Seafarers Log: Vol. 66 No. 5 (2004-05-01)

Volume 66, Number 5 May 2004

The sealift mission known as Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 continues running smoothly, and SIU members are doing
their part to support U.S. troops in Iraq. Sixty SIU-crewed ships are sailing in OIF2, including the Cape May (pictured
above and at right). AB George Papuchis (left, at Cape May’s helm) is one of more than 2,000 Seafarers who have
mobilized for this phase of the mission. Page 2.

SMPPP Statements Mailed
Page 9

George McCartney Remembrance
Page 6

Newly Added Vessel Signals More Jobs for Seafarers
The union last month welcomed new shipboard job opportunities as the chemical carrier
Charleston joined the SIU fleet. Seafarers crewed up the 635-foot tanker in Houston. Page 3.

Seafarers Deliver the Goods
For U.S. Troops in ‘OIF2’

LAKEN SHIPPING
GOES SIU!Tanker Charleston

Joins SIU Fleet

Mariners at Laken Ship-
ping LLC recently voted
to join the SIU. The
Cleveland-based com-
pany operates an inte-
grated tug-barge (ITB)
that primarily hauls stone
from Kelley’s lsland,
Ohio to Cleveland and
Sandusky, Ohio. Page 3.

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2 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Seafarers Deliver the Goods
In Operation Iraqi Freedom 2

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published month-
ly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201
Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301)
899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern
Maryland 20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp
Springs, MD 20746.
Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing
Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim
Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne
Textor.
Copyright © 2004 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved.

Volume 66, Number 5 May 2004

The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

Training aand SSecurity
Shipboard and port security may be the hottest topic in our industry.

With the approach of the July 1 deadline for
compliance with the Maritime Transportation
Security Act, U.S.-flag operators and their crews
along with American ports are making sure they’re
ready. The vast majority of affected U.S. vessels
and facilities already have submitted their respec-
tive security plans to the U.S. Coast Guard—a sig-
nificant accomplishment, according to the
agency’s commandant.

As with most, if not all new maritime regula-
tions that impact shipboard procedures, proper

training will be essential for Seafarers and our contracted companies.
On that front, the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is ahead of the game.

Working closely with SIU-contracted operators, the union and the
school have developed and implemented useful courses related to
maritime security. For instance, every student at the Paul Hall Center
must complete a four-hour class called “general security awareness.”
The course complies with requirements spelled out in both the
International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) and the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). It is
not only offered at the school in Piney Point, Md., but also has been
taught by Paul Hall Center instructors aboard SIU ships.

Several other classes also deal with security. All students at the
Paul Hall Center receive a government-approved anti-terrorism brief-
ing. For many years, the school has conducted a government vessels
course that includes anti-terrorism components.

Also, the Paul Hall Center offers instruction for vessel security
officers, as well as security-team training which includes small-arms
lessons (for those sailing aboard military-contracted ships).

Naturally, providing the most up-to-date security training is an
ongoing process. With that in mind, I’m especially looking forward to
the upcoming advisory board meeting next month in Piney Point,
where representatives of the school, the armed forces, maritime labor,
the Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration and U.S.-flag
operators will thoroughly examine new security requirements and the
best ways to fulfill them.

Meanwhile, the Paul Hall Center is living up to its tradition of con-
stantly staying a step ahead of the industry’s needs.

OIF2
The U.S. Military Sealift Command didn’t exaggerate when it

promised that Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 (OIF2) would be the largest,
fastest combat cargo movement since World War II.

Already, 60 SIU-crewed ships have mobilized for OIF2. They are
helping transport an estimated 24 million square feet of cargo for U.S.
troops into and out of Iraq. Counting members of our Government
Services Division, more than 2,000 Seafarers are sailing in support of
the mission.

Once again, I couldn’t be more proud of the way our members are
upholding our legacy as part of the nation’s fourth arm of defense.
Just as they did before and during the all-out combat phase of the war
in Iraq, SIU members are answering the call in OIF2 with quiet, deter-
mined patriotism and a level of professionalism that’s second-to-
none.

The OIF2 sealift is yet another great example of the U.S.
Merchant Marine’s value to our national and economic security. It’s
also further proof of something that’s been true since our founding
in 1938: Seafarers deliver the goods.

George MMcCartney
Finally, I encourage all Seafarers to spend a few minutes reading

about the career of our recently departed brother George McCartney,
retired vice president of the union’s West Coast region (page 6).

We’ve been fortunate over the years to have had many officials and
members who have gone above and beyond when it comes to pro-
moting not just the SIU but the whole U.S. Merchant Marine. Even by
that standard, George was exceptional. He found a home early on with
the SIU and spent the next 50-plus years doing everything possible to
strengthen our union.

That type of dedication is essential to our continued success. We
all would do well to live up to the model that George provided.

Michael Sacco

President ’s Report

While the overall mission of stabilizing Iraq
remains complex, the sealift operation known as
Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 (OIF2) is proceeding
smoothly—and Seafarers continue playing a key
role in the process.

Approximately 60 SIU-crewed vessels remain
active in the massive resupply mission that com-
menced early this year. As previously reported, the
U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) estimates
that more than 240,000 U.S. military personnel will
have rotated into and out of the Middle East by the
time OIF2 concludes.

MSC also reported that U.S.-flag ships are carry-
ing heavy volumes of combat service support gear
for forces working to steady Iraq. Overall, approxi-
mately 24 million square feet of cargo belonging to
nine units in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and
National Guard are being moved by ship during
OIF2.

One early highlight
of the mission involved
five Seafarers-crewed
large, medium-speed,
roll-on/roll-off (LMSR)
ships loading out more
than 70,000 tons of
Army hardware in
Antwerp, Belgium for
the U.S. Army’s 1st

Infantry Division—
known as Big Red One.
From Jan. 25 to early
February, the LMSRs
(USNS Brittin, USNS
Red Cloud, USNS
Dahl, USNS Charlton
and USNS Watkins)

took on a wide range of materiel for delivery to an
area northwest of Baghdad, where Big Red One
relieved the 4th Infantry Division. The cargo includ-
ed M1-A1 Abrams heavy battle tanks, armored per-
sonnel carriers, Bradley fighting vehicles, heavy
trucks, Humvees, fuel trucks and containers loaded
with various supplies.

For Seafarers, OIF2 is the continuation of a patri-
otic duty that began with pre-war mobilizations for
the all-out combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom
in 2003. As U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain
William Schubert recently noted, “Over a year ago,
when we first learned that U.S. armed forces would
again be relying on American sealift to bring free-
dom to the Middle East, we called on you (U.S.
mariners). We knew there was the potential for dan-
ger, but we also knew that the U.S. Merchant Marine
would ensure that equipment and supplies would get
to where they needed to be and on time. Together,
we planned for many contingencies and we coordi-
nated for months before the Army landed in Iraq. We
met the challenge—over 7,000 mariners and over
130 U.S.-flag ships brought the military their tanks,
Humvees and other critical equipment that led to the
freedom of the Iraqi people and the capture of

A seven-person committee of
rank-and-file union members,
elected by their fellow Seafarers
during the April headquarters/
Port of Piney Point membership
meeting in Piney Point, Md. has
completed its review of the SIU’s
financial records for the year 2003
and found them in good order.

Serving on the committee were
Gerard Costello, port of Balti-
more; Herbert Davis and
Michael Dempster from the port
of Norfolk, Va.; Michael Joel and
William Kelly from the port of
Philadelphia; David Martz, port
of Baltimore; and Jamie Miller
from the port of Piney Point. SIU
Secretary-Treasurer David Hein-
del worked with the committee
and made himself and the records
of his office available to them.

In its report, the committee
noted, “We … do hereby state that
we have examined the procedure
for controlling of the funds of the
Union and have found that the
system of internal control is ade-

quate to safeguard them properly.”
Article X, Section 15 of the

SIU Constitution mandates that a
financial committee annually
examine the union’s financial
records. That segment reads: “The
Annual Financial Committee
shall make an examination for
each annual period of the finances
of the Union and shall report fully
on their findings and recommen-
dations.”

Rank-and-File Finance Committee
Okays Union’s Records for 2003

At the conclusion of their business, members of the union’s 2004 finance
committee joined SIU Secretary David Heindel, left, for this photo.
Pictured with Heindel are, from the left, Herb Davis, William Kelly, David
Martz, Mike Dempster, Jamie Miller, Gerard Costello and Mike Joel.

The committee is hard at work.

The SIU-crewed Cape May carries military gear after
loading in Norfolk, Va.

Pictured aboard the Cape May, one of 60 SIU-
crewed ships that mobilized for OIF2, are (from left)
Third Mate Ed McDonnell, AB George Papuchis, OS
Jeff Perez and QMED/Electrician Emmett Neathery. Continued on page 10

Wiper Ryan Neathery pre-
pares for a safety drill
aboard the Cape May.

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May 2004 Seafarers LOG 3

Laken Shipping Mariners Vote SIU
Union Contract Brings Many Gains for Newest Seafarers

Mariners at Laken Shipping
LLC recently voted to join the
SIU.

The Cleveland-based company
operates an integrated tug-barge
(ITB) that primarily hauls stone
from Kelley’s Island, Ohio to
Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio.

Leading the organizing drive
were SIU Vice President Great
Lakes Tommy Orzechowski, SIU
Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak
and Seafarer Tim McKenna, the
union’s port steward for Great
Lakes Towing Company in
Cleveland.

“Congratulations are in order,
both to our newest members and
to those who worked on the orga-
nizing campaign,” said SIU Vice
President Contracts Augie Tellez.
“Their contract is something to be
proud of, and it’s great to have
them aboard with the SIU family.”

Laken mariners in late March
expressed unanimous support for

joining the SIU, and the company
quickly recognized the union as
the exclusive bargaining repre-
sentative for all seamen employed
on its vessels. Laken’s ITB
Cleveland/Cleveland Rocks is
crewed by a captain, mate, engi-
neer, lead deckhand and three
other deckhands.

The newest Seafarers include
Mate Garland Attaway, Deck-
hand Joel Budzar, Lead Deck-
hand Patrick Carney, Deckhand
Tony Cenname, Deckhand Aaron
Gordon, Engineer Matthew
Hoban, Captain James Long,
Deckhand Jeffrey Marin,
Deckhand/Cook Eric Piascik and
Engineer Mark Stevenson.

The ITB entered service for
the season on April 7—one week
after crew members unanimously
approved a five-year contract that
brought substantial improve-
ments. Previously, the mariners
had not received a pay raise for

three years. They also had no hol-
iday pay or pension plan, and
their health insurance required
co-payments.

Under the new contract’s
terms, the crews received imme-
diate wage increases and are
scheduled for raises in each sub-
sequent year of the pact. They are
covered by the union’s top med-
ical plan (Plan G), which does not
require co-payments.

Additionally, they are enrolled
in the Seafarers Money Purchase
Pension Plan (SMPPP) and are
eligible to upgrade at the union’s
affiliated Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education,
located in Piney Point, Md.

Other contract highlights
include holiday and bereavement
pay, establishment of a grievance
procedure and implementation of
a seniority system for layoffs,
promotions and transfers.

Aboard the tug Cleveland, Seafarers review details of their new five-
year contract before unanimously approving the pact.

The tug Cleveland is part of an ITB that hauls stone from Kelley’s
Island, Ohio to Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio.The self-unloading barge Cleveland Rocks is a new addition to the SIU fleet on the Great Lakes.

Editor’s note: The following
letter was scheduled for mailing
May 1 to participants in the
NMU Welfare Plan. As previous-
ly reported, the Plans’ merger
doesn’t change anyone’s benefits.

May 1, 2004

Dear Participant:

As you know from
Membership Meetings and the
Seafarers LOG, the NMU Welfare
Plan will merge with the
Seafarers Health & Benefits Plan
on June 1, 2004.

You will continue to receive
the exact same benefits that you
now receive from the NMU
Welfare Plan. The new identity
for the merged plan will be
Seafarers Health & Benefits Plan,
Level N.

Effective June 1, 2004, all out-
patient medical claims should be
submitted to the following
address:

Seafarers Health & Benefits
Plan – Level N

P.O. Box 380
Piney Point, MD 20674

Telephone: 1-800-252-4674

You should continue to call
First Health at the same number
you already use (1-800-839-
1980) for pre-certification for
hospital stays and facility loca-
tions. Your group number with
First Health, Plan 501, remains
the same. First Health may also
help you locate a doctor in your
area. Hospitals should continue
to send their claims to the First
Health address on your member-
ship card.

Your new membership card,

which contains all of this infor-
mation, is enclosed. As in the
past, you may show this card to
the doctor or hospital when they
request information regarding
your health insurance plan.
Please note, this card does not
guarantee eligibility for benefits.
You must continue to earn eligi-
bility in accordance with plan
requirements.

I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the NMU
Welfare Plan staff for their years
of service and dedication to Plan
Participants and their families.

The Seafarers staff will continue
the tradition of service and dedi-
cation to the membership. In
fact, the level of service should
be better because of the
Seafarer’s larger network of
ports and staff.

You should continue to con-
tact the NMU Benefit Plans’
office for questions concerning
vacation, annuity and pension
benefits.

Very truly yours,
William J. Dennis
Administrator

Officials from numerous affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) met in
Washington, D.C. in late March to discuss potential strategies for increased grassroots activities and
international solidarity. David Cockroft, general secretary of the London-based federation, addressed
the gathering. SIU President Michael Sacco and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who also
serves as vice chair of the ITF’s Seafarers’ Section, participated and offered their insights. They are
pictured seventh and eighth from left, respectively. Speaking is Tom Keegel, secretary-treasurer of
the Teamsters.

U.S. ITF Affiliates Meet in Washington

Letter to NMU Welfare Plan Participants

More New Jobs!
Tanker Charleston Joins SIU Fleet

The union last month welcomed
new shipboard job opportunities as
the chemical carrier Charleston
joined the SIU fleet.

Seafarers crewed up the 635-
foot tanker in Houston.

The Charleston is the eighth
ship in the United States Shipping
LLC U.S.-flag fleet. Built at
Louisiana’s Avondale Shipyard in
1983, the vessel has a breadth of
106 feet and a deadweight tonnage
of slightly more than 48,000. It is
equipped with 43 cargo tanks.

Seafarers also sail aboard
United States Shipping’s integrated
tug-barges Baltimore, Groton,
Jacksonville, Mobile, New York and
Philadelphia, as well as the
Chemical Pioneer. The ITBs typi-
cally carry refined petroleum prod-
ucts including gasoline, heating oil
and jet fuel to the Caribbean as well
as the East, Gulf and West coasts.

The Chemical Pioneer, acquired by
United States Shipping in July
2003, transports a wide variety of
chemicals from U.S. Gulf Coast
ports to U.S. East Coast ports.

The Jones Act tanker company
is based in Edison, N.J.

“This ship means more new jobs
for Seafarers, so the union obvious-
ly welcomes the addition of the
Charleston,” stated SIU Vice
President Contracts Augie Tellez.
“The SIU’s ongoing commitment
to gaining new, good jobs for
Seafarers continues to get results.
Our crews are dedicated, produc-
tive, safe and reliable—all of which
helps tremendously when it comes
to securing new work.”

He added that the union and the
company enjoy a good working
relationship and will continue
exploring ways to expand the
U.S.-flag fleet.

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4 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Membership Receives President’s Pre-Balloting Report
SIU President Michael Sacco has issued

the pre-balloting report to the membership
announcing general elections for the
union’s officers will take place this year.
The release of this report is called for in
Article X, Section 1(e) of the SIU constitu-
tion.

The report lists the various offices that
will appear on the ballot. Voting will begin
Nov. 1 and continue through Dec. 31.

Those elected will serve a four-year
term from 2005 through 2008. A total of 27
positions from president to port agent will
appear on the ballot.

In presenting the report, Sacco noted he
has worked with the union’s executive
board and port officials to appraise the
needs of the SIU for the next four years
and beyond, while considering changes
that have occurred in the industry.

Printed below is the full text of the 2004
pre-balloting report.

May 3, 2004
Pursuant to Article X, section 1(e) of

our constitution, I am submitting at this
regular May membership meeting of this
election year, my pre-balloting report.

The balloting for our General Election
of Officers for the term 2005-2008 will
commence on Nov. 1, 2004 and continue
through Dec. 31, 2004. The election will be
conducted under the provisions of our con-
stitution, as amended and effective March
16, 2001, and such other voting procedures
as our secretary-treasurer may direct.

I have, in consultation with our execu-
tive board and port representatives, made a
careful appraisal of the needs of this union,
its membership and its currently existing
constitutional ports. We have carefully
considered the changes that have taken
place in the maritime industry over the last
few years, with a view toward meeting the
ever-changing demands.

It is my recommendation, in accordance
with our constitution, that the following
offices be placed on the ballot in the 2004
general election of officers for the term
2005-2008:

1 President
1 Executive Vice President
1 Secretary-Treasurer
1 Vice President in Charge of Contracts

and Contract Enforcement

1 Vice President in Charge of the
Atlantic Coast

1 Vice President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast

1 Vice President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes, and
Inland Waters

1 Vice President in Charge of the West
Coast

1 Vice President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries

2 Vice Presidents at Large
1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of

Contracts and Contract Enforcement
1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of

the Atlantic Coast
1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of

the Gulf Coast
1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of

the Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters

1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of
the West Coast

1 Assistant Vice President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries

10 Port Agents
There shall be one (1) port agent in each

of the ten (10) constitutional ports; namely:
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Mobile, New Orleans, Houston, Detroit-
Algonac, San Francisco, St. Louis and
Piney Point.

In accordance with the above-men-
tioned Article X, Section 1(e) of our con-
stitution, I am required to recommend a
bank, a bonded warehouse, regular office
thereof, or any similar depository, to which
the ballots are to be mailed, no later than
the first regular meeting in October of this
year. I will make such a recommendation
to the membership before such deadline.

As provided for in Article XIII, Section
1, nominations open July 15, 2004 and
close Aug. 15, 2004.

The foregoing constitutes your presi-
dent’s pre-balloting report and, subject to
my further recommendation as to the
depository to be made hereafter, I recom-
mend its adoption.

Fraternally submitted,
Michael Sacco
President

The International Trans-
port Workers’ Federation
(ITF) at the beginning of
the year secured more than
$64,960 in back pay for
crew members aboard two
runaway-flag vessels in the
Houston area.

Upon being informed of
complaints from three Sri-
Lankan crew members
(electrician, bosun and AB)
aboard the Taxiarchis
Sierra, SIU ITF Inspector
Shwe Tun Aung, who
works out of Houston, vis-
ited the Cyprus-flag bulk
carrier when it arrived in
that port Jan. 18. He dis-
covered that the managers,
Argosy Shipmanagement
Inc., based in Piraeus,
Greece, had not been pay-
ing the crew in accordance
with their ITF contract.

Aung negotiated with
the company and secured
the sum of $9,147.60 as per
the agreement, which
included two months’
wages, overtime and leave
pay, along with repatriation
for the three crew mem-
bers.

Unfortunately, the
mariners could not sign off
at that time since they did
not have the necessary
visas, so Aung arranged for
repatriation in the next for-
eign port. Additionally, he
ordered more provisions
for the crew, paid by the
owner, and recommended
that the ITF inspector in the
next port check to make
sure that everything was

still okay.
Aung also was alerted to

the plight of the crew
aboard the Sealight, man-
aged by Furtrans Shipping
Group, a Turkish company
based in Istanbul and flying
the flag of Malta. The
mariners claimed they had
not been paid according to
the ITF agreement covering
that vessel. And wages that
were being paid had been
delayed for periods of two
months or more.

The ITF inspector visit-
ed the bulk carrier when it
arrived in Freeport, Texas
and demanded that the
company pay all wages,
back pay and repatriation
costs. In addition, he
demanded that the owners
take no action against the
seafarers for demanding
their contractual rights.

Aung negotiated with
Furtrans and received
$55,812.95, which covered

two months’ wages for five
crew members, as well as
overtime, leave pay and
repatriation. The remainder
of the crew had just board-
ed the vessel and did not
want to claim wages at that
time.

Aung asked that other
inspectors keep an eye out
for the Sealight, checking
to ensure that the company
continued to comply with
the ITF agreement.

The ITF, based in
London and founded in
1886, is an alliance of 594
transportation-related trade
unions in 136 countries,
representing approximately
5 million workers. The SIU
is an ITF affiliate.

ITF Secures Aid for Crews
Of Two FOC Bulk Carriers

Three Sri-Lankan crew members aboard the FOC vessel Taxiarchis Sierra count the
money they received in back pay, thanks to the assistance of ITF inspector Shwe Tun Aung.

Mariners aboard the Tur-
kish-owned Sealight, which
flies the flag of Malta,
informed the ITF of their
complaints.

Negotiations for a first contract are con-
tinuing at Puerto Rico Towing, where
boatmen recently chose to join the SIU.

The company operates tugboats that
perform docking and undocking in San
Juan Harbor as well as in other ports in
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and
elsewhere in the Caribbean. Its duties
include providing harbor towing services
for the U.S. Military Sealift
Command (MSC) at the
U.S. Naval Station at
Roosevelt Roads, approxi-
mately 50 miles from San
Juan.

Puerto Rico Towing is a
subsidiary of Great Lakes
Towing.

The SIU represents ABs
and deckhands at Puerto
Rico Towing, while the
licensed personnel are rep-
resented by the Seafarers-
affiliated American Mari-
time Officers.

The company operates five boats and
has reported plans to “expand and deploy
additional tugboats in the near future.”

Victor Nuñez, SIU port agent in San
Juan, credited AB Angel Lozada (among
others) with “being a great asset during the
organizing drive. He continues to do out-
standing work as a union delegate.”

Negotiations Underway
At Puerto Rico Towing

Left: Reviewing contract
proposals on the tug
Punta Borinquen are
(from left) Deckhand
Sinforiano Negrou,
Deckhand Sixto Franco,
AB Angel Lozada and
SIU San Juan Port
Agent Victor Nuñez.

The tug Honcho is
part of the Puerto
Rico Towing fleet.

Pictured from left to right
are AB Angel Lozada,
Deckhand Sixto Franco
and Deckhand Sinforiano
Negrou.

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May 2004 Seafarers LOG 5

The SIU and seven other mar-
itime unions, along with the
Maritime Trades Department,
AFL-CIO, early last month sub-
mitted comments objecting to
numerous provisions in a U.S.
Coast Guard interim rule (47 CFR
Part 12, USCG-2003-14500) cov-
ering forms and procedures for the
issuance and renewal of merchant
mariners’ documents (MMDs).

The joint statement came from
the SIU; MTD; American
Maritime Officers; Inland
Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific;
International Longshore and
Warehouse Union; International
Organization of Masters, Mates &
Pilots; Marine Engineers’
Beneficial Association; Marine
Firemen’s Union; and the Sailors’
Union of the Pacific.

The unions called for a public
hearing “in order to develop a
complete and accurate record
regarding the provisions and con-
sequences of the Interim Rule.”

“At the outset, we believe it is
extremely important to emphasize
that the procedures and require-
ments governing the issuance and
renewal of MMDs determine
whether a trained and qualified
individual will or will not in fact
be able to pursue his or her chosen
profession,” the unions wrote. “It
is absolutely essential that such
procedures and requirements be
reasonable, realistic, clear and
fair, and that they do not serve to
arbitrarily deny qualified persons
with the opportunity to work
aboard U.S.-flag commercial ves-
sels.

“It is also important to empha-

size that to the extent American
citizens are denied the chance to
pursue a career in the United
States merchant marine for rea-
sons that have very little if any-
thing to do with their current qual-
ifications and on-the-job perfor-
mance, our country will lose a
valuable, irreplaceable component
of its militarily-useful commercial
sealift.”

The unions argued that the
interim rule “is directed at
mariners least in need of addition-
al regulation and is thus an unnec-
essary means to improve securi-
ty.” They also pointed to runaway
flags (also known as flags of con-
venience) as “the real threat to the
security of the United States,”
from a maritime perspective.
“While we commend the United
States Coast Guard for the steps it
has taken in recent years to regu-
late foreign-flag vessels, far more
regulation is needed in this area
rather than against United States-
flag ships.”

Further, they noted that the
interim rule “simply further regu-
lates the group of people in the
maritime industry who are already
the most regulated. Adding to the
complexity of merchant mariner
documentation does not itself
enhance the security interests of
the United States. Our country
needs more, not less, U.S.-flag
ships and more, not fewer, U.S.
citizen crews if the United States
wants to seriously address the
threats to our ports, our economy
and to our citizens posed by flag-
of-convenience vessels and their
foreign citizen crews.”

Among other objections, the
unions particularly took issue with
the “character and habits of life”
standard included in the interim
rule.

“The Interim Rule provides
that the ‘character and habits of
life’ of the applicant, and whether
the applicant is determined to be a
‘safe and suitable person’, shall be
considered by the Coast Guard
when deciding whether or not to
issue or renew a merchant
mariners’ document,” the unions
wrote. “These terms are not
defined, but rather will, according
to the Interim Rule, be left to the
‘appropriate Coast Guard official’
to decide.

“We understand that prior to
the promulgation of this Interim
Rule, 33 CFR section 6.10-1 per-
mitted the Coast Guard to grant
MMDs only if ‘the Commandant
is satisfied that the character and
habits of life of such person are
such as to authorize the belief that
the presence of the individual on
board would not be inimical to the
security of the United States.’
However, we know of no instance
in the last twenty years when this
rule was used to deny the issuance
of an MMD. In fact, this rule has
all but been struck down by the
United States Supreme Court, and
the Coast Guard’s attempt to res-
urrect it and to make it part of the
regular MMD application process
cannot succeed….”

They also pointed out, “We
understand that the intent of this
standard is to thwart terrorism and
terrorist activities. However, we
are greatly concerned that as writ-

ten, the undefined ‘character and
habits of life’ criteria could be
used as a catch-all excuse to deny
individuals an opportunity to work
aboard U.S.-flag vessels based not
on their qualifications or on-the-
job performance, but rather on
their unpopular but legitimate and
legal politics; personal habits and
lifestyle; or other equally irrele-
vant, non-terrorist related matters.
Without clear definition and spe-
cific criteria, United States citi-

zens are in the position where they
may lose their right to work in the
profession of their choice based
on purely subjective determina-
tions by an agency of the United
States government.”

Lastly, the unions asserted that
the appeals process for mariners
whose applications are denied “is
unclear and insufficient,” while
the cost of the interim rule to
mariners “is vastly underrated.”

Unions Voice Strong Objections to MMD Provisions

Alaska to Offer Drilling Leases
On Some State-Managed Waters

Oil and gas drilling leases for
up to 350,000 acres of state-man-
aged waters along the whole coast
north of the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in
October will be offered by the
state of Alaska, according to pub-
lished reports.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski
(R) made the announcement
March 31. By law, the state man-
ages waters up to three miles off-
shore. State administrators can
enact land-use policies without the
Alaska Legislature’s approval.

“It’s a solid answer to Ameri-
ca’s energy shortage,” said
Murkowski during a Washington,
D.C. press conference. “It sends a
very strong message that we are
not going to be held hostage by
OPEC.” The governor’s an-
nouncement came after OPEC rat-
ified a pledge it made in February
to reduce the cumulative target oil
output of its 15 member nations
by a million barrels per day.
Experts say that the pledge likely
will further increase U.S. gas
pump prices, which have averaged
more than $1.75 per gallon nation-
wide in recent weeks.

In a related development,
Interior Secretary Gale Norton
said that oil reserves in the far
Northern Coastal Plain of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
(ANWR) represent the nation’s
largest single prospect for future
oil production—greater than any
state, including Texas and
Louisiana.

The secretary in March shared
statistics about ANWR’s energy
potential with members of the
U.S. House Resource Committee
during testimony on Capitol Hill.

“The administration firmly
believes that we can develop ener-
gy at home while protecting the
environmental values we all hold
dear,” Secretary Norton said. “The
Coastal Plain of ANWR’s 1002
area is the nation’s single greatest
onshore oil reserve. The U.S.
Geological Survey estimates that
it contains a mean expected value
of 10.4 billion barrels of techni-
cally recoverable oil. To put that
into context, the potential daily
production from ANWR’s 1002
area is larger than the current daily
onshore oil production of any of
the lower 48 states.

“ANWR could produce nearly
1.4 million barrels of oil, while
Texas produces just more than
one million barrels a day,
California just less than one mil-
lion barrels a day and Louisiana
produces slightly more than
200,000 barrels a day,” the interi-
or secretary said.

Secretary Norton reiterated the
Interior Department’s support for
energy production in the far
Northern Coastal Plain of
ANWR—the area set aside for
possible oil and gas production in
1980 by President Carter and
Congress.

“Energy production in Alaska’s
Northern Coastal Plain will
reduce dependence on foreign oil;
will create new jobs; is strongly
supported by organizations that
represent working men and
women; and will protect wildlife
with the toughest environmental
regulations ever applied,” she
said. “With American ingenuity
and new technologies, we can pro-
tect the tundra and wildlife on the
Northern Coastal Plain.”

Land Management Agreement Geared Toward
‘Environmentally Sound Energy Development’

Secretary of the Interior Gale
Norton has signed a document
that finalizes the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) plan for
managing 8.8 million acres of
public land in the Northwest por-
tion of the National Petroleum
Reserve-Alaska.

In signing the document,
known as a Record of Decision,
Norton said the BLM’s manage-
ment plan “will help meet
America’s need for environmen-
tally sound energy development
as directed by the president’s
National Energy Plan.”

Under its management plan,
the BLM will make 7.23 million
acres of the 8.8 million North-
west portion acres available for
energy leasing and will defer 1.57
million acres from leasing for 10
years. All energy leases will be
subject to strict environmental
standards. In addition, the plan
includes provisions to protect
water quality, vegetation, wet-
lands, fish and wildlife habitats,
and subsistence uses. This plan
was the result of extensive con-
sultations with Alaskans.

“With America’s dependence
on foreign oil growing each year,
energy from the National Petro-
leum Reserve-Alaska can help in
the long term to increase our
domestic energy production and
stabilize prices,” Secretary Nor-
ton said. “This plan will help pro-
duce energy in an environmental-
ly responsible manner with the
best available technology, while
protecting the important biologi-
cal, subsistence and cultural val-
ues found in this area.”

The U.S. Geological Survey

estimates that the National
Petroleum Reserve-Alaska has
between 5.9 and 13.2 billion bar-
rels of technically recoverable oil
with a mean estimate of 9.3 bil-
lion barrels.

President Warren A. Harding
created the Naval Petroleum Re-
serve Number 4 in 1923. In 1976,
BLM assumed management
responsibility for the area, and
the name was changed to the
National Petroleum Reserve-
Alaska. In 1980, Congress in-
structed the interior secretary to
undertake “an expeditious pro-
gram of competitive leasing of oil
and gas” in the Reserve.
Throughout the past two years
the BLM has used various studies
to develop the Northwest Plan for
the National Petroleum Reserve-
Alaska.

“With today’s signing, we can
continue to access these vital
reserves and in doing so we can
increase our national security,
provide more stable energy prices
for America’s families, reduce
our dependency on foreign oil
and create new jobs in America,”
Secretary Norton said.

As part of the Record of
Decision, Norton designated
102,000 acres as the Kasegaluk
Lagoon Special Area. “This area
is important for migratory birds
and marine mammals and fea-
tures marine tidal flats that are
rare on the North Slope. I concur
with BLM’s recommendation for
this area, and it will be protect-
ed,” Secretary Norton said.

BLM will include “no surface
occupancy” restrictions that pro-

hibit permanent structures and
contain other protective stipula-
tions on any leases issued in this
special area.

The plan, detailed in the Final
Northwest National Petroleum
Reserve-Alaska Integrated Activ-
ity Plan/ Environmental Impact
Statement, includes a variety of
restrictions and designations
designed to protect water quality,
vegetation, wetlands, fish and
wildlife habitat, subsistence uses
and scenic/recreational values.

U.S. Coast Guard Admiral
Thomas H. Collins, the agency’s
commandant, recently distributed
a letter to “maritime partners”
concerning deadlines related to
the Maritime Transportation
Security Act. The mid-March
communication includes a
reminder about the Coast Guard’s
“help desk” that provides the lat-
est details on maritime security
regulations.

Extensive details of the Act
have been published in previous
editions of the Seafarers LOG.

The text of Admiral Collins’
letter follows.

“As you are by now well
aware, the January 1, 2004 dead-
line for submitting security plans
required by the Maritime Trans-
portation Security Act (MTSA)
has passed, and the implementa-
tion date of July 1, 2004 for ves-

sel and facility security will soon
be upon us.

“To date, we have received
security plans from over 95 per-
cent of those vessels and facilities
required to comply with the
MTSA. This is no small accom-
plishment. However, plan ap-
proval is only a part of the securi-
ty process. The implementation
of those security plans by the ves-
sel and facility operators is the
crucial element that will solidify
the MTSA foundation. I ask that
you please ensure your members
are aware of the approaching
compliance date and are fully
prepared to implement their indi-
vidual security plans. The Coast
Guard takes these security
requirements very seriously, and
we will aggressively enforce the
July 1 deadline.

“Additionally, if they have not

already done so, I strongly urge
your members to submit their
security plans now. To facilitate
this effort, the Coast Guard has
established a help desk to provide
a “one-stop-shop” for up-to-date
information on implementation
of the maritime security regula-
tions. Your members can visit the
help desk web site at the follow-
ing address:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-
m/mp/mtsa.shtml

“The help desk itself operates
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, Monday through
Friday, and can be reached at 1-
877-MTSA-Aid (1-877-687-
2243) or 202-366-9991 for all
MTSA-ISPS needs. The help
desk staff will either immediately
respond to questions or will
research the issue and promptly
provide a written response.

“I thank you and your mem-
bers for their efforts thus far, and
look forward to the full imple-
mentation of the MTSA so that,
together, we can make our water-
ways safe and secure.”

Coast Guard Admiral Reminds
‘Maritime Partners’ About
MTSA’s July 1 Implementation

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/26/2004 11:22 AM Page 5



6 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Retired SIU Vice President
West Coast George McCartney,
one of the union’s most enthusi-
astic champions for more than a
half-century, died March 19 at his
home in San Mateo, Calif. fol-
lowing a long illness. He was 72.

McCartney spent his entire
career with the Seafarers. At age
17 he climbed the gangway to his
first SIU ship, the Liberty tanker
Catahoula, in 1948. He retired as
vice president of the union’s West
Coast region in 1998, but
remained very active with the
SIU. In fact, he attended the
monthly membership meeting in
San Francisco the day before his
passing.

In remembering the New York
City native, union officials and
former shipmates pointed to
McCartney’s lifelong passion for
the Seafarers.

“I go back a long way with this
union. I can honestly say that I
never met anyone who cared
about the SIU any more than
George did,” SIU President
Michael Sacco said March 26 at a
graveside service at Seafarers
Haven Cemetery in Piney Point,
Md. “I always thought that if
someone X-rayed George’s heart,
they’d see a ship’s wheel inside,
with the words ‘Brotherhood of
the Sea.’”

SIU Executive Vice President
John Fay described McCartney as
“an eloquent spokesman for the
SIU. He loved the SIU and, like
most of us that came around in
that era, it was his whole life….
You never heard anybody say
anything unkind about him.”

Nick Marrone, who succeeded
McCartney upon his retirement,
noted, “I knew him for 20-plus
years. He was a very honest,
forthright individual. What I

remember most was his positive
attitude and his thumbs-up ges-
ture…. George loved the union.
This was the biggest part of his
life and he enjoyed every moment
of it.”

SIU Vice President Contracts
Augie Tellez observed, “George
embraced the cause and fought
for the membership literally until
his last days. In our line of work,
you simply can’t have enough
people like George McCartney.”

SIU Assistant Vice President
Nick Celona first met McCartney
in 1977 and later worked for him
on the West Coast. “He was
extremely loyal, he loved the
union and we worked well
together,” Celona said. “When it
came to the merchant marine and
the SIU in particular, he would
always stand up. He just loved the
SIU and the membership. Since
he retired, he attended every

meeting. I’m glad I worked with
him.”

Retired SIU Vice President
Contracts Red Campbell sailed
with McCartney during the 1950s
and later worked with him again
when both were officials. “He
was an excellent shipmate and he
always knew his job,” Campbell
stated. “Beyond that, he was ‘Mr.
Union.’ George took part in many
of the waterfront beefs and really
was involved in all of the union’s
campaigns.”

Retired SIU Bosun Joseph
Morrison knew McCartney for
more than 40 years. “George was
a dedicated official and union
member,” Morrison said. “He
knew everyone and treated every-
one equally. He’d be in the office
very early in the morning. As the
members would come in, he
would shake their hands. He
knew everyone’s name.”

McCartney also was a friend
to the Seafarers LOG. He regular-
ly kept in touch with the union’s
newspaper staff and was quick to
offer background, story ideas,
compliments and constructive
criticism.

“When he called our office, he
identified himself as the West
Coast cub reporter,” recalled
Jeanne Textor, longtime office
manager at the LOG. “He kept us
updated on maritime issues on the
West Coast and he shared his
wealth of information when an
SIU or MC&S member or official
retired or passed away. George
absolutely will be missed by all
of us.”

Raised in the Hell’s Kitchen
area of New York, McCartney
sailed in the engine and steward
departments from 1948 until
1960, when he came ashore as
part of the maintenance gang in

his native city. During the 1960s,
he worked as a patrolman in New
York and also served as the port
agent in Wilmington, Calif. for
two years.

He was the union’s New York
port agent from 1972-76, then
moved to the West Coast.
McCartney worked as the Seattle
port agent in 1977, then as San
Francisco port agent beginning in
1978.

In 1981, he was appointed to
the newly created position of
West Coast vice president—a slot
to which he was reelected several

times, until his retirement.
McCartney was instrumental

in aiding the union’s return to the
passenger trade, and he also
played a part in many of the SIU’s
historical and central campaigns.
He was active in local port coun-
cils, central labor councils, state
labor federations—and anywhere
else he saw an opportunity to pro-
mote the SIU’s interests.

“He was a friendly, hard-
working, decent, loyal person,”
SIU President Sacco remem-
bered. “Most of all, he was—and
always will be—a Seafarer.”

Remembering George McCartney

Lifelong Passion for SIU Defined Retired VP

McCartney enjoyed attending meetings of the Maritime Trades
Department, first as an active official (top photo, flanked by SIU
President Michael Sacco, left, and current SIU VP West Coast Nick
Marrone) and later as a retiree (below, with MFOW President Whitey
Disley).

Duly credited with
helping the SIU

return to the pas-
senger trade,

McCartney is pic-
tured aboard the

SS Independence
in 1984.

During a 1993 meeting of the
American Merchant Marine
Veterans in Portland, Ore.,
McCartney pledges the SIU’s
support in the fight to extend the
cutoff date for veterans’ status for
WWII mariners.

McCartney’s SIU career began in 1948. Whether working with Seafarers (top two photos) or supporting
members of other unions in times of need (bottom), his efforts were tireless.

Pictured in New York in 1974 are (from left) McCartney, SUP President
Morris Weisberger, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Lane Kirkland and
ILA President Ted Gleason.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:28 PM Page 6



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 7

SIU bosuns who sail with American Steamship
Company (ASC) took part in informative meetings
March 16 at the union hall in Algonac, Mich.

The first part of the day-long session covered
many topics including shipping rules, contract
administration, responsibilities of the ship’s chair-
man and the importance of political activity. During
the afternoon meeting, the bosuns tackled vessel
security, shipboard safety, the 2004 outlook for mar-
itime trade on the Great Lakes, and more.

The following Seafarers participated: David
Barber, Ronald Bochek, Albert Brzezinski,
Jeffrey Eckhart, Scott Gallagher, Michael Keogh,
William Mulcahy, Charles Niegebauer, Michael
Schaff, Larry Smith and Rudolph Tahtinen.
Helping conduct the initial meeting were SIU Vice
President Great Lakes Tommy Orzechowski,
Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak, Joliet Port Agent
Don Thornton and Patrolman Chad Partridge.

Representing the company were ASC President
Jerry Welsch, Safety and Security Officer Tom
Anderson, Vice President of Operations Noel
Basset, Vice President of Traffic and Sales Keith
Collingnon, Human Resources Manager Kathy
Elinski and Human Resources Vice President Kevin
McMonagle.

ASC’s SIU-crewed Great Lakes fleet includes
the Indiana Harbor, Walter J. McCarthy, St. Clair,
American Mariner, H. Lee White, John J. Boland,
Adam E. Cornelius, American Republic, Buffalo,
Sam Laud and American Spirit.

ASC Bosuns Address Key Issues

American Steamship Company Security Officer Tom
Anderson addresses the bosuns about the vessel
security plan scheduled to take effect July 1.

Participating in the meeting are (from left) Patrolman Chad Partridge, Bosun Bill Mulcahy, SIU VP Great
Lakes Tommy Orzechowski and Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak.

Bosuns Al Brzezinski (left) and Michael Schaff
review the Great Lakes Standard Freightship
Agreement.

SIU crews on the Great Lakes
completed a busy but routine
fitout in mid-April.

“It was very busy from the
beginning of March, but every-
thing went smoothly,” noted SIU
Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak.
“All of our contracted companies
are running. The last one (Great
Lakes Associates) broke out the
weekend of April 17.”

The SIU halls in Joliet, Ill. and
Duluth, Minn. reported similar
activity levels in March and
April.

The Lake Carriers’ Associa-
tion (LCA), a trade group repre-
senting U.S.-flag operators,
reported that 45 American-flag
vessels were operating on the
Lakes by early April. That figure
is more than double the number
from last year at the same time.

“Equally important, the April
1 tally is the highest since 2000,
when 51 U.S.-flag ‘Lakers’ were
in service,” the LCA noted.
“Most of the increase comes in
the category of vessels that carry
iron ore, limestone and coal.”

Shipments of coal on the Great
Lakes in March totaled 1.1 mil-
lion net tons, more than double
the total recorded a year earlier,
the association reported. Weather
played a big role in the increase,
as icy conditions in March 2003
slowed or delayed some ship-
ments.

“For the year, the Lakes coal
trade stands at 2.6 million tons,
again more than double the vol-
ume recorded at the same point in
2003, and a slight increase over
the 5-year average for the
January-March timeframe,” the
association said. “It must be
noted that the 2004 season-to-
date total includes a number of
western coal cargos that moved as
a result of the one-time extension
of the closing date for the locks at
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.”

Like other segments of the
U.S.-flag fleet, Lakes crews and
operators have begun complying
with the requirements of the
Maritime Transportation Security
Act (MTSA) well in advance of
the July 1, 2004 deadline. “An
LCA-developed Alternative Sec-
urity Program for Great Lakes
Dry-Bulk Carriers was approved
by the U.S. Coast Guard in late
December, and LCA members
have begun training personnel in
the requirements of the Program,”
the association noted.

While many elements of the
LCA Program are deemed
Security Sensitive Information
(SSI) by the federal government
and therefore are not for public
disclosure, the Program details the
responsibilities of shipboard and
land-based employees in comply-
ing with the security requirements
set forth in the MTSA, passed by
Congress in 2002.

Among other rules, the MTSA
requires security training for
mariners and shore staff and vari-
ous safeguards such as inspection

of holds prior to and during load-
ing and unloading of cargo. It also
calls for screening of non-
crewmembers boarding the vessel.

AB Terry Arlt
American Spirit

Lakes Seafarers Complete Fitout
Shipboard Security Plans in Place on SIU Vessels

QMED John Norick
American Spirit

AB Issam Hani
American Spirit

2nd Cook Earl Hicks
American Spirit

SA Darlene Weymouth
American Spirit

By an overwhelming majority, Seafarers who sail aboard line
boats operated by Material Services Corporation on the Great Lakes
recently ratified a new five-year contract.

The new pact, which covers 34 mariners, became effective Jan. 1
and runs through Jan. 15, 2009 with a wage and benefit re-opener on
Jan. 16, 2007.

Among other gains, the new contract features a $1,500 signing
bonus in the first year and three percent wage increases in both the
second and third years. Benefits also improved, as the pact calls for
an increase to $22.50 per day for maintenance and cure.
Additionally, SIU members will receive travel reimbursement from
the company when they successfully complete upgrading courses at
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney
Point, Md.

“The members seem very pleased with the features of the new
contract,” said Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak, who served on the
negotiating committee.

Talks for the contract commenced in December and continued for
about two months. “We had a total of three meetings, each of which
lasted two days,” Brdak said. “The hours were long and challenging,
but the end results were well worth it.”

In addition to Brdak, the negotiating committee was composed of
Joliet Port Agent Don Thornton and Delegates John Kline, Lonnie
Hibner and Wallace Killion.

Material Services Corporation operates three tug/barge units in
the Chicago River System.

Lakes Boatmen Okay Pact

Attention Seafarers:

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/28/2004 8:15 PM Page 7



8 Seafarers LOG May 2004

The Korean monks of St. Paul’s Abbey
in Newton, N.J. are raising funds for the
building of a monument to be dedicated
Oct. 14, 2004 for the rescue of 14,000
Korean refugees by Captain Leonard P.
LaRue, master aboard the Meredith
Victory and the ship’s officers and NMU
crew. The ceremonies are scheduled to
take place on the third anniversary of the
captain’s death.

The two-fold story behind this effort is
an interesting and uplifting one that was
brought to the attention of the Seafarers
LOG by Charles P. Thole, a retired mem-
ber of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial
Association who lives in Newton.

The Korean Conflict
The first part of the story occurred dur-

ing the Korean Conflict, when the 455-
foot Meredith Victory, operated by
Moore-McCormack Lines under charter
to the Military Sea Transportation Service
with Capt. LaRue at the helm, was carry-
ing supplies to American servicemen in
Korea on behalf of the Navy. Three days
before Christmas in 1950, the vessel—
along with about 200 other American
ships—was summoned to the North
Korean port of Hungnam to evacuate
American and South Korean marines and
soldiers as well as more than 90,000
North Korean civilians.

Capt. LaRue saw refugees thronging
the docks, carrying everything they could
in their flight from Communist troops. He
ordered his crew of 47 to begin loading
them onto the vessel until it could hold no
more. There were 14,000 crammed into
the five cargo holds and covering the
entire main deck of a freighter that was
designed to hold 60 persons, and set sail
for the port of Pusan in South Korea, 28
hours away—a treacherous voyage
through the heavily mined Sea of Japan,
which was being patrolled by enemy sub-
marines. The ship also was carrying 300
tons of jet fuel in 52-gallon drums.

Food and water were scarce and sani-
tary conditions were deplorable, but the

freighter eventually arrived in Pusan, only
to be turned away by Korean officials
who were inundated with other refugees.
They were told to head for the island of
Koje Do, 50 miles away. They arrived
there on Christmas day, but the port was
too small and crowded, so the refugees
had to wait on board another night at sea
until Navy LSTs finally were able to
transport the refugees from the ship to the
shore.

In the ship’s log, Capt. LaRue wrote:
“The nearness of Christmas carries my
thoughts to the Holy Family—how they,
too, were cold and without shelter.”

The amazing part of this journey was
that not one refugee died in the evacua-
tion and, in fact, five babies were born
during the harsh voyage!

Capt. LaRue, a Philadelphia native and
veteran of World War II merchant marine
operations in the Atlantic, remained in
command of the Meredith Victory until it
was decommissioned in 1952. In 1960, he
was awarded the Meritorious Service
Medal, the Merchant Marine’s highest
honor. He also received many citations
from the governments of America and
South Korea for his rescue, and the
freighter was designated a Gallant Ship
by Congress. The ship was put back in
service in 1966 for service in the Vietnam
War. It was finally sold for scrap on Oct.
1, 1993.

In 1954, the captain, always a religious
man, retired from seafaring life and,
under the name of Brother Marinus,
joined the Benedictine monks at St. Paul’s
Abbey, where he lived until his death at
87 in October 2001.

In an obituary printed in The New York
Times, they quoted Capt. LaRue’s view of
the rescue as a turning point in his life. “I
think often of that voyage. I think of how
such a small vessel was able to hold so
many persons and surmount endless perils
without harm to a soul. The clear, unmis-
takable message comes to me that on that
Christmastide, in the bleak and bitter
waters off the shores of Korea, God’s own

hand was at the helm of my ship.”

The Korean Monks
The second part of the story pertains to

the arrival of the Korean monks at St.
Paul’s Abbey.

In 1949, after Korea was divided, the
Communists closed the monasteries in
North Korea and killed or imprisoned the
monks. Some managed to escape and
make their way south. One monk, who
had taken home leave from his abbey in
Korea, stayed at St. Paul’s Abbey until
1951, when he was asked to return to
Korea to gather up the monks and start a
new monastery. With the help of U.S.
Army chaplains, a new monastery was
established at Waegwan, South Korea and
became very successful.

Meanwhile, St. Paul’s Abbey started to
decline as some of the older monks began
to die off and no new ones took their
places. In the summer of 2000, it was
decided that St. Paul’s Abbey would have
to close. But the very next year—just two
days before Brother Marinus died—the
abbot at Waegwan agreed to send monks
to St. Paul’s. And in 2002, the Koreans
formally took over the operation of the
Newton, N.J. abbey. Since their arrival,

they have been working very hard to
improve the grounds and repair the deteri-
orating buildings. They all know about
the rescue of the Koreans and the role
Brother Marinus played—and want to
build a monument commemorating that
event.

The monks have a theme: “Brother
Marinus saved the Korean people. Now
the Koreans are going to save the
monastery.”

In addition to planning the monument
and seeking contributions, the monks
have a book for sale that tells the story of
the Meredith Victory. It describes the res-
cue as well as the suffering of the Korean
people and their strong desire for free-
dom. “Ship of Miracles,” with a foreword
written by former Secretary of State
Alexander Haig Jr., is for sale ($28.83,
which includes tax and shipping).

Contributions for the building of the
monument, or checks for the purchase of
the book, may be sent to St. Paul’s Abbey,
P.O. Box 7, Newton, NJ 07860. The tele-
phone number is (973) 383-2470. Be sure
to indicate that the contribution is for the
building of the monument. In addition,
please list the name of the organization to
which you belong.

Memorial Planned to Meredith Victory Captain, NMU Crew

The Meredith Victory saw action in World War II, the Korean Conflict and in Vietnam.

Former Scholarship Winner
Gives $5,000 to Help Others

When James F. (Jimmy)
Mann received a $5,000 award
from the union’s scholarship
program in 1978 for two years
of study, it helped him on the
road to attaining his educational
goals. Twenty-six years later,
Mann has contributed a check in
that same amount to the scholar-
ship fund in the “sincere hope
and expectation that it will help
another young person realize a
part of their dreams, as it once
did for me in my younger
years.”

He initially planned to use
his scholarship money to attend
the Berklee College of Music in
Boston Mass. and did, in fact,
study jazz piano there. He trans-
ferred to Newbury Junior
College, also in Boston, where
he received an associate degree
in hotel and restaurant manage-
ment and then completed his
studies at the hotel school at
Cornell University, receiving a
bachelor’s degree in business
administration.

Mann came out of the trainee
program at Piney Point in 1973
and returned the next year to
upgrade to second cook and

baker. Between classes and col-
leges over a 13-year period, he
continued to go to sea and
upgrade his skills, working his
way up the ranks to become
chief steward in 1983.

The deep sea member then
took the position of fleet com-
missary manager with Sea-Land
Service Inc., which involved
managing a 42-ship feeding and
steward department operation.

At the same time, he shared
his food service management
skills with the steward
upgraders at the Paul Hall
Center several times a year. A
memorable moment for Mann
came when in 1989, SIU
President Michael Sacco award-
ed him with an honorary stew-
ard recertification certificate for
all his work with the school.

Mann now has his own com-
pany, Mari-Serve Network
Inc.—a steward department
management and consulting
firm in San Leandro, Calif.—
and also works full time as
supervisor of vessel operations
with Matson Navigation Co., an
SIU-contracted operator, where
he has been for 11 years.

The former Seafarer contin-
ues to view his association with
the SIU as “nothing short of a
wonderful experience in life.
That experience has included
many great memories, a college
scholarship, education and train-
ing opportunities and enduring
friendships that have lasted to
this day,” he wrote in a note
accompanying the check.

The cover page of the May 1978 Seafarers LOG
includes a picture of James Mann as one of the
scholarship winners for that year. He is the cen-
ter photo in the top row.

Twenty-six years after being
awarded an SIU scholarship,
James Mann contributes $5,000
to help another young person on
the path to success and personal
fulfillment.

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/28/2004 8:36 PM Page 8



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 9

Annual statements from the
Seafarers Money Purchase
Pension Plan (SMPPP) were
mailed to Plan participants during
the final week of March, accord-
ing to SMPPP Administrator Bill
Dennis.

Based on year-end reports
received from Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter, SMPPP investment
manager, the Plan continues to
perform well despite recent and
ongoing market volatility.
Interest earned on the accounts
during 2003 was 15 percent; the
total amount in all accounts was
more than $22.1 million.

The SMPPP originated in
1996, as the SIU successfully
negotiated the new benefit into

standard freightship and tanker
agreements. The SMPPP subse-
quently has been included in
other SIU contracts.

Approved by the Internal
Revenue Service, the SMPPP is
an individual interest-earning
investment account funded by a
daily contribution made by an
SIU-contracted company on
behalf of a Seafarer who is work-
ing for that employer. SIU mem-
bers may make voluntary contri-
butions to their respective
accounts through a Vacation Plan
deduction.

The SMPPP is completely sep-
arate from a member’s defined
benefit pension. Under the
SMPPP, a Seafarer is immediate-

ly vested from the first day
money is received on his or her
behalf. Unlike the Seafarers
Pension Plan, there is no mini-
mum amount of seatime needed
to receive the money from an
SMPPP account.

Seafarers can collect the funds
from their SMPPP account when
they reach retirement age,
become totally and permanently
disabled, or leave the industry.
Widows/widowers may collect

the funds in the event of their
spouse’s death.

The annual statements include
the following information:

� Member’s name, address
and Social Security num-
ber (which is also the par-
ticipant’s account num-
ber);

� Statement date;
� The opening balance for

2003 (which was the year-

end 2002 closing balance);
� Interest earned and admin-

istrative expenses charged;
� Any payouts made to the

member in 2003; and
� The closing balance for

2003 (which will appear as
the opening balance on
next year’s annual state-
ment).

Members who have questions
about their accounts, or do not
receive their year-end statements
within a reasonable time, may
call 1-800-485-3703.

Reminder
New Towing Licenses

For boatmen seeking to qualify for a license as a mate (pilot)
on towing vessels, May 21 is the deadline for completing service
or training requirements. After that date, new requirements take
effect.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) in
March 2002 issued Policy Letter 07-02, which provided informa-
tion for license applicants who began serving or training aboard
towing vessels before May 21, 2001 and for those who would
complete all requirements for license issuance before May 21,
2003. The latter date subsequently was extended to May 21,
2004.

According to the policy letter, “A mariner may obtain a license
as a mate (pilot) of towing vessels … provided he or she holds
documentary evidence demonstrating relevant service or train-
ing before 21 May 2001. The applicant must also fully qualify for
the license, including completion of all testing requirements,
before 21 May 2003. (Editor’s note: Again, the latter deadline
was bumped back to May 21, 2004.) To be eligible for the
license, a mariner must either:

a. Provide proof of at least 18 months service on deck, includ-
ing at least 12 months on towing vessels, and at least three
months of training or duty in the wheelhouse of towing vessels.
The sea service must include at least three months of service in
each geographic area for which licensure is requested; or

b. Provide proof of at least six months of service on towing
vessels while holding a merchant mariner’s document endorsed
as able seaman unlimited, able seaman limited, or able seaman
special. The service must include three months service in the
wheelhouse in each particular geographic area for which licen-
sure is requested. In addition, the applicant must provide proof
of either two months of training or duty in the wheelhouse or one
month of training or duty in the wheelhouse along with comple-
tion of an approved course that substitutes for such service.”

The policy letter further points out that mariners who provide
evidence of the above service “may qualify for a license as mate
(pilot) of towing vessels, and may be issued an endorsement as
master of towing vessels for a limited local area within the scope
of the inland route (inland waters or Western rivers) within the
authority of the license. After completion of an additional 18
months of service operating towing vessels, the mate (pilot) of
towing vessels license may be upgraded to master of towing
vessels. Those mariners with limited service, as determined by
the cognizant Officer in Charge Marine Inspection, will receive
licenses as mate (pilot) of towing vessels (limited). After an addi-
tional 12 months of service, operating towing vessels, the licens-
es will be upgraded to master of towing vessels (limited).”

The old license for operator, uninspected towing vessels
(OUTV) is replaced by the new license, for master of towing ves-
sels. Similarly, the old 2nd class OUTV license is replaced by the
license for mate (pilot) of towing vessels.

For more information on the new towing licenses, contact
your nearest U.S. Coast Guard regional exam center (see box,
this page), preferably before May 21; or visit the Coast Guard’s
licensing and documentation web site at:

http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/
(The site also is linked to www.seafarers.org, in the “Member

Benefits and Resources” section.)

Annual Statements Mailed in March

SMPPP Earned 15 Percent Last Year

800 E. Diamond Blvd., Suite 3-227
Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: (907) 271-6736

40 South Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202-4022
Phone: (410) 962-5132

455 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109-1045
Phone: (617) 223-3040

196 Tradd Street
Charleston, SC 29401-1899
Phone: (843) 720-3250

433 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813-4909
Phone: (808) 522-8264

8876 Gulf Freeway, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77017-6595
Phone: (713) 948-3350

2760 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A
Juneau, AK 99801-8545
Phone: (907) 463-2458

1001 S. Seaside Avenue, Bldg. 20
San Pedro, CA 90731-0208
Phone: (310) 732-2080

200 Jefferson Ave., Suite 1302
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 544-3297

Claude Pepper Federal Building
51 S.W. 1st Ave., 6th Floor
Miami, FL 33130-1608
Phone: (305) 536-6548/6874

9820 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite P
New Orleans, LA 70127-3077
Phone: (504) 240-7300

Battery Park Building
1 South Street
New York, NY 10004-1466
Phone: (212) 668-7492

6767 N. Basin Avenue
Portland, OR 97217-3992
Phone: (503) 240-9346

915 Second Ave., Room 194
Seattle, WA 98174-1067
Phone: (206) 217-6115

Oakland Federal Bldg., North Tower
1301 Clay Street, Room 180N
Oakland, CA 94612-5200
Phone: (510) 637-1124
Fax: (510) 637-1126
E-mail: recsfbay@d11.uscg.mil

1222 Spruce Street, Suite 8.104E
St. Louis, MO 63103-2835
Phone: (314) 539-3091

420 Madison Ave., Suite 700
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 418-6010

Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers

The Sailors’ Snug Harbor Mariners Outreach
Assistance Program offers assistance paying bills direct-
ly to the service provider. If you are retired with 10 years
worth of sea time, the program may be able to help. To
find out if you qualify, contact:

Mariners Outreach Assistance Program
P.O. Box 99
Sea Level, NC 28577

Telephone 1-800-257-5456
Email sshoutreach@bizec.rr.com
Web www.thesailorssnugharbor.com

The program involves completing an application, sub-
mitting proof of the required sea time (3,650 days aboard
ship) and having a case manager visit in the home. If
approved, the financial stipend is paid directly to the ven-
dor for expenses such as electricity, rent, insurance, etc.

Notice:
Sailors’ Snug Harbor

With Seafarers in Puerto Rico

When the Horizon Discovery was in San Juan recently, SIU
Port Agent Victor Nuñez was on hand to meet with the crew
members. From the left are Chief Steward Joseph Laureta,
Chief Cook Jorge Salazar, Nuñez and SIU secretary Wildaliz
Rivera.

SIU Port Agent Victor Nuñez (left)
meets with Francisco Merced, a
program director at the local
Department of Labor, who works
closely with maritime labor.

Left: Recertified
Bosun Joseph
Osorio (left) receives
a check from his
Seafarers Money
Purchase Pension
Plan account from
SIU Port Agent
Victor Nuñez.
Brother Osorio cur-
rently resides in the
Domincan Republic.

22755_P01.2.3.9.10.21.qxd 4/28/2004 7:06 PM Page 9



10 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Saddam Hussein. The work con-
tinues, and the men and women
of the merchant marine remain
actively engaged in replenishing
equipment and supplies as our
troops rotate into and out of
Iraq.”

Schubert also said that the Iraq

missions have “once again shown
how invaluable the U.S.-flag
Merchant Marine is to our nation-
al security. We have an opportu-
nity to reinforce support for the
merchant marine by demonstrat-
ing the economic value of a
strong and vibrant U.S.-based
maritime industry.”

Among the SIU-crewed ships

sailing in OIF2 are SL-7s operat-
ed by AMSEA; Ready Reserve
Force vessels operated by
Crowley, Keystone, Mormac,
Marine Transport Lines, Pacific
Gulf Marine, and Patriot Contract
Services; and LMSRs operated
by Maersk Line, Limited.

Editor’s note: Ed McDonnell,
third mate aboard the Cape May,
provided the photos accompany-
ing this story, including the OIF2
pictures on the front page.

OS Ali Mohamed Alnassiry
Cape May

Wiper Allen Hammond
Cape May

AB Billy Ray Hanbury
Cape May

SA Mary Ann, AB John Nelson, OS Howard Vick
Cape May

Pictured from left to right on the Cape May are AB
Tecumseh Williams, AB Clay Brown, AB Billy Ray
Hanbury, Bosun Greg White and OS Ali Mohamed
Alnassiry. The SIU-crewed roll-on/roll-off vessel Cape May (top) and tanker Mt.

Washington earlier this year took part in joint logistics over the shore
operations ordered by the U.S. military, which normally involve dis-
charging cargo from vessels anchored off-shore and transporting it to
various shore-based sites. The Seafarers-crewed Flickertail State also
was mobilized for the operation.

A waterspout is
visible from the
Cape May’s
stern.

Seafarers Deliver in OIF2
Continued from page 2

On paper, America’s workers
have the right to form unions, but
the laws protecting that right are
so shattered that employers rou-
tinely block workers from exer-
cising their freedom of associa-
tion.

To resolve this situation,
workers and their allies in
November joined with congres-
sional legislators to launch an
unprecedented effort to provide
people in the workforce who
want to join unions an adequate
chance to do so. The proposed
legislation, the Employee Free
Choice Act (EFCA), S. 1925 and
H.R. 3619—sponsored by Sen.
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.)—
ensures that when a majority of
employees in a workplace decide
to form a union, they can do so
without the debilitating obstacles
employers now use to block their
workers’ free choice.

At press time for the Seafarers
LOG, 180 U.S. representatives
and 30 senators had signed on as
co-sponsors of the EFCA. The
proposed bills would allow
employees to freely choose
whether to form unions by sign-
ing cards authorizing union repre-
sentation, provide mediation and
arbitration for first contract dis-
putes and establish stronger
penalties for violations of
employee rights when workers
seek to form a union.

Recent polls show some 45
million workers would join a
union tomorrow if they had the
chance, but few are able to exer-

cise this fundamental freedom
because employers routinely cre-
ate barriers to thwart workers’
choice. To ensure workers who
want a union are free to form one,
the union movement is mobiliz-
ing behind the EFCA to make the
freedom to join unions a key
issue in the 2004 elections and a
top priority for the next Congress
and the winner of the presidential
election. In summary, the EFCA
calls for:

Certification on the Basis of
Signed Authorizations—Pro-
vides for certification of a union
as the bargaining representative if
the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) finds that a major-
ity of employees in an appropri-
ate unit has signed authorizations
designating the union as its bar-
gaining representative. The certi-
fication also requires the NLRB
to develop model authorization
language and procedures for
establishing the authenticity of
signed authorizations.

First Contract Mediation
and Arbitration—Provides that
if an employer and a union are
engaged in bargaining for their
first contract and are unable to
reach agreement within 90 days,
either party may refer the dispute
to the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service (FMCS) for
mediation. If the FMCS has been
unable to bring the parties to
agreement after 30 days of medi-
ation, the dispute will be referred
to arbitration and the results of
the arbitration shall be binding on
the parties for two years. Time

limits may be extended by mutu-
al agreement of the parties.

Stronger Penalties for
Violations—Makes the follow-
ing new provisions applicable to
violations of the National Labor
Relations Act (NLRA) committed
by employers against employees
during any period while employ-
ees are attempting to organize a
union or negotiate a first contract
with the employer:

� Mandatory Applications
for Injunctions: Provides that

just as the NLRB is required to
seek a federal court injunction
against a union whenever there is
reasonable cause to believe that
the union has violated the sec-
ondary boycott prohibitions in the
NLRA, the NLRB must seek a
federal court injunction against
an employer whenever there is
reasonable cause to believe that
the employer has discharged or
discriminated against employees,
threatened to discharge or dis-
criminate against employees or

engaged in conduct that signifi-
cantly interferes with employee
rights during an organizing or
first contract drive.

� Triple Back Pay: Increases
the amount an employer is
required to pay when an employ-
ee is discharged or discriminated
against during an organizing cam-
paign or first contract drive to
three times back pay.

� Civil Penalties: Provides
for civil fines of up to $20,000
per violation against employers
found to have willfully or repeat-
edly violated employees’ rights
during an organizing campaign or
first contract drive.

Free Choice Act Gaining Support

22755_P01.2.3.9.10.21.qxd 4/28/2004 7:06 PM Page 10



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 11

Aboard the Seabulk Arctic
These photos, sent to the LOG by Bosun Juan Castillo, were

taken aboard the SIU-crewed Seabulk Arctic in Kenai, Alaska.
Owned by Seabulk International, the 46,000-dwt vessel is one

of the company’s five new double-hull petroleum and chemical
tankers engaged in the domestic Jones
Act trade, transporting petro-
leum products, chemi-
cals and crude oil
along the
Atlantic, Gulf
and Pacific
coasts,
and
Alaska.

Left: AB Richard
Benoit secures a
lifeboat raft aboard
the double-hull
tanker.

Right: Bosun Juan
Castillo (left) and

AB Mustafa
Ahmed pose for a
photo in the crew

lounge.

Left: Chief Cook Evelina
Barnes can attest to the
fact that the snow on
the vessel’s deck
makes great snowballs.

Enjoying a nourishing meal on the Seabulk Arctic are (from left) Wiper Fathi Almuraisi,
OMU Roger Saxon and GUDE Faissal Alamri.

AB Chris Chikwere warms up with a hot cup of coffee.

AB Robert Duncan knows
that there’s always some-
thing that needs repair
aboard ship.

Right: Posing with Frosty
the Snowman on the deck

of the Seabulk Arctic are
(from left) QMED/Pumpman
Salome Castro, Bosun Juan

Castillo and AB Mike
Jalbert.

Below: Chief Steward Alan
Bartley (left) keeps QMED/
Pumpman Salome Casto com-
pany during lunch.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:28 PM Page 11



12 Seafarers LOG May 2004

tradition by deli
Antarctica—the

McMurdo is
siderations, the
ble during Janu

“It was a pre
way down, roug
January), althou
in the thirties, b
tough, real fast.

The Gianella
and the Polar S
and other stores

Gianella Cap
Foundation (NS
base) “for all th

SIU members sailing aboard the
Gianella during the resupply mission
included Bosun Bernardino Eda; ABs
Leroy Williamson, George Lammers,
Raymond Elsner, Timothy Dunn and
Mike Bay; QMEDs Jason Powell,
Joseph Stanford and Richard
Huffman; DEUs Mark Abrincia and
Nasser Kassim; Steward/Baker
James Lewis; Chief Cook Gerald
Archie; GSUs Brandy Parmer and
Abdulnaser Saeed; and Unlicensed
Apprentice Nicholas Doffoh.

QMED Jason Powell
AB Ray Elsner, AB Mike Bay, DEU Mark Juan Abrincia, Bosun Bernardino Eda, AB
George Lammers, AB Leroy Williamson

DEEP FRE
Sea

Bosun Bernardino Eda

BELOW: Because of icy conditions,
McMurdo normally is accessible via
ship only two months out of the year.

LEFT: The vessel draws interest.

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/28/2004 10:32 PM Page 12



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 13

For Seafarers who help
resupply the McMurdo scientif-
ic research station, going to the
end of the Earth is routine.

Earlier this year, the SIU-
crewed USNS Lawrence
Gianella continued the yearly

y delivering gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to McMurdo’s U.S. station, located in
—the planet’s coldest, driest and windiest place.
do is the southernmost ground that’s accessible by ship. Because of weather con-
, the annual resupply mission—known as Operation Deep Freeze—only is possi-
January and February.
a pretty smooth trip,” said QMED Jason Powell. “We had good weather on the
rougher weather on the way back. We were at the base for a week (in late

lthough we were actually in Antarctica for three weeks…. The temperatures were
ies, but the last couple of days, the wind started to blow quite a bit. It gets real
fast.”

anella received assistance from two U.S. Coast Guard ice cutters: the Polar Star
lar Sea. Another Seafarers-contracted vessel—the American Tern—delivered food
tores to McMurdo in mid-February.
a Captain John Giacchino credited the Coast Guard and the U.S. National Science
n (NSF, which manages the U.S. Antarctic Program and coordinates research at the
all their assistance throughout Operation Deep Freeze. It was a pleasure working

with all involved in McMurdo and their hospitality and efforts are appreciated,” he noted in a
written account of the voyage.

SIU members sailing aboard the Gianella during the resupply mission included Bosun
Bernardino Eda; ABs Leroy Williamson, George Lammers, Raymond Elsner, Timothy
Dunn and Mike Bay; QMEDs Powell, Joseph Stanford and Richard Huffman; DEUs
Mark Abrincia and Nasser Kassim; Steward/Baker James Lewis; Chief Cook Gerald
Archie; GSUs Brandy Parmer and Abdulnaser Saeed; and Unlicensed Apprentice
Nicholas Doffoh. The vessel is operated by Ocean Ships, Inc. for the U.S. Military Sealift
Command.

Powell said that for him and many others aboard the Gianella, this was their first trip to
Antarctica. “I absolutely would do it again,” he concluded.

McMurdo Station houses anywhere from 1,100 scientists and support personnel (during
the austral summer) to approximately 250 people (from February to late October). The sta-
tion opened in 1955 and is built on volcanic rock at the southern end of Ross Island, which
measures 45 miles by 45 miles.

According to the NSF, the Antarctic Program’s goals are “to understand the Antarctic and
its associated ecosystems; to understand the region’s effects on (and responses to) global
processes such as climate; and to use Antarctica’s unique features for scientific research that
cannot be done as well elsewhere. Research is done in Antarctica only when it cannot be per-
formed at any other location on Earth.“Among the scientific disciplines encompassed by this
broad mandate are astronomy, atmospheric sciences, biology, earth science, environmental
science, geology, glaciology, marine biology, oceanography, and geophysics.”

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: AB Mike Bay,
QMED Joe Stanford, ABs Tim Dunn and
Leroy Williamson

EEZE
afarers Help Resupply McMurdo Station

The station (left) houses anywhere from 1,100 scientists and support per-
sonnel (during the austral summer) to approximately 250 people (from
February to late October). The Gianella (above) is one of two SIU-crewed
ships that called on McMurdo this year—the American Tern is the other.

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/28/2004 10:33 PM Page 13



14 Seafarers LOG May 2004

SEAFARERS BENEFIT PLANS NOTICE TO PARTICIPANTS

Keep the Plan Informed of Your Address Changes
It is important that all participants remember to keep the Plan informed of

any change of address.

Update Your Beneficiary Designations
Keep your beneficiary designations up to date. In the event that your bene-

ficiary predeceases you, you must submit a substitute designation.

Inform the Plan of Your Divorce
In order for your spouse to be eligible to receive continuation coverage

(under COBRA) from the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, you or your
spouse must inform the Plan at the time of your divorce. Please submit a copy
of the divorce decree to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan.

Full-time College Students
If your dependent child is a full-time college student, you must submit a let-

ter of attendance every semester in order for your child to be covered by the
Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan.

Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan
P.O. Box 380
Piney Point, MD 20674

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

Remembering tthe
Old DDays aat SSea

At the February and March
meetings of the Merchant Marine
Vets, Desert Mariners, we re-
ceived copies of the Seafarers
LOG, and I was very glad to see
them as it brought back memo-
ries.

I was a member of the Sailors’
Union of the Pacific (SUP) in
World War II and for several
years after the war ended. I had
worked as an electrician ashore,
so I applied for and received an
electrician’s endorsement to my
OS papers.

There was inter-district ship-
ping between the SUP and SIU
then, and I sailed on several ships
owned by Bull Lines, Waterman
Steamship Corporation and Isth-
mian Company. My discharges
were lost several years ago, and I
can’t remember them all.

I was surprised to see that

women are now crew members,
and that the SIU headquarters is
no longer located in New York
City...and the recent affiliation
with the NMU. AFL and CIO
unions were enemies when I was
sailing.

After I married, I left the sea,
but I miss it. I am now a few
months from 80 years, and retired
from the International Brother-
hood of Electrical Workers. I
guess it’s too late for me to go
back to sea.
Howard Forman
Cave Creek, Ariz.

Help NNeeded
Locating LLost FFamily

My name is Kathleen
Lawrence, and 27 years ago, my
mother gave birth to me. I have
not seen her since. I am actively
searching for my lost family.

I know that I was born in
September 1976, and at that time,
my mother’s brother (my uncle)
was 18 years old and had com-
pleted the trainee program at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship.

I am writing to see if one of
his classmates would remember a
friend with a pregnant sister. The
sister (my mother) would have
had a 3-year-old son with blonde
hair and blue eyes. She was not
married, and her son was in and

out of the hospital, diagnosed as a
hydrocephalic. The sister may
have been a trained beautician
and waitress. I believe that at that
time, to have a friend with a
nephew that is really ill, a sister
with a sick son and another baby
on the way would have been
something to remember. From the
information I have, my uncle’s
mother (my grandmother) was a
civil service secretary. I also
know that my uncle’s father (my
grandfather) died at the age of 65
from a stroke and heart attack.

This information is a bit con-
fusing, but it may be possible that
my uncle will read this and will
contact me.

I am a happily married mother
of three children and wish to
embrace my birth family with
love and appreciation.

I am hoping that someone may
even have a remote memory of
who my uncle may be and lead
me in the right direction. Does
anyone still keep in contact with
him? When and where was the
last place he was known to live? I
would be happy and most grate-
ful to talk to anyone with even the
smallest piece of information and
anyone who graduated in the
class of 1975-1976.
Kathleen M. Lawrence
(301) 884-0314 (daytime)
(301) 884-3647 (evenings)
e-mail: klawrence@cbs-legal.com

Letters to the Editor

PAUL HHALL CCENTER TTRAINING && RRECREATION CCENTER
Vacation RReservation IInformation

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Social Security number: _____________________ Book number: ______________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Telephone number: ____________________________________________________

Number in party / ages of children, if applicable: ____________________________

Date of arrival: 1st choice: ______ 2nd choice: ______ 3rd choice: ______
(Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks)

Date of departure: ___________________________

Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 5/04

Summer + Vacation = Piney Point
That’s an equation that can add up to fun for the

whole family.
As many SIU members already have discov-

ered, the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md.
offers all the ingredients for a memorable summer
vacation—and it’s a benefit available only to
Seafarers and their families.

The facility offers comfortable accommoda-
tions, three meals a day, lots of activities (includ-
ing tennis, swimming, boating) and an ideal loca-
tion from which to make this vacation one to talk
about throughout the year.

All the historic sights of Washington, D.C.;
Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; and Arlington and
Alexandria, Va. are but a short drive away. Take a
tour of the FBI Building or the White House, visit
the National Zoo or one of the Smithsonian’s many
museums, go for an outing at Camden Yards to see
the Orioles play. The options are endless.

But within Southern Maryland, itself, there are
many events planned for the summer months that
can be fun for everyone in the group. Craft fairs,
family concerts, crab feasts and horse tournaments
are just a fraction of the many activities going on
this summer. By taking advantage of the vacation
package at the Paul Hall Center, you, too, can be
right in the center of all the activity.

Join the many Seafarers and their families who
have discovered the additional benefits of fun and
recreation provided by the Paul Hall Center.

Simply fill out and mail the application printed
below, and you will have taken the first step
toward a vacation you and your family will talk
about for years.

UNION MMEMBER
VACATION RRATES

A vacation stay at the Paul Hall Center

is limited to two weeks per family.

Member $40.00/day

Spouse $10.00/day

Child$10.00/day

Note: There is no charge for children 11
years of age or younger. The prices list-
ed above include all meals but do not
include tax.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/23/2004 10:11 AM Page 14



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 15

June & July 2004
Membership Meetings

Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters

CHIH-HUA CHANG
Please contact Linda Yuan at 142-27 Barclay Ave.,

Apt. 306, Flushing, NY 11355; or call (718) 886-1852.

TROY WOOD
Please contact your grandmother, Josephine Betz, at

483 Sanborn Road, Newport, WA 99156; or call (509)
447-5770.

Personals

Piney Point .............Monday: June 7
................................Tuesday: July 6*
............................................*(change created by Independence Day holiday)

Algonac ..................Friday: June 11, July 9

Baltimore ................Thursday: June 10, July 8

Boston.....................Friday: June 11, July 9

Duluth .....................Wednesday: June 16, July 14

Guam ......................Thursday: June 24, July 22

Honolulu .................Friday: June 18, July 16

Houston ..................Monday: June 14, July 12

Jacksonville ............Thursday: June 10, July 8

Joliet .......................Thursday: June 17, July 15

Mobile ....................Wednesday: June 16, July 14

New Bedford ..........Tuesday: June 22, July 20

New Orleans ...........Tuesday: June 15, July 13

New York................Tuesday: June 8, July 6

Norfolk ...................Thursday: June 10, July 8

Philadelphia ............Wednesday: June 9, July 7

Port Everglades.......Thursday: June 17, July 15

San Francisco .........Thursday: June 17, July 15

San Juan..................Thursday: June 10, July 8

St. Louis..................Friday: June 18, July 16

Tacoma ...................Friday: June 25, July 23

Wilmington ...............Monday: June 21, July 19

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

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea
MARCH 16 — APRIL 15, 2004

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

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

Port DECK DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 3
Baltimore 5 3 1 6 1 0 0 9 5 3
Guam 0 3 1 1 4 3 1 1 3 0
Honolulu 10 9 0 7 4 1 1 11 18 4
Houston 26 17 17 24 11 8 10 45 30 30
Jacksonville 38 27 11 27 18 6 15 52 46 25
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Mobile 13 9 5 9 7 2 4 25 12 8
New Orleans 12 16 8 20 13 1 4 19 17 17
New York 23 16 18 16 6 1 5 45 32 38
Norfolk 13 17 8 8 7 6 6 20 20 9
Philadelphia 0 1 3 3 1 0 2 5 2 3
Piney Point 3 8 0 2 10 0 0 2 8 2
Puerto Rico 2 6 0 6 1 1 0 6 10 1
San Francisco 15 13 4 22 8 0 14 30 16 4
St. Louis 1 5 2 0 3 0 0 2 3 5
Tacoma 27 28 14 23 15 6 13 47 45 31
Wilmington 28 25 18 9 14 6 13 41 36 26
Totals 216 206 111 184 123 41 88 361 308 211

Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
Baltimore 5 1 1 5 0 0 1 7 3 1
Guam 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 1
Honolulu 5 5 1 2 5 0 4 14 9 1
Houston 13 14 4 10 7 0 4 20 16 11
Jacksonville 18 30 2 16 13 1 5 32 42 8
Joliet 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Mobile 3 3 2 4 3 2 2 8 5 1
New Orleans 4 5 2 2 3 0 1 10 12 6
New York 11 10 6 7 4 0 3 18 22 15
Norfolk 11 15 3 3 7 0 5 12 28 7
Philadelphia 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 5 1
Piney Point 1 3 0 0 4 0 1 3 2 0
Puerto Rico 5 2 0 6 1 0 2 2 3 1
San Francisco 15 8 3 11 2 2 1 17 12 5
St. Louis 1 4 1 0 1 1 0 2 6 2
Tacoma 17 14 5 15 16 2 3 17 28 11
Wilmington 8 12 5 3 7 1 2 12 18 8
Totals 118 131 36 85 77 9 35 177 215 81

Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 4 1 0
Guam 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0
Honolulu 16 8 1 6 4 0 2 21 8 1
Houston 11 2 3 12 1 0 1 23 3 5
Jacksonville 19 11 6 13 10 5 8 35 13 13
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mobile 3 7 1 1 3 1 2 8 8 2
New Orleans 6 6 1 2 1 0 1 16 11 3
New York 15 8 8 12 0 3 3 25 16 9
Norfolk 11 13 7 6 5 2 2 12 24 8
Philadelphia 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4 2 1
Piney Point 0 2 0 0 1 2 1 7 3 1
Puerto Rico 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 1
San Francisco 17 5 1 12 3 1 6 34 8 1
St. Louis 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1
Tacoma 17 6 5 14 4 3 7 34 8 4
Wilmington 19 5 4 14 6 2 9 34 6 7
Totals 143 80 39 98 38 21 44 259 119 57

Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Baltimore 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 3
Guam 0 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 7 1
Honolulu 6 13 10 1 3 0 0 10 22 19
Houston 4 15 11 3 7 2 0 4 31 29
Jacksonville 0 14 22 1 7 5 0 5 26 44
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mobile 0 5 0 1 4 0 0 1 6 3
New Orleans 2 6 7 1 2 2 0 2 9 16
New York 2 23 26 3 15 5 0 3 50 53
Norfolk 0 15 14 0 12 9 0 0 9 18
Philadelphia 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Piney Point 0 4 30 0 6 12 0 0 7 42
Puerto Rico 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 4 4
San Francisco 3 10 6 4 5 1 0 7 18 18
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Tacoma 6 10 26 5 16 10 0 8 29 41
Wilmington 3 5 9 1 2 6 0 5 9 23
Totals 28 128 169 20 80 54 0 50 231 320

Totals All
Departments 505 545 355 387 318 125 167 847 873 669

*“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.

In honor of Cesar Chavez Day in Los Angeles, March
31, crew members aboard the Mokihana passed the hat
and contributed more than $4,100 to the working fami-
lies of the UFCW who were severely affected by their
recent long strike in California. Pictured are Captain Jim
Hill and crew members representing all unions aboard
the vessel: SIU, MMP, MEBA, ARA, SUP and MFU; an
official representative from each union; and Shannon D.
Donato, director of the Harry Bridges Institute, who
accepted the cash donation on behalf of the families.

Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:29 PM Page 15



16 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Seafarers International Union
Directory

Michael Sacco, President

John Fay, Executive Vice President

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer

Augustin Tellez, Vice President Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters

Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast

Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Kermett Mangram,
Vice President Government Services

René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large

Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large

HEADQUARTERS
5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746

(301) 899-0675

ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001

(810) 794-4988

ALTON
325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002

(618) 462-3456

ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

BOSTON
520 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA 02127

(617) 269-7877

DULUTH
324 W. Superior St., Suite 705, Duluth, MN 55802

(218) 722-4110

GUAM
P.O. Box 23127, Barrigada, Guam 96921

125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E
Tun Jesus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 96911

(671) 647-1350

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206

(904) 353-0987

JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW BEDFORD
48 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740

(508) 997-5404

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NEW YORK
635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232

(718) 499-6600
Government Services Division: (718) 832-8767

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

PHILADELPHIA
2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148

(215) 336-3818

PINEY POINT
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674

(301) 994-0010

PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

(954) 522-7984

SAN FRANCISCO
350 Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 543-5855
Government Services Division: (415) 861-3400

SANTURCE
1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16

Santurce, PR 00907
(787) 721-4033

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

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744

(310) 549-4000

PIC-FROM-THE-PAST

NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report
MARCH 16 — APRIL 15, 2004

TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Group I Group II Group III Group I Group II Group III Reliefs Group I Group II Group III

Port DECK DEPARTMENT

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0

Houston 14 2 9 15 2 3 7 19 2 24

Jacksonville 2 1 0 1 1 0 3 15 7 10

New Orleans 6 3 1 2 2 1 3 14 6 13

New York 15 2 0 12 1 0 6 48 6 0

Norfolk 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0

Tacoma 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 0

Wilmington 7 5 0 5 2 0 1 15 8 2

Totals 46 13 11 37 8 5 24 116 30 49

Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Houston 4 2 6 3 2 0 2 11 5 19

Jacksonville 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 4 9

New Orleans 4 0 1 1 0 3 2 6 2 10

New York 4 0 1 6 1 1 5 11 2 0

Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0

Tacoma 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0

Wilmington 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 15 7 0

Totals 20 3 8 12 3 4 15 60 20 38

Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Houston 4 0 5 4 1 1 2 5 1 19

Jacksonville 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 6 1 5

New Orleans 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 7 3 9

New York 8 4 1 11 2 1 3 11 12 0

Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0

Tacoma 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0

Wilmington 1 0 0 3 1 0 1 10 5 2

Totals 18 5 7 20 5 2 9 44 23 35

Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Houston 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Jacksonville 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

New Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

New York 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0

Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tacoma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Wilmington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 3

Totals All
Departments 84 21 26 69 16 11 53 220 73 125

This photo was sent to the LOG
by Pensioner Richard E. McAll of
Saraland, Ala. It was taken at sea
aboard the SS Alcoa Cavalier in the
mid-1950s.

In the front, kneeling, is the deck
steward, Ralph Smith. McAll is
directly behind him. Also included in
the photo is Bill Lassiter (seated,
left). Next to him are Whitey
Plumkett, McAll, Quartermaster Bill
“Red” Roach, Bill Terry (former New
York Giants pitcher, and a passen-
ger on the vessel), Bosun Jimmy
Hunt and Jimmy Patterson. Captain
Alfred Jump is standing second from
right. Others pictured in the snap-
shot are Morris J. Danzey, Dewey
Saxon, George Dean, Armando
Salazar, George Gill and James “Fat
Boy” Williams.

McAll, 75, joined the SIU in the
port of Mobile in 1955. He sailed as
a chief cook. Brother McAll was on
the picket line in the 1946 General
Maritime beef. He was a former
member of the Boilermakers Union,
Local 693 and the Industrial Union of
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of
America, Local 18, AFL-CIO. Sea-
farer McAll was born in Louisiana.
He retired from the union in 1986.

If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share
with the LOG readership, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way,
Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:30 PM Page 16



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 17

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

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

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

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

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

DEEP SEA
CAYO C. CEPEDA, 65, started
his career with the SIU in 1971 in
New Orleans after serving in both
the U.S. Army and U.S. Air
Force. Brother Cepeda first went
to sea aboard Waterman
Steamship Corp.’s Kyska. He
worked in the deck department
and in 1975 enhanced his skills at
the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in Piney
Point, Md. Brother Cepeda last
shipped aboard the Horizon
Challenger. Born in Central
America, he now makes his home
in Belle Chase, La.

ALBERT
COALE JR.,
54, hails from
Alabama.
Brother Coale
joined the SIU
in 1967 in the
port of
Mobile, Ala.

His first voyage was on Pan
Oceanic Tankers Corp.’s Fairisle.
Brother Coale worked in the
steward department and upgraded
his skills in 1990 when he com-
pleted steward recertification
training at the union’s school. He
last shipped on Waterman
Steamship Corp.’s Atlantic Forest
and currently lives in Mobile.

LEON DZIE-
SINSKI, 64,
embarked on
his seafaring
profession in
1958 in
Alpena, Mich.
after serving
in the U.S.
Navy. Brother Dziesinski’s first
SIU ship was the Mt. Whitney, an
American Tramp Shipping &
Development Co. vessel. Born in
Detroit, he worked in the engine
department. Brother Dziesinski
most recently sailed on the OMI
Charger. He lives in Alpena.

HENRY B. EDWARDS, 54,
started his SIU career in 1973 in
the port of New York. The
Louisiana-born mariner first went
to sea on Hudson Waterway’s
Pecos. Brother Edwards shipped
in the steward department and
upgraded his skills on three occa-
sions at the Seafarers’ training
school in Piney Point, Md. His
last voyage was aboard the Over-
seas Marilyn. Brother Edwards is
a resident of New Orleans.

GARY HAN-
SON, 65,
began his sea-
faring career
in 1991 in the
port of Wilm-
ington, Calif.
after serving
in the U.S.

Navy. Brother Hanson’s first SIU
vessel was the USNS Lynch. He
worked in the steward department
and last went to sea on the USNS
Pathfinder. Brother Hanson
makes his home in Grants Pass,
Ore.

SILVIO J. IGLESIAS, 64, hails
from Havana. He joined the SIU
in 1973 in the port of Houston.
Brother Iglesias’ first ship was an
Intercontinental Carriers vessel.
The engine department member

enhanced his
skills in 1995
and 2001 at
the Paul Hall
Center. A resi-
dent of
Houston,
Brother
Iglesias last
worked aboard the Horizon
Challenger.

THOMAS
KREIS, 51,
began his sea-
faring career
in 1969 in the
port of
Mobile, Ala.
after serving
in the U.S.

Coast Guard. Brother Kreis was
born in Montgomery, Ala. and
shipped in the steward depart-
ment. He upgraded his skills
often at the Paul Hall Center,
including completion of the stew-
ard recertification program in
1999. He last sailed on the
Liberty Sea. Sarasota, Fla. is his
home.

BILLY JOE
LOCK-
HART, 64,
started his sea-
faring career
in 1981 in the
port of
Houston after
serving in the
U.S. Marine Corps. Brother
Lockhart initially sailed aboard
Bay Tankers’ New York. The
Arkansas-born mariner worked in
the deck department and last
shipped on Waterman Steamship
Corp.’s Sam Houston. He makes
his home in Little Rock, Ark.

PAUL MAT-
SOS, 64, hails
from Greece.
Brother Mat-
sos launched
his career with
the Seafarers
in 1956 in the
port of New

York. He worked in the deck
department as a bosun and
enhanced his skills at the Paul
Hall Center where, in 2000, he
completed the bosun recertifica-
tion course. The Baltimore resi-
dent last went to sea aboard the
Horizon Pacific.

DOCK
McGUIRE
JR., 59, joined
the SIU in
1964 in the
port of
Mobile, Ala.
after serving
in the U.S.
Army. Brother McGuire worked
in the deck department and
upgraded his skills on a number
of occasions at the Seafarers’
training school in Piney Point,
Md. He makes his home in
Mobile.

JOSEPH MOORE, 62, was born
in Louisiana. He started his
career with the SIU in 1963 in
New Orleans. Brother Moore ini-
tially sailed aboard the Inger, a
Reynolds Metal Co. vessel. A
member of the deck department,

he shipped as
a bosun.
Brother Moore
frequently up-
graded his
skills at the
Paul Hall
Center and
completed the

bosun recertification course in
1987. He last worked on the
Liberty Sun and makes his home
in Independence, La.

PATRICK B.
RANKIN, 55,
joined the
Seafarers in
1967 in the
port of
Mobile, Ala.
after serving
in the U.S.
Army. Brother Rankin’s first voy-
age was aboard Waterman
Steamship Corp.’s Fairport. The
Alabama-born mariner worked in
the deck department as a bosun.
A frequent upgrader at the Paul
Hall Center, he completed the
bosun recertification course there
in 1992. Brother Rankin last went
to sea on the Sea-Land Florida.
He makes his home in Mobile.

SERGIO
ROJAS, 67,
commenced
his profession
with the SIU
in 1995 in the
port of
Houston. His
first ship was

American Hawaii Cruises’
Independence. Born in Chile,
Brother Rojas shipped in the
engine department. He enhanced
his skills in 1998 and 2001 at the
Seafarers’ training school.
Brother Rojas last worked on the
Horizon Pacific. He resides in
Houston.

THOMAS B.
SCHROED-
ER, 70, began
his seafaring
career in 1982
in the port of
Honolulu after
serving in the
U.S. Army.
Brother Schroeder’s first voyage
was aboard the Independence.
The Hawaii-born mariner worked
in the deck department and last
went to sea on the Horizon
Kodiak. Brother Schroeder is a
resident of Tacoma, Wash.

INLAND
DARYL DELANEY, 51, joined
the SIU in 1976 in New Orleans.
Born in Louisiana, Boatman
DeLaney worked primarily on
vessels operated by Crescent
Towing & Salvage Co. The deck
department member resides in his
native state in Gretna.

AUBREY R. JORDAN, 61,
started his seafaring career with
the union in 1975 in New
Orleans. Born in Alabama,
Boatman Jordan shipped in the
deck department. He worked pri-
marily aboard vessels operated by
Dravo Basic Materials Co.
Range, Ala. is his home.

WILLIAM S. JUDD JR., 49,
joined the SIU in 1972 in New

Orleans. The
Louisiana-
born mariner
worked in the
deck depart-
ment, primari-
ly aboard
Crescent
Towing &

Salvage Co. vessels. Boatman
Judd is a resident of Metairie, La.

LEW N.
LaHAYE, 62,
hails from
Eunice, La.
Boatman
LaHaye
launched his
SIU career in
1963 in Port
Arthur, Texas, working in the
engine department. He lives in
Nederland, Texas.

GREAT LAKES

DEAN
BROWNING,
63, began his
career with the
SIU in 1967 in
Toledo. Ohio.
Born in
Michigan,
Brother

Browning first sailed on
American Steamship Co.’s
McKee Sons. He shipped in the
deck and engine departments and
upgraded his skills in 1992 at the
Paul Hall Center. Brother
Browning last worked aboard the
H. Lee White. He makes his home
in Algonac, Mich.

ALBERT L.
CROPEK,
61, started his
seafaring
career in 1970
in Detroit after
serving in the
U.S. Air
Force. Brother
Cropek worked primarily aboard
vessels operated by Luedtke
Engineering Co. He shipped in
the deck department and
enhanced his skills in 1994 and
2001 at the Paul Hall Center.
Brother Cropek was born in
Westfield, N.Y. and now resides
in Girard, Pa.

THOMAS S.
FORGRAVE,
62, joined the
SIU in 1966 in
Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich.
Born in Mich-
igan, the deck
department

member upgraded his skills in
1992 at the Paul Hall Center. He
makes his home in Brimley, Mich.

JAMES R.
WERDA, 65,
began his sea-
faring career
in 1960 in
Alpena, Mich.
Born in
Michigan, he
sailed as a
member of the deck department.
Brother Werda last sailed aboard
Inland Lakes Management Co.’s
Alpena. He lives in his native
state.

Editor’s Note: The following
brothers, all former members of
the National Maritime Union
(NMU) and participants in the
NMU pension Trust, recently went
on pension.

FERNANDO
L. DAVIS, 55,
hails from
Newport
News, Va.
Brother Davis
embarked on
his NMU
career in 1976,

initially sailing out of the port of
Norfolk, Va. The steward depart-
ment member’s first ship was the
Marine Floridian. Brother Davis
last went to sea on the Cape
Archway.

ARTHUR
DIAS, 55,
joined the
NMU in 1968.
He first sailed
aboard the
P.W. Thirtle.
Born in
Providence,
R.I., Brother Dias worked in the
engine department and upgraded
his skills on several occasions.
His last voyage was on the
American Osprey.

EDDIE J.
FILER, 66,
was born in
Louisiana.
Brother Filer
began his
NMU career
in 1987. His
first voyage

was aboard the Galveston Bay.
Brother Filer shipped as a mem-
ber of the steward department. He
last sailed on the Marine Duval.

AURELIO
PEREZ, 69,
joined the
NMU in 1968.
He first went
to sea out of
the port of San
Francisco.
Born in Puerto
Rico, Brother Perez worked in
the steward department. He last
sailed on the Ashley Lykes.

HERMAN
YOUNG JR.,
65, started his
NMU career
in Charleston,
S.C. His first
ship was the
Pioneer
Moon. Born in

Charleston, Brother Young
worked in the steward depart-
ment. He upgraded his skills on
several occasions and last worked
on the Cape Ducato.

In addition to the foregoing indi-
viduals, the following NMU broth-
ers went on pension effective the
dates indicated.

Name AAge EEDP

Cruz, DeJesus 61 April 1

Marshall, Vernal 71 April 1

Pruneda, Ramon 57 April 1

Shorte, Herman 70 April 1

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/23/2004 10:13 AM Page 17



18 Seafarers LOG May 2004

Final Departures
DEEP SEA

RAYMOND AGBULOS
Pensioner
Raymond
Agbulos, 76,
died Feb. 10.
Brother
Agbulos
embarked on
his SIU career
in 1970 in San
Francisco after

serving in the U.S. Navy. His first
SIU ship was the Sea Ohio. Born in
the Philippines, he shipped in the
steward department. The Freemont,
Calif. resident last worked on the
Horizon Hawaii. Brother Agbulos
began receiving his pension in 1998.

AKE ANDERSON
Pensioner Ake
Anderson, 86,
passed away
Feb. 26.
Brother Ander-
son joined the
SIU in 1945 in
the port of New
York. He sailed
in the engine

department and lived in Monmouth,
N.J. Brother Anderson started
receiving compensation for his
retirement in 1981.

ROMEO AZCARATE
Brother Romeo Azcarate, 57, died
Jan. 23. He began his seafaring
career in 1994 in New Orleans. The
Philippine-born mariner first shipped
aboard the USNS Pollux. Brother
Azcarate worked in the deck depart-
ment and resided in Green Bay, Wis.
He last sailed on the Liberty Glory.

WILLIAM BRIMHALL
Pensioner
William
Brimhall, 69
passed away
Jan. 15. Brother
Brimhall began
his SIU career
in 1967 in the
port of Wil-
mington, Calif.

The U.S. Army veteran’s maiden
voyage was aboard Vancor Steam-
ship’s Van Venture. Brother Brimhall
was born in California and shipped
in the engine department. His final
voyage was on the Overseas Joyce.
Brother Brimhall began receiving his
pension in 2000. He made his home
in Santa Rosa, Calif.

JAMES CARTER
Brother James Carter, 52, died Jan.
15. He joined the SIU in 1971 in the
port of New York. Born in
Tennessee, Brother Carter’s first
voyage was aboard Hudson
Waterways’ Transoregon. He sailed
in the deck department as a bosun
and last shipped on the Sea-Land
Explorer. Brother Carter resided in
Simi Valley, Calif.

ROBERT CHRISTENSEN
Pensioner
Robert
Christensen,
67, passed
away Feb. 8.
Brother
Christensen
began his
career with the
Seafarers in

1958 in the port of New York. Born
in Long Island, N.Y., he was a veter-
an of the U.S. Army. Brother
Christensen was a member of the
deck department. He last sailed
aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s
Robert E. Lee. Brother Christensen,
who lived in Perry, Fla., started
receiving his pension in 1995.

RUFUS DAVIS
Pensioner Rufus Davis, 94, died Jan.

17. Brother Davis embarked on his
career with the Marine Cooks &
Stewards (MC&S) in San Francisco.
Born in Grundy, Va., he shipped in
the steward department. Brother
Davis began receiving retirement
income in 1979 and resided in White
Plains, N.Y

JOSEPH DeCINQUE
Pensioner
Joseph
DeCinque, 79
passed away
Feb. 26.
Brother
DeCinque
joined the SIU
in 1945 in the
port of

Baltimore. The Cedarville, N.J.-born
mariner’s first voyage was aboard
Eagle Carriers’ Bluestar. Brother
DeCinque worked in the engine
department and last went to sea
aboard an Asbury Steamship Co.
vessel. He began receiving stipends
for his retirement in 1979 and
resided in Vineland, N.J.

ISADORE FLAHERTY
Pensioner
Isadore
Flaherty, 84,
died Jan. 18. He
became a
Seafarer in
1947, joining in
the port of New
York following
service in the

U.S. Navy. His first ship was
Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Wild
Ranger. A native of Boston, Brother
Flaherty worked in the deck depart-
ment. He lived in New Hampshire
and last went to sea on the Point
Revere, a Point Resolute Corp. ves-
sel. Brother Flaherty went on pen-
sion in 1981.

ALPHONSE JOHNSON
Pensioner
Alphonse
Johnson, 79,
passed away
Feb. 2. Brother
Johnson
launched his
profession with
the SIU in 1965
in San Fran-

cisco after serving in the U.S. Army.
Brother Johnson’s first vessel was
Delta Steamship’s Southwestern
Victory. The Alabama-born mariner
shipped in the steward department
and last sailed on Puerto Rico
Marine Management’s Osprey.
Brother Johnson lived in Mobile,
Ala. and went on pension in 1995.

GEORGE MALENDES
Pensioner George Malendes, 88,
died Feb. 9. Brother Malendes began
his career with the MC&S in San
Francisco. Born in Kohali, Hawaii,
he worked in the steward depart-
ment. Brother Malendes started
receiving stipends for his retirement
in 1959 and resided in Midwest City,
Okla.

CHARLES MARTIN
Pensioner
Charles Martin,
83, passed away
Feb. 15. Brother
Martin joined
the SIU in 1949
in the port of
New York after
serving in the
U.S. Army. The

Brownsville, Pa.-born mariner
worked in the engine department and
sailed on many vessels during his
career, including the SS Potomac.
Brother Martin made his home in
Middlefield, N.Y. He began receiv-
ing his pension in 1982.

YOUNG MCMILLIAN
Pensioner Young McMillian, 81,

died Feb. 27.
He joined the
SIU in 1944 in
the port of
Mobile, Ala.
Brother
McMillian’s
first voyage was
aboard Alcoa
Steamship’s

Martin Behrman. Born in Alabama,
he worked in the steward department
and last shipped on the Cove Sailor.
Brother McMillian began collecting
stipends for his retirement in 1985,
He lived in his native state.

FRANCISCO MOLINA
Pensioner
Francisco
Molina, 92,
passed away
Feb. 11. Brother
Molina began-
his seafaring
career in 1973
in San
Francisco. His

first ship was the Overseas Valdez.
Brother Molina worked in all three
departments and last went to sea
aboard the Sea-Land Endurance. A
resident of the Philippines, he started
receiving his pension in 1996.

JIMMY MORRIS
Pensioner
Jimmy Morris,
73, died Feb. 4.
Brother Morris
joined the SIU
in 1949 in
Tampa. Fla.
Born in Pensa-
cola, Fla., he
sailed in the

deck department. Brother Morris’
last ship was the OMI Champion. He
resided in Jacksonville, Fla. and
started receiving his pension in
1986.

INLAND

JOHNNIE BROWN
Pensioner
Johnnie Brown,
67, died Feb.
15. Boatman
Brown
launched his
career with the
SIU in 1980.
Born in
Loudon, Tenn.,

Boatman Brown was a veteran of the
U.S. Army. He worked primarily
aboard vessels operated by Red
Circle Transport Co. and shipped in
the steward department. Boatman
Brown resided in Interlachen, Fla.
and began receiving retirement
stipends in 2000.

JAMES GILLILAND
Pensioner
James Gilliland,
77, passed away
Feb. 18.
Boatman Gilli-
land joined the
SIU in 1958 in
the port of
Baltimore. Born
in Okeechobee,

Fla., he initially worked on a Moran
Towing of Philadelphia vessel.
Boatman Gilliland shipped in the
deck department as a captain. He
was last employed aboard a
McAllister Towing Co. vessel in
Philadelphia. Boatman Gilliland
began collecting retirement stipends
in 1983 and called Monroe
Township, N.J. home.

ROBERT HENNINGER
Pensioner Robert Henninger, 70,
died March 5. Boatman Henninger
joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of
Baltimore. The Maryland-born
mariner worked primarily aboard
vessels operated by McAllister

Towing of
Baltimore. He
shipped in the
deck depart-
ment and began
receiving com-
pensation for
his retirement in
1988. Boatman
Henninger was

a resident of Jarretsville, Md.

RALPH HUGHES
Pensioner
Ralph Hughes,
67, passed
away March 14.
Boatman
Hughes began
his seafaring
career in 1961
in the port of
Philadelphia.

He was born in Collenswood, N.J.
and worked in the engine depart-
ment. Boatman Hughes started
receiving his retirement pay in 1998.
He made his home in Ferresburgh,
Vt.

ROBERT MELBE
Boatman
Robert Melbe,
56, died March
8. He joined the
SIU in 1988 in
the port of
Mobile.
Boatman Melbe
sailed in both
the inland and

deep sea divisions as a member of
the deck department. He worked pri-
marily aboard vessels operated by
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, includ-
ing the Liberty Island. Boatman
Melbe was a resident of Pottsville,
Ark.

DON P. MORGAN
Pensioner Don
P. Morgan, 73,
passed away
Feb. 24.
Boatman
Morgan began
working with
the Seafarers in
1962 in the port
of Houston

after serving in the U.S. Navy. He
sailed primarily aboard vessels oper-
ated by G&H Towing as a member
of the deck department. Boatman
Morgan, who went on pension in
1992, made his home in Corpus
Christi, Texas.

GREAT LAKES

MICHAEL BASHORE
Brother
Michael
Bashore, 54,
passed away
Jan. 16. He
joined the SIU
in 1996 in St.
Louis. The U.S.
Coast Guard
veteran’s first

SIU vessel was the Steel T. Crapo.
Born in Shelby, Ohio, Brother
Bashore worked in the deck depart-
ment, last sailing on American
Steamship Co.’s Sam Laud. He made
his home in Effingham, Ill.

JOHN MONACO
Pensioner John
Monaco, 70,
passed away
Feb. 5. Brother
Monaco
launched his
seafaring career
in 1961 in
Cleveland after
serving in the

U.S. Army. Brother Monaco worked
in the Great Lakes as well as inland
divisions. Born in Ohio, he sailed in
the deck department. Brother

Monaco last shipped aboard the
Lemmerhirt. He started receiving
compensation for his retirement in
1994 and was a resident of Westlake,
Ohio.

WILLIAM NEWHOUSE
Pensioner
William
Newhouse, 57,
died Feb. 20.
He launched his
seafaring career
in 1965 in
Alpena, Mich.
The Michigan
native worked

in the deck department as a bosun.
Brother Newhouse sailed mainly
aboard vessels operated by Inland
Lakes Management, Inc. including
the Lewis G. Harriman and Paul H.
Townsend. He went on pension in
1987 and lived in his native state.

RAILROAD MARINE

JOHN CALBY
Pensioner John
Calby, 78, died
Feb. 24.
Brother Calby
joined the
Seafarers in the
port of New
York following
service in the
U.S. Army.

Brother Calby worked in the deck
department and began receiving his
pension in 1988. Born in Brooklyn,
N.Y., he made his home in Algona,
Iowa.

HUGO HUETSCH
Pensioner Hugo
Huetsch, 80,
passed away
March 14.
Brother
Huetsch joined
the SIU in
1960. Born in
West Hoboken,
N.J., Brother

Huetsch was a member of the deck
department and last worked on a
Pennsylvania Central Transportation
Co. vessel. The Little Ferry,. N.J.
resident went on pension in 1984.

HOLLIS MAUPIN
Pensioner Hollis Maupin, 78, died
Jan. 4. Brother Maupin started his
career with the Seafarers in 1964. A
deck department member, he worked
chiefly aboard vessels operated by
Erie Lackawanna Railroad Co. The
Virginia-born mariner began collect-
ing compensation for his retirement
in 1988. Jersey City, N.J. was his
home.

In addition to the foregoing
Seafarers, the following brothers, all
former members of the NMU and
participants in the NMU Pension
Trust, passed away on the dates indi-
cated:

NAME AGE DOD
Baugh Jr., George 77 Feb. 2
Benson, Charles 70 March 3
Bronko, Peter 79 March 20
Brown, Harry 79 March 9
Bruce, Charles 78 March 21
Cassen, George 84 March 5
Centeno, Panfilio 89 March 20
Clark, Solomon 89 March 15
DeBrosse, Michael 78 March 3
Duncan, Lionel 83 March 3
Green, Joseph 86 March 21
Hennes, Paul 77 Feb. 12
Jules, Henry 86 March 17
Lawrynkiewicz, John 78 March 11
Marrero, Antonio 89 March 21
Regman, Frank 86 Feb 7
Rhinehart, Abraham 77 March 3
Riley, Isley 80 Feb 24
Whitehead, Augustus 91 Feb 1
Williams, Robert 77 Feb 22

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/26/2004 7:53 PM Page 18



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 19

ALLEGIANCE (Maritrans), Feb.
29—Chairman Samuel L.
Porchea, Secretary Donna M.
DeCesare, Educational Director
Ronald Celious, Deck Delegate
Thomas E. Howell, Steward
Delegate Sherman Harper.
Chairman stated vessel to anchor
in Panama March 4 and transit
canal next day. Arrival in Houston
scheduled March 10. Secretary
thanked everyone for keeping
house clean and working well
together. Educational director
encouraged crew members to
upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center
in Piney Point, Md. He also
reminded everyone to check expi-
ration dates on all seamen’s docu-
ments. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Question arose as to
value of turning on satellite system
for 3 days in port (and be charged
for whole month). Vote of thanks
given to steward department for
job well done.

EL MORRO (IUM), Feb. 29—
Chairman Robert T. Grubbs,
Secretary Michael M. Amador,
Educational Director Fredrick W.
Dougherty Jr., Engine Delegate
Stephanie S Brown, Steward
Delegate Theodore Quammie.
Chairman announced payoff
March 1 in San Juan, P.R. He
asked that everyone return to ship
before 1800; ship sails at 1900.
Secretary thanked crew for leaving
quarters and mess hall clean.
Educational director urged Sea-
farers to take advantage of upgrad-
ing courses offered at Paul Hall
Center. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Suggestion made to
reduce years of seatime needed for
pension benefits. Crew members
expressed interest in how money
purchase pension plan funds are
invested. Steward department
given vote of thanks by happy
crew for good food. Next port:
Jacksonville, Fla.

ENDURANCE (USSM), Feb. 24
—Chairman Salvatore J. Lagare,
Secretary Rolando M. Lopez,
Educational Director Tesfaye
Gebregziabher, Deck Delegate
Carlos R. Bonilla, Engine Dele-
gate Rhonda Koski, Steward
Delegate Thurman Johnson.
Secretary reminded crew members
to clean rooms and provide clean
linen for next person. Educational
director stressed need for everyone
to renew expiring documents early
and enroll in upgrading courses at
Piney Point. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Steward department
delegate requested increase in rate
for extra meals served in port.
Next port: Long Beach, Calif.

LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty
Maritime), Feb. 29—Chairman
Thomas P. Banks, Secretary Artis
E. Pilgrim, Educational Director
John C. Orr, Steward Delegate
Wilfred Lambey. Bosun thanked
deck department for safe and pro-
ductive trip. Payoff expected
March 5 in New Orleans. He
reminded crew of new security
measures now in place and that
ship will be “locked down” while
in port. Educational director
encouraged crew members to take
full advantage of upgrading oppor-
tunities at Paul Hall Center. No
beefs or disputed OT reported,
although chairman requested con-

tract clarification on opening and
closing hatches after cargo has
been loaded. Suggestion made to
look into restructuring of pension
plan. Requests made for new toast-
er in crew mess hall and additional
gym equipment. (Previous toaster
caught fire in Haifa, Israel at 2330.
Alarm sounded and all hands
aboard ship promptly reported to
emergency stations. Training paid
off.) Vote of thanks given to stew-
ard department for job very well
done.

LTC JOHN U.D. PAGE (Maersk
Line), Feb. 29—Chairman
William N. Henderson, Educa-
tional Director David Watkins.
Chairman announced payoff
March 6 in Wilmington, Calif. He
stated pay raise effective March 1
and thanked deck workers for
great job. Educational director
talked about upgrading programs
available at school in Piney Point.
He noted college courses available
as well. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Request made for new
mattresses and fans. Information
sought on possibility of increase in
pension plan benefits. Thanks
given to galley gang for great job.

RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN
(Ocean Ships), Feb. 29—Chairman
Dana Naze, Secretary Raymond
L. Jones, Educational Director
Kelly L. Mayo, Deck Delegate
Scott Horton, Engine Delegate
Jose Irigoyen, Steward Delegate
Thomas Gingerich. Chairman
announced payoff March 1 in
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Educational
director reminded crew members
to renew z-cards several months
before expiration. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Suggestion
made to have third cook on board
MSC vessels that carry extra per-
sonnel, like 15-man security team
aboard Matthiesen. Additional
dryer needed in laundry room to
accommodate extra persons.
Recommendation made to raise
SIU benefits and increase vacation
days. Vote of thanks given to stew-
ard department for top-notch
meals. Next ports: Manchester,
Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Ferndale,
Wash.; Pearl Harbor.

EL YUNQUE (IUM), March 1—
Chairman Luis J. Ramirez,
Secretary Rudolph D. Shields Jr.,
Educational Director John J.
Walsh, Deck Delegate Douglas A.
Hodges, Engine Delegate Edgar
B. Young, Steward Delegate
Frederick L. Saffo. Chairman
reminded crew members not to
wait until last minute to renew
merchant mariner documents. Do
it early since security issues are
causing delays. Educational direc-
tor advised Seafarers to take cours-
es at Paul Hall Center to upgrade
skills and ratings. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Recommenda-
tion made to increase pension and
dental benefits. Special thank you
given to steward department. Next
port: San Juan, P.R.

EXPRESS (USSM), March 14—
Chairman George H. Perry Jr.,
Secretary Richard E. Hicks,
Educational Director John M.
Cronan, Deck Delegate Lorenzo
Tifre Jr., Engine Delegate Theo-
dore Wallace, Steward Delegate
Rudy A Lopez. Chairman an-

nounced payoff March 17 in Port
Newark, N.J. Reliefs will be avail-
able in Charleston, S.C. Secretary
suggested everyone make effort to
vote in upcoming elections.
Educational director urged Sea-
farers to upgrade skills at Piney
Point facility. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Vote of thanks given
to steward department for great
food and service.

HORIZON ENTERPRISE
(Horizon Lines), March 7—Chair-
man Roger J. Reinke, Secretary
William E. Bryley, Educational
Director Juanito P. Dansalan.
Chairman announced payoff
March 13 in Tacoma, Wash. No
one allowed ashore until ship
clears customs. Room inspections
to take place March 10. Steward
reminded those getting off to leave
clean linen for next crew member.
Educational director spoke about
April 15 deadline for SIU scholar-
ship program. He also stressed
importance of keeping shipping
documents up to date, of contribut-
ing to SPAD and of upgrading at
Paul Hall Center. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Clarification
received from Tacoma Port Agent
Bryan Powell about STCW
requirements. Vote of thanks given
to steward department for good
food, especially salad bar and bar-
becue. Next ports: Oakland, Calif.;
Honolulu; Guam.

INDUSTRIAL CHALLENGER
(Pacific Gulf Marine), March 15—
Chairman Jeremiah J. Harring-
ton, Secretary Norman S. Bush,
Educational Director Earl F.
Ebbert, Deck Delegate Robert C.
Hoppenworth, Engine Delegate
Luis Ruiz, Steward Delegate
Rodrigo Jiminez. Chairman
announced payoff March 20 in
Wilmington, N.C. He said all went
well during 90-day trip to Iraq,
Portugal and Libya. He advised
crew members to read LOG and
keep abreast of important issues
including MMD renewals, new
prescription procedures, tax infor-
mation, anthrax and smallpox vac-
cines, etc. Educational director
reiterated importance of keeping
MMDs, passports, drug cards,
TRBs, etc. current. Know when
they expire. He also encouraged
everyone to take advantage of
school’s upgrading courses. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Clarification requested regarding
rest periods for dayworkers, carry-
ing dangerous cargo and day’s pay
in lieu of day off. Crew asked for
new TV and microwave oven.
Thanks given to steward depart-
ment for job well done. Industrial
Challenger apparently was first
U.S. vessel to call on port of
Tripoli, Libya in 23 years since
trade and travel restrictions were
put into place. Next ports:
Wilmington and Houston.

INNOVATOR (USSM), March
7—Chairman Stephen R. Kastel,
Secretary Charles A. Medeiros,
Educational Director Christopher
L. Earhart, Deck Delegate James
D. Morgan, Engine Delegate Adel
B. Irani. Chairman announced
payoff March 10 on arrival in
Long Beach, Calif. He thanked
crew for great camaraderie and job
well done keeping ship clean. He
also thanked union for two good
unlicensed apprentices that joined
ship’s crew. Secretary spoke about
tax returns due April 15 and sug-
gested everyone read Feb. 2004
LOG article on tax tips for Sea-
farers. Educational director noted
listing of upgrading courses in
each issue of LOG. No beefs or
disputed OT reported.

ITB BALTIMORE (USS Trans-
port), March 2—Chairman
Richard A. Szabo, Secretary
Pedro R. Mena, Educational
Director Daniel N. Daligcon,
Deck Delegate Hussein
Mohamed. Chairman noted all’s

well on board ITB Baltimore.
Educational director highlighted
need to keep shipping documents
up to date and encouraged everyone
to attend upgrading courses at Paul
Hall Center. Treasurer stated VCR
recently purchased with ship’s
funds. More movies will be bought.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.

LIBERATOR (USSM), March 14
—Chairman Joel G. Miller,
Secretary Guillermo F. Thomas,
Educational Director David M.
Parker, Deck Delegate Edward F.
OBrien, Engine Delegate Si
Hughes. Chairman announced ves-
sel going in for yard period.
Everyone should turn in keys at

layoff. After recrewing, vessel
heading for Middle East shuttle
run. New DVD player and X-box
received for crew entertainment.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
SIU President Michael Sacco visit-
ed ship last trip and met with crew
members.

LYKES DISCOVERER (MTL),
March 11—Chairman John E.
Pegan III, Secretary Charles H.
McField, Educational Director
Daniel G. Ramirez Jr. Secretary
read communications received and
posted on bulletin board. Edu-
cational director talked about
opportunities available at Piney
Point for upgrading skills and
urged crew members to take
advantage of them. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Questions
raised regarding pensions and
medical benefits. Next ports: New
Orleans, La.; Charleston, S.C.;
Norfolk, Va.; Houston.

MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk
Line), March 7—Chairman Brian
K. Fountain, Secretary John G.
Reid, Educational Director John
E. Conn, Deck Delegate Mohsin
Abdulla, Engine Delegate Rahul
Bagchi. Chairman announced pay-
off March 12 in Charleston, S.C.
He reminded everyone to report
possible unsafe conditions to
department heads at any time. He
thanked crew members for smooth
and safe trip and reminded them to
clean rooms before getting off.
Secretary stated 60-day stores to
be taken in Portsmouth, Va. He
thanked crew for helping keep
house and passageways clean.
Educational director encouraged
Seafarers to contribute to SPAD
and upgrade at Paul Hall Center
whenever possible. He further
advised them to check expiration
dates on shot card and all other
documents necessary for shipping.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Request made for small refrigera-
tors in each room. Vote of thanks
given to steward department for
job well done. Next ports: Charle-
ston; Portsmouth; Newark, N.J.;
Algeciras, Spain.

MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk
Line), March 2—Chairman Luke
F. Wells, Secretary Kenneth A.
Roetzer, Educational Director
Timothy E. Pillsworth. Chairman
announced change in schedule, and
vessel to pay off March 5 in
Charleston, S.C. He asked crew to
keep rooms clean, make sure all
documents are up to date, and
upgrade skills at Piney Point. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Ship to receive new ice machine
with stores this trip in Norfolk, Va.
New crew will join ship in
Elizabeth, N.J. Clarification of
contract and money purchase pen-
sion plan requested. Suggestion
made that large container vessels

like Maersk Missouri get addition-
al dayworkers and wiper.

MARINE COLUMBIA (ATC),
March 1—Chairman Gregory L.
Hamilton, Secretary John F.
Huyett, Educational Director
Ronald Gordon, Deck Delegate
Bonifacio Fortes, Engine Delegate
Detricke Kelly, Steward Delegate
Albert Sison. Chairman reminded
crew of no-smoking policy in
lounge and of company’s aggres-
sive environmental safety policies.
Treasurer stated $5,762 in ship’s
fund. Suggestions made on items
to buy, including DVD players and
scale for gym. No beefs or disput-
ed OT reported. Clarification
raised about missing man wages.
Next port: Long Beach, Calif.

OVERSEAS NEW YORK
(ATC), March 14—Chairman
Carlos Loureiro, Secretary Nancy
Heyden, Educational Director
Edward Self. Chairman an-
nounced that after Long Beach,
Calif., vessel going to shipyard in
Singapore and will remain there
for about three weeks. Crew will
remain on board and receive lodg-
ing pay. Before leaving, everyone
will sign foreign articles. No word
yet if shots are needed, but if they
are, doctor will come to ship.
Anyone with current shots should
take shot card to captain. On way
to Singapore, tanks will be
cleaned. Steward explained how
new prescription coverage works.
She asked crew to bring dirty linen
to locker before arrival in port.
Educational director reminded
crew to be ready to answer ques-
tions regarding company’s policies
and individual job duties when rep
from BP comes aboard. Treasurer
stated money received from com-
pany’s performance contract fund.
Bosun bought several movies in
Valdez, Alaska. Anyone else who
wants to buy movies should give
receipts to captain. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Suggestions
made to improve
medical/dental/prescription cover-
age. Vote of thanks given to stew-
ard department for great job.

Thumbs Up to Ewa Steward Department

Tom Stapleton, captain aboard the Matson container vessel, SS
Ewa, sent the Seafarers LOG this photo of the “tremendous SIU
steward department” preparing “another award-winning barbecue”
en route to Honolulu. From the left are OBR Kasem Ali, Assistant
Cook Philip Desett, Chief Cook Steve Bowmer and Steward/Baker
Robert Miller.

Digest of Shipboard
Union Meetings

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

limitations, some will be omitted.

Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department.
Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union

upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The minutes are then forwarded
to the Seafarers LOG for publication.

22755_P05.7.8.12.13.18.19.qxd 4/28/2004 7:39 PM Page 19



20 Seafarers LOG May 2004

FINANCIAL REPORTS. The
Constitution of the SIU Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters
District/NMU makes specific pro-
vision for safeguarding the mem-
bership’s money and union
finances. The constitution requires
a detailed audit by certified public
accountants every year, which is to
be submitted to the membership by
the secretary-treasurer. A yearly
finance committee of rank-and-file
members, elected by the member-
ship, each year examines the
finances of the union and reports
fully their findings and recommen-
dations. Members of this commit-
tee may make dissenting reports,
specific recommendations and sep-
arate findings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds
of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District/NMU
are administered in accordance
with the provisions of various trust
fund agreements. All these agree-
ments specify that the trustees in
charge of these funds shall equally
consist of union and management
representatives and their alternates.
All expenditures and disbursements
of trust funds are made only upon
approval by a majority of the
trustees. All trust fund financial
records are available at the head-
quarters of the various trust funds.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A 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 mem-
bers at all times, either by writing
directly to the union or to the
Seafarers Appeals Board.

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

EDITORIAL POLICY — THE
SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers
LOG traditionally has refrained
from publishing any article serving
the political purposes of any 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 execu-
tive board of the union. The execu-
tive 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
anyone attempts to require any such
payment be made without supply-
ing 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 mem-
ber so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.

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

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

SEAFARERS POLITICAL
ACTIVITY DONATION —
SPAD. SPAD is a separate segre-
gated fund. Its proceeds are used to
further its objects and purposes
including, but not limited to, fur-
thering the political, social and eco-
nomic interests of maritime work-
ers, the preservation and furthering
of the American merchant marine
with improved employment oppor-
tunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union
concepts. 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 vio-
lated, or that he or she has been
denied the constitutional right of
access to union records or informa-
tion, the member should immedi-
ately 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.

Know Your Rights
THE

GALLEY
CORNER

The Seafarers
LOG is bringing
back a feature we
ran several years
ago—The Galley
Corner. We invite
our members (in
any department) to
contribute some of
their favorite
recipes and, per-
haps, a story
about an unforget-
table experience
aboard ship.

We will start
this month with a
submission from
Steward Jack Williams.

An accomplished chef with 10 years in the maritime
industry in addition to many years experience in country
clubs and restaurants, Brother Williams currently is working

aboard the MV Button. He loves to
cook and bake, and he notes that
“every time I go out on a vessel, my
goal is to serve the crew the best
food they have ever had on a ship.”

Steward Jack Williams shows off
probably the largest loaf of bread
ever baked on a tugboat.

The Storm Soup Saga
by Steward Jack Williams
I have been cooking in the

marine industry for the past 11
years. During that time I have
worked on tugboats, coastal
freighters and research vessels in
various oceans and seas of the
world. As the cook on a boat, you
are at the center of it all. You hear
and see everything that goes on:
the gossip, the news, the weath-
er—and you are always right in
the middle of those fantastic sea
stories that everyone likes to tell
about their experiences on the
water. It was at the galley table
that I overheard a discussion
between a salty old tugboat cap-
tain and a crusty veteran chief
engineer about split pea soup.

The captain was relating an old
superstition that warns that mak-
ing split pea soup while you are
underway will bring up a storm.
Of course I had to jump right in
and stir the pot by challenging the
whole idea. I asked the captain if
he had ever seen proof of this first
hand. He replied that he had, and
he had no desire to see it again. I
countered that it sounded like an
old wives’ tale to me and told him
that one day I would try it out and
see for myself. The captain then
warned me that if I ever made
split pea soup on a boat that he
was running, I would end up out
on the bow standing a very long
watch in the wind and rain. So I
left it at that, went about my busi-
ness and forgot all about it.

A year later I was on a tugboat
with the same captain and engi-
neer heading across the Gulf of
Alaska in the middle July. We
were on our way to Bristol Bay,
Alaska with a very heavily loaded
barge of cargo. One evening I
went up to the wheelhouse to chat
with the captain and noticed the
weather map. Although these can
be stormy seas, I couldn’t see any-
thing that even resembled wind or
rain on the map. I asked the cap-
tain if there was any bad weather
heading our way and he con-
firmed that there wasn’t. Feeling
mischievous, I decided that the
next day we would have split pea

soup for lunch. Of course, I didn’t
say a word to the captain because
I knew what kind of a discussion
that would lead to. I just went to
bed knowing what I was going to
do that next morning.

Well, I did it! I made split pea
soup when no one was around,
and proceeded to serve it for
lunch. The captain went ballistic!
He told me to take the pot off the
stove and throw it over the side.

“You’ve done it now,” he said.
“Our good luck is over. Get ready
for some rough riding!”

I laughed. “Come on, captain.
It is just an old tall tale like walk-
ing under a ladder or something.”

He just got up, gave me a stern
look and left me standing there
with this to ponder. The rest of the
day went smoothly, no problems,
and nobody mentioned anything
else to me about the soup.
However, later on that night, I was
wakened from a sound sleep,
being violently tossed from one
side of the bed to the other. I got
up, pulled on my jeans and went
up to the wheelhouse to see what
was going on. I was not a wel-
come visitor at that moment! The
mate at the wheel told me we were
getting gale force winds holding

Buffalo Shrimp
5 lbs peeled and deveined

shrimp
2 cups flour
2 cups Louisiana hot sauce
2 cups melted butter
1 cup smokey BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons blackening

spice

Mix the hot sauce, butter
and BBQ sauce together in
a bowl and set it aside.

Season the shrimp with
the blackening spice and
toss them around in the flour
so they are coated well.

Deep fry the shrimp until
they are brown and crispy.

Place the shrimp in a
large mixing bowl and
smother them with the
sauce. Put them in a hotel
pan and set them on the
steam table.

at 45 knots, that the seas had
picked up to 15 feet, and that it
was all my fault we were getting
pounded like this.

Go figure. There hadn’t been
any indication of weather like this
on the map. And to tell you the
truth, I was dumfounded. It had to
have been the split pea soup.
Storm soup. The blow lasted only
until morning, but we had a terri-
ble ride all night long, and every-
one was very upset with me. The
next day was picture perfect, and
the captain very kindly asked me
if I had learned my lesson. Of
course I had to admit that I had,
and peace was restored between
all of us. The rest of the trip was
smooth as silk, and to this day I
have never made split pea soup at
sea again.

That should be the end of my
story, but storm soup came back
to haunt me a little while ago. The
research ship I sailed with had a
complement of more than 50 peo-
ple, so there were two cooks on
board. We were headed for the
Azores in calm waters when the
other cook made split pea soup
for lunch. I was shocked!

“Are you crazy?” I asked. “Do
you have any idea what you are
doing?”

He replied just as I had years
before that it was a silly supersti-
tion with nothing to back it up. So
we served the split pea soup, and
as everyone went through the
line, I apologized in advance for
the probable bad weather. Most
everyone just laughed and
thought nothing of it. Well, to
make a long story short, the next
day it blew so hard that we had to
cancel work for a day and lay low.
Needless to say, that made believ-
ers out of everyone.

I have no good explanation for
this superstition, but if you are
ever brave enough to make split
pea soup while you are at sea, I
hope that you are also smart
enough to batten down the hatch-
es when you do.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE

HEALTH CARE CONTINUATION
Under federal law, a participant and his or her dependents have the right to elect to continue their Plan coverage

in the event that they lose their eligibility. This right is granted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act,
better known as “COBRA.” The COBRA law allows a participant and his or her dependents to temporarily extend their
benefits at group rates in certain circumstances where coverage under the Plan would otherwise end.

A participant and his or her dependents have a right to choose this continuation coverage if they lose their Plan
coverage because the participant failed to meet the Plan’s seatime requirements. In addition, a participant and his or
her dependents may have the right to choose continuation coverage if the participant becomes a pensioner ineligible
for medical benefits.

The participant’s dependents may also elect continuation coverage if they lose coverage under the Plan as the
result of the participant’s (1) death; (2) divorce; or (3) Medicare eligibility. A child can also elect COBRA if as the result
of his or her age, he or she is no longer a dependent under the Plan rules.

If a member and his or her dependents feel that they may qualify, or if they would like more information concerning
these rights, they should contact the Plan office at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Since there are impor-
tant deadlines that apply to COBRA, please contact the Plan as soon as possible to receive a full explanation of the
participant’s rights and his or her dependents’ rights.

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May 2004 Seafarers LOG 21

SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER
UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE

The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for the next few months. All pro-
grams are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the
American maritime industry.

Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the mem-
bership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security.

Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before
their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the
morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reserva-
tions should be made for Saturday.

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

Deck Upgrading Courses
Start Date of

Course Date Completion

Able Seaman May 24 June 18
July 5 July 30
Aug. 16 Sept. 10

GMDSS (Simulator) July 19 July 30

Lifeboatman/Water Survival May 10 May 21
June 21 July 2
August 2 August 13

Radar May 10 May 21

Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman May 31 June 11
(STOS) August 9 August 20

Steward Upgrading Courses

Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week.
Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week, most recently
beginning April 26, 2004.

Engine Upgrading Courses
Start Date of

Course Date Completion

Engine Utility (EU) May 17 June 11
July 26 August 20

FOWT July 12 September 3

Marine Electrician May 10 July 2

Safety Specialty Courses
Start Date of

Course Date Completion

Advanced Fire Fighting* April 19 April 30
(*must have basic fire fighting)

Basic Safety Training (BST) May 10 May 14

May 24 May 28

June 21 June 25

July 19 July 23

August 2 August 6

August 30 September 3

Fast Rescue Boat May 3 May 7

June 7 June 11

Government Vessels May 17 May 21

June 28 July 2

Tanker Familiarization/ May 17 May 28

Assistant Cargo (DL)* July 5 July 16

(*must have basic fire fighting)

Academic Department Courses
General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic
vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week
prior to the AB, QMED Junior Engineer, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant
and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-
study.

UPGRADING APPLICATION
Name ________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________ Date of Birth ______________________

Deep Sea Member Lakes Member Inland Waters Member

If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be
processed.

Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________

Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________

U.S. Citizen: Yes No Home Port _____________________________

Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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

If yes, class # __________________________________________________________

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

If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________

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

Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No

Primary language spoken ________________________________________________

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 OL, AB and JE applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of
$140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to
LMSS.

BEGIN END
COURSE DATE DATE

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________

Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________

SIGNATURE __________________________________ DATE ________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you
present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any 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. 5/04

22755_P01.2.3.9.10.21.qxd 4/26/2004 9:56 AM Page 21



22 Seafarers LOG May 2004

P a u l H a l l C e n t e r C l a s s e s

Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 648 — Graduating from the water sur-
vival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 648 (in alphabetical order) Benjamin Anderson,
Ernest Cannon, Orlando Caro, Kenneth Casteel, Forrest Cornelison, Michelle Garon, Mark Kane,
Matthew Locklear, Lon Maduro, Jonathan Miller, David Quade II, Gilberto Quinones-Reyes,
Jamar Reed, Nelton Rodriguez, Keith Rost, Cody Stasch, Mario Torrey and Brandon Jones.

AB — Seafarers who successfully completed the AB course March 26 are (in
no particular order) Victor Perez, Tavid Lewis, Ed Majesky, Jared Taylor, John
Fain, Keith Gibney, James Osborne, Sergio Centeno, Keith Livermon, George
Ashbridge, Jan Payne, Erik Borys, Chuck Palmer, John Smith and Guy
Traynham. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right.

Advanced Fire Fighting — Earning their advanced
fire fighting endorsements March 5 are (in alphabetical
order) Abdullatif Ahmed, Charles Cambra, Christopher
Edyvean, James Fekany, Glenn Gross, Miles Janecka, Roy
Logan, Freddie Malbas, Brian McLarnon, Jimmy Orr and
Jerome Wong. Their instructor, Tom Cessna, is at far right.

Tanker
Familiarization/
Assistant Cargo
(DL)— Feb. 20 gradu-
ates of the tanker famil-
iarirzation/assistant cargo
(DL) course are (in alpha-
betical order) Abdullatif
Ahmed, Richard Gathers,
Nathan Hollander, Rubin
Mitchell, John Nelson,
Edgardo Plarisan and Juan
Ruiz. Their instructor, Jim
Shaffer, is at far right.

ARPA — Earning their ARPA certificate March 12
are (from left) Mike Smith (instructor), John Brady,
Jawaid Pardesi, Arvid Friberg, Fernando Rigonan,
Harlan Hulst, Kenneth Salgado, Boyce Wilson and
Brian Miller.

GMDSS — Upgrading Seafarers who finished
the 70-hour GMDSS course are (in alphabetical
order) Victor Antunez, Alexander Fyodorovykh,
Denis Kay, Donald Larsen, Sherman Sakatani
and John Sparks. Their instructor, Brad Wheeler,
is at far right.

FOWT — Completing the six-week FOWT course March 12 are (in
alphabetical order) Timothy Blakley, Reginald Colbert, Terrance Colbert,
Garson Elliott, Bryan Fletcher, Corey Hann, Memphis Herring, Jerrold
Maggard, Gregory McKinnon, Degrick McLendon, Antonio Myrick, Antonio
Perez, Richard Rowland, Steven Ruppert, John Shea, Sam Vanderbrug,
William Wakeman, Brandy White, Ralph Williams and Aaron Wood.

Any student who has
registered for a class
and finds—for what-
ever reason—that he
or she cannot attend,

please inform the
admissions department
so that another student

may take that place.

Computer Lab Class

Showing off their certifi-
cates of achievement for
completion of computer
classes at the Paul Hall
Center are (from left, seat-
ed) Hugo Infante, Emmett
Wattigny, (standing) Rick
Prucha (instructor), Frank
Ramones and Albert
Bharrat.

At right is B.R. Hickman
with instructor Rick Prucha.

Stewards from NOAA completed a number of courses at the school, including
steward department courses, safety classes and computer lab work. The students
were (in no specific order) Mickey Gronski, Deana Jennings, Jo Locke, Paul Jarvi,
Jesse Stiggins, Larry Phillips, Raul Monillas, Joe Lefstein, Adam Staiger, Rowell
Legaspi, Romulo Reynante and Steve Ralson (not all are pictured). Also in the photo
are Paul Hall Vice President Don Nolan and instructors Ed White, John Hetmanski
and Shannon Twigg.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:30 PM Page 22



May 2004 Seafarers LOG 23

P a u l H a l l C e n t e r C l a s s e s

Junior Engineer — With their instructor, Jay
Henderson, are Seafarers who completed the junior
engineer course April 2. They are (in alphabetical
order) Stephen Bradfute, Kevin Cooper, Milan Dzurek,
Steven Haver, Quincy Wilson and Nathan Wirt.

Small Arms — Completing the small arms training
course March 5 are (from left) Richard Nemanic,
Brannon Adams, Raymond Hotchkiss, Christopher
Paul, Gregory Scott and Lance McFarland.

Radar — March 3 was completion day for students in the radar
class. From the left are Mike Smith (instructor), Harlan Hulst,
Jawaid Pardesi, Edgardo Plarisan, Fernando Rigonan, Kenneth
Salgado, Boyce Wilson, Brian Miller and Samuel Cox.

Basic Safety Training Classes

Lifeboatman/Water Survival

STCW — Feb. 27: (Two groups): Rowena Applestill, Mallory Bannister,
Matthew Barry, Charles Bolig, John Brown, Eric Campbell, Chris Collins, Paul
Corsentino, Milane Cremeans, Kristen Cruz, Leonard Dawson, Robert Garay,
Viviana Gavronski, Wesley Godon, Donald Hagerty Jr., Richard Hernandez,
Joshua Hoffman, Calvin Jacobs, Scott Johnston, Kathleen Jones, Shannan
Lynn, Shelley Mallow, Scott McCabe, Sarah McLaughlin, Amber Michel, Ross
Murphy, Derek Partida, Justin Querubin, Dino Pleho, Dwayne Rouse, Megan
Sherman, Elizabeth Smith, Stephen Smith, Samuel Styve, Irene Tassie, Jamil
Walli, Kenneth White, Don Wilhite and Gary Johnson Jr. Their instructors, Stan
Beck and Larry Malone, are at far right.

Specially Trained OS — Upgrading Seafarers who graduated from
the STOS course Feb. 20 are Kenneth Click, David Garcia, Richard
Jones, Thomas Maillelle, Ronald Merfeld, Hal Owen, Jan Payne, Gill
Sickles, John Truss, Joseph Willett and Rick Worthington (not all are pic-
tured). Their instructor, Brad Wheeler, is at far right.

Specially
Trained OS —
Unlicensed appren-
tices in the third
phase of their train-
ing completed the
STOS course Feb
20. They include
(back row)
Brannon Adams,
Chris Paul, Brett
Younginger,
Kenneth Sharp,
David Guthrie,
Raymond
Hotchkiss, Gregory
Scott, Lance
McFarland, (kneel-
ing) Robert
Patterson, Xavier Rivera, Ramsey Ingram, John Selman, Richard Nemanic and Timothy Ross.

Water Survival — Feb. 27: David Chairez, Dori Cook, Thomas Drapil, Robert
Melendez, Dominic Carr, Darin Heine, Jim Farmer, Joseph Schultz, Jim Mattson, Joe
Morris, Kaleinainoa Asentista, Leo Curry, Keith Cleary, Brent Varney, Patrick Helmuth,
Lauren Grice, Donald Williams Sr., Migel Pilgram, Katie Piper and Adam Young.

Water Survival — Feb. 27: Otsman Baudin, Stephen Wehner, Jason Moore, Mary
Toledo, Dana Hicks, Amber Akana, Olivia Pabalan, David Benito, Barbra Allbritton,
Victor Rapez, Tremaine Ferris, Janelle Helg, Eric Calo, Duncan Nishimura, Adrian
Tam, Ryan Nitta, Greg Hayama, Jesse Nakamura, Bjorn Ramskog and Alan Schiller.
Their instructors were Bernabe Pelingon and Tony Sevilla.

STCW — Feb. 20: Edward Lewis, Ismael Manley,
Robert Melendez, Jason Moore, Joseph Morris,
Evelyn Nordbrok, Olivia Pabalan, Miguel Pilgrim,
Peter Ramos, Ricardo Salazar, William Schropp,
Heather Van Benschoten, Brent Varney, Will Walters,
Adam Young and Roger Mellen.

STCW — Feb. 20: Christine Lemke,
Mario Lopes, Jim Mattson, Terry Murphy,
Chris Nall, John Niedbalski, Nasser Omar,
Katie Piper, Donna Raymond, Fernando
Remedios, Harry Rogers, John Stewart,
Mary Toledo, Stephen Wehner, Donald
Williams, Jerome Wong, Kenneth Yuret
and Joseph Schultz.

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:31 PM Page 23



M D
2 2

m o A s
l t l i s t

c

Left: SIU Rep
Romy
Lumanlan pre-
pares to make
a deposit.

Right: AB
Kermit

Bengtston fills
out paperwork

for his vacation.

Thalis Ealy is the
chief cook aboard

the APL China.

Right: Recertified Steward Allen Terry

AB Gangway Watch
Jack Kemp

ACU Ricky Williams
Chief Cook Tommy Kleine

RMST John Vierra ACU Moosa Mohamed

Recertified
Steward

Ben Opaon

Chief Cook Edyson Chaniago

Night Engineer Steve Bvkovies and
OMU Curtis Barnett

22755_P4.6.11.14-17.19.20.22-24.qxd 4/28/2004 7:31 PM Page 24