Seafarers Log: Vol. 82 No. 12 (2020-12-01)

DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME 82, NO. 12

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

Season’s Greetings

2021 Meeting Dates
Page 4

Summary Annual Reports
Page 6

Beck Notice
Page 5

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 1 11/13/20 6:03 PM



2 Seafarers LOG December 2020

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Capital Gateway Drive; 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 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo;
Assistant Communications Director & Managing Editor/
Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Nick Merrill;
Photographer, Harry Gieske; Administrative Support,
Jenny Stokes; Content Curator, Mark Clements.

Copyright © 2020 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.

Volume 82 Number 12 December 2020

The SIU online: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers International
Union engaged an environ-
mentally friendly printer
for the production of this
newspaper.

President’s Report

Reversed to White
Reversed to White

It seems fitting to close out 2020 with a word about the Jones
Act, which marked its centennial this past summer. As you’ll see
elsewhere in this edition, America’s freight cabotage law is still
making headlines – most recently in the form of support from mem-
bers of Congress and from the Navy League of the United States.

While I never take anything for granted, I’m confident that the
Jones Act will continue enjoying strong bipartisan support in the
new year (and beyond). This law has never been more important to
U.S. national, economic and homeland security. It protects our ship-
building capability, safeguards our coasts and waterways, and helps
maintain a pool of well-trained, reliable, U.S.-citizen mariners who
will be available to sail on military support ships in times of need.

The Jones Act has endured because it is extremely sound policy.
Nevertheless, we’re always on the lookout for attacks against it, and
we also invest time and energy educating new legislators about the
law’s significant value. We’ll continue on that path.

Cargo Preference
While it’s sometimes overlooked in maritime discussions, cargo

preference is another crucial component of our industry’s founda-
tion. Cargo preference is an economic boon for our country that
doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.

In brief, cargo preference programs require shippers to use U.S.-
flag vessels to move specified government-impelled, ocean-borne
goods. The most often cited program is PL-480, otherwise known as
Food for Peace. Enacted in 1954, Food for Peace ships American-
grown food, dry goods and other commodities aboard U.S.-crewed,
U.S.-flag ships to countries with dire nutritional needs. Those pack-
ages, marked “USAID from the American people,” help nourish
those at risk of starvation while spreading a message of goodwill to
the most impoverished countries on Earth.

That is not the only such law, though. The Cargo Preference
Act of 1904 dictates that 100 percent of military cargo be shipped
aboard U.S.-flag vessels; and Public Resolution 17 from 1934 states
all cargo generated by the U.S. Export-Import Bank must be carried
aboard U.S.-flag ships unless granted a waiver by the U.S. Maritime
Administration.

As we turn the calendar to 2021, the SIU will continue to advo-
cate for the expansion of the nation’s current cargo preference laws,
and to ensure that American mariners keep working aboard U.S.-
flag ships around the world.

Happy Holidays
While we all are still dealing with the global pandemic, I’m

hopeful that everyone throughout the SIU will be able to count our
blessings during the winter holidays.

One thing I’m very grateful for is the incredible professional-
ism of Seafarers in 2020. You have truly risen to the occasion and
fulfilled your mission as essential workers. You have demonstrated
flexibility, dedication and sacrifice in order to help keep com-
merce flowing and to support our armed forces. You certainly an-
swered the call during the turbo activations this summer, and I’m
proud of you.

This dedication extends to our affiliated school in Piney Point,
Maryland, which reopened in early August. Everyone at the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education has met the mo-
ment and done what needs to be done in order to safely, successfully
run classes for upgraders and apprentices. It’s not easy but it’s vital,
and everyone at the school – staff and students alike – deserves
credit for getting the job done.

Keep the faith, brothers and sisters. Better days are ahead.

More Jones Act Support

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

Gov’t Expert Calls for Stronger Sealift

The Lexington Institute generally wants gov-
ernment to butt out, but when it comes to U.S.-flag
sealift capacity, the stakes are too high for inaction.

That was one conclusion among several penned
by Lexington Institute Chief Operating Officer
Loren Thompson in a recent article for Forbes.
Thompson examined a new Defense Department
plan for remaking the U.S. Navy and stated that
while much of the Battle Force 2045 strategy likely
won’t come to fruition, “there are some elements
within the plan that do not require heavy lifting to
accomplish, because their cost is modest and bipar-
tisan support already exists. Sealift – the capacity
to move U.S. military supplies to foreign conflicts
expeditiously – is one such element.”

Thompson said he anticipates limits on future
Defense spending because of a “fiscal hangover”
from the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stated that
Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s plan “is so impos-
ing – nearly a dozen new ship classes, half of them
unmanned – that it would be challenging to imple-
ment even in normal times.”

Throwing more support behind civilian-crewed
military support ships is very achievable, however,
according to Thompson.

“The nation’s sealift fleet, which would carry
90% of supplies in wartime, has been decaying for
decades,” he wrote. “That partly reflects the low
priority assigned to the mission, and partly reflects
the decline of the U.S. commercial shipping in-
dustry. With fewer than 200 U.S.-flagged vessels
engaged in international commerce, there just isn’t
much slack in the system if U.S. forces need to be
surged overseas in an emergency.

“The Navy’s current assets consist of 15 prepo-
sitioned supply ships anchored overseas near po-
tential trouble spots, plus an additional 15 ‘surge’
vessels maintained in a reduced state of readiness,”
he continued. “These ships are operated by com-
mercial companies under the supervision of the
Military Sealift Command, and are designed so
that military vehicles and supplies can be driven
directly into cargo holds rather than needing to be
lifted or broken down.”

But that only offers approximately half of the
capacity needed “to lift the Army and other ser-
vices to a major war,” Thompson explained. “To
secure the remainder, [the armed forces] must turn
to the Transportation Department, specifically the
Ready Reserve Fleet (RRF) maintained by the
Maritime Administration, and to the private mer-
chant marine.”

Thompson then explained the mission and con-
dition of the RRF (which contains 46 former com-
mercial ships) as well as the 60 privately owned,
civilian-crewed vessels in the U.S. Maritime Se-
curity Program.

“There are all sorts of problems with mobiliz-
ing this diverse menagerie of vessels,” Thompson
said. “The entire sealift fleet is aging and its avail-
ability will become increasingly problematic in fu-
ture years. This challenge has been recognized for
years, and explains why Secretary Esper explicitly
cited the need to modernize sealift assets in his Oc-
tober 6 discussion of Battle Force 2045.

“The problem with Esper’s broader vision is that
it requires so much money for so many initiatives

that sealift would have to fight every year for fund-
ing against missions that have stronger constitu-
encies,” Thompson continued. “However, viewed
in isolation it is not a particularly expensive activ-
ity. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in
2019 that it would only cost a little over $1 billion
per year going forward to recapitalize and oper-
ate the sealift fleet. That represents 2-3 hours of
federal spending at current rates. So, whatever the
fate of Battle Force 2045, sealift is an eminently
fixable challenge. The Navy’s three-pronged ap-
proach, disclosed in 2018, is to extend the service
life of the most modern vessels in the Ready Re-
serve Fleet, buy second-hand foreign commercial
ships for modification, and build a new class of
auxiliary vessels in domestic shipyards.”

The latter undertaking, named the Common
Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP),
“would provide both new sealift and various other
support vessels the fleet requires, but the initiative
was rebuffed by the White House Budget Office
in preparing the 2021 budget submission due to
high per-vessel costs,” Thompson said. “Congress
has already begun funding the life-extensions of
the Ready Reserve Fleet and purchase of used for-
eign ships. The Navy is not ready to give up on
CHAMP, because it meets multiple service require-
ments and would produce sealift assets superior to
what can be obtained by the other two parts of its
strategy. The service probably will prevail in the
end, because there is bipartisan support on Capitol
Hill for building new sealift vessels to commercial
specifications in the nation’s shipyards.”

He concluded, “The unanswered question is
whether the sealift mission can stay afloat now
that Secretary Esper has called into question vir-
tually every facet of the Navy’s long-term ship-
building plan. The political landscape is in such
disarray that congressional champions will have to
protect sealift from becoming a bill-payer for big-
ger, more visible missions. Time will tell whether
those champions come forward. However, there is
a bottom line to the sealift story that military plan-
ners would do well to heed: If you can’t get to the
fight on time, then you are probably going to lose
the war.”

Thompson was deputy director of the Securities
Studies Program at Georgetown University. He has
taught at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government and holds doctoral and master’s de-
grees in government from Georgetown.

The Lexington Institute is a non-profit entity
whose mission statement in part says that the orga-
nization “believes in limiting the role of the federal
government to those functions explicitly stated or
implicitly defined by the Constitution. The Institute
therefore actively opposes the unnecessary intru-
sion of the federal government into the commerce
and culture of the nation, and strives to find non-
governmental, market-based solutions to public-
policy challenges. We believe a dynamic private
sector is the greatest engine for social progress and
economic prosperity…. By promoting America’s
ability to project power around the globe we not
only defend the homeland of democracy, but also
sustain the international stability in which other
free-market democracies can thrive.”

Lexington Institute Exec. Spells Out Path for Boosting U.S. Fleet

Seafarers recently came to the aid of stranded boaters
in the Pacific, approximately 150 miles off the Califor-
nia coast. Chief Steward Samuel Sinclair provided this
photo from the MV Jean Anne (Pasha Hawaii) along
with the following notes: “The boat was drifting at sea
for days and was spotted by 3rd Mate Jim Marren. The
captain notified the U.S. Coast Guard. Our ship made
a Williamson turn and we maneuvered to allow the dis-
tressed boat to drift up alongside. ABs threw mooring
line to the castaways in order to secure them. After rop-
ing down much-needed water and provisions, the Jean
Anne waited until the Mexican coast guard came to take
over responsibility. The people in the boat were Mexi-
can citizens trying to gain access to the U.S. Their motor
gave out, resulting in the boat drifting aimlessly in the
Pacific. The SIU crew professionally performed duties in
this humanitarian rescue.” The SIU crew included Bosun
Thomas Johnson (who was instrumental in securing the
smaller boat to the Jean Anne), AB Shaif Alomary, AB
Samuel Lampshire, AB Mohamed Saleh, QE4 Yahya
Mohamed, QEE Stephen Roberts, GVA Ahmed Ahmed,
GVA Abdulla Saleh, Chief Steward Samuel Sinclair and
Chief Cook Tammy Bingisser.

Seafarers Help Stranded Boaters

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December 2020 Seafarers LOG 3

Navy League Highlights Importance of Jones Act
The Navy League of the United States

has released a new report titled, “China’s
Use of Maritime for Global Power De-
mands a Strong Commitment to American
Maritime,” which outlines and reinforces
the importance of the maritime industry
and in particular the Jones Act.

As stated in the introduction of the re-
port, “America has been guided by the wa-
terborne trades and the laws of maritime
commerce since its founding. Shipbuild-
ing and the generations of mariners in the
shipping trades are pillars of our maritime
and naval heritage. In that spirit, Ameri-
cans have always gone to great lengths to
protect the nation’s ports and sea lanes.
Early on, American merchants abided by
Navigation Acts fashioned by the English
government to protect British Colonial
interests. Today, American maritime law
and the commercial maritime trades are
informed by a set of laws, including the
Jones Act.”

The report detailed the current state of
the U.S.-flag fleet, saying, “U.S. maritime
stakeholders are well aware of the chal-
lenges America faces in shipbuilding and
in global shipping. The U.S. has seen a
sharp decline in its international maritime
fleet, whereby less than 200 U.S.-flagged
vessels are represented in an oceangoing
cargo fleet of more than 41,000 ships. The
U.S. trails 16 countries in shipbuilding by
a disparate proportion. In 2019, China
ranked highest with 1,291 oceangoing
ships under construction, while Japan and
South Korea were the next largest ship-
builders but with each having roughly half
of that number of vessels in production.
The U.S. was building only eight ocean-
going vessels in 2019.

“In a comprehensive 2020 study by the
Center for Strategic and Budgetary As-
sessments, ‘Strengthening the U.S. De-
fense Maritime Industrial Base: A Plan to
Improve Maritime Industry’s Contribution
to National Security,’ the Jones Act is de-
scribed as guarding ‘against the ability of
China … to take over shipping to U.S. ter-
ritories and to gain local influence during
peacetime, only to threaten or deny ship-
ping to CONUS [contiguous United States]
during a crisis or conflict’,” the report con-
tinued. “China’s goals, beyond creating
jobs and expanding its economy, are aimed
at dominating the shipping industry and
world trade. Through its state-owned enter-
prises, China has, in the past two decades,
managed to dominate the world’s core
maritime industries, namely shipbuilding,
majority ownership of oceangoing com-
mercial ships and ownership or part own-
ership of marine terminals at key ports on
strategically important trade lanes. China

can shape global trade to its liking in times
of peace and, in times of conflict, lever-
age an overwhelming advantage in global
maritime logistics built up primarily at the
expense of U.S. importers.”

The American Maritime Partnership, to
which the SIU is affiliated, issued the fol-
lowing statement concerning the report:
“This study by the Navy League raises
important questions about China’s ambi-
tion to dominate the global maritime sup-
ply chain. It requires a thoughtful policy
response from the United States, includ-
ing a renewed commitment to a robust
American maritime industry, which is
critical to our national security.”

Additionally, the Shipbuilders Council
of America issued the following state-
ment: “The U.S. Navy League’s latest
report on China’s strategy to advance
global maritime dominance confirms what
American shipbuilders have witnessed for
decades which is Beijing funneling hun-
dreds of billions into its shipbuilding pro-
grams to manipulate world markets and
strengthen the country’s power on land
and sea. While China will not rest in this
pursuit, it is even more critical that we
continue to build and repair the U.S. com-
mercial and military fleets to bolster the
American economy and protect domestic
and national security.”

The Navy League of the United States
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
educating citizens about the importance
of sea power to U.S. national security and

to supporting the men and women of the
U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard,
and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and their
families.

Ocean Gladiator Flags In

SIU members are sailing aboard the recently reflagged Ocean Gladiator (operated
by Waterman), a replacement ship for the Ocean Globe. Pictured this summer
in Turkey, the Ocean Gladiator was built in 2010 and is 544 feet long. (Photo by
Cengiz Tokgöz)

The SIU-crewed Overseas Houston (OSG) sails in the Jones Act trade.

Three members of Congress are calling
upon the respective chairs and ranking members
of the House and Senate Armed Services Com-
mittees to make sure the Jones Act provisions
for “offshore oil and gas development on the
Outer Continental Shelf also apply to offshore
wind development.”

Signed by U.S. Reps. Elaine Luria (D-
Virginia), John Garamendi (D-California) and
Alan S. Lowenthal (D-California), the Oct. 27
letter was sent to U.S. Sens. James Inhofe (R-
Oklahoma), chair of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island),
the committee’s ranking member, as well as
U.S. Reps. Adam Smith (D-Washington), chair
of the House Armed Service Committee, and
Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), that committee’s
ranking member.

“Congress clearly intended federal law to
apply to the exploration, development, pro-
duction, transportation and transmission of

any form of energy resources under OCSLA
[the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act],” the
trio wrote. “We urge you to clarify that lease
sales for energy development on the Outer
Continental Shelf from non-minerals are in-
deed subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including
federal laws affording labor and environmen-
tal protections. Indeed, these same federal
laws including the Jones Act currently apply
to offshore oil and gas development under
OSCLA.”

They concluded by noting, “The Jones Act
ensures a level of maritime capability that is
critical to our national security.”

The Jones Act requires that cargo moving
from one domestic port to another domestic port
must be carried aboard a U.S.-crewed, U.S.-
built, U.S.-owned, U.S.-flagged vessel. The law
is considered vital to U.S. national, economic
and homeland security. It was enacted in 1920
with those goals in mind.

Legislators Speak Up for
U.S. Freight Cabotage Law

Both of these vessels (pictured Oct. 12 in the Atlantic Ocean) are crewed by CIV-
MARS from the SIU Government Services Division. The fast combat support ship
USNS Supply (right) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the hospital ship USNS
Comfort. The Comfort is on an 11-week medical support mission to Central and South
America as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative. (U.S. Navy
photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Devin Alexondra Lowe)

CIVMARS At Work

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 3 11/13/20 9:48 PM



4 Seafarers LOG December 2020

Port Traditional Date January February March April May June July August September October November December

Piney Point Monday after first Sunday 4 8 8 5 3 7 6 2 7 4 8 6

Jersey City Tuesday after first Sunday 5 9 9 6 4 8 6 3 7 5 9 7

Philadelphia Wednesday after first Sunday 6 10 10 7 5 9 7 4 8 6 10 8

Baltimore Thursday after first Sunday 7 11 11 8 6 10 8 5 9 7 12 9

Jacksonville Thursday after first Sunday 7 11 11 8 6 10 8 5 9 7 12 9

San Juan Thursday after first Sunday 7 11 11 8 6 10 8 5 9 7 12 9

Algonac Friday after first Sunday 8 12 12 9 7 11 9 6 10 8 12 10

Norfolk Friday after first Sunday 8 12 12 9 7 11 9 6 10 8 12 10

Houston Monday after second Sunday 11 16 15 12 10 14 12 9 13 12 15 13

New Orleans Tuesday after second Sunday 12 16 16 13 11 15 13 10 14 12 16 14

Mobile Wednesday after second Sunday 13 17 17 14 12 16 14 11 15 13 17 15

Oakland Thursday after second Sunday 14 18 18 15 13 17 15 12 16 14 18 16

Port Everglades Thursday after second Sunday 14 18 18 15 13 17 15 12 16 14 18 16

Joliet Thursday after second Sunday 14 18 18 15 13 17 15 12 16 14 18 16

St. Louis Friday after second Sunday 15 19 19 16 14 18 16 13 17 15 19 17

Honolulu Friday after second Sunday 15 19 19 16 14 18 16 13 17 15 19 17

Wilmington Monday after third Sunday 19 22 22 19 17 21 19 16 20 18 22 20

Guam Thursday after third Sunday 21 25 25 22 20 24 22 19 23 21 26 23

Tacoma Friday after third Sunday 22 26 26 23 21 25 23 20 24 22 26 27



Dates appearing in bold indicate that meetings are being held on other than traditional meeting dates. The reasons for the changes at affected ports, respectively, are as follows:


nPiney Point change in July created by Independence Day Observance nPiney Point change in September created by Labor Day Observance
nBaltimore, Jacksonville & San Juan changes in November created by Veterans Day Observance nHouston change in February created by President’s Day Observance
nHouston change in October created by Columbus Day Observance nWilmington change in January created by Martin Luther King Day Observance
nGuam change in November created by Thanksgiving Observance nTacoma change in December created by Christmas Observance

Meetings at each port start at 10:30 a.m.

Union Membership Meeting Dates for 2021

Voting Continues in SIU’s 2020 Election
Voting started last month and will continue

through Dec. 31 in the election of officers of the
SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters.

Balloting is taking place at 20 SIU halls
across the country. Full-book SIU members in
good standing are eligible to vote in the election,
which will determine union officers for the 2021-
2024 term.

Seafarers may obtain their ballots from 9 a.m.
until 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays (except
legal holidays), and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sat-
urdays (again except legal holidays) until Dec.
31.

The ballot includes the list of candidates
seeking the posts of president, executive vice
president, secretary-treasurer, six vice presi-
dents, six assistant vice presidents and 10 port
agents (for a total of 25 positions). Only two
of the positions have more than one candidate
running; those positions are highlighted on the
ballot.

At the union halls, a member in good stand-
ing (upon presenting his or her book) is given a
ballot and two envelopes. After his or her selec-
tion is marked, the ballot is folded and placed in-
side an envelope marked “ballot.” That envelope
then is sealed inside a postage-paid envelope
bearing the mailing address of the bank deposi-
tory where ballots are kept until submitted to the
union tallying committee.

The rank-and-file tallying committee, con-
sisting of two members from each of the union’s
constitutional ports, will be elected in Decem-
ber. They will convene in early January and will
tabulate and announce the election results.

Article XIII of the union’s constitution
spells out the procedures by which an election
will be conducted. The entire text of Article
XIII, along with a sample ballot, a list of voting
locations and other related information appears
on Pages 6-10 of the October 2020 issue of the
Seafarers LOG.

Additionally, a notice of the election was
mailed in October to all members at their last
known address, with a list of all voting locations

as well as a sample of the official ballot.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, extra

steps are being taken to help ensure member
participation in the election. These modifications
have been extensively reported in the LOG, on

the SIU website and at the monthly membership
meetings. They include (for this election only)
easing the absentee-ballot procedures, expand-
ing the hours for ballot pickup, and having union
representatives bring ballots to SIU-crewed ves-

sels whenever reasonably possible. As part of
the latter development, SIU representatives are
undergoing COVID-19 testing every two weeks,
and any representative visiting a ship must show
proof of a recent negative test.

The first two votes are cast in Jacksonville,
Florida, (photo at top left) by Recertified
Steward Breon Lucas and Bosun Gerald
Alford. GUDE Michael Cruz (photo above)
seals his ballot at the hiring hall in San
Juan, Puerto Rico while members line up
to vote (photo at bottom left) in Oakland,
California, on Nov. 2. SIU Patrolman Adrian
Fraccarolli is at right.

For more photos of SIU members vot-
ing in the union election, see Page 8.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 4 11/13/20 3:09 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 5

The Seafarers International Union, AGLIW
assists employees by representing them in all as-
pects of their employment and work aboard ves-
sels which sail deep sea, on the Great Lakes and
inland waters throughout the country. For the most
part, the union spends a majority of its financial re-
sources on collective bargaining activities and em-
ployee representation services. In addition to these
expenditures, the union also spends resources on a
variety of other efforts such as organizing, publica-
tions, political activities, international affairs and
community services. All of these services advance
the interests of the union and its membership.

This annual notice is required by law and is sent
to advise employees represented by the Seafarers
International Union, AGLIW about their rights and
obligations concerning payment of union dues. This
notice contains information which will allow you to
understand the advantages and benefits of being a
union member in good standing. It also will provide
you with detailed information as to how to become
an agency fee payor. An agency fee payor is an
employee who is not a member of the union but
who meets his or her financial obligation by making
agency fee payments. With this information, you
will be able to make an informed decision about
your status with the Seafarers International Union,
AGLIW.

1. Benefits of union membership — While non-
members do receive material benefits from a union
presence in their workplace, there are significant
benefits to retaining full membership in the union.
Among the many benefits and opportunities avail-
able to a member of the Seafarers International
Union, AGLIW are the right to attend union meet-
ings, the right to vote for candidates for union office
and the right to run for union office. Members also
have the right to participate in the development of
contract proposals and participate in contract ratifi-
cation and strike votes. Members also may play a

role in the development and formulation of union
policies.

2. Cost of union membership — In addition to
working dues, to belong to the union as a full book
member the cost is $500.00 (five hundred dollars)
per year or $125.00 (one hundred twenty-five dol-
lars) per quarter. Working dues amount to 5 percent
of the gross amount an employee receives for vaca-
tion benefits and are paid when the member files a
vacation application.

3. Agency fee payors — Employees who choose
not to become union members may become agency
fee payors. As a condition of employment, in states
which permit such arrangements, individuals are ob-
ligated to make payments to the union in the form of
an agency fee. The fee these employees pay is to sup-
port the core representational services that the union
provides. These services are those related to the col-
lective bargaining process, contract administration
and grievance adjustments. Examples of these ac-
tivities include but are not limited to, the negotiation
of collective bargaining agreements, the enforcement
and administration of collective bargaining agree-
ments and meetings with employers and employees.
Union services also include representation of em-
ployees during disciplinary meetings, grievance and
arbitration proceedings, National Labor Relations
Board hearings and court litigation.

Employees who pay agency fees are not re-
quired to pay for expenses not germane to the
collective bargaining process. Examples of these
expenses would be expenses required as a result of
community service, legislative activities and politi-
cal affairs.

4. Amount of agency fee — As noted above,
dues objectors may pay a fee which represents the
costs of expenses related to those supporting costs
germane to the collective bargaining process. After
review of all expenses during the 2019 calendar
year, the fee cost associated with this representa-

tion amounts to 79.84 percent of the dues amount.
This means that the agency fee based upon the dues
would be $399.20 (three hundred ninety-nine dol-
lars and twenty cents) for the applicable year. An
appropriate reduction also will be calculated for
working dues.

This amount applies to the 2021calendar year.
This means that any individual who wishes to elect
to pay agency fees and submits a letter between
December 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021 will
have this calculation applied to their 2021 dues
payments which may still be owed to the union. As
noted below, however, to continue to receive the
agency fee reduction effective January 2022, your
objection must be received by December 1, 2021.

A report which delineates chargeable and non-
chargeable expenses is available to you free of
charge. You may receive a copy of this report by
writing to: Secretary-Treasurer, Seafarers Inter-
national Union, AGLIW, 5201 Capital Gateway
Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746. This report
is based upon an audited financial report of the
union’s expenses during 2019.

Please note that as the chargeable and non-
chargeable expenses may change each year, the
agency fee amount may also fluctuate each year.
Individuals who are entitled to pay agency fees and
wish to pay fees rather than dues, must elect this op-
tion each year by filing an objection in accordance
with the procedure noted below.

5. Filing of objections — If you choose to ob-
ject to paying dues, an objection must be filed annu-
ally. To receive the deduction beginning in January
of each year, you must file by the beginning of De-
cember in the prior year. An employee may file an
objection at any time during the year, however, the
reduction will apply only prospectively and only
until December 31 of that calendar year. Reductions
in dues will not be applied retroactively. As noted
above, each year the amount of the dues reduction

may change based upon an auditor’s report from a
previous year.

The objection must be sent in writing to:
Agency Fee Payor Objection Administration, Sec-
retary-Treasurer’s Office, Seafarers International
Union, AGLIW, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive,
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

6. Filing a challenge — Upon receiving the no-
tice of calculation of the chargeable expenditures
related to core representation activities, an objector
shall have 45 days to submit a challenge with the
Secretary-Treasurer’s office if he or she believes
that the calculation of chargeable activities is in-
correct. Every person who wishes to object to the
calculation of chargeable expenses has a legal right
to file such an objection.

7. Appeal procedure — Upon receiving the
challenge(s) at the end of the 45-day period, the
union will consolidate all appeals and submit them
to an independent arbitrator. The presentation to the
arbitrator will be either in writing or at a hearing.
The method of the arbitration will be determined by
the arbitrator. If a hearing is held, any objector who
does not wish to attend may submit his/her views
in writing by the date of the hearing. If a hearing is
not held, the arbitrator will set the dates by which
all written submissions will be received.

The costs of the arbitration shall be borne by the
union. Individuals submitting challenges will be
responsible for all the costs associated with present-
ing their appeal. The union will have the burden of
justifying its calculations.

The SIU works very hard to ensure that all of its
members receive the best representation possible. On
behalf of all the SIU officers and employees, I would
like to thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,
David Heindel
Secretary-Treasurer

Beck Notice Notice to Employees Covered by Union Agreements
Regulated Under the National Labor Relations Act

A coalition including the SIU, the American Federa-
tion of Teachers (AFT), SIU-contracted Crowley, Mat-
son and TOTE (respectively), non-profit organizations
and other groups has teamed up to eventually deliver
more than 100,000 free books to students in Puerto Rico,
Guam and Alaska.

The AFT, the Transportation Institute (TI) (represent-
ing U.S.-flag vessel operators) and the organization First
Book in particular spearheaded the launch of the outreach
known as BookWaves. Together, all participants are unit-
ing to assist students and families during the COVID-19
crisis.

TI Chairman and President Jim Henry said, “Read-
ing books to children helps stimulate their imagination
and expands their ability to understand the world, and
that’s why the Transportation Institute – with its maritime
members Crowley and TOTE – are dedicated and proud
to work with teachers to donate and ship thousands of
books to young students to help make our future stron-
ger.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “We’re doing
our part to help students and their families – regardless of
their geography or demography – have what they need to
learn. Our hope is that BookWaves will provide books to
help them navigate this difficult time and prioritize one
of the most fundamental things we can all do together:
read.”

BookWaves is supported by SIU-contracted operators
Crowley, Matson, and TOTE, as well as trucking com-
pany Convoy and other local air and ground transpor-
tation companies that have donated their expertise and
services to ship tens of thousands of books across land
and sea to remote communities in need of books. The
AFT, TI and Pi Beta Phi Foundation provided financial
support to secure books from First Book; while the AFT
and the SIU helped with title selection and providing on-
the-ground coordination of sorting and distribution.

At press time, the first wave of 3,000 bilingual and
Spanish STEM (science, technology, engineering and
math) books have been distributed, at a socially distant
outdoor event at the Manuel A. Perez Residencial in San
Juan, with more distributions to follow in the late fall and
winter across Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico.

“Hearing of the hard work the AFT and First Book
have been doing over the years to bring millions of books
to students in need inspired our organization to marshal

the resources of the U.S.-flag maritime industry and our
logistics partners to help Americans in far-flung com-
munities that rely on our shipping services have better
access to books and inspire a lifelong love of reading
and learning,” said Rich Berkowitz, the Transportation
Institute’s vice president of Pacific Coast Operations.

Crowley donated the shipping of 3,000 STEM books
in Spanish, bilingual and English titles and is committed
to shipping another 30,000 books to Puerto Rico. The
Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico is spearheading
the effort to distribute books, as well as partnering with
the SIU to create maritime collections in high schools to
support career and technical education.

“This is a great initiative, which truly will have a posi-
tive impact for the students. A book in the hands of a
child or young person is an opportunity for the develop-

ment of language, comprehension, reading and their up-
bringing as a human being,” said Elba L. Aponte Santos,
president of the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico.
“We are grateful for this collaboration to bring high-
quality books, which are so important for students and
teachers of Puerto Rico.”

“Working in partnership with the Transportation Insti-
tute, including Crowley and TOTE, as well as the teach-
ers of our young students in Puerto Rico, we will create
a pathway of knowledge that enables these students to
learn, grow and seek out the career ladders that are of-
fered in the maritime industry and other opportunities,”
said SIU Port Agent Amancio Crespo.

“Bringing more than 100,000 free books to students

SIU Pitches in With ‘BookWaves’ Outreach
AFT Spearheads Philanthropic
Project to Give Student Assistance

With containers of books in the foreground, volunters team up in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Continued on Page 7

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 5 11/13/20 3:09 AM



6 Seafarers LOG December 2020

This is a summary of the annual report for the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union AGLIW 401(k) Plan, (Employer Identification No. 26-
1527179, Plan No. 002) for the period January 1, 2019 to December
31, 2019. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits
Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement
Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust. Plan expenses were

$3,143,079. These expenses included $79,910 in administrative ex-
penses, $2,900,613 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries and
$162,556 in other expenses. A total of 14,613 persons were participants
in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all
of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was
$46,556,626 as of December 31, 2019 compared to $35,788,111 as of
January 1, 2019. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase
in its net assets of $10,768,515. This increase includes unrealized ap-
preciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differ-
ence between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and
the value of the assets at the beginning of the year, or the cost of assets
acquired during the year. The plan had total income of $13,911,594,
including employee contributions of $5,938,148, other contributions
of $414,023, and earnings from investments of $7,560,338 and other
losses of $915.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or

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

n An accountant’s report;
Financial Information and information on payments to service pro-

viders;
n Assets held for investment;
n Schedule of delinquent participant contributions;
n Insurance information including sales commissions paid by

insurance carriers.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write
or call the office of: Margaret Bowen, Plan Administrator, 5201 Capital
Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675.

The charge to cover copying costs will be $11.75 for the full report,
or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on
request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the
plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses
of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of
the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements
and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The
charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge
for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions
are furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual
report at the main office of the plan: Plan Office, 5201 Capital Gateway
Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, and at the U.S. Department of Labor
in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department
of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department
should be addressed to: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits
Security Administration, Public Disclosure Room, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Suite N-1513, Washington, D.C. 20210.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

(PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information
unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The Department notes that a Federal agency can-
not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved
by OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control
number, and the public is not required to respond to the collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See
44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no
person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection
of information if the collection of information does not display a currently
valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately
3 hours and 11 minutes per plan). Interested parties are encouraged
to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief In-
formation Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or
email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control
Number 1210-0040.

OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 06/30/2022)

Summary Annual Report
For Seafarers International Union

AGLIW 401(k) Plan
This is a summary of the annual report for the Seafarers Money

Purchase Pension Plan, (Employer Identification No. 52-1994914,
Plan No. 001) for the period January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Se-
curity Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement
Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust. Plan expenses

were $11,709,598. These expenses included $1,156,654 in admin-
istrative expenses and $10,552,944 in benefits paid to participants
and beneficiaries. A total of 15,492 persons were participants in or
beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the
plan, was $143,294,725 as of December 31, 2019 compared to
$126,965,662 as of January 1, 2019. During the plan year the plan
experienced an increase in its net assets of $16,329,063. This in-
crease includes unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value
of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’s
assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the begin-
ning of the year, or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The
plan had total income of $28,038,661, including employer contribu-
tions of $9,976,372, employee contributions of $139,493, gains of
$1,484,830 from the sale of assets, earnings from investments of
$16,429,643 and other income of $8,323.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or

any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included
in that report:
n An accountant’s report;
n Financial information and information on payments to ser-

vice providers;
n Assets held for investment;
n Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the plan assets;
n Insurance information including sales commissions paid by

insurance carriers; and
n Information regarding any common or collective trust,

pooled separate accounts, master trusts or 103-12 investment enti-
ties in which the plan participates.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof,
write or call the office of: Margaret R. Bowen, Administrator, 5201
Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, (301) 899-0675.

The charge to cover copying costs will be $7.75 for the full re-
port, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on
request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of
the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and ex-
penses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request
a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these
two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part
of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does
not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report
because these portions are furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual
report at the main office of the plan: Plan Office, 5201 Capital Gate-
way Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, and at the U.S. Department
of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S.
Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to
the Department should be addressed to: U.S. Department of Labor,
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Public Disclosure
Room, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Suite N-1513, Washington,
D.C. 20210.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.

104-13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection
of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The Department
notes that a Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
of information unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA, and
displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the public is not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, not-
withstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject
to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if
the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB
control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately
3 hours and 11 minutes per plan). Interested parties are encouraged
to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief
Information Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210
or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB
Control Number 1210-0040.

OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 06/30/2022)

Summary Annual Report for Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan

This is a summary of the annual report for the Seafarers Vacation Plan,
(Employer Identification No. 13-5602047, Plan No. 503) for the period
January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The annual report has been filed
with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was

$28,942,105 as of December 31, 2019 compared to $23,993,376 as of
January 1, 2019. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase in
its net assets of $4,948,729. This increase includes unrealized appreciation
or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between
the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the as-
sets at the beginning of the year, or the cost of assets acquired during the
year. During the plan year, the plan had total income of $76,163,973, in-
cluding employer contributions of $72,463,639, realized gains of $795,151
from the sale of assets, earnings from investments of $2,772,164 and other
income of $133,019. Plan expenses were $71,215,244. These expenses in-
cluded $6,325,984 in administrative expenses and $64,889,260 in benefits
paid to participants and beneficiaries.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any

part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:
n An accountant’s report;
n Financial information and information on payments to service

providers;
n Assets held for investment; and
n Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the plan assets
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or

call the office of: Margaret Bowen, Administrator, 5201 Capital Gateway
Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, (301) 899-0675

The charge to cover copying costs will be $15.75 for the full report, or
$0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on re-
quest and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan
and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the
plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full

annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and ac-
companying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to
cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying
of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without
charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report
at the main office of the plan: Plan Office, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive,
Camp Springs, MD 20746, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Wash-
ington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon
payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed
to: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration,
Public Disclosure Room, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Suite N-1513,
Washington, D.C. 20210.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

(PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information
unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The Department notes that a Federal agency can-
not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by
OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number,
and the public is not required to respond to the collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C.
3507. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall
be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information
if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB
control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately
3 hours and 11 minutes per plan). Interested parties are encouraged
to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief In-
formation Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or
email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control
Number 1210-0040.

OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 06/30/2022)

Summary Annual Report for Seafarers Vacation Plan

This is a summary of the annual report for the Seafarers Health and
Benefits Plan, (Employer Identification No.13-5557534, Plan No. 501)
for the period January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The annual report
has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as
required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA).

The Board of Trustees of the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan has
committed itself to pay all claims incurred under the terms of the Plan.

Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was

$239,118,635 as of December 31, 2019 compared to $184,235,622 as of
January 1, 2019. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase
in its net assets of $54,883,013. This increase includes unrealized ap-
preciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differ-
ence between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and
the value of the assets at the beginning of the year, or the cost of assets
acquired during the year.

During the plan year, the plan had total income of $145,766,909,
including employer contributions of $124,764,974, employee contribu-
tions of $499,600, realized gains of $2,754,248 from the sale of assets
and earnings from investments of $17,093,981 and other income of
$654,106. Plan expenses were $90,883,896. These expenses included
$13,990,253 in administrative expenses and $76,893,643 in benefits
paid to participants and beneficiaries.

Your Rights to Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or

any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that
report:
n An accountant’s report;
n Financial information and information on payments to service

providers;
n Assets held for investment; and
n Transactions in excess of 5 percent of the plan assets.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write

or call the office of: Margaret Bowen, Administrator, 5201 Capital Gate-
way Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, (301) 899-0675.

The charge to cover copying costs will be $7.50 for the full report,
or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on
request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the
plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses
of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of
the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements
and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The
charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for
the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are
furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual
report at the main office of the plan: Plan Office, 5201 Capital Gate-
way Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, and at the U.S. Department
of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. De-
partment of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the
Department should be addressed to: U.S. Department of Labor, Em-
ployee Benefits Security Administration, Public Disclosure Room,

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Suite N-1513, Washington, D.C. 20210.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.

104-13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection
of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The Depart-
ment notes that a Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it is approved by OMB under the
PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the
public is not required to respond to the collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See
44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of
law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information if the collection of information
does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 44
U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of informa-
tion is estimated to average less than one minute per notice (ap-
proximately 3 hours and 11 minutes per plan). Interested parties
are encouraged to send comments regarding the burden estimate
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Depart-
mental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room
N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@
dol.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1210-0040.

OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 06/30/2022)

Summary Annual Report for Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 6 11/13/20 3:10 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 7

n A total of five scholarships, each worth $20,000, are being offered to depen-
dents (spouses included) to attend four-year courses of study at accredited colleges
or universities. Dependents and spouses of active as well as retired Seafarers may
apply.

Scholarships totalling $132,000 are available under the Seafarers’ 2021 Health and Benefits Plan Scholarship Program. The grants are available to Seafarers and their de-
pendents looking to continue their education. Allocations for each category will be as follows:

Dependents Scholarships

n One $20,000 offering for a four-year course of study at an accredited college or
university
n Two scholarships ($6,000 each) for Seafarers interested in pursuing two-year
courses of study at a community college or vocational school

Seafarers Scholarships
Five scholarships designated for dependents:Three scholarships designated for active Seafarers:

Please send me the 2021 SHBP Scholarship Program Booklet which contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and a
copy of the application form.

Name...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Street Address....................................................................................................................................................................................................
City, State, Zip Code.........................................................................................................................................................................................
Telephone Number ( ) .................................................................................................................................................................................
This application is for: � Self � Dependent
Mail this completed form to: Scholarship Program, Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746

To take advantage of these opportunities, clip, complete and mail the form below, or visit www.seafarers.org, go to the Member Benefits tab,
navigate to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan menu and select Scholarship Booklet (PDF).

Although the booklet says 2016, all information is still current for the 2021 SHBP Scholarships.

12/20

2021 Health and Benefits Plan Scholarship Program

Editor’s note: The following news
release was issued by the Department
of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, East-
ern District of Virginia on Oct. 26.

4 Individuals
Charged in $200K

Coast Guard
Credentialing Scheme

NORFOLK, Va. – Four in-
dividuals have been charged
for their respective roles in a
conspiracy to sell phony Coast
Guard merchant mariner creden-
tials in Norfolk.

According to allegations in
the unsealed indictment, Lamont
Godfrey, 42, of Portsmouth, Eu-
gene Johnson, 45, of Norfolk,
Shunmanique Willis, 43, of
Texas, and Alonzo Williams, 45,
of Louisiana, acted in concert
to create counterfeit certificates
from the Mid-Atlantic Maritime
Academy (MAMA) and sell them
to merchant mariners for a profit.
The MAMA is a private state-of-
the-art maritime training center,
offering mariners over 100 U.S.
Coast Guard approved deck and
engineering courses needed for
merchant mariners to hold vari-
ous positions on merchant ves-
sels. Godfrey worked for the
MAMA as the school’s Chief
Administrator.

According to the indictment,
Godfrey used this position to
create fake MAMA course cer-
tificates for mariners who had
never taken the MAMA courses,

in exchange for thousands of
dollars in payments. The mari-
ners would receive the fake cer-
tificates along with instructions
on how to load them in the Coast
Guard systems and be credited
with a fraudulent Coast Guard
qualification. Johnson, Willis,
and Williams worked with God-
frey as brokers to find additional
mariners willing to buy the fake
certificates. In exchange for
their efforts, Johnson, Willis,
and Williams all received a cut
of the illicit proceeds from the
scheme. In total, the conspiracy
netted over $200,000 in profits
from the production of these
counterfeit MAMA certificates
and involved over 150 mariners
purchasing fraudulent qualifica-
tions.

Godfrey, Johnson, Willis, and
Williams are charged with con-
spiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud,
and aggravated identity theft. If
convicted, they face a mandatory
minimum of two years in prison.
Actual sentences for federal
crimes are typically less than the
maximum penalties. A federal
district court judge will deter-
mine any sentence after taking
into account the U.S. Sentencing
Guidelines and other statutory
factors.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S.
Attorney for the Eastern District
of Virginia, and Marty J. Mar-
tinez, Special Agent in Charge,
Coast Guard Investigative Ser-
vice, Chesapeake Region, made
the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo-
seph L. Kosky is prosecuting
the case.

U.S. Department of Justice
Announces Charges Against

Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy
and families in need is never easy, but doing
it during a worldwide pandemic is almost
impossible,” said AFT Executive Vice Presi-
dent Evelyn DeJesus. “We never could have
gotten these books to kids without the gen-
erosity, tenacity and collaborative ‘can-do’
spirit of the U.S.-flagged shipping compa-
nies Crowley, Matson and TOTE as well as
the Seafarers International Union members.
Thank you so much for the essential work
you do – day in, day out – to provide a stable
and vital lifeline of resources to American
communities and families.”

In Guam, more than 40,000 books have
been delivered from the East Coast by Con-
voy and then shipped across the Pacific
Ocean by Matson Navigation. Volunteers
from the Guam Federation of Teachers
(GFT) and SIU will distribute the books
to pre-K through 12th-grade public school
students and families as soon as island lock-
down restrictions are relaxed.

“Our members are so excited to have so
many and such great books to provide to our
students,” said GFT President Tim Fedenko.
“We are eager to start handing out books as
soon as possible to support student achieve-
ment and to help build the sense of commu-
nity that can be hard to create while doing
remote learning.”

“Crowley is proud and honored to sup-
port the education of children on the island
through the donated transportation of 33,000
books as part of the BookWaves coalition
initiative,” said Crowley Logistics Vice
President, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean,
Salvador Menoyo. “As the longest-serving
U.S. shipping line serving Puerto Rico,
Crowley’s team is dedicated to serving our
friends and neighbors on the island. Sup-
porting Puerto Rico’s youths is a natural part
of our unending commitment.”

TOTE Puerto Rico General Manager
and Vice President of Caribbean Services
Eduardo Pagan said, “While COVID-19 has
changed our world and deeply impacted the
education system, today’s delivery of tens of
thousands of books by First Book, AMPR,
the Transportation Institute and many others
demonstrates that our entire community – on
and off the island – is dedicated to provid-
ing students in Puerto Rico the tools and

resources they need to advance their educa-
tion. This donation is the first of many to
come and TOTE is proud to be a partner in
this initiative that will help shape the future
for Puerto Rico’s young people and create a
positive and lasting impact in our communi-
ties.”

As the coalition focuses on remote and rural
communities in Alaska, nearly 40,000 books
were slated for delivery in November with
an emphasis on STEM and books with Indig-
enous characters, including “Molly of Denali,”
based on the popular PBS animated show.

BookWaves is working with Alaska Ma-
rine Lines, Alaska Communications, North-
ern Air Cargo, Ryanair, TOTE, AFT affiliates
in Alaska, and Alaskan Indigenous organiza-
tions to deliver books to as many rural and
remote communities as possible. According
to Berkowitz, “The broader effort led to a
special partnership between the Alaska fish-
ing philanthropic organization AFIRM and
Western Alaskan Community Development
Quota Program villages to provide access to
books for their local youth. Kids from Atka
to Naknek to Diomede will have an opportu-
nity to select their own high-quality books.”

Along with the books, the AFT is provid-
ing bookplates for kids to write their names
inside their books to give them a sense of
ownership and pride. In Puerto Rico, mate-
rials are in Spanish and English; in Guam,
bilingual English-Chamorro bookmarks in-
clude reading tips for parents on how to help
their children become strong readers; and
blank journals will be provided for students
in Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico so students
have an opportunity to express themselves
and write their own stories.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exac-
erbated an existing crisis in education, es-
pecially for children in poverty. We cannot
allow them to slide further behind while they
are isolated without books and educational
resources – essentially locked out of learn-
ing,” said Kyle Zimmer, president, CEO and
co-founder of First Book. “We are so grateful
that the BookWaves coalition understands
the gravity of this problem and is working
with us to help the kids in greatest need. This
innovative collaboration is helping to engage
some of our country’s most vulnerable chil-
dren at a time when they need that support
the most.”

Continued from Page 5

Coalition Comes to Aid of Students

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 7 11/13/20 4:08 PM



8 Seafarers LOG December 2020

Seafarers Cast Ballots

GUDE Darrell Whitaker (left) is sworn in by Patrolman Eddie Pittman at the Jack-
sonville, Florida, hall prior to voting.

As reported on page 4, SIU members continue voting in the union’s election for
officers. These photos were taken in early November, at the start of the balloting
period.

Recertified Bosun James Blitch votes at the hir-
ing hall in Jacksonville, Florida.

Chief Steward Jatniel Aguilera puts the fin-
ishing touches on his envelopes at the hall
in Puerto Rico.

Immediately prior to voting, GUDE Wayne Gomilion (left) is sworn in by
Patrolman Eddie Pittman at the hall in Jacksonville, Florida.

From left, ABM Janaro Jackson, Recertified Steward Kimberly Strate and Recertified Bosun Donley
Johnson prepare to vote aboard the Taino (Crowley) in Jacksonville, Florida. SIU Port Agent Ashley
Nelson is at right. SIU representatives must show a negative, recent COVID-19 test result before board-
ing the ships for balloting.

Chief Cook Jonathan Perez casts
his ballot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

AB Ruziell Bautista (left) arrives at the hall in
Jacksonville, Florida, to cast his ballot. He’s being
sworn in by Safety Director Joseph Koncul. Members line up to vote in Jacksonville, Florida.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 8 11/13/20 3:10 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 9

“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from Oct.10-Nov. 9. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of Nov. 9.

Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Contribute To The
Seafarers Political Activities Donation

SPAD Works For You.

SPAD

ATTENTION SEAFARERS

December 2020 & January 2021
Membership Meetings

Piney Point...............................Monday: December 7, January 4
Algonac..................................Friday: December 11, January 8
Baltimore...........................Thursday: December 10, January 7
Guam................................Thursday: December 24, January 21
Honolulu..............................Friday: December 18, January 15

Houston..............................Monday: December 14, January 11

Jacksonville....................Thursday: December 10, January 7

Joliet...................................Thursday: December 17, January 14

Mobile..........Wednesday: December 16, January 13

New Orleans.........................Tuesday: December 15, January 12

Jersey City............................Tuesday: December 8, January 5

Norfolk...............................*Friday: December 11, January 8

Oakland..........................Thursday: December 17, January 14

Philadelphia................Wednesday: December 9, January 6

Port Everglades...............Thursday: December 17, January 14

San Juan........................Thursday: December 10, January 7

St. Louis................................Friday: December 18, January 15

Tacoma................*Monday: December 28, Friday: January 22

Wilmington...........................Monday: December 21, January 19

Effective as of September 2, Norfolk changed meeting date
from Thursday after first Sunday to Friday after first Sunday.
Tacoma change due to Christmas Day observance.

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

Without exception, anyone entering an SIU hiring hall or signing
onto a vessel has passed a number of safety protocols, often including
testing for COVID-19, two-week quarantines, and verifying health-
related items on a questionnaire. For that reason, not everyone you
see pictured in the LOG is wearing a mask. In addition, in many
cases, people have briefly removed their masks only long enough
to snap a quick photo. We cannot stress enough the importance of
following all safety protocols for your protection and the protection
of those around you.

Note to Our Readers

In accordance with Seafarers Appeals Board (SAB) Action 480,
and as a precautionary measure due to the continuing COVID-19
pandemic, mariners will be required to get an influenza immunization
(commonly called the flu shot) before sailing or visiting the SIU-af-
filiated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. (This
SAB, titled “Coronavirus Protocols,” took effect in March 2020.)

Effective December 1, all members who plan to sail on a deep-sea
vessel, as well as anyone planning to attend any upgrading classes at
the Paul Hall Center, will have to provide documentation that shows
they have received a flu shot in the past 90 days. This decision was
made jointly between the union and their contracted employers.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in that mariner
being unable to sail and/or attend upgrading classes at the Paul Hall
Center until they receive the immunization. For more information,
contact your local port agent.

Precautionary Measure Calls
For Seafarers to Receive Flu Shots

Correction
In the November LOG, we listed the wrong department for new

SIU pensioner Christopher Maye. Brother Maye, who joined the
union in 1987, sailed in the deck department.

Deck Department
Algonac 16 7 2 9 9 2 3 24 9 0
Anchorage 1 0 0 3 2 1 2 3 2 1
Baltimore 3 0 3 2 3 1 2 6 0 2
Fort Lauderdale 8 2 1 13 8 1 10 25 14 6
Guam 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
Harvey 8 7 5 7 5 2 4 14 8 5
Honolulu 5 2 0 4 0 0 1 9 3 1
Houston 34 12 6 31 17 4 18 71 23 6
Jacksonville 23 21 4 20 19 3 20 62 34 6
Jersey City 23 13 3 20 7 0 7 41 18 4
Joliet 1 4 0 1 3 0 1 2 3 3
Mobile 10 3 4 4 3 4 3 14 4 3
Norfolk 17 5 6 15 4 4 11 34 16 10
Oakland 15 5 1 9 1 1 7 24 5 2
Philadelphia 5 0 1 3 0 1 0 6 4 0
Piney Point 2 1 3 4 0 3 4 1 4 1
Puerto Rico 11 7 1 4 3 0 5 16 6 2
Tacoma 18 4 5 14 7 2 11 41 8 6
St. Louis 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
Wilmington 30 8 4 22 10 1 8 45 19 5
TOTALS 232 102 52 185 102 32 117 442 181 66


Engine Department
Algonac 0 1 2 3 2 1 0 2 1 1
Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Baltimore 5 4 1 2 2 0 2 6 5 1
Fort Lauderdale 3 7 0 4 4 0 2 9 13 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 3 3 0 3 1 0 3 2 7 1
Honolulu 7 0 0 6 3 0 4 8 1 1
Houston 11 8 3 9 6 1 6 20 11 4
Jacksonville 7 11 2 13 12 2 8 27 27 0
Jersey City 11 4 0 6 6 0 2 16 8 0
Joliet 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 1
Mobile 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 6 0
Norfolk 5 10 3 7 12 1 8 14 24 5
Oakland 6 5 3 6 1 2 3 10 6 3
Philadelphia 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0
Piney Point 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0
Puerto Rico 6 1 0 1 1 0 1 10 2 0
Tacoma 7 5 3 5 6 2 6 15 7 2
St. Louis 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 0
Wilmington 5 11 3 7 3 0 4 18 15 4
TOTALS 84 74 20 74 63 9 50 171 139 24


Steward Department
Algonac 2 2 0 3 0 0 2 8 2 0
Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Baltimore 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 3 0
Fort Lauderdale 13 4 1 5 3 1 4 15 10 1
Guam 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
Harvey 5 2 0 6 1 0 3 8 1 0
Honolulu 7 2 0 6 1 0 4 10 2 0
Houston 10 2 1 14 4 0 4 22 9 1
Jacksonville 18 8 4 7 4 4 6 32 14 4
Jersey City 5 1 1 3 1 2 2 9 1 2
Joliet 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
Mobile 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 3 4 0
Norfolk 11 12 3 10 8 0 10 19 20 4
Oakland 9 4 1 5 2 0 5 19 8 2
Philadelphia 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0
Piney Point 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 5 3 0
Puerto Rico 1 4 1 0 3 0 0 4 7 1
Tacoma 6 1 2 7 2 0 4 16 0 3
St. Louis 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 1 0
Wilmington 16 12 0 15 5 0 7 37 18 1
TOTALS 114 60 14 88 36 7 54 218 103 19

Entry Department
Algonac 1 16 10 0 4 6 6 1 17 10
Anchorage 0 1 2 0 3 0 1 1 1 6
Baltimore 0 2 2 0 3 0 2 0 2 2
Fort Lauderdale 0 6 1 0 6 3 4 1 8 4
Guam 0 4 3 0 1 1 0 0 4 1
Harvey 2 1 1 0 4 1 1 2 2 1
Honolulu 0 2 4 2 1 4 0 0 3 4
Houston 5 9 7 2 4 4 0 8 13 15
Jacksonville 1 23 27 2 14 37 12 3 39 35
Jersey City 2 8 5 1 8 5 7 3 19 8
Joliet 0 2 5 0 0 2 1 0 2 5
Mobile 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
Norfolk 0 14 15 0 6 10 5 1 26 29
Oakland 2 11 4 1 6 1 2 3 19 5
Philadelphia 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 1
Piney Point 1 0 7 1 1 5 4 0 0 5
Puerto Rico 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 3
Tacoma 5 4 13 5 3 5 3 4 13 21
St. Louis 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 2
Wilmington 3 18 8 2 7 5 4 3 34 9
TOTALS 23 125 122 17 74 90 54 31 207 171

GRAND TOTAL: 453 361 208 364 275 138 275 862 630 280

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 9 11/13/20 4:08 PM



10 Seafarers LOG December 2020

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

CELEBRATING 52-YEAR CAREER – Shipmates
aboard the USNS Victorious (Crowley Maritime) re-
cently surprised AB Richard “Blue” Hindson with tokens
of appreciation as he transitions to retirement. Hindson,
who sailed for 52 years, received (among other good-
ies) a United States flag that was flown during his final voyage, plus a group photo that will be framed and a plaque that reads, “Fair Wind and Following Seas, Much Love From The
Crew of USNS Victorious T-AGOS 19.” Hindson is pictured at left in photo at left, with vessel master Capt. Horatiu Vintila, and is standing in the middle of the group photo at right.

ABOARD USNS ALGOL – These snapshots from the recent activation of the Ocean Duchess-operated ship were provided by Recertified Bosun Ritche Acuman. Pictured in the
photo above are: OS Matthew Sutterer, BREC Ritche Acuman, AB Jape Geonzon, OS Martin Jakob, AB Eric Williams, AB Richard Grubbs, AB Alexander Bermudez, OS Emmanuel
Nuez, and AB Daniel Fields.

BREC Ritche Acuman, AB Richard Grubbs, AB Daniel Fields AB Alexander Bermudez, OS Emmanuel Nuez

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 10 11/13/20 4:08 PM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 11

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
GRASSROOTS ACTION – Ready to help get out the vote for pro-maritime, pro-worker
candidates in Honolulu are (from left) SIU Port Agent Hazel Galbiso, Administrative
Assistant Shureen Yatchmenoff and Safety Director Amber Akana.

BOOKS GALORE IN JACKSONVILLE – Pictured at the Oct. 8 membership meeting (all are
B seniorities receiving full membership) are (from left) AB Ronald McCray, GUDE Terence
Tripp, and SAs Stacy Davis, Melaethon Silas and Latara Rengifo.

A-BOOK IN LAUDERDALE – Chief Steward Prasert
Mastrototaro displays her newly acquired A-seniority
book at the hiring hall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

A-BOOK IN HOUSTON – AB Dennis Mariveles (left) receives his A-seniority book at the hiring hall. He’s pictured with Patrol-
man Kelly Krick (wearing a Corpus Christi Hooks jersey, the Hooks being a minor-league affiliate of the Astros).

FULL BOOKS AT WATCO – Seafarers Scott Smith Jr. (photo at left) and Sean
Wannamaker (right in photo at right, with SIU Patrolman Edwin Ruiz Jr.) recently
received their full B-books. Smith is pictured at the Watco Marine Transfer Station
in Elizabeth, New Jersey, while Wannamaker and Ruiz are pictured at company
facilities in Brooklyn, New York.

B-BOOKS IN SAN JUAN – Receiving their books at the hiring all are (photo at left) QE4 Jose Alicea
(left, with SIU Port Agent Amancio Crespo) and QMED James Sanchez (right in photo at right, also
with Crespo).

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 11 11/13/20 3:10 AM



12 Seafarers LOG December 2020

Michael Sacco, President
Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer
George Tricker, Vice President Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast
Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Kate Hunt,
Vice President Government Services

HEADQUARTERS
5201 Capital Gateway Drive,

Camp Springs, MD 20746
(301) 899-0675

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

(810) 794-4988

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

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

GUAM
P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932
Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B

422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910
(671) 477-1350

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
625 N. York St., Houston, TX 77003

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 281-2622

JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306

(201) 434-6000

JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 444-2360

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

(215) 336-3818

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

(301) 994-0010

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

(954) 522-7984

SAN JUAN
659 Hill Side St., Summit Hills

San Juan, PR 00920
(787) 721-4033

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

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

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

(310) 549-4000

Seafarers International
Union Directory Inquiring Seafarer

This month’s question was answered by upgraders at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Maryland.

Question: Any plans for 2021?

Pic From
The Past

If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the
Seafarers LOG, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital
images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org

Quandell Freeman
Steward Assistant

I’m just ready to get out there and
sail again. I’m also saving up to buy a
house next year. The pandemic hasn’t
really affected me much, because I
would have been upgrading here at
Piney Point anyway.

Wordell Prescott
Oiler

I plan to ship out, and sail
for as many days as I can. I’ve
been taking classes at the Paul
Hall Center so that, when I get
back out there, I’m making more
money and I’m able to sail on
more types of ships.

Ahmed Mohamed
Mohamed Eissa

AB
To get my license, keep

upgrading and moving on up.
They’ve really been taking care
of us here at the school while I’ve
been upgrading.

Thedford Jones
OMU

Mostly going to ship out and
get on some new and different ves-
sels. I shipped out on some LNG
ships earlier this year, and that was
a good experience. I would ideally
like to get back on one of those.

Brian Smith
QMED

I think I’m going to go back to sail-
ing on the Lakes, and work out there
for a bit. Or maybe get on a Maersk
or Crowley ship; I’ve always enjoyed
sailing on those in the past.

Carleton Jenkins
GUDE

Get back out on the water and run it
up. I also plan to start investing in real
estate, and get a couple of properties to
use as my first investments.

Locomotives are loaded
onto the SIU-crewed Robin
Gray (Moore-McCormack
Lines) April 15, 1960 at the
pier on 22nd Street in Brook-
lyn, New York.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 12 11/13/20 3:10 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 13

DEEP SEA

JOHN BLUITT
Brother John Bluitt, 65, began
sailing with the Seafarers in 1971
when he shipped aboard the New-
ark. He was a deck department
member and last sailed aboard the
Little Hales. Brother Bluitt is a resi-
dent of New Port Richey, Florida.

ROBERT CANDO
Brother Robert Cando, 66, donned
the SIU colors in 1990, first sail-
ing aboard the Cape Ann. He
worked in the deck department
and upgraded at the Piney Point
school on several occasions.
Brother Cando most recently
shipped on the William R. Button.
He makes his home in Newport
News, Virginia.

MARCO GUITY
Brother Marco Guity, 62, signed

on with the union
in 1989 when he
sailed aboard the
Independence. A
steward depart-
ment member, he
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple oc-
casions. Brother
Guity’s final ves-

sel was the Garden State. He is a
Houston resident.

JEFFREY KASS
Brother Jeffrey Kass, 67, began his
career with the
SIU in 1974, ini-
tially shipping on
the Ft. Hoskins.
He sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded on
several occasions
at the Piney Point
school. Brother
Kass last shipped on the Philadel-
phia. He resides in Canada.

HOLLY KEAR
Sister Holly Kear, 65, embarked
on her career with the Seafarers

in 1992. She up-
graded her skills
at the Paul Hall
Center in 2001
and was a mem-
ber of the stew-
ard department.
Sister Kear sailed
both first and
last aboard the
Independence.

She makes her home in Norwalk,
Connecticut.

WILFRED LAMBEY
Brother Wilfred Lambey, 65,
began shipping with the union
in 1993, initially sailing on the
Independence. A steward depart-
ment member, he upgraded at the
union-affiliated Piney Point school
on multiple occasions. Brother
Lambey last shipped aboard the
Seabulk Challenge. He lives in
Houston.

PAULO LEITE
Brother Paulo Leite, 63, joined
the SIU in 2001 and first sailed

on the Cape
Jacob. He was
a member of the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Paul Hall
Center on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Leite
most recently
sailed aboard

the Maersk Saratoga. He lives in
Hazlet, New Jersey.

JAMES PATRICK
Brother James
Patrick, 65,
signed on with
the SIU in
1990 when he
shipped aboard
the Del Monte.
He sailed in the
deck department
and concluded
his career
aboard the Eugene A. Obregon.
Brother Patrick settled in Stuart,
Florida.

MIKHAIL PINCHEVSKIY
Brother Mikhail Pinchevskiy,
69, began sailing with the SIU in
2000. Shipping as a deck depart-
ment member, his first vessel
was the Global Mariner. Brother
Pinchevskiy upgraded at the Piney
Point school on multiple occa-
sions. He last sailed aboard the
Resolve and makes his home in
Hallandale Beach, Florida.

CARY PRATTS
Brother Cary Pratts, 64, started ship-
ping with the Seafarers in 1979, ini-
tially sailing aboard the Point Judy.
He sailed in the engine department
and upgraded often at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother Pratts last sailed on
the Overseas Anacortes. He resides
in Slidell, Louisiana.

PABLO ROCHEZ
Brother Pablo Rochez, 65, donned

the SIU colors
in 2001. His
first vessel was
the Maersk
Maryland and
he sailed in the
deck department.
Brother Ro-
chez upgraded
on numerous
occasions at

the Piney Point school. He most
recently sailed aboard the Maersk
Denver and settled in the Bronx,
New York.

AHMED SUWAILEH
Brother Ahmed Suwaileh, 65,
joined the union in 1991 when
he shipped on the Defender. He
sailed in all three departments and
concluded his career aboard the
Puget Sound. Brother Suwaileh
makes his home in Dearborn,
Michigan.

DANIEL TICER
Brother Daniel Ticer, 68, embarked
on his career with the SIU in 1980
when he sailed aboard the Point
Judy. He worked in the deck de-
partment and upgraded at the Piney
Point school on several occasions.
Brother Ticer last shipped on the
Horizon Pacific. He calls Manteca,
California, home.

JAMES ZAVATSKY
Brother James Zavatsky, 65,
began his career with the SIU in
1997. He sailed
in the steward
department
and upgraded
at the Paul
Hall Center on
multiple occa-
sions. Brother
Zavatsky’ s
first vessel was
the USNS Stalwart; his last, the
USNS Pathfinder. He lives in
Mesquite, Nevada.

GREAT LAKES

MICHAEL
LABAR
Brother Mi-
chael Labar, 65,
joined the SIU
in 1989 when he
shipped on the
H. Lee White.
He upgraded at
the Piney Point

school in 1991 and primarily
sailed in the engine department.
Brother Labar’s final vessel was
the Indiana Harbor. He makes his
home in Manistique, Michigan.

CHARLES LARSON
Brother Charles
Larson, 65,
began shipping
with the union in
1998, first sailing
on the Indiana
Harbor. The deck
department mem-
ber’s final vessel
was the Presque
Isle. Brother Larson resides in El
Mirage, Arizona.

DOYLE LING
Brother Doyle Ling, 65, signed on
with the Seafarers in 1977. He sailed
as a deck department member and
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center on
several occasions. Brother Ling’s
first vessel was the St. Claire; his
last, the Walter J. McCarthy. He
settled in Avoca, Michigan.

MARK ROBERTSON
Brother Mark Robertson, 65,
embarked on his career with the
SIU in 1973 when he shipped
aboard the Lewis G. Harriman.
He was a deck department mem-
ber and last sailed on the Over-
seas Juneau. Brother Robertson
makes his home in Alpena,
Michigan.

ALLAN WIRGAU
Brother Allan
Wirgau, 65,
donned the SIU
colors in 1973,
initially sail-
ing aboard the
J.A.W. Iglehart.
He shipped
in the engine
department,
most recently aboard the Paul H.
Townsend. Brother Wirgau settled
in Alpena, Michigan.

TIMOTHY ZIEMKE
Brother Timothy Ziemke, 69,
began sailing with the Seafar-
ers in 1972. Sailing in both the
deck and engine departments, he
worked with Erie Navigation and
sailed aboard the JR Emery for
the majority of his career. Brother
Ziemke lives in Sandusky, Ohio.

INLAND

DONALD ANDERSON
Brother Donald Anderson, 70,
started shipping with the union
in 1970 when he was employed
by Inland Tugs. He last worked
for Eagle Marine Industries and
makes his home in Groves, Texas.

KENNETH ARNOLD
Brother Kenneth Arnold, 62, be-

came a member
of the SIU in
1996, first work-
ing for Crowley.
He sailed in the
deck department
and remained
with the same
company for
the duration of

his career. Brother Arnold calls
Runnemede, New Jersey, home.

LAWRENCE HENSLEY
Brother Lawrence Hensley, 65,
embarked on his career with the
SIU in 1978 when he worked for
Southern Ohio Towing. A deck
department member, he upgraded
his skills at the Paul Hall Center in
1979. Brother Hensley last worked
for Interstate Oil. He is a resident
of Seaford, Delaware.

WILLIAM LENFESTEY
Brother William Lenfestey, 67,
started his career with the Seafar-
ers in 2002, initially sailing on the
Sound Reliance. He sailed in the
deck department and upgraded at
the Piney Point school on several
occasions. Brother Lenfestey most
recently sailed aboard the Legend.
He lives in Spring Hill, Florida.

KJELL LIADAL
Brother Kjell Liadal, 65, joined
the union in 1998. Sailing in the
deck department, he was first em-
ployed by Crowley Towing and
Transportation. Brother Liadal
upgraded often at the Paul Hall

Center. He last worked for Penn
Maritime and resides in Orange
Park, Florida.

VINCENT LORMAND
Brother Vincent Lormand, 64,
signed on with the union in 2004.
He was an engine department
member and shipped with Crow-
ley Towing & Transportation for
the duration of his career. Brother
Lormand lives in Cecilia, Loui-
siana.

WAYNE PETERS
Brother Wayne Peters, 62,
donned the SIU colors in 1980.
A deck depart-
ment member,
he sailed with
Crowley Towing
and Transporta-
tion for his entire
career. Brother
Peters upgraded
his skills at the
Piney Point
school on numerous occasions.
He makes his home in Panama
City, Florida.

FELIX PRIETO QUINONES
Brother Felix Prieto Quinones, 62,
began shipping with the SIU in
1977 when he worked for Crowley
Puerto Rico Services. He was a
member of the deck department
and concluded his career with
Puerto Rico Towing & Barge.
Brother Prieto Quinones is a
Puerto Rico resident.

WILLIAM RACETTE
Brother William Racette, 64,
joined the SIU in 1977, initially
working with Northeast Towing.
He was an engine department
member and upgraded on sev-
eral occasions at the Piney Point
school. Brother Racette most
recently sailed with Crowley
Towing and Transportation. He
resides in Como, North Caro-
lina.

RANDY WATSON
Brother Randy Watson, 60, signed
on with the union in 1978 when
he worked for Interstate Oil. He
sailed in the deck department and
upgraded his skills at the union-
affiliated Paul Hall Center on nu-
merous occasions. Brother Watson
last worked for OSG Ship Man-
agement. He lives in Greenville,
North Carolina.

LOUIS WATTIGNEY
Brother Louis Wattigney, 63,

became a
member of the
SIU in 1978.
A deck depart-
ment member,
he worked for
Crescent Towing
and Salvage for
his entire career.
Brother Wat-

tigney calls Belle Chasse, Louisi-
ana, home.

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 water-
ways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members
who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those
members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days
ahead.

Welcome Ashore

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 13 11/13/20 3:10 AM



14 Seafarers LOG December 2020

DEEP SEA

GREGORIO ALGARIN
Pensioner Gregorio Algarin, 74,
died September 15.
He signed on with
the union in 1976
and was a deck de-
partment member.
Brother Algarin
first shipped with
Crowley Puerto
Rico Services. He
last sailed on the
Expedition before going on pen-
sion in 2001. Brother Algarin was a
Puerto Rico resident.

JABER ALI
Pensioner Jaber Ali, 81, passed
away November 1. He began his
career with the SIU in 1969 when he
shipped on the Elizabeth. Brother Ali
was a member of the steward depart-
ment and last sailed on the Lurline.
He became a pensioner in 2009 and
made his home in San Francisco.

ROBERT COLEMAN
Brother Robert Coleman, 57, died
September 25. He started ship-
ping with the SIU in 1988 when he
worked with G&H Towing. A deck
department member, Brother Cole-
man most recently sailed aboard the
Brenton Reef. He lived in Houston.

STEVE FABRITSIS
Pensioner Steve Fabritsis, 76,
passed away October 29. He joined

the Seafarers In-
ternational Union
in 1972, initially
sailing aboard the
Bradford Island.
Brother Fabritsis
was a member of
the deck department
and last shipped

on the Philadelphia Express. He
became a pensioner in 2009 and
settled in Galena Park, Texas.

EDWARD MARTIN
Pensioner Edward Martin, 93, died
November 5. Signing
on with the union in
1963, he was first
employed by Isco Inc.
Brother Martin sailed
in the steward depart-
ment and last worked
as a Sealand Port
Steward. He went on
pension in 1993 and
resided in Freehold, New Jersey.

JOSEPH MELE
Pensioner Joseph Mele, 69, passed
away October 17. He began sail-

ing with the SIU
in 1969 when he
sailed aboard the
Longview Victory.
Brother Mele was
a deck department
member and most
recently shipped
on the Horizon Ha-

waii. He retired in 2008 and lived in
Puerto Rico.

VICTOR MONDECI
Pensioner Victor Mondeci, 78, died

September 22. He
donned the SIU
colors in 1969, ini-
tially sailing aboard
the Reiss Brothers.
Brother Mondeci
sailed in all three
departments and
concluded his ca-
reer aboard the Fredericksburg. He
went on pension in 2013 and was a
New York resident.

GEORGE NICHOLSON
Pensioner George Nicholson, 92,
passed away March 5. He embarked

on his career with
the Seafarers in
1966, initially
shipping on the
Steel Design. A
steward department
member, Brother
Nicholson was
last employed by
Michigan Tankers.

He began collecting his pension in
1993 and settled in Chicago.

MICHAEL NOBLE
Pensioner Michael Noble, 68, died
September 11. He
began his career
with the SIU in
1971, initially sail-
ing aboard the Rose
City. Brother Noble
was a member of
the deck depart-
ment and concluded
his career on the
Intrepid. He became a pensioner in
2008 and resided in San Francisco.

KIRK PIPER
Pensioner Kirk Piper, 66, passed
away October 6. He signed on with

the union in 1976
and first sailed
aboard the Zapata
Ranger. Brother
Piper sailed in the
deck department
and concluded his
career aboard the
Westward Venture.

He began collecting his pension in
2019 and made his home in Excel-
sior, Minnesota.

ROBERTO QUELIZA
Pensioner Roberto Queliza, 71,
passed away September 10. He
joined the Seafarers in 1991 and
first sailed on the Independence.
Brother Queliza was a deck depart-
ment member. He last shipped on
the Horizon Pacific and retired in
2015. Brother Queliza lived in Al-
ameda, California.

CHANCIE RANSOM
Pensioner Chancie Ransom, 76, died
October 20. He signed on with the
union in 1997 and was a steward de-
partment member. Brother Ransom
first sailed aboard the Perseverance.
He continued to sail on the same
vessel until retiring in 2010. Brother
Ransom settled in Clayton, North
Carolina.

MARTIN RODRIGUEZ
Pensioner Martin Rodriguez, 84,
passed away October 26. He first

sailed with the NMU prior to the
2001 SIU/NMU Merger. Brother
Rodriguez was a deck department
member. He last sailed aboard the
Alliance Richmond in 2014 and
settled in Port Arthur, Texas.

RICHARD THOMAS
Pensioner Richard Thomas, 83,
passed away October 16. He joined

the union in 1977
and first shipped
aboard the Seque-
hanna. A member
of the deck depart-
ment, Brother
Thomas last sailed
on the Rover. He
retired in 2002 and

made his home in Temple, Texas.

FRANK THOMPSON
Pensioner Frank Thompson, 76,
died October 25. He became a
member of the SIU in 1991 when
he shipped on the Sealift Mediterra-
nean. Brother Thompson was a deck
department member. He last sailed
on the Maersk Memphis and retired
in 2015. Brother Thompson resided
in Jacksonville, Florida.

PETER TUSA
Pensioner Peter Tusa, 72, passed
away October 15. He signed on
with the SIU in
1984. Brother Tusa
was a deck depart-
ment member and
first shipped on
the Independence.
He concluded his
career aboard the
Jack Lummus and
became a pensioner
in 2013. Brother Tusa lived in
Moriches, New York.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN
Brother Michael Vaughan, 63, died
July 28. He donned the SIU colors
in 2012 when he shipped on the
President Jackson. Brother Vaughan
primarily worked in the steward
department and most recently sailed
on the Maersk Idaho. He resided in
Norfolk, Virginia.

ANGEL VELEZ
Pensioner Angel Velez, 82, passed
away October 8. He embarked on

his career with the
Seafarers in 1973,
initially sailing
on the Warrior.
Brother Velez pri-
marily sailed in the
deck department
and last shipped
aboard the Cru-
sader. He became

a pensioner in 2002 and made his
home in Puerto Rico.

JERRY WEIDLE
Brother Jerry Wei-
dle, 81, died June
27. He joined the
union in 1978 and
sailed in the stew-
ard department.
Brother Weidle’s
first vessel was the
Santa Mariana; his
last the Santa Maria. He lived in

Redwood City, California.

INLAND

CHARLES BARNES
Brother Charles Barnes, 59, passed
away September 20. He joined the
Seafarers in 1987 and sailed in both
the deck and engine departments.
Brother Barnes worked with G&H
Towing for his entire career. He
lived in Rockport, Texas.

HARRY BRYAN
Pensioner Harry
Bryan, 82, died Oc-
tober 9. A deck de-
partment member,
he signed on with
the SIU in 1996.
Brother Bryan was
employed by Crow-
ley for his entire
career and retired in 2003. He was a
resident of Edgewater, Florida.

JAMES CAIN
Pensioner James Cain, 93, passed
away October 30. He signed on
with the union in 1965 when he was
employed by Meyle Towing. A deck
department member, Brother Cain
last shipped with McAllister Towing
of Philadelphia. He began collect-
ing his pension in 1991 and lived in
Glenolden, Pennsylvania.

CLYDE ELLISON
Pensioner Clyde Ellison, 94, passed
away October 13. He joined the
union in 1974 when he worked for
Mariner Towing. Brother Ellison
sailed in the deck department and
concluded his career with Crowley
Towing and Transportation. He went
on pension in 1990 and settled in
Patterson, North Carolina.

BORNIE HOBBS
Pensioner Bornie Hobbs, 79, died
September 6. He embarked on his

career with the SIU
in 1976. Brother
Hobbs first worked
for National Ma-
rine Service and
was a member of
the deck depart-
ment. He last
sailed with HVIDE
Marine, and be-

came a pensioner in 2002. Brother
Hobbs resided in Foley, Alabama.

DEAN MARCUS
Pensioner Dean Marcus, 84, passed
away September 17. He joined the
Seafarers in 1976, first working for
Moran Towing of Texas. A member
of the deck department, Brother
Marcus last worked for National
Marine Service. He went on pen-
sion in 1998 and called Port Lavaca,
Texas, home.

ANTHONY MCNEIL
Brother Anthony McNeil, 52, died
September 12. He signed on with
the union in 1999 when he shipped
aboard the Cape Lookout Shoals.
Brother McNeil sailed in the engine
department. He was most recently
employed by Penn Maritime and

was a resident of Pamplico, South
Carolina.

BERNARD MOOD
Pensioner Bernard Mood, 72, passed
away October 11. He donned the
SIU colors in 1979,
initially sailing
aboard the Sugar
Island. Brother
Mood was a deck
department mem-
ber. He last worked
for Great Lakes
Dredge and Dock
before retiring
in 2009. Brother
Mood lived in Meadville, Pennsyl-
vania.

EDWARD O’CONNELL
Pensioner Edward O’Connell, 75,
died October 26. He signed on with
the union in 1991, and his first
vessel was the Relentless. Brother
O’Connell worked in the deck de-
partment and most recently shipped
aboard the Integrity. He retired in
2018 and called Beaufort, South
Carolina, home.

STEPHEN STRUVE
Pensioner Stephen Struve, 79, died

October 17. He
joined the union
in 1994. Brother
Struve primarily
sailed in the stew-
ard department and
worked for Orgulf
Transport for the
duration of his ca-

reer. He became a pensioner in 2003
and made his home in Florence,
Kentucky.

NMU
In addition to the foregoing individ-
uals, the following union members
have also passed away. Insufficient
information was available to de-
velop summaries of their respective
careers.

NAME AGE DOD
Alfaro, Albert 94 10/10/2020
Bourque, Beverly 77 11/02/2020
Casson, Paul 63 09/25/2020
Cunningham, A. 96 10/22/2020
Dyer, Cleveland 102 11/03/2020
English, Julius 92 10/10/2020
Gibson, Joe 91 11/01/2020
Green, James 75 10/31/2020
Johnson, Lawrence 90 10/24/2020
Kozak, Anthony 89 10/06/2020
Massiah, Winston 91 10/16/2020
Mgreos, Juan 86 09/07/2020
O’Malley, Brian 71 10/24/2020
Perry, Edward 79 11/04/2020
Vanase, John 80 08/26/2020
Woolford, Merrick 88 10/19/2020
Yahya, Saleh 90 10/14/2020
Zepeda, Rene 76 07/22/2020

Final
Departures

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 14 11/13/20 3:10 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 15

Digest of Shipboard
Union Meetings

PRESQUE ISLE (Key Lakes II,
Inc.), March 29 – Chairman Tony
Sivola, Secretary Hazza Hussein,
Educational Director Roderick
Thomas. New gym equipment on
ship. Chairman reviewed list of
COVID-19 symptoms to be aware
of and advised members to regularly
monitor their health. He encouraged
crew to report any illnesses early
on and to practice social distancing.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members discussed Article IX and
suspension of certain shipping rules.
Self-restricting to ship may help to
avoid virus exposure. New soda and
rowing machines ordered for ship.

AMERICAN SPIRIT (American
Steamship), April 11 – Chairman
Paul Gohs, Secretary Khaled Ala-
saadi, Educational Director Michael
Kruse. Chairman discussed marine
safety information bulletins and
COVID-19 updates that may affect
mariner documents and/or shipping
rules. He informed members of SIU
headquarters address change (only
the street name changed). Educa-
tional director announced temporary
closure of Piney Point school and
went over STCW renewal require-
ments. No beefs or disputed OT re-
ported. Crew requested more reliable
Wi-Fi service and discussed adding
internet availability to future con-
tracts. Members requested amend-
ment for insurance coverage as some
may be unable to put in required
time due to coronavirus. Crew was
reminded to wash hands often.

BURNS HARBOR (American
Steamship), April 26 – Chairman
Foaad Saleh, Secretary Holly
Norick, Educational Director Ben
Skuban. Members were advised to
upgrade once school reopens and
to keep credentials current. Crew
discussed Seafarers Health and Ben-
efits Plan scholarships and reviewed
latest news on COVID-19. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Members
were reminded to wash hands fre-
quently and encouraged to vote.
Crew requested new TVs in rooms
and better Wi-Fi.

WALTER J. MCCARTHY (Arm-
strong Steamship), April 26 – Chair-
man Waleed Mohsin, Secretary
Theophil Igielski, Educational

Director Abdulwali Suwaileh,
Deck Delegate Jaber Jaber. Crew
talked about upgrading courses at
the Piney Point school and the global
coronavirus pandemic. Chairman re-
minded members to stay away from
union halls if they show symptoms
of the virus and to contact union for
any questions about the school. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew
working together and staying safe.

PRESQUE ISLE (Key Lakes II,
Inc.), May 3 – Chairman Tony
Sivola, Secretary Hazza Hussein,
Educational Director Roderick
Thomas. Restrictions to ship due to
COVID-19. Union modified ship-
ping rules for the month of April, as
a precaution. Educational director
reminded members to cover their
mouths when coughing and sneezing
and to wash hands regularly with
soap and hot water. Deck delegate
thanked steward department for a
job well done. Crew pledged to take
extra steps to ensure safety while
promoting maximum participation in
upcoming elections. Members want
captain to ease restrictions on going
up the street. Crew was instructed to
continue to wear masks and to report
any occurring symptoms of illness
immediately.

AMERICAN MARINER (Ameri-
can Steamship), June 2 – Chairman
Scott Krajniak, Secretary Daniel
Kane, Educational Director Robert
Crosby, Engine Delegate Michael
Lau. Chairman encouraged crew
to vote in both national and union
elections. He reminded members to
register within 72 hours at the union
hall after completing their tour.
Chairman complimented galley crew
for doing an outstanding job. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Next
port: Superior, Wisconsin.

PRESQUE ISLE (Key Lakes II,
Inc.), June 21 – Chairman Tony
Sivola, Secretary Hazza Hussein.
Chairman reminded crew of up-
coming elections and encouraged
everyone to vote. Educational di-
rector urged members to check all
documents for expiration dates and
to upgrade at Piney Point whenever
possible. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Steward delegate gave spe-
cial thanks to second cook for a job

well done. Crew was advised to wash
hands often, wear masks and continue
practicing safety precautions.

INDIANA HARBOR (American
Steamship), June 25 – Chairman
Jeremy Shenett, Secretary Saleh
Saleh, Educational Director Peter
Morrison Jr., Deck Delegate
Abdullah Algalham, Steward Del-
egate David Warner. Chairman
reiterated the importance of wearing
masks and washing hands during
pandemic. Members discussed ques-
tions regarding new contract and
possibility of manpower changes.
Secretary reminded crew to make
sure they allow plenty of time to
renew credentials. Educational direc-
tor recommended members upgrade
at the union-affiliated Piney Point
school. Deck delegate encouraged
crew to stay safe and work together.
Members were reminded to leave
clean rooms for oncoming crew.
Next port: Duluth, Minnesota.

BURNS HARBOR (American
Steamship), August 16 – Chairman
Paul Gohs, Secretary Bernard
Lawes, Educational Director Mo-
hamed Ahmed. Crew reviewed
August Seafarers LOG and discussed
merger of American Steamship
Company and Rand Logistics, Inc.
Members went over new SHLSS
COVID-19 safety precautions and
were reminded of upcoming union
elections. Educational director recom-
mended crew upgrade at Piney Point.
He discussed BST renewal and ex-
plained how to renew as early as six
months in advance, with no lost time
on new MMC. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew voiced concerns
over contract renewal with American
Steamship. Chairman warned of
ongoing rumors and urged members
to wait for facts to be released once
negotiations conclude. As members
of a union, crew was reminded of
hardships they must sometimes face
to ensure the good of all, especially
when negotiations are taking place
during a pandemic. Members feel that
all should have the ability to work
both Lakes and Deep-Sea division if
and when necessary.

MOHAWK (JM Ship, LLC.), Octo-
ber 4 – Chairman Timothy Kauble,
Secretary Alan Bartley, Educational

Director Andres Nunez-Rochez,
Deck Delegate Ibrahim Fisek,
Engine Delegate Gary Longmire
Jr. Chairman asked crew to restow
workout equipment after use due to
rough seas. Rooms to be inspected
for oncoming crew. Chairman
informed crew of AB relief upon
arrival at Long Beach, October 7.
No reliefs yet for 2 QMEDs and
Steward. Secretary thanked crew for
keeping mess hall clean. Educational
director told everyone to check
their documents and to renew them
early. He encouraged members to
upgrade at the Piney Point school.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.

Crew reviewed October LOG and
numerous items from the union re-
lated to COVID-19. Members would
like better flights when joining the
ship. Crew asked for clarification
of duties for anchor watch by ABs.
Steward department was asked to do
officer’s rooms, though it has never
been done before and is not stated
in the contract. Chairman spoke to
captain after meeting about room
sanitary inspections for departing
crew. New mattresses needed in
rooms. Members are not permitted
to smoke in rooms and if caught, can
be terminated by captain. Next port:
Long Beach, California.

The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as pos-
sible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted.

Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requir-
ing 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.

Spotlight on Mariner Health

Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a contagious viral ill-
ness that can cause nerve injury leading to pa-
ralysis, shortness of breath, and on rare occasions,
death.

The last case of polio that occurred naturally in
the United States was in 1979. Despite a world-
wide effort to wipe out the disease, the polio virus
continues to affect children and adults in parts of
Asia and Africa.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
advises individuals to take precautions to protect
themselves from the illness, especially if they are
traveling to locations that are considered high-
risk.

Adults who are traveling to these areas, and
who had the polio vaccine administered as a
child, should get a booster shot of inactivated
polio virus vaccine (IPV). This will boost their
immunity for a lifetime. It’s important to remem-
ber that people must complete the entire series of
the polio vaccinations in order to be completely
immunized.

Polio can be transmitted through direct contact
with someone infected with the virus or through
contaminated food and water. The polio virus

lives in the throats and the intestines of people
who are infected.

People carrying the virus can spread it for
weeks in their stools/feces.

A person who is exposed to the polio virus
potentially could exhibit one or more of the fol-
lowing symptoms: paralysis, fever, sore throat,
headache, vomiting, fatigue, back pain, neck pain,
pain in the arms or legs, and muscle weakness.

Contracting the most serious form of the dis-
ease is rare, but possible. In such instances, indi-
viduals could exhibit all or some of the foregoing
symptoms and also develop loss of reflexes,
floppy limbs, difficulty breathing, and intolerance
to cold temperatures. Everyone is advised to see
their doctor if they suspect any possibly link to a
polio exposure.

Treatments for polio are mostly supportive in
nature and consist of bed rest, pain medications,
antispasmodic drugs to relax muscles, portable
ventilators to help with breathing, and physical
therapy along with braces to help with walking.

Everyone is advised to get their vaccinations
and booster shots as instructed in order to build
up their immunity.

24 whole salmon fillet
¼ cup smart balance
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, ground
5 cups fresh strawberries,

chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup fresh basil leaf, chopped
¼ cup honey
¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground

Preparation
Brush fillets with melted but-

ter; sprinkle with granulated garlic
salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet
over medium-high heat. Add fillets,
skin side up, in batches if necessary;
cook 2-3 minutes on each side or
until fish just begins to flake easily

with a fork.
In a bowl, toss strawberries with

basil, honey salt, and pepper. Serve
salmon with relish.

Nutrition Information
Per serving (excluding unknown

items): 218 calories; 6g fat (25.4%
calories from fat); 34g protein; 5g
carbohydrate; 1g dietary fiber; 88mg
cholesterol; 428mg sodium. Ex-
changes: 0 grain (starch); 5 lean meat;
0 fruit; 0 fat; 0 other carbohydrates.

Editor’s note: The foregoing
recipe was provided by Chef Rob-
ert “RJ” Johnson of the of the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education’s Lundeberg School
of Seamanship.

Polio Poses Threats to Some Travelers Seared Salmon
With Strawberry Basil Relish

Servings: 24

Aboard Matson Anchorage
– Recertified Bosun Shawn
Strand submitted these
photos from the vessel in
its namesake port: Anchor-
age, Alaska. “We parted a
mooring wire” on Oct. 25,
the bosun reported. “The
boys were called out. We
had that wire spliced and
back on the dock in an hour.
They did an awesome job!”
In the photos are Strand
(immediate right) and (di-
rectly below, from left) ABs
Abdul Ahmed and Rudy
Monopolio. The damaged
wire is shown at middle
right while the finished
product appears below it. .

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 15 11/13/20 3:10 AM



16 Seafarers LOG December 2020

FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitu-
tion of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and In-
land Waters District makes specific provision
for safeguarding the membership’s money
and union finances. The constitution requires
a detailed audit by certified public accoun-
tants every year, which is to be submitted to
the membership by the secretary-treasurer.
A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file
members, elected by the membership, each
year examines the finances of the union and
reports fully their findings and recommenda-
tions. Members of this committee may make
dissenting reports, specific recommendations
and separate findings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters Dis-
trict are administered in accordance with the
provisions of various trust fund agreements.
All these agreements specify that the trustees
in charge of these funds shall equally consist
of union and management representatives and
their alternates. All expenditures and disburse-
ments of trust funds are made only upon ap-
proval by a majority of the trustees. All trust
fund financial records are available at the
headquarters of the various trust funds.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s ship-
ping rights and seniority are protected ex-
clusively by contracts between the union and
the employers. Members should get to know
their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts
are posted and available in all union halls. If
members believe there have been violations of
their shipping or seniority rights as contained
in the contracts between the union and the em-
ployers, they should notify the Seafarers Ap-
peals Board by certified mail, return receipt

requested. The proper address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746

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

CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts
are available in all SIU halls. These contracts
specify the wages and conditions under which
an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship
or boat. Members should know their contract
rights, as well as their obligations, such as fil-
ing for overtime (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 SEA-
FARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG tradition-
ally has refrained from publishing any article
serving the political purposes of any individual
in the union, officer or member. It also has re-
frained from publishing articles deemed harm-
ful to the union or its collective membership.
This established policy has been reaffirmed
by membership action at the September 1960
meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon-
sibility for Sea farers LOG policy is vested in an
editorial board which consists of the executive
board of the union. The executive board may
delegate, from among its ranks, one individual
to carry out this responsibility.

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

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

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

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

SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY

DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate
segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to fur-
ther its objects and purposes including, but
not limited to, furthering the political, social
and economic interests of maritime workers,
the preservation and furthering of the Ameri-
can merchant marine with improved employ-
ment opportunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD sup-
ports and contributes to political candidates
for elective office. All contributions are vol-
untary. 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 In-
ternational Union or SPAD by certified mail
within 30 days of the contribution for inves-
tigation and appropriate action and refund, if
involuntary. A member should support SPAD
to protect and further his or her economic,
political and social interests, and American
trade union concepts.

NOTIFYING THE UNION — If at any
time a member feels that any of the above
rights have been violated, or that he or she has
been denied the constitutional right of access
to union records or information, the member
should immediately notify SIU President Mi-
chael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The address is:

Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Know Your Rights

The union occasionally sends text messages to Seafar-
ers (and others) who have signed up for such alerts. Those
texts contain information relevant to members’ careers,
including important news about the SIU, its contracted
companies and the industry as a whole. The messages may
include alerts about open jobs, information about grass-
roots campaigns, and other time-sensitive bulletins.

The SIU does not charge for this service, but there may
be costs associated with receiving messages, depending on
an individual’s phone-service plan that they have with their
provider. People can unsubscribe from SIU text alerts at
any time, simply by texting the word STOP to 97779.

To sign up for the alerts, text the word JOIN to 97779.

Terms and Conditions
By signing up for this service, you acknowledge that

you understand there may be costs associated with the re-
ceipt by you of such text messages depending on the cell
phone service plan that you have with your provider. You
are providing your cell phone number and your consent to
use it for these purposes with the understanding that your
cell phone number will not be distributed to anyone else
without your express consent and that this service will not
at any time be used for the purpose of distributing cam-
paign materials for official elections for union office.

Notice/Reminders About
SIU Text Message Alerts

Union Member Rights, Officer Responsibilities Under
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act

The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclo-
sure Act (LMRDA) guarantees certain rights to
union members and imposes certain responsibilities
on union officers. The Office of Labor-Management
Standards (OLMS) enforces many LMRDA provi-
sions while other provisions, such as the bill of rights,
may only be enforced by union members through pri-
vate suit in Federal court.
Union Member Rights

Bill of Rights - Union members have:
nEqual rights to participate in union activities
nFreedom of speech and assembly
nVoice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assess-

ments
nProtection of the right to sue
nSafeguards against improper discipline
Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements:

Union members and nonunion employees have the
right to receive or inspect copies of collective bar-
gaining agreements.

Reports: Unions are required to file an initial
information report (Form LM-1), copies of consti-
tutions and bylaws, and an annual financial report
(Form LM-2/3/4) with OLMS. Unions must make the
reports available to members and permit members to
examine supporting records for just cause. The re-
ports are public information and copies are available
from OLMS.

Officer Elections: Union members have the right to:
nNominate candidates for office
nRun for office
nCast a secret ballot
nProtest the conduct of an election
Officer Removal: Local union members have the

right to an adequate procedure for the removal of an
elected officer guilty of serious misconduct.

Trusteeships: Unions may only be placed in trust-
eeship by a parent body for the reasons specified in
the LMRDA.

Prohibition Against Certain Discipline: A union
or any of its officials may not fine, expel, or other-
wise discipline a member for exercising any LMRDA
right.

Prohibition Against Violence: No one may use
or threaten to use force or violence to interfere with
a union member in the exercise of LMRDA rights.
Union Officer Responsibilities

Financial Safeguards: Union officers have a duty
to manage the funds and property of the union solely
for the benefit of the union and its members in ac-
cordance with the union’s constitution and bylaws.
Union officers or employees who embezzle or steal
union funds or other assets commit a Federal crime

punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.
Bonding: Union officers or employees who handle

union funds or property must be bonded to provide
protection against losses if their union has property
and annual financial receipts which exceed $5,000.

Labor Organization Reports: Union officers
must:
nFile an initial information report (Form LM-1)

and annual financial reports (Forms LM-2/3/4) with
OLMS.
nRetain the records necessary to verify the reports

for at least five years.
Officer Reports: Union officers and employees

must file reports concerning any loans and benefits
received from, or certain financial interests in, em-
ployers whose employees their unions represent and
businesses that deal with their unions.

Officer Elections: Unions must:
nConduct elections for officers of national unions

or intermediary districts at least every four years by
secret ballot.
nConduct regular elections in accordance with

their constitution and bylaws and preserve all records
for one year.
nMail a notice of election to every member at

least 15 days prior to the election.
nComply with a candidate’s request to distribute

campaign material.
nNot use union funds or resources to promote any

candidate (nor may employer funds or resources be
used).
nPermit candidates to have election observers.
nAllow candidates to inspect the union’s membership

list once within 30 days prior to the election.
Restrictions on Holding Office: A person con-

victed of certain crimes may not serve as a union of-
ficer, employee, or other representative of a union for
up to 13 years.

Loans: A union may not have outstanding loans
to any one officer or employee that in total exceed
$2,000 at any time.

Fines: A union may not pay the fine of any officer
or employee convicted of any willful violation of the
LMRDA.

Note: The above is only a summary of the LMRDA.
Full text of the Act, which comprises Sections 401-
531 of Title 29 of the United States Code, may be
found in many public libraries, or by writing the U.S.
Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management
Standards, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room N-5616,
Washington, DC 20210, or on the internet at www.
dol.gov

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 16 11/13/20 4:08 PM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 17

Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Information

UPGRADING APPLICATION

Name ________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________
Date of Birth __________________________________________________________________
Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o Inland Waters Member o

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

Social Security #_______________________ Book # _________________________________
Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________
Home Port____________________________________________________________________
E-mail_______________________________________________________________________
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? o Yes o No
If yes, class # and dates attended __________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? oYes o No
_____________________________________________________________________________

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five
(125) days seatime for the previous year, MMC, TWIC, front page of your book including your
department and seniority and qualifying sea time for the course if it is Coast Guard tested.
Must have a valid SHBP clinic through course date.
I authorize the Paul Hall Center to release any of the information contained in this applica-
tion, or any of the supporting documentation that I have or will submit with this application
to related organizations, for the purpose of better servicing my needs and helping me to apply
for any benefits which might become due to me.

COURSE START DATE OF
DATE COMPLETION
____________________________ _______________ ________________________
____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

LAST VESSEL: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________

Date On: _______________________________ Date Off:____________________________

SIGNATURE ____________________________________ DATE______________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if
you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any
questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are
reimbursable. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax
to (301) 994-2189.

The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits stu-
dents, who are otherwise qualified, or 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.
12/20

Paul Hall Center Classes

Numerous Paul Hall Center course dates for 2021 will be published in the next edition of
the Seafarers LOG. Individuals also are encouraged to check the SIU website for the latest up-
dates to the Paul Hall Center schedule. Class dates are prominently listed in the “Training and
Careers” section.

2021 Course Dates Coming Soon

RFPNW (Phase III) – Graduated October 16 (above, in alphabetical order): Jorge Alamo Pagan, Lexter A. Alfaro-Rivera, Rhiannon Buttrum, Peter Festa III, Joel Frederick, Stephen
Fretwell, Steven Gray, Joseph Horton, Stephen Jarrell, Oscar Krowicki, John Sadia, Melvin Singletary, Raul Soto, Blake Stollenwerck, Desmond Unutoa and Herbert Weiss. Upon the
completion of their training, each plans to work in the deck departments of SIU-contracted vessels.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 17 11/13/20 3:10 AM



18 Seafarers LOG December 2020

Paul Hall Center Classes

Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation – Graduated October 6 (above, in alphabetical order): Diego Fernando Barbosa, David Brusco, Carlo Mateo Gentile, Jerome Luckett, Ahmed Mo-
hamed Mohamed Eissa, Chenequa Moet Rodriguez, Jorge A. Salas Santos and Anthony Dwight Sanchez Villarrubia. Mark Buyes, their instructor, is at the far right.

ECDIS – Graduated October 23 (above, in alphabetical order): Diego Fernando Barbosa, David Brusco, Carlo Mateo Gentile, Brian Guiry, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed Eissa, Chen-
equa Moet Rodriguez and Jorge A. Salas Santos. Class instructor Patrick Schoenberger is at the far left.

Government Vessels – Graduated October 9 (above, in alphabetical order): Juan Barquera, Gregory Davis, Gerald Flowers, Jasmin Franklin, Eric Greenawalt, Deon Greenidge,
Curtis Jasa, Jevon Lowery, Sarah Superman, Brian Tait and Tinesha Travis. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 18 11/13/20 3:10 AM



December 2020 Seafarers LOG 19

Paul Hall Center Classes

Government Vessels – Gradu-
ated October 9 (photo at left, in
alphabetical order): Sergio Cen-
teno, Joseph Clairmont Jr., Larry
Clayton, Terry Evins, Deon Green,
Fredrick Hall, Donald McBride Jr.,
and James Pierce.

Certified Chief Cook (Module 6) – Graduated October 9 (above, in alphabetical order): Wilfredo Ramos Silva, Nathalie Bernice Reyes-Ortiz, James Scott, Annie Walker, Michael
Wees and Johnathan Williams.

Galley Ops – Graduated Oc-
tober 23 (photo at left, in al-
phabetical order): Keshyra
Brinkley, Briana Davis, Eric
Amauris Rivas-Martinez, Re-
inaldo Rivera, Johanns Ri-
vera-Rivera and Ammar Saleh
Sailan.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG.indd 19 11/13/20 3:10 AM



Text “Join” to 97779
To Sign Up for SIU

Text Alerts
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N A T L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W A T E R S , A F L - C I O

DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME 82, NO. 12

Editor’s note: This is the eighth installment
from a 1951 booklet titled “The Seafarers in
World War II.” Penned by the late SIU histo-
rian John Bunker, the publication recapped
SIU members’ service in the War. More than
1,200 SIU members lost their lives to wartime
service in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Earlier
segments are available on the SIU website and
in print beginning with the May 2020 edition of
the LOG. (We are tentatively planning to post
a PDF of the entire booklet on the SIU website
once all of the text has been published here.)
This one picks up in Sicily as Bunker continues
describing the infamous Convoy PQ-17 before
shifting to D-Day.


The first plane dropped two bombs into an

open hold full of ammunition on the Liberty
ship Timothy Pickering (SUP), which had ar-
rived at the anchorage only a few hours before
and was still crowded with troops.

There was a blinding explosion. Tongues of
flame roared out of the stricken ship a thousand
feet into the air, followed by whirling clouds
of smoke. It may have been red-hot hull plates
from the exploding Liberty, or bombs dropped
by the second Stuka, but a tanker nearby was
set afire and exploded in a flaming holocaust
soon after.

In a few minutes both ships were nothing
but twisted, shattered masses of steel, resting
on the bottom with only their masts protruding
above the surface. Of the 192 crewmen and
British troops on the Timothy Pickering, only
about a dozen survived.

Two-Time Loser
The attack had lasted only a minute at the

most.
Another Liberty that saw exciting action

in Italian waters was the James W. Marshall
(SUP).

Arriving at Salerno just two days after the
invasion, she was hit and set afire by a 250-
pound bomb that smashed through the bridge
and wounded several men at the guns.

The fire was quickly extinguished by quick
action on the part of the crew, and she contin-
ued discharging her ammunition, guns, trucks
and gasoline.

Two days later she was hit again, this time
by a heavy bomb that went through the top deck
of the ship into the main deck before exploding
among GIs who had taken refuge in the mess-
room.

And thrilling tales aplenty can be told by
the men who took supplies to 5th Army troops
holding the beach at bloody Anzio.

For months, the British and Americans had
held a costly strip of beach and marshland 30
miles south of Rome, and all the while they
were supplied by merchant ships for whom
“destination Anzio” also meant “destination
front line.”

The SIU-manned Liberty ship Lawton B.
Evans had 4,000 tons of gasoline and ammuni-
tion in her holds when she arrived at “Peter
Beach,” Anzio, from Naples on January 22,
1944.

No sooner had she dropped the hook than
the Germans opened up on her with long-range
artillery. Shells hit within 50 feet of the ship and
shrapnel peppered the decks like BB shot.

Captain Harry Ryan “up anchored” as soon
as steam could be turned on the windlass, and
they sought a safer spot. But the Germans got
their range again and shells splashed too close
for comfort. It was “up anchor” again … a game
of hide and seek which went on for most of the
day.

During the next four days, gunners and
crewmen ran to battle stations time after time,
for one air attack was quickly followed by an-
other, and between raids the Germans plopped
big shells onto the anchorage.

The grind of the anchor chain through the
hawse pipes lent a mournful accompaniment to
the drone of airplanes and the whistle of shells
– they called them “Whistling Williams.”

It was on the 29th of January that the Ger-
mans tried out the radio-controlled glider bomb
on the ships at Anzio. The USS Philadelphia
and two freighters were victims during the first
attack of this kind.

Three Bombers Down
Through it all the Lawton B. Evans proved

herself a fighting ship, fit to battle with the best
of them.

When Stukas and Junkers attacked the an-
chorage, her gunners knocked one of the Junk-
ers down with 20-millimeter fire, then blew a
divebomber to pieces with the three-inch fifty
on the bow.

Two days later they bagged another dive-
bomber that got too near their guns. On the
same day, the Lawton’s gunners blasted a glider
bomb out of the sky before it could do any
damage, and followed that up by obliterating
still another divebomber. A carburetor from the
plane landed on the Lawton’s deck and was kept
as a souvenir.

It was fortunate that the Lawton’s gunners
did shoot well, for soon after the blowing up of
the glider bomb, another of these strange mis-
siles hit the Liberty ship Samuel Huntington,
setting it afire and causing an explosion that
rent the ship apart.

Long will SIU crews remember the shuttle

run to “bloody Anzio.”

They Made the Beachheads
So well-known and so often told is the story

of the Normandy invasion in 1944 that there is
no point in describing that tremendous operation
here.

Thousands of SIU-SUP seamen took part in
the initial beachhead operations and in the vital
line of supply that followed, from D-Day till the
German surrender.

These men had a part in landing the
2,500,00 troops, the half-million trucks and
tanks, the 17,000,000 tons of ammunition and
supplies that were put ashore at the beachheads
in Hitler’s “fortress Europe” during the first
109 days after D-Day. The flow of material was
almost beyond comprehension!

Seafarers Volunteered
Many Seafarers were also among the 1,000

merchant seamen who volunteered to sail to the
Normandy beaches the 32 American merchant
ships that were scuttled to make the emergency
breakwater – the “miracle harbor” along the
Normandy coast.

As they steamed their breakwater fleet from
British ports on the eve of invasion, theirs was a
most hazardous task, for everyone expected the
coast of France to erupt in a hell of flame and
shell as soon as the ships were sighted by the
Germans.

That this did not happen to the extent that it
was anticipated did not detract one whit from
the courage of the seamen who volunteered for
this extremely dangerous operation.

Among these sunken ships at the Normandy
beachhead were a number of well-known-to-
old-timers-ships that had been sailed along the
ocean sea lanes for many years by men of the
SIU and the SUP.

Old SIU Friends
There was the old Kofresi of the Island trade

(named after a Puerto Rican rum, she was);
the West Nilus, Illinoian, Kentuckian, Alcoa
Leader, Pennsylvanian and Robin Gray.

Three SIU Liberties were among the
breakwater ships, too: The Matt W. Ransom,
Benjamin Contee, and James W. Marshall. All
of them had seen thrilling action and were con-
signed to “operation scuttle” as unfit for further
service.

The Marshall (SUP) had been bombed and
gutted by fire at Salerno. The Matt Ransom had
been torpedoed and then brought into port by
the heroic action of her crew. And the Benjamin
Contee, while sailing in the role of a prison
ship in the Mediterranean, was torpedoed by
a bomber with large loss of life among Italian
POWs.

Heads-Up Action
Quick action on the part of her Skipper and

merchant crew calmed the panic among hun-
dreds of rioting troops; kept the tragedy from

becoming a disaster of huge proportions.
Seafarers have vivid memories of the shuttle

run which operated after D-Day between the
United Kingdom and Normandy and, later, to
French and Belgian ports.

Some 150 ships, mostly Liberties, were
assigned this monotonous and far from placid
service by the War Shipping Administration,
plodding back and forth between England and
the continent, trip after trip, and month after
month.

“Channel ferries” the crews called them.
A few hit mines, like the SIU-manned Colin
Kelly, and ended their careers for good in the
English Channel and the channel ports.

SIU ships braved the buzzbomb barrage
with supplies for the port of Antwerp, where at
times a buzzbomb fell on the city and its envi-
rons every ten minutes.

‘Swarm of Bees’
Seafarers will recall seeing those eerie,

crewless missiles sailing through the sky over
Belgium, trailing flame from their tails and
droning like a huge swarm of bees while ack-
ack tried to knock them down.

When the droning stopped it was time to
“hit the ditches,” for the buzzbomb was on its
way to earth.

The SIU-manned SS Bayou Chico was
the second ship up the canal into the old city
of Ghent in Belgium, and was cheered by the
populace as she steamed along the waterway
with her holds full of Army supplies.

It was in the Pacific – land of the kamikaze
– that SIU and SUP ships experienced some of
the hardest and most costly fighting of the war
at sea, as Japanese bases fell before the north-
ward advance of American troops from Guadal-
canal to Okinawa.

Innumerable were the instances of heroism

and high courage as Seafarers took their ships
up the long, battle-scarred Pacific from island
to island and beachhead to beachhead.

In February of 1942, the SS Admiral Hal-
stead (SUP) earned a citation unique among
merchant ships, when six of her crew received
the Distinguished Service Medal of the mer-
chant marine for defending their ship with two
machine guns against heavy assaults by Japa-
nese bombers.

The Admiral Halstead was the only ship of
12 in Port Darwin to escape being sunk, dis-
charging her cargo of gasoline and ammunition
for Australian troops, and escaping the Japanese
to participate in more Pacific action.

In August of 1943, the Japanese were
flushed from New Georgia in the Solomon’s
and Army troops re-took the Aleutians. Then
came the four-day bloody battle at Tarawa,
followed by invasions at Kwajalein in the Mar-
shalls, at New Britain and Hollandia. By July
of 1944, Saipan and Tinian had been won, fol-
lowed shortly by another victory at Peleliu.

Then came the biggest show yet, staged in
this amphibious war, as a seaborne juggernaut
of 600 ships bypassed hundreds of miles of
enemy-held territory and landed on the eastern
side of Leyte Island in the Philippines.

SIU ships were up front here, as usual,
fighting with guns and guts as the Japanese
pounded the beachhead with everything they
could muster.

Kamikazes Make Appearance
It was at Leyte that the Japanese launched

the strangest weapon ever used in war – the
“Kamikaze” or “divine wind,” the one-way
bomber flown by suicide pilots willing to sacri-
fice themselves as human bombs in an attempt
to win the war for Nippon.

An early victim of the kamikaze was the SS
Thomas Nelson, a Calmar Liberty hit off Dulag
in Leyte Bay while still crowded with some 630
Army troops and loaded with gasoline and am-
munition.

Her gunners blasted a suicide plane which
made a run at the ship but the Japanese hit his
target, nonetheless, his two exploding bombs
turning the freighter into an inferno of flame,
with 213 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing.

Gunners of the Liberty ship Matthew P.
Deady (SUP) bagged two Japanese planes at
Leyte, but the ship was bombed and set afire
with considerable loss of life among soldiers
and crew.

In December of 1944, a convoy of ammu-
nition-laden ships, including the Liberty John
Burke, was attacked by kamikazes. One hit the
Burke square on, blowing her up with the loss
of every man aboard. Not a bit of wreckage was
left to mark her place in the convoy.

Another SUP-manned Liberty, the Lewis L.
Dyche, was hit by a kamikaze in January 1945, at
Mangarin Bay during the Mindoro invasion. She,
too, was obliterated. There were no survivors.

And so it went in almost countless dramatic
actions that cannot possibly all be recorded here.

It was in the invasion of Leyte that the Lib-
erty ship Adoniram Judson won a special niche
for herself in the annals of the war, by not only
delivering vital landing mats and 3,000 barrels
of high-octane aviation gasoline for the cap-
tured airfield at Tacloban, but by providing the
principal air protection there for several days.

Gallant Ships
For this the “Ad” Judson was honored by the

U.S. Maritime Commission in being named a
Gallant Ship of the merchant marine, a distinction
accorded only a few ships throughout the war.

Another Gallant Ship was the SS Marcus
Daly (SUP). This Liberty and her crew won a
commendation from General Douglas MacAr-
thur for shooting down at least three Japanese
bombers, and for defending the docks at Leyte
with her guns.

Despite her fire-spitting Oerlikons, and the
accurate shot from the flaming three-inch fifty
on her bow, a kamikaze smashed onto the Mar-
cus Daly on Christmas Day 1944, blasting huge
holes in the deck and sides and ripping the steel
plating of the ship like paper, while flames shot
high in the air and jagged pieces of steel show-
ered the area in a deadly hail.

SIU Members Valiantly Served in WWII

Thousands of SIU and SUP members helped the Allies at Normandy before, during and
after D-Day in 1944.

63276_DECEMBER_2020_LOG_X.indd 20 11/13/20 4:08 PM