Seafarers Log: Vol. 61 No. 7 (1999-07-01)

WYl\Y.seafarers.org Volume 61 Number 7

Christenings Signal

The tanker HM/ Brenton Reef (center) and the tugboats Atlas (left) and Scout (right) recently joined the Seafarers-contracted fleet, marking more jobs for SIU
members. Additionally, as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press, The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. (also an SIU-contracted company) announced it
will launch the Columbia Queen to provide riverboat passenger cruises in the Pacific Northwest, starting in April 2000. Page 3.

After instructors at the Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education conducted
the final equipment checks at the new Joseph
Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, class­
es there officially began in late May. Thus far,
the new addition (located in Valley Lee, Md.,
near the Paul Hall Center's main campus) has
impressed students and guests alike, includ­
ing legislators, administration officials and the
head of TRANSCOM. Pages 12-14.

Merger Talks Under Way Between SIU and NMU_Page2



President's Report
Signs of Success

It has been a slow, tough campaign, but America's union
movement is showing signs of continued growth.

Last month, a federal agency released to the public the fact
r---"""C'"""-.....,...,,,,""""" that workers are holding and winning more

Michael Sacco

representation elections than in previous
years. And these elections are for an ever­
increasing number of working men and
women.

During the 1980s and early in this decade,
all you would hear and read in the news was
that labor had lost its clout, that unions were
obsolete.

Well, that certainly is not the case now! The proof is in the
numbers.

Last year, union membership overall increased for the first
time in years. The AFL-CIO didn't make up this fact. It came
from the government's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The trend is continuing this year. In Los Angeles, 75,000
home health care workers voted to join a union because they
wanted dignity and respect on the job. In Puerto Rico, 66,000
teachers, cafeteria workers, secretaries, maintenance workers
and others with the education department won the right for
union representation.

Miners, grocery workers, hotel employees, government
workers and so many more are saying they want a voice in
their workplaces.

They want what Seafarers have: solid contracts with good
wages and benefits.

The SIU has been a part of the growth in the nation's union
movement. Just look at the next page. New vessels plying the
waters. Another riverboat on the way. All of these represent
more jobs, more opportunities and more growth for the SIU.

Since the beginning of the year, the Seafarers LOG has
steadily announced new cargo ships, new tugs and new passen­
ger vessels coming to companies contracted to the SIU for
crewing. That's progress.

The union pledged to find more jobs for Seafarers so they
will be ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century. To
meet that task, the SIU has been upgrading its union halls
while the Paul Hall Center has expanded with the opening of
the fire fighting school as well as continuing its updating of
courses.

The SIU has quite a list of accomplishments so far, but we
are in no way ready to rest on our laurels! There is so much
more to do and many more opportunities to investigate.

Just like the SIU, the AFL-CIO is not stopping to catch its
breath.

The fight at the Avondale Industries shipyard is one example
of how much work still has to be done. Despite those workers
voting overwhelmingly for representation, the company contin­
ues to manipulate every loophole it can to keep from negotiat­
ing a contract. It has been six years since the vote, yet the
workers remain strong. They are resolved to win this battle and
get what they deserve.

These men and women-along with the tens of thousands of
others who have just gained recognition or are fighting for it­
prove the labor movement is a vital force in America's business
and economic life.

For our present members and those to come, the SIU and the
AFL-CIO will continue to make sure working people have a
voice at their workplace, are treated with the respect and digni­
ty they deserve and provide for their families in a manner in
which they can be proud.

Volume 61, Number 7 July 1999

lhe SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN I 086-4636) is published month­
ly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth
Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (30 I) 899-
0675 . Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 520 I Auth
Way Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing
Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production,
Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative
Support, Jeanne Textor.

Copyright© 1999 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved.

2 Seafarers LOG

Talks Under Way Concerning
NMU Merger with Seafarers

Sill President Michael Sacco
and NMU President Rene
Lioeanjie have met to explore the
possibility of the NMU merging
with the SIU Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District.

newly created Alaska Tanker
Company and the SIU and NMU
which covers crew members sail­
ing from both unions. In both of

these cases, rank-and-filers of the
two unions are standing side-by­
side learning in the classroom and
working aboard ship.

The presidents have created
committees to study such a merg­
er. Among the topics included in
the discussions are training for the
members, job security, seniority
and combining of various opera­
tions. No time table or deadlines
have been set for these talks.

Since the affiliation of the
NMU with the Seafarers took
place last year, the reaction by
members from both unions has
been positive.

Seafarers have welcomed
NMU members to upgrading
classes at the Paul Hall Center in
Piney Point, Md. An agreement
has been reached between the

Officials from the SIU and NMU have initiated merger talks. Meeting last
month at SIU headquarters are (from the left, clockwise) NMU counsel
Larry Brundick, AFL-CIO Maritime Comm. Exec. Dir. Tai Simpkins, NMU
Pres. Rene Lioeanjie, NMU VP Charles Stewart, NMU Agents Ike
Williams and Rusty de Roussett, SIU Sec'y-Treas. David Heindel, SIU
Exec. VP John Fay, SIU Counsel Leslie Tarantola and SIU VP Contracts
Augustin Tellez.

Avondale Bills Navy $5.4 Million
To Continue Fight Against Unions
Pro-Ltlbor Vote Has Been Denied for Six Years

June 25 marked the six-year
anniversary of the date on
which employees at Avondale
shipyard in New Orleans voted
for union representation.

The extent to which the
company has used every imag­
inable stalling tactic to avoid
the outcome of the vote is con­
sidered by many a sadly
extreme story in its own right.
However, the announcement
last month that Avondale billed
the U.S. Navy $5.4 million to
pay the shipyard's anti-union
lawyers shed a bizarre new
light on the case.

Continued on page 4

Seafarers show their support for Avondale workers during a recent
demonstration near the New Orleans shipyard. Pictured from left to
right are Recertified Steward Ernie Hoitt, AB Charles Troutwine, AB
Randy Bolling, AB William Bolling and Pensioner Beau James.

Tax Bill Ottered ta Make Janes
Act Vessel Construction Easier

Congress is considering tax legislation to make it
easier for U.S.-flag shipping companies to build
new vessels for the Jones Act trades.

Introduced last month by Rep. Jim McCrery (R­
La.), the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine Revitalization
Act (H.R. 2159) already has drawn bipartisan sup­
port from Reps. Wally Herger (R-Calif.), William
Jefferson (D-La.) and Neil Abercrombie (D­
Hawaii).

McCrery told his fellow members of the House
of Representatives when he presented the measure
that the bill "is critically important to the modern­
ization and growth of the United States maritime
industry, our nation's fourth arm of defense.

"I am convinced that the best way to ensure that
our nation continues to have the militarily useful
commercial vessels and trained and loyal United
States-citizen crews we need to support our interests
around the world is to enact those programs and
policies that will better enable our maritime industry
to flourish in peacetime," the Louisiana congress­
man added.

"I am equally convinced that one important way
to do so is to provide a tax environment for our mar­
itime industry which more closely reflects the favor­
able tax treatment other maritime nations provide
their own merchant fleets."

H.R 2159 would alter the present Capital
Construction Fund (CCF) law to make it easier for
U.S.-flag shipping companies to deposit income
earned from their U.S.-flag vessels into the pre-tax

account that can be withdrawn later to construct
Jones Act vessels in U.S. shipyards.

McCrery said the change in the CCF law, first
implemented as part of the Merchant Marine Act of
1936, would assist U.S.-flag companies in their
efforts to modernize the domestic fleet. (The Jones
Act, part of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act, states
that goods moved between two domestic ports must
be carried aboard U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed and U.S.­
built vessels.)

By expanding the type of income eligible for
deposit, U.S.-flag shipping companies engaged in the
Jones Act trades will have a stronger source of capi­
tal to build new vessels needed in the next century.

"This change would be good for the whole indus­
try," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. "It creates
and ensures jobs for American shipbuilders as well
as American mariners."

Another provision of H.R. 2159 would change
existing law relating to the payment of a 50 percent
ad valorem duty on the overseas repair of U.S.-tlag
ships. Under the present law, this 50 percent duty
must be paid to the U.S. Treasury for non-emer­
gency repairs made in a foreign country's shipyard.

The legislation offers an alternative allowing for
the payment of the duty directly into a CCF account,
thus providing a direct benefit to U.S. shipyards.

H.R. 2159 has been assigned to the House Ways
and Means, Armed Services, and Transportation and
Infrastructure committees for consideration. No
hearing date for the measure has been scheduled.

July 1999



NEW SHIPS MORE JOBS
Fifth 'Double Eagle' Christened;
Crowley, G&H Launch New Tugs

On the Atlantic, Pacific and
Gulf coasts, Seafarers recently
welcomed new additions to the
SIU-contracted fleet.

Signifying more jobs for SIU
members, the new vessels are
the "Double Eagle" tanker HM!
Brenton Reef, operated by
Interocean Ugland Management
for Hvide Marine; the tugboat
Atlas, operated by G&H Towing
in the Houston area; and
Crowley Maritime's harbor­
class tug Scout, based in Long
Beach, Calif.

"As always, the SIU is proud
to provide the best-trained
mariners in the world to crew
the new tanker and tugs," said
SIU Vice President Contracts
Augie Tellez. "We welcome the
jobs and the responsibility of
helping ensure safe, efficient
operations."

f"dth Tanker

Recertified Bosun Victor
Beata and Chief Steward
Michael Pooler each expressed
favorable impressions of the
HM! Brenton Reef, slated to
begin its first voyage as this
issue of the Seafarers LOG went
to press.

The 620-foot tanker, which
features double-hull construc­
tion and state-of-the-art elec­
tronics and safety systems, suc­
cessfully completed sea trials in
late May and was christened

June 18 at Newport News (Va.)
Shipbuilding. It weighs 46,000
tons and can carry various
chemicals in its 14 specially
coated tanks.

Additionally, the ship has a
beam of slightly less than 106
feet and can travel at up to 16
knots.

Like its four SIU-crewed
predecessors in the Double
Eagle program, the HMI
Brenton Reef "responds to the
mandate of Congress and the
American people to build dou­
ble-hull tankships that will
transport petroleum and chemi­
cal products in U.S. waters in
the safest manner possible,"
commented Jean Fitzgerald,
chairman, president and CEO of
Hvide Marine. "Her entry into
the Jones Act market marks
another step forward in the evo-
1 ution of environmentally
friendly marine transportation."

Atlas: Strong Impression

Captain Nelson "Frenchy"
Breaux has sailed aboard a
number of new tugboats, but he
rates G&H's twin-screw Atlas at
the top of the list.

"Everybody's enjoying it. It's
everything that can be expected
and more," he remarked.

Breaux said the Atlas "is very
modern, especially when it
comes to safety features. For
instance, it has internal heat sen-

Operated by G&H Towing in the Houston area, the Atlas is a welcome
addition for Seafarers, including crew members (kneeling, left to right)
Capt. Nelson "Frenchy" Breaux, Mate David Andrisek, (standing) Oiler
Brian Taylor, Chief Engineer Jimmy "Indiana" Payne, AB Larry Hadley,
Quartermaster Sean Arbogast, Asst. Engineer Tim Dement and
Quartermaster Jon Crampton.

Celebrating the christening of the Scout are (left to right) Jim Penny,
Crowley operations manager in Long Beach, Calif.; Nick Marrone, SIU
VP West Coast; Capt. Wayne Berry, a Seafarer who sails aboard
Crowley tugs; and John Cox, SIU port agent in Wilmington, Calif.

July 1999

sors throughout the boat hooked
into all three alarm panels.
There are also internal smoke
detectors.

"The interior of the boat is
really comfortable, too, and I
believe that promotes safety.
When a crew feels comfortable,
they work better."

Christened earlier this year
during a gathering of approxi­
mately 250 guests, the 96-foot
tug performs harbor docking at
several Texas ports including
Houston, Galveston, Freeport,
Corpus Christi and Texas City.

"The Atlas truly is state-of­
the-art," observed SIU Vice
President Gulf Coast Dean
Corgey, who attended the chris­
tening ceremony in Galveston.
"As a former engineer, I was
very impressed with the engine
room. The crew quarters and
galley facilities are first-class,
also, and there's easy access for
maintenance and repair to all
the systems."

Built at Main Iron Works in
Houma, La., the Atlas has 3,900
horsepower and can travel at
greater than 13 knots.

It was christened in memory
of Newton Rayzor, chairman of
the board of directors of
Intracoastal Towing &
Transportation Corp. (for which
G&H operates the boat) who
passed away in February.

"Mr. Rayzor was a good and
fair employer," Corgey noted.
"The SIU always had a good
working relationship with him."

He added that the eight
Seafarers who participated in

(photo by Jim Hemeon)

The SIU-crewed HMI Brenton Reef successfully completed sea trials in
late May. The "Double Eagle" tanker was scheduled to start its maiden
voyage late last month.

the christening "did an out­
standing job representing the
union and the company in a pro­
fessional, courteous way."
Those SIU members included
Breaux, Mate David Andrisek,
Quartermaster Sean Arbogast,
Quartermaster Jon Crampton,
Asst. Engineer Tim Dement,
AB Larry Hadley, Chief

Engineer Jimmy "Indiana"
Payne and Oiler Brian Taylor.

New Harbor-Class Tug
In Southern California, the

newest of Crowley's SIU­
crewed harbor-class tugs also
garnered praise.

~
'I I

l l

Continued on page 4

The harbor-class tug Scout (center) joins Crowley's fleet in Long
Beach, Calif.

Delta Queen Announces
New Riverboat far Fleet
SIU-Crewed Vessel Will Sail in Pacific Northwest

Seafarers will be crewing
next year the latest addition to
the Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
fleet-the Columbia Queen.

As the Seafarers LOG went
to press, Delta Queen's parent
firm, American Classic Voyages
Co., announced its plans to offer
overnight passenger service to
the Pacific Northwest aboard the
new riverboat. Delta Queen is an
SIU-contracted company which
also operates the Delta Queen,
Mississippi Queen and American
Queen paddlewheel steamboats
along the Mississippi River and
its tributaries.

"This announcement by
Delta Queen and American
Classic Voyages shows their
continued confidence in the fine
American mariners who crew
their vessels," SlU President
Michael Sacco stated when the
announcement was made.

"The Columbia Queen once
again demonstrates this union's
commitment for new jobs for

the membership," he added.
The Columbia Queen is

scheduled to begin service in
April 2000. The 218-foot vessel
will be able to carry 161 passen­
gers in its 81 staterooms. The
riverboat was designed by the
same firm that created the
American Queen, which began
service in 1995.

The vessel will be based in
Portland, Ore. It will sail along
the Columbia, Snake and
Willamette rivers, offering
vacation packages to Mount St.
Helens National Monument, the
Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood,
Washington state wine country,
Astoria, Ore. and Lewiston,
Idaho.

Besides adding this fourth
riverboat to its fleet, Delta

Queen presently is building the
first two of five coastal cruise
vessels scheduled to begin ser­
vice in 2001. These 225-passen­
ger ships will sail along the
Eastern seaboard and the
Pacific Coast.

American Classic Voyages'
other subsidiary-American
Hawaii Cruises--operates the
SIU-crewed SS Independence.
Earlier this year, the company
signed an agreement with
union-contracted Ingalls Ship­
building for construction of the
first two U.S.-built deep sea
passenger vessels in more than
40 years. The first of these
ships, which will sail around the
Hawaiian Islands, is expected to
board passengers in 2003.

Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring
halls will be closed on Monday, August 16, 1999 (unless an

emergency arises) for the observance of Paul Hall's birthday.
Normal business hours will resume the following workday.

Seafarers LOG 3



Bosun Vern Poulsen Honored
By Tacoma Propeller Club

Not much surprises Re­
certified Bosun Vern Poulsen,
who has seen just about every­
thing during his 50-year maritime
career.

But the Propeller Club-Port of
Tacoma, Wash. recently caught
him off guard when the organiza­
tion presented its 1999 Master
Mariner Award to the longtime
Seafarer.

The annual award recognizes
various contributions to the U.S.
maritime industry.

"It was very, very much a sur­
prise. I had no idea, but it was
nice," said Poulsen, who has been
part of the Sea-Land shore gang
in Tacoma for 15 years and a
member of the Propeller Club
nearly that long.

"Vern deserves the acclaim.
He's a great guy and a well­
respected member," noted SIU
Assistant Vice President Bob
Hall.

Poulsen, 65, joined the SIU in
Seattle in 1961. He first sailed in
the galley before switching to the
deck department and working his
way up to bosun. (Poulsen com­
pleted the recertification course at
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime

.
Congratulating Recertified Bosun Vern Poulsen (center) on his award
are SIU Asst. VP Bob Hall (left) and Sea-Land VP Gary Ritzman.

Training and Education in 1974.)
Asked about his fondest sail­

ing memories, he replied,
"They're all good memories,
although I [particularly] liked the
SL-7s."

The veteran Seafarer also qui­
eted a rumor about his supposed
upcoming retirement.

"I'm just a kid, I'm not retir­
ing," he said with a chuckle.
"In fact, I just made a trip on
the (Liberty ship) Jeremiah
O'Brien."

Poulsen actually was on vaca­
tion during his 27-day stint
aboard the historic vessel, based
in San Francisco. He volunteered
to help paint the ship, which still
makes trips each month around
the San Francisco Bay.

"I was one of the youngest
guys on that ship, and we worked
15 hours a day," he noted. "The
best thing was I got paid the same
as the captain: nothing.

"Honestly, I' 11 treasure the
experience."

A Ship By Any Other Name ...

Bosun George Jordanides snapped these photos of the ~repo~i­
tioning ship Calvin P. Titus as it became the Mf!ersk ~nzor:a m
Sunny Point, N.C. The containership, us~ally stat1c:ined in .sa1pa~,
was renamed in early April. Its sister ship, the Enc G. Gibson, 1s
scheduled to be renamed the Maersk Alaska this month while
overseas.

Avondale Workers Still Denied Contract

The Atlas, operated by G&H Towing in the Houston area, i~ bo!h com­
fortable and comes equipped with many safety features like internal
heat sensors and smoke detectors.

New Additions to SIU Fleet
Continued from page 3

Christened in May, the 105-
foot Scout operates in Long
Beach and Los Angeles along
with three other Crowley har­
bor-class tugs. A fifth is due out
this month.

"The maneuverability of
these boats is incredible, as is
the 360-degree visibility," said
Kerry DeMatos, who sailed
with the SIU for 16 years before
becoming Crowley's senior port
captain in Long Beach last
October. "They don't have pro­
pellers, so they can go in any
direction.

"Another interesting aspect
is that they use the latest tech­
nology in lines. The stem line is
made out of the same material
used in bulletproof vests. It
floats, yet it's stronger than
steel. Unbelievable."

About 200 people attended
the Scouts christening.

Like the other Crowley har­
bor-class tugs, the Scout can
perform ship escort at greater
than 10 knots. It possesses
4,800 horsepower plus the latest
radar and other telecommunica­
tions equipment, and was built
at Nichols Bros. in Freeland,
Wash.

Continued from page 2

Apparently, such reimburse­
ments are allowable according
to federal contracting rules,
although the Navy reportedly
warned Avondale that it may
deny future reimbursements if
they are deemed "unreason­
able."

The story broke in mid­
June, after Sen. Edward
Kennedy (D-Mass.) asked for a
breakdown of Avondale's pro­
posed reimbursements for its
scheme to deny union repre­
sentation. According to news
reports, Kennedy argued that
taxpayers should not pay for
such expenses.

The Defense Contract Audit
Agency officially has labeled
the proposed reimbursements
as "unresolved," although it has
"not identified a basis under
(current regulations) to disal­
low them," stated Navy
Secretary Richard Danzig in a
letter to Kennedy.

Sen. Paul Wellstone (D­
Minn.) voiced outrage at the
notion of tax money covering
Avondale's legal expenses.

Seafarers Mark Maritime Day on USNS Indomitable

4 Seafarers LOG

A series of ceremonies
marked National Maritime
Memorial Day in Washington,
D.C. last May. One of the
events took place at the
Washington Navy Yard, where
the SIU-crewed USNS
Indomitable, operated by
Maersk Line for the Military
Sealift Command, was fea­
tured. Three Seafarers work­
ing aboard that vessel were at
the ready to assist visitors on
shipboard tours. They are,
from left, AB Bobby E. Kelly,
EU Elliott A. Rhodes and
Bosun Robert Taylor.

...... )
Safety problems at Avondale lndus~ries were .the focu~ of a Workers
Memorial Day rally in New Orleans m late Apnl. The shipyard recently
was fined $537,000 by the government for safety violatio~s. Seven
workers have died at the facility this decade. Below, SI~ re~1ree Beau
James (left) joins fellow trade unionists at the rally, which included a
memorial march (above).

"This is something that I
find especially troubling. They
get away with [the anti-union
campaign] because American
taxpayers are footing the bill,"
Wellstone said on the Senate
floor.

"The Navy and the Coast
Guard are effectively subsidiz­
ing Avondale's illegal union­
busting campaign," he contin­
ued. "Avondale gets about 80
percent of its contracts from the
Navy for building and repairing
ships. If it weren't for the
United States Navy, Avondale
probably wouldn't exist.

"This poster child for bad
corporate citizenship is brought
to you courtesy of the
American taxpayer."

The senator also pointed out
that Avondale last year came
under fire in federal court for
numerous unfair labor practices
and safety violations.

"On the one hand, the
National Labor Relations Board
and OSHA (the Occupational
Safety and Health Admin­
istration) find Avondale in fla­
grant violation of the law. On the
other hand, the Navy keeps
rewarding Avondale with more
contracts."

In an unrelated matter,
Avondale recently agreed to
become a wholly owned sub­
sidiary of Litton Industries.
Litton also had attempted to
acquire Newport News (Va.)
Shipbuilding, but that proposal
failed. Similarly, a planned
merger between Avondale and
Newport News Shipbuilding is
off.

Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO
organized a "community hear­
ing" in New Orleans on the
sixth anniversary of the
Avondale vote. Local workers,
clergymen, political represe~ta­
tives and labor officials
(including AFL-CIO Secre­
tary-Treasurer Rich Trumka)
spotlighted the need to protect
workers' freedom to join a
union.

July 1999



Realities of Runaway-Flag Shipping:
Masked liunmen1 No Food or Wages
NY Times Article Reveals More FOC Victims

Even in Russia, the Inter­
national Transport Workers'
Federation (ITF) exhibition ship
Global Mariner continues gain­
ing North American publicity for
its campaign against runaway­
tlag shipping.

On May 22, The New York
Times published a detailed piece
about the runaway-flag Lakhta,
whose Russian crew members
have not been paid in a year and
who recently were threatened at
gunpoint with eviction from the
badly rusted vessel. The ITF
called attention to the Belize-flag
ship when the Global Mariner
docked nearby in Vladivostok,
Russia.

The New York Times' article
delves into the broader issue of
runaway-flag shipping-also
known as flag-of-convenience
shipping-while using the Lakhta
case as an example. The newspa­
per touches upon the Global
Mariner, which has traveled
halfway around the world to pub-
1 icize the ITF's 50-year fight
against the runaway scam.

This marks the continuation of
a wave of similar coverage that
began late last year and has con­
tinued fairly steadily since then.
Other newspapers including the
Houston Chronicle, Baltimore
Sun, New Orleans Times­
Picayune and many more have
been joined by network television
news affiliates in covering the
blight caused by runaway-flag
shipping (see box). In many
cases, the stories were publicized
nationally.

"Publicity is an important part
of the campaign. It raises aware­
ness, which is a step toward cor­
recting the problem," said John
Fay, SIU executive vice president

and chairman of the ITF's
Seafarers Section. "It's important
enough that the ITF launched the
Global Mariner, and there's no
doubt the ship has generated a lot
of coverage, especially during the
past half-year."

The SIU is one of the more
than 500 transportation-related
unions affiliated with the
London-based ITF. The union, for
decades, has partaken in the fight
against runaway-flag shipping.

FOC Nighbnare
The article by Russell

Working disclosed that the
mariners aboard the cargo ship
Lakhta "are a year behind in their
wages, and the owners no longer
provide food or water and once
even tried to evict the crew at
gunpoint. The ship is caked in
rust, and even her basic seawor­
thiness is in question. The hatch
covers over the cargo holds do
not fully close, a problem that
could swamp the ship in high
seas."

As often happens in such
cases, the crew "has not been able
to figure out just who owes them
the wages." In February, they
sued the charterer, Dellner
Shipping Co. of Russia, for more
than $82,000 in back wages but a
judge threw out the case.

Dellner, which chartered the
vessel from Seattle-based Carib­
bean Maritime, claimed the previ­
ous charter operator owed all but
40 days' worth of wages. After
the judge's ruling in mid-March,
the company persuaded the court
to send a bailiff and 13 masked
gunmen to the ship.

When a television crew and a
lawyer for the mariners arrived a
little while later, the rifle-toting

In the News
Some recent high-profile cases
involving runaway-flag ships

• The New Carissa runs aground at Coos Bay, Ore., spilling 70,000 gallons
of heavy bunker fuel and touching off weeks of nationwide coverage.
Partly as a result of the incident, legislation is introduced in Congress to
protect U.S. ports from similar mishaps.

• Battling malnutrition and many other health problems, the crew of the dis­
abled Delta Pride finally comes ashore-nearly a full year after being
abandoned in Mexico by the ship's bankrupt owner. Unpaid for two years,
the crew subsisted on rainwater and fish that they caught.

• A fleet-wide conspiracy at Royal Caribbean Cruises involving environ­
mental crimes is detailed in a Sunday New York Times article. The Miami­
based company, fined a record $9 million for pollution incidents, saves
about $30 million a year in U.S. taxes by registering its ships in Norway
and Liberia, the article notes. A follow-up article points out that the 17
major cruise lines pay practically no income tax even though they are
based in this country and 90 percent of the passengers are American.

• The National Transportation Safety Board calls a two-day hearing about
the Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy, which caught fire last year shortly after
departing Miami. At the hearing, the Ecstasy's captain acknowledges he
initially refused help from the Coast Guard to fight the blaze. He also told
investigators he maintained a minimum speed out of Miami, despite black
smoke and flames pouring from the aft mooring deck, in case he had to
steer the vessel to keep the smoke from blowing across the ship.

• The tanker Campo Duran is detained in Baltimore because of numerous
safety problems. They include oil leaking into the bilge, which cannot be
cleaned because of a faulty water separator; lack of fresh water; a mal­
functioning main engine; a broken radar plotting system; an uninstalled
emergency towing system; a lifeboat blocked by stacks of 55-gallon
drums; no heat; and widespread unsanitary conditions.

July 1999

individuals (some of whom
reportedly had climbed the masts
and threatened the crew) as well
as the bailiff left the ship.

The ITF's inspector in
Vladivostok is assisting the
mariners, while personnel from
the Global Mariner donated
stores and money.

Runaway-flag ships are carri­
ers operating under the flag of a
non-traditional maritime nation,
yet owned by a citizen or citizens
of another country. Financially
strapped nations sell the use of
their flag to shipowners, who reg­
ister tonnage in those countries in
order to take advantage of less
stringent labor, safety, regulatory
and tax standards than if that ves­
sel were registered in the owner's
nation of citizenship.

The ITF Global Mariner has gained publicity for the organization's campaign against runaway-flag ship­
ping-a campaign actively supported by the SIU. Cases like that of the Lakhta, spotlighted recently by The
New York Times, help reveal the runaway-flag scam.

Battling the 'Millennium Bug'

U.S. Parts Will Remain Open
When Clack Strikes Midnight
Coast Guard Says It Is Ready -· for Y2K

Even as the U.S. Coast Guard continued con­
ducting Y2K tests at sea and ashore last month, the
Department of Transportation (DOT) announced
that U.S. ports will remain open on January I, 2000.

However, the Coast Guard also warned that
"where there are concerns for safety, operational
restrictions could be imposed by the local Coast
Guard captain of the port." Such constraints may
include anchoring outside a harbor, sailing at
reduced speed, one-way traffic lanes or extra tug­
boat assistance, among others.

The announcement took place June 15 in Southern
California, where Coast Guard officials carried out
two days of Y2K tests throughout the ports of Los
Angeles and Long Beach as well as aboard the
Seafarers-crewed APL Singapore. SIU-contracted
Crowley Marine Services also took part in the exer­
cises, which involved simulated oil spills, engine fail­
ures and electronic communications obstacles.

Maritime concerns about the so-called millenni­
um bug- potential disruptions stemming from com­
puters and other electronic equipment that misreads
the year 2000 as 1900-include possible collisions,
spills or traffic jams in harbors. Virtually any system
that supports shipping or cargo handling is suscepti­
ble, including navigation and engine control sys­
tems, cargo gauging equipment, vessel traffic man­
agement tools, and communications devices.

The industry is far from alone in tackling the

Y2K issue. According to revised estimates released
last month by the White House, the U.S. govern­
ment will have spent at least $8.06 billion working
on Y2K fixes.

Notwithstanding the problem's breadth, DOT
Deputy Secretary Mort Downey and Coast Guard
Rear Admiral George Naccara expressed confidence
that U.S. port operations would run smoothly
through the new year and beyond.

Downey pointed out that the cooperative efforts
from different sectors of the industry have yielded
substantial progress in readying for the year 2000.
"We believe we are well on our way to having a
(maritime) transportation system that will operate
properly before, during and after the millennium
change," he stated.

Naccara, the agency's chief information officer,
said, "Rather than interrupt U.S. port activities on
January I, the Coast Guard will gather and assess
information on operators' Y2K preparations, and
impose operational restrictions only ifthe operator's
level of Y2K preparedness raises safety concerns.
The idea is to have a consistent, nationwide
approach that will protect life, property and the
marine environment while recognizing the impor­
tance of ocean transportation to the nation's econo­
my."

He added that the Coast Guard has worked on its
Y2K plans for about two years.

Seafarers LOG 5



From St. Marys to St. Mary's

Alaskan Ledlow Looks Forwanl
To New Career as SW Member

When Chris Ledlow climbs
the gangway this summer as a
member of the engine depart­
ment crew for the first time, it
will be the culmination of his
dream to obtain a skill that opens
the whole world to him.

Ledlow, a graduate of unli­
censed apprentice class 583, is
an Alaska Native who had spent
most of his life in the Yukon
River village of St. Marys in the
southwestern comer of the state
prior to his arrival at the Paul
Hall Center in St. Mary's
County, Md. last year.

The 20-year-old has become a
celebrity of sorts in his home
state because of the career path
he has chosen. He had a feature
story published about him April
12 in the Anchorage Daily News.
Then, that city's NBC television
affiliate shot a day in his life at
the Paul Hall Center, running the
video on June 3.

"I hope this lets others in
Alaska know the possibilities
they have with the SIU and the
merchant marine," the unassum­
ing Ledlow told a reporter for
the Seafarers LOG.

"My village only has a couple
hundred people. I could work in
a grocery store, at a cannery or
my father's garage and that is
about it. When I heard about

Unlicensed Apprentice Chris
Ledlow tells a television reporter
why others from Alaska should
attend the Paul Hall Center.

this, I wanted to try it and see
what I could do."

Ledlow found out about the
unlicensed apprentice program
through SIU Anchorage
Representative Harold Holten.
Holten has been working with
Alaska-area private industry
councils to recruit young men
and women from the state to
become merchant mariners.
Alaska has high unemployment

As instructor Mark Cates offers directions on forklift operations, an
Alaskan television crew works on an "up-close-and-personal" shot of
Chris Ledlow.

Paul Hall Center's Russell
Honored on Memorial Day
He Was Among the First U.S. Troops
Called to Action in South Korea

Many Seafarers know Albert
Russell as the face of security at
the Paul Hall Center in Piney
Point, Md. However, few know
that the man in the guard house is
a decorated Korean War hero.

Russell was honored with
other American veterans in St.
Mary's County over Memorial
Day. All of them were in a feature
photograph printed in the local
newspaper, The Enterprise.

In July 1950, Russell was
among the first wave of
American troops sent to South
Korea following the invasion
from the north. He was a corporal
in the U.S. Army's 21st Regiment
of the 24th Infantry Division
when he was wounded by shrap­
nel from mortar fire just days
after landing in South Korea.
(During that same engagement,

6 Seafarers LOG

his overall commanding officer­
a general-was taken prisoner.)

Russell told a reporter he
never felt like a hero.

" I was sent over there to do a
job and I did it," the soft-spoken
Russell said. "I'm proud of what I
did for my country."

Russell received the Purple
Heart and Cluster for his multiple
wounds. After recovering, he
continued to serve in South Korea
until July 1951 . He was awarded
the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry
Badge and many citations for his
duty. He was discharged in July
1952.

Russell has been part of the
security staff at the Paul Hall
Center since August 1970.

But this is not his first stint at
that location. Shortly after being
released from the Army, he land-

statistics compared to the rest of
the country.

The SIU recruitment effort
has the blessing of the state's
congressional delegation-Sens.
Ted Stevens (R) and Frank
Murkowski (R) and Rep. Don
Young (R)-as well as Gov.
Tony Knowles (D). In fact, the
joint venture received national
recognition in March from the
National Association of Private
Industry Councils for its success.

When Ledlow began his work
in the first phase of training, he
had no idea in which department
he wanted to sail. That changed
during his phase two experience
aboard the Great Land, a vessel
operated by TOTE.

"I got to work in all three
departments, which is part of the
program. But I could not believe
my 30 days were over so quickly
when I was in the engine depart­
ment. I felt I had only been there
two weeks. I knew that is where
I wanted to be," Ledlow recalled.

Upon his return to the Paul
Hall Center, he dedicated himself
to learning as much as he could
to begin his new career in the
engine room.

That training allowed him to
be among the first to battle a
blaze in the Eternal Flame bum
building on the grounds of the
new Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting
and Safety School.

"It was incredible. I couldn't
believe how hot it got in there.
Then they told me it was only
300 degrees, but it could be
turned up to 1,600. I wouldn 't
want to feel that."

During his interviews with the
Alaskan media, Ledlow was
asked what differences he had
encountered during his education
at Piney Point.

"The salmon. It doesn't taste
the same in Maryland as it does
back home in Alaska. But I've
gotten used to it."

Paul Hall Center Security Guard
Albert Russell displays his Purple
Heart, Bronze Star and other cita­
tions he earned during his tour of
duty in the Korean Conflict.

ed a job at the old torpedo testing
range-on the same location as
the center-in the Navy gun fac­
tory from 1953 to 1957.

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The Anchorage Daily News ran a feature story about Unlicensed
Apprentice Chris Ledlow when he returned to Piney Point for phase
three training.

Apprentices Learn Maritime History

During a recent trip to the port of Baltimore, students in the final
segment of the Paul Hall Center's unlicensed apprentice program
learned about contemporary maritime happenings and industry
heritage. The students met with SIU members and officers aboard
the USNS Capella (below), where they reviewed various aspects of
shipboard work. They also toured the historic Liberty ship John W
Brown (top photo), currently staffed by volunteers. On the World
War II-era vessel, the apprentices gained new appreciation for the
role of the U.S. merchant marine in national defense
Posing for a photo aboard the Capella (bottom photo) are (from left)
Capt. David Kelly, Chief Mate Michael Murphy, Unlicensed
Apprentice Melvin Ratcliff, Paul Hall Center Instructor Shannon
Twigg, Chief Steward John Walsh and Bosun Gary Clarke.

July 1999



Watchman Vlado Lazarevski
Kinsman Independent

Oiler William English
Kinsman Independent

Porter Julius Najera
Kinsman Independent

Watchman Raymond Spooner
American Mariner

July 1999

Fireman John Rittinghouse
Kinsman Independent

Low water levels on the Great
Lakes have impacted cargo move­
ments, but for the most part it has
been "business as usual" for
Seafarers sailing in that region.

In April, there was an 8.6 per­
cent cargo downturn in iron ore,
coal and stone compared to the
same time last year. Some 14.8
million tons of cargo were
shipped on the Lakes that month.

As of mid-June, Lakes cargo
movements were down about 13

Despite cargo movement that trails the record
paces of recent years, Seafarers remain very
active on the Lakes, including aboard the
Kinsman Independent (right photo), the Adam E.
Cornelius (above, towed by an SIU-crewed Great
Lakes Towing tug) and many other vessels.

percent compared to the 1998-99
shipping season. A Lakes trade
association pointed out that
besides low water levels, the drop
"also reflects the fact that the win­
ter of 1997-98 was extremely
mild and thus dry-bulk trades
resumed ahead of schedule."

Additionally, dumped foreign
steel continues impacting the
Lakes fleet, although some
nations have slowed their steel
exports to the U.S.

Watchman Nick Velkoff
American Republic

.
I

)
...:'~

SIU Rep. Don Thornton, Oiler Charles Lesley
Kinsman Independent

Deckhand Musid
Musleh

American Republic

Chief Cook Abdulwahab Mutahr,
Asst. Cook Paul Paton

Alpena

Deckhand Donald Sausman
Kinsman Independent

Seafarers LOG 7



Steward Has Loving Message
During Black History Month

Commemorations of this
year's Black History Month
extended far beyond U.S. shores,
thanks in part to Saundra
Leonard.

The chief steward gave a
heartfelt speech February 28 in
Diego Garcia during a shoreside
celebration of the month desig­
nated for reflection upon the his-

tory, teachings and other contri­
butions of African Americans.

Organized by a U.S. Navy
officer, the event drew approxi­
mately 250 people, including
other speakers.

"Something's always happen­
ing on the island," noted
Leonard, who was sailing aboard
the Buffalo Soldier-a ship

Chief Steward Saundra Leonard is congratulated for her remarks by AB
Gregory Bamfeld (left photo) and AB Allan Green.

named in memory of African
American cavalry units who
served in the untamed western
U.S.-<iuring Black History
Month. "This particular ceremo­
ny brought tears to people's
eyes."

A frequent upgrader at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education, Leonard
told the audience that she has
witnessed a disturbing deteriora­
tion in human interaction.

"Especially in the 1980s,
drugs and crime and other unde­
sirable things came into our
community (in Southern
California), and things just fell
apart," she said. "We stopped
loving ourselves, our mothers,
fathers, sisters and brothers."

Leonard suggested that accep­
tance and religious faith are vital
to societal improvement. "Stop
looking at the color of a person's
skin, and try to see the beauty in

The SIU-crewed prepositioning vessel Buffalo Soldier is named in
memory of black Army veterans who served in campaigns throughout
the then-untamed western plains.

a person," she advised. "If we of
all races don't start loving one
another, this world will never
change .... Love of self and of
God is the only thing that's
going to bring happiness."

Listeners responded to
Leonard's remarks with loud
applause.

The concept for Black History
Month came from Carter G.
Woodson, founder of the
Association for the Study of
Negro Life and History in 1915.
In 1926, he secured government
recognition of "Negro History
Week" honoring the contribu­
tions of black Americans.

Woodson picked a week in

February because the birthdays
of Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass occurred
during the month. In 1976,
spurred by the renamed
Association for the Study of
Afro-American Life and History,
the commemorative week
expanded to a month.

The SIU-crewed Buffalo
Soldier, operated by Red River
Shipping Corp. for the U.S.
Military Sealift Command, is
named after the all-black 9th and
1 oth Cavalry Regiments created
by the Army Reorganization Act
of 1866. The units served until
just before World War II.

Cape Trinity Crew Awarded Certificate of Excellence
The SIU-crewed Cape Trinity,

one of 91 ships in the Ready
Reserve Force (RRF) owned by
the U.S. Department of Trans­
portation's Maritime Administra­
tion (MarAd), is often called upon
to support military exercises.

One recent operation, howev-

er-transporting a complete,
rapidly erectable, 500-bed hospi­
tal to Norway- earned the ship's
crew a certificate of excellence,
presented personally by Maritime
Administrator Clyde J. Hart Jr.

Using the vessel's huge stem
ramp, about I 00 vehicles and 400

The SIU crew aboard the Cape Trinity recently was honored for its out­
standing performance in support of a military operation. With the crew
are Maritime Administrator Clyde J. Hart Jr., MarAd Central Region
Director John W. Carnes, Apex Director of Marine Operations Robert
Kunkel, SIU VP Dean Corgey and Assistant VP Jim McGee.

Following the presentation of MarAd's certificate of excellence to the
crew of the Cape Trinity, that agency's administrator, Clyde J. Hart Jr.,
poses with (from left) SIU VP Dean Corgey, Assistant VP Jim McGee
and MarAd Central Region Director John W. Carnes.

One There When You Need Him
The AFL-CIO recently reported that, when 100 delegates to the

Steelworkers civil rights conference began demonstrating in support
of locked-out workers at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Gramercy, La.,
someone called the local sheriff's office.

When the sheriff arrived, he called for backup-not to arrest the
demonstrators, but rather to protect them from traffic on the busy four­
lane highway. It so happens the sheriff is a former member of the
Steelworkers and once served as grievance chair at that same Kaiser
plant.

B Seafarers LOG

containers were rolled on the ship
in Virginia and offloaded in
Norway.

Two weeks following Hart's
visit, the master, crew and man­
agers of the Houston-based cargo
ship also were honored, this time
by the U.S. Navy's Fleet Hospital
Group. A plaque was presented to
the ship during an informal ship
ceremony by Deputy Maritime
Administrator John E. Gray­
kowski.

Ninety-five percent of the
material needed in a military
deployment must be sent by sea,
Graykowski stated. "We are
proud that the Cape Trinity has
demonstrated how well suited the
ships are to respond to any con­
tingency."

Six of the 91 RRF vessels are
based in Houston, and of those,
three, including the Cape Trinity,
are managed by Apex Marine Ship
Management, LLC for MarAd.

Each of the vessels flies the
RRF readiness flag, signifying
that, in a national defense emer­
gency, it will fill out its crew, take
on stores and fuel, and be ready to
sail in 96 or 120 hours.

El Yunque's First Call

Proud of their union and their vessel are some of the crew members
aboard the Cape Trinity, an RAF ship honored for its military support.
From the left are Chief Electrician Gabriel Arhin, Recertified Bosun Billy
Eastwood, GUDE Edward Shamburger and QMED Ross Hardy.

The newly contracted El Yunque, operated by Sea Star Line, recently made its first call at Port
Everglades, Fla. Pictured in the galley during that stop in May are (from left) Chief Steward Matthew
Scott, SA Charles B. Collier and Chief Cook James Kasha.

July 1999



Right: Hands-on
experience is a key

part of the Paul Hall
Center's phase two

training for unli­
censed apprentices.

Here, apprentices
Chad Warren (left)

and Ronald Gloston
(right) join AB

Robert English in
cleaning the holds.

ALL IN A DAY'S
WORK: Above and
left, Seafarers
including Bosun
Harold Sebring and
AB James Deano
clean the holds.

66,000 in Puerto Rico
Win Union Elections

In one of the biggest unioniza­
tion efforts ever, an overwhelm­
ing majority of voters chose
union representation in elections
last month covering 66,000
Puerto Rico Department of
Education employees.

Teachers, cafeteria workers,
maintenance personnel and cleri­
cal employees voted by an 85
percent margin to join unions.
They will vote again this fall to
decide which union represents
them in each unit.

According to a news release
from the AFL-CIO, the election
was part of a two-step process
created by the passage last year of
a law giving public employees in
the territory the right to form a
union. Approximately 150,000
public employees in Puerto Rico
are eligible for union representa­
tion under the new regulations.

The vote involving the
Department of Education, which
ended in mid-June, was the first
conducted under the new law.
Elections for other departments
will follow, noted the labor feder­
ation.

The vote ·counts among the
four groups were: teachers,
29,058 yes to 3,538 no; cafeteria
workers 5,144 yes to 547 no;

July 1999

maintenance employees, 3, 150
yes to 312 no; and office workers,
2,500 yes to 445 no. Eighty per­
cent of eligible voters cast a bal­
lot.

"We want a union contract so
we can build the best possible
future for ourselves, our families
and the children we teach every
single day," stated Nancy
Cardona, a teacher in San Juan.

AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney pointed out, "These
employees know that ~union will
mean better jobs, enhanced
schools and stronger communi­
ties throughout Puerto Rico.

"The overwhelmingly positive
vote spotlights these workers'
ardent desire to have a greater
voice on the job."

There are approximately 1,600
schools in the Puerto Rico sys­
tem. The Department of Educa­
tion employees are forming
unions with the American Fed­
eration of Teachers (AFT), the
American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Em­
ployees (AFSCME), the Service
Employees International Union
(SEIU) and the United Auto
Workers (UAW).

(See page 10 for related story.)

Captain C.R. Balomenos
complimented the Liberty Sea '.S'

crew for a "very good voyage"
that took place this spring. The
SIU-crewed vessel is operated by
Liberty Maritime Corp.

AB Dave Hetrick moves to the
next task on the
Liberty Sea.

Doing their part to make the vessel a good feeder are (from left) Chief
Cook Luis Caballero, Chief Steward Charles Scott and GSU Wilfred
Lambey.

Enjoying lunch are (from left) QMED William Parker and GUDEs Terrence Ford
and Louis Green.

USNS Bob Hope Does 'Fleet Week' in NY

Posing for a photo after a union meeting last month aboard the
USNS Bob Hope are (front row, from left) SIU Patrolman Jack
Caffey Jr., OS Bryan Gaddis, Bosun Terry Evins, SAD. Williams,
(back row) SA Roy Warren and AB Bob Day.

The USNS Bob Hope, pictured last month in
New York during the Navy's "Fleet Week," is
one of four vessels in its class crewed by
Seafarers. The newest one, the USNS
Mendonca, was christened in April.

Greeting a visitor at the gangway are (from left) Bosun
Terry Evans, AB Lumumba Lasana, Navy Sailor Laurie
Brindle, Storekeeper Gary Bruber and AB Eric Overby.

Seafarers LOG 9



More Workers
Say 'Union Yes'

The national federation of
trade unions last month reported
that new government data show
workers are conducting and win­
ning more union elections than in
previous years.

The AFL-CIO, of which the
SIU is an affiliate, also pointed
out that the elections cover
increasing numbers of workers,
according to statistics compiled
by the U.S. Bureau of National
Affairs from National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) data for
1998.

Employees secured union rep­
resentation in 1,653 elections, or
51.2 percent of balloting in 1998,
compared to 1,591 elections, or
50.3 percent of voting in 1997.
The number of elections in 1998
increased to 3 ,229 from 3, 160 in
1997, a 2.2 percent increase.

Additionally, the federation
noted that workers last year won
half of the campaigns involving
units of 500 or more employees
-a high point since such statis­
tics have been tracked.

Those figures "are good news
for American workers, because
growing unions mean better jobs
and stronger communities," said
AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney. "Unions are on the
right track, and are reaching out
more than we have in years. We

should celebrate this news by
redoubling our efforts."

The highest win rate was in the
finance, insurance and real estate
industries, where workers won
nearly 84 percent of 31 elections.
Workers won more than half the
elections in health care services;
general services; transportation,
communications and utilities;
retail; and construction.

Moreover, the NLRB statistics
do not include some of the largest
organizing wins in 1998 which
occurred under the National
Railway Labor Act or through
employer recognition of majority
worker support outside an elec­
tion process.

In total, more than 475,000
workers joined unions in 1998,
according to the federation. And,
as previously reported in the
Seafarers LOG, union member­
ship rose for the first time in years
in 1998-by more than 100,000
-according to Bureau of Labor
Statistics data released earlier this
year.

The number of union members
in the U.S. rose from 16.1 million
to 16.2 million. Unfon density in
the service sector-the largest
sector of the economy-rose for
the first time, from 5 .4 percent to
5 .6 percent.

Wilmington Seafarers in Korea
....... ~~/UJ

Four self-described "proud members of the SIU" from the
port of Wilmington, Calif. recently posed for this photo while
waiting for a flight connection at the airport in Ulsan, South
Korea, shortly after signing off the Sea-Land Challenger.
Pictured from left to right are AB Dominic Sanfilippo, AB
Frank Cammuso, Chief Steward Terry Allen and AB Amin
Hussein. They returned to the vessel about three weeks
later, Cammuso noted.

Pidare roanell • .....
Relmring in Piney Point

Picture yourself and your
family by the pool, at the beach,
on a picnic. Or picture yourself
and your family exploring Civil
War sites, checking out
dinosaur bones at the Smith­
sonian Institution, catching a
foul ball at a Baltimore Orioles
game at Camden Yards.

All these activities-and
more-are possible day trips
when you vacation at the Paul
Hall Center in Piney Point, Md.

per day for a spouse and for
each child. (There is no charge
for children 11 years of age or
younger.) These prices include
all meals.

There is still time for
Seafarers and their families to
plan to spend up to two weeks
of their summer vacation in
Piney Point.

To turn your pictures into
reality, call the Seafarers
Training & Recreation Center at
(301) 994-0010 or send in the

Safety Drills on Sea-Land Expedition

Water survival drills are a staple aboard SIU-crewed ships, as participants eagerly hone their
skills for a scenario they hope never occurs. Recently, Seafarers on the Sea-Land Expedition
executed a regularly scheduled lifeboat drill (top photo) while the vessel was in San Juan, P.R.
Above left, Recertified Bosun Ismael Rivera and AB Efrain Alvarez secure the boat following
the drill as others observe. Above right, Oiler A. Omer and AB Roger Plaud grease the wire
while the boat is retrieved from the water. Below, Alvarez performs maintenance that is a stan­
dard part of the drill.

r-------------------------------------,
SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER

Vacation Reservation Information

Name: ---------------------------------------------------------------------~
Social Security number: ________ _ Book number: __________________ _

Address:

Telephone number: ----------·----------------------------------­

Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: ----------------

Date of arrival: 1st choice: _______ _ 2nd choice: ___ _ 3rd choice: ___ _

(Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks)

Date of departure: ________ _

Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center,
7199 The cost is just $40 per day

for each SIU member and $10 reservation form now.
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674.

-••~L-------------------------------------~
10 Seafarers LOB July 1999



6011't Services Division Member
Writes Novel About Subic Bay

For some mariners,
writing is a means of
passing time, whether it
involves poems, stories
or letters.

For Anthony R.
Mills, a member of the
SIU's Government Ser­
vices Division, it is a
serious avocation.

"Subic Bay, The Last
American Colony," pub­
lished by Noble House
of Baltimore. Billed as
"an historic and person­
al look into naval base
living," the book draws
upon Mills' eight years
of experience sailing out
of the Philippines.

noted that the book is
available via numerous
internet sites (including
borders.com and ama­
zon.com, for instance)
or through the publish­
er's toll-free number: 1-
800-873-2003. Price
varies by seller, as some
offer discounts off the
$27.95 cover price.

dependent and colorful
community residing in
the area. Mills' penetrat­
ing narrative explores
the lives and relation­
ships of this unlikely
cultural assortment and
examines the bonds
which made its dissolu­
tion painful for so many.

"Centered around the
activities of the USNS
Spice, a United States
Navy supply vessel and
its crew members,
'Subic Bay' steers read­
ers through the waning
years of an historic
American era covering
the period from the early
1980s through the
Desert Storm conflict in
1990 until the installa­
tion shut down in 1991."

Mills recently penned
a 344-page novel titled

In a letter to the
Seafarers LOG, Mills A promotional flyer

for "Subic Bay, The Last
American Colony"
describes it as "a
remarkably vivid retro­
spective novel about the
American naval base
and the people of
Olongapo, Philippines.
Cultivated over 50
years, the mixture of
civilians, naval person­
nel, and Philippine
nationals bred an inter-

Jim
THE

LAST
AMERICAN

COLONY

Mills wrote the book to provide "an his­
toric and personal look into naval base living." Anthony Mills, AB and author, most recently sailed

aboard the USNS Tippecanoe.

Taking Advantage of Technology

American Steamship Company
Adds Defibrillators to Vessels
Donation Made to High School for Computer Upgrades

SIU-contracted American
Steamship Company (ASC) is
taking advantage of modem tech­
nology while helping others do
the same.

The company recently
announced that its 11 self-unload­
ing vessels plying the Great
Lakes have been equipped with
automatic external defibrillators
(AED}-portable devices used to
treat individuals when in cardiac
arrest.

"ASC has adopted this pro­
gram to increase the odds of sav­
ing lives," the company said in a
news release. "The AED could
mean the difference between life
and death for crew members
aboard Great Lakes vessels.
Published medical research sug­
gests that many heart attack vic­
tims would likely survive with
early defibrillation."

The machines are compact and
weigh only a few pounds. ASC
noted that "advances in technolo­
gy have streamlined and simpli­
fied these devices to a point
where the AED will walk the user
through a simple, step-by-step
process with voice and visual
prompts. Once sensor pads are
placed properly on the victim's
chest, the AED analyzes the heart
rhythm in seconds and then deter­
mines if a shock is warranted."

Meanwhile, ASC and its par­
ent organization recently donated

July 1999

Taking part in the ceremonial opening of the ASC-GATX Media Center
at St. Mary's High in Lancaster, N.Y. are (from left) American Steamship
Company President and CEO Ned Smith, St. Mary's Principal Patrick
Brady, and St. Mary's Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Malecki.

$15,000 to a Lancaster, N.Y. high
school, with the funds spent on
computers and internet access.

In May, ASC and GATX Corp.
made the donation to St. Mary's
High, a 95-year-old Catholic
school believed to be the oldest
such facility in the nation. The
grant is part of a philanthropic
program in which the companies
regularly participate.

St. Mary's spent the money to
network its entire computer sys­
tem, establish internet access
throughout the school, update
various computer equipment and
purchase software. Altogether,

the new and upgraded purchases
were dedicated as the ASC­
GATX Media Center.

The school plans to add inter­
net-related courses to its curricu­
lum.

Ned Smith, president and CEO
of ASC (which is based in
Williamsville, N.Y.), said the St.
Mary's grant is part of a "contri­
butions program that focuses on
education, the environment and
on strengthening families. This
grant will help promote student
and teacher excellence in the ever
evolving world of computer tech­
nology."

From Portugal to New Orleans

-;h r-·-.

Recertified Bosun Cesar Gutierrez sent these photos to the
Seafarers LOG showing the Liberty Star's recent voyage from
Portugal to New Orleans. In top photo, the bosun preps mooring
lines for arrival. Above left, Deck Maintenance Ivan Aguilar helps
ready the vessel for docking in New Orleans. Above right,
Unlicensed Apprentice Joel Encarnacion demonstrates that ship­
board life may include the occasional barbecue.

Great Lakes Towing Turns 100

SIU-contracted Great
Lakes Towing officially
turns 100 years old on
July 7. The Cleveland­
based company owns

and operates tugboats
serving dozens of

ports. Among those
currently in service

are (above) the new Z­
THREE and (at right)

the Montana. Pictured
below, from the
Seafarers LOG

archives, is a late-
1970s shot of Great
Lakes Towing boats

docked in the
Cuyahoga River.

Seafarers LOii 11



Upgraders, Apprentice

12 Seafarers LOG

So far, the newest addition to
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is living
up to its billing.

The Joseph Sacco Fire
Fighting and Safety School, a
one-of-a-kind facility that repli­
cates shipboard fues and other
marine hazards, officially went
into use early last month.
Upgraders and students in the
center's unlicensed apprentice
program are utilizing the Joe
Sacco School's modem class­
rooms, water survival trainer,
maze building, bum building,
damage-control area and fire
props to boost their safety skills
and knowledge.

"It's a wonderful fire fighting
school, probably the best in the
world," said Certified Chief Cook
Don Irvine, one of the first
upgraders to train there.

A member of the SIU since

1981, Irvine noted that the state­
of-the-art facilities are maxi­
mized by the instructors. "That's
what I liked best-the teachers
listen to the students very well.
There's good communication
between the instructors and the
students," he noted.

Located in Valley Lee, Md.,
just down the road from the Paul
Hall Center, the fire fighting
chool boasts a unique design that

specifically recreates shipboard
environments. It is being used for
the basic and advanced fire fight­
ing classes as well as the STCW
basic safety, lifeboatman/water
survival and government vessels
courses.

"I think it's great," declared
Wiper Wayne Abell, moments
after completing drills using a fire
hose and fire extinguisher. "It's
very realistic, and I'm sure [the
instructors] could crank it up

even more."
Unlicensed Apprentice David

Green chuckled when recalling
his experience in the maze build­
ing, a two-story facility with a
modifiable interior that figures to
challenge even the most direc­
tion-savvy Seafarers.

"It's amazing and really
tricky," said Green, who never­
theless finished his drill in
respectable time. During the exer­
cise, "everything is black, so you
have to feel all over the place. It
was nerve-wracking at first. I had
gone through with a flashlight
and it was easy. It's a different
story without that light."

Lolita Thomas, who sails in
the steward department, summa­
rized the feelings of her class­
mates in the STCW basic safety
class when she proclaimed, "It's a
really good school and I'm glad
we have it. It's good for us."

July 1999



·~· ?')

fire Fighting &

July 1999

Pictured on these two pages and the
next page are the first classes to utilize
the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and
Safety School. The photos were taken
from late May to mid-June; they include
an STCW basic safety course and an
unlicensed apprentice class.

-

-

Seafarers LOG 13



,_

•

Training Begins at the
Joseph Sacco Fire
Fighting and Safety School

Hands-on instruction is a key
facet of training at the new
facility, as demonstrated by
instructors John Smith (third
photo above) and Stormie
Combs (two photos directly
above).

14 Seafarers LOG

Sensors inside the control room
of the burn building (fourth photo
above) help provide a realistic but
safe training experience.

Students use extinguish­
ers and hoses to combat
different types of fires
that may occur at sea.

Gen. Tony Robertson
emerges from the burn
building after a firsthand
look at a fire fighting drill.

Slater, Robertson, Abercrombie
Commend Fire Fighting School

Representatives from Congress,
the administration and the military
recently praised the opening of the
Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and
Safety School.

Secretary of Transportation
Rodney Slater, Air Force General
Charles "Tony" Robertson, who
heads the Transportation Command
(TRANSCOM), and Rep. Neil
Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) commend­
ed the Valley Lee, Md. facility in
recent correspondence with SIU
President Michael Sacco.

Slater said the "state-of-the-art,
environmentally secure training
facility is a fitting tribute to the years
of dedication and commitment
Joseph Sacco gave to this union and

to the men and women who are sail­
ing aboard ships on the deep sea,
Great Lakes and inland waterways."

He further pointed out the school
"will guarantee that our (mariner)
work force continues to be the best
trained in the world."

Following his inspection of the
school in late May, Robertson
described it as a "national treasure"
that will benefit "merchant mariners
. . . and our country."

He also applauded the mission of
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education (which
encompasses the fire fighting school)
as well as its staff and the rest of its
facilities.

Abercrombie, a strong supporter

of the U.S. merchant marine who
personally knew Joe Sacco, said the
school is a fitting tribute to "one of
the most beloved figures in the U.S.
maritime industry and the American
labor movement.. . . His tireless
efforts to improve the lives of the
men and women of the SIU made for
a full life of service and commitment
to the values we cherish and the
nation we love ....

"May those who pass through
these doors emerge with their skills
enhanced and their dedication to
safety strengthened."

Joseph Sacco was the SIU's exec­
utive vice president when he passed
away in 1996.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie
said the new school is
named in memory of
"a remarkable man,"
Joe Sacco.

SIU President Michael Sacco (right) and SIU VP Contracts
Augie Tellez (center) discuss the school's uses and objectives
with Gen. Tony Robertson.

DOT Sec'y Rodney
Slater noted the facil­
ity will help uphold
U.S. tradition of well­
trained mariners.

July 1999



Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea

*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

Port
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville
San Francisco
Wilmington
Tacoma
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals

Port
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans

22
6
6
6

11
16
37
27
27
33
IO

6
27

3
2
3

242

13
0
3
7
8

11
Jacksonville 14

San Francisco 13
Wilmington 9
Tacoma 15
Puerto Rico 6

Honolulu 5
Houston 12
St. Louis O
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals 118

Port
New York 16
Philadelphia 4
Baltimore 3
Norfolk 12

Mobile 5
New Orleans 8
Jacksonville 9
San Francisco 21
Wilmington 17
Tacoma 21
Puerto Rico 3
Honolulu 8
Houston 11
St. Louis 3
Piney Point 3
Algonac 0
Totals 144

Port
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
Mobile
New Orleans
Jacksonville
San Francisco
Wilmington
Tacoma
Puerto Rico
Honolulu
Houston
St. Louis
Piney Point
Algonac
Totals

4
0
0
0

2
4

5
3
5
5
0
7
3
0
0
0

38

Totals All
Departments 542

19
5
3

IO
4
9

12
10
12
6
6
5

15
6
4
2

128

9
7
4
6
8

IO
11
7

10

4

3
8
8
0
5
0

100

6
0
2

6
2

10
2
3
2
2
0

4
5
0
7
0

51

36
0
s

13
9

IO

14
l3
12
7
1

34
7
l

13
3

178

8
1
0
8
8

11
11
2
9
3
3
5

11
l
3

85

6
I
0
3
0

3
6

0
1
2
0
7
1
l
2
l

34

I
3
2
2

6
0
2
0

8
0
l
0
1

29

26
4
3

12

4

12
3

11
8
2

65
2
0

15
0

168

457 316

MAY 16 - JUNE 15, 1999

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

20
7
4

15
13
18
22
16
26
17
5

13
20

1
2

200

DECK DEPARTMENT
9 5
3 0
0 0

11 14
7 5
9 5

IO 13

9 I
5 4
9 3
9
6

10
5
2

105

5
2
8
2

3
0

70

Trip
Reliefs

2
2
2
4
2

10
19
7

13
17
7
4

14
0

1
105

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
6 10 2
0 3 0
2 6 0

IO

s
9

13
12
2

13
7
7
7
1
0
0

94

7
7

10
10

5
4
2
5
8

11
0
2
0

90

l
2
5
1
4
2

0

1

0
0
0

20

7

2
0
1
5
4
5
3
4
3
3
8
0

0
47

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
10 5 0 2

7
6
4

13
22
11
15
2
7

11
1

0

112

1 0 0
0 0 1
9

2
10
5
1
2
2
l
2

3
l
2
1

47

2

I
l
3

2

0
0
9
0
0
0
0

19

8

12
6
5
9
2
6
4
1
2
0

60

ENTRY DEPARTMENT
3 17 3
0

0
2
0
2
7
4
4
3

5
I
0
0
0

32

438

0
3

11
2

9
11
7
6
5
0

23
4
0

12
2

112

354

I
2
7
0
5
7
1
6
3

51
3
0

II
0

101

210

0
0

0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

0

0

0
0
0

0
0

212

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

49
IO
13
12
18
24
61
50
44
52
18
11
48
2
1
3

416

19
s
4
7

14
13
37

14
18
22

7
6

21
3
4
2

196

25
4
5

13
7

11
25
48
28
36

4
15
20
2
4

248

11
0
]

l
3
7

6
13
12

8
6
8
4
0
0
0

80

940

24
7
4

17
8

16
21
16
21

7
4
6

24
2

2
l

180

11
5
3

12
8

13
15
4

14
6

IO

6
l
7
0

116

7
I
2
9
5
8

6
7
3
2
2
6
6

0
9
0

73

59
0

4
18
14
12

25
25
18
22

5
46
15
4

18
2

287

656

15
3
0

8
7

12
14

3
16
9
2
3

10
2
5
I

110

6

6
0
2
4
1
1

7

2
1
2

37

2
1
4

6
0
2
0

IO

3
2

0

35

44
9
4

20
2

11
15
s

14
IO

4
90

7
0

11
0

246

428

*"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.

July 1999

August & September 1999
Membership Meetings

Deep Sea1 Lakes, Inland Waters
Piney Point ............. Monday: August 2

Tuesday, September 7*
(•change created by Labor Day holiday)

Algonac .................. Friday: August 6, August 10

Baltimore ................ Thursday: August 5, September 9

Duluth ..................... Wednesday: August 11, September 15

Honolulu ................. Friday: August 13, September 17

Houston .................. Monday: August 9, September 13

Jacksonville ............ Thursday: August 5, September 9

Jersey City .............. Wednesday: August 18, September 22

Mobile .................... Wednesday: August 11, September 15

New Bedford .......... Tuesday: August 17, September 21

New Orleans ........... Tuesday: August IO, September 14

New York.. .............. Tuesday: August 3, September 7

Norfolk ................... Thursday: August 5, September 9

Phitadelphia ............ Wednesday: August 4, September 8

San Francisco ......... Thursday: August 12, September 16

San Juan .................. Thursday: August 5, September 9

St. Louis ................. Friday: August 13, September 17

Tacoma ................... Friday: August 20, September 24

Wilmington ............... Tuesday, August 17*
Monday, September 20
(•change created by Paul Hall birthday holiday)

Each port~s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.

Personals
STA LEYB OW

Please contact Evelyn Brandenburg of San Pablo,
Calif. at (510) 724-9851.

EDMOND HAWKINS
Please write your children at 54 Saw Mill Drive,

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922.

DOUGLASA.HUNDSHAMER
Please give your mother, Verna Hundshamer, a call

at (315) 458-5326.

JOHN POMEROY
Please call Jim at (734) 254-5048 regarding the 25th

lntricarb reunion to be held next year.

Cl LOG-A-RHYTHMS ...

--111111111 Sea ··
by Judy Merwin

Sometimes I wonder why ...
Why we cant see things through another s eyes?
Why it seems wrong to care,
To want to shoulder the burdens they bear?

Some of us flee to the sea,
Seeking a healing that floating upon it brings.
Gathering our strengths and will to survive,
Rising and sleeping with the tides.

Working and eating as the vessel rolls and pitches,
Thinking about the things that our lives delivered

Praying/or our loved ones
and all those of the places we visit,
Channeling the Universes energies
like the goods we deliver.

Wondering why things didn't
work out the way we planned?
Why we are reluctant
to plan again?

One by one we begin to see.
And open anothe,. s eyes to see.

Judy Merwin is an OS working
on upgrading to AB. She cur­
rently is sailing aboard the USNS
Capella.

Seafarers LOG 15



Seatare1S 1ntematlonal Onion
Dll'fldory

... Michael Sacro
President

·· · . JQhn Fay
· · · .Executive Vice President

David Heindel
Secretary~ Treasurer

Augustin Tellez
Vice President Contracts

Jack Caffey
Vice President Atlantic Coast

Byron Kelley
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters

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, Ml 48001

(810) 794-4988

ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame St., #IC

Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 561-4988

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
122 l 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

MOBJLE
J 640 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
(718) 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 ) 994-00 I 0

PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S. Andrews Ave.

Ft. Lauderdale. FL 33316
(954) 522-7984

SAN FRANCISCO
350 Fremont St

San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-5855

Government Services Division
(415) 861-3400

SANTURCE
1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 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

WJLMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave.

Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 549-4000

16 Seafarers LOG

Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes
MAY 16 - JUNE 15, 1999

L - Lakes NP - Non Priority CL - Company/Lakes

*TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups All Groups All Groups

Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP

Port DECK DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 29 10 0 15 3 0 14 7
Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 14 8 0 12 4 0 2 4
Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 5 2 0 3 0 0 2 2
Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 12 25 0 3 5 0 9 20

Totals All Depts 0 60 45 0 33 12 0 27 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.

Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters
MAY 16 - JUNE 15, 1999

*TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups All Groups All Groups

Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B

Region DECK DEPARTMENT
Atlantic Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gulf Coast I 0 10 0 0 3 2 2
Lakes, Inland Waters 4 2 0 0 14 0 0 28 0
West Coast I 3 5 4 8 3
Totals 44 1 13 19 1 7 38 5
Region ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Atlantic Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gulf Coast 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Lakes, Inland Waters 26 0 0 8 0 0 16 0
West Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 26 0 2 8 0 0 16 0
Region STEWARD DEPARTMENT
Atlantic Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GuJfCoast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lakes, Inland Waters 23 0 0 5 0 0 18 0
West Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 0 0 6 0 0 18 0

Totals All Depts 93 1 15 33 1 7 72 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.

PIC-FROM-THE-PAST

These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by retired Captain Raymond P.
Karlsvik of Raymond, Wash. They were taken in Okinawa, Japan at Christmas time
1951 aboard the Ponce de Leon, a Waterman C-2.

The group photo shows crew members gathered in the messroom following a
holiday meal. Bosun Hans Skaalegaard-Jansen (left) and Karlsvik are in the photo
at right.

In a note accompanying the photos, Karlsvik writes that Skaalegaard-Jansen
was a very good bosun-"truly a sailor's sailor." He also was a fine marine artist and
went on to pursue a career as such.

Karlsvik, an AB (blue ticket) at the time, found his way to Sea-Land Service, Inc.,
where he spent 28 years. As a captain, he helped bring three of the new Sea-Land
ships from Sturgeon Bay, Wis. to Tacoma, Wash. for the Alaska trade

On one trip to Green Bay, Wis. to captain another of the ships, Karlsvik writes that
he went to the hotel closest to the airport, and upon entering the dining room, came
upon a beautiful painting of a square-rigged ship. "My first thought," he writes, "was
that it looked like something Hans would have painted and, upon closer inspection,
I found his name on it." Small world!

Class C

0
15
0

10
25

0
3
0
0
3

0
0
0

1

29

July 1999



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.

O
ne recertified bosun is
among the nine Seafarers
announcing their retire­

ments this month.
Representing 37 years of

active union membership,
Recertified Bosun John S.
Bertolino is a graduate of the
highest training available to
members in the deck department
at the Paul Hall Center in Piney
Point, Md.

Including the recertified grad­
uate, five of the retiring
Seafarers sailed in the deep sea
division, three shipped on inland
vessels and one plied the Great
Lakes.

Among the retiring pension­
ers, five worked in the deck
department, while two each
shipped in the engine and stew­
ard departments.

On this page, the Seafarers
LOG presents brief biographical
accounts of the retiring
Seafarers.

DEEP SEA

JOHNS.
BERTO­
LINO, 61,
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
1962 from the

"' port of New
York. His first

ship was the Robin Gray, a
Moore McCormack Lines vessel.
Brother Bertolino is a graduate of
the Andrew Furuseth Training
School. Born in Pennsylvania, he
sailed in the deck department and
upgraded his skills at the Harry
Lundeberg School in Piney Point,
Md., where he graduated from the
bosun recertification program in
1980. Prior to his retirement, he
sailed aboard the Sea-Land
Atlantic. South Glens Falls, N.Y.
is where he calls home.

ROBINSON CRUSOE, 61 ,
joined the Marine Cooks and
Stewards (MC&S) in 1965 in the
port of San Francisco. Born in
Alabama, he worked in the stew-

ard depart­
ment, last sail­
ing as a chief
cook aboard
the Overseas
Juneau.
Brother
Crusoe has
retired to
Carson, Calif.

TOMAS
ESCUDERO,
70, began sail­
ing with the
Seafarers in
1970 from the
port of New
York. Brother

L__-===---...J Escudero
worked in the engine department
and upgraded his skills at the
union's school in Piney Point,
Md. A native of Puerto Rico, he
last sailed in 1985 as a chief elec­
trician aboard the Santa Paula, a
Delta Steamship Lines vessel.
From 1949 to 1954, he served in
the U.S. Army. He makes his
home in Bethlehem, Pa.

ROBERTN.
FULK, 65,
started his
career with the
SIU in 1958 in
the port of
Houston.
Starting out in
the inland
division, he later began working
aboard deep sea vessels. Born in
Indiana, he sailed in the deck
department and upgraded his
skills in Piney Point, Md. From
1950 to 1951, he served in the
U.S. Army. Brother Fulk last
sailed aboard the Overseas Vivian.
He resides in Palestine, Texas.

EVANS SMITH, 68, began sail­
ing with the Seafarers in 1991 .
His first ship was the Cape
Florida, operated by International
Marine Carriers. Born in
Trinidad, he worked in the deck
department, last sailing aboard a
Crowley Marine Services vessel.
He has retired to Ocala, Fla.

INLAND

ARTHURD.
HANN, 63,
first sailed
with the
Seafarers in
1979.
Boatman
Hann worked

======:=J in the engine
department and sailed primarily
aboard various tugs operated by
Crowley Towing and
Transportation Co. From 1952 to
1960, the Massachusetts native
served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He makes his home in Olar, S.C.

HORACEC.
LaFRAGE,
63, joined the
SIU in 1952,
sailing aboard
deep sea ves­
sels. He later
transferred to
the inland
division as a member of the deck
department. From 1960 to 1 962,
he served in the U.S. Army. Prior
to his retirement, Boatman
LaFrage sailed aboard the Mars, a
G&H Towing Co. vessel. Born in
North Carolina, he has retired to
LaMarque, Texas.

CHAR­
LOTTE
SUSAN
WOLFE,64,
began her
career with the
Seafarers in
1988. Sister
Wolfe started

working in the steward depart­
ment and later transferred to the
deck department. She last sailed
aboard the Geary, operated by
Orgulf Transportation Co. A
native of West Virginia, she
makes her home in Ripley.

GREAT LAKES

GEORGE A. COYER, 62,
joined the Seafarers in 1961 in

Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG provisions for the full servicing of the membership
and the handling of union business functions.

1941
Following certification by the labor Board in the 1 97 6

Robin Line election, the union, on July 21, signed a (From Paul Hall's president's report, published a few
full agreement with the company. The contract months before Eleaion Day)
included the closed shop, hiring through the union "Right now the SIU is enjoying good shipping as a
hall and top wages and rr.=================================:;;t direct result of our fight
working conditions that for a fair shake for the
compare favorably with r·u •s OMf•U U.S. merchant fleet. But
the best in the industry. n• f"f n this good shipping does

1964
• M ~ •u H. ~ro y not mean we can sit back
•f"f ~· •~ f and rest. We have

The new SIU hall in
Norfolk, Va. was dedicat-
ed in ceremonies attend-
ed by officers of the SIU, members in the area, rep­
resentatives of the trade union movement and repre·
sentatives of government. A part of the SIU's con­
tinuing building program, the new Norfolk hall is a
direct consequence of the increased deep-sea cargo
movements and the parallel rise in the membership of
the SIU throughout the Hampton Roads-Norfolk
area.

The new fully air-conditioned building includes an
expanded hiring hall, a general meeting hall capable
of handling .300 persons, new recreational facilities,
accommodations for a snack bar-cafeteria, a 40-car
parking lot, landscaped terrace, and other necessary

July 1999

worked too long and
hard to rebuild this indus-
try-to foster a sense of

cooperation for the mutual benefit of all segments, to
create a stable industry capable of taking advantage
of new opportunities and to build an effective legisla­
tive program-to jeopardize it now by succumbing to
a sense of false security ....

"We must, as we have done in the past, pitch in
with all the aid and support we can muster because
only through our own efforts can we protect what we
already have won. And more importantly, only by
proving ourselves capable of supporting our allies in
the upcoming elections will the SIU eventually realize
the goal we have struggled so long to achieve-a
strong, healthy and vital U.S. merchant marine."

the port of
Buffalo, N.Y.
Brother Coyer
sailed in the
deck depart­
ment and
upgraded his
skills at the

school in Piney Point, Md. He
last sailed in 1977 as a cap­
tain aboard a Great Lakes
Dredge & Dock vessel .
Brother Coyer served in the
U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957.
A native of New York, he has
retired to Oswego.

Liberty Ship Needs Crew
For Voyage on Great Lakes

~--­
PI ans are being made for the restored Liberty ship John W Brown, cur-
rently docked in Baltimore, to travel throughout the Great Lakes next year.

Younger mariners who
thought they missed their chance
to sail aboard historic Liberty
ships may get the opportunity
after all.

Toledo, Ohio; Detroit; Erie, Pa.;
Cleveland; Buffalo; Toronto;
Montreal; and Halifax, Nova
Scotia.

The John W Brown, based in
Baltimore, is seeking active
mariners to crew the vessel for
segments of a trip throughout the
Great Lakes planned for next
year. The voyage tentatively is
scheduled to begin in May 2000
and end in August, with stops in

Mariners with current z-cards
are needed to fulfill Coast Guard
regulations for crew complement.

Factory Tours
l S \l\ttl. llen\ rr& l1hil.nk'IJ1btJ.

f \i kurrav ol Et1ff<1\htJ::,
\~a,.hifttl&ft 1J C. · t:)ecolOJ1f

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~lint.Tr•a Slrt!bt'lr:las..r;;lJOo­
f) Carnlru!. '-~ Htiria:!iiih.nh bltll­
ri,.. f,vrrrU, \\ .:h<.h. I•, r.bthf""'n Mdrl
JOJ. UIJk'rirh A Ara&;~ ((R11, ... 11ir­
Slu;::rr """"""1 lo;it. l..,.rrl>lB iOll
dut\-.1.Louk-,\lk.J,.\

Hotels, I ~
(hcfl •nrlrl· l t

"ldr-·• .... lht "' -. •

=~e11:.~: • =
;:::-;:: ii
llUl lbl" t S #
r1u,,.uli1. llucrlt1 kio itllld Uc \1r;la
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tw;1r•~-.1mtwr. \t•mot t'rrBr"tt111an·
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tUur 11'-anta Rraf'h l:lub & \llf,t .... 'I
rhPll.f". \, c :wttl f\,J\ HOid. ~I
Juhn>1. \I

Museums (Ill
Rur\, -" t.:1111 lf.111 irf Farar .

t:~t-L•nd l'.c»•iel:!\lu-...an1 .. r1:1a,.~.

and tbll rrt -"lif'nrr & lodu,lt\
f1nm::. \L \hi . .,..11119' \lui'l·m \r1.
""\urt.f.1h

For more information, contact
Rick Bauman at Project Liberty
Ship, P.O. Box 25846, Highland­
town Station, Baltimore, MD
21224, telephone (410) 661-1550
or ( 410) 558-0646.

City & z:- ~~;;~::,~=~,~~::f~,'r.u~.~~:;:
County Parks - -- r.u,1. c .... , ••• u 1r.1) rrsma1

l~urlin!f'Jtni•. \IOJlllf'•1• , 1Cindllua11J.l'W°llk1lllhl~·l'u{>-

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"OIULC';.~(:.ounJ\. "ts. lntnft.'.lfknt.il f"C'-"Uul l~.nllr);
111•<-o-l.uri"" ~'•ods\"""·

Summer · h...na1 , . ...., '"""""1

Music Festivals I Worker/Union
1>111r.....,_.~'4!yilo"' "''"' """'" Monuments

'\lut..lfll'-"°"'".tD),l"a.trlfS\lUphi11\ ---

~:~~!~~~~~~~~~.'1-~~~ l =~4; :~ra:~~
llluahlrn: l>L"-lr1rl er 1!41•••t•- , lcnMI \ni I~ \u•. · t'I'

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:;-:;;::~;:.,··~:\:=' Miscellaneous
khlul.-1 (111.:.:hl•nd l''Jrl.1. h1tll1tH­
\l;1rrb ~\mpbllD\ nl Uu Praftlr
tfl~llr-rsJ; \tar~la••-:'uinmn
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llll" Ll~-8&!it{tJO t:arh \ltJ~lr U:~r.·

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Pennsylvania AMMV Chapters
Seek New Members

Active and retired merchant mariners residing in
Pennsylvania are invited to join. their local chapter of the
American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV).

For more information, contact AMMV Regional Vice
President John Manfredi at (724) 941-9537, or write to him at
121 Marion Dr., McMurray, PA 15317-2921.

Brother Manfredi (who formerly sailed with the SIU) will put
prospective members in touch with the AMMV chapte located
nearest to them.

Seafarers LOG 17

-

-



- Final Departures
DEEP SEA

DAVE AWAKUNI
Pensioner Dave
Awakuni, 83,
passed away
April 21 . Born
in Hawaii, he
joined the
Marine Cooks
& Stewards

~ (MC&S)in
· ,~Ill 1948 in the port

of Seattle. The steward department
member last sailed aboard the
Manulani, operated by Matson
Navigation Co. Brother Awakuni was
a resident of Seattle and retired in
July 1987.

OTIS C. BAILEY
r--:;;;;;;p;;::;;=;::;;;;;;;-~"" Pensioner Otis

C. Bailey, 74,
died April 17. A
native of
Virginia, he first
sailed with the
Seafarers in
1944. Brother
Bailey worked

='--------===== in the engine
department and upgraded his skills to
a licensed engineer. Prior to his
retirement in August 1990, he sailed
aboard the USNS Bellatrix, an
International Marine Carriers vessel.
He made his home in Suffolk, Va.

ELBERTJ.BLACKBURN
Pensioner Elbert
1. Blackburn,
72, passed away
April 15. He
started his
career with the
MC&S in 1958
in the port of
San Francisco.

'----=-====_J His first ship
was Matson Navigation Co.'s
Matsonia. The California native
sailed in the steward department and
upgraded his skills at the Harry
Lundeberg School in Piney Point,
Md. Brother Blackburn last sailed
aboard the President Chester B.
Arthur, an American Ship
Management vessel. He was a resi­
dent of San Francisco and began
receiving his pension in November
1993. During World War II, he
served in the U.S. Coast Guard from
1944 to 1946.

JUNIUS C. BROWN
Pensioner
Junius C.
Brown, 83, died
January 7. Born
in Louisiana, he
began sailing
with the MC&S
in 1946. He
worked in the

==--===== steward depart­
ment, last sailing aboard the Santa
Mercedes, operated by Delta Steam­
ship Lines, Inc. A resident of San
Francisco, Brother Brown began re­
ceiving his pension in January 1982.

DEAN D. DOBBINS
Pensioner Dean
D. Dobbins, 65,
died April 18.
He began his
career with the
Seafarers in
1957, sailing
from the port of
Tampa, Fla.

:__.::====i Born in Ohio,
he worked in the engine department,
most recently aboard the Richard G.
Matthiesen, operated by Ocean Ships
Inc. Brother Dobbins was a resident
of Stockton, Calif. and retired in
March 1997. From 1952 to 1956, he
served in the U.S. Navy.

WILLIAM DESOUZA
Pensioner William Desouza, 80,

18 Seafarers LOS

passed away recently. Brother
Desouza joined the MC&S in 1951
in the port of San Francisco after
graduating from the MC&S training
school in Santa Rosa, Calif. A native
of Hawaii, he last sailed aboard the
Santa Maria, a Delta Steamship
Lines vessel. A resident of San
Francisco, he started receiving his
pension in December 1987.

CLAUDE J. DOCKREY
Pensioner
Claude J.
Dockrey, 70,
passed away
April 24. Born
in Shawnee,
Okla., he started
his SIU career
in 1966 in the

======= port of
Wilmington, Calif. His first ship was
the Vantage Progress, a Pioneer
Maritime Corp. vessel. Brother
Dockrey sailed in the deck depart­
ment and upgraded his skills in Piney
Point, Md. He graduated from the
bosun recertification program there in
I 988. Prior to his retirement in
November 1994, he signed off the
Sea-land Innovator. He made his
home in Shawnee.

JOSEPH J. GADSEN
Pensioner Joseph 1. Gadsen, 81, died
April 5. Brother Gadsen first sailed
with the MC&S in 1951. Born in
South Carolina, he worked in the
steward department, last sailing
aboard the President Coolidge, oper­
ated by American President Lines. A
resident of New York, he retired in
July 1975.

TERRY HILTON
Terry Hilton,
27, passed away
April 18. A
native of
Mississippi, he
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
1991 from the

====-==== port of New
York. His first ship was a Pacific
Gulf Marine vessel, the Pioneer
Contractor. Brother Hilton worked in
the deck department, last sailing
aboard the Maersk Colorado. He was
a resident of Vancleave, Miss.

DONALD JOHNSON
Donald
Johnson, 52,
died April 12.
Born in
Alabama, he
first sailed with
the SIU in 1974
in the inland
division and

~----'--"--~later transferred
to deep sea vessels. He worked in the
steward department and upgraded his
skills in Piney Point, Md. A resident
of Pascagoula, Miss., he last shipped
in 1995 aboard the USNS Regulus, a
Bay Ship Management Co. vessel.
From 1969 to 1970, he served in the
U.S. Army.

ROYE.JONES
Pensioner Roy
E. Jones, 75,
passed away
April 10. He
joined the
Seafarers in
I 952 in the port
of Baltimore.
His first ship

---===----' was the
Jefferson City, operated by Victory
Carriers. A native of South Carolina,
he sailed in the engine department.
His last ship was the cable ship Long
Lines. During World War Il, he
served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to
1945. Brother Jones was a resident of
Baltimore and began receiving his
pension in August 1988.

CHARLES P. LORD
Pensioner
Charles P. Lord,
85, passed away
April 23. Born
in Illinois, he
joined the
Seafarers in
1944 in the port
of New York.

•=='-------== He sailed in the
engine department and upgraded to a
licensed officer. Prior to retiring in
August 1978, Brother Lord sailed
aboard the Overseas Anchorage. He
was a resident of Orange City, Fla.

FRED MARTIN
Pensioner Fred Martin, 85, died July
6, 1998. He started his career with
the MC&S in 1947 in the port of San
Francisco. The New York native
worked in the steward department,
last sailing aboard the President
Taylor, an American President Lines
vessel. Brother Martin made his
home in San Francisco and retired in
February 1972.

MONT McNABB

i,iiiiijiii~~I Pensioner Mont
McNabb, 76,
passed away
March 31.
Brother
McNabb began
sailing with the
Seafarers in
1946 from the

i....;__..;_,_;:.=;___ _ __J port of
Baltimore. A native of North
Carolina, he worked in the deck
department, last sailing aboard a Sea­
Land Service vessel. During World
War II, he served in the U.S. Navy
from 1942 to 1945. A resident of San
Francisco, Brother McNabb started
receiving his pension in January
1976.

COSIMO MELPIGNANO
Pensioner Cosimo Melpignano, 73,
passed away March 23. Born in Italy,
he graduated from the Andrew
Furuseth Training School in 1959
and joined the Seafarers in the port of
New York. He sailed in the engine
department and frequently upgraded
at the union's school in Piney Point,
Md. Brother Melpignano returned to
his native country when he retired in
January 1983.

ROBERT W. MEREDITH
r--._.,;;:;;;;;;;;;;;m.---, Pensioner

Robert W.
Meredith, 74,
died March 23.
He joined the
SIU in 1967 in
the port of New
York. His first
ship was the

=;;;;__-==:.....;;;:....-==East Point
Victory, operated by Hudson
Waterways. Born in California, he
sailed in the deck department. Prior to
his retirement in April 1993, he
signed off the Sea-Land Innovator.
Brother Meredith was a resident of
LaPine, Ore.

JOHN G. MERLO
Pensioner John
G. Merlo, 86,
passed away
February 11.
Brother Merlo
began his career
with the MC&S
in 1946 in
Portland, Ore

""'--==-i He first sailed
aboard the Drew Victory. Born in
Italy, the steward department member
last sailed on the Mariposa before
retiring in August 1978. Brother
Merlo made his home in Rupert,
Idaho.

GEORGE P. MULLEN
Pensioner George P. Mullen, 86, died

November l 0, 1998. He first sailed
with the MC&S in 1955, aboard the
President Johnson, an American
President Lines vessel. Prior to his
retirement in February 1977, the
steward department member sailed
aboard the Colorado. Born in New
York, Brother Mullen was a resident
of Wickenburg, Ariz.

ROBERT M. POWERS
Robert M. Powers, 62, died April 25 .
Born in Pennsylvania, he graduated
from the MC&S training school in
Santa Rosa, Calif. and joined the
MC&S in 1972 in the port of San
Francisco. Starting out in the steward
department, Brother Powers later
transferred to the engine department
and upgraded his skills in Piney
Point, Md. A resident of Honolulu,
he last sailed aboard the Sea-Land
Trader. From 1956 to 1959, he
served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

JACK D. ROBISON
Jack D.
Robison, 55,
passed away
April 23.
Brother Robison
began sailing
with the
Seafarers in
1987. His first
ship was the

USNS Triumph, operated by Sea
Mobility. A native of Washington and
a resident of Spanaway, he sailed as a
member of the deck department.
From 1961 to 1965, he served in the
U.S. Navy.

EDWARD J. SINGLETARY
Pensioner
Edward J.
Singletary, 85,
died May 7. He
began his sail­
ing career in
1937, priorto
joining the SIU
in 1939 as a

i..:=::...=-=:::.=-..==.i charter member.
He sailed from the port of New
Orleans. During his career, he .
worked in the engine department and
was active in union organizing drives.
Prior to his retirement in August
1964, Brother Singletary signed off
the Penn Vanguard, operated by Penn
Maritime Co. He made his home in
Bay Saint Louis, Miss.

MARTIN E. SNYDER
Martin E. Snyder, 42, passed away
April 29. A native of Maryland, he
graduated from the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School's training program
in 1977 and joined the SIU in the
port of Piney Point, Md. His first
ship was the Banner. Brother Snyder
worked in the deck department and
upgraded his skills at the school. A
resident of Baltimore, he last sailed
aboard the Richard G. Matthiesen,
operated by Ocean Ships, Inc.

ROBERTO G. TIAMSON
--.-~iiial Pensioner

Roberto G.
Tiamson, 81,
died May 3.
Born in the
Philippines, he
joined the SIU
in 1948 in the
port of New
Orleans. He

worked in the engine department and
upgraded his skills in Piney Point,
Md. Prior to his retirement in
February 1980, Brother Tiamson last
sailed aboard the Santa Mariana, a
Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. vessel.
He was a resident of San Francisco.

EDWARD TINSLEY
Pensioner Edward Tinsley, 67, passed
away May 17. Brother Tinsley began
sailing with the Seafarers in 1964
from the port of Seattle. Born in

Missouri, he sailed in the steward
department and upgraded his skills in
Piney Point, Md. and graduated from
the steward recertification program
there in 1982. Brother Tinsley last
sailed aboard the Liberty Spirit, a
Liberty Maritime Corp. vessel, before
retiring in January 1991. He made his
home in Seattle.

FERNANDO VALLE
Fernando Valle,

· 64, died April
26. He started
his career with
the SIU in 1963
in the port of
New York. He

; first sailed
aboard the

.__ _____ _J Mermaid.
During his career, he worked in the
deck and engine departments and
was active in union organizing drives.
Brother Valle was a resident of
Bayamon, P.R.

FREDERICK VOGLER
Frederick
Vogler, 55,
passed away
April 18. A
native of
California, he
joined the
Seafarers in
1967 in the port

.__ _ __;;___..:;;;~--=.__, of San
Francisco. His first ship was the
Long View Victory. Brother Vogler
sailed in the engine department and
frequently upgraded at the union's
school in Piney Point, Md. Befure
retiring to Chino, Calif., he sailed
aboard the Sea-Land Innovator. From
1960 to 1964, he served in the U.S.
Navy.

LYLE W. WILLIAMSOM
Pensioner Lyle
W. Williamson,
78, died A ril .
Born in Illinois,
he first sailed
with the SIU in
1951. During
his career, he
worked in the

""'"--"-----~""" engine depart­
ment and was active in union orga­
nizing drives. A veteran of World
War II, he served in the U.S. Navy
from 1939 to 1945. Brother
Williamson was a resident of Harbor
City, Calif. and began receiving his
pension in October 1969.

INLAND

DENNIS L. COX
---.3imiiii'iiii~I Dennis L. Cox.

33, passed away
October 9,
I 998. A native
of Texas, he
joined the
Seafarers in
1982. Boatman
Cox worked in
both the engine

and deck departments and last sailed
aboard a G&H Towing Co. vessel.
He was a resident of Brazoria,
Texas.

BENJAMIN F. ROUGHTON
Pensioner
Benjamin F.
Roughton, 74,
died April 15.
He joined the
SIU in 1961 in
the port of
Norfolk, Va.
Born in North

. Carolina, he
worked as a tugboat captain, last sail­
ing aboard a Curtis Bay Towing Co.
vessel. Boatman Roughton made his
home in Chesapeake, Va. and began
receiving his pension in September
1984.

July 1999



,......_.._ __________ .......,_... _______ ~_ - -- - .

Digest of Shipboard
"Union Meetings

The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard
·· minutes as possible. On occasion, because ol space

/Imitations, 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.

GUAYAMA (Navieras NPR),
March 24-Chainnan Ray Gorju,
Secretary Richard E. Hicks,
Educational Director Francis C.
Quebedeaux. Chainnan reported
March 26 arrival and payoff of ship
in Jacksonville, Fla. He reminded
crew members to separate plastic
items from regular trash. Discus­
sion held regarding anti-terrorist
courses mentioned in president's
report in Seafarers LOG. Educa­
tional director urged crew to take
advantage of that course and others
offered at Paul Hall Center in Piney
Point, Md. Some disputed OT
reported in engine department.
None in deck or steward depart­
ments. Vote of thanks given to stew­
ard department for job well done.

ROVER (Intrepid Shipping),
March I 4-Chairman Daniel P.
Hecker, Secretary Juan B.
Gonzales, Educational Director
Vernon Edwards, Deck Delegate
Richard R. Grubbs, Engine
Delegate Clarence A. Knight,
Steward Delegate Don Drew.
Chairman thanked all hands for
professional work. Some disputed
OT reported in deck department;
none in engine or steward depart­
ments. Request made for more
reading material as well as spare
VCR and new furniture for crew
lounge. Repairs needed to lifeboats
and ship's steps.

BLUE RIDGE (Crowley
Petroleum Transport), April 18-
Chairman Al Alwaseem, Secretary
Ron Malozi, Educational Director
Charlie Dahlhaus, Deck Delegate
James Barrett, Steward Delegate
Chris Boronski. Bosun announced
payoff in Houston. He recommend­
ed everyone read president's report
in LOG. New mattresses received
and distributed. Secretary noted
stores arriving in Houston with
plastic refuse and soiled linen
being offloaded. He reminded crew
members to dispose of plastic items
in proper receptacles and not dump
trash in water. Treasurer announced
$150 in ship's fund. Some disputed
OT reported in engine department;
none in deck or steward depart­
ments. Request made for new VCR
for crew lounge. Steward depart­
ment thanked for excellent food
service. Steward, in tum, thanked
crew for great job and hard work.

HM/ DEFENDER (Hvide
Marine), April 25-Chainnan
Juan Castillo, Secretary Steven
Wagner, Educational Director
Richard Gracey, Deck Delegate
John Yates, Engine Delegate
Patrick Carroll, Steward Delegate
Ernie Batiz. Chainnan announced
captain holds payoff at first port
after or on last day of each month.
He urged everyone keep safety a
top priority. Secretary stressed
importance of upgrading skills at
Paul Hall Center. No beefs or dis­
puted OT. Several suggestions
made to be sent to contracts depart­
ment. First is not to hold up payoff
waiting for patrolman due to short
stay in port and frequency of pay­
offs. Second is to have more flexi­
bility in vacation time. Third is if
someone wants to contribute more
funds to money purchase pension
plan, they should somehow be able
to do it through vacation checks.
Final asked for review of retire­
ment age. Engine room members

July 1999

reminded to use starboard entry
into engine room after 1800. All
hands asked to help DEU by keep­
ing heads and showers clean on
main deck. Next ports: Tampa, Fla.
and Lake Charles, La.

EL MORRO (IUM), April 27-
Chainnan Steven Copeland,
Secretary Kris A. Hopkins,
Educational Director F.
Dougherty, Deck Delegate Angelo
Wilcox Sr., Engine Delegate
Daniel Campbell, Steward
Delegate Robert G. Mashmeyer.
Secretary stated exercise equipment
purchased last trip and thanked all
those who donated funds. Educa­
tional director urged members to
upgrade at Paul Hall Center.
Treasurer announced $20 in ship's
fund. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew requested clarifica­
tion on ship's organizational status.
They also asked for bus to provide
transport to and from gate and ship
in Blount Island. Vote of thanks
given to vacation-bound steward.
Steward, in tum, thanked his
crew-Chief Cook Mashmeyer and
SA Porifio Alvarez-for hard
work. Next ports: San Juan, P.R.
and Jacksonville, Fla.

LIBERTY STAR (Liberty
Maritime), April 26-Chainnan
Angel L. Rivera, Secretary Lee N.
Frazier, Deck Delegate Stanley
Daranda, Engine De egate rank
T. Kraemer. Secretary announced
payoff April 28. Fresh provisions
expected at dock. Next trip is to
Haifa, Israel-approximately 45
days. Educational director remind­
ed crew members to donate to
SPAD and also that it's never too
late to attend union upgrading
classes in Piney Point. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Steward
department given vote of thanks for
very good work.

MAYAGUEZ (Navieras NPR),
April 25-Chairman Mike
Carrano, Secretary Gwendolyn
Shinholster, Educational Director
Michael Martykan. Chainnan
announced payoff in Jacksonville,
Fla. April 30. He urged members to
read LOG and keep up on union
rules, policies and new issues.
Secretary advised everyone to
attend Paul Hall Center and utilize
"everything our union has built for
its membership." Educational
director stressed safety aboard ship
(including removal of lint from
dryer which can lead to fire) and
also reminded crew to better their
skills at Piney Point. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Suggestion
for contracts department to look
into vacation pay after 60 days'
seatime. Crew also requested clari­
fication of STCW expiration and
submitting TRBs for signoff at sea.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for job well done. Crew
asked for second dryer and new
couch.

MAERSK TENNESSEE (Maersk
Line), April 25-Chainnan Mark
Holman, Secretary Dwight
Wuerth, Educational Director Pat
Scott, Deck Delegate Anthony E.
Simon, Engine Delegate Jean C.
Horne, Steward Delegate
Stephanie K. Hendrick. Chairman
read president's report from March
LOG and discussed with crew. He
announced payoff in Charleston,

S.C. April 28 and mentioned new
mattresses and room refrigerators
on order. Chairman saluted OVA
Jean Horne on acquiring GED.
Secretary mentioned he was at
MTD meeting in Miami where dis­
cussion was held regarding new
ships and new jobs and that SIU
was commended for job well done
in past for manning needed vessels
to support U.S. troops. Educational
director reminded everyone to keep
documents up to date and report
any possible safety hazards (like
cables in or near water). Treasurer
announced $I95 in ship's fund. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Request made to check money pur­
chase pension plan contributions
from Maersk and to decrease sea­
time needed for vacation and retire­
ment. Crew members also advised
to keep shots updated so as to avoid
illness while in South America.
Vote of thanks from chainnan to
entire crew for pulling together to
make good voyage and to Chief
Cook 'Hendrick for job well done.

OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Alaska
Tanker Co.), April 26--Chairman
Jessie L. Mixon, Secretary
Gregory S. Lynch, Educational
Director Mark Sawin, Deck
Delegate Ahmed A. Mihakel,
Engine Delegate Edward Wisen­
hant, Steward Delegate Mario A.
Firme. Chainnan announced pay­
off after discharge of cargo in
Anacortes, Wash. Discussed fonna­
tion of new company, Alaska
Tanker Co. (based·· in Beaverton,
Ore.), from merger of Maritime
Overseas Corporation and
Keystone Shipping. Awaiting word
from union as to effect merger will
have on membership. Secretary
assured crew members that contract
still good through June 16, 2001.
Ship rerouted from Richmond,
Calif. to Femdate-Cherry Point for
cargo offloading. Educational direc­
tor reminded members to be aware
of necessary training requirements
for tanker shipping and keep
endorsements updated. No beefs or
disputed OT, although watchstander
requested clarification of wheel
relief during watch. Crew noted
communications from Contracts VP
Augie Tellez regarding vacation
plan. Vote of thanks to steward
department for job well done.

OVERSEAS OHIO (Alaska
Tanker Co.), April 19-Chairman
Tim Koebel, Secretary Jeff Smith,
Educational Director Byron Elliot,
Deck Delegate Carl Sands, Engine
Delegate Mike McN ally. Chair­
man read letter from VP Contracts
Augie Tellez regarding resolution
of longtime dispute over what con­
stitutes cargo watch for bosun and
day men. He also announced ship
now operated by new company,
Alaska Tanker, and had no word as
yet on how this would affect exist­
ing contract. Forms for upgrading,
medical, vacation, registration
available from bosun. Crew related
beefs with captain regarding reim­
bursements for travel. Discussion
held on new passenger and tanker
vessels mentioned in April LOG.
Suggestion made that contracts
department look into having vaca­
tion payable after 90 days seatime.
Room inspection policy of obtain­
ing slip signed by steward or bosun
and given to captain to be contin­
ued. Crew requested tape rewinder.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for extra effort and fine
cuisine. Next ports: Ferndale and
Tacoma, Wash.

SEA-LAND CRUSADER (Sea­
Land Service), April 22-
Chairman Roberto Diaz, Secretary
Joseph P. Emidy, Educational
Director Kevin Cooper, Deck
Delegate Angel R. Camacho,
Steward Delegate Luis A. Lopez.
Everything running smoothly,
according to chairman. Educational
director encouraged crew members
to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Request

made for additional information on
money purchase pension plan.
Most members have not received
statements regarding their accounts
and also want to know how to
withdraw or add to account. Next
port: Elizabeth, N.J.

SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea­
Land Service), April 23--Chair­
man Hayden Gifford, Secretary
Franchesca Rose, Educational
Director Ray Chapman, Deck

Patriot shipshape after period in
yard. Vote of thanks also given to
steward department for great job.
Next port: Oakland, Calif.

SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE
(Sea-Land Service), April I l­
Chainnan Jim Scheck, Secretary
Ralph Thomas, Educational
Director Win Rousseau, Deck
Delegate Jose A. Tobio, Steward
Delegate John M. Platts. Chair­
man noted everything running

Pfeiffer Galley Crew Garners Praise

t

, d
The chief officer aboard the SIU-crewed R.J. Pfeiffer recently put in
a good word for Seafarers who comprise the vessel's steward
department. In a note to the Seafarers LOG, J.W. ~ert commen~d
the work of (from left) Chief Cook Ruti Demont, Chief Steward Ph1~p
Lau and Assistant Cook To-Nu Wallace. "This gang deserves a word
of thanks and recognition for the outstanding job they have ~one in
keeping all hands fat and sassy aboard the Matson flagship R.J.
Pfeiffer. There is not a better feeder in the fleet." Apparently, they
have a sense of humor, too, as evidenced by Demont's and Lau's T­
shirts (which read in part, "You kill it, we grill it").

Delegate Manolo V. Delos Santos,
Engine Delegate Elisana Silvano,
Steward Delegate Romeo
Manansala. Chairman and secre­
tary stressed importance of attend­
ing upgrading courses at Paul Hall
Center. New mattresses on order.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Next port: Oakland, Calif.

SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea­
Land Service), April 2I­
Chainnan Mike Rivera, Secretary
Pedro Laboy, Engine Delegate
Jorge E. Bermeo, Steward
Delegate Fernando L. Vega.
Chairman urged crew members to
upgrade skills at facility in Piney
Point. He also stressed importance
of supporting union by contributing
to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. President's report from
LOG regarding new passenger ves­
sels read and discussed. This is
monumental move for industry and
shows our political strength in
Washington, D.C. is paying off.
Thanks given to Mike Sacco and
union membership for hard work.
Suggestion made to request con­
tracts department look into raise in
pension due to increased cost of liv­
ing. Steward department thanked for
excellent job, especially Steward
Laboy for his exquisite culinary
skills.

SEA-LAND PATRIOT (Sea-Land
Service), April I I-Chairman
Shawn T. Evans, Secretary Ruben
Casio Jr., Educational Director B.
Baltic, Deck Delegate Richard
Volkart, Steward Delegate Horst
Baetjer, Steward Delegate Ernest
Polk. Chainnan thanked crew for
good trip. Suggested everyone read
LOG to stay up-to-date on events
in union and maritime industry.
Educational director advised crew
to watch safety films, report any
damage or hazards to department
head and upgrade skills at Paul
Hall Center. Treasurer announced
two new bicycles and dart board
purchased for use by all. New
movies expected in Long Beach,
Calif. Some disputed OT reported
in deck department. No beefs or
disputed OT reported by engine or
steward delegates. Request made
for additional information on
money purchase pension plan.
Thanks given to GSU for getting

smoothly aboard ship with good
crew and no beefs. Payoff expected
in Jacksonville, Fla. Secretary rec­
ommended crew members upgrade
at Piney Point every available
opportunity and help job security
by contributing to SPAD. Educa­
tional director advised all hands to
keep pay vouchers and Coast
Guard discharges in case of dis­
crepancies about sea time.
Treasurer announced $80 in ship's
movie fund. President's report from
LOG read by chainnan. Crew
agreed that awareness of piracy
should be concern of all seafarers.
Thanks given to good steward
department for job well done, espe­
cially for recent shrimp feast.

SEA-LAND PRODUCER (Sea­
Land Service), April 21-Chair­
man Joel Lechel, Secretary David
Cunningham, Educational Direc­
tor Keith Jordan, Deck Delegate
Danny Miller, Engine Delegate
Victor Sapp, Steward Delegate
Cliff Elliott. Bosun reminded
everyone of April 23 payoff in
Jacksonville, Fla. Also stated ship
loading stores there for 28 days.
Educational director reminded
apprentices to keep learning, now
that they have rotated into final
department of their three-month
stay aboard ship. Treasurer
announced ship's fund is low. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Bosun read two letters from VP
Contracts Augie Tellez about how
to improve meetings aboard vessel
as well as president's report from
latest LOG. Suggestion made to
ask contracts department to look
into reducing seatime needed for
retirement. DEU reminded every­
one to help with housekeeping
duties (return dishes to lounge,
remove earplugs and paper towels
from clothes prior to using wash­
ing machine, separate plastics from
regular trash). Bosun thanked
Chief Engineer Ed Robinson for
preparing and cooking pig for last
barbecue. He also thanked steward
department for all their help as
well in making ''this barbecue hard
to beat." Next ports: Jacksonville;
San Juan, P.R.; and Rio Haina,
Dominican Republic.

Seafarers LOG 19

-



-

~- -~.~~--- -~-----------~~--~---

I Letters to the Editor
(Editors note: the Seafarers

LOG reserves the right to edit let­
ters for grammar as well as space
provisions without changing the
writers intent. The LOG wel­
comes letters from members, pen­
sioners, their families and ship­
mates and will publish them on a
timely basis.)

Savannah Contributed
To WWII Liberty Fleet

The following article about
Liberty ships is something the
members may enjoy reading.

I worked at Southeastern
Shipyards, building some of these
ships.

I signed on my first ship
November 19, 1945 as an SIU
member. It was the Liberty Ship
Augustus P. Loring. I joined her in
Charleston, S.C. We took a load
of coal to France. While waiting
at anchor off Le Havre, around
Christmas, a mine sank a Robin
Line ship. It was reported that no
one was injured. I don't recall the
ship's name, but it was close by
us. We heard the explosion and
felt the concussion.

I enjoy the LOG and look for­
ward to reading it each month.
Thank you for keeping all the
readers well informed.
Pensioner Thomas A. Brown
Savannah, Ga.

Editor s note: The following
article by James Mack Adams is
reprinted, with permission, from
the Islands Closeup section of the
Savannah (Ga.) Morning News,
May 6, 1999.

Their cargo holds bulging with
supplies destined for foreign
ports, they sailed the treacherous

and perilous wartime seas. Their
distinctive silhouette and light
armament made them easy prey
for roaming German U-boat
"Wolf Packs" and enemy dive
bombers.

They were the Liberty Ships
that composed America's Liberty
Fleet that transported much-need­
ed supplies to troops overseas
during World War II.

The names "Liberty Fleet" and
"Liberty Ship" were coined by
Adm. Emory Scott Land, chair­
man of the United States
Maritime Commission.

A total of 88 of these Liberty
Ships were built in Savannah
between 1942 and 1945. Each
launching was a patriotic celebra­
tion attended by dignitaries and
well-wishers. Cheers and ap­
plause erupted from the throng as
each new ship was christened by a
bottle of champagne before it slid
down the slipway into the
embrace of the waiting river.

They were given names to
honor persons well-known in
Georgia history such as the SS
Lyman Hall, SS Button Gwinnett,
SS Casmir Pulaski, SS Florence
Martus, SS George Whitefield and
others.

The christening and launch of
the SS Juliette Low on May 13,
1944 was said to be especially
festive. In the crowd were hun­
dreds of Girl Scouts and their
leaders. Given the honor of break­
ing the bottle of champagne
across the bow was Juliette's
niece, Mrs. Samuel C. Lawrence
of Charleston, W. Va.

America's first Liberty Ship,
the SS Patrick Henry, was
launched from the port of
Baltimore on September 27,
1941. Several hundred more of

Know Your Rights

these merchant vessels were built
at American ports and put to sea
during the course of the war.
Many of them ended up at the
bottom of the sea.

Just prior to America's entry
into World War II, the U.S.
Maritime Commission awarded
shipbuilding contracts to several
firms. One of these contracts was
given to Savannah Shipyards, Inc.

To help its chances of being
awarded the contract, the
Savannah company built its own
three-slipway yard-without any
federal funding. This move, how­
ever, did little to change the com­
mission's lack of confidence in
the company's capital structure
and management. Savannah
Shipyards, Inc. was required to
show full staffing and to complete
the required facilities within 30 to
60 days, or risk losing the con­
tract.

The company failed to meet the '
specified deadline, but the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
prompted the Maritime Com­
mission to re-evaluate the situa­
tion in Savannah. The commission
was granted the authority to take
possession of the project, com­
plete the facilities, and award the
management to a new company.

Savannah Shipyards, Inc. chal­
lenged this move in court, but
their suit was unsuccessful. The
company was awarded a substan­
tial compensation.

In January 1942, a leading
construction firm was engaged to
complete the shipbuilding facili­
ties. Management was turned
over to a group of experts who
reorganized the yard and renamed
it Southeastern Shipbuilding
Corp.

The first Liberty Ship to be
launched from Savannah's
Southeastern Shipyards in May
1942 was appropriately named
the SS James Oglethorpe, for

Savannah's and Georgia's
founder. Unfortunately, this first
vessel did not survive the war.
The Oglethorpe was torpedoed
and sank as it crossed the
Northwest Atlantic on a voyage
from New York to England.

Only two other Liberty Ships
launched from Savannah were
sunk as the result of enemy
action. They were the SS John
Treutlen and the SS Jonas Lie.
Most of the other vessels were
either scrapped or converted to
other uses at the end of the war.

During 1943, even though the
Savannah facilities were only half
completed, Southeastern deliv­
ered more Liberty Ships than any
of its rivals.

The 88 vessels produced by
Southeastern Shipyards during
the war cost just over $2 million
each to build. The U.S. Maritime
Commission paid the company a
standard fee for each completed
ship, and bonuses if they were
completed earlier than scheduled.

Due to the fact there was little
or no variation from one Liberty
Ship to another, they could be
produced in rapid cookie-cutter
fashion. The typical Liberty Ship
measured just over 441 feet in
length and had a beam of just
under 57 feet. They could carry
about 9,000 tons of cargo at a top
speed of 11 knots.

Since they were primarily mer­
chantmen, and not intended as
war ships, the vessels carried very
light armament to fight off an
attack. Their primary weapons
were 20 mm and 40 mm guns,
three-inch 50 caliber, and five­
inch 3 8 caliber. On board was a
detachment of 24 Navy seamen
and one officer assigned to main­
tain and operate the guns.

The Southeastern Shipyards
was Savannah's largest employer
during World War II and wielded
an enormous impact on the city's

wartime economy. It is estimated
that a total of 46,766 workers
were employed in shipbuilding in
Savannah throughout the course
of the war. This generated a total
payroll amounting to $112 mil­
lion. Workers invested some of
their pay to help finance the war
by purchasing $11 million worth
of War Bonds.

Workers earned an average
weekly pay of $100-considered
a very respectable wage in those
days.

Because of the shortage of
male workers, women worked
alongside the men, performing
tasks that had been previously
considered "men's work."

Racial segregation being on
firm footing in Savannah in the
1940s, African-American work­
ers had little hope of rising above
custodial or helper jobs.

People flocked to Savannah to
work in the shipyards. As the
wartime population of the city
swelled from 96,000 to 175,000
between 1940 and 1944, new
housing had to be constructed.
Some of the housing projects
were meant to be only temporary.

On September 13, 1945, the
end of an era was marked by the
launching of the SS Half Knot, the
last Liberty Ship to depart
Savannah.

After peace returned to the
world, Southeastern was one of

4 pyards closed and their
properties b the War Assets
Administration. -acre site
about two miles west of ah
was purchased by the Savanna
Port Authority and Industries
Committee for $357,112. The
area was later occupied by

, Georgia Ports Authority, Union
Camp and Intermarine USA.

The era of the Liberty Ships is
an important part of Sa s
long and colorful mantime history.

FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitu­
tion of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District makes specific provi­
sion for safeguarding the membership's
money and union finances. The constitution
requires a detailed audit by certified public
accountants every year, which is to be sub­
mitted to the membership by the
secretary-treasurer. A yearly finance commit­
tee 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 find­
ings.

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 equal­
ly consist of union and management repre­
sentatives and their alternates. All expendi­
tures 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.

mail, return receipt requested. The proper
address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

520 I 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 obliga­
tions, 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 pro­
tect 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 headquar­
ters.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU consti­
tution are available in all union halls. All
members should obtain copies of this consti­
tution 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 oblig­
ation by any methods, such as dealing with
charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details,
the member so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.

segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to fur­
ther its objects and purposes including, but
not limited to, furthering the political, social
and economic interests of maritime workers,
the preservation and furthering of the
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 contribu­
tions are voluntary. No contribution may be
solicited or received because of force, job dis­
crimination, financial reprisal, or threat of
such conduct, or as a condition of member­
ship in the union or of employment. If a con­
tribution is made by reason of the above
improper conduct, the member should notify
the Seafarers International Union or SPAD
by certified mail within 30 days of the contri­
bution 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.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's ship­
ping rights and seniority are protected exclu­
sively by contracts between the union and the
employers. Members should get to know
their shipping rights. Copies of these con­
tracts are posted and available in all union
halls. If members believe there have been
violations of their shipping or seniority rights
as contained in the contracts between the
union and the employers, they should notify
the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified

20 Seafarers LOG

EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEA­
FARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG tradi­
tionally 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 constitution­
al 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.

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

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

SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY
DONATION - SPAD. SPAD is a separate

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.

July 1999



SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER
1999 UPGRADING COURSESCHEDULE

The following is the ~chedUie for cla$se.S from July 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 reservations should be made for
Saturday.

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

Deck Upgrading Courses

Course

Able Seaman

Radar Observer/Unlimited

Radar Recertification (one day)

Automatic Radar Plotting Aids
(ARPA)

Start Date

September 20

July 12
August 9
September 4

July 23
August 19
October 14

July 26
August 23
October 18

Engine Upgrading Courses

Course Start Date

Fireman/Watertender & Oiler August 9
October 11

Marirte Electrical Maintenance I September 20

QMED September 13

Power Plant Maintenance September 27

Refrigeration Systems Maintenance November 8

Steward Upgrading Courses

Course Start Date

Date of Completion

October 29

July 23
August 20
September 15

July 31
August 28
October23

Date of Completion

September 17
November 19

October29

December 3

November S

December 17

Galley Operations/
Advanced Galley Operations
(Every week, starting Jan. 11)

July 5, 12, 19, 26
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
September 6, 13, 20, 27

Course

Bosun Recertification

Course

Tanker Familiarization/
Assistant Cargo (DL)

Basic Firefighting

Advanced Firefighting

Government Vessels

Recertlflcatioa Programs
Sta_, Date

August23

Safety Specialty Courses

Start Date

August2
September 27
November 1

July 12
August2
September 27
October 18
November 22

July 12
August 2
September 13
Novembers

July 12
August 16
September6
September 27
November 1
November 8
November 29

Lifeboatman/Water Survival July 12
August 9
September 6
October4
November 1
November 29

STCW Basic Safety (refresher)

Tankerman (PIC) Barge

July 12
Julyl6
August 2
August 9
August30
September 20
September 27
October 25
November 1
Novembers
November22
November29
December 13

July26

Academic Department Courses

Date of Completion

October4

Date of Completion

August 20
October 15
November 19

July 16
August 6
October 1
October 22
November 26

July 23
August 13
September 24
Novemberl9

July 30
September 3
Sep tern her 24
October 15
November 19
November26
December 17

July 23
August20
September 17
October 15
November 12
December 10

July 16
July 30
August 6
August 13
September 3
September 24
October l
October29
November 5
November 12
November 26
December 3
December 17

July 30

General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic
Certified Chief Cook/ July 12, 26 vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week
Chief Steward August 9, 23 prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival
(Every other week, starting Jan. 11) September 6, 20 courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study.

--~--------------------------------------
11n~nAg11u~ ADD'{l/9ATlftU With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty
UrUIJltt lffU rrj lllHI IUff (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 indi­
cating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatim~ for the course if it is

Name Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and QMED 'Ul,p/icqnts must submit a U.S. Coast Guard
tee qf $135 with their llJWlication. The pqyment should be matle with a montzy order on{v.

Address payable to LMSS.

Telephone----------­ 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 ----------------

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? D Yes D No

If yes, class#-----------------------­

Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes D No

If yes, course(s) taken ---------------------­

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

D Yes D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes D No

Primary language spoken --------------------

July 1999

COURSE
BEGIN
DATE

END
DATE

LAST VESSEL:-------------- Rating: ___ _

Date On:----------- Date Off:

SIGNATURE ____________ _ DATE

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you
present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any questions,
contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point.

RETURN COMPLEI'ED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and
&iucation, 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 Trai_ning an~
Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise quali­
fied, 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. 7199

Seafarers LOG 21

-



. -

Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

SEAFARERS

HARRY LUNDEBERG
;: !:. LIFEBOAT CLASS
·:_ ~; .. ==-SR~

Unlicensed Apprentice Water Safety Class 589 - Graduating from unli­
censed apprentice water safety class 589 are (from left, kneeling) James Miller Jr., Derek
Henderson, Chad Partridge, Andrew Straka Jr., Christopher Green, (second row) Donaldo
Arevalo, Barry McCaslin II, Terry Rochester Jr., Jarian Hutchinson, DeMichael Dews, Ray
Lewis Jr., Anthony Cruzvergara, Brent Morris and Lane Schroeder.

Basic Fire Fighting - Earning their basic fire fighting endorsements on April 16 are
(in no specific order) William J. Bryan, Philip H. Diego, Hazel P. Galbiso, John J. Graham,
Tina D. Larson, Michael R. LasDulce, Michael P. MacNiel, lsoline E. Major, Oscar
Martinez, Rodolfo A. Orlanda, Kirt A. Pugh, Oscar L. Ramos, Elveme Ruter, Sonny 0.
Austria, Mohamed M. Wasel and Gary A. White.

Basic Fire Fighting - Completing the basic fire fighting dass on May 7 are (from left,
kneeling) Juan Ortiz, Patricia Geras, Owen Carr, Curtis Hintze, (second row) Arthur Stewart,
Edward Whitfield, Claude Hollings, Stormie Combs (instructor) and Douglas Flynn.

Advanced Fire Fighting - Marking completion of the advanced fire fighting
course on April 30 with their instructor, John Smith (far left), are (from left, first row)
Marijan Masnov, Demetrius Simmons, Amin Ali, David Gray, Terry Smith, Husain Ali,
Edward Rynberg, (second row) Ronald Oyer, Elmer Prestidge, Thomas Lester, Stanley
Garnett, Jose Guzman and Dennis Flynn.

22 Seafarers LOii

STCW Basic Safety - Upgrading graduates of the STCW basic safety course are
(from left, kneeling) William Allbiter, Derek Ross, Romulo Dalit, Roberto Contreras, Calvin
Wagner, Malachi Tannis, Charles Tuck, Ella Hill, (second row) Oswald Chase, John
Lavergne, Mike Croft, Ernest Costa, John Lee, Eddie Kilbury, Rodney Mccaslin, Ed Lobb,
Stormie Combs (instructor), (third row) Lee Rogers, Gilbert Martinez, Jake Jarrell, James
Fleming, James Odekirk, Dennis Johnston, Brian Bailey, Rogers Trahan, wallace
Ashwood and Luis Bera.

Marine Electrican Maintenance I - Engine department members receiving
their marine electrical maintenance endorsements on April 16 are (from left) Howard
Hendra, Dennis Adjetey, Mark Jones (instructor), Troy Fleming, Morris Jeff, Samuel Addo,
Lonnie Carter, James Arlt and Rebecca Gaytan.

Tankerman (Pl C) Barge - Mari trans - Boatmen who sail aboard Maritrans
vessels completed the tankerman (PIC) barge course in Philadelphia on April 16. They are
(in no specific order) William Richardson, George Lynch Ill, Karl Goldsword, Anthony

Matthews, Ronald Oyer, Randall Johnson, John Dean, Timothy Purdy
and William Conger .

Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL)- Earning
their graduation certificates for .completion of the tanker familiariza­
tion/assistant cargo (DL) course on April 30 are (from left, first row) Jim
Shafer (instructor), Owen Carr, Richard Buchanan, James Prado, Pati
Taototo, James Furby, Fahad Yahya, Anthony Jordan, Antonio Cooks,
(second row) Christopher Barrow, Joseph Sotelo, Timothy Bixby,
Joshua Davenport, Aaron Thomas, Thomas Larusso, Nabil Ahmed,
Cole Bridwell, Christopher Ledlow, Clifton Doonis, (third row) Michael
Snow, Joel Encarnacion, David Horton and Daniel Buffington.

July 1999



Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

Water Safety - Upgrading ABs who successfully completed the water safety class
on April 2 are (from left, first row) Artis Williams, Alfred Mcintyre, Jeffrey Peterbridge,
Melvin Stegall, Billy Pinkston, (second row) Kevin Russell, Dionisio Batiz, Monte Burgett,
Michael Payne, Denny Lewis, (third row) Raymond Kane, Thong Dinh, Byron Manuel,
Abdul Hassan, Tommy Cuffee, Morgan Browne, (fourth row) Tom Gilliland (instructor),
Laura Cash and Deborah Sutton.

Chief Cook - Upgraders graduating from a module in the chief cook course pose
with their instructor, Chef John Hetmanski (far left). The students are (from left) Donald
Huffman, Louis Morris and Jimmy VVhite.

Practicing Damage Control

Chief Cook - Completing one of the required modules in the chief cook course are
(from left) Cleotilde Mejia, Curtis Williams, Instructor-Chef John Dobson, Bienvenido
Pagan, Alba Ayala, Dulip Sookhiram and Jasper Jackson.

Welding - Engine department members completing the welding course on May 7 are
(from left, first row) Samuel Addo, Kwasi Manu, Juntin Valencia, Mark Dumas, Sterling
Adams, (second row) Lonnie Carter, Dennis Adjetey, Troy Fleming, Morris Jeff, Buzzy
Andrews (instructor) and Ronald Garber.

Galley Familiarization - Unlicensed apprentices from class 588 complete their
introduction to the galley department with Instructor-Chef Shannon Twigg (right). They are
(from left, first row) Fahd Alsoofi, Pedro Ortiz, William Rozier, Martin Vargas Jr., James
Brown, Ramon Thomas, (second row) James Brasher, Samuel Giles, Michael Humphrey
Jr., Bruce Weathers and Marion Collins.

Students in a government vessels course learn dam­
age control techniques, in this case how to stop leaks
in a pipe.

Government Vessels - Upgrading graduates of the government vessels course on May 7 are (from left, front row)
Wilfredo Acevedo, Juan Rivas, Tawnia Stucker, Glenn Williams, Edward Nelson, Mark Downey, Steve Kastel, Brian
lsenstadt, Thomas Grosskurth, Victor Beata, Robert Wiles, Anthony Sabatini, Sean Cripps, (second row) John Gamache,
Dana Washington, Ken Gilliam, (third row) Melvin Ratcliff, Andrew Seabon, Damon Panker, Jomo Young, Barry Larkin,
Justin VonSprecken, Jason Gay, Philip Noto II and Carlos Ortiz.

July 1999 Seafarers LOii 23

-



-

With the port of Los Angeles/
Long Beach, Cali£ being
America's largest and most active
harbor complex, there is always
something different going on at
or around the Seafarers hall in
nearby Wilmington.

SIU officials are on hand to
service incoming ships; register
and dispatch members to crew
the many vessels calling on the
southern California port; help

DEU Mark Ciciulla (left) and his
brother, Second Pumpman
Giusseppe Ciciulla, catch up on
the latest union news during their
break aboard the Coast Range.

Above, AB Tom Filippone oper­
ates a winch to bring a submarine
line (righ1) aboard the deck of the
Coast Range. The Crowley Petro­
leum Transport vessel was at the
El Segundo moorings, preparing
to discharge its cargo to the near­
by Chevron refinery.

I

Seafarers file vacation, medical,
pension and upgrading forms;
and take care of other union
business as needed.

Officials and members also
represent the union in rallies,
picket lines and special events
such as Maritime Memorial Day.

The photos on this pa e
show some of the recent routine
and not-so-routine activities of
Seafarers while in port.

Above, two new members from
Gulf Caribe, which runs a taxi ser­
vice and assists in bringing ships
into the moorings, are Operator
Chad Thomas and Deckhand
Tom Matlock.

Right, preparing lunch for
a hungry crew aboard

the Coast Range is Chief
Steward Hans F. Schmuck.

Summer at the Point
There Is still time to plan a family holiday this

summer at the Paul Hall Center In Piney Point,

Md. For additional lnfonnation, see page 10.

A service honoring U.S. merchant mariners took place May 22 at the
American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial (far left) in San Pedro,
Calif. Above, SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox stands before the
wreath presented by the Seafarers International Union. The event also
marked the tenth anniversary of the dedication of the memorial on a
site which soon will be home to the first National Merchant Marine
Memorial Wall of Honor. The wall will list the names of the ships and the
brave mariners who sacrificed their lives for their country during World
War II and subsequent conflicts.

On a break after securing the
Coast Range at the El Segundo
moorings are (from left) Bosun
John Mossenberger, AB Rudolph
Hernandez and AB Mike Ortiz.

William J. Dean, bosun aboard
the Sea-Land Defender, is happy
to be in port.

At the top of the Crowley
Petroleum vessel's gangway are
(from left} AB Paul Wills, SIU
Wilmington Port Agent John Cox
and SA Plaridel Cadiz.

Bosun Kenneth McGregor stops
in at the Wilmington hall to go
over some paperwork.

Richard Walker, chief cook
aboard the Coast Range, has the
ship's grill sizzling.


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