in Kingsland, Ga. JOHNNY YOUNG Pensioner Johnny Young, 71 , died Jan . 6. Brother Young started his SIU career in 1958, joining in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Camden, Ala. native, who sailed in the steward department, last sailed aboard the Liberty Spirit. He started receiving his pension in 1991. Brother Young lived in New Orleans. INLAND CHARLES STOTZ Pensioner Charles Stotz, 78, passed away Oct. 17, 2000. He started his SIU career in 1968 in St. Louis. The Pinkeyville, Ill. native shipped as a member of the deck department and sailed in both the inland and deep sea divisions during his career. Boatman Stotz last worked aboard a Michigan Tankers vessel. He began receiving his pension in 1985. Boatman Stotz called Alton, lli. home. CHARLES C. THOMAS =-----, Boatman Charles C. Thomas, 55, died Feb. 27. He joined the SIU in 1975 in the port of Piney Po"i~n~t'=".~i.:::;•·="~ Md. The f,"'---- g· ia native shipped in the deck department, last sailing on a Maritrans vessel. Boatman Thomas resided in Crisfield, Md. GREAT LAKES LAURENCE BERNARD Pensioner , Laurence Bernard, 72, died Feb. 14. . He started his career with the Seafarers in 1961. Prior to joining the SIU, Brother Bernard served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Born in Detroit, he shipped as a member of the engine department, last sailing aboard a Great Lakes Towing Co. vessel. He began receiving his pension in 1991. Brother Bernard called Trenton, Mich. home . AUANTIC FISHERMEN SALVATORE FRONTIERO Pensioner Salvatore Frontiero, 90, died March 16. Born in Boston, Brother Frontiero started his career with the Atlantic Fish_..____--'"_ _ _ ermen's Union before it merged with the AGLIWD. He began receiving his pension in 1975. He resided in Gloucester, Mass. LOUIS BIONDO Pensioner Louis Biondo, 71, died Jan 17. He started his career with the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in Massachusetts. Brother Biondo began receiving his pension in 1993. Augusf 2001 �Digest of Shipboard Union Me.etints The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard mlnut~s as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations some will be omitted. 1 Ship~minutes lirst 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 lo the Seafarers LOG tor publication. 1 HM/ DIAMOND SHOALS(IUM), April 27--Chairman Ramon Castro, Secretary Michael Kozak, Educational Director Christopher J. Kirchhofer, Deck Delegate Donald J. DeFlorio, Engine Delegate Paul M. Russell, Steward Delegate Ali Al-Kassemi. Chairman announced payoff April 30 in Long Beach, Calif. All's well aboard ship. As of June 15, Hvide will assume management of fleet; contracts to remain in place. Secretary alerted crew that waxing will begin in 10 days; notice will be placed in mess hall. Steward reminded crew that steel-toed shoes are reimbursable for all departments, and that company is not liable for safety of crew members who do not wear proper gear. Educational director spoke about STCW deadline Feb. 1, 2002. "Don't be caught by surprise." No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into reducing vacation time requirements. Next port: Portland, Ore. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG), April 15-Chairman Ralph Broadway, Secretary James Willey, Educational Director Howard Grom, Deck Delegate rold L. Boone, Steward Delegate Jack Hart. Chairman spok abou t need for team - . · . s aware o poteii't1hf ctaAgers and keep safe working environment. He also noted union business should not be ruse ssed during working hours; there is a time and place for that. Crew members advised that company policy requires all personnel at work to wear appropriate safety footwear which have oil-resistant, non-slip soles, leather uppers and steel-toed caps. Educational director noted every U.S. mariner who plans to make a Ii ving a sea should be committed to strengthening the U.S. merchant marine. They can do that by attending upgrading classes at Piney Point. He also reminded everyone to be sure STCWs are renewed. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on watchstander's duties. Thanks given to steward department for delicious Easter dinner. Chairman also thanked all the old-timers who helped make this union what it is today. They provided a strong foundation, and "I want you to know that your input is still valuable to all of us out here." Next ports: Japan; Portland, Ore.; Long Beach, Calif. STONEWALL JACKSON (Waterman Steamship Corp.), April 15-Chairman Armando Medina, Secretary Norman J. Duhe, Educational Director George W. Collier. Educational director reminded crew members of need to upgrade at Paul Hall Center, especially for STCW-related courses. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for excellent meals. USNS STOCKHAM (American Overseas Marine), April 6Chairman Andrew B. Barrows, Secretary Lauren Oram, Educational Director Alfred J. Herrmann Jr., Deck Delegate Kelvin Johnson, Engine Delegate John Fernandez, Steward Dele- Augusf 2001 gate Allen Van Buren. Chairman explained ship's schedule and current status. He noted things going well after just leaving shipyard. Secretary reviewed committee information from February, including Washington Activity Report. Educational director suggested everyone upgrade skills at Piney Point. He also reminded them to make sure shipping documents are current and stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. Treasurer announced $45 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Discussion followed reading of president's report. Everyone hopes more ships are built in U.S. yards, which will lead to more SIU jobs. Payoff will talce place in Jacksonville. Anyone owing dues should get enough cash at payoff to fulfill union obligations. Ship will get 10 boxes of movies each year; one is currently on board. Chairman will ask captain about satellite TV and e-mail for crew. Hats off to steward department for excellent chow. Compliments also to all departments; ship looks good and runs well. Next ports: Jacksonville; Norfolk, Va. ANCHORAGE (CSX Lines), May 6--Chairman Dan P. Fleehearty, Secretary James A. Wright, Educational Director William M. Pin To cl!roeq E in Dele te en Stratton, Steward Delegate Amanda Suncin. Chairman announced payoff on arrival May 8 in Tacoma, Wash. Anyone getting off ship reminded to leave room clean. All communications posted on bulletin board for everyone to read. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Information requested on future engine room specialty courses for QMEDs and on status of new contact. CRUSADER (CSX Lines), May 2-Chairman Roberto Diaz, Secretary Joseph P. Emidy, Educational Director Kevin Cooper, Deck Delegate Joseph A. Osorio. Chairman noted presence of two SIU unlicensed apprentices aboard as part of their training in all three departments. Secretary encouraged everyone to read LOG to learn about union and industry issues. Educational director urged those with enough seatime to upgrade at Piney Point facility and make sure STCW certificates are up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. The Crusader was selected this year's recipient of the prestigious Thomas Devlin Award for outstanding safety record. Thanks given to everyone aboard ship for their awareness of safety issues. Vessel has not lost time due to injury in more than 3~ years. ''This is something we are all proud of and welcome the acknowledgement that the award stands for." Thanks given to the steward department for great meals and service. Next port: Houston. DISCOVERY (CSX Lines), May 6--Chairman Nelson Sala, Secretary Donald C. Spangler, Educational Director Gregory S. Brandani. Chairman announced ship now on Jacksonville to San Juan run. He stated payoff to talce place May 7 in Jacksonville and reminded crew members of regula- tions regarding torage of garbage. Educational director advised members of STCW requirements and of Feb. 1, 2002 deadline. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Problem with air conditioning in rooms noted. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. ENDURANCE (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), May 13-Chairman Romeo Lugtu, Secretary Ray A. Garcia, Educational Director Ramona P. Gayton, Deck Delegate Dennis Pickering, Engine Delegate James F. Sieger, Steward Delegate Jimmy L. Williams. Chairman noted two-day delay in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Looking forward to hearing about new contract. Bosun, steward and electrician getting off this trip. All three reminded crew members about STCW deadline and about opportunities available at Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendations made for increasing pension benefits. Request made for new chairs in crew mess and new refrigerator. Suggestion also made for shore gang help aboard ship. GREEN ISLAND (Waterman Steamship Corp.), May 13Chairman Cesar A. Gutierrez, Secretary Michael F. Hammock, Educational Director James Laratta, Deck Delegate Rommel Artis, Steward Delegate Lawrence Winfield. Chairman said trip was fast and smooth and that chief mate thanked deck and engine departments for jobs well done with cargo operations overseas. Everyone worked very hard. Chairman also announced payoff May 23 in New Orleans and said next trip would be longer. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep mess hall clean. Educational director urged everyone to upgrade at Piney Point. He al o tated "thi i th be .~·running LASH lup in e . e -ann unce $280 in ship's fund. ·some beef reported in steward department; no disputed OT noted. Some problems reported regarding lack of sofa and timely allotments. KINSMAN INDEPENDENT (Great Lakes Associates), May 24--Chairman Lawrence J. Curnow, Engine Delegate Charles D. Lesley. Chairman presented crew with new dental plan. Everyone responded positively. Crew members were advised that all union forms/applications (medical, vacation, new books) are on board. Thanks given to Algonac hall for monthly updates. Crew members enjoy reading LOGs each month. Next ports: Duluth, Minn.; Buffalo, N.Y. MAERSK CALIFORNIA (Maersk Lines, Ltd.), May 17Chairman Brian Fountain, Secretary John G. Reid, Educational Director James T. McParland, Deck Delegate Frank Hedge, Steward Delegate Johny Bolton Jr. Chairman thanked crew for safe, smooth voyage and for help during stowaway search in South Africa. Secretary also thanked everyone for good trip and for helping clean ship. Educational director advised crew to check sailing documents, including STCW, and upgrade at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. Treasurer announced $375 in ship's fund. New movies being purchased in U.S. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Reminder given that LOG is union's line of communication with membership, whether in port or at sea. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into increasing pension and vacation benefits. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food and cookouts. Clarification needed on organization status for Maersk vessels. Next ports: Newark; Baltimore:_ ·ev.port 'ew . Va; Charle ton, S.C. MAERSK COLORADO (Maersk Lines, Ltd.), May 30-Chairman Mohamed S. Ahmed, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director Alfredo 0. Cuevas, Deck Delegate Dirk W. Adams. Chairman announced payoff on arrival May 31 in Balboa, Panama. He said he enjoyed voyage and to check rooms for needed repairs. o beef or disputed OT reported. Question raised as to how to impress upon crew members the importance of attending shipboard meetings. "A union is not strong if the membership doesn't help." Deck and engine departments thanked steward department for job well done. "Keep up the good work." Overseas Vivian Carries Grain to N. Korea While on a grain run to North Korea, some of the crew members posed for a group photo aboard the Vivian Tankships Corp. vessel. reminded crew to check shipping documents for renewal dates. Educational director stressed need to upgrade skills and spoke about compliance with STCW rules by Feb. 1, 2002. Treasurer announced $808 in ship's movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for TV for crew lounge. Thanks given to crew members for their cooperation, e pecially to steward department for good job in pite of shortage due to family emergency. MARINE COLUMBIA (ATC), ay -C airman reg Hamilton, Secretary John F. Huyett, Educational Director Ronald Gordon, Deck Delegate Chad M. Partridge, Engine Delegate Christopher D. Todd, Steward Delegate A. Sison. Chairman noted payoff scheduled May 15 in Cherry Point, Wash. Old business discussed pertaining to salad bar. Treadmill was purchased and set up in gym. Educational director reviewed various STCW requirements. Treasurer stated that after recent purchases and extensive upgrades to satellite system, $2,840.05 remains in unlicensed crew's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for installation of book shelf in crew lounge. MAYAGUEZ (NPR-Navieras), May 9-Chairman Patrick C. Ray Jr., Secretary Celina Ortega, Educational Director Michael Martykan, Deck Delegate Charles Wright, Steward Delegate Jorge Mora. Bosun reported pilot due to board May 10 for docking and payoff in Philadelphia. Educational director advised crew members to apply now for STCW course-before Feb. 1, 2002 deadline. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Discussion held about SIU/NMU merger and voting at May union meetings. Suggestions made for new contract, including addition of chiropractic services, restructuring of pension plan and inclusion of dependent prescription costs. Tiles being replaced in rooms. Everyone asked to clean dryer filter after use. Next port: San Juan, P.R. MERLIN (Sealift, Inc.), May 13Chairman James Triassi, Secretary Kenneth Whitfield. Chairman told crew he was happy to see everyone working together as a team-and to keep up the good work. He asked all members PERFORMANCE (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), May 6--Chairman Jimmie L. Scheck, Secretary Richard M. Worobey, Educational Director Ernest L. Gibson, Deck Delegate Bennie Spencer, Engine Delegate Gregorio A. Blanco, Steward Delegate Joel Molinos. Chairman said he is checking on previously ordered reclining chairs and mattresses. He announced payoff May 14 in Houston and noted vessel to change to Mediterranean run. Secretary stressed need to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center and con tribute to SPAD for job security. Educational director warned crew members to comply with STCW regulations by Feb. 1, 2002 "or you won't be able to ship out." No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made for contracts department to look into raising pension benefits, improving dental plan and adding prescription coverage for dependents. Chief Cook Molinos and his department thanked for job well done. TRADER (CSX Lines), May 6Chairman Loren Watson, Secretary Kevin Dougherty, Educational Director Ron Wade, Deck Delegate Lauro E. Clark, Engine Delegate Kassem Abdulla, Steward Delegate Alejo A. Fabia Jr. Chairman noted payoff May 8 in Oakland, Calif. He stressed need for everyone to comply with STCW requirements or risk not sailing. Poster in crew lounge has necessary information. Additional questions should be directed to hot-line number. Treasurer reported $324 in crew fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications from headquarters read regarding installation of satellite dishes on ships to be included in new contract. Also mentioned our political representatives on Capitol Hill will be pushing for taxexempt status for seamen. Bosun discussed ship's schedule, including dry dock in Singapore in October. He noted that crew would probably be laid off, but for short enough time so as to reclaim jobs after dry docking period. Bosun also asked crew members to pay attention to proper sorting of plastics and help keep lounges and laundry area clean. With confusion and conflicting stories about new tax laws for seamen, request made for union to look into best tax plan. Next ports: Oakland; Long Beach, Calif.; Honolulu. Seafarers LOG 19 ,/ �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 writers intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) II( • Remembering Those Who Helped Unionize Reading the letter of Ernest D. Mabee in the June 2001 issue of the Seafare rs LOG brought back memories of my own experiences -and no small coincidence. I also helped organize Isthmian Steamship Company in 1946 along with Blackie Cardulla, Paul and Don Hall, Ray Oates and others. I also sailed in the deck department aboard a lot of Isthmian Liberty ships. I spent my 16th birthday aboard the Clyde L. Seavey in Visagapatam, India (yes, I lied about my age). Prior to that, I sailed Atlantic Refining tankers and Gulf Oil tankers (NMU). In 1952, I was drafted into the U.S. Army from the deck of the Waterman C-2 Yaka in San Francisco. The memorial the American Legion Post dedicated and the monument my VFW post dedicated (Seafarers LOG, March 2001) are almost surreal in their similarities. The country finally granted veteran's status to the men who delivered the goods, to the brave men and women who won World War II. Those days are gone now, and the courageous men who orga- Know Your Rights nized the non-union companies and raised the standards of mariners everywhere deserve the admiration and respect of the industry and the nation. Although much remains to be done regarding runaways and FOC ships, a stronger Brotherhood has emerged-and that can only help in addressing these problems. I hope the current seamen appreciate the trials and tribulations the old-timers went through to secure the industry so it will never have to be said again, "You cannot give me closer quarters, coarser food or make me more lonely than I have always been in my life at sea" (Andrew Furuseth, as he was being jailed for seeking justice for mariners). Russell G • Hinkel Sr. Bensalem, Pa. SUlfll/IAllY All#UAL REPORT-FOR THE SIU PACIFIC O/S1111CT SUPPl.ElfEllTAL BENEFITS FUllO~ IN,. This is a summary of the annual report for SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fun,~ Inc., 941431246 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000. The annual report has been filed with the InternaLJlevenueService, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). · · · . <{; · :c,~~: Basic Flnaaclal Statement The value of the plan assets, after ~ubtracting liabilities of the pla11,<Was $3,i9i,777~ of July 31, 2000, compared to $4,490,436 of July 31, 1999. Durlf!g the plan year, t:pe plan experienced a decrease inJts net assets of $1,298,659. During the plan ·year, the plan had a total income of $6,440A53, including employe:t' contributions of $6,260,575 and earnings from investments 0!$179,878. ' Plan expenses were $7,739,112. These expenses included $323,003 in administrative expenses, and $7,416, 109 . in benefits paid to participants and beneficiatj~s. as Rlihts Your to Additional Information Iou have' the rightto receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part theieof1 o;~uest. The items listed " bel<$w are oiri¢luded in that r~port: 1. an accountant's repon; .·~·"''~""'ef"'il'r~' fuiauci;il information and irifonnation on payments service providers; assets belclror investment~ arid;O•> 4. transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets. 0 to a To obtain copx of the fi.tll . annu~f report, or any part ther-e.of. wri~~or call the office of SIU Pacific ~District Supplemental Ben ~ Pl ~; :-_ ati422 Market Str~t.. San F( ciscof CA 94102; telephone n ~ - r (4l5) 4376832. The chaige'·t fug ,:Costs will be $2.5trf0t report, or $0.25 pe for any part,,-· thereof. You also have the rigllt t~receive from the plan administraJor,- <>n request and at no charge. a;§tatement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes. oni ;statement of income and expen~ of tpe nlaii aqd . accompanying notes. or both. If you request a copy of the full airouaJ report from the plan adminiStrator, th,ese two . statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover cop.yfug costs given ~~­ above does not include a charge for ili:_e·copying of these portion§ -of the report because th~,~ Q9rtl9flS~~:!H.@i~h~d 0t;;. without charge. · ".'- ' ' · - · · ·· You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan~ at 1422 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington. D.C., or to obtain a copy from the DOL upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the DOL should be addressed to; Public Disclosure Room. Room N5638, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. :p_epartment of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20216. · c. 0 Are You Receiving AH 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 Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 r---------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM s101 (Please Print) Name: Phone No.:·__,,_ ___,__________________________ Address:~------------------------------Social Security No.: _ _ __ Book No.: D Active SIU D Pensioner 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 LOS 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. Augusf 2001 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Engine Upgrading Courses The following is the schedule for classes for the months of August through November 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 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 Arrival Date Date of Completion Fireman/Watertender & Oiler September 8 November3 October 19 December 14 QMED - Any Rating August 25 November 16 Welding September 15 October 13 November 24 October 5 November2 December 14 Recertification Bosun Recertification October 8 September 8 Safety Specialty Courses Deck Upgrading Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Able Seaman (including simulator steering assessments) August 25 September 22 October 20 November 17 September 21 October 19 November 16 December 14 Lifeboatman!Water Survival August 11 September 8 October6 November3 August 25 September 22 October 20 November17 Radar (simulator) August 11 September 8 October6 November3 August 24 September 21 October 19 November 16 Radar (one ..day renewal) August24 September 21 October 19 November 16 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (simulator) August25 September 22 October20 November17 August 31 September 28 October 26 November 23 August 4 September 1 September 29 October 27 O\ mb r 24 ep mer September 29 October 27 November24 August 18 September 15 October 13 O\'ember 10 D emb r 8 eptem er7 October 5 ovember 2 November 30 (*must have radar 1'nlimiled) GMDSS (simulator) Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Advanced Fire Fighting - First Aid August 11 August 25 Government Vessels August4 August 18 September 1 September 15 September 29 October 13 October27 November 10 November24 August24 September 7 September 21 October S October 19 November2 November 16 November30 December 14 STCW Medical Care Provider August 11 September 22 October 20 August 18 September 29 October 27 Basic Fire Fighting/STCW Basic Safety August4 August25 Septembers September 15 September 22 September 29 October 20 Octobet27 November 10 November 17 November24 August 11 September 1 September 14 September 21 September 28 October6 October26 Novembet3 November16 November23 November JO Tanker Familiarization/ A i tant Cargo DL)* August4 August 18 e tern r 5 October 13 October 28 November 11 August 14 September 1 ep 29 October 27 November 10 November24 August 11 October6 August is October 13 *m" t have a ie re ft htin ) Tankerman (PIC) Barge* Steward Upgrading Courses Course (*must have basic fire fighting) Date of Completion Start Date Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations moduleS start ·every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week, most recently b.· egjnning July 21 . . -~· . . 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. -"'·-·.t.-·--·-··..;.. ........._;-.,_,:,_ .._ . _____ ·-·-·-.. -·-·-·-·-·-·--· -·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- UP6RADIN6 APPLICATION Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ 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, 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 $280 with their aJ!Plication. The payment should be made with a money order onlv. payable to LMSS. COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D BEGIN END DATE DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security#__________ Book# _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ Seniority _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D 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? 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: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes DNo Primary language s p o k e n - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Augusf 2001 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 APPUCATION 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. 8101 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicemed.Apprentice Water Survival Oass 617- Unlicensed apprentices from class 617 who completed the water survival course are (from left, kneeling) Tavis Almer, Lakeisha Parker, Richard Allen Gould Ill, (standing) David Henson, Nathan Wirt, Dale Sprinkle, Dain Medow, Thomas Almodovar, Alex Przytulski, Matthew Kloxin, Jermaine McGhee and Leon Gavin. Government Vessels - Completing the crane operations part of the government vessels course June 29 are (from left, front row) Paul Duquette, Rick Worthington, Joie Flesner, Lenard Ilagan, Greg Thompson (instructor), (second row) Sandra Vann and Joshua Overland. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) - Requirements for graduation July 6 from the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course were completed by (from left, front h, John row) Dean Stanley, Charles Skeen, Michael McClendon, Cody Fleming, Tren E Abbott, Lance Cutchember, Joe Mieluchowski and Jim Shaffer (instructor), (second row) Rodney Shaw, Glenn Coursen, Richard Striverson, Zachary Toye, Jeremy Duncan, Kermit Bengtson and Johnny Carson. Basic Fire Fighting/STCW - Earning their basic fire fighting endorsements July 6 are (in alphabetical order) Lito Acosta, Terrell Alston, Leslie Alvarez, Avery Askew, Jose Baltazar, Hernando Bansvelo, Jose Bayani, Carlos Bonefont, Romero Bartolome, Clay Brown, Davon Grown, Sandra Brown, James Browne, Jason Bryan, Armando Camacho, James Cameron, Allan Campbell, Adalberto Colon, Scott Costello, Virgil Craige and Walter Darrensburg. Welding - AB Joseph Butasek files down a piece of steel in welding class, which ended June 29. attend, please inform the admissions departrg_ent so that another student may take that,pface. · Computer Lab Class The students pictured above received certificates in computer basics, Windows 95 and Excel 97 for the week of June 11-15. Four of the students were crew members aboard the Delta Mariner, which was docked at the Paul Hall Center. From the left are (kneeling) Herbert Scypes Jr., David Dinnes, (standing) Arthur Quinney Ill, Velicia Williams, Darryl Coale and Instructor Richard Prucha. 22 SealaTel'S LOG FOWT - Another week of computer classes, from June 1822, was completed at the Paul Hall Center. From the left are Farid Zahran, Edward Fore, Herbert Scypes Jr., Anibal Matos and Instructor Richard Prucha. Upgrading engine department members who completed the FOWT training June 29 with instructor Mark Jones (far left) are (in alphabetical order) Norman Arquillano, Armando Camacho, Dwayne Day, Michael Drost, Kenneth Dyson, Gilberto Figueroa, Ronald Gray, Thomas Jesse, Andrew Linares, Ibrahim Muhammad, Armando Pinto, Anton Popescu, Paul Siltala, Antwan Stafford, Mohamed Sylia and Earl Thomas. August2001 �• Paul Hall Center Classes March 11-16, 2001Michael Alatan , Petronilo Amor, Michael Bergenheim, Tracy Crum , Karen Dacoco, Dana Darval, Jerry Dingal, David Enriquez, Jean Favreaux, Lisa Favreaux, Larry Ganon, Elizabeth Porter, Amin Saleh and Tai Ming Tung. March 19-23, 2001 - Training Classes Held in Hawaii April 30-May 4, 2001 - Faleatua Afoa, David Agosto, Jenny Blalack, Harry Borden, Neil Buckley, Paul Dooley, Mohamed Faroque, Kaipo Hau, Sharon Holloway, Penimal Kumas, Michael Liugalua, Risiti Uu_galua, David McNeil, Anthony Montero, Yusuf Mukhtar, Wilson "P9niston, Yun-Gou Perng, Melanie Pheanis, Eduardo Ricote, Hannah Rodgers, Rebekah Rodgers, Francisco Roy, Peter Shea and Joby Steven Lindsey, Florence Nelson, Carmen Fejeran, Fae Samuelu, Rubetenio Dumbrique, Ronald VanKeuren, Arnaldo Santos, Frank Torres, Christopher Molina, Saykeo Sivongzay, David Capeloto, Stacy Nishimura, Joseph Deodato, Ryan Nakama, Cleto Lindong, George Schneider, Daniel O'Connor, Pairote Peterson, Kevin Johnson, Greg Hayama, Daniel Taylor, Noheapualani Polendey, Elizabeth Gutermuth, Scott Ishihara, Yoon Kim, Rachel Martinez, Timothy Hurd and Vinh Sivongxay. April 16-20, 2001- Elsayed Ayed, Marci Baker, Mickie Frederick, Sheng-Jen Hsieh, Benny Orosco, Johnny Palencia, Carlos Prez, lrvinson Perez, Robert Rugama, Kassem Saleh, Carlos Sambula, Inga Scott, Jesus Turcios and Yolanda Wri ght. Tod . March 19-23, 2001 March 19-23, 2001 - Karen Smith, Napoleon Gatdula, Solomon Stavis, Rolan Boudreau, Rommel Gopez, Kelly Keehan, James Pool, Aida Cogo, Arthur Rallos, Rigoberto Ruiz, Adolfo Bermudez Rochez, Philip Agacaoli, Norma Jean Hoopii, Santiago Saragosa, Penny Thompson, Shawn Okamoto, Alton Pinn, Fernando Domecale, Al Chatman, Kelly Jones, Panapa Tanieli, Freddy Romero, Paola Dunn, Sherry Katus, Elbio Calace, Juan Brito and David Davies. Domingo Foronda, Cynthia Espinada, Julie Teruya, Jaime Castillo, Ricardo Pilapil , Ariston Ora-a, Terry lgot Jr., Alberto Sarinis, Clarence Coloma, Carlos Madayag, Danilo Cubangbang, Caezar Mercado, Dennis Coloma, Joselito Aquino, Joseph McMullen, Dennis Delacruz, Mayrose Delacruz, Perry Asuncion, Geronimo Bareng, Josefina Balanay, Samantha Kocyba, Nicole Chevalier, Paulette Greenway, Khaled Taffi , Elias Parker and Leonicio Delacruz Jr. April 8-13, 2001 - Emilio Ababa Jr., Willis Abaya, Melecio Agpaoa, J.J. Arnold, Howard Beltran, Peter Black, James Brockington, Kenneth Brunst, Thomas Collins Jr., Roserina Commager, Alvin Davis, Theodore Doi, Reggie Garcia, Carol Grycko, Bruce Henderson, Derek Leong, Jay Long, Helen Matsuura, Michael Matthews, Thomas McGeorge, Jeff Miller, William Mokuau, Gregorio Orara, Onofre Ortiz, Robert Paine Jr., Courtney Paulos, Chester Ramiro, Nestor Rapusas, John Seltenright, Monte Smith, Edgar Townsend and Roger Watson. August2001 March 19-23, 2001 - William Simon, Wendy Lundin, Karen Domerego, Judith Ann Smith, Rhonda Rigsby, Holly Kear, Emily Wilborn, Karoly Kulcsar, Linda Paavola, Michael Baron , Toni Johnson, Ernesto Diaz, Michael Lathbury, Suzie Wong, Justin Auelua, Sereno Nicanor, Angel Arigo Jr. , Mohamed Omar, Jasmine Keanu, Melissa Lindsey, Patricia Ann Au, Regan Krantz, Andrew Leight, Janeen Harty and Solomon Stavis. Seafarers LOii 23 .. • �• SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. Page20 ,,, F rom SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. to Guam, to Japan, to Singapore, to Diego Garcia, and then back to headquarters ....That was the route taken by Union Representative Bryan PoweU during his recent trip to service the SIU-crewed vessels in those areas. He and Guam Port Agent Matthew Holley held informational meetings with all Seafarers aboard the vessels (Petersburg, Eric G. Gibson, Spirit) in Guam and presented them with a lot of positive information on a wide range of important issues. Powell noted that the members in Guam were happy to have a union hall there and showed excitement about the direction in which the SIU is headed. In Japan (aboard the LNG vessels Capricorn, Libra, Virgo, Taurus, Gemini and Leo), the crews were very receptive to the fact that the union and the company are involving the members in working to resolve any issues raised aboard these vessels (particularly those pertaining to crew travel and provisions). The USNS Sisler was in Singapore and was set to sail for Diego Garcia. Powell noted that the visit to that vessel and meeting with the crew went very smoothly, with no beefs or problems reported. The membership in Diego Garcia (aboard the USNS Dahl, USNS Charlton, Alex Bonnyman, James Anderson, LTC John U.D. Page, Bernard F. Fisher, Buffalo Soldier, USNS Red Cloud, Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, William Baugh, Franklin Phillips, Cape Jacob and Sagamore) was very excited about use of the military base facilities there to conduct STCW basic safety training. Working with Joe Curtiss from the SIU's facility in Hawaii and Mike Daras from Piney Point, a plan was put in place to provide the course in Diego Garcia to those SIU members who still need to complete the training by the deadline-Feb. 1, 2002. Working in the galley of the Petersburg in Guam is Chief Cook Martha Hagler. Left: Deck department members gather on the deck of the Louis Hauge in Diego Garcia. From left (front row) are AB Bill Shelley, John Birdwell, Jake Hollenback and Memo Blanco. In the back row are AB Russell Luther and Bosun Erik Bekkelund. Guam Port Agent Matthew Holley (right) beams with pride over the success of one of the most recent graduates of the SIU's unlicensed apprentice program sponsored by the government of Guam, Jerald Martinez. The photo was taken in Diego Garcia aboard the William Baugh. Bosun Dan Marcus (left) meets with SIU Rep Bryan Powell during a servicing trip to the LNG Libra in Himeji, Japan. Chief Steward Waymond Watson Ill monitors the temperatures of his ovens on the USNS Red Cloud in Diego Garcia. � 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 August 2001 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES AMMO SHIP FIRE CLAIMS LIVES OF 2 MARINERS TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF NOT FOR CREW’S QUICK REACTIONS LIBERTY MARITIME LAUNCHES ANOTHER BULK CARRIER RED RIVER CORP. WINS CHARTER FOR AMMO SHIP SIU, AMSEA WELCOMES USNS STOCKHAM MARAD HONORS SIU-CREWED POTOMAC SENATE ANNOUNCES ASSIGNMENTS FOR MERCHANT MARINE SUBCOMMITTEE NORWEGIAN UNION THREATENS TRICO BOYCOTT THIRD STRIKE: BARGE WRECK FORCES EVACUATIONS IN LA. ADM. BREWERTO COMMAND MSC; ADM. HOLDER TAPPED FOR LOGISTICS NURSES’ UNION JOINS AFL-CIO TITLE XI: FROM ZERO TO $100 MILLION FORMER MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR ANDREW GIBSON DEAD AT 79 SIU CREWS IN DIEGO GARCIA COMPLETE STCW TRAINING 2 DIE ABOARD AMMO SHIP HOUSE TAKES SAFE ROAD TEAM SIU DOES IT AGAIN SEAFARERS LAUD STANDARD CONTRACTS SEAFARERS DID IT EVEN BETTER! STANDARD CONTRACTS PRESENTED FAR EAST SERVICING 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 08/01/2001 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. 8 2001 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/028119edc429aa54af862089f557933f.pdf 0a20db4979c4e3f1b9095aa444b37c08 PDF Text Text Volume 64, Number 8 August 2002 ... ~~ r;; w- NY Waterway Christens Ferry Maersk Tanker Ref lagging U.S. SIU-contracted NY Waterway last month sustained the steady growth of its fleet when it christened a new high-speed ferry in Weehawken, N.J. Named after former New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the new boat (pictured at left) is a 79foot, bow-loading catamaran that can transport 149 passengers. Page 3. Congress Conducts Hearing Unions State Case for Broadening U.S. Maritime Security Program D mo a commitmea to th flag-and signaling_ new shipboard job opportunities for Seafarers-Virginia-based Maersk Line, Ltd. last month announced it will rename and reflag the tanker Ramsgate. Delivery of the tanker is expected Aug. 31 on the West Coast, when the vessel will hoist the Stars and Stripes and be renamed the Maersk Rhode Island. Pictured above is a sister ship, the Maersk Roy, which is virtually identical to the Rhode Island. Page 3. SPAD Starts New Program The voluntary Seafarers Political Activity Donation fund (better known as SPAD) this month kicks off a new program intended to encourage and reward participation. A SPAD lapel pin, T-shirt and cap are featured in this new endeavor. For details, see page 6. Alaska Tanker Company Racks Up Safety Awards Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) last month received the State of Washington Department of Ecology's prestigious Exceptional Compliance Program Award. ATC also recently was honored by the Alaska State Legislature for its outstanding safety and environmental record. Pages 12-13. SIU Pres. Michael Sacco (left) presents a joint statement to Congress on behalf of four U.S. maritime unions. Joining him at the July 16 hearing before the House Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine are (from left) MESA Pres. Ron Davis, MM&P Exec. Asst. Mike Rodriguez and AMO Pres. Michael McKay. The statement urged a 20-year extension of the U.S. Maritime Security Program and an expansion of the MSP fleet to at least 60 ships. Page 3. CIVMAR News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pages 4, 7 Second Phase of ISM Code Implemented Contract Updates ----------------Page 7 Mobile, Ala. Happenings ~~~~~~~~~~~~-Page24 �Seafarers Rally With Gulf Mariners President's Report Loud and Clear In a span of less than five weeks, the United States Congress recently held two hearings about some of the most critical issues facing the U.S. Merchant Marine. The first hearing took place June 13 and focused on the threat of runaway flag vessels to our national security. The second was conducted July 16, and that inquiry dealt with a future extension and expansion of the Maritime Security Program (MSP). The SIU testified at both sessions, which were called by the House Special Oversight Panel on the Michael Sacco Merchant Marine, part of the Armed Services Committee. Particularly in an industry as heavily regulated as ours, those hearings shouldn't be taken for granted. They potentially represent important first steps in tackling two major concerns. The fact that the hearings even were called in the first place shows that Congress is serious about examining these issues. For Seafarers, the hearings also should serve as reminders that political action remains a must. It has been that way since our founding in 1938. Today, practically everything in our industry is subject to one law or another--crew size, cabotage, documentation, port state control, vessel structure, you name it. Those of you who have sailed with us for several years know what I mean. Issues have a way of resurfacing in different forums long after we've first dealt with them. That's why the SIU always has been, and always will be, politically active. Along those lines, this month a new program is being introduced to promote and reward participation in SPAD, the union's voluntary political action fund. Details are on page 6. I'm proud of the Sill's already strong rank-and-file participation, and I encourage every member to sign up for SPAD. Seafarers long have known that "politics is pork chops." Now, our members will know "it takes a four-letter word (SPAD) to be heard!" In a joint statement with other maritime unions, we were heard loud and clear during last month's MSP hearing. We took the first opportunity to go on the record as requesting- and strongly justifying-a greater commitment to the program. The maritime unions stood together to declare that extending the program for an additional 20 years and expanding the MSP fleet to at least 60 ships not only is vital to America's national and economic security, but also may be the catalyst for the continued revitalization of the U.S. fleet. We have several things going for us in this effort. One is the fact that the MSP has been economically efficient. It has provided our government with access to nearly 50 modem, militarily useful vessels that can support our national security, along with the critical infrastructure of the companies participating in the program. The MSP also has helped maintain a pool of skilled mariners who undoubtedly will be needed to crew the government-owned strategic sealift ships in times of conflict. Another reason why our nation needs a bigger, better MSP is the war against terrorism. The MSP was created in the wake of the Persian Gulf War. Congress rediscovered the value of the U.S . merchant fleet at that time. Working with the maritime unions and industry, elected officials produced this very important program to revitalize our U.S.-flag fleet. Since September 11, I believe we' ve seen a renewed awareness on Capitol Hill of what our merchant marine means to national security. That development would be welcome any time, but it's especially important today-because our war against terrorism undoubtedly will involve much more than what we've seen so far. As anyone who follows the news has seen, there is every indication that the United States will go to war against Iraq in the fairly near future. It's obvious that the administration is committed to removing Saddam Hussein, and history strongly suggests that our merchant marine will be called upon. There are many other reasons why America deserves a broadened commitment to the MSP, and the SIU will use every possible resource to deliver that message however many times it takes to make such a commitment reality. Volume 64, Number 8 August 2002 I 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; 520 l Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (30 l) 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; Summer Intern, Mark Clements. Copyright © 2002 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarel'S LOG More than 50 Seafarers recently rallied in solidarity with employees from Trico Marine Services, Inc. who are seeking representation by the Offshore Mariners United (OMU). SIU members turned out in New Orleans June 13 and in New York June 6 and June 27 to back workers employed in the Gulf of Mexico offshore oil service industry. At issue in all three rallies were employees' freedom of association and freedom of speech. For the past two years, maritime employees at Trico have been struggling to gain union representation. Trico has conducted a fierce and often intimidating campaign to deny workers their rights. SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd led the group of Seafarers during the rally in New Orleans. In addition to brandishing signs of support that demanded mariners' rights, Seafarers handed out flyers that outlined the employees' demands. Those who participated in the rally were Cesar Recertified Bosun Gutierrez, Recertified Steward Ernie Hoitt, Chief Cooks Joe Part of the SIU contingent that rallied in New York in support of Trico employees posed for the photo above. Pictured (from left to right) are SIU Port Agent Jim Malone, OSU Representative Bruce Vail, Tom Dugan, Mike Manekas, Benny Santos, Eddie Martinez, Scott Musick, Joe Enders, Nabassin Adedouawongobou, SIU New York Representative Oscar Lopez, John Wozunk, Joe Gallo, Mike Joel and Carlton Hall. Brooks and Artis Pilgram, Steward Assistant Wardell Paze and ABs Mohammed Adams, James Wilkerson, Judith Merwin and Vincent Thompson. SIU Pensioner Silverio Arana also participated. SIU Philadelphia Port Agent Jim Malone, SIU New York Patrolman Joe Mieluchowski and SIU New York Representative Oscar Lopez were in the front- Two Miami Shipping Agents Busted for Document Fraud An eight-month case that was one part homeland security operation and one part criminal investigation resulted in arrests July 3, shortly after officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) served and executed search warrants at two locations on the Miami River. The warrants helped investigators collect evidence and led to two arrests and the confiscation of a stockpile of bogus documents pertaining to the merchant marine. The investigation began in November 2001 and focused on two shipping agents operating on the Miami River. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami authorized the arrest of Freddy Alvaredo and Julio Gonzalez. Both subsequently were charged with false official statements in violation of 18 USC 1001. Gonzalez was also charged with alien smuggling under 8 USC 1324. Violations of 18 U.S.C. 1001 are punishable by five years imprisonment while violations of 8 USC are punishable by a maximum of 10 years. The defendants were released on percentage bonds and are scheduled for arraignment Aug. 5. Documents seized during the operation included medical certifications , STCW credentials and letters that stated individuals were employees of maritime companies. These could be used to help obtain U.S. work visas at American consulates abroad. Also confiscated were visa letters, stamps used to falsely certify mariners' medical examinations, lines of Seafarer contingentsnearly 20 strong during each outing-during the efforts in New York. Bruce Vail, a former member of MEBA who now is actively involved with the OMU, joined them. SIU members who participated included: Tom Dugan, Mike Manekas, Benny Santos. Eddie Martinez, Scott Musick, Joe Enders, N abassin AdeContinued on page 7 computer records and various levels of mariner licenses, including masters, electricians and mates. These documents generally were Panamanian, Colombian and Honduran in origin. More than $102,000 in cash also was seized. Teaming up for the investigation were representatives from the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) , Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Miami and INS. The Coast Guard agent in charge of the investigation, Jim DeVino, said the results "will have a tremendous impact on stemming the illegal flow of fraudulent foreign merchant mariner documents in South Florida. We view this case as highly successful, from both a criminal investigative and a homeland security perspective." The Coast Guard also acknowledged that fraudulent documentation is a problem that plagues marine safety offices across the country. Hotel Annex Almost Complete Construction of the new hotel annex at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is in its final stages. The building, located near the library, is scheduled for a ceremonial opening during the Seafarers International Union of North America's convention Sept. 11-12. Meanwhile, rooms at the training and recreation center hotel have undergone substantial refurbishment. These photos of the annex were taken in mid-July. Augusf 2002 �Unions Urge MSP Extension, Expansion Congress Conducts P' Hearing on Program's Broadening SIU Pres. Michael Sacco led a group of maritime union officials last month in urging Congress to extend the U.S. Maritime Security Program by an additional 20 years and expand the MSP fleet to at least 60 vessels. The SIU president appeared July 16 before the House Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine, part of the Armed Services Committee. Joining him were American Maritime Officers Pres. Michael McKay; Mike Rodriguez, executive assistant to Maters, Mates & Pilots Pres. Tim Brown; and Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association Pres. Ron Davis. Earlier during the hearingchaired by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and attended by a standing-room crowd-testimony was submitted by John Clancey, chairman of the board of Maersk Sealand; Roy Bowman, vice president for government affairs of APL Limited and executive vice president of American Automar, Inc.; Jordan Truchan, president and CEO of Patriot Holdings, American Ship Management, and Patriot Contract Services; Joseph T. "Jay" Keegan, president and CEO of U.S. Ship Management, Inc.; Erik Johnsen, president of International Shipholding Corporation; and Robert Alario, president of Offshore Marine Service Association. Joining Hunter in receiving the testimony were fellow committee members Rep. Jim Saxton (RN .J. ), Rep. Thomas Allen (DMaine), and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.). Although much of the hearing focused on U.S. citizenship ownership and control of vessels participating in the MSP, everyone who testified, stated that the existing program has been successful and should be broadened. In opening the hearing, Hunter noted, "Although we have some time before the current Maritime Security Program expires, the panel wanted to get started now with the hope that we can get something enacted well before the current expiration date in Left: SIU Pres. Michael Sacco (left) presents the joint statement issued by the SIU, AMO, MM&P and MEBA. Joining him on the panel are (from left) MESA Pres. Ron Davis, MM&P Exec. Asst. Mike Rodriguez and AMO Pres. Michael McKay. Right (below): Rep. Thomas Allen (DMaine) (left) and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) questioned members of both panels about the potential impact of possible changes in an extended MSP. Although expressing some differences concerning citizenship ownership and control of vessels participating in the MSP, members of the first panel were united in their support for extending and expanding the program. Pictured from left to right are Robert Alario, president of Offshore Marine Service Association; Jordan Truchan, president and CEO of Patriot Holdings, American Ship Management, and Patriot Contract Services; Joseph T. "Jay" Keegan, president and CEO of U.S. Ship Management; Erik Johnsen, president of International Shipholding Corporation; Roy Bowman, vice president for government affairs of APL Limited and executive vice president of American Automar, Inc.; and John Clancey, chairman of the board of Maersk Sealand. 2005 .... This is the first of what I hope will be several additional hearings relating to the Maritime Security Program." Enacted in 1996, the MSP was designed to enhance and increase the role played by the commercial maritime industry in national defense planning. As noted by the SIU and the other maritime unions in a joint statement submitted to the panel, the MSP requires that the maritime security fleet be composed of "active, militarily useful, privately owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements" and that an emergency preparedness agreement approved by the secretary of defense must cover each vessel. The MSP further mandates that, through the Voluntary NY Waterway Christens High-Speed Ferry SIU-contracted NY Waterway last month continued the steady expansion of its fleet when it christened a new high-speed ferry in Weehawken, N.J. Named after former New Jersey Sen. F;ank Lautenberg, the boat is a 79-foot, bow-loading catamaran that can transport 149 passengers. It was built by Allen Marine, Inc. of Sitka, Alaska. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez and SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Maersk Tanker Will Ref lag American More jobs are on the horizon for Seafarers as SIU-contracted and Norfolk, Va.-based Maersk Line, Ltd. later this year will rename and reflag the Ramsgate, a 35,000 tonnage clean product tanker. The vessel, currently owned and operated by Maersk United Kingdom and registered under the British flag, will be renamed the Rhode Island and flagged under the Stars and Stripes. Delivery of the The Maersk Roy is a sister ship of the soon-to-berenamed and reflagged Rhode Island. Aside from hull number, both vessels are the same. Augusf 2002 Intermodal Sealift of operating commercial vessels Agreement (VISA) program, a ·under the United States flag company participating in the caused by the multitude of rules, MSP must make its intermodal regulations and tax obligations shipping services and systems, mandated by our government for including ships, vessel space, United States-flag ships but not intermodal equipment and related for their foreign competitors. As management services, available such, the reauthorization of this to the Department of Defense "as program is absolutely essential to required to support the emer- ensure that the United States gency deployment and sustain- keeps and expands its privately ment of U.S. military forces." owned fleet of United States-flag Sacco, presenting the joint commercial vessels. statement, noted, "This program "It is the active, competitive, is critically important to the privately owned commercial fleet American workers we represent, Continued on page 4 helping to offset the higher cost tanker to the Virginia company is expected Aug. 31 on the West Coast. A formal ceremony for the renaming and reflagging will take place at the time, a Maersk spokesperson said. "This move reflects Maersk's commitment to the U.S. flag, and it's also a great credit to Capt. Bill Schubert (head of the U.S. Maritime Administration) for his and MarAd's efforts to promote and increase the U.S.-flag fleet and employment opportunities for U.S. mariners," stated SIU Pres. Michael Sacco. "It also augments the critical manpower pool of trained mariners who are so vital to U.S. sealift_capability." The Rhode Island is a single screw, diesel-driven, double hull tanker . that will engage in worldwide service. Its homeport will be Norfolk, Va. The US.flag vessel will be engaged primarily in transporting clean petroleum products. It is capable of carrying clean and so-called "dirty" petroleum and crude oils in cargo tanks with special epoxy series coating in cargo tanks and slop tanks. The ship is 562 feet long and 90 feet wide. Its "summer deadweight" is listed at 34,999 metric tons, while its gross tonnage is 22, 181 metric tons. The vessel is equipped with bow and stem thrusters and is capable of carrying five grades simultaneously. Soresi led the SIU contingent attending the July 10 christening. "We're pleased to continue growing with NY Waterway, and we obviously welcome the additional job opportunities," said Tellez. "It should also be noted that the company deserves a lot of credit for its exhaustive efforts to provide the most up-to-date safety training-specifically geared for passenger service-for the crews through the Paul Hall Center (based in Piney Point, Md.). That commitment to safety cannot be overlooked." NY Waterway is the largest privately owned commuter ferry service in the nation, providing more than 60,000 passenger trips per day. The company utilizes 43 SIU-crewed boats on 19 routes between Brooklyn, N.Y. and Manhattan, and between Rockland and Westchester counties, with additional routes being developed. Additionally, NY Waterway offers leisure and sightseeing cruises in the New York area. Lautenberg, who in 1996 voted in favor of the U.S. Maritime Security Program, said at last month's christening, "A principal focus of my work in the U.S. Senate was to enable people in this crowded metropolitan area to reach their destinations more comfortably and more efficiently. NY Waterway and the visionary Imperatore family (owner of the company) have played an enormous role in making life more pleasant when going to work, recreation or other places in this region. I am so pleased to have joined them in their important mission." "Sen. Lautenberg was one of the first leaders to recognize the value of commuter ferry service in providing safe, reliable, environmentally friendly transportation," noted NY Waterway Pres. Arthur E. Imperatore Jr. The newest SIU-crewed passenger ferry is NY Waterway's U.S. Senator Frank R. Laufenberg, chri stened last month. Seafarers LOG 3 �Notice Unlicensed Apprentice Program For individuals interested in attending the unlicensed apprentice program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, please note that there has been some misinformation, particularly via messages on the world wide web about the school's apprentice program. To qualify for the program applicants must be at least 18 years of age (or 17 years of age with parental consent). This requirement is necessary to comply with Coast Guard regulations: There is no upper age limit for individuals wishing to participate in the program. The program provides training for entry-level positions, and includes practical work on a vessel. The program is physically rig~ 9rous. Teamwork is stressed and apprentices live in open-berthing dormitories and take meals together. Applicants must be able to meet certain physical requirements, specified by United States Coast Guard regulations and maritime industry standards. If you are interested in attending the school, please call (301) 994-0010, ext. 5342, or visit www. seafarers.erg. New AFL-CIO Web Site Helps Workers Survive Unemployment Amid Massive Corporate Layoffs To help meet the needs of laidoff workers, the AFL-CIO on July 11 launched www.laidoffworkers.org-a new web site that provides resources for surviving unemployment, meeting working family challenges, learning what went wrong and protecting retirement security. In announcing the site's launch, the federation (to which the SIU is affiliated) noted, "Corporate greed has left thousands of workers across the country without jobs, retirement security and health care. While corporate executives cook books and receive obscene salaries and perks, workers are getting pink slips and losing health insurance and retirement savings. . . . At least 17,000 WorldCom workers have joined the ranks of other corporate workers struggling to find new jobs and benefits following the collapse of their companies as a result of corporate greed." Visitors can access the site to develop a financial action plan, get information about unemployment insurance and benefits and learn about their rights under federal law. The web site also provides information on coping with working family challenges such as college costs, caring for elders, buying health insurance and saving for retirement. "Workers should not have to suffer because of unchecked greed in corporate America," said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO. "This new web site will give workers the information they need to survive sudden layoffs in this emerging cycle of corporate mismanagement." The site provides workers with the tools they will need to get active in the push to demand corporate accountability. Workers can also become active participants in lobbying members of Congress to support meaningful pension reform legislation and other measures that address the needs of working families. It further includes a link to a 10-step plan from the AFL-CIO for employers facing structural change as they initiate mass layoffs. The guidelines are intended to help laid-off workers gain fair treatment, severance payments and basic rights. The AFL-CIO, which represents 13 million working men and women in the United States, successfully spearheaded a campaign in the federal bankruptcy court that resulted in additional severance payments of more than $30 million to former Enron workers. Unions Urge MSP Extension Continued from page 3 · that provides the shipboard jobs during peacetime that ensures the United States will continue to have the trained American citizen merchant mariners available to crew the more than 150 government vessels that provide the surge buildup at the outset of military conflicts; and the American commercial vessels that provide the reliable, immediate sealift sustainment capability to support military operations overseas." He further stated that it is "absolutely critical" for both the government and public to realize that "unless merchant mariners have employment in our industry at decent wages and benefits during times of peace, mariners will not be available in times of war or other international emergency. Without a strong American commercial merchant marine, the United States will lose the best 4 Seafarers LOS and most cost-effective means of transporting supplies needed by our troops overseas. Without reliable commercial sealift, our nation cannot sustain sizeable military forces in combat." Along those lines, the unions (and others who testified) reported that the MSP has proven quite cost-effective. No less an authority than the commander in chief of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) in August 2001 stated that it would coast the Defense Department more than $9 billion to replace the current commercial sealift capacity in the MSP and an additional $1 billion annually for the operations and maintenance of these vesselsand that's not including the cost of providing and replicating the private-sector intermodal infrastructure available through the MSP. The unions specifically recommended that Congress and the Capt. Schubert Thanks Army For Honoring U.S. Mariners U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert last month thanked the U.S. Army for its recent decision allowing military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery for U.S. Merchant Marine veterans of World War IL "The decision of your agency to allow merchant mariners to be inumed at Arlington is a salute to these patriotic seafarers for their heroic contributions to this country," Schubert said in a July 11 letter to Reginald J. Brown, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. "Thank you for making this favorable decision." Schubert pointed out that each year, on or around National Maritime Day, May 22, the Maritime Administration sponsors a Merchant Marine Memorial Service, which honors American seafarers who lost their lives in service to their country. During World War II alone, 733 American vessels were sunk, and approximately 6,000 merchant seamen and officers were lost as a result of enemy action and war-related causes. On June 10, the Anny announced that individuals from 37 groups, known as Active Duty Designees, may now receive military honors when their remains are inumed at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to oceangoing members of the merchant marine, the groups include Women's Air Force Pilots, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Flying Tigers, battlefield ambulance drivers, female civilians who served with the U. S. Army Union, MSC Negotiate Outport Medical Examination Program After many months of negotiation, the union and MSC have reached agreement for CIVMARS to receive medical examinations while on leave. This program can benefit mariners who wish to extend their leave period rather than returning to the customer service unit (CSU) for physical examinations after their leave ends. Participation in the program is voluntary unless there are mission requirements which will necessitate that the CIVMAR interrupt his or her leave to receive a physical examination. CIVMARS who choose not to participate may return to the CSU in San Diego or Norfolk for their examinations. The Afloat Personnel Management Center (APMC) will implement this new program gradually- giving CIVMARS living in the United States 30 days' notice, and 60 days' notice for CIVMARS living outside the States. MSC hopes to have physical examinations completed while the CIVMAR is serving aboard a vessel and prior to the beginning of leave. If that cannot be accomplished, the mariner may administration "statutorily extend" the MSP for an additional period of at least 20 years beyond its present expiration date of Sept. 30, ·2005; expand the MSP fleet from the present 4 7 vessels to at least 60; and adjust the annual MSP payment so that it "more accurately reflects the realities of shipping economics under . the United States flag." The unions concluded, "We are convinced that this program could, with appropriate and practical changes, serve as an even greater source of employment for American mariners, support to an even greater degree American military operations overseas, and better protect U.S. economic interests from total domination by foreign-flag vessels and crews." Among others' comments supporting the MSP were the following: • Truchan said the MSP "is absolutely essential to the continuing existence of the American Merchant Marine and therefore, Capt. William Schubert U.S. Maritime Administrator Nurse Corps at Bataan and Corregidor, and defenders of Bataan and Wake Island. Questions about eligibility for inurnment and military honors at Arlington National Cemetery should be directed to the cemetery's Interment Services Office at (703) 695-3250. choose to interrupt leave for an exam. CIVMARS who choose to take an examination during leave must remember that it is very important to remain in contact with their detailers to ensure they have all the appointment information, travel information and funds needed to travel to the physical examination office. Mariners will be paid for the time it takes to complete the examination. Mariners should make sure they understand what pay they will be entitled to in advance of their trip to the medical exam to avoid any misunderstandings. CIVMARS who live outside the States must remember that if they are found not fit for duty and try to remain at home to get the treatment they need, their insurance may not cover fees for foreign doctors and medical treatments at foreign hospitals or clinics. Make sure you understand your insurance coverage. It also should be noted that prescription drugs may not be covered if they are obtained at foreign pharmacies. APMC has sent out an announcement with all the details of this program to MSC vessels. If you have questions you can contact your MSO, the Force Medical Officers on each coast or your detailer. The Union and MSC will meet in six months to review the program. If you have comments about the program please send them to civmarsupport@seafarers.org. the national defe.nse and security of our nation." • Keegan said Congress "should not now or in the future modify a well-entrenched policy which limits eligibility in the MSP to American-flagged vessels, with American crews .... " • Johnsen stated, "In addition to our national defense, the importance of a U.S.-flag fleet to protect our economic interest in international commerce is equally well-established .... It is the U.S.flag fleet that helps American businesses to maintain equitable participation in international commerce, and that fleet itself depends very heavily on the MSP program to maintain its presence in the foreign trade of the U.S." • Clancey stated, "Some may question why we need to reauthorize the MSP now. Let me answer that question: It is critical that we preserve the important U.S. maritime industrial base and American jobs. Removing any uncertainty about the extension of the MSP will be very helpful in that regard. • Bowman pointed out, "The critical importance of a U.S.-flag liner fleet to national security has been a central tenet of U.S. maritime policy for generations, most recently reaffrrmed with the passage of the Maritime Security Act of 1996." Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SfU hiring halls will be closed Monday, September 2, 2002 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Augusf 2002 �Report Examines Ship Detentions in 2001 Many companies operating older tonnage do not show much interest in proper safety standards, according to the 2001 Annual Report of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (MOU). The body arrived at this conclusion following its tabulation of individual ship inspections and ship detentions during 2001. Operating on the premise that although not every old ship is a bad ship, the group said that some owners of older vessels still pose significant risk in areas related to safety, the marine environment, operational standards and especially the implementation of a safety management system. According to the report, a number of flag states that are responsible for certifying these older vessels have more concern for their revenues than for safety standards. Some registers have even managed to find their way to the top of the Black List in a single year. Meanwhile, other notorious flags seem to be comfortable with their position on the Black List and have not shown any sign of improvement over the years, the report said. To illustrate the central role classification societies play when acting on behalf of flag states, their actions were closely monitored. Records for 2001 indicated that in 1,699 detentions (only one of which involved a U.S.-flag ship), classification societies were held responsible 22 percent of the time (380 instances). Of these 380 instances, 78 percent or 297 were attributed to class societies acting on behalf of flags on the Black List. "This may indicate that safety is or can be measured by double standards," said Alan Cubbin, chairman of the port state control committee. "Perhaps the time is right for classification societies to become more discriminating in whom they represent." The actual number of deficiencies recorded during port state control inspections in 2001 (68,756) showed a slight increase and is only 1.5 percent higher when compared with the prior year. But the increasing trend in operational deficiencies related to safety procedures still is continuing at an alarming rate. An increase of 29 percent has been registered since 1999. Ships older than 15 years show niore than 11 times as many operational deficiencies as ships less than 5 years old. Of even greater concern, according to the report, is a steep increase in safety management defects, which over three years have increased by 150 percent. Once again, ships older than 15 years showed 14 times as many • Passenger ships constructed on or after July 1, 2002; e Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) passenger ships constructed before July 1, 2002; • Ships, other than passenger ships, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after July 1, 2002. August2DD2 with contracts of long service on board and extensive working hours, there is no room for a safety culture on board these ships. Unfortunately many flag states and classification societies take no interest or deny their competence and leave it to port States to pick up the pieces. In view of the foregoing, and coupled with lessons learned during nearly 20 years of operation, the body has set a new course for the years ahead with fresh objectives. Determined targeting of substandard ships, greater transparency to the outside world and a higher level of harmonization and quality are among the goals. Officials said that companies, ships and flags with good safety records should be rewarded for investing in quality shipping. They warned, however, that ship owners, flag states, classification societies and charters must be held accountable for their performance and involvement with sub-standard ships. The Paris MOU consists of 19 participating maritime administrations and covers the waters of the European coastal States and the North Atlantic basin from North America to Europe. The body's mission is to eliminate the operation of substandard ships through a harmonized system of port state control. Annually, it conducts more than 18,000 on board inspections of foreign ships in various ports to make certain that vessels meet international safety and environmental standards, and that crew members have adequate living and working conditions. Second Phase of ISM Code Implemented The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) as of July 1 became mandatory for most ships trading internationally. . Under the frrst phase of implementation, which began in July 1998, compliance with the code had been mandatory for tankers, passenger ships and bulk carriers. Now, all other vessels covered by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention-which includes all but the smallest internationally-trading vessels- must comply. The mandatory ISM Code provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention. In addition, shore-side management now has direct responsibility to ensure that its ships operate to the prescribed level of safety. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), preliminary reports suggest that ISM implementation has .had a positive effect and the Code is beginning to achieve its aim of creating a culture of safety within shipping companies thrqughout the world. Commercially, early indicators suggest that ISM certification proves its worth. Data Recorders, ID Systems Among New Requirements The carriage of voyage data recorders (VDRs) and automatic identification systems (AIS) are among several new requirements for certain ships. The regulations-amendments to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS}-became effective July l. The revised SOLAS Chapter V (Safety of Navigation), which was adopted in December 2000, includes a number of important new requirements for ships, including those relating to the carriage of VDRs and AIS and acceptance of electronic charts as meeting . the chart carriage requirements. Like the "black boxes" on aircraft, VDRs will make it possible for accident investigators to review procedures an<:l instructions that took place in the moments before an incident. The units are designed to help identify the cause of any accident. The following ships are required to carry VDRs: . non-conformities as ships less than 5 years old did. MOU General Secretary Richard Schiferli said, "Since all ISM compliant ships have been subject to several audits by the company and flag or classification society since they were certified in 1998, the standard of non-compliance should be cause for concern. At the same time, questions can be raised as to how the companies of these ships managed to obtain a Document of Compliance." A close correlation exists between safety, working and living conditions aboard vessels, according to the report. Deficiency rates have increased over many years. In particular, older bulk carriers and general dry cargo ships sometimes are found in an appalling condition for the crew. Combined Additionally, non-RO/RO passenger ships built before July 1, 2002 must have the equipment by Jan.I, 2004. VDRs are required to meet performance standards at least equaling those adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1997. Those standards, which outline details on data to be recorded and VDR specifications, state that the VDR should continuously maintain sequential records of pre-selected data items relating to status and output of the ship's equipment and command and control. Further, the guidance states that VDRs should be installed in protective capsules that are brightly colored and fitted with appropriate devices to aid in location. Finally, the units should be entirely automatic in normal operation. Under the new regulation, the VDR system, including all sensors, will be subjected to an annual performance test conducted by an approved testing or servicing facility to verify the accuracy, duration and recoverability of the recorded data. VDRs for Current Cargo Ships The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in December 2000 adopted a resolution on the carriage of VDRs on existing According to the IMO, companies that have safety management systems in place have reported reductions in casualties and spills, as well as downward trends in detention rates. Further, those that have fully embraced the ISM Code have a better approach to safety management. William A. O'Neil, IMO secretary general noted, "Previously, IMO's attempts to improve shipping safety and to prevent pollution from ships largely had been directed at improving the ·hardware of shipping- for example, the construction of ships and their equipment. The ISM Code, by comparison, concentrates on the way shipping companies are run. This is important, because we know that human factors account for most accidents at sea- and that many of them can ultimately be traced to management. The Code is helping to raise management standards and practices and thereby reduce accidents and save lives." The ISM Code became mandatory July 1, 1998 under the International Convention for SOLAS. From that date, it applied to passenger ships, including passenger high-speed craft; and oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 carg·o ships. This decree calls for a feasibility study to determine the need for mandatory carriage of VDRs on these ships. That study, being conducted by the Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation (and other IMO subcommittees .as appropriate), considers such factors as viability, technical problems relating to the retrofitting of VDRs, adequacy of existing performance standards including the possible development of simplified standards, experience in the use of VDRs on ships already fitted with them, including data that could not have been obtained without VDRs, and relevant financial implications, including a cost-benefit analysis. The study should be finalized by Jan. I, 2004 so that, if a compelling need for mandatory· carriage of VDRs on existing cargo ships is demonstrated, relevant amendments to SOLAS Chapter V and associated performance standards can be drafted. AIS Regulation 19 of the new Chapter V-carriage requirements for ship-borne navigational systems and equipment--establishes navigational equipment to be carried on board ships, according to ship type. Most equipment (gyrocompass, radar, etc.) was already required under the existing Chapter V, but the new regulation adds a requirement for carriage of AIS capable of automatically providing information about the ship to appropriately equipped shore gross tonnage and above. As of July 1, other cargo ships-including general cargo ships and container ships- and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and above now must comply. Some 12,000 ships had to comply by the frrst deadline. The second phase of implementation brought in another 13,000 ships. All commercial ships (above 500 gross tonnage) on internatlonal voyages now have to comply. Among other functions,. a proper safety management system as required by the ISM Code should: • Ensure that all applicable international standards are complied with. • Help prevent accidents. • Ensure procedures are in place for dealing with any shipboard emergency. • Make certain there are adequate communications between ship and shore-side personnel. • Ensure that all individuals know their role and responsibility and are adequately trained and have the appropriate resources to do their job. • Make sure that all activities and operations are planned, controlJed and verified. stations, other ships and aircraft. The regulation requires AIS to be fitted aboard all ships of 300 gross tonnage or more engaged on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships-irrespective of size-built on or after July 1, 2002. It also applies to ships engaged on international voyages constructed before July 1, 2002, according to the following timetable: • Passenger ships, not later than July 1, 2003; • Tankers, not later than the first survey for safety equipment on or after July 1, 2003; • Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2004; • Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than July 1, 2005; • Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and higher but less than 10,000 gross tonnage, not later than July 1, 2006; • Ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 3,000 gross tonnage, not later than July 1, 2007. Vessels that are not engaged on international voyages, constructed before July 1, 2002, will have to fit AJS not later than July 1, 2008. A flag state may exempt ships from carrying AIS when ships are scheduled to permanently go out of service within two years after the implementation date. Performance standards for AIS were adopted in 1998. The new regulation requires that AIS shall: • Provide information-including the ship's identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information-automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships and aircraft. • Receive automatically such information from similarly fitted ships. • Monitor and track ships. • Exchange data with shorebased facilities. ECDIS The new Chapter V also allows an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to be accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of the regulation. The regulation requires all ships, irrespective of size, to carry nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship's route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. Ships also must carry backup arrangements if electronic charts are used either fully or partially. Seafarers LOB 5 �ATTENTION: SEAFARERS For Your SPAD Pin • • • and Hat • • • FRONT BACK and T-Shirt! For the U.S.-flag fleet, political action is essential. The maritime industry long has been among the most heavily regulated in the nation. Accordingly, the SIU is aggressive when it comes to promoting the U.S. Merchant Marine not only on Capitol Hill, but also at the state and local levels. Grassroots activities have always been an important tool in the union's arsenal. For the last 40 years, another key instrument has been the union's voluntary political action fund: the Seafarers Political Activity Donation, better known as SPAD. This month, the union kicks off a new SPAD promotion that is intended to boost the voluntary fund while also rewarding Seafarers for their participation. Details appear elsewhere on this page. Please note that all members may participate, including those who were in the NMU at the time of the merger last year. "Overall, the membership does a great job recognizing SPAD's importance and participating in the program," noted SIU Sec.Treasurer David Heindel, who chairs the fund. "No question, we're introducing this new promotion in the hopes of encouraging even stronger participation, because our fight to maintain and revitalize the U.S.-flag fleet doesn't end. But, it's just as much a goodwill gesture- an acknowledgement of the membership's political awareness and support." As part of the message, the union recently conducted a mail-in contest to come up with a new catch-phrase that signifies the importance of SPAD to the membership. The new slogan, intended to be similar in sentiment to the venerable "Politics is Porkchops," will be printed on Tshirts available through the SPAD check-off authorization program. Response to the contest was quite strong. Thornton Elliott Jr. of Savannah, Ga. won the competition with his entry of "It takes a four-letter word to be heard." Congratulations to Brother Elliott, and thanks to all who submitted entries. Please note that these items include the colors blue, yellow, red and black. Signing up for the new SPAD promotion is easy. From August 1, 2002 through July 31 , 2003 , anyone who contributes to the fund through a check-off autho• rization found on the vacation application (and also m<ailable ginn~ · month at the union halls) will receive the following items: GET YOUR Authorized contribution amount $0.50 per day $1.00 per day $1.50 or more per day I ltem(s) SPAD lapel pin SPAD T-shirt (and lapel pin) SPAD baseball cap (plus the T-shirt and pin) Please note that in addition to those items, a new, high-quality SPAD jacket is available to members who make a onetime donation in addition to their check-off authorization. More details about the jacket will be published in next month's Seafarers LOG. Q: How long will this promotion last? A: One year, beginning August 1, 2002. A: Yes. Please note that there's only a single version of each item (pin, shirt, hat, jacket), so you would receive (in this example) two identical pins and two identical shirts. Q: When will I receive my SPAD item(s)? A: Items will be mailed weekly from headquarters, via parcel post. The "trigger" for a member to receive his or her SPAD item(s) is simply filing for a vacation check. Of course, the member must have authorized a SPAD contribution of at least 50 cents per day to be eligible for this promotion. Q: How will you know my T-shirt size? A: Beginning this month, flyers will be available at the halls that include sample images of the SPAD products a copy of the check-off form (the same one that;s already on the vacation application) and a space in which to indicate your T-shirt size as well as jacket size. FAQ Q: Are the items available for purchase? A: The pin, shirt and hat are only available through the check-off authorization promo. The jacket only is available through a one-time contribution that's in addition to a check-off authorization. Q: Ifl authorize $1.50 or more, will I receive all three items? A: Yes. Q: Let's say I authorize a contribution of amount of $1. If I file for two vacation checks during the next year, will I receive two pins and two T-shirts? Q: How can I make sure the union has my current address on file? A: The vacation application includes space for your current address. Also, the leaflets will include a form for updating your address. Q: I already have a check-off authorization on file. Do I need to fill out another one in order to qualify for the merchandise? A: No. When a member with an authorization on file applies for vacation benefits during this program, he or she is entitled to an item or items based on the amount of the already authorized contribution. However, Seafarers may change the amount authorized. For more information, write to SPAD at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746, or call the office of the secretary-treasurer at (301) 899-0675. 6 Seafarers LOG Augusf 2002 �SIU, Ill/SC Agree an Labar Relations Strategy After a year of negotiations, the union's Government Services Division, with support from its CIVMAR members, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Military Sealift Command about how the parties will proceed with several key labor relations issues -including the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement and the CMPI (Civil Mariner Personnel Instructions, the agency's workplace instructions and guidance). After the merger between the SIU and NMU in June 2001, the union contacted MSC to discuss certain labor relations issues that affected the status of the merged union and the west and east coast employee units. The union wanted to file a petition before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to reflect the change in the status of the newly merged union. The union also requested that MSC begin negotiating a new contract which would cover east and west coast unlicensed CIVMARS. The union's major goal was to secure one contract and bring wage parity to employees on the east and west coasts. At the beginning of the discus- sions, MSC took the position that the Afloat Personnel Management Center, the human resource division of MSC, was the employer of CIVMARS. MSC also wanted to finish all CMPI negotiations prior to any collective bargaining discussions. For many months the parties were deadlocked in their respective positions, and all issues remained on hold. In June 2002, after persistent efforts and continual contacts with MSC, the union achieved its goals. Several APMC representatives worked diligently with union representatives Chet Wheeler and Kate Hunt to achieve resolution of these outstanding issues. This agreement lays the foundation for significant changes for MSC employees. Based upon the months of negotiations leading up to this pact, the union is hopeful that the parties will continue working together to accomplish the negotiation and implementation of wage parity for all CIVMARS. These talks will take many months to complete, but the union is confident that its negotiators will achieve fair agreements on a contract and the CMPI with positive ITF Wins Trico Case The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has claimed victory in the case brought against it by Trico. The offshore services provider recently dropped the entire legal case against the global union federation on the second day of a preliminary hearing for an injunction at the High Court in London, even before the ITF had begun its defense. Trico had alleged that the ITF's international solidarity campaign to support efforts by U.S. unions (including the SIU) to protect workers' rights to choose union representation at Trico amounted to a conspiracy to damage its interests by unlawful action. The ITF strongly refuted this and agreed to circulate a statement of its existing policy on internatio:naiPsolidarity action to all its affiliates. and o the International Chemical Energy and Mineworkers' Federation (ICEM), its sister global union federation, which has also been actively involved in the Trico campaign. David Cockroft, ITF general secretary, stated, "I said at the beginning that this court action involved fundamental issues of principle about international solidarity action and freedom of expression, and I am pleased that Trico has seen sense and decided to drop the action. I'm only sorry that Trico didn't talk to us before, when we were making repeated invitations to begin a dialogue. They could have had this statement at any time and saved us all a lot of time and bother. This circular reiterates what anyone who knows us knows has been our policy all along." Seafarers Rally With Gulf Mariners Continued from page 2 douawongobou, John Wozunk, Joe Gallo, Mike Joel, Carlton Hall, Victor Mondeci, Wilfredo Rodriguez and Abraham Daif. As reported earlier in the LOG, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 20 heard testimony about the obstacles facing workers in South Louisiana who want to form labor unions. Capt. Eric J. Vizier of Lafourche, Parish, La., was one of several Gulf mariners to address the body. "Come to South Louisiana. Talk to the parties involved. Together, let's figure out a way that mariners in South Louisiana can win their rights-their rights to freedom of association and freedom of speech. Mariners in the Gulf of Mexico need a union to improve working conditions on the boats and to allow for a better quality of life at home," he told the committee. results for the CIVMARS. A brief summary of the agreement follows. It was established that MSC would be designated as the employer on the FLRA petition. This means the union will receive recognition at the MSC headquarters level and will be able to discuss policy issues at command headquarters. Day-to-day matters and disciplinary matters will be worked out with the APMC staff as it is currently done. For disciplinary grievances, APMC will be the final step decision maker, prior to taking the grievance to arbitration, if necessary. MSC also agreed to work with the union to file a joint petition before the FLRA asking the authority to recognize the merged union as the exclusive bargaining representative for MSC employees. Another goal of the petition process is to consolidate the east and west coast units into one unit. MSC also agreed to negotiate certain collective-bargaining subjects that the union considers most important at the same time the parties are negotiating the CMPI. The agreement ensures that, when wage parity is implemented, no mariner will receive a lower base pay as a result of implementing wage parity for all CIV - MARS. A mariner will receive the higher rate of pay for the position in which he or she sails for the ship class to which he or she is assigned. If a higher rate of pay exists for a position on the west coast, the east coast mariner will receive the increase. The same will be true if the east coast position is paid at a higher base pay wage rate. Once wage parity has been achieved, MSC will implement an "any ship, any ocean" policy. As is currently done in the private sector, CIVMARS will receive assignments to ships sailing from either coast to any destination. For employees who serve as West Coast supply officers and junior supply officers, the union will seek to represent these employees through the appropriate FLRA procedures. The parties have targeted early fall to begin collective bargaining negotiations and continue CMPI negotiations. A final phase of collective bargaining negotiations will take place after the CMPI negotiations are finished. The union's Government Services Division representatives have been working carefully to develop comprehensive bargaining proposals. If you have suggestions concerning proposals, please contact your ship's delegate, who August2002 Correction The names of SIU ,Exec. VP John Fay and SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey should have been included in a front-page photo caption in last month's issue concerning the christening ,of the new , tµg Sea Reliance and its accol}1panying doubte- ;>auUed barge 550-1. SIU Contract News Includes New Pact for Sealift Tankers A flurry of activity involving agreements with SIU-contracted companies has taken place during the last month. Following is a summary of this activity as provided by the office of SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. Sealift Tankers Sealift has been awarded a five-year contract by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) .for the operation of the Capt. Stephen Bennett and .~he American Merlin. The agreement calls for a 5 .p ercent across-the-board increase in the first year, enrollment in the top-level Plan G medical benefits and an increase in the vacation benefit (to 15 for 30 days, effective at the contract's second anniversary). Maersk Unes In accordance with various memorandums of understanding that are in effect between the union and Maersk Lines, Ltd., some Seafarers employed by the company received a 3 percent boost in wages, overtime, vacation benefits and the Seafarers Money Purchase Plan benefit as of July 1. The gains apply to members aboard Maersk vessels enrolled with the military prepositioning ship program and the U.S. Maritime Security Program, as well as the Alaska and Arizona. Waterman Steamship Corp. Members sailing aboard the Green Dale are in line for new benefits in their Seafarers Money Purchase Plan. Under negotiations recently completed, contributions equal to 5 percent of employees' wages will be paid. In addition, employees will be enrolled in the premier Plan G medical benefits plan. The vacation benefit-retroactive to Jan. I-has gone from 10 for 30 to 14 for 30. Finally, members aboard the Green Dale will receive annual wage and wagerelated item increases ranging between 1Yi to 4 percent. Matson Steward Assistant Wardel Paze, (right), AB Mohammed Adams and AB James Wilkerson were among the Seafarers who turned out June 13 in New Orleans to support Trico employees in their quest to gain union representation. should forward them to the union. With the signing of this agreement and the eventual consolidation of the two MSC bargaining units, the union has achieved several significant goals: The LOG will publish :frequent updates to advise CIVMARS about the negotiations and the FLRA petition process. Most importantly, for the first time in MSC history there will be one union representing the unlicensed employees. The SIU, supported by the strength of its membership, will be able to speak with a single voice, one that will effectively represent and protect the interests of all unlicensed CIV MARS. Increases in wages, overtime and vacation benefits are among the highlights of a new three-year agreement that tentatively has been reached for members employed by Matson Navigation. Freightship increases for all wage-related items in the first year of the agreement will be 3 percent. A 3.25 percent raise will be realized during the second year and a 3 .25 percent hike is in place for year three. Members working on the Moku Pahu will receive increases for all wage-related items at an annual rate of 4 percent. Members on all Matson vessels will receive increases each year to their Seafarers Money Purchase Plan Benefit and one extra vacation day effective Jan. 1, 2002; July 1, 2003; and July 1, 2004. Also included in the pact, for the first time, is the observance of Kamehameha Day. This brings the total number of holidays to 11. Finally, starting July 1, 2003, members will receive health and benefits at premier Level G. Another gain for the SIU is a provision in the agreement that gives members of the unlicensed crew the means necessary to send and receive correspondence. Each will be given personal e-mail accounts at no charge. Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning A tentative three-year agreement has been reached with Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning involving Seafarers aboard the Blue Ridge and Coast Range. The pact calls for first year wage and wage-related item increases as follows: Group !increase by 5 percent; Group II-increase by 4 percent; and Group III-increase by 3 percent. Wage and wage-related items would be increased by 3 percent across the board during years two and three. Additionally, the tentative agreement calls for increases in vacation benefits to 16 days for each 30 days worked in the first year and an increased Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan level to Level G in the second year. Marine Transport Lines A new three-year agreement has been negotiated with Marine Transport Lines. The pact-which involves Seafarers who work aboard Lykes Pacific Class Ships-is retroactive to Jan. 1 and runs through December 2005. Included in the new contract are 2.25 percent wage increases each Jan. I and the addition of a vacation day that brings the total to 15 for 30. The increase in the vacation benefit became effective June 16, 2002. Seafarers LOB 7 �Seafaren Keep Glo Primed for Next ~e.......~~· When the Global Link first entered service, the Sill-crewed cable ship wasted no time distinguishing itself. A little more than 20 years ago, the Global Link finished its maiden voyage at Southampton, England after sailing through snow squalls and rough seas in the North Atlantic. Along the way, the vessel completed what then was the longest, fastest single installation of transoceanic communications cable (3,500 miles of cable in 21 days). Today, after nearly countless missions spanning the past two decades, the ship remains in prime condition, thanks in large part to the reliable work of SIU members. Seafarers perform all kinds of maintenance aboard the Global Link while the vessel awaits its next assignment; and they sail aboard the ship when it sets out for an installation or repair job. Operated by Transoceanic Cable Ship Company, the Global Link is equipped with two cable engines---0ne in the bow and one in the stem- and can haul more than 6.,000 metric tons of fiber-optic cable. The photos on this page were taken July 11 in Baltimore. Part of the vessel's cable-dispensing gear is visible at the bow. Right: Cook/Baker Joel Ramos sets out pastries for the crew. Above: Chief Steward Florie Farquhar cleans up after lunch by loading plates and mugs into a dishwasher. Above: AB Nastor Agcaoili uses a paint chipper on the ship's upper deck aft. OMU Alfredo Mendoza replaces fittings on hydraulic and cooling systems for the drums. The Global Link recently was docked in Baltimore near another Seafarers-crewed vessel-the Cape Washington-seen across the channel. ·s Seafarers LOG OS Henry Becodo takes to the task of repainting the rails on the Global Unk. Augusf 2002 �Left: Andrzej Bronkowski gets hands-on experience steering the vessel while instructors Bill Saul and Stacy Harris plot the course. Right: Harry Borden practices the lookout part of the OS course. This training will help enable him to stand watch as an ordinary seaman. Special OS Coune: Sprinpoanl t-o AB Upgiading The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education offers an especially useful course for deck department mariners who need to comply with the "Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch" requirement of the amended STCW convention. Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, the school's 70-hour Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman class meets the requirements of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations [specifically, 46 CFR 12.05.3(c)] and STCW 95 (STCW Table A-IV4). It is designed to prepare students for the challenging studies they can expect in the AB class. The OS course covers all relevant aspects of deck-related equipment. Each student is assessed in the following areas: marlinespike seamanship, helmsman, anchoring, mooring and lookout. Assessments take place aboard the training vessel Osprey and in the bridge simulator. With the specially trained OS endorsement, the mariner is eligible to stand watch as an ordinary, provided he or she also has evidence of at least six months' sea time.· Once the specially trained OS class is completed, the mariner must sail for 60 days before becoming eligible to upgrade to AB. The Paul Hall Center is located in Piney Point, Md. For a list of upcoming classes and for contact information, see page 21. Harry Borden takes an interest in the workings of the engine during his OS training . Instructor Stacy Harris charts a course for the students in the OS class to follow. Right: Robert Odmark works on his knottying skills, including the star knot (above). Augusf 2002 Seafarers LOG 9 �Sailing on the -L11mmus Always at the ready, crew members aboard the Lummus participate in a fire and life boat drill. The 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, an SIU-crewed vessel operated by American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC)( is prepositioned in Guam and Saipan. The ship carries a full range of Marine Corps cargo-enough equipment to support an air ground task force for 30 days-and includes lift-on/lift-off as well as roll-on/roll-off capabilities. It was named after 1st Lt. Jack Lummus,'who posthumously earned a Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on lwo Jima in 1945. Cook/Baker Evelyn Tayag is flanked by fellow crew members SA Moosa Mohamed (left) and AB Wayne Green Jr. Rere Paiti, SA on the MSC vessel, helps set up the lunch-time salad bar. Above, Pilat David Todd stands on board the tug Mariette at the Material Service Corporation Tug Dock in Morris, Ill. At right, SIU Rep Lonnie Partridge (left) and OS/Deck Engineer Steve Nemeth look over the galley of the Hannah Marine tug Mary Page in Chicago. Attending a union meeting , held in the galley of the tug Mariette, are (from left) Deckhand Ron Walters, Pilot James Ferguson and Pilot David Todd. 10 Seafarers LOG With Our Members On the Great Lakes Seafarers read union· material on board the Hannah Marine tug Hannah 0 . Hannah in Chicago. From the left are OS/Deck Engineer/Delegate Gerald Karl , OS/Deck Engineer John Macari and SIU Rep Todd Brdak. Deckhands (from left) Bryan Roudis, Joseph Todd and Travis Pursell take part in the union meeting held aboard the tug Mariette. Augusf 2002 �GVA Fredy Melendez AB Rudy Johnson. AB Enrique Crespo, GVA Emilio Abrew and AB Abdul Gharama Augusf 2002 Seafarers LOS 11 �THE ALASKA LEGISLATURE Unlicensed Apprentice Justin Bowe deftly slushes wires aboard the Kenai. Alaska Tanker Company *HONORING* * ALASKA ~KER COMPANY, LLC * The Twenty-second Alaska State Legislature recognizes and congratulates the Alaska Tanker Company for being the first U.S. flagged seagoing shipping company to achieve Safety, Quality and Earns Accolades Environmental Certification and aoo:cdited Inttmational Standards orgmtization 14-001 Certification. The Alaska Tanker Company is based in Beaverton, Oregon and operates in Alaskan waters. The Company recently achieved Safety, Quality and Environmental (SQE) Certification, including accredited international slandards organization (ISO) 14001 certification. The certification was received from ABS Americas. This accomplishment makes Alaska Tanlc:erCompany the first United States-flag. seagoing shipping company to attain Safety, Quality and Environmental and International Standards Otganizatioo 14001 Certification. Alaska Tanker Company was founded in 1999 and is a joint operating company for British Petroleum Shipping Company, USA, Keystone Alaska and OSG Ship Management Inc. It manages a fleet of 10 U.S.-flaggcd tankers, which operate primarily in the Alaska-to-West-Coast trade. The Members of the Twenty-second Alaska State Legisla.rure wish to extend our thanks and appreciation to Alaska Tanker President, Anil Mathur; Captain John Rippa-gcr, Chief Operating Officer; Bruce Benn, Chief Commercial Officer; Captain John Lawrence, Team Leader and the crew who helped to accomplish SQE and ISO 14001 Certification and delivet Alaska Crude to the lower48 at a level of safety and environmental quality that is certified to be the best in the world. SIU Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell (far right) and Patrolman Tre Dixon (second from left) joined Bosun Al Caulder (front), Steward Pat Sloan (center) and Capt Earl Sheesly aboard the Prince William Sound in Ferndale, Wash. earlier this summer to discuss new STCW requirements and increased port security and safety guidelines. AB Dan Lovely (pictur the Kenai) and other farers have helped the fleet build a strong record . �SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company (ATC), fresh off receiving formal congratulations from the Alaska State Legislature for its outstanding safety and environmental record, last month accepted another well-earned honor. ATC received the State of Washington Department of Ecology's prestigious Exceptional Compliance Program (ECOPRO) Award "for excellence in marine safety and environmental stewardship." The awards ceremony took place July 23 in Tacoma, Wash. In announcing ATC 's selection, the department pointed out that the Exceptional Compliance Program "is for companies that want to go even further than basic compliance with Washington's stringent marine safety laws. Companies that receive this award are operating their tank ships at what we believe is the highest level of marine safety in the world today. ATC is only the second company to ever earn this award. The vessel crews, shoreside support staff and management team of ATC have put a great deal of time and effort into earning this award." ATC-which readily credits both the SIU and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education as sharing in its success-began operating in April 1999. The Beaverton, Ore.-based company manages a fleet of 10 SIU-crewed tankers, operating mainly between Alaska and the West Coast. The vessels primarily deliver Alaska North Slope crude oil to refineries. Those ships are the BT Alaska, Denali, Marine Columbia, Overseas Boston, Kenai, Prince William Sound, Tonsina, Overseas Chicago, Overseas New York and Overseas Washington. Additionally, ATC two years ago ordered new "Alaska class" tankers that will help offset the government-mandated scrapping dates for some of its current fleet. The four new doublehulled tankers have staggered delivery dates, starting in November 2003 and ending in July 2006. The ships are being built at San Diego's NASSCO Shipyard. Each will be 941 feet in length, with a capacity for 1.3 million barrels and a design life of 35-50 years. ATC CEO Anil Mathur said his company's emphasis on safety goes much deeper than statistics. "It should be unacceptable that companies engage in commerce and hurt their own people to make money. Beyond all the safety statistics, it is the well-being of individuals and their ability to work for a living that is delivered by a safety culture," he stated. "This requires a relentless focus on the details of the work to be executed, and an environment where cutting comers is an unacceptable way of executing tasks," Mathur continued. "I am proud of all the ATC employees who bring such a work ethic to life, and deliver our motto: Quality service with no accidents, no harm to people, and no damage to the environment." Since its start, ATC has delivered more than 400 million barrels of Alaska North Slope crude. Along the way, the company has amassed an impressive safety record. For example, lost-time injuries-nominal from the beginning-have steadily decreased. Last year the company averaged a more-thanrespectable 0.42 injuries per 200,000 man hours. This year, they haven't had a single losttime injury. Additionally, eight of the 10 ships have gone at least 500 days without a lost-time injury, and the other two have gone more than 200 and 100 days, respectively. ATC has a similarly worthy record of spill-free operations. The Kenai leads the list, having gone more than 2,700 days without a spill. Part of the company's accomplishment is linked to safety training its crews have completed at the Paul Hall Center, based in Piney Point, Md. When contacted for this story, ATC officials quickly cited the school's oil spill prevention and containment course, along with fire fighting and other safety classes, as invaluable. They also credited the SIU for being "a tough but fair counterpart across the bargaining table, and a very capable ally in the fight to revitalize the U.S.-flag fleet." Meanwhile, the company keeps adding to its credentials. As noted on the citation from the Alaska Legislature, ATC now has earned quality certifications in the International Safety Management Code, International Standards Organization (ISO) 9001 and ISO 14001, in addition to receiving the ECOPRO award. Each reflects a commendable record and effective preparedness when it comes to safety and the environment. Moreover, ATC is the first U.S.-flag seagoing company to achieve the ISO 14001 certification. Altogether, ATC's efforts have helped achieve continuous improvements in its health, safety and environmental (HSE) performance rating, an important grading system for operators in the Alaskan North Slope trade route. The Tonsina is one of 10 SIU-crewed ATC ships. AB Tawnia Stucker confidently approaches her task aboard the Kenai. An ATC riding gang member straddles a pipe during maintenance operations aboard the Overseas New York in Cherry Point, Wash. n y The Overseas Boston (left) and Denali (right) already sail with SIU crews. Meanwhile, new "Alaska class," double hull tankers (like the one depicted below) are on the way. August 2002 Seafarers LOB 13 �the convoys that he sailed in. All of those men were volunteers. The ships my father sailed on carried ammunition and supplies and (sometimes) troops into battle. The U.S. Merchant Marine lost more men than any branch of service, percentage-wise. Without the merchant seaman, the U.S. would have lost a lot of battles and a lot more men. In the late 1960s I also joined the U.S. Merchant Marine. Somewhere in my papers I have a card showing me as a graduate of Piney Point-Class No. 2, I think it was. The ships I sailed took supplies and ammunition to every port in Vietnam. In the early 1970s I volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps to do my part for my country. People have said "thank you" for being a Marine, but have never said anything about being a merchant mariner. Something is wrong with this scenario and we need to change it. My dad is no longer alive; before all of the World War II merchant seamen are gone, they deserve a thank you. Walter Cook Petal, Miss. Letter tO thllditor (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.) has a great shot to qualify as an able-bodied seaman. It has been my pleasure knowing Angelina Willoughby in my department. I request that this letter be put in the Seafarers LOG to encourage other students from the Paul Hall Center that if they apply themselves while in school, it really works. Ralph Moore Recertified Bosun SeaLand Florida Bosun Moore Commends Apprentice's Great Start This is to congratulate and recognize the extraordinary accomplishment of a first-trip apprentice, Angelina Willoughby. I've been a bosun for more than 40 years. With the tools and knowledge you gain at the Paul Hall Center, a first-trip apprentice Merchant Mariners Deserve Recognition Why is it that on Veterans Day and during ceremonies honoring veterans that I never hear anything about the U.S. Merchant Marine? I hear about each branch of service, including the U.S. Coast Guard, but never the merchant marine. My dad sailed as a merchant mariner from 1920 until 1965. He was an SIU member from the time the union formed in the late 1930s. He sailed the entire World War II in enemy waters, often without any antiaircraft guns or any defense from the German Uboats. He often told me stories of Bosun Moore (right) says UA Willoughby did a fine job on her first trip. p.s. To pour salt in the wound, whenever a merchant ship was sunk during World War II, the crew's pay was stopped immediately. Reprint of Article on Armed Pirates Editors note: Phil Rosenstein, who retired from the maritime industry in 1985, has been dredging up memories as he goes through his old scrapbooks. The Seafarers LOG has been the fortunate recipient of many of the photos and recollections from his 40 years of seafaring life (in both the NMU and the MM&P). Rosenstein, who turned 77 last month, now relaxes at home with his wife in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he also claims to be a bit of a politicial activist. This article was originally published in the NMU Pilot in June 1966 when he was a bosun on the SS Boise Vi.ctory. Rosenstein notes that back then, the pirates of Subic Bay were after paint and mooring lines, which usually were stowed in an aft locker. They brought bolt cutters to cut the padlocks and could clean out a paint locker in about three minutes. Nowadays, he notes, pirates are well-armed and come in speedboats. Some photos from Rosenstein s collection may be found in the "Pics-from-thePast" section on page 16. SS BOISE VICTORY, June 3-0ur crew has been on a constant 24-hour alert-while in Subic Bay in the Philippines-on the lookout for pirates. It's true, pirates. A well-organized band of pirates roam the waters as ships loaded with vital supplies lie at anchor in Subic Bay awaiting orders to proceed to South Vietnam. The vessels are anchored at the far end of the bay and get little protection from the U.S. Navy or from MSTS. The pirates are well organized and board the vessels by means of long ropes with hooks on one end. The hooks are padded to muffle the sound as they are tossed up and hooked on the railing of the ship. The ropes are knotted at intervals for easy climbing. We placed four sailors on watch around the clock. On several occasions, groups of pirates armed with knives and clubs were discovered climbing aboard and were driven off. On many vessels, seamen reported the loss of some supplies and personal property. The ·authorities have been notified, but the robberies still continue. I am bringing home two hooks taken from the pirates along with a copy of our log entry to be placed in the Corpus Christi Museum to prove that the days of piracy at sea still exist. Are You Receiving AH 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 Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 r--------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM (Please Print} Name: Phone No.: ->-~~--'-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Address:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Social Security No.: _ _ __ D Active SIU Book No.: D Pensioner 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. 8/02 ~--------------------------------------------------~ 14 Seafarers LOii 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 bas 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. August2002 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Totals 3 5 30 41 16 22 30 13 3 2 10 20 0 3 0 6 4 1 12 10 23 6 15 13 18 6 1 7 15 13 4 22 24 11 24 12 8 1 1 17 22 13 15 11 11 28 11 2 14 9 258 152 95 180 115 0 4 0 4 39 5 0 1 5 16 18 3 9 4 4 22 3 9 5 0 11 10 1 6 3 8 15 15 5 2 5 6 6 5 5 2 0 0 5 0 2 13 7 13 9 0 5 0 8 8 12~ 114 51 Port Trip Reliefs 4 9 1 o 0 2 11 0 8 23 2 3 5 8 9 3 5 0 1 1 3 4 2 6 47 2 10 2 l- 4 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups . Class A Class B Class C 11 12 5 8 8 7 3 2 5 7 0 9 4 87 3 8 14 1 5 3 8 0 1 1 6 0 9 4 65 17 47 20 . 12 75 45 10 30 20 34 59 30 11 25 3 3 *(change created by Labor Day holiday) Algonac .................. Friday: September 6, October 11 3 3 31 Baltimore ................ Thursday: September 5, October 10 27 Boston .....................Friday: September 6, October 11 11 22 33 17 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: September 11, October 16 0 2 32 7 7 6 18 11 8 0 13 9 40 6 3 59 48 2 22 27 3 3 2 6 4 24 30 95 476 263 225 0 l 4 6 6 2 New Orleans ........... Tuesday: September 10, October 15 0 12 32 6 5 New York ................ Tuesday: September 3, October 8 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 4 3 • Piney Point ............. Tuesday: September 3* Monday: October 7 1 0 2 3 1 4 14 0 5 4 2 0 4 2 1 Houston .................. Monday: September 9, October 14 Jacksonville ............ Thursday: September 5, October 10 Jersey City ..............Wednesday: September 18, October 23 Mobile .................... Wednesday: September 11, October 16 New Bedford .......... Tuesday: September 17, October 22 () 0 2 2 Honolulu ................. Friday: September l 3, October 18 14 12 40 16 28 12 8 1 18 28 11 22 6 25 15 16 8 6 5 9 6 5 3 3 6 9, Port Everglades ....... Thursday: September 12, October 17 0 San Fran.cisc_o..........Thursday: September 12, October 17 San Juan ........... ~.::: ..Thursday: September 5~ October iQ 2 4 14 17 11 0 2 17 17 12 26 54 240 192 101 0 0 7 3 4 3 1 0 10 6 18 9 7 1 5 14 8 ?' Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 4, October 9 3 0 7 15 4 24 0 Norfolk ................... Thursday: September 5, October 10 St. Louis .....~;'~ ···~:;:,~:Friday: September 13, Octob~r· 1S " , 2 Savannah ................Friday: September 6, Qctob~J.l :-~>> Tacoma .... ........ ....... Friday: September 20, October 25 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St.. Louis Tacoma Wilmington 0 70 8 14 15 6 8 15 5 5 7 I 19 26 17 154 Port Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston · Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Lo'uis Tacoma Wilmington 0 0 0 5 3 2 3 4 4 9 0 2 2 2 1 2 6 45 1 0 2 4 9 0 0 -o 2 1 2 1 30 2 2 1 2 0 12 2 0 2 15 2 2 5 0 7 2 16 24 32 5 4 4 0 14 2 l 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 7 1 0 0 0 6 2 2 I 0 3 0 4 0 14 8 9 8 0 7 0 2 2 13 0 4 25 . 4 9 17 6 1 7 5 1 7 42 4 2 4 0 0 9 70 9 107 37 14 66 285 17 2 0 7 14 3 0 0 6 4 .1 1 5 8 0 12 3 7 4 2 21 0 16 0 2 14 13 5 6 4 35 7 3 154 158 29 3 13 0 15 5 114 571 465 334 403 331 1 0 12 0 0 0 0 7 4 2 0 1 11 2 0 0 10 0 1 6 0 6 5 0 0 0 4 5 11 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 58 Each port's meeting stads at 10:30 a.m. \ I Personals HARRY DAVIS or DAVIES Sylvester Yorck, a shipmate from the SS Carrier Pigeon, is trying to locate his friend Harry Davis (or Davies). He would be about 72-77 years old from Charlotte, N. C. or Spartanburg, S. C. and sailed as a fireman/watertender aboard the SS Carrier Pigeon in 1946 (on which the cargo was beer!). Anyone with information about Harry Davis or Davies, please contact Sylvester Yorck at 503 Pennsylvania Avenue, Somers Point, NJ 08244,· or telephone (609) 601-7590. HAZAA GAHTAN ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 Wilmington ............... Monday: September 16, October21 2 0 0 33 0 19 14 2 2 0 2 0 3 5 1 21 11 0 2 38 36 41 15 0 4 3 15 10 4 8 19 14 1 10 4 7 1 3 0 3 3 1 (j 22 3 4 3 0 5 3 6 0 Totals Totals All Departments 9 0 2 6 7 13 18 10 3 6 12 2 18 0 5 Port Totals 10 2 1 2 2 Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francjsco St Louj_s . Tacoma Wilmington Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B . Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 2 Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York .Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Lou~s Tacoma Wilmington September & October 2002 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters JULY LS, 2002 - 4 5 33 15 4 4 3 n 56 43 38 5 . 28 76 25 16 3 20 5 26 23 . 10 10 Please contact your daughter Samira at (718) 3874728 or (914) 494-1377. Urgent! 3 4 25 21 0 3 0 29 7 9 34 12 55 0 0 0 77 298 373 142 215 1,078 823 757 Remembering Paul Hall . AIJgust 20, 1914 - June 22, 1980 15 *"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. August2002 Seafarers LOS 15 �NMU Monthly Shipping A Registration Report Seafarers International Union Directory JUNE 2002 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group ill .John Fay, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary·Treasurer • TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group Ill Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group ill Augustin Tellez, Vice President Coniracts Tom Orzeehowski, Vi~e President Lakes and Inland Walen Delln Corgey, Vice-President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West O:>ast Joseph T. Sorest, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice Ptesident Government Services . Rene Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large .. Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way.. Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 Port DECK DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals 2 7 1 0 12 6 2 10 1 5 45 1 0 0 0 3 6 4 4 0 0 0 1 11 0 3 0 0 3 0 6 0 3 4 0 5 0 2 0 0 26 0 0 8 6 15 7 17 3 1 6 17 4 2 1 25 7 10 0 11 0 0 30 2 0 3 6 5 4 0 2 0 0 54 104 18 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 12 6 9 4 2 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, Ml 4800 l (810) 794-4988 ALTON 325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002 {618) 462-3456 ANCHORAGE JZI Sesame St., #IC.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, m 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonv.ille. 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 (251) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St., New Bedford. MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT Boston 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 -0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 Houston 2 Harvey, LA New York 4 0 4 Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals 2 0 0 0 3 Port 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 8 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 5 21 4 12 0 0 33 64 12 19 0 4 2 4 5 2 2 4 17 2 2 0 3 1 3 0 4 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Boston Houston 4 Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma 2 Totals 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 14 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 Port 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 3 0 1 0 17 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0 4 46 14 5 11 24 2 0 0 0 7 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Boston Houston 2 1 4 3 0 0 Harvey, LA New York Norfolk 3 0 4 6 2 7 2 0 0 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 6 5 9 0 4 0 0 1 0 2 3 0 2 0 3 Totals 11 17 18 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Totals All Departments 84 24 32 43 SanPe~o 1 Savannah Tacoma 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 3 15 0 45 8 3 3 6 36 0 5 8 46 25 50 140 122 129 264 184 167 24 0 46 0 3 4 16 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 SANTUR CE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST.WUIS 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 SAVANNAH 2220 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401 (912) 238-4958 TACOMA 3411 South UnionAve., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272· 7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG PI CS-FROM-THE-PAST Retiree Phil Rosenstein of Corpus Christi, Texas has many scrapbooks containing photos from his 40 years in the NMU and MM&P, but he doesn't have to go farther than his own front yard to remember some of his travels. In 1970, he visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India (near right) while sailing aboard ship as a third mate. At another port in India, he climbed aboard a camel (far right). These memories and others were painted on a fence in his front yard by an artist who copied the photographs. It took him three weeks to complete. Included are (from left) the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, a ship's wheel, the camel picture, a sextant he used to navigate around the world, and the Buddha of Kamakura, Japan. See other memories from Rosenstein's collection on page 20 in this issue of the Seafarers LOG Augusf 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 n inland captain, two recertified bosuns and one recertified steward are among the 11 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Captain Robert L. Stelly worked at the helms of inland vessels for more than 15 years while Bosuns Jack Edwards and Bobby Riddick completed the highest level of training available at Piney Point to mariners who sail in the deck department. Chief Steward Jose A. Chacon finished the highest level of training available at the Paul Hall Center to members who work in the steward department. Including Edwards, Riddick and Chacon, seven of the retirees sailed in the deep sea division. Three others, including Stelly, navigated the inland waterways while the remaining one plied the Great Lakes. Eight of the retirees worked in the deck department, one shipped in the engine department and the remaining two sailed in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. A DEEP SEA FRANCISCO ANCHETA, 66, was born in the Philippines. Brother Ancheta started his career with the SeaL__....i7LJj~="'-.ii!ifl!lill.llll.l.Ll.ll farers in 1970 in the port ofNew York. His initial voyage was aboard the SeaLand Pacer. The steward department member upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. in 1977. He last shipped on the Sea-Land Challenger. Brother Ancheta lives in Daly City, Calif. r-----=--------, JOSE A. CHACON, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Philadelphia. A native of Puerto Rico, Brother Chacon served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. His first ship was Bethlehem Steel Corp. 's Seamar. The steward department member completed the steward recertification program in 1982 at the SIU's training school. His last voyage was on the Carolina, a Puerto Rican Marine Management vessel. Brother Chacon resides in his native commonwealth in the city of San Sebastian. JACK W. EDWARDS, 62, hails from Idaho. Brother Edwards started his career with the Seafarers in .........__~......._""" 1969 in Seattle. A military veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1964. He first sailed aboard the Sea-Land Anchorage. The deck department member r---=---, Augusf 2002 shipped as a bosun. Brother Edwards upgraded his skills often at Piney Point, Md. He completed bosun recertification training at the school in 1983, and went back for further training in 2000 and again last year. His most recent voyage was aboard the same vessel on which he first shipped. Brother Edwards makes his home in St. Maries, Idaho. GABER MOHAMED, 66, donned the SIU colors in 1968, joining in the port of New York. Born in Arabia, he initially sailed aboard the Anniston Victory, a Waterman Steamship vessel. The engine department member enhanced his skills by returning to the SIU's training school for instruction in 2000 and 2001. He last sailed on Interocean Ship Management Corp's USNS Chesapeake. Brother Mohamed lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. JOHN NAGY, 65, started his career with the Seafarers in 1961 in Gloucester, Mass. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served honorably from 1956 to 1960. Brother.Nagy worked in the deep sea and inland divisions, first sailing aboard the Cantigny, an Interocean Ship Management Corp. vessel. The deck department member last worked on a Crowley Towing and Transportation vessel. A Michigan native, Brother Nagy resides in Carson, Calif. RODNEY J. PENCE, 46, began his career with the Seafarers in 1974 in the port of Piney Point, Md. He first sailed on the Ft. Hoskins, an Interocean Ship Management vessel. Born in Texas, Brother Pence worked in the deck department. He upgraded his skills a number of times at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. His last voyage was aboard the Sea-Land Quality. Brother Pence is a resident of Broken Bow, Okla. BOBBY RIDDICK, 57, joined the ranks of the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York. The Virginia-born mariner first went to sea aboard the Producer, a Marine Carriers Corp. vessel. Brother Riddick shipped in the deck department as a bosun. He upgraded his skills often at the Seafarers training school in Piney Point, Md. , including his completion of the bosun recertification course in 1986. Brother Riddick last worked on North American Trailing Co. 's Manhattan Island. He lives in Norfolk, Va. GREAT LAKES GIL A. BOILORE, 53, began his SIU career in 1972 in Alpena, Mich. The Michigan-born mariner first sailed on American Steamship Co.'s JA. Kling. Brother Boilore shipped in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Buffalo, an American Steamship Co. vessel. He is a resident of Alpena, Mich. . Editors Note: The following brother and sisters, all members of the NMU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, went on pens ion effective July 1. Roman, Samuel Scolardi, Gerald Stanfield, Kenneth Suarez, Urbano Viglietta, Richard Williams, Bernard Dawson, Allen Elhaideri, Abdulla Ferster, Isadore Ford, Frank Lam, Hong Laureano, David INLAND ROBERTL. STELLY, 61, started his career with the Seafarers in 1968. A native of Louisiana, he shipped in the deck department as a captain. Boatman Stelly primarily worked at the helm of Hvide Marine vessels during his career. He calls Lufkin, Texas home. Send more for our rnone No matter what the occasion, there's no better way to express your wishes than with the Union Plus• Rower Service. Save 15% on floral arrangements, roses, plants, wreaths JOSE LUIS VILLAFANE, 64, hails from Puerto Rico. Boatman Villafane joined the Seafarers in 1976. A member of the deck department, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation. Boatman Villafane is a resident of Weston, Fla. WILLIAMR. WYATT, 62, began his SIU career in 1960 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He first worked on a vessel operated by Steuart Transportation Co. Born in Emporia, Va., Boatman Wyatt shipped in the deck department. He last sailed on a Mariner Towing vessel. Boatman Wyatt makes his home in Bushnell, Fla. or gift baskets. Minimum order ~ $34.99. Order toll-free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Provided by: To place an order call: ~0(}7 1-888-667-7779 www.unlonprivilege.org ~y Working For Working Families UNION PLUS® HEALTH SAVINGS A Painless Way to Save on Health Costs r Union Plus offers two plans that provide discounted denta; care, vision care, prescription drugs and more for the entire family. lJnion se habla espai'iol ~Hus· Call 1-800-228-3523 ~::=~~ The need for a new half in Houston has long been recognized, since the port has been booming as a center of SIU shipping for some 1945 The SIU last week started circulating the 16~ time. In recent months, Houston has been seepage picture book.Jet entitled 11 This is the ond only to New York in the number of jobs SIU." This book was published as a result of shipped. The union hall in Houston services all the agents' conference m==================================ill ships in Texas and also actions and has caused covers Lake Charles, much enthusiastic La. comment from SIU men and the labor 1972 movement in general. The booklet has been The SIU joined with very helpful in our other maritime unions organization efforts to prevent grain-loadwith the men in the u=::===============================:!! ing operations of five Isthmian fleet. foreign-flag ships in three American ports. The picketing of the five foreign-flag ships was 1961 undertaken as part of a continuing effort to Seafarers shipping out of the fast-growing post urge the American people to support use of U.S.-flag ships. of Houston will be assured of comfortable, The joint union picket lines tied up ships in modem facilities as a result of the union's action in purchasing a two-story building for a Baltimore, Chicago and Houston. The unions new hall here. The building will open within a involved in addition to the SIU were the few months after it is remodeled to include National Maritime Union, American Radio the SIU hiring hall, meeting hall, snack bar and Association, Radio Officers Union, and the other shore side facilities for Seafarers. Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG THIS MONTH IJ'I SIU HISTORY Seafarers LOii 17 ..« �Final Departures DEEP SEA WALTER AMMANN Pensioner Walter Ammann, 74, passed away May 16. Brother Ammann joined the Seafarers in l 945 in the port of Philadelphia. He first went to sea on Stockard Steamship Corp. 's Strathmore. Born in Ohio, Brother Ammann worked in the engine department. His final voyage was on the Overseas Alice. Brother Ammann began receiving his pension in 1989. He lived in San Francisco. retirement stipends in 2001. He called Brooklyn, N.Y home. FELIX DeGUZMAN Pensioner Felix DeGuzman, 71 , passed away March 12. He joined the Seafarers in 1970 in Yokohama, Japan. Born in the Philippines, Brother DeGuzman shipped in the engine department and first sailed aboard Colonial Tankers' Western Hunter. His final voyage was on the Sea-Land Mobile. Brother DeGuzman began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1996. He lived in his native republic. FREDERICK ANDREGG JOSE DELGADO Pensioner Frederick Andregg, 75, died March 30. He started his SIU career in 1943 in Savannah, Ga. Brother Andregg initially went to sea aboard a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. The San Francisco-born mariner worked in the deck department and last sailed on a Michigan Tankers Inc. vessel. Brother Andregg started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1977. He made his home in Savannah. Brother Jose Delgado, 46, died Feb. 6. He joined the ranks of the SIU in 1978 in the port of Piney Point, Md. The New York native initially went to sea aboard Interocean Management's Cantigny. Brother Delgado shipped i~ the engine department, last sailing on the USNS Kane. He lived in his native state in the city of Brooklyn. JOHN BOOTH Pensioner John Booth, 79, passed away April 12. He joined the Seafarers in 1951 in New Orleans. Brother Booth was a military veteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1940 to 1945. He first sailed aboard the Alcoa Partner. The Louisiana-born mariner shipped in the deck department and last went to sea aboard Delta Steamship Lines ' Del Oro. Brother Booth began collecting pension stipends in 1984. He lived in Abita Springs, La. JOHN COELHO Pensioner John Coelho, 86, died Feb. 4. Brother Coelho joined the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of New York. Born in Portugal, he first sailed aboard the Steel Survey, an Isco Inc. vessel. The engine department member last worked on the Sea-Land Boston. Brother Coelho started receiving his pension in 1989 and lived in his native country. HERIBERTO CORTES Brother Heriberto Cortes, 47, passed away March 11. Born in Puerto Rico, he started his SIU career in 197 4 in the port ....__ _ _ __ ___. of ewYork. His first ship was the Sea-Land Producer. Brother Cortes worked in the engine department and last sailed on the Sea-Land Newark. He made his home in Miami. RICHARD DAISLEY Pensioner Richard Daisley, 75, died March 16. Brother Daisley joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Robin Trent, a Moore-McCormack Lines vessel. Born in Trinidad, Brother Daisley worked in the engine department. His final voyage was on the Sea-Land Integrity. Brother Daisley began collecting 18 Seafarers LOI; DENNIS DENGATE awayMay24. He joined the Seafarers in 1999 in the port of Piney Point, Md. The · California-born mariner initially went to sea aboard Bay Ship Management's USNS Stockham. Brother Jordan worked in the engine department and last sailed on the Petersburg. He lived in Richmond, Calif. ELMER KING Pensioner Elmer King, 77, '" died May 9. Brother King joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of Baltimore after serving in the Navy .____ _ _ _ ___.from 1943 to 1946. His initial voyage was on Sinclair Oil Corp. 's Robin Wentley. The Maryland native shipped in the deck department and last worked on the OM! Champion . Brother King started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1991. He lived in Missouri, Texas. Brother Dennis Dengate, 43 , passed away March 11. Brother Dengate began his career with the Seafarers in 1977 in the port of Piney Point, Md. His first sea voyage was aboard the Walter Rice, a Reynolds Metal Co. vessel. Born in Pasadena, Calif., he shipped in the engine department. Brother Dengate last worked on the Overseas Alice. He was a resident of Altadena, Calif. HARRY KOLSBY LEE A. DUBANY Brother Lee A. Dubany, 47, died April 29. He joined the Seafarers in 1980 in the port of Piney Point, Md. A native of Gothenburg, Neb., he first went to sea aboard the LNG Aries. The deck department member last worked on the Sea-Land Achiever. Brother Dubany made his home in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Brother Perry Lawrence, 59, died April 10. Bomin Beaufort, N .C., he began his career with the Seafarers in 1979. His maiden voyage was aboard North American Trailing Co. 's Sugar Island. Brother Lawrence worked in the engine department, last sailing on a Penn Maritime Inc. vessel. He was a resident of Valatie, N.Y. HOWARD W. HALL PETROSLAZAROPOULOS ..----=---.,Pensioner Howard W. Hall, 77, passed away May 10. Brother Hall began his SIU career in 1951 in the port of New York. The Kentucky-born mariner served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He worked in the engine department, last sailing on the Arecibo, a Puerto Rico Marine Management vessel. Brother Hall started collecting compensation for his retirement in 1996 and lived in Delmar, Del. Pensioner Petros Lazaropoulos, 81, passed away Feb. 13. Brother Lazaropoulos started his SIU career in 1959 ""---_ _. in the port of New York. His first ship was the Mt. Whitney, an American Tramp Shipping & Development Co. vessel. Born in Greece, Brother Lazaropoulos sailed in the. steward department. He last worked aboard a Michigan Tankers vessel. Brother Lazaropoulos began receiving his pension in 1976 and lived in his native country. KENNETH HULLER • • • • • Pensioner Kenneth Huller, 90, died March 2. Brother Huller joined the Seafarers in 1938 as a charter member in the port of ~-~c......il........- - = - ' Mobile, Ala. The engine department member last worked on Delta Steamship Lines' Del Rio. Brother Huller started receiving his pension in 1976 and lived in his native Alabama. ANTHONY JORDAN Brother Anthony Jordan, 23, passed Pensioner Harry Kolsby, 88, passed away March 22. Brother Kolsby started his career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S). The steward department member began receiving retirement stipends in 1969. Brother Kolsby made his home in England. PERRY LAWRENCE HERBERT LIBBY Pensioner Herbert Libby, 84, died May 9. Brother Libby began his career with the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of ew York. The Massachusetts native first worked on Sinclair Oil Corp. 's Robin Gray. A member of the deck department, Brother Libby shipped as a bosun. He last sailed on the Global Sentinel. Brother Libby was a resi- dent of Union, Maine and began receiving his pension in 1991. JOSE MARTINEZ Corp. 's Robert E. Lee. Brother Robinson began receiving his pension in 1997 and called New Orleans home. Pensioner Jose Martinez, 60, passed away March 26. Brother Martinez became a member of the SIU in 1970, joining in the port of New York. A native of Puerto Rico, he worked in the deck department. Brother Martinez started collecting pension payments in 1998. He lived in Richmond Hill, N. Y. Brother Alfonso Sandino, 87, died April 6. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1940. The steward department member sailed on several APL vessels during his career. Brother · Sandino was a resident of Texas City, Texas. EUGENIO NUNEZ RICHARD SAVIOR Pensioner Eugene Nunez, 93, died June 10. Brother Nunez was a charter member of the SIU, staring his career in 1939 in the port of New York. Born in Bayamon, P.R., Brother Nunez shipped in the deck department. He last worked aboard the Jacksonville. Brother Nunez started receiving his pension in 1982 and resided in his native commonwealth. Pensioner Richard Savior, 81 , passed away May 9. Brother Savior joined the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of Baltimore. He worked in '-----~.....- the deep sea as well as inland divisions during his career. Born in Macon, Ga., Brother Savior shipped in the steward department. He started collecting payment for his pension in 1978 and was a resident of Philadelphia. DOMINICK ORSINI JULIO SEQUERIA Pensioner Dominick Orsini, 76, passed away May 8. Brother Orsini became a member of the SIU in 1962 in the port of New York. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He first sailed aboard A H: Bull Steamship Co. 's Emilia. Brother Orsini worked in the engine department, last shipping on the LNG Aries. A resident of Harrisburg, Pa., he began receiving his pension in 1991. Brother Julio Sequeria, 61, died Feb. 21. He began his SIU career in 1970 in New Orleans. Brother Sequeria served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964. His initial voyage for the Seafarers was on the Producer, an American Rice Steamship Co. vessel. Born in Central America, Brother Sequeria shipped in the deck department and last worked on the Maersk Colorado. He lived in WILLIAM RENNIE Pensioner William Rennie, 88, died :Feb. 12. Brother Rennie started his career with the MC&S. The steward :department member worked on several American President Lines vessels during his career. He made his home in Winchester, Calif. and began receiving his pension in 1978. HAROLD ROBINSON Pensioner Harold Robinson, 92, passed away Feb. 22. Brother Robinson began his career with the Seafarers in 1978 in the port ofNewYork. Before joining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1942 to 1947. Born in Holyoke, Mass., the steward department member last went to sea on the Jacksonville. He began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1978. Hampden, Mass. was his home . JESSIE ROBINSON Pensioner Jessie Robinson, 69, died March 4. The Virginia native joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of New York. Brother Robin.___ _ _ _ ___, son was a veteran of the U.S . Army. His initial SIU voyage was on the Enid Victory, a Columbia Steamship Co. vessel. The steward department member last worked aboard Waterman Steamship ALFONSO SANDINO I '-lf'if hr • • '1 FRANK SIMS Pensioner Frank Sims, 75, passed away April 3. Brother Sims started his career with the MC&S in 1958 in Portland, Ore. Born in ..._........___....._ _ ___, Alabama, he shipped in the steward department. Brother Sims made his home in Oregon and began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1980. MICHAEL ST. ANGELO Brother Michael St. Angelo, 54, died March 31 . He started his career with the Seafarers in l 986 in New Orleans. Brother St. Angelo served in the U.S. Army Reserve and shipped for the SIU in both the inland and deep sea divisions. He first worked on a Northern Towing Co. vessel. The New Orleans-born mariner shipped in the deck as well as engine departments. His last voyage was aboard Waterman Steamship Corp. 's Green Island. Brother St. Angelo lived in his native Louisiana. DOUGHLAND STEWART Brother Dough land Stewart, 61, passed away Feb. 9. He joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His initial voyage was aboard the Spitfire, a General Cargo Corp. vessel. The Alabama native worked in the deck department. His fi nal trip to sea was on the Liberty Sun, operated by Liberty Maritime Corp. Brother Continued on page 20 August 2002 �'S min ·-1are reviewed by the union's contract department. Tiios, issues requiring attenf/on or resolution are addressed by the union ipon receijlt tJf the shipsJ minutes. The minutes are then forwarded - to the Seafarers LOG fqr publication. HM/ DEFENDER (Seabulk Tankers), May 31-Chairman James E. Reed, Steward Tyrell N. Thabit, Educational Director Candido Molina, Deck Delegate Kenneth Z. Smith, Engine Delegate Robert E. Young, Steward Delegate Claudell Blakely Jr. Chairman announced payoff June 1 in Lake Charles, La. He talked about the new Seabulk agreement, the insurance plan and vacation time. Educational director urged crew members to attend upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for satellite system on board ship, and suggestion made to lower age limit and seatime needed for collecting retirement benefits. will collect monetary obligations owed by members to the union (dues, initiation fees, etc.). Educational director reminded crew about upgrading opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to acquire computer (with e-mail capabilities) for crew, as well as a telephone for easy access. Steward department was thanked for good food and clean ship. LNG LIBRA (Pronav), May 26Chairman Calvin M. Miles, Secretary John A. Palughi, Educational Director Troy Fleming. Bosun reported one watchstanding AB per shift and three day men upon arrival in Japan. Secretary noted six new mattresses received and distributed. Educational director spoke about upgrading courses available at Piney Point. Treasurer noted that decision was made to spend crew fund on DVD movies. Some disputed OT reported by all three departments concerning rate of penalty pay for Sunday union meetings. Suggestion made to increase vacation pay and pension benefits. Some problems reported regarding stores (and lack thereof). /TB BALTIMORE (Sheridan Transportation), May 27-Chairman Jeffrey H. Kass, Secretary Pedro R. Mena, Educational Director David Fricker, Deck Delegate Abedan Lugan, Engine Delegate Steven Pollard. Chairman led discussion about importance of SPAD contributions and of utilizing educational facilities at Piney Point for self-improvement. He also spoke about possibility of new "smart cards" for crew identiMAERSK ALASKA (Maersk fication. Crew members voiced Lines, Ltd.), May 19-Chairman . opinions about the "smart cards" James W. Saunders, Secretary being proposed by the Coast , Allan . · ~ Guard and the kinds of private Director Ralph S. Baker, Deck mtormation potentially required Delegate William M. Lewis, for them by government agencies. Steward Delegate Samuel Chairman also talked about Johnson. Chairman urged new respecting fellow crew members (by cleaning up after oneself, emp- members to stay aboard ship and get their time in. He advised B and tying lint trap in laundry and keepnon-book members that they have ing quiet in passageways). a chance to stay aboard longer and Educational director urged suggested they accumulate their mariners to attend upgrading time to upgrade for endorsements courses at Paul Hall Center. and higher seniority. Educational Treasurer stated $200 in ship's director talked about upgrading movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Everyone thanked for opportunities at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. helping keep galley and messhall Next port: New Orleans. clean. Next ports: Pascagoula, Miss.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla. MARINE COLUMBIA (Alaska Tanker Co.), May 20-Chairman /TB GROTON (Sheridan TransAnthony J. Sabatini, Secretary portation), May 26--Chairman John F. Huyett, Educational John R. Lamprecht, Secretary Thomas W. Milovich, Educational Director Ronald Gordon, Deck Delegate Jeff B. Turkus, Engine Director Pedro J. Santiago, Deck Delegate Detricke Kelly, Steward Delegate Richard J. Pepper, Delegate Albert Sison. Bosun Engine Delegate Hussein A. informed crew of new recycling Mohamed, Steward Delegate policy and encouraged everyone to Romarico D. Hinayon. Chairman participate. He also distributed reminded crew members to praccopies of new contract. Educatice safety at all times. Secretary stressed need for attending upgrad- tional director showed members company circulars on safety and ing courses at Piney Point. accident avoidance and encourEducational director reminded everyone to make sure all shipping aged everyone to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Treasurer noted documents are in order. Steward to $2,732.52 in ship's fund with buy movies for crew with $200 $1,500 allocated for new satellite allotment from captain. No beefs dish. An additional $145 is in or disputed OT reported. Bosun to TVNCR fund. Suggestion made see chief engineer about hooking to buy more VHS movies instead up TV antenna. Next port: Long of DVDs. No beefs or disputed OT Beach, Calif. reported. Congratulations to Jeff JAMES ANDERSON JR. Turkus on his new position as (Maersk Lines, Ltd.), May 16patrolman for SIU hall in WilChairman Wallace J. William, mington, Calif. Vote of thanks Secretary Michael H. Watts, given to steward department for Educational Director J. Toler, job well done. Next port: Long Steward Delegate Michael Askins. Beach, Calif. Chairman noted new DVD player is up and running. He announced USNS FRED W. STOCKHAM Port Agent Bryan Powell will trav(Amsea), May 13-Chairman el to Diego Garcia to meet with Andrew B. Barrows, Secretary crew members and update them on Stephen M. Avallone, Educational union matters. At that time, he also Director Joseph J. Jenkins Jr., Augusf 2002 Deck Delegate Abdul Gharama, Engine Delegate Robert E. Lee, Steward Delegate Alan Van Buren. Bosun commended everyone for outstanding crewmanship. He addressed some problems aboard ship (e.g., walking onto freshly painted decks and wearing greasy shoes and work gloves in the house). Educational director urged all crew members to take advantage of educational opportunities aboard ship and at Piney Point facility. Treasurer announced $1,100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read letter from Port Agent Bryan Powell about his upcoming visit to Diego Garcia and to the Stockham. Clarification requested regarding riders of foreign nationality. Request made for repair of TV antenna. USNS LITTLE HALES (Dyn Marine), May 30-Chairman Roger J. Reinke, Secretary Warren Lombard, Educational Director Stephen J. Bradfute, Deck Delegate Joseph A. Gierbolini, Engine Delegate Nicholas G. Murgolo, Steward Delegate Ramont Jackson. Chairman reminded crew members of security while in shipyard in Norfolk, Va. Educational director suggested crew members check expiration dates on z-cards and STCW certificates and renew them before they run out. He also noted that the Paul Hall Center has many upgrading courses for members in all departments. Course listings and application forms are in each monthly issue of the Seafarers LOG. Treasurer announced $140 in ship's fund, possibly to be used for a DVD player or satellite system for crew lounge. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Information requested from SIU headquarters regarding company's medical plan. Storekeeper Kevin Williams asked for suggestions for special items crew members would like to see :.Q&s . port: carrie Norfolk. EXPLORER (USSM), June 9Chairman Raymond "Skip" Yager, Secretary Douglas Swets, Educational Director Jimmie M. Robles, Deck Delegate Abdulhamid F. Musaed, Engine Delegate David W. Watkins, Steward Delegate Othello Dansley. Chairman announced payoff on arrival June 11 in Long Beach, Calif. He thanked crew for good voyage and good food and for contributing to ship's fund and SPAD. Secretary spoke of need for new computer and printer for crew. Educational director urged crew members to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer noted new movies, DVD players, TVs and phones purchased from ship's fund. Hope to get additional TVs and VCRs in Long Beach so every room has one. No beefs or disputed OT reported. GREEN DALE (Waterman Steamship Corp.), June 2-Chairman Shawn T. Evans, Secretary Donald J. Mann Jr., Engine Delegate Victorino G. Labrilla Jr., Steward Delegate Lonnie W. Jones Jr. Chairman announced payoff June 7 or 8 in Houston. He thanked everyone for god trip around the world and reminded those leaving ship to clean rooms and be careful at airport. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center. He also suggested watching safety videos, which are aboard ship, and inform department head or bosun of any damage or broken items in need of repair. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made to reduce time needed to collect pension to 15 years with no age limit and to raise pension benefits. Also requested reduction in seatime needed for receipt of vacation checks. HM/ BRENTON REEF (Seabulk Tankers), June 2-Chairman Dave S. Coleman, Secretary Luis A. Escobar, Educational Director Todd F. Moreland. Chairman announced vessel will go in to mooring June 4 at El Segundo, Calif. Secretary advised everyone of educational opportunities available at Piney Point and spoke about the importance of contributing to SPAD. Educational director also talked about upgrading courses available at the school and urged crew members to get more involved in union matters to keep the union strong. Treasurer noted vice in Panama. Recommendation made for improved dental coverage for union members. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great food and also to rest of crew for jobs well done. Next port: Paita, Peru. MOTIVATOR (USSM), June 3Chairman Robert B.F. Lindsay Jr., Secretary Roderick K. Bright, Educational Director Hardin C. Chancey, Deck Delegate Teddy Reynolds, Engine Delegate Ronald Miller Jr., Steward Delegate Lyvell Hall Sr. Chairman announced payoff June Teamwork Aboard the USNS Invincible "Outstanding job performance, professionalism and customer service" during a recent voyage earned steward department members aboard the USNS Invincible letters of appreciation and recognition from the Department of the U.S. Air Force and RSSC Lead Systems Engineer. From the left, aboard the Maersk Lines, Ltd . vessel, are Chief Steward Lloyd Hall, Steward Assistant Barbara Smith and Chief Cook Mack Russell. that money from company for safety award will be put into satellite system (HBO, Cinemax, etc.) which would eliminate need for videotapes. No beefs or disputed O~rted. ew policie for trash dumping at sea were posted. Steward department given thanks for excellent job. Clarification requested on proper steps to be taken by company in listing open jobs. INTEGRITY (USSM), June 9Chairman Domingo Leon Jr., Secretary Stephanie L. Sizemore, Educational Director Dennis R. Baker. Chairman thanked crew for good trip. Bosun to give copies of new contract to steward/electrician. Secretary pointed out that SIU members are eligible for benefits programs with Union Plus (insurance, mortgage, car rentals, etc.) and gave number to call for more information. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Those crew members getting off ship for vacation should not leave personal articles in rooms. Suggestion made for chairs in mess and lounge to be reupholstered. Chairman thanked steward department for outstanding meals and pleasant attitude, which has strengthened morale aboard ship. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J.; Charleston, S.C.; Miami; Houston. MAERSK COLORADO (Maersk Lines, Ltd.), Chairman Juan Castillo, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director Alfredo 0. Cuevas, Deck Delegate Dirk W. Adams, Steward Delegate Carlos Sierra. Chairman informed crew of payoff June 13 in Balboa, Panama. He noted that vessel will stay on regular schedule (South America run). Secretary thanked everyone for helping keep ship clean. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and take advantage of free educational opportunities offered by the union. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for better mail ser- 3 in Houston, Texas. New washer will be brought aboard at that time. All crew members getting off should .clean rooms. Everyone reminded to separate plastic items from regular trash. Educationafdirector stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. He also talked about Union Plus program, which was written up in Seafarers LOG. Deck department reported beef; none in engine or steward departments. Recommendations made for wider and longer mattresses and to have the "no-strike" rule taken out of the contract. Suggestion also made to improve pension plan. Next ports: Houston; Savannah, Ga.; Norfolk, Va.; Rotterdam, Holland. RICHARD G MATTHIESEN (Ocean Shipholding), June 2Chairman Dana Naze, Secretary Raymond Jones, Educational Director Kelly Mayo, Deck Delegate Kyle Bailey, Steward Delegate Ahmed M. Quraish. Chairman stated that SIU Guam Port Agent Matthew Holly will come aboard ship in Guam. Additionally, three shoreside workers will join vessel to work on ship's generators. Educational director advised crew members to give at least a week's advance notice before attending classes at Paul Hall center so that transportation can be arranged. Treasurer noted $450 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Everyone asked to return videos to cabinet when finished viewing. Suggestion made to increase vacation days to industry standard or 15 days (whichever is higher). Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food. Special vote of thanks given to Stan Beck for coming all the way from Piney Point to instruct the officers and crew in the CBR-D course. Everyone passed the test and are awaiting certificates. Next ports scheduled in South Korea, Guam, Singapore and Diego Garcia. Seafarers LOG 19 - �final Departures Continued from page 18 Stewart resided in his native state in the city of Perdido. SIDNEY WHITE Pensioner Sidney White, 86, died Feb. 7. Brother White became a Seafarer in 1957, joining in the port of New York. He first sailed aboard a Seatrain Lines, Inc. vessel. Born in Louisiana, he worked in the deck department. Brother White last went to sea on a Michigan Tankers vessel. He made his home in Colfax, La. and began collecting stipends for his retirement in 1977. WAYNE WOODCOCK Pensioner Wayne Woodcock, 67, died Feb. 23. Brother Woodcock started his career with the SIU in 1976 in San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1956 to 1960. His first SIU ship was the USNS Vernon. Born in Texas, he worked in the steward department. Brother Woodcock last went to sea on the Sea-Land Explorer and started receiving his pension in 2000. Woodway, Texas was his home. KAIDZAIDAN Brother Kaid Zaidan, 61, passed away Sept. 23, 2000. He joined the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of New York. Brother Zaidan initially worked on the Transuper, a Hudson Waterways Corp. vessel. Born in · Yemen, he shipped in the engine department. Brother Zaidan's final voyage was aboard the Sea-Land Expedition. He was a resident of his home country. GREAT LAKES VICTOR JOHNSON ....¥.' Pensioner Victor Johnson, 87, passed away May 22. Brother Johnson launched his career with the Seafarers in 1960 in Detroit. Born in Michigan, he initially shipped on the Buck Monitor, a Buckeye Steamship Co. vessel. The deck department member last worked on Great Lakes Associates' George Steinbrenner. Brother Johnson started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1980 and resided in his native state. ROBERT SEYMOUR ,,,,.. -:- ~ Pensioner Robert Seymour, 74, died May 8. He began his career with the Seafarers in l 960 in the port of New York. The Wisconsin native worked in the steward department and last sailed on American Steamship's Nicolet. Brother Seymour began receiving his pension in 1983 and made his home in Milwaukee. BOBBY WILSON Pensioner Bobby Wilson, 79, passed away May 6. Brother Wilson joined the Seafarers in 1966 in Detroit. Born in Tennessee, Brother Wilson 20 -- Seafarers LOii worked in the deck department. He last sailed on the American Republic, operatd by American Steamship Co. Brother Wilson started receiving his pension in 1990 and lived in his native state. INLAND JAMES BOWERS Pensioner James Bowers, 65, died March 4. Boatman Bowers joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1958. Boatman Bowers was born in North Carolina and was a member of the deck department. He last worked aboard a Lynnhaven Services vessel. Boatman Bowers made his home in King Devil Hills, N.C. and started receiving his pension in 2000. WILLIAM BRINKLEY Pensioner William Brinkley, 68, passed away Feb. 16. Boatman Brinkley started his career with the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. The Georgia native was a retired military veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1974. Boatman Brinkley shipped in the deck department as a captain and worked primarily aboard Gulf Atlantic Transport Corp vessels. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1996 and was a resident of Atlantic Beach, Fla. MELVIN DICKERSON Pensioner Melvin Dickerson, 91, died May 22. Boatman Dickerson began his career with the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of Houston. He worked in the inland and deep sea division during his career. The Humble, Texas native first sailed aboard a G&H Towing Co. vessel. Boatman Dickerson shipped in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in 1974 and lived in Galveston, Texas. MEDFORD LITTLETON Pensioner Medford Littleton, 99, passed away May21. Born in Frankford, Del., Boatman Littleton started his career with the Seafarers in the port of Philadelphia. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1972 and made his home in Maple Shade, N.J. RILEY RODGERS Pensioner Riley Rogers, 71, passed away March 1. Boatman Rodgers joined the Seafarers in 1968 in Port Arthur, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1950. The Louisiana native shipped as a captain and worked primarily aboard Higman Barge Lines, Inc. vessels during his career. Boatman Rogers was a resident of Hornbeck, La., and started receiving his pension in 1985. RUCIE PEVETO Pensioner Rucie Peveto, 78, died March 12. He began his career with the Seafarers in 197 5 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. A military veteran, Boatman Peveto served in the U.S. Navy from "1942 to 1945. The Texasborn mariner worked in the deck department, primarily aboard vessels operated by Dixie Carriers. Boatman Peveto began collecting his pension in 1990. He lived in his native state. Editors Note: The following brothers and sisters, all former members of the N MU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, have passed away Their names appear in alphabetical order, with date of death and according to the month in which the NMU was notified of their demise. JANUARY Benjamin. Silvius Bowden, Jessie Brown, Kreisler Buckman, Raymond Castano, Valentin Cleland, Loe! Davis, Edward Decarvalho, Luis Duncan, Leo Edwards, Herbert Faulk, Nelson Fontenot, Louis Harrison, Robert Jacobsen, Alf Lewis, Nick Mathieu, Robert Nejman, Stanley Ognenoff, John Quattrone, Anthony Reed, Elva Reynolds, Jessie Roberson, Ulysses Rothfuss, Ernest Ruiz, Pedro Rushing, Henry Rydell, Roy Shea, Woodrow Spearman, Odell Tresvant, William Walker, Billy Williams. James Zarate, Frank Dec. 26, 2001 Nov. 23, 2001 Dec. 11, 2001 Dec. 10, 2001 Nov. 11, 2001 Nov. 21, 2001 Nov. 19, 2001 Nov. 30, 2001 Dec. 4, 2001 Nov. 25, 2001 Nov. 20, 2001 Nov. 11. 2001 Nov. 26, 2001 May24,2001 Nov. 29, 2001 Nov. 22, 2001 Dec. 15, 2001 Dec. 17, 2001 Nov. 27, 2001 Nov. 3, 2001 Dec. 5, 2001 March 19, 2000 Oct.13,2001 Nov. 30, 2001 Dec. 11,_2001 Nov. 11, 2001 Oec.1,2001 Nov. 26, 2001 Feb. 2, 2001 Nov.1 , 2001 Nov. 30, 2001 Oct 23,2001 FEBRUARY Allman, Frank Altner, Joseph Ashburn, Arthur Beals, William Benaouda, Lamri Blessett, Joseph Brown, Edward Broxton, Edward Bryan, Milton Burton, David Cacho, Francisco Cady, Frank Carter, Theodore Castro, Carmelo Collier, John Colon, Monserrate Cruz, Jose Daugherity, Robert Davis, Martin DeJesus,Jose Diaz.Jesus DiSalvo, Anthony Estrada, Francisco Falcone, Johnnie Falcone, Johnnie Flores, Juan Fornwalt, Jack Frock, Howard Galarza, Pablo Gerson, Louis Gonzalez, Nieves Gonzalez, Nieves Graham, Harold Harris, William Henderson.Eugene Hopkins, James Ingram. Canute Jester, Earl Jordan, Homer Joseph, Aubrey Kelley, Melvin Kikas, Leonhard Knatt, Eugene Laffrta, Teofilo Lima, Antonio Linares, Fidel Lopez, Fernando Malone, Leon Matson, John Mauricio, Antonio · McCray, Ernest McDerby, Henry Melendez, Sixto Meyer, Elbert Morrell, Reynard Ogilvie, Everett Perre, Robert Provost, Leatrice Ramos, Luis Roy, Joseph Scott, Bernard Scott, Edward Senear; William Senear, William Stewart. James Stewart, James Taylor, Tom Thompson, Carl Tucker, Ruben Walker, Grady Walker, Grady Williams, George Williams, John Wilson, Leroy Dec.22, 200 Nov. 27, 2001 Jan.24 Jan.9 Dec. 20, 2000 Jan. 10 Jan.9 Nov. 28, 2001 Dec. 14, 2001 Dec. 13, 2001 Jan.7 Oct 16, 2001 Dec. 13,2001 Jan.23 Nov. 27, 2001 Sept. 21, 2001 Jan.16 Dec.29,2001 Jan.19 Jan.17 Dec. 10, 2001 Jan.18 Dec. 7, 2001 Jan.22 Jan.22 Dec. 29, 2001 Jan. 3 Dec. 16, 2001 Dec. 20, 2001 Dec.27,2001 Dec. 19, 2001 Dec.19,2001 Jan.5 Jan.1· Dec.10,2001 Dec. 17, 2001 Jan.1 Dec. 29, 2001 Jan.15 Nov.3, 2001 Dec. 9, 2001 Jan.12 Jan. 13 Jan. 15 Dec.22,2001 Dec. 28, 2001 Oct.21, 2001 Jan. 11 Dec.23, 2001 Dec. 29, 2001 Dec. 20, 2001 Nov. 14, 2001 Dec. 1·8, 2001 Jan. 24 Dec. 29, 2001 Jan.5 Jan.24 Nov. 11, 2001 Dec. 16. 2001 Dec. 24, 2001 Nov. 7, 2001 Dec. 11, 2001 Dec. 24, 2001 Dec. 20, 2001 Dec.20,2001 Dec. 20, 2001 Dec. 25, 2001 Dec. 21 , 2001 Jan.1 Jan. 1 Jan.3 Jan.5 Nov. 27, 2001 Dec. 11,2001 MARCH Alpaugh, Charles Aponte, Raymond Bacon, Roland Barras, Warren Barth, William Breffe, Israel Capati, Raymond Clark, Garland Connor, Augustis Crear, Samuel Delgado, Jose Dos Santos, Clarismundo Galera, Oominador Jan. 10 Feb. 18 Feb.8 Feb.1 Feb. 11 Feb. 17 Feb. 13 Jan.30 Feb.1 Feb. 12 Feb. 17 Jan. 31 Jan.27 Garcia, Julio Gonzalez. Emiliano Gonzalez, Raul Graczyk, Henry Han, Quen Haylock, Irwin Hickey, George Hicks, Alfred Hines, Wilbert Holt, Alex Johnson, Charlie Joseph, Cyril Kastelec, Albert King, J Koblis, Charles Linwood, Guessler Medina, Luis Medina, Manuel Olivares, Manuel Ortiz, Andres Ortiz, Pedro Otterlei. Jonathan Palermo, Joseph Pares. Francisco Paulaille, Louis Pogor, Edward Rawlins, Cottrell Rivera, William Robinson, Hubert Rovane, Chartes Russell, Lawrence Shackelford. Joe Sticketl, James Tarhavisky, Michael Wasicki, Matthew Young, Willie Feb.4 Jan.3 Jan. 20 Dec. 17, 2001 Jan. 2 Jan.23 Feb. 1 Feb.22 Jan.28 Feb.7 Dec. 16, 2001 Feb.4 Feb. 4 Feb.9 Jan.2 Feb.2 Jan.28 Feb.2 Feb. 19 Dec. 11, 2001 Jan. 1 Dec. 16 Feb. 16 Feb. 15 Jan. 29 Feb. 10 Jan. 10 Nov. 20, 2001 Feb.4 Jan. 28 Jan.30 Feb. 7 Feb. 7 Feb.22 Feb. 1 Feb. 13 APRIL Anderson, Clyde Andresen, Walter Antonio, Raymundo Archacki, Chester Arnold, Edwin Barboza, Alfred Bell, Lawrence Benitez, Juan Bumeister, Ernest Caballero, Octavio Cantu, Raul Cassan, Juan Cassis, Carlos Cobb, William Cruz, Miguel Curry; Alvin Davis, Clinton Delgado, Jose DePass, Karl Edwards. Robert Folsom, William Fuld, Vincent Hortillosa, Joseph Ingles, Julio Jungbluth, Maree! Kelly, Edward Leitao, David Manzflla, Gregorio Martinez, Jose · Mathieson. Peter McCall, Eddie McCullout, .J Mikell, Jo n Mithchefl, Edward Morrow, Albert Nunes, Walter Paolantonio, Atmand Perez, lsabelino Pickens, Oliver Ramsay, Beon Rangel, Isreal Reynolds, John Roderick, Efrain Romanchuk, Karl Rosario, John Roux, Jules Santiago, Samuel Sirlsky, Lawrence Smith, David Staine, Patrick Stringfield, Norman Thompson, Harry Urda!, Dagfin Valentin , Victor Whitaker, John Willson, Mario March 3 Feb. 13 Jan.4 Oct. 15, 2001 Feb.24 Feb.28 Feb.27 March 7 March 8 Jan. 3 March Oct. 13, 2001 Dec. 14, 2001 March 16 March .16 March 13 March 10 March 8 Feb.14 Feb.27 Jan 17 March 9 March 2 March 9 Feb.25 Dec. 21, 2001 Feb. 18 March 3 Feb. 15 MAY Adams, Coner Alexander, Hugh Allred, Elmer Alverez, Pedro Andonie, Miguel Beckett, Leavy Brooks, Dudly Bullock, Joseph Burgos, Benjamin Butterfield, Arnold Chong, Peter Colon, Jose Feiler, Irving Ferrari, Simon Fontenot, Curley Funez, Roberto Gray, Lawrence Harris, Matthew Hernandez, Fernando Hodge, Titus Hopkins, Jack Leon, Stephen Maltese. Michael Manuel, Alberto McElroy, John Miller, William Milton, Samuel March 21' April 10 April 9 March 26 April 3 April 22 April 10 March 14 March 11 April 15 April 7 April 9 March 5 April 13 Aug.22 , 2001 March 9 April 19 April 1 March 18 April 7 April 9 April4 March 13 Jan 15 April 12 March 25 April5 Feb. 18 Feb. 14 March 14 March 4 Feb.15 Feb.3 Jan.5 March 2 Jan: 29 Sept. 9, 2001 March 5 March 12 Aug.16,2001 Feb. 24 Dec. 17,2001 Jan. 8 Feb.22 March 4 Feb.21 March 18 Jan. 14 March 16 Feb.23 March 16 Oct. 15, 2001 Feb. 23 March 11 Mugerdichian, John Pereira, Manuel Perini, Anthony Principe, Jorge Ramos, Francisco Reynes, Hen~ Roger, Gonza o Romano, Vincenzo Santiago, Arthur Sargent, James Sinegal, Joseph Spicer, Ira Thibodeaux, Joseph Upson, John Velazquez, Guillermo Waites, Paul Williams, Allen Williams, John Willmott, Richard April 2 April4 Aprif 7 April24 Feb.4 April 18 March 16 April 1 March 28 March 19 March 3 Jan.31 Feb.26 March 2 Feb. 5 March 26 April 10 Aprif 24 March 23 JUNE Allen, Roosevelt Anthohe, Anthony Arzu, Valentine Atell, Timothy Barela, Benjamin Beckles, Martin Berman, Benjamin Cacioppo; Anthony Cortez. Jesus Delugo, Ernest Diaz, Angel Elders, Charles Emminger, Robert Funes, Gonzalo Guichard, Morris Guity, Candido Harvey, Roy Havill. Phillip Henderson, Eugene Henriksen, Sven Howard, Sherman Jackson, Anthony Johnson, Clifton Jordan, Jack Karl<kainen, Veikko Knowles, Robert Kohn, James Lee, Uonel Lim, Pang Muhammad, Leon Nardi, Joseph Prado, Jorge - Prevost, UOne1- - Rice, Oscar Rolon, Cruz Rose, Frank Ryan, Edna Saimson, Robert Shamp, Kenneth Stallings, Abney Stewart, Luke Tremberger, George Truzman, Alberto Valko, John Washington, Enoch West, Oliver Wickey, Keefe Woo, Chai Yoon, Kell JULY Acosta, Osvaldo Amador, Emilio Ariola, Pedro Arnoldy, Robert AVila, Marcelino Bodden, Percy Broclcmoller, William Bulmer, Edgar Capo, Enrique Catolos. Cecil Cheers, Oliver Conception, Helen Connelly, Jessie Connolly, John Cruz, Garbriel Dumont, Marcel Fadel<, Murray Felex, Pedro Fine, John Finley, Frank Flodin, Edna Galarza. Pablo Garcia, Doto Gobin, Norbert Gomez, William Guzman, Joseph Kruczek, Frank Lambier, Wilfred Larock, Edward Litze, James McClain, George McDaniel, Frank McDonald, Joseph Mcinnis, Donald Mendez. John Miller, James Nakamura, Joe Owens, Thomas Puente, Othoniel Puerto, Miguel Ramirez, Demencio Russell, Claude Sanford, Oscar Santo, Anthony Sattler, John Smith, Edward Stokes, Robert Taylor, Robert Tong, Ah Urbina, Alsonso Williams, Lavelle May 12 May 13 April20 Jan.11, 1999 May 15 May22 March 28 May 5 May 18 May2 March 22 April 10 April 28 April 17 May 8 April 30 June 14 April 28 May9 May22 April 25 May20 May 20 April 18 May 1 March 26 April 15 May17 May 12 April 8 May 7 Apr!l 20 May 17 April 19 May 17 April 29 March 30 May 15 Jan.13 April27 Apri13Q May3 Jan,31 May 13 Jan.8 March 7 May20 May20 June6 June 19 June 14 May31 April20 June 2 April 11 June9 April28 June 23 May 30 May25 May 12 June 8 June6 Junes June 12 June4 June 15 April 26 May 26 June 1 March 22 March 18 June 11 May 29 May26 June 15 June 7 June 9 May23 May 14 Oct. 1, 1985 June 3 May 7 June 17 April30 May24 May 19 April 28 May 30 April 23 June 5 May 30 Sept. 1, 1999 May 29 April 26 May 21 June 16 Mays June 15 August2002 �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 August through December 2002. 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 wi11 begin promptly on the morning of the dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for November 1 October 7 Bosun - Arrival Date of Course Date Completion Oiler September 16 November 11 October 25 December 20 start QMED - Junior Engineer September 30 December20 Saturday. Welding August 19 September 23 October 21 November 18 September 6 October 3 Novembers December6 Engine Utility (EU) October 20 November25 November 15 December 20 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 Date Date of Completion Able Seaman September 30 October 28 October25 November22 August 19 September 23 October 14 August 23 September 27 October 18 September 30 October 21 November 11 December9 October 4 October 25 November 15 December 13 August26 August 30 Arrival Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (*must have r<idar .unlimited) Bridge Resource Management (BRM) - Inland Bridge Resource Management (BRM) - Unlimited* Safety Specialty Coul'Ses Course Date Date of Completion Advanced Firefighting October 7 December 2 October 18 December 13 Government Vessels September 23 October 11 Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* December 2 December 13 August 5 September 23 October 28 August 9 September 27 November 1 August 5 August 19 August26 September 23 September 30 October 14 October 28 November 18 l)ecember 9 December 16 August 9 August23 August 30 September 27 October 4 August 12 October 21 August 16 October25 Arrival (*must have hasicjire fighting) Tankerman (l'IC) Barge* (*prerequisite) (*must have basif:fir~ fighting) October7 November4 December2 October 18 November 15 December 13 Lifeboatman/Water Survival September 16 October 14 September 27 October 25 Lifeboatman/Water Survival (one week) August 19 September 30 October 28 August 23 October 4 November 1 GMDSS (Simulator) ug Basic Fire Fighttng/STCW 4 ~cc~-~"'""'-=' t September 27 November 15 December 20 September 16 November4 December9 .. Engine Upgrading ~ourses STCW Medical Care Provider Steward Upgrading Courses October18 November! November 22 · ',, December~3 Deeember20 Academic lepartment Courses Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week (most recently beginning July 20, then August 3, etc.). 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. -·-~·-·-·-·-·-· -·-·-·-··-"';\_·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·_;;;·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ----------------------------- Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days sea time for 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 awlicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee el $280 with their application. The pavment should be made with a money order onlv. pa,vable to LMSS. BEGIN DATE COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member If the following D Lakes Member END DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D Inland Waters Member D information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Department Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 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 Augusf 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 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, 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 Jaws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or activities. 8/02 Seafarers LOG 21 - �Paul Hall Center Classes -PAUL HALL CENTER LI FEBOAT CLASS ...==,,. __ 6 2 ~--~-= Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 628 - Completing the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from class 626. They are (from left, front row) Lonnie Jordan, Daniel Link, David Seymore, Christopher Mermuys, Joshua Robinson, Francis Dundas, (second row) Erica Andrews, Eric Cheek, Gregory Alexander, Marquis Leonard, Clarence Wren, Karim Elgallad, Paul Guffey, Robyn Adamosky, Shane Petschow, (third row) Patrick O'Donnell, Richard Moore, Clay Kiichli and John Watson. Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 629- Unlicensed apprentices who graduated from class 629 are (kneeling, from left) Joseph Sizemore, Matthew Waldman, DeGrick Mclendon, Davany Bonilla, (standing) Shawn Allen, Edward Douville, Mike Hall, Travis Mathews, Steve Benavidez, Richard Egan, Leon Curtis, Daniel Hewlin, Lakindra Williams, Morgan Piper, Aaron Morton, Bart Drabenstot, Tony Fain, Matt Gibson, J.W. Olson, Jeb Warner and Jon Stratton. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) - Earning their graduation certificates for completion of the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course May 10 are (in alphabetical order) Muhiddin Awale, Robert Binder, Philip Cotey, Sylvester Crawford, Karen Domerego, Christopher Graham, Kenneth Hamilton, Joseph Jesnes, Antoine Lacy, Leanne Lankford, Arnulfo Lopez, Mark Mahoney, Joshua Phillips, Gerald Rogers, Jason Shead, Ruben Siclot Jr., Thomas Vain and David Wirtanen. Their instructor, Jim . Shaffer, is at far right. - Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL)- Completing the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course June 7 are (in alphabetical order) Saleh Ahmed, Theresa Ballard, Lou Cabana, Ruben Gamboa, Willie Harrington, Lamar P~;er..J-J.C;>.A4i~-t Stickens, Thomas White and Peter Wojcikowski Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. Also graduating from the course are unlicensed apprentices Alshea Dixon, Demarco Holt, Stanley Kordinak, Robert Norris, Robert Odmark, Marcus Peters, Jennifer Senner, Willie Waddell and Quincy Wilson. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. Upgraders Water _ Survival- Able Seaman- Seafarers who successfully completed the AB course April 26 are (in alphabetical order) Richard Blackman, David Cayetano, Rafael Concepcion , Michael Gallagher, Michael Jalbert, Kenneth Lattin , Lionel Lee , James Logan, Jerry Maya, William Mcintyre, Zaid Muthala, Rusty Norman, Allan Oyao Sr., Fernando Oyao, Deocadio Romney, Uriel Ross Sr. , Louis Scull 11, Robert Steiner, Kreg Stiebben, Dale Suiter II and Jermaine Williams. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, stands at far right. Upgrading SIU members who successfully completed the water survival corse May 10 are (in alphabetical order) Paul Armstrong, Joachim Buetzer, Anthony Burbank , Joseph Cooper, Oliver Dailey, Michael Daniels, Joie Flesner, Cornell Knox, Khalid Meftah, John · Murray, Danny Nevel, Rayann Williams and Josephus Willis. Computer Lab Classes Recent graduates of the computer lab at the Paul Hall Center pose with their certificates. In photo at left are (from left, seated) James Logan, Lou Cabana, (standing) Rick Prucha (instructor) and Richard Davis. They completed the course May 24. In pt-10to at right are (from left, seated) William Mcintyre, Ruben Siclot Jr. , (standing) Rick Prucha (instructor), Jermaine Williams and James Logan. They completed the course May 17. -- 22 Seafarers LOS August2002 �Paul Hall Center Classes Limited License - Graduating from the limited license course May 28 are (front row, from left) Carlos Pastrana, Eddie Torres, Felipe Gonzalez, Miguel Pizarro, Esly Pineda and Francisco Esperon, all from New York Waterway. In the back row are Ernest Walsh Jr. from Penn Maritime, Harry Abrams Jr. from Seabulk Towing and Instructor Stacy Harris. Ordinary Seaman - Recent graduates of the OS course are (from left, front row) Harry Borden, Steven Pahlkotter, Donivan Mccants, Andrez Bronkowski, Jennifer Senner, (second row) Anthony Lito, Robert Odmark, Willie Waddell, Randy Senatore (instructor), Nasser Hafid, Stanley Kordinak, William Faulkner and Luis Vasquez. Bridge Resource Management - Express Marine boatmen who completed the bridge resource management course June 7 are (from the left, front row) Nick Grassia, Oswald Smithwick, Miles Ireland, Mike Daniels, (second row) Doug Covic, Garnett Leary, Melvin Braddy, Riley Johnson, Jim Kruger, (third row) Herb Walling (instructor), Jim Pruitt, Wayne Huebschman, Guy Pruitt, Allen Bradley and Billy Cahoun. Any student who has registered for a class and findsfor whatever reason-that he orshe cannot attend, please inform the admissions department so that another student may take that place. Bridge Resource Management - Allied Towing Co. boatmen who successfully completed the bridge resource man11<--,j1- Governmen sse ompietin ---- -agement course ay Oare rom eft, front row) Jim Boyer, Mike Willard , Dale Swarr, (second row) Herb Walling (instructor), Ernie vessels course May 24 are (from left) Louis Scull 11 , Tyrone ai~~ Fernando Oyao, Jerry Maya, Lion~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hudgins and Gene Payne. Le and Greg Thompson (instructor). Basic Safety Training Classes Debra Gardiner, Kevin Leino, Nur Holis, Luis Martinez, Blanca Ortega , Jack Povaser, Arthur Reed and Virgil Tudorache. Greg Alvarez, Jackie Berry, Nkrumah Bond, Patrick Carroll Jr., James Conover Sr., Carlos Cui, Hazel Johnson Jr., Bernard Marquez, Veronica Vines, Mohamed Mohamed, James Morgan, Michael Phillips, John Prchlik Jr., James Reed, Stephen Ruppert, Zaid Shaif, Randy Snay, Louis Thibault, Ivan Perez and Jan Haidir. Augusf 2002 Elba Alfaro, Nancy Archie, Glenn Bamman , Zackay Brown , James Callahan , Virgilio Hoffmann , Ismael Martinez, Khalid Meftah, Gene Payne, Eddie Rembert, Exxl Ronquillo, Mary Suniga, Timothy Thompson , Andrea Ursem, Richard West, Jack Mohamad , Richard Doggett, Omaha Redda, Ralph Broadway and Thomas Gruber. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Seller Brooks, William Cliett Jr., Byron Coleman , David Crisp, Irvin Crutchlow, Roberto Flauta, Christopher Flood , George Flores, Gerald Foley, Adel Gabel, Amer Ghaleb, Fadel Ghaleb, Faisal Kassem, Mohammad Khan, Clarence Mack Jr., George Nottingham, Rodrigo Pagar, Joel Ramos and Raphael Vargas. Seafarers LOB 23 �Attention Seafarers: See page 6 to leam about the new SPAD program. In 1519, the Spanish explorer Admiral Alvarez de Pineda sailed into what is now known as Mobile Bay. But it was not until the expansion of the cotton trade in the 1800s that the port of Mobile became a major participant in America's waterborne commerce. Mobile, today the second largest city in Alabama, is among the top 20 largest ports in the nation in terms of total tonnage, ahead of well known ports such as Tampa, Seattle, Charleston and Savannah. SIU Mobile Port Agent Ed Kelly and his staff keep busy assisting the membership with their shipping needs as well as servicing the boats of Alabama Pilots, Inc.,· tugs operated by Crescent Towing; and Gulf Caribe Maritime's tug and barge equipment. They also meet with crew members aboard ships coming into the port of Pascagoula, Miss.-as well as service the SIU-crewed Delta Mariner, which is homeported in Pensacola, Fla. and transports rocket boosters and other space hardware from Decatur, Ala. to launch sites in Cape Canaveral, Florida and Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. At a recent pensioners' get-together at the SIU hall in Mobile, retired Seafarer Hubert "Red" House (left) and SIU Rep Hubert Cain have time to chat. In photo above, Maritime Day was celebrated in Mobile at the memorial at Cooper Riverside Park. From the left are SIU Mobile Port Agent Ed Kelly, NMU Plans Representative Verona Gazzier, Recertified Bosun Thomas R. Temple, SIU Representative Hubert Cain and retired Seafarer Frank Gomez. Captain Lonnie Johnson and his wife, Gladys, are pictured in front of the pilot boat operated by Alabama Pilots, Inc. OMU Gregory Carroll Sr. is joined by his wife, Jacquelyn, and son, Gregory Jr., at the SIU hall in Mobile. .. SIU Mobile Port Agent Ed Kelly joins with other members of the Mobile Port Council at a recent meeting. From the left are Ed Kahalley Sr. (a long-time member of the Democratic Executive Committee and a close friend of labor); Thomas Fisher, business manager for the Sheet Metal Workers #441; Billy Fisher, international organizer for the Sheet Metal Workers #441 ; Judge James Woods; Lambert C. Mims, former Mobile mayor; Donald Langham, district vice president PACE; Kelly (who also serves as executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Mobile Port Maritime Council) and Judge Herman Thomas . Standing in front of the Delta Mariner are (from left) AB Herbert Scypes Jr., Third Mate David Belliveau, Third A/E Charles Donley, AB David Dinnes and SIU Port Agent Ed Kelly. ,,. Attending a Crescent Towing safety meeting are (front row, from left) Captain Joe Tucker; Engineer Kyle Tucker; (second row) Prentiss Willcutt, VP, Crescent Towing; Engineer Johnny Johnston; Tom Lambard, Crescent Towing Rep.; AB Paul Roach; (third row) BM1 Michael DeKort, marine investigator USCG Mobile; SIU Port Agent Ed Kelly; Captain Mike Yarbrough and Engineer Chris Walker. � 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 August 2002 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SEAFARERS RALLY WITH GULF MARINERS TWO MIAMI SHIPPING AGENTS BUSTED FOR DOCUMENT FRAUD UNIONS URGE MSP EXTENSION, EXPANSION NY WATERWAY CHRISTENS HIGH-SPEED FERRY MAERSK TANKER WILL REFLAG AMERICAN CAPT. SCHUBERT THANKS ARMY FOR HONORING U.S. MARINERS NEW AFL-CIO WEB SITE HELPS WORKERS SURVIVE UNEMPLOYMENT AMID MASSIVE CORPORATE LAYOFFS REPORT EXAMINES SHIP DETENTIONS IN 2001 SECOND PHASE OF ISM CODE IMPLEMENTED DATA RECORDERS, ID SYSTEMS AMONG NEW REQUIREMENTS SIU, MSC AGREE ON LABOR RELATIONS STRATEGY SIU CONTRACT NEWS INCLUDES NEW PACT FOR SEALIFT TANKERS SEAFARERS KEEP GLOBAL LINK PRIMED FOR NEXT OPERATION SPECIAL OS COURSE: SPRINGBOARD TO AB UPGRADING SAILING ON THE LUMMUS ABOARD THE USNS STOCKHAM IN DIEGO GARCIA SAFE & SOUND REPRINT OF ARTICLE ON ARMED PIRATES IN THE PORT OF MOBILE 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 4/12/2002 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. 8 2002 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/f7a4e52816c63859e7a8e90882b16ec7.pdf 07cbeb433132ba1aa77b131bfcbd51b6 PDF Text Text Volume 65, Number 8 August 2003 U.S. HEALTH CARE Costs Keep Rising, Tens of Millions Are Uninsured — and There’s No End in Sight Pages 12-13 5 More Ships Join SIU Fleet Seafarers are crewing up five additional vessels that are new to the SIU fleet, including Matson’s Manukai (above), which was christened last month in Philadelphia. Seafarers are sailing in the steward department aboard the Manukai and on the new LMSR USNS Benavidez. On the other three newly contracted ships, the SIU fills all unlicensed positions. Page 3. New Hall Opening In Joliet, Illinois The SIU is on schedule to open a new union hall in Joliet, Ill. by September at the latest. The new facility occupies two stories and approximately 2,500 square feet on the corner at 10 East Clinton Street. Page 3. Great Lakes Seafarers Rescue 3 Fishermen Page 4 3 CIVMAR Vessels Earn Safety Awards Mariners Receive Medals For Supporting U.S. Troops Pages 7, 9 ITF Inspectors Assist Crews on 2 FOC Ships Page 6 Page 24 �President’s Report Remembering Paul Hall Paul Hall, our union’s second president, had an all-consuming passion for helping Seafarers better themselves and improve their standard of living. He was so devoted to the membership and so completely committed to the SIU. But, Paul’s enthusiasm for work wasn’t his only strength. In many ways, he was a visionary—and that never was more evident than in 1966, when the SIU acquired land in southern Maryland to consolidate its training efforts. A year later, the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship opened on that site. Believe me, the early days of the school in Piney Michael Sacco Point were no picnic. The property only contained old wooden military barracks, a two-story hotel and some piers. Paul Hall saw far beyond the sparse accommodations. He believed that education was vital to members bettering themselves, and he understood the potential that existed at the school. In fact, back in the 1950s he led the union in implementing training and upgrading programs at halls in New York, Baltimore, Mobile, New Orleans and Houston. Piney Point represented the next logical step—a chance to not only offer training at a central location, but also to affiliate with a facility that could expand with the needs of the U.S. fleet. If Paul were alive today, I’m positive he would be pleased—but not surprised—at the success of what is now known as the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The school truly is world class, from the instructors and staff to the facilities and training equipment. It’s an absolutely comprehensive institution offering everything from entry-level training to license preparation to academic support and more. In short, it lives up to the hype. The Paul Hall Center really is a successful partnership between labor and management. It is jointly administered by boards of trustees representing, respectively, the union and our contracted operators. They do a great job of keeping the school—and its students—at least one step ahead of the constantly changing needs in our industry. On that note, I’d say it’s very fitting that the U.S. Department of Labor’s first-ever endorsement of an apprentice program for U.S. mariners arrived in time for Paul Hall’s birthday. When U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao sent the news last month, it marked another proud, historic moment for a school named after someone who always believed that SIU members were the best and deserved the best. Like the school itself, the trainee program has grown from humble beginnings. Today, the curriculum is second to none—and the importance of the program is unsurpassed. That’s because the new people entering our industry are the future of the SIU. And it’s going to be a bright future, thanks to the work of today’s Seafarers; thanks to your support of this administration; and thanks to the unrelenting and perceptive leadership of our late, great President Paul Hall. On August 18, when we observe what would have been Paul’s 89th birthday, I encourage all Seafarers to spend a quiet moment remembering him and what he did for our union. Health Care Emergency Last month, administrators from the health plans of the U.S. maritime unions met at SIU headquarters to begin investigating ways of working together to fight against the constantly increasing costs of health care. It was a positive meeting and it represented a good start as maritime labor pulls together during the national health care emergency. Other maritime unions have committed to take part in upcoming meetings as part of the group. Across the country, the rising costs of medical coverage are hurting working families. It’s a complex issue, but there are a few basic truths that stand out. For starters, there are more than 41 million Americans who don’t have health coverage—and most of them live in households with working family members. Also, according to various newspaper and magazine reports, as much as 20 percent of every dollar spent to carry health coverage represents the cost of caring for the uninsured. In other words, the people who have benefits pay for those who don’t. Union members are feeling the effects of this crisis. More and more, health care has become a main issue in collective bargaining. In many cases, it is the focal point of negotiations. As anyone who has recently served on a bargaining committee knows, it becomes harder and harder with each contract to maintain good, affordable benefits. The SIU has never been afraid of a fair fight, and we’re determined to make progress in this battle. At times, though, it seems as if America’s working families have our hands tied behind our backs in the struggle to secure and maintain decent, affordable health coverage. We will be reporting more on this topic in the coming months. I hope that all SIU members will follow this issue. Volume 65, Number 8 August 2003 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 © 2003 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG A Message from Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Dear SIU Members, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to each of you for valiantly doing your part to support U.S. troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While the war against terrorism continues, President George W. Bush has declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The United States and our allies prevailed in our fight to liberate the people of Iraq and end the threat Saddam Hussein posed to world peace and security. A strong U.S.-flag fleet was crucial to the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than 5,000 U.S. merchant mariners voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way to transport much-needed equipment and supplies to our troops serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many of you are still at work— transporting food and machinery to feed the Iraqi people and rebuild their country. Thank you for the great sacrifice each of you makes every day to serve your country and to protect the American dream. The American dream has always been at the heart of the U.S. Merchant Marine. In fact, there was an American merchant marine before there was an American nation. The story of our merchant mariners and their contributions to our nation is one of heroism and sacrifice. Paul Hall knew that and wanted American seamen to have the very best of everything. He wanted SIU members to have an opportunity to advance. He was also concerned about the next generation of American seamen and wanted young people to have the opportunity to start a career at sea. Consistent with Paul Hall’s vision, the SIU, school leadership and I recently developed and approved the first ever National Apprenticeship Standards for the maritime industry. SIU President Mike Sacco deserves a special word of recognition for his efforts during this process. This will be a new program offered at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The program will include apprenticeship training for the occupations of Able Seaman, Firer Marine (FOWT), and Chief Cook. These apprenticeship programs range from 2,760 to 4,000 hours of on-the-job training supplemented by instruction in the classroom. The Paul Hall Center apprenticeship program will be a competency-based training program that meets U.S. Coast Guard Certification requirements. Applicants accepted and registered as apprentices must meet the following minimum qualifications: z Must be at least 18 years old (at least 17 years old with parental consent); z Must be able to comply with the physical fitness standards of the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, be free of drug and alcohol issues, and be able to pass a drug SIU President Visits Command That Controls Sealift, Other Lift SIU President Michael Sacco recently visited the United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (TRANSCOM) at the invitation osf Gen. John W. Handy, commander. They discussed the Maritime Security Program (MSP) reauthorization, the status of the U.S. Merchant Marine, and the “pulse” of the U.S.-flag commercial sealift industry. “The command really makes a great use of sealift to save millions of dollars,” Sacco said. “Our mariners are part of a very big picture, supporting a global mission, and I know they are giving 100 percent of their expertise and professionalism when manning their ships.” The SIU president examined why TRANSCOM is the Department of Defense’s single manager for common-user lift and provides air, land and sea transportation for all of the military services, the other combatant commands, and numerous federal agencies during peace and war. He toured the Joint Mobility Operations Center—the control center for all lift—that includes Transportation Visibility, which has vital information required by a number of transportation centers; the Global Patient Movement and Requirements Center, which tracks every medical patient in the Global Transportation System; and the Joint Operations Intelligence Center, a forward element of the directorate of intelligence. Sacco also was given a tour of Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) Tanker/Airlift Control Center, also located at Scott. AMC, also commanded by Handy, is the air component of TRANSCOM and has control, through the TACC, of all air assets within TRANSCOM, to include contracted airlift support. At a recent awards ceremony conducted in Baltimore for mariners aboard the SIU-crewed RRF ship Wright, Handy praised the efforts of the U.S. Merchant Marine crewing 54 reserve ships activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). “To date, more than 1 million tons of materiel have been moved by sea in support of OIF and the spigot is still open; sustainment to our forces and materiel for the rebuilding of Iraq continue to Elaine L. Chao U.S. Secretary of Labor screen test; z Must have either a high school diploma (or GED equivalency) or pass a standardized test that will demonstrate the applicant’s ability to benefit from the program; and z Must be able to meet all U.S. Coast Guard established criteria for the issuance of a merchant mariner’s document and be free of convictions by any court for violations of the law that would disqualify an applicant from obtaining merchant mariners documents from the U.S. Coast Guard. The educational opportunities available at the Paul Hall Center demonstrate the Seafarers’ unsurpassed commitment to quality. Your training center has earned the admiration of government agencies and the maritime industry. The new apprenticeship program created by the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor and the SIU will advance our shared goal of increasing the number of highly skilled American seamen. Thank you for all you are doing for this great country and smooth sailing, Elaine L. Chao U.S. Secretary of Labor flow—and in large measure thanks to the vitality, determination and commitment of merchant mariners,” he said. “Throughout history, our merchant mariners have proven themselves to be great patriots,” he went on. “They have come from all walks of life, rising to the challenge, achieving extraordinary accomplishments, and ultimately shaping our world for the better. This has been the case in every conflict abroad since the founding of our country—regardless of risk or personal convenience. Your willingness to continue to sail into harm’s way, answering the call to service stands as testament to your courage and heroism. Today, you are part of that great legacy.” Handy added, “We proudly salute the exemplary patriotism, dedication, and professionalism of the mariners...who have served in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.” (Photo by Dave Patterson) SIU President Michael Sacco (center) visits the Joint Mobility Operations Center at U.S. Transportation Command. Gen. John W. Handy (right), commander, and Col. Glen Joerger, briefer, provide the tour. August 2003 �Manukai Christening Represents Rebirth of Ship and Shipyard “Today we are celebrating the birth of a new ship for Hawaii,” said Senator Daniel K. Inouye (DHawaii) at the July 12 christening of Matson Navigation Co.’s first new ship of the 21st century, the Manukai. As the first vessel built in the newly revitalized Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard (where the ceremony took place) and the first newly constructed vessel introduced by Matson since 1992 (the last was the R.J. Pfeiffer), the containership will mean more jobs in the steward department for members of the SIU. The Manukai is the first of a two-ship, $200 million contract between Matson and Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard and is the first vessel to be built in Philadelphia in 34 years. A sister ship is presently under construction and is expected to be added to Matson’s fleet of Jones Act trade vessels next year. Joining in the celebrations were hundreds of spectators, including SIU members and officials, political leaders, industry representatives and shipyard workers and their families. “This new ship will help ensure that Matson continues to provide Hawaii with efficient, dependable ocean transportation services of superior quality and value,” noted Allen Doane, chairman of the board at Matson. “It has been designed and built specifically for our Hawaii service customers and will meet the current demands of our market.” He also stated, “As the first ship to be built here in 34 years, the Manukai marks the return of Philadelphia as a major shipbuilding center. Today’s christening not only celebrates the birth of a new ship, but also the rebirth of a shipyard.” In his remarks at the christening, Sen. Inouye added, “No state in the nation is more acutely aware of the vital role our U.S. Jones Act fleet has in serving domestic waterways. For those of us who call Hawaii home, the steady flow of cargo vessels coming to and from the state is essential.” It was fitting that Margaret Inouye, wife of the senator, christened the new vessel. In 1969 she also christened Matson’s Hawaiian Enterprise, which later was renamed the Manukai. That vessel completed more than 700 voyages and carried in excess of a million containers of cargo while it was in service—a record for the Hawaiian trade. The new high-tech, diesel-powered Manukai is more fuel efficient. With a length of 712 feet, the Manukai has the capacity to carry as many as 2,600 containers. After completing sea trials this summer, the Manukai will enter Matson’s West Coast-to-Hawaii trade route in the fall, replacing an older ship. Matson operates eight vessels in the Hawaiian trade. Gathered for the christening ceremony are (from left) Brad Mulholland, vice chairman, Matson Navigation Co.; Allen Doane, president and CEO, Alexander & Baldwin and chairman, Matson; Margaret Inouye; Senator Daniel K. Inouye; Charles M. Stockholm, chairman of Alexander & Baldwin; Jim Andrasick, president and CEO, Matson, and his wife, Ginger. Following sea trials this summer, the Manukai will enter Matson’s trade route from the West Coast to Hawaii in the fall. No Letup Here: SIU Fleet Gains 4 More Vessels The SIU recently added four more ships to its contracted fleet: a freighter, a chemical carrier, a special mission vessel and an LMSR. The newest vessel is the USNS Benavidez, part of the Bob Hope class of large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels sailing in the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet. The Benavidez is expected to arrive in Corpus Christi, Texas this month. Built at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, the Benavidez is 950 long, 106 feet wide and can sail at 24 knots. It is named after the late Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez. Seafarers are sailing in the steward department aboard the new LMSR, which is operated by Patriot. On the other three newly contracted ships, the SIU fills all unlicensed positions. The Observation Island also is The Observation Island monitors compliance with strategic arms treaties and supports U.S. military weapons test programs. part of MSC’s fleet and is the agency’s lone missile range instrumentation ship. Operated by Maersk Line, Limited, the Observation Island 564 feet long, 76 feet wide and can sail at 20 knots. According to MSC, the Observation Island “operates worldwide, monitoring compliance with strategic arms treaties and supporting U.S. military weapons test programs. Observation Island carries an Air Force shipborne phased-array radar system for collecting data on missile tests. The ship is operated by MSP in Conference Senate Commerce Committee Also Passes Measure Legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) remained in a HouseSenate conference committee as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press. The House in late May passed language providing for reauthorization of the MSP as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. The updated MSP would be extended for 10 additional years, beginning in October 2005, immediately after the current version expires. The expanded MSP also calls for increasing the number of participants from 47 ships to 60 ships. The Senate’s version of the August 2003 Defense bill (also approved in late May) didn’t include MSP language. However, in late June, the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), okayed legislation that includes a 10-year MSP reauthorization. The committee’s MSP component is contained in a bill (S. 1262) that would fund the Maritime Administration for the next five years. Although it slightly differs from the House version, it, too calls for increasing the number of participants from 47 ships to 60 ships. The current MSP was signed into law in 1996. The program provides limited funding for 47 Military Sealift Command for the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.” Also new to the Seafarers fleet is the MV Virginian, operated by Sealift Tankships. The 480-foot freighter was built in Germany in 1983. It features a diesel propulsion system that provides 16,320 hp. Finally, Seafarers are sailing aboard the Chemical Pioneer, operated by USCS Chemical Chartering LLC. The ship is 688 feet long and is equipped with 48 cargo tanks. U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed commercial vessels which are made available to the Defense Department in times of war or national emergency. To be included in the MSP, participants also provide the military access to their infrastructure, terminals, communications network and more. The MSP has helped ensure that the United States has a pool of skilled American mariners ready to crew not only the MSP vessels, but also U.S. government-owned strategic sealift and Ready Reserve Force ships. This program has helped America maintain a U.S.-flag presence in the world’s ports. And, various high-ranking officials have pointed out that the government would have to spend 10 times as much as it does now to replicate what the MSP provides. The SIU’s newest hall occupies two stories at 10 East Clinton Street in Joliet, Ill. SIU’s Newest Hall To Open in Joliet, Ill. The SIU is on schedule to open a new union hall in Joliet, Ill. by next month (September) at the latest. The hall is located at 10 East Clinton Street in downtown Joliet. The union occupies two stories of the building, which is accessible via public transportation (rail and bus). Also, multiple parking lots and garages are located within one to two blocks of the hall, which consists of approximately 2,500 square feet. “It will be a full-service port, and I think it’s going to be a very busy hall,” said SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tommy Orzechowski. “We noticed we had increasing membership in the Chicago metropolitan area, and this gives the Great Lakes region a middle point between Algonac (Mich.) and Duluth (Minn.).” The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan is working out final details of contracting with a health clinic near the hall. Joliet is the seventh-largest city in Illinois, with a population of more than 106,000. More details about the hall will be published in the next issue of the Seafarers LOG and on the union’s web site (www.seafarers.org). The Joliet hall will be a fullservice port for Seafarers. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, September 1, 2003 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Seafarers LOG 3 �SIU Crew Helps Rescue Lakes Fishermen Four fishermen from the Great Lakes owe a debt of gratitude to the crew of the SIU-contracted American Mariner. Seafarers aboard the American Steamship Co. vessel on July 12 helped rescue three of the four from an uncertain fate after they were spotted floating in the water wearing life jackets. Their 18foot fishing boat had sunk off the shore of Ashtabula, Ohio. The American Mariner, having departed Ashtabula after loading coal for discharge in Charlevoix, Mich., passed about four miles from shore when alert crew members including ABG Watchman Foaad Saleh caught sight of the ill-fated fishermen and their capsized craft. The following SIU members were aboard the American Mariner when the rescue took place: Bosun Albert Brzezinski, AB Wheelsman Robert Timmons, AB Wheelsman Art Beauchamp, AB Wheelsman Leon Pulley, ABG Watchman Saleh, AB Watchman Donald Hutchens, Conveyorman Kenneth Guss, Gateman Mousa Quarish, QMED James Reilly, DEU Jack Povaser, DEU Mohamed Ali, DEU Brian Green, 2nd Cook Nasser Aljalham, SA Gary Lapczynski and Unlicensed Apprentice Curtis Tobey. After spotting the fishermen and informing the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fairport, Ohio of the situation, the American Mariner altered course and moved in to pluck the trio from Lake Erie. Once aboard the American Mariner, the rescued fishermen told the crew that their vessel had gone down some four hours earlier and that the sinking had h a p - pened so suddenly that they did not have time to radio for help. Their most distressing news, however was that a fourth fisherman—a male confined to a wheelchair—also had been aboard their vessel and was in the water somewhere in the vicinity. Fortunately for him, a crew from the Coast Guard station was patrolling the area. Once on the scene, they quickly rescued the fourth fisherman who had been discharged from his wheelchair and was being kept afloat by a life jacket. The three men aboard the American Mariner later were taken to the Coast Guard vessel. All four were then transported to the Coast Guard station at Ashtabula. One of the fishermen had to be placed on a backboard during the transit due to bruises and soreness incurred during the sinking of the fishing boat. The fourth rescued individual had multiple sclerosis and was mildly hypothermic. All four were examined by emergency medical Crew members from the American Mariner carry out the rescue of three fishermen July 12 near Ashtabula, Ohio. A fourth man was saved by the Coast Guard. services personnel and released. Thomas S. Anderson, assistant vice president for American Steamship Co. Fleet Operations, praised the efforts of the Seafarers. In a memo to the captain of the American Mariner, he wrote in part: “I am writing to commend all of you for the rescue of the four fishermen in distress off of Ashtabula on July 12, 2003. The four men had been in the water since mid-day when your sharp lookout spotted the capsized boat…. I have seen the photos of the rescue and cannot tell you how proud I am of the job all of you did. Simply great, professional work and seamanship resulted in the rescue of these men. I don’t know how much longer they would have lasted in that Lake Erie water, but without your quick actions it may have not been much longer.” Seafarers aboard Alaska Tanker Company vessels have helped put together a remarkable stretch of safe operations. Alaska Tanker Company Marks Safety Milestone Spill-Free Year Is Latest Achievement Setting Wage Rates in American Samoa SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company (ATC), at once duly proud and determined to build on its success, recently celebrated a significant safety achievement. July 5 marked the completion of one year without any of ATC’s ships spilling any oil to sea—anywhere. “This remarkable achievement complements our safety performance, where we have completed well over three million man-hours without a lost time injury,” noted ATC President and CEO Anil Mathur in a communication to ATC crews. “During this period, ATC has transported 170 million barrels of oil out of Alaska.” Mathur vowed that ATC “will continue its relentless journey of continuously improving our performance on ALL fronts. Equally, we realize that such an achievement would not be possible without your support, cooperation and guidance. Thank you for making this achievement possible.” Additionally, as previously reported, the following ATC vessels recently were recognized for operating for at least the last two years without a lost-time accident: Overseas Chicago, Overseas New York, Tonsina, Prince William Sound, Overseas Boston, Kenai and Denali. Also, the entire ATC fleet for the past several years has reduced what the company calls “recordable injury frequency” to zero or almost nothing. That includes no lost-time injuries last year into the second half of this year. ATC is building four new Alaska-class tankers on the West Coast. The first of the double-hull vessels—the Alaskan Frontier—is scheduled for delivery early next year. Notice New Health Clinic For Baltimore-Area Seafarers SIU Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell (far right) was among six members of a committee selected by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao to review current minimum wage rates for all industries in American Samoa covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal wage and hour law. Standing in front of the American Samoan Senate building in Pago Pago after completing their work are Powell and other committee members representing public sector employers and employees. In a closed ceremony at the end of the committee’s deliberations, in a gesture of respect and gratitude, each of the off-island members of the committee was bestowed the honorary title of “High Chief of Samoa” (those wearing leis). According to Powell, this honor is very seldom bestowed upon non-Samoans. Based on its findings, the committee will recommend to the Labor Department the highest rate for each industry that will not substantially curtail employment and will not give industries in the territory a competitive advantage over similar U.S. businesses not in American Samoa. The committee hearings are conducted every two years. Powell stated, “I am honored to have served on this committee representing the interests of the working people in American Samoa and to further the objectives of the labor movement in this area.” 4 Seafarers LOG Effective July 1, 2003, the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plancontracted clinic location for Baltimore has been changed. The new facility is under the direction of the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians and is located at: JHCP – Internal Medicine Wyman Park Medical Center 3100 Wyman Park Drive Baltimore, MD 21211 Phone: 410 338-3357 Fax: 410 338-3628 Baltimore-area Seafarers are asked to note this change and adjust your records accordingly. For more information, contact the SIU hall in Baltimore at 410 327-4900. August 2003 �Maritime Regulations Announced By Dept. of Homeland Security The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on July 1 announced the publication of security regulations requiring sectors of the maritime industry to implement measures to protect America’s ports and waterways from a terrorist attack. The interim final rules were to be addressed late last month at a public meeting in Washington, D.C. Written comments on the rules were being accepted through July 31. “With 95 percent of our nation’s international cargo carried by ship, port security is critical to ensuring our nation’s homeland and economic security,” Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said. “The port security measures we are putting in place, both here at home and abroad, are about expanding our capabilities—strengthening a vitally important system with additional layers of defense. “This effort is part of a broad international effort to increase global shipping security and one of many steps we are taking to better protect our ports and the ships traveling in our waters.” As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, U.S. maritime unions, including the SIU, were at the forefront and have remained very active in moving toward greater shipboard and port security. The SIU has met with representatives from U.S. flag operators, the Coast Guard, officials from numerous U.S ports, the International Transport Work- U.S. Coast Guard photo by Telfair H. Brown Vice Admiral Thad Allen, Coast Guard chief of staff, and Asa Hutchinson, under secretary for Border and Transportation Security, address reporters after the Department of Homeland Security announced publication of regulations impacting the maritime industry. ers’ Federation, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization, among others, to facilitate the identification and enactment of effective, realistic and fair security rules. The union will, as appropriate, remain active in this arena and pursue measures that best address the needs and satisfy the interests of its members. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations build on a comprehensive port security strategy and range of enhancements directed by President Bush following September 11, 2001, and implement significant portions of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). By requiring completion of security assessments, development of security plans, and implementation of security measures and procedures, according to the DHS, these regulations are aimed at reducing the risk and mitigating the exposure of U.S. ports and waterways to terrorist activity. According to the DHS, the regulations focus on those sectors of maritime industry that have a higher risk of involvement in a transportation security incident, including various tank vessels, barges, large passenger vessels, cargo vessels, towing vessels, offshore oil and gas platforms, and port facilities that handle cer- Maryland Secretary of Labor Fielder, State AFL-C CIO Officials Visit School James D. Fielder Jr. (photo, right), secretary of labor for the State of Maryland, toured the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month in conjunction with one of the state’s job-placement programs. The school is based in Piney Point, Md. Visiting the campus along with Fielder were Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland State and Washington, D.C. AFL-CIO (pictured in both photos below) and Donna S. Edwards, secretary-treasurer of the federation (lower left photo, inspecting a training record book). In top photo, Fielder checks out the Paul Hall Center’s engine room simulator, with input from the school’s assistant director of training, J.C. Wiegman. Below right, Mason concentrates in the shiphandling simulator, with SIU Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz nearby. tain kinds of dangerous cargo or service the vessels listed above. An estimated 10,000 vessels, 5,000 facilities, and 40 outer continental shelf facilities will be directly affected. The regulations require security measures that have three security levels. Depending on security needs, measures may include passenger, vehicle and baggage screening procedures; security patrols; establishing restricted areas; personnel identification procedures; access control measures; and/or installation of surveillance equipment. The regulations amend other sections of the Code of Federal Regulations to implement Automatic Identification System (AIS) requirements for certain vessels, as required by MTSA. AIS is a system of equipment and technologies that automatically sends detailed ship information to other ships and shore-based agencies. Installing AIS equipment on certain vessels traveling in U.S. waters is intended to allow comprehensive, virtually instantaneous vessel tracking and monitoring, increasing security and safety in shipping channels, and boosting awareness of maritime activity. The new MTSA security regulations cover vessels and facilities operating on or adjacent to waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and are split into six separate parts. Following a general section that discusses common requirements and definitions, each of the sections focuses on a specific segment of the marine industry: ports, vessels, facilities, and outer continental shelf facilities. A final regulation addresses the installation of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). These regulations are part of the new Subchapter H of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, except for AIS, which amends several sections of the CFR. The regulations have common elements, including: Security Officers & Training for all Personnel — requires the designation of an individual who will be responsible for the vessel or facility security program, outlines the qualifications for security officers, and requires all personnel to have training so that they are ready and able to implement the security plan. Security Assessments and Plans — requires owners and operators to assess vulnerabilities, and develop plans that may include passenger, vehicle and baggage screening procedures; security patrols; establishing restricted areas; personnel identification procedures; access control measures; and/or installation of surveillance equipment. Part 103 of the segment titled “Ports” designates the Coast Guard Captains of the Port as Federal Maritime Security Coordinators, giving them the authority to oversee and direct the necessary activities of increasing security of our ports. Also, another component establishes “Area Maritime Security Committees,” made up of representatives of federal, state and local agencies, industry groups and others, to assess the specific vulnerabilities in each of the nation’s 361 ports and develop plans for complex and diverse security requirements within the port areas. Virtually every type of vessel likely will be impacted by the new regulations, which are expected to be implemented by July 1, 2004. In its release of the interim final rules, the DHS included a segment identifying “examples of vessels most directly impacted by the new regulations.” That list includes “SOLAS-certified cargo ship carrying grain traveling from Jacksonville to New York; container vessel carrying cargo from New Orleans to San Juan; container vessel carrying cargo from Hong Kong to Los Angeles; barge carrying auto part containers traveling from Seattle to Vancouver; cruise ship on a Caribbean voyage; dinner boat on the Chesapeake Bay carrying more than 150 people; gaming boat on the Mississippi; ferries operating in Puget Sound, Wash.; barge carrying home heating oil on the Hudson River; tanker carrying liquefied natural gas; supply vessel heading to an offshore oil rig; towing vessel pushing an oil barge on the Mississippi River.” Port Agent Appointed to Safety Committee SIU Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent John Cox (left) recently was appointed for a three-year term to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Safety Committee. Cox, pictured with Jim Rollin of the California State Department of Fish and Game’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response at the SIU official’s swearing-in ceremony May 20, will help the committee address various safety issues pertaining to the nation’s busiest sea port. The committee meets every other month, with subcommittees meeting more frequently. August 2003 Seafarers LOG 5 �Government Services Ships Earn MSC Safety Awards Three government servicescrewed ships in June were honored as winners of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Surface Ship Safety Award. MSC reported that fleet oiler USNS Leroy Grumman, combat stores ship USNS San Jose, and fleet ocean tug USNS Navajo—each crewed by members of the union’s Government Services Division—have been selected from 37 eligible vessels as the command’s leaders in safety. The award, given for the Oct. 1, 2001 to March 31, 2003 com- petitive period, recognizes the outstanding contributions of ships crewed by civil service mariners to MSC fleet readiness. The award also takes into account increased morale and the efficient use of safety resources. Ships and crews earning the award exhibit consistently excellent safety records and employ proactive accident prevention programs. In acknowledgment of their respective efforts, crews from each ship received a plaque. Each also was given authorization to display a large green “S” on its bridge bulwark signifying the Seafarers Appeals Board — Action Number 420 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 has recognized the need for appropriate Shipping Rule adjustments to secure and maintain an adequate supply of qualified and trained personnel aboard various U.S.-flagged fleets; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of this action to amend the Shipping Rules to allow seamen with either Group One (1) or Group Two (2) NMU seniority status to have priority for jobs referred to the Seafarers Hiring Hall over applicants with Class “C” Seniority. NOW THEREFORE, the Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and various Contracted Employers hereby amends the Shipping Rules to provide for the following. In Rule 4. Business Hours and Job Calls, Subsection D. (1.)(a) Add new language to the first sentence to read. D. (1.) (a) Subject to the arrival and departure of a vessel, except as provided for herein, if a port cannot fill a job with a Class “A” or Class “B” registrant, the job shall be referred back to the Manpower Pool Coordinator, who will then refer the job to other nearby ports. If the job cannot be filled with a qualified Class “A” or Class “B” registrant in other nearby ports, the job shall be referred back to the original port, at which time seamen registered under the NMU rules possessing either Group one (1) or Group Two (2) seniority status shall be permitted, on the next job call, to bid and be shipped as per the applicable provisions of the Shipping Rules before the job is referred to “All Ports.” 2. In Rule 2. Shipping Procedure Subsection G. 17(a) amend the language by adding the following. Except as specifically provided for herein or by SAB action, seamen with Class “B” seniority ratings, or NMU Group One (1) or Group (2) seniority shipped pursuant to these Rules, may retain such jobs for one (1) round trip or one hundred eighty (180) days, whichever is longer. At the termination of such round trip or on the first opportunity following the one hundred eightieth (180th) day on the job, such seamen shall sign off their vessels and the vacant job shall be referred to the Union hiring hall. Those members shipped with Group 1 or Group 2 NMU status shall be governed by the Rules set forth herein consistent with members with Group “B” seniority. This SAB action shall remain in full force and effect until modified by future SAB action. Surface Ship Safety Award. MSC also recognized three other ships, including fleet oiler USNS John Ericsson and hospital ship USNS Comfort (both crewed by Government Services Division members) as runners-up for the Surface Ship Safety Award. “These ships exemplified an aggressive safety program which actively contributed to mishap prevention. They have set the standard in MSC afloat safety for our fleet,” said Vice Admiral David L. Brewer III, MSC commander, in a message sent to all MSC ships. One winner and one runner-up are chosen from each of the following categories of MSC ships for the award: Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force oilers, NFAF cargo ships and other MSC civilservice mariner crewed ships. The USNS San Jose, the highest-rated ship overall, also earned the 2002 Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award in the Military Sealift Command category. Express Marine Seafarers employed by Express Marine have approved a new three-year contract that calls for wage increases and other gains. The contract was ratified July 13 aboard the tug Guardian. The new pact maintains the current medical coverage of Plan level “G” and boosts the pension credit to two days for each day worked. Express Marine crews will be enrolled in the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan and are scheduled to receive pay increases in each year of the contract. Serving on the negotiating committee were Captain Riley Johnson, Mate Doug Covil, AB/Cook Stephen Jones, SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi and SIU Philadelphia Port Agent Jim Malone. Express Marine operates coal barges up and down the East Coast. Waterman Crew members employed aboard Waterman TAKX vessels Seafarers and SIU officials were on hand June 14 in San Diego for the christening of Totem Ocean Trailer Express’ North Star, a new roll-on/roll-off vessel that is sister ship to the Midnight Sun. The Orca-class trailership is 840 long, 118 feet wide and capable of carrying highway trailers as large as 53 feet in length. Pictured in front of the North Star are (from left) SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, SIU President Michael Sacco and SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone. Seafarers LOG MSC normally operates 120 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. That number expanded to about 214 in March as additional ships were activated from reduced operating status or chartered for the command’s support of U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. From January to April 2003, MSC ships delivered more than 21 million square feet of combat equipment and other cargo—the equivalent of more than 300 foot- ball fields—to the Central Command area of operations. The command’s fleet support ships also pumped more than 117 million gallons of fuel to U.S. Navy and coalition warships in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. MSC ship missions include underway replenishment of U.S. Navy ships at sea, prepositioning and transport of defense cargo and at-sea data collection for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies. Contract Department Briefs Welcoming the North Star 6 The USNS San Jose, recently recognized by MSC for its safe operations, also earned the 2002 Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award. (the Pless, Obregon and Kocak) will receive a three percent increase to their wages, overtime and Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan company contribution amount, retroactive to January 1, 2003. Matson SIU steward department members aboard Matson ships received a 3.25 percent increase in wages and all wage-related items on July 1, 2004. They also are scheduled to receive a 3.25 percent increase on July 1, 2004. For the Moku Pahu only, Seafarers received a four percent increase in wages and wage-related items on July 1, 2003. They also are scheduled to receive a four percent increase on July 1, 2004. Sealift Tankers Effective July 1, 2003, the crews aboard the Cleveland and the Wilson received an acrossthe-board three percent increase. Additionally, the crews will receive three percent increases effective July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2005. Bernard Fisher The crew of the Major Bernard Fisher received a “total labor cost” increase of three percent effective July 1, 2003. Crew members will continue to enjoy Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Level G and Seafarers Vacation Plan Benefits of 14 days for each 30 days worked. Advantage, Noble Star, Virginian Effective July 1, 2003, crew members employed aboard the Advantage, Noble Star and Virginian received a three percent across-the-board increase. They will receive Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Level G benefits, Seafarers Maritime Union (SMU) vacation benefits of 15 days for each 30 days worked, and SMU Money Purchase Pension Plan benefits of 10 percent of the daily base wage. Additionally, the crews of these vessels will receive a three percent wage increase effective July 1, 2004 and again on July 1, 2005. Maersk Line, Limited Effective June 9, 2003, the crew of the Maersk Constellation received a contractually scheduled three percent total labor cost increase. This includes wages and wage-related items. Also, effective July 1, 2003, crews of the SIU-contracted Maersk ships enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program received the contractually scheduled three percent Economic Price Adjustment. Those crews will continue to receive medical coverage at the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Level G. AMSEA Effective June 1, 2003, crew members employed aboard AMSEA’s fast sealift ships received a three percent increase in wages, overtime, vacation and Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan contribution amount. Southbay Barge Inc. Seafarers have approved a new three-year contract at Southbay Barge, Inc. The agreement includes wage gains, pension and vacation benefits, and the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan’s top medical coverage. The company will pay transportation costs for crew members who successfully complete a course or courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. August 2003 �More RRF Crews Honored for Roles in Iraqi Freedom More than 50 Seafarers on May 28 joined the ranks of scores of their brothers and sisters to receive medals in recognition of their service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pier 2 at Alameda Point in Alameda, Calif. provided the setting for a U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) sponsored ceremony that honored the crews of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels Adm. Wm. Callaghan, Cape Orlando and Comet. U.S. Department of Transportation Chief of Staff John A. Flaherty delivered the keynote address and presented Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals to the crews and officers of the vessels for their support of operations involving American and allied military forces. “The maritime community has served America with great distinction during every major crisis in our nation’s history, and the mariners who crew the ships are the cornerstone of this effort,” said Flaherty. “From the Revolutionary War, through both World Wars, the Korean War and up to today, our mariners have willingly defended and served this nation with enthusiasm and valor.” Susan Clark of MarAd, at podium, leads those who attended the ceremony in the singing of the National Anthem. Other members of the event’s official party join in. Also participating in the ceremony were: Capt. Francis X. Johnson, director of Western Region, MarAd; Capt. Louis Cavaliere, USNR, fleet administrator, Keystone Shipping Co; Erny Otterspoor, president, Mormac Marine Enterprises and Commodore Juan L. Chavez, USN, commanding officer, Military Sealift Command, Pacific. Susan Clark of MarAd’s public affairs department led the National Anthem and was accompanied by the 91st Division Army Reserve Band of Camp Parks, Calif. The three roll-on/roll-off ships took materiel to American troops for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The ships and the crews have just returned from the zone of conflict in the Middle East. Seafarers who received medals and their vessels of assignment were: From the Adm. Wm. Callaghan—Bosun Paul E. Borg, ABs Thomas E. Muncy, Ronald C. Johnson, David A. Rice, Joseph C. Smith Jr. and Wayman Sellers; Electrician Jeoffrey N. Curry; Oilers Elmer Rochez, Francis T. Yapching, Eligio M. Vela and Butch Z. Lumansoc; Wiper Glen McBride, Steward Denise J. Smith, Chief Cook Tamara A. Houston, GSUs Julia W. Smith and Edward Washington Jr. and GVA Saleh Kassim Soofi. Medal recipients from the Cape Orlando were: Bosun Carlos A. Cabezas, ABs Randy Sweitzer, Lorenzo Tifre, Ralph T. White, Michael N. Carubba and Travis R. Hosea; Oilers George R. McAnern, Mario A. Silva and Eric Nappier; Wiper Luis F. Martinez, Steward Ronnie Hadnott, Chief Cook Orlando Suazo, GSUs Americo Monteiro and Jose L. Ramos and GVA Michael M. Simpson. Comet medal awardees were: Bosun Benedict B. Born, ABs Larry A. Rawlins, Jerry Devoe, George J. Keblis, John B. Meyers, Tom Corrales and Gary A. Ferandes; Ordinary Seamen Charles R. Berry, Roger T. Martell and Stephen R. Hammelman; Electrician Lowell R. Lemm; Oilers Anthony L. Perry, Steven M. Haver and James R. Smartt; Firemen Paul D. Smith and William C. Shields; Wiper Samuel A. Norteye, Steward Romeo S. Arquines, Chief Cook Harold B. Henderson and GSTUs Pat H. Bailey and Ben Roberson. All three ships belong to the RRF, a fleet of 68 ships owned and maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. A total of 40 RRF ships were assigned to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RRF ships are crewed by civilian American merchant mariners who volunteer for this potentially hazardous duty. American merchant mariners have supported U.S. military action since colonial times, often traveling into harm’s way to transport materiel to the armed forces. More than 80 percent of the vehicles and other equipment were taken to the Iraqi conflict by merchant mariners. SIU Assistant VP West Coast Nick Celona (second from left) poses with (from left) MEBA Patrolman John Anderson, MEBA Executive VP Bud Jacque and Marine Transport Lines Director of Labor Relations Gene Albert. Above: Crew members from the Comet, along with some of their family members, enjoy food and refreshments prior to the ceremony. Left: Part of the crew from the Cape Orlando take part in the festivities. Army Thanks Steward Dept. on USNS Fisher Mariners from the Adm. Wm. Callaghan, Cape Orlando and Comet await their respective turns to receive their medals. Adm. Wm. Callaghan Chief Cook Tamara A. Houston, kneeling, poses with some of her shipmates as well as crew members from the Cape Orlando. August 2003 Chief Steward Lonnie Jones (wearing white cap in photos above and at right) and the rest of the steward department aboard the USNS Fisher took good care of their U.S. Army guests during Operation Iraqi Freedom. “We wanted to do a good job for our country and our union,” said Jones. “The rest of the crew and I gave our best, and we got along great with the Army personnel.” The Army workforce presented Jones with certificates of appreciation (one is pictured at right) listing him and the rest of the galley gang: Chief Cook Carlos Dominguez, ACU Solomon Sanders, SA David Gannoun, SA Michael Zoabi and SA Ernest Niaves, all of whom are pictured above with their Army visitors. The group certificate reads in part: “Your dedicated support and professionalism keeping our troops well fed and supplied brings great credit to the Military Sealift Command, yourself and the United States Army.” Seafarers LOG 7 �Sailing With the SIU AB/Tankerman Charles Bigham stands aboard the Maritrans Barge 252. SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey and Regional Rep Robert Troy pose with the crew of the Cape Taylor on the vessel’s return to Corpus Christi, Texas. Home based in Houston, the Cape Taylor was the first ship to depart Corpus Christi during the activation for Operation Enduring Freedom. At right, Regional Rep Robert Troy and QMED Lino Remorin share the bright sunlight with the Cape Taylor in the background. The city of Corpus Christi took great pride in welcoming the vessel and crew back to the United States. OS/Cook Carl Doughtie (left) and AB/Tankerman Bobby Scheider work aboard the Maritrans tug Navigator, which is coupled with Barge 252. The tug/barge, which carries petroleum products, operates on the Gulf Coast. After 40 years in the SIU, SA Jose de los Santos retired May 21. Crew members aboard the Horizon Challenger feted him with a decorated cake (a man kicking back watching the Yankees—his favorite—on TV). Among other gifts, he also received a framed letter of appreciation from Capt. E.P. Skoropowski. Right: Victor Beata is bosun aboard the HMI Brenton Reef (recently renamed the Seabulk Courage), a double-hulled lightship tanker. Performing their jobs on Starlight Marine vessels are Mate/ Tankerman Greg Wall (above), Deckhand/Engineer Mark Carlsen (at right), and Engineer/ Tankerman Lyle Page (below). Mariners at Starlight Marine Services work aboard a conventional tug and barge that is used for bunkering and lightering operations, and also aboard two ship-assist tugboats utilized for docking and tanker escort procedures. They recently voted to join the SIU. Welcoming ceremonies took place aboard the Cape Inscription when it returned to Long Beach, Calif. from Iraq. Above, SIU Chief Electrician Donnell Tagart (right) accepts his Merchant Marine Expeditionary medal and certificate from Capt. Paul Foran (second from right) and Captain Frank Johnston, western regional director of MarAd. Right: SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone speaks to crew members on the Cape Inscription, praising them for a job well done. 8 Seafarers LOG AB Feliciano Gimutao (right) is presented with his award during ceremonies on the Cape Inscription. August 2003 �MSC Honors Crews of Fast Sealift Ships Algol, Bellatrix, Pollux Delivered for U.S. Troops Dozens of Seafarers were honored July 16 near New Orleans as the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) welcomed the crews of three fast sealift ships that supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. Crew members and officers from the USNS Algol, USNS Bellatrix and USNS Pollux were presented with U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals by Rear Admiral (Select) Deborah A. Loewer, USN, Vice Commander, MSC. The ceremony took place aboard the Bellatrix in Marrero, La. SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey was one of the featured speakers. He thanked and congratulated the crew for their dedication and patriotism. Corgey also expressed gratitude to MSC and the U.S. Maritime Administration for their strong, comprehensive efforts to ac- knowledge U.S. mariners returning from the war. “It’s our honor and privilege to serve our country. As a labor leader, it’s an honor and privilege to represent many of the mariners who delivered the goods,” Corgey said. “The U.S. Merchant Marine will be there whenever our country calls. We’re proud to serve as the nation’s fourth arm of defense.” Loewer told the crews, “You delivered the cargo. You got it there on time. You completed the mission. We’re proud of you.” Bosun Eric Leibold, who sailed on the Bellatrix during the war, said the ceremony was “incredible, very heart-moving. All the speakers were very informed and expressed their gratitude for the job done by all seafarers in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.” Like LMSRs, MSC’s fast sealift ships (including the USNS Bellatrix, above) are roll-on/roll-off vessels equipped with on-board cranes and self-contained ramps. Leibold said that his ship “literally did two round-the-world runs this year” in support of the mission. “Overall, it was a couple of very good runs. We took on four groups of military personnel, including a fast security team on both runs. Interaction with the military was outstanding. They were all just incredible men and women, and they contributed a lot—not only to the security of the ship and the upkeep of their own vehicles, but they actually wanted to help us with maintenance. I had to lock my paint locker to keep them from painting the ship.” According to MSC, the Algol, Bellatrix and Pollux “were critical elements in getting the combat equipment and supplies to U.S. war fighters in the Middle East.” Each ship can carry more than 150,000 square feet of vehicles and other out-sized cargo for the Department of Defense. The 946-foot vessels, which can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots, are part of MSC’s surge sealift program and are normally kept in reduced operating status until they are needed for contingencies like Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Algol, activated for service in November 2002 from its berth in Violet, La., transported equipment for the U.S. Army’s V Corps and 4th Infantry Division. The Pollux, also normally kept in reduced operating status in Violet, La., activated in early Pictured at the ceremony aboard the Bellatrix are (from left) Electrician Frank Quebedeaux, SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, STOS Jennifer Smith, SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, Bosun Walter Loveless and Bosun Wilfredo Rice. January 2003 to move cargo belonging to the Marine Corps I Marine Expeditionary Force and the Army’s 101st Airborne division. The Bellatrix, based in Marrero, was activated in September of 2002 and carried elements of the Marine Corps I Expeditionary Force and the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. The U.S Maritime Administration’s Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal recognizes civil service and commercial mariners who served aboard U.S.-flagged chartered or government-owned ships that supported Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The medal, which was first authorized for American merchant seamen serving in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s, consists of a two-sided bronze medallion suspended from a red, white, blue and green ribbon. The Algol, Bellatrix and Pollux are crewed by an SIU-contracted commercial ship operating company (AMSEA) under contract to MSC, the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense. The command normally operates about 120 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. That number expanded to 214 in March as additional ships were activated from reduced operating status or were chartered for the command’s support of U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Around the Great Lakes AB Harold Goetz stands at the Great Lakes Towing Co. dock in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. In the background are the tugs Missouri and Oklahoma. AB James Darden readies the line on the bow of the tug Wyoming (Great Lakes Towing Co.) while docking in Detroit, Mich. August 2003 Aboard the Great Lakes Towing Co. tug Wyoming are (from left) AB Doug Ogle, Patrolman Chad Partridge, AB Jeff Davis, AB James Darden and AB Ken Horner. Bosuns from the American Steamship Company fleet gathered for their winter meetings in Buffalo, N.Y. From the left are Bosuns David Barber, Mike Keogh, Ron Bochek, Michael Schaff, SIU VP Tom Orzechowski, Bosuns Bill Mulcahy, Charles Niegebauer, Jeff Eckhart and Al Brzezinski. SIU Algonac Port Agent Don Thornton (left) meets with Bosun Michael Schaff on board the Walter J. McCarthy in St. Clair, Mich. Seafarers LOG 9 �Delaware North, Delta Queen Officials Tour School Maritime Administrator Encourages Apprentices U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert was a special guest last month in Piney Point, Md. when a group of students graduated from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education’s unlicensed apprentice program. Schubert had dual roles at the event—addressing the graduates (above left) and also offering extra congratulations to his nephew Keith Gibney (above right), who was part of the class. Below, the graduates take their oath. Officials from SIU-contracted Delta Queen Steamboat Company and its parent Delaware North Companies (DNC) last month toured the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Pictured above (from left), DNC Risk Manager Rodney Schunk, DNC Risk Management Director Steven Prechel, Delta Queen Human Resources VP Craig Keller, Delta Queen President Rick Abramson and Delta Queen Risk Management Dept. Manager Linda Angelica review ship-specific safety manuals produced by the school. At right, Angelica takes the helm in the Paul Hall Center’s bridge simulator. Call of the Sea by Michael J. Kennedy LOG-A-RHYTHMS Nikita’s Prayer at Sea by Roslyn Nikita Brooks Dear Lord. So many times we walk through life, never caring about the other guy, still we hope that things may change. Dear Lord. Help us to see what in the world is happening to us, for we need to open our hearts and help our brother and our sister make a new start. We really need to make a change. Dear Lord. I know that you can give the world peace and harmony. We can make a difference if we try. Dear Lord. Help us to lift each other’s spirits at sea because we are all in need of so many things. Dear Lord. My heart has the desire to do the right thing aboard this vessel because I am your vessel. Dear Lord. I know that a smile and a kind word can change a person in many ways and brighten everyone’s day, and sometimes help them forget about all their worries that are left behind. After all, kindness doesn’t cost anything. Dear Lord. I thank you for watching over me and the entire crew while we are asleep. Thank you for being all that you are to me. Dear Lord. Touch our hearts in a mighty way that we may thank you for the help that you have placed at our side. Father, I thank you for the sunlight, the moon and the stars at night. Dear Lord. Protect all my brothers and sisters at sea, be it in the East Coast, West Coast, Great Lakes, Coastwise, or foreign waters and lands. Dear Lord. May we all return home to our families safely, knowing that your promises will never ever grow old. Amen. (Roslyn Nikita Brooks wrote this while serving as a chief cook on the Cape Washington.) 10 Seafarers LOG The full summer moon illuminates the great river. Distant notes of Dixieland jazz mingle with the aromas of the bustling Vieux Carré, flavoring the night’s air. My senses are now awakened, reopening a portal of memories that suddenly reel me back to a time when love was strong, yet challenged. I submit to a trace of tearful lament, torn between the beckoning spell of the sea and another woman’s love that I know I will lose to this mistress. I have surrendered my purpose to her abyss, yet she wants me all. My heart, full of emotion, awaits a time when words shall witness good intentions despite stronger Ode to the Sea by Bruce Hosmer We painted in the wind, we painted in the rain. Sometimes over grease (now that was a pain!). We painted gray and green, red, white and blue, buff ‘n’ black, believe me, ‘tis true! We painted in the morn, evening, noon and night. We painted when we couldn’t see (and next morn observed with a fright). We painted with aggregate (better known as non-skid), but each day, no matter what, into buckets our brushes ’n’ rollers slid. tides and currents. Leaving me as she found me . . . alone in her servitude, at her beck and call. I have lived on land and at sea, fitting in neither kingdom completely. My soul is of dolphins and albatrosses, which are truly free. As my dreams take me to these places that I call paradise, I am at peace again, alone at sea, serenaded by her beauty, gazing at the distant stars that accentuate her mystery. A shooting star streams down across the night’s sky and I wish that heaven will be of this night. A dolphin joined by mates now plays in our bow wake, frolicking a glance at me. Life is of magic, to be treasured as a rare gem. I am at peace with my world again, contently awaiting my inevitable fate. (Michael J. Kennedy wrote this piece in April aboard the S.S. Chilbar.) We had the bos’n involved, watch standers and deck cadet, too. Under overheads, over bulkheads and decks our brushes and rollers flew. Said the C/M, “We’ve a locker full o’ paint, lads, you’ll never git done, and when the locker’s empty I’ll order up more colors . . . and then some!!” Arr; so when y’all tuck yerselves into sleep each night, and the wind’s glowing at force three, know there’s still two out there painting; that’d be Ol’ Joe and me . . . (Working as daymen last year aboard the Green Lake [Central Gulf Lines], AB Bruce Hosmer and Joe Comean—and the rest of the deck crew—did a lot of painting aboard ship.) August 2003 �Piney Point Fixture Betty Smith Calls It a Career When Betty Smith started working at the new maritime training facility in Piney Point, Md. in 1968, she knew almost nothing about the merchant marine and had only short-term plans to stay there. “I thought a Seafarer was like Captain Hook, and I was only going to spend a few months here,” Smith recalled last month at the Paul Hall Center for Dozens of students surprised Betty Smith with a flag ceremony on her last day working at the Paul Hall Center. Clockwise, from left, Smith receives a U.S. Merchant Marine flag; fights back tears during the observance; and shares a laugh with unlicensed apprentices. Military Sailor Salutes Paul Hall Center’s Veterans’ Program ‘The School Has Everything a Student Needs to Be Successful’ Although he already has spent more than three decades at sea aboard various military vessels, Master Chief Petty Officer John Joseph Regina’s appetite for the sea—and his genuine love for sailing—remains leagues away from being satisfied. And so when he retires from the U.S. Navy later this year following more than 31 years of service, Regina plans to “become a merchant marine…join the SIU and continue sailing until I get too old to do it.” Apparently the Jacksonville, Fla. resident is very serious about his aspiration. In the last month, he has taken steps to not only bolster its fruition, but also to make the transition into it easy. From May 26 to July 27, the father of three sons (26-year-old Christopher, 17-year-old Guy, and 11-year-old Eric) was taking upgrading classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. A radar man by specialty, Regina was enrolled in the August 2003 school’s veterans’ program. It allows separating and retired military members in possession of U.S. Coast Guard-recognized deck or engine ratings to sit for the able-bodied seaman or fireman/oiler endorsements. Once qualified individuals successfully complete course requirements at the school and pass a Coast Guard exam, they are guaranteed a first job aboard one of the SIU’s contracted vessels. Regina was thoroughly impressed, not only with the quality of the training he received at Piney Point, but also by the state-of-the art facilities in which that instruction was given. “The AB class was great,” he said. “I had a wonderful time and learned a great deal. The materials presented were interesting as well as informative and the quality of the instructors was excellent. I was very impressed. “The quality of the training I received at the Paul Hall Center was as good—if not better in some cases—as that which I was exposed to during my Navy career,” Regina said. “And I can’t begin to tell you about the facilities here; they are remarkable. The school has everything a student needs in order to be successful and the entire staff is very dedicated to their mission of teaching mariners what they need to know.” The Brooklyn native should be a good judge of quality instruction as well as facilities because he has been enhancing his intellect at well-regarded institutions most of his adult life. After earning his high school diploma from Florida Junior College in Pensacola, Fla., he netted a bachelor’s degree in government and British history from the University of Maryland in College Park. Regina enlisted in the Navy in 1972 and completed numerous training regiments as he progressed through the enlisted ranks. He was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Senior Enlisted Academy at Maxwell AFB, Ala. when he became a senior chief petty officer. Regina, who currently is assigned to the USS John F. Kennedy, will remain on active duty with the Navy until September. At that point, the Vietnam-era sailor—who was involved in the evacuation of Saigon and has since had tours of duty in Greece, England and Cuba—will take his oath of allegiance to the merchant marine. Thereafter he’ll still be sailing under the Stars and Stripes and most likely be performing many of the same duties as before. Maritime Training and Education. “You could say things didn’t happen that way.” In fact, she became a fixture at the school—which opened in 1967—and a friend to countless Seafarers for the next 35 years. Before retiring in late June, Smith had tackled a number of jobs through the years, but spent most of her time from the mid1970s on trainee administration and the port agent’s office. “Betty genuinely cared about the trainees and the rest of the students, and it showed in her work,” noted Don Nolan, vice president of the Paul Hall Center. “With her, going ‘above and beyond’ was the norm. She did a great job and she absolutely will be missed.” Born in nearby Valley Lee, Md., Smith said the school’s early days were challenging. In its infancy, the Paul Hall Center had only a few, modest facilities and a bare bones curriculum. For students and staff alike, rounding the campus into shape was a shared task. As the late SIU historian John Bunker once noted, the first groups of trainees “learned more about driving nails, driving trucks, shoveling dirt and laying sod than they did about tying knots and making splices.” Smith didn’t hesitate to pitch in wherever needed. “You really didn’t have one job back then. It was a case of doing whatever needed to be done, and it often meant learning as you went along,” she said. Today, she is proud of how far the school has progressed. Hailed as a model of labor-man- agement cooperation, the Paul Hall Center features world-class facilities and training equipment, plus a thoroughly comprehensive vocational curriculum as well as academic support. “It’s really amazing to see the way the school has expanded and improved,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s second to none.” The students themselves are different, too, Smith noted. “I think the kids today are more computer-minded and more likely to question things. Back then, some of the apprentices started when they were 16 years old….” Looking ahead, Smith plans to take it easy “for a couple of months,” then travel to visit family in Michigan and California. Looking back, she has powerful, fond memories. “This was my life: the membership, the trainees,” she said. “The best part was seeing kids’ eyes light up when they got a job. And then, they’d come back to the school or even call from a ship – those kinds of things meant a lot. “I’ll never regret all the small favors I did for them,” Smith continued. “I enjoy helping people, doing for people. Based on the reactions I’ve gotten from people when they find out I’m retiring, it leads me to believe I’ve done something right over the years.” She concluded, “I want to say thanks to Don Nolan and the staff, and also to (SIU President) Mike Sacco, who’s been wonderful to me. And to the membership, I will thoroughly miss you all. God bless each and every one of you.” This time around however, he’ll be doing so in distinctly different attire and under a less-stringent set of rules. “It will be a different experience to go to sea without all the military protocol involved,” said Regina who has completed CONUS assignments in Pensacola, Jacksonville and Norfolk, Va. “In a lot of ways it probably will be more enjoyable. “As far as making the transition from the Navy to the merchant marine is concerned, I don’t think it will be difficult for me at all,” Regina offered. “The two professions really are not that much different—members of both go to sea and that’s really what I enjoy doing anyway.” Although he does not yet have any merchant mariner sea time to his credit, he says he’d have no problem promoting the profession or encouraging people to pursue it as a career. “Right now, I’m recruiting my 17-yearold son,” he concluded. John Regina, pictured during lifeboat class at the Paul Hall Center, says the school’s entry program for military veterans is top notch, as are the facilities. Seafarers LOG 11 �U.S. Health Care A Serious Problem Becomes Even Worse When employees at a union health plans office in Camp Springs, Md. recently received a hospital bill for $1 million—for a serious but fairly routine case involving a single member—they quickly investigated the details while initially assuming the charges were a mistake by the health care provider. The health plan continues to dispute the bill, but one part of the answer they received from the hospital demonstrates how grave —indeed, unfathomable—the U.S. health care crisis has become. The patient was charged $430,000 for a pacemaker that should have cost a small fraction of that amount. The reason? Standard markup, according to the provider. While the nationwide crisis isn’t new, the details have become more and more staggering. Unions are very much in the crosshairs, as health care costs routinely dominate contract negotiations. For instance, earlier this summer executives at General Electric wanted union employees to increase their share of health costs from 18 percent (the old level) to 30 percent. The company claimed U.S. Health Car 1 Alliance for Health Reform; 2 Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured; 3 Famil employers with 1,000 or more workers; 6 The nonprofit insurer Blue Shield of California; 7 U Paul Ginsburg and Jon Gabel, Health Affairs, Sept. 25, 2002; 9 “The Sad History of Health Ca Urban Institute and the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured; 11 Center on Foundation; 14 America@Work, June/July 2003. its costs for insuring workers soared to $1.4 billion last year, up 45 percent from $965 million in 1999. In mid-July, two unions at Verizon Communications announced that more than 75,000 workers had voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a contract isn’t reached by Aug. 2. Health care is a factor in the negotiations. Medical benefits also are at issue in Jefferson, Wis., where 470 workers are on strike at the Tyson Foods sausage and pepperoni plant—the first strike in the facility’s 128 years. In a familiar refrain, the company wants workers to pay more for their health benefits—in addition to scaling back the coverage. Also, last month the California Public Employees’ Retirement System approved a major jump in premiums for its 900,000 members insured by health maintenance organizations. The increase is more than 18 percent, and it follows a 25 percent increase the prior year. Unfortunately, such examples seem almost limitless. New Prescription Discount Program for Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Editor’s note: Lou Delma, administrator of the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, recently delivered the following news to the membership concerning a new prescription discount program: The cost of health care in this country has been rising at an unforeseen rate in the last couple of years. We in the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan have begun to battle the rising costs of health care. The first step in this process, which will be ongoing, has been to contract with the Eckerd Pharmacy chain, which includes Genovese and Thrift drug stores, in order to get some immediate relief in this ongoing struggle. With this in mind, Eckerd has offered us a discount for prescriptions for any Seafarers or their dependent that is able to show a Seafarers Health and Benefits ID card. This will result in an immediate reduction of any out-of-pocket monies spent to fill prescriptions. Once the discount has been given, eligible members and their dependents should submit their prescription claims to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan for reimbursement. This program goes into effect immediately. You may use other pharmacies, but only Eckerd, Genovese and Thrift have agreed to the discount program. This change will not affect pensioners, as they will continue to use Express Scripts. In fact, this new discount program is only an interim fix as the Plan is looking to expand on the national program that is currently in effect for pensioners which will enable participating pharmacies to bill the Plan directly for eligible active members and their dependents. In the future, you will be advised of additional changes and adjustments that will be made in this ongoing battle. 12 Seafarers LOG Maritime Unions Team Up to Tackle Costs Plans administrators from maritime unions participated in a meeting at SIU headquarters July 22 aimed at combating the seemingly perpetual rise of health care expenses. The meeting was the first in what is expected to be a regular series; more maritime unions plan to participate. Pictured at the meeting in Camp Springs, Md. are (from left) Allen Szymczak, MEBA Plans administrator; Valerie Verrechio, MM&P Plans August 2003 �e: Beyond Crisis re by the Number s ies USA; 4 The Commonwealth Fund; 5 From a December 2002 Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 435 S. Census Bureau; 8 “Tracking Health Care Costs: Growth Accelerates Again in 2001,” Bradley Strunk, Paul Cost Containment as Told in One Chart,” Drew Altman and Larry Levitt, Health Affairs, Jan. 23, 2002; 10 Budget and Policy Priorities; 12 Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured; 13 Kaiser Family Employer-B Based Health Insurance Coverage Falls Since the mid-1990s, employer coverage had been on the rise, thanks in large part to a strong economy. Now, a weaker economy coupled with doubledigit health care cost increases are threatening these fragile gains in job-based coverage. Also, not everyone benefited equally from these prosperous years. Low-income families with at least one full-time worker are only half as likely to have job-based coverage as higher income working families. Workers in small businesses (under 200 employees) also fare worse—nearly 54 percent of these workers have no health coverage as compared to employed workers as a whole. Clearly, working does not guarantee coverage—56 percent of the uninsured in the U.S. are in families where one person in the household works full time. Children and spouses are typically the first victims of a drop in coverage. Even during the recent strong economic times, family coverage was far less affordable than single coverage for the worker. In 2002, 23 percent of workers were in firms that paid the full cost of single coverage but only 9 percent were in firms that paid the full cost of family coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust. Higher eligibility levels in state Medicaid programs and increased enrollment in state children’s health insurance programs have brought coverage to many more low income children. But adults are not eligible for these programs in most states, causing 44 percent of poor adults in the U.S. to be uninsured as compared to almost 26 percent of poor children. Source: AFL-CIO Bargaining for Medical Care administrator; Teresa Zelko, SIU administrative assistant; Ambrose Cucinotta, SIU Plans deputy administrator; Lou Delma, Seafarers Plans administrator; Michelle Chang, SUP Plans administrator; and Steve Nickerson, AMO Plans executive director. August 2003 Retaining affordable, quality health care is a top priority as workers in a wide range of industries head to the bargaining table this year. As health care costs skyrocket amid the current recession, many employers are trying to shift the rising cost of health care to employees. That means many workers who already are facing stagnating wages may also have to pay higher premiums, deductibles and co-payments. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, corporations increased workers’ monthly health insurance premiums an average 27 percent for single coverage and 16 percent for family coverage from 2001 to 2002, despite hourly wage increases of only 3.8 percent in 2001 and 2.9 percent in 2002. At the same time, health care costs for employers increased 14.7 percent this past year, according to the Labor Research Association—while profits of HMOs and health insurers rose 25 percent in 2001. Unions are meeting the challenge of rising health care costs by fighting hard in bargaining to keep workers’ responsibilities manageable and by building alliances with community groups to ensure employers who can afford to pay health care costs do not shift an unfair amount of the burden to their employees. When possible, unions also are seeking to negotiate cost-cutting measures that do not affect the quality of care. Source: AFL-CIO Seafarers LOG 13 �Retiree Machado Encourages Aspiring Mariners Arthur Machado’s reaction when asked to reflect on his 35 years in the SIU says a lot about his selfless nature. The longtime AB’s first response wasn’t about a particular voyage or even his overall experience, but instead an encouraging word for those just starting their maritime careers. “The SIU is a good place for a young person to start out,” said Machado, 62, who lives near New Orleans. “You can learn and A personal favorite from Machado’s photo album shows 22-year-old Arthur (left) with popular singer Frankie Laine in 1963 in New Orleans. earn, and get an education at the same time. Plus you get to travel. I recommend it 100 percent.” Considering his heritage, it’s no surprise that Machado chose the seafaring life. His father and grandfather also were merchant mariners. However, Machado in one sense chose a different route—his father was an NMU member. “I joined the SIU in 1968,” Machado recalled. “I was 27 years old, and I had friends who shipped SIU. They had told me, ‘You have a better chance of shipping out and seeing the world with us.’ That’s what I did.” One of his first stops was Piney Point, Md.—home to the then-new Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, much of which still was being built. “They just worked us,” Machado remembered. “We got a place to stay and eat and all that. It was something new.” During the ensuing 35 years, he often returned to Piney Point to upgrade. “Obviously, the school has come a long, long way since I first went there,” he said. “The classes, the buildings— everything is first rate. And the 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 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 people really go out of their way to treat you nice.” A lifelong resident of the New Orleans area, Machado, who sailed during Vietnam and during the Persian Gulf War, said he particularly enjoyed the travel that was such an integral part of his job. He especially liked sailing to South America. “The travel really was one of the big benefits. I learned so many things,” he noted. Machado’s last ship was the Altair, on which he sailed as an AB and also served as the chief security person. Again turning his attention to the union’s newest members, he concluded, “Keep the winds to your back and full steam ahead!” SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd wasn’t surprised that Machado seemed more interested in encouraging others than talking about himself. “Arthur is just a good person—the type of guy who’d give you the shirt off his back,” Judd stated. “I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s been a dedicated Seafarer all the way.” Arthur Machado SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR SIU PACIFIC DISTRICT PENSION PLAN This is a summary of the annual report for SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, 94-6061923 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2002. The annual report has been filed with the Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by the Trust. Plan expenses were $13,129,074. These expenses included $1,149,721 in administrative expenses and $11,979,353 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 4,038 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits. The value of the plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $139,693,037 as of July 31, 2002, compared to $144,818,531 as of July 31, 2001. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $5,125,494. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets that is the different 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 a total income of $8,003,580, including employer contributions of $32,929, losses of $4,770,897 from the sale of assets and earnings from investments of $12,741,548. Minimum Funding Standards An actuary’s statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance with the minimum funding standards of ERISA. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items list- ed below are included in that report: 1. An auditor’s report; 2. Financial information and information on pay ments to service providers; 3. Assets held for investment; 4. Transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets; and 5. Actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the administrator of the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan at 1422 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. The charge to cover copying costs will be $9.50 for the full annual report, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan, 1422 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, and 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 Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, Room N5638, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR SIU PACIFIC DISTRICT SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PLAN, INC. This is a summary of the annual report of the SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Plan, Inc., EIN 941431246, for the year ended July 31, 2002. The annual report has been filed with the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. has committed itself to pay all supplemental benefits. Basic Financial Statement The value of the plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $2,535,841 as of July 31, 2002, compared to $2,918,099 as of July 31, 2001. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $382,258. During the plan year, the plan had a total income of $7,048,622, including employer contributions of $6,981,599, and earnings from investments of $67,023. Plan expenses were $7,430,880. These expenses included $452,929 in administrative expenses, and $6,977,951 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report. 1. An auditor’s report; 2. Financial information and information on payments to service providers; 3. Assets held for investment; and 4. Transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Plan, Inc., at 1422 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 437-6832. The charge to cover copying costs will be $2.25 for the full annual report, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and the accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and the accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan at 1422 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, 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 Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, Room N5638, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. August 2003 �Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea JUNE 16 — JULY 15, 2003 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 1 3 1 8 27 39 10 15 29 19 6 2 11 22 2 37 14 246 0 3 4 5 14 20 12 15 20 17 2 17 4 8 3 19 20 183 0 0 1 3 25 17 7 7 12 5 2 1 1 1 5 15 7 109 0 3 3 8 16 27 12 10 20 17 4 1 8 17 0 22 16 184 1 2 0 10 7 27 4 16 11 4 3 3 7 8 1 8 7 119 2 8 2 3 6 15 5 8 14 7 3 2 3 8 3 16 5 110 1 1 4 2 12 6 0 1 3 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 4 42 1 7 1 2 5 21 6 4 5 13 2 4 7 6 1 5 5 95 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 2 3 3 6 8 19 7 17 7 19 2 4 2 9 2 14 10 134 0 0 0 1 9 13 3 9 6 2 0 1 2 1 0 11 4 62 0 0 0 3 18 26 6 10 5 6 2 0 4 6 1 26 8 121 3 9 1 10 48 58 20 36 47 21 6 3 12 44 2 50 33 403 3 2 8 11 19 46 17 24 33 22 3 15 2 9 5 27 29 275 3 1 1 4 39 20 7 12 35 11 3 0 0 4 8 23 21 192 0 5 0 12 23 35 9 20 16 6 2 4 7 15 3 16 15 188 1 6 2 7 13 28 6 14 15 19 1 1 1 11 2 22 12 161 2 1 3 3 19 6 3 5 9 5 2 0 0 3 4 13 8 86 1 2 0 4 11 9 2 5 8 1 1 1 1 10 0 8 9 73 0 5 0 19 31 31 11 13 26 14 4 1 5 39 2 36 41 278 3 2 1 6 3 14 10 7 7 11 3 2 3 4 1 7 6 90 1 0 1 2 2 16 2 2 7 5 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 43 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 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 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Piney Point .............Monday: September 8, October 6 DECK DEPARTMENT 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 Trip Reliefs September & October 2003 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters 3 5 1 3 3 13 4 10 9 6 5 2 3 3 2 14 1 87 0 0 1 1 1 4 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 16 Algonac ..................Friday: September 12, October 10 Baltimore ................Thursday: September 11, October 9 Boston.....................Friday: September 12, October 10 Duluth .....................Wednesday: September 17, October 15 Guam ......................Thursday: September 25, October 23 Honolulu .................Friday: September 19, October 17 Houston ..................Monday: September 15, October 13 Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 11, October 9 Mobile ....................Wednesday: September 17, October 15 New Bedford ..........Tuesday: September 23, October 21 0 4 0 2 5 11 5 0 6 4 0 1 2 5 2 7 1 55 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 16, October 14 New York................Tuesday: September 9, October 7 Norfolk ...................Thursday: September 11, October 9 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 10, October 8 Port Everglades.......Thursday: September 18, October 16 San Francisco .........Thursday: September 18, October 16 San Juan..................Thursday: September 11, October 9 St. Louis..................Friday: September 19, October 17 Tacoma ...................Friday: September 26, October 24 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 2 1 11 16 20 5 10 18 9 4 1 1 17 2 22 21 160 1 2 0 4 5 14 6 3 7 5 0 2 4 4 1 5 4 67 2 0 0 2 3 3 0 1 3 6 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 25 0 0 1 7 10 16 7 6 11 9 3 1 0 16 1 8 9 105 Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 0 3 5 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 3 4 26 0 1 1 8 12 14 9 6 28 7 1 13 3 15 0 24 7 149 0 2 0 6 9 16 1 7 21 15 2 20 1 9 0 17 7 133 0 0 0 4 5 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 3 25 0 1 1 8 10 11 6 5 15 10 1 3 1 6 1 10 7 96 0 1 1 2 3 7 3 1 2 4 0 24 0 4 0 11 3 66 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 3 7 2 3 6 0 1 0 2 7 0 11 4 55 0 4 2 17 23 27 12 11 57 11 1 17 4 25 0 40 10 261 1 2 2 18 35 34 5 13 60 19 5 20 1 13 0 32 24 284 Totals All Departments 551 509 309 409 363 162 249 924 787 605 Port 0 0 0 3 2 10 7 1 3 6 0 1 2 5 0 3 3 46 1 0 1 2 2 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 18 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Wilmington ...............Monday: September 22, October 20 ................................ Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals SHIPMATES OF CHARLIE HAYWARD Following triple bypass heart surgery, AB/Quartermaster Charlie Hayward is no longer able to sail. The full-blooded native Alaskan, who is now 71 and lives in Everett, Wash., misses the seafaring life and his 46 years of sailing with the SUP, NMU and SIU. He would love to hear from some of his former shipmates. They may write him at 2012 96th Place, S.E., Everett, WA 98208; or telephone (425) 357-8341. Remembering Paul Hall August 20, 1914 – June 22, 1980 *“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. August 2003 Seafarers LOG 15 �Seafarers International Union Directory NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report JUNE 2003 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III John Fay, 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 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 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 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 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 Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Tacoma Totals DECK DEPARTMENT 4 8 4 9 3 9 5 42 2 1 2 0 0 2 3 10 0 4 3 1 0 0 0 8 Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Tacoma Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 7 9 0 12 7 49 7 10 5 24 3 29 21 99 9 0 5 4 0 21 8 47 0 7 11 5 0 0 6 29 0 7 1 2 0 10 1 21 1 1 9 6 4 29 24 74 4 0 0 3 0 4 9 20 0 1 5 7 0 0 6 19 2 3 4 1 0 10 1 21 3 1 1 2 2 35 7 51 2 0 1 2 0 10 5 20 0 1 3 5 0 6 2 17 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 2 1 1 3 1 6 4 18 1 0 0 0 0 5 2 8 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 7 Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Tacoma Totals 2 3 1 6 1 3 0 16 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 4 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 2 0 1 0 5 6 1 15 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Port 0 2 0 1 1 8 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Tacoma Totals 0 4 0 7 0 7 0 18 0 3 1 4 0 14 1 23 2 4 2 5 0 0 3 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 7 0 3 0 15 2 8 3 13 0 132 2 160 19 4 4 16 0 66 13 122 4 7 13 39 0 11 20 94 Totals All Departments 93 44 32 38 8 4 106 384 209 159 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the LOG by pensioner Lawrence Ray Owens of Culver City, Calif. It was taken at the Don Hotel (Wilmington, Calif.) in 1970. From the left are Owens, manager MC&S; Tom Randall, Maritime Trades official; Joe Goren, Wilmington port agent, MC&S; Tom Pitts, labor counsel; Ed Turner, MC&S president; Frank Drozak, SIU vice president; and Joe Spinazzola, MC&S. Located in downtown Wilmington, the Don Hotel was close to all the union halls and docks. Wilmington was the gateway to Catalina, Honolulu and the South Pacific. The hotel had 125 rooms, and 25 retired seafarers paid $30 monthly to stay there. The MC&S also had a steward department trainee program in Wilmington, and 20 students lived on the hotel premises. The Don Hotel was purchased in the late ’50s and sold just before the MC&S merger into the SIU in 1978. Owens is retired with 35 years of sailing (from 1960-1995). August 2003 �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 HORST BAETJER, 65, hails from Germany. Brother Baetjer began his SIU career in 1968 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His initial voyage was aboard a vessel operated by Victory Carriers. The engine department member upgraded his skills in 1980 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. A resident of Torrance, Calif., Brother Baetjer last shipped on the Sea-Land Explorer. JAMES ELLIOTT, 65, launched his career with the Seafarers in 1965. Brother Elliott’s first voyage was aboard the Steel Worker, an Isco Inc. vessel. A native of Portsmouth, Va., he shipped in the deck department. Brother Elliott last went to sea on Titan Navigation’s Jade Phoenix. He lives in Elizabeth, N.J. LEON T. JEKOT, 61, joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Jekot first went to sea aboard a Sea Liberties vessel. A native of Philadelphia, he shipped in the deck department as a bosun. He upgraded his skills often at the Seafarers training school in Piney Point, Md. and completed the bosun recertification course in 1985. Brother Jekot lives in St. Augustine, Fla. He last worked on the USNS Capella. PAUL LEWIS, 43, was born in Washington, D.C. He launched his career with the SIU in 1980 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Brother Lewis’ first voyage was aboard the San Juan, a Puerto Rico Marine Management vessel. The deck department member shipped as a bosun. He upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center, completing the bosun recertification course in 1990. Brother Lewis last worked on the USNS Henson. He makes his home in Dover, N.H. RONALD MAKOWIECKI, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1979 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Makowiecki shipped in both the inland and deep sea divisions. The Norwich, Conn.-born mariner shipped in the deck department and upgraded his skills in Piney Point in 2001. A resident of Norfolk, he last sailed aboard the USNS Regulus. August 2003 SYLVESTER MASON, 65, began his SIU career in 1967 in San Francisco. He initially sailed on a States Steamship Co. vessel. The Browns, Ala. native shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Mason completed steward recertification training in 1991 at the Paul Hall Center. A resident of Reno, Nevada, he last worked aboard the President Roosevelt. INLAND WILMER L. ADAMS, 62, started his career with the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Born in Meridian, Miss., Boatman Adams worked in the inland as well as the deep sea divisions. His first ship was the Globe Carrier, an Overseas Carriers, Inc. vessel. The deck department member last worked aboard a Gulf Atlantic Transport Corp. vessel. Boatman Adams makes his home in Satsuma, Ala. JOHN E. BRYAN, 62, was born in Front Royal, Va. After joining the Seafarers, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. Boatman Bryan shipped in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in 1995 and 2001. He is a resident of Orange Park, Fla. COLIN CHALMERS, 66, joined the SIU in 1979 in Tampa, Fla. Boatman Chalmers initially worked aboard a Dixie Carriers vessel. The West Indiesborn mariner sailed in both the steward and deck departments and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers training school in 2001. Boatman Chalmers last worked on a Maritrans Operating Co. vessel. He makes his home in Seffner, Fla. JOSEPH DUHON, 63, was born in Louisiana. Boatman Duhon started his SIU career in 1992 in Houston. A member of the deck department, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Higman Barge Lines. Boatman Duhon still lives in his native state in the city of Lake Arthur. JOHN ENGLEMAN, 64, joined the Seafarers in 1959 in Detroit. Boatman Engleman initially worked aboard a Bob-Lo Islandoperated vessel. The Michigan native sailed in both the inland and Great Lakes divisions and worked in the deck as well as steward departments. His last vessel was the Southdown Challenger. Boatman Engleman lives in Caseville, Mich. THOMAS LUCAS, 61, hails from Woodbury, N.J. Boatman Lucas started his careeer in the SIU in 1970 in the port of Philadelphia. Prior to joining the Seafarers, Boatman Lucas served in the U.S. Air Force. A member of the deck department, Boatman Lucas shipped as a captain, working primarily aboard vessels operated by Interstate Oil Transport Co. He is a resident of Cape May Court House, N.J. GERALD MASON, 61, is a native of Beaufort, N.C. Boatman Mason joined the SIU in 1971 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Prior to becoming a Seafarer, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Boatman Mason initially shipped aboard an Allied Towing vessel. He worked in the deck department as a master and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center in 1978. Boatman Mason still resides in his native city. He last worked on a Steuart Transportation Co. vessel. VELIE THORNTON, 67, launched her career with the Seafarers in 1992 in St. Louis. Born in Trigg County, Ky., she worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Orgulf Transportation. Sister Thornton worked in both the deck and steward departments during her career. She upgraded her skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in 1999. Sister Thornton resides in Murray, Ky. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all former members of the NMU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, recently went on pension. LINWOOD FRANKLIN, 72, started his career with the NMU in 1968. Born in Norfolk, Va., his initial voyage originated out of the port of New York. Brother Franklin worked in both the deck and engine departments. MARCIANO DeGRACE, 65, hails from Portugal. He began sailing with the NMU in 1966. Shipping out of San Francisco, his maiden voyage was aboard the Gopher State. Brother DeGrace worked in the Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG 1946 When the contracts which the SIU had signed with Waterman and Mississippi on July 24 were submitted to the Wage Stabilization Board for approval, the Wage Stabilization Board refused to approve them because SIU’s contract settlement did not follow the pattern established by our West Coast affiliates, even though the dollar and cents increases were identical. Since SIU companies had agreed to SIU increases, the union felt very strongly that our beef was not against the shipowners but against Washington bureaucracy. The SIU, after consultations with all unions in maritime, called the first general strike in maritime history. Every ship in every port was immobilized, whether American-flag or foreign-flag. After eight days, on orders from President Truman, the Wage Stabilization Board reversed itself and approved SIU agreements. The strike was then called off and the waterfront returned to normal. Shortly thereafter, the Wage Stabilization Board was dissolved. steward and deck departments and upgraded his skills in 1976. He last sailed aboard the Chesapeake Bay. REGINALD JUZANG, 57, was born in Mobile, Ala. Brother Juzang joined the NMU in 1977. His initial voyage was aboard the Kansas, which originated from the port of Mobile, Ala. The steward department member last went to sea on the Lykes Motivator. HORACE MONTGOMERY, 66, launched his career with the NMU in 1961. Brother Montgomery’s first voyage was aboard the Texaco Wisconsin. The Perdue Hill, Ala.-born mariner worked as a chief steward. Brother Montgomery last shipped aboard the MV Sulphur Enterprise. In addition to the members listed above, the following NMU brothers went on pension effective the dates indicated. Name Age EDP Cornelius Drayton Albert Cox Feliciano Gabino Gerard Campion Hafid Mohamed Harvey Stickney Jose Cartaya Kenneth Arthurs James Pope 71 62 64 68 60 72 71 65 64 April 1 June 1 June 1 June 1 July 1 Apr. 1, ’02 April 1 May 1 June 1 Currency Committee voted to eliminate an amendment to the Export Control Act posing a threat to the 50-50 cargo preference requirement in United States trade with Eastern Europe. The SIU emphasized that the proposed amendment “would serve as an opening wedge in a new assault on the cargo preference program, to the detriment of our balance of payments, and our dwindling merchant fleet.” The Nixon administration joined the SIU in opposition to the amendment which was supported by the major grain growers. This Month In SIU History 1969 A major victory was won by the SIU and the maritime industry when the Senate Banking and 1983 The SIU recently had a dedication ceremony for its new national headquarters building in Camp Springs, Md., which is located just a few miles outside of Washington, D.C. The move underscores an important trend: Nearly half of the unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have moved their headquarters to the nation’s capital or to areas nearby. Lane Kirkland, president of the AFL-CIO, spoke at the dedication ceremony. Kirkland helped put the move in perspective: “To represent their members effectively,” he said, “unions today must negotiate at least as much with the various branches of government as with the employers.” Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Departures DEEP SEA PEDRO ARTEAGA Pensioner Pedro Arteaga, 84, died March 30. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Arteaga worked in the steward department, last sailing aboard the Del Mundo, a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Brother Arteaga made his home in Deltona, Fla., and began receiving retirement stipends in 1981. GILBERTO BERTRAND Brother Gilberto Bertrand, 66, passed away Feb. 1. He started his SIU career in 1959 in the port of Houston. Born in Texas, Brother Bertrand was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Brother Bertrand worked in the deck department and last shipped on the Overseas Ohio. He lived in Houston. ROBERT CARRIGAN Pensioner Robert Carrigan, 76, died March 10. A native of Pennsylvania and a U.S. Army veteran, Brother Carrigan joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of Baltimore. He worked in the engine department. Brother Carrigan resided in Springdale, Pa. He began collecting his pension in 1991. TAK LIM CHEW Pensioner Tak Lim Chew, 78, passed away March 19. Brother Chew started his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1972 in San Francisco. Born in China, he initially went to sea aboard the Santa Maria. The steward department member’s last voyage was aboard the President Cleveland, an American President Lines vessel. Brother Chew started receiving stipends for his retirement in 1987 and lived in San Francisco. ANTHONY CORTES Pensioner Anthony Cortes, 73, died April 11. Brother Cortes embarked on his profession with the MC&S in 1970 in San Francisco. Born in Mexico, he shipped in the steward department. Brother Cortes worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Delta Steamship Lines, including the Santa Mariana. The late resident of San Francisco started receiving his pension in 1979. LAWRENCE CRANE Pensioner Lawrence Crane, 73, passed away March 10. Brother Crane joined the Seafarers in 1953 in Seattle. Prior to joining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Army. He worked in the inland and deep sea divisions. Brother Crane shipped in the steward department and lived in Port Angeles, Wash. He began receiving his pension in 1988. March 6. The Louisiana-born mariner joined the SIU in 1963 in New Orleans. Brother Crosby’s maiden voyage was aboard the Steel Surveyor, an Isco Inc. vessel. The former deck department member last shipped aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Robert E. Lee. Brother Crosby lived in Slidell, La., and started receiving retirement disbursements in 1994. PETER E. DOLAN Pensioner Peter E. Dolan, 74, passed away April 9. Brother Dolan began his career with the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of New York. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked in the deck department. Brother Dolan last went to sea aboard the Sea-Land Philadelphia. The New York native made his home in Arlington, Wash., and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1988. ROBERT DUNCAN Brother Robert Duncan, 56, died March 24. Born in Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1966. Brother Duncan first went to sea on the Margaret Brown, a Bloomfield Steamship Co. vessel. He sailed in the engine department and last worked on the Horizon Pacific. New Orleans was his home. MANUEL ESTRADA Pensioner Manuel Estrada, 84, passed away April 14. Brother Estrada embarked on his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. The Puerto Rico-born mariner worked in the steward department. Brother Estrada called Florida home. He began collecting retirement stipends in 1975. FRANK FOSTER Pensioner Frank Foster, 73, died April 5. Brother Foster joined the SIU in 1955 in San Francisco after serving in the U.S. Army. His first ship was Waterman Steamship Corp.’s La Salle. Born in Roseville, Mich., he sailed in the engine department and resided in San Bernardino, Calif. Brother Foster last went to sea aboard the Sea-Land Tacoma. He began receiving his pension in 1993. DANIEL GOMEZ Pensioner Daniel Gomez, 80, passed away March 28. Brother Gomez started his SIU career in 1952 in Houston. A Texas native, he initially sailed aboard Bloomfield Steamship Co.’s Margaret Brown. Brother Gomez shipped in the engine department and lived in Houston. His last voyage was aboard the Inger, a Sealift Bulkers, Inc. vessel. Brother Gomez began receiving his pension in 1992. PHILIP GOMEZ Pensioner Philip Gomez, 91, died April 4. He started his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. Born in Illinois, Brother Gomez worked in the steward department. He made his home in Sacramento, Calif. and started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1977. SAM CROSBY FELTON GREEN Pensioner Sam Crosby, 74, died Pensioner Felton Green, 85, passed 18 Seafarers LOG away March 4. Brother Green launched his career with the MC&S in 1978 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Born in Colon, Panama, he worked in the steward department. Brother Green resided in Manhattan, N.Y. and began receiving his retirement compensation in 1979. LLOYD GUNNELLS Pensioner Lloyd Gunnells, 83, died March 30. Born in Charleston, S.C., he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Gunnells first sailed aboard a Waterman Steamship Co. vessel. He worked in all three departments. Brother Gunnells started collecting retirement stipends in 1982. He lived in Florida. BERALDO HERNANDEZ Pensioner Beraldo Hernandez, 78, passed away March 2. Born in Puerto Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1941 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Hernandez’s maiden voyage was aboard an A.H. Bull Steamship Co. vessel as a member of the engine department. He last worked aboard a Puerto Rico Marine Management vessel. Brother Hernandez resided in his native commonwealth and began receiving retirement stipends in 1986. MARCUS JOHNSON Pensioner Marcus Johnson, 74, died March 2. Brother Johnson started his SIU career in 1951 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Before joining the SIU ranks, he served in the U.S. Army. A member of the engine department, he first went to sea aboard Bloomfield Steamship Co.’s Alice Brown. Brother Johnson began receiving payments for his retirement in 1996 and lived in Mobile. He last worked aboard the Overseas Washington. HENRY LYNCH Pensioner Henry Lynch, 85, passed away March 20. Brother Lynch started his career with the MC&S in 1978 in San Francisco. The U.S. Navy veteran initially sailed on Delta Steamship Lines’ Delta Peru. Born in Alabama, Brother Lynch worked in the steward department. He began receiving his pension in 1980 and last shipped on the President Kennedy. Brother Lynch was a resident of San Pedro, Calif. WILLLIAM MacARTHUR Pensioner William MacArthur, 74, died March 17. He joined the SIU in 1952 in the port of Baltimore after serving in the U.S. Navy. Brother MacArthur’s first SIU ship was the Seamar, a Bethlehem Steel Corp. vessel. The Boston native worked in the deck department and last shipped aboard the Thompson Pass. Brother MacArthur lived in Pasadena, Calif., and began collecting retirement stipends in 1987. JAMES H. MOORE Pensioner James H. Moore, 73, passed away April 14. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Brother Moore joined the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His first voyage was aboard the Ideal X, a Mystic Steamship Co. vessel. The deck department member began receiving his pension in 1989 and last shipped on the SeaLand Pacific. He made his home in Las Vegas. JACK OLSEN Pensioner Jack Olsen, 76, died March 3. He started his SIU career in 1950 in the port of New York after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. His first ship was the Knute Rockne, an Alcoa Steamship vessel. The Birmingham, Ala.-born mariner worked in the deck department as a bosun, last sailing on the USNS Algol. He began collecting his pension in 1987 and lived in Atlanta. PAUL SILTALA Brother Paul Siltala, 40, died March 25. He started his SIU career in 2001, first sailing on the USNS Dahl. Born in Park Rapids, Minn., he worked in the engine department. Brother Siltala’s last voyage was aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Atlantic Forest. He was a resident of Sebeka, Minn. CLARENCE WILLEY Pensioner Clarence Willey, 69, passed away April 11. Brother Willey joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia-born mariner worked in the steward department. Brother Willey lived in Norfolk and began collecting retirement stipends in 1995. INLAND CLAUDE ADAMS Pensioner Claude Adams, 73, passed away March 3. Boatman Adams launched his SIU career in 1957 in New Orleans. The deck department member shipped as a captain and worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Dixie Carriers. Boatman Adams lived in Lockport, La. He started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1991. GREAT LAKES JOSEPH SAIDE Pensioner Joseph Saide, 83, passed away June 1, 2002. Brother Saide joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. His initial voyage was aboard a Bloomfield Steamship Co. vessel. Born in Little Rock, Ark., he worked in the deck department. Brother Saide last went to sea on the Maryland, a Bay Tankers Inc. vessel. A resident of Port Arthur, Texas, he started receiving his pension in 1982. FRANK SANDY Pensioner Frank Sandy, 82, died March 22. Born in West Virginia, he joined the Seafarers in 1958 in the port of New York. Brother Sandy first worked on the Robin Gray, a Moore-McCormack Lines vessel. A member of the engine department, his final voyage was on the SeaLand St. Louis. Brother Sandy called Sparks, Nev. home. He began receiving his pension in 1988. RAY SCHRUM Pensioner Ray Schrum, 74, passed away April 13. Brother Schrum started his SIU career in 1947 in Miami, Fla. A native of Lincoln County, N.C., he initially shipped aboard Moore-McCormack Lines’ Robin Gray. Brother Schrum worked in the deck department and last sailed on the Courier, an Ocean Carriers vessel. Brother Schrum lived in his native state and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1986. JEFFREY A. FRANK Brother Jeffrey A. Frank, 47, passed away March 3. Brother Frank commenced his career with the Seafarers in 1990 in the port of New York. He worked in both the deep sea and Great Lakes divisions. Brother Frank’s maiden voyage was aboard the USNS Lynch. Born in Ohio, he shipped in the deck department. He last worked aboard a Great Lakes Towing Co. vessel. Brother Frank resided in Toledo, Ohio. ATLANTIC FISHERMAN JOSEPH SPINALE Pensioner Joseph Spinale, 88, passed away March 22. Brother Spinale began his career with the Atlantic Fishermen’s Union in 1971 in Gloucester, Mass. A native of Mississippi, he shipped in the deck department. The late Watertown, Mass. resident began receiving his pension in 1981. RAILROAD MARINE JOSEPH C. CASAZZA SR. Pensioner Joseph C. Casazza Sr., 80, died April 1. Brother Casazza joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. Born in Hoboken, N.J., he was a veteran of Continued on page 20 August 2003 �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. EXPLORER (USSM), May 12— Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary Osvaldo J. Castagnino, Educational Director Jimmy M. Robles, Deck Delegate Abdulhamid F. Musaed, Engine Delegate Fadel A. Mohamed, Steward Delegate Jimmy L. Williams. Chairman announced payoff May 12 in Los Angeles. He asked those crew members getting off to leave rooms clean with fresh linen for next person. Educational director advised crew to take advantage of upgrading courses offered at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Information regarding new Merchant Mariners Documents required by Coast Guard will come from patrolman. Treasurer stated $400 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested about day off after 35day trip. Next ports: Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. CLEVELAND (Sealift, Inc.), May 4—Chairman Boyce E. Wilson, Secretary Artis E. Pilgrim, Deck Delegate Dennis W. Caples. Chairman announced payoff July 3. Secretary requested that dirty linen be returned to linen locker; fresh linen to be issued for crew change May 7. Beefs reported in all three departments pertaining to restriction to vessel in Mauritania. Everyone asked to respect nosmoking rule in crew lounge. Vote of thanks given to all departments for job well done. DEFENDER (USSM), May 14— Chairman Daniel J. Teichman, Secretary Raymond S. Garcia, Educational Director Daniel P. Gibbons, Deck Delegate Joseph Humphrey. Chairman reported suspension of shipping rules due to conflict in Iraq. Educational director encouraged all hands to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. He advised them to check expiration date on z-cards since renewals may take longer than usual. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for antenna for crew TV. EXPRESS (USSM), May 29— Chairman Joseph R. Colangelo, Secretary Donald C. Spangler, Educational Director David D. Bautista. Chairman announced payoff May 31 in Newark, N.J. Educational director spoke about need to renew z-cards well in advance of expiration. “Don’t wait until the last minute.” Beefs reported in all departments, including concern about food purchased in Malaysia. Disputed OT also reported in deck department. Suggestion made regarding requirements for holding office in the union. Crew members requested input as to how recreation fund is spent. Problems noted with launch and van service providing transportation to and from ship. Next ports: Baltimore; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C. HORIZON ANCHORAGE (Horizon Lines), May 4—Chairman Dan P. Fleehearty, Secretary Amanda F. Suncin, Educational Director Mark Pinkam, Deck Delegate Basil D. Stolen, Engine Delegate Mike Kyle, Steward Delegate Nasser Ahmed. Chairman announced payoff May 6 in Tacoma, Wash. Coast Guard annu- August 2003 al inspection to take place at that time. Educational director urged seafarers to upgrade skills at Piney Point facility. He also stressed need to allow plenty of time when renewing z-cards. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications received from headquarters regarding Family Medical Leave Act and need to submit discharges and pay vouchers when applying for vacation check. Request made for new clothes dryer in crew laundry. Crew members were asked to use very little soap in washer since water on ship is very soft. Discussion held about money purchase pension plan. Next port: Anchorage, Alaska. HORIZON CONSUMER (Horizon Lines), May 10— Chairman Lawrence L. Kunc, Secretary Terry L. Allen, Educational Diretor Joseph A. Burkette, Deck Delegate Richard R. Grubbs, Engine Delegate Keeper Brown, Steward Delegate Thomas E. Kleine. Chairman announced vessel going into shipyard in Singapore next trip for about one month. Crew will be laid off. Payoff to be held shortly after May 16 arrival in Tacoma, Wash. Secretary reminded those crew members departing ship to leave rooms clean. Educational director encouraged everyone to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. One beef reported in deck department; no disputed OT noted. Request made for repair of antenna to crew quarters. Suggestion made to start movie fund to purchase movies and DVD player. Chief cook and rest of steward department given vote of thanks for great chow. Next ports: Tacoma; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu. HORIZON NAVIGATOR (Horizon Lines), May 11—Chairman Werner H. Becher, Secretary Vainuu L. Sili, Educational Director Daniel F. Dean, Deck Delegate Robert J. Natividad, Engine Delegate Ricky D. Arroyo, Steward Delegate Glenn A. Taan. Chairman announced arrival May 13 in Oakland, Calif. with payoff to follow. He thanked crew for keeping ship clean and separating plastic refuse from regular trash. He advised everyone to keep doors locked in port and be alert for those who have no business aboard vessel. Secretary noted everything running smoothly. Educational director stressed importance of keeping STCW and shipping documents current. He also reminded seafarers of need for pay vouchers and discharges when applying for vacation benefits. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made that during annual physical exams, SIU clinics perform prostate specific antigen (PSA) test on male members over 50 years old. Request made for reupholstery of furniture in crew lounge. Vote of thanks given to steward department for well prepared and tasty meals. HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), May 21—Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Manuel V. Basas,Educational Director Roger M. Wasserman, Engine Delegate Gregory L. Howard. Chairman announced vessel’s arrival May 24 in Tacoma, Wash. After ship has cleared customs, payoff will take place. Secretary thanked unlicensed crew members for helping keep ship clean. Educational director reminded everyone that Paul Hall Center is always open for upgrading and training. Treasurer stated $120 available in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Seafarers reminded to include pay stubs when filing for vacation. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food and service. Next port: Oakland, Calif. INNOVATOR (USSM), May 25— Chairman Stephen R. Kastel, Secretary Mose Peacock Jr., Educational Director Christopher L. Earhart, Deck Delegate George E. Lusk, Engine Delegate Muthana Koraish, Steward Delegate Mostafa Loumrhari. Chairman noted World Health Organization lifted travel warning for Hong Kong, so crew should probably not be restricted to vessel in Shanghai. Awaiting clarification regarding vacation and 22-month rule. He stated two unlicensed apprentices on board doing great job. Educational director advised everyone to be sure shipping documents are up to date and suggested they take advantage of upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported.Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food and clean ship. INTEGRITY (Maritrans), May 25—Chairman Lonnie Porchea, Secretary Michael Kozak, Deck Delegate Alfred McIntyre Jr., Engine Delegate John A. Bennifield, Steward Delegate Hazel Johnson Jr.. Chairman noted washing machine was received aboard ship but not yet installed. Secretary said clarification is forthcoming on relief policy. Educational director spoke about upgrading skills at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to change wording of “vacation pay” to something like “supplemental pay” or “sea bonus.” INTEGRITY (USSM), May 11— Chairman Domingo Leon Jr., Secretary Stephanie L. Sizemore, Educational Director Dennis R. Baker, Deck Delegate Alexander Nicholson, Engine Delegate Gregorio Blanco, Steward Delegate German Solar. Chairman thanked electrician for installing new dryer and thanked rest of crew for enjoyable trip. Secretary stated ship going into dry dock next trip and asked departing crew members to leave rooms clean and with fresh linen for next person. Educational director requested laundry room door be kept closed. He reported on new method for renewing z-cards. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for contracts department to look into increasing pension and dental benefits. Crew members advised that original pay vouchers need to be submitted along with copies of discharges in order to receive vacation benefits. Vote of thanks given to steward department for “keeping the cookie jar and bellies full.” Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J.; Charleston, S.C.; Miami; Houston. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime), May 24—Chairman Ronald Charles, Secretary Thomas D. Kreis, Educational Director Daniel J. Tapley, Engine Delegate Vicente R. Ordonez, Steward Delegate Audrey Brown. Chairman announced ship to be laid up in New Orleans for undetermined amount of time. Secretary asked that all seafarers strip bunks, take dirty linen below, unplug ice boxes and clean rooms. Four new mat- tresses will be delivered in New Orleans. Educational director urged everyone to increase knowledge and skills by attending upgrading classes at Piney Point. “It’s your future.” No beefs or disputed OT reported. LIBERTY SUN (Liberty Maritime), May 25—Chairman Joseph W. Moore, Secreary Ronald J Davis, Educational Director Anwar N. Muthala, Deck Delegate Angel L. Rivera, Engine Delegate Joseph B. Dunnam, Steward Delegate Julio Guity. Chairman announced ship laying Educational Director Monroe G. Monseur, Deck Delegate Nathaniel Lamb, Engine Delegate Pedro C. Gago, Steward Delegate Leon J. Grant. Chairman announced July 1 payoff in San Juan, P.R. Secretary thanked everyone for helping take stores. He reminded those departing in port to leave clean cabin for relief person. Educational director advised crew members to continue upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center and to contribute to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications received and posted asking that those seafarers Hose Handling on the Horizon Spirit ABs aboard the Horizon Spirit recently participated in a fire hose pressure test. Handling 150 psi on a 2.5inch hose line are (from the left) Robert Bell, Mike Smolen and Jimmy Taranto. up in New Orleans. Secretary requested everyone clean rooms and give keys to captain at payoff. Educational director stressed importance of attending upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer stated $500 in ship’s fund. Some beefs and disputed OT reported in deck and engine departments. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Lines), May 16—Chairman Raymond Henderson, Educational Director Joseph C. Grandinetti, Deck Delegate Reuben M. Brown, Engine Delegate Fred Petterson, Steward Delegate John G. Reid. Bosun thanked crew for outstanding job this trip. He asked that seafarers restrict admission to house, especially in Middle East. He also reminded them not wear work boots on upper decks of house. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade skills at Piney Point facility and make sure z-cards are up to date. Clarification requested by deck department on danger pay and whether watchstanders get a coffee break. Engine delegate requested job description for QRMUs. Question arose about satellite TV. Next ports: Halifax, Canada; Newark, N.J.; Norfolk, Va. AMERICAN TERN (Osprey Ship Management), June 5—Chairman Michael S. Sinclair, Secretary Steven Parker, Educational Director Ed Thompson, Deck Delegate Michael Cousin, Engine Delegate Edward Thompson, Steward Delegate Benjamin J. Advincula. Chairman reported ship returning to U.S. after successful Southeast Asian tour. Secretary thanked crew for help with stores and with re-flagging foreign ship. New galley and laundry equipment needed. Engine delegate reported beef regarding performance of assigned tasks. He also thanked OMU Kerry Edwards for being good watch partner. Discussion held about making crew lounge non-smoking area. Steward thanked Bosun Sinclair and Chief Engineer Brian Ackerman for fixing galley exhaust system. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for good food. Next ports: Concord, Calif.; Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Thule, Greenland. EL MORRO (IUM), June 29— Chairman William J. Card, Secretary Michael M. Amador, who received basic safety training certificates from training schools other than Piney Point submit them for verification. Clarification requested on 22-month rule. Crew members wish everyone a happy Fourth of July. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. ITB NEW YORK (USS Transport), June 29—Chairman Calvin Miles, Secretary Robert Wilcox, Educational Director John K. Bimpong, Deck Delegate Edward D. Tennyson, Engine Delegate Kenric L. Henry, Steward Delegate Breon A. Lucas. Chairman announced payoff July 2 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep mess decks and common areas neat and clean. Educational director reminded seafarers to check z-cards for expiration dates and apply early for renewal because of increased time required for background checks. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Letter posted regarding STCW basic safety certificates received from schools other than Piney Point. All should be submitted for verification. Suggestion made for contracts department to include time off or day’s pay in lieu of day off in next contract negotiation with company. Steward department given vote of thanks for tasty meals. NEW YORK (ATC), June 14— Chairman Christopher J. Kicey, Educational Director Edward H. Self, Deck Delegate Daniel P. Lovely, Engine Delegate Dennis S. Riley, Steward Delegate Harold B. Henderson. Chairman announced arrival June 15 in port of Valdez, Alaska with sailing next day. He reminded crew members to have pay vouchers on hand when applying for vacation benefits. Chairman wished good luck to unlicensed apprentice in his future with SIU. Secretary expressed thanks to union officials for diligent efforts to secure new and better contracts for membership. Educational director led discussion on STCW requirements and urged everyone not to get complacent about obtaining required skills and paperwork. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications read concerning tour bonus and new pay system. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done and to crew for helping keep house clean. Seafarers LOG 19 �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.) Returning to An Old Hobby I have been with the Coos Bay (Oregon) Seamen’s Center for the past 21 years and volunteer manager of same for 14 of those years. During the last year of WWII, the day I turned 17, I joined the USMS. After training, I sailed with the NMU out of Boston and New York as a messman on the U.S.A.T. George Washington and the S.S. Laconia Victory. Both of these were troop ships. When the war was finished in Europe, I came to California and sailed out of Richmond on the S.S. R.C. Stoner, a Standard Oil tanker. When the war was finished there, I returned to the East Coast and sailed coastwise on the collier Walter D. Noyes. I later returned to California and finished my schooling. During this time, I started collecting foreign paper money. I did not collect heavily for many years. I am now 75 and have returned to my hobby Final Departures Continued from page 18 the U.S. Army. Brother Casazza initially worked on an Erie Lackawanna Railroad Co. vessel. A member of the deck department, he last worked aboard a Pennsylvania Central Railroad and Transportation Co. vessel. Brother Casazza started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1993 and lived in Iowa. LEROY TONDU Pensioner Leroy Tondu, 77, passed away March 15. Brother Tondu embarked on his SIU career in 1964 in Frankfort, Mich. A deck department member, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Michigan Interstate Railway/Ann Arbor Railroad. Brother Tondu started collecting stipends for his retirement in 1990 and lived in Arcadia, Mich. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all former members of the NMU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, have passed away: ADOLPH BELL SR. Pensioner Adolph Bell Sr., 75, died May 18. He joined the NMU in 1945. Brother Bell initially shipped out of the port of Norfolk Va., aboard the Hampton. A member of the steward department, he sailed as a chief cook. Brother Bell last went to sea on the Mormac Trade. A native of Kenansville, N.C., he began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1968. ERNESTO FERRAN Pensioner Ernesto Ferran, 87, passed away March 26. Brother Ferran joined the NMU in 1938. Born in Puerto Rico, he first went to sea aboard the Orienta. Brother Ferran initially shipped in the engine department but later upgraded and sailed in the deck department as a bosun. His final voyage was on the Austral Patriot. Brother Ferran began receiving retirement stipends in 1977. 20 Seafarers LOG Know Your Rights and really enjoy it. If anyone has any foreign currency notes—old or new, from any country and in any condition—they would like to get rid of, I would welcome the donation. Buddy Hincke 66642 East Bay Road, #50 North Bend, OR 97459 Giving Back by Donating to SPAD In every issue of the LOG, I read about more ships coming into the SIU. This is no accident. And I would like the members to know that now it’s “giveback time,” meaning donating to SPAD. Thanks to SPAD, members have more jobs and job security. Indirectly, they are paying my pension. Since 1986 without fail, my pension check is at the bank when it’s supposed to be. It’s a terrific feeling knowing it’s there. As the economy worsens and thousands are out of work, I know I made the right decision in sailing as an SIU member. Walter Karlak Woodside, N.Y. ANTHONY GAROFALO DEMAS ROSAS Pensioner Anthony Garofalo, 93, died June 17. Brother Garofalo launched his NMU career in 1947. Born in New York, he initially went to sea aboard the Marine Perch. Brother Garofalo worked in the deck department and last shipped on the American Challenger. He started receiving his retirement pay in 1980. Pensioner Demas Rosas, 78, died May 23. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Rosas began his career with the NMU in the port of New York. His initial trip was aboard the Whittier Hills. The engine department member last worked aboard the Argonaut. Brother Rosas started collecting retirement compensation in 1986. JERE MRVICA In addition to the foregoing, the following NMU brothers, all of whom were pensioners, passed away on the dates indicated: Pensioner Jere Mrvica, 89, passed away June 16. Born in Croatia, he joined the NMU ranks in 1934. Brother Mrvica initially shipped out of the port of Philadelphia working in the steward department as a quartermaster. Brother Mrvica began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1966. Name Age DOD Andreassen, Ingvald 81 Feb. 12 Baptista, Jose 92 May 19 Barfield, Edward 78 June 3 Bell, Adolph 74 May 18 Blake, Gilbert 74 June 13 Brooks, William 79 June 16 Carrafiello, William 83 June 16 EVAN MURPHY Ciceron, Voltaire 87 May 17 Pensioner Evan Murphy, 86, died May 8. Brother Murphy started his NMU career in 1944, first sailing aboard the Malang. The Bessismer, Ala. native worked in the engine department. His last ship was the Mississippi. Brother Murphy started receiving stipends for his pension in 1979. Correa, Salvador 75 March 10 Cruz, Julio 88 June 1 Cuebas, Jaime 77 June 1 Tilman, Futch 75 May 31 Gagne, William 76 March12 Gamble, Evelyn 74 June 1 Gresham, Robert 66 May 6 Guillen, Bernabe 92 May 26 MICHAEL RAMOS Pensioner Michael Ramos, 80, passed away June 16. The Massachusettsborn mariner joined the NMU in 1962 in the port of New York. Brother Ramos was a member of the steward department. He began collecting payments for his retirement in 1979. Gulli, Nicolo 82 May 31 Hines, Albert 77 May 4 Honore, Leon 79 June 6 Howell, Henry Jr. 81 May 30 James, Robert 67 May 19 Krummi, Richard 78 June 13 Lattimer, Dwain 74 May 24 Manalo, Aquilino 98 June 24 Mehr, Frederick 76 Feb. 18 Pacheco, Luis 79 Jan. 28 Padilla, Pedro 78 May 14 Polidore, Alvin 80 June 26 Reyes, Manuel 88 May 11 Rodriguez, Hipolito 79 May 17 Rosas, Dimas 78 May 23 Sigai, Thomas 69 June 19 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. August 2003 �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. through the end of the 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. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Able Seaman Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) Arrival Date Date of Completion August 18 September 29 November 10 September 12 October 24 December 5 September 8 September 12 Recertification Bosun October 6 November 3 Engine Upgrading Courses Arrival Date Date of Completion Oiler September 8 November 3 October 17 December 12 Welding September 8 October 6 November 3 September 26 October 24 November 21 Engine Utility (EU) August 11 September 29 November 17 September 5 October 24 December 12 QMED Junior Engineer September 22 December 12 Course Safety Specialty Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Advanced Fire Fighting* – (5-day course) November 3 November 7 Advanced Fire Fighting – (2-week course) September 1 September 12 Basic Fire Fighting/STCW August 11 August 25 September 15 October 27 August 15 August 29 September 19 October 31 Government Vessels September 1 October 20 November 3 September 5 October 24 November 7 Tankerman (PIC) Barge* August 25 August 29 (*must have basic fire fighting) (*must have radar unlimited) GMDSS (Simulator) August 4 September 15 August 15 September 26 Lifeboatman/Water Survival August 4 September 15 October 27 August 15 September 26 November 7 Radar August 25 September 5 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman (STOS) August 25 October 13 December 1 September 5 October 24 December 12 (*must have basic fire fighting) Navigation Fundamentals August 4 August 15 Academic Department Courses Steward Upgrading Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week, most week prior to the AB, QMED Junior Engineer, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker recently beginning July 21. Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. � 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 ________________________________________________ August 2003 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. 8/03 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Able Seaman — Upgrading graduates of the able seaman course ending June 20 are (in alphabetical order) Albert Abramson, Robert Abramson, Christopher Bartholmey, Caleb Buckley, David Frank, Shane Hayes, John Regina, Otis Reynolds, Kenneth Shaw, Loren Wolfe and Daniel Zapata. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at right in the front row. QMED-Junior Engineer — Graduating from the QMED-junior engineer class July 18 are (in alphabetical order) Pompey Alegado, Clinton Cephas, Christopher Cummings, Sherrod Frazier, Cornell Knox, Andrew Linares, Mark Mosher and Christopher Zaucha. Oiler — Completing the oiler course June 13 are (in alphabetical order) Maurice Brodie, Beato Diaz, Brandon Harold, Wilbert Hinton, Carlos Lewis, Aaron Matuszny, Robert Mong, John Stewart and Jeffery Thomas. STOS — Receiving certificates for completion of the STOS course May 16 are upgrading Seafarers (in no particular order) Kenric Henry, James Jasman, Melvin Kennedy, Joshua Kirk, Carlos Lucas, Jamie Parker, Selina Sobers, James Trotter and Shaun Liles. Express Marine/Deck and Galley— Express Marine boatmen who successfully completed deck and galley department courses May 9 are (in no particular order) Otis Foster, Guy Pruitt Sr., James Pruitt, Tom Crockett, William Carter, Steve Jones and Mike Daniels. In the back row are Donald Ivins (management), Herb Walling (instructor) and Keith Kirkeide (management). Navigational Fundamentals — Under the instruction of Stacy Harris (far right) are graduates of the navigational fundamentals class which ended June 20. They are (in alphabetical order) Jaime Baretty, Benjamin Barnes, John Gilston, Daniel Hanback, Paul Jagger, Richard West and Jerome Wong. Computer Lab Showing off their certificates of achievement for computer courses taken at the school are (front row, from left) Roger Abrahamson, Kenneth Shaw, (back row) Rick Prucha (instructor), Robert Scrivens and Brian Gross. 22 Seafarers LOG Academics — OS Karen Domerego (center) holds two college course certificates she earned at the Paul Hall Center (math and American government). With her are instructors Rick Prucha (left) and Peggy Densford. Fast Rescue Boat — With instructor Stan Beck (wearing cap and glasses) are June 20 graduates of the fast rescue boat course (from left) Robert Scrivens, Steve Parrish and Kenneth Lewin. August 2003 �Paul Hall Center Classes Welding — These upgrading Seafarers successfully completed the welding course June 27. They are (in alphabetical order) Kenny Abrahamson, Joseph Carrillo, Richard Johnson, Michael McErlean, Anwar Muthala, Robert Vales and Charles Walker. Their instructor, Buzzy Adams, stands second from right in the back row. ARPA — Graduating from the ARPA course June 27 are (from left) Janet Baird, Philip Corl, Robert Murray Jr. and Mark Shockey. At far right is their instructor, Mike Smith. Any student who has registered for a class and finds— for whatever reason—that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admis- Bridge Resource Management — With their instructor, Herb Walling (back row, left), are April 18 graduates of the Bridge Resource Management course. From the left (front row) are Jerome Wong, Vincent Lucante, Kevin Buselmeier, (back) Walling, William Snyder Jr. and Theodore Terzakos. sions department so that another student may take that place. ARPA — Completing the ARPA course April 11 are (from left) Philip Reynolds, Charlene Edwards, Jerome Wong, David Somers, Michael Thomas, Robert Arble Jr. and Stephen Pollock (U.S. Coast Guard). Engine Utility — Upgrading Seafarers as well as unlicensed apprentices in the third phase of their training completed the engine utility course April 11. They are (in no particular order) UAs Joseph Romine, Aaron Morton Jr., Bryan Fletcher, Tirso Cruz, Kevin Jacobs, Clinton Betties, Christian Rosado, Nat Lamb, and upgraders Abdellatif Benjouhra, Corey Hann, Reynaldo Lacayo, Michael Jones and Ronald Hackensmith. Express Marine/Engine — Graduating from engine department classes May 9 are Express Marine boatmen (in no particular order) Albert Diggs, Gary Mason, Kenneth Whitehurst, Greg Cherry, Jerry Meekins, Stuart Murray, Donald Stutzbach, Willie Midget Jr., Bill Edwards, Russell Cowell and Roger Voliva Jr. August 2003 Express Marine/Deck — May 23 was graduation day for Express Marine boatmen taking deck department courses at the Piney Point school. They included (in no particular order) Carl Wilson, William Hudnell, James Kruger, Mark Faust, James Dixon and Dennis Gaskill. In the back row are company representatives Keith Kirkeide and Croft Register as well as Herb Walling (instructor). STCW Training, June 27 — Michael Anderson, Elsayed Amasha, Travis Austin, Michael Birke, Alfonso Bombita Jr., Maurice Brodie, Lonnie Carter, Frank Cottongin III, Brian Delatte, Kent Doctor, David Frank, Rubildo Garcia, William Johnson, Cesar Macias-Ortiz, Alvin Major, Gerald Mena, Ronald Mena, Robert Mong, Philip Paquette, Thomas Stead, John Stephen, Isaac Vega-Mercado, Jonathan Wendland, Gregory Williams and Loren Wolfe. Seafarers LOG 23 �Volume 65, Number 8 August 2003 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS SIU Pacific District Pension Plan and SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. — page 14 ITF Secures Aid for Crews of FOC Vessels $34,846 and Plane Tickets For Russian Crew $140,000 in Back Pay For Cruise-Ship Crew Happy with the results of the ITF intervention on behalf of the Ousto’s crew members are (from left) ITF Inspector Shwe Tun Aung, Fr. Sinclair Oubre, Capt. Vladimir V. Dovzhenko, an AB and an oiler. Constantly on the lookout for flag of convenience vessels that are fraught with danger, poor working conditions and lack of pay, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) once again came to the aid of crew members aboard such a vessel. ITF Inspector Shwe Tun Aung, who works out of Houston, was alerted to conditions aboard the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Ousto several months ago after receiving a phone call from Father Sinclair Oubre (SIU member as well as Diocesan Director for the Apostleship of the Sea and Executive Director of the Port Arthur International Seamen’s Center). The seamen’s center had visited the ship and brought the crew to its facilities. However, the crew members only used the recreational services, since they had no money for shopping or use of the communication services. While there, one of the mariners asked a volunteer if she could help them. Aung and Fr. Sinclair met in Port Arthur with the all-Russian crew, who complained about not getting paid, not enough food aboard ship and no cash advance money. Their requests to the shipping agent had gone unanswered. Since the vessel (formerly the American-flagged S.S. Houston) is going to scrap in India, crew members were concerned as to what would happen to them then. Aung called the shipping company, warning them that if money was not Capt. Vladimir V. Dovzhenko counts received within three days, the ship out some of the money received from would be seized. the shipping agent to pay the crew. Several days later, $29,713 was sent, followed the next week by an additional $5,133, for a total of $34,846. Additionally, nine airplane tickets were delivered for those members wishing to return home. The others would help sail the ship to India and be repatriated from there. The SIU is affiliated with the ITF, a London-based federation of 570 unions. Crew members from the Regal Voyager received their back pay, thanks to intervention by the ITF. It took two weeks of often round-the-clock efforts, but SIU ITF inspectors Scott Brady and Tony Sacco recently secured $140,000 in back pay for mariners aboard the runaway-flag cruise ship Regal Voyager in Charleston, S.C. Crew members telephoned Brady from the vessel in Trinidad and informed him they hadn’t been paid in three months. The Bahamian-flag vessel sailed to Charleston, where Brady and Sacco immediately met with the mariners and confirmed their claims. “Negotiations between the ITF and the company (Miami-based St. Thomas Cruise Line) began, but our demands weren’t properly addressed,” Brady reported. “We gave the company a deadline which they failed to meet, so we arrested the vessel.” Shortly thereafter, negotiations resumed—and the crew received all of their back wages, plus additional wages in line with the ITF contract already in place between the federation and the company. The company also assumed all financial responsibility to end the ship’s arrest and repatriated three crew members. According to Brady, the ship remains in Charleston undergoing repairs and is expected to resume its charter this fall. “Tony and I worked day and night for about two weeks on this vessel to meet all of the crew’s just demands,” Brady said. “It was a tough but successful case and we were glad to help, as always.” Defining Runaway Flags A runaway-flag or flag-of-convenience (FOC) ship is one that flies the flag of a country other than the country of ownership. Cheap registration fees, low or no taxes and freedom to employ cheap labor are the motivating factors behind a shipowner’s decision to “flag out.” The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to which the SIU is affiliated, takes into account the degree to which foreign-owned vessels are registered and fly the country flag, as well as the following additional criteria, when declaring a register an FOC: The ability and willingness of the flag state to enforce international minimum social standards on its vessels, including respect for basic human and trade union rights, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining with bona fide trade unions. The social record as determined by the degree of ratification and enforcement of ILO conventions and recommendations. The safety and environmental record as revealed by the ratification and enforcement of IMO Conventions and revealed by port state control inspections, deficiencies and detentions. Campaign Goals Once an American-flagged vessel, the now rusting Panamanian-flagged Ousto sits at a pier in Port Arthur, Texas before sailing to India to be scrapped. It was here, in Port Arthur, that the unpaid crew sought help from the ITF. For than half a century, the aims of the FOC Campaign have been: The elimination of the FOC system and the establishment of a regulatory framework for the shipping industry; To attack sub-standard shipping and seek ITF acceptable standards on all ships irrespective of flag, using all the political, industrial and legal means at the ITF’s disposal; To protect and enhance the conditions of employment of maritime workers and to ensure that all maritime workers, regardless of color, nationality, sex, race or creed, are protected from exploitation by their employers and those acting on their behalf; To individually strengthen affiliated unions, in all aspects, so as to ensure the provision and delivery of a greater degree of solidarity in the campaign. Source: International Transport Workers’ Federation � 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 August 2003 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES A MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L. CHAO SIU PRESIDENT VISITS COMMAND THAT CONTROLS SEALIFT, OTHER LIFT MANUKAI CHRISTENING REPRESENTS REBIRTH OF SHIP AND SHIPYARD NO LETUP HERE: SIU FLEET GAINS 4 MORE VESSELS SIU’S NEWEST HALL TO OPEN IN JOLIET, ILL. MSP IN CONFERENCE SIU CREW HELPS RESCUE LAKES FISHERMAN ALASKA TANKER COMPANY MARKS SAFETY MILESTONE MARITIME REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED BY DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY MARYLAND SECRETARY OF LABOR FIELDER, STATE AFL-CIO OFFICIALS VISIT SCHOOL GOVERNMENT SERVICES SHIPS EARN MSC SAFETY AWARDS SEAFARERS APPEALS BOARD ACTION NUMBER 420 MORE RRF CREWS HONORED FOR ROLES IN IRAQI FREEDOM MSC HONORS CREWS OF FAST SEALIFT SHIPS ALGOL, BELLATRIX, POLLUX DELIVERED FOR U.S. TROOPS PINEY POINT FIXTURE BETTY SMITH CALLS IT A CAREER MILITARY SAILOR SALUTES PAUL HALL CENTER’S VETERAN’S PROGRAM NEW PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN RETIREE MACHADO ENCOURAGES ASPIRING MARINERS ITF SECURES AID FOR CREWS OF FOC VESSELS 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 08/01/2003 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. 8 2003 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/9e7e08260de544904e81110bceecf94d.pdf 9f7cb70d54bcb814e5e492ce8649020c PDF Text Text Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/23/2004 5:51 PM Page 1 Volume 66, Number 8 August 2004 SIU-Crewed Cruise Ship Christened in Honolulu Seafarers and SIU officials last month welcomed the christening of NCL America’s Pride of Aloha in Honolulu. Mrs. Margaret Inouye (above, left) with U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), served as the vessel’s godmother. In the other photo directly above, Seafarers and union officials including SIU President Michael Sacco (fourth from left) are pictured at the event. Among those also pictured are SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel, VP West Coast Nick Marrone, VP Contracts Augie Tellez and Executive VP John Fay. Seafarers from the steward department are shown in photo at top right. Pages 3, 12 and 13. NCL America’s Pride of Aloha Signals Rebirth Of U.S.-Flag Deep Sea Passenger Ship Industry USNS Bridge Joins SIU CI VMAR Fleet New Matson Ship Christened Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Company’s new containership Maunawili (above) was christened July 17 at Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. The vessel was slated for sea trials in late July and is expected to enter Matson’s Hawaii service in the fall. Page 3. Members of the SIU’s Government Services Division have new shipboard jobs on the horizon as the result of the recent transfer of the USS Bridge (left) from commissioned service in the U.S Navy’s combat fleet into its Military Sealift Command. Now known as the USNS Bridge, the vessel will have a crew of 160 civilian mariners. They will be joined aboard the Bridge by a military department of 28 sailors who will perform communication support and supply coordination. Page 2. Alaskan Explorer Hull Launched Page 3 SIU Boatmen Ratify Inland Contracts Page 8 Seafarers Honored For Operation Haiti Page 24 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/22/2004 6:08 PM Page 2 President’s Report Excellent Inland Contracts During this exceptionally active time for the SIU, my first message this month is a heartfelt congratulations to the union’s negotiating teams in the Gulf who recently completed work on four separate contracts covering boatmen at E.N. Bisso, Crescent, Moran and Seabulk. It’s a tribute to our members and officials— and our contracted companies—that all four agreements feature top-of-the-line medical coverage for Seafarers and their families. The contracts also call for wage increases and other gains. Michael Sacco But in particular, the health benefits that are included in the contracts are a remarkable achievement, considering what’s happening with health insurance across the nation. Make no mistake: America is suffering through a major health care crisis that is seriously hurting the nation’s working families. Throughout the country, businesses are shifting an unfair share of high health care costs onto their workers. And whether those workers pay a bigger percentage of their premiums or they pay more in deductibles and co-payments, the effect is disturbing. Perhaps the only thing that’s worse in this crisis is the fact that there are the 44 million Americans who lack medical coverage altogether. In union contract negotiations today, health coverage is almost always the top issue. And it almost always leads to some bitter fights at the bargaining table. While the SIU’s recent negotiations in the Gulf were tough, they also were respectful and productive. Dean Corgey, vice president of our Gulf Coast Region who headed up all four bargaining committees, said the most significant factor in our success was the unprecedented solidarity among the boatmen—not only within each company, but from location to location. “It’s an honor and privilege to represent folks like that,” Corgey told me. “The guys looked out for each other, and not just at their own companies. They understood we’re all in this together and they really gave each other a great level of support. It’s invigorating.” The result is four agreements that include full medical coverage for SIU boatmen and their families. That’s something our entire SIU family should feel proud about. Aloha! Progress and “Pride” for our union also were evident last month as the new U.S.-flag cruise ship Pride of Aloha was christened in Honolulu. The Pride of Aloha is a first-rate ship. The Seafarers aboard her are a first-rate crew. The vessel’s reflagging in June to the Stars and Stripes, followed by the christening on Independence Day, marked the start of what I believe will turn out as one of the greatest success stories in SIU history. As mentioned last month, any project of this size is bound to bring at least a few challenges. But this is a fantastic victory for the SIU, and we’re up to the task. The U.S.-flag deep sea cruise ship industry is reborn. The SIU will do our part to help ensure that it succeeds. Register and Vote Since our union’s founding in 1938, SIU members always have understood that political action is a must for our survival. We work in a very heavily regulated industry. We have to stay involved politically, at every level, in order to protect our interests. With that in mind, I encourage all Seafarers, pensioners and their families to be active during this election season. Make sure you are registered, and if you’re not, please register. Stay familiar with the issues and support the candidates who’ll support the U.S. Merchant Marine. If your port agent asks you to assist in getting out the vote, please donate your time and effort. I thank you for your continued participation. Voting, writing letters, calling, talking with your elected representatives, donating to SPAD…. All of those activities help us advance the SIU’s message. Let’s make sure our message continues to be heard. Volume 66, Number 8 August 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, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2004 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG USNS Bridge Joins SIU CIVMAR Fleet New shipboard jobs are on the horizon for members of the SIU’s Government Services Division, the result of the June 29 transfer of the USS Bridge (AOE 10) from commissioned service in the U.S Navy’s combat fleet into its Military Sealift Command (MSC). Now known as the USNS Bridge, the vessel has a crew of 160 civilian mariners. The federal civil service mariners (CIVMARS) will be joined aboard the Bridge by a small military department of 28 sailors who will perform communication support and supply coordination. An additional 30 or more sailors will augment the crew when necessary to support helicopter operations. As a Navy ship, the Bridge was crewed by a complement of 544 active-duty sailors. “The transfer of the Bridge from the Navy’s combat fleet to the Military Sealift Command marked another great day for the SIU,” noted SIU Government Services Division Representative Chet Wheeler. “It means more welcomed jobs for our mariners and stands as a great example of our tremendous working partnership with the Navy. The other point is that everyone benefits from the move. “The Bridge is the fourth vessel that has been transferred to MSC from commissioned service in the Navy fleet,” Wheeler continued. “Each transition went very smoothly, and all parties concerned deserve a great deal of credit for the ease with which it occurred.” In its new role, the Bridge will be joining more than 30 civiliancrewed ships providing combat logistics services to Navy fleets worldwide. A formal ceremony marking the vessel’s decommissioning and transfer took place June 24 at the The USNS Bridge signals new jobs for members of the SIU’s Government Services Division. U.S. Naval Base in Bremerton, Wash. The Bridge became the last of four U.S. Navy Supply-class fast combat support ships to leave commissioned service for what the Navy termed “an even more active role with MSC.” Navy sources say the transfer of the Bridge and its sister ships, the USNS Rainier, USNS Arctic and USNS Supply, are part of the Navy’s continuing transformation into a more efficient and cost effective fighting force for the 21st century. According to a May 1998 Center for Naval Analysis study, the Navy will save a projected $76 million annually with the change. The transfers also free up more than 100 active-duty Navy officers and nearly 2,000 enlisted sailors to return to the war-fighting roles for which they were trained. With a top speed in excess of 25 knots, the 754-foot fast combat support ships are ideally suited to travel with U.S. Navy strike groups to provide underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition, spare parts and stores at sea, eliminating the need for the combatants to constantly return to port. The MSC has awarded a contract for modifications on the USNS Bridge. Work was scheduled to begin late last month and conclude in early October. USNS Bridge Quick Facts Keel Laid: 1993 Commissioned: August 1998 Decommissioned: June 2004 MSC ‘in service’: June 24, 2004 Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (San Diego) Propulsion System: 4 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines Propellers: 2 Length: 754.6 feet Beam: 107 feet Draft: 39 feet Displacement: 48,800 tons Speed: 26 knots Aircraft: 2 CH-46 Helicopters Armament: None SIU Hosts International Working Group The SIU last month hosted a meeting of a high-level international maritime tripartite working group, pictured at right with SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez (10th from right), at union headquarters, located in Camp Springs, Md. Representatives from labor, management and government took part in the sessions July 6-8. They included delegates from the International Labor Organization; International Transport Workers’ Federation; U.S. Department of Transportation, including the U.S. Maritime Administration; the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education; the Chamber of Shipping of America; the International Shipping Federation; and the respective governments of the Bahamas, Norway, France, China, Japan, Namibia and Denmark. The representatives covered numerous topics important to all segments of the maritime industry. August 2004 �23844_P3,6,8.qxd 7/22/2004 2:56 PM Page 3 SIU-Crewed Pride of Aloha Christened The latest milestone in the U.S.-flag cruise ship industry’s rebirth took place on Independence Day in Honolulu, as dignitaries, crew members and guests celebrated the christening of NCL America’s Seafarers-crewed Pride of Aloha. SIU President Michael Sacco was a featured speaker for the event. Also delivering remarks were U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, Star Cruises Chairman Tan Sri KT Lim, and NCL America President and CEO Colin Veitch. Mrs. Margaret Inouye served as the vessel’s godmother. The Pride of Aloha is the first of three U.S.-flag cruise ships planned by NCL America. The others are the Pride of America and the Pride of Hawaii, with the latter scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2006. “The Pride of Aloha represents a partnership between NCL America, the shipboard workers and their unions. We’re all in this together, and I’m 100 percent confident we’re going to succeed,” Sacco stated. “Today, thanks to an unprecedented level of cooperation between labor, management and government, the U.S. Merchant Marine is on the rise. New ships are entering the U.S.-flag fleet—not only in the cruise indus- SIU President Michael Sacco expressed strong confidence that the new cruise ship will succeed. The SIU-crewed Pride of Aloha means new jobs for Seafarers. It’s the first of three U.S.-flag ships planned by NCL America. try, but also cargo ships, military support vessels, passenger ferries, modern tugboats and barges, Great Lakes ships and more. That type of progress doesn’t happen without teamwork by all concerned. And that same type of cooperation and commitment will lift NCL America to great heights.” See pages 12-13 for more photos of the christening. Senator Inouye, a driving force behind the industry’s revival and a longtime supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine, noted, “I am pleased to have sponsored legislation that led to the return of the U.S. flag to passenger cruise ship operations in the United States, and especially in Hawaii. The Pride of Aloha will be a welcome addition to Hawaii waters, and the visitor industry and all of Hawaii will benefit from its activities.” Another fervent backer of the U.S. fleet, Abercrombie said the recently reflagged ship’s arrival “is a tremendous boon to our state’s economy. Having a U.S.flag ship operating among our Islands will have vital long-term economic benefits including the creation of thousands of new jobs.” Schubert described the revival of oceangoing U.S.-flag cruising as “great news for the U.S. Merchant Marine. NCL America’s planned U.S.-flag expansion, starting with Pride of Aloha, helps grow our U.S.-flag fleet and create thousands of jobs for American seafarers, which is vital to our economic well-being and national security.” Tan Sri KT Lim offered passionate remarks about the industry’s revival. He touched on the “concept of Ohana, the extended family, and the benefits and obligations that being part of the Ohana brings.... I have personally committed our own extended family to making sure that this venture succeeds. We will commit the necessary assets and management resources to make sure it does well, and we will draw on our resources to the full extent necessary to beat back any attempts to undermine it. An assault on U.S.flag shipping is an assault on our family. Attempts to dismantle laws that preserve coastwise trade for domestic vessels and domestic seafarers is an attack on our family.” “On this day when Americans celebrate our independence, NCL America is proud to inaugurate a whole new cruise experience— one that represents all that NASSCO Floats Out Second BP Tanker In November of last year, when National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) floated out Hull 484 (the Alaskan Frontier), keel-laying ceremonies also were being held for Hull 485 (the Alaskan Explorer). The two vessels represent the first and second of four Alaska Class double-hull oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA. Both will be operated by SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Co. (ATC). Early last month, eight months after that first vessel was launched, the Alaskan Explorer was floated out from the construction dock. It will be finished dockside in preparation for delivery in November 2004. Meanwhile, the Alaskan Frontier is undergoing sea trials and is expected to go into service later this month. The other two new builds are scheduled for delivery in 2005 and 2006. Each of the four oil tankers is 941 feet long and is designed for maximum flexibility in the transport of crude oil from Valdez, Alaska to oil refineries located along the U.S. West Coast, including BP refineries in Los Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash. With a beam of 164 feet and a capacity of 1.3 million barrels, the vessels are expected to last a minimum of 35 years. BP reported that each of the tankers will be filled with state-of-the art machinery and cargo control systems as well as an integrated navigation system. To help eliminate accidental oil leaks, the propeller August 2004 The second of four double-hull oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shpping Company, USA, the Alaskan Explorer is launched from the NASSCO construction dock and will join the Alaskan Frontier and two other tankers in the transport of crude oil from Valdez, Alaska to refineries on the West Coast. shafts will be cooled and lubricated with seawater instead of lubricating oil. Cargo piping will be installed in the cargo tanks, instead of on deck, to reduce the risk of small spills. Additionally, each ship will have redundant propulsion and steering systems that include twin diesel-electric power systems in segregated engine rooms, twin propellers and twin rudders. Use of diesel-electric propulsion system will reduce air emissions at sea and in port while reducing maintenance “down time.” America and Hawaii have to offer,” said Veitch. “This is truly a proud day for NCL.” “The state is proud to welcome the Pride of Aloha to Hawaii,” said Lingle. “This beautiful new NCL America ship will bring more visitors to Hawaii, increase business for our merchants on the different islands and provide more job opportunities for our residents.” The ship is sailing seven-day, round-trip Hawaii itineraries, visiting all four main islands and giving passengers up to 96 hours in port. The 77,000-ton Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship and is projected to annually generate more than $275 million in expenditures, $199 million in direct and indirect wages and salaries, $42 million in federal tax revenues, and nearly 7,000 jobs, according to the company. Once NCL America’s plans are fully implemented, its U.S.flagged ships are expected to generate more than $828 million in U.S. economic activity and 20,400 jobs, according to a recent study by one of the nation’s leading economic consultancies. Mrs. Margaret Inouye, wife of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), does the honors at the christening, with an assist from NCL America President and CEO Colin Veitch. Matson’s Maunawili Christened Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Company’s new containership Maunawili was christened July 17 at Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. by Ms. Maryanna G. Shaw, great granddaughter of Samuel T. Alexander, one of the founders of Matson’s parent company, Alexander and Baldwin, Inc. (A&B). SIU President Michael Sacco and SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez represented the union at the ceremony. In his keynote speech, Lt. General Gary Hughey, deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), reinforced the important role of the Jones Act. “I have no doubt that as long as America maintains the Jones Act as the foundation of our maritime policy, U.S.-flag vessel operations will meet the needs of waterborne commerce. And it will sustain the maritime infrastructure—the builders, the owners, the mariners —whose labors always have and always will ensure our security,” he stated. Hughey added, “USTRANSCOM, Military Sealift Command, the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and the Maritime Administration support the maintenance of a viable U.S.flagged fleet and U.S. mariner pool. We can’t do business without either.” Lt. Gen. Gary Hughey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command The Maunawili is the second new Matson ship of the 21st century. The first, the Manukai, was delivered to Matson by Kvaerner Philadelphia in September 2003. Each ship is 712 feet long and can carry 2,600 containers. The newer vessel was slated for sea trials in late July and is expected to enter Matson’s Hawaii service in the fall. James Andrasick, president and CEO, Matson, noted, “Investing $220 million in two new U.S.built containerships was a significant step for Matson and represents a significant commitment to the Hawaii market that we have served for more than 120 years. This new ship will help ensure that Matson continues to provide Hawaii with efficient, dependable ocean transportation services of superior quality and value.” Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, August 16, 2004 for the observance of Paul Hall’s birthday and Monday, September 6, 2004 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Seafarers LOG 3 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/22/2004 4:33 PM Page 4 Union Mourns Port Agent Malone Philly-Based Official’s ‘Heart Was as Big as the Rest of Him’ Jim Malone, the SIU’s port agent in Philadelphia, died June 22 in Newark, N.J. of a heart attack. He was 56. Fellow officials remembered Malone as a dedicated, respected and well-liked individual whose commitment to the union easily exceeded his considerable size. “He really cared about the membership,” said SIU President Michael Sacco. “He was a good union rep, very conscientious, and he was also a loving father. He’ll sorely be missed.” SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who worked closely with Malone when they were based in Philadelphia during the early and mid- 1990s, stated, “Jim was a dedicated and loyal official. He had a heart of gold and always looked out for the members’ interests.” SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez said Malone’s “heart was as big as the rest of him.” SIU Representative Joe Mieluchowski lived in Philadelphia when he went to the SIU hall to inquire about joining in 1991. “Jim was the one who handed me my application,” Mieluchowski recalled. “If you knew him, you liked him. He was extremely loyal to the union and he was very dedicated to his family. All of that is fact.” A Philadelphia native, Malone sailed NMU PENSION & WELFARE PLAN NMU VACATION PLAN Trustee, Administration and Summary of Material Modifications for the Year 2003 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES – Co-Chairmen NMU Pension & Welfare Plan and NMU Vacation Plan EMPLOYER TRUSTEES Thomas Murphy, President Marine Personnel & Provisioning, Inc. 1083 N. Collier Blvd, PMB #387 Marco Island, FL 34145 (941) 393-0435 UNION TRUSTEES René Lioeanjie, Vice Presidentat-Large Seafarers International Union of N.A., AGLIWD/NMU 1150 17th Street, N.W., Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 466-7060 AMENDMENTS & OTHER ITEMS NMU Pension Plan, Annuity Plan and 401(k) Plan: During 2003, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments of significant importance to the membership and the Plans. Generally the amendments: 1. Provided for a suspension of benefits during months in which a Pensioner is receiving vacation benefits from the NMU Vacation Plan. 2. Authorization of the thirteenth check distributed to Retirees or Beneficiaries who were eligible to receive a pension benefit after December 2002. 3. Clarification that a Participant who attains Normal Retirement Age before a Permanent Break in Service shall be eligible for a Vested Pension. 4. Changed the definition of the Union Name to the Seafarers International Union – Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters/NMU, AFL-CIO. 5. Provided for payment of benefits at Normal Retirement Age and Required Beginning Date. 6. Provided for a 2 percent increases at December 31, 2003 for Participants active in 2004. 7. Amendment regarding compliance with IRS Regulations. NMU Welfare Plan: During 2003, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments of significant importance to the membership and the Plans. Generally the amendments: 1. Amended the ISOV payment arrangement to exclude reimbursable illness/injury claims such as those that may be reimbursed by MARAD. 2. Established a cap of $100,000 per incident/per person in ISOV cases 3. Changed the definition of the Union Name to the Seafarers International Union – Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters/NMU, AFL-CIO. 4. Extended the Viagra exclusion to July 31, 2004. 5. Provided an exclusion of medical coverage for ADD/Autism. 6. Extended the age for dependent students from age 23 to age 25. 7. Provided well baby coverage including physical examinations and immunizations. 8. New eligibility requirements as of January 1, 2004. 9. Provides for eligibility for new employees. 10. Deleted the provisions of Section 11. NMU Vacation Plan: During 2003, the Board of Trustees adopted an amendment to the Declaration of Trust Changed the definition of the Union Name to the Seafarers International Union – Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters/NMU, AFL-CIO. ADMINISTRATOR William J. Dennis NMU Benefit Plans 360 West 31st Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001-2727 4 Seafarers LOG in the SIU’s inland division, beginning in 1982. He sailed as a deckhand with Moran, McAllister and Taylor & Anderson in Philadelphia, most recently in 1988. That same year, he came ashore to work for the union. Malone became the union’s port agent in Philadelphia in 1997. He later assumed the same post for the SIU in Norfolk, Va. before returning as port agent in Philadelphia. Survivors include Malone’s wife, Patricia; three daughters and a son; and nine grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A funeral mass took place June 26 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Philadelphia. A heart attack claimed Philadelphia Port Agent Jim Malone, who loved his family and his union. Boston, Charleston Clinics Open Doors for Seafarer Testing The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) has recently contracted with two clinics—one in Boston and the other in Charleston, S.C.—to assist Seafarers in getting the medical testing necessary for them to sail. These services include pre-employment physical exams and benzene clearances as well as drug screens and physicals mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard. When the New Bedford, Mass. union hall recently relocated to Boston, a clinic—Health Resources at 185 Devonshire Street—was found just 1½ miles from the hiring hall (or a ALGONAC, MI Munson Medical Center 550 Munson Avenue Traverse City, MI 49684 (231) 935-8590 St. Josephs/Chesterfield Health Center 30795 23 Mile Road Chesterfield, MI 48047 (586) 421-3065 ANCHORAGE, AK U.S. Healthworks/Primary Care Associates 4100 Lake Otis Pkwy, Suite 322 Anchorage, AK 99508 (907) 562-1234 or (907) 646-2506 Tongass Substance Screening 120 Carlanna Lake Road Ketchikan, AK 99901 (907) 247-1431 BALTIMORE, MD Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Int. Med. Wyman Park Med. Ctr., 2nd Floor 3100 Wyman Park Drive Baltimore, MD 21211 (410) 338-3357 BOSTON, MA Health Resources 185 Devonshire Street Boston, MA 02110 (617) 357-4140 DULUTH, MN Duluth Clinic Occup. Medicine 400 East 3rd Street Duluth, MN 55805 (218) 786-3392 GUAM Harmon Doctors Clinic 2214 Rte. 16 Dededo, Guam 96929 (671) 637-1777 HONOLULU, HI Dr. William B. Meinke 35 Luna Lilo Street, Unit 102 Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 249-2285 Straub Occupational Health 839 S. Beretania Street Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 522-4441 three-minute walk from South Station). Health Resources opened its doors to Seafarers this year around the beginning of June. As of June 14, Seafarers on the southeast coast of the U.S., anywhere from Jacksonville, Fla. to Charleston, can utilize the services of the Carolina Center for Occupational Health, the newly contracted Charleston clinic, at 5290 Rivers Avenue. To date, the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan has 28 designated clinics (see boxed list) to service the SIU membership. SHBP-C Contracted Clinics HOUSTON, TX Methodist Hospital Institute for Preventive Medicine 6565 Fannin, SM583 Houston, TX 77030 (713) 394-6065 or 6079 Tower Medical Center of Nederland 2100 Highway 365 Nederland, TX 77627 (409) 724-2321 JACKSONVILLE, FL Industrial Medicine Group 3604 University Blvd S. Suite 1 Jacksonville, FL 32216 (904) 739-4629 Industrial Medicine Group 1205 Monument Road Suite 203 Jacksonville, FL 32225 (904) 727-5120 Carolina Center for Occupational Health 5290 Rivers Avenue, Suite 101 N. Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 554-1029 JOLIET, IL The Joliet Medical Group 2100 Glenwood Avenue Joliet, IL 60435 (815) 725-2121 MOBILE, AL Mobile Family Physicians 1924K Dauphin Island Pkwy Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 476-6330 NEW ORLEANS, LA Occupational Medical Center of West Jefferson 4475 Westbank Expressway Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 347-8471 NEW YORK, NY Bay Park Medical Occupational Health Services 794 Union Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 783-6578 NORFOLK, VA Internal Medicine Specialists 142 W. York Street, Suite 518 Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 627-7283 PHILADELPHIA, PA Healthmark, Inc. 2301 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 952-9900 PINEY POINT, MD Calvert Internal Medicine Group 14090 Solomons Island Rd. S. Suite 2500 Solomons, MD 20688 (410) 326-0305 PORT EVERGLADES, FL AMO Medical Center 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, FL 33004 (954) 927-5213 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Mercy Doctors Med. Group, Inc. 1 Shrader Street, Suite 640 San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 752-0100 SAN JUAN, PR Luis Marquez-Gonzales, MD Ashford Medical Center #29 Washington Street Suite 502 San Juan, PR 00907 (787) 723-6110 ST. LOUIS, MO Concentra Medical Centers (Soulard) 1617 S. Third Street St. Louis, MO 63126 (314) 421-2557 TACOMA, WA Franciscan Occup. Health-Port Clinic 1930 Port of Tacoma Road Tacoma, WA 98421 (253) 272-6677 WILMINGTON, CA P.V. Family & Immediate Medical Care Center 26516 Crenshaw Boulevard Palos Verdes, CA 90274 (310) 541-7911 August 2004 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/22/2004 6:20 PM Page 5 ‘Team Effort’ with Maritime Industry Helps USCG Tackle New Security Rules Some 30 days after the new United Nations International Ship and Port Facility Security code (ISPS) and related U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) went into force, the U.S. Coast Guard continues to take proactive measures to keep America’s ports safe and secure. The two new sets of regulations, designed to thwart seaborne terrorist attacks, became effective July 1. “Things have been running smoothly with very little disruption to trade and travel,” said Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard. “This has truly been a team effort, and everyone—from the maritime industry to local governments and private citizens to the international community—has played an important role in ensuring that U.S. ports and waterways run efficiently and effectively while we implement the new security regime.” Vice Adm. James D. Hull, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Va., also acknowledged the key roles played by governmental and civilian agencies in the implementation of the new regulations. In a letter to the Norfolk, Va.-based Virginian-Pilot, Admiral Hull said in part: “Despite many who questioned the industry’s ability to comply with the stringent requirements on a short timeline, thousands of foreign vessels have since come and gone, 98 percent of our facilities remained open for business and store shelves remained stocked. This remarkable accomplishment is attributed to the unheralded cooperation of government at all levels and civilian port authorities, whose livelihood depends on our ports remaining safe, secure and open for business. “Today our nation faces the very real threat of a terrorist attack, and our goal is to deter and/or prevent that from happening in the maritime arena,” he continued. “With 361 ports accepting 95 percent of our country’s imports, the task seems daunting. While we cannot guarantee that a terrorist attack will not happen, the MTSA and ISPS code, and our nation’s overwhelming effort to comply with those laws and regulations, have certainly made our ports safer than ever before…. “In this critical effort, the mar- itime community of the United States and their partners in foreign trade should be applauded for quickly complying with the new security regulations.” According to the latest statistics (released July 21), three weeks after ISPS/MTSA enforcement began, 5,002 foreign vessels had arrived at U.S. ports. Of these, 3,494 had been inspected and approved before the July 1 deadline. The U.S. Coast Guard had inspected 1,209 foreign vessels in port and another 40 at sea. Fortytwo foreign vessels had been denied entry into U.S. ports and another 50 had been detained in port since July 1. Thirty-two U.S.-flag ships were under restricted operation orders, and 18 shore facilities had been closed for non-compliance with the MTSA. During the initial days of inspections, the Coast Guard said that non-compliance with ISPS was concentrated among vessels of smaller than 500 tons. The agency estimated that about 8.5 percent of vessel exams have resulted in enforcement actions, including denial of entry, expulsion and detention. SIU Officials to Serve On Security Committees A pair of SIU officials recently became members of maritime security committees in their respective geographical regions. They are Victor Nuñez, port agent in the port of Santurce, P.R. and Steve Judd, port agent in the port of New Orleans. Nuñez received an invitation to serve on the Puerto Rico Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) from U.S. Coast Guard Capt. W.J. Uberti, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC) for Puerto Rico while Judd received similar correspondence for membership in the New Orleans Area Maritime Subcommittee from U.S. Coast Guard Capt. R.W. Branch, FMSC for the New Orleans area. Both SIU officials completed required acceptance forms to verify their approval to the posts and now are full-fledged members. Earlier this year, the following SIU officials also accepted AMSC appointments: Gulf Coast Vice President Dean Corgey, Atlantic Coast Vice President Joseph Soresi, Hawaii Port Agent Neil Dietz, Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz and Boston Port Agent Gerard Dhooge. The AMSC positions are voluntary. “It’s a real honor for me to be a part of this committee,” said Nuñez, who has been in his position as port agent since 1999. “I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity because a lot of decisions are made (by the agency) that directly affect SIU members and the vessels they crew. This is a chance to provide more input and further voice our concerns prior to final decisions.” Nuñez served as a patrolman in Santurce from 1997 to 1999. He sailed as an AB for eight years before coming ashore. Judd’s affiliation with the SIU dates back to the late 1970s when he worked as a deckhand aboard inland boats. In addition to holding a master’s license, Judd also has served as a safety director and union representative. He has held office in the local port council of the Maritime Trades Department and the New Orleans AFL-CIO. Judd became port agent in 1997. “I look forward to serving on SIU Santurce Port Agent Victor Nuñez (second from right, with Seafarers on the Horizon Discovery), will serve on the Puerto Rico Area Maritime Security Committee. August 2004 SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd takes notes during an MTD meeting which included detailed discussions on shipboard and port security. the committee,” said Judd, “because homeland security matters have a direct bearing on quality-of-life issues for our membership. My main goal will be to foster a happy balance between decisions affecting homeland security and issues relating to the interests of Seafarers. Such things as shore leave and entering and exiting ports affect our membership as a whole and our concerns need to be heard.” AMSCs were instituted as a result of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. They are intended to provide a framework for communicating, identifying risks and coordinating resources to reduce threats and help ensure efficient responses. Chaired by the Coast Guard Captains of the Ports (COTP), the committees bring together a diverse group of port stakeholders to discuss maritime domain awareness and transportation security issues. Committee members are appointed by COTPs. Those appointed must have at least five years of experience dealing with maritime or port security operations. Panamanian-flagged vessels fared the worst with nearly 25 percent of the non-compliant vessels flying that country’s flag. As the world’s largest ship registry, Panamanian-flagged vessels typically make up 25-27 percent of the foreign vessels that call on the U.S., according to the Coast Guard. Other flags that the Coast Guard closely is tracking include Cyprus, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Honduras and Malta. In a related development, Lloyds List on July 20 reported that the Panamanian flag is bracing itself for a series of defections following earlier criticism of the way ISPS Code certificates have been processed, which saw many ships fail to meet the July 1 deadline. Most notably, according to the report, Japanese owners, who account for 40 percent of the world’s largest register, are considering moving away. A representative in Singapore for the Panamanian flag, Capt. Sam Say, admitted, “The Japanese are thinking of reflagging. Some owners might reconsider the situation and reflag to other flags.” Captain Say works as a consultant for Panahon Marine, the Panamanian flag agency. The Panamanian registry’s London office refused to comment, the report said, but Capt. Say continued, “From the feedback of owners we have got, they do express dissatisfaction with Panamanian authorities in implementing the ISPS Code. The Panamanian authorities were slow in issuing [International Ship Security Certificates] and they required owners to pick them personally.” Say said that in Singapore the problems were minimized and agents were employed to help deliver the certificates to the owners. However, he re-emphasized: “Owners are very disappointed with the actions leading up to ISPS implementation.” Elsewhere, the U.S. Coast Guard on July 13 urged ship operators to ensure that they adhere strictly to its notification of arrival requirements, stressing that failure to do so could result in delays, or denial of entry to their destination port. In a statement formally reiterating declarations made by officials during the opening week of compliance, the agency said operators must have valid International Ship Security Certificates and provide other information as part of their notice-of-arrival requirements to enter U.S. ports. Coast Guard Port Security Director Rear Admiral Larry Hereth said, “We have experienced problems with vessel operators failing to obtain the required certificates and in some cases filing incomplete or inaccurate information. This has led to delays or entry denials.” Coast Guard spokeswoman Jolie Shifflet added, “The message we would like to get out is for those who have ISSCs to please report it.” She added that the agency is strictly enforcing its notice-ofarrival requirements. “It is one of our primary tools for making determinations about ships coming in.” The requirements charge ship operators with submitting accurate vessel, crew, passenger and cargo information to the Coast Guard at least 96 hours prior to arrival in a U.S. port. Failure to submit the notice will result in denial of entry while incomplete or inaccurate information could result in significant delay. In a related development, the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) port workers unions on July 14 pledged to assure port security, and warned that the ISPS code must be rigidly upheld—not undermined by using it as a backdoor way of introducing casual labor and self-handling. Meeting in Singapore, the ITF Dockers’ Section Conference moved to support the new legislation but flagged up areas of concern. These included: possible use of casual labor who do not meet security standards and the potential use of ISPS to exclude ITF inspectors and even dockers from ships. The conference also reiterated the ITF’s opinion that empty containers are a security risk unless they are inspected. SIU VP Soresi Elected to State AFL-CIO SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi (second from left) recently was elected to serve as a vice president of the New Jersey State AFLCIO. Additionally, the New York Port Maritime Council of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO became an affiliate of New Jersey’s state labor federation. Presenting the certificate of affiliation to Soresi (who also serves as president of the port council) during the federation’s meeting June 16 in Atlantic City, N.J. are (from left) Pete Busacca, president of the Hudson County Central Labor Council; Charles Wowkanech, president of the state federation; and Laurel Brennan, secretary-treasurer of the state federation. Seafarers LOG 5 �23844_P3,6,8.qxd 7/22/2004 2:56 PM Page 6 U.S. Labor Department Updating Confidential Maritime Database Agency Seeks Volunteers for ‘O*NET’ Project The U.S. Department of Labor is asking SIU members who have been in the industry for at least five years to consider voluntarily participating in a program known as the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The program is sponsored by the Department of Labor. It is intended to gather occupational information for a national database that is used by millions of employers, workers, educators and students across the country. Individual data will be kept strictly confidential. Names are not used in the database, and no identifying information about anyone will be published or released in any form to anyone outside the research team. The database’s maritime component provides information about the knowledge, skills, abilities and activities for the occupations of masters, mates, pilots, engineers, deckhands and oilers. “We want to make sure that the right information is presented for these positions,” noted Dr. Jon Blades, who helps head up the project. “It’s important that the information is accurate and up to date, because millions of Claims Dept. Co-Director Martha Carr Dies at 51 Martha C. Carr, a longtime medical claims employee who rose to the post of co-director in the Seafarers Health and Benefit Plan’s Piney Point, Md.-based claims department, passed away June 25 at her home in Piney Point. She was 51. “Martha was a solid citizen here in Piney Point,” said Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan. “Her dedication to the job was unbelievable. No problem Martha Carr, left, talks with then was too small for Martha when it SIU Plans Administrator Lou came to the membership. She will Delma in a 2001 meeting at the sorrowfully be missed, and we will SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center. never forget her wonderful smile.” John Spadaro, national director of the SIU-affiliated United Industrial Workers, also speaking of Carr’s commitment to the union noted, “Martha was one of the most dedicated people I have ever worked with. She was extremely compassionate and certainly very helpful on a day-to-day basis. Martha went about the business of doing her job like the true professional that she was, but she always added that personal, caring touch to whatever she was involved in. There is no doubt that she will be missed a great deal by everyone who knew her.” Seafarers Plans Administrator Bill Dennis said Carr “was truly special. During her illness she always maintained a very positive attitude. It seemed that she was trying to make us feel better. She touched all of us in a very special way.” “Martha and I worked very well together as a team over the years,” said Pat Benoit of her deceased colleague and close personal friend. Benoit is co-director of the claims department. “Jointly, we supervised 45 employees,” Benoit continued. “The one thing I remember and treasure most about Martha was her unselfishness, her willingness to go that extra mile for the membership. Regardless of how simple or complicated a particular situation was, she time and again made herself available to members, port officials and anyone else who required her assistance. Even when her illness started to get the best of her, she still put the needs of others ahead of her own personal welfare; this is a rare quality indeed. “I’m certain that I speak for all of her co-workers and those who had the good fortune of knowing her when I say that she was greatly loved and highly respected,” Benoit concluded. “Martha will be missed by all of us.” A native of Washington, D.C., Carr joined the UIW in 1985 while working at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. She initially worked as a claims processor. Carr advanced to the position of claims coordinator in 1990 and to claims section manager in 1991. In January 1998, she became co-director of the claims department. She held this position until her demise. Carr was preceded in death by her parents, Edward J. and Margaret V. Holt; two sisters, Margaret J. Kendall and Dorothy Jones; and two brothers, William and Richard Gray. Survivors include her husband, Steven; one son, Gary Hartman; two daughters, Susan Owen and Sandy Carr; five grandchildren; a host of other relatives, friends and her SIU “family.” Minette Clarke, left, and Carr A viewing was held June 29 at are all smiles during a claims the Brinsfield Echols Funeral department outing in Southern Home in Charlotte Hall, Md. Maryland. 6 Seafarers LOG employers, workers, educators and students use O*NET to help them make informed decisions about education, training and careers.” He added that the agency seeks volunteers with at least five years of experience to “serve as experts and [to] complete questionnaires about their work. Responses will be strictly confidential and will be combined with all other responses to define the skills, knowledge, and other aspects of work in the maritime field. Each person who completes the questionnaires will receive $40 and a certificate of appre- ciation from the U.S. Department of Labor.” Seafarers who are interested in participating may contact Dr. Jon Blades at the National Center for O*NET Development, P.O. Box 27625, Raleigh, NC 27611; telephone (919) 733-2790; fax (919) 7150778; email jon.blades@ncmail.net. Please provide your name, telephone number and a mailing address. More information about O*NET is available on line at http://www.onetcenter.org/. Alaska Tanker Co. Wins Prestigious Safety Award SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) has won a prestigious safety award issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, Rear Adm. Thomas H. Gilmour, recently announced that ATC earned the 2004 William M. Benkert Environmental Award. ATC won “gold level” recognition in the “large business vessel” category. The award was presented in late June in San Diego. “This award has been earned by the men and women of ATC,” stated Alaska Tanker Company President Anil Mathur. “I am proud to lead this team that harmoniously brings together helping provide energy for Americans and caring for our environment.” According to the agency, the William M. Benkert Award “is the premier national award that recognizes excellence in marine environmental protection. The evaluation process is competitive; standards are rigorous and demanding. This award was created to recognize vessel and facilities operators who have implemented outstanding marine environmental protection programs— programs that far exceed mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.” The award is named in honor of Rear Adm. William M. Benkert (1923-1989), a distinguished Coast Guard officer widely known for his leadership and vision in marine environmental protection. ATC, based in Beaverton, Ore., operates a fleet of eight SIU-crewed tankers. The Coast Guard, in announcing the award, credited the company with maintaining “well-defined environmental policies and objectives with outstanding measurement tools. The company established performance contracts between owners, management, senior officers anrd the ship’s crew. These performance contracts identified clear and specific goals, measured trends and/or areas for improvement that allowed ATC to SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company has earned several highlevel safety awards in recent years. Among other vessels, the ATC fleet includes (from top) the Overseas Chicago, the Denali and the Prince William Sound. identify mitigation strategies to produce positive results. Each year, the specific goals and objectives of these contracts are set at a higher standard than the year before. During 2002 and 2003 ATC transported approximately 311 million barrels of crude oil with less than 2.2 gallons of oil being spilled in the environment.” SIU-contracted Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. (OSI) received honorable mention. The company operates five U.S.-flag tankers for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). The Coast Guard noted that Ocean Shipholdings’ vessels “operate worldwide, including the sensitive environmental regions of Antarctica and Greenland. OSI’s environmental polices are clear and concise covering the avoidance of damage to the environment with particular consideration to the marine environment. To meet the objectives of their mission and policy statements, risks are continually identified and evaluated to help reduce any impact on the environment. OSI also developed specific Marine Regulations to address the risks to vessels and the environment while operating in a harsh environment such as Antarctica.” August 2004 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:24 PM Page 7 Congressman Hunter Honored By Shipbuilding Association House Armed Services Committee Chairman U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a strong advocate for the U.S. Merchant Marine, is the recipient of the American Shipbuilding Association’s (ASA) 2004 Herbert H. Bateman Award. Congressman Hunter on June 23 received the award during the ASA’s Salute to the 108th Congress reception in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. D.C. Established by ASA in 2000, the award is described by the association as the shipbuilding industry’s uppermost acknowledgment of an individual in the executive branch, legislative branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry. Congressman Herb Bateman of Virginia, the award’s namesake, was credited with demonstrating these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981-2000. The late nine-term congressman passed away in September 2000 following a lengthy battle with cancer. “Duncan Hunter, throughout his nearly 24 years on the Armed Services Committee, has been a tireless advocate of a stronger defense shipbuilding industrial base,” noted Cynthia Brown, ASA president, in presenting the congressman with the award. “He has consistently worked for larger defense procurement budgets to fund the required number of naval ships. “His long and impressive record in support of a larger naval fleet and supporting manufacturing industry has made him a deserving recipient of the Herbert H. Bateman Award,” she concluded. Previous recipients of the honor include: U.S. Representative Herbert H. Bateman (RVa.); U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine); U.S. Representative Gene Taylor (D-Miss.); and U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (RAlaska). Congressman Hunter represents California’s 52nd Congressional District consisting of eastern and northern San Diego County. He is a Vietnam veteran, who served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers. In 1973, Representative Hunter attended Western State University Law School in San Diego on the G.I. Bill, while also working at farming and construction. Prior to his current position as chairman of the full committee, Congressman Hunter served as Chairman of the House Military Research & Development Subcommittee from 2001-2002. The congressman also served as chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Procurement from 19952000. ASA is a national trade association representing American shipbuilders—the designers and producers of the safest and most technologically advanced ships in the world. ASA’s mission is to educate policymakers and the American public on the need for a strong shipbuilding industrial base to build the ships that help keep America secure and economically prosperous. To this end, ASA supports a strong American Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and merchant fleet of American-built ships. Collectively, ASA member shipyards employ more than 90 U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) percent of all the workers engaged in ship construction in the United States. Many of them are the largest private-sector employers in the states in which they operate. The association also represents 54 partner companies engaged in the design and manufacture of ship systems, components, technologies, equipment and in providing technical support services. Secretary Mineta Underscores Need For U.S.-Flag Fleet Tribute to Merchant Mariners U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta recently reiterated his strong support for the U.S.-flag maritime industry. He did so while addressing an audience June 21 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. “Rarely in our history has the importance of our maritime operations been so clear, or the opportunities for mariners so great,” Mineta stated. “For the first time in recent memory, we are adding demonstrably to the number of ships sailing under the American flag. In the past two years, our efforts have attracted three modern and militarily useful vessels to the U.S.-flag fleet. Additionally, thousands of new sea-going jobs will be created when three new U.S.-flagged cruise ships are placed in service. “The Maritime Security Act, signed by President Bush last November, is another measure of our commitment,” he continued. “The $1.7 billion reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program will expand the fleet from 47 to 60 ships. And there is more to come.” The secretary commended U.S. mariners for their quick response on September 11, 2001 and also for their highly regarded performance in Operation Iraqi Freedom. “From the earliest days of our founding, America has always been a maritime nation,” he added. “And so we remain today. Indeed, rarely in our nation has the importance of our maritime operations been so clear or the opportunities for mariners so great. Today, we recognize our sea lanes as the logistical lifeline to the troops defending our freedoms abroad. And for the world’s leading trading nation, those sea lanes serve as the primary arteries through which almost 95 percent of U.S. overseas cargo flows. August 2004 Included in Denali Memorial We dedicate this quiet place to the remembrance of the veterans of Alaska who have served their country at home and throughout the world. We honor their heroism and dedication. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta “With the American economy surging forward—creating nearly one million new jobs in the last 100 days—the stage is set for a renaissance for the maritime industries and a growing role for the merchant mariners who link us to our trading partners around the world,” Mineta continued. “We have made a strong commitment to building a robust maritime system…. “And there is more to come. At the Department of Transportation, we are working to develop the most comprehensive maritime review that the nation has ever seen. This initiative, known as SEA 21, encompasses the entire marine transportation system—from ports to shipbuilding to mariner training. SEA 21 has the potential to modernize and enhance our maritime capacity, making it more secure and efficient while developing new areas of opportunity, such as short sea shipping.” Mineta noted that he took part in the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and that the U.S. Merchant Marine “is included, prominently…. We know those mariners today as members of the ‘Greatest Generation.’” At mile 147 of the Parks Highway at Denali State Park— centrally located between Anchorage and Fairbanks—is a plaque with those words. AB Robert Franxman of Florence, Ky. was on a fishing trip in the area not long ago, when he came upon the beautifully designed memorial, and sent the photos appearing with this article to the Seafarers LOG. The Alaska Veterans Memorial, the first to honor the state’s veterans, was erected in 1983 and dedicated the following year. The main part of the site consists of five, 20-foot tall concrete panels, one each to represent the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. They are arranged in a semi-circle to form an alcove in a natural grove of trees. On top of each panel is a large star and below the star is a At the entrance to the state memorial is a statue representing the Alaska Territorial Guard (right) and a plaque in memory of all veterans. In 1999, a plaque was erected at the Alaska Veterans Memorial in honor of U.S. merchant mariners who served during World War II. short history of that branch’s contribution to Alaska. At the entrance of the alcove is a statue of two figures representing the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG), carved by Canadian sculptor George Pratt. The binoculars of one of the ATG members is trained on Denali (Mt. McKinley), which is only 35 miles away at that point. A large plaque beside the statue explains the work of the ATG. In 1998, World War II merchant mariners were granted “active duty” veterans status, so another large plaque was added the following year to one of the walls forming the entrance to the alcove where the main panels are set. It honors members of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served in World War II and was dedicated by Governor Tony Knowles, an Army Vietnam veteran. Also in 1999, two flagpoles were erected by a group of volunteers so that an Alaskan flag now flies to the right of an American flag, and to its left flies a POW/MIA or other flag for special events. The Alaska Veterans Memorial was made possible by legislation introduced by the late State Senator Charles Parr in 1981 and passed that year. Parr, a World War II Army veteran from Fairbanks, recognized that Alaska was one of the few states in the nation without a memorial to its veterans. For travelers, the memorial provides both a refreshing stop along the highway as well as an important insight into Alaska’s history. Adjacent to the memorial is a visitor’s center, where several interpretive signs describe the historical role of the military in the Bering Sea during the Civil War and World War II and throughout the Cold War. Seafarers LOG 7 �23844_P3,6,8.qxd 7/22/2004 2:57 PM Page 8 The SIU’s negotiating team for the Bisso contract included (seated) Engineer Delegate Robert Jordan, (standing, from left) Deckhand Delegate David Abney, SIU New Orleans Safety Director Chris Westbrook and SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd. Top Health Care Benefits Highlight Inland Contracts Bisso, Moran, Seabulk Boatmen Approve Pacts Gulf-area Seafarers recently approved three new contracts that call for wage increases and maintain top-of-the-line medical benefits. Each of the respective agreements is for five years. Boatmen at E.N. Bisso in New Orleans unanimously approved their new contract, while Seafarers at Seabulk and at Moran of Texas, respectively, ratified their pacts by overwhelming margins. SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Bisso boatmen unanimously approved their new five-year contract. Among those happy with the pact are (from left) Deckhand Michael Tomlin, Engineer Christopher Lambert, Engineer Delegate Robert Jordan, Deckhand Delegate David Abney, Engineer Frank Arnona and Deckhand Eric Burlette. Dean Corgey led the SIU negotiating teams for all three contracts. He stated that maintaining Plan G medical coverage for the boatmen and their families while also securing wage gains “is a great credit to all concerned and a major accomplishment. The struggle to maintain good, affordable health care benefits is the main issue in practically every union contract negotiation—for all unions— across the country. The fact that we kept the top coverage for members and their dependents and still got wage increases is a great achievement.” Corgey, SIU Assistant Vice President Jim McGee and SIU Representative Kevin Marchand were joined on the Seabulk bargaining committee by Captain Chuck Taylor, Chief Engineer Kenneth Beach, Deckhand Gus Leday and Quartermaster Chris Union Secures Substantial Settlement for CIVMARS in Health & Safety Grievance After many months of investigation and advocacy, the SIU has secured a substantial settlement award for employees who sailed aboard the USNS Kilauea during parts of the year 2003. Approximately 86 mariners, including those not covered by union contracts, will be eligible for this settlement payment. The problem arose after the Kilauea left Port Haddock, Wash. en route to Guam. Mariners noted a problem with the water quality, color and odor aboard the vessel. Some crew members also experienced a stinging and burning sensation on their skin, lips and throat when they came into contact with the water. The crew notified SIU Government Services Division Representative Chester Wheeler and a grievance was filed. A detailed investigation into the cause of the problem took place with Naval Environmental Medicine as well as Industrial Hygiene Department personnel visiting the vessel. Air and water samples were taken. While the investigation continued, the union advocated for the delivery of bottled water to the vessel and other modifications to ensure the ship was as safe as possible. The crew and contractors worked on the tanks as the ship continued sailing to various Pacific ports. Wheeler closely followed the situation for months. To settle the grievance, the union requested monetary compensation and medical monitoring specifically targeted to this exposure for each mariner. MSC, however, would not agree to the amount requested by the SIU. The union filed for arbitration, and the parties were in the process of selecting an arbitrator when MSC representatives agreed to the union’s demand of $10 per day for the period between March 6, 2003 and June 22, 2003. SIU Government Services Division members who believe they are eligible for this settlement payment but haven’t received it are asked to contact the union. While MSC maintains that there were no exposures to unhealthy substances, the SIU is encouraging all mariners who were exposed to this unpotable water to mention the situation at their next MSC physical examination. Direct the medical examiner to note this exposure on your medical records and get a copy of your record. You should have the medical examiner order blood screens that may detect any problems which may be developing. You should also have the same thing done at your private physician’s office when you go for your next examination. Thibodeaux. “Everything’s cool,” Taylor said when asked for his thoughts on the contract. “Everything went okay—Dean and Jimbo and Kevin did a darn good job. The medical benefits are really valuable.” The Moran negotiating committee consisted of Corgey, McGee, Marchand, Capt. Clint Campbell, Chief En- Serving on the Seabulk negotiating team gineer Jimmy Brous- were (from left, kneeling) Captain Chuck sard, Quartermaster Taylor, Deckhand Gus Leday, (standing) SIU Andy Ashworth and Representative Kevin Marchand, Chief AB Paul Paszkiewicz. Engineer Kenneth Beach, SIU VP Gulf Coast “What we ended up Dean Corgey, Quartermaster Chris Thiwith is very good,” bodeaux and SIU Assistant VP Jim McGee. Campbell said. “We got wage increases and kept our med- communication between the negoical benefits. I think everything tiating teams.” Jordan agreed, characterizing looked good.” The Moran contract has one the negotiations as “much better unresolved issue that is scheduled than last time. The cooperation, for arbitration, as agreed to by the the good faith of sitting down without the lawyers—I liked it. union and the company. The Bisso bargaining commit- Dean and those guys can negotiate tee included Corgey, SIU New with the best, so I wasn’t worried Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, about that, but it was all very Safety Director Chris Westbrook, smooth.” Commenting about the conEngineer Delegate Robert Jordan and Deckhand Delegate tract itself, Jordan added, “We got some money out of it and the most David Abney. Judd pointed out that this was important part was we continue to the first time the company “com- have our (health) insurance. That’s municated directly with the union one of the big things the guys reps and members without using wanted.” Altogether, more than 150 SIU attorneys. Negotiations were hardfought, but they had a better tone boatmen are covered by the new this time. They were constructive agreements—approximately 75 at and respectful with good, direct Bisso, more than 50 at Seabulk and more than 30 at Moran. Moran boatmen and SIU officials quickly pose for a group photo after discussing key elements of the new five-year contract. ARC Clinical Director Bill Eckles Retires The longtime clinical director of the Addictions Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Piney Point, Md. is retiring, but Bill Eckles plans to remain a familiar and readily available face both at the facility and at its affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. “It’s a lot to walk away from, but I’m part of the family,” said Eckles, 61. “Between going to sea and working down here, you’re talking about almost 40 years of my life. I’ll come down for the (membership) meetings, and the door will always be open.” Eckles joined the SIU in 1965 in his native Philadelphia. He completed the bosun recertification program and later earned a second mate’s license before coming ashore in 1985 as a counselor at the ARC. Three years later he became the clinical director. Eckles said his decision to retire proved difficult, but he looks forward to spending time with his family, including both parents and five grandchildren. He lives in Silver Spring, Md. “His job wasn’t the easiest in the world, but he saved many, 8 Seafarers LOG many lives,” stated Don Nolan, vice president of the Paul Hall Center. “He certainly was a dedicated employee, and he cares about other people. He was the hands-on, day-to-day person who ran the ARC and he was there every single day.” Coworkers also praised Eckles as committed and effective. John Gallagher, director of the ARC, noted, “For the past 18 years, Bill has been both advocate and representative of the alcohol and drug recovery movement within the maritime industry. As clinical director of the Seafarers Addictions Rehabilitation Center, his professional contribution and personal involvement in the treatment of every patient has been instrumental in assisting their recovery process. “Concern, caring and commitment to his seafaring brothers and sisters are the primary components of Bill’s legacy to the ARC,” Gallagher added. Counselor Frank Torres described Eckles as “undeniably the heart and soul of the ARC. His wisdom and knowledge will be sorely missed.” Celebrating his well-earned retirement with Bill Eckles (second from left) are his daughter, Erin, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan and Eckles’ wife, Elda. Counselor Jerry Foley expressed pride in a 27-year friendship with Eckles. “At times over the years when I felt like giving up, he always had faith in me. For that, I have to say I love the big guy! God bless him and God bless the SIU.” Kerrie Thompson, ARC secretary, said Eckles “had an impact on everyone who came through this facility, and I personally have learned a lot from him. We’re all glad that we aren’t saying goodbye to Bill, but instead, see you later.” House Manager Joe Zook stat- ed, “Bill Eckles has always been the biggest inspiration in my life and recovery and also the best friend I have in the industry. I’ll be forever in his debt for all that he has done for me. May God keep him in His hands.” Eckles said he got started as a counselor because he had gone through the ARC when it opened (in 1975) and he “had a desire to put something back into it.” He has been a leading advocate of relapse prevention—his presentation at the 1992 International Transport Workers’ Federation convention helped convince maritime unions worldwide about its importance. Eckles said the most rewarding part of his work at the ARC was “working with the guys, the members who needed help.” In a 1992 article commemorating the Paul Hall Center’s 25th anniversary, Eckles wrote, “I wouldn’t have worked in this field if it wasn’t with merchant mariners. I wasn’t looking for another profession, but going through the ARC program had turned my life around, and I felt I could contribute.” August 2004 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:24 PM Page 9 SIU Bosun Named ‘Outstanding Mariner’ SIU-contracted American Steamship Company (ASC) announced June 25 that Seafarer Charles B. Neigebauer has been named recipient of ASC’s 2004 Outstanding Mariner Award. Neigebauer is a bosun on the M/V St. Clair. SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski described Neigebauer as “a longtime member who takes great pride in his work. Charlie also instills a strong work ethic into younger mariners. He’s very deserving of this recognition.” “ASC presents the Outstanding Mariner Award annually to an employee, nominated by his or her peers, whose performance exemplifies the spirit of dedication, commitment to excellence and results-oriented drive that are the foundation of the American Steamship Company,” the company said in a news release. Jerome K. Welsch, president and CEO of ASC, said, “Through the Outstanding Mariner program, ASC recognizes shipboard and office personnel who have distinguished themselves through meritorious service. Charles’ 24 years of service to ASC are deeply appreciated and I am pleased to present him with this recognition from his company and his peers.” In nominating Neigebauer, 62, his shipmates noted that he “is always willing and able to work with all crew members. He is a leader with a positive attitude, and his focus on the safety and wellbeing of the crew and vessel is evident at all times.” Neigebauer has sailed with ASC since 1980 and aboard the St. Clair since 1986. His wife, Sondra, also is an SIU member. Charles Neigebauer began sailing in 1969, first working as a deckhand. “I would have to say that I like working out on the deck the most,” he noted. “The work is hard but the rewards are great. When you finish a job—from cargo handling to routine maintenance—and think back on how well everyone worked, it makes you feel proud.” Transportation Dept. Backs Bill Compensating WWII Mariners The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) formally has endorsed the enactment of the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004. DOT’s position on the bill, 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 the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II”— recently was outlined in official correspondence to U.S. Representative Christopher Smith (RN.J.), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. In part, the correspondence read as follows: “H.R. 3729 would provide a $1,000 monthly monetary veterans’ benefit to certain members of the United States Merchant Marine who served in World War II. This benefit would also be available to a deceased Merchant Mariner’s surviving spouse or disabled child. Merchant Mariners seeking the monthly benefit would be required to apply to the Secretary of Transportation for a certificate of honorable service, to be determined by applying the same standards used to grant an honorable military discharge. “The Department supports H.R. 3729, which provides Merchant Mariners with long-overdue recognition of their service during World War II. Carrying the troops and supplies integral to the war effort, Merchant Mariners faced the enemy alongside members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, putting their lives at risk for the freedom of a nation. Their sacrifice was great indeed, as the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any branch of the armed forces in World War II except the Marine Corps: almost 1 in 30 Mariners lost their lives. “Despite their extraordinary contributions during the war, Merchant Mariners were not included in the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the first G.I. Bill which granted benefits to World War II veterans. This Act provided unemployment pay, loan guarantees, tuition assistance and other benefits to members of the armed forces to help them transition into civilian life. Lacking the benefits conferred on their military counterparts, some Merchant Mariners were faced with severe economic and social disadvantages in the aftermath of the war. It was not until 1988 that members of the U.S. Merchant Marine were granted veterans status, more than forty years after many of them had risked their lives in service to their country during World War II. “The Department of Transportation believes that the economic benefit contained in H.R. 3729 is an appropriate means through which to address the discrepancy in the treatment of World War II Merchant Mariners that has existed for decades. We believe this benefit, to be conferred at a time when those eligible for it average over 80 years in age, is modest when compared to the years of assistance provided to other World War II veterans. In fact, it is impossible to quantify the economic compensation that other veterans received as a result of benefits such as access to higher education, and the increased earnings associated with it. Additionally, due to the advanced age of merchant mariners (or their surviving spouses) we believe that the economic impact on the Federal government will be small. “At the dedication of the National World War II Memorial on May 29, 2004, President Bush recognized Merchant Mariners as integral members of America’s fighting forces, noting “In all, more than 16 million Americans would put on the uniform of the soldier, the sailor, the airman, the Marine, the Coast Guardsman or the Merchant Mariner.” The Department encourages enactment of this bill.” Copies of the foregoing correspondence also were transmitted Bosun Charles Neigebauer found a home in the deck department in 1969 and has sailed ever since. to U.S. Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.), ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means; and U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), ranking member, House Committee on Ways and Means. As was reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, the American Merchant Marine Veterans, which includes thousands of retired Seafarers, also is urging passage of H.R. 3729. The legislation on Jan. 27 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.). During his presentation on the House floor, Congressman Filner observed, “While it is impossible to make up for over 40 years of unpaid benefits, I propose a bill that will acknowledge the service of the veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine and offer compensation for years and years of lost benefits….” The bill on April 13 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Benefits. As of press time for the LOG, the legislation had 84 co-sponsors. U.S. Health Care Costs Continue Upward Spiral Seafarers, Dependents Can Help Union Reduce Fees to Plan and Participants The high cost of health care in America continues to be a major concern for U.S. workers and their families. Retaining affordable, quality health care is a top priority for workers in a wide range of industries as they head to the bargaining table. This was never more evident than in the five-month strike by Southern California grocery workers—the longest grocery strike and lockout in U.S. history— that ended earlier this year. The dispute began in October 2003 when UFCW members refused to give in to demands to slash their health care benefits. Following 20 weeks without paychecks, the union workers finally won their fight to protect affordable health care as well as their pensions and job security. They were, perhaps, the lucky ones. In today’s weakened economy, many firms are successful in passing on high health care costs to their employees. Some workers are paying more for their insurance, while others are paying an increasing percentage of the premiums or seeing increases in deductibles and co-payments. The sad fact is that the United States spends more on health care than any other country in the world, yet nearly 44 million Americans lack medical coverage. Low-income families with at least one full-time worker are only half as likely to have job-based coverage as higher-income working families. And nearly 54 percent of workers in small business have no health coverage at all. Children and spouses are typically the first victims of decreases in health coverage. Minimizing prescription costs is one component of affordable health care. The Seafarers Health and August 2004 Benefits Plan’s agreement with Prescription Solutions, which took effect Jan. 1, 2004, is one way the union is trying to reduce the cost of prescribed drugs. With more than 55,000 participating pharmacies in their network, Prescription Solutions is proving to be a popular benefit for Seafarers and is resulting in a savings both to the Plan and to the participants. In addition to the work the Plan officials are undertaking, there are ways that individual members can help reduce the costs of their medical care. Staying fit, eating nutritious food and wearing seat belts are some of the obvious ones. Other suggestions include asking your doctor to prescribe (or your pharmacists to fill) a generic version, whenever possible, of a prescribed drug. In some cases, the difference in price is significant. When Seafarers receive a bill from a health care provider, they should look it over carefully to see if it includes charges for services not received or services billed twice. If it does, the doctor or hospital should be contacted to have the mistake corrected. Once a correction has been made, the Seafarer should contact the Health and Benefits Plan office. After verifying the correction, the Plan will pay the Seafarer a bonus that is equal to 25 percent of the amount he or she saved the Plan—up to a maximum of $500. Of particular importance, especially during this election year, is to keep informed of national and local health care issues. In several states, union activists are fighting for legislation to bring health care coverage to low- and moderate-income workers and their families. Seafarers LOG 9 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:37 PM Page 10 Seen in San Francisco . . . It was all smiles for these members of the ITB Baltimore’s crew. From the left are ABs Oscar Lacayo, Thomas Roberts and Sajid Ali. Crew members aboard the IUM vessel Great Land pose for a group shot. Happy to be in the port of San Francisco aboard the Cape Orlando are (from left) Bosun Barry Patin, Capt. Pete Grealy and AB William “Buzz” Brown. The Cape Orlando is an American Overseas Marine vessel that sails on the West Coast. Galley gang members aboard the Cape Girardeau, an American Ship Management vessel, include Chief Steward Donna Moore (left) and Chief Cook Brian Cushing. Below (top photo): SIU Assistant VP Nick Celona (right) greets Mike Mason, maritime security instructor, who went to the San Francisco hall (as well as other SIU halls across the country) to instruct SIU members about shipboard security. At the conclusion of Mason’s presentations, students were awarded certificates of completion. In the bottom photo, Douglas Sweet asks Mason a specific safety question. Left: Following a 90-day trip to Iraq and the Middle East, crew members aboard the Cape Orlando returned to the port of San Francisco and were awarded Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals and certificates of appreciation from the Maritime Administration. Right (top photo): SIU Assistant VP Nick Celona (left) presents SS Jeremiah O’Brien Capt. Patrick Moloney with a contribution from the union for shipyard repair work for the old Liberty ship. At right: During Martime Day ceremonies aboard the Jeremiah O’Brien, a wreath was presented in memeory of the late SIU VP West Coast George McCartney, who died in March. Captain Moloney poses with McCartney’s wife, Helga (right) and daughter, Heidi. 10 Seafarers LOG August 2004 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:37 PM Page 11 When the Cape Knox arrived in New Orleans from operations in the Middle East, crew members were welcomed home and presented by the Maritime Administration with Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals and certificates for their service aboard the U.S.-flag ship in support of operations involving American and allied military forces. OS Ismael Manley and OS Erigardo “Junior” Guity appear as small specks as they work aloft on the Overseas Philadelphia. The photo was taken aboard the tanker by Bosun Tim Olvany. . . . And Across the U.S. Left: AB Tom Gavagan (left) and Bosun Chad Cuningham catch a blue marlin from aboard the Tallahassee Bay (Keystone Shipping Service). It weighed approximately 300 pounds. This snapshot was taken of the trio fairly quickly, since the fish was released, unharmed, back to its home in the sea. Above: Seated around the table on the Dodge Island (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock) are (from left) AB Larry Parker, AB/Dragtender Tommy Davis, 3rd Engineer Brett Sollee, 3rd Engineer Armando Evangelista and Cook Mario Fernandez. A picture of the USNS Watson was presented to Mobile SIU Port Agent Ed Kelly by Herman “Dusty” Rhodes. Rhodes, who is the chief elecrician aboard the Maersk Lines, Ltd. vessel, also made the ornate frame. The picture will hang prominently in the Mobile hall. Gathering in the galley of the SIU-contracted El Toro are (from left) SA Toni Grant, Chief Cook Theodore Quammie, UA Richard McKain, Cadet Tim Boorman, UA Shantay Joquin and Steward/Baker Michael Amador. The El Toro makes runs from the port of Jacksonville, Fla., to Puerto Rico. August 2004 AB Jay Thomas (left) and DEU Cecil Edwards pose for a quick photo on board the El Toro after helping tie up the vessel in the port of Jacksonville. Bob Grubbs is the bosun on the El Toro. In the photo above, he is operating the ship’s crane to unload cargo. Seafarers LOG 11 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/23/2004 7:39 PM Page 12 U.S.-Flag Deep Sea Cruise Ship I Snapshots Of SIU-Cre The Seafarers-c christened July rebirth of the U.S article covering t these pages are U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) Star Cruises Chairman Tan Sri KT Lim The 853-foot Pride of A personnel and can carr Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) NCL America President and CEO Colin Veitch SIU President Michael Sacco Sena At H The SIU honored U month during a cerem safety training center SIU President Mic ardent backer of the U ing him for his unwav “Senator Dan Inou thy of an entire book introduction,” Sacco The Reverend David ing and safety trainin 12 Seafarers LOG August 2004 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/23/2004 3:27 AM Page 13 Industry Is ots from Christening Crewed Pride of Aloha rs-crewed Pride of Aloha was uly 4 in Honolulu, marking the U.S.-flag cruise ship industry. An ng the event is on page 3. On are photos from the day. e of Aloha reflagged U.S. in June. It employs nearly 800 shipboard carry 2,000 passengers. SIU officials and crew members were a big part of the christening ceremonies. Pictured directly above with two Seafarers are SIU President Michael Sacco (second from right), Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (far right), VP West Coast Nick Marrone (left) and Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan (third from left). nator Inouye Honored Hawaii School Blessing ored U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) last ceremony at the union’s affiliated fire fighting and enter in Honolulu, which opened last year. t Michael Sacco presented the senator—a longtime, the U.S. Merchant Marine—with a porthole thankunwavering support. n Inouye’s record of service to our country is worbook, so there’s no way to do it justice in a brief acco remarked at the July 2 event. “But I want everyone here today to know that without Senator Inouye, this school would not have been possible. He is the driving force behind the school’s success. He is committed to American seafarers. He is ensuring that people have opportunities for proper training and good careers aboard American-flag ships. In short, he’s doing what’s right for the people of Hawaii and for other citizens from around the country who want to answer the call of the sea.” The SIU president described Inouye as “an exceptional friend to the American mariner, standing together with us on laws like the U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (second from left) congratulates Seafarer Michael Zagala on completing STCW Basic Safety Training in Honolulu. Also taking part in the presentation are (from left) SIU President Michael Sacco, NCL Senior VP Robert Kritzman and Joe Curtis, an instructor at the school. avid Kaupu blesses the union’s affiliated fire fightaining school last month in Honolulu. August 2004 SIU President Michael Sacco (left) presented U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye with a porthole inscribed with a message conveying the union’s thanks for the senator’s powerful support of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program and many other important issues.” Inouye later send a letter to Sacco describing the establishment of the Honolulu school as “a true partnership that has resulted in a win-win for Hawaii, as residents are trained and certified as mariners…. I thank you for your support and friendship.” He also wrote that the “launching of the Pride of Aloha is indeed a victory and a reason for celebration…. To walk through the beautiful ship, to see the lines of people checking in all so very excited about their cruise, and most important, to watch the hundreds of employees—of seafarers marching proudly through the audience full of optimism about their future makes it all worthwhile.” Seafarers LOG 13 �23844_P4,14_17,19.qxd 7/22/2004 4:49 PM Page 14 Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers 800 E. Diamond Blvd., Suite 3-227 Anchorage, AK 99515 Phone: (907) 271-6736 2760 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A Juneau, AK 99801-8545 Phone: (907) 463-2458 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: (410) 962-5132 1001 S. Seaside Avenue, Bldg. 20 San Pedro, CA 90731-0208 Phone: (310) 732-2080 455 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109-1045 Phone: (617) 223-3040 200 Jefferson Ave., Suite 1302 Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 544-3297 196 Tradd Street Charleston, SC 29401-1899 Phone: (843) 720-3250 Claude Pepper Federal Building 51 S.W. 1st Ave., 6th Floor Miami, FL 33130-1608 Phone: (305) 536-6548/6874 433 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96813-4909 Phone: (808) 522-8264 8876 Gulf Freeway, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77017-6595 Phone: (713) 948-3350 6767 N. Basin Avenue Portland, OR 97217-3992 Phone: (503) 240-9346 915 Second Ave., Room 194 Seattle, WA 98174-1067 Phone: (206) 217-6115 Oakland Federal Bldg., North Tower 1301 Clay Street, Room 180N Oakland, CA 94612-5200 Phone: (510) 637-1124 Fax: (510) 637-1126 E-mail: recsfbay@d11.uscg.mil 9820 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite P New Orleans, LA 70127-3077 Phone: (504) 240-7300 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 8.104E St. Louis, MO 63103-2835 Phone: (314) 539-3091 Battery Park Building 1 South Street New York, NY 10004-1466 Phone: (212) 668-7492 420 Madison Ave., Suite 700 Toledo, OH 43604 Phone: (419) 418-6010 Don’t let your documents expire! Allow plenty of time for renewal. NOTICE FROM SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN In March 2004, the Trustees of the Plan decided that the Plan would not cover the costs of weight loss surgery, which is often referred to as “bariatric surgery,” “gastric stapling” or “gastric bypass.” This decision was made because of the many risks associated with these procedures, and the complications that frequently result from such surgeries. In the past, the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan would only pay for such surgery in rare occasions, in extremely limited circumstances. 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 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 ‘Union Plus’ Offers Consumer Benefits Union Plus gives Seafarers and their families access to a number of cost-saving benefits programs. Union Plus (formerly Union Privilege) is a non-profit entity created in 1986 by the AFL-CIO to provide union members and their families with valuable consumer benefits. Basically, the organization secures good rates for union members who are enrolled in the various programs, based on the potential collective purchasing power of all members of participating unions. In short, it’s a case of strength in numbers. The following is a list of Union Plus programs in which the SIU participates. For more information about a particular program, call the appropriate Union Plus telephone number or visit www.unionplus.org Credit Card This union-endorsed credit card may save you money. Features of the card include a competitive rate, no annual fees and a unique, valuable member advocacy program. Apply online at www.unionpluscard.com or call 1800-522-4000. Secured Credit Card This is a special credit card that is designed to help you establish or reestablish your credit. Features include no application fees, a credit line equal to 100 percent of deposit and a 25-day grace period. Call 1-800-622-2580. Mortgage and Real Estate Buying, selling or refinancing a home can be made easier and more affordable through this offering. Program features include strike, layoff and disability assistance and an easy over-the-phone application process. The program also is open to your parents and children. Call 1-800-848-6466. 14 Seafarers LOG Life Insurance Members may purchase term insurance at low group rates and premium waver during layoffs. Call 1-800-8992782. Health Savings This program makes it possible for members to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses on a variety of health care services such as prescriptions, vision care and more. Participants receive quarterly savings statements. Call 1-800-228-3523 for more details. Auto Insurance Program Under this program, low rates and many discounts are available for members who have good driving records and safety devices installed on their vehicles. Customer service is available 24 hours a day. For comparison quotes, go to www.unionplus.org or call 1-800-294-9496 to apply. Education Services Information about loans, scholarships, how to select a school, prepare for college entry tests, and much more is provided in this program. Visit www.unionplus.org or call 1-877-881-1022. National Labor College Scholarship This offering is designed especially for working adults who want to pursue a bachelor of arts degree while continuing their trade union work. For more details, call 1-301-431-5404. Loan Program Competitive-rate personal and home equity loans are available under this program. It can be ideal for debt consolidation. Apply online at www.unionplusloan.com or call 1-888-235-2759. Accidental Death Insurance Members can receive $10,000 worth of workplace accidental death insurance at no cost. They also may purchase “all-cause” accidental death coverage up to $200,000. Call 1-800-899-2782 or enroll online at www.unionplus.org. Family Savers Hotel Royal Plaza Special leisure rates are available at the Hotel Royal Plaza in the Walt Disney World Resort. Call 1-800-2487890. Car Rentals Union members can receive discounted rates on rentals. To find out more, visit www.unionplus.org; call Avis at 1-800-6985685, ID# B723700 or Budget at 1800-455-2848, ID# V816100. Union-M Made Checks Union-printed checks and return address labels that feature your union logo are offered under this program. Call 1-888-864-6625. Flower Service As an SIU member, you can save 15 percent when you send floral arrangements, wreaths or gift baskets. Visit www.unionplus.org or call 1-888-667-7779 to place an order. North American Van Lines Members can realize savings on interstate moves. Call 1-800-524-5533. Your Credit Score For $11, you can get your credit score, credit report, and suggestions for improving your score. Visit www.unionplus.org. Vacation Tours Discount travel packages are available to worldwide destinations. This program is open to union members, retirees and their families. Call 1-800-590-1104 for more information. August 2004 �23844_P4,14_17,19.qxd 7/22/2004 3:21 PM Page 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea September & October 2004 Membership Meetings JUNE 16 — JULY 15, 2004 *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 1 0 14 5 10 28 38 0 10 16 23 10 3 1 9 18 1 27 20 234 2 6 4 5 7 24 37 1 13 15 17 20 2 2 9 8 4 25 22 223 0 1 2 0 3 16 15 2 3 10 18 5 0 2 1 3 2 13 10 106 0 0 4 4 7 16 28 0 12 13 14 10 5 0 4 12 0 18 15 162 1 1 5 3 4 8 13 1 10 12 8 9 2 16 4 8 4 19 18 146 0 0 3 0 1 10 8 1 3 8 6 2 0 1 1 5 0 11 6 66 0 4 1 7 11 21 0 9 9 9 7 1 2 4 12 0 12 9 118 2 7 2 4 7 25 1 4 8 10 16 6 1 0 6 2 20 11 132 0 0 1 1 5 3 0 0 3 5 1 0 0 0 2 2 4 10 37 0 1 1 6 4 12 0 2 12 8 3 1 2 4 11 3 6 7 83 1 4 3 5 5 12 0 2 4 6 9 3 0 2 6 2 11 10 85 1 0 1 2 4 10 22 0 8 15 3 4 2 3 6 15 3 14 11 124 2 0 14 3 13 50 70 0 23 26 47 19 7 2 15 43 2 58 39 433 2 5 5 6 12 31 60 0 16 18 30 30 5 17 13 12 5 39 38 344 2 1 2 2 7 35 31 2 8 19 31 13 2 4 1 10 4 26 24 224 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 6 23 0 7 1 12 20 36 0 17 10 16 13 5 2 4 16 0 22 12 193 2 8 1 3 13 45 1 10 19 15 21 5 2 2 9 1 27 13 197 2 0 0 1 15 11 0 1 7 13 5 1 0 0 2 2 6 10 76 0 0 0 3 6 14 0 2 4 6 2 1 0 0 5 1 10 4 58 0 6 0 21 24 22 0 10 13 37 13 5 6 6 40 1 27 33 264 2 0 1 11 6 19 0 8 9 12 12 2 2 2 11 2 8 12 119 2 0 0 1 4 13 0 1 1 4 7 1 2 0 3 0 8 9 56 0 0 2 4 3 9 0 2 4 5 3 0 0 3 10 0 10 7 62 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 4 0 14 14 11 0 2 7 20 6 3 3 2 20 2 11 16 136 0 1 2 6 3 11 0 5 2 7 5 1 0 2 8 2 6 5 66 1 0 0 1 3 8 0 0 1 4 5 1 2 0 1 0 2 6 35 Port 1 1 1 6 11 16 0 1 5 5 4 2 2 0 10 2 11 9 87 0 1 3 1 3 7 0 3 2 4 4 0 3 1 3 0 3 4 42 Piney Point .............Tuesday: September 7* ................................Monday: October 4 ............................................*(change created by Labor Day holiday) 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 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 Trip Reliefs 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 14 ENTRY 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 Totals 0 0 0 0 8 1 2 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 3 2 0 6 1 33 1 2 3 1 9 12 18 0 2 5 23 7 0 2 5 17 0 14 10 131 0 2 3 2 8 20 22 0 2 12 32 14 1 28 0 5 3 18 12 184 0 0 0 0 5 4 4 0 1 2 7 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 30 0 1 1 1 8 5 9 0 3 1 13 6 0 9 4 7 2 14 5 89 0 0 2 2 3 10 7 0 1 2 6 6 0 5 1 6 1 8 2 62 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 5 5 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 3 7 0 15 5 57 3 1 3 4 21 24 36 1 5 11 49 14 2 15 7 27 1 29 14 267 3 2 5 2 14 40 38 0 3 20 72 19 2 54 0 10 3 44 35 366 Totals All Departments 521 552 362 362 362 165 244 947 927 722 Algonac ..................Friday: September 10, October 8 Baltimore ................Thursday: September 9, October 7 Boston.....................Friday: September 10, October 8 Duluth .....................Wednesday: September 15, October 13 Guam ......................Thursday: September 23, October 21 Honolulu .................Friday: September 17, October 15 Houston ..................Monday: September 13, October 11 Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 9, October 7 Joliet .......................Thursday: September 16, October 14 Mobile ....................Wednesday: September 15, October 13 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 14, October 12 New York................Tuesday: September 7, October 5 Norfolk ...................Thursday: September 9, October 7 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 8, October 6 Port Everglades.......Thursday: September 16, October 14 San Francisco .........Thursday: September 16, October 14 San Juan..................Thursday: September 9, October 7 St. Louis..................Friday: September 17, October 15 Tacoma ...................Friday: September 24, October 22 Wilmington ...............Monday: September 20, October 18 ............................................ Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals JERRY TACKETT & JOHN J. JONES Robert E. Allen, an old shipmate, is trying to get in touch with you. Please call him at (757) 851-6190. CLYDE E. JONES Please contact Anthony Allen at (228) 435-4740. JAMES MATTHEW PERRODIN Your nephew, Russell Zaunbrecher, would like to hear from you. Please call him at (337) 788-1610, or write him at 206 W. Northern, Crowley, LA 70526. LYN O. SEARS Please contact your brothers, Jack and Victor. HENRY SIMMONS Please get in touch with an old friend, Mary Ross, at 353 W. 23rd Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206. Remembering Paul Hall August 20, 1914 – June 22, 1980 *“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. August 2004 Seafarers LOG 15 �23844_P4,14_17,19.qxd 7/22/2004 3:23 PM Page 16 Seafarers International Union Directory NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report JUNE 16 — JULY 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 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 0 7 7 7 18 5 0 3 47 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 5 0 6 4 2 2 0 3 7 24 REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III 0 13 7 2 19 1 0 7 49 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 0 5 4 0 2 0 3 7 21 1 4 2 1 7 0 1 2 18 0 30 11 14 33 7 1 18 114 0 5 3 4 3 0 0 7 22 0 31 6 10 0 0 0 0 47 3 1 4 2 4 1 0 4 19 0 14 11 3 10 2 4 15 59 0 5 3 2 3 0 0 3 16 0 22 5 7 0 0 0 0 34 0 1 4 0 1 2 0 1 9 0 8 6 6 13 1 2 9 45 0 4 0 2 15 0 2 6 29 0 20 3 9 0 1 0 1 34 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 2 5 1 4 1 0 7 20 0 0 3 1 1 0 1 3 9 0 5 8 1 2 1 1 2 20 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 0 4 3 3 7 1 0 9 27 0 1 4 0 0 0 2 2 9 0 1 7 1 2 1 1 2 15 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 2 4 5 7 1 1 3 23 0 2 1 0 4 0 0 4 11 0 1 6 2 1 4 0 9 23 Port 0 4 3 4 6 1 1 5 24 0 1 1 1 6 0 0 3 12 0 1 6 0 1 3 0 8 19 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 1 0 2 1 0 1 5 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 90 25 67 100 26 55 51 218 67 115 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the LOG by Pensioner John M. Clarke of Houston. It is of the ship’s committee on board the Steel Architect, taken at payoff in New York, probably in September 1969. Clarke was the steward delegate on board the vessel. The others pictured are Lester Moore, engine delegate; Jake Longfellow, ship’s secretary; Jimmy Toone, deck delegate; and Elmer Barnhill, ship’s chairman. Brother Clarke, 73, joined the Seafarers in 1953 in the port of New York following service in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He retired in 1994. If anyone has a vintage unionrelated 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. August 2004 �23844_P4,14_17,19.qxd 7/22/2004 3:23 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 CLINTON ANDERSON, 64, joined the SIU in 1978 in the port of New York after serving in the U.S. Army. Brother Anderson’s first voyage was aboard the Westward Venture. Born in Jamaica, he shipped in the engine department. Brother Anderson upgraded his skills on a number of occasions at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. and last went to sea aboard the Overseas Boston. He makes his home in Seattle. JOSEFINE BALANAY, 64, hails from the Philippines. Brother Balanay began his career with the SIU in 1989 in Honolulu. He shipped primarily aboard American Hawaii Cruises’ Independence in the engine department and enhanced his skills on three occasions at the Seafarers-affiliated training school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Balanay is a resident of Honolulu. WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER III, 59, started his career with the SIU in 1966 in the port of Mobile, Ala. after serving in the U.S. Army. Brother Christopher first went to sea aboard a Platte Transport vessel. He worked in the deck department and in 1996 enhanced his skills at the union’s affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Christopher makes his home in LaPorte, Texas. JIM HASSAN, 57, launched his seafaring career in 1977 in the port of New York. Brother Hassan, who was born in Egypt, first sailed on the Charleston. The deck department member was a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center. In 1988 he completed his bosun recertification training there. Brother Hassan last sailed on the Missouri, a Maersk Lines vessel. He currently resides in Elmont, N.Y. JAMES LARATTA, 64, was born in Glen Ridge, N.J. Brother Laratta joined the SIU in 1987 in the port of Norfolk, Va. and initially sailed aboard the USNS Capella. A U.S. Navy veteran, Brother Laratta shipped in the engine department. He enhanced his skills on a number of occasions at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Laratta currently lives in Merritt Island, Fla. August 2004 ABEL MACK, 64, joined the SIU in 1972 in the port of New York. Brother Mack’s first voyage was on the USNS Potomac. In 1978 the deck department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers-affiliated training school. Brother Mack now calls Chesapeake, Va. home. OLE J. MORTENSEN, 64, began his seafaring career in 1967 in Piney Point, Md. His first voyage was aboard the Kenmar, a Calmar Steamship Co. vessel. Born in Denmark, he worked in the engine department. Brother Mortensen was a frequent upgrader at the union’s affiliated school. He makes his home in Tacoma, Wash. HUGH S. WOODS, 64, hails from Barbados. Brother Woods began his seafaring career in 1971 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Steel Chemist. He worked in the engine department and on two occasions enhanced his skills in Piney Point, Md. at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Woods most recently worked aboard Maersk Lines’ USNS Prevail. He is a resident of Norfolk, Va. GREAT LAKES YAHYA N. ALI, 64, launched his career with the SIU in 1968 in Detroit. Brother Ali shipped in the engine department and last worked on American Steamship’s Charles E. Wilson. He was born in Arabia and currently lives in Yemen. INLAND CHARLES BAKER, 62, embarked on his seafaring career in 1972 in Piney Point, Md. after serving in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Baker first sailed aboard a Steuart Transportation Co. vessel. He worked in the engine department and upgraded his skills on two occasions at the union’s affiliated school. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Boatman Baker calls Ocala, Fla. home. JIMMY DEE McNUTT, 68, launched his seafaring career in 1980. Boatman McNutt upgraded his skills on numerous occasions at the Seafarers-affiliated training school. He worked in the deck department as a captain, primarily aboard Crowley Towing & Transportation vessels. Boatman McNutt was born in Alabama, and now makes his home in Gulfport, Miss. ALICE NACCARATO, 64, joined the SIU in 1984 in the port of Houston. Sister Naccarato was born in Kentucky. She shipped as a member of the steward department, working primarily aboard Delta Queen Steamship vessels. Sister Naccarato currently resides in Princeton, Ky. CHARLES PEAVY, 62, was born in Alabama. Boatman Peavy joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of Mobile. He shipped in the deck department and worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Dravo Basic Materials Co. Boatman Peavy lives in his native state. NILES PETERSON, 63, began his seafaring career in 1986. Born in Louisiana, Boatman Peterson is a U.S. Navy veteran. He worked in the deck department, primarily aboard Delta Queen Steamship vessels. Boatman Peterson makes his home in New Orleans. PAUL TULLIS, 64, hails from Georgia. Boatman Tullis joined the SIU in 1977 in New Orleans. He first worked aboard a Crowley Towing & Transport vessel. Boatman Tullis shipped in the deck department, most recently as a captain. He last sailed on the Sugar Island. Boatman Tullis lives in his native state. WILLIAM M. WILLIFORD, 62, joined the SIU in 1972 in the port of Philadelphia after serving in the U.S. Army. Boatman Williford sailed in the deck department and was employed primarily aboard vessels operated by Maritrans. He enhanced his skills at the Paul Hall Center in 1981. Boatman Williford was born in Pittsburgh and now resides in Coatesville, Pa. 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. STEWARD McDANIEL, 65, was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Brother McDaniel started his seafaring career with the NMU in 1964. His first voyage was on the Green Harbor, where he worked in the engine department. Brother McDaniel last went to sea on the Texaco Rhode Island. LINCOLN RICH, 66, joined the NMU in 1972 in Providence, R.I. Brother Rich was born in Honduras. The steward department member’s last voyage was on the Moore McCormack. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1948 The Atlantic and Gulf District of the SIU smashed through with a precedent-making pattern for the maritime industry August 6, when a twoyear contract with the Mississippi Shipping Company for the highest wages ever set in the history of maritime was signed in New Orleans. The contract will run until September 30, 1950 and guarantees a wage increase of $12.50 across the board for every rating except bosun, for whom a $25 raise was secured. The signing of the two-year contract was made doubly important by the securing of a clause which contained guarantees that the present manning scale on all Mississippi ships could not be reduced during the full life of the pact, unless both parties agreed to such reduction. Substantive gains were made in almost every area of Union concern, making this by far the most significant contract ever negotiated. DARIO RODRIGUEZ, 68, began his career with the NMU in 1964. Born in Isabela, P.R., his first voyage was on the United States. Brother Rodriguez worked in the steward department, most recently aboard the American Legion. JAMES SCHULTE, 71, was born in St. Louis. Brother Schulte began his NMU career in 1967 in the port of Seattle, where his first vessel was the Kings Point. The deck department member last sailed on the Fredericksburg. WILLIAM SEPULVEDA, 69, joined the NMU in 1963. Brother Sepulveda initially shipped from New Orleans aboard the Cristobal in the steward department. Born in Puerto Rico, his last voyage was on the American Challenger. MANUEL SURILLO, 59, started sailing with the NMU in 1966 from the port of New York. Brother Surillo sailed in the steward department aboard the Atlantic. The Puerto Ricoborn mariner last went to sea on the American Legion. pital, death, disability, maternity, dependent, optical and out-patient benefits. In February 1952 the SIU Vacation Plan was inaugurated and it has since paid a total of $59,483,828.34 in vacation benefits for SIU members. The total value of welfare benefits is actually considerably higher, since the cost of scholarship payments, meal books, training facilities and medical examinations—for SIU members and their dependents—are not included in the above figures. This Month In SIU History 1968 As of August 31 of this year, the SIU’s Welfare and Vacation plans have paid out a total in benefits of $101,039,786.89. The SIU Welfare Plan was first launched in 1950 and, since that time, more than $41,555,958.55 has been paid out for hos- 1982 The officers and SIU crew of the USNS Southern Cross were honored in Washington, D.C. recently by the American Institute of Merchant Shipping for their “humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese refugees adrift in the South China Sea during late September 1981.” The USNS Southern Cross, part of the SIU Government Services Division fleet operated by the Military Sealift Command, Pacific, picked up 58 desperate “boat people” from a small 35-foot boat on July 15, 1981 while en route from Subic Bay, the Philippines, to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. At the time, their actions were lauded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Singapore…. On the small boat were 18 men, 13 women and 27 children. Seafarers LOG 17 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/23/2004 6:19 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA LONALE ANDREWS Brother Lonale Andrews, 42, passed away May 21. He started his career with the SIU in 1987 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginiaborn mariner first went to sea aboard the USNS Prevail. Brother Andrews worked in the deck department and last sailed on the Sea-Land Developer. He resided in his native state. PERRY BOSARGE Brother Perry Bosarge, 63, died April 1. He joined the SIU in 1990 in the port of Mobile, Ala. and sailed on the Cape Florida. Born in Alabama, the deck department member last shipped aboard the Atlantic Forest, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Bosarge lived in Mobile. PATRICIO CECILIO Pensioner Patricio Cecilio, 88, died April 30. Brother Cecilio embarked on his career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) in San Francisco. Born in Culebra, P.R., he worked in the steward department. Brother Cecilio lived in Aguadilla, P.R. and started receiving his pension in 1973. DOMENIC CITO Pensioner Domenic Cito, 95, passed away May 7. Born in Lerici, Italy, Brother Cito began his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. The steward department member resided in Lynnwood, Wash. and began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1972. PEDRO FIGUEROA Pensioner Pedro Figueroa, 84, passed away April 11. Brother Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico and began his seafaring career in 1956. His first ship was the Beauregard. Brother Figueroa worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Nuevo San Juan. He began receiving his pension in 1991. THOMAS GAGNON Brother Thomas Gagnon, 64, died April 27. Brother Gagnon started his career with the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of Norfolk, Va. after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Born in Fall River, Mass., he shipped in the deck department. Brother Gagnon’s last voyage was on Ocean Ships’ Richard Matthiesen. He lived in Talofofo, Guam. SIDNEY GARNER Pensioner Sidney Garner, 77, passed away Feb. 4. Brother Garner commenced his seafaring career in 1953 18 Seafarers LOG in the port of Norfolk, Va. after serving in the U.S. Navy. He was born in North Carolina and worked in the steward department. Brother Garner last shipped aboard a Puerto Rico Marine Management vessel. The Baltimore resident went on pension in 1990. STANLEY GONDZAR Pensioner Stanley Gondzar, 82, passed away April 18. Born in Maryland, Brother Gondzar joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The engine department member first went to sea aboard an A.H. Bull Steamship Co. vessel. He last shipped aboard the Sea-Land Leader. Brother Gondzar began receiving pension in 1986. He resided in Berlin, Md. JUDITH HARRINGTON Sister Judith Harrington, 53, died in April 2003. She launched her SIU career in 1991 in the port of Philadelphia. Her first ship was the Lt. Calvin P Titus. Born in Merced, Calif., she worked in the deck department, most recently as a bosun. Sister Harrington last shipped aboard American Overseas Marine’s USNS Capella. She made her home in St. George Island, Fla. EDDIE JACKSON JR. Pensioner Eddie Jackson Jr., 68, passed away April 19. Brother Jackson joined the SIU in 1957 in the port of New York after serving in the U.S. Air Force. Born in Mobile, Ala., he worked in the steward department. Brother Jackson last sailed on the Sea-Land Independence and started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1991. He lived in Seattle. WILLIAM JEMISON SR. Pensioner William Jemison Sr., 66, died April 22. Brother Jemison launched his seafaring career in the port of Mobile, Ala. in 1960 after serving in the U.S. Navy. His first voyage was aboard the Mermaid. The Alabama-born mariner worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard Ocean Chemical Transport’s Chemical Trader. He resided in his native state and began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1999. WILLIAM JORDAN Pensioner William Jordan, 84, passed away Sept. 18. Brother Jordan joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of New York. Born in Missouri, the engine department member last sailed on Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Thomas Lynch. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1986 and called Albany, La. home. EVERETTE LAMBE Pensioner Everette Lambe, 84, died May 3. Brother Lambe started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of Baltimore. Born in Cabarrus, N.C., he worked in the steward department, last sailing on the OMI Charger. Brother Lambe went on pension in 1986 and lived in his native state. MANUEL LANDRON Pensioner Manuel Landron, 91, passed away May 5. Brother Landron was born in Puerto Rico and was a charter member of the SIU, having joined the union in 1939. His first voyage was aboard the Bradford Island. Brother Landron shipped in the deck department and last worked aboard the Mayaquez. He resided in Tampa, Fla. and began receiving his pension in 1978. LOURICE MARTIN Pensioner Lourice Martin, 79, died July 2, 2003. Brother Martin joined the ranks of the SIU in 1959 in Portland, Ore. Born in Louisiana, he worked in the steward department initially aboard Delta Steamship’s Del Oro. Brother Martin last sailed on the Sea-Land Patriot. He lived in Covington, Wash. and began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1992. Oct. 20. Brother Pickett commenced his career with the SIU in 1952 in New Orleans. Born in Mobile, Ala., he was a member of the engine department. Brother Pickett first went to sea on Delta Steamship’s Del Oro. His final voyage was aboard the Inger. Brother Pickett started receiving his pension in 1988. He resided in Mission, Texas. WILLIAM ROGERS Pensioner William Rogers, 81, died May 4. Brother Rogers embarked on his seafaring career in 1944 in the port of New York. He first went to sea aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Born in Maine, Brother Rogers shipped in the deck department. He last worked on the Patriot and resided in Waterbury, Conn. Brother Rogers went on pension in 1987. FRANK RUIZ Pensioner Frank Ruiz, 84, passed away April 10. Brother Ruiz started his career with MC&S in San Francisco. Born in Washington, the steward department member began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1969. Brother Ruiz resided in Las Vegas. ARTHUR SHAW Brother Arthur Shaw, 53, passed away March 6. Born in Seattle, Wash., Brother Shaw joined the SIU in 1967 in San Francisco. The engine department member first sailed on Delta Steamship’s Southwestern Victory. Brother Shaw last went to sea aboard the Sea-Land Explorer. He called Oakland, Calif. home. MAYO MUNDINE WILLIAM STEVENS Pensioner Mayo Mundine, 88, passed away Dec. 22. Brother Mundine joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of New York. Born in Texas, he worked as a member of the steward department, last sailing on the Cove Leader. Brother Mundine went on pension in 1987 and called Columbus, Texas home. Pensioner William Stevens, 63, died Feb. 1. Brother Stevens launched his SIU career in 1957 in the port of Houston. He initially worked on Calmar Steamship’s Alamar. Brother Stevens shipped in the deck department. He made his home in Las Vegas and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1995. LUTHER MYREX Pensioner Luther Myrex, 77, died Jan. 8. After serving in the U.S. Army, Brother Myrex joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of San Francisco. His first voyage was on the Alcoa Patriot. The deck department member was born in Alabama. Brother Myrex last went to sea aboard the LNG Taurus. He began receiving his pension in 1992 and resided in his native state. DONALD PETERS Pensioner Donald Peters, 88, passed away Aug. 8, 2003. Brother Peters became a Seafarer in 1966 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His first voyage was on a Calmar Steamship vessel. The engine department member began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1986. Brother Peters was born in California but called South Gate, Ga. home. ROBERT PICKETT Pensioner Robert Pickett, 68, died CLAUDE STURGES Pensioner Claude Sturges, 63, passed away April 22. Brother Sturges began his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia-born mariner shipped in the steward department, first sailing on the Seagarden. Brother Sturges went on pension in 1977 and continued to live in his native state. AMBROCIO SUGUITAN Pensioner Ambrocio Suguitan, 96, died May 1. Born in the Philippines, Brother Suguitan launched his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. He went on pension in 1970. Brother Suguitan made his home in Honolulu. CLYDE WOODS Pensioner Clyde Woods, 89, passed away April 23. Brother Woods embarked on his seafaring career in 1945 in Savannah, Ga. The steward department member last sailed aboard a Gulf Atlantic Transport Corp. vessel. He called Candler, Ga. home and began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1975. GREAT LAKES FRANK KASPERSKI Pensioner Frank Kasperski, 86, died March 15. Brother Kasperski joined the union in 1960 in Detroit, after serving in the U.S. Army. The New York-born mariner worked in the deck department, last sailing on the William Roesch. Brother Kasperski started receiving his pension in 1981 and resided in his native state. INLAND CHESTER LEWIS Pensioner Chester Lewis, 85, died April 19. Before joining the SIU in 1969 in the port of Norfolk, Va., Boatman Lewis served in the U.S. Army. He was born in Pamlico, N.C. and worked in the steward department, shipping primarily aboard vessels operated by Maritrans. Boatman Lewis resided in Grantsboro, N.C. and began receiving his pension in 1983. ROLAND MASON SR. Pensioner Roland Mason Sr., 80, passed away May 14. Boatman Mason embarked on his career with the SIU in 1958 in the port of Baltimore. Born in North Carolina, he sailed in the deck department as a captain. Boatman Mason initially worked aboard the Government Camp. His final voyage was on the STC Little Curtis. Boatman Mason started receiving his pension in 1988 and resided in Chesapeake, Va. JACK STOUT Pensioner Jack Stout, 73, passed away May 6. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Boatman Stout joined the SIU in 1970. His initial voyage was aboard a Michigan Tankers vessel. Born in Wichita, Kan., Boatman Stout worked in the deck department. He last sailed on a G&H Towing vessel. Boatman Stout made his home in Rye, Texas and began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1993. Continued on page 20 August 2004 �23844_P4,14_17,19.qxd 7/22/2004 3:24 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..``` ACHIEVER (USSM), May 16— Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary Kenneth A. Hagan, Educational Director Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate Peter Wojcikowski, Steward Delegate Obencio Espinoza. Chairman reminded crew this is an election year and to vote for pro-maritime candidates. He also encouraged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks to steward department for keeping living areas orderly. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Houston; Norfolk, Va. MOTIVATOR (USMM), May 17—Chairman Anthony Mabew, Secretary Matthew Scott. Chairman announced ship payoff in Houston. He thanked crew members for job well done. Secretary emphasized educational opportunities available at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. No beefs reported; OT issue in deck department to be settled at payoff. Clarification requested on transportation expenses. OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (OSG), May 21—Chairman John M. Zepeda, Secretary George Quinn, Deck Delegate Floyd Patterson, Engine Delegate Jerome E. Dooms, Steward Delegate Leoncio A. Castro. Chairman announced payoff May 23 in Miami, Fla. with stores brought on that day. Secretary thanked crew for help keeping crew mess hall clean. Beefs and disputed OT reported in engine department; none in deck or steward departments. Recommendation made to get weight set for exercise room. Security crew given drill on how to spot bombs planted aboard ship. Next port New Orleans. COAST RANGE (Intrepid), June 27—Chairman Gregory R. Jenkins, Secretary Robert E. Wilcox, Educational Director Scott S. Fuller, Deck Delegate Donnie W. Collins, Engine Delegate Scott Fuller, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Chairman reminded crew members to wait to be properly relieved before being paid off and to make sure rooms are left clean. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep common areas and mess hall clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to rename “Vacation Benefit.” Fresh milk and produce to be brought at first port of entry. Next port: Garyville, La. EL YUNQUE (IUM), June 27— Chairman Luis J. Ramirez, Secretary Francis E. Ostendarp, Educational Director John J. Walsh, Deck Delegate Jose Canales, Engine Delegate Ronald Williams, Steward Delegate Nelson F. Morales. Chairman announced payoff July 1 in Port Everglades, Fla. He asked crew members to watch instructional video in union halls addressing terrorism. Educational director advised crew to upgrade whenever possible at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. and to keep all records up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made regarding seatime and age requirements for pension benefits. ENDURANCE (USSM), June 14 —Chairman Romeo L. Lugtu, August 2004 Secretary Jesse B. Natividad, Educational Director Ron M. Schexnayder, Deck Delegate Dennis A. Hurley, Engine Delegate Teddie H. Carter, Steward Delegate Thurman C. Johnson. Chairman thanked crew for smooth trip and led discussion on ship security. Treasurer stated $1,190 in crew’s fund, less $72 for a dart board set. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reminded crew getting off to lock rooms and give keys to chief mate. Next port: Los Angeles. EXPRESS (USSM), June 20— Chairman George H. Perry, Secretary Richard E. Hicks, Educational Director Mohamad Y. Abdullah. Chairman thanked those members who took vessel out of yard for excellent job cleaning and getting ship running again. Secretary thanked crew for pleasant trip and for keeping everything clean. Communications read regarding no bus service in port. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Baltimore, Newark, N.J. HORIZON ANCHORAGE (Horizon Lines), June 20— Chairman Daniel W. Seagle, Secretary Brenda M. Kamiya, Educational Director Lorence D. Pence, Deck Delegate Basil D. Stolen, Engine Delegate John R. Day. Chairman announced payoff June 22 in Tacoma, Wash. He notified crew of mandatory Coast Guard security drills June 23. Educational director advised crew to keep upgrading at union’s affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks given to engine and deck departments for keeping living areas clean and to steward department for good meals and service. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. HORIZON NAVIGATOR (Horizon Lines), June 22— Chairman Werner H. Becher, Secretary Vainuu L. Sili, Educational Director Daniel F. Dean, Deck Delegate Robert J. Natividad, Engine Delegate Thomas V. Hastings, Steward Delegate Henry O. Wright. Chairman announced arrival June 22 in Oakland, Calif. with payoff that same day. He thanked crew for keeping ship clean and plastic items separate from regular trash. Due to security, only one access door should be open while in port. Departing crew members were reminded to leave set of clean linen for next person. Educational director stressed importance of attending upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman read president’s report pertaining to training and security aboard ships. Recommendation made to reduce seatime needed for pension and increase monthly benefit. Suggestion made to order new mattresses and towels. HORIZON PACIFIC (Horizon Lines), June 5—Chairman Donald D. Rico, Secretary Kristen M. Swann, Educational Director John C. Ropp. Chairman asked department crew members to clean staterooms and leave fresh linen. He also stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. Secretary encouraged crew members to upgrade skills at Piney Point and make sure all paperwork and docu- ments are current, allowing plenty of time for z-card renewal. Educational director advised crew to keep up with union and industry business by reading Seafarers LOG. Treasurer stated $335 in ship’s fund and $100 in cookout fund. Beef reported by engine department delegate. Vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done. HORIZON RELIANCE (Horizon Lines), June 21—Chairman Dominic L. Brunamonti, Secretary Sherman W. Anderson, Educational Director Odgen W. Lafaye, Deck Delegate Wilfredo G. Caidoy, Engine Delegate George B. Lockett, Steward Delegate Bienvenido C. Badillo. Chairman announced payoff July 3 in Tacoma, Wash. Everyone reminded to carry current, up-to-date z-cards in and out of port gate and not to compromise marked restricted entry doors and hatches when in port. He thanked crew members for promptly extinguishing electrical fire and working well together this voyage. Educational director advised Seafarers to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer stated $1,152.11 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reminded to be cautious around 440-volt cables and to be quiet in passageways since watchstanders may be sleeping. Request made that those going on watch be allowed to eat first. Deck department asked that work gloves and coveralls be available in Slop Chest. HORIZON SPRIT (Horizon Lines), June 7—Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Scott A. Opsahl, Educational Director Roger M. Wasserman, Deck Delegate Charles L. Mull, Engine Delegate Randall P. Story. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in Tacoma, Wash. followed by blanket relief. He reminded crew to check with patrolman before leaving ship and advised them of security training. Secretary asked crew members to keep noise down so watchstanders can sleep and for department members to leave rooms clean for next person. Educational director encouraged crew to keep documents current and to upgrade skills at the Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to amend shipping procedure rules. Suggestion made to replace sofa and chairs. After pricing is obtained, they can, hopefully, be purchased in Oakland. Thanks given to steward department for job well done. HORIZON TACOMA (Horizon Lines), June 7—Chairman Joseph Artis, Secretary Lincoln E. Pinn, Educational Director Michael G. McGlone, Deck Delegate Robert Brown, Engine Delegate James B. Long, Steward Delegate Ronald E. Dewitt. Chairman encouraged crew members to keep dues paid current and support SPAD. He announced payoff June 8 upon arrival in Tacoma, Wash. and thanked everyone for helping keep ship clean. Educational director urged all members to take advantage of upgrading classes at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman announced that radio and reception would be repaired as soon as possible. Suggestion made to shorten seatime for pension and raise monthly benefit. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. INNOVATOR (USSM), June 20— Chairman Dirk W. Adams, Secretary Jose M. Bayani, Educational Director Roger D. Phillips, Deck Delegate Eric Lund, Engine Delegate Bryan T. Field, Steward Delegate Mostafa Loumrhari. Chairman complimented crew on job well done and encouraged them to read articles in Seafarers LOG about new security measures. He also recognized the passing of former SIU VP West Coast George McCartney. Secretary thanked crew members, especially bosun and two day men, for great job cleaning and painting. Treasurer stated $326 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to increase retirement benefits. Stove plate in galley needs repair. Next ports: Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. ITB BALTIMORE (USS Transport), June 1—Chairman Jeffrey H. Kass, Secretary Pedro R. Mena, Educational Director RICHARD G. MATTHIESON (Ocean Shipholding), June 14— Chairman David M. Fridstrom, Secretary Thomas K. Gingerich, Deck Delegate Troy R. Ingersoll, Steward Delegate Gerald Watkins. Chairman notified crew that a Navy security team would be coming aboard in Long Beach for a month. Smoking area will be in crew mess hall, but not during meal hours. Crew members asked to show up for meals on time since security team will eat at 8 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. Secretary requested everyone help keep mess area clean. Educational director reminded crew to keep documents up to date. Crew also encouraged Greetings from the Maersk Constellation En route from South Africa to Houston (via Mozambique and Tanzania), crew members aboard the Maersk Constellation were treated to a shipboard barbecue. These photos were sent to the LOG by AB George Jordanides. Enjoying the great food are (clockwise, from top) AB George Jordanides and AB Earl Jones; AB Nick Adderly; and AB Jamie Gill. Geoffrey L. James, Engine Delegate Hussein A Mohamed, Steward Delegate Elsayed T. Amasha. Chairman stressed need for safety at all time. He asked that everyone be quiet in passageways and advised everyone to keep all documents (e.g., MMDs, TRBs, benzene cards, passports) current. He encouraged members to contribute to SPAD—the union’s voice in Congress. Educational director stated that movies were due in next port. Treasurer said that movie fund would be given $200 per month. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made to receive copy of Piney Point membership meeting aboard ship. Thanks given “to Mr. Amasha for his new-found penchant for baking.” His salad bars are great, as are his freshly made hot rolls, cookies, breads, cakes and puddings. Next port: Houston. OVERSEAS MARILYN (OSG), June 20—Chairman Marco A. Galliano, Secretary Tyler N. Laffitte, Deck Delegate Oscar R. Padilla, Engine Delegate Hilario C. Martinez, Steward Delegate Isabel Miranda. Chairman advised crew to start renewal process for MMDs early to avoid last-minute delays. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for job well done. Recommendation made regarding lump-sum option for pension plan. Next port: New Orleans. PATRIOT (USSM), June 27— Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary Daniel Q. Payne, Educational Director Mario G Paquiz, Deck Delegate Philemon C. Quitoriano, Engine Delegate Sharif Noor, Steward Delegate Ernest Polk. Bosun reminded everyone to be aware of new security policies. Educational Director recommended Seafarers upgrade skills at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to increase pension benefits. Crew reminded to help keep ship clean. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department requested third cook on board when a security team of 10 or more sails with vessel for long period of time. Toaster needs to be repaired or replaced. Crew also suggested more plastic chairs be purchased for use during barbecues. Bosun thanked steward department for job well done. Steward department, in turn, thanked bosun for all his help. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Sulphur Carriers), June 13— Chairman Nettali Santana, Secretary Darryl K. Goggins, Educational Director Alfred G. Lane, Deck Delegate Tibby L. Clotter, Steward Delegate Jose R. Morales. Chairman encouraged members to upgrade skills in Piney Point. Secretary requested crew return dirty dishes to galley. He also reminded those members getting off to make sure room is clean and with fresh linen for next person. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made regarding increased medical and pension benefits for members and spouses. Recommendation made for union to look into satellite TV issue as well as increase in pay. Additional washer needed in laundry room. Vote of thanks given to chief cook, steward and SA for jobs well done. Next port: Tampa. USNS PAUL BUCK (OSI), June 17—Chairman Kevin A. Kellum, Secretary Michael Tobman, Engine Delegate Orlando V. Pajarillo Jr. Chairman noted concern about current cost of shipboard e-mail. Secretary reminded crew members that dues will be collected in Guam. Educational director emphasized importance of keeping all necessary shipping documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on pay scale for messman and DEU on MSC-contacted vessels. Recommendation made to purchase new printer for computer. Next port: Guam. Seafarers LOG 19 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/23/2004 6:58 PM Page 20 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.) Merchant Marine Vet Thanked for WWII Service I was at the dedication of the new National World War II Memorial May 29, 2004. It is a beautiful memorial, and it includes the seals of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Army Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. On the Mall in Washington, D.C., people came up to me, some with tears in their eyes, and thanked me and others in the Merchant Marine for keeping America free. It made me proud to say that I served in the Merchant Marine in World War II. We delivered 85 to 90 percent of all goods used by the U.S. Final Departures Continued from page 18 WILLIAM WATSON Pensioner William Watson, 87, died April 13. Boatman Watson began his seafaring career in 1958 in the port of Baltimore. He shipped in the deck department as a captain and worked primarily aboard Maritrans vessels. Boatman Watson began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1981. Swan Quarter, N.C. was his home. 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. PEDRO SOLER Pensioner Pedro Soler, 77, passed away May 16. Brother Soler joined the NMU in 1963, first shipping from the port of New York. His first voyage was aboard the Santa Maria. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Soler worked in the steward department. He began receiving his pension in 1990. MIGUEL SANCHEZ armed forces, in addition to the fighting troops. We delivered the goods, but not without a cost. The Merchant Marine had one of the highest casualty rates of all the services. Of the 200,000 people at the World War II Memorial dedication, a local paper, The Washington Times, took pictures of some of the World War II veterans. I told my war stories to a volunteer from the Library of Congress, where a collection of similar stories will be housed. I would like to thank all the members of the Seafarers Union for their great help in writing to their representatives of Congress for support of H.R. 3729 [the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act]. As of June 10, 2004, there were 69 representatives of Congress who are co-sponsoring the bill. We need more members of Congress to add their support. So, please keep up the good work—and we will be victorious. Richard G. Wiggins Kansas City, Mo. in 1947, Brother Popek’s initial voyage was aboard the Sedalia Victory. He was born in Massachusetts and worked in the engine department. Brother Popek last sailed on the Export Freedom and began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1978. Pensioner Walter Leycock, 92, died June 3. Brother Leycock was born in St. Croix, V.I. and started his career with the NMU in 1953. Sailing from the port of New York, his first vessel was the Arlington. Brother Leycock shipped in the engine department. He last went to sea aboard the American Export and started receiving stipends for his retirement in 1976. HERBERT GILLARD Pensioner Herbert Gillard, 74, passed away May 18. Brother Gillard began his career with the NMU in 1945, first shipping from Port Arthur, Texas. His first vessel was the James Island. The steward department member was born in Texas. He last sailed aboard the Keystoner and started receiving his pension in 1973. NATHAN EBANKS Pensioner Nathan Ebanks, 79, died June 4. Brother Ebanks was born in the West Indies and joined the NMU in 1941. He initially went to sea from the port of New York aboard the James W. Cannon. Brother Ebanks worked in the deck department and last sailed on the Marine Duval. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1974. LOUIS POPEK THOMAS CARTER Pensioner Louis Popek, 82, passed away June 9. After joining the NMU Pensioner Thomas Carter, 81, passed away May 8. Brother Carter started Seafarers LOG 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 condi- 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 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. Procedure for Absentee Ballots WALTER LEYCOCK Pensioner Miguel Sanchez, 83, died May 31. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Sanchez first sailed with the NMU in 1939 from the port of New York on the Borinquen. Brother Sanchez’s last voyage was on the Newberry Victory. The deck department member went on pension in 1965. 20 Know Your Rights General elections for the union’s officers will take place this year. Voting will begin Nov. 1 and continue through Dec. 31. In the case of members eligible to vote who believe they will be at sea during the Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2004 voting period, absentee ballots are 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: Make the request in writing to the SIU office of the secretary-treasurer, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Include in the request the correct address where the absentee ballot should be mailed. Send the request for an absentee ballot by registered or certified mail. The registered or certified mail envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight, Nov. 15, 2004 and must be received at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 no later than Nov. 25, 2004. 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 Nov. 30, 2004. Upon receiving the ballot and envelopes, 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 your 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 Dec. 31, 2004 and received by the bank depository no later than Jan. 5, 2005. his seafaring career with the NMU in 1943. Born in Kentucky, the engine department member first shipped from the port of New York on the Sparrows Point. Brother Carter last sailed aboard the Genevieve Lykes. He started receiving retirement compensation in 1987. 95 81 81 78 77 77 89 83 85 77 82 76 96 81 87 71 73 81 100 80 81 68 77 In addition to the foregoing individuals, the following NMU brothers and sisters, all of whom were pensioners, passed away on the dates indicated. Name Age DOD Anjiras, William Badger, Stanley Bloes, Arthur 89 77 94 May 4 June 11 June 5 Bogdan, Lawrence Carter, Thomas Cerrato, Alejandro Damon, George Davidson, Cecil Evans, John Ferrer, Juan Ferrer, Jose Ford, Samuel Gomes, Harwood Huertas, Pablo Johns, Earle Lamot, John Mazzola, Michael Nicodemus, John Padilla, Hector Redesky, Thomas Rudnickas, Joseph Salinas, Nicasio Tate, Wilton Torres, Pablo Wijngaarde, Otmar Williams, Charles May 18 May 8 April 5 May 21 June 2 June 14 June 4 June 5 May 19 June 11 May 19 May 18 June 11 May 31 May 20 June 10 May 30 June 10 May 27 June 14 May 27 June 11 May 15 Attention Seafarers: August 2004 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:25 PM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Recertification Bosun 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 2004. 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. October 11 Engine Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion Basic Auxiliary Plant Operation September 20 November 15 October 15 December 10 FOWT October 25 December 17 QMED - Junior Engineer September 27 December 17 Welding August 23 October 4 November 1 September 10 October 22 November 19 Course Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion August16 September 27 November 8 September 10 October 22 December 3 September 13 November 15 September 17 November 19 Celestial Navigation September 27 October 22 GMDSS (Simulator) August 23 September 27 November 1 September 3 October 8 November 12 August 2 September 13 October 25 August 13 September 24 November 5 Course Able Seaman Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) Safety Specialty Courses Start Date of Course Date Completion Advanced Fire Fighting* August 23 September 20 November 8 September 3 October 1 November 19 Basic Safety Training (BST) August 2 August 30 August 6 September 3 Fast Rescue Boat August 30 September 3 Government Vessels September 13 October 1 Tankerman (PIC) Barge* October 4 October 8 (*must have basic fire fighting) *(must have radar unlimited) Lifeboatman/Water Survival Navigation Fundamentals November 29 December 10 Radar August 30 November 1 September 10 November 12 August 9 October 4 November 29 August 20 October 15 December 10 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman (STOS) November 8 (*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. 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 July 18, 2004. UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Date of Birth ______________________ 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. 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 ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/04 Seafarers LOG 21 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:25 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 651 — Graduating from the water survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 651 (in alphabetical order) James Carey, Troy Davis, Daniel Fields, Adam Guerrero, Clark Howard, Shantay Joquin, Perry Martin, Jamal Ricks, John Rodriguez, Bryan Singleterry, Adam Soto and Robert Starr. Able Seaman — Receiving certificates for completion of the AB class ending June 18 are (in alphabetical order) Miguel Baerga, Warren Barney, Harvey Carvajal, Michael Hames, Larry Howard, Terry Igot, Peter Martin, Carl Pedersen, Eugene Perez, Jon Phillips, Jay Pierce, Terrell Poole, La Terrance Ransom, Rigoberto Ruiz, Anthony Sanchez, Marc Simpson, Miles Souders, James Trotter, Tom War and Lakindra Williams. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Welding — Graduation certificates for completion of the welding course were given July 2 to Kenji Hoffman (left), Steven Haver (center) and Gabriel Bonefont (front). Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, stands in the back. ARPA — Earning their ARPA certificates June 25 are (in no specific order) Loren Wolfe, Harry Claar II, Darryl Alexander, Jermaine Williams, Louis Barra, Karl Mayhew, Nebojsh Milosevic and (not pictured) James Reece. Their instructor, Mike Smith, is at far right. Fast Rescue — Galley Operations — Upgrading their baking skills in the school’s galley lab recently are (from left) Emilia Wooden (Advanced Galley Operations), Arlene Ringler (chief instructor), Peter Williams (Advanced Galley Operations), Ali Nasser, Lee Holiday, Xu Ziting, Elba Alfaro, Brian Holmes, Khaled Musleh and Felipa Aranda. Under the instruction of Stan Beck (third from left) are Seafarers who completed the fast rescue boat course June 11. They are (in alphabetical order) Darryl Alexander, Robert Carroll, Neil Carter, Frank Mahr and Paul McCready. Radar — Under the instruction of Mike Smith (far right) are Seafarers who completed the radar couse June 18. They are (in alphabetical order) Brook Bowers, James Fekany, Karl Mayhew, David Steinberg and Jermaine Williams. Not pictured are Nebojsa Milosevic and James Reece. Marine Electrician — Completing the marine electrician course July 1 are (in alphabetical order) John Alicea, Jeoffrey Curry, Joseph Egan, Richard Huffman, William McLaughlin, Robert Nelson, Jose Ramirez, Jeffery Roddy, Terry Santure, Ronald Smith, Lionel Taylor and Olie Webber. Jay Henderson, their instructor, is standing at far right. 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 Class Showing off his certificates of achievement for completion of several computer classes at the Paul Hall Center is Carlos Diaz. With him is his instructor, Rick Prucha. 22 Seafarers LOG Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops — Upgrading Seafarers Bon Vannaxay, Selahattin Akpinar and Charles Johnson joined with unlicensed apprentices in completing the basic auxiliary plant operations course June 11. They are (in no specific order) Jess Cooper, Adam Begleiter, Taneisha Johnson, Daniel Miller, Michael Snowden Jr., Michael Maskalenka, Lloyd Clark, Gilbert Johnson, Nicholas Collins, Hashiem Pittman, Orlando Pabon, Joseph Waller, Nicholas Doffoh and Antoine Rainey. Their instructor, Eric Malzkuhn, is in the back, far right. August 2004 �23844_P7,9_11,18,20_23.qxd 7/22/2004 4:26 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Small Arms Training— Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Graduating from the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course June 25 are (in no particular order) Steven Hall, Steven Lonas, Douglas Carson, Steven Media, Bruce Heath, Timothy Dunn, Walter Sainvil, Juan Colon, Irving Rochez, Rigoberto Beata, Bon Vannaxay, Selahattin Akpinar, Charles Johnson, Camille Diagne and Leonard Soriano. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. Completing the small arms training course June 18 are (in alphabetical order) Nicholas Collins, Michael Cox, Timothy Dexter, Rocky Dupraw, Kent Harper, Gilbert Johnson, Jamie Medina, John Niday IV, Antoine Rainey, Coda Russell, Michael Snowden Jr., Joseph Waldera, Richard Wiltison and Christopher Yohe. Basic Safety Training Classes STCW — May 7: Andrew Baumrucker, Charles Burton, Johnny Cothren, Amanda Haun, Jessica Koutecky, Chantry McSherry, Kieran McSherry, Noah Rowan and Lamar Solomon. STCW — May 14: Holly Alfrey, Edward Birdsong, Jeffrey Fiegel, Tony Green, Simien James, James Niotis, Melissa Oakley, Eduardo Osorio, Jimmy Pruitt, Charles Reeve, James Rodriguez, Vasilijs Semesjuks, Marvin St. George, Edgar Stanley, Rick Leach and Debra Meadows. STCW — May 28: Matthew Caplins, Joseph Corr, Alvin Moore Jr., Inocencio Roxas, Ahmed Saleh and Phillip Stephens. STCW — June 25: John Brantly, Harvey Carvajal, George DiCanio, John Habib, Michael Hames Sr., Peter Martin, Sadeq Nasser, Robert Ott, Andrew Page, Carl Pedersen, Jon Phillips, Michelle Picton and Miguel Vinca. Specially Trained OS — Receiving their STOS certificates of completion June 11 from instructor Stacey Harris (front row, center) are Coda Russell, Joseph Waldera, Ty Varnadoe, Christopher Yohe, Christopher Czarske, Richard Wiltison, Nathaniel Leachman, Neftali Erausquin, Santos Gary, Damian Spedale, Kent Harper and Mohamed Mosed. Lifeboatman/Water Survival — Earning their lifeboatman/water survival endorsements May 21 are (in alphabetical order) Louie Acerudano, Alberto Armas, Mark Beleno, Keoni Bounds, Mary DeGuzman, Elizabeth Dominguez, Danny Fletcher, Brian Grieder II, Sheila Hanson, Kathleen Kleaver, Aaron Lanet, Tyler Motz, Noheapualani Polendey and Thelma Sokiano. August 2004 Specially Trained OS — Another STOS class that graduated June 11, but under the instruction of Tony Sevilla (back row, far right) are Phillip Maxfield, Timothy Dexter, Jamar Reed, Kevin Johnson, Jor-el Holmberg, Mark Beck, John Crawford, Damar Shaw, John Niday IV, Donaldo Valencia and Jaime Medina. Seafarers LOG 23 �Pg1,2,5,12,13,24, 4cx.qxd 7/22/2004 6:08 PM Page 24 Volume 66, Number 8 August 2004 Tuesday, Nov. 2 is Election Day 2004 Remember, you can’t vote unless you are registered. Participate . . . Register . . . VOTE! Flickertail State Earns Professional Ship Award mance, efficiency, reliability, productivity and safety. “During Operation Haiti, when you worked under fire delivering supplies and equipment to the Marine Corps, and in Operation New Horizons, when you tested new technology at sea during exercises in the North Atlantic, you lived up to the U.S. Merchant Marine’s vital role as America’s Fourth Arm of Defense. That role remains as important as ever, with our nation leading the fight in the global Crew members and officers aboard the Flickertail State were presented with war against terrorism and the Professional Ship Award for an outstanding job in Operation Haiti and also continuing the Operation New Horizons during a ceremony July 15 in Newport News, Va.st They are (back row, from left) GUDE Curtis Spencer, Bosun David Brown, 1 rebuilding of Iraq.” A/E Jim Schwartz, C/E Scott Stillianos, Capt. Joe Regan, AB Bill Humphrey, 3rd The letter conclud- A/E Pat Jarvis, (seated from left) C/M Bernie Fitzgerald, Electrician Mann ed, “I simply couldn’t Aroon, Wiper James Burke, Wiper Nathan Jenkins, AB Stacy Twiford and AB be more proud of each Phillip Harmon. and every one of you. Your performance, defense operations,” he said. Ugland Management. Seafarers your patriotism and your “Our nation’s Ready Reserve sailing aboard the vessel during dedication are a credit to the Force helps ensure our security Operation Haiti included ABWs entire union and indeed the by supporting the men and Heather Frizzelle and Curtis entire U.S. Merchant Marine. women of the U.S. armed Williams; ABMs Adrian Jones Your story will be shared forces.” and Jonathan Davis; STOSs with the membership as a The ceremony was attended Melvin Stegall, Christopher shining example of what the by representatives from the U.S. Bryan and Melvin Hall; OMUs Transportation Command and John Morrison, John Steeber SIU is all about.” Schubert praised the crew the Military Sealift Command, and Brad Neathery; Wipers and officers. “The crew of the which have operational control Nathan Jenkins and Vincent Flickertail State is an out- of Ready Reserve Force ships Knight; Chief Cook Adele George and SAs Willie Uzzle, standing example of the inte- when they support the military. SIU VP Government Services Kermett Mangram (seated at far right) took The Flickertail State is operat- Teresa MacMartin and Kareem part in the ceremony honoring Flickertail State crew members last month in gral role the Ready Reserve Newport News, Va. Force plays in our national ed by SIU-contracted Interocean Walters. The SIU-crewed Flickertail State received the Professional Ship Award from U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert during a ceremony July 15 in Newport News, Va. SIU Vice President Government Services Kermett Mangram took part in the event. He congratulated the crew for “an outstanding job” in Operation Haiti and Operation New Horizons— performances which earned them the recognition from the Maritime Administration. “Welcome home, and thanks for making us all proud,” Mangram stated. Speaking to the rest of the audience, he noted, “Most of you here today are very familiar with the long history of the U.S. Merchant Marine and our role as the fourth arm of defense. We’ve proven our value time after time. We’ve proven our loyalty and reliability since the very beginnings of this country.” In a letter to the crew, SIU President Michael Sacco noted, “Your recognition is well-earned and it certainly isn’t something to be taken lightly, considering that the U.S. Maritime Administrator’s Professional Ship Award is given to non-military vessels that achieve the highest degree of readiness, perfor- With Seafarers at the Honolulu Hall Left: AB Bill Dwyer Right: SIU Honolulu Port Agent Neil Dietz Early last month, Seafarers at the SIU hall in Honolulu greeted a number of officials who were in town for the Pride of Aloha christening and other union business. Pictured from left to right are (top photo, standing) SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone, Seafarers Edgardo Ines and Eddie Tomas, SIU President Michael Sacco, SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez and Seafarers Alejandro Quirolgico, Pedro Amore, (seated) Sure Anitak and Domingo Barroga. The photo below shows Heindel, Sacco, AB Tomas and Tellez. Pictured from left to right are SIU members Dominico Dacua, Alejandro Quirolgico, Raul Napoles, Getolio Medallo, Johanis Christiaan, Mariano Ylaya and Domingo Barroga. � 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 August 2004 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES USNS BRIDGE JOINS SIU CIVMAR FLEET SIU-CREWED PRIDE OF ALOHA CHRISTENED MATSON’S MAUNAWILI CHRISTENED NASSCO FLOATS OUT SECOND BP TANKER UNION MOURNS PORT AGENT MALONE BOSTON, CHARLESTON CLINICS OPEN DOORS FOR SEAFARER TESTING ‘TEAM EFFORT’ WITH MARIITME INDUSTRY HELPS USCG TACKLE NEW SECURITY RULES SIU OFFICIALS TO SERVE ON SECURITY COMMITTEES U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT UPDATING CONFIDENTIAL MARITIME DATABASE AGENCY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR ‘O*NET’ PROJECT CLAIMS DEPT. CO-DIRECTOR MARTHA CARR DIES AT 51 ALASKA TANKER CO. WINS PRESTIGIOUS SAFETY AWARD CONGRESSMAN HUNTER HONORED BY SHIPBUILDING ASSOCIATION SECRETARY MINETA UNDERSCORES NEED FOR U.S. -FLAG FLEET TRIBUTE TO MERCHANT MARINERS INCLUDED IN DENALI MEMORIAL TOP HEALTH CARE BENEFITS HIGHLIGHT INLAND CONTRACTS UNION SECURES SUBSTANTIAL SETTLEMENT FOR CIVMARS IN HEALTH & SAFETY GRIEVANCE ARC CLINICAL DIRECTOR BILL ECKLES RETIRES SIU BOSUN NAMED ‘OUTSTANDING MARINER’ TRANSPORTATION DEPT. BACKS BILL COMPENSATING WWII MARINERS U.S. HEALTH CARE COSTS CONTINUE UPWARD SPIRAL SEAFARERS, DEPENDENTS CAN HELP UNION REDUCE FEES TO PLAN AD PARTICIPANTS FLICKERTAIL STATE EARNS PROFESSIONAL SHIP AWARD 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 08/01/2004 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. 8 2004 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/d62fa5573dbf92e423225829d7d8470f.pdf 911d98d1274632d67d9baa4d944304ab PDF Text Text 28818_p1,9,10,11,13.qxd 7/18/2005 9:47 PM Page 1 Volume 67, Number 8 The USNS Lewis and Clark (below), crewed by members of the union’s Government Services Division, recently joined the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s fleet, and a second ship in the new T-AKE class is under construction. Overall, eight of the new dry cargo/ammunition ships have been ordered, with options for four additional ships. Page 3. August 2005 New MSC Ships Boost CIVMAR Job Expansion Seafarers Proudly Serve As Part of America’s ‘Fourth Arm of Defense’ SIU members continue supporting U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, transporting key materiel aboard U.S.-flag vessels. Those operations indicate America’s ongoing reliance on U.S. crews and U.S. ships to help carry out our nation’s missions around the world. Pictured above are Seafarers aboard the USNS Yano—from left to right, Taylor Clear, Karberto Ramos, Michael Proveaux, Joe Tegiacchi, Florencia Farquhar, John Cater and Al Barnett. Below right: The Seafarers-crewed USNS Red Cloud offloads combat equipment. Far left: The hospital ship USNS Mercy gets vertical replenishment. Pages 10 and 11. Column Recognizes Forgotten Heroes Of World War II Bruce L. Felknor, retired Encyclopedia Britannica executive editor and a U.S. Merchant Marine radio officer during World War II recently wrote a compelling article recalling the bravery and contributions of mariners during that era. The piece briefly mentions the SIU-crewed Robin Moor, the first U.S.-flag ship sunk during WWII. That vessel and part of the surviving crew are pictured above. Page 2. Seafarers Honored For Safety Page 4 SIU Crews Excel In ‘SafePort’ Page 7 Pride of America: Strong Start Page 20 �28818_P02,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/14/2005 8:40 PM Page 2 President’s Report Strength through the MTD One of the SIU’s most important affiliations is our membership in the Maritime Trades Department. The MTD, of which I am president, is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. Since its beginning, it has given workers employed in the maritime industry a real voice in helping determine the government policies that have so much impact on our livelihoods. Formed shortly before the General Strike of 1946, the MTD has provided “money, marbles and chalk” to some of the labor movement’s most Michael Sacco important organizing drives. It played a leading role in the Wall Street Strike of 1948, which ultimately led to the formation of today’s OPEIU. The MTD gave timely backing to AFSCME’s early efforts at securing state legislation allowing public employees the right to join unions. The MTD also strongly supported Cesar Chavez in his inspirational campaign to gain union recognition for Farm Workers in the 1970s. Over the past six decades, the MTD has helped promote the enactment of such historic pieces of legislation as the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 and the Maritime Security Act of 1996, all of which have helped ensure the continuation of a strong U.S. maritime industry. The MTD also has joined other maritime organizations in educating the public about the importance of preserving the Jones Act, the nation’s freight cabotage law. In more recent years, during a period when an unfortunate number of U.S. industrial jobs have been lost to unfair competition from overseas, the U.S. shipbuilding and the deep-sea industries have made important progress, while the domestic Jones Act fleet has prospered. Without a doubt, the MTD and its affiliates are responsible for much of that progress. And, as a result, the nation’s armed services have enjoyed the stability and security that comes with drawing upon a pool of skilled, loyal U.S. civilian mariners, shipyard employees, longshore workers and others to enhance America’s national and economic security. The MTD’s network of 24 port maritime councils has given maritime workers a strong grass roots presence in port cities and coastal communities all across the nation and in Canada. The councils have given the Department’s 28 affiliates a means to pool their resources on a wide range of issues and projects. They include promoting a comprehensive national maritime agenda; providing affiliate support at all levels; enhancing port security; community participation including charitable activities, and much more. As we prepared for the MTD convention July 21-22 in Chicago, I looked back on our accomplishments from the previous four years and was reminded of the organization’s tremendous value and effectiveness. I’m confident that the next four years will be even more beneficial for our affiliates, and I look forward to working together to promote our industry. Enduring Freedom The terrorist attacks July 7 in London provided a very unwelcome reminder that Operation Enduring Freedom, the global war against terrorism, truly is an ongoing mission, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. This is a different kind of war, as we all know. The SIU remains fully committed to doing whatever it takes to win. On behalf of our entire union, I extend the SIU’s most sincere condolences to the victims of the recent attacks and their families. Words may not heal the physical wounds, but they reflect the genuine caring and compassion felt by millions 7around the world. Like all other terrorist acts, the ones in London were cowardly. The murderers responsible for those attacks will not succeed in making us cower. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. We will continue to rise up, across the globe, and stand united to protect all that is good in our societies. As the saying goes, freedom isn’t free. The price is worth it, however—and no terrorist is going to rob us from our liberty. Volume 67, Number 8 August 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 The Merchant Marine: War’s Forgotten Heroes Editor’s note: This article was written by Bruce L. Felknor, retired Encyclopedia Britannica executive editor and a U.S. Merchant Marine radio officer during World War II. It first appeared in the May 22 edition of The Chicago Tribune and is reprinted here with the author’s permission. Even though it’s not formally celebrated until Monday, Sunday is National Maritime Day. It has become the most ignored national day, memorializing the country’s most forgotten historical event and honoring the most ignored element of its military structure, the U.S. Merchant Marine. Congress adopted the resolution creating the day on May 20, 1933, taking note of May 22, 1819, the day the steamer Savannah sailed from its home port on the first successful transoceanic voyage by steamship. President Franklin Roosevelt issued the proclamation. Every succeeding president proclaimed it, and every succeeding generation ignored it. It was easy to remember winning World War II but easy to forget the merchant marine, the logistical miracle that enabled the victory. The merchant marine story is all about lessons learned on the cruel seas, of scandalous political treatment of its sailors after the war, of long-fought battles for recognition as veterans, and of a commitment as deep, and a risk at least as high, as any soldier’s on any battlefield. But the merchant marine was invisible. It had scant public-relations apparatus and no mass grassroots support. The 13 million men and women of the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard had professional cheerleaders in Washington and war correspondents embedded with them in the field, along with 20-odd-million voting parents. The 250,000 merchant mariners—1.9 percent as many—had only their parents. Lacking Practical Ships In the beginning, it didn’t even have practical ships. The U.S. Maritime Commission’s C2 design of 1938-39 was 459 feet long, 63 feet abeam, 25 feet of draft, 6,000 to 8,000 tons, turbo-electric and steamed along at a maximum 15.5 knots. They took time to build and, when war arrived, the luxury of time did not exist. Only 173 were launched in six years through 1945, an average of fewer than 30 a year. It quickly became evident when the U-boat blitz began that that many ships could be sunk in a matter of weeks. Moreover, engine room crews had to be trained to operate the C2’s sophisticated machinery, a sharp departure from the oilfired reciprocal steam engines of the era. The solution was to adopt the design of a virtual relic, an old British tramp steamer of the Sunderland class, being built in American shipyards for the king’s merchant marine navy. The Liberty ships Jeremiah O’Brien (top), based in San Francisco, and John W. Brown, home-ported in Baltimore, still provide visitors with a glimpse of the WWII-era U.S. Merchant Marine’s history. Simple to build, reliable, capacious, but slow. They called it the Liberty ship. Those who love it believe it won the war. Liberty ships were slow: 10 knots, maybe 11 with a following sea and following wind. But their old-fashioned engines were easy to run and maintain. Liberty hulls, built in sections and welded together, could be turned out with astonishing speed: 70 days was an average, but the record was two days. We joked that they were built by the mile and chopped off by the yard. Shipyards on all three coasts cranked them out—2,751 from September 1940 through the end of the war, the greatest number of oceangoing vessels built to a single design in all history. The basic design was flexible enough so that the hull could become a tanker, a troop ship, a hospital ship, a break-bulk freighter —even a seagoing machine shop rigged to repair damaged airplanes. As Roosevelt’s “Bridge of Ships” sending aid from the New World to the Old began to slide down the ways, vessels of the growing merchant marine fleet were rushed into convoys carrying lend-lease war cargoes to embattled Britain. These included ships of many nations, including American-owned ships under foreign flags, especially Panamanian. German subs zeroed in on the bridge, picking off Panama-registered U.S.-owned ships headed for Britain. In the spring of 1941, a U-boat in the south Atlantic stopped a U.S.-flag freighter, the Robin Moor. One item of its cargo, railroad rails on deck, was deemed contraband, and the ship was sunk with gunfire. The crew and passengers had 20 minutes to abandon ship. This stiffened the spines of foot-draggers in Congress and slightly accelerated the pace of bona fide American preparations for war. Immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack, German Adm. Karl Doenitz, commander of the submarine force, sent six U-boats to the Atlantic off the American coast, launching a campaign of terror on U.S. shipping that, in Winston Churchill’s words, “almost brought us to the disaster of an indefinite prolongation of the war.” Before Pearl Harbor, Congress, chary of violating neutrality laws, had been reluctant to arm merchant marine ships, but now the die had been cast. The navy began arming ships and training gun crews at its capacity of 100 crews a month. Merchant marine officer cadets and seaman trainees were already receiving such training, and all hands performed well and in general effectively. Early on, though, the arming was sporadic. The toll exacted by German subs and bombers underscored the urgency of the need to build ships faster than they were being sunk, however, and with the new vessels properly armed, the tide began to turn. Proper arming involved installing gun tubs for naval cannon fore and aft and pairs of them for 20-mm anti-aircraft machine guns, the middle pair on the bridge wings. All the guns had steel splinter shields. Everyone a Target But every man aboard a seagoing merchant marine ship in World War II was a target, gunner or not. No one was immune from the consequences of a hit, for a well-placed torpedo or aerial Continued on page 5 August 2005 �28818_P02,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/14/2005 9:03 PM Page 3 Progress Continues on New MSC Ships T-AKE Fleet Means Job Opportunities for CIVMARS Less than three weeks after the launch of the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s first Lewis and Clark-class vessel, the keel was laid for the second such ship, signaling more job opportunities for members of the SIU Government Services Division. The dry cargo/ammunition vessels—each with a crew of 123 CIVMARS plus about 50 military-department personnel—will be part of a fleet of combat logistics force underway replenishment ships. At least eight of the new T-AKE vessels will be built at San Diego’s National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO). There are options for four additional ships. The keel-laying ceremony for the USNS Sacagawea took place June 8 at the shipyard. That vessel is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2006. As reported last month, the first ship in the fleet, the USNS Lewis and Clark, was launched on May 21. According to MSC, the T-AKE ships “will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. The T-AKE’s primary mission will be delivering supplies to Navy ships from sources of supply like friendly ports, or from sea using specially equipped merchant ships. The TAKE will transfer cargo—ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items and expendable supplies —at sea to station ships and other naval warfare forces. “In its secondary mission, the T-AKE may be required to operate in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-class (T-AO 187) oiler as a substitute on-station ship, providing direct logistic support to ships within a single carrier strike group.” The agency further noted that the new ships are “being built to commercial specifications and standards Lewis and Clark T-AKE Ships At a Glance Length: 689 feet Beam: 106 feet Draft: 29.5 feet Main machinery: Integrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6KV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster. Full Load Displacement: 35,400 long tons Speed: 20 knots (23 mph) Max Dry Cargo Weight: 5,910 long tons Max Dry Cargo Volume: 783,000 square feet Max Cargo Fuel Weight: 2,350 long tons Cargo Fuel Volume: 18,000 barrels Crewed by members of the union’s Government Services Division, the USNS Lewis and Clark (above, at launch earlier this year and below and at left, during construction) is the first vessel in a new class of dry cargo/ammunition ships in the MSC fleet. Construction has begun on the second vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2006. Source: U.S. Military Sealift Command and will be certified/classed by the American Bureau of Shipping, the United States Coast Guard and other regulatory bodies.” Seafarers crew a number of different types of vessels for MSC, including those in the following programs: prepositioning, special mission, Ready Reserve Force, Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, and sealift (the latter group including tankers, dry cargo and surge ships). SIU-Crewed Detroit Princess Is City’s Latest Attraction The Seafarers-crewed Detroit Princess riverboat arrived at its dock behind Detroit’s Cobo Center in early June and, following a Coast Guard insection, has already begun its lunch, dinner and late-night cruises along the Detroit River. Engine and deck department members were hired to work aboard Detroit’s newest attraction under an SIU contract. Other crew members, including waitstaff, cooks, dishwashers and experienced bartenders, belong to an SIU affiliate, the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union (SEATU). “It’s a party boat (for the passengers),” said its owner, John Chamberlain, who bought the former casino boat in Texas and sailed it through the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida and up the East Coast to the Great Lakes. Each cruise will last two to three hours and will offer a differcent experience on each of its five decks. The first deck has a Motown dance nightclub. Big band music can be heard on the second deck. On deck three is an interactive murder-mystery dinner theater. And a VIP lounge with live jazz and an outdoor area that Chamberlain said is reminis- cent of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville cafes is on the fourth deck. On the fifth deck of the 224foot boat, riders may look from 52 feet above the river. Left: The Detroit Princess is docked alongside the Detroit river walk. Right: Capt. Mike Miller and OS Nicole Mills chat on the vesel’s main deck. Alex Gresock, on the fourth deck of the riverboat, is the chief engineer. Standing on the fifth deck with the Detroit skyline in the background are Capt. Mike Miller, First Mate Sandra Clark and AB Patrick Retko. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, August 15, 2005 for the observance of Paul Hall’s birthday and Monday, September 5, 2005 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. August 2005 Chief Engineer Bob Buttimer adjusts the air conditioning. OS Dale Brown stands gangway security watch on the Princess. AB Adil Hussein stands at the bow of the main deck. Seafarers LOG 3 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/18/2005 2:58 PM Page 4 Seafarers Honored for Safe Operations SIU-Contracted Companies Recognized at Annual Awards Event Eleven SIU-contracted companies, along with their top performing vessels, recently were recognized by the U.S. maritime industry for safe ship operations. The honors, the 2005 Jones F. Devin Award and the 2005 Ship Safety Achievement Awards, were bestowed June 9 by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) during its Annual Safety Awards Luncheon at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Specifically, the awards recognize individual ships and the women and men who crew them while performing accident-free operations. The prizes also serve as incentives to promote safe ship practices aboard all Americanflagged vessels. “It’s always great to see Seafarers receive this type of well-deserved recognition, especially when it has to do with safety,” said SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. “It’s a tribute not only to the individual mariners, but also a reflection of the tremendous jobs that the instructors and staff at our affiliated training school (the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md.) do in preparing students for their careers.” Nearly 200 people representing more than 50 companies turned out for the event. The awards were given to vessels that have operated for at least two years without a mariners involved in a lost-time injury. “We have been holding these annual award ceremonies since 1954,” said Joseph Cox, CSA president “For that initial year, we honored six vessels having a total of 12 years operation with no lost-time incidents. This year, we gave awards to 726 vessels that operated (a combined) 3,956 years without a lost-time incident. This extraordinary record is directly attributable to the professionalism of our seafarers and the dedication of shore-based company personnel to safe operation.” Seafarers-contracted companies that were recipients of the 2005 Jones F. Devlin Awards and the vessels which established safety milestones (number of years in parentheses) were: „ Alaska Tanker Company, LLC—Overseas New York (4), Tonsina (4), Kenai (4) and Overseas Washington (3) „ Central Gulf Lines— Green Lake (3) „ Crescent Towing—Texas (8), Georgia (8), Ervin S. Cooper (8), Alabama (8), Mardi Gras (8), Port Allen (8), Admiral Jackson (8), Glenn Smith (8), Louisiana (7), Port Hudson (6), Terrence Smith (5), Point Clear (5) and Savannah (2) „ Horizon Lines—Horizon Discovery (2) and Horizon Spirit (2) „ Interocean American Shipping Corporation —Flickertail State (7), Cape Mohican (4), Chesapeake (4), Gopher State (4), Cape May (4), El Yunque (3), Midnight Sun (2) and North Star (2) „ Keystone Shipping Co. —Cape Vincent (9), Chelsea (8), Tallahassee Bay (6), Florida Bay (6), Columbia Bay (6) and South Carolina Bay (6). „ Marine Transport Lines —Lykes Discoverer (6), Ocean Reliance (2), Sea Reliance (2), and Sound Reliance (2) „ Maritrans Operating Company L.P.—Navigator (3), Seafarer (3) and Intrepid (3) „ „ Maersk Line, Ltd.—USNS Red Cloud (4), USNS Effective (4), Maersk Rhode Island (2), Cpl Louis J. Hauge Jr. (2), USNS Impeccable (2), USNS Soderman (2), Franklin J. Philips (2), SSG Edward A. Carter (2), and USNS Loyal (2). OSG Ship Management, Inc.—Overseas New Orleans (3), Overseas Philadelphia (3) and Overseas Marilyn (2) „ Seabulk Tankers—HMI Brenton Reef (3), Seabulk Challenge (3), Seabulk Power (2) and Seabulk America (2). The Chamber of Shipping of America represents 25 U.S.based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, containerships, and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and other entities that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. NCL America Spotlighted In New Union Plus Benefit Promotion Encourages Cruising ‘The Union Way’ SIU-contracted NCL America is featured in a new promotion offered through Union Plus, a non-profit organization founded by the AFL-CIO to secure a variety of high quality, discounted products and services for union members and their families. The new Union Plus Cruises program began July 1, featuring Hawaiian cruises on the U.S.flag, union-crewed deep sea cruise ships: the Seafarerscrewed Pride of Aloha and Pride of America. It also is expected to include the Pride of Hawaii when that vessel joins the NCL America fleet in 2006. “Union Plus Cruises feature a 5 percent discount off all cruises from Norwegian Cruise Line,” the organization noted in an announcement. “There may also be other special offers with savings up to 30 percent off selected The SIU-crewed Pride of Aloha is part of a new Union Plus program offering discounts to union members and their families. sailings. A special introductory offer will give union families free air fare to Hawaii from Los Angeles and San Francisco and With Seafarers on the Overseas Chicago Chief Steward Don Lewis sent in these photos of Seafarers aboard the Overseas Chicago. The Alaska Tanker Co. vessel was scheduled to meet its OPA 90-mandated retirement date at the end of June, but the company continues to bring brand new Alaska-class tankers into its Seafarers-contracted fleet. Pictured clockwise from top left are Lewis; AB Ricardo Hernandez, AB Bobby Brown and 2nd Mate James Longley; Chief Cook Craig Lundberg; SA Abdullah Nasser; and a photo, from the Seafarers LOG’s files, showing the tanker shortly after its construction in 1977. reduced air fare from over 100 gateway cities.” The introductory offer for free or reduced air fare expires Sept. 30, 2005. Interested individuals may call 1-866-867-0593 and request promotion code AIR-UP1 to take advantage of this offer, or visit www.unionplus.org/cruises. Seafarers are eligible for a number of additional benefit programs offered through Union Plus, including mortgage and real estate services, union-made checks, an online tax service, health savings, an auto-buying program, music and computer discounts and more. The Seafarers LOG periodically publishes a complete list of those programs along with contact information; the same data is available online at www.unionplus.org. NOTICE Seafarers Pension Plan Pensioners who are eligible for Medicare have been receiving reimbursement for the Medicare Premium as part of their monthly pension check. This practice has now been formally incorporated in the Plan Rules and Regulations. Accordingly, eligible pensioners will continue to receive this reimbursement. 4 Seafarers LOG August 2005 �28818_P02,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/14/2005 9:28 PM Page 5 Bill Would Restore, Protect Right to Join a Union Supporters of a labor-endorsed bill to protect employees’ rights to freedom of association contend that something is radically wrong when threats, intimidation and stall tactics regularly are used by employers to thwart the will of workers who simply want a better way of life. Yet that is precisely what is happening in our nation, notes the AFL-CIO, the national federation of trade unions (to which the SIU is affiliated). Employers routinely go to extremes to obstruct and ultimately derail workers’ rights to make free and fair decisions on joining or forming unions, the federation reports. For example, according to National Labor Relations Board data compiled and recently released by American Rights at Work, U.S. employers so far in 2005 have taken illegal and punitive measures against more than 10,000 employees seeking to support or form a union at their workplace. Although labor law prohibits such tactics, the government has been unwilling to step in and protect workers’ basic rights in the workplace. As a result, working families are paying a huge price for this interference, because unions play an essential role in our society and the rights of workers to organize them are crucial. Union representation is a vehicle to help earn a decent wage, encourage profit sharing between owners and workers, provide health care and pension benefits for families, improve health and safety in the workplace, advocate economic and social policies that support all workers, and provide workers a role in workplace decisions. Recent polls show that as many as 57 million workers would be willing to join a union, but most ITF Aids Crew believe that current laws and workplace situations are stacked against them. That is why union members and others across the country are working with Democratic and Republican members of Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Initially offered last year in the 108th Congress, the legislation garnered support from more than 200 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 senators. Because the bill was not passed, another effort to make it law started in the 109th Congress. On April 19, Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Representatives Peter King (R-N.Y.) and George Miller (D-Calif.) reintroduced the measure for the 109th Congress. Already the number of legislators in both houses signed on to sponsor the act is approaching its 2004 level. The Employee Free Choice Act has three major provisions: „ First, it calls for certification of a union as the bargaining unit if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finds that a majority of employees in an appropriate unit have signed authorizations designating the union to be their representative. Basically, the act would make card-check organizing campaigns the law of the land. „ Second, it would put and end to delaying tactics to prevent negotiations for a first contract that have been used by many businesses to the detriment of workers. Instead, the measure would allow either party involved in the talks to reach out to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) after 90 days. If the FMCS cannot resolve the dispute within 30 days, it may be referred to arbitration whose results would be binding for two years. „ Third, just as the NLRB must seek a federal court injunction against unions whenever War’s Forgotten Heroes Continued from page 2 SIU International Transport Workers’ Federation Inspector Don Thornton recently helped bring the Liberian-flag vessel MV Federal Margaree under ITF contract. A few crew members from the bulk carrier are pictured above, in Cleveland, happily displaying their new contract. The SIU is an ITF affiliate. Senate Bill Introduced For WWII Mariners A long-awaited change could be on the horizon for the thousands of World War II U.S. Merchant Mariners who have not been fairly compensated for their service to the country. Under legislation unveiled recently by a politician from Nebraska, the aforementioned individuals would receive comparable treatment with other veterans. Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in June introduced a bill— the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005, (S. 1272)—to amend title 46, United States Code, and title II of the Social Security Act. If passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, the measure would provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States Merchant Marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. “Merchant mariners transported troops, ammunition, food, gas and other supplies that were necessary to win the war, in open waters aboard slow-moving cargo ships,” said Nelson during his introduction of the measure. “They were a target of enemy forces which sank more than 800 of these ships. More than 9,000 merchant mariners were lost at sea. The casualty August 2005 rate amounted to one out of every 26 … yet they have been denied fair treatment all these years because they were civilians.” The senator’s proposal—and a companion bill which carries the same title (H.R. 23) introduced earlier this year by U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.)—among other things would pay $1,000 per month, tax free, to merchant mariners or their widows. It would also increase their monthly Social Security check. A member of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Filner observed, “While it is impossible to make up for over 40 years of unpaid benefits, I propose a bill that will acknowledge the service of the veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine and offer compensation for years and years of lost benefits. The average age of (World War II) merchant marine veterans is now 81. Many have outlived their savings. A monthly benefit to compensate for the loss of nearly a lifetime of ineligibility for the GI Bill would be of comfort and would provide some measure of security for veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine.” Approximately 10,000 Merchant Mariners and their widows who are old enough to serve in World War II are still living. bomb sent the ship to the bottom, often wrecking some or all of the lifeboats. After a few early tragedies when there was no time to swing boats out on their davits for lowering, the navy ordered all merchant marine ships to sail with boats swung out, ready for instant launching. (Life rafts were positioned to be slid over the side and boarded once in the water.) But an angry sea was a lethal enemy, boats or not. Hundreds and hundreds of men were forced by fire to leap into the sea in life jackets when lifeboats were wrecked in launching or walled off by fire. A bomb- or torpedo-ruptured fuel tank could turn a ship into a flaming pyre. Sometimes with freighters and often with tankers, a torpedo or bomb could set ship and sea afire. Oil gushing from ruptured tanks could blaze for hours. Expert swimmers, unwounded, could dive through flames, swim underwater long enough to clear the burning fuel, and hope to find a raft or scrap or maybe lifeboat. If not, drowning or sharks awaited. The odds were not good. A ruptured tanker loaded with fuel oil was bad news for the swimmer even without fire. In a cold ocean, oil congeals into a thick pad that quickly exhausts any swimmer. The foam is thick enough to make surface swimming impossible but not thick enough to keep a man afloat. Catch-22 for the seafarer. But beyond that, whatever the strength of the swimmer, without protective clothing he can live in the ocean only until hypothermia claims him, and in the North Atlantic that span is measured in minutes. Not all the deaths lurking in wait for the wartime seafarer were slow and tortured, though. A few hundred of those killed (estimates vary from 6,847 to 8,412) died quickly—the fate of anyone torpedoed or bombed on an ammunition ship or a tanker loaded with high-octane gasoline was instant obliteration. Sailors in convoys where such cataclysms occurred were unanimous: The explosion was horrendous. There was a rising cloud of dust or vapor. Nothing fell to earth. The ship and its people disappeared, vaporized. These were facts of life for the merchant marine seamen in World War II, all of them volunteers (the minimum age was only 16). These men suffered the highest mortality rate of any service, in that war, with the possible exception of the U.S. Marine Corps, dwarfing those of the Army, Navy, Army Air Force and Coast Guard. This explains why the canard that mariners hated most was that they were draft dodgers. The biggest surprise is that, for 44 years after the war, merchant marine survivors were not even war veterans, though their armed guard shipmates were vets by definition. As it began to appear that the Allies would win, the GI Bill of Rights was drafted in Congress, discussed and debated, then passed and signed into law. Almost simultaneously, a Seamen’s Bill of there is a reasonable cause to believe that the unions have violated secondary boycott publications, the legislation would call upon the NLRB to do the same if there is reasonable cause against an employer who has discharged or discriminated against workers or engaged in action that interferes with employee rights to organize or negotiate a first contract. The act also provides penalties. The AFL-CIO states that there’s little doubt in the labor community that the Employee Free Choice Act will help fix the flawed process through which workers currently form unions. This important legislation would make sure workers have a fair chance to exercise their democratic right to choose a union. If Congress passes the measure, stronger enforcements instantly would be in place to deter violations of labor law and help workers reach contracts quickly and fairly. Rights was proposed, strongly endorsed by President Roosevelt and influential members of Congress. But it was rigidly opposed by other members, swayed by the leaders of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who had been persuaded by a series of lies and misunderstanding about the merchant marine. These were circulated most effectively by columnists Westbrook Pegler and Walter Winchell who spread the notion that many merchant seamen and their unions were communists or “pinkos.” They told tales of seamen refusing to help unload war cargoes, of sky-high bonuses for sailing into war zones. The barrage of falsehood and disinformation poisoned enough votes in Congress to kill the Seamen’s Bill of Rights despite Roosevelt’s and later President Harry Truman’s efforts to resurrect it. Military heroes—Douglas MacArthur, Jonathan Wainwright, Dwight Eisenhower, Chester Nimitz, Alexander Vandegrift and many others— praised the valor and gallantry and selfless service of the merchant marine—but all too little and too late. Until, that is, three merchant mariners who had been shipmates and fellow POWs in the Japanese prison camp on the notorious River Kwai took the government to court. Taking on the Government The Defense Department had assigned the secretary of the Air Force to oversee veterans’ group applications for recognition. He had repeatedly rejected the application of Edward Fitzgerald, Dennis Roland and Stanley Willner, though in their judgment they met all the stated qualifications. When the case came to trial in federal court in Washington in 1987, Roland had died and been replaced by Lane Kirkland, a merchant marine veteran and head of the AFL-CIO. The court found—in pungent terms—for the plaintiffs, and ordered further actions leading to legislation recognizing men with oceangoing merchant marine service in World War II as veterans. The American Legion let them in; the Veterans of Foreign Wars did not. This led to a cascade of rulings and regulations that among other things recognized merchant marine veterans organizations, granted the old mariners—43 years after the war—access to veterans’ hospitals and medical care, residence in Veterans Homes, burial in National Cemeteries, and an inexpensive symbol cherished most of all by many: a flag for their coffins and a veteran’s marker for their gravesites. The truly major benefits of the GI Bill, college tuition and Veterans Administration home loan guarantees, had long since bypassed this dwindling cohort of old men. A credible estimate is that of the 250,000, about 10,000 are left. Even the 16-year-olds of 1945 are in their late 70s now. The old salts of then, who left retirement and patriotically went back to sea, are long dead. But let’s not ignore them. Seafarers LOG 5 �28818_p2,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/18/2005 2:56 PM Page 6 Car Carrier Jean Anne Enjoys Smooth Sailing After more than five months at sea and nearly as many trips between the West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands, it’s still smooth sailing for the new SIU-contracted car carrier Jean Anne. As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, the 579–foot roll-on/roll platform on March 21 was christened in the port of San Diego’s National City Marine Terminal. Owned by The Pasha Group of Corte Madera, Calif., the vessel was built to serve in the Jones Act trades between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. It is operated by Interocean Ugland Management. “All of the SIU crew members seem very happy with their jobs aboard the new vessel,” said SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox. “As with any new vessel, not everything is perfect. But everyone has worked together really well, both from the union and the company, to get through the growing pains.” The Jean Anne has 10 decks and weighs 13,000 deadweight tons. The vessel can transport more than 3,000 American-sized vehicles plus any other rolling stock, household goods and containers. It can travel at speeds approaching 20 knots and its stern ramp is capable of handling up to 100 tons as vehicles are driven on and off. The Jean Anne makes stops in Honolulu; Kahului, Maui; Hilo; and Nawiliwili, Kauai. Left: Part of the Jean Anne crew assembles top side shortly after the vessel recently tied up in San Diego. Pictured from left are GVA Arthur Castro, GVA Marino Macadaan, Chef Cook Ronnie Newman, Bosun Thomas Johnson and QEE Allen Jones. AB Adel Irani OMU Jasper McGirt Learning Maritime Safety in Hawaii AB Tom Grove The Jean Anne docks in San Diego following a trip to the Hawaiian Islands Welcome Home, Seafarers! The Seafarers Training Center in Hawaii was the site of maritime safety training exercises last March for students and staff from the Navy Jr. ROTC (NJROTC) program at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach. Nine students and three staff members participated in various exercises that included confined spaces Mandeelyn Sy is suited up Campbell High School NJROTC rescue, fire gear familiarization, hose and ready to go as instructor cadets don their bunker gear at the Seafarers Training Center in evolutions and water survival relays. Stuart Domingo explains Staff from the Seafarers Training each element of the personal Kalaeloa, Hawaii. Center included Amanda Curtis, Rick protective gear to the rest of the students. Perry, Stuart Domingo and Nate Itomoto. Honolulu Port Agent Neil Dietz also participated in the day’s events. The NJROTC staff was led by Cmdr. John Hutchinson, USN Senior Chief Naki and Chief Petty Officer Lairsey. Following the exercises, Hutchinson said, “The training was a valuable part of our cadets’ education. It was very interesting and the students were fully engaged.” Anonymous in their protective gear, the students rescue “Annie” from the downed helicopter after extinguishing a helo fire. Right: Proving that one size fits all (sort of), Campbell High School cadet Angela Diaz finishes pulling on the last of her protective gear. Burial at Sea for Brother Sanfilippo The SIU-crewed Cape Trinity (bottom left photo) recently arrived back in Houston following a nearly five-month deployment to the Middle East in support of U.S. troops. Upon their return, Seafarers received U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals from the U.S. Maritime Administration and later enjoyed a barbecue by the vessel, which is part of the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF). Pictured above left (from left) are 3rd Mate Joey Cargal, AB Charles Hill, SA Roberto Avila, SA Loukas Frangia and AB Henry Whitt. Other crew members include Oiler Rodolfo Menchaca (above right photo). Additional Seafarers recently manning the Cape Trinity include Bosun Charles Jackson, ABs Frank Thompson, Sinclair Oubre, Stig Sasse and John Pegan, Electrician Shawn Deloach, GVAs John Robinson and Terry Bass, Oilers Christopher Eason and Jamie Pabon, Steward Daniel Taylor, Cook Anthony Harrell and Assistant Cook Andrea David. At Lat 18-24N, Long. 164-33E, a service was conducted May Salvatore Sanfilippo were scattered at sea from the fantail of Sanfilippo, 77, was born in Boston and joined the SIU in 1950 Navy. He sailed as a recertified bosun, last working in 1992 Sanfilippo made his home in San Francisco. 6 Seafarers LOG 29 as the ashes of Brother Joseph an SIU-crewed Horizon Lines ship. in Houston after serving in the U.S. aboard the Cape Catoche. Brother August 2005 �28818_p2,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/15/2005 3:23 AM Page 7 SIU Members Excel in ‘SafePort’ Safety Exercise Shows Teamwork throughout Industry Crew members aboard a pair of SIU-contracted vessels recently earned accolades for their participation in a joint U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd)/U.S. Coast Guard safety exercise. Dubbed “Operation SafePort 2005” and conducted in early June in San Francisco Bay, the maneuvers spanned three weeks and involved Seafarers aboard the Pacific Gulf Marine, Inc.-operated Keystone State and Horizon Lines’ Horizon Consumer. The Keystone State is a MarAd Ready Reserve Force Auxiliary Crane Ship (T-ACS) while the Consumer is a container ship. A third Seafarers-crewed vessel, the Matson Navigation Co.operated Lihue was also part of the safety simulations. Prior to the actual exercise, Seafarers who crewed the Keystone State took part in several preparatory on-site SafePort Facts Recognizing the concerns of port security in the United States in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) has been working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Coast Guard to mitigate risks to U.S. ports and population centers. MarAd, utilizing Auxiliary Crane Ship (T-ACS) vessels in its Ready Reserve Fleet, developed the SafePort concept. Under this project, containerships of greater that 8,000 TEU’s can have a “container of interest” offloaded from any point on the ship at a remote location. The objectives of SafePort include physically approaching, mooring alongside, and off-loading a designated container of interest from a non-self-sustaining containership away from a developed port facility and population center. sessions in which the Gem State, another of MarAd’s auxiliary crane ships manned by SIU members, was involved. Under the exercise scenario, the Keystone State was tasked with maneuvering alongside the Consumer (and on two occasions the Lihue) which was at secure anchorage in a designated area of San Francisco bay. Once in position, the Keystone State was further tasked with the safe removal of certain containers. The containers in question previously had been placed in very close proximity to a test container by a U.S. Aboard the Keystone State are Coast Guard Vessel Boarding U.S. Navy Reservist Chad Fon- Team (also known as Sea dren and AB DeIsrael Williams. Marshals). To make the scenario more realistic, Sea Marshals labeled the test container as a “suspicious” box. The simulation continued with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team boarding the Horizon vessel, using complete access on all sides of the suspect container to perform addiSIU Assistant VP West Coast Nick Celona, tional safety surveys and left, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Paul “Goose” then discharging it to a Godsen and Pacific Gulf Marine Chief Executive Officer Todd Johnson watch por- small LASH barge where tions of the SafePort exercise from aboard it was carried away without incident. the Keystone State. Thanks to the excellent training of the Seafarers, their counterparts from the USCG and all others involved, the exercise was a complete success. All containers safely were removed from the Consumer without a hitch. The suspicious box, which remained undisturbed during the removal of containers, successfully was examined and removed by members of the strike team. “The SIU members who crewed the vessels taking part in the maneuvers performed in a truly outstanding fashion,” said SIU Assistant Vice President West Coast Nick Celona. “Their superb training came to the forefront in all of their actions…. Their overall professionalism reflects tremendous credit upon themselves and the SIU.” More than 80 observers from varied government agencies including MarAd, the U.S. Military Sealift Command, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection viewed this successful exercise. Officials from Pacific Gulf Marine as well as Horizon Lines expressed pride both in the crews and the roles played respectively by the vessels they managed. “Participating in this drill allowed Horizon Lines as a primary U.S.flag containership operator to support and actively share in U.S. port security development,” said John Keenan, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Horizon Lines. “This exercise further demonstrates Horizon Lines’ unwavering commitment to securing not only our customers’ cargo, but also reaffirms our partnership with these government agencies in protecting our borders.” Pacific Gulf Marine CEO Todd B. Johnson, in a letter to SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, said in part, “This business has its share of ups and downs. It also has moments which make it all worthwhile. For me, those times are usually related to extraordinary performances of a team under pressure; such was the case during the ‘Operation Safeport’ exercise…. Our customer, the U.S. Maritime Administration, was extremely pleased with the performance of One of the Keystone State’s massive cranes lowers the “suspicious box” onto a waiting LASH barge. After the box has been safely lowered onto the barge and secured, it will be carried away from the area for disposal. those crew members who demonstrated, once again, the value of maintaining an active and welltrained workforce that serve aboard Ready Reserve Force vessels. “To all aboard the Keystone State, please extend our sincere thanks for a job s well done,” Johnson concluded. Once enough normal containers have safely been removed from around the “suspicious box” aboard the Consumer, crew members secure it and start relocation operations. The SIU crew of the Gem State, above, put their union brothers from the Keystone State through the paces during training sessions just prior to the start of Operation SafePort. Pictured, from left to right, are Chief Mate Marley, AB Don Rico, AB Jefferson Hendricks, Third Mate Kevin, AB Ritche Acuman, AB Artis Williams, AB Ray Shinpoch and AB Norman Tourtellot. Some of the participants in the SafePort exercise donned special gear for portions of the maneuvers. From left to right are AB Luis Valerio, Second Mate Garrett Winner, AB Rex Simbre, Third Mate Mike Rawlins and Third Mate Ryan Brune. The target container is lifted from aboard the Consumer during Operation SafePort. The Keystone State, right, maneuvers alongside the Consumer to begin off-loading its containers. The Gem State crew also consisted of Bosun John Young, left, and GUDE Fadhl Said. August 2005 The Horizon Consumer, left, awaits the arrival of the crane ship Keystone State, right foreground, to commence container offloading as part of the SafePort exercise. Seafarers LOG 7 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 1:33 AM Page 8 GRAND CANYON STATE — From the looks of this photo, the Grand Canyon State was hitting some pretty heavy seas on a recent voyage as the waves swept over the main deck and up to the crane. At 668.6 feet, the vessel is one of 10 crane ships in the Military Sealift Command’s fleet. CAPE DUCATO — Chief Steward Lonnie W. Jones Sr. (center) and his galley gang members on the Cape Ducato were highly praised by military security teams during “Operation Vigilant Mariner.” A letter of appreciation from the leading petty officer was received by the steward department that read, “The entire team appreciated your outstanding service and patience while in transit from Rota, Spain to Souda Bay, Crete. The quality and quantity of the meals made available to us will always weigh heavily around our waistlines. Thank you very much for your efforts and may you continue to serve up [great] meals. Fair winds and following seas on all of your fuure deployments. God bless.” The steward department supported 12 security personnel for a total of 30 days. From the left are GSU Leopoldo Fernandez, GSU Julian Nunez, Chief Steward Lonnie Jones Sr., Chief Cook Basil Waldron and Assistant Cook Mendez Amador. Sailing with the ITB BALTIMORE — This photo was snapped aboard the ITB Baltimore at Harbor Island in Seattle, Wash. The Seafarers pictured are AB Jeremy Thigpen, Pumpman Geoffrey James, Chief Steward Tommy “T-Man” Belvin, DEU Lauro Mangahas, Recertified Bosun Jeff Kess, ACU Elsayed Amasha and AB Sam Silas. SIU ALASKAN FRONTIER — A shipboard meeting was held May 23 aboard the Alaskan Frontier, which was at anchor in Port Angeles, Wash. while waiting to enter the shipyard in Vancouver. Above (from left) are DEU Henry Gonzalez, DEU Yehia Nasser and QMED Ron Celious. Directly below are Tacoma Patrolman Robert Duncan and Recertified Bosun Carlos Loureiro. In the bottom photo is Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell (standing) with QMED Sylvester Crawford Jr., Chief Cook J.D. Reyes, AB Mike Bedney, AB Rafael Concepcion, AB Manuel Espinoza and Chief Steward Greg Lynch. MARITIME DAY IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS — The Port Arthur International Seafarer’s Center and the Apostleship of the Sea - Diocese of Beaumont, gathered on May 20 to observe the 18th annual Maritime Memorial Service. Recognition was given to those working in the maritime industry with special attention given to the many fishermen who work in the Port Arthur and Sabine Pass area. In addition, prayers were said for the crew members and families of the Rene I, a crew boat that collided with the tanker Genmar Strength in the Port Arthur Ship Channel. The captain and three crew members of the Rene I died as a result of the collision last April. Following the service at the Seamen’s Memorial Sundial, built after the loss of the tanker Oklahoma (which was crewed by NMU members), a color guard led the participants to the sea wall, where a wreath was placed in the water by the local Sea Scout Ship. Below, Sea Scouts aboard a small motor vessel salute as the memorial wreath is tossed. Above (both photos), Fr. Sinclair Oubre addresses the crowd. Fr. Oubre is president of the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America as well as an active SIU member. 8 Seafarers LOG August 2005 �28818_p1,9,10,11,13.qxd 7/18/2005 2:48 PM Page 9 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea September & October 2005 Membership Meetings JUNE 16 — JULY 11, 2005 *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 DECK 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 Totals Trip Reliefs 1 0 6 1 7 17 24 0 14 8 30 11 3 1 9 17 1 26 17 1 2 8 5 7 19 24 0 9 12 12 12 2 16 5 9 4 25 9 1 0 1 2 0 13 15 1 3 2 8 5 1 1 1 3 0 11 10 1 0 5 1 6 22 19 0 7 13 22 8 3 1 4 8 1 22 25 1 4 7 3 2 12 27 0 10 14 11 11 1 13 7 9 2 21 19 0 0 1 1 1 10 8 1 1 6 4 4 2 1 1 0 0 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 12 16 0 5 5 7 2 1 1 6 11 1 17 10 2 0 10 2 9 47 64 0 18 23 59 24 5 1 19 33 0 60 36 4 6 10 9 13 35 58 1 13 22 46 26 8 14 10 18 7 50 30 2 1 1 2 1 28 32 0 8 18 32 11 2 0 1 9 3 25 29 193 181 78 168 174 54 94 412 380 205 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 0 0 5 0 2 7 20 0 2 9 9 4 1 0 2 13 2 13 10 1 1 2 1 6 8 12 0 4 2 3 12 2 3 3 8 1 15 9 1 0 0 2 1 4 7 0 1 3 4 6 0 0 1 2 0 3 5 0 0 4 1 2 8 8 0 4 8 5 3 1 1 0 3 2 12 4 0 3 5 0 3 8 16 0 5 11 4 6 0 0 3 2 0 9 11 0 2 0 0 2 2 6 0 1 3 5 6 1 0 1 0 0 4 4 0 0 1 0 0 5 6 0 2 4 2 7 0 0 2 4 0 6 4 0 0 5 1 9 21 44 0 6 15 18 8 6 1 7 19 1 17 16 1 0 2 4 9 17 39 0 3 5 11 20 7 5 6 10 7 26 17 1 2 0 2 1 10 14 0 3 5 9 6 2 2 0 6 1 5 15 Totals 99 93 40 66 86 37 43 194 189 84 1 0 1 0 7 10 12 0 2 12 19 3 2 2 1 15 1 14 19 2 0 2 2 5 1 10 0 2 2 3 14 0 3 1 3 0 8 8 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 3 5 0 0 2 1 6 11 8 0 2 6 13 3 0 0 1 9 0 8 12 0 0 0 2 3 1 12 0 2 1 4 10 1 1 0 3 0 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 3 7 7 0 2 1 6 1 0 1 3 6 0 7 9 1 0 4 0 21 24 37 0 7 16 35 11 4 7 1 42 2 31 38 2 0 3 5 9 5 25 0 6 7 6 19 2 4 4 6 0 14 14 2 0 0 1 0 2 8 0 0 4 6 4 0 1 1 2 2 4 5 121 66 19 82 50 11 54 281 131 42 Port Boston.....................Friday: September 9, October 7 Duluth .....................Wednesday: September 14, October 12 Guam ......................Thursday: September 22, October 20 Honolulu .................Friday: September 16, October 14 Houston ..................Monday: September 12, October 10 Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 8, October 6 Joliet .......................Thursday: September 15, October 13 Mobile ....................Wednesday: September 14, October 12 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 13, October 11 New York................Tuesday: September 6, October 4 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 7, October 5 Port Everglades.......Thursday: September 15, October 13 San Francisco .........Thursday: September 15, October 13 San Juan..................Thursday: September 8, October 6 St. Louis..................Friday: September 16, October 14 Tacoma ...................Friday: September 23, October 21 Wilmington ...............Monday: September 19, October 17 ................................. Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Correction In the June issue of the Seafarers LOG, Unlicensed Apprentice Abebe Reda’s name was misspelled. The LOG regrets the error. Personals ARMANDO PERRY Please contact Armando Perry Bryant Jr. He is currently stationed in Germany and can be reached by calling 011 49 966 2702 209. Remembering Paul Hall August 20, 1914 - June 22, 1980 ENTRY 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 0 1 4 3 2 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 7 3 2 0 2 2 9 13 10 0 5 4 20 10 2 17 0 5 0 14 5 0 3 1 0 5 13 14 0 0 4 16 14 0 17 1 4 3 20 7 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 16 8 0 2 4 13 9 0 2 1 4 0 9 5 0 2 1 0 2 9 6 0 0 4 6 10 0 13 1 5 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 11 7 4 0 1 4 7 0 0 0 1 6 0 12 2 2 1 2 3 19 30 27 0 14 11 61 13 2 23 3 17 0 32 13 3 12 3 4 10 34 49 1 2 15 61 22 1 18 1 10 4 35 20 31 120 122 15 81 65 0 57 273 305 444 460 259 331 391 167 191 944 973 636 Totals Totals All Departments Baltimore ................Thursday: September 8, October 6 STEWARD 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 Totals Algonac ..................Friday: September 9, October 7 Norfolk ...................Thursday: September 8, October 6 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port Piney Point .............Tuesday: September 6* ................................Monday: October 3 .................................(*change created by Labor Day holiday) *“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. August 2005 Seafarers LOG 9 �28818_p1,9,10,11,13.qxd 7/18/2005 9:10 PM Page 10 The MSC oiler USNS Tippecanoe co a replenishment at sea with the n powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz The Seafarers-crewed Cape Trinity recently returned to the U.S. after a deployment to the Middle East that lasted nearly five months. The Cpl. Louis Hague Jr. is part of MSC’s prepositioning fleet. The American flag flies from the hospital ship USNS Mercy, crewed by members of the union’s Government Services Division. The USNS Red Cloud offloads combat equipment. SIU-crewed ships including the USNS Seay have supported U.S. troops throughout Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. 10 Seafarers LOG August 2005 �28818_p1,9,10,11,13.qxd 7/14/2005 8:23 PM Page 11 The USNS Supply conducts a refueling and vertical replenishment at sea with the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf in the Atlantic Ocean. noe conducts the nuclearNimitz. SIU Still Delivers for U.S. Troops U.S.-Flag Sealift Boosts National, Economic Security SIU members continue supporting U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, transporting key materiel aboard U.S.-flag vessels. As this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press in mid-July, SIU members were sailing aboard approximately 20 ships mobilized for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. While that number is far smaller than the 100-plus vessels activated during OIF’s peak in 2003, it still signifies America’s ongoing reliance on U.S. crews and U.S. ships to help carry out our nation’s missions around the world. Those missions often include providing humanitarian aid following natural disasters, recently exemplified by members of the union’s Government Services Division aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy. The Mercy spent five months assisting victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Other SIU-crewed ships earlier in the year completed shorter operations in the relief effort. It is perhaps a never-ending mystery within the industry that the U.S. Merchant Marine, while a vital part of America’s national and economic security since the country’s very beginnings, generally is lightly publicized beyond traditional maritime circles. Nevertheless, prominent American leaders past and present strongly have recognized the value of the U.S.-crewed, U.S.-flag fleet. In his National Maritime Day proclamation this year, President Bush noted, “America’s merchant mariners make our Nation more secure and our economy stronger. Throughout our history, they have promoted commerce and protected our freedom…. Merchant mariners have also served in every conflict in our Nation’s history. The U.S. Merchant Marine helps provide our Nation’s Armed Forces with crucial supplies and equipment. These brave men and women demonstrate courage, love of country, and devotion to duty….” Other officials including U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow; Gen. Richard Myers, U.S. Air Force, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. John Handy, U.S. Air Force, commander of the United States Transportation Command; and Vice Adm. David Brewer, U.S. Navy, commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), have been equally vigorous in describing the U.S. Merchant Marine’s importance and reliability. SIU members today continue earning such trust and accolades by answering the call to duty any time, anywhere. For instance, during the all-out combat phase of OIF, more than 2,000 Seafarers sailed in support of our troops. Some came under enemy fire while in port in Kuwait. Together, they executed what has been described by top government and military leaders as the most efficient sealift operation in history. And they did so after willingly taking inoculations for anthrax and smallpox, as required by the Department of Defense. The efficiency of the sealift operation is notable in part because 95 percent of the war fighter’s gear moves by sea, and U.S.-flag ships are at the core of the effort. COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FROM IMMEDIATE LEFT: SIU members serving aboard the USNS Yano last month include AB Gerry Costello, QMED Taylor Clear, Bosun Michael Proveaux, Recertified Steward Florencia Farquhar, Chief Cook John Cater and Storekeeper Joe Tegiacchi. August 2005 Seafarers LOG 11 �28818_p2,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/19/2005 2:46 PM Seafarers International Union Directory Page 12 NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report JUNE 16 — JULY 11, 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 12 Seafarers LOG Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 6 8 2 5 9 1 1 3 35 1 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 37 0 0 5 0 2 2 2 2 13 REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III 2 10 5 4 12 0 1 3 37 1 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 7 0 1 5 0 1 2 2 3 14 3 3 1 1 4 0 1 2 15 9 38 9 14 29 4 1 11 115 3 3 7 7 12 1 0 7 40 0 9 4 19 2 0 5 0 39 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 4 12 13 5 8 15 2 2 3 60 0 4 9 1 8 1 0 1 24 0 5 5 9 0 1 1 0 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 10 10 9 12 1 1 5 55 1 9 3 0 15 0 0 2 30 0 59 0 11 0 1 2 1 20 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 8 2 0 0 6 1 0 3 20 0 1 3 0 3 1 0 0 8 0 0 4 1 4 0 0 1 10 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 2 3 1 1 2 0 0 2 11 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 5 1 4 0 0 1 11 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 3 3 3 4 1 0 0 3 17 4 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 11 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Port 2 2 2 0 3 2 0 1 12 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 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 72 26 25 60 18 28 20 230 94 80 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by former SIU member Harold Reinstein, 78, of Dingmans Ferry, Penn. It was taken in Port Elizabeth, South Africa circa 1953. Harold “the Duke” Reinstein is on the far left. “The other three are Lenny, Dudley and Harry,” he wrote in a note accompanying the picture. “We were aboard one of the Robin ships, probably the Lockley. I’ve been on about four Robin ships and enjoyed sailing to South Africa.” Reinstein, who joined the SIU in New York in 1951 and worked in the engine department, had previously sailed with the U.S. Navy and then aboard the SS Oliver Wolcott with the Armed Guard during World War II. He came ashore in 1955. 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. August 2005 �28818_p1,9,10,13.qxd 7/14/2005 7:56 PM Page 13 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 MELVIN HITE, 78, joined the Seafarers in 1990 in New York. Brother Hite first worked on the USNS Chauvenet. The steward department member attended classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. in 1996 and 1998. Brother Hite most recently shipped aboard U.S. Ship Management’s Quality. Born in Blackstone, Va., he now resides in Orange, N.J. ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ, 65, hails from Honduras. Brother Martinez became an SIU member in 1976. His first ship was a Hudson Waterways vessel, where he worked in the engine department. Brother Martinez was a frequent upgrader at the Piney Point school. His last trip to sea was aboard the Overseas Harriette. Brother Martinez makes his home in Houston. ALBERT MOORE, 64, began his seafaring career in 1960 in New York, initially shipping on the Arizpa. Brother Moore, who was born in Hazleton, Pa., was a member of the deck department. He upgraded his skills in 2000 and 2004 at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Before retiring, Brother Moore sailed aboard the Explorer. He calls Arizona home. W. D. RANDLE, 69, initially donned the SIU colors in 1965 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Randle is a native of Louisiana and sailed as a member of the steward department. His first ship was the Santa Maria; his last was the Horizon Spirit. Brother Randle is a resident of Hercules, Calif. JOHN SAUFFERER, 64, embarked on his seafaring career in 1961 in New Orleans after serving in the U.S. Navy. Brother Saufferer was born in Michigan. A member of the deck department, he first sailed on Waterman Steamship’s Madaket. Brother Saufferer’s most recent voyage was aboard the Horizon Kodiak. He resides in Crystal Springs, Miss. EFRAIN SCOTT, 71, was born in Texas. Brother Scott joined the union in 1996 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. In 2000, he attended classes at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Scott’s first ship was Dyn Marine’s Little Hales. The Texas-born mariner shipped in the steward department. Brother Scott’s last voyage August 2005 was aboard the USNS Altair. He makes his home in Virginia Beach, Va. WILLIAM STONE, 58, joined the SIU in 1969 in Piney Point, Md. Brother Stone attended the Paul Hall Center numerous times throughout his seafaring career to upgrade his skills. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, his first ship was the Andrew Jackson. Brother Stone, who was born in Quincy, Mass., now lives in Grants Pass, Ore. He last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Patriot. JAMES WILLEY, 65, became a Seafarer in 1969, joining in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Willey was first employed with Virginia Pilot Corporation. He shipped as a member of the steward department in both the inland and deep sea divisions. Brother Willey completed his steward recertification in 2002 at the Piney Point training center. His most recent voyage was on the Overseas Joyce. Brother Willey calls Pendleton, Ore. home. VASCO WORRELL, 66, is a native of Barbados. Brother Worrell started his career with the SIU in 1968 in New York. The engine department member initially sailed aboard the Arizpa. Prior to retiring, Brother Worrell went to sea on the SeaLand Atlantic. He is a resident of Houston, Texas. INLAND RICHARD CONNOR, 57, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1996 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Connor shipped in the deck department, primarily aboard vessels operated by Crowley Liner Services. He was born in Pennsylvania, which also is where he continues to live. JOSEPH NELSON, 62, first donned the SIU colors in 1978 in Puerto Rico. Boatman Nelson was born in Wisconsin and worked as a member of the engine department. During his seafaring career, he was employed with Crowley Towing and Transportation. Boatman Nelson resides in San Juan, P.R. JOSEPH RAPPOLD, 66, joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of Norfolk, Va., which also is where he was born. Boatman Rappold initially sailed with McAllister Towing of Virginia, working in the deck department. Boatman Rappold’s last trip to sea was aboard a Northeast Towing vessel. He settled in his native state. ROBERT SINCLAIR, 63, began his seafaring career in 1994 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in South Carolina, Boatman Sinclair shipped in the engine department. He sailed primarily aboard McAllister Towing of Virginia vessels. Boatman Sinclair calls Hampton, Va. home. Throughout his seafaring career, Brother Roussin worked aboard vessels operated by American Steamship Company, including the Ben Calvin and the Buffalo. He upgraded his skills in 2000 at the Paul Hall Center. Born in Detroit, Mich., Brother Roussin now resides in Lorain, Ohio. MOHAMED YAHYA, 66, became a Seafarer in 1989 in the port of Algonac, Mich. Brother Yahya was born in Yemen and worked in the deck department. His first vessel was the Nicolet; his last was the Sam Laud, both operated by American Steamship Company. Brother Yahya makes his home in Dearborn, Mich. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN SALVATORE RANDAZZA JR., 63, joined the union in 1980. Boatman Randazza first sailed with the Gloucester Fishermen. He last shipped on the Debbie Rose. Boatman Randazza makes his home in Gloucester, Mass. GREAT LAKES JOHN ATKINSON, 65, joined the SIU ranks in 1984 in Algonac, Mich. Brother Atkinson first shipped with Great Lakes Associates as a member of the deck department. A native of Canada, Brother Atkinson most recently sailed aboard the John Boland. He is a Port Huron, Mich. resident. RICHARD ROUSSIN, 51, began shipping with the union in 1972 in Alpena, Mich. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1940 The constitution adopted in 1939 provided for the establishment of two separate districts: the Atlantic District and the Gulf District, with two separate headquarters, one in New York and one in New Orleans, and two separate bookkeeping and financial systems. The membership of the two districts, in a 30-day referendum vote, voted overwhelmingly to amalgamate the two districts. The amalgamation resolution which was adopted in August 1940 provides that the headquarters of the Atlantic and Gulf District will be in Washington, D.C. until the next election, and that all of the financial and bookkeeping work shall be done in that office. Melanie Fair after one day of picketing August 3, when the tug’s captain-owner signed an agreement with the union. The tug entered the capes at Norfolk Aug. 2 to tow the hulk of the tanker African Queen across the Atlantic to a shipyard in Antwerp, Belgium. However, while the tug was in Quebec, the captain fired its SIU Canadian District crew, hired a non-union crew in Toronto and flew it to Quebec to man the oceangoing tug. The SIU Canadian District notified the Norfolk SIU hall of the situation. When the Melanie Fair limped into Norfolk—she had engine room woes on the way—she was met with a picket launch. Round-theclock picketing of the tug in stream prevented Norfolk harbor tugs from towing the African Queen to the Canadian tug. As a result, the tug owner signed an agreement shortly after noon August 3 and sailed with the African Queen in tow before dark. This Month In SIU History 1950 The modern, 18,000-ton SS Olympic Games, first tanker to be switched to American registry since the outbreak of the Korean War, sailed out of Baltimore last week manned by a SIU crew. Prior to the switch the Olympic Games had been flying the Honduran flag under charter to the SoconyVacuum Oil Company of New York and was handled by a Greek crew. Built at the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Baltimore in 1948 for the Olympic Oil Lines of Panama, the streamlined tanker is now being operated by the US Petroleum Carriers, an SIU-contracted company. 1960 SIU pickets were lifted from the Canadian tug 1970 The Overseas Alaska, a 62,000 deadweight-ton tanker, launched at Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Sparrows Point shipyard, is another of the SIU’s contracted vessels. Providing more jobs for the union’s members, the ship will carry oil from Alaska to ports on both coasts of the continental U.S. It is one of the largest vessels capable of navigating the Panama Canal while fully loaded…. Of interest to SIU members will be the single, fully airconditioned rooms. Seafarers LOG 13 �28818_p2,3,5,6,7,12,14.qxd 7/15/2005 4:57 AM Page 14 Final Departures DEEP SEA FLORENTINO ARUCAN Pensioner Florentino Arucan, 94, passed away Oct. 20. Brother Arucan was born in the Philippines. He joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in the port of San Francisco. Brother Arucan worked the steward department and retired in 1973. He made his home in West Sacramento, Calif. was a native of Louisiana. Brother Edwards’ last ship was the Overseas Marilyn. He lived in New Orleans and began collecting stipends for his retirement in 2003. FREDERICK HARRIS Brother Francis Carruthers, 60, died Oct. 10. He began his seafaring career in 1968, initially sailing aboard the Dagama. Born in Oregon, Brother Carruthers was a member of the engine department. His last voyage was on a vessel operated by CSX Lines. Brother Carruthers lived in his native state. Pensioner Frederick Harris, 70, died Oct. 9. Brother Harris first donned the SIU colors in 1952 in the port of Baltimore, Md. He originally worked on the Bethore as a member of the engine department. Brother Harris, who was born in Maryland, last went to sea aboard the Gulf Trader. He resided in Houston and began receiving his pension in 1999. DONNA CLEMONS THOMAS HILBURN Pensioner Donna Clemons, 66, passed away Dec. 18. Sister Clemons began sailing with the Seafarers in 1988 from the port of Honolulu. The steward department member first worked on the USNS Kane. Sister Clemons was born in California but called Las Vegas, Nev. home. Her last ship was the Horizon Challenger. Sister Clemons started receiving her pension in 2003. Pensioner Thomas Hilburn, 77, passed away Aug. 27, 2004. Born in Alabama, Brother Hilburn began shipping with the Seafarers in 1945 in the port of Mobile. He worked mainly aboard vessels operated by Waterman Steamship Corp., including the Morning Light and the Robert E. Lee. A U.S. Army veteran, Brother Hilburn worked in the deck department. He started receiving his retirement income in 1986 and called Silverhill, Ala. home. FRANCIS CARRUTHERS WILLIAM DEAN Pensioner William Dean, 46, died Oct. 6. Brother Dean became an SIU member in 1978 in Piney Point, Md. He first shipped aboard the Portland. Brother Dean, who was born in Missouri, sailed in the deck department. He most recently worked aboard a U.S. Ship Management vessel. Brother Dean began collecting his retirement pay in 2004. He resided in Foresthill, Calif. TED DENSMORE Pensioner Ted Densmore, 73, passed away Aug. 18, 2004. Born in Alabama, Brother Densmore joined the SIU in 1957 in New York. His first voyage was on an Alcoa Steamship vessel. Brother Densmore shipped as a member of the deck department. Before retiring in 1996, he worked on the Westward Venture. He was a resident of Shalimar, Fla. LEON DZIESINSKI Pensioner Leon Dziesinski, 65, died Sept. 25. Brother Dziesinski joined the union in 1960 after serving in the U.S. Navy. His first trip was on the Mt. Whitney, where he sailed in the engine department. Brother Dziesinski was born in Detroit and made his home in Alpena, Mich. He finished his seafaring career aboard the OMI Charger. Brother Dziesinski went on pension in 2004. HENRY EDWARDS Pensioner Henry Edwards, 55, passed away Nov. 5. He started sailing with the SIU in 1973 in New York. Brother Edwards first sailed aboard Hudson Waterways’ Pecos. The steward department member 14 Seafarers LOG During his seafaring career, Brother Riley worked in both the steward and deck departments. Prior to retiring in 1989, he shipped on the Overseas Vivian. Brother Riley was born in Virginia and settled in San Francisco. MICHAEL SCARDINA Brother Michael Scardina, 57, passed away Nov. 20. Born in Louisiana, he became a Seafarer in 1988 in New Orleans. Brother Scardina first worked with Bay Tankers, sailing as a member of the engine department. Brother Scardina last shipped aboard the Maersk Texas. He lived in Tickfaw, La. JOSEPH SLATER Brother Joseph Slater, 45, died Sept. 20. He joined the SIU in 2003 in Piney Point, Md. For the duration of his career, Brother Slater sailed on the USNS Heezen in the deck department. The New York-born mariner resided in Kenosha, Wis. JOSE TOBIO Pensioner Francis Kalai, 78, died Dec. 27. He became a member of the MC&S in the port of San Francisco. Brother Kalai was born in Hawaii and worked in the steward department. He retired in 1969 and lived in California. Pensioner Jose Tobio, 71, passed away Sept. 25. Brother Tobio started his career with the Seafarers in 1976 in New York. He shipped in the deck department of both the inland and deep sea divisions. Brother Tobio’s first ship was a Crowley Towing and Transportation vessel. His last voyage was aboard the Motivator. Brother Tobio started receiving compensation for his retirement in 2002. He called Bayamon, P.R. home. MANUEL MILLAN JOSEPH TOUART Pensioner Manuel Millan, 68, passed away Feb. 16. Brother Millan started sailing with the SIU in 1995. He shipped primarily aboard the Florida. Brother Millan was born in New York and continued to reside there. Pensioner Joseph Touart, 89, died Oct. 12. He joined the ranks of the SIU in San Francisco. Brother Touart was a member of the deck department. His first voyage was on the Santa Mercedes. Before retiring in 1991, Brother Touart shipped aboard the Horizon Pacific. Brother Touart was born in Louisiana and worked in the deck department. He made his home in San Francisco. FRANCIS KALAI JOSEPH MISPAGEL Brother Joseph Mispagel, 48, died Aug. 19, 2004. He joined the SIU ranks in 1977 in Piney Point, Md. Born in Missouri, Brother Mispagel first sailed aboard an Alpine Steamship vessel. The U.S. Navy veteran was a member of the engine department. Brother Mispagel last sailed on the USNS Regulus. He made his home in Waukesha, Wis. PETER MURTAGH Brother Peter Murtagh, 38, passed away Aug. 9, 2004. He began his employment with the SIU in 1991 in Piney Point, Md. Brother Murtagh’s earliest trip to sea was aboard American Overseas Marine’s Lake. He sailed as a member of the engine department. Brother Murtagh most recently shipped on the Sea-Land Pride. Born in New York, he made his home in Port Richey, Fla. HUGH RILEY Pensioner Hugh Riley, 83, died Dec. 21. Brother Riley became an SIU member in 1957, joining in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He initially sailed aboard the Louis Emery Jr. ROBERT WILES Brother Robert Wiles, 59, passed away Nov. 30. He launched his seafaring career in 1986 in the port of Houston. Brother Wiles initially sailed in the inland division aboard a Red Circle Transport vessel. Born in Kansas, he was a member of the deck department. Brother Wiles worked primarily in the deep sea division, his last vessel being the Cape Flattery. He lived in Fairhope, Ala. INLAND DAVID CHELBERG Boatman David Chelberg, 59, died Sept. 6. He joined the union in 1998. Boatman Chelberg sailed with Crowley Towing and Transportation throughout his seafaring career. He was a resident of Hamilton, Mont. GERALD CRAIG Boatman Gerald Craig, 75, passed away Nov. 20. He commenced his SIU career in 1977 in the port of Norfolk, Va. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Boatman Craig shipped in the deck department, sailing in both the deep sea and inland divisions. He was born in Massachusetts and retired from his seafaring career in 1985, last sailing aboard the Keystone State. Boatman Craig resided in Portsmouth, Va. DONALD EPP Pensioner Donald Epp, 69, died Aug. 19, 2004. After serving in the U.S. Army, Boatman Epp began sailing with the SIU in 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. The steward department member was born in Pennsylvania. He last sailed aboard a Taylor Marine Towing vessel. Boatman Epp made his home in Largo, Fla. MANNING MOORE Pensioner Manning Moore, 89, passed away Oct. 18. Boatman Moore began working as a Seafarer in 1957 in the port of Baltimore. He was born in South Carolina. Throughout his SIU career, Boatman Moore sailed aboard Maritrans Operating Company vessels. He lived in Charleston, S.C. and went on pension in 1977. RICHARD WHITE Boatman Richard White, 57, died Sept. 13. He embarked on his career with the SIU in 1969, first shipping on a vessel operated by Southern Carriers Corporation. Boatman White was a member of the steward department and lived in Moon, Va. CARL WRIGHT Pensioner Carl Wright, 77, passed away Sept. 10. Boatman Wright became a Seafarer in 1944 in New York. He sailed in the engine department of both the inland and deep sea divisions. Born in Texas, Boatman Wright initially went to sea aboard the Trojan Seaman. He was last employed by G&H Towing. Boatman Wright retired in 1989 and called Santa Fe, Texas home. GREAT LAKES RICHARD DEWITTE Brother Richard Dewitte, 53, died July 13, 2004. He began his career with the union in 1995 in Detroit, Mich. Brother Dewitte worked in the deck department. The Michiganborn mariner’s first trip to sea was on the J.A.W. Iglehart. Brother Dewitte’s last ship was an OLS Transport vessel. He was a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico. HENRY HOWARD Pensioner Henry Howard, 86, passed away Feb. 25. Brother Howard joined the SIU in 1961 in Detroit, Mich. He first sailed aboard the Mt. Evans in the steward department. Born in Virginia, Brother Howard was a U.S. Army veteran. His final ship was Erie Sand Steamship’s Consumers Power. Brother Howard began receiving his retirement compensation in 1984. He made Odessa, Fla. his home. JIMMY LERZO Pensioner Jimmy Lerzo, 78, died Dec. 16. Brother Lerzo started work- ing with the Seafarers in 1961 in Dania, Fla. He shipped mainly on vessels operated by Great Lakes Associates. A member of the engine department, Brother Lerzo was born in Kentucky and resided in Madison, W.Va. He started collecting his pension in 1991. 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. HIRAM CONNOLLY Pensioner Hiram Connolly, 79, passed away April 14. Brother Connolly joined the NMU in 1947, initially sailing from the port of Mobile, Ala. The engine department member was born in Alabama. Prior to retiring in 1967, Brother Connolly shipped with Grace Line Company. LEO CZERNY Pensioner Leo Czerny, 83, died April 29. Brother Czerny became an NMU member in 1947, first sailing from Charleston, S.C. He was born in Poland and began receiving his retirement pay in 1967. DENNIS DOLAN Pensioner Dennis Dolan, 90, passed away May 8. Born in England, Brother Dolan started his seafaring career in 1954 in New York. He first shipped aboard the America as a member of the steward department. Brother Dolan’s last voyage was on the American Lancer. He retired in 1983. JOSEPH MANSUETO Pensioner Joseph Mansueto, 87, died April 2. Brother Mansueto first donned the NMU colors in 1946. He initially sailed from the port of Baltimore aboard the Antelope Hills. Brother Mansueto was born in Greenwich, Conn. and worked in the engine department. He went on pension in 1982. FERNANDO RIVERA Pensioner Fernando Rivera, 91, passed away April 20. He began his employment with the union in 1941, first shipping on the Edmund B. Alexander from the port of New York. A native of Puerto Rico, Brother Rivera was a member of the engine department. He started collecting his pension in 1966. August 2005 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/18/2005 3:01 PM Page 15 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), May 26—Chairman William L. Bratton, Secretary Gregory N. Williams, Educational Director Juanito Dansalan, Deck Delegate Lorenzo Riddick, Engine Delegate Kenji Hoffman, Steward Delegate Evelyn Tayag. Chairman led discussion on upcoming MPS3 change of command and informed crew about large amount of painting to take place aboard ship. He reminded everyone to separate plastic items from regular trash. Educational director encouraged mariners to take advantage of upgrading courses available at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer stated $491 in ship’s fund. Deck delegate thanked engine and steward departments for help and support during trip. Engine delegate expressed gratitude to steward department for great cookout. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Guam. GLOBAL SENTINEL (Tyco), May 26—Chairman Joseph J. Olson, Secretary Shawn R. Fujiwara, Deck Delegate David L. Parks, Steward Delegate Robert J. Haggerty. Chairman reported ship to depart Portland, Ore. May 31. Treasurer stated $4,000 in ship’s fund. Crew would like to purchase exercise equipment for gym. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members were asked to remove all trash before ship leaves dock. Seafarers requested job description of GVA and possibility of internet access. Clarification requested on ship’s budget. HORIZON CONSUMER (Horizon Lines), May 22— New Mooring Line Aboard the USNS Pomeroy are Bosun Adrian Jones (left) and AB Rosita Livermon. Between them is an example of Livermon’s marlinspike seamanship: chafing gear on one of the vessel’s mooring lines. August 2005 Chairman Gerry A. Gianan, Secretary Terry L. Allen, Educational Director Kevin L. Cooper, Steward Delegate Thomas E. Kleine. Bosun announced payoff May 24 prior to arrival in Oakland, Calif. He informed crew that vessel would be docking a little late and advised them to check sailing board for departure time. He thanked deck department for good job and safe trip. Secretary reminded crew members to take picture IDs with them when leaving vessel in order to return to terminal. Educational director urged all mariners to read Seafarers LOG to stay current on issues that affect maritime industry. He also recommended they enhance their skills at school in Piney Point and keep documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Written clarification requested regarding rest period aboard ship. Next ports: Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif; Honolulu. HORIZON PACIFIC (Horizon Lines), May 27—Chairman Theodore E. Doi, Secretary Robert P. Mosley, Educational Director Keith L. Jordan Sr., Engine Delegate Azeem A. Modak, Steward Delegate Nasser H. Ahmed. Chairman announced Coast Guard drill in Oakland, Calif. He explained benefits of contributing to SPAD. He also asked crew members to check in with customs and immigration while in port. Secretary encouraged mariners to take advantage of courses offered at Piney Point and requested they help keep ship clean. Educational director led discussion on recent health plan changes and reminded crew not to forget to keep documents up to date. Treasurer reported $220 in ship’s fund and $209 in cookout fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read President’s report from May Seafarers LOG; crew gave vote of thanks to President Sacco and his staff for all they do for the union. Everyone thanked unlicensed apprentices Adrian Taylor and David Anderson for great job during this trip and would like them to get more hands-on training. Everyone was asked to keep noise down while watchstander is resting. Requests made for water cooler and filter installed in crew lounge. Captain thanked all departments for good job on sanitary inspection. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland; Hawaii; Guam. HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), May 25—Chairman Ralph W. Gibbs, Secretary Edgardo G. Ombac, Educational Director Roger M. Wasserman, Engine Delegate Thomas V. Hastings. Chairman announced May 28 payoff in Tacoma, Wash. He thanked everyone for following safety procedures and reminded them to be on board one hour before sailing time. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade their skills at the Paul Hall Center which, in turn, could result in a better paying jobs. He also reminded them to check document expiration dates and return movies when finished watching them. Treasurer stated $245 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made regarding medical benefits for mariners living out of country. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), May 8—Chairman Larry E. Watson, Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty, Educational Director Joseph J. Egan, Deck Delegate Robert G. Crooks, Engine Delegate Mohamed M. Abdulla, Steward Delegate Saeed B. Saeed. Bosun thanked crew for fixing up ship after dry dock period and stated emergency shipping rules were still in effect. He informed crew that reliefs might be harder to get and reminded them they need to stay aboard until properly relieved. Educational director advised Seafarers to save pay vouchers to send when applying for vacation checks. He urged crew to use extra caution while working, as time changes can cause fatigue. He also stated zcards and passports take a while to process, so plan ahead. Treasurer stated $230 in crew fund. Beef reported in deck department. No disputed OT reported. Members requested company have technician come aboard to fix TV and radio antennas as well as check wires connecting to cabins. Crew reported TV and radio reception has been poor for more than a year, but since there is not a radio operator aboard, it has not beeen fixed. They also inquired about the possibility of getting satellite TV and radio, since the price has gone down so much. Vote of thanks was given to steward department for great job on barbecue; it was thoroughly enjoyed. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. JEAN ANNE (Interocean Ugland Management), May 15—Chairman Dan Davenport, Secretary Sam Sinclair, Educational Director Tony Steferi, Deck Delegate Bill Cooley, Engine Delegate Joseph W. Thomas, Steward Delegate Ingra L. Maddox. Chairman reminded crew members of need to report to the union hall to register. He expressed gratitude to crew for job well done in shipyard and for smooth maiden voyage to Hawaii. Steward delegate gave special thanks to Chief Cook Maddox, stating she is a joy to work with. Next port: San Diego, Calif. USNS RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN (Ocean Ships), May 10—Chairman Dana Naze, Secretary Gerald Watkins, Educational Director Kelly L. Mayo, Deck Delegate Kyle W. Bailey, Engine Delegate Jose J. Irigoyen, Steward Delegate Thomas K. Gingerich. Chairman announced payoff May 20 upon arrival in San Francisco and stated there would be room sanitary inspections before docking. Bosun thanked crew for all the work done during the fifty-day trip. Educational director advised mariners to enhance seafaring abilities at Paul Hall Center and make sure all documents are up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendations made regarding improving vacation and medical benefits. Bosun asked everyone to keep noise to a minimum in passageways due to dif- ferent sleeping hours for watchstanders and day workers. No sleeveless shirts or open-toed shoes allowed in mess hall during meal hours. Thanks given to steward department for excellent meals. Next ports: San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego, Calif. BLUE RIDGE (Intrepid), June 1—Chairman Eugene Kyzar, Secretary Eugene W. Von Flotow, Educational Director Kenneth Baker, Deck Delegate Ronel D. Guerzon, Engine Delegate Romel Reyes, Steward Delegate Ambrose Gabriel Jr. Chairman reported medical benefit changes go into effect July 1. Educational director advised members to continue their education at the Seafarers-affiliated school and never stop learning. Captain to and stated steward department was doing a great job with meal preparation. He requested clarification on number of days needed for time off. Educational director reminded crew to be careful during cargo operations. “Be informed, be safe.” Treasurer reported $500 in ship’s fund, which will be used to purchase new DVD player for crew lounge. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Seafarers discussed pension plan and possible improvements in future agreements. Next ports: Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif.; Yokohama and Kobe, Japan. HORIZON ENTERPRISE (Horizon Lines), June 5—Chairman Roger J. Reinke, Secretary Franchesca D. Rose, Educational Director Dencio A. Cayan, Deck Delegate Ben A. Octavano, Burns Harbor Is Reading for Boarding Second Cook Jeff VanSlambrouck is ready to board the Burns Harbor for the first time. The SIU welcomed new shipboard jobs in June when SIUcontracted American Steamship Company added the Burns Harbor, a 1,000-foot selfunloading vessel, to its fleet. purchase laptop computer and wireless connection so crew can have access to e-mail. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members requested copies of new contract. CAPE JACOB (American Overseas Marine), June 7— Chairman Robert W. Johnson, Secretary Jane Altieri, Educational Director Richard A. Sargent, Deck Delegate Terrence X. Carmody, Engine Delegate Jesse H. Dunning, Steward Delegate Mohammed Munassar. Chairman led discussion regarding future cargo operations and safety standards. Day gangway watch to wash down one house deck per watch to remove stack soot and maintain safety and cleanliness. Secretary stated slop chest policy has changed; purchases now on charge basis. Educational director advised crew to take full advantage of upgrading and vacation opportunities at Piney Point facility. Treasurer stated $373 in ship’s fund. He reminded members they can purchase books and/or movies for ship and get reimbursed. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Due to use of word “vacation” in applications for unemployment benefits, some difficulties have arisen. For this reason, crew members would like letter sent out explaining background of vacation pay for use when applying for aforementioned benefits. Vote of thanks to steward department and Chief Steward Altieri for good food variety and fresh produce. Next port: Sasebo, Japan. CHARGER (Maersk Line Limited), June 5—Chairman Joel G. Miller, Secretary Raymond S. Garcia, Educational Director Howard H. Hendra. Chairman reported an all-around smooth trip Engine Delegate Cecilio A. Banga, Steward Delegate Alejo A. Fabia. Chairman announced arrival at Tacoma dock and suggested that crew members check expiration dates of seafaring documents. He noted that some renewals take at least several weeks to process, so allow plenty of time. Secretary informed crew of sanitary room inspection June 8 and discussed medical benefit information received from Tacoma hall. Educational director urged Seafarers to upgrade skills at union-affiliated school in Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Repairs needed for galley drain either by deck or engine department. Thanks given to all departments for working efficiently during trip. OVERSEAS WASHINGTON (Alaska Tanker), June 9—Chairman Timothy D. Koebel, Secretary Sean O’Malley, Educational Director Clyde Smith, Deck Delegate Jamie D. Callejas, Engine Delegate Romeo B. Ferrer, Steward Delegate Randy Proctor. Chairman discussed shipboard smoking policy and SIU dress code guidelines that need to be followed in mess hall and on deck. He spoke of room cleanliness certification sheets that are required at sign off. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members expressed concerns over recent health benefit changes. They hope next contract negotiations provide strong wage increase to offset some of the added medical expenses. Suggestion made to reinstitute penalty meal hours in next agreement. Crew recognized steward department for excellent cuisine. Next ports: Valdez, Alaska; Cherry Point, Wash.; Martinez, Calif. Seafarers LOG 15 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 9:24 AM Page 16 Honoring WWII Mariners A memorial on the banks of the Delaware River for the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans and U.S. Navy Armed Guard Veterans who served on the merchant ships and manned the guns during World War II was dedicated on June 11 near the battleship New Jersey, in the historic area of the Camden, N.J. waterfront. The memorial is pictured at left, courtesy of retired mariner Charles Mardigian, who spearheaded the three-year project. The large bronze propeller (from an old U.S. Navy ship) weighs about 11 tons and serves as the focal point. Landscaping, six flag poles, eight benches for seating and a brick promenade also are in place. An anchor chain is expected to be installed along the flag poles. ✔ DO BUY Dress Well - Dress Union HERE ARE SOME HOT SOURCES FOR STYLISH UNION MADE FASHIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. SEVERAL OF THESE SUPPLIERS MAY ALSO STOCK AND SELL NON-UNION PRODUCTS. MAKE SURE YOU SPECIFY UNION-MADE. Union Jean & Apparel—featuring Unionline casual wear, men’s and ladies denims, fleece, Henley t-shirts and jerseys, polo and golf shirts, and Oxford style dress shirts. Buy online: www.unionjeancompany.com, or call: 877-692-8009. Justice Clothing—Featuring B&C Fashions, Forsyth, Snap ‘N’ Wear and King Louie. Online: www.justiceclothing.com, or call 888-661-0620. No Sweat—Men’s and women’s fashion and casual wear, hats and socks and everything in between. Outerwear, tees, kids and petite sizes. Online: www.nosweatapparel.com, (includes a list of retailers in 19 states). Union House—Sells only made-in-USA and union-made products. 100% union shop specializing in customers seeking union products. Features King Louie and Unionline products. Phone 877-4627710. Street Address: 26796 Felton Ave, Wyoming, MI 55092. Cape Shoe Co.—Oxfords, 6” and 8” boots, Wellington’s and Women’s boots. Online: www.capeshoe.com. Phone: 800242-8335. Street Address: PO Box 99, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702. New Era Cap Co.—Sports caps. Online: neweracap.com. Phone: 716-685-5015. Platinum Sportswear—T-shirts, sweats, golf shirts, night shirts, tank tops and gym shorts. Online: www.Platinumsportswear.net. Phone: 800-241-9483/ 770263-9526/ Fax: 770-263-9598. e-mail: info@platinumsportswear. net. Alden of New England—Shoes. Online: www.aldenshoe.com. Phone 508-9473926. E-mail: general@aldenshoe.com. Street Address: 1 Taunton St., Middleborough, MA 02346. Weinbrenner USA—Work and uniform shoes and boots. Online: www.weinbrennerusa. com. Phone: 800-826-0002. Carhartt—Heavy duty work wear, casual and sports wear, shoes and boots for work or sport. Available at most retail stores. Online: www.carhartt.com. Phone: 800-833-3118. B&C Fashions—Men’s and women’s clothing. Online: www.bcfashions.com. Phone: 718-539-3805. Brooks Brothers—Men’s, women’s and boys’ fashions. Online: www.brooksbrothers. com. 100 Phoenix Ave, Enfield, CT. Hartmarx—Men’s and women’s fashions—formal, business and casual. Online: www.hartmarx.com. Street Address: 101 No. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Alperin Inc.—Fine trousers for men and boys, casual and uniforms for girls and boys. Phone: 570-457-0500. Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.—Men’s and women’s fashions. Online: www.pvh.com. Phone: 800-524-4458. Street Address: 605 W. Roy Parker Rd, Ozark, AL 36369. Protexall—Uniforms, work and casual clothing. Online: protexallinc.com. Phone: 800-334-8939. Street Address: 77 So. Henderson, Galesburg, IL 61401. X-treme Design USA—Hi visibility vests, contract producer of uniforms and outdoor gear. Online: www.xtremedesignusa.com. Phone: 218-254-5721. Street Address: 316 W. Lake St., Chisolm, MN 55719. William Fioravanti Inc.—Custom tailored men’s suits by UNITE HERE tailors. Online: www.williamfioravanti.com. Phone: 212-355-1540. e-mail: raqfior@aol.com. Street Address: 45 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019. Reed Sportswear Manufacturing— Manufactures and wholesales top quality leather coats, jackets and pants for men and women. Online: www.reedsportswear.com. Phone: 313-963-7980. Street Address: 1652 W. Fort St., Detroit, MI 48216. Gilberto Designs—Custom-made men’s suits, sport coats, trousers, formal wear and coats. Online: www.gilbertodesigns.com. Phone: 212-695-4925. Email:gilfam@gilbertodesigns.com. Street Address: 142 West 36th St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Nord-Ray Belt Manufacturing Inc.— Manufacturer and wholesaler of leather and fabric belts for uniforms. Online: www.nordraybelt.com. Phone: 201-6460700. Kings Choice Neckwear Co.—Ties, cummerbunds, ascots and suspenders. Online: www.boey.com/kc/. Phone: 212279-2170. Street Address: 460 West 34th St., New York, NY 10001. 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. 16 Seafarers LOG 8/05 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. August 2005 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 4:11 AM Page 17 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. 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. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman August 22 September 16 October 3 October 28 November 14 December 9 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* August 22 August 26 (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) October 24 October 28 August 29 September 9 October 31 November 11 August 8 August 19 September 19 September 30 October 29 November 11 August 8 August 17 October 10 October 19 GMDSS (Simulator) Lifeboatman/Water Survival Radar Radar Renewal (1 day): August 29, October 31 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 _____________________________ Steward Upgrading Courses Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning July 25, 2005. Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion FOWT September 19 November 11 Welding August 22 September 9 October 24 November 11 Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Government Vessels August 8 August 12 August 22 August 26 September 26 September 30 October 31 November 4 November 14 November 18 Medical Care Provider August 1 August 5 Tankerman Familiarization/ August 1 August 11 September 26 October 7 October 17 October 21 Assistant Cargo (DL)* (*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. 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/05 Seafarers LOG 17 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 8:06 AM Page 18 Paul Hall Center Classes AB — Graduating from the AB course May 13 Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 663 — Graduating from the water survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 663 (in no specific order) John Davis, Brad Fester, Horace Robinson IV, Arthur Sanders, Jo-Vanii Sprauve, JoVanio Sprauve, Saleh Mothana, Glenard Chaney Jr., Michael Banks, Gregory Holsey Jr., Franklin Rodgers, Daryl Alvin Jr., Kimberly Kalua, John Burns, George Marshall Jr., Gabe Williamson, James Garvin, De’Aris Henry and Jorge Nuñez. Bridge Resource Management (BRM) — The eight Seafarers completing the BRM course May 13 are (in alphabetical order) Gerald Cassie, Christopher Edyvean, James Enah, Miles Janecka, Cliff Lattish, James O’Meara, Lawrence Richardson Jr. and Ovidio Santos. are (in alphabetical order) Jason Brown, John Crawford, Alfred Drake, Daniel Fields, Tess Flickinger, David Garcia, Lionel Hall, Jor-el Holmberg, Jaime Medina, Jonathan Nielsen, Matthew Nuñez, Armando Olde, Jamar Reed, Coda Russell, Yamil Sanchez, Jorge Soler, Robert Starr, Jerry Stillman, Michael Sykes, Mario Torrey, Russell Wall, Joshua Wilson and Christopher Yohe. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Chief Cook — Working their way up the culinary lad- der are graduates of the chief cooks class (from left) Benjamin Ines, Jaime Austria, Thurman Johnson, Edward Aguigui Jr., John Dobson (instructor), Edvaldo Graver and Rocky Dupraw. Fast Rescue Boat — Graduating from this course May 6 under the instruction of Stan Beck are (in no specific order) Gary Ranne, Joao Cordeiro, Jerome Wong, George Price III, Kevin Gatling, Gerry Davis, Keith Gibney, Lawrence Richardson Jr. and Cliff Lattish. Specially Trained OS — Receiving their STOS certificates of completion May 6 from instructor Stacey Harris (standing center in back row) are (in no specific order) William Sanborn, Tracy Hanson, Stephen Cooper, Christopher Demmert, Robert Mobert, Dennis Parsons, Richard Pelkey, Simon McCamy, Michael Moody, Garry Smock, Nicholas Macaraeg and Oliver Fronteras. GMDSS — Students in the GMDSS course that ended May 6 are (in alphabetical order) Raygene Banks, Christopher Edyvean, Sean Farra, Victor Nuñez, Robert Ott and Steve Randle. Their instructor, Brad Wheeler, stands second from right. Basic Safety Training Classes STCW — Barbers Point: Suzanne Arechavala, Susan McConnell, Sara Woitte, Robert Horn, Rachelle Holmes, Merrideth Edwards, Matt McDowell, Larry Zeno, Larry Jointer, Kjell Wiberg, Karen Winkelmann, Karen Waber, Josephine Simbahan, Jordan Tolley, Joanne Schmeichel, Jermaine Amado, Jason Kehn, Jamie Findlay, Jamal Bomani, Glennda Robinson, Ernesto Gonzaga, Elizabeth Sims, Aubree Bedell, Anthony Andreozzi, Audrey Wolford and Alberto Fredeluces. 18 Seafarers LOG STCW — Barbers Point: Barry du Moulin, Anthony Rodriguez, Renato Mabalot, Carl Ewing, Sharon Nealey, William Malovich, Oscar Felix, Rosita Gajeton, Aron Kane, Jeff Gunther, Jeff Clark, Chasadie Lorenz, Donna Malic, Isabel Quijada, Clinton Jacob, Delloresa Rosario, Cheryl White, Michael Wycoff, Dawn Burgess, Benjamin Scott, Amanda Zamora, Denise Kanyer and Lorena FloresReyes. STCW — NCL, May 6: Jennifer Baker, Beverly Birch, Jason Bresky, Christina Calkins, Jessica Cisneros, Richard Clesen, Katrina Conroe, Tara Corrigan, Miguel Cruz, Emily Cummings, Maary D’Onofrio, Craig Darr, Angela Davis, Nanette Davis, Yolanda Davis, Amanda Delgado, David Dixon, Daphne Domalis, David Dooley, Margaret Estes, Kimberly Fritz and Nathan Fuelling. August 2005 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 8:10 AM Page 19 Paul Hall Center Classes Basic Safety Training Classes STCW — NCL, May 13: Sherry Ferguson, Christopher Clifford, Mary Constantine, Christine Gilbert, Rory Bishop, Larry Boyce, Deirdre Contreras, Andrew Busen, Joel Calderon, Andrea Burnette, Jeremy Banker, Lindsey Crow, Dustin Donovan, Jeannetta Fisher, Alvis Cook, Thomas De la Fuente, Clark Fran, Abraham Fitch, Brian Daggett, Julie Ferguson, Jackie Caldwell and Todd Ashby. STCW — NCL, May 6: David Garello, Agnes-Carolyn Gold, Korey Green, Marc Gustine, Humberto Gutierrez, Christina Hall, Lana Handshoe, Sarah Harnden, Ryan Harris, Vicente Hernandez, Kevin King, Vada King, Michael Landry, Christina Lindeman, Kim Linneman, Ronda Luebs, Eric Luymes, Eric Lydick, David Marks, Sara McFarland, Rachel Gillespie and Roberto Medina. STCW — NCL, May 13: Heather Moore, Casey Nye, Amy Meyers, Vaughn Hayes Jr., Hector Gonzalez, Joe Huggins, John Maddox, William Hurt, Carol Goodwin, Eric Larsen, William Meyers, Samantha Mantz, Alysia Kowalczyk, Daniel Hirsch, DeAnn Herrera, Marcel Hubbard, Taconna Jackson, Luis James, Calvin Howard, Clint Martin, George King and Raul Munoz. STCW — NCL, April 29: Jeffrey Kalm, David Kuchera Jr., Metissa Kuykendall, Justin LeBlanc, Nina Long, Bryan Lopez, Paul Lubash, Joseph Maghe, Abbey Manders, John Martinez, Cherie May, Aaron McBride, Courtney McEachron, William Meng, Charla Miller, Justin Molliconi, Jason Moore, Maria Morales, Steven Newman and Thinh Nguyen. STCW — NCL, April 29: Carmelida Davis, Jarrod Davis, Shellea Davis, Marc Davison, Dustin DeVillers, Susan Dickson, Rolando Dinong, Christopher Doncsecz, Catherine Doucette, Fith Fithian, Natasha Freeman, Jessica Garcia, George Gholston, Robert Gillespie, Martha Gonzales, Ian Gray, Darlene Grootonk, Casey Hines, Kenneth Jackey, Dwayne Johnson, Eric Johnston, Michael Julien, David Graham and Andrea Jordan. STCW — NCL, May 13: STCW — NCL, May 13: Jessica Miller, Angie Sandoval, Richard Nixdorf Jr., Blaze Mustachia, Alejandro Rincon, Frederick Twerdoff, Heidi Maxon, Renee Salas, Melissa Martin, Taylor Scoby, LaSheana McCrary, Britney McCue, Cynthia Simmons, Bret Robinson, Shamus Tripp, Timothy Sneed, Mike Masich, Abelardo Santos Jr., Ray Robinson Jr., Rickey Walker, Acesa Roberts, Joanne Lattenhaver and Janeen Rigattieri. STCW— NCL, April 29: William Sharp, Rusty Shuff, Aimee Smith, Dennis Smith, Roberta Smith, Sara Sobery, Shane Soderlund, Kathleen Soliai, Lauren Steele, Alfonza Swift, Jessica Teahon, Margaret Tell, Vanessa Voigt, Amber Ward, Chad Warmenhoven, Daniel White, Shaundrell Whitehurst, Joshua Whiteneck, Alexander Williams and Shawn Wilson. August 2005 STCW Terrance Lackings, Joy Farley, Donald Daniel, Vincent Kyser, Chani Gabe, Beverly Ellis, Michael Kaaihili, Gael Duckworth, Jeremy Ebbs, Joshua Dawson, Elden Harris, Jennifer Hill, Lindsay Jones, Prisila Cruz, Amy Elliott, Mitchell Freeman, Brandi Freilach, David Garza, Michael Laundry, Ashley Gorham, Cody Keene and Star Dinwiddie. — NCL, May 6: Enrique Navarrete, Jeremy Rush, Michael Ryan, Nikolas Sanchez, Sarah Saunders, Vincent Scarna, Mark Shatrau, Kimberlee Sitton, Eric Smith, Emily Stengel, Ethelene Stubbs, Martin Toledo Jr., Melanie Walker, Rebecca Warren, Christel Watson, Stanley Wiegand, Dawn Wilcox, Shelsea Williams, Cozell Wilson, Sheree Wormley and Fernando Zanetta. STCW — NCL, May 6: Maxwell Miscles, Aron Montross, Noah Murphy, Jeremy O’Keefe, Todd Oberndorfer, Gregory Parker, Max Pattyranie, Robert Paulson, Sumeet Pawar, Michael Perry, Roberto Portacio, Christian Ramirez, Colin Richmond, Christell Robb, Elbert Rows, Debra Roy and Kim Ruffo. Seafarers LOG 19 �28818_p4,8,15_20.qxd 7/15/2005 8:49 AM Page 20 Volume 67, Number 8 August 2005 S S J Training Program at Piney Point Helps Spur Positive Beginning U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, pictured at the June 17 ceremony with SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, served as the ship’s godmother. Recertified Bosun Dan Marcus (left), AB Michael Wiley The SIU-crewed Pride of America signifies new job opportunities for Seafarers. T Catherine Clark helps ready the ship for its departure from New York. S he SIU-crewed cruise ship Pride of America followed its June 17 christening with a smooth, well-received promotional tour that included stops along the U.S. mainland. The vessel this month is scheduled to begin its main itinerary, consisting of sevenday trips among the Hawaiian Islands. Both the ship and crew have received favorable reviews in the press, particularly in publications and web sites devoted to the cruise industry. Many such reviews have noted the readily apparent benefits of the three-week training program completed by students at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. before they reported to the Pride of America. Additionally, the newest vessel in NCL America’s fleet gained widespread publicity when, following the christening, the popular television talk show “Live with Regis and Kelly” aired a week’s worth of programs from the ship. The show reportedly draws about 5 million viewers per day. During the christening, which took place in New York, SIU President Michael Sacco noted, “NCL America is a huge success story. Working in partnership with the shipboard employees and their unions, NCL America has led the rebirth of the deep sea U.S.-flag cruise ship industry…. I’m proud that we are crewing the Pride of America with the best-trained and safest professionals in the world.” AB Michael Wiley said that he and the other mariners welcomed the challenge of crewing up the new vessel and helping ensure its good start. “Everyone really has gotten into the spirit of things,” Wiley observed. “It’s a lot of work, but the attitudes have been great. You can tell everyone wants to see it succeed.” The Pride of America is 921 feet long, with 15 decks and a passenger capacity of more than 2,100. It is the second ship in NCL America’s SIU-contracted fleet. The first, the Pride of Aloha, began sailing a year ago, while the next ship—the Pride of Hawaii—is scheduled for launch in 2006. Right: 1st Mate (and former SIU member) Mingta Yuen Left: The christening ceremony featured U.S.themed entertainment. 1st Cook Daniel Adams Cook Deann Herrera OS Archie Sims Left: Cook Hector Gonzalez Crew members had plenty of assignments in helping prepare the Pride of America for its initial voyages. Cook Eric Smith � 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 August 2005 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES THE MERCHANT MARINE: WAR’S FORGOTTEN HEROES PROGRESS CONTINUES ON NEW MSC SHIPS T-AKE FLEET MEANS JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR CIVMARS SIU-CREWED DETROIT PRINCESS IS CITY’S LATEST ATTRACTION SEAFARERS HONORED FOR SAFE OPERATIONS NCL AMERICA SPOTLIGHTED IN NEW UNION PLUS BENEFIT BILL WOULD RESTORE, PROTECT RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION SENATE BILL INTRODUCED FOR WWII MARINERS CAR CARRIER JEAN ANNE ENJOYS SMOOTH SAILING SIU MEMBERS EXCEL IN ‘SAFEPORT’ SIU STILL DELIVERS FOR U.S. TROOPS U.S.-FLAG SEALIFT BOOSTS NATIONAL, ECONOMIC SECURITY STRONG START FOR PRIDE OF AMERICA 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 08/01/2005 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. 8 2005 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/6faaf36b5df7941cd46d340dfd694bbd.pdf 11580f03113f684b97594852c19a8f08 PDF Text Text 37484_p1_3,9.qxp 7/27/2006 7:42 PM Page 1 Volume 68, Number 8 August 2006 SEAFARERS Approve Standard Contracts New Agreements Increase Wages, Maintain Benefits SIU members overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new standard freightship and tanker agreements last month during shipboard meetings and at the union halls. The five-year pacts boost wages and maintain medical benefits along with other favorably received components. Pictured above (from left) are some of the Seafarers who endorsed the new contracts—at the Baltimore hall, aboard the Cape Wrath and aboard the USNS Altair. Pages 3, 6, 7. USNS Sacagawea Christened Matson Welcomes New Ship The Seafarers-contracted Maunalei (both photos at immediate left), Matson’s newest containership, was christened July 22 at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. SIU President Michael Sacco led an SIU delegation that attended the ceremony. Page 3. The second vessel in the Navy’s new T-AKE class was christened June 24 in San Diego. The USNS Sacagawea (above) will be crewed by members of the SIU’s Government Services Division. Page 4. Rallying for Workers’ Rights SIU Crews Honored For Relief Operations Seafarers from five ships recently were recognized for their relief operations along the Gulf Coast during the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year. Some of those members are pictured above after the June 14 ceremony aboard the USNS Brittin in New Orleans. Page 8. Seafarers participated in a rally July 13 in Washington, D.C. to protect workers’ rights. Above, students from the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education are pictured with AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Richard Trumka (seventh from left) and Maryland-D.C. AFL-CIO President Fred Mason. In photo at left, Seafarers pose with AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson. News on SIU Constitution Pages 11-14 TWIC, MMC Updates Page 2 �37484_P1_3,9.qxp 7/27/2006 5:28 PM Page 2 SIU Weighs in on TWIC, MMC President’s Report Gains and Challenges Even for a union that’s accustomed to having a lot on our plate, this is an extremely busy and important time. I’m especially concerned about the proposed federal rules for implementing new credentials for mariners and other transportation workers in the United States. In this case I’m referring to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the separate Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). The SIU has gone through the proposed reguMichael Sacco lations with a fine-tooth comb. We have submitted our formal comments to the Transportation Department, and along with other maritime unions we also submitted joint testimony to Congress last month. Details are included in a separate article in this issue of the LOG. Let me make perfectly clear that the SIU supports strong, comprehensive security policies for our ships and our ports. We want the same things that any concerned citizen would want—safe, productive operations and security that’s tight enough to protect people while also being fair to all concerned. That means striking a balance between letting commerce flow while keeping our guard up at all times. It also means taking a practical, logical approach to implementing the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which is the law behind these new credentials. On that last point, our union’s position is that the current merchant mariner document (MMD) essentially meets or exceeds the proposed requirements for a TWIC, pending the addition of a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint. As we told Congress and the Transportation Department, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Mariners are already closely regulated and, in the context of a TWIC, we’re ahead of the game. The government should look elsewhere within the transportation industry to begin instituting this new ID. We’re already using a proven one, and we’re already jumping through enough hoops. Similarly, the MMC for individual mariners is largely unnecessary, and the format itself (a paper document) is a step backwards. This is a vital development not only for the SIU but in fact for our entire industry, and we will stay on top of it every step of the way. Speaking of this particular issue, I’ll close with a line from a July 3 editorial in the Houston Chronicle which discussed (among other points) the Jones Act and security policies for U.S. crews, and which, in my opinion, also applies to the TWIC: “U.S. mariners and the owners of their vessels are required to get high-tech ID cards and file reams of documents…. Treating the U.S. Merchant Marine as if it were the prime threat just doesn’t make sense.” New Contracts Congratulations to our negotiators and our rank-and-file membership for the new standard freightship and tanker agreements, which were ratified in July. Even the most skeptical individual would have to agree that it’s quite an accomplishment in this day and age for a union to secure a five-year contract that increases wages while keeping health benefits. Our standard agreements should be a source of pride, and I believe these new contracts live up to that description. On a personal note, I have always felt that our members stay informed on the key issues. They have reinforced that belief once again by understanding that the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Trustees had to make changes in our benefits structure. We all know what’s happening to our fellow workers in other industries when it comes to health coverage. We want to make sure that we can continue to provide for our members—the best mariners in the world. Volume 68, Number 8 Unions Offer Sensible Solution: Modify Current MMD The SIU formally submitted comments early last month concerning federally proposed rules on the implementation of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and (separately) the consolidation of Merchant Mariner Qualification Credentials (MMC). The comments were submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Docket Management Facility, in accordance with guidelines contained in the respective Notices of Proposed Rulemakings. Additionally, the SIU joined with other U.S. maritime unions in crafting related testimony presented July 20 to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. (The subcommittee is part of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.) As previously reported, the new credentials were mandated in the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. Since the government issued Notices of Proposed Rulemakings in late May, various segments of the U.S. maritime industry have analyzed the proposals—and many have warned of unintended consequences that could cripple commerce by throwing port operations into gridlock. Maritime unions including the SIU have emphasized that they fully embrace strong shipboard and port security measures, but that such regulations must not cause undue burden on mariners or other transportation workers, nor should they disrupt commerce. More than 550 organizations or individuals submitted comments on the TWIC and MMC, including four members of the House Committee on Homeland Security (U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson, Loretta Sanchez, Jane Harman and Peter DeFazio). It is believed that the overwhelming majority of those comments—possibly all of them—urged changes to the proposed rules, including an extension of the comment period (which closed in early July and as of press time hadn’t been reopened). During the subcommittee hearing on July 20, Ron Davis, president of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) spoke on behalf of unions including the SIU, MEBA, MM&P and AMO. “In regards to future changes in mariner credentialing and the creation of the Transportation Worker Identity Credential, the Department of Homeland Security should allow the existing U.S. Merchant Mariner Document to serve as both a TWIC and a mariner credential for the purposes of identification and qualifications held by the mariner,” he stated. “Essentially, we propose keeping the MMD ‘as is’ with the exception of adding a biometric identifier as mandated in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and ensuring that it complies with all International Labor Organization conventions.” He added that the proposed revised MMD “should allow mariners access to their vessels docked at any port facility in the United States;” that the Coast Guard “should continue to be the sole agency responsible for vetting and credentialing merchant mariners;” and that licensed deck and engine officers should still receive a license that may be displayed aboard ship for inspection purposes. Seafarers again are reminded that nothing has been finalized with respect to the new regulations, and that the final rules probably won’t be finished for at least a few months. As currently written, the new regulations would require that the TWIC pro- gram is fully in place 18 months after the final rules are published. Following is the bulk of the SIU’s written comments to the Transportation Department: The SIU recognizes and appreciates the breadth, complexity and challenge of protecting our nation and our maritime transportation network from terrorist incursions. We believe that a safe, secure and reliable maritime transportation system is vital to this nation’s economic, defense and national security. To that end, the SIU has implemented a number of educational and training programs responding to the mandates of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code and, further, has offered our assistance and views to the government in its efforts to devise and implement appropriate measures to protect this nation and our transportation sector from terrorism. First and foremost, the SIU requests a 90-day extension of the comment period to allow all concerned mariners the opportunity to review the proposal and comment appropriately. By the nature of their employment, many mariners may, as yet, not have had the opportunity to either review the complex document or contact their representatives with their assessment of the proposal. In fact, the complexity and sheer magnitude of the proposal itself warrants an extended comment period. It is unreasonable to expect such an immediate turnaround on this important proposal especially since the agencies involved have had a number of years to promulgate regulations. The maritime sector should have adequate time to review and assess the proposal and its impact on the industry. The SIU generally endorses the concept contained in the proposed rule for a biometric transportation security card. However, there are select items within this proposal that warrant concern and comment. The SIU will focus its comments on those issues, as follows. Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) As noted, the SIU endorses the precept of a biometric transportation security card as mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The SIU appreciates the efforts and the time expended by the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration in attempting to implement this requirement. However, we believe that the complicated and burdensome process proposed by the agencies is both unnecessary for merchant mariners and may essentially prove disruptive to maritime commerce. As such, the SIU strongly recommends that the current merchant mariner document be altered or modified to include an encoded biometric, to be used as a biometric transportation security card in lieu of the proposed TWIC, especially since the Coast Guard recognizes the MMD as an identity document. The SIU believes that with a security vetting process (threat assessment), preferably initiated by the Coast Guard, the biometric MMD would adequately respond to the mandate of the MTSA for a biometric transportation security card, given the fact that the Coast Guard advises that a security assessment is not required for the mariner population who Continued on page 5 MarAd Conducts Exercise at Piney Point August 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 The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) in late June conducted a readiness exercise at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. Among the participants were Gene Magee, chief, Reserve Fleet (seated foreground, above right photo) and Captain Owen Doherty, USNR (standing in photo at left). Associate Administrator for National Security Jim Caponiti played a key role in organizing the event. August 2006 �37484_p1_3,9x.qxp 7/29/2006 1:16 AM Page 3 Seafarers Approve Standard Contracts Agreements Boost Wages, Maintain Medical Benefits, Preserve Jobs SIU members last month demonstrated their overwhelming support for the new standard freightship and tanker agreements, ratifying the five-year pacts during meetings at the union halls and aboard ship. Voting continued as this edition of the Seafarers LOG went to press in late July, but based on tallies from 132 SIU-crewed ships and from membership meetings and special meetings conducted at the halls, the standard contracts clearly were headed for ratification. Approximately 98 percent of the votes were in favor of the agreements. Despite negotiations that in many ways were more difficult than usual, the SIU bargaining team—led by Executive Vice President Augie Tellez and Vice President Contracts George Tricker—secured contracts that not only call for wage increases in each year of the pacts, but also maintain health benefits at the current Core Plus level. The latter issue consumed much of the negotiations—not surprising when one considers the staggering cost of health care nowadays. Retroactive to June 16, 2006 and running through June 15, 2011, the contracts include numerous other gains, including an amendment to the Shipping Rules that changes tours of duty for seamen with class “A” seniority employed above an entry rating from 22 months to 12 months. Overall, in spite of repeated demands from the companies for various concessions, the SIU didn’t lose a single job under the new agreements – and in fact took no losses in any category. “I’m very pleased with it,” said Chief Steward John Hale when asked his opinion of the Seafarers on the Cape Knox (above) and the Horizon Challenger (below) show their enthusiasm about the new standard freightship and tanker agreements. people a chance to get these jobs.” She also said, “The pay increases are very reasonable.” Tricker said the union’s “greatest challenge during the course of the negotiations was to secure unprecedented monetary increases to the funding of the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan in order to continue offering benefits at the current Core Plus level while still providing increases in wages and all wagerelated items.” Following are highlights of the new agreements: „ Wages and Overtime. Effective July 1 in each year of the contract, wages and Continued on page 6 Matson’s Maunalei Christened in Philly new contracts. “The wage increases are outstanding.” AB Zinnonnon Jackson stated, “With the economy being in the state it’s in, our bargaining committee did a marvelous job in making the necessary changes to benefit the security of all members and their families.” Recertified Bosun Aubrey Davis pointed to the modification of the old “22-month rule” as a highlight of the new pacts. “That is a worthwhile change and it’s going to work out,” he observed, noting that he and many other members had requested such action. Speaking of the contracts as a whole, OMU Dennis Swords noted, “I’m very pleased. Overall there are many good points and it’s all positive news.” Electrician Prescilo Zuniga described the new agreements as “good, helpful for us Seafarers, especially the annual (wage) increases.” Wiper Gilbert Regalado took a broad view of the contracts, noting that “the sacrifices that have been made in years past” are now paying off as the union continues building upon earlier, steadily accumulated gains. “I also really like that so many ships manned SHBP Eligibility Change Announced The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) last month announced a change in its eligibility rules. As reported at all SIU membership meetings and as specified in a letter to Plan participants, as of Jan. 1, 2007, in order to remain eligible for benefits, a Seafarer must have 150 days of covered employment in the previous calendar year in addition to the current requirement of one day of covered employment in the six months prior to a claim. In other words, in order to be eligible for benefits in 2007, a mariner must have 150 days of covered employment in 2006 in addition to the one day of covered employment in the six months preceding a claim. The increased requirement of 150 days as compared to the old standard of 125 days recently was approved by the SHBP Board of Trustees. In her report to the membership for July, Seafarers Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen noted that the change is being implemented “in order to maintain the level of benefits provided” to eligible Seafarers and their dependents. An informal polling of rank-and-file members and SIU port agents last month found Seafarers generally taking the change itself in stride. As reported at the membership meetings, the average deep-sea SIU member already averages well over 150 days of sea time per year. Also, Seafarers repeatedly acknowledged that this change is consistent with nationwide realities involving the continually increasing cost of health care. The concern most often voiced by members upon August 2006 by the union are under the standard contracts,” he added. Bosun David Jones viewed the agreements as “an improvement, considering the wage increases and everything compared to some of the other industries out there—even some (traditionally) union industries like the auto industry. The contract we got this time is good for us, plus we’re maintaining our health care coverage whereas other industries are losing theirs.” AB Harry Champagne said the standard contracts are “decent overall” and fair agreements for all concerned. Chief Steward Donna Taylor applauded the new 12-month rule, declaring, “It gives more hearing about the adjustment to 150 days seems to be simply making sure that they secure enough sea time by year’s end to maintain SHBP eligibility in the New Year. Chief Steward Donna Taylor agreed with that sentiment but also added, “Change is always necessary in any job so that everybody wins. We all have to be understanding…. The union has been very good to me. I’ve been able to buy my own home, my own car.” “It’s going to work out for the long-term guys out here like myself,” said Bosun David Jones. “I’m a family man—I have two children—and I know from past experience the union has always covered us if we need something. Going to 150 days from 125 doesn’t really bother me because I’m out there anyway.” According to the non-profit, non-partisan National Coalition on Health Care, spending for medical coverage continues to increase at the fastest rate in U.S. history. In 2005, employer health insurance premiums increased at a rate nearly three times greater than the rate of inflation. The yearly premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged about $11,000, while the annual premium for single coverage averaged more than $4,000. Another telling statistic reflects the steady drop in employer-sponsored health care. The percentage of people with employment-based health insurance has declined from 70 percent in 1987 to 59.8 percent in 2004. Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Company’s newest containership, the Maunalei, on July 22 was christened by Millie Akaka, wife of Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), during a ceremony at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Akaka formally christened the ship with the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne against the hull of the vessel. SIU officials attending the christening included President Michael Sacco, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez and Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. They were joined by a host of other officials from Washington, Hawaii and Guam who represented labor, other segments of the U.S. maritime industry and government. The ceremony’s slate of speakers consisted of W. Allen Doane, chairman of Matson and chairman and CEO of its parent company, Alexander & Baldwin; Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii); and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam). “As we entered the 21st century, we faced a considerable challenge in developing a modernization and replacement strategy for the Matson fleet,” said Doane. “Between 1983 and 2002 Matson had only one new ship constructed, the R. J. Pfeiffer, in 1992. “In only four years, Matson has introduced four new ships to its fleet, an achievement that’s truly historic.” Abercrombie stressed the importance of the U.S. maritime industry. “What needs to be understood is the firm connection between a vibrant and healthy U.S. maritime industry and the prosperity of our nation,” he said. “I’m proud to say we were able to revive the cruise industry in Hawaii with American-owned, American-flagged cruise ships, with 4,000 jobs created, all union jobs, from stem to stern, [paying] American wages, obeying U.S. environmental, labor and health laws, with taxes paid to this country.” He also emphasized the key role of the Jones Act as it pertains to national security. The Maunalei is the fourth new containership built by the shipyard for Matson in the past four years. Each vessel’s steward department is crewed by SIU members. Rounding out the Matson fleet upgrades were the deliveries of the SIU-contracted Manukai in 2003, the Maunawili in 2004, and the Manulani in 2005. The Maunalei, which means “mountain flower” in Hawaiian, is 681 feet long and weighs more than 44,000 tons when fully loaded. Beginning in August, the vessel will be deployed in Matson’s Hawaii-Guam-China service alongside the other three containerships constructed by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has built four U.S.-flag containerships for Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation. Above, the newest ship (Maunalei) displays the Stars and Stripes for its christening. Seafarers LOG 3 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19.qxp 7/27/2006 5:00 PM Page 4 2 T-AKE Ship Christened nd USNS Sacagawea Signals More CIVMAR Jobs The U.S. Navy on June 24 christened the USNS Sacagawea, the newest ship in the Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships, at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) delivered the ceremony’s principal address. Lucy Honena Diaz and Rachael Lynne Ariwite, familial descendants of Sacagawea, served as cosponsors of the ship, which will be crewed by members of the SIU’s Government Services Division. Amy Mossett, a Mandan-Hidatsa member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, served as honorary matron of honor. Designated T-AKE 2, the Sacagawea honors the Lemhi Shoshone woman who acted as guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark on their expedition into the Northwest region of the United States. The USNS Sacagawea is the second of nine ships in the Navy’s new T-AKE class. The USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1) on June 20 was delivered to the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The Navy has awarded NASSCO six contracts valued at approximately $2.8 billion for the design and construction of the nine ships in the T-AKE program. Construction of the Sacagawea began in September of 2004. It is scheduled to be delivered to USNS Lewis and Clark MSC in the first quarter of 2007. T-AKE is a combat logistics force vessel intended to replace the current capability of the T-AE 26 Kilauea class ammunition ships, T-AFS 1 Mars class combat Labor Icon Evy Dubrow Dies at 95 Evelyn (Evy) Dubrow, one of America’s most powerful, most respected and best-loved advocates for working people and their unions, passed away June 20. She was 95. Although diminutive in stature—Dubrow stood only four feet, 11 inches—her accomplishments were anything but small. She was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a friend of presidents and champion of low-wage workers and a major force in the union movement. As one newspaper headline described her, she was the “Capitol Hill lobbyist everyone loves.” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, recalling the many years he worked with Dubrow, said, “When I started my first job in the union movement at the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in New York, Evy Dubrow was already an experienced lobbyist for the union—and she was already a legend. As time passed and I had the chance to get to know her, I understood why. “Evy had a rare combination of intelligence, wit, pragmatism, compassion and charm. She was so beloved and so persuasive that she could open doors and win victories on Capitol Hill for working people when no one else could. And although her heart and soul were always with the most progressive representatives and senators like John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey and Tip O’Neill, she also counted staunch conservatives like Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole as her friends—and more than 4 Seafarers LOG once, she won their support. Dubrow was so popular among lawmakers that former House Speaker O’Neill had a permanent chair provided for her just outside the chamber of the House. “Evy joked that she would have been a terrible lobbyist for the oil companies, but behind the joke was the core of who she was,” Sweeney continued. “I’m convinced that the biggest reason she won so many victories over the years was that she was lobbying for a cause she loved with all her heart: the women and men of her union. All of us who were her friends are remembering her and sharing our own stories of her, but I believe that the best eulogy of Evy Dubrow was actually said years ago by a senator: Evy Dubrow is the union label. It was true then, and it will always be.” Born the daughter of impoverished immigrant factory workers from Belarus, Dubrow got her first taste of political activism handing out fliers during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s in New York City’s Union Square. She first joined a union, the Newspaper Guild, at The Morning Call in New Jersey, and it changed her life. She served as the secretary of the Guild, assistant to the president of the New Jersey Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), and as organizer and political education director of the Textile Workers in New Jersey. Dubrow found her true calling when David Dubinsky hired her in 1956 as the lobbyist for the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), where he was president. Her very first task was to oppose a proposal that would outlaw secondary boycotts. Her next issue was fighting for an increase in the minimum wage to $1 an hour. stores ships and, when operating with T-AO 187 Henry J. Kaiser class oiler ships, the AOE 1 Sacramento class fast combat support ships. Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the USNS Sacagawea will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. Ships such as the Sacagawea provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. It will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval warfare forces at sea. The USNS Sacagawea is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, a navigational draft of 30 feet, and displaces approximately 42,000 tons. Powered by a single-shaft dieselelectric propulsion system, the ship can reach a speed of 20 knots. The Sacagawea has modular cargo holding and handling systems on board and can carry more than 6,600 tons of dry cargo and nearly 23,500 barrels of fuel. Photo Courtesy of Women’s Research & Education Institute Evelyn (Evy) Dubrow (1911-2006) It was the start of an extraordinary career. For two generations, Dubrow lobbied in Washington, D.C., for just about every good cause in public life: fighting against the return of the sweatshops and industrial homework and against free trade laws that exploit workers in this nation and around the world; and fighting for pay equity, labor law reform, family and medical leave, civil rights, universal health care and much more. She rose through the ILGWU to become an international union vice president in 1977. In presenting Dubrow with the Medal of Freedom (the nation’s highest civilian honor) in 1999, President Bill Clinton said, “For more than five decades, Evy Dubrow has fought to improve the lives of America’s working women and men. A tenacious and effective union activist, she has been a force for social justice and improved labor conditions by working for increases in the minimum wage, health care reform, family and medical leave, and pay equity for women. Renowned for her grace, candor, and integrity, she has earned the respect of opponents and allies alike.” The USNS Sacagawea will be crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division. SIU-Contracted Companies Earn Environmental Awards Three SIU-contracted companies recently were recipients of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Awards for Excellence. Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. of Houston and Oakland, Calif.based Matson Navigation Co. landed silver and bronze awards (plaques), respectively, in the competition’s Large Business Vessel Category while U.S. Shipping Partners of Edison, N.J. took home an honorable mention in the Small Business Vessel Category. The awards were bestowed June 26 during the American Petroleum Institute Tanker Conference in San Diego. “The Benkert Award demonstrates how industry has led, innovated and far exceeded expectations as good stewards of the sea,” said Rear Adm. Craig Bone, who presented the awards on behalf of the Coast Guard. SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez represented the union during the conference and witnessed the awards ceremony. “We salute our contracted companies for staking their claims on these awards,” Tellez said. “It’s a real testament to effort put forward by company officials to protect and safeguard the marine environment and it speaks volumes about the quality of our people who are working aboard these companies’ ships. Congrats are in order all around.” Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. (OSI) received the highest-level award among all vessel operators who applied for the Benkert Award. This unique honor recognizes the environmental commitment of the company and its employees, ashore and afloat, and the excellent record this collaborative effort has achieved, an OSI publication noted of the award. OSI operates with a safety management system meeting the requirements of the International Safety Management Code (ISM). The company’s quality management system complies with ISO 9001:2000. Both systems are independently certified by the American Bureau of Shipping. OSI vessels are in compliance with Shipboard Security requirements of MTSA and ISPS, and the company’s security plans have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Presently, OSI is providing ship management services to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command and the U.S. Maritime Administration. Matson President and CEO James Andrasick commended his company’s safety, quality and environmental affairs (SQE) and vessel operations departments for this distinguished achievement. “The criteria for receiving the Benkert Award require operators to demonstrate comprehensive and industry leading environmental initiatives,” he said. “Matson’s efforts here have clearly gone far beyond today’s stringent requirements. In every example, Matson’s SQE and vessel operations departments received the full support and cooperation of all Matson personnel. The collaborative work has been exceptional.” Matson has had a zero discharge policy since 1993. In 2003, the company’s Chief Gadao became the first U.S.-flag container vessel certified to the American Bureau of Shipping’s Safety, Quality and Environmental Management (SQE) program. All of Matson’s vessels now have the SQE certification, which requires a documented environmental management system focused on continuous improvement. In addition, Matson offices and terminals are certified to the ISO 14000 environmental management system standard. Matson provides ocean transportation services for Hawaii, Guam, China and the Mid-Pacific as well as logistics services throughout North America. U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. is an active participant in the U.S.flag Jones Act coastwise tanker trades for refined petroleum products and chemical parcels. The company operates six integrated tug barges (ITB) which carry petroleum products and two tankers which haul mainly chemicals. U.S. Shipping Partners recently placed an order for an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB), for delivery early in 2006. The company employs approximately 30 shore staff and approximately 300 fleet personnel. The SIU-contracted companies were three of nine to receive recognition during the API event. The Benkert Award was named for the late Rear Adm. William M. Benkert, a distinguished Coast Guard officer widely known for his leadership and vision in marine environmental protection. It was created to recognize vessel and facility operators who have implemented outstanding marine environmental protection programs that far exceed mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards. August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19.qxp 7/27/2006 5:00 PM Page 5 ‘All Available Boats’ Examines New York Evacuation on 9/11 The story of the waterborne evacuation of thousands of people from lower Manhattan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks—a massive operation in which SIU members played a key role—now is being retold through a new multimedia exhibit in New York. “All Available Boats: Harbor Voices and Images, 9.11.01,” according to the Associated Press uses the voices of those who were there to tell the somewhat overlooked story of how tens of thousands of people escaped lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001 by boat. Among the voices are those belonging to tug captains, police officers, other maritime workers, financial experts, students, teach- Maritime Trades Dept. Launches Web Site The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO (MTD) last month went electronic with its communications competency by launching its new web site— www.maritimetrades.org. SIU President Michael Sacco, who also serves as MTD president, in late June announced the premier of the department’s latest communications vehicle. The site replaces the department’s longrunning newsletter, Maritime, which ceased publication in March. In addition to carrying general information on the department, the new MTD web site contains data about its officers, and facts about its 24 affiliated internation- al unions and its port maritime councils. It also will maintain links with various maritime, labor and governmental organizations. The new web site will be updated regularly with the latest news and information from maritime labor and the industry. It will announce upcoming events involving the MTD and its port councils. Twenty-four international unions comprise the MTD. These unions represent more than 5 million members in maritime-related industries. The MTD also has a series of 19 port maritime councils in major port cities across the United States and Canada. SIU Weighs in on TWIC Continued from page 2 have an MMD issued after February 3, 2003, implying that those mariners have undergone a full security vetting by the Coast Guard and therefore need not undergo a TWIC security assessment. The SIU urges the Coast Guard to continue this simplified approach for merchant mariners who are required to hold merchant mariner documents instead of opting for the TSA proposed process. Further, the SIU believes that the Coast Guard itself has the authority to implement the biometric transportation security card mandate as recommended above. In fact, the MTSA requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue a biometric transportation security credential to merchant mariners. Section 102 of the MTSA defines “Secretary” to mean “the Secretary in which the Coast Guard is operating.” It is our view that within this definition, the Coast Guard has the authority to issue an MMD with an encoded biometric as a merchant mariner biometric transportation security credential. Moreover, this would certainly negate the need for a change in the Code of Federal Regulations as proposed in USCG-2006-24371, the Consolidation of Merchant Mariner Qualification Credentials. A further reason for utilizing a biometric merchant mariner document in lieu of a TWIC is the fact that the rule proposes standards which will primarily impact merchant mariners and port workers. Why reinvent the wheel when a proven, time-tested, and internationally accepted document already exists that, with some modification, responds to the mandate of the MTSA. In addition, to date, there are no TWIC requirements for other workers in all modes of transportation. It is our view that if the TWIC is not applicable to all modes of transportation, then the system is essentially flawed due to port intermodalism and the security objective is undermined. User Fees In this rule, the TSA proposes to establish new user fees for the TWIC process. Although the SIU opposes a TWIC requirement for merchant mariners, we nonetheless advance that it is patently unfair to impose yet another user fee on the merchant mariner for a credential that can be encompassed in the MMD. In fact, the merchant mariner is already charged a user fee for the process associated with the MMD. The SIU is aware that Section 520 of the 2004 DHS Appropriations Act requires TSA to charge a reasonable fee for providing credentialing and background investigations in the field of transportation. The principle behind user fees is based on the philosophy that beneficiaries of federal expenditures should repay the government in the form of a user charge on all or a portion of the federal expenditures incurred for a service. User fees are based on the premise that some agency services are of benefit only to particular segments of the population and that fairness dictates that these services be subject to user fees. However, the SIU contends that the TWIC program is not of benefit to a particular segment of the population—the merchant mariner in this case–but primarily in the interest August 2006 ers, stockbrokers and other citizens. The exhibit is located at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s gallery at 241 Water Street, New York, N.Y. In promoting the exhibit, the AFL-CIO noted, “The brutal images of terrorist destruction on Sept. 11, 2001, are burned into our collective memories. But there are other images from that day that most of us didn’t see. Among those: New York’s tugboats, ferries, fireboats, work boats and private pleasure boats evacuating more than 300,000 people from Lower Manhattan on the day the terrorists’ planes took down the Twin Towers, killing nearly 2,800 people.” The exhibit “describes how the maritime community in boats crewed by members of the SIU, Marine Engineers; Masters, Mates and Pilots; Fire Fighters; Longshoreman and other unions moved survivors—many of them injured—to safety.” Shortly after the first plane hit the North Tower, the Coast Guard put out the call for “all available boats.” Capt. Kirk Slater, an SIU Photo Courtesy Seamen’s Church Institute The exhibit offers various viewing and listening choices. member, and two SIU deckhands on the NY Waterway ferry West New York were among those who answered the call. In 2001, Slater told the AFLCIO magazine America@work that before the second plane hit the South Tower, the West New York had made two trips loaded with evacuees when “I looked up and saw the second plane go right into the Trade Center…. [Soon after] I heard this rumble. The first building came down, came down fast. It was a crystal-clear day, but this huge [debris] cloud of public security. It is our belief that one of the key criteria regarding the application of a user fee for TSA services rendered is whether the service provides a special benefit to an identifiable recipient above and beyond those that accrue to the public at large. In this case, it does not. Therefore, given the fact that obtaining a TWIC is in the interest of public security, merchant mariners should not be assessed a user fee. It is neither fair nor reasonable to assess a user fee on a merchant mariner for a security mandate that has broader benefits. The background checks and security threat assessments contained in the proposal are considered necessary to enhance the security of our nation’s ports and are part of an overall effort to fight terrorism elements…. Federal Preemption The SIU recognizes and acknowledges the fact that states have the right to regulate access to their port facilities. However, once a national identity standard is promulgated, it is critically important that these standards supersede state regulations. Thus, the SIU recommends that the federal TWIC or MMD program preempt any state or local regulations covering identity cards for mariners. The entire purpose of an identification credential is to provide a universally recognized identity card and to assure a mariner access to vessels and port facilities. In addition, the mandatory provisions of the International Maritime Organization’s ISPS Code require facilitation of access by mariners. Additional state or local requirements will create confusion and intolerable conditions for mariners, undermine the purpose of the TWIC, and disrupt interstate and foreign waterborne commerce. Allowing states to arbitrarily impose different or added security requirements is inconsistent with the intent of the TSA and Coast Guard to achieve a level of consistency governing threat assessments and transportation credentials. Further Comments on the TWIC Program The SIU believes that the TWIC program, as proposed, is an economic train-wreck waiting to happen. It will not enhance security but will certainly disrupt commerce and place an intolerable burden on American merchant mariners. The program is also flawed since it exempts foreign seamen from the process while focusing completely on U.S. merchant mariners who are screened, regulated and fully vetted by the Coast Guard. It has been estimated that 97 percent of our imports and exports are carried on foreign-flag vessels with foreign crews who in our view pose the gravest security risk. Yet, these crews are exempt from the TWIC requirements. If the TSA and Coast Guard actually implement this proposed rule, the SIU, in addition to our recommendations above, advocates the following: „ Any national TWIC issued to American merchant mariners must be compatible with the International Labor Organization’s Convention 185 so that the document will be acceptable in foreign ports. „ Any waiver or appeals cases should be held before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at a hearing on the record. It is unfair to have a mariner go back to the very was approaching us. I had a full load, so I got out of there fast. But it engulfed us, like the worst fog.” The smoke and debris forced many boats to operate by radar to find their way to the Manhattan docks. But as “All Available Boats” shows, that didn’t slow the incredible and efficient rescue efforts by the maritime community. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during weekends. The exhibit will run through Sept. 30. agency which determined he was a security risk in the first place to resolve the issue. „ TSA should eliminate the self-disclosure of convictions requirement in the application process. The TWIC applicant will be required to undergo an extensive background check which will uncover any disqualifying factors for obtaining a TWIC. Why then should the applicant be required to complete a self-disclosure form? „ If mariners are required to obtain a TWIC, they should be guaranteed unfettered access to ports. „ There should be a clear nexus between terrorism security and the crimes that will disqualify an individual from holding a maritime TWIC, as the list of felony offenses that will disqualify a mariner from obtaining a maritime TWIC is too expansive, nebulous and unfocused on eliminating true security risks. U.S. mariners are and will always be an effective asset in the global war on terrorism and are the most trained, qualified and vetted workers in the transportation industry. Our history of answering the call to perform our patriotic duty in every conflict and disaster is a matter of public record. In summary and to be clear, we urge the TSA and the Coast Guard to recognize the contributions of American mariners to the economic and defense security of our nation by exempting them from the unnecessary burden of obtaining a TWIC. The SIU looks forward to working and cooperating with the TSA and Coast Guard to find an amenable resolution to this important issue. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Michael Sacco President In its comments about the MMC, the SIU in addition to requesting an extension of the comment period noted, “The SIU urges the Coast Guard to separate this proposed rule from the timeline advanced in the TWIC proposal and further recommends that this proposal be either deferred or reintroduced gradually and subsequent to a thorough testing of the TWIC program, if promulgated…. During an initial review of the document, the SIU detected a number of minor errors and several noticeable omissions in the proposal which may create unintended consequences. Further, it has been noted that the Coast Guard intends to create a paper document which, in our view, is a reversion to the past. Smarter credentials are the answer, utilizing smart card technology. In fact, it is such technology that will enable the Coast Guard to bring U.S. maritime credentialing from the 19th to the 21st century. “As advanced by the Coast Guard in its Proceedings publication, the consolidation of credentials requires substantial effort, planning, coordination, and cooperation and many complex and sensitive details will have to be considered including revision of current statutes and regulations. The SIU agrees with this tenet and looks forward to working together with the Coast Guard to achieve a meaningful transition of credentialing to the 21st century.” Seafarers LOG 5 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x.qxp 7/29/2006 1:27 AM Page 6 Seafarers Approve Standard Contracts Bargaining committee members included (front, from left) Ed Hanley, SIU VP Contracts George Tricker, Jack Craft, SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez, Captain Robert Johnston, (standing) Mike Bohlman, Carol Berger, Wally Becker, Jean Harrington, Tony Naccarato, Bob Rogers, Bill Cole and Jack Robinson. Continued from page 3 overtime are increased as follows: 2 percent in 2006; 3 percent in 2007; 3 percent in 2008; 4 percent in 2009; and 4 percent in 2010, for a total of 16 percent over the life of the contract. „ Shipping Rules. Responding to numerous recommendations received from the membership, the union successfully amended the Shipping Rules by changing tours of duty for seamen with class A seniority employed above an entry rating from 22 months to 12 months. A labor-management committee has been created to identify and resolve crew shore-leave issues. Seafarers being relieved shall register at a port in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii or Guam within 72 hours after being relieved, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. (Hawaii and Guam are new additions to this rule.) Mariners who hold permanent status aboard commercial vessels having the right to relief must confirm their intent to reclaim their position by notifying the hiring hall dispatcher at least 72 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival. This may be done by phone (a change from past practice). After validating a permanent seaman’s credentials in accordance with Rule 2 C. (2.) the hiring hall shall ship the seaman and advise the company to arrange transportation from either the seaman’s domestic home of record (excluding Guam) or the hiring hall from which he is registered (seaman’s choice). Mariners with either A or B seniority may extend their contractual tour of duty when mutu- ally agreed between the union and the company. Minimum time off for all ratings shall change from 30 days to 45 days. Shipping registration cards’ period of validity for mariners accepting the balance of a relief assignment (if less than 30 days) shall be extended by the number of days employed. „ Holidays. In order to conform with the rest of the maritime industry and effectively meet the SIU’s contractual obligations, Paul Hall’s birthday will be replaced by Columbus Day as a contractual holiday. „ Work Rules and Miscellaneous. Based on recommendations from the membership, vessels with automated payroll systems may now pay off at sea. The company is required to notify the union’s manpower office each time a vessel will be in a U.S. port after a payoff at sea or when the vessel will be paying off in a U.S. port. (This will not change the servicing of vessels by SIU port representatives.) The ship’s committee’s duties shall be expanded to expedite and facilitate the crew’s union business. Maintenance and cure will be increased from the current rate of $8 per day to $16 per day. Reimbursement for launch service will be increased from $10 to $25 per round trip, per man carried once every 24 hours. Reimbursement for loss of clothing will be increased from $500 to $1,000. Each crew member is required to possess a sufficient supply of needed medication for the duration of his shipboard assignment. Obtaining maintenance medica- LIBERTY STAR 6 Seafarers LOG BALTIMORE HALL CAPE WASHINGTON HORIZON FAIRBANKS tion is the mariner’s responsibility. Seamen shall be required to remain on board until properly relieved, unless given written authorization to depart by the captain. In order to improve the preparation and serving of food and eliminate waste on all SIU-contracted vessels, the procedures contained in the “Three Man Steward Department Guide” shall be used for guidance. A committee of recertified stewards will review and update the guide. In ports that are located fairly close to one another, such as (but not limited to) New York to Philadelphia, Seattle to Longview, Jacksonville to Charleston, or New Orleans to Baton Rouge (in either direction), bus or rail transportation may be used as mutually agreed to by the union and the company. If payment of overtime is delayed by the company beyond 72 hours (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or holidays) after signing off articles, additional compensation shall be paid at the rate of $25. Other Contract News „ The union has negotiated a three-year agreement with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock and also has secured tentative threeyear contracts with (respectively) Transoceanic Cable Ship Company, Sealift Inc. and Osprey Ship Management. Each of the contracts calls for annual wage increases while maintaining health care coverage at the Core Plus level. Each of the agreements also maintains pension benefits. Without exception, health care costs dominated the negotiations for each contract. „ Seafarers last month ratified the new Great Lakes standard freightship agreement. The five-year contract calls for wage increases in each year of the pact; maintains health benefits at the Core Plus level; and boosts vacation pay by 78 percent. The new Great Lakes agreement also replaces the extendedseason bonus with a safety bonus—effective July 1, 2006, an amount equivalent to 2 percent of base wages will be contributed to the Seafarers Vacation Plan for employees who complete their assigned tours of duty free of illness or injury. Additionally, signatory employers have agreed to provide satellite service and receivers for each billet. They will supply the same monetary contribution as provided to officers for satellite service. „ Negotiations on new agreements continue with the following companies: Waterman Steamship, Liberty Maritime, and Interocean American Shipping. USNS FISHER and USNS PILILAAU OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS GALENA BAY USNS WRIGHT August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x.qxp 7/29/2006 1:53 AM Page 7 Seafarers Approve Standard Contracts TACOMA HALL USNS BOB HOPE GLOBAL SENTINEL SEABULK ARCTIC PHILADELPHIA EXPRESS USNS SEAY USNS POLLUX MAERSK NEBRASKA USNS BENAVIDEZ SL COMMITMENT USNS INTEGRITY COAST RANGE USNS BELLATRIX PHILADELPHIA HALL August 2006 ITB PHILADELPHIA NORFOLK HALL Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Mieluchowski reviews contract details aboard the USNS Shughart. USNS SHUGHART Seafarers LOG 7 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/27/2006 5:03 PM Page 8 Union Provided Solid Foundation, Great Memories Prominent Broadcaster Ivan Scott Still Treasures Shipboard Experience He has an Ivy League degree and a resumé that would stand out even in a high-powered city like Washington, D.C. But for Ivan Scott, nothing tops the education or experience he received as an active SIU member in the 1940s and ’50s. Scott, 76, is the Pentagon and national security correspondent for a group of radio and television stations including major ones in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis and Washington. The job routinely allows him to interact with top-level U.S. military and government officials. Previously, among other notable posts, he served as a presidential appointee (first as an assistant chief of information for the Navy, then as communications director for the Federal Transit Administration) and a combat correspondent and anchor for ABC, CBS and Mutual. One might think that Scott’s four years at sea would be long forgotten, but that’s not the case. During a recent interview at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. (located just outside Washington), Scott’s genuine affection for the union immediately surfaced. Despite the passage of nearly a half-century, his maritime background remains a big part of his identity. Reflecting on his time with the SIU, Scott emphatically declares that if given a choice between his four years at sea and his days at Princeton, “It’s no contest—I’d choose the sea. You become a man and you get an education. The training was absolutely beyond compare.” His ties with the SIU weren’t limited to sailing. Scott helped organize the Cities Service fleet in 1948—one of the most important victories in the union’s early history—and he still has a lump on his head from walking the picket lines during the equally key Isthmian campaign from that same era. After he left the industry for Former Seafarer Ivan Scott proudly displays his honorary book during a recent visit at SIU headquarters. He also had a full book as an active member beginning in the late 1940s. good in the late 1950s and entered broadcasting, Scott developed a strong friendship with SIU President Paul Hall as well as with Seafarers LOG Editor Herb Brand, a trusted assistant to the union president. In 1983, Scott received an honorary SIU book—Book No. 4, he proudly notes. Scott’s recollections of his sailing days are rich in detail. He remembers several close calls at sea, including striking a mine SIU Crews Honored for Relief Operations Seafarers from five SIU-contracted Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet vessels on June 14 were recognized for the myriad of services they provided people along the Gulf Coast during the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The mariners—24 SIU members who served aboard the USNS Algol, USNS, Altair, USNS Bellatrix, USNS Pililaau and USNS Pollux, respectively, when the two storms struck—each were awarded the U.S. Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement. They received their awards during an MSC-sponsored and AMSEAcoordinated hurricane relief ceremony aboard the USNS Brittin in Violet, La. Rear Adm. Hugo G. Blackwood, MSC vice commander, delivered the keynote address and presented the medals to the mariners. Assisting the admiral in the medal presentations were John Henry, MSC Sealift Program manager, and USNS Brittin Master Capt. Robert Groom. New Orleans Port Agent Chris Westbrook represented the SIU. “When hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, MSC ships manned by the merchant mariners in attendance here today again responded to the call to service,” Groom said. “This time it was not the call of conflict but a call of crisis and need. And once again, American Merchant Mariners answered that call and helped the people of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities and towns.” Those receiving medals and their respective vessels were: „ USNS Algol: Bosun Walter L. Loveless, FOWT Terrance C. Ford, Wiper Noe Orellana and SA Yolanda E. Martinez; Those receiving medals from aboard the USNS Algol included Bosun Walter Loveless, Wiper Noe Orellana, SA Yolanda Martinez, Chief Engineer Robert Cheramie, Second Assistant Engineer George Ahten, Wiper/OMU Terrence Ford and First Assistant Engineer Alex Zarganas. 8 Seafarers LOG „ USNS Altair: Bosun Morris E. Foster, AB Jonathan E. Brown, OS Leroyal Hester, Wiper Ralph E. Derocha, Wiper Marco T. Oliva, SB Darrell C. Weatherspoon and SA Jouan J. Jackson; „ USNS Bellatrix: Bosun Wayne Venison, AB Stanley Williams, AB Austin Howard, OS David H. Perry, Wiper Frank Casby, Wiper Earl C. Kendrick and Storekeeper Charlotte A. Tuggle; „ USNS Pililaau: AB Damon M. Johnson; and „ USNS Pollux: Bosun Wilfredo C. Rice, AB Robinson M. Crusoe, OS Mark A. Fleming, SB Mariano M. Martinez and SA Armando S. Evangelista. Among the medal recipients from the USNS Altair were Bosun Morris Foster, AB Jonathan Brown, OS Leroyal Hester, Wiper Marco Oliva, SB Darrell Weatherspoon, SA Jouan Jackson, Chief Mate Laurence Ledwon, Chief Engineer Thomas Ostarly, 1st Assistant Engineer James Mahar, and 2nd Assistant Engineer Michelle McCoy. Not pictured are Capt. Paul Breslin and Wiper Ralph Deroch. USNS Bellatrix medal recipients included Wiper Frank Casby, AB Stanley Williams, Wiper Earl Kendrick, AB Austin Howard and Third Assistant Engineer David Schutte. that didn’t explode. He rattles off the names of vessels and shipmates as if the experiences happened yesterday. “What I liked about shipboard life was the sense of adventure and the caliber of person I sailed with and for,” he notes. “I never had a boring day at sea.” Like others from that period, Scott entered the industry at a very young age—16 in his case, during the last week of 1946. He first sailed as an OS aboard the tanker Wahoo Swamp, a non-union ship. “I was so green I didn’t know which was fore and which was aft,” he acknowledges. Thirty minutes after climbing that initial gangway, with others not realizing Scott was a firsttripper, he found himself steering. A series of “90-degree swings” in New York Harbor quickly ended that particular assignment. Following several more voyages, Scott ended up on a Cities Service vessel while the SIU was trying to organize the fleet. He helped with the campaign (earning a full book) and found a home with the union, even though he would move in and out of the industry for the next decade. “I was turned loose on the world after World War II when you could get anything you wanted for a pack of cigarettes,” Scott says with a wink. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served from 1948-52, eventually working as an air traffic controller. But he still found time for the SIU, discretely making a coastwise run while otherwise on base in Lake Charles, La. He returned to sea for a year after finishing his time with the Air Force and being honorably discharged. He completed high school and then enrolled at Princeton, a prestigious university. Still, he wasn’t done with the sea. Scott sailed on Isthmian’s Steel Advocate following his freshman year. After graduating from Princeton in 1959, his military experience helped him secure work as a broadcaster covering the Pentagon, while his labor history proved invaluable when reporting on the trade union movement. As an up-and-coming reporter with an SIU background, he was befriended by Paul Hall, a towering figure not just within maritime labor but in the entire union arena. “He was almost a father image to me,” Scott says. “He was one of the most dynamic leaders I’ve ever met, and he had a total vision for the future. I was a great admirer of Paul’s.” Scott kept an eye on the SIU and the U.S. Merchant Marine in general even as he moved on to other segments of his career. Today, he says the country absolutely must maintain a strong U.S.-flag fleet, pointing to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as the latest among an overwhelming number of examples supporting that stance. “It’s vital for a world power,” Scott notes. “The Achilles heel of the U.S. military is a lack of adequate sealift, although we’re closing the gap somewhat.” As a Pentagon correspondent, Scott frequently meets with top U.S. officials. He says he let Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld win this friendly arm-wrestling match, but the LOG is investigating that claim’s veracity. August 2006 �37484_p1_3,9x2.qxp 7/31/2006 1:35 PM Page 9 Industry ‘Pioneer’ Bill Saul Dies at 80 William Repass Saul, retired official with the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, died July 15 in Leonardtown, Md. He was 80. Saul was a former assistant to the vice president at the Paul Hall Center, working in that post from 1993 to 1997. He also had served for many years as a waterways advisor and union confidante. Previously, he was well-known as a top official at Steuart Petroleum. “Bill was an absolute pioneer in our industry,” said Don Nolan, vice president of the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. “He had a wealth of knowledge in many areas—especially the maritime industry—and he always was willing to share it with you. He was a very kind and gentle person, someone who it was a pleasure to know and work with. He will be missed.” “Bill was a hands-on executive, at home in coveralls and jeans as well as designer suits,” said Paul Hall Center Instructor Mitch Oakley. “He was as keen in the shipyard as he was in the boardroom. “Consummate businessman, world class entertainer, and always a gentleman, his fatal flaw was his huge heart,” Oakley continued. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to love and learn from Bill Saul. Thank you, Bill, for always having a glass half full—your sharing spirit will continue to inspire those of us you touched.” “I met Bill Saul back in the Snapshots from Southern California ’70s when I first went to Piney Point,” said Jerry DiPreta, retired Pall Hall Center comptroller. “He was a great man and a true gentleman, someone I was proud to know. “He was very knowledgeable about the maritime industry, particularly about the inland waters and inland vessels,” DiPreta continued. “Bill always treated people with respect, and it was a real pleasure to call him my friend. He will be greatly missed.” “I worked with Bill for about 10 years at the school,” shared Capt. Jack Russell, a part- time instructor at the Paul Hall Center. “We ran the Osprey (one of the school’s training vessels) together and trained a number of unlicensed apprentices and upgraders on how to operate a ship. SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox recently mailed these photos of various happenings in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Pedro, Calif. “He was a mentor of mine because I learned so much from him,” Russell continued. “Bill also was a father figure to me, because I lost my father a long time ago. We shared a good many father-son things over the years, and he always provided me with sound advice. I’ll always remember him as the wonderful, kind, caring person that he was.” Born in Buckingham County, Va., Saul attended Pennsylvania Maritime Academy and held a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 until 1947. Saul is survived by his wife, Patricia; two daughters, Susan Mathews of Beaufort, S.C., and Johanna A. Saul of Compton, Md.; one son, John T. Saul of Prince Frederick, Md.; three grandchildren and one great grandchild. Funeral services were conducted July 22 at the Patuxent Presbyterian Church in California, Md. with the Reverend Mike Jones officiating. Saul’s The late Bill Saul is shown in one of his favorite places: at the helm of the Osprey. remains were interred in Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Appomattox, Va. The family asks that those wishing to make memorial contributions consider the St. Mary’s Nursing Center, 21585 Peabody Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Notice The union was scheduled to open its new hall in Oakland, Calif. in late July, as this edition was going to press. Contact information for the new hall is as follows: 1121 7th Street Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 444-2360, Fax: (510) 444-5587 Apprentice Earns GED SIU President Michael Sacco (left) addresses a National Maritime Day audience of approximately 300 people in San Pedro on May 22. Sacco was the keynote speaker at a luncheon sponsored by the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Committee (AMMVMC). Earlier that day, John Pitts, president of the AMMVC, speaks at a separate National Maritime Day ceremony in San Pedro. Cox and other SIU representatives attended both gatherings. Unlicensed Apprentice Ceresa Moreno (pictured with SIU officials) recently earned her GED through the Seafarers-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Moreno received the certificate at the July membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., where she was congratulated by (from left) SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi, Executive VP Augie Tellez and VP Contracts George Tricker. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 12 at the U.S. Coast Guard’s new regional exam center (left) in Long Beach, Cox (center) poses for a photo with (from left) incoming Captain of the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach Paul Wiedenhoeft and outgoing Captain of the Port Peter Neffenger. The new REC is located at 501 West Ocean Blvd. ATTENTION SEAFARERS: Help SPAD Help You—Contribute to SPAD The SIU-contracted Pride of Hawaii arrives at Berth 93 in Los Angeles on May 21, one day after its christening at another location within the port. August 2006 Seafarers LOG 9 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24x.qxp 7/29/2006 3:20 AM Page 10 Snapshots from . . . HORIZON HAWAII Jacksonville IN THE JACKSONVILLE HALL AB Antonio Mercado (above) and AB Patrick Lavin (left) prepare for a lifeboat drill aboard the Horizon Hawaii. Above: Abdul Azeem Binladen, Garry Matthews and Jackie Jones are sworn in by SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey as Seafarers attending the union meeting in Jacksonville (right) look on. TUG BOAT SEA HORSE AB Raymond Fernandez stands gangway watch. From the left are SIU Jacksonville Port Agent Archie Ware and crew members aboard the Crowley tug Sea Horse: Norman Skipper, Travis McGee and Isaac Coldwell. From the left: Chief Cook Juan Vallejo Hernandez, SA Jorge Mora and Recertified Steward Joseph Gallo make up the galley gang on the Horizon Hawaii. TUG BOAT ENSING HORIZON DISCOVERY Left: Third Engineer Michael McClinton and EU Mike Devonish take on bunker fuel aboard the Horizon Discovery. McClinton, a former SIU member, now sails as a licensed seaman with MEBA. Chief Mate David Massay and Second Mate Jose Marrero work on the Crowley tug boat Ensing. AB Douglas Hodges prepares the gangway for Seafarers to go ashore in Jacksonville. The Horizon Discovery docks in the port of Jacksonville. Chief Cook Tracey Newsome (left) and Recertified Steward Joseph Laureta (right) prepare lunch on board the Horizon Discovery. 10 Seafarers LOG August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19.qxp 7/27/2006 5:01 PM Page 11 Seafarers to Vote on Constitutional Amendments Balloting Begins Sept. 1 Voting starts Sept. 1, 2006 for the purpose of amending the constitution of the Seafarers International Union/AGLIWD/ NMU. SIU members will be able to cast secret ballots at union halls or by mail through Oct. 31, 2006. A constitutional committee was elected at the June 5, 2006 membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., in accordance with Article XXV, Section 2 of the constitution. The members of that committee studied proposed amendments to the constitution that had been submitted by the executive board, and the committee recommended that the changes be approved and brought to a vote by the membership. The full text of their report is on page 14. Some of the proposed changes include a modification of the types of mail services that may be utilized for union election cycles (reflecting the increased use of overnight mail and similar services and the decline of telegrams); creation of a “retiree members” class, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2006; elimination of the position of vice-president at large from the list of elected officers (to take place after the positions are vacated by current officeholders); and a change in the port address of the San Francisco hall. Seafarers eligible to take part in this vote are full-book members in good standing. This eligibility criteria is spelled out in the union’s governing document, the constitution. The ballot will list the proposed changes to the constitution as determined by the committee. A sample copy of the ballot appears on pages 12 and 13. 20 Polling Places The election will be conducted by mail ballot as provided by the union’s constitution. Secret ballots, accompanied by envelopes marked “Ballot” and postagepaid envelopes printed with the address of the bank depository where the ballots are kept until submitted to the tallying committee, will be available to full-book members in good standing at 20 union halls around the country. (See list of voting locations on this page.) „ From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, „ „ „ „ 2006, eligible Seafarers may pick up their ballots and envelopes marked “Ballot” and mailing envelopes at the halls between 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, Monday through Saturday, excluding any holidays recognized in the port. Each member must present his or her book to the port agent or the agent’s designated representative when receiving the ballot, the envelope marked “Ballot” and the mailing envelope. The member will be asked to sign a roster sheet indicating the date, the number of the ballot given, and his or her book number. When the Seafarer receives the ballot and envelopes, his or her book will be stamped with the word “Voted” and the date. If a member does not present his or her book, or if there is a question in regard to his or her eligibility to vote, the Seafarer will receive a mailing envelope of a different color marked with the word “Challenge.” His or her book will be stamped with the words “Voted Challenge” and the date. Once the Seafarer has received his or her ballot and envelopes, he or she marks the ballot and puts it in the envelope marked “Ballot.” This envelope is sealed by the member and placed in the mailing envelope and then dispatched in the mail. These steps ensure the integrity of the secret ballot process. Absentee Ballots For members who believe they will be at sea during this time, the SIU constitution provides for absentee voting procedures. „ Full-book members in good standing who need to vote by absentee ballot should direct a request for the ballot to the union’s secretary-treasurer at SIU headquarters—5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. „ Include in the request the correct address where the absentee ballot should be mailed. „ Send the request for an absentee ballot by registered or certified mail. „ Requests for absentee ballots The constitutional committee, which met at SIU headquarters, submitted their recommendations in a report dated June 7, 2006. August 2006 Elected at the Piney Point membership meeting on June 5, the constitutional committee thoroughly reviewed the proposed constitutional amendments. From the left are Christopher Nardone, Thommie Hampton, SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, David Martz (chairman), William Henderson, Dulip Sookhiram (alternate), Charles Curley (alternate), Jose Guzman, George Mazzola and SIU Assistant VP Ambrose Cucinotta. „ „ „ „ „ must be postmarked no later than 12:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 and delivered no later than Monday, Sept. 25. 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 Sept. 30. Upon receiving the ballot and envelopes, vote by marking the ballot. After voting, 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 lefthand corner. Print name and book number on the second line. The mailing envelope is self-addressed and stamped. The mailing envelope must be received by the depository no later than Nov. 5 and must be postmarked no later than 12 midnight on Oct. 31. Tallying the Votes The union’s constitution, in Article XIII, details the procedures for voting in union elections. All ballots will be counted by the rank-and-file tallying committee consisting of two members elected from each of the union’s constitutional ports. These committee members will be elected at the Nov. 6 membership meeting in Piney Point. The tallying committee report will be submitted to the secretary-treasurer and mailed to each port no later than Nov. 30 and then will be submitted for ratification by the membership at the regular December membership meetings. 20 Voting Locations Voting will be conducted by secret mail ballot. Ballots may be obtained at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 12 noon (local time), Mondays through Saturdays, excluding holidays, during the voting period. The voting period shall commence Sept. 1, 2006 and shall continue through Oct. 31, 2006. ALGONAC BALTIMORE BOSTON FT. LAUDERDALE GUAM HONOLULU HOUSTON JACKSONVILLE JOLIET MOBILE NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK NORFOLK OAKLAND PHILADELPHIA PINEY POINT PUERTO RICO ST. LOUIS/ALTON TACOMA WILMINGTON 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 2315 Essex St. Baltimore, MD 21224 Marine Industrial Park/EDIC, 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 1221 South Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Cliffline Office Ctr., Suite 101B, Bldg. B 422 West O’Brien Dr. Hagatna, Guam 96931 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 10 East Clinton St. Joliet, IL 60432 1640 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, AL 36605 3911 Lapalco Blvd. Harvey, LA 70058 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 1121 7th St. Oakland, CA 94607 2604 South Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship Piney Point, MD 20674 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave. Santurce, PR 00907 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 3411 South Union St. Tacoma, WA 98409 510 North Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 Seafarers LOG 11 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x2.qxp 7/31/2006 1:28 PM Page 12 Seafarers to Vote on Constitutional Amendments BALLOT NOTICE OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING LOCATIONS AND ADDITIONAL PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL REVISIONS S OFFICIAL BALLOT For Constitutional Amendments No. 00000 SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICAAtlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU VOTING PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2006 INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS—In order to vote, mark a cross (X) in YES or NO box below the Proposition. If you mark more than one box for a proposition than specified herein, your vote for such proposition will be invalid. MARK YOUR BALLOT WITH INK OR INDELIBLE PENCIL A 06 S 1, 20 3 NT E M ER ND OB ME OCT A L GH NA IO ROU T U H TIT 6 T NS 200 O , C 1 ED ER OS EMB P O T PR SEP R FO IOD R PE NG VO TI WHEREAS, the Executive Board of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU met to discuss the current needs and conditions of the Union, its membership and the maritime industry in this country; and M WHEREAS, among their discussions and deliberations was the subject of proposed revisions in the Union's Constitution which would enable the Union to function more efficiently and to continue to fulfill its obligations to the membership; and WHEREAS, a Constitutional Committee was elected on June 5, 2006, in accordance with Article XXV, Section 2 of our Constitution. They studied the proposed Constitutional Amendments Resolutions and unanimously concurred on all proposed constitutional revisions; and WHEREAS, the report of the Constitutional Committee was approved by the membership at the regular membership meetings in July 2006. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTIONALLY ADOPTED PROPOSITIONS, TO BE VOTED UPON, IF ADOPTED, WOULD AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AS FOLLOWS: PROPOSITION #1 PROPOSITION #4 Are you in favor of amending Article III, Membership, Section 1 as follows: Change the first sentence to read: “There shall be (3) classes of membership: full book members, probationary members and retiree members.” And add the following at the end of this section: “Retiree members shall receive the Union’s monthly newspaper and will be kept abreast of Union activities, especially those relating to efforts in the legislative and political arenas with potential impact upon retirees. In addition, retiree members may participate in Union social events and grass root activities.” Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 2 as follows: Change the first sentence of paragraph one to read: “No candidate for full book membership shall be admitted into such membership without having paid an initiation fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.” And change the first sentence of paragraph two to read: “Each candidate for probationary membership and each probationary member shall, with the payment of each of his first quarterly dues, as required by Section 1, pay at each such time the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) as partial initiation fee.” ❏ NO ❏ PROPOSITION #2 Are you in favor of amending Article III, Membership, Section 3 to read as follows: “Members more than one (1) quarter in arrears in dues can be suspended and, if so suspended, shall forfeit all benefits and all other rights and privileges in the Union. They can be dismissed if they are more than two (2) quarters in arrears in dues.” YES ❏ NO ❏ YES P YES ❏ NO ❏ PROPOSITION #5 Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee as follows: Add Section 5 to read: “Notwithstanding the above, the annual dues amount for retiree members shall be five dollars ($5.00).” YES ❏ NO ❏ PROPOSITION #3 Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 1(a) to read as follows: “Dues annually in the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) which shall be paid in equal amounts on a calendar year basis, no later than the first business day of each calendar quarter, and;” ❏ NO ❏ Are you in favor of amending Article VIII, Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents and Port Agents, Section 1 by deleting “and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.” Are you in favor of amending Article X , Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel by deleting “Section 10. Vice-Presidents at Large.” in its entirety; by renumbering Sections 11 through 16 accordingly; and by deleting all references to the Vice-Presidents at Large positions in “Section 14. Executive Board.” and Section 15. Delegates.” ❏ OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 Seafarers LOG OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 See Reverse Side for Voting Locations and Additional Proposed Constitutional Revisions OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 12 ❏ OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 NO E YES OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 YES L PROPOSITION #6 Are you in favor of amending Article VII, Systems Organization, Section 2 by deleting “and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.” August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x2.qxp 7/31/2006 1:18 PM Page 13 Seafarers to Vote on Constitutional Amendments OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 A OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 S OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 BALLOT NOTICE OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Voting will be conducted by secret mail ballot. Ballots may be obtained at the following locations from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Mondays through Saturdays, excluding holidays, during the voting period. The voting period shall commence on September 1, 2006 and shall continue through October 31, 2006. OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 NO ❏ ❏ NO ❏ PROPOSITION #10 Are you in favor of amending Article XXIV, Definitions and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating Thereto, Section 8 to read as follows: “The terms ‘this Constitution’ and ‘this amended Constitution’ shall be deemed to have the same meaning and shall refer to the most recent version of the Constitution.” YES ❏ NO ❏ OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 PROPOSITION #11 Are you in favor of amending Article XXIV, Definitions and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating Thereto, Section 13 to read as follows: “The term ‘seatime’ shall include employment upon any navigable waters, days of employment in a contracted employer unit represented by the Union or time spent in the employ of the Union or one of the Union’s direct affiliates as an elected or appointed representative.” YES ❏ NO ❏ OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 ❏ OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 YES YES E Are you in favor of amending Article XIII, Elections for Officers, Assistant VicePresidents and Port Agents as follows: Change the first sentence of Section 2(c) paragraph one to read: “When an applicant has been disqualified by the Committee, he shall be notified immediately by telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery, or an equivalent mail service at the address listed by him pursuant to Section 1 of the Article.” Change the last sentence of Section 2(c) paragraph one to read: OFFICIAL BALLOT “In any event, without prejudice to his written appeal, the2006 applicant may appear in person before the Committee within two (2) days after the day on which the telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery or an equivalent mail service is sent to correct his application or argue for his qualification.” Change the sixth sentence of Section 3(e) to read: “The Secretary-Treasurer, if he determines that such member is so eligible, shall by the 30th of such November, send by registered mail, return receipt requested or an equivalent mail service, to the address so designated by such member, a ‘Ballot’, after removing the perforated numbered stub, together with the hereinbefore mentioned ‘Ballot’ envelope, and mailing envelope addressed to the depository, except that printed on the face of such mailing envelope shall be the words ‘Absentee Ballot’ and appropriate voting instructions shall accompany such mailing to the member.” OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 PROPOSITION #8 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 ❏ L OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 NO Are you in favor of amending Article XXIII, Meetings, Section 1 as follows: Change the second sentence of paragraph two to read: “During the next week, meetings shall be held on Monday – at Houston; on Tuesday – at New Orleans; on Wednesday – at Mobile; on Thursday – at San Francisco area; and on Friday – at St. Louis.” OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 ❏ PROPOSITION #9 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 YES PUERTO RICO OAKLAND ST. LOUIS TACOMA WILMINGTON 3911 LaPalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 635 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232 115 Third Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 2604 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Piney Point, MD 20674 1057 Fernandez Juncos Avenue, Santurce, PR 00907 1121 Seventh Street, Oakland, CA 94607 4581 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63116 3411 South Union Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 510 North BroadBALLOT Avenue, Wilmington, OFFICIAL 2006 CA 90744 P OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 PROPOSITION #7 Are you in favor of amending Article XI, Wages and Terms of Office of Officers and Other Elective Jobholders, Union Employees, and Others, Section 3 to read as follows: “All elected individuals shall receive automatic wage increases in the same percentage amount and at the same time that the Union’s membership receives increases through the standard tanker and freight ship agreements.” NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK NORFOLK PHILADELPHIA PINEY POINT OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 520 St. Clair River Drive, Algonac, MI 48001 2315 Essex Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 1221 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Suite 101B, Cliffline Office Center, Bldg. B 422 West O’Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam 96910 606 Kalihi Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 1221 Pierce Street, Houston, TX 77002 3315 Liberty Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206 10 East Clinton, Joliet, IL 60432 1640OFFICIAL Dauphin IslandBALLOT Parkway, Mobile, AL 36605 2006 OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 HONOLULU HOUSTON JACKSONVILLE JOLIET MOBILE M ALGONAC BALTIMORE BOSTON FT. LAUDERDALE GUAM VOTING LOCATIONS OFFICIAL BALLOT 2006 These amendments, if approved, shall become effective upon the date of certification of the Union Tallying Committee, unless otherwise specified. August 2006 Seafarers LOG 13 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/25/2006 6:04 PM Page 14 Seafarers to Vote on Constitutional Amendments REPORT OF CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE We, the undersigned Constitutional Committee, were elected at the Headquarters membership meeting, on June 5, 2006, in accordance with Article XXV, Section 2 of our Constitution. We have had referred to us and studied, the proposed Constitutional Amendments Resolutions submitted by our Executive Board. These Resolutions, containing the proposed amendments, prior to its submission to us, were adopted by a majority vote of the membership at Headquarters and all ports. The provisions of the Resolutions are summarized in this report and are attached in full so that all members will have available to them the full text for their review and study at the same time that they read this, our Report and Recommendation. Upon a thorough review of the Resolutions, your Committee recommends the Constitution be amended as indicated below. It should be noted that, where feasible, the language of the Constitution is presented with the proposed language changes underlined. A. Amend Article III, Membership, Section 1 and Section 3 to read as follows: “Section 1. There shall be three (3) classes of membership: full book members, probationary book members and retiree members. Candidates for membership shall be admitted to membership in accordance with such rules as may be adopted from time to time by a majority vote of the membership and which rules shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution. All candidates with two hundred and sixty (260) days or more seatime in a consecutive twentyfour (24) calendar month period commencing from January 1, 1968, in an unlicensed capacity, aboard an American-flag merchant vessel or vessels, covered by contract with this Union, shall be eligible for full membership. All persons with less than the foregoing seatime but at least thirty (30) days of such seatime, shall be eligible for probationary membership. Only full book members shall be entitled to vote and to hold any office or elective job, except as otherwise specified herein. All probationary members shall have a voice in Union proceedings and shall be entitled to vote on Union contracts. Retiree members shall receive the Union’s monthly newspaper and will be kept abreast of Union activities, especially those relating to efforts in the legislative and political arenas with potential impact upon retirees. In addition, retiree members may participate in Union social events and grass root activities.” “Section 3. Members more than one (1) quarter in arrears in dues can be suspended and, if so suspended, shall forfeit all benefits and all other rights and privileges in the Union. They can be dismissed if they are more than two (2) quarters in arrears in dues. An arrearage in dues shall be computed from the first day of the applicable quarter, but this time shall not run:” B. Amend Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 1 (a), Section 2 and add Section 5 to read as follows: “Section 1. All members’ dues shall consist of: (a)Dues annually in the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) which shall be paid in equal amounts on a calendar year basis, no later than the first business day of each calendar quarter, and;” “Section 2. No candidate for full book membership shall be admitted into such membership without having paid an initiation fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. In addition, the candidate shall pay a ten dollar ($10.00) “service fee” for the issuance of his full book. 14 Seafarers LOG Each candidate for probationary membership and each probationary member shall, with the payment of each of his first quarterly dues, as required by Section 1, pay at each such time the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) as partial initiation fee. The total of such initiation monies so paid shall be credited to his above required initiation fee for a full book member upon completion of the required seatime as provided for in Article III, Section 1.” “Section 5. Notwithstanding the above, the annual dues amount for retiree members shall be five dollars ($5.00).” C. Amend Article VII, Systems of Organization, Section 2 by deleting “and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.” D. Amend Article VIII, Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents and Port Agents, Section 1 by deleting “and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.” E. Amend Article X, Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel as follows: 1. Delete “Section 10. Vice-Presidents at Large” in its entirety. 2. Renumber Sections 11 through 16 accordingly. 3. Delete all references to the Vice Presidents at Large positions in “Section 14. Executive Board” and “Section 15. Delegates.” F. Amend Article XI, Wages and Terms of Office of Officers and Other Elective Jobholders, Union Employees, and Others, Section 3 to read as follows: “Section 3. All elected individuals shall receive automatic wage increases in the same percentage amount and at the same time that the Union’s membership receives increases through the standard tanker and freight ship agreements.” With regard to this amendment, the Committee recommends that, should the intent or application of this particular section become unclear, the Union’s Executive Board should be authorized to resolve any issues which may arise. G. Amend Article XIII, Elections for Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents and Port Agents, Section 2 (c) and Section 3 (e) to read as follows: “Section 2. Credentials. (c)When an applicant has been disqualified by the Committee, he shall be notified immediately by telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery, or an equivalent mail service at the address listed by him pursuant to Section 1 of this Article. A disqualified applicant shall have the right to take an appeal to the membership from the decision of the Committee. He shall forward copies of such appeal to each Port where the appeal shall be presented and voted upon at a regular meeting no later than the second meeting after the Committee’s election. It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure timely delivery of his appeal. In any event, without prejudice to his written appeal, the applicant may appear in person before the Committee within two (2) days after the day on which the telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery or an equivalent mail service is sent to correct his application or argue for his qualification.” “Section 3. Balloting Procedures. (e)Full book members may request and vote an absentee ballot under the following circumstances: while such member is employed on a Union contracted vessel and which vessel’s schedule does not provide for it to be at a Port in which a ballot can be secured during the time and period provided for in Section 3 (a) of this Article or is in an accredited hospital any time during the first ten (10) days of the month of November of the election year. The member shall make a request for an absentee ballot by registered or certified mail or the equivalent mailing device at the location from which such request is made, if such be the case. Such request shall contain a designation as to the address to which such member wishes his absentee ballot returned. The request shall be postmarked no later than 12:00 p.m. on the 15th day of November of the election year, shall be directed to the SecretaryTreasurer at Headquarters and must be delivered no later than the 25th of such November. The SecretaryTreasurer shall determine whether such member is eligible to vote such absentee ballot. The SecretaryTreasurer, if he determines that such member is so eligible, shall by the 30th of such November, send by registered mail, return receipt requested or an equivalent mail service, to the address so designated by such member, a “Ballot,” after removing the perforated numbered stub, together with the hereinbefore mentioned “Ballot” envelope, and mailing envelope addressed to the depository, except that printed on the face of such mailing envelope shall be the words “Absentee Ballot” and appropriate voting instructions shall accompany such mailing to the member. If the Secretary-Treasurer determines that such member is ineligible to receive such absentee ballot, he shall nevertheless send such member the aforementioned ballot with accompanying material except that the mailing envelope addressed to the depository shall have printed on the face thereof the words “Challenged Absentee Ballot.” The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep records of all of the foregoing, including the reasons for determining such member’s ineligibility, which records shall be open for inspection by full book members and upon the convening of the Union Tallying Committee, presented to them. The Secretary-Treasurer shall send to all Ports the names and book numbers of the members to whom absentee ballots were sent.” H. Amend Article XXIII, Meetings, Section 1 to read as follows: “Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held monthly only in the following constitutional Ports at the following times: During the week following the first Sunday of every month a meeting shall be held on Monday—at Piney Point; on Tuesday—at New York; on Wednesday —at Philadelphia; on Thursday—at Baltimore; and on Friday—at DetroitAlgonac. During the next week, meetings shall be held on Monday—at Houston; on Tuesday—at New Orleans; on Wednesday—at Mobile; on Thursday —at San Francisco area; and on Friday—at St. Louis. All regular membership meetings shall commence at 10:30 a.m. local time. Where a meeting day falls on a Holiday officially designated as such by the authorities of the state or municipality in which a Port is located, the Port meeting shall take place on the following business day. Saturday and Sunday shall not be deemed business days.” I. Amend Article XXIV, Definitions and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating Thereto, Section 8 and Section 13 to read as follows: “Section 8. The terms ‘this Constitution’ and ‘this amended Constitution’ shall be deemed to have the same meaning and shall refer to the most recent version of the Constitution.” “Section 13. The term ‘seatime’ shall include employment upon any navigable waters, days of employment in a contracted employer unit represented by the Union or time spent in the employ of the Union or one of the Union’s direct affiliates as an elected or appointed representative.” The Committee recommends that the amendments, if voted upon affirmatively in accordance with the following voting procedures, become effective upon their passage. It should be noted that the amendments regarding the dues and initiation increases will be effective January 1, 2007 and the amendments creating a “retiree members” class will be retroactive to January 1, 2006. In addition, the amendments regarding the removal of the two (2) VicePresidents at Large from the list of elected officers will not take place until such positions are vacated by the current officeholders. In addition, your Committee concurs with the Resolution that upon membership acceptance of our report and recommendations, a referendum vote by secret ballot be held as constitutionally required. We recommend that the voting follow the applicable procedures as set forth in Article XIII, Section 3 of the Constitution. We further recommend that the referendum period commence September 1, 2006 and end October 31, 2006. As such, the following dates and deadlines should be established: 1. Absentee ballot requests shall be postmarked no later than 12:00 p.m. on September 15, 2006 and must be delivered to the Secretary-Treasurer’s office no later than September 25, 2006. 2. The Secretary-Treasurer shall mail absentee ballots via registered mail, return receipt requested to any eligible members by September 30, 2006. 3. All ballots to be counted must be received by the depository no later than November 5, 2006 and must be postmarked no later than 12:00 midnight on October 31, 2006. 4 The Union Tallying Committee shall be elected at the Piney Point regular membership meeting on November 6, 2006. 5. The Union Tallying Committee Report shall be submitted to the SecretaryTreasurer and mailed to each Port no later than November 30, 2006 and shall be submitted for ratification by the membership at the regular December membership meetings. The Committee further recommends, if it is reasonably possible, that a copy of our Committee’s Report, together with a copy of the proposed Resolutions and membership action taken to date, be printed in the Seafarers LOG, August 2006 issue so that the membership will be kept abreast as to all facts at this time and copies of such LOG issue, to the extent possible, be made available to the membership at all Union offices and Halls during the months of September and October 2006. Your Constitutional Committee wishes to thank the Union, its officers, representatives, members and counsel for their cooperation and assistance during our deliberations and to assure all members that we believe the adoption of the proposed Resolutions will serve the needs of the Union and the membership. Fraternally submitted, David Martz, M-2433, chairman Jose Guzman, G-1461 Thommie Hampton, H-6074 William Henderson, H-1818 George Mazzola, M-2288 Christopher Nardone, N-5218 Date: June 7, 2006 August 2006 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/25/2006 6:04 PM Page 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea September & October 2006 Membership Meetings JUNE 16 — JULY 15, 2006 *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 Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 1 0 8 12 3 10 47 33 1 14 13 34 7 2 0 7 14 1 49 27 283 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 0 0 5 5 0 3 11 16 0 8 7 21 8 2 3 5 4 1 15 5 119 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 2 0 4 5 1 8 28 23 0 5 2 24 12 3 1 0 17 1 13 18 167 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 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 3 Totals Totals All Departments 4 3 9 12 5 2 32 15 1 4 15 17 17 5 20 5 12 7 33 21 239 2 4 3 3 0 3 10 18 1 4 3 1 14 4 1 4 6 3 16 10 110 0 0 0 5 3 11 6 6 0 3 6 6 12 1 2 0 5 0 8 8 82 1 4 4 5 2 4 13 13 0 4 3 28 6 2 18 2 13 1 13 11 2 2 1 4 2 1 14 8 0 0 2 6 10 1 0 2 2 0 8 8 73 1 4 2 3 0 1 10 6 1 3 3 8 6 0 0 1 1 2 2 7 61 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 1 1 1 2 2 6 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 29 4 4 2 11 0 5 12 14 1 2 4 16 12 1 21 0 11 0 10 12 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 2 5 1 7 27 24 1 12 6 23 8 2 0 7 13 1 30 19 188 Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT 2 5 5 14 6 5 16 14 1 7 10 13 6 3 12 9 8 4 28 14 182 1 2 1 3 5 0 8 5 0 0 3 2 11 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 46 1 1 3 9 0 3 20 11 0 12 4 12 9 4 1 6 9 1 23 15 144 86 1 4 0 4 1 3 3 8 0 1 2 8 14 2 0 4 9 4 15 5 88 0 4 0 1 0 0 4 2 0 1 2 1 5 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 28 0 0 1 3 0 0 5 9 0 0 2 2 6 0 0 2 6 0 8 3 47 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 3 6 0 10 14 9 0 1 2 13 10 0 3 2 14 1 8 17 113 0 0 1 3 1 4 4 4 0 2 4 4 14 3 1 2 2 0 3 4 56 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 5 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 17 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 3 0 0 0 1 3 1 9 11 11 0 4 2 13 7 0 13 3 4 1 8 8 0 1 1 2 0 3 7 5 1 0 4 4 9 1 27 0 6 1 8 3 3 0 14 22 5 19 80 63 1 20 23 79 26 7 0 14 37 2 64 53 532 5 9 9 28 10 2 55 32 2 15 20 37 36 8 15 8 19 12 54 34 410 3 3 2 6 1 2 28 15 1 2 7 23 6 2 1 4 5 0 15 21 Piney Point .............Tuesday: September 5* ................................Monday: October 2 .................................(*change created by Labor Day holiday) Algonac ..................Friday: September 8, October 6 Baltimore ................Thursday: September 7, October 5 Boston.....................Friday: September 8, October 6 Guam ......................Thursday: September 21, October 19 Honolulu .................Friday: September 15, October 13 Houston ..................Monday: September 11 .................................Tuesday: October 10* .................................(*change created by Columbus Day holiday) Jacksonville ............Thursday: September 7, October 5 Joliet .......................Thursday: September 14, October 12 147 Mobile ....................Wednesday: September 13, October 11 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 3 4 1 3 9 16 0 2 4 5 11 1 3 1 5 0 10 8 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 1 4 0 1 10 5 0 0 0 11 9 1 1 3 8 0 9 5 0 0 7 10 1 10 29 29 0 16 18 40 12 3 3 5 15 1 21 18 2 2 8 9 3 6 22 33 3 12 9 10 25 4 4 6 7 5 22 15 1 0 3 6 1 5 13 11 1 2 1 15 8 2 0 1 3 2 8 10 238 207 93 3 0 5 6 2 16 46 35 1 11 8 43 15 4 5 3 35 2 28 41 0 0 2 6 6 11 12 11 0 4 6 9 16 1 2 0 5 0 12 13 0 0 2 2 0 1 6 4 1 2 2 6 5 0 1 0 1 2 3 7 68 309 116 45 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 7 7 3 0 1 2 11 1 0 0 0 7 0 9 4 1 5 4 8 2 7 28 26 1 7 7 76 16 2 19 4 19 1 27 15 10 7 5 15 2 9 25 34 1 2 6 38 27 1 5 0 14 0 20 24 22 147 142 18 99 83 0 53 275 245 591 578 305 405 425 174 259 1,132 1,008 530 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: September 12, October 10 New York................Tuesday: September 5, October 3 Norfolk ...................Thursday: September 7, October 5 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: September 6, October 4 Port Everglades.......Thursday: September 14, October 12 San Francisco .........Thursday: September 14, October 12 San Juan..................Thursday: September 7, October 5 St. Louis..................Friday: September 15, October 13 Tacoma ...................Friday: September 22, October 20 Wilmington.............Monday: September 18, October 16 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals SUZANNE CASTONGUAY Please get in touch with Tom Christie, who worked with you on the J.N. McWatters. You may e-mail him at gizorp1@hotmail.com. ERNESTO GUARIN Please contact your son, Dino Guarin, at (412) 2712651. Remembering Paul Hall August 20, 1914 - June 22, 1980 *“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. August 2006 Seafarers LOG 15 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/25/2006 Seafarers International Union Directory 6:04 PM Page 16 NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report JUNE 16 — JULY 15, 2006 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III 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., 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 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 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 Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III DECK DEPARTMENT 0 9 2 5 10 0 1 3 30 1 2 3 1 4 1 0 3 15 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 0 10 Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group III 0 7 3 1 6 0 1 3 21 1 2 3 0 5 2 0 3 16 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 9 0 7 1 0 10 2 1 4 25 13 28 1 18 38 0 1 1 100 2 9 2 8 25 0 0 0 46 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 7 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 4 6 12 0 6 14 0 0 2 40 1 4 0 1 7 0 0 0 13 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 6 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 8 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 6 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 0 6 Port 1 3 1 0 2 0 0 1 8 1 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 7 0 0 4 1 0 2 0 0 7 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 1 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 7 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 6 0 2 0 1 5 0 1 0 9 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 6 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 5 14 1 4 12 1 0 0 37 1 7 0 1 14 0 0 1 24 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 Totals All Departments 45 26 22 38 28 22 33 177 83 16 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner Ted Vargas of Princeton, W. Va. It was taken at sea in March 1949 during one of the many trips he made to Cruz Grande, Chile aboard the SS Steelore. He doesn’t remember the complete names of the other men in the picture with the exception of Hector Duarte, with whom he had sailed on another Ore ship, the SS Bethore. Brother Vargas was the 12-4 fireman; Duarte was the 8-12 fireman. The Ore ships were the bread and butter to many Seafarers in the port of Baltimore during that period, Vargas wrote the LOG in a note accompanying the photo, especially during times of slow shipping. Brother Vargas sailed on three Liberty ships in the ’40s and ’50s. He presentBrother Ted Vargas took this photo of his fellow shipmates aboard the SS Steelore. Standing from ly volunteers as the 12-4 the left are Smitty, Pierre and Pedro. Kneeling from the left are Sparks, Hector Duarte and Herbert. oiler aboard his fourth Liberty ship, the John W. Brown, based in Baltimore. He notes that an interesting book has been published about the John W. Brown: “Good Shipmates: The Restoration of the Liberty Ship John W. Brown, volume one: 1942-1994.” It was written by Ernest F. Imhoff, one of the vessel’s volunteer crew members. 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. August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x.qxp 7/29/2006 4:22 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 JERRY BANKSTON, 65, joined the union in 1957 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Bankston first worked aboard the Alcoa Planter in the deck department. He attended classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. in 1996 and 2000. Brother Bankston was born in Mississippi. His most recent voyage was on the Overseas Marilyn. Brother Bankston continues to live in Mississippi. SEVERIANO BONAFONT, 63, became an SIU member in 1970 in Puerto Rico. Brother Bonafont first sailed on the Osprey as a member of the deck department. The Puerto Rico-born mariner upgraded his seafaring skills on two occasions at the Piney Point school. Prior to his retirement, Brother Bonafont worked aboard the El Yunque. He makes his home in Toa Baja, P.R. ROY CONN, 67, started sailing with the Seafarers in 1992. Brother Conn first went to sea on the USNS Assertive. A native of Louisiana, he shipped in the deck department. Brother Conn enhanced his skills in 2000 at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. His most recent voyage was aboard the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus. Brother Conn calls Oak Grove, La. home. WILLIAM FARMER, 66, began his SIU career in 1997 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Farmer’s first ship was the USNS Able. He upgraded often at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Farmer’s most recent voyage was aboard the Observation Island. He was born in Kentucky and now lives in Charleston, S.C. ALEXANDER NICHOLSON, 71, was born in Ukraine. Brother Nicholson joined the SIU in 1993 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. He took advantage of the educational opportunities available at the Paul Hall Center on three occasions. Brother Nicholson’s first trip to sea was on the American Falcon; he last worked aboard the Horizon Discovery as a member of the deck department. Brother Nicholson is a resident of St. Augustine, Fla. JOHNNY O’NEIL, 65, joined the SIU ranks in 1960. Brother O’Neil’s first voyage was on a vessel operated by Globe Waterways. The engine department member attended the Piney August 2006 Point school in 2000 and 2002. Brother O’Neil was born in Puerto Rico. His most recent voyage was on the Horizon Crusader. Brother O’Neil continues to live in Puerto Rico. CHARLES SMOKE, 70, embarked on his seafaring career in 1960. Brother Smoke, who was born in Alabama, first sailed aboard the Navigator. His most recent ship was the Horizon Consumer. Brother Smoke resides in his native state. LUIS SPINA, 65, became an SIU member in 1962. Brother Spina, who was born in Central America, first shipped with Seatrade Corporation in the deck department. His last voyage was aboard the Seabulk Power. Brother Spina makes his home in Brandon, Miss. GRAYSON WARREN, 65, started sailing with the Seafarers in 1964. Brother Warren initially worked on the Arizpa. He was born in Detroit, Mich. and shipped in the deck department. Brother Warren attended classes at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. His most recent voyage was aboard the Newark Bay. Brother Warren is a resident of Houston. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, 64, joined the SIU in 1964, first sailing aboard the Achilles. Brother Williams was a member of the engine department. Born in West Virginia, he most recently sailed on the Stonewall Jackson. Brother Williams calls Cottonport, La. home. INLAND IVAN CHRISTIANSEN, 61, was born in Texas. Boatman Christiansen embarked on his seafaring career in 1980, working primarily aboard vessels operated by G&H Towing Company. Boatman Christiansen lives in Spicewood, Texas. JOSEPH KADAK JR., 61, joined the SIU in 1973. Boatman Kadak upgraded numerous times at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He frst shipped on a Dixie Carriers vessel. Boatman Kadak most recently sailed on the Pacific Reliance. He continues to reside in his native state of Louisiana. Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, recently went on pension. ANTHONY LANIER JR., 64, became a union member in 1994. Boatman Lanier primarily shipped aboard Westbank Riverboat’s Boomtown. He was born in New Orleans and worked in the engine department. Boatman Lanier now makes his home in Port Sulphur, La. MAXIMO ALVAREZ, 65, joined the NMU in 1990 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Alvarez initially sailed on the Sealift Atlantic. Born in Honduras, he last sailed on the Kingston. PERRY RUBOTTOM, 62, launched his SIU career in 1993 in the port of Houston. Boatman Rubottom sailed primarily on vessels operated by Higman Barge Lines. The deck department member, who was born in California, is a resident of Waring, Texas. GREAT LAKES EZZI SHARAY, 66, began shipping with the union in 1976 in Detroit, Mich. Brother Sharay worked primarily on American Steamship Company vessels and also aboard the Reiss Brothers and the Sharon. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Sharay calls Yemen home. Editor’s Note: The following brothers and sister, all former members of the National Maritime CALVIN BRINKLEY, 65, became an NMU member in 1972, shipping from the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Brinkley’s first ship was the Lipscomb Lykes. He is a native of Alabama. LORRAINE CLOYD, 66, was born in Galveston, Texas. Sister Cloyd started sailing with the NMU in 1980. Her first voyage was aboard the Antigone Pass. Sister Cloyd was a member of the steward department. She most recently worked on the Cape Henry. WILLIAM EVLETH, 65, embarked on his NMU career in 1968 in Charleston, S.C. Brother Evleth first Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1948 The Seafarers International Union was certified this week as the bargaining agent for unlicensed crewmen on ships belonging to the Cuba Distilling Company. On receipt of the certification, SIU headquarters sent a memorandum to the company asking the immediate commencement of contract negotiations. Cuba Distilling was first contracted in 1938. However, the company’s small fleet of ships was sunk during the war and the company went out of business. Upon its return last winter with new ships, company officials maintained that no agreement with the SIU existed since the last one negotiated had lapsed. went to sea aboard the American Scout. He was born in Patterson, N.J. and shipped in the deck department. Brother Evleth’s concluding journey was on the Green Lake. ADELMO GIUSTI, 70, initiated his seafaring career in 1964 in the port of New York. Brother Giusti was born in Chile. In 2001, he attended classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Brother Giusti worked in the steward department. His first vessel was the Gulfcrest; his last was the Liberator. CHARLES JACKSON, 66, joined the NMU in 1962. Brother Jackson first sailed aboard the Green Valley. The deck department member was born in Texas. In addition to the individuals listed above, the following NMU pensioners retired on the dates indicated. NAME AGE EDP Curtis, Lance 79 April 1 Flores, Raul 56 July 1 Francis, Roderick 65 July 1 Harris, Hanson 65 April 1 Jones, Robert 65 May 1 Naysnerski, Wayne 55 May 1 rates plus an across-the-board 20 percent increase in wages, OT and penalty rates, all retroactive to July 1. 1969 The SIU-contracted Delta Steamship Line of New Orleans will more than double its fleet by purchasing Prudential Lines’ entire South American operation of ships and trade routes, it was disclosed recently. The sale will add 12 ships to Delta’s fleet, bringing their total to 23 vessels. It will put Delta’s service on all three U.S. sea coasts. This Month In SIU History 1957 Unable to make any headway in wage talks with the Bull Line after two months of negotiations, the SIU struck the company at its Brooklyn terminal on Monday, August 19. The four-ship installation has been tied up tight ever since by a 24-hour picket line manned by Seafarers. Talks with Bull Line reached an impasse a few days before the strike call over demands for parity with the West Coast scale on overtime and penalties 1985 The USNS Stalwart, the first new T-AGOS ship crewed by the SIU, recently completed a record voyage with top marks. “They did an excellent job and performed every task asked of them. This was a very important job that helped the nation’s security,” said an official of Sea Mobility Inc., the company which won the T-AGOS contract. The Stalwart’s deck and engine departments were singled out for the fine job they performed on the mission…. Two of the T-AGOS vessels have been crewed; the next two are due out by the middle of November in Norfolk and early December in Honolulu. Seafarers LOG 17 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24x.qxp 7/29/2006 3:34 AM Page 18 Final Departures RONALD JONES Pensioner Ronald Jones, 63, passed away March 31. Brother Jones started sailing with the SIU in 1962. He was born in Virginia and worked in the deck department. Brother Jones first shipped aboard an Ore Navigation Corporation vessel. His last trip was on the Leader. Brother Jones retired in 1989 and settled in South Williamsport, Pa. CARROLL KENNY Pensioner Carroll Kenny, 78, died March 18. Brother Kenny became a Seafarer in 1949 in New York. His first trip to sea was on the El Faro. Brother Kenny was a member of the steward department. Prior to his retirement in 1993, he sailed aboard the Florida. Born in Todd, Minn., Brother Kenny called Martinez, Ga. home. REUEL PALMER Pensioner Reuel Palmer, 77, passed away March 27. Brother Palmer joined the SIU in 1945, first shipping on the Steel King. The deck department member was born in Massachusetts. Brother Palmer last worked on the Falcon Countess. He went on pension in 1985 and made his home in Berry Creek, Calif. PEDRO PEREZ Pensioner Pedro Perez, 73, passed away Oct. 22. Brother Perez began shipping with the SIU in 1958. His first ship was the Sentry. A member of the steward department, the Puerto Rico-born mariner last sailed aboard the Horizon Hawaii. He went on pension in 1997 and continued to live in Puerto Rico. ANTHONY SINCLAIR Brother Anthony Sinclair, 48, died Jan. 2. He started his SIU career in 1981. Brother Sinclair initially worked aboard the Oakland. He was born in Ohio and shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Sinclair most recently sailed on the Horizon Crusader. He was a resident of Spring, Texas. ADRIAN TORRES Pensioner Adrian Torres, 90, passed away April 5. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Torres began sailing with the Seafarers in 1942 from New York. His first trip to sea was aboard the Rosario. Brother Torres was a deck department member. His most recent voyage was on the Aguadilla. Brother Torres started collecting his retirement pay in 1980. He lived in Taneytown, Md. ALFONS WEINERT Pensioner Alfons Weinert, 74, died Feb. 19. Brother Weinert joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards) (MC&S) in 1969 in the port of San Francisco. 18 Seafarers LOG The steward department member was born in Germany. Prior to retiring in 1989, Brother Weinert worked on the President Wilson. He resided in San Francisco. PAUL WHALEN Pensioner Paul Whalen, 77, passed away March 20. Brother Whalen launched his SIU career in 1968, first sailing on the Long Lines. He was a New York native and shipped in the engine department. Brother Whalen’s last voyage was aboard the Patriot. He became a pensioner in 1995. Brother Whalen was a resident of Las Vegas, Nev. ROBERT YARBROUGH Pensioner Robert Yarbrough, 80, died March 3. Brother Yarbrough embarked on his seafaring profession in 1952. The Alabama-born mariner initially worked on the Seawind and sailed as a member of the deck department. His last journey was aboard the Overseas Chicago. Brother Yarbrough began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1990. He made his home in Lake Charles, La. INLAND COLBOURNE AUTRY Pensioner Colbourne Autry, 79, passed away March 24. Boatman Autry joined the union in 1968 after serving in the U.S. Army. His first trip to sea was on a Steuart Transportation vessel. Boatman Autry was born in Virginia. He retired in 1989 and lived in Tangier, Va. DONALD GLASS Pensioner Donald Glass, 68, died March 15. Boatman Glass was born in Altoona, Pa. He started sailing with the SIU in 1975 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Glass first sailed aboard a Mariner Towing Company boat. He went on pension in 2003 and called Aurora, Colo. home. HAROLD KINNEY Boatman Harold Kinney, 47, passed away May 28. He joined the SIU in 1977 in Piney Point, Md. Boatman Kinney was a member of the steward department. His first ship was the St. Claire; his last voyage was aboard the Liberty Island. Boatman Kinney was born in Maine and resided in Chesapeake, Va. EARL NIXON Pensioner Earl Nixon, 75, died Oct. 22. Boatman Nixon became a union member in 1967. He first sailed on R.K. Davis Transportation Inc. vessels but primarily worked aboard vessels operated by Allied Transportation. Boatman Nixon made his home in Bel Haven, N.C. and retired in 1992. GREAT LAKES MISSED ALI Orleans. He first sailed on the Ero in the engine department. His most recent trip to sea was aboard the Almeria Lykes. Brother Gabriel was born in Louisiana. He retired in 1986. BERNARDINO GOICO Pensioner Missed Ali, 77, died Jan. 22. Brother Ali joined the SIU in 1970. The steward department member was born in Yemen. During his seafaring career, Brother Ali shipped primarily on vessels operated by American Steamship Company, including the U.S. Gypsum and the Buffalo. In 1992 he retired. He made Dearborn, Mich. his home. Pensioner Bernardino Goico, 85, died Nov. 25. Brother Goico joined the NMU ranks in 1964 in New York. His first trip was on the Argentina. Brother Goico’s last voyage was aboard the American Accord. He started collecting his retirement pay in 1982. 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. Pensioner Cruz Hernandez, 87, passed away Dec. 19. Brother Hernandez joined the NMU in 1939 in the port of Baltimore. The Puerto Rico-born mariner’s first ship was the Atenas. He last sailed on the United States. Brother Hernandez went on pension in 1970. JOHN ARENDALL Pensioner John Arendall, 80, passed away Dec. 29. Brother Arendall joined the NMU in 1942 in the port of New Orleans. He was born in Mobile, Ala. and worked in the steward department. Brother Arendall’s first ship was the Veraguas; his last was the Sealift Caribbean. He went on pension in 1986. MARCELO COLON Pensioner Marcelo Colon, 74, died Dec. 25. Brother Colon began shipping with the NMU in 1965, initially sailing aboard the St. Catherine from New York. The engine department member was a native of Puerto Rico. Brother Colon retired in 1991. His final trip to sea was on the American Astronaut. NICK DACKO Pensioner Nick Dacko, 93, passed away Oct. 19. Brother Dacko started his seafaring career in 1946 in the port of Baltimore. His first voyage was aboard the Carleton Ellis. His concluding journey was on the American Charger. Brother Dacko, who was born in Jamestown, Pa., began receiving his retirement compensation in 1967. VICTOR DEMIDOVICH Pensioner Victor Demidovich, 88, died Oct. 28. Brother Demidovich was born in Shenandoah, Pa. He became an NMU member in 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Demidovich last shipped aboard the Lightning. He began receiving his pension in 1974. LAWRENCE GABRIEL Pensioner Lawrence Gabriel, 82, passed away Dec. 10. Brother Gabriel embarked on his NMU career in 1961 in New CRUZ HERNANDEZ HILARY HUNTER Pensioner Hilary Hunter, 80, died Nov. 24. Brother Hunter began working with the NMU in 1968, while in Norfolk, Va. His first voyage was aboard the Export Bay. Brother Hunter shipped in both the engine and steward departments. Prior to his retirement in 1986, he sailed on the Spirit of Liberty. ALBERTO JIMENEZ Pensioner Alberto Jimenez, 78, passed away Dec. 28. Brother Jimenez was born in Puerto Rico and joined the union in the port of New York. Brother Jimenez’s final voyage was aboard the American Champion. He began collecting his retirement stipends in 1977. CARLOS LIMARDO Pensioner Carlos Limardo, 89, died Oct. 25. Brother Limardo became an NMU member in 1946, initially sailing from Galveston, Texas. His first vessel was a Liberty ship, the Crawford W. Long. Brother Limardo retired in 1968. His last voyage was on the Container Forwarder. KENNETH LINGO Pensioner Kenneth Lingo, 84, passed away Dec. 22. Brother Lingo started his seafaring career in 1944 in the port of Norfolk, Va., sailing in both the steward and deck departments. His first trip to sea was aboard the Mormacdale; his final voyage was on a Lykes Brothers vessel. Brother Lingo went on pension in 1972. GABRIEL MARTI Pensioner Gabriel Marti, 93, died Nov. 12. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Marti joined the union in 1944. He first shipped from the port of New York on the William R. Day. Brother Marti became a pensioner in 1968 after sailing aboard the Gibbs Lykes. CONNIE McCALLA Pensioner Connie McCalla, 70, passed away Dec. 12. Brother McCalla began working with the NMU in 1964 in the port of Houston. He was born in Jamaica and shipped in the engine department. Brother McCalla’s first vessel was the Spencer; his last was the Corpus Christi. He started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1998. JAMES MILLER Pensioner James Miller, 79, died Nov. 7. Brother Miller was born in Texas. He first sailed from Wilmington, Calif. on the Sampan. Brother Miller, who worked in the steward department, retired in 1988. SEYMORE RICHARDSON JR. Pensioner Seymore Richardson Jr., 87, passed away Dec. 10. Brother Richardson joined the NMU in 1952. The Alabama-born mariner first worked aboard the John L. Sullivan. Brother Richardson was a member of the engine department. Before retiring in 1983, he shipped on the Sheldon Lykes. JOSEPH TRACY Pensioner Joseph Tracy, 81, died Dec. 25. Brother Tracy joined the NMU in 1944, first sailing from the port of New York aboard the Alden Barnes Fiertz. His last journey to sea was on the Pioneer Commander. Brother Tracy began collecting his pension in 1971. 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 AGE Abbey, Clarence 78 Batenhorst, Donald 69 Blake, Kenneth 79 Broussard, Preston 77 Dew, Billy 77 Fassbender, Paul 76 Goodman, George 87 Haines, James 78 Hall, Phillip 78 Higgins, Samuel 83 Howell, Cyril 84 Jones, Floyd 80 Legendre, Rae 76 Lopes, Julius 81 Lorin, Jack 85 Malbrough, Paul 78 Micklowski, Frank 92 Padilla, Jose 91 Paul, Eugene 84 Rubo, Giovanni 78 Simmons, Louis 94 Tims, Ralph 81 Venegas, Carlos 94 Williams, Willie 70 DOD April 16 June 7 June 16 March 21 June 25 June 23 May 20 May 31 June 15 June 10 June 10 May 26 June 27 June 18 June 17 June 18 May 7 March 21 Jan 1 April 6 Dec. 29 June 12 June 15 April 12 August 2006 �37484_P4_7,11_13,17,19x.qxp 7/29/2006 4:27 AM 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. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Line Limited), July 2—Chairman Kadir P. Amat, Secretary Douglas A. Hundshamer, Educational Director Randy D. Clark, Deck Delegate Roberto Flores, Engine Delegate Apolinario A. Calacal, Steward Delegate Alaa A. Embaby. Chairman urged everyone to read president’s report in Seafarers LOG. He also went over correspondence received from VP of Contracts George Tricker regarding changes to medical plan. Educational director explained Core Plus benefits. No beefs or disputed OT reported. TV wall mounts to be purchased in Charleston, S.C. for smaller room. Chairman thanked all departments for helping keep ship clean. Next ports: Charleston; Norfolk, Va.; Newark, N.J. COMET (Maersk Line Limited), June 4—Chairman Mathew J. Bevak, Secretary Ernest Polk, Educational Director Daniel L. Borden, Steward Delegate Saleh M. Saleh. Chairman thanked all departments for great trip and encouraged them to contribute to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Suggestion made to increase retirement pay. Next port: Los Angeles, Calif. EL MORRO (Interocean American Shipping), June 25—Chairman Roan R. Lightfoot, Secretary Jerome Jordan, Educational Director Monroe G. Monseur, Engine Delegate Victor Sapp, Steward Delegate Antonio Mendez. Chairman announced June 30 payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. He asked crew members to keep noise down in hallways while other crew members are sleeping. Educational director reminded everyone to check expiration dates on necessary sailing documents and upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members requested information on new contract. Vote of thanks given to the steward department for job well done. Sailing on the Hauge Thanks to OMU John Steeber for sending along this photo of himself (right) and AB James Blitch, who sail together on the Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. August 2006 FLORIDA (Maersk Line Limited), June 15—Chairman Herbert Charles, Secretary Joseph Jones, Educational Director David Vega, Deck Delegate Randell G. Porter, Engine Delegate Robert T. Norris, Steward Delegate Daniel L. Wehr. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade skills at SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer stated $200 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members requested sailing board be posted early. GLOBAL SENTINEL (Transoceanic Cable Ship Co.), June 19—Chairman Lee Hardman, Secretary Vicki L. Haggerty, Educational Director Vladimir G. Tkachev, Deck Delegate John Bumgarner, Engine Delegate John Carson, Steward Delegate Robert J. Haggerty. Chairman advised Seafarers to check their Money Purchase Pension Plan accounts. He requested information on status of new contract and expressed his gratitude to the steward department for great job during voyage. Educational director urged members to take advantage of educational opportunities available at the Piney Point school. Treasurer stated $4,500 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew was reminded to update beneficiary cards if changes have been made. Barbecue was announced for June 21 lunch. HORIZON CHALLENGER (Horizon Lines), June 11—– Chairman Roy L. Williams, Secretary Donald B. GaNung, Educational Director Clive A. Steward, Engine Delegate Angelo S. Wilcox Sr., Steward Delegate Simone J. Solomon. Chairman discussed possible changes in new contract and advised all members to be present for union meeting when Houston patrolman comes aboard. With increased competition for seafaring jobs, educational director urged crew to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center in order to be trained and ready. Treasurer stated $200 in ship’s fund. Suggestion was made to buy DVDs with the money. Beef reported in deck department; no disputed OT reported. Bosun reminded crew members this is an election year. He stressed the importance of registering and voting for those politicians who are favorable to the maritime industry. Recommendations were made regarding vacation and pension benefits. Crew expressed gratitude to Chief Cook Solomon and GSU Tony Grant for preparing good meals. Next port: Houston. HORIZON DISCOVERY (Horizon Lines), June 10— Chairman James W. Saunders, Secretary Joseph A. Laureta, Educational Director Herman Castro, Engine Delegate Hector J. Ginel, Steward Delegate Tracey L. Newsome. Secretary urged all mariners to keep documents current and upgrade skills at SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to increase pension and medical benefits. June 13 payoff to take place in Jacksonville, Fla. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next port: San Juan, P.R. HORIZON HAWAII (Horizon Lines), June 4—Chairman Thomas W. Grosskurth, Secretary Joseph J. Gallo Jr., Educational Director Mohamad Y. Abdullah, Deck Delegate Antonio M. Mercado, Engine Delegate Rene Vazquez, Steward Delegate Carlos H. Sanchez. Chairman announced June 9 payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. He thanked all departments for working well together. Members were advised to have documents and dues ready when patrolman comes aboard. He also emphasized importance of keeping passports and other necessary documents up to date. Secretary thanked crew for great voyage. Educational director advised members to take advantage of educational opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. AB Ray Fernandez thanked fellow SIU crew members and officers for their support and generosity during his family’s time of mourning. Thanks given to Chief Cook Carlito Sanchez and SA Jorge Mora for their hard work and great meals. Next ports: Jacksonville; San Juan, P.R.; Port Elizabeth, N.J. HORIZON NAVIGATOR (Horizon Lines), June 11— Chairman Werner H. Becher, Secretary Peter F. Ciddio, Educational Director Daniel F. Dean, Deck Delegate Al M. Alhaj, Steward Delegate Marcus R. Rowe. Bosun announced payoff to take place June 13 in Oakland, Calif. He reminded crew members to separate plastic items from regular trash. For security reasons while in port, mariners were asked to use one door when entering and exiting the house by the gangway. Secretary reported smooth sailing. Educational director urged crew members to upgrade their skills by attending classes at the Paul Hall Center, which in turn would allow them to qualify for better paying jobs. Treasurer stated $100 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Anyone using washing machine and dryer was reminded to check pockets, so that no foreign objects clog drains. Next ports: Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif. HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), June 15—Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Edgardo G. Ombac, Educational Director David S. Goodpastor, Deck Delegate Julie B. Ortiz. Chairman asked crew to check with patrolman before going ashore. Crew computer to be fixed in Tacoma; DVD player will be purchased in Kaoshiong. Everyone was reminded to wear hard hats during port operations or use the tunnel and also be aware of the no-smoking policy dockside in Guam. Educational director encouraged everyone to upgrade at Piney Point school and keep necessary shipping documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked for excellent food and clean mess hall. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. HORIZON TACOMA (Horizon Lines), June 18—Chairman Salvador N. Villareal, Secretary Cynthia L. Caster, Educational Director Mohamed N. Alsinai, Deck Delegate Harry Massa, Engine Delegate Husain A. Ali, Steward Delegate Reynaldo C. Telmo. Chairman discussed new contract and announced June 20 payoff in Tacoma, Wash. Secretary urged all members to see him after meeting to obtain any needed forms (registration, vacation, SMPPP, benefits, upgrading applications). He also shared highlights from the May membership meeting in Tacoma, including the introduction by Horizon Lines of five new vessels into service in the near future and the opening of a new Oakland agreements. Next port: Houston, Texas. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line Limited), June 18—Chairman Thomas P. Flanagan, Secretary Gerald L. Hyman, Educational Director Kevin M. Cooper, Deck Delegate Abdullah A. Oun, Engine Delegate Anatoli Vetsinov. Chairman thanked everyone for safe and successful trip. Secretary encouraged crew members to attend upgrading classes at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great food during Aboard the Sea Breeze Crew members pose for a snapshot aboard the Crowley tug Sea Breeze. The picture was taken recently in Jacksonville, FL. hall (to replace the one in San Francisco). Members were advised to keep their dues paid up or risk having benefits suspended. Educational director encouraged all mariners to upgrade skills at the Seafarers-affiliated training school and take advantage of the union’s free education. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made for satellite TV. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food. Next ports: Tacoma; Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), June 4—Chairman Loren E. Watson, Secretary Sherman W. Anderson, Educational Director Kevin T. McCagh, Deck Delegate Robert G. Crooks, Engine Delegate Mohamed M. Abdulla, Steward Delegate Efren P. Aguirre. Bosun thanked crew for safe voyage and good jobs. He announced June 10 payoff in Tacoma, Wash. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Electrician requested more classes be offered at Piney Point school geared toward the engine department. Request also made for information regarding sea time benefits and installing satellite TV in individual rooms. Crew was asked to take care of DVDs and return to case when finished with them. Next ports: Tacoma; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty Maritime), June 4—Chairman Gavino A. Octaviano, Secretary Gregory G. Keene, Educational Director Antonio A. Octaviano, Deck Delegate Ronald Owens, Engine Delegate George S. Galanis, Steward Delegate Richard A. Gegenheimer. Secretary urged crew to renew zcards early to avoid missing job opportunities. Beef reported in deck department; no disputed OT reported. Members requested second washer and dryer. Suggestions made regarding possible changes in steward sections of standard tanker and freighter voyage. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Newark, N.J. MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Line Limited), June 14—Chairman Luke F. Wells, Secretary Billy Gigante, Educational Director Robert A. Ott, Deck Delegate John G. Gilston. Chairman announced June 17 payoff in Newark, N.J. He also reminded crew members to keep documents up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made pertaining to high cost of medical insurance. Next ports: Norfolk, Va; Newark. SEABULK CHALLENGE (Seabulk Tankers), June 23—Chairman Kenneth A. Abrahamson, Steward Delegate Timothy J. Dowd, Educational Director Teresito O. Reyes, Steward Delegate Heath G. Bryan. Chairman stated actual letter—not just discharge—from Tanker Company is needed to renew tanker assist endorsement. Secretary advised members to start renewal process early on MMDs, allowing at least 12 months. Educational director noted that new tanker and freight agreements expected this summer, possibly mid-July or August. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to DEU for keeping house clean and to galley crew for great food. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (LMS Ship Management), June 11— Chairman Grant A. Shirley, Secretary Darryl K. Goggins, Educational Director Alfred G. Lane, Engine Delegate Manuel C. Flores, Steward Delegate Rocel C. Alvarez. Secretary asked mariners to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen for next person. Educational director urged everyone to take advantage of educational opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Discussion held about new contract. Request made for refrigerators in all rooms. Seafarers LOG 19 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24x.qxp 7/29/2006 4:03 AM Page 20 Know Your Rights 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. Leo Kinney: A True Shipmate Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines “shipmate” as a fellow sailor on the same ship. Webster is wrong! Our definition of “shipmate” is Harold (Leo) Kinney. Leo Kinney—a man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and offer a helping hand to anyone, even the newest crew member, whom he would make feel at home. It was a pleasure to work with Leo, no matter what department he worked in: galley, deck or engine room. He would put his whole heart into every job from the cleanest to the dirtiest. Leo was the best cook on board our vessel. He will be remembered for his positive attitude. He was always cheerful, and it was a pleasure coming in at coffee time and meal hours. He always asked everyone if there was anything special he could cook for them or anything he could get them on the stores list. He tried to make everyone’s life on board these vessels a little easier. We could go on and on about all the good things and hard work this man did for his shipmates and the company, and few would disagree that it was a pleasure—and an honor—to work beside this man. He will be missed by many. May you rest in peace, Leo. Your friends, brothers and shipmates (Editor’s note: Brother Harold (Leo) Kinney died May 28, 2006. The above letter from his shipmates was sent to the Seafarers Harold (Leo) Kinney (center) poses with two of his shipmates. See page 18 for Brother Kinney’s obituary. LOG by David Ling, an SIU member working aboard the Dredge Liberty Island.) Thanks for All Your Help I am writing to thank our union for all the help extended to my wife and me this past year. My wife was in the hospital for 43 days after major brain surgery. She had a full recovery. I am now seriously disabled and am not able to work. I am receiving medical benefits for my problem. If it were not for the sickness and accident benefit, we would be in desperate straits. If not for these benefits, I don’t know what we would do. Most of all, I wish to thank Brother John Cox, our port agent in Wilmington, Calif. From the very first, he went far beyond his duties and responsibilities. I was at sea when my wife’s injury occurred. John took control, got me home and was directly involved in her recovery. For this, he deserves recognition for his direct help and uncalled-for involvement in our desperate time of need. I first joined the union in 1967. The SIU has always been there to help and support my family and me. However, this effort by the union is beyond anything I have ever experienced. John Cox is truly a “union man” in the fullest meaning of the phrase. He runs his hall in a fair and just manner for ALL. He is honest, knowledgeable and understanding and displays the qualities of leadership that we all need in these struggling times. Once again, to Brother Mike Sacco, John Cox and our great union, I say God bless you. George Paul Barber San Diego, Calif. Keeping Busy After Retirement I joined the Merchant Marine in 1943 and retired 27 years later in 1970 as an NMU member. I am very glad the SIU and NMU united and am receiving the Seafarers LOG, which I appreciate very much. I am very concerned about the passage of H.R. 23, the Belated Thank You to Merchant Mariners of World War II because there are not so many of us great old seamen still alive. I think it is about time that some credit be given to us for all the efforts we made in keeping this country free. I am very proud of what I did for our country. At 83, I am still trying to do something to keep busy. I compose music and have an Internet site (www.rupertolopez.5U.com). In April, Hilltop Records of Los Angeles came out with a CD, and one of my songs, “I’m Lonely Again,” is on it. They want to record two more songs, “From Texas to New York” and “My Dear United States.” God bless you all. Ruperto López Rosado Hormigueros, P.R. 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 8/06 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. August 2006 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24x.qxp 7/29/2006 4:15 AM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE FOWT September 11 November 3 Marine Electrician October 23 December 15 The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for August through the end 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. Welding September 11 October 9 September 29 October 27 Safety Specialty Courses Start Date Date of Completion August 7 September 25 August 11 September 29 Basic Safety Training - AB August 14 September 25 November 6 August 18 September 29 November 10 Basic Safety Training - FOWT September 18 November 13 September 22 November 17 Government Vessels - FOWT August 7 September 11 September 18 August 11 September 15 September 22 Tankerman Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* September 18 November 27 September 29 December 8 August 7 October 16 August 11 October 20 Course Advanced Fire Fighting* (one week) (*must have basic fire fighting) Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion August 21 October 2 November 13 September 15 October 27 December 8 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) August 21 August 25 Lifeboatman/Water Survival August 7 September 18 October 30 August 18 September 29 November 10 Radar August 7 August 18 Radar Renewal (one day) August 28 Course Able Seaman (*must have basic fire fighting) Tankerman (PIC) Barge* (*must have basic fire fighting) Recertification Steward Upgrading Courses Bosun October 9 November 6 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning August 10, 2006. Academic Department Courses Engine Upgrading Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. Course Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops Start Date Date of Completion September 11 November 13 October 6 December 8 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 _________________________ 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 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. 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/06 Seafarers LOG 21 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/27/2006 5:12 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 675 — Graduating from the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from class 675. They include (in alphabetical order) Zachary Clayton, Carmelo Collazo, Christopher Curran, Darnell Keith, Alphonso Gowdy Jr., Marvin Hearman, Sherwin Jones, Rory O’Brien, Paul Pederson, Mychal Sands, Ronald Sease, Cornelius Taylor, Daron Tinney, Robert Vayko, Furman Watson, Jon Werner and James Wynegar III. AB — Receiving certificates for completion of the AB class ending June 23 are (in no specific order) Steven Sanderson, David Barber, Dean Bettis, William Markeson, Jorge Nunez, Edwin Rivera, David Spangler, Asaad Al-Waseem, John Villarta, Daniel Manning, Ivan Zapata, Jennifer Souci, Daryl Alvin Jr., DeAris Henry and Horace Robinson IV. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Fast Rescue Boat — June 9 graduates of the fast rescue boat course include (in alphabetical order) Louis Barra, Nicole Geideman, Linsey Knight, Arthur Marshall, Stephen Thompson, Robert Warren and Lawrence Williams. Their instructor, Stan Beck, is at right in the front. Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations — Upgrading Seafarers and unlicensed apprentices completed this course June 15. They are (in no specific order) unlicensed apprentices Nicholas Gattuso, Lawrence Stanley-Dalton, Jeffery Novak, Claytain Carr, Antoine Best, Lester DeSheers and Aaron Larson; and Seafarers Shawn Alexander, Matt Waldman, Philomena Hoang, Ernesto Lagramada, Nestor Montano, Ricky Goodman, Matthew Whitmore, Randy Louque, David Grasso, Justin Bing, Henry Callahan, Richard DeLa Cruz, Fatim Rashed, Luke Staiger, Jose Blanco, Michael Garcia and Victor Rios. Advanced Fire Fighting — The advanced fire Machinist — Under the instruction of Steve Haver (second from left) are graduates of the machinist course, which took place June 5-23. They are Michael Kirby, Danillo Tabudlong, Ronald Sison, Miguel Batista, Christopher Schneider and Lamar Parker. fighting course took place June 5-9. Graduating from the class are Gregory Brunson Sr., Nathan Wirt, Alsea Mua, Michael Carvalho, Bobby Taylor Jr., Caleb Whorl, Charles Ross, Stephen Conley, Charles Clark and Byron Collins and their instructor, Tom Cessna (far left). Computer Lab Classes Left: Holding their certificates of achievement for courses completed June 23 in the computer lab at the Paul Hall Center are (from left) Ricky Goodman, Fatim Rashed and Joel Fahselt. Their instructor, Rick Prucha, stands in the back row. Right: With instructor Rick Prucha (back row) are students who completed their computer courses June 30. They are (from left) Daniel Manning, Timothy Sexton, Tawrence Abrams and Jorge Nuñez. 22 Seafarers LOG August 2006 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/25/2006 6:05 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Specially Trained OS — Included in the June 16 graduating class are Phase III unlicensed apprentices (in alphabetical order) Stephen McGruder, Shawana Mills, Brendan O’Brien, Nelson Orien, Algernon Reed, Lawanda Thornton, Taufiq Wasel and Jesse Willard; and SIU upgraders Daniel Stavron and David Stavron. Their instructor, Michael Smith, is second from left. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Upgrading students who completed this course June 16 are (in no specific order) Juan Castillo, Michael Sykes, Joel Fahselt, Arthur Saeli, Alexander Kepchar, Billy Hill Sr., Meili Seegers, Jonas Robinson, Glen McCullough, Paula Hopson, Scott Bowmer, Andrew Eastman, Endang Abidin, Richard Summers, Paul Van Aken, Martin Josephson and Carlos Bonilla. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is standing at far left. Specially Trained OS — Completing this course June 16 are unlicensed apprentices (in no specific order) Wayne Altoonian, John Galatioto, Mathew Alaniz, Jeffry Cesvet, Scott Bloomfield, Donald Desir, Nicholas Kempker, Thomas Jarrett and Jonathan Rodriguez; and SIU upgraders Marvin Smith, Jorge Lanas, Joseph Quitugua, Adiener Alfaro, Rommel Lopez and Larry Castaneda. Their instructor, Stacey Harris, is second from left in the back row. STCW — NCL, June 1: Zulma Gonzalez, Julio Perez, Rodel Rollo, Purisma Rosario, Leon Russell, Monique Sands, Catalina Sanga, Edina Scrantz, Leslie Sears, Robert Slaughter, Lizbeth Soto, John Steffens, Mark Stevens, Robert Tabasko, Shatila Thomas, David Tover, Benjamin Trusiak, Valentine Alloa, Janie Vera and Margo Waring. STCW — NCL, June 1: Jewel Abraham, Thelma Aguon, Cynthia Almo, Bobby Alyarado, Roel Arcala, Pariss Archie, Michael Ardolino, Rocklyn Arjona, Arturo Asenjo, Anthony Atkins, Romeo Baun, Imed Ben-Abid, Ricky Blount, Thomas Boudnik, Sharon Boyers, Oliver Brewer, Frankie Brown, Norma Castil, Michael Chappell, Aimee Christensen, Michael Clarke, Jean Dorcely, Antoine Dorismon, Mario Escobar, Jesus Estrella, William Flynn, Brandi Gallegos and Arturo Geigel. (Note: not all are pictured.). STCW — NCL and SIU, June 16: Victoria Lee, Marquis Manuel, William Martin, Marinell Martinez, Pauline Masley, Anthony Mastroianni, James McChrystal, David McKaig, Max McKee, Jerome McKinney, Brandon Mellstrup, Eric Montressor, Timothy Mulligan, Lovina Ngiramdelmang, Christian Olaes, Greg Orara, Ricardo Ortega, Alphonso Owens, Travis Parker, Danielle Parolini, Paul Penny, Elpidio Punu Jr., Monica Ramos-Mediavilla, Geraldine Ravelo, Kimberly Redmond, Gregory Repka, Rafael Rios DeJesus, David Rivera, Jeremiah Rowley and Joseph Palomo. August 2006 STCW — NCL and SIU, June 30: Mark Adams, Malcolm Holmes, Lamont Robinson, Juan Steward, Tengku Sukarno, Tiffany Taylor, Sean Theodis, LaMar Thomas, Carla Thompson, Reynaldo Tinay, Lauran Walker, Terrance Weary, James Webb, Zachary Wery, William Wetherell, Joshua White, Cortrell Wigglesworth, Morgan Williams and Lamarr Winston. STCW — NCL, June 1: Rebecca Gramm, Fountain Green, Nakana Haili, Peter Hamm, Katie Haughey, Raymond Hernandez, Flora Jackson, Mark Jadwick, Charity Jobe, Liberti Kimball, Steven Kluchi, Pedro Leal, Lana Lindsey, Anna Mahony, Bryten Manuel, Angela McClure, Mark McEachren, Diego Melendez, Jeffry Milian, Douglas Montalvo, John Morris, Janaree Nagel, Minh Nguyen, James Nicholas, Rifani Obaseki, Michelle Oliver and Sidney Pesch. Seafarers LOG 23 �37484_P8,10,11,14_16,18,20_24.qxp 7/27/2006 5:13 PM Page 24 Volume 68, Number 8 August 2006 The Slop Chest: Check out the exclusive online source for Seafarers International Union merchandise at www.seafarers..org. MS S P SShip hii p D ell ivv err s MSP Delivers . S.. Mi i lii taa ry y For U.S. Military F orr U. Alliance New York Transports Materiel Home T he SIU-crewed Alliance New York recently transported materiel for the United States military back to America from overseas, discharging its cargo in Philadelphia. The vessel then sailed to Baltimore to take on new cargo. (The photos of crew members on this page were taken in Baltimore on June 21.) Operated by Liberty Global Logistics, the Alliance New York reflagged under the Stars and Stripes late last year and then enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP). The roll-on/roll-off ship, built in April 2005, is 656 feet long, has a beam of 105.8 feet and can AB Anthony Pace, left, and Chief Steward Ron Lupinacci sail at greater than 20 knots. The MSP originated as a 10year program that was part of the Maritime Security Act of 1996. Originally signed into law by President Clinton, the program supports in the international shipping trades a fleet of militarily useful U.S.-flag commercial vessels crewed by American citizens. Participating vessel operators are required to make their ships and other commercial transportation Chief Cook Felipe Reyes, left, and resources available to the Chief Steward Lionell Packnett Department of Defense during times of war or national emergency. Through the enactment of the Maritime Security Act of 2003—signed into law by President Bush—the MSP expanded to include 60 vessels (compared to the 47 ships in the original program) and was extended for 10 more years. During the reflagging ceremony for the Alliance New York last November, Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), noted that the expanded MSP helps augment the pool of well-trained, reliable, U.S. citizen mariners who sail aboard AB Felsher Beasley, left, and GUDE Tirso Cruz SA Anthony Clemons UA Montree Nakwichet The Alliance New York (pictured in 2005) reflagged under the Stars and Stripes last fall and then enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program. civilian-crewed military support ships. He credited those mariners for their performance during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and stated, “We rely heavily on our commercial partners and associated labor organizations. We cannot do business without you. That’s a reality that’s not about to change.” Schwartz’s predecessor at TRANSCOM, Gen. John Handy (who retired last October), also spoke highly of the MSP. A year before the new program was approved, Handy testified before the Merchant Marine Panel of the House Armed Services Committee. “I wholeheartedly support reauthorization of MSP beyond expiration of the UA Corey Overbeck current authority on September 30, 2005,” Handy told the panel. “The MSP is a vital element of our military’s strategic sealift and global response capability. As we look at operations on multiple fronts in support of the war on terrorism, it is clear that our limited defense resources will increasingly rely on partnerships with industry to maintain the needed capability and capacity to meet our most demanding wartime sceBosun Craig Amison narios. That makes MSP reauthorization even more important as we look toward the future.” As previously reported, the new MSP which took effect in October 2005 increases the number of participants to 60 ships; provides financial assistance to construct five newly built tankers in the United States that are capable of carrying military petroleum products during a war; establishes a 30-month period to replace older ships with newer Defense Departmentapproved and militarily useful ships; and increases the annual payment to ship operators. GUDE Ahmed Ghaleb � 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 August 2006 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIU WEIGHS IN ON TWIC, MMC UNIONS OFFER SENSIBLE SOLUTION: MODIFY CURRENT MMD SEAFARERS APPROVE STANDARD CONTRACTS MATSON’S MAUNALEI CHRISTENED IN PHILLY SHBP ELGIBILITY CHANGE ANNOUNCED 2ND T-AKE SHIP CHRISTENED SIU-CONTRACTED COMPANIES EARN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS LABOR ICON EVY DUBROW DIES AT 95 ‘ALL AVAILABLE BOATS’ EXAMINES NEW YORK EVACUATION ON 9/11 MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES WEB SITE UNION PROVIDED SOLID FOUNDATION, GREAT MEMORIES SIU CREWS HONORED FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS INDUSTRY ‘PIONEER’ BILL SAUL DIES AT 80 SEAFARERS TO VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS MSP SHIP DELIVERS FOR U.S. MILITARY ALLIANCE NEW YORK TRANSPORTS MATERIAL HOME 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 08/01/2006 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. 8 2006 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/5dc717e753d97a5744a0e641b6213063.pdf ee59b69a7b4fcc2076cce3399163274e PDF Text Text 43725_p1,2,18,19:2007-May 7/27/2007 6:16 PM Page 1 Volume 69, Number 8 August 2007 SIU-Affiliated School th Marks 40 Anniversary The Seafarers-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education opened in August 1967 in Piney Point, Md. Once a barebones facility, the campus has grown into a highly regarded, cuttingedge school where tens of thousands of mariners have trained. The photos below span the school’s existence, from the late 1960s to the mid 2000s. Additional coverage appears on page 2 and on pages 9-16. Seafarers Commend and Share Crowley’s Commitment to Safety Company Takes Smart, Proactive Approach Seafarers-contracted Crowley utilizes a far-reaching, highly effective combination of programs to help ensure shipboard safety—a practice heartily embraced by its SIU crews. Pictured below are two Seafarers employed by Crowley along with one of the company’s vessels: the ATB Sound Reliance (with barge 550-2) off the coast of Honolulu, Mate Greg Jarvis aboard a tug in Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Engineer Deso Hrboka in a tugboat engine room in Los Angeles/Long Beach. Page 24. Rescues at Sea Pages 2, 4 TWIC News Page 3 �43725_p1,2,18,19x:2007-May 7/31/2007 12:11 PM Page 2 Horizon Falcon Rescues 2 President’s Report Debris, Severe Weather Complicate Operation in North Pacific Leadership and Foresight A glance at the aerial photo at the bottom of this article should confirm that today’s Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education bears little resemblance to the spartan facility which opened 40 years ago this month in Piney Point, Md. Fortunately, the changes have been for the better. The SIU-affiliated school has grown and adapted throughout its existence, meeting the needs of individual students and ship operators who, in Michael Sacco turn, help fulfill the manpower requirements of the U.S. Merchant Marine. The school also has done much more than simply survive. The Paul Hall Center consistently has been at the forefront of state-of-the-art, maritime-specific training, whether we’re talking about simulators, fire fighting, oil spill prevention, shipboard computers, training record books, refrigeration and the list goes on. As with other institutions, there may be a tendency with the passage of time to overlook some of the history behind the Paul Hall Center—to mistakenly assume it was easy to put together. Having been on site when the property first was acquired, I can assure you it took an incredible amount of work to get that school off the ground. You’ve heard the expression “blood, sweat and tears?” Just about everyone who was at the school in the late 1960s shed some of each, and they weren’t tears of joy. Paul Hall, the union’s second president, rightfully is credited as the school’s driving force. Many times, I have used this space to reflect on Paul’s vision and how to this very day his foresight continues to help shape both the school and the union. Additional thoughts on Paul and the training center can be found elsewhere in this newspaper. But I wanted to take a moment to recognize the thousands of other people who also, in their own ways, have contributed to the success in Piney Point. I was based at the school for many of its early years. Because of that, and what the school means to our union, it has always and will always hold a special place with me. So, I have a firsthand appreciation for the school officials, instructors, staff members and students who over the years have helped build the Paul Hall Center into a world-class facility. They’ve made sacrifices large and small, usually away from the spotlight, but always for the betterment of the next people who would pass through the front gate. Obviously there is no realistic way to list every name or use every photograph as we celebrate “40 Years of Progress.” But as someone who was there from the start, I thank everyone who did their part and went out of their way to help maintain and build upon Paul Hall’s extraordinary vision. Rescues at Sea Many of the seamanship skills taught at the Paul Hall Center were utilized by SIU crews during two recent rescues at sea. Seafarers aboard the Horizon Falcon and the USNS Kanawha upheld the finest traditions of the “Brotherhood of the Sea” as they helped save fellow mariners in distress. On behalf of the entire union, I commend you for a job well done. Piney Point in 1967 Volume 69, Number 8 August 2007 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 © 2007 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG The SIU-crewed containership Horizon Falcon last month rescued two Chinese mariners whose Panamanian-flag vessel sank in the North Pacific after encountering rough seas due to a typhoon. The rescue effort took place over a 24-hour period on July 12 and 13, approximately 375 miles northwest of Guam. The two mariners were among 13 survivors from the 22-person crew of the log carrier Hai Tong No. 7. Three other bodies were recovered; six more remained missing when the U.S. Coast Guard suspended search operations July 15. SIU members sailing aboard the Horizon Falcon during the rescue included Recertified Bosun Steven Bush, ABs Ahmed Almuflihi, John Dacuag, Jennifer Souci, Stanley Parker, Jack Kem, Earl Sparkes and Jerry Gonzaga, Electrician Ursel Barber, QMEDs Husain Ali and Gustavo Osorio, Recertified Steward Philip Lau and SA Milagros Clark. “In this electronic information age we live in, it’s easy to forget how goods actually get to consumers—that merchant mariners still go to sea for months at a time to make the global economy work. And ever since man has been going to sea, there has been danger. But there also has been and will ever be brotherhood at sea that crosses any boundary. This rescue effort is a shining example of that,” said Charles G. (Chuck) Raymond, chairman, president and CEO of Horizon Lines and himself a former mariner. “I couldn’t be prouder of our crew and their efforts,” added John V. Keenan, senior vice president and chief transportation officer for Horizon Lines. “I know our crewmen were thankful they could help bring home two fellow mariners, and only wished they could have located more.” The Hai Tong No. 7 crew already had been in the water for two days when the 722-foot Horizon Falcon was contacted by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam to divert for a distress call. The SIU-crewed ship arrived at the site before noon on July 12, where it encountered 30-foot swells in fierce seas, with 40-mph winds. The rescue further would be complicated by logs and other debris that came from the 420foot Hai Tong No. 7. According to reports from the company, the Horizon Falcon crew used a lifeboat and the ship’s portside pilot ladder to attempt a rescue of the distressed seafarers. A lifeboat with three seamen was dispatched with 18to-20-foot swells and waves impacting from every direction. One survivor was rescued, but as the lifeboat was being recovered, a large swell descended on the lifeboat, knocking the craft to a 45-degree angle and damaging the motor. The crew was ordered to abandon the lifeboat and climbed to safety with the survivor up the containership’s 40foot pilot ladder. A second survivor was rescued by AB Dacuag who, while harnessed to the pilot’s ladder, descended toward Some of the survivors from the Panamanian-flag ship are shown in this U.S. Coast Guard photo. the water. While being submerged by swells, Dacuag attached a grappling hook to the survivor before both were winched clear of the sea to safety. With flares from an Okinawabased Navy P3 Orion 225 airplane providing some light from above, the Horizon Falcon continued searching for survivors and was eventually joined by the M/V Coral Emerald. The Horizon ship ran a search pattern in the area for four more hours until morning. A U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender from Guam arrived at the scene to assist and relieve the Horizon Falcon, which was running low on fuel. Arriving in Yantian, China, the vessel’s destination, the two rescued seamen reported to local media crews that they were very well cared for on board the Horizon Falcon. Representatives of the government of China were on hand to express their appreciation for the efforts of the Horizon Falcon captain (Tom McDorr) and crew. The United States Coast Guard Amver offices in New York City also recognized the efforts of the Falcon crew. “These actions are to be commended and do not go unnoticed. Your willingness to participate in the Amver system is testimony to ensuring that no call for help goes unanswered… This underscores your commitment to safety at sea,” said Benjamin M. Strong, director of marketing, Amver Maritime Relations, U.S. Coast Guard. Cmdr. Frank Genco, chief of the Coast Guard’s search and rescue branch in Honolulu, added, “The immediate response by so many mariners is impressive. Mariners truly understand the importance of helping out their fellow sailors. The Coast Guard may be farther away and mariners have to rely on each other to help out in times like these.” USNS Wheat Hosts Dignitaries A Seafarers-crewed Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessel recently hosted a U.S. diplomat and a prominent Estonian military official while tied up in Tallinn, Estonia. The UNSN LCPL Roy W. Wheat on June 19 rolled out the red carpet to welcome U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Stanley Davis Phillips and Estonian Chief of Defense Col. N. Vali for a briefing and guided tour. A prepositioning and cargo vessel, the Wheat arrived in the Estonian capital city June 15, nearly one year after it initially called on the port in 2006. MSC reported that Capt. Peter Grealy, Wheat master, his officers and the 17-person crew of Seafarers did the American flag and U.S. maritime industry proud as they impressed their guests with their seamanship savvy and professionalism. SIU members who were aboard the vessel during the tour were: Bosun Bill Lima; ABs Marc Everell, Dorkucho Tanihu, Bryan Chase, Edward Majesky and Glenn Davis; QMEDs/Oilers Francis Yapching, Gerard Dunn and Romeo Harriell; Electrician Frank J. Michalski and Electrician Trainee John A. White. Also aboard were Chief Steward Emmanuel Zephr, Chief Cook Suree Farrell, Storekeeper Rodolfo Amoro and GVAs German Dolmo, Sylvan E. Harris and Israel L. Edmunds. According to MSC, the USNS Wheat frequently travels to commercial ports like Tallinn because, as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MSP) Squadron One, it often is forward-deployed to Europe. The vessels in this command strategically stage U.S. military cargo at sea in the European theater. In the event of a military or humanitarian crisis, the mission of this squadron is to deliver its cargo to forces ashore, ensuring a fast U.S. response to contingency situations. The squadron also plays an important role supporting NATO military exercises in the region and bolstering U.S. ties with its allies in Europe. The USNS Wheat was named after Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat. Wheat died in combat Aug. 11, 1967 during the Vietnam War, throwing himself on an exploding mine to save the lives of his fellow Marines. August 2007 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24x:3725p0 7/31/2007 12:32 PM Page 3 Unions Testify at TWIC Hearing Coast Guard Issues Guidance on ID Card Program U.S. maritime unions including the SIU last month continued urging Congress to take them up on a safe, straightforward idea that would allow seafarers to comply with the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program by simply obtaining a merchant mariner document equipped with a biometric component. Meanwhile, the TWIC program lurched forward as the Coast Guard in early July issued a 63-page Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) covering its implementation in the maritime sector. The NVIC’s purpose is to provide guidance and clarifications about the TWIC program. The NVIC did not include an enrollment schedule, but reportedly will be updated as dates become known. Barring changes in the program, U.S. mariners will be required to obtain a TWIC by Sept. 25, 2008. But shipboard and shoreside unions on July 12 reiterated their position that the new card is overkill for some employees in the maritime sector who already undergo background checks before they can go to work. In joint testimony submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, the SIU, MM&P, MEBA, ILA, ILWU, AMO, SUP and MFOW in part said, “All the maritime unions have a vital interest in, and an unwavering commitment to, the enhancement of America’s maritime security. We want an effective and realistic system for controlling access to facilities and vessels because our members are on the front lines. The members of our respective organizations will almost certainly be among the first American citizens directly affected, injured and killed in the event of such an incident or breach of maritime security. Therefore, we desire to be regarded by our government as an ally here at home, in the same way that we sail and work in support of our armed forces overseas in the war against terror. “At the same time, we have another obligation to our nation: to safely and economically move America’s foreign and domestic commerce. We strongly believe strengthening maritime security and facilitating the movement of cargo to strengthen our economic security are not mutually exclusive goals and objectives. Rather, we can achieve both goals provided the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) understands that a poorly designed and implemented program will unnecessarily burden our industry and seriously diminish our ability to do our jobs without providing any real maritime security bene- fits to our nation.” The unions also repeated their call to combine the TWIC with the existing merchant mariner credential, also called an MMD or a z-card. “Currently, when an individual submits an application to the Coast Guard for evaluation for an MMD, he must include a copy of proof of citizenship and establish proof that he has a Social Security Number,” the unions point out. “The individual must further undergo a drug test, and is also fingerprinted so that the Federal Bureau of Investigation can perform the necessary criminal background checks. Finally, the individual must agree to a check of the National Driver Register so the Coast Guard can determine if there are any offenses relating to the operation of a motor vehicle which may render the individual unsuited for the duties and responsibilities associated with shipboard employment. “We believe that the merchant mariner document (MMD) that is currently issued to seafaring personnel should be updated in order to comply with the requirements of the MTSA in order to allow the MMD to serve as a TWIC for all merchant mariners, licensed and unlicensed. We believe that the MMD can and should be upgraded to include the biometric identifier standards of the TWIC and that a combined MMD/TWIC should be issued after the requirements of both statutes are met. Doing so, and giving the Coast Guard exclusive jurisdiction to provide the requisite background checks, will eliminate the need for two or more Federal agencies to perform separate background checks; will eliminate redundancies in the vetting process; will streamline the credentialing process for mariners; and will eliminate the need for mariners to carry more than one Federal identification credential for maritime employment.” U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the subcommittee, stated, “We must ensure that we put all needed security measures in place at our ports and throughout our maritime installations—but we must also ensure that these measures do not place an undue burden on the maritime industry, interfere with the flow of commerce, or lead to the unfair treatment of workers. Further, we must ensure that the measures that are put in place make sense and that they counter the real threats we face rather than simply denying job opportunities to those who do not in any way threaten our nation’s security.” Cummings said that he and others on the subcommittee are “deeply frustrated with the questions that remain unanswered about this credential. Of particu- Please be advised the SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 for the observance of Labor Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. August 2007 lar concern are questions regarding the installation and use of the readers that are needed to enable the TWIC to be used to control access to secure locations as well as questions about whether the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Coast Guard will truly be able to issue a TWIC to all mariners who need one by September 2008.” The subcommittee is scheduled to reconvene in three months to receive a progress report from the Coast Guard and from the TSA regarding the program’s implementation. Meanwhile, the NVIC included the following points: TWIC holders will be required to choose a six-digit PIN which will be used during Coast Guard inspections and spot checks. The PIN can be used as the primary verification tool “if the biometric is inoperative.” However, during those inspections and spot checks, the agency intends to use handheld biometric readers to verify that the card is valid and in possession of the proper individual. Enrollment and issuance of the TWIC will be carried out by the TSA. Enforcement of the TWIC as an access control measure in the maritime sector will be carried out by the Coast Guard. A notice will be published in the Federal Register to announce when enrollment begins in each captain of the port zone. The phased-in schedule shouldn’t affect mariners prior to September 25, 2008, since their MMD will serve as a TWIC until that date. Possession of a TWIC does not guarantee unescorted access to secure areas; permission must be granted by the vessel or facility owner/operator. Individuals can apply for a TWIC and ask for a waiver if they know they don’t meet “the standards concerning criminal activity or mental capacity, or [are] in Temporary Protected Status at the time of enrollment.” In those cases, “the applicant should annotate by initialing they are applying for a waiver on the ‘TWIC Application Disclosure Form.’ If the applicant becomes aware that he or she does not meet the standards concerning criminal activity or mental capacity when TSA issues an Initial Determination, the applicant may apply for a waiver at that time as well.” The enrollment process consists of 5 components: preenrollment (optional), enrollment, fee collection, security threat assessment and notification of the results, and issuance of the TWIC to the applicant. The time from enrollment to credential availability is expected to take fewer than 30 days, not including potential appeal or waiver processing. If the security threat assessment does not reveal any questionable or negative information about an individual, the process is expected to take fewer than 10 days. All applicants will receive a TWIC Application Disclosure Form which must be signed in the presence of the enrollment personnel under contract to TSA at the beginning of the enrollment process. They re-post the application fees: $137.25 for individuals requiring a security threat assessment, $105.25 for the rest. Payment may be made by cashier’s check, money order or credit card. Also the card replacement fee, currently set at $36, may be increased to $60. The “TWIC Help Desk” has a toll-free number offering around-the-clock service: 866DHS-TWIC (347-8942). “Assistance includes help for enrollment, lost, stolen, or damaged cards, PIN resets (note: an applicant will have 10 tries to get their PIN correct before needing to have the PIN reset), etc. Assistance is also available for scheduling enrollment appointments, locating the closest enrollment facility to an applicant, and guiding applicants through the webbased pre-enrollment process. Both TSA (571-227-4545) and the Coast Guard (877-6872243) will have a help desk in order to address calls that do not come directly through 1866-DHS-TWIC.” U.S. Shipping Partners Takes Delivery of ATB SIU-contracted U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. early last month announced the delivery of its new articulated tug barge unit, the pusher tug Freeport and the double-hulled parcel barge Chemical Transporter (together, the ATB Freeport). It is the first of five ATBs ordered by U.S. Shipping as part of a fleet expansion. In a news release, the company noted, “The ATB Freeport has successfully completed sea trials and has received necessary certification by the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping. As is customary in newbuilding situations for the first of a series of vessels, there are a few documentation-related items that we need to address following delivery of the vessel. These items do not affect our ability to begin operating the ATB Freeport in our chemical service, and we do not anticipate any problem in satisfactorily addressing these items within the required time frames.” The new vessel departed the shipyard on July 1, 2007 for its first load port in Louisiana. Following completion of two routine design verification test procedures and arrival at the load port, it lifted its first cargo in The ATB Freeport, pictured in Baltimore, features the latest technology. early July. The Freeport is a 19,999 deadweight ton ATB capable of carrying 140,000 barrels of the most sophisticated chemical cargoes transported by seagoing vessels, according to the company. Its service speed is listed at 13.5 knots. Paul Gridley, chairman and CEO of U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., commented, “We believe the ATB Freeport is the most technologically advanced ATB in the U.S.-flag Jones Act deep sea trade. The features we built into this unit include 10 cargo tanks with flat internal surfaces, indi- vidual stainless steel deck mounted cargo heaters, stainless steel cargo piping, radar tank gauging, and advanced automatic tank cleaning. The ATB Freeport’s propulsion system runs on heavy fuel, which at current fuel prices yields significant operating cost savings in comparison to traditional diesel engines.” Manitowoc Marine Group of Marinette, Wis. and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. of Panama City, Fla. are under contract to construct additional ATBs of similar design for U.S. Shipping. Seafarers LOG 3 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24x:3725p0 7/31/2007 12:33 PM Page 4 Government Services Division Wins Hotel Arbitration An arbitrator recently ruled in favor of the SIU Government Services Division in a case involving the union’s efforts to help ensure that CIVMARS aren’t required to stay in substandard hotels selected by the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). The hotel involved in the arbitration is the Days Inn Military Circle on Chambers Street in Norfolk, Va. A hearing had taken place Feb. 15-16 at the SIU hall in Norfolk, where representatives from the SIU and MSC stated their respective cases. On June 28, Arbitrator Mark H. Grunewald issued a decision calling for monetary compensation for CIVMARS required to stay in the hotel between Oct. 6, 2006 and Jan. 17, 2007. Although the union maintained that the general conditions at the hotel were substandard from the moment CIVMARS were assigned in October 2005, the arbitrator found that it was not within his power to determine whether the MSC could terminate the hotel contract award prior to October 6, 2007. Grunewald agreed with the union that “$40 per day is the proper back pay remedy to the CIVMARS who stayed in the contract hotel during the extension period” (Oct. 6, 2006-Jan. 17, 2006). That amount of money is stipulated in the Civilian Marine Personnel Instructions (CMPI) as the reimbursement rate for “cash in lieu of quarters.” At the outset of the hotel assignment, the union charged that the Days Inn Military Circle posed substantial health and safety risks to the hundreds of civil service mariners who stayed there. Grunewald noted that MSC’s inspectors found safety and health problems with the facility early on and the hotel was selected even though it was only “marginally” qualified. Despite MSC’s understanding of these problems, however, the contract was awarded to the Days Inn because of its lower cost to the agency. Grunewald took the agency to task for extending its initial agreement with the hotel despite relatively widespread concerns about health and safety. The con- USNS Kanawha, French Vessel Team Up for Rescue in Arabian Sea The U.S. 5th Fleet’s multina- uating six rescued mariners to the Sixteen mariners from aboard the Korean-flagged merchant tional Combined Task Force Dupleix each time. Dupleix’s ship Jai Laxmai almost certainly (CTF) 150 and CTF 53 directed RHIB retrieved the other four. owe their lives to the crews of the the Kanawha and Dupleix to set Once on board the Dupleix, all SIU-contracted Military Sealift course for the distressed vessel 16 rescued crew members were Command (MSC) fleet replenish- and to rescue its crew (CTF 150 examined and found to be in good ment oiler USNS Kanawha and is in charge of security in the health. They subsequently were the French warship Dupleix. region where the vessel was in transferred ashore in Salalah, Crews from the American and distress, while CTF is responsible Oman. “The quick and brave actions French vessels on June 25 jointly for the 5th Fleet’s logistics operarescued the North Korean ves- tions). The SIU ship had been of Kanawha’s crew represent the sel’s 16-person crew—composed steaming toward the Suez Canal, finest traditions of mariners helpof 13 Indians, two Burmese and but promptly changed course and ing other mariners in need,” said one Sri Lankan—in the Arabian sailed 35 miles at top speed to U.S. Navy Capt. Glen Sears, Sea. The Kanawha—crewed by reach the scene. Kanawha and commander, Sealift Logistics members of the SIU Government Dupleix crew members launched Command Central and CTF 53. The Kanawha has been supServices Division—and Dupleix their rigid-hull, inflatable boats at 6:26 p.m. June 25 responded to (RHIBs) at 9:35 p.m., three-quar- porting U.S. Navy and coalition a distress call from the MV Jai ters of a mile from where the Jai ships operating in the Middle Laxmai, which was in danger of Laxmai was helplessly floating in East since March 20. The ship, with 90 civil service mariners, the turbulent sea. sinking. The Kanawha’s RHIB made deployed from the United States The Laxmai had a disabled diesel engine and was anchored two trips to the Jai Laxmai, evac- in February. by a weak mooring line in unstable sea conditions.y; Waves were cresting at about 10 feet and the winds were blowing at speeds of up to 27 knots. Further complicating the situation, the crew of the Jai Laxmai reported that no food or water was available on board their vessel. They also were unable to deploy their vessel’s life- SIU CIVMARS from the USNS Kanawha helped rescue mariners whose ship was in danger of sinking. boats. Congratulations on Earning a GED Hard work and studying paid off for Phase III unlicensed apprentice Robert Brown (center), who received his GED at the July membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. Congratulating him are (from left) VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi, Executive VP Augie Tellez, VP Contracts George Tricker, President Michael Sacco and Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. 4 Seafarers LOG tract’s first year ended Sept. 30, 2006 but included three “option” years. The arbitrator noted that “there is ample evidence in the record to support the view that there were serious health and safety concerns about the hotel since the outset of the contract,” including a detailed report from an MSC environmental health officer. Grunewald stated that in the face of the union’s grievance, the agency set up an individual complaint process through which CIVMARS could voice concerns. He noted, however, that this individual complaint system was not effective because the hotel failed to meet the appropriate standards and that the complaint system could not have addressed the multiple systemic problems at the facility. He ruled that “by extending services for a period clearly longer than it was obligated contractually, the agency changed its position on the problem.” After the first contract year was concluded and MSC chose to extend its obligation to the hotel, “it unreasonably sought to place the burden on the CIVMARS individually to identify problems and seek relief from a situation of MSC’s own making.” The agency may appeal the ruling to the Federal Labor Relations Authority. If no appeal is made or of the appeal is unsuccessful, the union will seek to ensure that CIVMARS who stayed in this hotel during the award period will receive the money owed to them. With this ruling, the union has met two of its major goals with regard to MSC assignments to shoreside hotels. MSC now uses a “three diamond” standard when selecting hotels on both the east and west coasts. The union is still pursuing its unfair labor practice against the agency to ensure that when hotels are selected the union is able to negotiate with MSC regarding the standards at individual facilities. CIVMARS will be updated as the unfair labor practice process continues. General Dynamics NASSCO Photo The USNS Alan Shepard departs San Diego during its June 12-13 sea trials. USNS Alan Shepard Delivered The SIU Government Services Division fleet on June 26 gained more tonnage with the delivery of the U.S. Navy’s latest T-AKE vessel, the USNS Alan Shepard. Named in honor of the late Alan Shepard, the Mercury and Apollo astronaut who was the first American in space, the vessel was constructed and delivered by General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The USNS Alan Shepard is part of the Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo/ammunition ships owned by the Navy’s U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). It will be crewed by SIU CIVMARS. The USNS Alan Shepard is expected to remain in San Diego for about three months to conduct crew familiarization and undergo final outfitting. The ship, which can sail at speeds up to 20 knots, will be part of the Navy’s MSC flotilla and will operate in support of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the USNS Alan Shepard’s primary mission will be to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea. The USNS Alan Shepard is the third in an expected class of 11 dry cargo-ammunition ships for the Navy. Construction of the 689-foot-long vessel began in September 2005. NASSCO has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into the T-AKE class ships, including an integrated electricdrive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs during their projected 40-year service life. The San Diego shipyard has contracts to build the first nine ships. Two of the vessels, the USNS Lewis and Clark and USNS Sacagawea—both of which are crewed by SIU CIVMARS—already have been delivered to the Navy. The fourth through seventh ships of the class are currently under construction. In addition to the T-AKE program, the San Diego shipyard is scheduled to begin construction on the first of nine product carriers for SIU-contracted U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., sometime this month. August 2007 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24x:3725p0 7/31/2007 12:36 PM Page 5 New Report Sheds More Light On Need for Free Choice Act The Employee Free Choice Act on June 26 was blocked in the U.S. Senate, but at least one distinguished researcher says the legislation’s passage is “critical” to ensuring America’s workers have a truly democratic process in choosing to join a union. “Anti-union employers are making a mockery of the principle governing American elections,” said Gordon Lafer, Ph.D., a University of Oregon political scientist who recently authored the report, “Neither Free Nor Fair: The Subversion of Democracy Under National Labor Relations Board Elections.” “Weak labor laws allow antiunion employers to manipulate the outcome of union elections in a manner that is inherently unfair and undemocratic,” Lafer said. “Union-busting activity in the weeks leading up to union elections resembles practices that our government routinely denounces when performed by rogue regimes abroad.” The report, released July 10 by American Rights at Work, comes just weeks after the Employee Free Choice Act, despite majority support, in effect was killed in the Senate. In echoing the multimillion dollar corporate campaign that sought to undermine support for the bill, anti-worker lawmakers claimed the measure would take away workers’ rights to secret ballot elections if employees are allowed to choose to join a union when a majority signed union authorization cards. That argument, no matter how often it is repeated, is wrong on two fronts, according to the AFLCIO. First, the federation pointed out, the Employee Free Choice Act does not eliminate secret ballot elections. Second, under the current NLRB government-run election process, the report points out there are “myriad ways in which workers are denied the most basic tenets of democracy.” “Neither Free Nor Fair” addresses head-on the claim that the NLRB election process guarantees workers a truly secret ballot—the central claim of antiunion advocates who seek to keep the current NLRB system in place. Instead, the report said, “NLRB elections fail to safeguard workers’ right to keep their opinions private; and that, on the contrary, the NLRB system results in workers being forced to reveal their political preferences long before they step into the voting booth— thus turning the secret ballot into a mockery of democratic process.” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney shortly after the report was released, issued the following remarks: “The new study … details the extraordinary barriers workers face under current labor law to exercise their freedom to form and join unions. In the first study of its type, Dr. Lafer makes a direct comparison between union elections and political elections, and finds that unlike America’s politi- Retired Port Agent Carter Dies at 76 Retired Port of Mobile SIU Port Agent David M. Carter passed away June 24 in Nixa, Missouri. He was 76. “Dave was a rock-solid union guy,” said SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey. “He was true blue SIU all the way up until the end. “Dave ran a very efficient port in Mobile and had an untarnished reputation as a real fighter for our members,” Corgey continued. “He was not only a wonderful person, but also a great individual to work with. We all will certainly miss him a great deal.” “The union has lost not only a great person but an avid labor advocate,” said Ed Kelly, port agent in Mobile, Ala. “Dave and I worked together for about nine years and I replaced him when he retired. Transitioning into his position was very effortless … a real testament to how efficient he was and the type of operation he ran. “Dave was a true believer in the labor movement and worked hard to uplift and support everything the SIU stood for,” Kelly concluded. “Dave will definitely be missed.” “In addition to being a staunch advocate and tireless worker for the union, Dave was a longtime personal friend of mine,” said SIU Assistant Vice President Gulf Coast Jim McGee. “We worked together on several beefs and there was never any doubt as to how loyal toward the SIU and its members he was…. I was very sad to see him go and I’m certain that he will be missed by the union.” Born in St. Louis, Brother Carter August 2007 David M. Carter June 4, 1931-June 24, 2007 was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served during the Korean conflict. He joined the SIU in July 1976 in Mobile and was employed primarily in the inland division where he sailed aboard Hannah Marine and Crescent Towing vessels. Carter worked in all three shipboard departments and upgraded his skills at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in 1978. He came ashore in 1979 and thereafter served stints as patrolman in the ports of St. Louis and New Orleans. Carter also held the post of safety director in St. Louis and Mobile. He became port agent in Mobile in July 1990 and remained in that post until his retirement in June 1999. Brother Carter was preceded in death by his wife, Delia. He is survived by two sons, George Carter III and David Carter Jr.; two daughters, Toni Ballard and Linda Allen; five grandchildren, one great grandchild and a host of other relatives and friends. Memorial services were conducted June 28 at St. Catherine La Bourne Church in St. Louis. cal elections, union elections are not fair and balanced, but are skewed towards the employer. “Dr. Lafer describes what workers experience during National Labor Relations Board elections, including a culture of intimidation, fear, and aggression. The study details some of the extensive tactics, both legal and illegal, employers use to stifle workers’ freedom to form unions to bargain for better wages and benefits. “This key study comes at a time when working families are at the tipping point. Unions are the best anti-poverty, middle-class supporting program in our nation, and are a key to turning around the growing gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ The anti-democratic and skewed system detailed in Lafer’s study clearly does not give workers a free and fair chance to improve their lives by forming unions. “The Employee Free Choice Act would level the playing field for workers and restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain. It would strengthen penalties for companies that coerce or intimidate employees, establish mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract and enable employees to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards. Instead of forcing workers to go through an intimidating election process wrought with corruption, it would allow them to more freely exercise their freedom to form a union.” The report documents how employers: Deny workers free speech —Although management is permitted to plaster the workplace with anti-union posters, leaflets and banners, prounion employees are prohibited from doing likewise. Union organizers are banned from entering the workplace—or entering publicly used but company-owned spaces such as parking lots— at any time, for any reason. Employees of the company are banned from talking about forming a union while they are on work time and are banned from distributing prounion information except when they are on break time and in a break room. Use economic coercion and intimidation—When em- ployers speak out, employees always listen carefully for even the subtlest hints as to what kind of behavior will be rewarded or punished. This is all the more true in an economy where so many Americans feel insecure about their economic future. Ostracize and defame union supporters—The NLRB allows employers to make nearly any type of threatening or derogatory statement to employees, as long as it doesn’t contain an explicit quid pro quo threat. Workers who have earned their way to good standing with the company are often ostracized and belittled by management after publicly asserting their support for the union. In one example, a worker was followed to restaurants on days off by security guards with walkie-talkies. A member of management was assigned to work with her eight hours a day, five days a week, and was told he was there solely to work on her to change her ideas about unions. A full copy of the reports is available at www.americanrightsatwork.org/docUploads/Neither FreeNorFair.pdf Don’t Let Shipping Documents Expire Seafarers are reminded not to wait until the last minute before renewing their documents. With current security concerns and a reorganization of the Coast Guard’s licensing program, what once took a few weeks may now take anywhere from 10-12 weeks—but just to be on the safe side, it is recommended that mariners start the renewal process six months in advance. The Coast Guard has begun to centralize its Marine Licensing and Documentation program with the National Maritime Center (NMC) in a new location near Martinsburg, W.Va. The 17 Regional Exam Centers (RECs) will continue to perform the important customer service tasks that require face-to-face contact with mariners and the training industry, including answering basic questions, verifying applicant identity and nationality, fingerprinting applicants, reviewing applications for completeness and administering examinations. The RECs will then forward the completed applications to the NMC for evaluation. It is very important that when turning in an application to the REC, it is complete and not missing any item (e.g., results of a physical, drug test or court papers). The REC cannot send the application to the West Virginia center for processing until all the documentation for the application is in its possession. Additionally, it is suggested that seafarers not surrender their current (soon-toexpire) MMD when applying for a new one. Current documents are not required to be turned in even though applicants may be asked to do so. The Seafarers Appeals Board has added Action Number 423 to amend Rule 6 of the Shipping Rules to allow members under certain circumstances to extend reliefs when their MMD renewal has not been processed in time (see sidebar below). Earlier this year, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a web site “to provide merchant mariners with real-time information on the status of pending mariner credential applications.” According to the agency, merchant mariners may check the status of application packages throughout the verification and approval process by logging onto http://homeport. uscg.mil/, clicking on the Merchant Mariners tab and then clicking on Merchant Mariner Application Status. In announcing the new site, the Coast Guard noted, “When application information is entered, Homeport will display the information submitted with the application package and current application status information. Mariner credentials that have already been issued will be displayed in Homeport as ‘issued’ for a 120day period. Mariners who need additional information after visiting the web site can request additional information by telephone or email.” Passports are another form of documentation that no seafarer should be without. Since the new requirement for air travelers returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean took effect Jan. 23, 2007, average wait times to get a passport have soared from three weeks to between 10 and 12 weeks on average. The State Department received more applications than it expected after the new regulations went into effect and has admitted to a backlog in the millions. To help alleviate the problem, passport officials have expanded operation hours at all 17 production facilities and formed task forces of trained volunteers to answer questions and help with processing. Unlike MMDs, applicants will have to surrender their current passport when renewing. Oftentimes, one of these important documents is due to expire while a seafarer is aboard ship. This should not happen. It is the responsibility of each person to manage his or her rotation well in advance so as not to get caught with an expired document. The bottom line is—whether it’s an MMD, passport, driver’s license, drug test, etc.—no one should wait until the last minute to renew these important documents. They are the tools that help all seafarers in their chosen careers. SAB Action Number 423 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 Mariner Document (MMD) while renewing and has submitted evidence that a renewal MMD has been applied for at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the MMD, may have a relief period extended until such time as his Merchant Mariner Document has been returned. Once the permanent or trip tour seaman has received his 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 provisions of these rules. The departing relief shall also have his transportation paid by the Company back to his original U.S. port of engagement. Seafarers LOG 5 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/31/2007 12:45 PM Page 6 Aboard the M/V Buffalo: A Real Working Ship After sailing for two months this past spring as QMED on American Steamship Co.’s M/V Buffalo, Roger Hewlett submitted the following article and accompanying photos on these two pages “as a tribute to the guys out there doing their great seafaring jobs on the bulk carrier. The crew and officers are all SIU and AMO, and I have really enjoyed working with them,” he stated. The AMO is an SIUNA affiliate. he Buffalo is a real “working ship,” sometimes hitting four docks in a single 24-hour period and other times sailing a more leisurely 2½-day trip all the way up the Lakes. It is like a tramp ship as we sometimes don’t know which loading port we’ll be heading for next, even after getting underway. This adds some mystery and interest to the job. So far this season, we have gone into Silver Bay, Marquette, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Lorain, Trenton, South Mate John Olney (AMO) and AB/Deck Watch Chicago, Waukegan, Port Saleh Ahmed attend to loading the vessel in Gypsum, Port Inland and South Chicago. a few others. This covers Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie, and we have carried coal, iron ore pellets, gypsum and various grades of stone. The crew works very hard, especially the deckhands, who can be called out at all hours to handle lines or rattle the cargo chains T to get the stuck lumps of bulk cargo to fall toward the conveyor chutes. The QMED also is called out at all hours to do the ballast pumping when cargo is being loaded or unloaded. The meals and bakery products are plentiful—and very pleasingly cooked. Due to the heavy demand for steel, there is more effort for the Buffalo to go far north to Lake Superior ports for iron ore than in the past. But since the lake levels are running low, the amount of cargo per load is diminished somewhat due to draft limitations. We probably will see a longer season and more cargo runs for ore and other commodities because of this. The Buffalo is kept very clean, including the deck and all the way down to the bilges. The rooms are nice and spacious, and there is a recreation room with TV, books and games. All rooms are wired for satellite TV and, eventually, internet connections, thanks to cooperation between the SIU and the AMO and the spirit of brotherhood. We get mail and light supplies delivered by the J.W. Wescott mailboat as we pass Detroit. Our reliefs often arrive by the Wescott as well. It’s great to have a job and be working, and we all enjoy the benefits of SIU membership— including rotation and relief with paid vacations—but it’s also great to see the relief man show up at the end of a voyage! The Buffalo loads coal in South Chicago. Saturday is ‘steak day’ on the Buffalo— and Chief Steward Robert Stark gets the grill going. Deckhand Kaleg Ahmed handles the Buffalo’s lines. After another great meal, Steward Assistant Jonah Ahmed does the dishes. Deckhand Mario Rascon handles the lines of the Buffalo as the ship goes through the Soo Locks. Note the snow still on the ground in mid-April. QMED Roger Hewlett (who sent these photos to the LOG) performs engine and machinery rounds on the vessel. AB/Wheelsman Al Maury takes the wheel. Left: 1st Mate (and relief captain) Guy Gramzow (AMO) guides the vessel through the narrow channels of the Detroit River near Belle Isle. Right: Baker Harry Petersen makes cookies. 1st Assistant Watch Engineer Bryce Sharpe (AMO) checks the engine. 6 Seafarers LOG August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/23/2007 7:53 AM Page 7 Left: Deckhand Mario Rascon works in the cargo hold aboard the bulk carrier. From the left, AB/Deck Watch Boyd Lesser and AMO 1st Mate (and relief captain) Guy Gramzow prepare Deckhands Kaleg Ahmed and Mario Rascon to be lowered to the dock for line handling at the Soo Locks. Left: 3rd Mate Andy Kenia (AMO) attends to navigation and pilot duties on the bridge as the vessel approaches Detroit. The M/V Buffalo . . . . . . upbound on the St. Clair River Right: AB Lennie Thomas stands gangway security watch during loading operations. Engine Utility Jeremy Pace proudly poses on the aft deck of the Buffalo. Relief Chief Steward Marco Kotajarvi prepares supper for the crew. 1st Mate Kevin Johnson (inset) demonstrates handheld flare procedures during a fire and lifeboat drill aboard ship. Chief Engineer ‘Mac’ Lamp (AMO) and 2nd Assistant Robert Fluharty pose in the control room of the Buffalo. August 2007 At the J.W. Wescott mailboat, QMED Roger Hewlett gets a warm welcome home from his wife, Jonene Eliasson, after two months of duty on the Buffalo. Seafarers LOG 7 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24:3725p0 7/24/2007 4:47 PM Page 8 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea September & October 2007 Membership Meetings JUNE 16 — JULY 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 5 5 7 8 6 7 18 17 3 9 8 25 12 8 7 29 6 6 27 22 1 2 0 4 1 2 4 3 1 1 2 2 7 3 0 0 1 1 3 5 293 235 43 0 0 1 3 0 4 13 19 0 7 7 16 7 11 1 1 3 1 20 10 0 3 4 5 1 5 13 14 1 3 5 12 12 8 2 1 1 3 15 15 0 0 1 2 2 1 3 0 0 2 2 3 2 1 1 0 0 2 3 9 Totals 124 123 34 Totals Totals All Departments 2 0 3 10 0 8 31 26 0 5 13 26 17 13 6 2 5 1 24 31 223 2 2 5 10 2 6 22 16 1 9 7 13 15 4 3 7 5 2 26 15 172 0 1 0 3 0 1 6 6 0 0 3 2 7 0 2 0 0 0 5 5 41 0 0 4 9 0 1 22 13 0 2 10 23 10 5 2 1 4 1 20 19 3 1 12 19 3 18 65 62 4 17 21 82 15 41 9 1 15 3 51 53 8 9 10 21 10 15 39 31 5 13 13 50 11 20 11 29 16 8 49 29 5 1 0 5 2 2 9 8 1 2 4 6 12 6 1 1 1 3 10 11 1 0 4 5 0 5 12 9 0 3 8 14 8 6 5 1 2 0 11 6 100 1 3 5 4 0 2 4 15 0 4 3 10 11 5 0 1 1 2 14 9 94 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 2 5 22 Piney Point ...........Tuesday: September 4*, October 9* (*changes created by Labor Day and Columbus Day holidays) Algonac ................Friday: September 7, October 12 Baltimore..............Thursday: September 6, October 11 Boston ..................Friday: September 7, October 12 Guam ....................Thursday: September 20, October 25 Honolulu...............Friday: September 14, October 19 Houston ................Monday: September 10, October 15 Jacksonville ..........Thursday: September 6, October 11 Joliet .....................Thursday: September 13, October 18 Mobile ..................Wednesday: September 12, Oct. 17 146 495 397 90 New Orleans.........Tuesday: September 11, October 16 0 1 1 2 0 1 7 7 0 0 7 8 2 1 2 2 1 0 11 5 0 0 5 4 1 8 23 28 0 14 14 31 9 23 1 3 5 3 21 21 2 4 5 12 6 11 20 19 3 3 9 23 19 10 3 5 6 5 23 16 0 0 0 4 2 3 5 1 0 1 1 4 4 2 2 0 1 3 4 12 New York .............Tuesday: September 4, October 9 58 214 204 49 0 0 2 6 0 2 5 20 0 2 2 8 5 8 1 0 2 0 7 6 3 0 6 6 3 12 42 24 1 9 11 32 19 43 6 3 3 0 34 40 2 0 0 14 2 11 14 14 1 5 3 11 14 6 0 7 3 0 7 11 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 3 6 1 0 0 0 0 5 2 4 Norfolk .................Thursday: September 6, October 11 Oakland ................Thursday: September 13, October 18 Philadelphia..........Wednesday: September 5, Oct. 10 Port Everglades ....Thursday: September 13, October 18 San Juan ...............Thursday: September 6, October 11 St. Louis ...............Friday: September 14, October 19 Tacoma .................Friday: September 21, October 26 Wilmington...........Monday: September 17, October 22 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 3 5 3 9 19 18 1 3 5 17 16 19 2 2 1 0 19 18 160 2 0 0 8 1 5 10 13 0 1 5 8 6 5 0 3 2 0 5 3 77 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 16 Port Algonac A1chorage 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 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 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 DECK DEPARTMENT 3 0 10 8 0 10 47 32 2 12 12 43 11 26 7 1 6 2 31 30 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 1 11 16 10 0 1 4 13 11 10 1 1 0 0 9 12 107 1 0 0 9 0 7 7 8 0 0 6 2 10 3 3 0 2 1 5 4 68 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 76 297 125 30 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 1 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 2 7 1 1 20 15 0 4 4 31 8 17 1 22 1 0 12 15 6 1 0 5 1 3 10 7 0 0 2 11 11 4 3 10 1 2 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 3 0 0 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 4 3 6 3 1 15 17 0 2 2 11 8 4 1 4 2 3 10 8 2 0 1 1 1 2 7 4 0 0 2 1 5 4 1 17 0 0 2 3 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 5 0 0 1 6 10 1 10 0 0 0 0 7 2 2 2 3 10 2 15 34 28 3 10 9 82 17 31 1 22 1 0 24 20 9 1 1 14 3 10 14 19 3 0 7 28 21 14 4 4 2 5 21 8 20 162 90 22 105 53 0 42 316 188 597 597 183 452 439 120 280 1,048 1,042 357 Personals KENNETH LOCKHART Please write to Lorenzo Lockhart at P.O. Box 1074, Blountstown, FL 32424; or call him at (850) 867-2439. Correction The LOG article about the 2007 scholarship winners (June 2007) stated that Nicole LaPointe’s father, Robert LaPointe, was an AB aboard the Padre Island. He is now, in fact, captain of the Padre Island for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock and currently is in Bahrain working as relief captain on the the Victoria Island. Remembering Paul Hall August 20, 1914 - June 22, 1980 *“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. 8 Seafarers LOG August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/27/2007 6:26 PM Page 9 19672007 Paul Hall Center What It Meant Then Four Decades Of Preparing Seafarers To Meet The Challenges Of Changing Times The late Seafarers International Union President Paul Hall often is described as a visionary when it comes to the training facility that now bears his name. Consider this, however, about such a label: It’s a compliment, but it also by definition means the seer views things very differently from those around him. Put another way, it usually means others are skeptical about the vision. So it was for Paul Hall, who inarguably fits the formal characterization —“a person of unusually keen foresight”—but who in the late 1960s may have been described by some people in different terms. “To be honest, everyone at first had doubts about the school,” said current SIU President Michael Sacco, who was there from the beginning. “The membership didn’t buy into it right away, and the guys in the ports didn’t understand what we were trying to do. The isolated physical setting didn’t help with the general outlook, either. “But Paul was committed to the school and he was a strong leader. He insisted that we had to upgrade the quality of our people so we could meet the challenges of the future—automation and other new technology. He kept saying we were going to do it until we got it right.” Late 1960s August 2007 What is now the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education opened in August 1967 in Piney Point, Md. as the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, named after the SIU’s first president. (Lundeberg’s name still is part of the school’s full, formal title, and the largest building on the main campus is named after him. The overall campus was named for Paul Hall in 1991, 11 years after his death.) Jointly administered by boards of trustees representing, respectively, the union and its contracted operators, the school had humble beginnings. Make those exceptionally humble beginnings, according to others who were there when it opened. The school featured a trainee program from its earliest days, but most people on campus spent those first few years building or rebuilding facilities at what had been a torpedo-testing facility run by the Navy. It was grueling work, performed seven days a week, and merely mentioning it nowadays still elicits grimaces from the participants. “We worked very hard and very long,” noted Chief Bosun Tom Soresi, one of the first people assigned to the school. “I really don’t know how all of us hung in there. Paul was a tough Paul Hall, the union’s second president, didn’t let skeptics impede his dream of a comprehensive maritime school. taskmaster, and back in those days when you looked around, there wasn’t much to look at. I came to Piney Point from Brooklyn and it was like a no-man’s land.” Don Nolan, now vice president of the school, arrived there in 1968 straight out of the Navy. “I guess we didn’t know any better, but we worked seven days a Continued on page 10 Late 1990s Seafarers LOG 9 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/27/2007 6:17 PM Page 10 New Construction Refurbishing older buildings and constructing new ones has been the norm throughout the school’s history, which helps enable the Paul Hall Center to stay ahead of the curve. The photo at left was taken in 1981. ment resurfaces. Students gradually warmed up to week, 12- and 14-hour days,” he the school, for many reasons. The recalled. “This place was in shambles. vocational training not only helped We figured Paul Hall was either a them do their jobs aboard ship, it genius or a nut.” proved indispensable in keeping up Paul Hall Center Safety Director with rapidly changing technology. Jimmy Hanson, who had an unforgetMany took advantage of academic table introduction to the center in support which bolstered their perfor1968, pointed out another characterismance in the maritime-specific courstic of its dawning. es. Some even came to think of the “It was a growing time for the campus as a home away from home. school, and I soon found out that as an Sentimentality aside, there was no employee you would be called upon to disputing one key tangible benefit of do anything and everything from filltraining at the Paul Hall Center: It ing fire extinguishers to driving, painthelped students increase their earning ing, herding cattle, digging potatoes, power as they amassed more skills and carpentry work and the list goes on,” knowledge and improved their ratings. he said. “I have seen them put down “Everything that Paul envisioned asphalt in the snow and bulldoze part for the school has happened—maybe of a building while they were painting even more than he expected,” said the other side.” (Hanson, having com- Sacco, who served as Lundeberg pleted service in the Army, was work- School vice president from 1968 to ing in the local volunteer fire depart1979. “Back then, the school property ment and seeking employment in only contained old wooden military 1968. He was instrumental in extinbarracks, a two-story hotel and some guishing a fire at the school, and was piers. But Paul saw far beyond the limhired the same day.) ited accommodations. He believed that Not all of the challenges of that era education was vital to members were physical. Although the SIU datadvancing themselves, and he undering back to the early 1950s had operat- stood the potential that existed at the ed modest training centers in its halls school. He also had an all-consuming in New York, Baltimore, Mobile, New passion for helping Seafarers better Orleans and Houston, vocational themselves and improve their standard schooling for mariners largely was an of living—and he knew that the school afterthought in those days—and acade- would be critical to making it happen.” mic pursuits were virtually unheard of. The SIU president added a strong Not surprisingly, in the late 1960s word of credit for Hazel Brown, anothand early 1970s, Seafarers were skepti- er school official from the center’s forcal about the new school in Piney mative years. Brown wrote most of the Point. Some were intimidated at the initial curriculums, started the GED prospect of trying to pass a course, program and formally established the while others simply didn’t see the need Lundeberg School’s working relationfor such a facility. ship with the American Council on That’s where the “visionary” eleEducation, which justifiably boosted Continued from page 9 Directly above and at right, by 1969 the campus had undergone significant enhancements. Below: The Addictions Rehabilitation Center has saved careers—and lives. 10 Seafarers LOG August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/30/2007 the center’s reputation. “Hazel was an underrated figure in the school’s history,” Sacco said. “She brought a professional atmosphere to the school and helped refine it in many ways.” Soresi said he still marvels at what the school has become. “The truth is, what we have today, Paul envisioned 40 years ago,” Soresi asserted. “When you think about merchant seamen back then, everybody referred to us as drunks and bums and stuff like that. The thought of educating merchant mariners … I don’t know how Paul thought of it, but he had that vision. And even though it was hard work, we had a lot of faith in his leadership and in the leadership of our other union officials. August 2007 7:58 AM Page 11 “It wasn’t a very gratifying job at that time, but later on, when you saw what you helped develop, it all worked out.” Nolan, who founded the school’s steward department training, remembered that when Hall was on campus, “he made things happen. He had a vision and he saw things we didn’t see, there’s no doubt about it. Piney Point was Paul’s dream. “There are many others who deserve credit, too, and Mike Sacco is one of them,” Nolan continued. “He was the one who explained to members what the school was all about, and as you know, he’s a pretty convincing guy. And even back then, just like today, he would roll up his sleeves, jump in there and do whatever needed to be done.” Most of the photos on this page first were published in the LOG in the late 1960s and early ’70s. Seafarers LOG 11 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/27/2007 6:18 PM Page 12 SIU President Michael Sacco (directly above left, and in photo above right seated in front of podium) served as the school’s vice president from 1968 to 1979. 12 Seafarers LOG August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23x:3725p 7/23/2007 1:54 PM Page 13 Leadership Each of the SIU’s four presidents strongly has supported vocational training. Even before the school opened in Piney Point, Seafarers trained at union halls dating back to the early 1950s. Paul Hall is pictured at left, Frank Drozak directly below, and Michael Sacco below, left. A statue of Harry Lundeberg is prominently displayed in Piney Point. The Paul Hall Center’s primary mission hasn’t changed, but the training techniques constantly are revised and improved, as is the classroom equipment. Besides helping mariners advance their careers, the school also has hosted many dignitaries over the years and even been a summer vacation retreat for Seafarers and their families. August 2007 Seafarers LOG 13 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23x:3725p 7/31/2007 1:40 PM Page 14 Building and Growing Knocking down the old hotel and making way for a new one in 1983 Why It Matters Now Cutting-Edge School Characterized by Steady Improvements The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education (PHC) in Piney Point, Md. started some 40 years ago as a central location for providing qualified manpower to crew America’s merchant vessels. Today it is the largest training facility for deep sea merchant seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in the United States. Recently, three individuals, each of whom personally has been involved with the school over the years, shared their views on how the institution has changed, what those modifications have meant and what the center is today. Lending their perspectives were recently retired PHC Director of Training Bill Eglinton, PHC Vocational Director J.C. Wiegman and SIU Assistant Vice President Contracts Archie Ware. “The school essentially was established as the primary location to train a manpower pool to work aboard U.S. ships,” said Eglinton, who in 1973 signed on at the school as an instructor. “Its secondary purpose in those days was to serve as a hub where mariners could go—on a recurring basis—to improve on their skills and keep them updated.” Over the years, the school’s basic mission has remained the same, but virtually everything else has undergone far-reaching transformation. Today, Eglinton said, the institution provides topnotch professional training to students who are just entering their maritime career, to mariners who wish to improve or upgrade their seafaring skills and to mariners who wish to retrain in their job classifications. Overall, the school continues to meet the ever-changing needs of the maritime industry—never an easy task, but particularly so in this era of unprecedented federal regulation. “When I started there, we did not have formal classrooms,” Eglinton recalled. “We had barges—three of them. There was a hobby barge, a music barge and an upgrading barge. “The vocational offices of the instructors were located on the upper deck of a small vessel called the Sonny Simmons,” he continued. “The classrooms were located down below. As far as the classes were concerned, there was lifeboat, lifeboatman and basic deck. Basic engine classes were conducted in the gutted-out engine room. So the trainees had classes aboard the Simmons and the upgraders had classes on the upgrading barge.” Construction on the Logan and Drozak buildings, now fulltime classrooms, began in the late 1970s. In 1983, the first shiphandling simulator was installed while basic and advanced computer training were offered for the first time. But the change that caught the eyes of most in Piney Point was the opening of the six-story, 300room Seafarers Training and Recreation Center. While the physical changes around campus are hard to miss, they haven’t been the only substantial transformations at the school, according to Eglinton. In particular, he pointed to the trainee program as an example of how the school constantly has grown to meet the needs of the individual mariner and the ship operator alike. “The school went from being a 12-week mariners training regimen to an eight-month unlicensed apprentice training program,” he said. “The original trainee program was 12 weeks in duration. At the end of the 12 weeks, the trainees graduated and shipped out.” Eglinton explained that early on, there was general consensus that while the program had its strong points, there was plenty of room for improvement, too. “There was no sea service, no going out aboard ships and no field trips,” he noted. “Those undergoing the training never really got a taste of what going to sea entailed. So when they graduated after 12 weeks they’d often go out on ships only to discover that they did not like what they were doing.” Another concern with the 12week program was that trainees—at the outset of their instruction and without any real knowledge of what their job would entail—had to choose which shipboard department they wanted to work in. All of that would change in the mid-1990s with the amending of the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). “The convention actually was implemented in 1995 and came on-line in 1997,” according to Eglinton. “The timing was right. It provided a perfect opportunity for us to change our approach from a training program to an unlicensed apprentice program because the amended convention called for exactly what its name suggests: the establishment of standards of training, certification and watchkeeping. “To meet those requirements and to continue fulfilling the school’s mission of turning out the world’s best-trained mariners, we went from a 12week training program in 1967 to the unlicensed apprentice program in 1997,” Eglinton concluded. “We all are very proud of it, and I think the record speaks for itself.” Wiegman said that besides the conversion of the unlicensed apprentice program, the biggest change during his tenure at the school to date has been the introduction of simulation. “When I came here there was no engine simulator. And the bridge simulator—while very good—still was a dinosaur,” Wiegman said. “It took a whole room of computers to make it work. “We now have a 360-degree fully automated bridge with three auxiliary bridges,” Wiegman continued. “We have multi-function classrooms with GMDSS, a radar, ARPA and an ECDIS Lab. Additionally, thanks to the simulation, we can train multiple platforms including cruise ships, tankers and containerships with scenarios in various ports around the United States. We also have the ability to convert the simulation to our inland members with Z-drive and conventional tug capability. We can train the entry level people to be look-outs. We can train the ABs to steer; we can train mates to perform all of their duties. “In the engine room we can train QMEDs,” he continued. “On the engineering side, we have steam and diesel simulators to train our watchstanders and day-working QMEDs. We just recently added new containers and a refrigeration trainer along with cargo handling simulation including an LNG simulator for loadings and discharges of LG cargoes. “When I started teaching here, we would draw out systems on the chalkboard,” Wiegman said. “Today, our classrooms have been upgraded with projection systems, computerized lectures and visual Power Points of the actual equipment aboard our vessels. Overall, the changes have been dramatic.” Wiegman said that 40 years ago when the school was founded, he was at sea and crewing levels on ships were large, Continued on page 16 14 Seafarers LOG August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/23/2007 12:26 PM Page 15 Paul Hall Center At a Glance Opened in August 1967 Located on 60-plus waterfront acres in Piney Point, Md. Purpose is providing vocational training for mariners, including entry-level curriculums. Also offers some academic courses. 22,000 apprentices have completed the entry program 110,000 upgraders have improved their skills 2,000 GEDs have been earned 1,200 honorably discharged military veterans have secured maritime jobs through Paul Hall Center programs Offers 75 Coast Guard-approved courses College degrees may be earned in nautical science and engineering Includes 11 maritime simulators Employs 40 instructors and teachers Includes Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, which opened in 1999 Overall campus named in memory of the president of SIU-AGLIWD from 1947-80, who was the driving force behind the school’s construction. School itself is the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, dedicated in memory of the union’s founder. Various buildings are named in memory of Seafarers, SIU officials and officials of SIU-contracted companies. August 2007 Seafarers LOG 15 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/27/2007 6:19 PM Continued from page 14 affording the mariner the opportunity to receive on-the-job training. “Crews had enough people to take the new OS under the AB’s wing and to teach basic skills. As the OS acquired sea time, he or she would see the school for the first time to get training as a lifeboatman and AB. They would take a U.S. Coast Guard exam to acquire their rating and the school provided great training so the members could achieve their goals. What has changed over the years is a reduction in crew size and the introduction of automated systems requiring a better trained member.” Wiegman said technological advances also have had the overall effect of reducing crew sizes aboard vessels, noting, “Today when someone goes on board a ship they have demonstrated competency and have been assessed in the tasks they may be required to perform. So when we look back at the school’s history, it has evolved to meet the needs of the members and our companies by constantly upgrading the facility from a trainee program, then adding inland programs and expanding with an undergraduate degree program in nautical science or maritime engineering. “In addition, the implementation of the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) made a difference,” he continued. “This probably has had the biggest impact on mariners and the method in which they are trained.” The unlicensed apprentice program is a good example, he said. “A person comes here, learns some skills, does some assessments, goes out as a student observer for a while and then he comes back here to school for more skills and assessments. He then goes back out to sea again and returns here for a rating. And the process does not stop there. He continues acquiring more and more skills so that he becomes more qualified.” Wiegman said that without the Paul Hall Center, the cost to the mariner for his training would become quite significant. “In a nutshell, a mariner’s ability to advance becomes extremely limited with- 16 Seafarers LOG Page 16 out the school,” he concluded. “Without this school and this organization, mariners would have to pay astronomical costs for courses or acquire scholarships from some entity to be able to afford to go to sea.” Ware recalls that living conditions at the school in years past were a far cry from what they are today. “During those days there was no hotel,” said the union official and former recertified bosun who attended the Piney Point-based institution in the ’70s. “We all had to stay in bungalows. Now the school has accommodations to the extent that people have their own rooms. I think that arrangement can only help students get the most out of their classes.” Commenting further on living conditions, Ware noted that the school used to rely on its nearby farm. “We used to get a lot of our food from the farm—fresh meat and produce,” he said. “Now they have vendors bringing in everything. It’s a similar situation with laundry. In the past you had to drop your laundry off by a certain time and pick it up by a certain time; today you can do it yourself whenever you want.” As a whole, Ware said the changes he has seen at the school all have been extremely positive. “They have played a significant role in making the school the highly recognized and respected institution that it is,” he said. Still, Ware believes that there has been one aspect of the school that has remained constant throughout its history. “There have been various changes at the school, but the best trained sailors still come from Piney Point,” he said. “The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is an excellent school and a great vehicle for anyone wanting to become a merchant mariner. “The SIU has been successful since its establishment but the school has made it even more so,” Ware concluded. “Through it, the union is able to consistently turn out the most safety-conscious, efficient and best-trained mariners in the world. All of the shipping companies are aware of this, and that’s why SIU mariners continue to be a hot commodity and in such high demand.” Hands-on training always has been a staple of Paul Hall Center curriculums. The addition of the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School (bottom three photos) in 1999 further enhanced the center’s practical training. August 2007 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24x:3725p0 7/31/2007 1:47 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 CLAYTON EVERETT, 56, hails from Norfolk, Va. Brother Everett joined the union in 1970 in the port of New York. He first sailed in the engine department aboard the Steel Chemist. Prior to his retirement, Brother Everett worked aboard the Portsmouth. He continues to make his home in Norfolk. EDWARD FULLER, 63, became an SIU member in 1978 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Fuller’s first voyage was on the Neches. The Georgia-born mariner shipped in the steward department, most recently aboard the Horizon Crusader. He is a resident of Macon, Ga. JUAN GONZALEZ, 70, began his seafaring career in 1967. Brother Gonzalez, who was born in Puerto Rico, first sailed aboard the Alcoa Master. His most recent ship was the Overseas Philadelphia. Brother Gonzalez worked in the steward department. He calls Kissimmee, Fla. home. RAUL GUERRA, 53, joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of Houston. Brother Guerra began sailing in the inland division on a G&H Towing vessel. He was born in Galveston, Texas and shipped in the deck department. Brother Guerra’s most recent voyage was on the Overseas Harriette. He lives in Texas City, Texas. ABDULHFID HUSSAIN, 61, was born in Yemen. Brother Hussain began sailing with the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of New York. His first voyage was aboard an Asbury Steamship Co. vessel. Brother Hussain, who worked in the engine department, most recently sailed on the Quality. He resides in Bronx, N.Y. STEVEN LEDERMANN, 55, began his seafaring career in 1969, first working aboard a Hudson Waterways vessel. The deck department member was born in Reading, Pa. His most recent voyage was on the St. Louis Express. He settled in San Marcos, Texas. August 2007 ANGEL MERCADO, 55, became a Seafarer in 1975. Brother Mercado initially sailed aboard the Los Angeles as a member of the engine department. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Brother Mercado’s most recent voyage was aboard the Midnight Sun. He makes his home in Lacey, Wash. OTTO PARIAMA, 69, joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of New York. Brother Pariama first shipped aboard a Rye Marine Corp. vessel. He was a member of the engine department. Before retiring, Brother Pariama worked on the Courage. He is a resident of Kissimmee, Fla. LARRY PHILPOT, 62, began shipping with the SIU in 1961. Brother Philpot first worked aboard the Beaugard. He was born in Kentucky and sailed in the engine department. Brother Philpot’s most recent voyage was on the Houston. He resides in LaPorte, Texas. INLAND ALDON BARLETTO, 57, embarked on his seafaring career in 1974. Boatman Barletto sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Crescent Towing & Salvage of New Orleans. The Louisiana native worked in the engine department. Boatman Barletto calls Franklin, La. home. JAMES KRUGER, 55, joined the SIU in 1974 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He first sailed aboard an Allied Transportation Co. vessel. Boatman Kruger was born in Fergus Falls, Minn. and shipped in the deck department. His most recent voyage was on a Penn Maritime vessel. Boatman Kruger lives in Norfolk. RICHARD ROSSER, 53, joined the union in 1974. Boatman Rosser worked primarily aboard Crescent Towing & Salvage of New Orleans vessels as a member of the deck department. He resides in Gretna, La. RONALD RUSSELL, 57, joined the SIU in 1974. Boatman Russell first sailed on an Inter Cites Navigation Corp. vessel. He sailed in the deck department. His most recent voyage was aboard a Maritrans Operating Co. vessel. Boatman Russell was born in Pennsylvania and settled in Maryville, Tenn. GREAT LAKES WILLIAM AGNELLO, 60, started working with the Seafarers in 1970, sailing in the steward department of the Otto Reiss. His last voyage was on the Buffalo. Brother Agnello makes his home in his native New York. JOHN BISHOP, 65, launched his SIU career in 1968. Brother Bishop first sailed aboard a vessel operated by Hudson Waterways Corp. He was a member of the engine department. Prior to retiring, Brother Bishop sailed on the H. Lee White. He is a resident of Constantine, Mich. JOHN NORTON, 63, was born in North Dakota. He began his seafaring career in 1967 in Chicago. Brother Norton worked in all three shipboard departments and first sailed on the J. F. Schoellkopf Jr. His most recent voyage was on the Walter J. McCarthy. He lives in Austin, Texas. Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, recently went on pension. CHARLES GIVENS, 65, joined the NMU in 1992 in the port of Seattle. Brother Givens first sailed aboard the Keystone Canyon. He was born in Tennessee. Brother Givens most recently worked aboard the Denali. He sailed in the deck department. ROLAND DARBY SR., 65, embarked on his NMU career in 1968 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Darby first sailed aboard a Lykes Brothers ship in the steward department. Born in Louisiana, Brother Darby most recently worked aboard the Jean Lykes. FLORENTIN JOHNSON, 70, launched his NMU career in 1989, shipping from the port of New York. Brother Johnson’s first voyage was aboard the Mormac Sun. Born in Honduras, he most recently sailed on the USNS Henson. KEVIN GASAWAY, 50, joined the union in 1989 in the port of Houston. Brother Gasaway, who is a native of Galveston, Texas, first sailed on the Star Oregon; his last ship was the Maersk Maryland. Brother Gasaway was a member of the steward department. EUGENE THOMAS JR.1, 65, hails from Amelia, Fla. Brother Thomas began his NMU career in 1963 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. He first sailed on the Pioneer Valley. Prior to retiring, Brother Thomas worked aboard the Maersk Nebraska. He sailed in the deck department. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1947 NEW YORK, Aug. 21 – The fight of the Isthmian Steamship Company, last of the large open shop companies, against the union hiring hall and rotary shipping came to an abrupt end today when the company surrendered to the demands set forth by the negotiating committee of the Seafarers International Union. As soon as this provision was agreed upon, both the SIU and the SUP held special membership meetings in all ports where it was overwhelmingly voted to accept this victory and to release the 31 Isthmian ships which have been tied up. 1979 SIU boatmen sailing aboard the National Flag (National Marine Service) saved a ship’s pilot and extinguished a fire aboard a burning tugboat on August 30. The Seafarers’ good training and professionalism came to an emergency test when a Peruvian ship in the Mississippi River hit a butane barge that was loading in Good Hope, La. Amidst the chaos that followed, the crew rescued from the water the injured pilot off the ship. The crew then went on to put out the fire on a burning tugboat, the Capt. Norman…. Some eyewitnesses said the fire reached a height of at least 1,500 feet. This Month In SIU History 1962 The waters around Cuba seem to be as crowded with refugees as New York’s Times Square is with tourists. Since the escape route cuts right across busy shipping waters, SIU ships have landed a fair share of the Cubans abandoning the Castro regime. The Seafarersmanned New Yorker (South Atlantic & Caribbean Line) was the latest to perform this humanitarian service when it rescued three more Cubans in August. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy Oceanographic Office (formerly the Hydrographic Office) has warned that charts for Cuban waters are no longer dependable because they cannot be kept up-to-date due to political conditions in Cuba. The three men picked up from a small motor boat by the New Yorker expressed warm thanks to the crew for the food, attention and help given them. 1991 The complex embodying the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. has been named the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education as a result of action taken by the institution’s board of trustees. The dedication of the Paul Hall Center was marked with a simple ceremony on August 20, the anniversary date of the birth of the late president of the SIU. In describing the naming of the Piney Point center, Herbert Brand, chairman of the Transportation Institute and master of ceremonies for the event, called it “more than a dedication—it is an act of remembrance” for the man who headed the SIU from 1947 until his death in 1980. Seafarers LOG 17 �43725_p1,2,18,19_24:2007-May 7/27/2007 2:08 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA ANTONIO CRUZ Pensioner Antonio Cruz, 79, passed away Dec. 12. Brother Cruz joined the union in 1944 in the port of New York. He first sailed on a Bloomfield Steamship vessel. Brother Cruz, who was born in Puerto Rico, shipped as a member of the engine department. His last voyage was aboard the Elizabeth. Brother Cruz retired in 1989 and lived in Flushing, NY. HARPER DARROW Pensioner Harper Darrow, 82, died Dec. 10. Brother Darrow joined the SIU in 1951. His first ship was the Salem Maritime; his last was the Overseas Chicago. Brother Darrow worked in the deck department. He was born in Ashland City, Tenn. and made his home in Nashville. Brother Darrow went on pension in 1986. MICHAEL FIELDS Brother Michael Fields, 52, passed away Dec. 3. He started his seafaring career in 1989 in Piney Point, Md. Brother Fields first shipped on the Independence. The steward department member, who was born in Portland, Ore., most recently worked aboard the Paul Buck. He was a resident of Panama. LUIS GUADAMUD Pensioner Luis Guadamud, 71, died Dec. 10. Brother Guadamud joined the union in 1961 in the port of New Orleans. His first voyage was on the Del Mar. Brother Guadamud was born in Ecuador and shipped in the deck department. His most recent voyage was aboard the Overseas Vivian. Brother Guadamud made his home in Metairie, La. He became a pensioner in 2000. WALTER MAKIN Pensioner Walter Makin, 86, passed away Nov. 5. Brother Makin, who was born in Alabama, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1944 from the port of New York. Brother Makin’s first trip to sea was on the Del Santos where he shipped as member of the steward department. Prior to his retirement in 1976, he worked aboard the Thomas Nelson. Brother Makin resided in Robertsdale, Ala. GEORGE MIKE Pensioner George Mike, 86, died Nov. 7. Brother Mike embarked on his SIU career in 1951. He first 18 Seafarers LOG worked aboard a New York Dock Railway Co. vessel in the engine department. Brother Mike was a native of Norwood, Mass. He last sailed on the USNS Bellatrix. Brother Mike started receiving his pension in 1984. He continued to live in Massachusetts. JOHN PENNELL Pensioner John Pennell, 80, passed away Nov. 6. Brother Pennell joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. The steward department member, who was born in Fort Scott, Kan., first sailed aboard the Sea Monitor. His last trip to sea was on the Lawrence Gianella. Brother Pennell retired in 1988. He called Huffman, Texas home. RODOLFO RAMOS Brother Rodolfo Ramos, 86, died Nov. 16. He launched his seafaring career in 1993. Brother Ramos first worked aboard the Independence. He most recently sailed on the Patriot. Brother Ramos made his home in Honolulu. STEPHEN ROTH Brother Stephen Roth, 55, passed away Nov. 18. He became a Seafarer in 1990, first sailing aboard the Liberty Belle. Brother Roth was a member of the steward department. He was born in Louisiana. Brother Roth last sailed on the Sgt. Matej Kocak. He was a resident of Metairie, La. BERNARD SACHS Pensioner Bernard Sachs, 75, died Dec. 8. Brother Sachs started shipping with the union in 1951 from the port of Baltimore. His first ship was the Bradford Island. Brother Sachs was born in Maryland and worked in the engine department. He went on pension in 1996 and resided in Baltimore. SALVATORE SBRIGLIO Pensioner Salvatore Sbriglio, 77, passed away Nov. 17. Brother Sbriglio joined the Seafarers in 1952. He first sailed aboard an Isbrandtson Co. vessel as a member of the deck department. Brother Sbriglio was born in Massachusetts. He last worked aboard the Pacer. In 1992, Brother Sbriglio retired and settled in Nevada. HARRY SCHOCKNEY Pensioner Harry Schockney, 84, died Dec. 11. Brother Schockney was born in Maryland and joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. He first shipped aboard the Yorkmar in the engine department. Brother Schockney’s most recent voyage was aboard the Houston. He lived in Bedford, Va. Brother Schockney started collecting his pension in 1986. LESLIE TOLLETT Pensioner Leslie Tollett, 79, passed away Dec. 10. Brother Tollett embarked on his seafaring career in 1967, first sailing on an Isthmian Lines Inc. vessel. The engine department member, who was born in California, last worked aboard the Innovator. Brother Tollett became a pensioner in 1993. He called San Francisco home. RAFAEL TORRES Pensioner Rafael Torres, 88, died Nov. 18. Brother Torres began sailing with the SIU in 1944 in the port of New York. His first voyage was aboard an AH Bull Steamship Co. vessel. Brother Torres was born in Puerto Rico. He worked in the deck department, last sailing on the Borinquen. He went on pension in 1978 and continued to live in Puerto Rico. INLAND DOMINGO HEREDIA Boatman Domingo Heredia, 58, passed away Nov. 13. He began his seafaring career in 1991, sailing in both the inland and deep sea divisions. Boatman Heredia first worked aboard a vessel operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation of San Juan. His last ship was the Guayama. He made his home in Puerto Rico. 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. OSSIE FERGUSON Pensioner Ossie Ferguson, 88, passed away Oct. 16. Brother Ferguson joined the NMU in 1945. He first sailed aboard the Chapel Hall Victory. Brother Ferguson was born in Hallieford, Va. His last voyage was on the African Comet. Brother Ferguson retired in 1979. GIRINALDO FIGUEROA Pensioner Girinaldo Figueroa, 85, died Sept. 20. Brother Figueroa became an NMU member in 1941 in the port of San Juan, P.R. He worked in the deck department. Brother Figueroa’s last voyage was on the Santa Cruz. He began receiving his pension in 1968. RICHARD FLORES Pensioner Richard Flores, 68, passed away Oct. 1. Brother Flores embarked on his seafaring career in 1965 in the port of Houston. His first voyage was aboard the William Lykes. Brother Flores was a Texas native. Prior to his retirement in 1996, he shipped on the Howell Lykes. GENE NEUBAUER HAROLD GUY Pensioner Gene Neubauer, 87, died Dec. 11. Boatman Neubauer joined the SIU in 1974. He first sailed aboard vessels operated by McAllister Towing of Philadelphia. Boatman Neubauer, who was born in North Dakota, most recently worked on a Taylor Marine Towing vessel. He retired in 1984 and resided in Ridley. Pensioner Harold Guy, 81, died Oct. 10. Brother Guy was born in Hyslop, Va. He joined the NMU in 1943 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Guy first sailed aboard the David Caldwell. He last worked in the engine department of the Pasadena. Brother Guy became a pensioner in 1969. GREAT LAKES AHMED MUSSAD Brother Ahmed Mussad, 55, passed away Dec. 2. He joined the union in 1970. Brother Mussad first shipped aboard an American Steamship Co. vessel. He worked in both the deck and engine departments. Brother Mussad most recently sailed aboard the Paul Thayer. Born in Yemen, he made his home in Dearborn, Mich. EDWARD PERRY Pensioner Edward Perry, 92, died Dec. 5. Brother Perry began his SIU career in 1961. He sailed primarily aboard Great Lakes Towing Co. vessels. Brother Perry, who was born in Stonington, Conn., became a pensioner in 1977. He was a resident of Debary, Fla. PAUL KOLWYCK Pensioner Paul Kolwyck, 79, passed away Oct. 14. Brother Kolwyck joined the NMU in 1945 in the port of New York. His first trip to sea was on the Anniston City. Brother Kolwyck, who was born in Batesville, Miss., last sailed aboard the USNS Yukon. He went on pension in 1985. ANGUS McCORMICK Pensioner Angus McCormick, 65, died Oct. 9. Brother McCormick began his seafaring career in 1967 in Charleston, S.C. He first shipped in the engine department on the American Falcon. Brother McCormick was born in Saint Paul, N.C. He most recently sailed on the Mallory Lykes. Brother McCormick started collecting his retirement pay in 1988. JOSE MOREIRA Pensioner Jose Moreira, 87, passed away Oct. 21. Brother Moreira began sailing with the NMU in 1946 in the port of Boston, Mass. The engine department member, who was born in Portugal, first worked aboard the Pocahontas. Brother Moreira’s last voyage was on the United States. He retired in 1970. LEROY OZEN Pensioner Leroy Ozen, 78, died Sept. 16. Brother Ozen commenced his seafaring career in 1968 in Port Arthur, Texas. His first ship was the Whitehorse; his last was the Texaco California. Brother Ozen was born in Texas and worked in the steward department. He became a pensioner in 1986. CHARLES SNEYD Pensioner Charles Sneyd, 83, passed away Sept. 14. Brother Sneyd joined the union in 1944 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He was born in Chicago, Ill. Before retiring in 1968, Brother Sneyd shipped aboard the Green Bay. LEMUEL STEWART Pensioner Lemuel Stewart, 82, died Oct. 7. Brother Stewart was born in Panama. He joined the NMU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Stewart was a member of the steward department. His last voyage was on the United States. Brother Stewart began receiving his retirement compensation in 1970. PABLO VELAZQUEZ Pensioner Pablo Velazquez, 88, passed away Oct. 15. Brother Velazquez joined the NMU in 1963 in the port of New York. He was a native of Puerto Rico. Brother Velazquez shipped in the steward department. His last voyage was on the Mormac Draco. Brother Velazquez went on pension in 1983. August 2007 �43725_p1,2,18,19_24:2007-May 7/27/2007 2:13 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. ACHIEVER (Maersk Line Limited), June 17—Chairman Michael Borders, Secretary John G. Reid, Educational Director Irwin J. Rousseau, Engine Delegate Chromer W. Jefferson. Chairman announced June 17 payoff in Charleston, S.C. He also noted that pay raise will take effect July 1. Secretary reported good trip with stores to be loaded in Houston. He thanked fellow crew members for their help throughout voyage. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. and reminded them to check expiration dates on all documents needed for shipping (z-card, clinic card, passport, STCW, etc.). No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read and discussed president’s report from latest Seafarers LOG. Crew members discussed upcoming changes to medical plan. New CD players have been purchased for crew rooms. Request made to have fans in each room as well. Suggestions made to increase pension payments and reduce eligibility requirements. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next ports: Charleston; Houston. CHARGER (Maersk Line Limited), June 3—Chairman Frank P. Sena, Secretary Raymond S. Garcia, Educational Director Juanito P. Dansalan, Engine Delegate Charles J. Kirksey III, Steward Delegate Wiley C. Owens. Chairman reported smooth sailing and good crew. Secretary encouraged Seafarers to make sure their documents are up to date and they have the necessary certificates. Educational director urged mariners to take advantage of educational opportunities available at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on wording in contract. Thanks given to steward department for good food and clean ship. Next ports: Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. COMMITMENT (Maersk Line Limited), June 9—Chairman Edward J. O’Conner Jr., Secretary Charles A. Banky, Educational Director Brian J. Sengelaub, Deck Delegate Edwin Ortega, Engine Delegate Ahmed M. Sultan, Steward Delegate Robert Arana. Chairman announced June 13 payoff in Newark, N.J. He asked crew to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen and soap for reliefs. He also advised everyone to stay on top of TWIC situation and remember medical benefits start July 1 with Cigna. Secretary urged members to be careful when using concentrated laundry soap. Use only 1 oz. per load so clothes do not have soap left in them. Educational director talked about the importance of being fit for duty and completing tour. He informed crew members they can check the status of their documents on the Coast Guard web site. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions were made pertaining to pension and prescription benefits. New ice machine will be picked up in Houston. Next ports: Newark; Charleston, S.C., Houston; Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy. EL FARO (Interocean American Shipping), June 17—Chairman Eric A. Berry, Secretary Kenneth Whitfield, Deck Delegate Zinnonnon Jackson. Chairman thanked crew for adapting to changes and working well together while getting the ship ready for its new trial run of different cargo. Vessel is now headed back to the States. Secretary reminded each mariner to clean room for next crew member and also to check expiration dates on documents. Working on the USNS Victorious There’s never an end to painting, chipping and other maintenance duties aboard ship. OS Wilbert Torres (above) and Bosun Angel Perez keep up with some of the work on the USNS Victorious. August 2007 Additionally, he suggested everyone read the Seafarers LOG to stay informed on issues affecting the maritime industry. Educational director talked about the benefits of upgrading at the Piney Point school. Treasurer stated $45 in ship’s fund. Crew voted to divide the amount and give it to the two apprentices on board ship. No beefs or disputed OT reported. A vote of thanks was given to President Sacco for the hard work he does for the membership. Seafarers were advised to attend home port union meetings while ashore and were reminded that when taking cash for transportation, it is taxable. Crew expressed gratitude to steward department for a job well done. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla. HONOR (International American Shipping), June 10—Chairman Norman E. Tourtellot, Secretary Lionell P. Packnett, Educational Director Derek C. King, Deck Delegate Trawn D. Gooch, Engine Delegate Kyle W. Byron, Steward Delegate Roberto Rivera. Chairman announced June 11 payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. Request was made for copies of the contract. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade skills at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew would like washer and dryer to be fixed or replaced as well as purchase of new DVD player. Clarification requested on rest periods and penalty rates. Steward department was thanked for great food and housekeeping. HORIZON HAWAII (Horizon Lines), June 10—Chairman Brian P. Corbett, Secretary Joseph J. Gallo Jr., Educational Director Roy S. Frett Jr., Deck Delegate Isaac V. Mercado, Engine Delegate Ronald Williams, Steward Delegate Angel D. Corchado. Chairman announced June 15 payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. Union books and dues should be ready for boarding patrolman. Chairman advised crew members to make sure all necessary shipping documents are current or chance losing a job. He thanked everyone for working together as a team and also explained TWIC procedures and time of projected issuance. Secretary thanked everyone for great voyage; with a special thanks given to Chef Carlito and UMS Corchado. Educational director encouraged Seafarers to check available courses at Paul Hall Center and renew expiring documents early. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made regarding eligibility requirements for health care benefits. Next ports: Jacksonville; San Juan, P.R.; Elizabeth, N.J. LIBERTY EAGLE (Liberty Maritime), June 11—Chairman Juan M. Rivas, Secretary Tyler N. Laffitte, Educational Director Jerome E. Dooms, Deck Delegate Stig Sasse Jr. Chairman announced June 18 payoff in Galveston, Texas. He also led a discussion on the TWIC program. Educational director urged all eligible mariners to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and keep MMDs and other documents current. No beefs reported; some disputed OT noted in deck department. Suggestions made regarding retirement benefits. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. MAERSK NEVADA (E-Ships), June 7—Chairman Roy Tyler, Secretary Rudolph Daniels, Educational Director Herbert B. Hyde, Engine Delegate Malachi L. Tannis. Chairman thanked crew members for a safe trip and announced June 9 payoff in Port Elizabeth, N.J. Educational director requested more copies of standard agreement (along with any changes made to agreement) in order to better educate crew on rules and regulations. He also talked about benefits of upgrading skills at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great job and for obtaining new pillows for crew. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG Ship Management), June 3—Chairman Deck Delegate Ruben V. Datu, Engine Delegate Melgar Daguio, Steward Delegate Orlando A. Hill. Chairman announced ship to arrive in Port Angeles, Wash. June 5 to discharge cargo and then proceed to Point Wells, Wash. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep mess hall clean. Educational director reminded everyone to check document expiration dates and urged them not to wait until last minute to renew. He also talked about taking courses at the Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members requested an extra washer and dryer to accommodate everyone, especially when riders Aboard the USNS Mary Sears Posing on the deck of the USNS Mary Sears are (from left) OS Joel Marcano, Bosun Kelly Doyle, 2nd Mate Glenn Loutsenhizer, DEU Mohsin Mohamed and OS Mark Randall. Roger C. Tupas, Secretary Ronald P. Drew, Educational Director Louis Valencia, Deck Delegate Virgilio T. Alday, Steward Delegate Breon A. Lucas. Chairman announced ship to arrive in Portland, Ore. on or about June 5, discharge cargo that night and then leave for Long Beach, Calif. Educational director encouraged mariners to take advantage of educational opportunities available at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Deck delegate gave steward department “3 hurrahs” for excellent food, and steward delegate thanked all departments for teamwork. Next ports: Portland; Long Beach. P&O NEDLLOYD BUENOS AIRES (Waterman Steamship Corp.), June 15—Chairman Francis C. Adams, Secretary Brandon D. Maeda, Educational Director Basil R. D’Souza, Deck Delegate William Rios, Engine Delegate Saleh S. Saleh, Steward Delegate Taha A. Ismail. Bosun reported temperature has reached over 100 degrees in Persian Gulf and reminded everyone to drink plenty of water. Educational director advised everyone to take advantage of courses offered at Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills and better themselves intellectually and financially. Treasurer stated $190 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman read letter from VP Contracts George Tricker concerning TWIC. Crew members thanked Tricker for great job he is doing. Suggestions made regarding bosun recertification process. Vote of thanks given to Chief Cook Asril Syarbaini for great food and SA Taha Ismail for keeping the house spotless. SEABULK ARCTIC (Seabulk International Inc.), June 3—Chairman Juan Castillo, Secretary Alan W. Bartley, Educational Director Reginald R. Hunter, are on board. Steward department was thanked for job well done. Next port: Port Angeles; Point Wells; San Francisco. SEABULK TRADER (Seabulk International Inc.), June 6—Chairman Robert J. Coleman, Secretary James E. Harris, Educational Director Eron G. Hall Jr., Deck Delegate David L. Hollenback, Steward Delegate Matthew D. Carroll. Chairman announced ship will anchor on arrival in Lake Charles. He praised crew members for jobs well done in China shipyard and reminded everyone that they will be required to carry a TWIC by September 25, 2008. Educational director encouraged all Seafarers to upgrade skills at Piney Point facility and watch expiration dates on documents needed to ship out. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Satellite TV is now being received aboard ship. Requests made for new dryer in crew laundry and door hooks for reefer box doors. Steward department given vote of thanks for good food and service. SP5 ERIC G. GIBSON (Osprey Ship Management), June 6— Chairman Michael S. Sinclair, Secretary Hamdi H. Hussein, Educational Director Bobby L. Jones, Deck Delegate Larry Martin, Engine Delegate Vincent L. Kirksey, Steward Delegate James E. Kelly Jr. Bosun read memorandum regarding vacation/ holiday pay increases effective June 1. Educational director advised all hands to upgrade at union-affiliated school in Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Discussion was held concerning new TWIC program: what it is and when it will go into effect. More information was requested on this subject. Next ports: Fijirah, UAE; Jebel Ali, Dubai. Seafarers LOG 19 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/23/2007 10:14 AM 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 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) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 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. 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. PICS-FROM-THE-PAST These photos recently were sent to the Seafarers LOG anonymously–but were identified on the back! The picture below was taken aboard the VLCC Stuyvesant. From the left are Bosun Luther Pate (chairman), AB Gary Hoover (deck delegate) and Steward/Cook William Higgs (ship’s secretary). Pate is pointing to Valdez, Alaska on the map, the port at which the vessel was to pick up its cargo. The other photo was taken at the SIU hall in San Francisco on Mission Street. Mike Rossi (left) and Joe SanFilippo were two “tenderfoot bosuns,” according to the writing on the back of the photo. 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 20 Seafarers LOG 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. August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/23/2007 10:19 AM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Engine 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 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. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops September 10 October 5 FOWT August 13 October 8 September 7 November 2 Marine Electrician September 24 November 16 Welding August 6 October 1 October 29 August 24 October 19 November 16 Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Advanced Fire Fighting September 24 October 5 Basic Safety Training Classes are conducted weekly Fast Rescue Boat August 27 August 31 Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman August 20 October 1 September 14 October 26 Government Vessels August 6 September 17 November 5 August 10 September 21 November 9 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) October 22 October 26 Medical Care Provider October 8 October 12 October 5 August 13 August 24 Tankerman Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* September 24 GMDSS November 26 December 7 Lifeboatman/Water Survival August 6 September 17 October 29 August 17 September 28 November 9 August 13 August 17 Radar October 8 October 19 Radar Renewal (one day) October 29 Course (*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, 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 Aug. 6, 2007. Recertification Bosun October 8 November 5 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 # __________________________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/07 Seafarers LOG 21 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23:3725p 7/23/2007 1:15 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 688 — Unlicensed apprentices Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 687 — Graduating from the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from class 687. They include (in alphabetical order) Dennis Barbosa, Farren Blackwell, Erik Brown, Robert Brown, Philip Carlton, Christopher Carrier, Emmanuel Garcia, Darren Hall, Michael Hernandez, Nikolay Ivanov, Zachary Kurtz, Joseph Maltese, Jesse Pernell, Robert Puckett, Pedro Rivera Riestra, Joey Roberts, Tommy Rodgers, Andrew Sitterly Jr., Aubrey Wiggins and Danielle Wright. from class 688 who completed the water survival course are (in alphabetical order) Scott Accardi, Brayone Albert, Ryan Atwood, Marcos Bolanos, Prymus Buckholtz, Angel Cintron-Colon, Moriah Collier, Derrick Elijah, Brandon Fields, Jose Garcia, Charles Glover Jr., Nicholas Gustafson, Joshua Hosseinzadeh, John McCormick, James McEntire, Juanito Mauricio, Victor Moody, Andres Nunez, David Pacheco, Joseph Redwood Jr., Terry Thomas, Josean Villanueva and Jason Young. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Tankerman (PIC) Barge — Students who completed this course June 8 are (in no specific order) Michael Wittenberg, Nebojsh Milosevic, Scott Saw, Juan Bernal-Helices, Moises Ramos, Clayton Lupton, Thom Montgomery, James Rolin, Jon Dillon Jose Vazquez, William Schuppman and Brandon Granger. Advanced Fire Fighting — Completing the advanced fire fighting course June 15 under the instruction of Mark Cates (second from right) are Crowley boatmen (in no specific order) Jimmy Ocot, Roger Phillips, Joseph Pittman, Thomas Caballero, Kirk Pegan, Michael Alghafeili, Mrimri Farah, McKinley Jones Jr., Gregory White and Denis Burke. AB — With instructor Bernabe Pelingon (far left) are students who earned Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations — Phase III students and upgrading Seafarers who com- pleted this course are (in alphabetical order) Cortez Capers, Christopher Caporale, Michael Chapman, Mario Cruz, Dwayne Gould Jr., Alvin Hansley, Paul Hart, Dwight Hunt, Stanley Jackson Jr., Catherine Jones, Douglas Kellup, Vivian Norfleet, Pierre Norwood, Hipolita Roches, Juan Rochez, Cornelius Smith, Bobby Turner, Enrique Velez and Jonathan White. Their instructor, Tim Achorn, is at far left. their AB endorsement June 22. They are (in alphabetical order) Joseph Bianchi, Reid Bland, Wiliam Bolden, Roy Carey, John Cash Jr., Grant Fedukovich, Matthew Green, Bryan Hayden, Joseph Huff, Jorge Lanas, Shawn Orr, Michael Sedita, Whitney Sheridan, Wilma Joy Smith, Kyle Spruill, Thomas Tramutola, Jeremy Williams and John Worae. Computer Lab Classes With instructor Rick Prucha in both photos are students who recently completed computer classes at the Paul Hall Center. Showing their certificates of achievement are (from left) David Ruggirello, Aaron Larson and Arkady Bichevsky. 22 Seafarers LOG Advanced Fire Fighting — Graduating from this course June 29 under the instruction of Tom Cessna (center) are Crowley boatmen (in alphabetical order) Rayfield Crawford, William Dowzicky, Josh Gunter and George Murphy Jr. August 2007 �43725_p6,7,9_16,20_23x:3725p 7/31/2007 1:22 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes ARPA — Upgrading Seafarers who completed the ARPA course June 22 are (in no alphabetical order) Carlos Castillo, Steven Corachan, Patrick David, Denis Dubro, Robert Hall, Jeffrey Jenkinson and Gregory Martineau. Their instructor, Mike Smith, is at far right. Radar — June 15 was graduation day for members of the radar class (in no specific order) Richard Summers, Carlos Castillo, Denis Dubro, Robert Hall, Steven Corachan, Jeffrey Jensinson and Gregory Martineau. Their instructor, Mike Smith, is at far right. Welding — Under the instruction of Buzzy Andrews (second from right) are students who completed the welding course June 29. They are (in alphabetical order) Arkady Bichevski, Mohsen Hubair and Jeffrey Parrish. Advanced Refrigerated Containers — Jay Henderson (far right) taught the refrigeration engineer course that ended June 15. Included in this class were (in no specific order) Rahul Bagchi, Hector Solis, Douglas Lowry, Mike Murphy, David James, Richard Huffman, Robert Norris, Andrew Linares and Rigoberto Beata. Specially Trained OS — Two groups of Phase III apprentices and upgrading Seafarers graduated June 15 from STOS courses. They are (in no particular order) apprentices Joseph Maltese, Arthur Jones, Demetrius Green, Ryanne Wheeler, Benjamin Wright, Cleveland Foy, Ravon Moore, Preston Grant, Daniel Irizarry, Faalando Williams, Arvid Rutledge, Mark Brownell, Diego Barbosa, Trevor Rowe, Melody White, Charles Brown Jr., Darren Hall, Jonathan Luna, David McRoy Jr., John Anson, Jesse Mixon, Iker Urrachi and upgraders Marino Macadaan, Dennis Shields, J.K, Borden, Thomas Clement, Durlas Ruiz, Ronnie Rankin and Jeremie Coates. One of their instructors, Stan Beck, is at far right. The other instructor, Tom Truitt, is not pictured. Safety Training at the Barbers Point Facility in Hawaii Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Completing this course June 15 are (in no specific order) Sergey Kurchenko, Forrest McGee, Albert Beneman, Lilia Bocaya, Teodulfo Alanano, Manolo Delos Santos, Michael Joel, Juma Juma, Fernando Mesa, Robert Brown, Kenneth Steiner, James Walker, Nicasio Arzu, Mohamed Mohamed, Michael Bell, Abdulkarim Mohamed and Milton Flynn. August 2007 STCW — NCL, June 11: Richard Maxian, Marjorie Marva, Raul Almoradie, Leonardo Porras Jr., Florante Alcosiba, Renato Santos Jr., Alejo Narcise, Ursulito Comia, Eiroll Banag, Ronald Dimalanta, Randy Gabunada, Viegas Marcelline, Manuel Valderrama, Jose Canonaso, Rudy Velasquez, Arnel De Lara and Menzi Espanol. Seafarers LOG 23 �43725_p3_5,8,17,24x:3725p0 7/31/2007 2:07 PM Page 24 Volume 69, Number 8 August 2007 The Slop Chest: Check out the exclusive online source for Seafarers International Union merchandise at www.seafarers.org Crowley’s Commitment to Safety Is ‘No Accident’ Seafarers-Contracted Company Takes Strong Initiatives Throughout Fleet With a constant emphasis on safety, Crowley Maritime Corporation and its subsidiaries employ SIU members aboard their owned and operated vessels. SIU-crewed Crowley vessels are home-ported in the ports of Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville, Lake Charles, Houston, San Diego and Long Beach. SIU members work aboard all Crowley vessel types: line haul tugs, ship assist and escort tugs, ATBs, tankers, RO/ROs and containerships, hauling cargo for commercial and military customers. The company is committed to a culture of safety. Safety is a Crowley “core value” reflected in their slogan “Safety, It’s No Accident.” That motto was selected because of its two very important and powerful meanings. According to the company, the first meaning of “Safety, It’s No Accident” is that safety on vessels (and at home) is the result of a culture where accidents are prevented. Safety just does not automatically happen. Crowley believes it is “a thoughtful and concentrated approach to all of our actions. It is thinking about and discussing the possible hazards associated with a task and deciding what controls are necessary to eliminate or reduce the risks,” the company noted in a statement for this article. “That is the second meaning. It is these control actions that result in safety. To take care, be fully aware, and understand the task. It’s no accident.” During the last few years, working in partnership with the SIU, Crowley has been embarked on a voyage of culture change. Starting in 2003, Crowley implemented “safety leadership” training. Safety leadership empowers all Crowley employees, from the captain to the GVA, to speak up and address any and all safety concerns they see in the workplace and aboard their vessels. The company notes that its safety culture is based on ideals including: Accidents can be prevented Safety is fully integrated in every business activity Employee involvement, feedback and recognition Capt. Al Costner aboard the ATB Sound Reliance Bosuns including Tom Moore (at front of hose) and Rick James (next in line), pictured last month during fire fighting training at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center, say Crowley constantly demonstrates its unwavering commitment to safety. are fundamental to safety Safe behavior is doing the job right Safety is a Crowley core value Safety is leadership focus, responsibility and example Safety is a good business practice Three Seafarers who regularly sail aboard Crowley vessels recently said that they have firsthand appreciation for the company’s commitment to individual and environmental wellbeing. “Crowley is a very safetyconscious company,” stated Bosun William Dowzicky. “This is a company that actually listens to its crew. If there ever is a safety concern, Crowley acts on it promptly. You can never be too safe on a ship, and Crowley stresses education and training.” Bosun Rick James said that in his 17 years of sailing with the SIU, “Crowley has been and continues to be at the forefront of shipboard safety and continues to train all their shipboard personnel. A ship’s safety is paramount to continued success for everyone—economically, environmentally and personally. That’s something that cannot be achieved without a proactive safety culture, and Crowley definitely has one.” Bosun Tom Moore simply declared, “Safety is our policy— always!” Crowley has an “Operational Excellence Management System” that puts a structured process in place to manage safe operations. It includes documented procedures to identify and effectively manage safety, health, environmental and operational risks. The objective is to provide safe practices in vessel operations and a safe working environment. The company has created industry-leading safety tools and education that include effective safety meetings, job safety analysis, near-miss reporting, “why tree” incident and nearmiss investigations and on-board video training. These are supplemented with the cutting-edge training curriculums at the SIUaffiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education and special programs such as ATB crew training that significantly improve safety for the crew member. According to Crowley, the real key to success is the SIU mariner. When it comes to safety, employees being aware of The harbor tug Master maneuvers in “indirect mode” (traveling sideways) to slow an outgoing car carrier in Los Angeles/Long Beach. potential hazards and using good judgment to make sure safety controls are in place, both on and off the job, represent the culture of safety Crowley expects. Charlie Nalen, Crowley’s vice president for environmental, safety and quality assurance said, “Crowley knows that its seafarers have the ability to prevent accidents. Each of us must take personal initiative and responsibility to be safe. We know from prior experience that the root cause of most incidents is unsafe acts or behaviors. That is why it is critical to always think about the safety aspects of a job and know that we are responsible and empowered to ensure that no work is performed if it can’t be done safely.” SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker praised the company’s commitment to safety. “Crowley deserves full recognition not only for their dedication but also for getting so much input from the crew members,” he stated. “There’s no doubt that when it comes to safety, Crowley is as thorough and successful as they come.” Besides the aforementioned initiatives, Crowley also has implemented the “Personal Safety Check” which has three elements: define the job; identify the hazards; apply controls. In describing the components, the company noted, “The first thing is to assess the work to be done. Good questions to always ask are—what can go wrong? And, what is the worst thing that could happen if something does go wrong? Taking a few seconds to think about these questions will help identify possible job risks. “Next, analyze how to reduce the risk. Have I done a job safety analysis? Do I understand the task? Have I been properly trained? Are there communication procedures in place? Do I have the proper personal protective equipment? “Finally, you need to act to ensure safe operations. This is the critical step of taking action to ensure that the job is safely done—controlling the job hazards and following the job safety analysis or written procedures— and asking for assistance if needed. Most importantly, stop the job if you think it’s unsafe or you see someone acting in an unsafe manner.” Along with safety leadership, Crowley emphasizes crew member responsibility. While the company and supervisors play their part, crew members are expected to arrive for their watch or activities on time, prepared to work safely throughout their day and address any safety concerns with their supervisor. Crowley crew members are encouraged to listen and learn from any training. They are active participants in learning a job skill or safety issue. They further are urged to ask for assistance if the training or instruction is not clear or they don’t feel comfortable in performing the task. Additionally, they are asked to report unsafe acts and near misses immediately; address problems with the supervisor ASAP, but always try to give solutions; re-address issues with the supervisor on unresolved topics; and be an active member in the safety of the workplace by (among other activities) participating in safety meetings, job safety analyses, and drills. Nalen added, “We are very proud to have the SIU as a safety partner. Together, we can continue to improve our culture of safety which will result in more voyages that bring seafarers safely home to their families.” � 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 August 2007 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES HORIZON FALCON RESCUES 2 USNS WHEAT HOSTS DIGNITARIES UNIONS TESTIFY AT TWIC HEARING COAST GUARD ISSUES GUIDANCE ON ID CARD PROGRAM U.S. SHIPPING PARTNERS TAKES DELIVERY OF ATB GOVERNMENT SERVICES DIVISION WINS HOTEL ARBITRATION USNS KANAWHA, FRENCH VESSEL TEAM UP FOR RESCUE IN ARABIAN SEA USNS ALAN SHEPARD DELIVERED NEW REPORT SHEDS MORE LIGHT ON NEED FOR FREE CHOICE ACT DON’T LET SHIPPING DOCUMENTS EXPIRE RETIRED PORT AGENT CARTER DIES AT 76 ABOARD THE M/V BUFFALO: A REAL WORKING SHIP 1967-2007 PAUL HALL CENTER WHAT IT MEANT THEN WHY IT MATTERS NOW CROWLEY’S COMMITEMENT TO SAFETY IS ‘NO ACCIDENT’ 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 08/01/2007 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. 8 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log 2007 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/b7da7a67452a49891099a7423c0f4e4f.pdf 6fabe8dd1e5547323ca2155232eab4d4 PDF Text Text 49927_P01_24X3:January 08 7/29/2008 12:03 PM Page 1 Volume 70, Number 8 August 2008 Federation Endorses Sen. Obama for President Top leaders of AFL-CIO unions, including SIU President Michael Sacco (right), recently voted without opposition to endorse pro-maritime Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) (left) in his bid to become the next president of the United States. Sen. Obama has expressed very strong support for pro-maritime statutes including the Jones Act and the U.S. Maritime Security Program. The photo below left was taken after the labor endorsement meeting June 26 in Washington, D.C. Page 2. SIU Jobs are Secure As Phillips, Baugh Transfer to Maersk’s Commercial Fleet Seafarers Contribute to MRAP Milestone The U.S. Department of Defense in July announced another milestone in the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) program. As of early last month, 10,000 MRAPs had been delivered to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these vehicles have been delivered by SIU-crewed ships, including the USNS Pililaau (right), pictured earlier this year offloading an MRAP in Kuwait. Page 4. SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) last month announced that it had won the bid to purchase and operate the MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips (above) and the MV PFC William B. Baugh (bottom photo) – a development which preserves Seafarers’ jobs aboard both vessels. The ships have transferred to MLL’s commercial fleet after previously sailing as prepositioning vessels for the U.S. Military Sealift Command. Page 3 SIU Boatmen Welcome New Z-Drive Tug A new SIU-contracted tugboat recently was christened in Houston. The Wesley A (left), operated by G&H Towing for BayHouston Towing Company, is a state-of-the-art addition to the union’s contracted inland fleet. Pictured at the ceremony (right) are crew members along with SIU officials VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey (fourth from left) and Asst. VP Jim McGee (right). Page 3. (Photos by Robert John Mihovil) Contracts Approved Pages 3, 4 Superferry Sets Record Page 6 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:02 PM Page 2 President’s Repor t Maritime’s Role in the Energy Debate Early in this decade, chances are good that unless you lived in the Pacific Northwest or near Capitol Hill, it wasn’t easy to get into a conversation about ANWR and whether the U.S. should open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for safe oil exploration. Today, with gasoline at well over $4 a gallon in most parts of the country and with other energy costs also increasing, things have changed – in more ways than one. Michael Sacco ANWR is all over the news, all across the land. “Energy independence” is now a hot topic in the November elections, and the latest polling shows a significant change in public attitudes not only about oil exploration in ANWR but also about offshore drilling. According to numerous news reports, and again based on reliable polling, most Americans now favor such exploration. (In the case of ANWR, a great majority of Alaskans have long supported exploration.) Most also believe it will lead to lower prices for energy in the U.S. For the record, the SIU’s position on ANWR is that we still believe ANWR exploration potentially offers substantial benefits for the entire nation. In particular where the SIU is concerned, it could lead to significant numbers of new jobs in the U.S. Merchant Marine. When and if the time comes, oil delivered from ANWR should and will be carried aboard American-flag ships. Such procedure is just good common sense, not to mention it is required by the Jones Act, which mandates that cargo moved from one U.S. port to another be transported aboard vessels that are crewed, flagged, owned and built American. If as a nation we’re aiming for greater self-reliance, then a viable, strong U.S.-flag fleet is a crucial part of the equation. And laws like the Jones Act and the U.S. Maritime Security Program are more important than ever to our country’s wellbeing. The same line of thinking holds true in regards to liquefied gas, a very lively topic at several large ports across the country. As this issue of the LOG went to press, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced that one company (Suez Energy), as part of its liquefied natural gas deepwater port license application, has committed to use an American-flag, U.S.crewed ship (including the unlicensed mariners) in the company’s proposed LNG import facility off the Florida coast. I applaud the announcement and I hope it’s just one of many such commitments to come. As I wrote last year, as our government issues licenses for new LNG terminals – and with the very probable increase in importing such cargo – it’s not only good policy but also sound, safe judgment to acknowledge that having U.S. LNG vessels and crews will help reduce any economic leverage or even outright threats from those who wish to harm our nation. U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton put it quite well last month in his Suez announcement. In part, he said, “The employment of U.S. citizens aboard the LNG vessels serving our natural gas receiving facilities is clearly in the nation’s best interest. Placing the transportation of LNG under the control of U.S. mariners, who are subject to strenuous background checks, will add an additional layer of safety and security to our energy supply chain.” The same logic applies to the ANWR situation and, for that matter, to other cargoes. In fact, this goes beyond the energy issue and extends to the core reasons why we need a strong U.S. Merchant Marine in the first place. Whether we’re delivering materiel for our troops, or moving oil from coast to coast, or bringing loaded containers from overseas, or plying the inland waterways or sailing on the Great Lakes, the U.S. Merchant Marine is a necessary, reliable part of the very fabric of America’s national and economic security. Our track record proves it, and so do the Seafarers who are currently sailing aboard all kinds of ships, all over the world. In the ongoing debate over energy, the U.S. Merchant Marine’s role, value and dependability will not be overlooked. Volume 70, Number 8 August 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 Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee for the 2008 Elections, was a guest speaker during the AFL-CIO’s 25th Constitutional Convention in July 2005 in Chicago. The senator is pictured above with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney during that function. Federation Endorses Obama The top leaders of AFL-CIO unions, including SIU President Michael Sacco, on June 26 voted without opposition to endorse pro-maritime Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in his bid to become the next president of the United States. The federation’s General Board, which designated Obama as the candidate of its choice for the White House, includes presidents of all 56 unions in the AFL-CIO, as well as Executive Council members and representatives of state and local federations, trade departments and constituency groups. The General Board votes by per capita membership. In conjunction with the endorsement, the AFLCIO launched a new web site: Meet Barack Obama (http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/obama.cfm.) In its endorsement statement, the General Board noted that Sen. Barack Obama “has secured the nomination of his party in a campaign that has energized millions of Americans and spoken to the hopes and dreams of people from every corner of our nation. His leadership can re-engage disenfranchised Americans and bring our country together. Senator Obama has advocated a change of direction for our nation that mirrors the priorities of the labor movement.” Obama has a 98 percent voting record on working families’ issues, compared to just 16 percent for Sen. John McCain, his Republican presidential opponent. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, in announcing the federation’s backing, said, “Barack Obama has proven from his days as an organizer, to his time in the Senate and his historic run for the presidency that he’s leading the fight to turn around America.” As a champion for working families, Sweeney said, “Obama knows what it’s going to take to create an economy that works for everyone, not just Big Oil, Big Pharma, the insurance companies, the giant mortgage lenders, speculators and the very wealthy. We’re proud to stand with Senator Obama to help our nation chart a course that will improve life for generations of working people and our children.” The federation’s endorsement was not only a stamp of approval; it marked the beginning of a huge, united political mobilization among working class voters. The AFL-CIO will focus on mobilizing more than 13 million union voters – including union members, families of members, retirees and members of the AFL-CIO community affiliate Working America – in 24 priority states, working to elect pro-labor U.S. senators and representatives, as well as state and local candidates. When it comes to the U.S.-flag maritime industry, Sen. Obama has expressed very strong support on laws and programs such as the Jones Act, the U.S. Maritime Security Program and cargo preference regulations. “The Jones Act is a vital part of our national defense and supports American workers,” Sen. Obama said earlier this year. “As president, I would fully enforce it…. Furthermore, maintaining the American Merchant Marine fleet is vital to our economy and national security. I would oppose any move to undermine this Act.” Concerning the Maritime Security Program, Sen. Obama stated that it “helps ensure U.S.-flag vessels are ready to meet our needs during times of war or national emergency and I support fully funding it. I support funding the Maritime Security Program so that it serves our nation’s national security needs. If the GAO [General Accountability Office] or another independent body finds that the MSP program needs to be expanded, I will support expanding it to the size necessary.” He added, “Our cargo preference laws are an important way for us to regulate and support the maritime industry. Supporting the maritime industry allows us to ensure that we have the resources we need during times of war and national emergency and maintains standards in the industry. I will continue to support cargo preference laws where they uphold our goals in shipping.” SIU-Contracted Companies Honored with Safety Awards A number of Seafarers-contracted companies received recognition June 5 in Houston as the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) conducted its annual safety awards luncheon. The CSA represents 31 U.S.-based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, containerships and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades. The CSA also represents other entities that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. Among the honors presented were the Jones F. Devlin awards, which were given to companies that have operated ships for at least two years without a mariner involved in a lost-time injury. Recipients included Alaska Tanker Company; Crescent Towing; Crowley Maritime Corporation; Crowley Petroleum Services; E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc.; American Overseas Marine; Horizon Lines; Interocean American Shipping Corporation; American Roll-on-Roll-off Carrier; Sea Star Line; Totem Ocean Trailer Express; Keystone Shipping; Maersk Line, Limited; Ocean Shipholdings; OSG Ship Management; Seabulk Tankers; Seabulk Towing; and U.S. Shipping Partners. Individual SIU-crewed vessels receiving honors included the Horizon Falcon, Brenton Reef, Green Bay, Santa Cruz, USNS Lawrence Gianella, Overseas Long Beach and R.J. Pfeiffer. Joseph Cox, CSA president, said the awards program’s growth since inception in the mid1950s is a credit to “the professionalism of our seafarers and the dedication of shore-based company personnel to safe operation.” He added, “CSA’s involvement in safety is longstanding. We continue to represent the industry, domestically and internationally, on safety issues encompassing every facet of ship operations. It is therefore only fitting that an industry so focused on safety, publicly recognizes the skills and dedication of the women and men who are responsible for actions in keeping with the highest traditions of the sea – aid to those in peril.” More than 240 people attended the awards luncheon, including representatives of the SIU. August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:02 PM Page 3 SIU Jobs Saved Aboard Phillips, Baugh Maersk Wins Bid to Operate RO/ROs in Commercial Sector SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) last month announced that it had won the bid to purchase and operate the MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips and the MV PFC William B. Baugh – a development which preserves Seafarers’ jobs aboard both vessels. In the near future, the Baugh will be renamed the Maersk Texas while the Phillips will be renamed the Maersk Tennessee. The ships will sail in commercial service; previously, they were part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s prepositioning fleet (since 1984). The continuation of SIU jobs aboard both vessels is no small accomplishment, considering that six of the seven bidders reportedly planned to scrap them, even though the ships are in good shape. Earlier this year, MSC notified MLL that the charter for each ship would be terminated on July 15. A carefully governed bidding process followed, with MLL emerging the winner. One requirement in the process was that the highest price be attained for the ships. “The company has acknowledged that the longstanding, effective working relationship between the SIU and Maersk Line, Limited helped give them the reassurance to proceed in this bidding process,” noted SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “They deserve credit for once again demonstrating their commitment to the U.S. Merchant Marine, and I believe that the union and the rankand-file membership also deserve credit.” In mid-July, both vessels were transferred to MLL’s commercial fleet and started undergoing minor conversions to accommodate their new missions. According to the company, the ships will fit well with MLL’s existing U.S.-flag services. They are roughly comparable to older but well-maintained, low-mileage vehicles. One MLL official estimated that the ships “have at least five more years of useful life.” The Phillips and the Baugh basically are identical. Each vessel is slightly longer than 755 feet, with a beam of 90 feet and a speed of 16.4 knots. Each is a combination container and roll-on/roll-off ship. Since the mid-1980s, they primarily have operated in Diego Garcia and Guam. “Much of the crew has been with the prepositioning program for many years, The MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips (above) served for many years in MSC’s prepositioning fleet. and the unblemished record of mission readiness over 25 years is a testament to their skills and dedication,” said MLL Labor Relations Vice President Ed Hanley. “The new opportunity for commercial trading is being embraced by most crew members, who are looking for- ward to the challenge with enthusiasm. “Operational excellence and careful cost management are critical to keeping the U.S. flag competitive in the international trades, and it is comforting as an operator to know we have such outstanding mariners aboard these vessels.” Matson Contract Approved The Wesley A is equipped with the most modern gear. New SIU-Crewed Tug Christened Photos by Robert John Mihovil Seafarers observe the christening from aboard the tugboat. August 2008 The SIU-crewed tugboat Wesley A formally was christened in mid-June in Houston. Seafarers and SIU officials including Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey and Assistant Vice President Jim McGee attended the ceremony. The z-drive harbor boat is operated by SIU-contracted G&H Towing for BayHouston Towing Company, the tug’s owner. It sails with a crew of four and was constructed at Main Iron Works in Houma, La. Like its sister tug, the SIU-crewed Thor, which entered service in 2007, the Wesley A is equipped with the most modern equipment available, including hightech navigational and propulsion systems. It’s also outfitted with a firefighting system that includes a vapor-mist feature designed to extinguish fires on LNG vessels or at LNG terminals. Powered by two Caterpillar 3516C engines which produce a total of 6,300 horsepower, the Wesley A is 98.5 feet long and has a beam of 39.3 feet. Its hull depth is listed as 16.4 feet. Crew members sailing aboard Matson Navigation Co. vessels have approved a new five-year contract calling for wage increases and other gains. The SIU represents steward department mariners aboard Matson ships. The other unlicensed crew members are represented by the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific and the Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association, respectively. In addition to increasing wages, the contract boosts pension benefits while maintaining the same level of medical coverage. These two photos were taken last month aboard the Mokihana in Hawaii. Pictured from left to right (photo above) are ACU Mohamed Mohamed, Chief Cook Khalid Mohamed and SIU Hawaii Safety Director Frank Iverson. Shown in the photo below (left to right) are Chief Cook Mohamed, Recertified Steward Michael Baker and ACU Mohamed. Seafarers LOG 3 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:02 PM Page 4 Starlight Marine Crews Ratify 3-Year Contract Seafarers who are employed by Starlight Marine Services recently approved a new three-year contract that calls for substantial wage increases and other gains. The agreement currently covers 22 SIU members working at the California-based company. Seafarers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the pact. Serving on the SIU negotiating team were SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone, Assistant Vice Pictured from left to right are SIU Asst. VP Nick Celona, Seafarer Jack Matievich, SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone and Seafarers Mike Price, Chris Ramos and Sterling Jones. The mariners are employed by Starlight Marine. President Nick Celona and Seafarers Bryan Wynn and Justin Rogers. “I want to thank the delegates for a job well done in tough negotiations,” Celona stated. “The rest of the membership at Starlight also deserves credit for their hard work and continued outstanding safety record.” The contract stipulates wage increases in each year of the agreement. It includes a new transportation benefit and, for the first time, brings Starlight crew members into the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan (SMPPP). The contract maintains benefit levels in the Seafarers Pension Plan and also allows for individual participation in the new Seafarers 401(k) Plan. (The SMPPP, Seafarers Pension Plan and Seafarers 401(k) Plan are three completely separate plans.) Additionally, the contract specifies that the company will pay for continued medical coverage (known as COBRA) in the event of a layoff. This is the second SIU contract at Starlight. The first was an initial five-year agreement ratified in 2003, the year Starlight Marine boatmen unanimously chose SIU representation. The company operates a fleet of seven state-of-the-art tugs and four barges in the San Francisco Harbor. They provide ship assistance and also perform bunkering and lightering operations. According to the company, “Starlight’s professional operators and deck crews are among the finest and most experienced in the harbor. Safety for employees and pro- Among the Starlight Marine boatmen ratifying the new contract were (from left) Bryan Wynn, Justin Rodgers, Ryan Tom and Jonathan Willingham. SIU Asst. VP Nick Celona is standing at far right. tection of the environment is always number one at Starlight. The company has extensive safety programs and systems that ensure a safe environment for the care and custody of cargo.” USNS Stockham Seafarers Refurbish Filipino School Several SIU members from the USNS Stockham recently volunteered to pitch in with refurbishment of a local elementary school in Subic Bay, Philippines. Chief Steward Emmanuel Zephyr said he and other Seafarers along with other volunteers helped with repairs and painting at Tapinak Elementary School. Other SIU members who couldn’t make it to the school still aided the cause by helping provide lunch for everyone participating in the philanthropic endeavor. Joining Zephyr for the project were fellow Seafarers ACU Yahya Munassar, ACU Frakhruddin Malahi, ACU Saleh Sewileh, SA Hayel Omer, SA Ali Y. Mohamed and SA Abdulgabar Ahmed. The Stockham is operated by Keystone for the U.S. Military Sealift Command. The 906foot vessel is part of MSC’s prepositioning fleet. The Seafarers-crewed USNS Seay loads MRAPs in Charleston, S.C., for delivery to U.S. troops overseas. SIU Crews Help Deliver Life-Saving Milestone Chief Steward Emmanuel Zephyr (left in photo above) and head of Security for the Philippines Police Department Ms. Cruz take a quick break. In photo below, members of the USNS Stockham crew and other volunteers help repair and paint a Subic Bay elementary school. ACU Frakhruddin Malahi (photo at left) works the grill. 4 Seafarers LOG The U.S. Department of Defense in early July announced that 10,000 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) have been delivered to warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the MRAPs already in service were delivered overseas by SIU-contracted ships including large, medium-speed, rollon/roll-off vessels known as LMSRs. According to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, the MRAP vehicles have raised, V-shaped underbellies that deflect the force of improvised explosive devices and other blasts from below better than other vehicles in use. In February 2008, the MRAP program office, headed by Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), recorded its 5,000th MRAP vehicle acceptance. That milestone was reached less than a year after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made MRAPs the DoD’s top acquisition priority. Since then, the program has advanced at near-unprecedented speed, doubling production of the life-saving vehicle in just over four months. Gates said, “This is a significant achievement. This program has gone from zero to 10,000 in just about a year and a half. These vehicles have proven themselves on the battlefield and are saving lives.” “The many successes of the joint MRAP vehicle program are the result of an overwhelming team effort by the many players in this program,” said Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, MCSC commander. “From production to integration, from transportation to fielding, many commands and organizations have played major roles in this program.” Before being shipped overseas, the MRAPs are equipped with weapons, radios and other gear by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command center at Charleston, S.C. From that point the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) takes over and moves the vehicles by air and sea to the combat zones. The final contract order for MRAP vehicles is expected later in the summer, bringing the overall total more than 15,000 vehicles in the current build-up. August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:02 PM Page 5 Seafarers Step Up in Free Choice Mobilization Seafarers are resolute in their backing of the AFL-CIO sponsored MillionMember Mobilization, a grassroots campaign to get at least 1 million signatures in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). As part of that crusade, postcards recently were sent to union halls around the country and overseas providing Seafarers the opportunity to offer their respective signatures. Already, according to union officials, hundreds of rank-andfile members have stepped to the forefront to affix their signatures to these postcards which call on the new U.S. president and Congress to enact the EFCA (H.R. 800, S. 1041). They are among the more than 300,000 rank-andfile union members under the AFL-CIO umbrella so far who have urged the immediate enactment of the legislation. Response to date has been so strong that several ports have run out of cards and requested more from the federation. Once signed and collected, the cards will be presented to the new Congress after the November elections in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The message on the cards to the new president and Congress reads as follows: “I urge you to enact the Employee Free Choice Act immediately. This crucial legislation will protect workers’ freedom to choose a union and bargain, without management intimidation. Allowing Coalition Aims To Cure Nation’s Health Care Woes More than 80 labor, community, health activist, women’s and other groups have banded together to create a grassroots coalition and campaign called “Health Care for America Now!” The coalition, announced last month by the AFL-CIO (to which the SIU is affiliated), will undertake a campaign to build support and educate the public and lawmakers on how to repair the health care system. That system, according to the coalition, currently is putting quality health care further beyond reach for too many families. Health Care for America Now’s goal is to organize and mobilize millions of Americans to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all. These goals are especially important to unions and their members; unions for years have warned of the inequities and troubles with the current health care system. In fact, a recent AFL-CIO survey of workers and their families shows health care as one of the greatest concerns they have in this troubled economy. Health Care for America Now says it will bring together community organizers, nurses, doctors, small business owners, faith-based groups, organizations of people of color, and seniors who believe it’s time for an American solution that provides quality, affordable health care for everyone. The body will offer a bold new path that gives Americans real choice and a guarantee of quality coverage they can afford: keep their current private insurance plan, pick a new private insurance plan, or join a public health insurance plan. It is also calling for regulation on health insurance companies. The coalition’s web site says, “We need to set and enforce rules that quash health insurance companies’ greed once and for all. There is a huge divide between our plan and the insurance companies’ plan for health care reform. We want to make sure you have the quality coverage you need at the price you can afford. They want to leave you alone to fend for yourself in the unregulated, bureaucratic health insurance market.” August 2008 more workers to freely join unions and bargain with their employers will help rebuild the middle class by expanding health care, improving retirement security and raising the standard of living for America’s working families. My bargaining rights are worth working for and voting for!” Introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) and Reps. George Miller (DCalif.) and Peter King (R-N.Y.), the bill on March 1, 2007 by a vote of 241 to 185 passed in the House of Representatives. Thirteen Republicans joined 228 Democrats in voting for the bill. Two Democrats and 183 Republicans voted against the bill. The Senate on June 26, 2007 voted 51 to 48 on a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consider the bill. Shortly after the House vote, AFLCIO President John Sweeney said,” [This 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,” Sweeney continued, “the future looks a little brighter to all Americans who have watched corporations celebrate record profits, but have themselves been shut Seafarers are answering the call to action in the AFL-CIO’s mobilization to to get at least 1 million signatures in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Response to date has been so strong that several ports have run out of cards and requested more from the federation. 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.” If enacted by the new U.S. president and Congress, the EFCA would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring their freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union. As indicated on the postcards, the EFCA would: ■ Establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations. ■ Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes. ■ Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. In addition to the postcards, Seafarers may also participate in the signature drive via the internet by visiting: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/efc a_card_support Study: ‘Prevailing Wage’ Law Adds Benefits Often during difficult economic times like the U.S. is facing today, self-proclaimed economists and pundits spotlight areas they say are costing the government and commercial sectors too much in overhead that gets passed on to consumers and taxpayers. At times, these so-called specialists make comments that may influence policymakers whose decisions can be detrimental to certain sectors of the economy. Those decisions may affect overall economic confidence and can cast stereotypes and dispersions on the actual purposes of unions that work to improve the quality of life of all Americans. One such example is what union brothers and sisters in the construction fields are currently fighting when working on government contracts. It also affects those working for federal service contractors. For years, many state and local governments required companies that that wanted contracts for public works to pay their workers wages that reflect those commonly received in the area. This “prevailing wage” law was adopted by the federal government in 1931 with the passage of the Davis-Bacon Act. The government said the goal of the act was to ensure that the government’s buying power in a region wouldn’t unfairly influence labor and other costs in the area, but also would help guarantee a fair wage to enhance the welfare of workers and their families. The act applies to all contractors whether they are union or not and it makes sure bids go to those who are qualified rather than those who offer the cheapest rates. The principles of the act were later expanded with the Service Contract Act in 1965, which requires federal service contractors to pay prevailing wages and benefits. Some naysayers have argued for years that “prevailing wage” inflates government contract costs. However, a new study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) called “Prevailing Wages and Government Contracting Costs” has seemingly put the last nail in the coffin of the critics’ arguments. The EPI – a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank – says its study shows prevailing wage has no negative impact. In fact, the EPI says prevailing wage laws provide added benefits such as better workplace safety, increased government revenues and elevated workers’ skills in the construction industry. In essence, the EPI says the law enables the hiring of skilled workers who will get the job done right the first time. The EPI’s point is simple: The idea behind the prevailing wage is that a wage floor keeps big government projects from damaging the local economy by driving down wages and undermining living standards. The assumption that contractors will pass higher labor costs to taxpayers is erroneous, according to the EPI. The study shows that critics’ previous studies do not compare building projects for design, materials used and special needs such as security, and many other aspects that can make each project different. Further, the EPI cites a Beacon Hill Institute study which found the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hourly Division incorrectly set hourly wages too high for nine major construction occupations. The department, therefore, showed government construction costs at $8.6 billion per year too high when it argued against prevailing wages. The EPI study reports: ■ Prevailing wage regulations do not, in all cases, increase wages. Public contractors may pay at prevailing wage rates without the regulation. If these contractors are included in opponents’ arguments, it would skew their study results. ■ Average labor costs, including benefits and payroll taxes, are one-quarter of construction costs. Therefore, even if prevailing wage regulations raised wages by 10 percent, the impact on contract costs would be less than 2.5 percent. The EPI says in the larger scope of a project, these costs are so small, they are likely to be undetectable in increased project costs and especially when prevailing wage impact studies are applied to the overall contractor market. ■ Improved productivity can offset higher wages. Better-skilled workers attracted by the higher wage might complete a job in less time, or firms looking to reduce their higher labor costs might utilize labor-saving technologies. ■ Higher wage costs might be offset through “factor substitution,” i.e., the substitution of more expensive labor with, maybe, less expensive materials. ■ Contractors might absorb the wage costs as another avenue of winning project bids. According to the AFL-CIO, Davis-Bacon provides a living wage for the men and women who are working to build this country’s infrastructure. Thanks to these higher wages, workers have a few extra dollars to spend in local shops and restaurants, for example, thus providing additional tax dollars for their communities. The law also allows for a better-trained workforce, which results in safer working conditions and which in turn means reduced outlays for workers’ compensation. In areas where local prevailing wage laws have been repealed, analyses have shown that workers are less inclined to stay in the industry, apprenticeship programs have been cut back or eliminated, and on-the-job injuries and deaths have increased. In some cases, the “completed” job had to be repeated by another contractor to make sure it was performed correctly. Obviously, such operations do not save taxpayers money and may actually increase the overall cost. Prevailing wage laws are critical to American workers and their families in all industries, according to the federation. That’s why the SIU has joined forces with the AFL-CIO, the Maritime Trades Department and other affiliates to ensure this vital legislation is not repealed. To read the EPI’s study, go to: www.epi.org Seafarers LOG 5 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:03 PM Page 6 Clockwise from left, the Alakai is equipped with state-of-the-art safety and navigational equipment. AB Joshua Ano is one of the crew members who helped ready the Alakai for sea trials. He is joined by others in the wheelhouse and still others on the pier. The ferry has a service speed of 35 knots which it partially shows off in the photo above. Hawaii Superferry Sets Passenger Record Hawaii Superferry’s SIUcrewed Alakai recently set a company record for the number of passengers carried on a holiday weekend. Superferry officials reported that more than 6,000 people boarded the boat and sailed between Maui and Oahu during the Independence Day weekend (July 4-6). Previously, the greatest number of passengers in a single weekend was 5,500, on Memorial Day weekend earlier this year. One passenger told a local news- The photo above was taken in July during a regularly scheduled shipboard meeting involving Seafarers, SIU officials and company representatives. “The overall intent is always to work together through open discussions to find ways to continue making things better for the employees while maximizing the efficiency of the company’s operation,” said SIU Asst. VP Bryan Powell, pictured above with SIU Representative Hazel Galbiso, Hornblower Marine VP Bill Annand, HornblowerHawaii Director of Marine Operations John Keever, Hornblower-Hawaii HR Director Cindy Ramsey and SIU Delegates Warren Asp, Adrian Almeida and Gary Ferreira. 6 Seafarers LOG paper in Hawaii that the Alakai has become a more attractive travel option for her and her relatives because they get a better rate compared to the cost of air travel. The Alakai carries a crew of 25. The 349-foot, aluminum-hull ferry operates seven days a week. It can carry 866 passengers and 282 cars. The vessel’s name means ocean path. Additional details about the ferry (including schedules) are available at www.hawaiisuperferrry.com. A full complement of cabin stewards works aboard the ferry including Ann Cosson (photo at left) Dorothy Toro and Leeann Toro (left to right, above) and Maggie Simonson and Brandy Choy Foo (left to right, below). Other Alakai crew members are Cabin Steward Sherry Uehara (photo at left), Purser Jasmine Keanu (above) and Cabin Steward Michael Alatan (photo at right). August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:03 PM Page 7 Meetings Offer Info on 401(k) Plan eafarers last month took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about one of the newest benefits available to them, as more than 100 members turned out for informational meetings in Houston and New Orleans. The sessions (which followed the monthly membership meetings in those ports) focused on the Seafarers 401(k) Plan, a benefit instituted in January 2008. The Seafarers 401(k) Plan came to fruition as a result of the most recent standard freightship and tanker negotiations. Last month’s 401(k) meetings took place July 14 (Houston) and July 15 (New Orleans). Four more such gatherings are scheduled for this month, as follows: ■ August 7, Norfolk, Va. ■ August 18, Wilmington, Calif. ■ August 20, Oakland, Calif. ■ August 22, Tacoma, Wash. For the August 401(k) meetings, all but the Oakland session immediately follow the regular membership meetings in those ports. Also, a 401(k) meeting is scheduled for the Jacksonville, Fla., hall on October 9, right after the membership meeting. Last month, officials from the SIU, the Seafarers Plans office and Smith Barney reviewed the basics of the Seafarers 401(k) Plan with interested members and answered related questions. Conducting those meetings were SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, Seafarers Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen and Smith Barney Vice President/Financial Planning Specialist Larry Goldstock. Members were encouraged to consider signing up for this relatively new benefit. As previously reported, there are no employer contributions associated with the Seafarers 401(k) Plan. Voluntary contributions may be made by participants via a pre-tax payroll deduction through their employer. The Plan will allow Seafarers to save a percentage of their earnings, tax-deferred, for future retirement. This is a potentially great way to enhance retirement income and ease financial concerns. A Seafarer is eligible to participate if he or she works under the standard freightship or standard tanker agreements as well as many other SIU contracts. As of mid-July, the list of SIUcontracted companies participating in the Plan included the following: Alaska Tanker Company, Armada, American Overseas S The Houston hall (depicted in the three photos above) saw a strong turnout for the informational meeting. Marine, Central Gulf Lines, Central Marine Logistics, Crowley Liner Services, Crowley Liner Services-Petty’s Island, Crowley Towing and Transportation, M-Ships, HMC Ship Management, H&M Lake Transport, Horizon Lines, Inland Lakes Management, Interocean American Shipping, Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning (ATB), Intrepid Ship Management, Key Lakes/GLF, Keystone Shipping, Liberty Maritime, Maersk, Marine Transport Lines, OSG Ship Management, Ocean Ships, Ocean Duchess, Osprey Ship Management, Pacific Gulf Marine, Red River, Seabulk, Sealift Chemicals Inc., Sealift Inc., Starlight Marine, Sulphur Carriers, Transoceanic Cable Ship Company, USS Transport, and Waterman. (Members are asked to check with their port agents for updates on participating employers.) As contracts are renegotiated in the months and years ahead, additional SIU members will become eligible to participate. Everyone who is eligible should have received an enrollment kit earlier this year or late last year. A copy of the kit – in PDF format – is posted on the SIU web site, www.seafarers.org, in the “Member Benefits and Resources” section, along with additional forms for the Seafarers 401(k) Plan. The forms also are available at www.massmutal.com/retire. SIU members are advised that individual participants in the Seafarers 401(k) Plan who change employers will need to submit only page 1 of the application to the new employer. If a member returns to the same employer, there is no need to do anything in terms of additional or different paperwork, even if the Seafarer is assigned to a different vessel in the company’s fleet. Both the union and the Seafarers Plans therefore suggest that participating members keep multiple copies of page 1 on hand. For more information, call the Smith Barney-SIU “hotline” at the following toll-free number: 800-421-5127. Members at the New Orleans hall (shown in the two photos above and in those on the bottom of this page) listen and ask questions about the Seafarers 401(k) Plan. Providing information at the New Orleans hall are (from left to right in the photo above) Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen, Safety Director James Brown, Port Agent Chris Westbrook, Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel and Smith Barney VP Larry Goldstock. August 2008 Seafarers LOG 7 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:03 PM Page 8 New TWIC Deadline: April 15, 2009 As has been reported in previous editions of the Seafarers LOG, the new deadline for U.S. mariners to obtain the government-mandated Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is April 15, 2009. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in May announced the revised deadline; the original cutoff date was Sept. 25, 2008. The following is a list of addresses for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enrollment centers as of mid-July, as published by the Transportation Security Administration at the following web address: http://www.tsa.gov/twic Alabama Tennessee Valley Training Center 115 Woodall Road Decatur, AL 35601 250 North Water Street Mobile, AL 36602-4000 Alaska 619 E Ship Creek Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Native Village of Eyak 110 Nicholoff Way Cordova, AK 99574 Suite 202 3200 Hospital Drive Juneau, AK 99801 Ketchikan Harbor Office 2933 Tongass Ave Ketchikan, AK 99901 50097 Kenai Spur Nikiski, AK 99635 223 Harbor Way Petersburg, AK 99833 Harrigan Centennial Hall 330 Harbor Drive Sitka, AK 99835 Suite 300 13201 San Pablo Ave. Richmond, CA 94806 1401 Halyard Drive West Sacramento, CA 95691 Suite 103 1025 W Laurel St. San Diego, CA 92101 Suite 202 500 Sansome Street San Francisco, CA 94111 17 Fyffe St. Stockton, CA 95203 Terminal Island 1001 New Dock St. San Pedro, CA 90731 Connecticut Unit 2A 300 Long Beach Blvd. Stratford, CT 06615 850 Grand Ave. New Haven, CT 06511 75 Crystal Ave. New London, CT 06320 Delaware 102 Quigley Boulevard New Castle, DE 19720 1 Hausel Rd. Port of Wilmington Wilmington, DE 19801 Wrangell Harbor Office Shakes Street Wrangell, AK 99929 Florida 955 Talleyrand Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32206 Arkansas 2005 E 17th Street Little Rock, AR 72202 Habana Plaza (Rear) 3125 Riviera Dr Key West, FL 33040 California 2050 Park Road Benicia, CA 94510 975 N America Way Miami, FL 33132 Suite 500 301 E. Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802 visit the SIU web site and/or check with their port agents for the latest TWIC news. For instance, when the DHS announced the changed deadline, the SIU site immediately posted the news release on its home page and also distributed the information to all SIU halls. The Transportation Security Administration TWIC web site now Suite 303 2051 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Riviera Beach, FL 33404 Suites 119, 120 5323 W. Hwy 98 Panama City, FL 32401 Suite 105 1020 Hastings Street Traverse City, MI 49686 Hawaii Hilo Hawaiian Hotel 71 Banyan Dr. Hilo, HI 96720 Port Fourchon Harbor Police 108 A.O. Rappelet Rd. Port Fourchon, LA 70357 Suite 204 1347 Kapiolani Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96814 LaPlace Shopping Center 1933 West Airline Hwy. LaPlace, LA 70068 Minnesota 1310 Port Terminal Road Duluth-Superior, MN 55802 Holiday Inn 1500 Hwy 71 International Falls, MN 56649 Suite 106 291 Hookahi St. Wailuku, HI 96793 Maine 163 Hildreth Street North Bangor, ME 04401 Suite 102 2970 Kele St. Lihue, HI 96766 Suite 12 236 Oxford Street Portland, ME 04101 Illinois Dixon Building Suite 206 8741 South Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619 Maryland Suite 220 2200 Broening Hwy Baltimore, MD 21224 Three Rivers Safety Council Suite TWIC 1615 W. Jefferson St. Joliet, IL 60435 2914 W. Willow Knolls Dr. Peoria, IL 61614 Suite 2106 3225 Old Washington Rd. Waldorf, MD 20602 Suite 204C 212 W. Main St. Salisbury, MD 21801 Room B006 34 13th Ave., NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Suite 104 2161 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114 Mississippi Delta Plaza Mall, Unit B19 800 Highway 1 South Greenville, MS 38703 Suite D 1223 30th Ave. Gulfport, MS 39501 Ergon Refining 227 Industrial Drive Vicksburg, MS 39183 New Hampshire Suite 2 30 Mirona Road Extension Portsmouth, NH 03801 Suite 153 1635 1st St. Granite City, IL 62040 Massachusetts Boston Autoport 100 Terminal Street Charlestown, MA 02129 Indiana 4849 W Lloyd Expy Evansville, IN 47712 Unit 5 300 Tremont St. Carver, MA 02330 New Jersey Quality Inn Conference Center 531 Route 38 W Maple Shade, NJ 08052 Suite 110 200 Russell St. Hammond, IN 46320 Michigan Suite 101 115 N. First Ave. Alpena, MI 49707 North Jersey Suite G 89 Luening St. South Hackensack, NJ 07606 863 North Pine Road Essexville, MI 48732 400 Grove Rd. Thorofare, NJ 08086 Suite 1 200 W. Erie Street Rogers City, MI 49779 Suite 665 33 Wood Avenue South Iselin, NJ 08830 Delray Mechanical 667 S. Post St. Detroit, MI 48209 New York 102 Smith Blvd. Albany, NY 12202 Suite 1 906 Ludington St. Escanaba, MI 49829 Suite 5 2680 Grand Island Blvd. Grand Island, NY 14072 430 S. Water Street Marine City, MI 48039 Sheraton Long Island 110 Motor Parkway Hauppauge, NY 11788 Old City Hall Bldg 220 Suite 120 W Washington St. Marquette, MI 49855 178 West Hoffman Ave Lindenhurst, NY 11757 Suite 37C 3602 Northgate Court New Albany, IN 47150 Kansas Commerce Plaza 1 - 7th Floor 7300 West 110th Street Overland Park, KS 66210 Kentucky 322 Harrison Ave. Paducah, KY 42001 Suites 117/118 707 Mullet Rd. Port Canaveral, FL 32920 Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) 11 Burma Rd. Oakland, CA 94607 Port Everglades Badging Office 1030 Taylor Rd. Dania Beach, FL 33004 Suite 550 1340 W. Tunnel Blvd. Houma, LA 70360 Suite 104 1830 Embarcadero Ave. Oakland, CA 94606 Manatee County Port Authority 13604 Reeder Road Palmetto, FL 34221 Suite # 306 1300 N. Bertrand Dr. Lafayette, LA 70506 2000 Marina Vista Dr. Martinez, CA 94553 2604 E. 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605 700 W. McNeese St. Lake Charles, LA 70605 1251 N. Rice Ave. Oxnard, CA 93030 Georgia Country Inn and Suites 211 Gateway Center Blvd. Brunswick, GA 31525 512 Roderick Street Morgan City, LA 70380 Seafarers LOG 396 N. State Street St. Ignace, MI 49781 Suite 104 170 East James Drive St. Rose, LA 70087 5214 Augusta Rd. Garden City, GA 31408 Louisiana Safety Council for Louisiana Capital Area 8180 Siegen Ln. Baton Rouge, LA 70810 Suite B 1931 N. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731 includes a link where individuals may check the status of their card and/or schedule a time to pick it up. 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 T WIC Enrollment Centers 501 E Bremner St. Valdez, AK 99686 1900 Bendixsen Street Samoa, CA 95564 8 The SIU encourages members to enroll for the TWIC as soon as possible. Step-bystep instructions have been published in the last few editions of the LOG and are available on the web both at www.seafarers.org and at the Transportation Security Administration’s TWIC web site, www.tsa.gov/twic. Seafarers also are asked to occasionally Suite 122 800 East Ellis Road Norton Shores, MI 49441 AmericInn of Silver City 120 Lincoln Ave. Ontonagon, MI 49953 511 Ashmun St. Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 Howland Hook Marine Terminal 241 Western Ave. Staten Island, NY 10303 Whitehall Ferry Terminal Room 210 4 South St. New York, NY 10004 Continued on next page August 2008 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 Continued from Page 8 One East 2nd St. Oswego, NY 13126 700 Hummel Ave Southold, NY 11971 Suite 310 803 West Avenue Rochester, NY 14611 North Carolina 311 Atlantic Beach Causeway Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 Suite 107 5704 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 Ohio 4830 State Rd. Ashtabula, OH 44004 Suites 754, 755 8044 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Suite 226 3100 E45th St. Cleveland, OH 44127 Suite D, Office B 401 Broadway Ave. Lorain, OH 44052 Suite 102 444 W. Perkins Ave. Sandusky, OH 44870 One Maritime Plaza 720 Water St. Toledo, OH 43604 11:20 AM Page 9 T WIC Enrollment Centers Washington Ste. D 8327 Summit Park Rd. Anacortes, WA 98221 Oregon Suite 112 400 Virginia Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97459 Rhode Island Suite 105 17 Virginia Ave. Providence, RI 02905 West Gulf Maritime Association Suite 100 1717 Turning Basin Houston, TX 77029 Port of Everett Marina Marina Conference Center 404 14th Street Everett, WA 98201 Suite 100 7025 N. Lombard St. Portland, OR 97203 South Carolina Suite 112 4600 Goer Drive North Charleston, SC 29406 621 W Main Street La Porte, TX 77571 411 West Main Street Port LaVaca, TX 77979 Red Lion Hotel,Kelso 510 Kelso Drive Kelso, WA 98626 Tennessee Suite 427 5959 Shallowford Road Chattanooga, TN 37421 Suite 123 3800 Highway 365 Port Arthur, TX 77642 Red Lion Hotel, Pasco Room 2110 2525 N. 20th Avenue Pasco, WA 99301 Mall of the Mainland Space #1074 10000 Emmett F. Lowery Expy Texas City, TX 77590 Fraternal Order of Eagles AERIE No. 1 6205 Corson Ave. S Seattle, WA 98108 1750 FM 1432 Victoria, TX 77905 Fife Business Park Suite 17 5009 Pacific Hwy East Tacoma, WA 98424 Pennsylvania 50 West Powhattan Ave. Chester, PA 19029 Suite 120B 601 Upland Ave. Brookhaven, PA 19015 Woodbourne Professional Building 1723 Woodbourne Rd. Levittown, PA 19057 Philadelphia Regional Port 3460 North Delaware Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19134 Suite 104 701 North Point Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Puerto Rico Primer Piso, Salon de Conferencias Ave. Santiago de los Caballeros, final Edifico Turismo, Playa Ponce, PR 00716 Navy Frontier Pier (Muelle Frontier) Suite 1 408 Avenue Fernandez Juncos San Juan, PR 00901 Oklahoma 5350 Cimarron Rd. Catoosa, OK 74015 Tennessee Valley Training Center 324 W. Mallory Avenue Memphis, TN 38109 Suite 510 3200 West End Ave. Nashville, TN 37203 Texas Ford Convention Center Tyler Room 5115 Interstate 10 S Beaumont, TX 77705 1000 Foust Road Brownsville, TX 78521 Virginia Suite 300, Room 359 11815 Fountain Way Newport News, VA 23606 Suite F 814 Greenbrier Circle Chesapeake, VA 23320 Virgin Islands Renaissance Park Estate Anguilla Kingshill, VI 00851 7433 Leopard St. Corpus Christi, TX 78409 Brazos Mall, Suite 1039 100 Hwy 332 West Lake Jackson, TX 77566 Suite 202a 8000 Niksy Center Charlotte Amalie, VI 00802 Suite 103 6000 Broadway Galveston, TX 77551 33rd Place Building Suite 107 3305 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 West Virginia Tri-State Fire Academy 4200 Ohio River Rd. Huntington, WV 25702 Wisconsin 425 South Military Avenue Green Bay, WI 54303 Chase Commerce Center Suite 620 Building 28 Floor 1 3073 S. Chase Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 SIU VP Gulf Goast Dean Corgey (third from left in photo at left) chats with El Morro crew members (in no particular order) AB Wilfredo Cruz, GUDE Cleveland Lewis, Chief Steward Mary Sims, Electrician Joseph Letang, Chief Cook Alexie Vazquez and AB Julio Matos. Chief Steward Kenneth Whitfield (photo at right) prepares breakfast for the El Morro crew while El Faro crew members AB Sirio Ceno (left in photo below) and GUDE David Newsome secure heaving lines after their vessel docks. With Seafarers Aboard The El Morro, El Faro In The Port of Jacksonville SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Gorgey recently visited with Seafarers aboard the SIU-contracted vessels El Morro and El Faro in the Port of Jacksonville, Fla. SIU Assistant VP Contracts Archie Ware accompanied Corgey during his visit and snapped these photos for publication in the LOG. SA Erasmo Guevara (above) prepares items for the breakfast bar aboard the El Morro while Chief Cook Isaac Newsome (photo at right) devotes his total energies to the preparation of entrees for the crew’s lunch meal. August 2008 Seafarers LOG 9 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:05 PM Page 10 Seafarer Wins $1,000 Union Plus Scholarship Active and Retired Union Members, Dependents May Apply for 2009 Grants Recertified Steward Brandon Maeda recently was awarded a $1,000 Union Plus scholarship. Altogether, the organization for the year 2008 presented scholarships to 108 applicants representing 40 unions. Those grants have a total monetary value of $150,000. “With credit so tight, prices rising and fewer loans available to students who want to attend college, scholarship programs like these are more important than ever,” said Leslie Tolf, president of Union Privilege, the organization that administers the scholarship program for Union Plus. Maeda, who joined the SIU in 1983, is studying to become a registered nurse. “I can say without hesitation that everything I have today is a product of the opportu- nities afforded me by the union,” he stated. The scholarships are granted to students attending a two-year college, fouryear college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school. Since 1992, Union Plus has awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships to union families. Recipients are selected “based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor,” according to Union Plus. Current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program (including the SIU), their spouses and their dependent children (including foster children, stepchildren, and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50 percent of his or her support) may apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. Union members from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada are eligible. Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or personally participate in any Union Plus programs to apply for the scholarships. The scholarship awards are not based upon participation in a Union Plus program. The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Graduate students are eligible. According to Union Plus, scholarship applications are judged by a committee of impartial post-secondary educators. Applications are first reviewed by a panel of independent career professionals. Semifinalists are chosen based on a point scale, and their applications are then provided to judges for further review and selection of finalists and awards. Program judges include representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges, the United Negro College Fund, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The amount of the award ranges from $500 to $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for study beginning in the fall of the same year. For information on eligibility and to receive a notification when the application is available for next year’s scholarship, visit www.UnionPlus.org/Scholarships or call 1-877-881-1022 . Union Plus Announces Disaster Assistance Editor’s note: Union Plus, affiliated with the AFLCIO, recently issued the following bulletin. U.S. Maritime Administration Deputy Administrator and Chief Counsel Julie Nelson delivers remarks in front of the Seamen’s Memorial Sundial. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Port Arthur Color Guard leads the crowd to the seawall to place a ceremonial wreath. Port Arthur Conducts Maritime Day Ceremony In what has become a National Maritime Day tradition, Father Sinclair Oubre, president of the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States and an active SIU member, recently welcomed attendees to the annual service at the Seamen’s Memorial Sundial in Port Arthur, Texas. The May 22 ceremony also commemorated mariners and fishermen who have passed away during the last year. Additionally, special recognition was given to the Christus St. Mary’s Hospital Emergency Room staff, a local company and local volunteer Edna Noack for the extra efforts they made to assist mariner Yong Liang Goa, who was injured at sea and treated at the local hospital. The staff of St. Mary’s Hospital Emergency Room is recognized during the ceremony. SIU Representative Robert Troy and Betty Kiel, supporter of the local seamen’s center, were among those in attendance. Recognition was also given to Port Arthur’s newest addition to the local maritime industry – namely, LNG facilities. On hand were representatives of Chenier LNG, Exxon Mobile LNG and crew members of the Celestine River, the first LNG ship to navigate the Sabine-Neches Waterway. The memorial service continued as participants were led by members of the U.S. Coast Guard walking from Port Arthur’s Sundial Memorial to its seawall, where a wreath was laid in the water to remember and honor seafarers who had lost their lives at sea. U.S. Maritime Administration Deputy Administrator and Chief Counsel Julie Nelson, guest speaker at the event, noted that she has attended numerous maritime celebrations and remembrances across the country, but that relatively smaller ones such as the event in Port Arthur are particularly meaningful to the community. Paul Hall Center Offers Career Advancement The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., offers the most U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses of any maritime school in the nation. The center features top-notch training from experienced instructors and state-of-the-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. 10 Seafarers LOG Deck Department Course Spotlight Fast Rescue Boats Applicants completing the school’s 30-hour fast rescue boats course satisfy the requirements of Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code, Specification of the Minimum Standard of Competence in Fast Rescue Boats. The Paul Hall Center’s Fast Rescue Boats course trains students to handle and take charge of fast rescue boats during or after launch in adverse weather and sea conditions. Students learn how to operate a fast rescue boat engine, use all locating devices including communication and signaling equipment between the rescue boat and a helicopter and the ship, and how to carry out search patterns. Prerequisites: Basic Safety, Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than fast rescue boats Union members living in areas impacted by the devastating flooding in the Midwest and who participate in Union Plus programs may have one less financial worry. The Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund is available to help cardholders who are facing financial hardship due to the floods. Union cardholders are eligible to apply for Disaster Relief Fund grants of $500. The money does not have to be repaid. To qualify for a Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund grant, the union member must: ■ Have been a victim of the flooding in counties designated by FEMA as qualifying for individual assistance in states including Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. ■ Have experienced a significant loss of income or property due to the disaster. ■ Have been a Union Plus Credit Card holder for at least 12 months and have an account in good standing. ■ Describe his or her circumstances and document the income or property loss. To apply for a Disaster Relief Fund grant, cardholders can call the Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund at 1-877-761-5028. Other special assistance for cardholders includes skip payments, lower rates, fee waivers and other help. Disaster victims who participate in the Union Plus Loan, Auto Insurance, Mortgage and UnionSecure Insurance programs may be eligible to receive payment extensions or other special help from the program providers. Assistance plans vary by program provider. To find out more, members who participate in any of the following programs should call: ■ Union Plus Loan: 1-800-343-7097 ■ Union Plus Mortgage: 1-866-766-2164 ■ Union Plus Auto Insurance: 1-877-244-0304 ■ UnionSecure Insurance: 1-800-393-0864 Counties designated by FEMA as qualifying for individual assistance include: Colorado: Larimer and Weld Counties. Indiana: Adams, Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo Counties. Iowa: Adams, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Hardin, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Louisa, Marion, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Story, Tama, Union, and Winneshiek Counties. Missouri: Barry, Jasper, and Newton Counties. Wisconsin: Crawford, Columbia, Sauk, Milwaukee, Racine, Richland and Vernon Counties. The Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund is administered by Union Privilege. Union Privilege and HSBC, the company providing the credit card program, established the fund. Union Privilege, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, develops and manages the Union Plus benefits programs. Union Privilege uses the combined buying power of millions of union families to obtain top quality goods and services at competitive prices with unique union-member-only features. For more information visit http://www.unionplus.org August 2008 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:21 AM The steward department takes a momentary break from their busy lunch duties. Pictured (left to right) are SA Marvin Davis, Chief Cook Joel Molinos and Recertified Steward Fernando Guity. Page 11 OMU Davon “Bud” McMillan in the steering gear room. Two of the original crew members who took the Los Angeles from the shipyard to its maiden voyage are (left to right) AB John Mensah and AB John Kamara. Pumpman Tom Bain is busy welding in the steering gear room. Shipboard Scenes from the Overseas Los Angeles AB John Mensah, unofficial ship’s photographer, captured most of these images during a recent voyage aboard the Overseas Los Angeles. The vessel, leased for charter in the Jones Act market to SIU-contracted OSG America, was built at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. It was delivered in November 2007. Sharing jokes in the crew mess after a hard day at work are (left to right in photo at left) SA Marvin Davis and AB John Kamara. In photo above, center, the Overseas Los Angeles crew musters on the stern for shipboard safety drills. AB Mike Moore (photo above, right) starts his watch on the high-tech bridge. He was one of the original crew members who took the vessel from the shipyard on its maiden voyage. AB John Mensah (above) runs the winch in preparation for the Long Beach docking while Recertified Bosun Brad Seibel (right in photo at right) and STOS Josean Villarrubia prepare the Los Angeles for arrival in the Port of Long Beach, Calif. Two Seafarers Receive Full Books in Oakland, Calif. Two SIU members recently received their full union books at the hall in Oakland. In the photo at immediate right, SA Karen Thomasson is sworn in by SIU Assistant VP Nick Celona. AB Dominic Gilmartin (left in photo at far right) is sworn in by Patrolman Greg Stone. Congratulations to both Seafarers. August 2008 Seafarers LOG 11 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:22 AM Page 12 American Steamship’s Adam E. Cornelius carries iron ore pellets, coal and limestone. Snapshots from the G UA I. Villaflor, AB Abdul Hussein, Recertified Bosun Bill MulCahy, UA William Pakkala Aboard H. Lee White T he photos on these two pages (taken in June and July) show Seafarers and SIU officials at the union hall in Algonac, Mich., and at various job sites around the area. SIU members in the Great Lakes region sail aboard more than 20 ships along with dozens of tugboats and integrated tug-barge units. iron ore, limestone, coal, c other cargoes. According to the Lake C association representing Am Lakes), “In a typical shipp SA Ahmed Al-Shahtoor Aboard Sam Laud AB Tim McKenna Aboard tug Cleveland Conveyorman Dean Parks, pictured aboard the Adam E. Cornelius, recently returned from serving in Iraq. In addition to being a Seafarer, Parks is an artillery specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve. VP Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski Mary Jenkins, SIU administrative assistant Port Agent Todd Brdak AB William Dobbins Aboard tug Cleveland 12 Seafarers LOG 2nd Cook Darlene Weymouth Aboard Sam Laud August 2008 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:23 AM Page 13 Luedtke Engineering (photo at left and photo above) is one of many SIU-contracted companies based in the Great Lakes region. hee Great Lakes Region nits. The larger vessels transport oal, cement, sand and salt, among ake Carriers’ Association (an ng American-flag operators on the hipping season, the U.S.-flag Lakes fleet will haul upwards of 115 million tons, or almost half a ton for every person living in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.” The Great Lakes system includes Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior, their connecting waters, and the St. Lawrence River. SIU Representative Don Thornton Safety Director Monte Burgett (right) assists a member. August 2008 GUDE Hussein Jinah Aboard H. Lee White Deckhand Don Mills, Engineer Ed Carlson Deckhand Don Mills Aboard dredge Lucille T. Seafarers LOG 13 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:09 PM Page 14 General Notice Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) Alliance NY Crew Honored For Supporting U.S. Troops During a recent voyage to Iraq, SIU members aboard the Alliance New York (some of whom are pictured above) were recognized for supporting American and international coalition military forces in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Some received the U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal, while those who had earned the medal on previous voyages were presented with certificates from the U.S. Maritime Administration. The presentations took place on Independence Day. As the ship’s master, Capt. Costas Balomenos, put it, “What better day to present these awards than the Fourth of July?” Pictured from left to right are AB Robert Cole, AB Rodney Seth Roberson Sr., UA Angela Corbitt, UA Larry Byrd, GSU Lonnie Jordan and AB Oliver Bohannon Jr. Other SIU members aboard during the voyage to the Port of Umm Qasr included Recertified Bosun Thomas Grosskurth, AB Charles Wright Jr., AB Michael Mahoney, GUDE Val Custis, GUDE Kenneth Bricker Jr., Chief Steward Ronal Lupinacci and Chief Cook Breon Lucas. National Maritime Day Observed in San Pedro, Calif. As previously reported, Seafarers, SIU retirees and SIU officials earlier this year participated in a number of National Maritime Day ceremonies, including events in California and in Washington, D.C. Pictured on May 22 at the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial in San Pedro, Calif., are retired steward department Seafarer Mary Lou Lopez and retired SIU Wilmington Patrolman/Dispatcher Jesse Solis. In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine, Congress in 1933 approved (by joint resolution) the designation of May 22 of each year as National Maritime Day. Congress also authorized and requested that the president issue an annual proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? To help ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives the Seafarers LOG—as well as other important mail—monthly, correct home addresses must be on file with the union. Those who recently have moved or feel that they are not getting their union mail, should use the form at right to update their home addresses. An individual’s home address is his/her permanent address. Unless otherwise specified, this is where all official union documents will be sent. Individuals receiving more than one copy of the LOG, those who have changed their address and those whose names or addresses are misprinted or incomplete, should fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union, Address Correction Dept., 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Corrections via e-mail should be sent to kclements@seafarers.org 14 Seafarers LOG The union has become aware of situations where members may have unintentionally agreed to give large portions of their pensions to their ex-spouse as part of their divorce agreements. In each case, the scenario involved a legal document known as a qualified domestic relations order, abbreviated as QDRO (usually pronounced “quadro”). A QDRO is a court order that directs a pension plan to pay another individual, usually an exspouse, a portion of one’s pension benefit. The purpose of this notice is to alert or remind Seafarers to the existence of the QDRO in the hope that, if a divorce occurs, the distribution of pension benefits is fair for all concerned. A QDRO establishes the right of a former spouse to receive part or all of the other former spouse’s qualified retirement benefits – and obligates the person receiving those benefits to pay taxes on that income. Often, lawyers are retained to draft QDROs. Remember that the lawyer who drafts the QDRO does so in the best interest of his or her client, who is generally the ex-spouse. As the participant, you should make sure that you are adequately protected by retaining counsel of your own to review the document. If the QDRO meets the statutory requirements, the Seafarers Pension Plan must honor it no matter how it divides the pension assets. In that case, the QDRO will govern the distribution of the SIU retiree’s pension. Both the Seafarers Pension Plan and the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan have model QDRO language which the Plans encourage you to utilize. The bottom line in these circumstances is that the union urges Seafarers to protect their rights, secure good representation and be certain to understand the basics of a QDRO. Ideally, such a document would never be needed. Unfortunately, some marriages end in divorce – and in those instances, if pension benefits exist, the division of those benefits must be addressed. HOME ADDRESS FORM (Please Print) Name: ____________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Social Security No.: ________ / ________ / ________ Book No.: _________ Active SIU Pensioner Other ________________________ This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. 8/08 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. August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:09 PM Page 15 Procedure For Obtaining SIU Absentee Ballots Elections for the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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 Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008 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 20746. 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, Nov. 15, 2008 and must be received at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 no later than Nov. 25, 2008. 5. 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 Nov. 30, 2008. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. The mailing envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight, Dec. 31, 2008 and received by the bank depository no later than Jan. 5, 2009. Dispatchers’ Repor t for Deep Sea June 16, 2008 — July 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 September & October 2008 Membership Piney Point.........................Monday: September 8, October 6 Algonac .............................Friday: September 12, October 10 Baltimore........................Thursday: September 11, October 9 Boston ...............................Friday: September 12, October 10 Guam............................Thursday: September 25, October 23 Honolulu ............................Friday: September 19, October 17 Houston............Monday: September 15, Tuesday: October 14 Jacksonville....................Thursday: September 11, October 9 Totals Joliet.............................Thursday: September 18, October 16 Port Mobile.......................Wednesday: September 17, October 15 New Orleans ..................Tuesday: September 16, October 14 New York ...........................Tuesday: September 9, October 7 Norfolk...........................Thursday: September 11, October 9 Oakland ........................Thursday: September 18, October 16 Philadelphia.................Wednesday: September 10, October 8 Port Everglades ............Thursday: September 18, October 16 San Juan .........................Thursday: September 11, October 9 St. Louis ............................Friday: September 19, October 17 Tacoma ...............................Friday: September 26, October 24 Wilmington.........................Monday: September 22, October 20 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 St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals All Departments August 2008 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 4 5 0 20 3 4 33 25 5 11 8 21 23 17 7 14 10 8 23 18 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 2 2 1 11 1 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 2 3 10 1 7 36 22 0 7 12 23 11 26 5 0 5 1 36 19 1 1 6 8 5 3 35 25 1 3 9 21 15 11 1 14 9 3 13 13 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 3 11 0 0 30 18 0 4 11 14 6 6 1 0 5 2 13 15 5 0 12 22 1 13 63 63 3 24 26 87 26 29 9 2 16 4 67 50 9 9 1 21 8 14 53 37 10 18 14 38 34 22 10 3 12 10 49 32 3 0 0 3 1 0 5 5 2 1 2 4 11 4 1 0 0 1 3 9 320 259 33 226 197 17 141 522 404 55 0 0 1 4 3 9 19 23 0 4 8 13 8 8 6 1 5 0 13 13 1 3 2 8 3 6 11 12 1 6 3 9 11 6 2 2 4 3 16 7 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 6 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 2 138 116 27 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 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 4 0 7 15 0 7 46 33 2 10 17 47 23 18 9 1 13 1 38 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 3 0 0 9 13 16 0 7 4 9 7 6 4 1 1 0 12 10 0 3 2 4 1 5 6 14 0 3 1 5 13 5 2 0 3 0 13 9 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 0 2 10 13 0 2 5 6 2 1 2 0 3 0 17 6 0 0 3 13 3 19 31 35 1 10 14 32 16 13 4 3 7 1 20 16 5 4 6 17 7 7 26 27 1 11 6 18 20 12 6 4 6 9 22 11 0 1 2 4 1 2 2 5 1 1 0 7 4 4 0 2 1 0 4 5 102 89 16 73 241 225 46 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 0 2 6 2 6 22 21 1 5 4 23 13 22 2 2 2 2 15 23 0 1 1 10 1 5 10 10 0 3 3 9 16 5 1 1 2 2 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 179 89 10 1 0 3 7 1 4 9 16 0 5 7 15 7 13 0 2 2 1 19 17 0 0 1 6 2 3 9 5 0 3 1 5 11 7 1 0 3 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 6 0 1 11 15 0 3 3 15 7 5 1 1 0 0 10 9 1 0 4 11 3 15 37 29 1 11 9 39 15 38 5 7 5 3 22 37 2 2 3 15 0 8 11 12 0 9 6 12 21 4 0 1 1 3 11 9 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 132 65 6 87 292 129 14 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 1 0 1 0 0 3 4 2 0 0 0 8 1 7 0 0 0 0 6 2 0 2 4 3 3 5 22 22 0 8 1 31 13 17 1 5 1 1 14 15 2 0 1 5 0 7 9 15 0 1 4 6 21 11 0 18 0 0 6 8 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 1 2 2 0 2 12 14 0 3 2 14 7 18 0 3 1 0 15 9 1 0 0 5 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 1 7 5 0 17 0 1 4 3 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 4 6 2 0 1 1 12 1 9 0 0 0 0 5 4 3 2 5 8 5 13 35 27 0 9 7 66 24 21 2 5 4 3 24 21 3 0 1 10 2 15 16 35 0 1 8 14 28 21 1 7 1 2 8 17 35 168 112 26 105 49 0 46 284 190 672 632 182 486 456 88 301 1101 1042 305 Seafarers LOG 15 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:23 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 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 Some of the Rhode Island crew receives the Constant Care Award plaque from Ship Vetting Program Manager Jonathan Henson. SIU-Crewed Maersk Ships Reach Safety Milestones As part of its growing safety program, SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) recently gave Constant Care Awards to two ships: the container and roll-on/roll-off vessel Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr., which is part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s prepositioning fleet; and the product tanker Maersk Rhode Island. Each ship earned a Constant Care Award for achieving five years without a lost-time accident. The award is part of MLL’s “Drive to Zero” program, which is a hands-on initiative to assist employees (mariners and shore-side personnel alike) in focusing on safety and teamwork to make the workplace as 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 Recertified Bosun Daniel Laitenen Maersk Rhode Island 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) 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 Pictured from left to right aboard the Rhode Island are GVA Walid Nasser, AB William McIntyre, Chief Steward Christopher Hale and Chief Cook Cecil Husted. Crew members and others are pictured aboard the tanker, including (not in order) Bosun Daniel Laitenen, MSC Commanding Officer of Military Sealift Fleet Support Command (MSFSC) Ship Support Unit Guam Delbert Yordy, Chief Steward Christopher Hale, Captain James Walker, GVA Walid Nasser, Port Agent Jeff Turkus, Pumpman Marcelino Cayabyab, 2nd Pumpman Matthew Wright, AB William McIntyre, 1st Engineer Henry Matuszynski, 2nd Engineer Chris Smith, AB Larry Rawlins and AB Michael Willis. safe as possible. As suggested by the title, its goal is to drive down unsafe and environmental incidents as close to zero as possible or eliminate them altogether. MLL’s Director of Quality, Environment, Safety and Security (QESS) Patrick Callahan credits teamwork and focus for the achievement. He noted, “This accomplishment is a result of a true team effort from our mariners and office personnel alike. ‘Drive to Zero’ started as a vision from senior management and is quickly becoming a way of life for MLL employees afloat and at shore. We still have a lot of room for improvement but this is a milestone worth celebrating!” Seafarers aboard the Rhode Island were recently recognized by the company with the award by MLL’s Ship Vetting Program Manager Jonathan Henson, and the photos accompanying this story were submitted by SIU Guam Port Agent Jeff Turkus. Pic-From-The Past The photo at right, which appeared in the July 22, 1955 edition of the Seafarers LOG shows officers and crew members from the SIUcrewed Southstar during shore leave from their duties while in an overseas port. Pictured (from the left) are Master Ben Shaw, Chief Mate Robert Welch, AB Willard Mullins, Radio Operator C.H. Childers, OS William Betgood and AB Benny Swearington. According to the caption which ran with the photo, it was taken in France and the crew was preparing to tour the sites in the city of La Pallice. The gentleman to the far right apparently is their tour guide. 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 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 August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:10 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 VELONDER ALFORD Sister Velonder Alford, 65, became an SIU member in 2001. She initially sailed on the Kauai. Sister Alford was born in Oklahoma and worked in the steward department. She enhanced her seafaring abilities in 2001 and 2002 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Sister Alford’s most recent voyage was aboard the 2nd Lt. John Paul Bobo. She makes her home in Toledo, Wash. LENZY BARNEY JR. Brother Lenzy Barney Jr., 65, was born in Alabama. He joined the union in 1991 while in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Barney first shipped on the Equality State. The engine department member’s last vessel was the Cleveland. Brother Barney lives in Mobile. JAMES ELLIOTT Brother James Elliott, 67, donned the SIU colors in 1997 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He originally shipped aboard the Wilson. Brother Elliott was born in Linden, N.C., and worked in the engine department. He attended classes often at the Piney Point school. Brother Elliott’s final voyage was on the Observation Island. He continues to reside in Norfolk. FRANCISCO MUNOZ Brother Francisco Munoz, 65, signed on with the SIU in 1968. He originally sailed with Victory Carriers Inc. as a member of the deck department. Brother Munoz was a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center. The recertified bosun was born in Chile. Brother Munoz’s last vessel was the Meteor. He is a resident of San Francisco. MICKEY NOBLE Brother Mickey Noble, 56, became an SIU member in 1971. He was initially employed aboard the Rose City. Brother Noble was a member of the deck department. He upgraded on numerous occasions at the maritime training facility in Piney Point, Md. Brother Noble was born in France. His final voyage was on the Intrepid. Brother Noble lives in San Francisco. TEODORO QUINONES Brother Teodoro Quinones, 50, was born in Puerto Rico. He began his seafaring career in 1977 in Piney Point, Md. Brother Quinones’ first trip was aboard the Walter J. McCarthy. He worked in the engine department and enhanced his skills often at the Piney Point school. Brother Quinones was last employed on the Sea Star. He makes his home in Vega Baja, P.R. ALI RASHID DOMINGO MIRELES Brother Domingo Mireles, 77, first went to sea in 1990 from the port of Houston. His initial trip was aboard the USNS Algol. Brother Mireles was born in Texas and sailed in the engine department. He most recently shipped on the Cape Vincent. Brother Mireles upgraded on two occasions at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He calls Beaumont, Texas, home. August 2008 Brother Ali Rashid, 65, joined the MC&S (Marine Cooks & Stewards) in 1981. His earliest voyage was aboard the President Wilson, where he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Rashid is a Yemen native. His final ship was the APL Korea. In 2000, Brother Rashid upgraded at the Seafarersaffiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He settled in Washington State. ALLAN ROGERS Brother Allan Rogers, 64, became a Seafarer in 1965 while in the port of New York. He was born in Baltimore, Md., and worked in the deck department. Brother Rogers’ first ship was the Steel Executive; his last was the USNS Mendonca. He frequently took advantage of educational opportunities offered at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Rogers lives in Rhodesdale, Md. Schwarz was born in Germany and sailed as a member of the steward department. He attended numerous classes at the Piney Point school. Brother Schwarz’s last voyage was on the Quality. He resides in Lake Worth, Fla. INLAND ELIAS RUIZ Brother Elias Ruiz, 65, began sailing with the union in 1978. He initially sailed aboard the Mount Explorer. Brother Ruiz was born in Honduras. He upgraded on numerous occasions at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Ruiz most recently shipped on the El Faro. He calls Houston, Texas, home. GERHARD SCHWARZ Brother Gerhard Schwarz, 72, donned the SIU colors in 1975 while in the port of San Francisco. His original trip to sea was aboard the Independence. Brother DANIEL DEARING Boatman Daniel Dearing, 62, became an SIU member in 1978 while in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He primarily shipped aboard vessels operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation of Wilmington. Boatman Dearing was born in Seattle. In 1982, he enhanced his skills at the SIU-affiliated school. Boatman Dearing is a resident of Costa Mesa, Calif. THOMAS ROSTAN Boatman Thomas Rostan, 62, joined the union in 1990. He initially sailed with OLS Transport Ltd. as a member of the deck department. Boatman Rostan upgraded on two occasions at the maritime training facility in Piney Point, Md. His most recent trip was aboard a Penn Maritime Inc. vessel. Boatman Rostan makes his home in Largo, Fla. GREAT LAKES HUSAIN ALI Brother Husain Ali, 65, was born in Arabia. He signed on with the Seafarers in 1970. Brother Ali’s earliest journey was on the Buck Monitor. The deck department member was last employed aboard the Richard J. Reiss. Brother Ali settled in Dearborn, Mich. JOHN BONIFAS Brother John Bonifas, 64, began sailing with the union in 1978. His first sailed on the Columbia as a member of the engine department. Brother Bonifas was born in Michigan. He frequently took advantage of educational opportunities available at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Bonifas’ final ship was the Walter J. McCarthy. He calls Manistique, Mich., home. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. tied a lifeline around his waist, swam to the raft and brought the injured man on board. 1950 1982 U.S. Customs officials made their first search of an Iron Curtain country vessel under the authority of the recently passed “Trojan Ship” measure, which permits inspection of foreignflag ships for atomic bombs and other weapons. The security check took place in Boston aboard a Finnish ship. Seafarers are urged to apply their own security measures aboard their ships in foreign ports. Vigilance should be maintained to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding or otherwise gaining access to their vessels. The officers and SIU crew of the USNS Southern Cross were honored by the American Institute of Merchant Shipping for their “humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese refugees adrift in the South China Sea during late September 1981.” The USNS Southern Cross, part of the SIU Government Service Division fleet operated by the Military Sealift Command, Pacific, picked up 58 desperate “boat people” from a 35-foot boat on July 15, 1981 while en route from Subic Bay, Philippines to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. At the time, their actions were lauded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. There were 18 men, 13 women and 27 children on the boat. 1967 This Month In SIU History The maritime industry’s highest award for safety was presented to the SIU-crewed Steel Maker for the rescue of four seamen from the Spanish ship Monte Palomares. The Steel Maker was en route from Spain to New York when it received an SOS from the Monte Palomares, foundering in a North Atlantic storm 900 miles from Bermuda, and immediately altered course to assist the sinking vessel. The Spanish ship had already gone down by the time the Steel Maker arrived, but a red flare from a life raft was spotted and the Steel Maker maneuvered alongside. Three of the raft’s survivors scrambled up the ship’s cargo net to safety, but a fourth was too injured to climb. An SIU member then 1992 Three USNS Mercy crew members were cited by the commander of Military Sealift Command Pacific for rescuing two fishermen off the northern coast of California. SIU member Robert McCumsey brought to safety the two fishermen from a life raft of a capsized 42-foot craft. The Seafarer was assisted by the Mercy’s captain and chief mate in the five- to seven-foot seas with heavy fog and low visibility. McCumsey received the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal. Seafarers LOG 17 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:11 PM Page 18 Final Depar tures DEEP SEA RICHARD ADAMSON Pensioner Richard Adamson, 80, passed away March 15. Brother Adamson, a member of the engine department, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1946. He initially shipped aboard the Steel King. Brother Adamson’s last trip was on a SeaLand vessel. He retired in 1990 and called Pembroke Pines, Fla., home. JOHN BENEDICT Pensioner John Benedict, 79, died March 4. Brother Benedict signed on with union in 1947 while in the port of New Orleans. He first sailed aboard the Del Rio. Brother Benedict was born in New Orleans and shipped in the deck department. His final voyage was on the Robert E. Lee. In 1986, Brother Benedict started collecting his retirement compensation. He resided in Harahan, La. JAMES BOLEN Pensioner James Bolen, 75, passed away March 2. Brother Bolen donned the SIU colors in 1966. He was originally employed aboard a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Brother Bolen was a member of the deck department. His last ship was the Freedom. Brother Bolen went on pension in 1998. He lived in his native state of Washington. WILLIAM BOWLES Pensioner William Bowles, 88, died March 31. Brother Bowles became an SIU member in 1951. His earliest trip was on an M.J. Troy Inc. vessel. Brother Bowles worked in the engine department. Prior to his retirement in 1984, he sailed aboard the Overseas Valdez. Brother Bowles was a resident of Theodore, Ala. HERMAN BYRD Pensioner Herman Byrd, 72, passed away March 21. Brother Byrd joined the Seafarers in 1965. He initially sailed with Victory Carriers Inc., in the deck department. Brother Byrd was born in Mount Vernon, Ala. His final voyage was on the Quality. Brother Byrd made his home in Houston. He began receiving his pension in 1994. WILLIAM CALLAHAN Brother William Callahan, 64, died March 8. He started shipping with the union in 1964. Brother Callahan was born in Illinois. He sailed in 18 Seafarers LOG both the inland and deep sea divisions. Brother Callahan originally worked aboard a Dravo Basic Materials Company vessel. The engine department member was last employed on the Overseas Alice. Brother Callahan called Mobile, Ala., home. GUILLERMO CENTENO Pensioner Guillermo Centeno, 74, passed away March 7. Brother Centeno was born in Puerto Rico. He began his MC&S (Marine Cooks & Stewards) membership in 1979. Brother Centeno’s first ship was the Santa Maria; his last was the Maui. He was a member of the steward department. Brother Centeno became a pensioner in 1994. He resided in Eagle Pass, Texas. JAMES FLIPPO Pensioner James Flippo, 85, died March 23. Brother Flippo signed on with the SIU in 1944 while in the port of Mobile, Ala. His first voyage was aboard a Waterman Steamship Corporation vessel. Brother Flippo sailed in the deck department. Before his retirement in 1986, he sailed on the Sugar Islander. Brother Flippo was born in Alabama and made his home in Brookeland, Texas. Columbia Tiger. His last voyage was on the Horizon Consumer. In 1991, Brother Poleate started collecting his retirement compensation. He settled in Pensacola, Fla. JUAN PONCE Pensioner Juan Ponce, 74, died March 24. Brother Ponce became an SIU member in 1972. His first vessel was the Longview Victory; his last was the Commitment. Brother Ponce was born in Puerto Rico. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Ponce went on pension in 2003 and called Bayamon, P.R., home. OVIDIO RODRIGUEZ Pensioner Ovidio Rodriguez, 92, passed away March 13. Brother Rodriguez joined the union as a charter member in 1938 while in the port of New York. His earliest trip to sea was with AH Bull Steamship Company. Brother Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and shipped in the deck department. His final voyage was aboard the Del Valle. Brother Rodriguez began receiving his retirement pay in 1980. He lived in New York City. WILLIAM SHARP Pensioner Leonard Grove, 82, passed away April 2. Brother Grove joined the union in 1953 while in the port of New York. He initially shipped aboard the Steel Direct as a member of the deck department. Brother Grove was born in Kulpmont, Pa. He most recently worked on the St. Louis. Brother Grove went on pension in 1987. He continued to live in Pennsylvania. Pensioner William Sharp, 87, died March 17. Brother Sharp signed on with the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He originally sailed on the Del Rio. Brother Sharp was born in Meridian, Miss. He worked in the steward department, most recently aboard the Great Land. Brother Sharp became a pensioner in 1989. He resided in Tacoma, Wash. JACK NASROEN MIKE STRAKA Pensioner Jack Nasroen, 85, died March 6. Brother Nasroen donned the SIU colors in 1951. He was originally employed aboard the Ponce. Brother Nasroen was born in Indonesia and shipped in the steward department. His final voyage was aboard the Oakland. Brother Nasroen was a resident of Marysville, Calif. He retired in 1986. Pensioner Mike Straka, 83, passed away March 14. Brother Straka was born in Central City, Pa. He started sailing with the SIU in 1953 from the port of Baltimore. Brother Straka’s first voyage was on the Marore. The deck department member last sailed aboard the Motivator. Brother Straka retired in 1989 and made his home in Sharon, Pa. LEONARD GROVE JOHN POLEATE Pensioner John Poleate, 86, passed away March 19. Brother Poleate began shipping with the Seafarers in 1970. The deck department member was born in Patton, La. Brother Poleate initially sailed aboard the WILLIAM WALTON Pensioner William Walton, 78, died April 5. Brother Walton donned the SIU colors in 1951. He initially shipped on a vessel operated by Mayflower Steamship Corporation. Brother Walton worked in the engine department, most recently aboard the Horizon Navigator. He was born in Los Angeles but called Raymond, Wash., home. Brother Walton started collecting his pension in 1990. CHIN WONG Pensioner Chin Wong, 86, passed away March 17. Brother Wong became a Seafarer in 1952. His first ship was the Burbank Victory. Brother Wong was a member of the engine department. Prior to his retirement in 1986, he worked with CSX Lines. Brother Wong was a resident of San Francisco. CARLOS ZAPATA Pensioner Carlos Zapata, 77, died April 8. Brother Zapata joined the SIU in 1965. His first sailed aboard the Ocean Cloud. Brother Zapata was born in La Ceiba, Honduras. He shipped in the deck department. Brother Zapata’s final trip took place aboard the Seabulk Challenger. He went on pension in 1997 and lived in Covington, La. INLAND BENJAMIN CHIANCIOLA Pensioner Benjamin Chianciola, 81, passed away April 4. Boatman Chianciola was born in Massachusetts. He joined the union in 1980. Boatman Chianciola last sailed on a vessel operated by Serafina II, Inc. He made his home in Gloucester, Mass. Boatman Chianciola retired in 1988. ROY DENT Pensioner Roy Dent, 65, died March 27. Boatman Dent signed on with the SIU in 1970 while in the port of St. Louis. He initially sailed on an Inland Tugs vessel. Boatman Dent was born in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He last was employed with Southern Ohio Towing Company. In 2004, Boatman Dent began receiving his retirement pay. He lived in Lilbourn, Mo. FLOYD KOENIG SR. Pensioner Floyd Koenig Sr., 79, passed away April 17. Boatman Koenig donned the SIU colors in 1975. He was originally employed with Whiteman Towing Company. Boatman Koenig was born in Gretna, La. He last worked for Crescent Towing of New Orleans. Boatman Koenig became a pensioner in 1990. He was a resident of Terrytown, La. CHARLES McDANIEL Pensioner Charles McDaniel, 74, died March 16. Boatman McDaniel started sailing with the Seafarers in 1965 from the port of St. Louis. The Pennsylvania native primarily shipped on vessels operated by Inland Tugs. Boatman McDaniel called Georgetown, Ohio, home. He went on pension in 1998. WILLIAM McLAREN JR. Pensioner William McLaren Jr., 74, passed away April 1. Boatman McLaren was born in Galveston, Texas. He joined the union in 1962. Boatman McLaren often sailed with Galveston Wharves. He started collecting his pension in 1994. Boatman McLaren resided in his native state. JIMMIE STEVENS Pensioner Jimmie Stevens, 74, died March 30. Boatman Stevens became a union member in 1973 while in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His earliest trip to sea was aboard an Allied Towing vessel. Boatman Stevens was a Florida native. He most recently worked with Maritrans Operating Company. Boatman Stevens retired in 1995 and settled in Gresham, S.C. WALTER VICKERY Pensioner Walter Vickery, 81, passed away March 12. Boatman Vickery began his seafaring career in 1957. He was born in Philadelphia. Boatman Vickery first sailed with Taylor Marine Towing Company. Before his retirement in 1989, he sailed on Mariner Towing vessels. Boatman Vickery made his home in New Jersey. GREAT LAKES JOSEPH LABLANC Pensioner Joseph LeBlanc, 84, died March 20. Brother LeBlanc signed on with the union in 1959 while in the port of Detroit. He initially worked on an American Steamship Company vessel as a member of the engine department. Brother LaBlanc was born in Royal Oak, Mich. His final voyage was with Michigan Tankers Inc. Brother LaBlanc went on pension in 1978 and called Warren, Mich., home. RICHARD WALLAKER Brother Richard Wallaker, 48, passed away March 5. He joined the SIU in 1992. Brother Wallaker primarily sailed with Luedtke Engineering Company. He was a resident of Frankfort, Mich. August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:11 PM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings CAPE KNOX (Keystone Shipping), May 11 – Chairman Grant A. Shipley, Secretary John W. Hale, Educational Director Rodolfo C. Cunanan, Deck Delegate Andre Skevnick, Steward Delegate Jeffery L. Tardieff. Chairman reminded crew members to keep documents in order so when they go for a job there should be no problem getting it. Secretary and educational director stressed the importance of upgrading skills at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Mariners would like phones and refrigerators in rooms. Motion was made to raise pension amounts. Next port: New Orleans. CHARGER (Maersk Line Limited), May 24 – Chairman Samuel H. Lampshire, Secretary Louis Nicoud, Educational Director Juanito P. Dansalan, Deck Delegate Khaled Munasser, Engine Delegate Yahya Mohamed, Steward Delegate Andy N. Campollo. Chairman notified members that ship would arrive in Los Angeles on May 26. He requested they double bag all trash and put it in covered containers. Crew was also asked to make sure that all doors are kept locked, for security measures. Educational director urged Seafarers to enhance skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer reported $750 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion was made to increase vacation benefits. Request was made for a new radio and TV in crew lounge. Thanks was given to all aboard vessel for their help in keeping the ship clean, with a special thanks to the steward department for great food and a clean mess hall. Next ports: Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Yokohama, Japan. GREEN DALE (Waterman Steamship), May 18 – Chairman Robert V. Bakeman, Secretary Mohamed B. Kamer, Educational Director Jessie A. Parente, Deck Delegate Steven A. Lonas, Engine Delegate Jessie A. Parente, Steward Delegate Amilcor Bermudez. Chairman expressed gratitude to crew for working well together. Educational director encouraged members to take advantage of upgrading and training offered in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. It was noted that security people were needed on ramp when in port and during canal transit. Crew members would like a new DVD player and new clothes dryer since they are down to one dryer now. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. HONOR (Interocean American Shipping), May 7 – Chairman Billy G. Hill Sr., Secretary Patricia A. Sullivan. Chairman thanked crew for a safe and productive voyage. He also announced payoff on May 12 in Galveston, Texas. He informed mariners that rooms would be given sanitary inspections before payoff. Crew was notified that TWIC deadline had been extended until April 15, 2009. Secretary encouraged crew to upgrade when possible at the Piney Point school to keep our union strong. She also recommended applying for necessary seafaring documents at least six months ahead of time. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Beaumont, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla., Baltimore, Md., and Charleston, S.C. HORIZON HUNTER (Horizon Lines), May 25 – Chairman Loren E. Watson, Secretary Jennifer K. Jim, Educational Director Harold A. Bryan, Deck Delegate George W. Mazzola, Engine Delegate Joseph I. Laguana, Steward Delegate Steven C. Wasch. Bosun read Horizon Lines’ pre-physical procedure and steward posted the information on bulletin board. Educational director suggested everyone attend classes at the Paul Hall Center to enhance job skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman to inquire with captain about ship’s fund; it was suggested that perhaps a ledger should be kept to keep crew informed about how money is spent. No beefs or disputed OT reported. It was noted that small washer was not working properly again. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. 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. Aboard the Pride of Aloha These photos were taken of crew members aboard the Pride of Aloha while the vessel was bunkering in Cristobal, Panama. Pictured in the photo above (from left to right) are Storekeeper Aristotle Cortez, Engineer Luice Failugua, and Junior Engineer Medardo Valerio. In photo above right, Machinists Efren Bacomo, Joemarie Aboy and Donato Surrell take a quick break from their duties in a section of the vessel’s engine room while AB Florito Alegado, Storekeeper Cortez and OS Juanito Ceralde (photo at right) pose on the vessel’s deck. HORIZON TIGER (Horizon Lines), May 5 – Chairman Mark S. Lance, Secretary Terry L. Allen, Educational Director Paul P. Pagano, Deck Delegate James E. Murphy, Engine Delegate Gualberto M. Salaria. Chairman informed crew members that Coast Guard inspection would take place sometime during the next couple of trips. Departing Seafarers were asked to leave rooms clean for next member. Secretary thanked fellow crew members for their help keeping ship clean. Educational director discussed TWIC deadline extension. Treasurer stated $540 in ship’s fund. Recommendation was made to ask company to get satellite TV set up and crew would pay monthly fee out of ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Aboard the ITB Philadelphia in Bayonne New Jersey Crew members aboard the SIUcrewed ITB Philadelphia paused from their duties for these photos while the vessel was in Bayonne, N.J. Shown in the photo below (left to right) are Assistant Cook Farid Zaharan and Recertified Steward Dana Paradise. Steward Paradise (photo at right, from left to right) later joins Bosun Michael Wagner and two other members of the crew during a meal in the crew mess. August 2008 The procedure for filing a beef was discussed. Request was made for new mattresses. Vote of thanks was given to the steward department for good food and great cookouts. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash., Oakland, Calif., and Honolulu, Hawaii. INTEGRITY (Interocean American Shipping), May 31 – Chairman Paul O. Jagger, Secretary Thomas E. Kleine, Educational Director Tirso D. Sarmiento, Deck Delegate Francis Miller, Engine Delegate Rodney M. Payne, Steward Delegate Gloria Baker. Chairman went over ship’s itinerary. Secretary explained procedure of shipboard meetings and relayed information from phone conversation with Asst. VP Archie Ware pertaining to rotation. Educational director recommended upgrading at the SIU-affiliated maritime training center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made for increase in optical and dental benefits. It was noted that parts to fix ice machine have been ordered. Next ports: Bayonne, N.J., Baltimore, Md., Charleston, S.C., and Brunswick, Ga. MAERSK CALIFORNIA (Maersk Line Limited), May 26 – Chairman Raymond Henderson, Secretary Glenn C. Bamman, Educational Director Jimmie Robles, Deck Delegate Glen A. Rogers Jr., Engine Delegate Sammy Montana, Steward Delegate Richard M. Worobey. Chairman talked about shipping procedures and the importance of getting TWIC card. Educational director urged all mariners to enhance seafaring abilities at the union-affiliated school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew lounge needs a new DVD player capable of playing WUSA movies. Crew was looking into getting credentials for shore leave for Kuwait. Next ports: Kuwait and Jebel Ali, Dubai. CAPE MOHICAN (Ocean Duchess), June 23 – Chairman Stephen R. Garay, Secretary Steven E. Parker, Educational Director Kashmir S. Dhillon, Deck Delegate Clemens A. Kessler, Engine Delegate Essam A. Hussein, Steward Delegate Jasper Jackson Jr. Bosun talked about importance of union and solidarity. He also discussed why union meetings take place and how union officials can’t help unless they are kept informed of what is going on aboard the vessel. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to reinstate Paul Hall Day as a holiday. Crew would like new mattresses, furniture, TV and DVD player. Crew successfully loaded military hovercraft onto vessel; it was the first load of this type aboard the Cape Mohican. Next port: Oakland, Calif. HORIZON RELIANCE (Horizon Lines), June 15 – Chairman Kissinfor N. Taylor, Secretary Joseph A. Laureta, Educational Director Joseph J. Egan, Deck Delegate Frank Sena, Engine Delegate Thomas V. Hastings, Steward Delegate Carmelo D. Cruz. Chairman read the president’s report from the Seafarers LOG and also read notice regarding lowering seatime requirements to 125 days to qualify for medical benefits. Secretary thanked members for helping keep ship clean. Educational director reiterated the importance of checking document expiration dates and upgrading skills. Treasurer reported $665.19 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Long Beach, Calif., and Honolulu, Calif. Seafarers LOG 19 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:24 AM Page 20 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. ‘Moral Obligation’ Includes Fair Treatment of Mariners Each day, I take time to reflect – not just on my life, but on that part of my life spent sailing tankers in the merchant marine during World War II. I have some satisfaction now that due to the tremendous efforts of other shipmates, and the related sea unions, I have my discharge from the Coast Guard which indicates I am a veteran of the United States. Each day, however, I am saddened by the fact that those of us who served in that war continue to be looked down upon as something not whole, something not really to be respected despite that piece of paper that says we are veterans. I can only hope that those men and women who now sail the dangerous seas will not have the disappointments the remaining seamen from World War II retain. On April 24, 2008, the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 was passed in the United States Senate by the vote of 96-1. This was S.1315. While the act increases a number of benefits which veterans should receive, and recognizes the increased medical care demanded from new types of conflicts, it also recognizes in Section 402 that some 13,000 remaining Filipino Scouts should now be included in full medical and educational benefits. The story of the Filipino Scouts is a long and wonderful example of men who served under the American flag following the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese in World War II. Various presidents had indicated that these men, then some 225,000, some who survived the Bataan Death March, should be treated as equal American veterans. But true to the story of so many other groups who fought beside our regular troops, there were those who said, “No, we have no money for them.” However, things change. Elections come and go; new members of the House and Senate get elected. New rhetoric flows out in dramatic, patriotic drumbeat. The bill finally came out of the Veterans’ Committee in the Senate and then came the speeches – not just for the increased benefits, but now for the Filipino Scouts. In opening the debate on the issue, the lead senator for the Scouts said, “This nation has a moral obligation to care for those who have served under its flag.” There was the usual push and pull by senators to show their constituents how they feel. Then, the bill passed, as it should have the year before. What was not discussed was the fact that the bill to belatedly thank the remaining merchant seamen from World War II languishes in the same committee and no one speaks for us. Where is the moral obligation for us? Where will the moral obligation be when current-day seamen facing daily terrorist threats in foreign waters look at their service and how it should be judged? In the speeches for the Scouts, it was said that President Roosevelt and President Truman favored veterans’ treatment for them. President Roosevelt also encouraged GI benefits for merchant seamen in 1944, but he died the following year. We then endured years of neglect and suffered through both a federal court trial and 10 years of legislative neglect until finally, in 1998, most of the seamen received limited benefits. Most, however, will only receive a tombstone and a flag when they cross the bar. Several years ago, it was proposed that a limited financial benefit be provided to the remaining seamen to compensate these veterans for the extensive educational, home finance and medical benefits denied them since the end of the wartime service. This legislation passed the House, but remains stuck in the Senate. Through all the hearings on the legislation, as was the case in past legislative fights, the seamen have to fight misinformation that puts an ugly face on the issue. One congressman, not knowing our history, belittled us by saying some seamen only entered the merchant marine after the Japanese surrendered. The fact is that all seamen went through landside training before they shipped out, and many had signed up months before the Japanese surrendered. This training time is not counted and our service time officially only began when we signed the ship’s articles. Service time for all other services began at the swearing-in ceremony and many servicemen and women never left the United States. Yet, all these individuals received GI benefits. We have no complaint with this. But, again, where is the moral obligation to get our story right? I believe that men and women are elected to higher office to not only serve their constituents, but the U.S. as a whole. I believe history is a guide for men and women in the future so that our country can continue to be the place everyone in the world envies and the place they want to live. I believe those who control benefits should recognize they have a moral obligation to men and women who have served their country. I fear that when most citizens go to vote, they can’t focus on such a small matter as an obligation to servicemen and women when they choose their candidates. I pray that this thought will be something that those who have heard the call of the sea will remember when they make their choices for office. Moral obligation is not a matter of pick and choose; it is not a lottery. Moral obligation to veterans is a standard by which elected officials should be judged. Don T. Trimbath Vice President, Government Affairs American Merchant Marine Veterans Auburn, California Welcome Ashore, Brother Munoz Recertified Bosun Francisco Munoz (center) recently stopped by the Oakland hall to pick up his first retirement check. Family members joined him to share in the excitement. Pictured from left to right are daughter Angelina; wife, Sonia; Francisco; daughter Olga; and SIU Assistant VP Nick Celona. 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. 20 Seafarers LOG 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. August 2008 �49927_P01_24:January 08 7/25/2008 12:11 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 the next 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. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Course Start Date Date of Completion Welding September 8 October 6 November 3 December 1 September 26 October 23 November 21 December 19 Safety Specialty Courses Advanced Fire Fighting (must have basic fire fighting) August 2 August 8 Fast Rescue Boat August 18 September 8 August 22 September 12 Medical Care Provider September 8 September 12 Tanker Assistant (DL) September 22 November 10 September 6 October 3 November 21 September 12 Start Date Date of Completion August 18 September 29 November 10 September 12 October 23 December 5 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) (must have radar unlimited) October 6 November 17 October 10 November 21 Celestial Navigation October 20 November 24 November 14 December 19 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. GMDSS September 15 September 26 Lifeboatman/Water Survival September 15 October 27 September 26 November 7 Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward These classes start every other Monday. The most recent class began July 21. Steward Recertification Course August 18 September 8 Radar September 22 November 3 October 3 November 14 Radar Renewal (one day) October 27 December 8 October 27 December 8 Able Seaman Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman (STOS) August 25 October 20 September 5 October 31 Bosun Recertification Course November 3 October 14 Engine Upgrading Courses Advanced Container Maintenance (Refer) September 1 November 10 September 26 December 5 Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations (BAPO) September 15 November 10 October 10 December 5 Firemen/Watertender/Oiler (FOWT) August 18 October 13 September 12 November 6 Junior Engineer August 30 October 24 Marine Electrician October 27 December 19 Pumpman August 11 August 22 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Deep Sea Member Lakes Member Date of Birth ______________________ Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________ Seniority _____ Department ___________ E-mail ____________________________ Yes No Steward Upgrading Courses 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. Online “Distance Learning” Courses 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 206740075. Applicants will receive user account information from the center via email. 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. 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, 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 ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Inland Waters Member If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. U.S. Citizen: Tankerman (PIC) Barge 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/08 Seafarers LOG 21 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:24 AM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Computer Classes Four Seafarers recently completed computer courses while undergoing upgrade training at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. The graduates joined instructor Rich Prucha (second from left in photo above and left in photo below) for these photos. Graduates included (photo above) James Copeland, Rolando Dinong, Cecil Yearwood and (photo below) Rodolfo Monopilo. Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 703 – Unlicensed apprentices from Class 703 recently graduated from the water survival course. Those graduating from the course (above, in alphabetical order) were Casey Amay, Jonathyn Bland, Sean Clodfelter, Christopher Gonseth, Shawn Haber, Yuir Hernandez, Braden Horne, Ralph Howell Jr., Eric Kirkland, Johnnie Langston, Jarred Moylan, Richard Noto, William Pakkala, Ivyrose Villaflor and Nathan White. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Fast Rescue Boat - Six upgraders graduated from this 30-hour course June 20. Those completing the course (above, in alphabetical order) were Adam Begleiter, Matthew Hojna, David Miller, Christopher Pinkerton, Liberatoz Viray and Philander Walton. Their instructor, Tom Truitt, is standing in back, fourth from left. Advanced Container Maintenance - Six upgraders completed this course June 27. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were John Conn, Gary Dahl, Scott Fuller, Angel Hernandez, Daniel Mitchell and Tyson James. Calvin Beal, their instructor, is standing, second from left. Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations - Twenty upgraders and Phase III unlicensed apprentices completed this 140-hour course June 13. Those graduating (photo at right, in alphabetical order) were Vic Atkinson, Alexis Bonilla, Tristan Brand, Jovita Carino, DeMorris Duggins, Kabir Garcia, Tonya Gist, Tsawang Gyurme, Spencer Hiruko, Si Hughes, Arthur Kately III, Larry Locke, Daniel McDougald, Mark Merenda, Frederick Nyarko, Algernon Ramseur, Tijani Rashid, Mohamed Sheriff, Christopher Shivalier and Roderick McClary. Their instructor, Tim Achorn, is standing, far right. 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 cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. 22 Seafarers LOG August 2008 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:26 AM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Tank Ship Familiarization DL - The above upgraders on June 13 completed this 63-hour course. Those graduating (in alphabetical order) were Azad Adavani, Greg Baker, Sergio Cedeno, Yamira Colon, Rolando Dinong, Curtrina Duck, Sergey Golubev, Ricardo Guevara, Matthew Hojna, James Jones III, Anthony Kpodovia, David Miller, Kirk Moffett, Allen Newgen, Michael Ratigan, Sandy Santiago, Alfredo Silva, Donald Stickens, Abel Vazquez and George Washington. Jim Shaffer, their instructor, is standing at far right. Welding—Four mariners upgraded their skills in this course and graduated May 2. Those graduating (above, in no particular order) were Robert Weinhardt, Don Perry, Domenic Mallace and Kerry O’Callagan. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is third from left. ARPA - The above individuals completed this 32-hour course June 20. Pictured (in no particular order) are Lou Cabano, Vincent Ippolito Sr., and Michael Ratigan. Stacey McNeely was their instructor. Able Seaman - Eleven upgraders graduated from this course June 20. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were Maurice Beasley, Bryan Brady, Raphael Dewberry, Emmanuel Garcia, Benigno Gonzales, Cheryl Lee, Wade McClennan, Victor Moody, Blaine Musk, Dana Wilks and Courtney Williams. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is standing at far right. Welding - The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) graduated from this course June 20: Gavin Benckert, Thomas Jones, Freddie Malbas, Latisa May-Christopher, Robert Puckett, Cornelius Smith and Kenneth Sumner. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is at far right. Crowd Management (Hawaii) - Seventeen crew members from The Pride of America completed this course aboard their SIU-contracted vessel. Completing the training (above, in no particular order) were Carl Castagna, Amin Mohamed, Reynante Angulo, Michael Warner, Rien Libhart, Danilo Cortez, Alejandro Quirolgico, Alex Fagaragan, Larry Dizon, Juan Vega, Terje Ostbye, Paulette Callin, Sharon Powell, Nicole Falche, Andrew Kost, Dimarko Shoulders and Miguel Rivera. August 2008 STCW (Hawaii) - The following students (above, in no particular order) graduated from the STCW course at the Barbers Point, Hawaii-based Seafarers Training Center. Completing the course were Alwin Corpuz, W.T. Greer III, Eric Liley, Isaac Miner, Jason Watson, Kathleen Adams and David Hahn. Seafarers LOG 23 �49927_P01_24X:January 08 7/28/2008 11:57 AM Page 24 Volume 70, Number 8 August 2008 Mariners Need TWIC by April 15, 2009 - Page 8 SIU steward department members (photo above) take a momentary break before returning to their duties aboard the USNS Hayes, docked in Tampa, Fla., when this photo was taken. ENCOURAGMENT FROM OFFICIALS – SIU President Michael Sacco (standing in photo above) and VP Contracts. George Tricker (photo at left) last month dropped in on some classes at the Paul Hall Center to quickly update students on timely maritime news affecting their livelihoods and also to wish them well in their studies. Sacco is pictured with a class of recertified stewards, while Tricker is addressing upgraders in the junior engineer program. DEU Santiago Ruiz, AB Shelby Rankin (photo above) send greetings from aboard the Blue Ridge. Chief Cook Gary Favaloram (photo at left) is pictured aboard the Blue Ridge near Tampa, Fla. At Sea And Ashore With the SIU hese photos were taken recently aboard SIUcrewed vessels, at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., and at the Seafarers-contracted facility in Petty’s Island. T SUPPORT FOR SPAD – SIU members at Crowley-Petty’s Island (located in the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey) work with roll-on/roll-off ships and perform mechanical work on barges. They also proudly support SPAD, the union’s voluntary political activity fund, as shown in the group photo above. The members are sporting the most recent SPAD T-shirts which have been distributed to members who contribute to the fund. In photo inset above right, Seafarer Mike Fay shows off the artwork on the back of the shirt as John Haller looks on. � 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 August 2008 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES FEDERATION ENDORSES OBAMA SIU-CONTRACTED COMPANIES HONORED WITH SAFETY AWARDS SIU JOBS SAVED ABOARD PHILLIPS, BAUGH MAERSK WINS BID TO OPERATE RO/ROS IN COMMERCIAL SECTOR NEW SIU-CREWED TUG CHRISTENED STARLIGHT MARINE CREWS RATIFY 3-YEAR CONTRACT USNS STOCKHAM SEAFARERS REFURBISH FILIPINO SCHOOL SIU CREWS HELP DELIVER LIFE-SAVING MILESTONE SEAFARERS STEP UP IN FREE CHOICE MOBILIZATION STUDY: ‘PREVAILING WAGE’ LAW ADDS BENEFITS HAWAII SUPERFERRY SETS PASSENGER RECORD MEETINGS OFFER INFO ON 401(K) PLAN PORT ARTHUR CONDUCTS MARITIME DAY CEREMONY SHIPBOARD SCENES FROM THE OVERSEAS LOS ANGELES SNAPSHOTS FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGION PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING SIU ABSENTEE BALLOTS SIU-CREWED MAERSK SHIPS REACH SAFETY MILESTONES 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 08/01/2008 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. 8 2008 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/d74c257b7859bee706f4c8e9b69803ef.pdf d71b6554448010b66690a56bc71893bc PDF Text Text 55309_P01_24_X3:January 08 7/28/2009 10:40 AM Page 1 Volume 71, Number 8 Sealift, Inc. Awarded Contract for Charter of Prepositioning Vessel August 2009 3PSC to Operate Oceanographic Ships According to a recent announcement by the U.S. Navy, Sealift, Inc. has been awarded a contract for charter of the MV MAJ Bernard F. Fisher (above). The agreement with the Seafarers-contracted company includes options extending to the year 2014. Page 3 Thousands Rally for Health Care Reform The Department of Defense on July 20 announced news that signals ongoing job security for SIU members aboard oceanographic surveillance ships. Seafarers-contracted 3PSC LLC has been awarded a contract to operate and maintain six survey ships (including the USNS Bruce C. Heezen, pictured above) for the Military Sealift Command. The DOD contract includes an option for a seventh ship (the USNS Henson). It also includes other options which, if exercised, would extend work to the year 2017. According to the announcement, six of MSC’s seven oceanographic ships (the Heezen, USNS Pathfinder, USNS Bowditch, USNS Sumner, USNS Henson and USNS Mary Sears) are multipurpose and perform different types of surveys which provide much of the U.S. military’s information on the ocean environment. These ships, which have carried SIU crews for many years, use multi-beam, wide-angle, precision sonar systems that make it possible to continuously chart a broad section of ocean floor. The other oceanographic survey ship (the USNS John McDonnell) collects data in coastal regions around the world. The data collected helps improve technology in undersea warfare, ship detection and charting the world’s coastlines. Additional details about the new contract, including information on turnover operations (slated to begin in October), will be included in an upcoming issue of the LOG and will be posted online at www.seafarers.org Seafarers joined fellow union members and others at a late-June rally in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators and speakers called for effective changes to the nation’s health-insurance system. Among those who addressed the crowd of thousands was actress Edie Falco, a cancer survivor, pictured here with Paul Hall Center Unlicensed Apprentices (above, from left) Ryan Boltz, Brandon Hutchinson and Omar Rodgers and Port Agent Pat Vandegrift. Pages 12-13. Jacksonville Hall Update Page 2 SIU Members Stand Up for Employee Free Choice Act Seafarers including Recertified Steward Pedro Sellan (above) recently joined other union members in South Florida for a demonstration supporting both the Employee Free Choice Act and workers from a Wal-Mart store in Miami. Page 11. House Passes Anti-Piracy Amendment Page 3 TWIC, MMC Reminders Page 6 �55309_P01_24x:January 08 7/24/2009 7:46 PM Page 2 President’s Repor t Progress and Politics Both for our union in particular and for the labor movement as a whole, there definitely hasn’t been a summertime slowdown. As reported in this edition, the SIU recently welcomed two separate announcements that reflect ongoing job security for the membership. These stories involve the oceanographic survey ships and a prepositioning vessel which will remain under SIU contract. Also, we’re in the process of relocating our Jacksonville, Fla., operations to an area that undoubtedly will be seen by Seafarers and their families as an improvement. At our affiliated school in Piney Point, Md., work is being done to enhance the simulators. New anti-piracy curriculum is being developed to help increase shipboard safety. Additional web-based “distance learning” courses recently have been added. Michael Sacco We should have more good news to report in the months ahead. In the larger picture, health care remains the absolute hottest topic all across the country. President Obama has identified health-insurance reform as a top priority, and the AFL-CIO has done the same. Bills have been introduced in Congress aiming to make coverage more affordable while insuring more people. Obviously, this debate has been happening for many years. The system could be right on the verge of significant, historic changes, but no one knows for sure. What I can say with certainty is that health care costs too much. Quality, affordable care should be available to all, and employer-sponsored health care must not be taxed. Labor’s other major legislative priority remains the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Despite published reports that the bill may move ahead without a majority sign-up provision, such an alteration is far from certain. In any case, organized labor will continue pushing for meaningful reform that restores fairness to the nation’s labor laws when it comes to protecting a worker’s right to choose union representation. Just as our nation’s health care system has significant flaws, I don’t see how anyone could argue that the current, employer-dominated, overall process for choosing a union doesn’t have lots of room for improvement. We’ve been working on this issue for years. It’s time to level the playing field for workers who want to exercise their legal right to join a union. Not that we needed any reminders, but the debates on health care and EFCA definitely reinforce the importance of political action. They illustrate why it’s so important to elect people who support working families. Of course, throughout our union’s 71-year history, we have always been politically active. Seafarers understand that we work in a heavily regulated industry, so political activity – from the grassroots level on up, no matter the party – is nothing short of vital for maintaining SIU jobs and job security. For example, some may recall the heated battles to preserve the Jones Act back in the mid-1990s. As I would hope most Seafarers know, the Jones Act is a staple of our industry. It requires that vessels transporting cargo between U.S. ports be crewed, flagged, built and owned American. Even though this law is nothing short of vital to America’s national and economic security – in part because it is crucial to maintaining a viable U.S. Merchant Marine – it regularly comes under attack. Usually, the people behind those salvos (like the ones recently reported from overseas) are foreign-flag interests who want to sink us, while conveniently ignoring similar laws in their nations. Thanks to the support of Seafarers and others who realize what’s at stake, we’ve been able to elect representatives in Congress and the White House who aren’t fooled by those who want to do away with this indispensable law. But it goes beyond maritime. Politics and legislation affect practically every aspect of our lives. That’s why we remain so active at every level, and why I truly appreciate the ongoing support of our membership, whether it’s through volunteer efforts for pro-worker, pro-maritime candidates or contributing to SPAD, the union’s political action fund. That’s something to keep in mind as we follow the current headlines and as we keep working to make things better for Seafarers and for all working families. Volume 71, Number 8 The current hall is pictured when it opened in 1974 (above) and in July 2009 (at right). On the Radar: New Jacksonville Hall The union is working to finalize plans for a move to a new hall in the Jacksonville, Fla., area. As reported by SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel at the July membership meetings, Seafarers already have approved the sale of the existing hall, located at 3315 Liberty Street. The pending sale is due to close in September. Meanwhile, the union has reached an agreement to purchase a new facility located in the Belfort Park area of Jacksonville. The spacious building is in move-in condition. It is located approximately 14 miles from the current hall. “I would like to thank the membership for their support in approving the sale of the Jacksonville property at the June membership meetings,” Heindel noted. “The union has been diligent in looking for a new facility in the Jacksonville area that will be suitable to better serve the needs and interests of our membership. I believe we have found such a facility. I am sure the membership and their families will feel safe and comfortable conducting business there.” He added that the new building was constructed in the year 2000 and sits on slightly more than three acres of land. SIU Assistant Vice President Archie Ware, who is based in Jacksonville, agreed that the new building will mark a substantial upgrade. “We’ve been in the current location since November of 1974,” Ware pointed out. “The new building is located in a business/industrial area that is well-developed and features a number of restaurants and hotels. The building itself is a definite improvement and the area is very, very nice.” Trumka Formally Announces Candidacy Slate for AFL-CIO Offices Includes Arlene Holt Baker, Liz Shuler AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka on July 9 formally announced his candidacy for president of the AFL-CIO to succeed the retiring John Sweeney. Trumka has served as AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer since 1995 and is a proven friend of maritime and the SIU. At a rally that drew several hundred supporters at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., Trumka threw his hat in the ring for the top office of the national labor federation, whose 56 affiliated national and international unions (including the SIU) represent more than 10 million workers. Joining Trumka on the ticket are Liz Shuler, executive assistant to the Electrical Workers (IBEW) president, for secretary-treasurer and incumbent AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker for re-election. No other presidential candidate has announced plans to run for office. Earlier this year, AFLCIO President John Sweeney said he was retiring when his fourth term as president expires in September. Delegates to the AFLCIO’s 26th Constitutional Convention, meeting in Pittsburgh Sept. 13-17, will elect the AFL-CIO’s new officers. In a joint statement, Trumka, Shuler and Holt Baker note that the labor movement “faces tremendous challenges,” including an unregulated global economy, labor laws that favor employers over workers and a political system in which the wealthy wield far too much influence. “At the same time, we have historic opportunities, with a president and Congress we elected, to overcome these challenges. Our most important task is to make sure our economy creates jobs. And we are keenly aware that we must look within our movement for answers about how we can create full employment, organize workers and make sure workers prosper in the 21st century.” Before being elected AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer (the same year Sweeney took the helm of the AFL-CIO), Trumka served as president of the Mine Workers (UMWA) from 1982 to 1995. He is a third-generation coal miner and graduate of Pennsylvania State University and holds a law degree from Villanova University Law School. Speaking about the future, Trumka said, “For employers who want to work with us and want to work with workers, we’ll be the best friend they ever had. For those that want to abuse people, take benefits away, jettison retirees, then we are going to do everything in our power to stop that from happening.” Trumka also spoke about corporate America and multi-national corporations. “For 30 years corporate America has really dominated the political scene, and it has hurt this country,” he said. “Somewhere along the line, their interests began to diverge from the interests of the country. Multinationals do what they think is best for them even if it’s not in the interests of the country. One of our main objectives is to realign the interests of corporations with the interests of the nation.” In an SIU endorsement of Trumka’s candidacy, SIU President Michael Sacco, a member of the AFL-CIO executive council who has worked with Trumka for more than 30 years, stated, “Rich is the right man for the job. He’s got big shoes to fill, because John Sweeney has done fantastic work for our movement, but Rich is up to the task. I really believe he will do a great job leading the labor movement.” Richard Trumka has announced his candidacy for AFL-CIO president. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker is running for re-election. Liz Shuler of the IBEW is a candidate for AFL-CIO secretarytreasurer. August 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 August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:23 AM Page 3 SIU Jobs are Secure aboard MV Fisher Sealift, Inc. Awarded Contract for Charter of Prepositioning Ship The Navy recently announced that SIU-contracted Sealift, Inc., has been awarded a contract for charter of the MV MAJ Bernard F. Fisher. The agreement includes options that extend to September 2014. “The ship’s primary mission will be to preposition U.S. Marine Corps ammunition at sea. Fisher is expected to operate in and around Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean,” the Navy noted in its announcement in mid-July. Seafarers already sail aboard the 652foot Fisher, but the newly awarded contract “protects the job security of SIU members on this vessel,” noted SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “There’s never a guarantee that these types of agreements will go to one of our contracted operators, so this recent announcement shouldn’t be taken for granted. “At the same time, both the crew members and the company deserve credit for excellent past performance,” Tricker added. “There is a solid history of reliability and dependability from the ship for the Military Sealift Command, and that history also shouldn’t be taken for granted.” Prepositioning ships are an important part of MSC’s operations. Vessels in the prepositioning fleet are stationed at key points around the globe, fully loaded and ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice. The Fisher has a beam of 105 feet and can sail at up to 19 knots. It is named in honor of U.S. Air Force Major Bernard Francis Fisher of San Bernardino, Calif., who is believed to be the first living Air Force recipient of the Medal of Honor. His citation reads as follows: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On that date (March 10, 1966 in Bien Hoa and Pleiku, Vietnam), the Special Forces camp at A Shau was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Hostile troops had positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Other hostile troops had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. “The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800-foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battletorn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although The MV Fisher provides support for the U.S. military. aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. “While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Maj. Fisher’s profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.” Rep. Cummings Introduces Bill Requiring DOD-Embarked Protection Against Pirates Attacks earlier this year against the SIU-crewed Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun awakened much of the public to the issue of piracy. Above, the lifeboat from the Maersk Alabama is hoisted aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Indian Ocean after the successful rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jon Rasmussen) August 2009 Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) recently introduced legislation – passed last month by the House – that would pit pirates attacking United Statesflagged merchant ships against the might of U.S. military forces. Around the same time, an international report clearly indicated that even though piracy mostly has faded from the headlines in the U.S., the problem hasn’t gone away. According to the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center, piracy attacks around the world during the first half of this year more than doubled to 240, compared to last year’s figure of 114 attacks during the first six months of 2008. The pirate attacks on the U.S.-flagged, Seafarers-crewed vessels Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun earlier this year focused the nation’s attention on lawlessness on the high seas, so much so that Congress has conducted a number of high-profile hearings in which representatives from maritime unions including the SIU were invited the testify on courses of action that could be taken to help thwart future attacks. During a Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing earlier this year, Rep. Cummings perhaps gave a glimpse of legislation to come when he commented, “We have long argued that we need a U.S.-flagged merchant fleet to carry U.S.-government cargoes and to provide sealift capacity to support DOD needs in time of war and national emergency. Given this, isn’t it in our national interest to utilize the very limited U.S. military resources that would be necessary to protect our U.S.-flagged fleet rather than leaving them to implement their own defensive measures?” Shortly after the May 20 hearing, Rep. Cummings introduced an amendment that was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 2647, that would require the Department of Defense to embark military security personnel on certain U.S.-flagged ships that travel through areas with a known presence of pirates. “We would never leave the U.S. homeland unguarded if it were at risk of an attack, and we should apply this same standard to our ships instead of leaving them to fend for themselves,” Rep. Cummings said. “We anticipate that embarking military security personnel on these vessels will require far less manpower than patrolling the region with multiple Navy vessels and be much more efficient and effective in keeping our mariners safe. “Our merchant fleet has always depended on our nation’s Naval power to ensure its safety, and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings D-Md. we cannot shirk that duty now,” he added. “Embarking military security personnel on these vessels makes a loud statement that our nation stands behind these ships and that we will not allow pirates to intimidate us.” The Authorization Act passed the House with Rep. Cummings’ amendment. The Senate version of the act, S. 1309, at press time was before the Senate for debate. In joint testimony from the SIU and other maritime unions (AMO, MEBA and MM&P) submitted for the May 20 hearing, the unions noted, “American mariners working aboard U.S.-flag vessels operating in [dangerous waters near Somalia] continue to face an immediate and ongoing threat from international pirates. As our American mariners simply attempt to do their jobs, their lives are in constant peril as these pirates decide when – not if – to take further aggressive action against commercial ships. “It remains our firm conviction that as an essential first step, the United States government should immediately provide protection for the United States-flag vessels that are and will be operating on sea lanes where piracy remains a serious threat. This protection should entail military escorts or military security detachments placed aboard the vessel.” Seafarers LOG 3 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:23 AM Page 4 Study Shows Unions Positively Influence Workplace Policies Unions have a positive impact on family- important than ever before because more famifriendly workplace policies like paid family lies are jugging work and care-giving responsileave, paid sick days, family health insurance, bilities. For example, nearly 25 percent of U.S. and child-care benefits, according to a new households provide care to people aged 50 or report released July 16 by the University of older, and 75 percent of children live in families California (UC) Berkeley Center for Labor where all parents work. “As Congress prepares to debate the Research and Education and the Labor Project Employee Free Choice Act in coming months, for Working Families. “As more Americans are struggling to raise policy makers should understand that unions and care for their families at the same time have helped improve workplace policies for they’re holding down a job, workplace policies thousands of working families and could do the that facilitate a work-family balance are becom- same things for millions of families if EFCA ing increasingly important. We looked at becomes the law of the land,” said report coauthor Netsy Firestein, whether unions make a difexecutive director of the ference for these families, nonprofit Labor Project For and it turns out that unionWorking Families. ization has a positive AFL-CIO President impact on key familyJohn Sweeney said the new friendly policies like family report “comes at a seminal health insurance, paid fammoment for the debate on ily leave, and child-care economic and labor law benefits,” said Jenifer reform in this country. This MacGillvary of the UC report emphasizes a crucial Berkeley Center for Labor point – that unions help Research and Education, a families at a time when co-author of the new report, workers are forced to work “Family-Friendly more hours in an increasWorkplaces: Do Unions Make a Difference?” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney ingly unstable environment, and as the social sysAccording to the UC Berkeley report, evidence from the research lit- tem in our country is being chipped away. “A unionized workplace dramatically helps erature on family-friendly workplaces suggests: ■ Unionization promotes compliance with working families,” Sweeney continued. the Family and Medical Leave Act. Unionized “According to the report, unions increase comemployees are more likely to have heard of the pliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, have fewer wor- ensure paid sick leave for employees and their ries about taking leave, and are more likely to children, and increase the likelihood that health care is covered for families. As corporations receive fully paid and partially paid leaves. ■ Comparing hourly workers who take fam- force working people to work longer and spend ily and medical leave, 46 percent of unionized more time away from their home, unions are workers compared to 29 percent of nonunion- key to creating an economy that works for everyone and ensuring that workers have flexiized workers receive full pay while on leave. ■ Unionized workers are 1.3 times as likely bility in handling their family and work responas nonunionized workers to be allowed to use sibilities.” He added that corporations “have spent biltheir own sick time to care for a sick child, and they are 50 percent more likely than nonunion- lions to try to eliminate benefits like paid sick ized workers to have paid personal leave that can leave, time off, and health care coverage. Without workers’ freedom to form and join be used to care for sick children. ■ Companies with 30 percent or more union- unions, corporations will continue to chip away ized workers are five times as likely as compa- at the family-friendly practices that help worknies with no unionized workers to pay the entire ing people across the country.” To download “Family-Friendly Workplaces: family health insurance premium. Even when unionized employees are required to pay part of Do Unions Make a Difference?” go to: or their family insurance premium, they pay a http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu much lower share of the premium than http://www.working-families.org. There is also a link to the report under “Heard at Headquarters” nonunionized workers do. Family-friendly workplace policies are more on www.seafarers.org. Congrats on Milestone AB Duane Costello (center) is pictured recently at the union hall in Jacksonville, Fla., where he collected his first pension check. Congratulating him on the milestone are Asst. VP Archie Ware (right) and Patrolman Brian Guiry. “Duane is very supportive of his union,” noted Ware. 4 Seafarers LOG Pictured at Los Angeles/Long Beach Dock 86 are (from left) Capt. Roger Stewart, Crowley Director of Marine Operations Frosty Leonard, Mate Jim Brown, AB/Engineer Mike Privette, Chief Engineer Craig Perry, AB Herman Moningka and SIU Port Agent Jeff Turkus. Crowley tugs in that area now utilize shore-side electrical power. Seafarers-Contracted Crowley Announces New ‘Green’ Initiative Move Will Cut Fuel Consumption, Reduce Emissions SIU-crewed Crowley tugboats used for ship assist and escort operations in the Port of Los Angeles have begun using newly installed shore-side electrical power when not on the job to cut fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the company announced in late June. Previously, the tugs tied up at the dock needed to run their generators to provide electrical power. Crowley and the Port of Los Angeles recently completed this environmentally friendly initiative, also known as cold ironing, at Berth 86. The port paid to run electrical power to the dock, and Crowley purchased and installed the electrical connections to the boats and transformers to take the voltage from 440 volts to 220 volts. Overall, Crowley expects to conserve fuel used by the generators daily in its Los Angeles operations, and consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 486,180 pounds in the first year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, each gallon of diesel fuel produces approximately 22.2 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Crowley already has cold ironing capabilities in Seattle, Jacksonville, Pennsauken and Puerto Rico. “We are very pleased to be a part of this important green initiative with the Port of Los Angeles,” said Frosty Leonard, Crowley director of marine operations in California. “Using shoreside power is not only the environmentally friendly thing to do, it’s just good business.” As an added benefit, Leonard said shore-side power eliminates the constant noise from the engines that disrupts the crews’ rest periods and provides engineers a quieter engine room in which to work. Seafarers from four Crowley tugs join Port Agent Jeff Turkus and Safety Director Abdul Al Omari for a safety meeting. August 2009 �55309_P01_24x:January 08 7/24/2009 7:54 PM Page 5 Papal Encyclical: Honor Right to Form Unions A recent letter from Pope Benedict XVI stresses the need to protect workers’ rights. In a communication called an encyclical, the Pope observed, “Through the combination of social and economic change, trade union organizations experience greater difficulty in carrying out their task of representing the interests of workers... The repeated calls issued within the Church’s social doctrine, beginning with Rerum Novarum (issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891), for the promotion of workers’ associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past.” The encyclical was released on July 7. The entire document is available online at http://www.papalencyclicals.net/ Reacting to the Pope’s most recent letter, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, “Pope Benedict XVI’s commitment to the cause of working people worldwide shines today. In the new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate or Charity in Truth, Pope Benedict XVI offers an ethical critique of the global economic crisis and proposes concrete elements for policies anchored in moral values that enhance the dignity of all, especially the poor and working people. The encyclical levels a strong critique at the forces of unfettered free-market capitalism and globalized greed. “Particularly, the new encyclical offers a much-needed reminder that to create an economy that works for everyone it is critical to protect workers’ fundamental right to join together as a union and bargain for a better future,” Sweeney continued. “As the Pope makes clear, it is not only working people, but also entire communities – nations even – that stand to benefit when workers exercise this right. In the document, the Pope reaffirms the Church’s longstanding position that labor unions play a vital role in efforts to build a more just economy – one in which even the most marginalized workers are guaranteed basic dignity and respect.” Sweeney concluded, “As the gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to widen, and workers around the world are denied the dignity and freedom they deserve, the union movement stands with the Catholic Church in its call for a global economy that works for working people. Now, more than ever, we must rally to protect the rights of workers – at home and worldwide – to come together in unions and build a better future for us all.” The Catholic Labor Network also welcomed the encyclical and in a new release pointed out, “We Americans live in a nation where workers face increasing harassment when they seek to form a union, in large measure because of widespread unlawful action by employers to obstruct the right of workers to organize in unions. We urge all our brothers and sisters in the faith involved in today’s contentious debate over the Employee Free Choice Act to reflect on their position in light of the new encyclical and consider how we can best reconcile our attitudes towards American trade unionism with those expressed by the Holy Father.” Radio Commentator WWII Mariners Could Reap Compensation Says Union-Busters ‘Belated Thanks’ Bill Awaits Senate Action Need to Remember Miracle on Hudson One of the most vivid examples used to demonstrate the value of hard-working, welltrained union members continues to be the “Miracle on the Hudson.” The latest call for union support came from national radio commentator and writer, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner turned populist celebrity Jim Hightower. In a recent editorial picked up by the national news services and published in newspapers around the country, Hightower wrote, “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) analysis confirms what we learned from news reports at the time – Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the rest of the crew on Flight 1549 performed marvelously in the face of looming disaster, saving the lives of 150 horrified passengers by landing the jet intact and quickly evacuating it. Their performance has been hailed with such phrases as ‘stoic,’ ‘nearly flawless,’ and ‘heroic.’ But another laudatory term should be applied to them as well: ‘union.’ “Practically everyone involved in averting this disaster was a union-trained professional,” he continued. “Captain Sully himself is not only a member of the Airline Pilots Association, but also served on its national governing committee and is APA’s former safety chairman. Indeed, he and his union have had to fight airline chieftains who’ve tried to cut back on the safety training programs that allowed him to save those lives. Likewise, the cool-headed flight attendants who so expeditiously moved those nearly-panicked people off the plane are members of their union, the Association of Flight Attendants, which also stresses safety. “The ferry crews that zipped into action, skillfully and quickly maneuvering their boats right up to the wings to rescue passengers – they’re in the Seafarers International Union, which gives them the safety courses that enabled them to respond as they did,” he added. “The cops, firefighters, and air traffic controllers also performed marvelously – all union trained. “At a time when corporate interests in all sectors of our economy are trying to eliminate unions, remember Flight 1549 – the union-made miracle on the Hudson,” Hightower concluded. The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 passed in the House of Representatives in May. The bill would establish a Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide monthly payments in the amount of $1,000 to qualifying members of the United States Merchant Marine who served during World War II. The bill, H.R. 23, also includes qualifying members of the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service. A similar Senate version, S. 663, has been referred to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. At press time, the legislation had 37 co-sponsors in the Senate. “I have been fighting for more than a decade to provide U.S. Merchant Mariners of World War II the thanks they deserve for their forgotten service – not just in words, but in deeds,” stated Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Bob Filner (D-Calif.). “This Congress is once again on the precipice of correcting a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the U.S. Merchant Marine of World War II.” The American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV), which has chapters across the country, encourages mariners and other supporters of the U.S. Merchant Marine to contact their senators and urge Senate passage of the legislation. Letters may be sent to: United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. For e-mail contact information, go to www.senate.gov. Updates may be available at www.usmm.org Thousands of U.S. Merchant Mariners paid the ultimate price in WWII, as reflected in this photo of a merchant ship ablaze and going under during the war. Harris Sworn in as Deputy Labor Secretary Another friend of labor joined the ranks of the Flexibility. He served as the chair of Obama for Obama administration as Seth Harris was recently America’s Labor, Employment, and Workplace Policy sworn in as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor under Committee and a co-chair of its Disability Policy Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. The Committee. swearing-in ceremony was attendDuring the Clinton administraed by various labor leaders includtion, he served as counsel to the ing SIU Executive Vice President Secretary of Labor and Acting Augustin Tellez and SIU Assistant Secretary of Labor for Secretary-Treasurer David Policy, among other policy-advisHeindel. ing positions. Before joining the Harris most recently was the administration, he was a law clerk Obama Transition Project’s to Judge William Canby of the Agency Working Group Leader for U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th the labor, education, and transCircuit and Judge Gene Carter of portation agencies. He is a profesthe U.S. District Court for the sor and the director of labor and District of Maine. He graduated employment law programs at New cum laude from New York York Law School. He is also a University School of Law where Senior Fellow of the Life Without he was editor-in-chief of the Limits Project of the United Review of Law & Social Change. Cerebral Palsy Association and a He received his bachelor’s degree member of the National Advisory from Cornell University’s School DOL Deputy Secretary Seth Harris Commission on Workplace of Industrial & Labor Relations. Two New Maryland Laws Reflect ‘Commitment to Working Families’ With the right strategy and perhaps a little luck, recently improved workers’ rights in Maryland may soon set a nationwide trend. The state has adopted two measures that improve fairness on the job and are considered groundbreaking in leveling the playing field for employers who play by the rules. The Workplace Fraud Act of 2009 provides the state with tools to crack down on deceptive practices such as wrongly classifying employees as independent contractors or not classifying employees at all. This procedure allows employers to cut payroll costs significantly, leaving employees unprotected by critical workplace protection laws and creating a competitive disadvantage for those employers who fol- August 2009 low the letter of the law. Workers who are wrongly classified as independent contractors are denied access to unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other protections, and taxpayers are deprived of millions of dollars to the unemployment insurance trust fund and the state general fund. The second piece of legislation, called the “Fair Share Act,” allows labor unions representing state employees to negotiate for service fees from all members of the bargaining unit. Currently, those state employees who are members of unions are footing the bill for representing all employees. This new law ensures that unions have the option to ask all workers who benefit from negotiated union contracts to pay their fair share. “These new laws should illustrate the state’s commitment to Maryland’s working families and to protecting their rights,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. The workplace fraud law takes effect Oct. 1. It imposes penalties on employers who knowingly misclassify their workers. The law also clarifies the definition of an independent contractor. The Fair Share Act became law July 1. The state has approximately 30,000 employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. Seafarers LOG 5 �55309_P01_24x:January 08 7/24/2009 9:10 PM Page 6 Notes and Reminders Merchant Mariner Credential, TWIC April 15 was the deadline for mariners to have obtained a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). That date also marked the roll-out of the new merchant mariner qualification credential (MMC), a passport-style document which over the next five years will be phased in as a replacement for the z-card/merchant mariner document (MMD). Following are some notes and reminders concerning the TWIC and MMC, along with a list of the U.S. Coast Guard’s regional exam centers. ■ Seafarers are urged to inspect their MMC closely and immediately upon receipt. Check to make sure the credential contains accurate and complete information. For example, at least a few mariners have reported that they received MMCs which erroneously were missing the pages that would have shown the 1995 STCW Certificate. ■ User fees may be paid online at www.pay.gov. MMC applications submitted to an REC must include a copy of the pay.gov payment receipt. ■ An MMC application acceptance checklist is available on the web at the following address: http://uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/MLD-FM-NMC108_Application_Acceptance_Checklist.pdf. That page also may be accessed by visiting the NMC’s home page at www.uscg.mil/nmc/ and then opening the “What’s New at NMC” tab and then the “Announcements” section. ■ In order to apply for an MMC, a mariner must either possess a TWIC or be able to show a TWIC application receipt. ■ Mariners may apply for an MMC at a Coast Guard regional exam center or by mailing an application package to an REC. If applying by mail, it is critical that the materials are sent to an REC and not to the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center. Submitting an application package to the National Maritime Center will result in “significant delays,” according to the agency. ■ Credentials may be renewed at any time, as long as the applicant meets the renewal requirements (including a physical, drug test and appropriate sea service). ■ As previously reported, mariners do not need to rush to get an MMC. The rationale for the five-year phase-in period is that, starting April 15 (earlier this year), when mariners renew or upgrade their z-card, or when mariners new to the industry apply for a credential, they will receive the MMC. The MMC program does not affect the legitimacy of currently valid z-cards/merchant mariner documents. ■ To protect the personal information of mariners, in October 2008 the Coast Guard removed the mariner’s Social Security number from all the credentials issued after that date and replaced it with a “mariner reference number” generated by the agency’s merchant mariner licensing and documentation (MMLD) system. While the Social Security number is still collected on a credential application, it is not printed on the credential and it is not used internally by the Coast Guard when processing the application. When a mariner applies for an original credential for the first time, they will receive a mariner reference number and an application identification number. The mariner reference number is unique to the mariner and will not change during subsequent credential transactions. Mariners wishing to check the status of their application on-line via the Coast Guard’s Homeport portal (http://homeport.uscg.mil) will need to use their mariner reference number and the application ID number. ■ In years past, when a mariner submitted a z-card/MMD to add or upgrade a rating, the document itself normally was renewed, with a new expiration date. That is not the case with the new MMC unless the applicant specifies that he or she wants to renew the credential (and pays the associated fees). In other words, modifying an MMC to reflect an upgrade from STOS to AB, for example, does not automatically change the credential’s renewal date. ■ In late June, the National Maritime Center announced that “in the near future, the NMC intends on providing capabilities for mariners to submit credential applications by email.” ■ Mariners will need to ensure that the biographical information they supply to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) during the TWIC application process is the same information included on the MMC application. This is important as the Coast Guard will be comparing data from TSA to determine if mariners hold a valid TWIC. ■ The phone number for the TSA’s TWIC Program Help Desk is 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942), while the email address is Credentialing@dhs.gov. ■ The phone number for the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center is 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662), while the web site address is http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/ Seafarer Matthew Martel displays a TWIC and a new merchant mariner credential (MMC). ■ When applying for a TWIC, identify yourself as a merchant mariner. This should help to avoid delays in processing MMC applications (whether originals, upgrades, renewals or endorsements). ■ To begin the application process for a TWIC, visit the TSA’s website at: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers Editor’s note: RECs are closed on federal holidays. The hours of operation listed here are Monday through Friday. New York Battery Park Building 1 South Street New York, NY 10004-1466 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (212) 668-6394 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Massachussetts 455 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (617) 223-3034 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Maryland U.S. Custom House Bldg. 40 S. Gay St., Room 420 Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (410) 962-0930 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Ohio 420 Madison Ave, Suite 700 Toledo, OH 43604-1265 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (419) 259-7558 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Tennessee 200 Jefferson Ave. Suite 1301 Memphis, TN 38103 6 Seafarers LOG Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (901) 544-3372 Hours of Operation: REC: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exam Room: 7:15 a.m. to 3:15p.m. South Carolina 196 Tradd Street Charleston, SC 29401-1899 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (843) 720-3259 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Florida Claude Pepper Federal Building 51 S.W. 1st Ave. 6th Floor Miami, FL 33130-1608 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (305) 536-4304 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Missouri 1222 Spruce Street Room 7105 St. Louis, MO 63103-2846 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (314) 269-2733 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Noon to 3:30 p.m. Louisiana 4250 Hwy 22 Suite F Mandeville, LA 70471 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (985) 624-5757 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Texas 8876 Gulf Freeway Suite 200 Houston, Texas 77017 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (713) 948-3360 Hours of Operation: REC: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exam Room: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington 915 Second Ave., Room 194 Seattle, WA 98174-1067 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (206) 220-7329 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oregon 911 NE 11th Ave, Rm #637 Portland, OR 97232-4169 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (503) 231-6738 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Noon to 3:30 p.m. California Oakland Federal Bldg. North Tower 1301 Clay Street Room 180N Oakland, CA 94612-5200 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (510) 637-1126 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. REC: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exam Room: 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Alaska 800 E. Dimond Blvd. Suite 3-227 Anchorage, AK 99515 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (907) 271-6742 Hours of Operation: REC: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Exam Room: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 9105 Mendenhall Mall Rd. Suite 170 Mendenhall Mall Juneau, Alaska 99801 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (907) 463-2482 Hours of Operation: REC: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exam Room: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hawaii 433 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96813-4909 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (808) 522-8277 Hours of Operation: REC: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exam Room: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 501 W. Ocean Blvd Suite 6200 Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: 1-(888) 427-5662 Fax: (562) 435 -1050 Hours of Operation: August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:23 AM Page 7 Anti-Piracy Curriculum Developed, Submitted A cooperative effort involving maritime labor, management, the military and government has led to the development of a new anti-piracy course. The curriculum last month was submitted to the proper reviewing agencies. Once approved and finalized, it will be offered at the Seafarers-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. A key step in crafting the course took place June 22-23 at the Paul Hall Center, where representatives from several organizations participated in an anti-piracy conference. SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel welcomed officials from the Military Sealift Command, Maritime Administration, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Office of Naval Intelligence, American Service Technology, American Maritime Officers, Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and Masters, Mates & Pilots. Together, they examined various aspects of piracy and anti-piracy training. “A lot of the tactics are ship-specific and therefore are taught during security drills aboard the vessels,” noted J.C. Wiegman, Paul Hall Center director of training. “At the same time, the industry is seeing a need to standardize training at schools such as the Paul Hall Center, including incorporation of the latest guidelines on preparation before leaving port. Guidance from MSC and their force protection program was invaluable in the preparation of the course.” Generally, the proposed new course covers protective measurers that may be taken when entering high-risk areas, evasive maneuvers, individual mariner assignments, communications, planned responses to small-boat attacks and hostage situations, searching for boats or ships, and much more. The impetus for the new course was the attacks earlier this year against two American-flag ships: the Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun, both of which are crewed by SIU members. In the case of the Maersk Alabama, the vessel’s master, Richard Phillips, was taken hostage by pirates aboard a lifeboat, leading to a protracted ordeal that topped the headlines for days in mid-April. Since then, both domestic and international efforts to combat piracy (primarily in waters off Somalia) have increased. A number of attempted attacks have been thwarted, but the scourge continues. Long-term solutions appear complex and elusive. Short-term fixes have included increased naval presence in the high-risk area, use of private security guards, and better communications between vessels entering the zone and anti-piracy coordinators. The Paul Hall Center already offers an anti-terrorism briefing to all students, both at the school itself and through the center’s “distance learning” program. The school’s courses include security awareness; vessel security officer; basic and advanced fire fighting; chemical, biological and radiological defense; vessel familiarization; small-arms training; damage control, and dozens more classes. Union, School, Company Team Up Representatives from the SIU, G&H Towing and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education met last month at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md., to continue developing new curriculum for boatmen and pilots. The parties are working together to help ensure that the Paul Hall Center’s simulators are as realistic as possible, in order to help increase efficiency while creating a safer environment for navigation. In this case, particular attention is being devoted to how the simulators reflect the specific equipment used by SIU boatmen and pilots in the Gulf Coast and to the exact locations where they operate. During last month’s sessions, personnel utilized the school’s main bridge simulator (photo below, right) and three auxiliary bridge simulators which served as z-drive tugboats. Pictured in the group photo (outside the simulator building, from left) are American Service Technology CEO John Mason, G&H President Stephen Huffman, G&H Director of Marine Operations Capt. Steven J. Huttman, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan, SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, Paul Hall Center Director of Training J.C. Wiegman, Houston Pilots Presiding Officer Capt. Tom Pace and G&H Port Captain Clinton “Butch” Schuessler. Paul Hall Center Director of Training J.C. Wiegman (standing) addresses the gathering, including (right) Owen Doherty, director of the Maritime Administration’s Office of Security. PHC Course Spotlight 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 overall description of online classes offered through the school. For a list of upcoming course dates, see page 21. 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 Online ‘Distance Learning’ The Paul Hall Center has launched a series of online preparatory classes. Seafarers Blackboard, the school’s “distance learning” vehicle, now hosts several preparatory classes on its web site. For example, students attending the Paul Hall Center to take advanced deck and engine courses may take advantage of math preps specific to their needs. Seafarers Blackboard offers courses in beginning and intermediate math. Steward Department mariners likely would benefit from the Basic Culinary Skills course. Basic Culinary Skills is strongly recommended for all students coming to the Paul Hall Center for Galley Operations. Also, members whose first language is not English would benefit from the extensive vocabulary lessons in this course. Steward department mariners returning to the Paul Hall Center for Chief Cook or Advanced Galley Operations likely would find it worthwhile to brush up on their vocabulary and measuring-units skills. All of the online classes are non-credit courses, meaning no certificate will be awarded. However, they are designed to help the student maximize his or her time at the Paul Hall Center. Students interested in these preparatory courses should indicate their interest when contacting the admissions department to register for classes. The admissions office will direct the student to Dale Rausch, academic department coordinator for enrollment in Blackboard. Even students who are not planning to come to the Paul Hall Center in the near future are encouraged to take a prep course to keep their skills sharp. All an interested student needs to enroll is the requisite sea time and an email address. The academic department is happy to respond to any questions for additional online preparatory courses. Contact Dale Rausch at (301) 9940010, extension 5411, or at drausch@seafarers.org if you have suggestions for other preparatory courses. As of July 2009, the following distance learning classes are available: Fire Extinguishers, Shipboard Firefighting, Back Safety, Basic Math Refresher, Intermediate Math Refresher, Basic Navigational Math Prep, Basic Marine Engineering Math Prep, Communications, First Aid Preparation, Bloodborne Pathogens, Basic Culinary Skills, Hazardous Material Control and Management, Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, Heat Stress Management, Environmental Awareness, Shipboard Pest Management, and Shipboard Water Sanitation. These classes are taken online, not at the Paul Hall Center. G&H Towing Crews Honored by Coast Guard Earlier this year, Seafarers employed by G&H Towing Co. were honored in Houston by the U.S. Coast Guard for what the agency described as “their heroic efforts during Hurricane Ike.” In photo at left, from left, Coast Guard Capt. William Diehl on May 19 presents the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award to Seafarers Guy Pulliam, Robert Stevens, Antonio Gonzales and Eddie Cox. Also honored (but not pictured) were Seafarers Stephen Eickhorn, Kevin Kirk, Jason Jones, Paul Irvin and Nicholas Moraski. SIU boatmen from G&H were credited with helping prevent an allision between a freighter and the Interstate Highway 610 Bridge on Sept. 13, 2008, during the hurricane’s peak. The Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award is “the highest public recognition that the Commandant of the Coast Guard may award,” the agency noted. August 2009 Seafarers LOG 7 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:23 AM Page 8 Second Lock Offers National Security Benefits Lakes Task Force Official Describes Project as ‘Investment in America’ A second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., will be a significant investment in America’s future and an outstanding return on taxpayers’ dollars. That was the message delivered June 30 in Toledo, Ohio, by a shipping industry official at ceremonies marking groundbreaking for the coffer dams that are the first step toward construction of the lock. This project creates “the economic equivalent of a small automobile plant,” said James H.I. Weakley, 1st vice president of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest coalition ever to promote waterborne commerce on the Great Lakes. (The SIU is a member of the task force.) The project also provides “national security benefits and economic stability for our mining, manufacturing and power-producing heartland,” declared Weakley, who is also president of Lake Carriers’ Association, the trade association representing U.S.-flag vessel operators on the Great Lakes. The Soo Locks connect Lake Superior to the lower four Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Cargo movement through the locks typically tops 80 million tons a year. The major cargos are iron ore for steel production, coal for power generation, and grain for overseas export via the Seaway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers the Soo Locks the “single point of failure that could cripple Great Lakes shipping.” Seventy percent of U.S.-flag carrying capacity is restricted to the Poe Lock. If that chamber was incapacitated for even a short period of time, shipping on the Lakes would come to a virtual standstill. Weakley noted Great Lakes shipping saves its customers $3.6 billion a year in transportation costs compared to the landbased modes. “In order to save the American consumer almost $4 billion, we have to maintain and protect the system,” he said. “Over the past 15 years, proposed federal budgets spent 50 cents for each ton of cargo moved on the Great Lakes, so the return on each dollar invested is nearly $41. Due to industry’s contributions, taxpayers fund only three cents per ton of cargo. Therefore, the American consumer sees a benefit of nearly $590 for each taxpayer dollar spent on the Great Lakes navigation system.” First authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, the second Poesized lock was again authorized in 2007, this time at full federal expense. The lock is projected to cost $490 million and take as much as 10 years to build. Funding for construction of the lock itself still needs to be secured. Weakley thanked legislators who have played leading roles in advancing the lock project, including Rep. Jim Oberstar (DMinn.), Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Indiana), Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), and Michigan Senators Carl Levin (D) and Debbie Stabenow (D). Weakley stressed the economic recovery will not be complete until this project is successfully finished, and urged Great Lakes interests to get the lock funded. “It took hard work and commitment to get here. It will take Midwest might and tenacity to go the distance,” he stated. Founded in 1992, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force promotes domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes. It is the largest coalition to ever speak for the Great Lakes shipping community and draws its membership from both labor and management representing U.S.flag vessel operators, shipboard and longshore unions, port authorities, cargo shippers, terminal operators, shipyards and other Great Lakes interests. Its goals include restoring adequate funding for dredging of Great Lakes deep-draft ports and waterways; construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; protecting the Jones Act and other U.S. maritime cabotage laws and regulations; maximizing the Lakes overseas trade; and opposing exports and increased diversions of Great Lakes water. Recent Activities at Wilmington Hall Bosun Dave Floyd fires a guide line from the USNS Richard E. Byrd to the USNS Amelia Earhart for a dual underway replenishment in the Pacific on June 24. Both ships are crewed by SIU CIVMARS. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Valcarcel) USNS Amelia Earhart Crew Honors Vessel’s Namesake Capably operating the grills during a recent barbeque at the hall are Chief Cook Benjamin Feria (left in photo above) and Port Agent Jeff Turkus, and Chief Steward Christina Mateer (photo at left). Dispatcher Nick Rios (below left) applies a fresh coat of paint on the hall’s walls while two technicians install a new electronic shipping board. Members of the SIU Government Services Division recently helped honor Amelia Earhart when the dry cargo/ammunition ship named in memory of the famed aviator paused at the site where Earhart is believed to have disappeared July 2, 1937. According to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the USNS Amelia Earhart on June 23 was on its first MSC mission. “As the sun began to set over Howland Island in the Central Pacific Ocean, the ship’s crew took a quiet moment to hold a wreath-laying ceremony in the area where Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan are believed to have perished during an attempt to circumnavi- A wreath is tossed from the USNS Amelia Earhart as the ship passes the area where the famed aviator is believed to have perished. 8 Seafarers LOG gate the globe,” the agency noted. The USNS Earhart, which joined the MSC fleet in October 2008 and which is crewed in the unlicensed slots by SIU CIVMARS, passed Howland Island while en route to deliver more than 600 pallets of equipment, medical supplies and food to another Seafarers-crewed dry cargo/ammunition ship, the USNS Richard E. Byrd, as the latter ship prepared to deploy on humanitarian assistance mission Pacific Partnership 2009. During the mission planning, the USNS Earhart’s crew discovered that their course would bring them within 70 miles of Howland Island, and a slight course change provided the ship with this rare opportunity. “It’s amazing how this all came together,” said civil service mariner Michelle Stark, the USNS Earhart’s second mate and navigator. “Howland Island is remote. People work for years sailing the Pacific and never come close to passing by it. Here we are on our first mission, on the ship named after Amelia Earhart, going right by where she was last seen.” The USNS Earhart is the sixth the new Lewis and Clark-class of underway replenishment ships that deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy’s underway carrier and expeditionary strike groups. Those vessels, abbreviated as TAKE ships, are built at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The build program is expected to total 14 ships. According to MSC, “This capability allows combatant ships to stay at sea, on station and combat ready for extended periods of time.” August 2009 �55309_P01_24_X1x:January 08 7/27/2009 12:42 PM Page 9 Joining in the galley for a photo (from the left) are SA Brandy Griffin, AB Mike Rattigan, Recertified Steward Gilberto Mirador, GUDE Ali Zaidan and Bosun Hernando Bansuelo Engineer Dana Hooper (left) joins Capt. Brian O’Hanolon for this photo in the officers’ mess. A hawsepiper, O’Hanlon proudly shows off the recertified bosun credential he earned in 1989. Aboard the American Tern in Norfolk The Seafarers-crewed American Tern, operated by Osprey Ship Management, recently tied up in the Port of Norfolk, Va., following the conclusion of a voyage. While in port, members of the crew were visited by union officials including Port Agent Georg Kenny. Kenny took these photos during his visit and forwarded them to the LOG to share with the remainder of the union’s rank-and-file membership. The union-crewed American Tern rests at dockside in the Port of Norfolk, Va., following its return from a voyage. OMU Tyrone Ellis (left in photo at left) chats with Bosun Hernando Bansuelo while AB Melody Megan (above) shows off the TWIC card belonging to Norfolk Port Agent Georg Kenny. Chief Cook Daisy Taylor puts the finishing touches on one of her entrees for the next meal. AB Ron Razzuto poses for a photo following a meal in the crew mess. Norfolk Port Agent Georg Kenny (left) greets 3rd Mate Don Bridenstine aboard the union-contracted American Tern. The two are former shipmates. At Sea With Seafarers Aboard the Liberty Sun Life aboard the SIU-crewed Liberty Sun has returned to some degree of normalcy following a recent incident near the Gulf of Aden. As reported earlier in the LOG, the vessel on April 15 came under attack--but was not boarded--by pirates. Recertified Steward Fernando Guity took the photos appearing on this page to show that all is again well aboard the vessel (operated by Liberty Maritime) in the aftermath of the incident. Clockwise starting at far left, AB Osnan Arriola, DEU Hector Guity and Recertified Steward Fernando Guity prepare a fresh catch of fish for cooking. In the next three photos, crew members take breaks from their duties to pose for photos. Included are the dayman, Arriola and SA Wilmer Alvarez, and two other watchstanders. In photo at immediate left, the catch is ready for cooking. The vessel was en route to Mombasa, Kenya, when these photos were taken. August 2009 Seafarers LOG 9 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 10 ABOARD THE WRIGHT – Port Agent Elizabeth Brown and Bosun Tom Moore are pictured on the Wright in Baltimore. The Crowleyoperated vessel is part of the U.S. Ready Reserve Force and is dedicated to U.S. Marine Corps aviation logistics support. WEST COAST VP IN GUAM – This snapshot was taken June 25 aboard the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus in Guam. SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone (seated third from left) and Guam Port Agent John Hoskins (seated far right) serviced the vessel, which is operated by American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) for the U.S. Military Sealift Command. Pictured from left to right are (front) Chief Steward Gregory Williams, Electrician Michael Rueter, Marrone, AB Ricardo Salazar, SA Majed Jahamee, Hoskins, (standing) AB Jose Radona, SA Fahti Mohsin, AB Lloyd LaBeach, Pumpman Richard Digman, Bosun William Buchner, GUDE Mohamed Salim, QMED Jasper McGirt, Storekeeper Paul Conway, AB Victor Sahagon and AB Ona Whitamore. At Sea & Ashore With the SIU SEAFARER’S SON GRADUATES – AB Omar Almaklani (left) congratulates his son Balaid Almaklani on Balaid’s recent graduation from high school in Dearborn, Michigan. Other family members also were on hand to celebrate the occasion. Omar most recently shipped aboard the North Star. PATRIOT DOCKS IN BALTIMORE – Bosun Shannon Smith (right in photo at right) and AB Gil Villena (left) help keep things moving aboard the Patriot during a recent stop in Baltimore. Shown in the photo above are fellow crew members OMU Therman Ames, OMU Kevin Tyson and OMU Archie Eldridge. The vessel is operated by Interocean American Shipping. INDEPENDENCE DAY ON OBREGON – Chief Steward Patrick Helton notes that fellow crew members aboard Waterman’s SS Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon celebrated the Fourth of July with a barbeque provided by the steward department. Mariners enjoyed the feast aboard the prepositioning ship with a menu that included fresh-baked bread, steak, shrimp, grilled sausage, corn on the cob, stuffed eggs, fruit salad and more. Chief Cook Shaibi (left) and Asst. Cook/Utility Borja watch the shrimp brochettes cooking over the charcoal fire. From left, SA Alfredo Martinez Sabio, Chief Cook Tawfiq Shaibi, SA Ali Munasa, Chief Steward Patrick Helton and Asst. Cook/Utility Milton Borja are ready to welcome fellow crew members to dinner. The Independence Day meal gets favorable reviews (photo at left and the one above). 10 Seafarers LOG August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 11 Seafarers were among the hundreds of AFL-CIO-affiliated union members who rallied with Wal-mart workers July 1 in Miami. Florida Seafarers Support Employee Free Choice Act Members Rally with Wal-mart Workers in Miami gave personal accounts of rallies he participated in during the old days with the late SIU President Paul Hall.” In addition to Sellan, the SIU delegation (which included members of the United Industrial Workers) partly consisted of Manes Sainvil, Brian Deans, Eloy Gutierrez, Patrick Milton, Carlos Taylor, Florian Turcios, Cesar Collantes, Paul Altenon, Hipolita Rochez, Miguel Santos, David Marquez, Santos Olivera, Alyxi Alexander, Elena Lee, Fabian Palacios, Rudy Puerto and Lorenzo Alvarez. Wal-mart in recent months reportedly has joined forces with other large companies in South Florida—including Home Depot, McDonald’s, Lowes and others—to defeat Seafarers on July 1 joined hundreds of other AFL-CIO-affiliated union members in South Florida as they rallied alongside Walmart workers during an Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) demonstration at one of the company’s Miami-based Superstores. The workers, some recently fired and others who are still employed by the retail giant, rallied for fairness and democracy in the workplace. Specifically, they called for an end to the company’s funding of anti-worker groups who are out to kill the EFCA, a prolabor bill currently before the U.S. Congress. According to SIU Safety Director Kevin Marchand, the SIU turnout was in response to a memo issued by Fred Frost, president of the South Florida AFL-CIO, soliciting the union’s support in the rally. Within two hours of receiving the request, Marchand said that more than 20 SIU members had assembled in the Port Everglades hall to prepare signs for the event. “The members were pumped up as they loaded into cars and drove 30 miles south to the rally site,” Marchand said. “For some, it was their first rally and they didn’t know what to expect. “But many of the older members gladly led the way,” he continued. “One such member is Recertified Steward Pedro Sellan, who SIU Safety Director Kevin Marchand (left) and Lorenzo Alvarez await the start of the rally. Hipolita Rochez, Florian Turcios, Brian Deans, Elena Lee, David Marquez and Alvarez make their way through the rally route. Listening attentively to one of the event’s speakers are SIU members Santos Olivera, David Marquez, Carlos Taylor, Cesar Collantes, Alvarez and Euenio Lopez. August 2009 the EFCA. Published reports also say that the company repeatedly has harassed and intimidated its workers. Others have been interrogated and fired for both siding with unions and signing pledge cards to support them. “For years, Wal-mart workers have called for a voice in their workplace, only to be told their stores could be closed and their jobs eliminated,” said Frost. “It’s time for the harassment and intimidation to stop and let these workers have a voice on the job so that they can negotiate for better wages, health care and working conditions. “Wal-mart is the largest private employer and most profitable in America, and made nearly $13.5 billion in profits last year,” Frost continued. “…It is unconscionable to think, with the record profits that Wal-mart is making, that their employees continue to make poverty-level wages and over half of their 4 million workers nationwide are priced out of getting health care benefits.” As reported earlier in the LOG, the EFCA (H.R. 1409, S. 560) is supported by a broad bipartisan coalition of legislators in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. If enacted, the measure would help enable working people to bargain for better benefits, wages and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union. It would: ■ Remove current obstacles to employees who want collective bargaining. ■ Guarantee that workers who can choose collective bargaining are able to achieve a contract. ■ Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. Members of the Seafaerers delegation included (kneeing left to right) Patrick Milton, Florian Turcios, David Marquez, Cesar Collantes, (second row) Carlos Taylor, Eloy Gutierrez, Lorenzo, Alyxi Alexander, Manes Sainvil, Miguel Santos, Alfredo Mendoza, (back row) Paul Altenon, Brian Deans and Euenio Lopez. Altogether, more than 20 rankand-file members participated in the rally. Seafarers LOG 11 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 12 Thousands Rally in D.C. for Health Care Reform M ore than 10,000 workers and families from around America recently marched on Capitol Hill chanting, “We want health care!” It was a rallying cry for action from Congress and the Obama administration. The demonstration, which was attended by SIU members, took place June 25 and was sponsored by the AFL-CIO’s affiliated group Health Care for America Now. It included an afternoon of town-hall-style meetings with various congressional members giving rankand-file union members the opportunity to sound off about their experiences with the health care system. The initial rally featured speakers from the Senate and House and from the labor movement. Actress Edie Falco also addressed the crowd, as did lesser-known individuals who nevertheless offered compelling stories reflecting the nation’s flawed health insurance system. Many described employers cutting health care benefits or drastically increasing payments required by workers to maintain coverage and see a doctor. Some recalled forgoing family health care because they couldn’t afford it, while others said insurance companies denied them coverage because of high costs. AFL-CIO studies show that about 77 percent of uninsured Americans forgo medical treatment when they are sick and even 31 percent of insured Americans skipped doctor-recommended tests, treatments or follow-up visits due to cost. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker expressed confidence that America can move from an unsustainable health care system to one that protects families and covers everyone. “Health care without cost control will not work,” she said. “Health care without a quality public option to lower costs is totally unacceptable.” New York Sen. Chuck Schumer noted, “Health care that covers everyone and includes a strong public option as a choice for consumers won’t be easy. It’s a fight that has been fought for decades against powerful interests. The strong national support for health care reform, though, is a sign that now is the time.” Schumer pointed to the Capitol behind him and said, “We can’t do this alone. We need to do this together. We need all of you to hold everybody in that building’s feet to the fire.” Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean got a zinger in at opponents who are claiming a public health care option plan would lead to socialized medicine. “You know who has socialized medicine in this country? Everyone over 65 and everybody in Congress,” Dean said. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said despite opposition from the insurance companies that control health care, citizens can improve the system. “Special interests and the health insurance industry will not hijack this process. We must have and we will have a strong public option,” she stated. Pennsylvania Rep. Allyson Schwartz said the nation needs health care reform that controls costs to recover from today’s economic crisis. “This is such an important issue for all of us. It’s always been a moral responsibility, but it’s increasingly an economic imperative,” Schwartz said. Falco said she spoke from experience because she is a breast cancer survivor. “I’m here because I’ve traveled through the health care system and there are some holes,” she noted. “I’m here because I care about the people in this country and I know that we can do better, that we must do better.” U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker is confident a health care solution for American families will be reached. Falco added that she went without h care coverage for many years. An estim million Americans are without coverag President Barack Obama, with strong b from organized labor, has vowed to see that everyone health benefits eventually provided to all. “I work in a business where they tak care of you if you are working,” Falco ued. “It’s bad enough the emotional im not having a job, but to get sick on top and worry every day that your symptom not getting better, figuring out what you going to have to do without so you can a doctor’s visit – I am far more familia that than I am with my situation these l number of years.” Other rally speakers included AFSC President Gerald McEntee of CWA Pre Larry Cohen. The SIU supports the AFL-CIO’s he care campaign, with goals that include ling escalating, unreasonable costs; ens that quality health care is available to a ing every family the opportunity for pr care; and making certain that employer sored health care isn’t taxed. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N Rally speaker and cancer survivor Edie Falco, formerly of the television program “The Sopranos,” notes that she spent years without medical coverage. Union members came from all across the nation to participate in the rall The media also turned out in strong numbers to cover the event. 12 Seafarers LOG Organized labor wants to make certain that employer-sponsored health August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 13 rm out health estimated 46 verage; ong backing o see to it tually are ey take great alco continal impact of n top of that, mptoms are at you’re u can afford miliar with hese last AFSCME A President O’s health lude controls; ensuring e to all; givor preventive loyer-spon- Working families converged on the Capitol June 25 to demand good affordable health care for all. (D-N.Y.) Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is an outspoken supporter of quality health care for workers. e rally. Gerald McEntee AFSCME President Members of unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department display signs prior to the demonstration. ealth care isn’t taxed. August 2009 A reporter interviews one of the rally participants. Students from the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center receive instructions from Seafarer Daniel Duncan (second from right), who serves as president of the Northern Virginia Area Labor Federation. Seafarers LOG 13 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 14 Union Plus—helping union families get ahead. Scholarships Helping SIU families realize their dreams G oing back to school? Sending your children to college? Learn more about the scholarship opportunities available to you as an SIU member. Union Plus supports working families by providing these scholarships to help you focus on your studies instead of your tuition bill. UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP •Awards ranging from $500 to $4,000 are available to students attending two-year and four-year colleges, recognized technical or trade schools, and graduate schools •Current and retired union members, their spouses and dependent children are eligible •Applications are available in September. To apply, just download an application at UnionPlus.org/Scholarship and return it by January 31. UNION LEADERS OF THE UNION PLUS NATIONAL FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP LABOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP •Helping more women and people of color pursue union career goals and enhance leadership skills •Annual awards up to $3,000 to cover the cost of continuing education or training •To be applied toward the completion of an accredited degree, coursework or seminar at an accredited educational institution •Applications are available in January. To apply, just download an application at UnionPlus.org/ Scholarship and return it by May 31 •A total of $25,000 is awarded each to year to help union members attend the world’s only university dedicated to labor education •Take classes at your own pace and schedule with a unique program tailor-made for full-time working men and women •Please contact Tracie Sumner in the Office of Student Finance at the National Labor College at 301-628-4253 or email tsumner@nlc.edu for more information For details about all the scholarship opportunities available to union members, visit UnionPlus.org/Scholarship SIU SCHOLARSHIP 07/09 14 Seafarers LOG August 2009 �55309_P01_24x:January 08 7/24/2009 8:17 PM Page 15 Mariner Receives Credentials Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea June 16, 2009 - July 15, 2009 Port SIU Safety Director Al-Omari (right) presents Seafarer Tony Graves with his inland book. Graves sails as a mate aboard the Crowley tug Scout. Personal Rick Petrie wants to be contacted by Lonnie Evans from the Kansas City area. Petrie may be reached at (316) 8339689. September & October 2009 Membership Meetings Piney Point.......... Tuesday, September 8*, Monday, October 5 Algonac ................................. Friday: September 11, October 9 Baltimore...........................Thursday: September 10, October 8 Guam...............................Thursday: September 24, October 22 Honolulu...............................Friday: September 18, October 16 Houston.............Monday: September 14, Tuesday, October 13* Jacksonville.......................Thursday: September 10, October 8 Joliet................................Thursday: September 17, October 15 Mobile..........................Wednesday: September 16, October 14 New Orleans..........................Tuesday: September 15, October 13 New York..............................Tuesday: September 8, October 6 Norfolk............................. Thursday: September 10, October 8 Oakland ...........................Thursday: September 17, October 15 Philadelphia......................Wednesday: September 9, October 7 Port Everglades ...............Thursday: September 17, October 15 San Juan ............................Thursday: September 10, October 8 St. Louis ...............................Friday: September 18, October 16 Tacoma.................................Friday: September 25, October 23 Wilmington............................Monday: September 21, October 19 *Piney Point change created by Labor Day holiday *Houston change created by Columbus Day holiday Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. August 2009 Total Registered Class A Class B Class 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 TOTAL 18 0 6 19 3 8 39 33 4 15 19 43 21 28 5 1 7 40 0 20 329 9 4 7 15 3 9 35 21 14 7 9 26 28 15 4 6 9 18 9 29 277 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 TOTAL 10 0 4 5 0 7 22 16 3 7 9 18 9 10 4 4 6 13 1 8 156 3 1 2 12 2 3 14 19 2 9 1 12 24 9 4 2 4 8 2 9 142 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 TOTAL 1 0 3 8 2 8 19 17 2 4 9 24 15 20 2 4 2 16 0 21 177 4 0 1 4 2 2 10 6 3 3 1 10 12 3 1 2 3 7 1 1 76 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 TOTAL Total All Departments: 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 1 1 1 7 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 6 34 696 17 1 6 5 3 7 22 30 10 3 4 23 10 19 3 7 0 18 0 17 205 700 Total Shipped Class A Class B Class C Deck Department 11 6 0 2 6 4 6 9 3 1 7 4 37 27 22 21 3 5 10 1 8 4 27 13 12 17 16 10 1 6 1 3 5 8 24 14 3 3 21 18 223 176 Engine Department 3 2 3 0 0 1 0 5 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 1 5 5 1 11 11 1 6 17 1 1 2 0 9 3 0 4 3 3 10 3 1 10 14 3 5 7 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 4 8 1 9 12 1 0 4 2 8 4 18 95 104 Steward Department 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 8 6 2 1 0 1 6 0 0 17 6 0 8 7 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 3 2 0 23 3 1 9 6 1 14 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 11 4 0 1 0 3 22 2 12 131 49 Entry Department 4 2 7 1 0 2 5 0 2 11 0 3 1 0 3 1 2 3 8 2 13 9 3 7 1 1 5 2 0 1 1 0 1 6 8 13 17 1 9 6 3 14 1 0 0 27 0 7 1 0 0 1 0 10 1 0 0 8 0 15 112 22 115 181 471 444 6 1 0 5 1 0 0 3 2 0 0 3 6 2 0 4 1 1 1 3 39 Trip Reliefs Registered On Beach Class A Class B Class C 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 4 0 3 0 2 23 1 0 2 4 0 3 20 12 0 5 5 18 8 13 1 0 4 14 0 8 118 19 2 4 27 4 13 78 69 3 32 35 90 29 47 14 1 10 63 1 54 595 12 6 5 25 8 13 64 49 11 16 10 33 32 25 7 7 16 51 9 41 440 4 0 0 12 2 0 10 6 1 1 5 10 17 4 1 1 1 4 1 18 98 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 5 1 6 3 4 5 2 0 0 6 8 2 2 55 5 0 7 15 2 18 38 48 1 11 13 36 13 25 3 3 10 23 2 21 294 4 2 2 15 4 6 30 28 1 11 5 28 34 15 4 3 7 30 3 19 251 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 5 5 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 25 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 4 0 3 11 5 0 0 1 12 3 7 0 1 2 9 0 9 68 0 0 3 13 4 18 43 31 2 13 13 31 17 41 3 5 2 20 2 61 322 4 2 0 10 2 11 19 9 3 4 4 17 18 8 0 1 2 10 2 6 132 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 14 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 19 1 2 0 1 37 76 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 11 252 2 0 0 0 0 7 5 6 0 1 4 15 1 5 0 0 0 9 0 13 68 1,279 23 1 6 10 2 12 54 50 5 6 11 57 32 28 2 8 1 34 0 23 365 1,188 8 1 5 18 1 3 24 21 0 7 3 15 29 17 2 23 3 6 1 28 215 352 Seafarers LOG 15 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:24 AM Page 16 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 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 Editor’s note: This month’s Inquiring Seafarer question was posed to members at the Honolulu union hall. Question: What was your most memorable voyage, and what made it so? Chief Cook Shawn P. Canon My most memorable voyage was the very first time sailing. It was in 1980, for American Hawaii, the SS Oceanic Independence. We were leaving Kawasaki and Osaka, Japan. I remember it vividly after all these years. We were crossing the Sea of Japan and it was very rough. There were 20foot-plus waves, at least, like an old-time cartoon. I’ll never forget how enormous those waves were. Finally coming back home to Hawaii was a great feeling of relief. Because of this experience, I’ve had great respect for the Seven Seas all these years. I’ve been sailing ever since and have been to a lot of different countries, but that first voyage stuck with me. Bosun Tar Ahmed The Westward Venture. We went overseas into the Swiss Canal and along the coast we had some rough seas. This was in 2004 and I was sailing as an AB. I joined the union in 1987 but this was the first time I went in that direction. The unlicensed crew extinguished a couple of fires. They did well. The fires were not anybody’s fault and they got put out. I was proud of the unlicensed crew. It was scary but it got situated. Another memorable voyage was the first time I sailed as a bosun – got my feet wet, as they say. I took responsibility and did the best I could. That was on one of the car carriers, after the year 2000. QMED Jason Powell I would have to say it was on a Dyn Marine ship, the USNS Littlehales. I joined the ship in Italy, went to Croatia and then to Rota, Spain, and then Cape Verde and back to Rota again. Cape Verde was by far the most fun I ever had ashore. We were on a survey vessel and were at sea for 30 days. When we hit shore, we had five to seven days as the (research) team downloaded their information from the mission. I was a wiper at the time. They pretty much knocked you off when your work was done and let you go ashore. I checked out the local culture, and me and a [fellow crew member] jumped on a local bus and rode around town for four or five hours. We got to see everything. This was around the year 2003. STOS Joseph Barnes They’ve all offered a measure of enjoyment and education, but I’d have to say being a wiper on the Dodge Island during the Christmas holidays in 2002-2003. It was a dredge ship, working offshore. I enjoyed the learning experiences and being given a certain amount of responsibility. It was my first time at sea and I fell in love with the profession. I enjoyed the feeling of having a task, completing it, and doing it to your best ability without intervention. We sailed off of Jupiter, Florida. It was a two-week relief. OMU Butch Lumansoc When the Independence left the island, I got to ride on its last voyage. Deck and engine personnel were on board and the vessel was going to San Francisco to get laid up. It was in 2001. I was the wiper at that time. It was sad after all those years. That’s the last cruise ship I ever rode on. Another memorable voyage – I forget the year – I was working for Sealift (aboard the MV Merlin) and we rescued someone in the Mediterranean. We rescued the second mate, who was from Egypt. He was on a cargo ship carrying cement. I think it was around 2004. (Editor’s note: The rescue took place in January 2004. The second mate was the lone survivor from the Greek-owned MV Kephi, which sank due to gale-force winds and extremely rough seas.) 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 Submitted by Recertified Steward Louella Sproul, this photo was taken in 1973 aboard the SS Monterey during a South Pacific cruise. It shows “four waitresses taking a break between serving meals,” she noted. Pictured from left to right are Sandra, Sproul, Barbara Seeger and Sheri Tapenan. Louella is still an active SIU member, based in Oakland, Calif. She remembers the Monterey voyages as having been “so much fun. We had great barbeques on the fantail when our work was done. We went to the South Pacific and Alaska.” Standing in the background (toward the left, at the rail) is Angela Alioto, a civil rights attorney and former San Francisco supervisor. 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 August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM 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 VICTOR ACEVEDO Brother Victor Acevedo, 66, became an SIU member in 1970. His first ship was the Steel Architect; his last the Maersk Virginia. Brother Acevedo attended classes on numerous occasions at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. The steward department member lives in Puerto Rico. ROBERT BROWN Brother Robert Brown, 66, joined the union in 1990 while in the port of Seattle. He initially sailed on the USNS Silas Bent. Brother Brown was born in Denver and shipped in the deck department. He visited the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., on two occasions to upgrade his skills. Brother Brown’s final ship was the Horizon Anchorage. He resides in Port Angeles, Wash. JOSE CABALLERO Brother Jose Caballero, 52, donned the SIU colors in 1979. He originally sailed aboard the Overseas Natalie. Brother Caballero upgraded frequently at the union-affiliated school. He was a member of the deck department. Brother Caballero most recently sailed on the Santa Cruz. He is a resident of his native state, New York. LEOPOLDO DIAZ Brother Leopoldo Diaz, 65, started sailing with the Seafarers in 1973 while in the port of New York. His first voyage was aboard the Delta Peru. Brother Diaz, who sailed in the steward department, was born in Puerto Rico. He often took advantage of educational opportunities available at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Diaz was last employed on the Horizon Producer. He makes his home in Bronx, N.Y. RENATO MIGUEL Brother Renato Miguel, 65, joined the SIU ranks in 1979. His earliest trip to sea was on the Charleston. Brother Miguel was born in the Philippines and sailed in August 2009 the deck department. His final voyage was aboard the Atlantic. In 2000 and 2001, Brother Miguel enhanced his seafaring abilities at the Paul Hall Center. He resides in Jersey City, N.J. sions he attended classes at the Paul Hall Center to improve his seafaring skills. Brother Sieggreen’s final trip was aboard the Voyager. He continues to make his home in Michigan. ROBERT MILLER Brother Robert Miller, 66, became a union member in 1988 while in the port of Honolulu. His first vessel was the Independence. Brother Miller upgraded on numerous occasions at the SIU-affiliated maritime training center. The steward department member was born in Washington State. Brother Miller’s most recent trip was on the Horizon Spirit. He settled in Phoenix. INLAND RUDOLPH ODOM Brother Rudolph Odom, 65, began sailing with the SIU in 1964. He originally sailed aboard a Waterman Steamship Corporation vessel as a member of the engine department. Brother Odom was born in Alabama. His last trip was with Michigan Tankers Inc. Brother Odom lives in Mobile, Ala. EMANUEL PAUL Brother Emanuel Paul, 71, signed on with the Seafarers in 1997 while in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. His first voyage was on the Overseas Joyce. Brother Paul frequently enhanced his skills at the union-affiliated school. He was born in the West Indies and sailed in the engine department. Brother Paul most recently worked with Interocean American Shipping Corporation. He is now a resident of Lauderhill, Fla. WILLIAM SIEGGREEN Brother William Sieggreen, 65, donned the SIU colors in 1979. He first sailed on the Tex, where he worked in the deck department. Brother Sieggreen is a Michigan native. On two occa- MARK BAILEY Brother Mark Bailey, 56, joined the union in 1978, initially sailing on a Dixie Carriers vessel. He often upgraded at the Piney Point school. Brother Bailey was born in Miami and worked in the deck department. His most recent trip was with Crowley Towing & Transportation of Jacksonville. Brother Bailey calls Satsuma, Fla., home. ROBERT BURNS Brother Robert Burns, 62, became an SIU member in 1968, originally sailing with Interstate Oil Transportation Company. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Burns was last employed aboard an OSG Ship Management vessel. He lives in West Deptford, N.J. PATRICK DOLLARD Brother Patrick Dollard, 57, was born in New York. He started sailing with the union in 1973. Brother Dollard’s earliest trip was aboard a Mariner Towing vessel. The deck department member upgraded at the Piney Point school on two occasions. Brother Dollard’s final ship was the Dodge Island. He resides in Uncasville, Conn. RICHARD FOLEY Brother Richard Foley, 70, signed on with the Seafarers in 2001 while in the port of New York. His first ship was the Cape Jacob. Brother Foley was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He attended classes often to enhance his skills. Brother Foley shipped in the deck department. He most recently worked with Crowley Towing & Transportation of Jacksonville. Brother Foley is a resident of Ruskin, Fla. . Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG 1940 The constitution adopted in 1939 provided for the establishment of two separate districts: the Atlantic District and the Gulf District, with two separate headquarters, one in New York and one in New Orleans, and two separate bookkeeping and financial systems. The membership of the two districts, in a 30-day referendum vote, voted overwhelmingly to amalgamate the two districts. The amalgamation resolution was adopted in August 1940 and provides that the headquarters of the Atlantic and Gulf District will be in Washington, D.C., until the next election, and that all of the financial and bookkeeping work shall be done in that office. ROBERT HEARN Brother Robert Hearn, 66, joined the SIU in 1967 while in the port of Philadelphia. His initial voyage was on a vessel operated by Graham Transportation Company. Brother Hearn was born in Pennsylvania. His final trip was with Interstate Oil Transportation Company. Brother Hearn settled in Cambridge, Md. NATIONAL MARITIME UNION SAMUEL COX Brother Samuel Cox, 73, donned the NMU colors in 1995, initially shipping from the port of Newark, N.J. The steward department member was born in Guyana. Brother Cox’s first ship was the Green Lake; his last was the Alliance St. Louis. He lives in Bronx, N.Y. an across-the-board 20 percent increase in wages, OT and penalty rates, all retroactive to July 1. 1966 The Vietnam War has put great pressure on the existing SIU manpower, but the SIU has always been able to provide a pool of manpower to meet sudden crises, such as the Vietnam callup. The breakout of vessels from the reserve fleet has meant that more jobs are available to SIU men and the union has effectively filled them. This Month In SIU History 1957 Unable to make any headway in wage talks with the Bull Line after two months of negotiations, the SIU struck the company at its Brooklyn terminal on Monday, August 19. The four-ship installation has been tied up tight ever since by a 24-hour picket line manned by Seafarers. Talks with Bull Line reached an impasse a few days before the strike call over demands for parity with the scale elsewhere in the country on overtime and penalty rates plus 1991 The complex embodying the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md., has been named the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education as a result of action taken by the institution’s board of trustees. The dedication of the Paul Hall Center was marked with a simple ceremony on August 20, the anniversary date of the birth of the late president of the SIU. In describing the naming of the Piney Point center, Herbert Brand, chairman of the Transportation Institute and master of ceremonies for the event, called it “more than a dedication – it is an act of remembrance” for the man who headed the SIU from 1947 until his death in 1980. Seafarers LOG 17 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM Page 18 Final Depar tures DEEP SEA RALPH ALEXANDER Pensioner Ralph Alexander, 72, died April 24. Brother Alexander signed on with the SIU in 1963. He initially shipped on the Marore in the steward department. Brother Alexander’s final voyage was aboard the Horizon Tacoma. He became a pensioner in 2001. Brother Alexander was a resident of his native state, North Carolina. JOSEPH DELISE Pensioner Joseph Delise, 86, passed away April 22. Brother Delise became a Seafarer in 1951 in the port of New York. The steward department member was born in New York. Brother Delise’s first ship was the French Creek; his last was the Carolina. He went on pension in 1992 and called West Babylon, N.Y., home. GEORGE FINKLEA Pensioner George Finklea, 90, died April 19. Brother Finklea joined the SIU in 1947 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. He originally worked on the Del Sud as a member of the deck department. Brother Finklea was born in Columbia, S.C. Prior to his retirement in 1983, he sailed aboard the Charleston. Brother Finklea settled in Hinton, W.Va. FRANK KELLER Pensioner Frank Keller, 83, passed away March 23. Brother Keller started sailing with the union in 1944. He was born in Newark, N.J. Brother Keller’s earliest trip was on the Steel Chemist. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Keller most recently worked aboard the Adventure. He retired in 1985 and lived in St. Cloud, Fla. JOHN KENNEDY Pensioner John Kennedy, 93, died March 27. Brother Kennedy, a 18 Seafarers LOG member of the steward department, began shipping with the Seafarers in 1944 from the port of New Orleans. His first trip was on a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Brother Kennedy was born in Alabama. He was last employed aboard the Cove Trader. Brother Kennedy started collecting his retirement compensation in 1984. He continued to reside in his native state. PETER KRUPINSKI Pensioner Peter Krupinski, 83, passed away May 15. Brother Krupinski began his SIU sailing career in 1950 while in the port of New York. He originally shipped on the Seamar. Brother Krupinski was born in New Jersey and worked in the deck department. His final voyage took place aboard the Horizon Producer. Brother Krupinski started receiving his pension in 1988. He made his home in Fairfield Township, N.J. EARL MCNAB Pensioner Earl McNab, 87, died March 14. Brother McNab joined the union in 1951, initially shipping from the port of New York. His first trip was on the Oremar. Brother McNab was a member of the deck department. He was born in Honduras. Before retiring in 1976, Brother McNab sailed aboard the Humacao. He called Miami Lakes, Fla., home. HARRY MEREDITH Pensioner Harry Meredith, 83, passed away May 14. Brother Meredith first donned the SIU colors in 1960 while in the port of New York. His earliest trip to sea was on the Bradford Island. Brother Meredith worked in the engine department. His last ship was the Overseas Ohio. Brother Meredith retired in 1991. He was born in McKeesport, Pa., but called Houston, Texas, home. DAVID OSTERDOCK Brother David Osterdock, 53, died March 16. Brother Osterdock was born in Flora, Ill. He joined the union in 1995. During his seafaring career, Brother Osterdock was employed on vessels including the Marine Chemist and the Delaware Trader. The engine department member was a resident of Richmond, Texas. JOHN OWEN Pensioner John Owen, 82, passed away March 26. Brother Owen became a Seafarer in 1960 while in the port of New York. He originally sailed aboard the Steel Chemist as a member of the deck department. Brother Owen was born in England. His last voyage was on the Freedom. Brother Owen started receiving his pension in 1991 and settled in Maineville, Ohio. JAMES PORTER Pensioner James Porter, 59, died April 17. Brother Porter signed on with the SIU in 1969. One of his earliest voyages took place on the Rob Gray. He was born in Georgia and shipped in the deck department. Brother Porter most recently worked aboard the El Yunque. He started collecting his retirement compensation in 2004. Brother Porter resided in Jacksonville, Fla. FRANKLIN REID, JR. Pensioner Franklin Reid, Jr., 94, passed away April 1. Brother Reid joined the union in 1943. He initially sailed with Waterman Steamship Corporation as a member of the engine department. Brother Reid’s final trip was on the Yukon. He was born in Jacksonville, Fla., but made his home in Tampa. Brother Reid went on pension in 1976. NICOLA TAGLIAMBURIS Pensioner Nicola Tagliamburis, 83, died April 24. Brother Tagliamburis began his SIU career in 1961. His first voyage was aboard the Tam Guilden. The enginedepartment member was born in Greece. Brother Tagliamburis’ final trip was on the Long Lines. He retired in 1991 and lived in Baltimore. GEORGE TAYLOR Pensioner George Taylor, 86, passed away April 12. Brother Taylor started sailing with the union in 1969 from the port of Seattle. His first ship was the Trans Oneida; his last was the LNG Virgo. Brother Taylor was a Virginia native and worked in the steward department. He became a pensioner in 1994 and settled in Henrico, Va. JOSE TUMALE Pensioner Jose Tumale, 76, died March 26. Brother Tumale first donned the SIU colors in 1980 while in Honolulu. His earliest trip was aboard the Oceanic Independence. Brother Tumale was born in the Philippines and sailed in the steward department. Before his retirement in 2001, he worked on the Independence. Brother Tumale called Las Vegas home. ALEJANDRO VEGA Pensioner Alejandro Vega, 90, passed away March 26. Brother Vega began shipping with the Marine Cooks & Stewards in 1957 while in the port of San Francisco. He sailed on vessels such as the President Polk and the President Monroe. Brother Vega started receiving his retirement compensation in 1986. DAVID WILEY Brother David Wiley, 52, died March 24. He signed on with the union in 2006 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Wiley originally sailed on the TSgt. John Chapman. He worked in both the deck and engine departments. Brother Wiley’s most recent voyage was aboard the Independence. He was born in Florida but made his home in Norfolk. INLAND LUIS BONILLA Pensioner Luis Bonilla, 80, passed away April 25. Brother Bonilla was born in Puerto Rico. He joined the SIU in 1976. For the duration of his career, Brother Bonilla shipped with Crowley Puerto Rico Service. He was a member of the steward department. Brother Bonilla went on pension in 1994 and continued to reside in Puerto Rico. JOSEPH CATHERMAN Pensioner Joseph Catherman, 78, died April 22. Brother Catherman first donned the SIU colors in 1967 while in the port of Philadelphia. He initially sailed on the Penn Sailor as a member of the deck department. Brother Catherman’s last trip to sea was with Moran Towing of Philadelphia. He retired in 1989 and settled in Springfield, Pa. GREAT LAKES RUDOLPH JADRICH Pensioner Rudolph Jadrich, 82, passed away Feb. 3. Brother Jadrich became a Seafarer in 1961. He primarily worked aboard vessels operated by Great Lakes Towing Corporation. Brother Jadrich was a deck department member. He was a resident of Chicago and started collecting his retirement compensation in 1988. WALTER LENTZ Pensioner Walter Lentz, 88, passed away April 15. Brother Lentz joined the union in 1953. He was employed with Michigan Interstate Railway and Erie Lackawanna Railroad Company during his career. Brother Lentz sailed in the deck department of both the inland and Great Lakes divisions. He retired in 1982. Brother Lentz continued to live in his native state of Michigan. August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings CHARGER (Maersk Line, Limited), June 13 – Chairman Gerry A. Gianan, Secretary Donald R. Irvine, Educational Director Mark Campbell, Deck Delegate Samuel H. Lampshire, Engine Delegate Orlando B. Guzman, Steward Delegate Victor J. Wolf. Chairman asked departing mariners to leave cabins clean for arriving crew. He also recommended they have TWIC cards with them at all ports when leaving ship. Secretary urged crew to check expiration dates on necessary seafaring documents. No beefs or disputed OT reported. It was reported that a new refrigerator was needed for crew messhall. HORIZON EAGLE (Horizon Lines), June 4 – Chairman Darryl G. Smith, Secretary Rang V. Nguyen, Educational Director Matthew P. Ditullio, Deck Delegate Stanley W. Parker, Engine Delegate Prentiss R. Smith, Steward Delegate Mohamed M. Wasel. Chainman discussed ship’s itinerary with crew. He announced payoff at sea June 5 and Coast Guard inspection on June 7 upon arrival in Los Angeles. Secretary encouraged mariners to contribute to SPAD (Seafarers Political Activity Donation). Educational director advised all mariners to attend classes at the SIU-affiliated training center and get TWIC cards ASAP. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made for new television remote. Members were asked not to dump trash in laundry room and to separate trash from plastic. Vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. Next ports: Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. HORIZON HAWK (Horizon Lines), June 8 – Chairman David J. Garoutte, Secretary Mark V. Cabasag, Educational Director Michael J. Wells, Deck Delegate Ramon Duran, Engine Delegate Michael S. Kirby, Steward Delegate Nasser Ahmed. Chairman thanked crew for a safe and successful voyage and reminded them to keep documents up-to-date. Secretary asked those getting off vessel to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen. Educational director discussed the importance of enhancing seafaring abilities at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer noted $285 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman thanked steward department for excellent food. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), June 14 – Chairman August 2009 Tony Mercado, Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty, Educational Director Thomas M. Flynn, Deck Delegate Brian Corbett, Engine Delegate Wilmer McCants. Bosun stated payoff would take place June 14 upon arrival in Elizabeth, N.J. He expressed gratitude to steward department for a great BBQ. Chairman reported he would contact patrolman concerning time off in port. Educational director advised everyone to read the Seafarers LOG for information about TWIC card including numbers to call. Treasurer reported $2,450 in ship’s fund. Beefs reported in the deck and engine departments; no disputed OT. Crew commented on shipping rules and how they relate to various work. Suggestions were made to increase pension benefits. Crew requested to ratify new contracts by different method. New dryer needed in crew laundry and new water fountain needed in crew lounge. Clarification requested pertaining to required time for 42-day vacation. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J., San Juan, P.R., and Jacksonville, Fla. 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. With Seafarers Aboard The USNS Fisher SIU Safety Director Abdul Al-Omari recently serviced the Seafarers-crewed USNS Fisher while the vessel was docked in San Diego, Calif. In photo above, members of the crew break from their normal duties to pose for this snapshot. Pictured (in no particular order) are Bosun Paul Gottschlins, AB Fernando Oyao, STOS John Yi, QMED Louis Garcia, Chief Cook Joe Pittman, Steward Leslie Davis and Storekeeper Marcus Cunningham. USNS Fisher Capt. Bruce Kareger (left in photo at left) chats with Port Engineer Tim Burka while Davis (left in photo below) and Pittmann put the finishing touches on a meal for the crew. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), June 28 – Chairman Scott A. Heginbotham, Secretary Fausto D. Arando, Engine Delegate Ronald F. Lukacs. Chairman announced payoff in Galveston, Texas, on July 4. Mariners were reminded to get TWIC cards ASAP and renew or upgrade z-cards (merchant mariner credentials). Secretary praised wiper and unlicensed apprentice for their hard work. Educational director urged mariners to take advantage of Piney Point school to enhance their skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to lower seatime requirements for pension benefits. Next port: Galveston, Texas. MAERSK KENTUCKY (Maersk Line, Limited), June 23 – Chairman William M. Richards Jr., Secretary Basil Waldron, Educational Director Timothy E. Pillsworth, Deck Delegate Mian Ahmad. Chairman requested information on imminent danger pay and a copy of contract for crew use. No beefs; disputed OT reported in steward department. Members would like reimbursement for extra baggage when joining vessel. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Line, Limited), June 15 – Chairman Domingo Leon Jr., Secretary Rachael C. Figueiredo, Educational Director Hashiem R. Pittman, Deck Delegate Roberto Flores, Engine Delegate Sjamsidar Madjidji. Chairman reported smooth voyage besides a little incident with pirates. He stated payoff to take place in Port Elizabeth on June 16. Secretary reminded crew members that ARC is available and advised members needing help to get it. Treasurer reported $1,500 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendations were made regarding vacation and pension benefits. TYCO DEPENDABLE (Transoceanic Cable Ship), June 22 – Chairman Sanyboy Whiting, Secretary Brian Gross, Educational Director Miriam Chacon, Deck Delegate John G. Salarda, Jr., Engine Delegate Cecilio A. Banga, Steward Delegate Michael L. Sivells. Chairman praised mariners for work on Danice cable project and reported no injures, which earned them an extra $200 from company to go into the ship’s fund. It was reported that there would be a 60 percent crew change in France. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade whenever possible to improve skills and better their chances of moving up. Treasurer noted $4,500 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion was made to check on TWIC cards while at union hall. Next port: France. USNS SEAY (American Overseas Marine), June 21 – Chairman John H. Wells, Secretary Lauren J. Oram, Educational Director Kenneth W. Pell, Deck Delegate Robert J. Hayes, Engine Delegate Bruce N. Zenon, Steward Delegate Joel Ramos. Bosun announced payoff in Baltimore on June 25 or 26 depending on cargo offload. Crew was reminded that TWIC cards should be carried with them and they should check their pin numbers. Educational director talked about the importance of upgrading at the unionaffiliated school and keeping training record books current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. President’s report was read and discussed from the May 2009 Seafarers LOG. Crew thanked President Sacco for working hard to keep mariners safe. Vote of thanks was given to all aboard for helping keep ship clean. Crew was asked to not slam doors. Next port: Baltimore. Seafarers LOG 19 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM Page 20 2007 Plan Year Annual Funding Notice-SIU Pacific District Pension Plan Introduction This notice, which federal law requires all multiemployer plans to send annually, includes important information about the funding level of the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, Plan Number 001, Employer Identification Number 94-6061923 (Plan). This notice also includes information about rules governing insolvent plans and benefit payments guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a federal agency. This notice is for the plan year beginning August 1, 2007 and ending July 31, 2008 (Plan Year). Plan’s Funding Level The Plan’s “funded current liability percentage” for the Plan Year was at least 100 percent. In general, the higher the percentage, the better funded the plan. The funded current liability percentage, however, is not indicative of how well a plan will be funded in the future or if it terminates. Whether this percentage will increase or decrease over time depends on a number of factors, including how the plan’s investments perform, what assumptions the plan makes about rates of return, whether employer contributions to the fund increase or decline, and whether benefits payments from the fund increase or decline. Plan’s Financial Information The market value of the Plan’s assets as of August 1, 2007 was $130,306,177. The total amount of benefit payments for the Plan Year was $8,787,242. The ratio of assets to benefit payments is 14.8. This ratio suggests that the Plan’s assets could provide for approximately 15 years of benefit payments in annual amounts equal to what was paid out in the Plan Year. However, the ratio does not take into account future changes in total benefit payments or plan assets. Rules Governing Insolvent Plans Federal law has a number of special rules that apply to financially troubled multiemployer plans. Under so-called “plan reorganization rules,” a plan with adverse financial experience may need to increase required contributions and may, under certain circumstances, reduce benefits that are not eligible for the PBGC’s guarantee (generally, benefits that have been in effect for less than 60 months). If a plan is in reorganization status, it must provide notification that the plan is in reorganization status and that, if contributions are not increased, accrued benefits under the plan may be reduced or an excise tax may be imposed (or both). The law requires the plan to furnish this notification to each contributing employer and the labor organization. Despite the special plan reorganization rules, a plan in reorganization nevertheless could become insolvent. A plan is insolvent for a plan year if its available financial resources are not sufficient to pay benefits when due for the plan year. An insolvent plan must reduce benefit payments to the highest level that can be paid from the plan’s available financial resources. If such resources are not enough to pay benefits at a level specified by law (see Benefit Payments Guaranteed by the PBGC, below), the plan must apply to the PBGC for financial assistance. The PBGC, by law, will loan the plan the amount necessary to pay benefits at the guaranteed level. Reduced benefits may be restored if the plan’s financial condition improves. A plan that becomes insolvent must provide prompt notification of the insolvency to participants and beneficiaries, contributing employers, labor unions representing participants, and PBGC. In addition, participants and beneficiaries also must receive information regarding whether, and how, their benefits will be reduced or affected as a result of the insolvency, including loss of a lump sum option. This information will be provided for each year the plan is insolvent. Benefit Payments Guaranteed by the PBGC The maximum benefit that the PBGC guarantees is set by law. Only vested benefits are guaranteed. Specifically, the PBGC guarantees a monthly benefit payment equal to 100 percent of the first $11 of the Plan’s monthly benefit accrual rate, plus 75 percent of the next $33 of the accrual rate, times each year of credited service. The PBGC’s maximum guarantee, therefore, is $35.75 per month times a participant’s years of credited service. Example 1: If a participant with 10 years of credited service has an accrued monthly benefit of $500, the accrual rate for purposes of determining the PBGC guarantee would be determined by dividing the monthly benefit by the participant’s years of service ($500/10), which equals $50. The guaranteed amount for a $50 monthly accrual rate is equal to the sum of $11 plus $24.75 (.75 x $33), or $35.75. Thus, the participant’s guaranteed monthly benefit is $357.50 ($35.75 x 10). Example 2: If the participant in Example 1 has an accrued monthly benefit of $200, the accrual rate for purposes of determining the guarantee would be $20 (or $200/10). The guaranteed amount for a $20 monthly accrual rate is equal to the sum of $11 plus $6.75 (.75 x $9), or $17.75. Thus, the participant’s guaranteed monthly benefit would be $177.50 ($17.75 x 10). In calculating a person’s monthly payment, the PBGC will disregard any benefit increases that were made under the plan within 60 months before the earlier of the plan’s termination or insolvency. Similarly, the PBGC does not guarantee pre-retirement death benefits to a spouse or beneficiary (e.g., a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity) if the participant dies after the plan terminates, benefits above the normal retirement benefit, disability benefits not in pay status, or non-pension benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, death benefits, vacation pay, or severance pay. Where to Get More Information For more information about this notice, you may contact Ms. Michelle Chang, Administrator, SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, 730 Harrison Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94107, 415-7644993. For more information about the PBGC and multiemployer benefit guarantees, go to PBGC’s web site, www.pbgc.gov, or call PBGC toll-free at 1-800-400-7242 (TTY/TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 1800-400-7242). Additional Explanation Introduction The SIU Pacific District Pension Plan has added the information below to supplement the Annual Funding Notice (above) that is required by federal law. This additional information will be helpful in understanding how each part of the notice relates to the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan (“Plan”). Plan’s Financial Information The main purpose of the Annual Funding Notice is to ensure more open communication about a plan’s funding level. The Annual Funding Notice divides the Plan’s assets by its annual benefit payments to determine how many years the Plan’s assets may be able to pay benefits. This simple measurement does not take into account the Plan’s expected annual income. When the Plan’s assets and the annual addition of this income are taken into account, and based on current information, the Plan’s assets can be expected to pay benefits for years into the future. Rules Governing Insolvent Plans This section of the Annual Funding Notice applies only to severely financially troubled pension plans, which this plan is not. Because of the Plan’s greater than 100% funded status, it is not anticipated that the special rules regarding “plan reorganization” and plan insolvency would apply to this Plan. Benefit Payments Guaranteed by the PBGC The Trustees expect the Plan to continue to pay benefits for many years in the future. The Trustees are committed to maintaining the Plan’s funded status because, in their view, the Plan’s financial strength is the best guarantee that all participants and beneficiaries will receive all the Plan benefits they have earned. Thus, it is not expected that the PBGC benefit guarantees mentioned in this notice will become applicable. Where to Get More Information For more information about this Additional Explanation, you may contact Ms. Michelle Chang, Administrator, SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, 730 Harrison Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94107. 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: 20 Seafarers LOG 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 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. August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 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 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 Welding September 7 October 5 November 2 November 30 September 25 October 23 November 20 December 18 Safety Specialty Courses Advanced Firefighting August 17 November 30 August 28 December 11 Basic Firefighting/STCW September 14 November 9 September 18 November 13 Fast Rescue Boat August 17 August 21 Medical Care Provider August 31 December 14 September 4 December 18 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman August 17 October 12 September 11 November 6 ARPA November 16 November 20 Bosun Recertification October 13 November 2 Government Vessels September 21 November 16 September 25 November 20 Lifeboat September 28 October 9 Radar November 2 November 13 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman (STOS) August 24 October 19 September 4 October 30 Tanker Assistant September 21 October 2 Tank Pic Barge September 21 September 25 Engine Upgrading Courses Advanced Refrigerated Container October 5 October 30 Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations (BAPO) September 14 November 9 October 9 December 4 FOWT August 17 October 12 September 11 November 6 Junior Engineer August 31 October 23 Marine Electrician October 26 December 18 Marine Refrigeration Technician November 9 December 18 Machinist September 14 October 2 Pumpman October 5 October 16 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ 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 July 27. 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 “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: Fire Extinguishers, Shipboard Firefighting, Back Safety, Basic Math Refresher, Intermediate Math Refresher, Basic Navigational Math Prep, Basic Marine Engineering Math Prep, Communications, First Aid Preparation, Bloodborne Pathogens, Basic Culinary Skills, Hazardous Material Control and Management, Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, Heat Stress Management, Environmental Awareness, Shipboard Pest Management, and Shipboard Water Sanitation. These classes are taken online, not at the Paul Hall Center. Students MUST have access to the internet and an e-mail address in order to take the foregoing classes. Each course 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. 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 ________________________________________________ August 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. 8/09 Seafarers LOG 21 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Welding – Ten upgraders on June 19 completed training in this 103-hour Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class – Fourteen unlicensed apprentices completed their requirements for graduation from this course. Completing the training (above, in alphabetical order) were: Kareen Baxter, Beau Blicker, Amancio Crespo, Jose Crespo, Christopher Dehr, Timothy DeWine, Sheryl Farmer, Ricky Gault Jr., Jason Greene, Nicholas Hoffman, Charles Hosea Jr., Grayson Ross, Zachary Ross and Gary Scott. STOS – The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) on June 19 completed this 70hour course: Jeffer Baguio, Chad Bruch, Casimir Cain, Philip Forman, Andrew Gerrie, Felipe Gonzalez, Eric Johnson, William Joyner, James Petite, Bruce Raquet, Pineiro Rodriguez, Ahmed Saleh, Leroy Sierra, and Florencio Tindugan. Tom Truitt, their instructor, is kneeling at far right. course. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Larbi Andaloussi, Brooke English, Tsawang Gyurme, Ryan Humphreys, Benny Orosco, Dean Parks, Gilbert Regaldo, Jessie Ulibas, Bernard Wade II and Nocole Walton. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Small Arms Training – Five mariners completed this course May 21. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: William Dowzicky, Rick James, Thomas Moore, Robert Oppel and James Tyson. Their instructors, Robbie Springer and Stan Beck, are standing at the left and right, respectively. BAPO – The following Phase III apprentices and upgraders (right, in alphabetical order) on June 19 graduated from this course: Kenneth Adams, Nabil Ahmed, Tallentyre Barmann, Collins Brooks, Scott Collins, Eric Cunanan, Timothy Cunningham, Wade Jordan, Ryan Klinewski, Edison Lalin, Patrick Leming, Rodel Marquez, Reina Mendez, Denise Mendoza, Craig Meredith, Meliton Orosco, Jerald Salas, Boleslaw Szatkowski, David Seymore, James Short Jr., Jesus Sifuentes, Richard Vega, Edwin Velez and Osburn Wyche Jr. (Note: Not all are pictured.) 22 Seafarers LOG August 2009 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:25 AM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Tank Ship Familiarization (DL) – Twenty four upgraders on May 29 completed their requirements in this 63-hour course. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Eugene Ajoste, Florito Alegado, Sisto Andrew, Aristeo Aquino, Arnold Castro, Jaysen Cummings, Philip Forman, Abdulmokne Ghaleb, Shending Hu, Ryan Humphreys, Ronie Llave, David Martinez, Amin Mohaded, Anthony Newbill, Alfred Nieto, Robert Pagan, Michael Ribeiro, Carl Robinson, Lamont Robinson, Christian Rosado, Cesar Runatay, Jamal Sailan, Michael Thompson and Howard Vick. (Note: Not all are pictured.) STCW/BST – The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) on May 29 completed this course: Malcolm Adams Jr., Ahmed Almlhany, Steven Casley, Villamor Dumlao, Scottie Duncan, William Heer, Henry Matudio, Carlton McMiller II, Charles Toliver and Daniel Wilcox. Their instructor, Steve Stockwell, is standing third from left. Marine Refrigeration Technician – Seven mariners on June 12 completed their Machinist – Nine upgraders graduated from this course on June 19. Completing the training (above, in alphabetical order) were: Maurice Baptiste, Robin Bourgeois, Sherrof Frazier, Jose Liwag, Lamont Robinson, David Spaulding, James Tyson, Gerardo Vega, and Furman Watson. Their instructor, Steve Haver, is seated at right. requirements in this 210 hour course. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Sergio Ayala Diaz, Chavalier Maycock, William Mogg, Michael Murphy, Allan Rogers, Louis Santiago and Charles Sneed. Calvin Beal, their instructor, is standing at right. (Note: Not all are pictured.) STCW/BST (Hawaii) – Nine individuals on May 23 completed training in this course at the Hawaii-based Seafarers Training Center. Those graduating (above, in no particular order) were: Jessica Clifton, Candace Faubion, James McSpadden, John Stauss, Sara Knight, Katherine Christians, Logan McFarlin, John Dsa and Eduardo Rivas. STCW/BST (Hawaii) – The following individuals (above, in no particular order) on June 6 completed this is course at the Barbers Point, Hawaii-based Seafarers Training Center: Michelle Myers, Charles Burgamy Jr., Jennifer Walston, Christina Taylor, Jacob Wickham, Valerie Norman, Carlos Santos, Hayley Gayne, Jennifer Colarusso, Jeremiah Beber. Tankerman PIC Barge (Hawaii) – Fourteen individuals on June 4 finished their requirements in this course at the Seafarers Training Center in Hawaii. Those graduating (photo at right, in no particular order) were: Adrian Almeida, William McCue, Stephen Price Jones, Calvin Kaawa, Ethan Newbold, Michael Thompson, Harold Silva, Justin Nesbitt, Gilbert Perez, Walter Lichota, Jonathan Patmont, Joshua Perez, Rudolph Rivas and Billy Balding. Their instructor, Mitch Oakley, is standing at the far right. August 2009 Seafarers LOG 23 �55309_P01_24:January 08 7/24/2009 9:26 AM Page 24 Volume 71, Number 8 August 2009 Update on Distance Learning - Page 7 Bosun Richard Fugit The HSV 2 Swift serves different branches of the military, depending on its given mission. Snapshots from SIU-Crewed Swift The high-speed vessel is useful to the military in part because of its shallow draft and maneuverability. Vessel is Part of Military Sealift Command’s Prepositioning Fleet Operated by Sealift Inc., the Seafarers-crewed HSV 2 Swift is an asset to American’s national defense capabilities. The 331-foot-long vessel is part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s prepositioning program, which the agency describes as “an essential element in the U.S. military’s readiness strategy. Afloat prepositioning strategically places military equipment and supplies board ships located in key ocean areas to ensure rapid avail- ability during a major theater war, a humanitarian operation or other contingency. MSC’s 32 prepositioning ships support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency.” The Swift lives up to its name – HSV stands for high-speed vessel, and this one can sail at 42 knots. The photos on this page were taken during a recent voyage and at a stop in Norfolk, Va. Pictured from left to right are Sealift Inc. CEO John Raggio, Sealift Inc. Crewing Manager Jim Hannon and SIU Norfolk Port Agent Georg Kenny. Chief Cook Hector Sahagun (above) enjoys his meal after seeing to it that his shipmates had their fill of his culinary creations. In the remaining photos at right and those on the bottom of this page, members of the crew attend to assorted duties. Third Cook Rafael Chow AB Richard Hindson Recertified Steward Pedro Castillo QMED Antoine Rainey � 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 August 2009 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES ON THE RADAR: NEW JACKSONVILLE HALL TRUMKA FORMALLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY SLATE FOR AFL-CIO OFFICES INCLUDES ARLENE HOLT BAKER, LIZ SHULER SIU JOBS ARE SECURE ABOARD MV FISHER SEALIFT, INC. AWARDED CONTRACT FOR CHARTER OF PREPOSITIONING SHIP REP. CUMMINGS INTRODUCES BILL REQUIRING DOD-EMBARKED PROTECTION AGAINST PIRATES STUDY SHOWS UNIONS POSITIVELY INFLUENCE WORKPLACE POLICIES SEAFARERS-CONTRACTED CROWLEY ANNOUNCES NEW ‘GREEN’ INITIATIVE PAPAL ENCYCLICAL: HONOR RIGHT TO FORM UNIONS RADIO COMMENTATOR SAYS UNION-BUSTERS NEED TO REMEMBER MIRACLE ON HUDSON ‘BELATED THANKS’ BILL AWAITS SENATE ACTION HARRIS SWORN IN AS DEPUTY LABOR SECRETARY TWO NEW MARYLAND LAWS REFLECT ‘COMMITMENT TO WORKING FAMILIES’ ANTI-PIRACY CURRICULUM DEVELOPED, SUBMITTED UNION, SCHOOL, COMPANY TEAM UP G&H TOWING CREWS HONORED BY COAST GUARD SECOND LOCK OFFERS NATIONAL SECURITY BENEFITS LAKES TASK FORCE OFFICIAL DESCRIBES PROJECT AS ‘INVESTMENT IN AMERICA’ USNS AMELIA EARHART CREW HONORS VESSEL’S NAMESAKE FLORIDA SEAFARERS SUPPORT EXMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT MEMBERS RALLY WITH WALMART WORKERS IN MIAMI THOUNSANDS RALLY IN D.C. FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM SNAPSHOTS FROM SIU-CREWED SWIFT 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 08/01/2009 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. 8 2009 Periodicals Seafarers Log