Seafarers Log: Vol. 62 No. 11 (2000-11-01)

Volume 62, umber 11

SIU Job Growth Continues

S&H Christens
Z-Drive Tug

Photo by Robert Mihovil

Seafarers in the Gulf Coast region recently
welcomed a new Z-drive tug to the G&H
Towing fleet. The Matthew K, christened in
Galveston, Texas in late September, is getting
positive reviews from SIU boatmen. Page 4.

SIU-Contracted
Companies to
Operate45
RRFVessels
SIU members will crew 45 Ready Reserve
Force (RRF) ships (including the Cape
Washington, pictured here) for the next five
years, following a government announcement
that upheld earlier contract awards for vessels
by the U.S. Maritime Administration. The SIU
secured substantial wage increases and ben­
efit gains aboard the 45 ships awarded to six
of its contracted operators. Page 3.

Seafarers Crew
Reflagged
Cruise Ship

Safety School Opens in Hawaii

In mid-October, SIU members
signed on aboard United States
Lines' newly acquired cruise ship
Patriot in Oregon. Formerly the
Nieuw Amsterdam, the vessel is
slated to cruise the Hawaiian
Islands starting Dec. 9. Bosun
Bernie Eda (right) and other crew
members climbed the gangway as
the vessel was reflagged under
the Stars and Stripes. Page 4.

The SIU and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month opened a new, U.S. Coast
Guard-approved basic safety training school in Barbers Point, Honolulu. The facility primarily is intended for
use by local residents for new job opportunities aboard U.S.-flag cruise ships as well as to meet the increased
demand for trained mariners from Hawaii. Page 3.



President's Report
ContlnueCI Progress

Doesn't it seem like yesterday when all the talk was about
"Y2K" and the millennium bug and epic New Year's Eve cele­
brations?

Well, we're almost through the year 2000. And just like dur­
ing the 1990s, the SIU is still on a roll.

In this union, our top priority is clear: good jobs and job
security for the membership. That goal never changes.

I'm proud of the SIU's work in consistently achieving that
goal. This month alone, for example, we are reporting major
contractual gains on the RRF ships; new jobs on the cruise
ship Patriot and the Z-drive tug Matthew K; and the launch of
MSC's newest SIU-contracted surveillance vessel.

We also opened, with the assistance of the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Education, a new basic safety
school in Hawaii. It mainly is designed to help the union and
its contracted companies meet the increased manpower
requirements that go hand-in-hand with the expansion of the
U.S.-flag cruise ship fleet as well as the increased demand for
trained mariners from Hawaii.

Those gains certainly aren't the only ones the SIU has
made. As we reported in October, three to six new tankers
have been ordered for the Jones Act fleet. Those ships will be
crewed by SIU members.

Additionally, the Paul Hall Center has opened a first-class
simulator building featuring the world's most modem equip­
ment.

These successes, along with many others that have been
reported throughout the year in the LOG and at membership
meetings, don't come easy and they don't happen by accident.
Particularly in our industry, we have to scratch and claw for
everything we gain. We constantly battle against foreign-flag
interests who would love nothing more than to see the U.S.
flag wiped off the seas.

One way we can win that fight is through the continued
good work of the Paul Hall Center's advisory board. Through
close examination of the industry and careful planning, the
board has been instrumental in helping the SIU provide our
contracted companies with the world's best-trained mariners.
More information about this key group begins on page 5.

Overall, with the year winding down and the holidays
approaching, we in the SIU have much to be thankful for.
We've worked for-and won-many new jobs and substantial
contractual improvements. We've improved our capability to
provide state-of-the-art training for any and all Seafarers who
want it.

We also have our sights set on even bigger gains in the
future. And we intend to keep on winning.

Job Well Done
On a personal note, I extend my most sincere thanks and

appreciation to John Graykowski for his terrific work as

deputy maritime administrator and (twice) as acting maritime

administrator. Mr. Graykowski, as reported on page 7, is step­

ping down from MarAd. He truly embraced MarAd's cause,

and his enthusiasm will be missed.

Volume 62, Number 11 November 2000

The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) 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 (301) 899-
0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 520 l Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing
Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim
Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne
Textor.

Copyright © 2000 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved.

2 Seafarers LOG

SIU, Other Maritime Unions
Unite in Battle to Improve
'Oil Patch Mariners' Conditions
Members Asked to Help in Gulf Coast Effort

For the last two years, five
maritime unions have worked
together to organize the offshore
mariners sailing in the Gulf of
Mexico oil patch.

The campaign is reaching
mariners aboard offshore service
vessels (OSV) and tugboats that
pull oil rigs to location. The effort
is taking place all along the Gulf­
from Florida to Texas-and has
the full support of the AFL-CIO.

By working together, the
unions- which include the
American Maritime Officers; the
International Organization of
Masters, Mates & Pilots; the
Marine Engineers ' Beneficial
Association; the National Mari­
time Union; and the Seafarers
International Union-are consoli­
dating their resources to benefit
those seeking a voice at the work­
place.

Each of the unions had been
fielding requests from oil patch
mariners to join. Many workers
were afraid they would be unable
to meet the Standards for
Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers
(STCW) requirements when they
are implemented in 2002. Others
described the horrific conditions
they experience regularly while at
sea and were looking for help.
Still others knew from family and
friends who are members of the
maritime unions about the bene­
fits and job security of having a

union contract.
The unions assisted a grass­

roots organization called the Gulf
Coast Mariners Association
(GCMA), located in Houma, La.
The GCMA, founded by men and
women who work in the oil patch,
were tired of the runaround they
were getting from the large com­
panies who took over the mom­
and-pop outfits during the bust
times of the 1980s and early
1990s. The founders of the
GCMA realized the mariners
needed a voice.

From its simple start a few
years ago, the GCMA now boasts
a membership of more than 1,000
mariners in Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

As it grew, the GCMA
received more and more firsthand
accounts of the problems and
dangers faced by oil patch
mariners. Many of them were
direct violations of safety and
labor regulations issued by the
U.S. Coast Guard. Yet, almost all
of the reports included a state­
ment that the violations never
were given to federal authorities
because the mariners feared los­
ing their jobs.

Some of these statements
reminded the representatives of
the five maritime unions of the
experiences reported by the orga­
nizers 50 and 60 years ago when
they were organizing the deep sea
industry:

Union·-~~,·~ . ,Pl,ght· of· OffsbOre''.IVl~rlnersi.
..-rR:'first1Uling !'started hearingtro:if nmttn~,; w&n 1 git do~'tiere .~ the ··

homfll9n. sta~enf/They treat us likes:~-' J Fnow it's not pretty tO hear', but
that•s:Wbahtqey say .. And it's no1 Just a~nstttie boat oompantes, but tne oil
ccimpanies and vendors. t hate to see mariners treated like they are the bot­
.~om of!ft~ b~}l'et. Everyone talks Jike that so much, ygu even hear guys refer­
ring foithems.etves as 'boat trash.' t can't believe hbw they get paid for 12
hours and work 18 or 20 nours a day With no overtime. and Jt just seems nor~
mat. Ifs hard to agitate arouml overtime because no one really expects it.
People can get fired for anythingat anytime-just because someone doesn't
like you or wants to.hire their nephew. And there's nothing they can do about
it except pack their bags and start tooking for another job." '

Jimmy O~no, OMU organizer from SIU

"The mariners in the Gulf today haVe constanttY stated they woukf not
want their chftdr~n to ,fu:fl~. theA!; into the industry. They see that their fathers
still have to work lf'\t() thetf 10s because they have no pension and need the
money, They canoot afforct to retire. They want a better life for their chitdren
and this industry does n.o! .provlde it unless they can get some help. That's
why they are looking for scimeone like the unions to provide job security and
long-term benefits."

Tim Dragone, OMU organizer from AMO

~organizing is a much tougher job than I ever imagined. The mariners in
tl1e Gulf are treated like second..class citizens whose rights are ignored by the
boat companies. They're told they~re not allowed to speak to union organizers
or even among themselves about a union. These mariners are routinely
ordered to break environmental laws and the rutes of good seamanship.
They're slowly getting stronger and I'm proud to help them toss away the
chains of slavery that have bound them too long,"

John Hasson, OMU organizer from MEBA

''The mariners here are getting such a raw deal. When you look at condi­
tions on the boats-pay, benefits. food-it's unbelievable sometimes. The
companies treat them tfke a number. The captalns have no authority on the
boats~ but the companies want to catr them supervi$0rs to try to keep them
out of the union. They are called 'boat trash: When they are on the vessels.
it's Uke a prison camp. If anyone needs a union, it's these guys down here."

Gary Hensley, OMU organizer from MM&P

"We have the working condruons of a Third World country rtght here in our
own backyard, and ifs time to clean it up! These mariners can get the job
done under the worst condiUons. be it weather, fatigue or poor equipment.
They make it happen. So I say it's about time that they get the respect and
recognition that they deserve, and the onty way that's going to happen is if the
mariners stick together, They need a union:

John Ebanks, OMU DFganfzer from NMU

The five maritime unions are unit­
ed in their effort to end the abuse
faced by oil patch mariners who
work aboard vessels like this one
in the Gulf of Mexico.

• "The 12-hour rule is ludi­
crous. It does not make sense
when it cannot be enforced.
Either run more than 12 hours or
turn the wheel over to an ... inex­
perienced. You close your eyes
and pray."

• "The whole crew would be
up all day shifting barges and
chipping and painting. Then the
company would call and give us
orders to get a material barge and
take it offshore. This was a four­
man crew doing this job. And this
is a continuous cycle."

• "I have been working on
boats for about 28 years. The
number one issue that I see which
needs to be addressed at this time
for the inland and coastwise
mariner is fatigue and hours
worked."

• "I was the only one [ capa­
ble] to handle my boat, running
my work sometimes beyond 12
hours. Stress is a big part of my
life. Keep going to keep the com­
pany, and the oil company, happy.
I have no choice. It doesn't matter
whether I'm tired or not. I'm just
a person that has to feed my fam­
ily and keep a roof over hls
head."

Others offered actual accounts
of dangerous situations:

• "I was working as a deck­
hand with Coastal Towing. Me
and the captain were the only
crew. We were working with rig
Workhorse 4 (a jackup rig), mov­
ing it from one location to anoth­
er in Vermillion Block 31. Many
times it would take us 12 to 30
hours to get the rig on location
where it could start to work on
the well. With just two men on
board, we were unable to cook or
get any sleep. The captain would
complain to our office about the
hours and that we were tired and
needed some rest, but they told us
that the boat was not making
enough money to put a third man
on to help. Finally I had enough
and I quit."

• "I have 16 years experience
as a tankerman with a grade A
document. I worked on the MV
San Miguel for Buffalo Marine in
Texas. I have worked hitches of
35 days straight. We were work-

Continued on page 6

November 2000



SIU-Contracted Companies to anage 45 RRF Vessels
Wages, Benefits Substantially Increased

SIU members will crew 45
Ready Reserve Force (RRF)
ships for the next five years, fol­
lowing the General Accounting
Office's announcement in late
September that upheld earlier
contract awards for 74 vessels by
the U.S. Maritime Administra­
tion.

The SIU secured substantial
wage increases and benefit gains
aboard the 45 ships awarded to
six of its contracted operators.
The union also has attained
retroactive wage increases total­
ing at least 4 percent for the years
1999-2000-a period in which

the RRF vessels operated under
contract extensions because of a
1998 protest concerning the gov­
ernment's bidding procedure.

The new five-year agreements
call for much larger wage boosts,
plus Seafarers Welfare and
Pension Plans benefits at their top
levels; inclusion of the Seafarers
Money Purchase Pension Plan at
5 percent of base wages; in­
creased vacation benefits and
other gains.

The new contracts are retroac­
tive to May 1, 2000. Crew turn­
over among the 74-ship RRF fleet
was scheduled to begin Nov. I on

Pacific Gulf Marine's Cape Flattery is one of eight RRF ships the com­
pany will manage and operate under a contract with the U.S. Maritime

most of the vessels, although a
few began earlier.

The SIU-contracted compa­
nies which were awarded con­
tracts are American Overseas
Marine Corp. (AMSEA); Crow­
ley Liner Services; Interocean
Ugland Management.; Ocean
Duchess; Pacific Gulf Marine;
and Patriot Contract Services. A
list of the SIU-crewed vessels
accompanies this article.

The vessels in the RRF fleet
are used when the nation's armed
forces require surge shipping,
such as during the Persian Gulf
War or more recent operations in
Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia. The
ships are owned by the govern­
ment and operated by private
shipping companies using Ameri­
can merchant mariners.

The fleet is maintained in var­
ious states of readiness. Some
vessels are ready to sail at a
moment's notice as preposition­
ing vessels. Others stand in
reserve or reduced operating sta­
tus (ROS), ready to be fully
crewed and deployed in four days
or fewer. The rest of the fleet
operates under 10-to-20-day acti­
vation status.

The fleet includes tankers,
RO/ROs, barge carriers, crane
ships and breakbulk vessels.

'-JIF Sltips;tiJ Be Managed· by SI~. COnt.panie5
American Overseas
Marine Corp. (9)

Beaver State
Cape Jacob
Cape John
Cape Johnson
Cape Juby
Cape Nome
Curtis
Green Mountain

State
Wright

Cr9wley L!ner
Se/vices (8}
C~pe Inscription

, {)~pe lntr~pid .
, Gape lsabei ·
Gape Island
Cape Lambert
Gape Lobos

Cape Washington
Gape Wrath

lnlerocean Ugland
Mgmt. Corp. (11)

Petersburg
Potomac
Gopher State
Flickertail State
Cornhusker State
Cape Mendocino
Gape Fear
Cape Mohican
Cape May
Chesapeake
Mount Washington

Ocean Duchess (3)
Alatna
Chattahoochie
Nodaway

Pacific Gulf Marine
(8)

Diamond State
Equality State
Gape Farewell
Cape Florida
Cape Flattery
Keystone State
Gem State
Grand Canyon

State

Patriot Contract
Services (6)

Cape Breton
Cape Bover
Cape Blanco
Cape Borda
Gape Gibson
Cape Girardeau

When the awards first were
announced in May, Transporta­
tion Secretary Rodney Slater stat­
ed, "These contracts will enable
the Ready Reserve Force to con­
tinue to perform its vital role in
protecting America's national
security, one of the Department of
Transportation's top strategic pri­
orities."

The awards originally were
made in the summer of 1998, but
MarAd quickly rescinded them
following objections to the bid­
ding procedure. Finally, the new
contracts were announced earlier
this year- but were followed by
more protests, this time apparent­
ly concerning the outcome of the
awards, rather than the method
used to determine them.

Administ:tion. • • MSC Launches New Survey Ship
Union EleCllOn Voling USNS Mary Sears Joins s Other Surveillance Vessels

Starts November 1
Voting for officers of the

Seafarers International Union's
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District, to be conducted
by secret ballot, begins Nov. 1
and continues through Dec. 30.
This election also includes five
proposed constitutional amend­
ments. (See sample ballot, pages
12-13.)

Full-book SIU members in
good standing are eligible to vote
in the election, which will deter­
mine union officers for the 2001-
2004 term. Such members may
pick up their ballots at any of 21
SIU halls throughout the country.
Ballots may be obtained from 9
a.m. until noon, Mondays
through Saturdays, except legal
holidays, until Dec. 30.

The ballot includes the list of
candidates seeking the posts of
president, executive vice presi­
dent, secretary-treasurer, six vice
presidents, six assistant vice pres­
idents, two headquarters repre­
sentatives and I 0 port agents (for
a total of 27 positions). It also
includes the five proposed consti­
tutional amendments.

In accordance with the union's
constitution, a credentials com­
mittee composed of six rank-and­
file Seafarers, elected by their fel-

low members, reviewed the nom­
ination applications to ensure
each candidate's eligibility. The
committee's report was prepared
Aug. 18 (after the nominations
period closed) and approved by
the membership at the September
meetings. Subsequent to the
September membership meet­
ings, a nominee for the position
of vice president in charge of con­
tracts and contract enforcement
appealed his disqualification by
the committee. This individual's
appeal was presented to the mem­
bership at the October member­
ship meetings and the appeal was
granted.

The secret ballots are accom­
panied by envelopes marked
"Ballot" as well as postage-paid
envelopes bearing the address of
the bank depository where the
ballots are kept until submitted to
the tallying committee. Each
Seafarer must present his or her
book to the port agent or agent's
designated representative when
receiving the ballot, the envelope
marked "Ballot" and the mailing
envelope.

When the member receives
the ballot and envelopes, his or

Continued on page 7

lli!i,~~s.e be advisee! that SIU headquarters and all

li4f!l!JiriTJ!l halls will be closed Monday, Dec. 25 for

1;:::E£:EE:.:::;~
' s h(iurs will resume the following workday.
fr ·:·-_;;;ft;: <;:;:._· ·,;,

November 2000

The U.S. Military Sealift
Command (MSC) last month cer­
emonially launched the sixth of
its Pathfinder T-AGS 60 class of
oceanographic survey ships, the
USNS Mary Sears.

SIU members will crew the
new ship sometime in 2001-
most likely in the spring or sum­
mer. Meanwhile, finishing touch­
es are being applied to the vessel
at Halter Marine Shipyard in
Moss Point, Miss.

The Mary Sears will join five
other SIU-crewed oceanographic
surveillance ships operated by
Dyn Marine for MSC. The others
are the Pathfinder, Bowditch,
Sumner, Henson and Heezen.

Like its forerunners, the Mary
Sears is 329.5 feet long and can
travel at 16 knots. It will join its
sister ships in collecting scientif­
ic data from coastal as well as
deep ocean waters around the
world for the Navy Oceano­
graphic Office.

Photo Credit: MSC

The USNS Mary Sears, pictured during construction in Moss Point,
Miss., is the sixth SIU-crewed T-AGS 60 class vessel operated by Dyn
Marine for the U.S. Military Sealift Command.

The ship is the first oceano­
graphic vessel named after a
female oceanographer, according
to MSC. The late Mary Sears "is
widely credited with expanding

the role of oceanographic research
and data collection," the agency
noted. She also helped develop
"one of the foremost oceano­
graphic institutions in the world."

Safety Training School Opens in Honolulu
The SIU and the Paul Hall

Center for Maritime Training and
Education last month opened a
new, U.S. Coast Guard-approved
basic safety training school in
Barbers Point, Honolulu. The
facility primarily is intended for
use by local residents for new job
opportunities aboard U.S.-flag
passenger ships- such as the
newly reflagged Patriot (see
story, page 4).

Already, three groups of stu­
dents (58 individuals) have com­
pleted STCW basic safety train­
ing at the new school. At least a
few additional installments of the
course will be offered before the
end of the year; it is anticipated

that consecutive classes will be
conducted throughout most or all
of 2001.

The newly reffagged Patriot
sails to Portland. Page 4

Instructors from the Paul Hall
Center, which is based in Piney
Point, Md., directed last month's
classes and also provided lifeboat
training on the SIU-crewed SS
Independence in Hawaii. The
center's health and safety direc­
tor, Jim Hanson-a key figure in
the planning of the acclaimed
Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and
Safety School, which opened last

year in Piney Point-also helped
teach the courses, in addition to
coordinating much of the setup.

"The students did really well.
They especially liked the maze,"
Hanson noted. "The Coast Guard
was there also, and they seemed
pleased with the safety switches,
the gear and the ratio of instruc­
tors to students."

Hanson added that the other
instructors- Dennis Donehoo
and Ben Cusic-"did a tremen­
dous job both in helping get the
facility open and in teaching the
courses. They really went the
extra mile."

The school is located on a for-
Continued on page 7

Seafarers LOii 3



r
I
' ~
'

I
Seal arers Crew New Z-Drive Tug Matthew K FacfSheet

• Length; 100 feet

SIU members in the Gulf
Coast region are sailing aboard
the new Z-drive tug Matthew K,
following the boat's christening
in Galveston, Texas in late
September.

"It's really an exceptional
boat," said Mate Sean Arbogast.
"It's got great maneuverability
and it's very comfortable."

Bay-Houston Towing Com­
pany owns the vessel, while
G&H Towing operates it. Built at
Main Iron Works in Houma, La.,
the Matthew K performs docking
operations in the Texas ports of
Houston, Galveston, Texas City,
Corpus Christi and Freeport. The
boat also has general towing
capabilities.

Seafarers (from left) Sean Arbogast, Thomas Sneed, William Hadley
and Jeff Welch welcome the newest addition to G&H fleet.

"This is an exciting new addi­
tion to the fleet," stated SIU Vice
President Gulf Coast Dean
Corgey. "It shows the type of
technological advancement that
will keep SIU members in step
with the future. It also under­
scores the value of the new simu­
lators [at the Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Edu-

cation] that will be used to train
people on these high-tech ves­
sels."

Carroll Young, executive vice
president of G&H Towing,
played a big role in the Matthew
K's design. "It was designed with
escort capability in mind, but also
with consideration for future pos­
sibilities," he noted. "It has an
extended keel, and in that regard

U.S. Lines' Patriot
Debuts December 9

it's not a typical Z-drive tug. The
hull and winch is [like that of an]
escort tug, which also differs
from a typical Z-drive.

"It's unique to this area," he
continued. "Z-drive tugs aren't
common in Texas, but the
Matthew K has been really well­
accepted. It does everything and
more than we'd hoped."

Arbogast said the crews are
adjusting well to the new boat.

"It's not difficult, just differ­
ent," he observed. "It doesn't
handle like a big boat. You have
joysticks like in an airplane,
rather than a wheel. There's a bit
of a learning curve, but every­
body's doing exceptionally well.

All four wheelmen have shown
above-average ability to learn the
new system."

Both Arbogast and Young
pointed out that the Matthew K
gets high marks for crew comfort.

"I've been here 43 years, and
this boat is probably one of the
best I've ever seen in that
regard," Young said.

"I absolutely agree," noted
Arbogast. "The only person you
share a room with is your relief.
The galley is large, and there are
two air conditioning units on the
boat-one especially for the
wheelhouse."

SIU Mate Sean Arbogast greets
the boat's namesake, 12-year-old
Matthew Evans Kuebler-a great,
great grandson of Capt. W.D.
Haden, founder of Bay-Houston
Towing.

• Beam; 38 feet

• Draft: 17.1 feet

• Main engines: 2 EMO 12-645
turbo charged engines, 2150
hp each, devetoping a total of
4300 bhp @ 900 rpm

• Drive units: 2 Utstein Model
#1650 Azimuth Drive Units
with 86-lnch stainless steel
wheels in Nautican high-per­
formance nozzles

a Bollard putr: 110,000 lbs.
ahead and 100,000 astern

• Deck machinery.: Markey
Model #DYSF-52 "Escort" fine
winch on bow with 750 ft
"Plasma" line rated at
96(),000# working strength; 1
Markey variable speed cap­
stan aft

• Generators: 2 Detroit Diesef 6-
71 unitsy each producing 75
kW

• Wheelhouse: Designed with
360--degree visibility

• Fire fighting: 2000 GPM
Aurora ftre pump. driven by
Detroit Diesel 8V-71 with
"Skum" fire monitor mounted
on fornard deck

8 Classificati-0n: ABS Inter­
national Load line

• Electronics~ Furuno Radar, 2
VHF radios, PA system, auto
pifot with Furuoo OGPS sys­
tem ·

Seafare rs Climb Gangway
To Pristine Passenger Ship

After many months of anticipation, Seafarers in mid-October
signed on aboard United States Lines' newly acquired passenger ship
Patriot in Oregon.

Orgulf Boatman Ratify New Pact
Following the transfer of ownership Oct. 18 from Holland America

Line, the 1,212-passenger vessel-flying the Stars and Stripes-pro­
ceeded to Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, Ore. for a multi-mil­
lion dollar refurbishment.

Formerly the Nieuw Amsterdam, the Patriot will cruise the
Hawaiian Islands beginning Dec. 9. According to U.S. Lines' parent
company, American Classic Voyages, the Patriot will sail every
Saturday evening from Honolulu, Oahu. Passengers may select from
80 optional island explorations as the ship cruises to the ports of
Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; and Kona, Hawaii
before returning to Honolulu the following Saturday.

"This acquisition is great news for the American-flag passenger
industry and for the SIU," stated SIU President Michael Sacco. "We
welcome the new job opportunities. We also look forward to doing our
part to help ensure the continued revitalization of the U.S.-flag pas­
senger fleet."

Philip C. Calian, American Classic's chief executive officer, noted,
"We are within weeks of introducing the Patriot as Hawaii's largest
and most contemporary year-round cruise ship. The ship will pioneer
United States Lines' return as 'America's cruise line."'

Under American Classic's Project America initiative, the company
is building a pair of 1,900-passenger vessels slated to begin sailing in
2003 and 2004. They are under construction at union-contracted
Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. and will be the largest
ocean-going cruise ships ever built in a U.S. yard. The keel for the first
ship was laid Oct. 10.

For Patriot reservations, call toll-free 877-330-6600 or visit the
web site www.unitedstateslines.com. For job opportunities on the
Patriot, contact your port agent or visit the "jobs" section at www.sea­
farers.org.

A new contract has been ham­
mered out between SIU boatmen
in St. Louis and Cincinnati-based
Orgulf Transportation. The new
agreement, ratified Sept. 18, cov­
ers three years and boasts signifi­
cant upgrades in wages and bene­
fits.

Approximately 150 full-time
and probationary SIU members
who crew 21 Orgulf tugboats will
benefit from the fresh accord.
Negotiations had been ongoing
since early August.

Major points of the new con­
tract include:

• Wage increases ranging from
6.1 percent to 8.2 percent in
the first year

• Wage increases of 2 percent
in the second and third years

• Enhanced welfare benefits
that will include prescription
coverage for dependents

• An increase in optical and
death benefits

• A one-time $300 signing
bonus for SIU members
(other than probationary
members)

• Stand-by pay or free-time

Admiral Towing Crews
Approve First Contract

Howard, a member of the negotiating committee.

The SIU has negotiated its first-ever contract
with Admiral Towing & Barge Company in Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. According to Neil Dietz, SIU Port
Agent in Honolulu, the agreement is for three years
and affects 12 Seafarers who operate three Z-drive
tugs.

Following unanimous ratification, the pact was
signed Sept. 20, ending negotiations which com­
menced in June.

Among the contract's highlights are enrollment
in the Seafarers Welfare Plan and the Seafarers
Money Purchase Pension Plan, wage increases and
language for call-out pay.

"I think it's a good first contract," said Chuck

4 Seafarers LOG

The historic contract offers a unique challenge
for the SIU, Dietz said. The pact is part of a military
bid and marks the first time that Navy tugboats in
Pearl Harbor have been replaced with civilian ves­
sels. The Navy has retired its tugboats in Pearl
Harbor.

The SIU-crewed Admiral Towing tugs are
responsible for providing towing, docking and other
assistance (including emergency) to various classes
of vessels and barges at the U.S. Navy Station in
Pearl Harbor. The crews' most delicate duties will
involve the docking and undocking of submarines,
Dietz said.

In addition to Howard, the SIU contract commit­
tee consisted of Deron Schade, a tug captain; and
Bill Sneed, a deckhand. These individuals did a ter-

Continued on page 6

These SIU members recently joined SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom
Orzechowski and St. Louis Port Agent Becky Sleeper in the successful
negotiation of a new three-year contract with Orgulf Transportation.
Pictured are, seated from left, Nancy Avery, Martha Smith and Herman
Rowe. Standing are W.T. Bush, Doug Ogle and Sleeper.

days (when the company ini­
tiates stand-by status)

In addition to the foregoing
advancements, the SIU contract
committee successfully negotiat­
ed for the installation of satellite
dishes aboard company vessels.

Orgulf typically has been
tough but fair in negotiations,
according to SIU St. Louis Port
Agent Becky Sleeper.

"Members of both committees
[the SIU contract committee and
their counterparts representing
Orgulf Transportation] worked
extremely hard and addressed all
the issues on the table," Sleeper
said. "We made great strides dur­
ing the negotiations, especially
with respect to up-front wage
increases and in the medical plan
which now affords prescription
coverage for dependents.

"The new contract goes a long
way to establishing Orgulf as a
premier inland employer compa­
ny. It offers perhaps the most
competitive wage scale out there

and the medical plan is magnifi­
cent," she said. "Hopefully the
next time around, and with more
member participation, we'll
make even greater advances."

Martha Smith, a member of
the SIU negotiating committee,
shared Sleeper's sentiments
about the new contract. "The
negotiations went very well," she
said. "The response we've had
from the membership has been
very positive.

"They (the membership) were
ecstatic with what we got for
them as well as what we did not
lose" she continued. "We were
firm in what we needed ....

"I thought · getting the 6 to 8
percent wage increases the first
year and the 100 percent medical
coverage for everybody, includ­
ing children and spouses, were
quite fantastic. Both are unique in
day and age," she concluded.

Chris Ulmer, labor liaison for
Orgulf, was equally pleased

Continued on page 5

November 2000



Advisory Board
Revisits STCW
Simulators Are a Highlight
As Industry Group Studies
Training Requirements

The Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Educa­
tion's deep sea and inland advi­
sory board worked through an
ambitious agenda last month
during its 33rd annual meeting
in Piney Point, Md.

As has been the case in each
of the last few yearly sessions,
the group devoted much of its
time to STCW-related issues. It
reviewed in detail the conven­
tion's various requirements for
unlicensed mariners (see charts,
page 10). It also refined the sys­
tem for auditing the SIU's U.S.
Coast Guard-accepted training
record books (TRBs )-both the
actual documents and the
school's database that collec­
tively contains the information
found in them.

Other topics included the
Paul Hall Center's new simula­
tors; strategies for recruiting
shipboard personnel; new cours­
es that recently received Coast
Guard approval; "distance learn­
ing," a term for providing voca­
tional instruction over a secure
electronic medium; the school's
unlicensed apprentice program;
the Coast Guard's interim rule
on licensing and manning for
officers of towing vessels; and a
review of the board's accom­
plishments during the past year.

The meeting took place Sept.
25-26. Participants included
representatives of SIU-contract­
ed deep sea, Great Lakes and
inland companies; the Coast
Guard and its National Maritime
Center (NMC); the U.S.
Maritime Administration
(MarAd); the U.S. Military
Sealift Command (MSC); the
U.S. Army Transportation
School (Fort Eustis); the
Logistics Management Institute;
the U.S. Military Transportation
Management Command; the
National Transportation Safety
Board; and the Paul Hall Center.

Opening the meeting, SIU
President Michael Sacco credit­
ed the board for several note­
worthy accomplishments since
last year's conference. These
include the opening of the
Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and
Safety School; the formation
and work of the TRB auditing
committee; and the development
of criteria for the new simula­
tors.

"When labor, management

and government work together
to solve our problems, it's not
that difficult," Sacco stated. "We
can solve them together."

The SIU president thanked
Paul Hall Center instructors and
officials for their efforts in help­
ing secure top-notch simulators
for shiphandling, engine room
operations, liquid cargo transfer
and crane operations- equip­
ment that is expected to signifi­
cantly enhance dozens of Paul
Hall Center courses. He also
praised the Coast Guard for
working with the school as it
developed and updated curricu­
lums to maximize the simula­
tors' instructional value.

SIU Vice President Contracts
Augie Tellez pointed out that the
conference "is historic because,
for the first time, we have NMU
officials and contracted opera­
tors participating."

Bill Eglinton, the school's
director of vocational education,
described the advisory board's
mission as "a team effort.
Together, we come up with solu­
tions. This is a multi-faceted
industry, and there's so much
going on, we've got to talk
about it in order to meet every­
one's needs."

He added that since the last
meeting, the school has obtained
Coast Guard approvals for 15
classes, which include a few
renewals and a number of new
courses. The school also has
produced or obtained more than
1,200 training videotapes that
are available to SIU-contracted
companies.

One of the conference's high­
lights was an in-depth, STCW­
related question-and-answer
session moderated by Capt.
Myles "Chip" Boothe and Capt.
Ernest Fink of the Coast Guard's
NMC. Along with Eglinton,
they discussed with the other
attendees some of the recurring
questions about both the original
1978 STCW convention and the
1995 STCW convention as
amended. They reviewed the
STCW "checklists" developed
by the school as well as various
Coast Guard regional examina­
tion center (REC) procedures
including licensing and certifi­
cation methods.

The agenda also featured a
hands-on tour of the new simu­
lator building. Upgraders and

In three photos above (from left), Paul Hall Center Vocational Education
Director Bill Eglinton, Coast Guard Capt. Myles "Chip" Boothe and
Coast Guard Capt. Ernest Fink discuss various requirements of the
original and amended STCW conventions.

November 2000

Conference participants took a
hands-on tour of the Paul Hall
Center's new simulator building. In
photo above and below, Major
General Kenneth L. Privratsky,
Commanding General of the
Military Traffic Management
Command, tries the crane simula­
tor and visits the bridge simulator.

entry-level students are expect­
ed to begin utilizing the new
gear this month.

As reported in previous
issues of the Seafarers LOG, the
bridge simulator is the center­
piece of the new systems. It fea­
tures a 360-degree viewing sec­
tor and three interactive auxil­
iary bridges. The main bridge
includes an integrated ship con­
trol console with ARPA/radar,
global marine distress system
(GMDSS), electronic chart dis­
play (ECDIS, with charts from

Continued on page 10

Raise Minimum Wage

Governor Mel Carnahan, 66,
Dies in Oct. 16 Plane Crash

Missouri Governor Mel
Carnahan, a friend of labor who
was running for the U.S. Senate,
died in a plane crash Oct. 16
near St. Louis. He was 66.

Also perishing in the wreck
were Carnahan's son and an
aide. The plane was a six-seat
Cessna 335 which went down in
a rocky area.

Carnahan consistently sup­
ported working families. He
fought for collective bargaining
rights for state workers and
opposed "paycheck deception"
legislation similar to Calif-
ornia's infamous Proposition
226, which was designed to rob
workers of their voice in the
political process.

The two-term governor's
budgets included unprecedented
investments in job training and
other workforce preparation pro­
grams. He strengthened prevail­
ing-wage enforcement and dra­
matically reduced the time it
took to process workers' com­
pensation claims. He also ex­
tended health care coverage to
thousands of previously unin­
sured children, and he passed an
effective patients' bill of rights.

Carnahan also supported the
U.S. Merchant Marine. He twice
was honored by the St. Louis
Port Council of the AFL-CIO
Maritime Trades Department,
including earlier this year.

Maryland Governor Parris N.
Glendening, chairman of the
National Governors' Associa­
tion, said in a prepared state­
ment, "Mel Carnahan 's career
and greatness were marked by
his gentle humor and tireless

Orgulf Pact Signed
Continued from page 3

about the new accord. "We [at
Orgulf] were happy with the
overall result of the contract," he
noted. "We were [especially]
happy that we could provide an
increase in the overall coverage
afforded in their health care plan.
I give a lot of credit to your nego­
tiators for that.

"We've had a great relation-

Gov. Mel Carnahan

passion for public service and
the people of Missouri."

Michigan Governor John
Engler, vice chairman of the
association, said, "I served with
Governor Carnahan for nearly
eight years (in the organization).
I came to know him as a man
with a deep commitment to pub­
lic service."

An editorial in the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch noted, "Among
his political peers, including his
enemies, Mr. Carnahan was
known as an even-keeled, even­
handed and progressive policy­
maker. Making government
work was Carnahan 's legacy ....
We will miss him because he
was a kind and decent man."

Carnahan was running for the
Senate against incumbent Re­
publican John Ashcroft.

Roger B. Wilson was sworn
in Oct. 18 as Missouri's gover­
nor.

ship with the Seafarers for a long
time and we hope to keep it that
way," he added. "They've been
crewing Orgulf vessels for more
than 25 years and have always
done a superb job."

The SIU negotiating commit­
tee consisted of Seafarers Smith,
W.T. Bush, Doug Ogle, Nancy
Avery and Herman Rowe along
with Great Lakes Vice President
Tom Orzechowski and Sleeper.

Union members and officials rallied Oct.
12 at the U.S. Capitol along with several
prominent legislators in support of
increasing the minimum wage. Speakers
included (top photo) House Minority
Leader Richard Gephardt, (below left)
House Minority Whip David Bonior and
(below right) Senate Minority Leader
Tom Daschle. AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney (far right in photo below) also
helped lead the call for passage of legis­
lation boosting the minimum wage.

Seafarers LOG 5



,-
1

Memorializing Mooney Indiana Harbor Crew
Welcomes Apprentice
Phase II Offers Valuable Hands-On Training

Ed Mooney, who passed away in
July, often spent long hours on the
job as an SIU headquarters repre­
sentative from 1961 until his retire­
ment in 1977. But, as SIU
President Michael Sacco put it,
Mooney also found time to be "a
great socializer. He had tremen­
dous concern for people, especial­
ly members of the SIU." With that in
mind, the bar at the Paul Hall
Center in Piney Point, Md. on Sept.
26 was dedicated as the Mooney
Pub. A brief ceremony took place
featuring remarks by Sacco, retired
SIU Vice President West Coast
George McCartney, and Mooney's
son Stephen Mooney (who sailed
with the SIU). A sign was unveiled
that reads "Mooney Pub, A Safe
Harbor." Pictured at right are
Stephen and Julianne Mooney.

When the Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education
launched its revised trainee pro­
gram in 1997, perhaps the most
noteworthy addition was a 90-day
shipboard training segment.
Known as Phase II, this portion of
the unlicensed apprentice curricu­
lum affords students the ultimate
in hands-on training. It consists
of 30 days sailing in each of the
departments-deck, engine and
steward-aboard an SIU-con­
tracted vessel.

Great Lakes SIU members
aboard the Indiana Harbor
recently welcomed Paul Gobs as
one of the first Phase II appren­
tices to sail on an American
Steamship Co. vessel-and the
Seafarers commended both the
student and the program itself.

"I think the hands-on experi­
ence is important when it comes
to shipboard education,"
observed QMED Todd Bucking­
ham. "Paul is catching on really
fast."

Second Engineer Gerard

Unions Unite to Help Gulf Coast Mariners
Continued from page 2

ing three men per boat -<:aptain,
mate and myself. I would work
many positions, as a cook, engi­
neer, deckhand and tankerman. I
have seen myself work up to 42
hours at a time due to the lack of
crew. I now have a bad back from
having to deal with pulling hoses
by myself and being over­
fatigued."

• "July 28, 1999, I worked for
a company in Dulac called Gulf
Pride. I went on the boat thinking
I'm making at least $160-$170 a
day-a little crewboat. I had to
find a deckhand. It took us hours
and hours to clean this boat up-­
it was that messy. The boat hadn't
moved in four months from
where it was. But I told the man
that I could move it.... By 11
p.m. that night, we got the boat
moving [and] went to Intracoastal
City. On Aug. 1, my wife got the
check and she told me I'm only
making $103 a day and the man
don't even know his math-his
adding was also wrong. I called
the man. He never answered. My
wife called. He was very rude.
[He] said ifl don't like it, get off.
Well, I did."

In order to address the needs
of the mariners, the unions creat­
ed an organization called the
Offshore Mariners United
(OMU). As its project, the OMU

·::J<L~
~

Oil patch mariners looking to gain the advantages of a union contract
work long hours aboard undermanned supply vessels like these tied up
in Port Fushion, La.

tackled the need for STCW train­
ing.

Working with the Louisiana
AFL-CIO and the U.S. Depart­
ment of Labor, the OMU ob­
tained a grant for the GCMA in
the amount of nearly $4 million
to offer classroom and hands-on
training for union and non-union
mariners to get their STCW
endorsements. AFL-CIO Presi­
dent John Sweeney announced
the grant to mariners on June 23
during a visit to Houma.

The training will be available
at various locations along the
Gulf Coast.

The companies cried foul to
the local media, claiming they
would have provided the training.
The mariners already had seen

promises of additional crew, bet­
ter pay, safer working conditions
and much more come and go
without being met. They knew if
they were to get their STCW
endorsements, it would have
come from their wallets.

Now, the OMU is launching
its organizing campaign. Mem­
bers from all five unions are
involved.

This effort will not be won
overnight. It will require the help
of the entire memberships of the
maritime unions. Your assistance
is needed for this drive to be suc­
cessful.

Many maritime union mem­
bers have family and friends who
work and/or live in the oil patch
area of the Gulf. Please let them
know about this campaign. Ask
them to get involved to improve
the lives of these overworked
mariners . Let these struggling
mariners know the advantages of
having a union contract, with its
work rules, benefits and educa­
tional opportunities.

Members who would like to
assist the effort are urged to con­
tact their port officials.

An offshore supply vessel delivers goods to a rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mariners working aboard vessels like this are fighting to join a union.

This is the biggest maritime
organizing battle since the 1950s.
The oil patch is the largest area of
unorganized maritime workers in
the country. All five unions are
devoted to making this drive a
success, noting the odds are great
but they have been overcome
before.

6 Seafarers LOG

Anderson-an SIU hawsepiper
who graduated from the school in
Piney Point, Md. in 1979 and
subsequently upgraded there­
stated, "It's good to see a person
who came from the same school
that I came from, and his level of
participation has been incredible.
We've already had him making
the rounds. He's catching on
fast."

Before starting their Phase II
training, the center's unlicensed
apprentices complete 12 weeks of
introductory courses in Piney
Point. Later, once they have fin­
ished Phase II, they return to the
school for department-specific
training that completes the pro­
gram.

Gobs, who signed on the
Indiana Harbor in Sep­
tember, said he is enthusi­
astic about the program
-particularly the ship­
board training.

Tying up the vessel
(at right) in Saginaw,

Mich. are (below,
from left) DEUs

Larry Kauti, Allan
Johnson and Jack

Povaser.

Continued from page 4

rifle job during the negotiations,
according to Dietz. "Each of
them did a wonderful job repre­
senting the interests of the mem­
bers," said Dietz. "Chuck
Howard especially was instru­
mental during the negotiations
because he made sure that news
was communicated from the
union to the members and vice
versa. We also had tremendous
support from the contracting and
legal staffs at headquarters."

Deron Schade (top photo)
and Bill Sneed (right}

served on the
negotiating committee,

along with Chuck Howard
and SIU Port Agent

Neil Dietz.

QMED Todd Buckingham (left in
left photo) and Second Engineer
Gerard Anderson (right in top
photo), an SIU hawsepiper, wel­
come Unlicensed Apprentice Paul
Gohs aboard the Indiana Harbor.

"It has really been a good
experience for me," Gohs noted.
"I've learned a lot, and when my
crew members showed me the
SIU union hall from the ship as
we passed by in Algonac (Mich.),
it made me feel all my time spent
preparing for this 90 days was
worth it."

For more information on the
unlicensed apprentice program,
contact the Paul Hall Center's
admissions office at (301) 994-
0010, or visit the Paul Hall Center
section of the internet site
www.seafarers.org. The site
includes printable and electronic
versions of the apprentice pro­
gram application.

November 2000



-- - --- - - - -- - -----

Graykowski
Leaves MarAd

Transportation
Secretary Rodney
Slater last month an­
nounced that U.S.
Maritime Administra­
tor John Graykowski is
resigning as of Nov. 4.

At press time, his
successor had not
been named.

Graykowski was
named deputy mar­
itime administrator in
1994. He has served
as acting administra­
tor since May, when
Clyde Hart took an
assignment at the
Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administra­
tion.

"John Graykowski
has been a determined
leader and enthusias­
tic advocate of the

nation's maritime in­
dustries," said Slater.
"He has had a tangible
positive impact on the
U.S. shipbuilding in­
dustry by efficiently
administering pro­
grams and policies
resulting in . . . ship
construction and ship­
yard activity."

"It has been an
honor to serve under
President Clinton, and
specifically with Sec­
retary Slater," Gray­
kowski said. "The
National Shipbuilding
Initiative, Maritime
Security Program and
Maritime Transporta­
tion System innova­
tions clearly illustrate
their support for our
vital American mar-

Outgoing Maritime
Administrator John

Graykowski

itime industries."
Before his ap­

pointment to MarAd,
Graykowski was an
associate with two
law firms based in
Washington, D.C. He
also was senior coun­
sel on the Merchant
Marine Subcommittee
of the Senate Com­
merce, Science and
Transportation Com­
mittee.

SIU Election Starts Nov. 1
Continued from page 3

her book will be stamped with
the word "Voted" and the date.

Members who cannot travel to
one of the 21 union halls during
the voting period may request an
absentee ballot. Such requests
should be made in writing, by
registered or certified mail, to
SIU Secretary-Treasurer David
Heindel at SIU headquarters:
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs,
MD 20746. Requests for absen­
tee ballots should be postmarked
no later than Nov. 15.

Article XIII of the union's
constitution spells out the proce­
dures by which an election will
be conducted. The entire text of

Article XIII, along with a sam­
ple ballot, a list of voting loca­
tions, full reprints of the current
constitution and the proposed
revised constitution, the tallying
committee's report and other
related information appears on
pages 13-32 of the October 2000
issue of the Seafarers LOG.
(Piney Point inadvertently was
omitted from the list of voting
locations that appeared on page
13. It was included on the sam­
ple ballot on page 15.)

Moreover, a notice of the elec­
tion was mailed in September to
all members at their last known
address, with a list of all voting
locations as well as a sample of
the official ballot.

NOTICE OF 2• ELECTION
FOR ELECTION OF 2001-2004 OFFICERS

SEAFARERS INTERIAnoNAL UNION
Atlantio, Bait, Lakes amllnland WatetS l'h"strlct

Elections wm be conducted by secret matt ballot.
,.,i Batlots may be obtained at the foltowing locations from 9:00 a.m. to 12

{i;OQ(>n {focal tfme}, Mondays through Saturdays, exctuding holidays, during
?5!J~vottng period. The voting period shaU commence Nov, 1, 2000 and shalt
;;;:C<)ntinue through Dec. 30, 2000.
<J: .. ·.-.....

VOTING LOCATIONS

fif.~tJMORE .•.. ••.. 2315 E$s~x St, Saftimore, MO 21224
;:;:·:-; ... ·:-;.-:;:::::·:·.· -·:: - .

~-~~Ron ... ; ~ ....• 520 St. Clair River Or., Algonac, MJ 48001

iiOOGJTH .. ~ ....... 705 Medical Arts Bfdg., Duluth, MN 55802
~;-,:;;;:·.'.·:;::'.':':

N!~l't~UDERDALE .. 1221 South Andrews Ave., Ft Lauderdalet Fl. 33316

il~~AM ... ~ .... : .... 125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301~E. Tun Jesus
;f"i';{:#~;; . .Crisostomo St. Tamuning, Guam 96911

lil~Br~LU . ? .... 606 KaUhi St., H~notulu, HJ 96819

;f.oN . : : ..•... 1221 Pierce St. Bouston. TX ,nooz
W~SoNVtLi.E .... 3315 liberty St., Jacksonville~ Fl 32206

.;:SEY CITY, .•.... 99 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
01~E .. ~ ........ 164tfoaupnin ~s~nd Parkway"~obile, AL 36605

SEOfORO .•• 46 Union St., New Bedford. MA 02740

OE:LPHlA , ..• 2604 South Fourth St, PhHa.deJphia, PA 19148

POINT•' ••••.• Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship,
· ,Piney.f01nt. MD ;20674

#0'1Bmber 2000

Vocational Education Director
Receives Public Service Award

Bill Eglinton, director of voca­
tional education at the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education, has received the U.S.
Coast Guard's Meritorious Public
Service Award for his work as
chairman of the agency's Mer­
chant Marine Personnel Advisory
Committee (MERPAC).

Coast Guard Rear Admiral
Robert North presented the award
to Eglinton, who chaired MER­
PAC for one term from 1998
through early 2000. (A chairman
may not serve consecutive
terms.)

The committee is composed of
unlicensed and licensed mariners,
shipping company officials,
Coast Guard representatives,
maritime training specialists and
others from the industry. MER­
PAC advises the secretary of
transportation (via the Coast
Guard commandant) on matters
concerning the training, qualifi­
cation, licensing, certification
and fitness of U.S. mariners.

The award reads in part, "Mr.
Eglinton led a diverse group of
highly talented experts in provid­
ing outstanding recommenda­
tions to the Coast Guard.. . . His

direct and constant oversight of
the performance measures devel­
opment work groups resulted in
vital and timely recommenda­
tions to the Coast Guard's efforts
to implement the International
Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

"Mr. Eglinton organized 15
work groups comprised of more
than 100 committee members and
maritime industry volunteers.
Each group developed specific
performance measures for partic­
ular shipboard competencies and
forwarded them to the full com­
mittee for consideration and
approval. That each of these work
groups completed their respective
tasks on time is a direct reflection
on Mr. Eglinton's personal
involvement, commitment, and
leadership.

"In addition to this significant
accomplishment," the citation
continues, "Mr. Eglinton reas­
signed committee members who
completed their respective per­
formance measures packages to
develop additional recommenda­
tions on simulator standards for
demonstrating competence in cri-

Bill Eglinton, vocational education
director at the Paul Hall Center,
shows the award he received
from the U.S. Coast Guard for
chairing an advisory committee.

sis management and human
behavior; and, advice on a Coast
Guard proposal to the
International Maritime Organiza­
tion Subcommittee on Standards
of Training and Watchkeeping on
medical standards for seafar­
ers .... His efforts in maintaining
positive morale and high produc­
tivity during this challenging
time are highly commendable."

For more information on
MERPAC or the Paul Hall
Center, visit the site index/links
section of www.seafarers.org.

Coast Guard-Approved School Opens in Honolulu
Continued from page 3

mer Navy base that belongs to
the state. It features four differ­
ent, environmentally safe burn
pads which simulate various
types of marine fires; a "smoke
house" for training with breath­
ing apparatuses; a series of
mazes; two classrooms and an
office; and a container config­
ured for search-and-rescue train­
ing.

Plans are in the works to build
a newer, expanded facility.

Meanwhile, 15 or so SIU
members voluntarily joined the
Piney Point contingent in prepar­
ing the school at Barbers Point.

Officials and members of the Honolulu Fire Department put the new
school through its paces, inspecting the facility and also training there.
Pictured from left to right are Capt. Terry Seeling, Deputy Chief John
Clark, Chief Anthony Ramos and Paul Hall Center Health and Safety
Director Jim Hanson.

Above: Students practice turning
a valve and extinguishing a fire at
the new safety school in Honolulu.
The building in the background
houses classrooms for more
instruction.

Left: Though much
of the safety training
is hands-on, two
large classrooms
are available for
other segments of
the course.

Seafarers LOB 7



ITF Recovers $1.4 Million for Premier Crew
Runaway-Flag Campaign Gains
Momentum With 'Action Weeks';
Port Canaveral Office Opens

The International Transport
Workers' Federation's worldwide
campaign against runaway-flag
shipping has yielded notably
strong results since a Sept. 19
rally on Capitol Hill titled
"Workers Against Floating
Sweatshops."

The September event (covered
in last month's Seafarers LOG)
kicked off a series of "action
weeks" both in the U.S. and
abroad. It also coincided with the
opening of a new ITF office in
Port Canaveral, Fla. intended to
improve crew conditions in the
cruise ship industry.

Among the campaign's recent
highlights:

• ITF officials based at the
Port Canaveral facility recovered
$1.4 million in back wages for
the crew of the defunct Premier
Cruise Lines runaway-flag ship
SeaBreeze. At press time, they
also were assisting more than
1,100 other crew members from
Premier ships tied up in the
Bahamas.

• SIU members and officials
voluntarily teamed up with ITF

NMU ITF Inspector Enrico Esopa
departs from the Viktorio Kodo­
vilja in Carteret, N.J.

inspectors and representatives of
other U.S. maritime unions for
unannounced ship inspections
Sept. 20-21 in New York/New
Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Houston, Norfolk, Va., Charleston,
S.C. and New Orleans. Several of
the vessels were cited for viola­
tions; one was ordered to pay
$5,000 in back wages to the crew.

• In late September, actions
were conducted in 28 European
countries. More than 500 inspec­
tions were carried out, and nearly
$400,000 in back pay for the
crews was recovered, with more
expected.

• From Oct. 16-20, the feder­
ation sponsored an Asia-Pacific
action week. Nearly $1 million in
back pay was recovered for crews
of the various inspected runaway­
flag ships.

In announcing the opening of
its Port Canaveral office, the ITF
pointed out in a written state­
ment, "Since the 1980s, cruise
shipping has grown at an average
9.6 percent per year, racing ahead
of other maritime sectors. Port
Canaveral is the world's third
leading port for this trade, han­
dling 1.35 million passengers per
year.

"However, the gains have
been one-sided. Most vessels fly
flags of convenience, which
allow unscrupulous operators to
pay crews a pittance while
demanding they work up to 12
hours a day, seven days a week.

"The ITF is opposed to the
flag of convenience system,
which allows ships to be regis­
tered in countries other than that
of ownership, and which is
directly implicated in the opera­
tion of unsafe ships, illegal activ­
ities and exploitation of crews,"
the federation's statement added.
"For as long as the system is
allowed to continue, the [ITF]

TOTE Nets Safety Awards
For Design of New RO/ROs

SIU-contracted Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) last month
announced it received the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation (ADEC) Commissioner's Pollution Prevention Award
2000.

The award reads, "For the design and construction of the Orea
Class vessels to be sailing in Alaska by 2002. Totem Ocean Trailer
Express has commissioned ships that carry fuel in double walled tanks,
use a diesel electric propulsion system, and numerous other attributes
that go beyond what is required by law to protect Alaska's air and
water. By doing so, TOTE has set the bar for many other vessels that
travel in Alaska's waters."

TOTE's new roll-on/roll-off vessels are being built at San Diego's
NASSCO shipyard. They will be the first non-military containerships
or RO/ROs built in a domestic yard since the R.J. Pfeiffer came out in
1992.

ADEC Commissioner Michele Brown, in announcing the award,
stated, "We all know that prevention is truly the only way to handle an
oil spill. TOTE, though, acted upon that goal by not waiting for regu­
lations, but [taking] the initiative to make the Orea Class vessel safe,
efficient and environmentally responsible. TOTE went beyond com­
pliance by thinking through the risks, anticipating potential harms and
acting to prevent pollution."

Earlier this year, TOTE received the States/British Columbia Oil
Spill Task Force 2000 Legacy Award in recognition of "extraordinary
efforts to prevent oil spills demonstrated in the design of their new ves­
sels."

B Seafarers LOG

Seafarers and members of other U.S. maritime unions teamed up for unannounced FOC ship inspections
during the U.S. "action week" in September. Among those participating were (left to right, kneeling) Seafarers
Lee Frazier and George Murphy, SIU ITF Inspector Don Thornton, Seafarers Carlos Perez and Harry
Galena, (standing) MM&P member Daniel Laurion, Seafarers George Mazzola and Michael DiAngelo, SIU
Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz, Seafarers Brandon Purcell, Greg Brandeni and Bill Lough, and Donald
Marcus of the MM&P.

will attempt to curb its abuses by
ensuring that crews are covered
by agreements on working hours,
wages and conditions."

More than 500 transport-relat­
ed unions-including the SIU­
are affiliated with the London­
based ITF.

Right: Seafarers Tim Taylor
(left) and John Gallagher

(right) meet crew members of
the Cyprus-flagged CMA CGM

Gauguin during an inspection
in Port Newark, N.J.

Texas Commission Rejects
1Preauthorization1 Rules
AFL-CIO Official Credits SIU's Moore

Editors note: The following is
reprinted from the Texas AFL­
CI O daily electronic newsletter.

In a resounding victory for
working people, the Texas
Workers' Compensation Com­
mission on Oct. 19 rejected pro­
posed "preauthorization" rules
that would have let the insurance
industry decide most of the cir­
cumstances under which an
injured worker gets treatment.

The proposed rules failed on a
3-3 tie vote. The three commis­
sioners representing employers
voted to enact the rules, while the
three commissioners representing
employees voted against the
rules.

To our knowledge, this was
the first 3-3 tie vote since O.D.
Kenemore, a ferocious defender
of working people and the retired
president of the Tideland Central
Labor Council, left the agency for
retirement.

Led by Doctors Council 1199
of AFSCME, the Texas AFL-CIO
spent months lobbying against
the proposals. The commission
staff recently revamped the pro­
posal to relax some of the more
onerous sections, but the doctors'
union and the Texas AFL-CIO
still saw the proposals as one­
sided attempts to limit medical
treatment for injury victims.

Texas AFL-CIO President Joe
D. Gunn gave the lion's share of
credit for today's vote to
Commissioner Kenneth Moore, a

[representative] of the Seafarers
Union.

"Today, Kenneth Moore came
into his own as a fighter for
injured workers in Texas," Gunn
said. "Some months ago, in criti­
cizing Gov. Bush's appointments
to agencies that have employee
representation, I lumped Brother
Moore in with other appointees
that we believe were not
equipped to do the job. I'm glad
to be proven wrong on this. Ken
Moore today distinguished him­
self by standing up to a signifi­
cant amount of pressure in the
interests of Texas working peo­
ple. Ken Moore led the way and
helped persuade the other
employee representatives, Jack
Abla and Rebecca Olivares, that
as representatives of employees,
they were obligated to protect
injured workers from these pro­
posed rules."

Upon hearing Gunn's com­
ments, Moore said, "I appreciate
the kind words. However, the
credit for this victory definitely
must be shared among all three of
us who voted against the propos­
al. We wouldn't have won with­
out each of those votes."

Gunn noted that the Workers'
Compensation Commission staff
spent a good part of the meeting
trying to persuade the employee
representatives to sign off on the
proposal, but Moore led the argu­
ments against the proposal during
the commission discussion.

Workers' Compensation Commis­
sioner Kenneth Moore, an SIU
representative, is credited with
helping protect the rights of work­
ing people in Texas.

Gunn said after his criticism of
the Bush appointments, he and
the Texas AFL-CIO staff held
several meetings with Moore and
found him to be ready, willing
and able to navigate in the com­
plex waters of workers' compen­
sation law. Gunn said Dean
Corgey, a member of the Texas
AFL-CIO Executive Board, was
instrumental in assuring the
Texas AFL-CIO that the
Seafarers Union, which repre­
sents some workers who are cov­
ered by workers' comp and some
who are covered by other laws,
would stand tall for the strongest
workers' compensation system
that workers can get.

November 2DDO



Baltimore-Area Retirees
See Bright Future for SIU
Four Fondly Reflect on Inland Careers

Four retired Seafarers, friends
who each navigated the waters in
and around Baltimore during
their careers with McAllister
Towing, recently gathered at that
city's SIU hall to exchange
pleasantries, reflect on their pro­
fession and share their impres­
sions regarding the state of SIU
and its benefits programs.

Collectively, they have more
than 130 years of sea time.

Joining the four was a fifth
Seafarer, Steve Hardin. Al­
though not yet a retiree (he plans
to retire in three years), Hardin,
a tug captain, was eager to join
his friends and hear their takes
on their respective careers. A
monthly SIU membership meet­
ing provided the setting for their
reunion.

Bob Machlinski was the
"vet" of the group. Joining the
SIU in 1952 in the port of
Baltimore, Machlinski sailed as a
member of the deck department.
He ended his Seafaring career in
May 1996.

"I live very comfortably as an
SIU retiree," Machlinski said,
"and I don't think I'll ever work
anywhere else again .... I'm very
satisfied with the pension and
other benefits I receive because
they took care of my wife before
she died. They're still taking
care of me today."

Machlinski says he sees a
promising future for the SIU. "It
looks like the union really is
picking up steam in the passen­
ger trade area," he offered.
"More passenger ships are sail­
ing under the American flag, and
that means more jobs for SIU
members.

"I do foresee a manpower

shortage, though, so the school
at Piney Point will become even
more important," he noted.
"More people will be going
through there to get the skills
they need in order to fill all of
the jobs that soon will become
available."

Joining the SIU in July 1963
was Gerard Freburger. A mem­
ber of the engine department, he
came ashore in December 1998.

"My retirement package is
good, very good," Freburger
said. "My family and I depend
on my pension as well as bene­
fits. Overall, I am very pleased
with what I receive."

Although he believes a great
deal has changed in the maritime
industry since he began his
career, at least one thing has
remained the same: Unions are
absolutely necessary for worker
protection, he stated.

"There definitely is a need for
unions today, because so many
things are changing in the work­
place," Freburger said. "That's
especially true in the maritime
industry because contracts are
getting longer and longer and
more people are needed to fill
the jobs on a long-term basis.
Unions really help and protect
people."

Jerard Cifarelli retired effec­
tive January 1998. A native of
Baltimore, Cifarelli was a tug
captain. He joined the Seafarers
in 1970.

During his career, Cifarelli
was never one to stand still. He
sailed as a cook and later as an
engineer. Before retiring, he had
worked his way up to the wheel­
house.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my

time with the SIU, but retirement
is good," Cifarelli shared. "I now
get a good (retirement) check
and basically I'm very pleased.
Our pension and benefit system
is right on top compared to those
offered by other [organizations].

"I can honestly say that if it
was not for the union, I wouldn't
have anything today," he contin­
ued. "The benefits we enjoy as
retirees were fought for hard by
the union, and I appreciate that. I
just hope others behind us get to
enjoy the same."

Cifarelli sees today's SIU as
well organized and headed in the
right direction. "The people in
the top positions are doing a
great job. The union is far better
than it was [years ago]," he said.

"When I started, I was mak­
ing $9 per day," Cifarelli contin­
ued. "When I retired I was mak­
ing more than $200 per day. It's
really come a long way from
what it was when I was working
on the water.

"I would definitely recom­
mend the SIU to anyone looking
for a rewarding career because
it's a good organization. The
leaders are good people who
work for the members, and they
will always be there for you."

Cifarelli was especially
impressed with the new union
hall in Baltimore. The facility
opened this summer.

"The new hall is really nice
and I think the union will benefit
a great deal from it," he offered.
"Besides being great for its
members, the hall sends the mes­
sage to people on the outside
that the SIU really cares about
its people. That translates into a
better image for all of us and I

Crew Enjoys Off-Time Angling

Chief Cook Jeremy Kelley SA Roger Jarrett

November 2000

After a recent membership meeting in Baltimore, the retirees as well as
one soon-to-be retiree talked about old times and the future of the SIU.
Those who gathered were (front, from left) Jerry Cifarelli, Gerard
Freburger, (back) Joe Zorbach, Bob Machlinski and Steve Hardin.
Hardin plans to retire in three years.

think that's good."
Joe Zorbach Jr. was the

"rookie" of the group. The
Baltimore native retired last
month with nearly 30 years of
service with the SIU. He joined
the union in 1971 in the port of
Baltimore and sailed in the
engine department.

"Now that I'm retired, I plan
to take it real easy," Zorbach
said. "Who knows, I just might
rent beach umbrellas or some­
thing to pass the time.

"I'm not real concerned about
money and that type of thing,"
he continued, "because the SIU
has always taken care of me and
my family. My recent pension
and medical benefits are good
examples of that."

Reflecting on his career, the
U.S. Navy veteran said, 'The
SIU has changed a great deal
since I came in. It's more techni­
cal now and if you don't
upgrade, you definitely will get
left behind. I know from experi­
ence, because I went to Piney

Point earlier this year and took
four courses myself. The Coast
Guard is making more and more
requirements in all phases of the
industry, so you have to go to
school and learn new things in
order to survive out there."

Turning to the state of the
SIU today, Zorbach offered, "I
used to think that the SIU and
maritime industry in general
would decline in the next 10
years, but I no longer feel that
way. It now looks like every­
thing is on the upswing."

Zorbach said he had experi­
enced some hard times during
his career, but he had no real
regrets about his decision to
become a mariner. "The waters
were not always calm during my
career," he said, "but when I
look back over it, I don't think I
could have done any better any­
where else. I would definitely be
a Seafarer again because I thor­
oughly enjoyed my career.

Seafaring was a natural for
me," Zorbach concluded.

When Seafarers from the USNS
Invincible last summer char­
tered a fishing boat during

their off-time, they made the most of
the trip.

Chief Steward Beth Leonhard,
Chief Cook Jeremy Kelley, QMED

Jeffrey Wise, SA Roger Jarrett and
MDR Mark Blanchard hauled in 75 pounds

of tuna and 60 pounds ofwahoo during their four-hour excursion in
Diego Garcia.

Leonhard said she suggested the trip because "no one liked the
fish we had on board (the Invincible). We brought back the tuna
and wahoo and had a cookout for the crew. Altogether it lasted
about three meals, and we made various dishes-tuna kabobs, mari­
nated and grilled fish .... "

The successful line-casting included one unsavory moment. A
shark bit off a wahoo's body while the
chief steward was reeling in the
doomed fish.

"I pulled the bloody
head right into my chest.
It was gross!" she recalled.
"It was a large shark, and it
nonchalantly ate the rest of
the fish and then kept going."

Leonhard, who provided the photos
for this article, said that the exceptionally clear water
around Diego Garcia helped the SIU anglers' cause. "The
water is so beautiful there, you can see the fish swim by.
We'll probably try for sailfish next time."

The Invincible is a T-AGOS vessel that supports the
U.S. Air Force by deploying a mobile surveillance and
tracking radar system that can monitor U.S. or foreign
space missiles or weapons testing.

Seafarers LOS 9



STCW Requirements for Unlicensed SIU Personnel
(Before February 1, 2002)

Position

Steward Dept. (all)

Deck Dept.

Ordinary Seaman/DELI

Able-bodied Seaman

Bosun

Engine Dept.

Wiper/DELI

Fireman/Watertender

Oiler/OMLI

QMED-Watchstander

QMED-Dayworker

QMED-Pumpman

Basic Safety Training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

STCW Certificate Required

No: Non-watchstander
Note: Mariner may possess a '78 or '95 certificate
for lifeboatman/water survival. But not required
(same for other non-watchstanders)

No: Non-watchstander

Note: Same as above. However, if specially
trained, an STCW certificate for rating forming
part of a navigational watch is required.

Yes

Note: A '78 or '95 certificate for rating forming part
of a navigational watch is required. If assigned
cargo duties, must also have tankerman assistant
on certificate and MMD.

Yes

Note: Same as above.

No: Non-watchstander

Note: Mariner may possess a certificate for water
survival.

No

Note: Not required until Feb. 1, 2002. However,
mariner may possess a certificate for water sur-
vival.

No

Note: Same as above.

No: Non-watchstander.

Note: Same as above.

Yes: A '78 or '95 certificate for tankerman assistant
is required.

Note: Evidence of meeting compliance with STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) until Jan. 31, 2002 is either evidence of having sailed
prior to Feb. 1, 1997, or individual was assessed aboard ship during the relaxed assessment period and has entries in TRB to that effect,
or has completed a Coast Guard-approved BST course and is recorded in TRB. Effective Feb. 1, 2002, everyone must have received
training and assessment in Basic Safety Training.

STCW Requirements for Unlicensed SIU Personnel
(Beginning February 1, 2002)

Position Basic Safety Training

Steward Dept. (all) Yes

Deck Dept.
Ordinary Seaman/DEU Yes

Able-Bodied Seaman Yes

Bosun Yes

Engine Dept.

Wiper/DEU Yes

Fireman/Watertender Yes
Oiler/OMU

QMED-Watchstander Yes

QMED-Dayworker Yes

QMED-Pumpman Yes

STCW Certificate Required

No: Non-watchstander
Note: Mariner may possess a '95 certificate for
Chapter V: Special Training for Special Vessels.

No: Non-watchstander
Note: Same as above. However, if specially
trained, an STCW certificate for rating forming
part of a navigational watch is required.

Yes

Note: A '95 certificate for rating forming part
of a navigational watch is required. If assigned
cargo duties, must also have tankerman assistant
on certificate and MMD.
Yes
Note: Same as above.

No: Non-watchstander

Yes
Note: A '95 certificate for rating forming part of an
engineering watch is required.

Yes
Note: Same as above.

Yes: Non-watchstander
(Many SIU-contracted companies have requested
that QMED non-watchstanders possess STCW
certificates in order to help ensure compliance in
special circumstances)
Yes: A '95 certificate for tankerman assistant
is required.

Note: Effective Feb. 1, 2002, all SIU members will have received training and assessment in Basic Safety Training.

STCW Requirements for Limited Licenses SIU Personnel
(Beginning February 1, 2002)

License Tonnage Voyager BST BRM Radio ARPA GMDSS Adv. FF Surv.
Observ. Craft

Master <200GRT Foreign Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Mate <200GRT Foreign Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Chief/ <200GRT Foreign Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Asst. Engr
Note: Vessels <200 GRT on domestic voyages are exempt and all vessels greater than 200 GRT on domestic or for eign voyages must
meet training requirements listed above.
Note: Mariners must obtain this training and assessment (close the gap) before Feb. 1, 2002. GMDSS and ARPA are required for ves­
sels equipped with this equipment.
Effective Feb. 1, 2002, all SIU members will have received training and assessment in Basic Safety Training.

10 Seafarers LOS

Advisory Group
Studies Training
Continued from page 5

all over the world), a steering
console and more.

It provides teaching support
in the following areas: voyage
planning and execution; coastal
and offshore navigation; colli­
sion avoidance; ARPA/radar
operation; electronic navigation
systems; search and rescue oper­
ations; vessel traffic manage­
ment; high speed navigation;
bridge watchkeeping procedures
including tugs and barges, tow­
boats and piloting; GMDSS pro­
cedures; oil spill response man-

In photos above
and at right, mem­
bers of the adviso­

ry board tour the
school's new sim­

ulators for
shiphandling,

engine room oper­
ations, liquid

cargo transfer and
crane operations.

agement; port development;
human factors; and bridge team
management.

The engine room simulator is
potentially useful to any rating
in that department, from wipers
to engineers. It is designed for
the training of engine room
watchkeeping personnel in the
operations of a vessel's diesel
propulsion plant and electrical
power plant. Additionally, it
includes an auxiliary systems
and machinery simulator.

The crane and liquid cargo
simulators are similarly ad­
vanced and useful.

November 2000



The galley gang aboard the Liberty Sea is a real team. Doing
whatever it takes to raise morale, provide healthy, hearty fare and
keep the vessel in tip-top condition are Chief Steward Thomas
Kreis, Chief Cook Christopher Green and GSU Artie Pilgrim.

Recertified Steward Kevin Marchand and Chief Cook
Bernadette Yancey begin preparations for the next meal
aboard the USNS Dahl.

#o'1ember 2000

Right: Pumpman James
McDaniel (right) got two

birthday cakes for his spe­
cial day, both baked by

Unlicensed Apprentice Beth
Ketha (center) aboard the
Breton Reef With them is

Recertified Steward Luis
Escobar, who notes that

Ketha is "the best," happily
baking not only cakes, but

cookies and much more.

"You can't get fresher than
this," notes Recertified Stew­
ard Luis Escobar (left), as he
and AB Mario Baja pull in the
catch of the day aboard the
Breton Reef The vessel was
in Cherry Point, Wash. at the
time. The crabs (below) were
so large and plentiful that
Escobar and the galley gang
used them in recipes for
steamed crabs, crab New­
burg, crab gumbo and crab
fritters.

Left: USNS Dahl's bosun,
Klaus "Whitey" Tankersley
(right), and (former SIU mem­
ber) Captain Mike Finnigan
put the .finishing touches on
the ship's life ring. With the
motto "USNS Voo Doo Dahl,"
it recently was presented to
the Seaman's Club in Diego
Garcia.

Seafal'ers LOB 11



12

ELECTION NOTICE OF 2000 ELECTION
Section 401 (e) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (Landrum-Griffin Act) requires the mailing of an elec­
tion notice to each member entitled to vote at his last known address. This notice is being sent to you in compliance therewith and, in
addition, contains information of interest to all candidates and members.

SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING LOCATIONS AND PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL REVISIONS

No. 00000

PRESIDS;~
Vote for One

,,

Ji " 0 Robert (Bobby) J. Clinton 111 .fC-19~8
'\._ /J

2 0 Charles Burdette Collins, C-1652''

3 D Michael J. Sacco, S-1288

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(Vote for One)

4 D John Fay, F-363

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Vote for One

5 D David W. Heindel, H-1443

6 0 Michael D. Murphy, M-2483

7 0 William Parker, P-1067

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
CONTRACTS AND CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT

Vote for One

8 D Larry Frank Phillips, P-1257

9 D Augustin Tellez, T-764

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE ATLANTIC COAST

(Vote for One)

10 0 Jack Caffey, C-1010

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE GULF COAST

(Vote for One)

11 D Dean E. Corgey, C-5727

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE WEST COAST

Vote for One

12 0 Kevin Bertel, B-1832

13 D Nicholas J. Marrone, M-2308

OFFICIAL BALLOT 2001 - 2004

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Seafarers LOG

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OFFICIAL BALLOT

SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA-
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District

VOTING PERIOD NOVEMBER 1st, 2000 THROUGH DECEMBER 30th, 2000

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS-In order to vote for a candidate, mark a cross (X) in vot­
ing square to the left of name. If you vote for more candidates for office than specified
herein, your vote for such office will be invalid.

MARK YOUR BALLOT WITH PEN AND INK OR INDELIBLE PENCIL

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE SOUTHERN REGION, GREAT

LAKES AND INLAND WATERS

Vote for One

14,ffiJ Thomas Orzechowski, Jr., 0-601

~ .1 lice-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF

. L. Gl .. 00'{,gV RtiME .. NT SERVICES
, WFISH~G INDUSTRIES

.:. · A,#(Vo.Jlfor One)

J~*"" ,.~~rm~tr~. Mangram, M-2394
ifr :efP

ASStSTA.N'f'v1cE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE
"bJ?~ONTRACTS AND CONTRACT

ENFORCEMENT '··

17 D George Tricker, T-f)J~:r

ASSISTANT VIC. -PRESfO;~t~t~ .. l- J .i
CHARGE OF THE AT~TIC Co~§V

(Vote for One)

18 D Nicholas A. Celona, C-1578

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE GULF COAST

(Vote for One)

19 D Ambrose L. Cucinotta, C-1795

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE WEST COAST

(Vote for One)

20 D Don Anderson, A-5244

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE SOUTHERN REGION,
GREAT LAKES AND INLAND WATERS

(Vote for One)

21 D James P. McGee, M-5945

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES

AND FISHING INDUSTRIES
(Vote for One)

22 0 Robert Hall, H-5727

See Reverse Side for
Voting Locations

and
Proposed Constitutional Revisions

HEADQUARTERS REPRESENTATIVE
(Vote for Two)

23 D Leo Bonser, B-1193

24 D Carl Peth, P-755

PINEY POINT PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

25 D Edward "Edd" W. Morris, M-1358

NEW YORK PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

26 D Robert Selzer, S-1258

PHILADELPHIA PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

27 D Joseph T. Soresi, S-2658

BALTIMORE PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

28 D Dennis Metz, M-3013

MOBILE PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

Edward Kelly, Jr., K-5043

NEW ORLEANS PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

30 D Stephen W. Judd, J-5336

HOUSTON PORT AGENT
(Vot,Pfor One)

···~:-.. ~ ~<\ . . ~::.~. /.};'
32 D ViQcen.t Frands•Coss, C-8138

•;;,,_ .....

ST. l'bu) PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

33 0 Rebecca J. Sleeper, S-2497

DETROIT-ALGONAC PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

34 D Donald A. Thornton, T-5501

OFFICIAL BALLOT 2001 - 2004

.q-
0
0
N

Q
0
N

.....
0
_J

..I
C(
m
_J

C(

(3
u:
LL
0

voo~ - ~oo~ .io11va 1v101:::1:::10

0 .,, .,,
c=;
);
....
m
)>
r
r
0
-4
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0
0
.j:lo

November 2000



ELECTION NOTICE OF 2000 ELECTION
FOR ELECTION OF 2001-2004 OFFICERS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Election will be conducted by secret mail ballot.

Ballots may be obtained at the following locations from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Mondays through Saturdays, excluding holidays, during the voting
period. The voting period shall commence on November 1st, 2000 and shall continue through December 30th, 2000.

ALGONAC
BALTIMORE
DULUTH

520 St. Clair River Drive, Algonac, Ml 48001
2315 Essex Street, Baltimore, MD 21224

705 Medical Arts Building, Duluth, MN 55802

VOTING LOCATIONS
NEW ORLEANS 3911 LaPalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

635 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
115 Third Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

FT. LAUDERDALE
GUAM
HONOLULU

1221 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
S-Sanqy Plaza, Tun Jesus Crisostoma St., Tamuning, Guam 96911

0,l:rKaJ.ihf'$.treet, Honolulu, HI 96819
12~1 Pi}rc~"''Street, Houston, TX 77002

NEW YORK

NORFOLK
PHILADELPHIA

PINEY POINT

2604 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship,

Piney Point, MD 20674

HOUSTON
"!. '~ .ll

15 Libe~"'Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206
Mq}ltgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

PUERTO RICO

SAN FRANCISCO
ST. LOUIS

TACOMA
WILMINGTON

1057 Fernandez Juncos Avenue, Santurce, PR 00907
350 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

4581 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63116

MOBILE 40 ~auphin Island Parkway, Mobile, AL 36605 3411 South Union Street, Tacoma, WA 98409

NEW BEDFORD'''~'""'-- 48 J,Jn'ion Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
""'·::;:;;~_mm;:e-·

510 North Broad Avenue, Wilmington, CA 90744

WHEREAS, the Executive Board of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District met on May 12, 2000 to discuss the current needs and conditions of the Union, its membership and
the maritime industry in this country; and _
WHEREAS, among their discussions and deliberations was the subjecf'Cif''prpposed revisions in the Union's Constitution which would enable the Union to function more efficiently and to continue to fulfill its obligations to the member-
ship· and / '\,
WHEREAS, a Constitutional Committee was elected ,AtJ9'ust 7, ·~\in ac;t0rdance with Article XXV, Section 2 of our Constitution. They studied the proposed Constitutional Amendments Resolution and unanimously concurred on all
proposed constitutional revisions; and /l l
WHEREAS, the report of the Constitutional C \'by tt\,"membership at the regular membership meetings in September 2000.

NOW,THEREFORE,ITISRESOLVED ~~;~(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE FOLLOWING CONSTIT~JION~LY ADOPTED PROPOSITIONS, TO BE VOTED UPON, IF ADOPTED, WOULD AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AS FOLLOWS:

PROPOSITION #1
Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 1 (a) of the Constitution of !tiEf•$.eafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
•section 1. All members' dues shall consist of: "-'p·· ''·
(a) Dues annually in the sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) which shall be paid in equal am ,,,,. n a ~lendar year basis, no later than the first business day of each calendar quarter, and;"

I.~ BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
'so Noo

_, 111{,N #2
Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 1 (b) of the Constitu;/k .;!.~national Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
'(b) a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the gross amount received for vacation benefits for days wo

ment for the earned vacation benefits and shall become effective as to members in the manner design
the employ of the Union, its subdivisions and its affiliated organizations, or in any employment at the Un
above the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) quarterly on a calendar year basis, no later than the first

ted employers. Dues payable under this Sub-section (b) shall be payable on the days that the member receives pay­
rmined by a majority vote of the membership by secret ballot. When so determined by the membership, members in

ction as provided in Article XII, Section 1 (a) and (c), shall pay in addition to that provided for in paragraph (a) immediately
iness day of each quarter while so loyed.'

·:;-;i;,:.

PLACE 11X 11 IN BOX OF YOUR
YES 0 NO

Are you in favor of amending the following Constitutional provisions to revise the name of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District;
Title Page
Heading
Preamble
Article I, Name and General Powers
Exhibit A
Preamble, Section Ill, Section IV, Section V, Section VI, Section VII, Section VIII, Section IX, Section X, Section XI, Section XII and Section XIII

so that the name of the Union would reflect the consolidation of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District and t Maritime Union in all of the above referenced sections
and headings to read as follows Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District-NMU.

PLACE 11X 11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YESO NOO

PROPOSITION #4
Are you in favor of amending Article VII, Systems of Organization, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to _tead
·section 2. The Headquarters of the Union shall be located in Camp Springs, Maryland and Piney Point, Maryland or at such places as the Executive Board may determine from time to time. The Hpedquart J consist of

a President, an Executive Vice-President, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement, a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast. on~'(1) Vice-Pi'e.sident in';Chai'ge of the
Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of Gp.vemme..,,. ices and Fi~himJ ''
Industries and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.' !{ ~~:?"'

Are you in favor of amending Article VIII, Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives and Port Agents, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Seafarers International Union ''of No'.. , Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District, to read as follows: ~-,,,._

'Section 1. The officers of the Union shall be elected as otherwise provided in this Constitution. These officers shall be the President, an Executive Vice-President, one (1) Vice-President in Charge~· ._ ontracts and Contract
Enforcement. a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast. one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast, one (1). .~. President in Charge of
the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, and one (1) Vice-President in Charge of Government Services and Fishing Industries and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.• '

Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel, Section 1 o of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:

"Section 10. Vice-Presidents at Large.
There shall be two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large whose duties shall be as directed by the President with concurrence of the Executive Board. Such duties and responsibilities may be changed from time to time in like manner, as dic­

tated by the needs of the Union.'
Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel , Section 14, Executive Board of the Constitution of the

Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
'Section 14. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the Executive Vice-President, the Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area,

the Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf Coast Area, the Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast Area the Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, the Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing Industries, the Vice-Presidents at Large and the National Director (or chief executive officer) of each subordinate body or division created or chartered by the Union whenever such subordinate body or
division has attained a membership of 3,200 members and has maintained that membership for not less than three (3) months. Such National Director (or chief executive officer) shall be a member of the respective subordinate body or
division and must be qualified to hold office under the terms of the Constitution of such division or subordinate body.·

Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel , Section 15 (b) , Delegates of the Constitution
of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:

"Section 15. Delegates.
(b) The term "delegates• shall mean those members of the Union and its subordinate bodies or divisions who are elected in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution to attend the Convention of the Seafarers International

Union of North America. The following officers and jobholders, upon their election to office or job shall, during the term of their office or job be delegates to all Conventions of the Seafarers International Union of North America in the fol­
lowing order of priority: President; Executive Vice-President; Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement; Secretary-Treasurer; Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters; Vice-President in Charge of Government Services and Fishing Industries; Vice-Presidents at Large;
Assistant Vice-Presidents; Headquarters Representatives , with priority to those most senior in full book Union membership; and Port Agents, with priority to those most senior in full book Union membership.'

PLACE 11 X11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YESO NOD

PROPOSITION #5
Are you in favor of amending Article XXll , Quorums, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
"Section 2. The quorum for a regular meeting of a Port shall be twenty-five (25) members.'

PLACE 11 X11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YESO NOD

These amendments, if approved, shall become effective upon the date of certification of the Union Tallying Committee.

November 2000 Seafarers LOB 13



S~ling on tb.e Atlantic . • •

The Houston shoregang begins loading the ship's stores for the
next trip.

Bosun George Perry waits for members of the
deck department in the Atlantic's gear locker.

Right: SA
Jack Jones

cleans dishes
from lunch.

Appropriately named, the Atlantic sails from the U.S.
ports of Boston; New York; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C.,
Jacksonville, Fla. and Houston across the Atlantic Ocean to
the European ports of Rotterdam, Holland; Bremerhaven,
Germany; Felixstowe, England; and LeHarve, France.

According to DEU John Cooper (who sent these photos
to the LOG), the hard-working crew aboard the U.S. Ship
Management vessel enjoys the 42-day run but always looks
forward to coming home .

. ··~~..;.-,,..~ . ........__,,_,

Right: Unlicensed
Apprentices

Nathaniel Miller
(right) and Josh

Ellerbee are
packed and ready

to go home after a
long trip to Europe.

QMED Ehtesham Ahmed
checks the schedule for
arrival time in New York.
He will then return to his
home port of Baltimore.

Left: AB Bill Pinkston
(right) stands watch with
the 8 x 12 mate, Erick
Cox.

DEU John Cooper takes the helm of
the containership.

Enjoying a quick break in the crew mess are AB Janaro Jackson and
Chief Electrician John Walsh.

Chief Steward Edward Porter (right) talks with Patrolman
Frank Cottongin Ill at payoff in the port of Houston.

APPLY NOW FOR 1OF8 SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED IN 1001
r----------------------------------------------------------------------------,

Please send me the 2001 SIU Scholarship Program booklet which contains eligi-
bility information, procedures for applying and a copy of the application form.

Mariner's Social Security Number---------------------

Street Address

City, State, Zip Code _____________________ _

Telephone Number _________________________ _

This application is for: 0 Self 0 Dependent

Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan,

5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746

14 Seafarers LOB

11/00

Filling out the coupon at left
is the first step toward pursuing
your hopes, dreams and goals
for a higher level of education.

All Seafarers and their
spouses and children who plan
to attend college next year are
encouraged to send away for the
2001 SIU Scholarship Program
booklet. It contains eligibility
information, procedures for
applying and a copy of the
application form.

Eight monetary grants will
be awarded next year to three
SIU members and five depen­
dents. One of the three scholar­
ships reserved for SIU members
is in the amount of $20,000 for
study at a four-year college or

university. The other two are for
$6,000 each and are intended as
two-year awards for study at a
post-secondary community col­
lege or vocational school. Five
scholarships will be awarded in
the amount of $20,000 each to
the spouses and dependent chil­
dren of Seafarers.

Once the scholarship booklet
has been received, applicants
should check the eligibility
information carefully to make
sure that certain conditions are
met.

No one can be awarded a
scholarship without filling out
an application and mailing it to
the Scholarship Program by
April 15, 2001. Do it today!

November 2111JO



Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 15, 2000

*TOTA"L REGISTERED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

Port
· .... Algonac

Baltimore
:;JjJuam

Honolulu

1
6

9

2
2
0
6

Houston 27 7
Jacksonville 30 16
Mobile 9 3
New Orleans S 11
New York 21 14
Norfolk 14 18
Philadelphia 5 3
Piney Point 4 6
P~rto ·R'.100 :,5;;g.,, ' 8 4
San Franeisco'ii .21 9
Seattle . · ':. 25 8
St. Louis 4 2
Wilmington 27 11
Totals 220 122

Port
· Algonac 0 -0

Baltimore 0 6
Guam 0 0
Honolulu 5 8
Houston 14 4
Jacksonville 15 15
Mobile , 9 2

···'New Orleans . 4 7
.: .. New York 9 8

Norfolk 6 8
Philadelphia 3
Piney Point 2

· Puerto Rico 3
San Franc~co: .... · J 1
Seattle 13
St. Louis
Wilmington
Totals

Port
Algonac·
Baltimore
Guam
Honolulu

6
101

0
3
0

11
Houston 10

Jacksonville 19
Mobile 5
New Orleans 7
New York 13
Norfolk 8
Philadelphia 3
Piney Point 4

t Puerto Rico I
. SanFrancisco 26

Seattle 12
St. Louis
Wilmington 17
Totals 140

Port
i~l~gonac · 0
· l\altimore O
ii/GU.am , 0

Honolulu 6
Houston 3
Jacksonville 5

M~pile o
· · · Ne'W Orleans ··· i
'% :~ew York 4

Norfolk 1
Philadelphia 0
Piney Point I
Puerto Rico 2
San Francisco 3

· ··Seattle i. • 4

3
3
1
6
7
2

10

90

0
1
0
6

2

2
4
6
7
2
4

0
0
1
0
6

42

1
1
0

22
9

11
4
4

29
5
1

38
0

15
11
0

I
4
2
4
4
9
3
7
4
6
2

2
1
2
3
4
5

63

o·,·
2
I
1
3
3
1
2
3
4
0
1
0
3

IO
0
4

38

0
1
0
7

1

0
0
3
5
0
1
0
o·
2

0
4

25

3
1
0

73
7

9
4

12
26
12
0

20
s
9

21
St. Louis
Wilmington
Totals

0
9

39
7 9

Totals All
Departments 500

158 212

412 338

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

DECK DEPARTMENT
l 3 l
3 1 1
l 0 0
5

27
26
10
18
22
17
2

2
4

15
21

2
26

2
15
19
6
9
8
7
2

3
3
6

Jl
1
7

2
2

9
3
7
2
5
3
0

1
2
9
2

6

Trip
Reliefs

0
1
0
0

5
10
2
3
6
4
2
1
2
2

1()
1
7

202 103 55 56

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
l ' ( 0 0

0 3 3 0
0 0 0
5

14
15
5

11
6
3
3
0

3
8

17

8

6
3

8
4
3

' 3 .·
7'
5
4
4

2
4
6

6
0

0
1
2

9
0
3

0

4
3

0
z
2
9
0

3
100 74 41 33

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
0 0 0 0
2 i () 0
0 0 0 0
9

11
11
2
3
8
7

3
3

16
21

l
11

3
0
4
1
7
5
6

4
0
3
0
0

2

9

2

0
1

·•· J
2
0
1
l
l
l
0
3

3
4
0
0
5
3
0
0

0
2

109 37 23 31

ENTRY DEPARTMENT
0 0 2 0
0
0
2
1
3
I
2

7
l
0
1
2
4
4
0
4

32

443

1
0

19
10
6
6

12
10
8

17
1
8

10
1
3

113

327

2
0

69
2
9
3

10
8

11
0
4
2
2

17

4
146

265

0
0
0

0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0

0
0
0
0

0

0

120

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
AU Groups

Class A Class B Class C

0
12
0

12
39
62
22
21
48
21
11
3

14
39
4~

4
34

391

0
3
0
7.

27
29

9
3
3
5

I{)

14
4

11
172

0
4
Q

19
22
33
9

18
26
13
2
5
5 ·

3&
29

2
30

255

l
1
0

16
5
8
J
4
8
1
0
1
5
7
9
0

11
78

896

5
0
9

0
5
3
5

11 7
17 12
7 5

21 10
17 15
26 7
4 3
7 3
5 4

14

~l,,
2 5

17 7
174 100

0 0
7 2
0 l
8 3
9

27
6

' ll
18
12

5
7

' 1

lO
14

13
149

0
1
0
6

3
49

10
6 1
6 3
5 0
5 3
8 3
9 6
2 0
7
i ····

4

2 1
12 4
75 39

1 2.
1 1
0 1

37 110
16 10
30 17
8 5'

10 n
50 56
7 15
2 0

49 23
l 9

27 16
22 37

2
25

288

686

24
338

526

*"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.

November 2000

December 2000 & January ztiiJi;<i
Met11bership Meellngs

lleep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters

Piney Point ............. Monday, December 4, January 8

Algonac .................. Friday: December 8, January 12

Baltimore ................ Thursday: December 7, January 11

Duluth ..................... Wednesday: December 13, January 17

Honolulu ................. Friday: December 151 January 19

Houston .. " .............. Monday: December 11

Tuesday: January 16*
•change created by Martin Luther King h<>Jiday

Jacksonville .•.....•.... Thursday: December 7. January 11

Jersey City .• ~ ........... Wedpesday:December 20, January 24

Moblle t + ................. Wednesdai~; December 13, January 17

New Bedford .......... Tuesday: J>ecember 19, January 23

NewOrleans ....... ~ ... Tuesd!ty: .December 12, January 16

New York'. ............... Tuesday: becember 5, January 9

Personal

MUHARAM HUSIN
Please contact Isabel Husin at (718) 369-1430 or

Maria at (718) 832-7651 at your earliest convenience.

Corrections

In the October LOG, page 13, Piney Point inadver­
tently was omitted from the list of_yoting locations.

In the October LOG, page 37, the obit for SIU
Pensioner Charles Rice should have stated that he grad­
uated from the steward recertification program (not
bosun recertification).

ATTENTION All SEAFARERS
CAeck gour Z ·Card/ ,,

'/~-- · .. ·,~y
~~

Seafarers LOB 15



../ -

Nicholas J. Marrone
Vice President West Coast

,Kermett Mangram
Viee President Government Services . ..

. lllDADQUART.ERS
. .... S201 Auth Way
·· Camp Springs, MD 20746

( '.W l) 899-067 5

ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr., Alg®ac. MI 48001

. (&to) 794-4988

ANCllORAGE
121 Sesame St, #lC, Anchorage. Al< 99503

(907) 561-49'88

·.·. BALTm.JORE
·2315 &Sex.St., :aattimoi:e, MD 21224

(410) 3274900

GUAM . ,
125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 30M<:

Tun Jesus Crisostomo St.
Tamuning, Guam 9691 l ·

(671) 647-1350

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(80&) 845-5222

· ·u;oUSTON
.• J 121 Pierce St, Houston. TX 71002

.. (713) 659.-5152

····· ··.·.·.···.··········

~l!~~~DVO;~
4& Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740

(508} 997-5404

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Hm'Vey, LA 70058

(504)328-7545

NEW YORK
635 Fourth Ave .• Brooklyn, NY 11232

(7 18) 499-6600

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 2.3510

(757) 622-1892

PlOLADELPlUA
2604 S. 4 St., P.biJadelphi~ PA l 9148

(215) $36-381&

PINEYPOlNT
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674

(301) 994~0010

PORT EVERGLADES .
· J i21 S. Andrews Ave,, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

. (954) 522 ... 7984

SAN FRANCISCO
35-0 Fremont St.

San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-5855

Government Services Divisfon
(415) 861-3400

SANTURCE
l 057 Fernandez Junc<>S Aile., Stop 16~

Santu.rce, PR 00907
(787) 721-4033

ST. LOUIS
4581 Gravois Ave., St. Loliis, MO 63116

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA
.3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

{253) 212m14

WILMINGTON
Broad Ave., Wtlmin8f()n, CA 90744

(310) 5494000

16 Seafarers LOG

Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes
SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 15, 2000

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

*TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH
AU 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 19 12

·····. ·'····· 0
11 8 0 8

Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 8 6 0 5 3 0 3
Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 4 10 0 2 7 0 2
Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 13 . 21 ·o 8 11 0 5

Totals All Depts 0 44 49 0 26 29 0 18 20
*"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 Wate rs
SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 15, 2000

*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

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

Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast
~~,J1tland ~aters
West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic Coast
Gulf Coast

. Lakes, Inland Waters ·
West Coast
Totals
Region
Atlantic Coast

0
0
0

1

0
0
0
0
0

Gulf Coast .... . <

Lakes, Inl~!ld Water~.;tdfg
West Coast 0
Totals 0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0

0
4
0
8

12

0
1

···· o
0
1

0
0

DECK DEPARTMENT
···•· () .

0
0

1

0
0
0

9
10

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 •··.·. > () .

0 0 0
0 0 0

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
0 0

1
0
0 1

3

0

0

0
0

1

0
0

0
0

0
0

1
1

Totals All Depts 1 0 13 2 0 11 3 1 34
*"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

PIC-FROM-THE-PAST

This 36-year-old photo was sent to the LOG by retired Seafarer James W. Krebser
of Stuart, Fla. He writes: "Unlike the proverbial 'ships that pass in the night,' they often
pass in the daytime, too. This snapshot of two Great Lakes bulk carriers was pho­
tographed in July 1964 on Lake Superior from aboard the SIU-contracted SS Frank E.
Taplin."

Krebser then went on to sail 10 Sea-Land containerships throught the 1970s in the
SIU's Atlantic & Gulf District.

November 2000



An Inland pilot, a recertified
steward and a recertified
bosun are among the 1 7

Seafarers announcing their retire­
ments this month.

Alton Douglas navigated the
inland waterways as a pilot for
nearly 30 years. Recertified
Steward Norman Evans and
Recertified Bosun Enrique Velez
graduated from the highest levels
of training available to members
in the steward and deck depart­
ments, respectively, at the Paul
Hall Center in Piney Point, Md.

Including Evans and Velez, 13
of the retirees sailed in the deep
sea division and one plied the
Great Lakes. Douglas and two
others navigated the inland water­
ways.

Six of the retirees were mem­
bers of the deck department, four
shipped in the engine department
and seven sailed in the steward
department.

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

DEEP SEA

AHMED
ALGAZ­
ZALI, 65,
joined the SIU
in 1979 in the
port of New
York. Born in
Yemen,
Brother

Algazzali first sailed aboard
Connecticut Transport's Connect­
icut. A member of the steward
department, he upgraded his
skills in 1987, 1989 and earlier
this year at the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and
Education in Piney Point, Md.
Brother Algazzali last shipped
aboard the Captain Steven L.
Bennett, operated by Sealift, Inc.
He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

JOSEPH F.
BIL LOTTO
JR, 71, hails
from
Louisiana. He
began his
career with the
SIUin1951,
first sailing
aboard the Steel Fabricator, oper­
ated by ISCO Inc. Brother
Billotto shipped as a member of
the engine department, last work­
ing aboard the Sea-Land
Challenger. He calls Mobile, Ala.
home.

ERNEST
BRINKLEY,
62, joined the
SIU in 1964 in
the port of
Norfolk. He
first sailed
aboard the
Spitfire, a

General Cargo Corp. vessel. A
native of Florida, Brother
Brinkley shipped as a member of
the steward department. He last
sailed aboard Bay Ship
Management's USNS Yano.
Brother Brinkley resides in
Norfolk, Va.

HAROLD G. CALDEIRA, 64,
began his SIU career in 1956,
joining in the port of Houston.
Born in New York, he shipped as

Nortember 2000

a member of
the deck
department.
Brother
Caldeira
upgraded his
skills at the
Paul Hall
Center for
Maritime Training and Education
in 1995 and 1998. He last sailed
aboard CSX Lines' Newark Bay.
Brother Caldeira calls Holiday,
Fla. home.

NORMAN
EVANS, 63,
joined the SIU
in 1960 in the
port of San
Francisco.
Prior to
becoming a
Seafarer,

Brother Evans served in the U.S.
Army from 1954 to 1957. He first
sailed aboard the Del Campo,
operated by Delta Steamship
Lines. A member of the steward
department, Brother Evans com­
pleted the steward recertification
course at the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
in 1984. The Alabama native last
sailed aboard an American Ship
Management vessel. Brother
Evans lives in Dallas.

AMBROSIO
FACHINI, 56,
hails from
Brazil. He
joined the SIU
in 1966 in the
port of New
Orleans and
first sailed
aboard the Overseas Joyce. A
member of the steward depart­
ment, Brother Fachini upgraded
his skills at the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and
Education in 1993. He last
worked aboard the American
Merlin, operated by Osprey­
Acomarit Ship Management, Inc.
Brother F achini resides in
Wilmington, Calif.

EDWARDJ.
HIEL, 61,
started his
career with the
SIU in 1969,
joining in the
port of
Cleveland. He
first sailed

aboard an American Steamship
Company vessel. A native of
Michigan, he shipped as a mem­
ber of the steward department.
Brother Riel upgraded his skills
at the Paul Hall Center in 1990,
1994, and again earlier this year.
He last sailed aboard the USNS
Sisler, a Maersk Line vessel.
Brother Riel calls Saginaw, Mich.
home.

PHILLIP C.
PARDO­
VICH, 65,
joined the SIU
in 1958 in the
port of New
York. Prior to
becoming a
Seafarer, he
served with the U.S. Army from
1954 to 1956. A member of the
engine department, Brother
Pardovich first sailed aboard

Welcome. Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their

working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or

Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members who recently

retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those members for a job

well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days ahead.

Boston Towing Boat Company
vessels. He upgraded his skills in
1979, 1981 and 1991 at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship. The New
York native last worked aboard
the Sea-Land Newark Bay.
Brother Pardovich resides in Port
Richey, Fla.

!.••~~JESUS
RODRI-
GUEZ, 65,
began his SIU
career in 1981,
joining in the
port of
Wilmington.
Born in South

America, Brother Rodriguez
sailed as a member of the engine
department. He first shipped
aboard the Santa Mercedes, oper­
ated by Delta Steamship Lines.
The Columbia native last worked
aboard the Overseas Ohio.
Brother Rodriguez lives in
Whittier, Calif.

JULIAN
SALAZAR,
64, hails from
Texas. He
started his
career with the
SIU in 1970,
joining in the
port of
Houston. Before becoming a
Seafarer, he served in the U.S.
Army on two occasions; from
1950 to 1952, and from 1952 to
1954. Brother Salazar first
shipped aboard the Steel Flyer,
operated by ISCO, Inc. A mem­
ber of the engine department, he
upgraded his skills often at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship. He attend­
ed the institution in 1975, 1978,
1979, 1980 and 1984. Brother
Salazar last sailed aboard the
LNG Libra, operated by Pronav
Ship Management. He calls
Houston home.

JOSE SALCEDO, 56, started his
SIU career in 1964, joining in the
port of Puerto Rico. Brother

Salcedo first sailed aboard the
Penmar, operated by Calmar
Steamship Corporation. A mem­
ber of the steward department, he
hails from Puerto Rico. Brother
Salcedo last shipped aboard the
USNS Algol. He resides in New
Orleans.

ENRIQUE
VELEZ, 58,
hails from
Puerto Rico.
He began his
career with the
SIU in 1977,
joining in the
port of New

York. A bosun, Brother Velez
first shipped aboard the Robert E.
Lee, operated by Waterman
Steamship Corp. He shipped as a
member of the deck department
and completed the bosun recerti­
fication course at the Paul Hall
Center for amaritime Training
and Education in 1993. Brother
Velez last sailed aboard the Sea­
Land Crusader. He resides in his
native Puerto Rico.

WAYNED.
WOOD­
COCK, 64,
started his
career with the
SIU in 1966.
Prior to
becoming a
Seafarer,
Brother Woodcock served with
the U.S. Coast Guard from 1956
to 1960. He first sailed aboard the
USNS Mt. Vernon, operated by
Mt. Vernon Tankers Corporation.
A native of Texas, Brother
Wookcock shipped as a member
of the steward department. He
upgraded his skills at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in 1975.
Brother Woodcock last sailed
aboard the Sea-Land Explorer.
He lives in Waco, Texas.

GREAT LAKES

MOUSA M. SALEH, 52, joined

the SIU in
1972 in the
port of
Detroit. Born
in Yemen, he
first sailed
aboard the
George D.
Globe, operat­

ed by Great Lakes Associates.
Brother Saleh shipped as a mem­
ber of the deck department. He
last sailed aboard the Richard J.
Reiss, operated by Erie Sand
Steamship. Brother Saleh is a res­
ident of Dearborn, Mich.

INLAND

DOMENICO
CHIODI, 62,
started his
career with the
SIU in 1981,
joining in the
port of New
York. Born in
Italy, Boatman
Chiodi spent his entire career
sailing aboard New York Cross
Harbor Railroad vessels. He
sailed as a member of the deck
department. Boatmen Chiodi
resides in the Bronx, N.Y.

ALTON
DOUGLAS,
65, hails from
Louisiana. He
began his SIU
career in 1962,
joining in the
port of New
Orleans. A

pilot, Boatman Douglas first
sailed aboard Dixie Carrier ves­
sels. He last sailed aboard Allied
Towing vessels. Boatman
Douglas calls Slidell, La. home.

FRANK D. WHITTINGTON,
73, joined the SIU in 1962. A
native of Galveston, Texas,
Boatman Whittington sailed
aboard Galveston Wharves oper­
ated vessels during his career. He
resides in Texas City, Texas.

Reprinted from past issues of the SeJ.farers LOG amend the U.S. labor laws in order to give the
NLRB jurisdiction over aews of foreign-flag

1942 vessels substantially engaged in American com-
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill merce. The SIU president dedared that this
offered his thanks and action would prevent
the thanks of the disasters such as the
Royal Navy to the .. ,.UJS MQ,A.f .. rU sinking of the
aews of two SIU-con- I Tl .f ~f In Yannouth Castle, the

tracted ships that J A.f SJU HJ •r. y American-owned,
returned to New York .f~f Si OR Panamanian-flagged
after 1 t months on 01Jise ship which sank
the run to Russia. A in the Caribbean with
commendation ~==============================~ a los.s of 89 lives,
relayed by Adm. E.S. Land, director of the after being destroyed by fire.
War Shipping Administration, from the British
Admiralty said in part~ "Mr. Winston
ChurchiR, the British Prime Minister, has par­
ticularly requested that he be associated with
this message of congratulations ••.• I should like
also to offer my congratulations to you and
your aew for excellent work you all per­
formed during this encounter,, which is a great
credit to the United States merchant marine.''
The ships are unnamed for security reasons.

1965
SIU President Paul Hall called on Congress to

1990
An additional breakout of Seafarers will crew
another 13 ships for the government's Ready
Reseive Force (RRF) fleet which has been acti·
vated by the military to support the massive
deployment of supplies and equipment to the
Persian Guff •••. For the duration of the break­
out, SIU President Michael Sacco extended
until 10 p.m. the hours of the union's man·
power center and hiring halls, which have been
operating in high gear since August when the
stepped-up shipping demands began.

Seafarers LOG 17



Editors note: The Seafarers LOG
staff makes every attempt to find and
publish pertinent facts regarding the
careers of our deceased brothers
and sisters. These facts normally
include, but are not limited to, date
and port joined the SIU, vessels
sailed, department worked, and
place of residence at the time of
death. In some instances, however,
significant information simply is not
available on their respective careers.
When this occurs, we will list the
name, age, date of death and divi­
sion sailed at the end of this column.
Photos will be published when avail­
able.

DEEP SEA

NORWOOD BARBOUR
Pensioner
Norwood
Barbour, 73,
died July 23.
Born in North
Carolina, he
joined the SIU
in 1945 in the
port of Norfolk.
He shipped as a

member of the engine department
and began receiving his pension in
1969. Brother Barbour served with
the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952.
He made his home in Washington,
D.C.

ROBERT BELVIN

.--------~ Pensioner
Robert Belvin,
79, passed away
July 26. Brother
Belvin joined
the MC&S in
1968 in the port
of San
Francisco. A
member of the

steward department, he first sailed
aboard the President Polk. The
Louisiana native began receiving his
pension in 1984. He last sailed
aboard the President Madison.
Brother Belvin lived in San
Francisco.

VIRGILIO COLLAZO
Brother Virgilio
Collazo, 48,
died July 14.
Born in
Bayamon, P.R.,
Brother Collazo
joined the
Seafarers in
1999 and sailed
as an AB. He

first shipped aboard the Chemical
Explorer, operated by Intrepid Ship
Management. Brother Collazo last
worked aboard the Sea-Land
Hawaii. He resided in his native
Puerto Rico.

HELEN DRAGAVON

Pensioner Helen Dragavon, 82,
passed away May 5. Sister Dragavon
joined the MC&S in 1957 in the port
of San Francisco. Born in Soudan,
Minn., she shipped as a member of
the steward department. Sister
Dragavon first sailed aboard an
Oceanic Steamship operated vessel
and last worked aboard the
Mariposa. She began receiving her
pension in 1969. Sister Dragavon
called Hermantown, Minn. home.

OLAF KJONBOG
Pensioner OlafKjonbog, 98 died
July 25. Brother Kjonbogjoined the
Seafarers in 1950 in the port of New
Orleans. Born in Norway, he sailed
as a member of the steward depart­
ment and began receiving his pen­
sion in 1969. Brother Kjonbog
resided in Kenner, La.

.,. Seatann LOB

JOHN MERKEL
Pensioner John
Merkel, 76,
died Aug. 15.
Born in
Philadelphia,
Brother Merkel
began his career
with the SIU in
1942, joining in
the port of

Mobile. The Philadelphia native
sailed in the deck department and
shipped primarily aboard Waterman
Steamship Corp. vessels, including
the Northern Lights. Brother Merkel
began receiving his pension in 1971.
He lived in Wadena, Minn.

CONRADO NAVARRA
Pensioner
Conrado
Navarra, 88,
passed away
Sept. 8. Brother
Navarra was
born in the
Philippines and
sailed with the
SIU as a mem­

ber of the steward department. He
began receiving his pension in 1969.
Brother Navarra lived in New York.

KUNO SCHOPFER
Pensioner Kuno
Schopfer, 84,
died July 9.
Brother
Schopfer began
his career with
the SIU in
1951, joining in
the port of New
York. He first

sailed aboard Victory Carrier's
Aimes Victory. Born in Germany, he
shipped as a member of the engine
department. Brother Schopfer began
receiving his pension in 1984. He
called Summerville, S.C. home.

WILLIAM THORNTON
Pensioner
William
Thornton, 84,
passed away
July 28.
Brother
Thornton began
his career with
the SIU in
1940, joining in

the port of Philadelphia. A member
of the engine department, he was
born in Johnston County, N.C.
Brother Thornton last shipped
aboard the Andrew Jackson, operat­
ed by Waterman Steamship Corp.
He served with the U.S. Army from
1942 to 1943. Brother Thornton
began receiving his pension in 1962.
He lived in Sea Level, N.C.

INLAND

EDDIE JONES
Boatman Eddie Jones, 41, died May
22. A member of the steward depart­
ment, he sailed primarily aboard
Delta Queen Steamboat Co. vessels.
Boatmen Jones resided in Chicago.

GREAT LAKES

HARVEY LONG
Pensioner
Harvey Long,
95, passed away
June 19. Born
in Michigan,
Brother Long
sailed as a
member of the
engine depart­
ment. He

worked primarily aboard Viking ves­
sels, including the Ann Arbor.
Brother Long began receiving his
pension in 1969. He resided in
Thompsonville, Mich.

RAYMOND SMITH
Pensioner Raymond Smith, 72, died
May 17. Brother Smith joined the
SIU in 1961 and sailed primarily
aboard Great Lakes Towing vessels.
Born in Cleveland, he sailed as a
pilot. Brother Smith began receiving
his pension in 1990. He lived in
Lakewood, Ohio.

began receiving his pension in 1981.
A bosun, he resided in Mobile, Ala.

WILLIAM COUTURE
Brother William Couture, 89, died in
July. Brother Couture sailed in the
deep sea division. BART POWERS

AnANTIC FISHERMAN

Pensioner Bart Powers, 72, passed
away Aug. 3. He joined the Atlantic
Fishermen's Union in 1953 in the
port of New York. The New York
native sailed as a member of the
engine department and began receiv­
ing his pension in 1985. He lived in
Clearwater, Fla.

WILLIAM MURRAY
.,...---.,----.,,,,_.,,...=--. Pensioner

William
Murray, 86,
died July 3.
Brother Murray
sailed in the
deep sea divi­
sion.

CLYDE PARKER
...---==~....,,.....,.,., Pensioner

Clyde Parker,
82, died July
14. Born in
Alabama, he
joined the
Atlantic
Fishermen's
union in 1940

Only limited information was avail­
able on the careers of the following
deceased brothers/sisters:

LEON GASPERMENT ANTHONY RUSSO

......... ~;;.umo""""-.._.., ....... ......, in the port of
Savannah, Ga. before it merged with
the AGLIWD. He sailed as a mem­
ber of the deck department and

Pensioner Leon
Gasperment,
95, passed away
July 14. Brother
Gasperment
sailed in the
Railroad
Marine divi­
sion.

Pensioner Anthony Russo, 75, died
July 11. Brother Russo shipped in
the deep sea division.

SHEW WONG
Pensioner Shew Wong, 77, passed
away June 14. Brother Wong sailed
in the deep sea division.

Your Rights To Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annuat report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed beloW'ke includ­

ed in that report:
1) An accountant's report;

...... 2) Assets held for investment; ...• . .. ~; i> ..
· if,3) transactions in exces~ 9f? per~~nt of the plan as~s; c;;; ·. '.. i .

.J.) Actuarial information reg~rdingthe .furiding ofthepl~i ~rid , . ·
5). ·. Financial information an? inforn:tation on payments to sepdc~ pf9videi:s; · ..... .···· ..... . ....

.... .. 1'9 6btajfi a copy of the· fu:lla,nnual ·repo:rt, or-any part the@~ wtlteor call Board ofTtustees of Seafarers Pe.rtsion:T.rnst; 5201
~titltWay. Camp Springs, MD2()746, {301) 899~0675. 'fll~ cb.aige to cover copying costs will be $8.85 for the full: annuali:eport
or.JS cents per page fm: any part~~f. . ·

., .. You also have therigh~to. .tJ;ceive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge,a statement of the assets and lia­
bµlties of the plan and acco~ying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of ~~.f!la:iJ. and accompanying note&, or both.
If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan adroinistrator~ these ~o $~eµts and accgm:panyjng not~s wm be
inCluded as part of that report. . ., . > · tr. t ·····. .... . . . } ·

You also bave the legally pr-0tected right to examine the ~rirtual report at the main' o~~~,'.9f the; pJan (5201 Autb ~ay, Camp
Springs, MD 20746) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington D.C., or t(J ?pbt~m:w c.~py fu>m the U .S, DepartJn,etit'o:f
Labor upon payment of copying c~ts .. Requests to the Department should be add:r~ t<).;~~~lic Disclosure Room. Room N4677;
Pension and Welfare Benefits ~dJliinI~tr.ation. U.~. Department of La:bor, 200 ConstitutfonA\tenue, N.W.; Washington DC 20216.

·~~::.::::;-.;:~/)'::; ·:.;· . .·.·. ,•:;. : - .

SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
FOR GREAT LAKES TUG & DREDGE PENSION PLAN

This is a summary of the annual report for the Great Lakes
Tug & Dredge Pension Plan,

EIN 13-1953878, Plan No. 003, for the period January 1,
1999 through December 31, 1999. The annual report has been
filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement
Benefits under the plan are provided through a trust fund.

Plan expenses were $1,629 ,68 l. These expenses included
$213,741 in administrative expenses and $1,415,940 in benefits
paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 305 persons
were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the
plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the
right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the
plan, was $23,767,126, as of December 31, 1999, compared to
$25,004,473 as of January 1, 1999. During the plan year, the
plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $(1,237,347).
This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation
in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the
value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value of
the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets
acquired during the year. The plan had a total income of
$392,334, including employer contributions of $202, 110, real­
ized gains of$1,009,023 from the sale of assets, earnings from
investments of $1,196,282 and unrealized (depreciation) of
assets of$(2,015,08l).

Minimum Funding Standards
An actuary's statement shows that enough money was con­

tributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance with the
minimum funding standards of ERISA.

Your Rights To Addftlonal Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual

report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below
are included in that report:

1) An accountant's report;
2) Assets held for investment;
3) Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the plan assets;
4) Actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan;

and
5) Financial information and information on payments to

service providers;

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part there­
of, write or call Board of Trustees of Great Lakes Tug & Dredge
Pension Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746, (301)
899-0675. The charge to cover copying costs will be $5.25 for
the full annual report or 15 cents per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administra­
tor, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and
liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of
income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or
both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the
plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying
notes will be included as part of that report.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the
annual report at the main office of the plan ( 5201 Auth Way,
Camp Springs, MD 20746) and at the U.S. Department of
Labor in Washington D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S.
Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests
to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure
Room, Room N4677, Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20216.

November 2000



llfli'~i#fJlrers LOG attemptgto print as many digests of union shipboard
s .. ;;ft~ ?t·i :L:· 'minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space

ll~:inutes ,;::;;r;;m:;~ct"P•~aL
1%i[1Jtl#e.1SS,ues requiting attenlio11, o.r.re,;,lutlon a"' gddressed by the union
Hff/ i;Y/it1n receipt of thtt. ~bi/'-s~ minutes:· The minutes are then forwarded

, •.• _!_•_•_: .• _•.-.• ,•_._•_•.•.•-·-·-···'·-·-·-·-•_!_._._-_•-·-··;_._ •. ·_•-•-·-·-·-···-~-I --· ......... ,~!~e,Seat;r/lrs LOG for publicalion. ·· · · XWHffr::·~·;

CSX TRADER (CSX Lines), July
2-Chairman Loren Watson,
Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty,
Educational Director Milton E.
Sabin, Deck Delegate Joseph A.
Loyal, Engine Delegate Joseph A.
Canlas, Steward Delegate Alejo
A. Fabia Jr. Bosun reported
everything going well. He stressed
shipboard safety, including wear­
ing proper shoes on deck. He
talked about new simulators at
Paul Hall Center in Piney Point,
Md. and how SIU is using latest
technology to keep its training lev­
els among highest in world.
Secretary stressed importance of
contributing to SPAD, this being
major election year, and encour­
aged members to register to vote.
"Our votes could have a major
impact on the Jones Act and other
issues affecting the future of
American shipping." Educational
director pointed out new simula­
tors at Piney Point for training by
engine department members as
well as deck. He also noted that
anyone who has not been to the
school lately would be very
impressed with fire fighting school
and culinary lab. Treasurer
announced $400 in ship's general
fund. Would like to purchase
weight lifting and aerobic exercise
machines and make nice gym in
passenger lounge. Beef reported in
deck department. Bosun noted that
ship now in last year of five-year
contract with Sea-Land (now
CSX) and advised crew members
to discuss any ideas or suggestions
for contract negotiations. He also
reminded everyone to separate
plastics properly, to rewind and
take care of video movies and to
know and follow safety rules
booklet. Vote of thanks given to
steward department for great job.
Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.;
Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam.

EXPLORER (U.S. Ship Mgmt.),
July 20-Chairman Michael A.
Noble, Secretary William R.
Burdette, Educational Director
Kevin DeSue, Deck Delegate
Larry D. Thompson, Engine
Delegate Steven L. Rollins,
Steward Delegate Carlito S.
Navarro. Chairman pleased with
good trip, good crew and good
food. He thanked everyone for
their help. New dryer brought
aboard this voyage. Need individ­
ual crew member to be responsible
for upkeep of rental TV. Secretary
stated revision of sailing schedule
needed. Educational director
reminded crew members of
upgrading courses available at
Piney Point. Treasurer announced
$1,830 in ship's fund. No beefs
reported. Some disputed OT indi­
cated in engine department.
Clarification requested on vacation
days and retirement. Next ports:
Long Beach, Calif.; Panama.

OOCL INNOVATION (U.S. Ship
Mgmt.), July 23-Chairman
Konstantinos Prokovas,
Secretary Edward C. Winne,
Educational Director Rex E.
Bolin, Deck Delegate Daniel W.
Miller, Engine Delegate Richard
H. Surrick, Steward Delegate
Hamdi Hussein. Secretary noted
ship to change to Mediterranean
run next voyage. Ship also to be
renamed SeaLand Oregon. Educa­
tional director urged everyone to

November 2000

continue to upgrade skills at Paul
Hall Center and be sure to meet
STCW requirements. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Vote of
thanks given to steward depart­
ment for good job.

ROVER (Intrepid Shipping), July
9- Chairman Jamie Miller,
Secretary Juan B. Gonzalez,
Educational Director George
Fernandez, Deck Delegate Carey
L. Foster. Bosun advised crew to
wear hard hats and safety glasses
during canal transit and in port. He
also reminded them about separat­
ing all plastic items from regular
trash and said he spoke with cap­
tain about getting daily news.
Secretary urged unlicensed appren­
tices to listen to old-timers on ship
in order to learn ropes. Educa­
tional director reminded brothers
and sisters to upgrade at Paul Hall
Center and to be sure STCW is
current. By 2002, every seaman
will need it. Deck delegate report­
ed disputed OT; otherwise, ship
running smoothly. Clarification
requested from headquarters
regarding missing man watch.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for job well done. Next
port: Dijbouti, Africa.

SMT CHEMICAL TRADER
(Intrepid Ship Mgmt.) July 31-
Chairman Anthony Maben,
Secretary Gregory Johnson,
Educational Director arlton .
Stamp. Ship due to arrive in
Ukraine Aug. 8 and then head to
U.S. in September. Chairman
thanked crew for smooth voyage
and noted importance of donating
to SPAD. He also urged members
to read LOG to keep updated on
happenings in union and maritime
industry. Secretary extended vote
of thanks to all hands for helping
keep messroom clean. Educational
director advised crew members to
upgrade at Piney Point school.

USNS DAHL (Maersk Line), July
29-Chairman Klaus W.
Tankersley, Secretary Kevin L.
Marchand, Educational Director
William Staton. Chairman noted
previous question on travel was
answered and is something to be
considered in next contract.
Treasurer announced $560 in
ship's fund; $300 will go toward
Aug. 13 island party (vessel cur­
rently in port in Diego Garcia).
Additional donations being sought.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Suggestion made that when crew
member gets off and has to wait
for flight in Diego Garcia, he
should be paid daily wages until
actual time of departure. The way
it is, some have to wait several
days without pay. Round of thanks
given to steward department for
great food and service. Pictures of
ship on sale for $5 from steward or
captain.

CSX CHALLENGER (CSX
Lines), Aug. 13-Chairman
Tommy R. Benton, Secretary
William E. Bragg, Educational
Director Clive A. Steward Sr.,
Deck Delegate Erowin C. Udan,
Engine Delegate Larry P. Calixto,
Steward Delegate Glenn A. Taan.
Chairman noted old business pend­
ing is cleaning of supply air duct
system. He advised crew members
of upcoming payoff scheduled
Aug. 22 in Jacksonville, Fla. and

r mmd d m to adh re to Yra te
management procedures. Agri­
culture inspector will not allow
any deviations from rules. He also
stressed importance of contribu­
tions to SPAD and MDL.
Secretary suggested everyone read
latest issue of LOG and make sure
all sailing papers are up to date.
Educational director urged all
hands to apply for upgrading at
Piney Point-and not miss out on
this benefit. Discussion held on
starting ship's fund. Deck depart­
ment reported beef and disputed
OT for dayworkers. Suggestion
made for contracts department to
consider reducing requirements for
vacation benefits. Steward to
check on status of fans for cabins
and common areas. Vote of thanks
given to all departments for help­
ing keep clean ship. Special men­
tion to DEU Mothana Mothana
and UMS Rafael Pagan for extra
effort and hard work. "They are
without a doubt a credit to the Sill
and its membership." Next ports:
Houston; New Orleans; Jackson­
ville; San Juan, P.R.

CSX CONSUMER (CSX Lines),
Aug. 6- Chairman Rudy A.
Santos, Secretary Terry L. Allen,
Educational Director Mark Serlis,
Deck Delegate Milton F.
Caballero, Engine Delegate Jose
E. Villot Jr., Steward Delegate
William Muniz. Chairman
announced payoff Aug. 8 in
Oakland, Calif. He thanked crew
for job well done and advised
them to be sure endorsements are
up to date. Secretary noted ship's
first unlicensed apprentice, Mike
Harvey, is good shipmate. He
reminded those getting off to leave
room clean for next person.
Educational director advised mem­
bers to upgrade skills at Paul Hall
Center and get necessary endorse­
ments for increased job security.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Several suggestions made for con­
sideration by contracts department:
lower seatime required for pension
and improve medical plan for
dependents. Next ports: Oakland
and Long Beach, Calif.; Honolulu.

CSX KODIAK (CSX Lines), Aug.
13-Chairman Garry D. Walker,
Secretary Melvin E. Morgan,
Educational Director Alfonso D.
Bombita Jr., Deck Delegate John
S. Habib, Engine Delegate Gebar
H. Ogbe, Steward Delegate Rang
V. Nguyen. Chairman announced
scheduled arrival in Tacoma,
Wash. Aug. 15 with payoff next
day. Blanket relief for crew avail­
able Aug. 16. Educational director
advised everyone to check z-cards
and STCW for expiration dates
and renew them, if necessary. He
also noted schedule of upgrading
courses listed in monthly LOG. All
members urged to upgrade skills.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Suggestion made from crew to
have pay<? ff upon arrival of ship in
Tacoma in order to have more time
to spend with families. Vote of
thanks to steward department for
keeping ship clean and for excel­
lent food preparation. Next ports:
Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska;
Tacoma.

CSX TACOMA (CSX Lines),
Aug. 6-Chairman Joseph Artis,
Secretary Lincoln E. Pinn Jr.,
Educational Director Lorance D.
Pence, Engine Delegate Steven D.
Bower, Steward Delegate Jioia J.
deLeon. Chairman stated payoff
scheduled in Tacoma, Wash. upon
arrival Aug. 8. Educational direc­
tor recommended crew take advan­
tage of upgrading courses offered
at Piney Point. He also stressed
importance of contributing to
SPAD. Treasurer announced $500
in ship 's fund. No beefs or disput­
ed OT reported. Suggestion made
that CSX implement sailing board
by phone and also have it posted
by 1700 hours. Crew asked to

· p laundr) room door closed at
all times and lint screens cleaned
for fire safety. Everyone also
requested to rewind and replace
movies when finished viewing.
Thanks given to steward depart­
ment for job well done.

DEFENDER (U.S. Ship Mgmt.),
Aug. 5-Chairman Jerry
Borucki, Roger D. Linasan,
Educational Director Gerald
Payne, Deck Delegate Peter
Koucky, Engine Delegate Asher

adding extra man in steward
department and providing depen­
dents with prescription coverage.
Requests made for repair of com­
munications system in crane, pur­
chase of new embarkation ladders
and better selection of movies.
Also request made for voltage con­
verters in staterooms. Next port:
Charleston, S.C.

MARINE COLUMBIA (ATC),
Aug. 4--Chairman Anthony J.
Sabatini, Secretary William E.

Cruising the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is
an awe-inspiring engi­
neering achievement.
Completed in August

1914, it unites two great
oceans-the Atlantic and

Pacific-and provides a
path between North and

South America. Bosun
Jerry Borucki (left) sent
us this photo of himself

and Second Mate
Haines Lawrence as the
U.S. Ship Management
vessel Defender made

its way through the
canal on its run from

San Pedro, Calif. to
Freeport, Bahamas.

J. Liss, Steward Delegate Barry J.
Alviso. Chairman thanked every­
one for job well done. Secretary
also praised all hands for keeping
ship clean. Educational director
encouraged crew members to
upgrade at Piney Point to increase
knowledge and financial future. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Clarification requested on emer­
gency trip off ship. Unlicensed
laundry room needs two washing
machines and two dryers. Request
also made for new VCR in crew
library. Ship en route to San Pedro,
Calif. Then heading to Panama,
Mexico and Freeport, Bahamas.

INNOVATOR (U.S. Ship Mgmt.),
Aug. 13-Chairman George D.
Vukmir, Secretary Jose M.
Bayani, Educational Director
Christopher L. Earhart, Deck
Delegate Gerry A. Gianan,
Engine Delegate Melvin W.
Layner. Chairman announced
payoff Aug. 15 following U.S.
Coast Guard inspection. He
thanked all departments for good
job since taking ship out of ship­
yard in Ulsan, Korea July 13.
Secretary thanked chairman and
deck department for keeping ship
very clean. All unlicensed crew
members wished Capt. Garry E.
Fleeger good luck on his new job
as port captain of Matson ships.
Educational director urged all
hands to attend upgrading classes
at Paul Hall Center for training
and job security. No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Next port: Los
Angeles.

MAERSK TENNESSEE (Maersk
Line), Aug. 27-Chairman James
J. Keevan, Secretary Dwight E.
Wuerth, Educational Director
Peter G. Murtagh, Steward
Delegate Thomas G. McCurdy.
Chairman talked about piracy near
anchorage in Callao, Peru. He
asked crew members to return all
movies to gym area and contribute
to SPAD. This is an election year,
and SPAD donations help keep the
union strong. Secretary thanked
crew for helping keep house clean.
Educational director suggested
everyone upgrade skills at Piney
Point. He also reminded crew to
keep all merchant mariner 's docu­
ments, STCW and TRBs current.
Treasurer announced $158 in
ship 's fund. Some disputed OT
reported in deck department.
Recommendations made for con­
tracts department to look into

Bryley, Educational Director
Ronald Gordon, Engine Delegate
Detricke P. Kelly. Chairman
announced receipt of new washer.
He urged all Seafarers to vote in
upcoming SIU election Nov. 1
through Dec. 30. Educational
director advised all hands to
upgrade at Paul Hall Center for job
security and to keep current with
STCW requirements. He also
stressed importance of contributing
to SPAD. Treasurer announced
$1,500 in ship's fund. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Suggestion
made for contracts department to
look into prescription coverage for
dependents. Vote of thanks given
to steward department for job well
done and to Chief Cook Sam
Harris for great meals. Next port:
Cherry Point, Wash.

NORTHERN LIGHTS (IUM),
Aug. 28-Chairman John 0.
Glenn, Secretary Gregory G.
Keene, Educational Director
Michael W. Phillips, Deck
Delegate Rafik A. Shahbin,
Steward Delegate Christopher D.
Hopkins. Chairman announced
layover in Anchorage, Alaska.
Secretary stated good voyage with
good ship .and good crew. He
reminded crew members to check
mariner's documents and STCW
for expiration dates. Educational
director urged everyone to utilize
educational opportunities available
for SIU members at Piney Point.
Crew asked to help keep laundry
and lounge areas clean and to
close doors to outer decks.
Request also made for satellite
dish aboard ship. Vote of thanks
given to deck and steward depart­
ment for job well done.

OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS
(OSC Ship Mgmt.), Aug. 27-
Chairman Daniel N. Laitinen Jr.,
Secretary Jonathan White,
Educational Director John E.
Trent, Deck Delegate Darrel W.
Koonce Jr., Engine Delegate
Willie J. Franks, Steward
Delegate Sisto DeAnda. Chairman
noted payoff in New Orleans Aug.
30. He advised crew to attend
upgrading courses at Paul Hall
Center. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Request made for new
ice machine and for new linens
and pillows. Thanks given to stew­
ard department for great job.

Seafarers LOG 19



20

Chicken Fried
Steak

Serves: 25

. . . serve with chicken gravy, mashed
potatoes and biscuits ...

Ingredients:

GALLEY 4-1/8 pounds cube steak
1-1/2 quarts all purpose flour
4 eggs

CORNER
1-1/8 quarts buttermilk

salt
black pepper

Certified Executive Chef
John Hetmanski

Unions
AH\-A....,gn. of 1'11ght Attendants. AF'lrCIO
1\l.l.~\-J\lr I.inc Pilots Assn .• Afl.rCIO
A~\-Allied Pilots Assn.
APPA-1\ssn. of Profos.c;lonal Plight

Attendants
CW\-CommunlcaUons \\brkers of

America, Af'L--CIO
lAM*-lnlcrnaUonal A.o;.c;n. or \fachlnisL<>

& Aerospace Workers, 1\!<1,-CIO
IACP-Jndcpcndcnt Assn. of Conllnental

Piiots
trn•-tntemauonal Brotherhood of

Tuamstcrs. AFlrCIO
ln\--tndcpendent Pilots A."lSn.
PACE-Paper. Allied-Industrial.

Chemical & f<:ne©' \forkers
lntcniaUonal Union, 1Wr,.c10

'f\\li-Transport Work.Cl'$ Union.
AFlrClo -

UA\~~!'(j ·.· 't.\!!

Air r\lllanr.e ... AT.PA
Alr AUanUc •.. L-\M
Atrnc ... Al.l~\
Air Canada .• JAM
Alr Midwest •. .IAM
Air Nom .. . ALPt\
Air Ontario ... ALn\
Air 'Iran Airlines •. . 1\FA. IBT, TWU
Air Transal. .. ALn\
Air Wlsconsln ... AH\. :.\U}\, lAM
Alaska 1\lrllnt'$ ... Af<i\, ALB\. IAM. IBT.

'IWU
Allegheny Commuter lrllnes ..• AFA.

ALn\, mr

Season 1/2 cup flour with salt and pepper to taste. Pat
cube steaks dry with paper towel and dredge in seasoned
flour. Put aside while preparing batter.

Beat egg with milk, then gradually add remaining 1 cup
flour, beating constantly to make a smooth, thick batter.
Season with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a fryer to 370 degrees. Dip steaks into bat­
ter and place in hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning
once, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Be sure to heat
oil back to 370 degrees between batches.

Drain on paper towels before serving.

If anyone is looking for a particular recipe or has one of
their own that they would like to share, drop Chef
Hetmanski a line at the Paul Hall Center, P. 0. Box 75,
Piney Point, MD 2067 4 or e-mail to:

shlssvoc@us. hsanet. net.

:r. . .. ACP. IAM. !UT
Lines ... ALB\. 1WU

E.xpross I (Nortl1wcst.s\irllnk) .•. Al.f~\.
PACE

Frontier :\lrllnes ... 'f\\iU
Great f..akes Avtalton ... fAM. Un
Hawaiian Airlines ... AfA. AU~\. IAM. 1'\.'U
Horl1.0n Alr ... AB\. IBT, 'l'WU
Kelo\\11a Fllgbtcran. Air Charter .. .!\I.PA
KJ.c\f...'l'WU
Labrador 1\lrways .. JAM
Mesa Airlines ... Af/\, AU}\
Mesaba A'.iaUon ... At/\. ;\J,f}\, TIVU
Midway Airlines ... AH\, ALH\, lJ M
Mld\\'CSt Express .•. AE\, ALB\

Northwest 1\lrlines ..• AU~\. lAM. IBT. TWU
Ol~mpic :\lrwa~~ .. .IAM
Ontario Kxpl'C$S .•. IAM
Pan :\merfcan Alrwa~s ... Af;\. AW·\
Piedmont Airlines .•. i\fi\. All}\. !AM
Pro:\lr ... AP:\. UAW
PSA Airlines .. .Ml\. ~\J,m. lAM. IITT
Reeve AlcuUan Airways ... ALPA
S~way Airlines ... AU~\
Southwest Airlines .. .IAM. !UT. 'l'VU
Splr I'\. T\\ll

.. ALm. nn. TWU

• l<'urelgn l-1:1{1 Carriers: The lA\I rtprcsenis
rmploytws of lhe follo\\1ng: J\er Ungus. Aero
Peru. lltalla lrllnes. Al~\t, AnUllcan
Alrtlnes. 8atmmasa1r. British i\lrwa,)s, BWIA.
Continental Micronesia. OOmlnl<'ana. 1-:1 :\I
Israel; l.l>\T. f ,u.IUlan.~. MeJi:lc.ana, Pl:tt1111plne
Airlines, Swii Air. and Vartg. In addition. the
lBT repm;enis emplO)'CCS of (:<JnUnent<JI
Mlcnmcsla.

UNION LABEL ANO SERVICE TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL·CIO

Seafarers LOS

Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The

Constitution of the SIU Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters
District makes specific provision for
safeguarding the membership's
money and union finances . The con­
stitution requires a detailed audit by
certified public accountants every
year, which is to be submitted to the
membership by the secretary-trea­
surer. A yearly finance committee of
rank-and-file members, elected by
the membership, each year examines
the finances of the union and reports
fully their findings and recommen­
dations. Members of this committee
may make dissenting reports, specif­
ic recommendations and separate
findings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds
of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District are adminis­
tered in accordance with the provi­
sions of various trust fund agree­
ments. All these agreements specify
that the trustees in charge of these
funds shall equally consist of union
and management representatives
and their alternates. All 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.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A mem­
ber 's shipping rights and seniority
are protected exclusively by con­
tracts between the union and the
employers. Members should get to
know their shipping rights. Copies
of these contracts are posted and
available in all union halls. If mem­
bers believe there have been viola­
tions of their shipping or seniority
rights as contained in the contracts
between the union and the employ­
ers, they should notify the Seafarers
Appeals Board by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The proper
address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

Full copies of contracts as referred
to are available to members at all
times, either by writing directly to
the union or to the Seafarers
Appeals Board.

CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU
contracts are available in all SIU
halls. These contracts specify the
wages and conditions under which
an SIU member works and lives
aboard a ship or boat. Members
should know their contract rights, as
well as their obligations, such as fil­
ing for overtime con on the proper
sheets and in the proper manner. If,
at any time, a member believes that
an SIU patrolman or other union
official fails to protect their contrac­
tual rights properly, he or she should
contact the nearest SIU port agent.

EDITORIAL POLICY - THE
SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers
LOG traditionally has refrained
from publishing any article serving
the political purposes of any indi­
vidual in the union, officer or mem­
ber. It also has refrained from pub­
lishing articles deemed harmful to
the union or its collective member­
ship. This established policy has
been reaffirmed by membership
action at the September 1960 meet­
ings in all constitutional ports. The
responsibility for Seafarers LOG
policy is vested in an editorial board
which consists of the executive
board of the union. The executive
board may delegate, from among its
ranks, one individual to carry out
this responsibility.

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

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of
the SIU Constitution are available
in all union halls. All members
should obtain copies of this consti­
tution so as to familiarize them­
selves with its contents. Any time a
member feels any other member or
officer is attempting to deprive him
or her of any constitutional right or
obligation by any methods, such as
dealing with charges, trials, etc., as
well as all other details, the member
so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.

EQUAL RIGHTS. All members
are guaranteed equal rights in
employment and as members of the
SIU. These rights are clearly set forth
in the SIU Constitution and in the
contracts which the union has nego­
tiated with the employers. Conse­
quently, no member may be discrim­
inated against because of race, creed,
color, sex, national or geographic
origin.
If any member feels that he or she

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

SEAFARERS POLITICAL
ACTIVITY DONATION
SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregat­
ed fund. Its proceeds are used to fur­
ther its objects and purposes includ­
ing, but not limited to, furthering the
political, social and economic inter­
ests of maritime workers, the
preservation and furthering of the
American merchant marine with
improved employment opportuni­
ties for seamen and boatmen and the
advancement of trade union con­
cepts. In connection with such
objects, SPAD supports and con­
tributes to political candidates for
elective office. All contributions are
voluntary. No contribution may be
solicited or received because of
force~ job discrimination, financial
reprisal, or threat of such conduct,
or as a condition of membership in
the union or of employment. If a
contribution is made by reason of
the above improper conduct, the
member should notify the Seafarers
International Union or SPAD by
certified mail within 30 days of the
contribution for investigation and
appropriate action and refund, if
involuntary. A member should sup­
port SPAD to protect and further his
or her economic, political and social
interests, and American trade union
concepts.

NOTIFYING THE UNION-If
at any time a member feels that any
of the above rights have been violat­
ed, 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.

November 2000



AB Tom Grosskurth repairs a canvas in the bosun's
locker aboard the El Morro during a recent payoff in

During a standby aboard the CSX Hawaii are (from left) Chief
Steward Rafael Cardenas, SA Elston Yu and Chief Cook William
Blees.

San Juan. .. .............................................................. .

Ar11111tl fl1e l'ttrf ttf 11111 1111111

Edward Haber,
chief steward on

the CSX Challenger,
is ready to help serve

the next meal.

Right: Prior to payoff of the
Perseverance (IUM) in
Yabucoa, P.R., AB Diego
Hatch Jr. helps with the dis­
charging of cargo at the
Sun Oil Terminal.

OMU Rod Frazier performs a routine check of the
engine room burners on the NPR, Inc. vessel
Carolina.

At the TMT terminal in San Juan, Chief Mate
Roger M. Rothschild operates the stern winch
during preparations for sea operations aboard
the tug Pilot.

November 2000

Pedro Barbosa (right)
receives his first union book from
SIU Safety Director Amancio Crespo
(who sent the LOG the photos on
this page) at the San Juan hall.

At the SIU hall in San Juan are (from left) AB Julio Matos, GUDE Victor
Torres, San Juan Safety Director Amancio Crespo, AB Rafael Vega,
SA Antonio Colon and SIU Delegate Raymon Ayala.

Chief Mate John Cates (left) and
Capt. William Smith are happy to get
the recent LOG during a servicing trip
to the tug Sentinal, which took place
at TMT Terminal on Isla Grande in
San Juan.

AB
Steven
Gough
serves
pizza
aboard the tug
Pilot while the
vessel is being serviced.

Seafarers LOG 21



r,

Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

PA UL . HAL L CENTE R
LIF EBOAT CLASS

.. ~:'.'~'"·':';':;~3.'5".~:Q,po,~<;fO:<":;'.'.'.'~;o
Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class
606 - Unlicensed apprentices from class 606 who gradu­
ated from the water survival course are (from left) Elliott
Johnson, Skyler South-Sutika, Thomas Hawks and Jason
Thompson.

SEAFARERS

PAUl HALL CENTER
LIFEBOAT CLASS

Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 607 -
Completing the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from
class 607. They are (from left, kneeling) Jermiel Lawson, William
Wak~man , (seco~d row) Brent Fitzgerald, David Provost, Karen Aguilar,
Dominque Tarantino, Jesse Toves, (third row) Christopher Offrey, Philip
Brown, Justin Grasseth , Jack Slagle, Jefferson Weir and Darnell
Slayton.

Tankerman (PIC) Barge -
Upgrading Seafarers completing the tanker­
man (PIC) barge course Oct. 13 are (from
left, first row) Kenneth Baker, Damon
Johnson, David MacCollister, Mitch Oakley
(instructor) , (second row) Spencer Kreger,
Tim Keller, Steve Bush and Marvyn Chester.

Ta':l_k~r ~ami~arization/Assistant Cargo (DL) - Graduating from the tanker
fam11tanzat1on/ass1stant cargo (DL) course Oct. 13 are (from left, kneeling) William Howell,
Cody Colson, Antwan Stafford, Leonard Shuman 11 , (second row) J.J. Cooper, Jessica
LoRusso, Kenneth Green, Harry Oglesby, Arlington Ayoso, Keith Mcintosh, Jim Shaffer
(instructor) , (third row) Joshua Ellerbee, Ole Olesen, Kevin George, Archie Ware Jr.,
Gilberto Figueroa Jr., Ibrahim Muhammad, William Yurick, Nicholas Craddock, Nathaniel
Miller, Jamal Somerville, (fourth row) Bryan Hill, Peter Pamepinto and Kenneth Jackson.

Able_ Seaman - Earning their AB ratings Sept. 29 are (from left 1rst row) James
Hazel.Ip,. ~oel Balaguer, Jose Gamb~a , Mark Edmo_nds, Alberto Rivera , nd row)
Eman V1l1, Ahmed Saleh, Jerry Cassie, Stan Beck (instructor), (third row, virtua "d­
den) Jonathan Buffington, Muhiddin Awale, (fourth row) Richard Williamson, Cha
Schulz and Peter Wojcikowski.

Marine Electrical
Maintenance - With

their instructor Eric
Malzkuhn (far right) are

upgrading Seafarers in the
Oct. 13 graduating marine

electrical maintenance
class. From the left are

Anatolia Gorit, Leonides
Bacal, James Daley, Taylor
Watson, Milton Greene Jr.

and David Parker.

STCW and Water Safety - Crew members who will be working aboard American
Classic Voyages' new cruise ships recently completed required classes in STCW and water
safety. They are (in alphabetical order) Randall Agpalsa, Stephen Dewey, Joyce Hefley,
Wolfgang Herz, Ernest Higa, Matthew Mccombs, Melissa _.Moyers, Neil Reilly, Armin
Ruehling, Mark Rumbarger, Roderick Smith, James Somera, Hans Susser and Josef
Wilblinger.

FOWT - Earning their FOWT endorsements Oct. 6 are (in alphabetical order) Nabil Ahmed, Geoffrey
Bagley, Norn~an Barbosa, Chris Chambers, Virgil Craige, Joshua Davenport, Russell English, Edric
Hernandez, Richard Kent, Hussein Kirkland, Robert Lee, Keith Ligon, Romuald Marlinski, James McDonald,
S~lvatore Migliara, Melvin Nelson, Carlos Ortiz, Jason Paesler, Ryan Palmer, James Porter, Jason Roate,
Vincent Sanchez, Kwan Tam, Bobby Taylor, Anthony Thomas, Europa Tuivaiti , Paul Weil and James
Williams. Not pictured are James Beaudreau, Shannon Bonefont, William Knox and Bruce Weathers. Their
instructor, Mark Jones, is at far left.

22 Seafarers LOS

We Did It!

Unlicensed Apprentice Graduation - All the studying
pays off for another group of unlicensed apprentice graduates as
they complete Phase Ill of their program Oct. 20. From the left
(first row) are Andrew Linares, Paul Hagan, Ray Herbert, Todd
Curry, Michael Humphrey, Quinton Washington, Jesus Martinez,
Norman Arquillano, Michael Logotaeo, (second row) Michael
James Jr., Jerramy McNeil, Roland Carter II, Edward Deupree,
Freddy Traffin, Michael Sherno Jr., Kevin Mcintyre, Brian Fifer,
Patrick McAlpin and David Alexander.

November 2000



SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER

,~:~JWfiY~~~~~!!!~!~'
;,Maritime Ttafrting and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared
. to improve :·the job skills of S~ar;~rs and to promote the American maritime
:.:: industry. , .
:;,, Please note that this sphedule niay change to reflect the needs of the mem-
't?l?ership, the ~tP!!~f;,,~ndus~~4 7 inJimes of conflict-the nation'ssecuri:ty.;
7;i>. Students:~~~~~fariy;oftliese classes should check in the Saturday b.ejore ·
:. ~eir coUl'Se.~§';j~tart date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the
:,;:.,morning of~ 'start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reserva~
! iions shoulibe made for Saturday.

Seafarers :wli-0· }!~v~ any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at
. tlie Paul f¥!1~.~~!!tt?t'. .piay call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010.

Start
Date

Start
·· Date

Date of
Completion

Date of
Completion

March 30

January 26 .....

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? DYes DNo

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

Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? 0 Yes DNo

If yes, course(s) taken _ ____________________ _

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

0 Yes 0 No Firefighting: 0 Yes 0 No CPR: 0 Yes DNo

Primary language spoken ____________________ _

··· Galley op~i-*uonst
Advanced Galley Operations

(Every week)

Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward
(Every other week)

Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27;
Dec. 4, 11, 18

Nov. 6, 20;
Dec. 4, 18

Safety Specialty CoalSllS

Start
Course

Basic Fire Fighting

(*must have basic fire fighting)

Date

November6
January22
February5
February 19

January 15
.January29
February 12
February 26

January 15

Date of
Completion

November 10
January26
February 9
February 23

November 24

January 19
February 2
February 16
March 2

January 19

At:atleJJJiC Departmeld,, .~ourses

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty
(120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date
your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indi­
cating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is
Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and OMED aoglicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard
fee of $280 with their application. The payment should be made with a monl?J? order onlv.
payable to LMSS.

COURSE
BEGIN
DATE

END
DATE

LAST VESSEL: _____________ _ Rating: ___ _

Date On: ___________ _ Date Off:

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

RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education,
Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189.

The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and
Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qual­
ified, 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. ll/OO

Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

November 2000

Left: Limited License -
Completing the limited license
course recently are (from left) Bill
Block, Jim Cunningham, Guy
Butler, Don Langman, Edward
Hervias and Mike Smith (instructor).
Not pictured is Duane Evans.

Right: Chief Cook -
Upgrading to chief cook are (from

left) David Wakeman, Jimmy
Williams, Arthur Edwards, Chef
John Dobson (instructor), Justo

Reyes and Jose Garcia.

Seafarers LOS 23



I
~
I
I
I

~ ­
I
I
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I
i

SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS
for Seafarers Pension Trust

and
for Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan

- page18

More than 3,400 Seafaren
Train at Fire Fighting School
Facility Offers Broad Range of Safety Instruction

While the Paul
Hall Center's
new simula­
tor annex
under­
standably
has been
a hot
topic
lately at
the Piney
Point, Md.
campus, the
center's Joseph
Sacco Fire
Fighting and Safety
School quietly has become a
vocational education staple for
many upgraders and apprentices
alike.

Since it opened in June 1999,

through September
of this year, the

fire fighting
school has

trained
3,406
Sea­
farers­
an aver­
age of

about
212

monthly.
The break­

down by class is:
897 mariners in basic

fire fighting; 243 in advanced fire
fighting; 555 in damage control;
532 in the water survival segment
of lifeboat; 732 in STCW basic
safety; and 44 7 in first aid and
CPR.

The school, located near the
Paul Hall Center's main campus,
is composed of three main build­
ings with several other areas dedi­
cated to educating mariners on
how to combat and suppress ship­
board fires. Specifically tailored
for mariner fire fighting and safe­
ty training, it is equipped with the
most modem, environmentally
and hygienically safe equipment.
Its main features include:

• a three-story burn building
(named the Eternal Flame)
designed to replicate in areas a
bridge, an engine room, shaft
alley and other facilities found
aboard ship;

• a multi-level maze building
used for search-and-rescue train­
ing;

• outdoor burn areas featur­
ing the kinds of pipes and hoses
found on tankers, a helicopter
pad like those located aboard
some vessels, and an area for
training with fire extinguishers;

• computer-equipped class­
rooms;

• an indoor pool used for
water survival training;

• a damage control room
with a recessed floor to allow
training in rising water.

Student reaction to the fire
fighting and safety school consis­
tently has been positive, with

Seafarers typically describiiig it as
first-class and a tremendous asset.

Others have been even more
lavish in praising the facility. For
instance, a high-ranking official
with the International Transport
Workers' Federation called it "a
world-class institution. It is the
best, most well-equipped facility
of its kind anywhere in the
world."

For a list of upcoming classes
at the Paul Hall Center, see page
23. Also, look for the annual
course guide for 2001 in an up­
coming issue of the LOG.


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