Seafarers Log: Vol. 84 No. 5 (2022-05-01)

MAY 2022 VOLUME 84, NO. 5

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

Financial Committee Meets
Page 2

Remembering Don Young
Page 5

U.S. House Hearing UnderscoresU.S. House Hearing Underscores
Need for Strong Maritime IndustryNeed for Strong Maritime Industry
Readiness Requires Reliance on ‘Commercial Industry Partners’

The commanding officer of the U.S. Transportation
Command and the acting head of the U.S. Maritime
Administration recently told a key House subcom-
mittee that the U.S. Merchant Marine remains vital
to the nation’s security. Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost
(left in photo at left) and Acting Maritime Administra-
tor Lucinda Lessley (right in same photo) also of-
fered candid assessments of challenges facing the
industry. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut)
(right in photo above) chaired the hearing. Page 3.

Modernization of the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF) is underway, as the
Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration recently announced its
purchase of two vessels: the Honor (below) and Freedom (photo at right), both
roll-on/roll-off ships. Formerly part of the U.S. Maritime Security Program, both
ships will be renamed as they join the RRF. Page 4.

U.S. Ready Reserve Force U.S. Ready Reserve Force
Becomes More ModernBecomes More Modern



2 Seafarers LOG May 2022

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
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2022 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.

Volume 84 Number 5 May 2022

The SIU online: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers International
Union engaged an environ-
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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

Union Yes

President’s ReportPresident’s Report

The recent win by workers who formed a union at an Amazon distribution
center in New York is excellent news in its own right, but it also signals even
greater potential for employees across the country.

For anyone who missed it, this was no April Fools’ Day joke: On April 1,
more than 2,500 individuals voted to join the Ama-
zon Labor Union. They won the election by more
than 500 votes, overcoming a massive anti-union
campaign and securing the first such victory in
the company’s history. One prominent publication
called it “one of the biggest wins for organized
labor in a generation.”

Whether an election happens at a large facility
like the Amazon warehouse or at comparatively
smaller ones like the various Starbucks locations
that have recently unionized, it’s always hearten-
ing to see workers pulling together and choosing
union representation. It also demonstrates that even
though our nation’s labor laws remain severely out-
dated, workers can in fact beat the odds and win.

Labor unions have always served as the stron-
gest employee advocate in any workplace. From

factory floors to the federal government to the deckplates, union members have
always counted on their organization to fight for their rights, wages, safety and
health care. Through continual work and perseverance, unions will remain a
cornerstone of the American workforce.

It would be even better news if wins like the one at Amazon were the rule
rather than the exception. And I believe that’ll be the case if the Protecting the
Right to Organize (PRO) Act becomes law. This legislation, long overdue,
would restore fairness to a process that gradually has become severely slanted
in management’s favor.

When workers want to form or join a union, they should be free to do so,
without employer interference. The PRO Act would give them that chance.
Meanwhile, kudos to the grassroots movement in New York that culminated in
a spirit-lifting victory for workers.

Industry Remains Vital
Comments from the commanding officer of the U.S. Transportation Com-

mand during a recent congressional hearing clearly spelled out how our nation
depends on a strong U.S. Merchant Marine. Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost reiter-
ated her support of our industry – including our crews – saying the time is now
for American-flag fleet revitalization.

On the latter point, the Ready Reserve Force began taking steps in the right
direction with the acquisitions of two newer ships. This is a good start, and I’m
hopeful it’s just that: a start. The RRF is a critical component of our nation’s
sealift. It should consist of modern vessels.

Be sure to read our coverage of the hearing, which also included excellent
remarks by Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley and by representa-
tives from both sides of the aisle.

Upgrading in Piney Point
I’ve recently had opportunities to spend a fair amount of time at the SIU-

affiliated school in Piney Point, Maryland. It’s good to see our operations safely
moving back towards something that resembles pre-pandemic times, even if
we’re not totally there yet.

As the school ramps up its course frequency, I encourage Seafarers to take
advantage of everything it offers. The Paul Hall Center is the key to moving up,
boosting your earning power, and staying on top of the requirements for your
particular job.

Check out the upgrading course schedule in the LOG or on the SIU web-
site. If you need help getting started, contact the school, your port agent or the
union’s membership assistance office. Plenty of people are ready and willing to
help.

I remain proud of the school, which has come a long, long way in its nearly
55 years of operation. It’s a first-class facility with modern equipment and a
great staff, and it happens to be located on a very scenic spot. Utilize it for a
brighter future.

Michael Sacco

Seven SIU members in early April approved
the union’s financial records for 2021.

The SIU Constitution requires that a group
of rank-and-file Seafarers (elected by fellow
members) annually examines the organiza-
tion’s financial records for the previous calen-
dar year. Accordingly, this process began with
the financial committee’s election in Piney
Point, Maryland, and then in the following
days when they reviewed the paperwork at SIU
Headquarters in Camp Springs, Maryland.

The committee found that the SIU’s finan-
cial records for 2021 are in good order. Their
report, filed with the secretary-treasurer’s of-
fice, will be read in all ports and presented for
approval at the union’s June membership meet-
ings.

Serving on the committee were Recerti-
fied Bosun Karl Mayhew (chairman), Chief
Steward Richard Toth, QMED Riley Dona-
hue, Chief Cook Marilou Toledo, Recertified
Bosun Gerard Costello, Chief Steward Cay-
etano Toledo and Recertified Steward Exxl
Ronquillo.

They were elected April 4 at the monthly
membership meeting at the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Education.

The members handled their tasks in accor-
dance with Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU
Constitution, which lists the duties of the an-

nual financial committee along with rules and
procedures for electing the group.

In part, their report reads, “We, the com-
mittee, do hereby state that we have examined
the procedure for controlling of the funds of
the union and have found that the system of
internal control is adequate to safeguard them
properly…. We find that the headquarters of
the union is taking all steps possible to safe-
guard union funds and to see that the disburse-
ments of the union are in accordance with the
authority delegated to them and that, at the
same time, there is a striving effort to increase
day-to-day efficiency of our operation.”

The members reported that they met with
representatives from the certified public ac-
counting firm that periodically audits the
union’s books and records. Those representa-
tives explained their procedures for checking
the secretary-treasurer’s financial report of
the union’s records, and they also further dis-
cussed the SIU’s overall financial operation.
SIU Assistant Vice President Pat Vandegrift
also worked with the committee “and made
himself and the records of his office available”
to the group, according to the report.

Finally, the union’s legal counsel met with
the committee and made themselves available
should the committee members have any ques-
tions.

Rank-And-File Seafarers Approve
Union’s 2021 Financial Records

Finance committee members and headquarters personnel are pictured as the group wrapped up its work.
Seated (from left) are Chief Steward Cayetano Toledo, Chief Cook Marilou Toledo and QMED Riley Dona-
hue. Standing (also from left) are Recertified Steward Exxl Ronquillo, Chief Steward Richard Toth, Recerti-
fied Bosun Gerard Costello, SIU Asst. VP Pat Vandegrift, Recertified Bosun Karl Mayhew (who chaired the
committee), and Chelsea Heindel from the office of the union’s secretary-treasurer.

Committee members convene at headquarters and begin their work.

Members Review Paperwork at Headquarters



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 3

A recent hearing in the U.S. House of Rep-
resentatives featured candid discussion about
challenges facing the maritime industry, and
also emphasized the critical need for a strong
U.S. Merchant Marine.

Two individuals testified at the March 31
gathering, conducted by the House Armed
Services Subcommittee on Readiness and
Seapower and Projection Forces: U.S. Air
Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, command-
ing officer of the United States Transportation
Command (TRANSCOM); and Acting U.S.
Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley.

Titled “Posture and Readiness of the Mo-
bility Enterprise,” the hearing featured strong
words of support for U.S. mariners, not just
from the panelists but also from legislators.

Chairman Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut),
after pointing out that U.S. “mobility forces”
already had conducted more than 200 missions
“in support of the effort to deliver weapons
and supplies to the brave people fighting in
Ukraine” expressed wide-ranging distress about
sustaining the ability to execute such missions.

“Today, the ships and aircraft that comprise
our sealift and airlift capabilities are challenged
by readiness shortfalls, obsolescence, and an
evolving threat landscape,” he said. “Congress
has acted on a bipartisan basis to address some
of these issues….”

For example, Courtney commended the
recent securing of full authorization for the
Tanker Security Program (TSP).

Courtney also said he remains “very con-
cerned about the path forward on recapitalizing
our sealift fleet. In just a decade, nearly three-
quarters of our fleet will reach the end of their
service life…. I remain firmly committed to the
three-pronged strategy of cost-effective life ex-
tensions for current ships, the procurement of a
discrete number of used ships and the start of a
domestic new-build effort…. We will continue
to look at an ‘all of the above plan’ for sealift,
rather than the either-or choice between used or
new ships.”

Ranking Member Rob Wittman (R-Virginia)
said of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “If there is
anything in this war that we can use as a lesson
learned, it is the value of our logistics forces and
their need to pace with the combat forces…. I
would propose a strategy that expands our
Tanker Security Program; that ensures our in-
tra-theater connector strategy is coupled with a
prepositioned force appropriate for the Pacific
distances our forces will be required to traverse;
that has adequate surge sealift forces; and, that
has adequate bulk fuel stores positioned at the
correct locations….”

Van Ovost stressed the military’s reliance on
“our commercial industry partners” to help en-
sure ongoing readiness. She said the country’s
ability to “project and sustain military forces
anywhere on the globe at a time and place of
our nation’s choosing … could not happen
without our total force and civilian personnel,
who are critical to our daily capacity and ability

to seamlessly transition to a wartime footing.
The DOD’s ability to project military forces
is inextricably linked to commercial industry.
These industry partners provide critical trans-
portation capacity and global networks to meet
day-to-day and wartime requirements.”

Emphasizing those points, the general
added, “During times of war, 90% of our per-
sonnel are transported via commercially con-
tracted air and 90% of our military cargo is
transported by sealift vessels.”

Van Ovost also said recapitalizing the sealift
fleet must be a top priority.

“By 2032, approximately 70% of govern-
ment-owned surge sealift ships will approach
the end of their service life and must be re-
placed,” she stated. “DOD, DOT, U.S. Navy
and TRANSCOM made initial progress in ex-
ecuting the strategy to recapitalize the fleet with
used sealift ships from the commercial market
and are working through the process of the ini-
tial purchases. The Vessel Acquisition Manager
will also survey additional ships authorized for
purchase in FY22. These first ships are a wel-
come beginning to the recapitalization of vital
square footage and capacity.”

Lessley described many of the laws and
programs that help maintain the U.S. maritime
industry and then pointed out, “These programs
are sustained by a strong and highly qualified
U.S. Merchant Marine and shoreside personnel.
As they always have during times of crisis in
our nation’s history, U.S. Merchant Mariners

and other critical transportation infrastructure
workers – including longshore workers, truck-
ers, rail workers, and warehouse workers – have
gone above and beyond during the COVID-19
pandemic to ensure the effective operation of
our maritime transportation system and our in-
termodal supply chains. These essential work-
ers have moved record volumes of cargo often
at great personal risk, and we remember their
heroic efforts and sacrifices during the COVID-
19 pandemic.”

Like other speakers, Lessley also described
challenges to the nation’s strategic sealift capa-
bility, which she said includes “an aging fleet,
operations in increasingly contested environ-
ments, a shortage of available mariners, and
unprecedented readiness challenges brought on
by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She pointed out, for instance, that the Ready
Reserve Force (RRF) consists of just 41 gov-
ernment-owned vessels. “This is nearly the
smallest the RRF has been since inception and
provides only a fraction of the sealift needed by
the DOD,” she said.

Lessley added, “Due to the declining num-
ber of ships in the U.S.-flag oceangoing fleet,
MARAD is concerned about our ability to
quickly assemble an adequate number of quali-
fied mariners to operate large ships for surge
and sustainment sealift operations if an ex-
tended mobilization were to occur.”

She then explained some of the steps the
agency is taking for potential mitigation.

Military Readiness ‘Inextricably Linked’
To U.S. Commercial Maritime Industry
House Hearing Emphasizes Need for U.S. Crews, Newer Ships

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman
(R-Virginia)

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney
(D-Connecticut)

Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost
Commander, TRANSCOM

Lucinda Lessley
Acting U.S. Maritime Administrator

Meeting With Ukrainian Ambassador

SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (fifth from left), in his role as Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, joined other officials in meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to Singapore
Kateryna Zelenko (fourth from right). During an April gathering in Singapore, they discussed current conditions for Ukrainian mariners and the suffering of citizens in Ukraine. ITF
General Secretary Steve Cotton is between Heindel and the ambassador. Also pictured are (from left) John Canias, ITF Maritime Department; Simon Spacey, VP Human Resources,
CMA-CGM; Guy Platten, Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping; George Pitaoulis, Marine Personnel and Development Director, ABC Maritime; Vitalii Chaika, Group
Crewing Director at ASP Ship Management; Capt. Belal Ahmed, Managing Director, Western Shipping; and Francesco Gargiulo, CEO, International Maritime Employers Council.



4 Seafarers LOG May 2022

RRF Adds Two Newer Vessels to Fleet
The Ready Reserve Force (RRF), a

vital component of United States combat
deployment capability, is set to receive
some critically needed tonnage this year.
The Honor and Freedom are expected to
enter service this fall, according to an an-
nouncement by the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Maritime Administra-
tion’s (MARAD).

The two ships, formerly part of the
American Roll-On/Roll-Off Carrier (ARC)
fleet, will be renamed the Cape Arundel
and Cape Cortes, respectively, adding
more than 432,000 square feet of total
sealift capacity and 316,000 square feet of
military cargo capacity, MARAD reported.
Both vessels carried military cargoes (and
SIU crews) for many years and participated
in the Maritime Security Program (MSP).
The two ships will replace older vessels re-
tired in Fiscal Year 2022 and will be owned
by the Department of Transportation.

“The Ready Reserve Force is an es-
sential element of U.S. national security,”
said Transportation Secretary Pete Butti-
gieg. “We are proud to use this innovative
method to more quickly acquire two addi-
tional vessels and ensure America’s Ready
Reserve Fleet is always ready to answer
the call.”

According to MARAD, “The Ready
Reserve Force is a subset of vessels within
MARAD’s National Defense Reserve
Fleet (NDRF) ready to support the rapid
worldwide deployment of U.S. military
forces. As a key element of Department of
Defense (DOD) strategic sealift, the RRF
primarily supports transport of Army and
Marine Corps unit equipment, combat sup-
port equipment, and initial resupply during
critical surge periods – the period of time
before commercial ships can be secured for
similar support.”

The current RRF is comprised of 41
vessels, which are required to be “at the
ready,” defined by MARAD as “fully op-
erational within their assigned five- and
10-day readiness status.” Most if not all of
those ships include SIU crews, both during
an activation as well as during periods of
reduced operating status (ROS).

“We selected these ships to continue the
RRF recapitalization because each meets
criteria set forth in the National Defense
Authorization Act and provides a standard
set of capabilities that we identified with
the U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command,
and U.S. Transportation Command,” said
Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda
Lessley. “These vessels will provide reli-
able sealift capacity for years to come.”

These vessels were purchased using
a vessel acquisition manager (VAM), an
integrated program office that includes
MARAD and Naval Sea Systems Com-
mand members and leverages commercial
practices, according to MARAD. This en-
ables the Departments of Transportation
and Defense “to partner with the industry
to effectively and more quickly replace
aging sealift vessels with newer ships to
meet national security requirements,” the
agency reported.

Previous Maritime Administrator
RADM Mark Buzby, speaking in 2018,
explained the importance of the RRF
when he noted, “From 2002 to June of
2008, 118 ship activations were called for
in support of Operations Enduring Free-

dom and Iraqi Freedom. In that period,
there were 13,575 ship operating days
with a reliability rate of 99 percent. Al-
most 25 percent of the initial equipment
needed to support the U.S. armed forces
operations in Iraq was moved by the RRF.
By comparison, Military Sealift Com-
mand’s combined sealift fleet of large,
medium-speed roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO)
and fast sealift ships carried 29 percent of
the cargo required for the invasion.

“The RRF provides significant cost
savings to the Department of Defense
by maintaining shipping capacity in a
reduced operating status until needed,”
Buzby added. “These vessels also provide
maximum flexibility to an already thinly
stretched Navy.”

The Freedom is one of the new scheduled additions to the RRF.

National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer
Abruzzo on April 7 issued a memo-
randum to all field offices announc-
ing that she will ask the board to
find mandatory meetings in which
employees are forced to listen to
employer speech concerning the ex-
ercise of their statutory labor rights,
including captive audience meetings,
a violation of the National Labor Re-
lations Act (NLRA).

Abruzzo explained that the board
has long recognized that the NLRA
protects employees’ right to lis-
ten to – or refrain from listening
to – employer speech concerning
their rights to act collectively to
improve their workplace. “Forcing
employees to attend captive audi-
ence meetings under threat of dis-
cipline discourages employees from
exercising their right to refrain from
listening to this speech and is there-
fore inconsistent with the NLRA,”
the board announced.

The memo asserted that years
ago, the board incorrectly concluded
that an employer does not violate the
NLRA by compelling its employees
to attend meetings in which it makes
speeches urging them to reject union
representation. As a result, employ-
ers commonly use explicit or implied
threats to force employees into meet-
ings about unionization or other stat-
utorily protected activity.

“This license to coerce is an anom-
aly in labor law, inconsistent with the
Act’s protection of employees’ free
choice. It is based on a fundamen-
tal misunderstanding of employers’
speech rights,” said Abruzzo. “I be-
lieve that the NLRB case precedent,

which has tolerated such meetings, is
at odds with fundamental labor-law
principles, our statutory language,
and our Congressional mandate. Be-
cause of this, I plan to urge the board
to reconsider such precedent and find
mandatory meetings of this sort un-
lawful.”

She said she’ll urge the board to
correct that anomaly and propose
they adopt “sensible assurances that
an employer must convey to em-
ployees in order to make clear that
their attendance at these meetings
is truly voluntary. Such an approach
will appropriately protect employers’
free-speech rights to express views,
arguments, or opinions concerning
the employees’ exercise of their pro-
tected labor rights without unduly in-
fringing on the rights of employees to
refrain, or not, from listening to such
expressions.”

NLRB General Counsel Abruzzo:
Ditch Captive-Audience Meetings

Mobilizing for Atlantic Resolve

The SIU-crewed Endurance (below) and Liberty Passion (above) are among the vessels that
recently began sailing in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, described by the U.S. Army
as a “pre-planned, rotational force deployment (that) was announced in December 2021.” The
Endurance (operated by TOTE Services for ARC) is pictured April 6 arriving in Denmark, while
the Liberty Passion (Liberty Maritime) is shown March 21 in Greece as an M1 Abrams tank
disembarks. According to the Army, “The rotation will include joint and multinational training
events to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bond between NATO Al-
lies and regional partner nations.” (Endurance photo courtesy ARC; Liberty Passion photo by
Spc. Austin Steinborn, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Jennifer Abruzzo
NLRB General Counsel



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 5

A new four-year contract between the SIU and In-
land Lakes Management (ILM) covering licensed mari-
ners has been negotiated and ratified.

ILM operates the SS Alpena on the Great Lakes. The
vessel is a self-unloading bulk carrier that hauls ce-
ment.

The contract is retroactive to Nov. 1, 2021 and runs
through Oct. 31, 2025. It calls for annual wage in-

creases and maintains the current health and pension
benefits.

Additionally, the new agreement maintains the
Paul Hall Center benefit for training and upgrad-
ing.

Negotiating on behalf of the union were Assistant
Vice President Bryan Powell and Port Agent Todd
Brdak.

Seafarers Contract
Ratified at Inland

Lakes Management

The Union Veterans Council (UVC)
in mid-March got a boost from the AFL-
CIO.

The federation’s executive council
(SIU President Michael Sacco is the
longest-serving member of that group)
unanimously voted to recognize the UVC
as the AFL-CIO’s seventh official labor
constituency group.

UVC Executive Director Will Attig
noted, “During the 2009 AFL-CIO Con-
vention, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution
to form the Union Veterans Council. From
its inception, the UVC was a force mul-
tiplier for union veterans and all working
families in their fight for economic free-
dom and security. And we are proud to
announce that because of our success and
growth, the UVC is becoming its own
nonprofit labor organization….”

He continued, “This decision by the
UVC board, with the support of the
AFL-CIO, will allow us to scale our pro-
grammatic work and capacity to be even
more effective as we fight to help union
veterans and all working families better
their lives. The Union Veterans Council’s
foundation will remain unchanged and
our mission to bring working-class vet-

erans together to speak out on the issues
that impact us most remains the same….
The Union Veterans Council was built to
protect working-class veterans and their
interests. We will continue to do so now
with greater authority and reach. I want
to thank everyone who was a part of this
transition and for your continued support
in the next part of our journey.”

The related AFL-CIO Executive
Council statement reads in part: “Union
members in every industry, occupation
and region of the country have proudly
and bravely served in the armed forces
of the United States…. Since its found-
ing 13 years ago, the UVC has steadily
and sustainably grown in its outreach, its
effectiveness and its fundraising capac-
ity. With a diligent focus on organizing
– at the national and local level – coupled
with the initiative and creative thinking
of UVC leadership, the UVC has evolved
into a force multiplier for federation
and affiliate organizing, legislative and
electoral campaigns, and other important
initiatives. The UVC has now reached
operational capacity that makes its status
as a constituency organization more ap-
propriate than its former project status.”

The federation’s other constituency
groups are as follows (with descriptions
from the AFL-CIO website:

A. Philip Randolph Institute: APRI
is an alliance between labor and the civil
rights movement. Today, it fights for ra-
cial equality and economic justice.

Asian Pacific American Labor Al-
liance: APALA is the nation’s first na-
tional organization of AAPI workers. It
focuses on advancing worker, immigrant
and civil rights.

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
CBTU is an independent voice for Black
workers within the labor movement.

Coalition of Labor Union Women:
CLUW unifies union women to face
shared concerns. The coalition focuses
on action on issues important to women
workers.

Labor Council for Latin American
Advancement: LCLAA represents 2 mil-
lion Latino workers. The council orga-
nizes working people to protect the rights
and expand the influence of Latinos.

Pride At Work: Pride@Work brings
together the labor movement and the
LGBTQ community in pursuit of social
and economic justice.

UVC Gains Status as Official AFL-CIO Labor Constituency Group

Will Attig
UVC Executive Director

Pro-Maritime Congressman Young Dies
Alaska and the U.S. maritime industry

lost a unique advocate March 18 when U.S.
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) died at age 88.

“It’s with heavy hearts and deep sad-
ness that we announce Congressman Don
Young, the Dean of the House and revered
champion for Alaska, passed away today
while traveling home to Alaska to be with
the state and people that he loved. His
beloved wife Anne was by his side,” said
a statement from his spokesperson, Zach
Brown.

Young was an unwavering backer of
the U.S. Merchant Marine. He was the
only member of Congress who was a li-
censed merchant mariner, from his days
as a tugboat captain prior to becoming an
elected official. He also spearheaded a di-
rect connection between Alaska citizens
and the apprentice program at the SIU-
affiliated school in Piney Point, Maryland.

President Joe Biden stated, “There is

no doubt that few legislators have left a
greater mark on their state. Don’s legacy
lives on in the infrastructure projects he
delighted in steering across Alaska; in the
opportunities he advanced for his constit-
uents; in the enhanced protections for Na-
tive tribes he championed. His legacy will
continue in the America he loved.”

“I had many meetings over the years
with Don Young,” recalled SIU President
Michael Sacco. “He truly was one of a
kind. You always knew where you stood
with him. And he always stood with us.”

Young was born on June 9, 1933, in
Meridian, California. He earned a bach-
elor’s degree in teaching at Chico State
College in 1958. Young moved to Alaska
in 1959, the same year Alaska became a
state. After becoming mayor of Fort Yukon
in 1964, he held various state-level offices
until he was elected to the U.S. House in
1973. He remained U.S. Representative

for nearly 50 years, and was the longest-
serving current member of Congress at the
time of his death.

Young spoke at the Executive Board
meetings of the SIU-affiliated Maritime
Trades Department, AFL-CIO in both
1998 and 2003. He contributed his voice
and presence in support of many key mari-
time programs and laws, such as the re-
cently enacted Tanker Security Program,
the Maritime Security Program, The Mer-
chant Mariners of World War II Congres-
sional Gold Medal Act, and the Jones Act.

“As a mariner myself, I recognize the
crucial role the maritime industry plays in
delivering goods to communities across
the globe,” said Young in 2014. “I am a
strong supporter of the Jones Act, which
I believe is necessary to maintaining a
viable U.S. Merchant Marine fleet that
keeps Alaskan communities fueled and
supplied even in some of the world’s most

challenging conditions. Alaska’s maritime
industry is not only critical to our state’s
economy, it is also an important part of
our state’s identity.”

Paul Doell, president of the Seafarers-
affiliated American Maritime Officers,
said, “Don Young was a tough, blunt,
reliable advocate of the U.S. merchant
fleet and American merchant mariners in
all trades, and he held close ties to AMO
throughout his long service in the U.S.
House of Representatives. Our union al-
ways had an open door to his office, and I
was privileged to have been among AMO
staff members to discuss maritime issues
with him, reveling in his earthy perspec-
tive.”

“Everybody knows Don Young,”
Young himself said in a 2016 interview.
“They may not like Don Young; they may
love Don Young. But they all know Don
Young.”

Young is pictured in 1998 (photo at right) addressing a Maritime Trades Department meeting, and (third from left in the photo
above) in 2015 during the Maritime Congressional Sail-In, a yearly event (during non-pandemic times) that promotes the
industry. Among those also in the photo are SIU VP Contracts George Tricker (second from right).



6 Seafarers LOG May 2022

Spotlight on Mariner HealthSpotlight on Mariner Health

Healthy Recipe

Editor’s note: This article is pro-
vided by the Seafarers Health and Ben-
efits Plan Medical Department.

A migraine is not merely a headache,
but a neurological disease that can
cause debilitating attacks, often with
other symptoms such as nausea, vomit-
ing, and sensitivity to light or sound.

Episodic and chronic migraines are
terms used to describe how many mi-
graines a person has per day or per
month. These attacks can last for sev-
eral hours to days.

Migraines are thought to result from
changes in levels of the brain chemicals
in certain regions of the brain. Symp-
toms vary at different stages of mi-
graines, and they may occur in children
and teenagers as well as adults.

Warning signs that a migraine may
be imminent might include mood
swings, food cravings, increased thirst
and frequent yawning. An aura may be
experienced before or during the mi-
graine. There can be changes in vision
and hearing, and difficulty speaking.

A headache is the actual phase of the
migraine attack and may include pain
on one or possibly both sides of the
head, along with eye pain, blurred vi-
sion, sensitivity to light or sounds and
even smells.

Treatment can range for taking Ibu-
profen or Tylenol to heavy sedatives
and narcotics. There are many medica-

tions on the market for treatment. Al-
ternative treatments include hypnosis,
relaxation tapes, head-bands, nasal
sprays and acupuncture.

Persistent migraines warrant an ap-
pointment with a specialist.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Mi-
graines are often undiagnosed and un-
treated. If you regularly have signs and
symptoms of migraine, keep a record of
your attacks and how you treated them.
Then make an appointment with your
doctor to discuss your headaches. Even
if you have a history of headaches, see
your doctor if the pattern changes or
your headaches suddenly feel different.”

The organization further recom-
mends immediate treatment if an indi-
vidual experiences any of the following
signs and symptoms, which may sug-
gest an urgent medical situation: an
abrupt, severe headache like a thunder-
clap; headache with fever, stiff neck,
confusion, seizures, double vision,
numbness or weakness in any part of
the body, which could be a sign of a
stroke; headache after a head injury;
a chronic headache that is worse after
coughing, exertion, straining or a sud-
den movement.

Moreover, the American Migraine
Foundation estimates that at least 39
million Americans live with migraine,
but “because many people do not get
a diagnosis or the treatment they need,
the actual number is probably higher.”

Migraine: More Than a
Headache, It’s a Disease

Servings: 24

Ingredients
3/4 cup sriracha sauce, sepa-
rated 1/4 cup & 1/2 cup
3/4 cup honey
7 pounds chicken thigh,
boneless
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper
flakes
24 whole plums, cut into
wedges
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons fresh parsley,
chopped

Preparation
Whisk together 1/4 cup Srira-
cha sauce and honey; set aside.
Place chicken in a large re-
sealable plastic storage con-
tainer; add remaining 1/2 cup
Sriracha sauce, apple cider
vinegar, salt, and crushed red
pepper. Seal container and turn to coat chicken. Let stand in refrigerator for 2 hours.
Preheat a charcoal or gas grill with greased grill rack for direct cooking over medium heat.
Drain chicken; discard marinade. Grill chicken 15 to 20 minutes or until done (165 degrees),
turning several times and brushing with reserved Sriracha-honey mixture.
Brush cut sides of plums with oil and grill, cut sides down, during the last 5 minutes of grill-
ing or until slightly charred. Remove chicken and plums to platter. Cover and let stand 5
minutes. Sprinkle chicken with parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Information
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 330 Calories: 21g Fat (56.4% calories from fat);
19g Protein; 18g Carbohydrate, 1g Dietary Fiber; 88mg Cholesterol; 198mg Sodium. Ex-
changes: 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fruit; 2 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Provided by the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg School of Seamanship

Honey Sriracha Grilled Chicken Thighs

Vessel master Capt. T. Pham submitted these snapshots from
the U.S. Marine Management, Inc. vessel, which is operat-
ing in the Far East. The photo directly above with members
holding flags includes ABDM Fernando Haber, ABW Harvey
Carvajal, Bosun Gregorio Cudal, ABDM Tomas Calderon
Robinson, ABW Peter Stoker and ABW Roy Enriquez. The
tank-cleaning photo (immediate right) includes the afore-

mentioned Seafar-
ers plus Pumpman
Walden Galacgac,
QMED Joshua Bonita,
and QMED Elhassene
Elkori, while the re-
maining photo at top
right includes (almost)
the whole crew. The
Maersk Michigan is a
600-foot-long product
tanker that was built in
2003 in Japan. It has
a beam of 104 feet.

With Seafarers Aboard Maersk Michigan



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 7

Deck Department
Algonac 20 5 3 14 4 1 2 36 6 2
Anchorage 2 3 0 0 4 1 2 6 3 0
Baltimore 5 2 0 4 1 0 3 5 4 0
Fort Lauderdale 17 4 4 18 7 3 11 31 6 7
Guam 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 1
Harvey 9 8 3 8 7 1 5 16 11 3
Honolulu 8 1 0 3 1 0 1 9 4 0
Houston 35 21 7 28 11 4 15 52 30 10
Jacksonville 32 18 3 28 16 3 16 54 32 7
Jersey City 23 7 1 20 4 3 13 53 12 2
Joliet 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 3 1
Mobile 4 5 0 4 3 0 3 10 7 0
Norfolk 18 11 4 11 6 3 3 33 14 4
Oakland 6 5 1 3 1 0 2 24 6 2
Philadelphia 3 2 1 0 4 0 1 4 3 1
Piney Point 1 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 1
Puerto Rico 3 1 2 4 2 0 3 7 1 2
Tacoma 25 7 2 13 5 1 11 35 3 5
St. Louis 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0
Wilmington 14 5 0 24 8 0 8 37 21 0
TOTALS 230 111 34 185 86 21 100 419 171 48

Engine Department
Algonac 3 2 0 3 2 1 1 4 1 0
Anchorage 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 1
Baltimore 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 11 2 1 5 2 0 6 15 5 1
Guam 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 4 2 1 3 2 0 2 4 1 2
Honolulu 6 4 2 5 0 1 1 14 8 1
Houston 12 6 1 12 5 1 8 19 11 2
Jacksonville 13 14 2 15 9 1 10 21 17 6
Jersey City 9 6 1 5 4 0 3 16 7 1
Joliet 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1
Mobile 1 4 1 2 4 0 2 4 1 1
Norfolk 12 11 2 8 9 1 6 16 14 6
Oakland 7 5 2 5 3 0 4 8 8 3
Philadelphia 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 4 4 0
Piney Point 2 4 0 0 3 0 1 3 5 0
Puerto Rico 3 2 0 4 3 0 2 7 2 0
Tacoma 13 6 2 6 3 2 5 18 8 3
St. Louis 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 4 1 0
Wilmington 10 5 6 6 6 2 5 17 5 6
TOTALS 115 77 23 82 61 11 58 182 100 34

Steward Department
Algonac 5 1 0 0 2 0 0 9 5 0
Anchorage 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Baltimore 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0
Fort Lauderdale 7 5 0 8 2 0 3 14 10 1
Guam 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 2
Harvey 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0
Honolulu 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 12 2 0
Houston 19 6 0 11 4 0 8 25 8 1
Jacksonville 29 11 5 17 9 4 6 30 19 3
Jersey City 8 2 2 6 1 1 3 16 3 1
Joliet 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
Mobile 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 4 5 1
Norfolk 10 8 6 8 6 1 6 18 16 5
Oakland 11 4 0 10 4 1 1 18 8 1
Philadelphia 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Piney Point 5 1 2 0 0 2 1 8 3 3
Puerto Rico 2 4 2 2 6 0 2 3 4 2
Tacoma 6 5 0 6 1 1 2 12 5 0
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Wilmington 18 9 0 16 3 0 12 25 16 1
TOTALS 130 63 21 92 43 12 47 201 107 22

Entry Department
Algonac 1 8 4 0 4 1 1 1 14 8
Anchorage 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 1
Baltimore 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
Fort Lauderdale 1 2 1 0 2 3 3 1 2 1
Guam 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
Harvey 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 5 2
Honolulu 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 5 2
Houston 2 11 15 3 7 14 3 3 16 16
Jacksonville 3 10 55 0 16 37 10 4 30 89
Jersey City 2 11 11 0 9 9 4 2 22 21
Joliet 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Mobile 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
Norfolk 0 8 20 0 3 10 4 0 18 33
Oakland 0 2 5 0 0 1 0 0 7 10
Philadelphia 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
Piney Point 0 1 11 0 2 11 4 0 1 8
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tacoma 1 16 1 4 8 7 2 5 23 8
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wilmington 2 19 12 2 9 6 3 2 24 16
TOTALS 14 96 143 9 63 106 35 21 174 219

GRAND TOTAL:489 347 221 368 253 150 240 823 552 323

“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from March 10 - April 11. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of April 11.
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 SeaDispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Piney Point..........................................Monday: May 2, June 6
Algonac..............................................Friday: May 6, June 10
Baltimore.....................................Thursday: May 5, June 9
Guam..........................................Thursday: May 19, June 23
Honolulu...........................................Friday: May 13, June 17
Houston.........................................Monday: May 9, June 13
Jacksonville........................................Thursday: May 5, June 9
Joliet............................................Thursday: May12, June 16
Mobile..........................................Wednesday: May 11, June 15
New Orleans......................................Tuesday: May 10, June 14
Jersey City.........................................Tuesday: May 3, June 7
Norfolk...............................................Friday: May 6, June 10
Oakland...........................................Thursday: May 12, June 16
Philadelphia.................................Wednesday: May 4, June 8
Port Everglades..............................Thursday: May 12, June 16
San Juan...........................................Thursday: May 5, June 9
St. Louis................................................Friday: May 13, June 17
Tacoma...............................................Friday: May 20, June 24
Wilmington.........................Monday: May 16, *Tuesday : June 21

* Wilmington change in June due to Juneteenth Observance
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m

May & JuneMay & June

Membership MeetingsMembership Meetings

Beginning April 28, 2022, individuals who have signed
up for SIU text alerts were scheduled to begin receiving mes-
sages from a new number: (412) 899-8989. (The prior number
was 97779.)

No action is required to maintain an existing subscrip-
tion. The change is due to new industry regulations that es-
sentially are mandating a move to a “10-digit long code”
(abbreviated as 10DLC) for organizations that send text mes-
sages.

In accordance with legal requirements, subscribers should
have received a “goodbye” message from 97779 (which read,
“The SIU is changing numbers. You’ll hear from 4128998989
after this. No action required by you to remain subscribed.”).
Then, they should have gotten a “hello” message from the
new number, which read: “SIU: Welcome to our new number.
Thanks for being part of our mobile news network.”

All of our opt-in keywords remain unchanged.
To sign up for alerts, text the word “join” to 412-899-8989.

Update on SIU Text Alerts

Chief Cook Jonte Crenshaw (left) and AB Daniel Flana-
gan (right) receive their full B-books. They are pictured
with SIU Port Agent Jimmy White following the March
membership meeting at the hall in Mobile.

Full Books in Alabama

SPAD Works For You

Contribute To TheContribute To The

Seafarers Political Activities Donation

SPADSPAD



8 Seafarers LOG May 2022

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

Nicholas Celona, 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
45353 St. George’s Avenue, 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) 549-4001/4002

Seafarers International Seafarers International
Union DirectoryUnion Directory Inquiring SeafarerInquiring Seafarer

This month’s question answered by upgraders attending classes at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and education in Piney Point, Maryland.

Question: Has being a mariner measured up to what you thought it would be since you joined the union?

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

Johanns Rivera Rivera
Chief Cook

Yes, it has. Being a merchant mari-
ner so far has been an awesome career
for me and I’m glad I chose it. Going to
sea has made my life better and better
and better.

Nadine Nomed-Ryf
Chief Cook

Yes, it has, because I have
learned a lot about the job, people
and what being a mariner is really
all about. I’m from France, so all
of this was really new to me when I
first started. I have been sailing for
almost three years and I am very
happy about what I have achieved
so far. It’s been a rewarding experi-
ence.

Dennis Vega
Chief Cook

It’s been awesome so far. Since
joining, I’ve had the opportunity to
see a lot of new places and meet a
lot of new people. The experiences
have been great with some ups and
downs, but mostly ups. Overall, it’s
been a really great experience.

Kevin Santiago
Chief Cook

Being a mariner is way more
than I expected it to be. Sailing has
changed so many things in my life
in a positive way. It’s really been a
dream come true for me.

Samuel Ortiz
Chief Cook

Being a mariner is far more exciting
and rewarding than I thought it would
be when I joined. Put simply, it has
changed my life in a real good way.

Dewayne Thomas
Chief Cook

I have learned a lot since sailing as
chief cook. And yes, being a mariner is
everything that I thought it would be.
I’ve sailed for the last three years as a
chief cook and it has been a really good
experience for me.

Pic From The Past Pic From The Past

SIU pensioner Farid Zaharan submitted this photo, taken in July 1974 in Poti, Georgia. He’s standing third from right. “Some of
the people were from the crew of the SS Eagle Traveler (Sea Transport Corp.) and the others were from the seamen’s club,”
wrote Zaharan, an OS on that voyage and an active Seafarer from 1970-2008.



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 9

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

TALKING MARITIME WITH CONGRESSMAN – SIU Asst. VP Bryan Powell
(left) meets with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) during a labor gathering in Chicago
in late March. They spoke at length about the Maritime Security Program, the
Jones Act, and America’s cargo preference laws and their collective importance
to the nation’s security and economy.

SUPPORTING PRO-LABOR CONGRESSMAN – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-New Jersey) (second
from left) greets SIU personnel during a campaign kickoff March 21. Pictured from left are SIU VP
Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi, Pascrell, SIU Port Agent Ray Henderson and SIU Patrolman James
Bast.

WELCOME ASHORE IN NEW ORLEANS – Two longtime members recently called it a career in the Crescent City. Carl
Gegenheimer (second from left in photo at left) retired from Crescent Towing after 47 years of service. He worked his way up
from deckhand to captain and served as a union delegate. This photo was taken at his retirement luncheon. Pictured from
left are SIU New Orleans Port Agent Chris Westbrook, Carl, Kurt Gegenheimer (Carl’s brother and also Crescent’s director
of sourcing and procurement), and Crescent VP Eddie Pinner. The photo at right includes Chief Engineer Grant Wilkinson
(center), pictured at the New Orleans hall with his wife, Lynn, and Westbrook. A Seafarer for 33 years, Grant spent most of
his career sailing with Crescent Towing, but he also sailed in the deep-sea division, including during Operation Desert Storm.

READY TO SHIP OUT – Seafarer Anthony Roman
(right) displays the shipping card for his first relief
steward job as he prepares to head to the Maersk Mi-
saki. He’s following the footsteps of his brother, Jorge
Roman, who also sails from the San Juan hall in the
steward department. SIU Asst. VP Amancio Crespo
is at left.

ABOARD CAPE WASHINGTON
– Seafarers aboard the Crowley
vessel recently delivered materiel
overseas for a publicly reported,
multinational military exercise.
Some of the crew (and one lifeboat)
are pictured here, including Recer-
tified Bosun Rick James (above).



10 Seafarers LOG May 2022

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

WELCOME ASHORE IN OAKLAND – Recertified
Steward Perry McCall (left) receives his first pension
check at the hall, from SIU VP West Coast Nick Mar-
rone. McCall sailed with the SIU for nearly 40 years.

FULL BOOK IN HOUSTON – AB Erik Ruiz (left) receives his full B-book at
the hiring hall on March 29. SIU Patrolman Kelly Krick is at right.

A-BOOK IN SUNSHINE STATE – Chief Stew-
ard Grazyna Tomaszewska (left) receives her
A-seniority book at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
hall. SIU Asst. VP Kris Hopkins is at right.

NEW CONTRACT FOR NATIONAL GLORY –
Seafarers in mid-March overwhelmingly rati-
fied a new collective bargaining agreement
covering the Intrepid Personnel and Provi-
sioning ship. The four-year contract includes
yearly wage increases and maintains benefits.
Among those pictured on the vessel are AB
Roger Utter, AB Hernando Bansuelo, Recerti-
fied Bosun Jay White, QMED Keith Carswell,
Chief Cook Esperanza Crespo-Guillen, Bosun
Richard Molina-Blackman, Recertified Stew-
ard Lionel Packnett, Electrician Linarys Cas-
tillo Ortiz, SIU Houston Safety Director Kevin
Sykes and SIU Houston Port Agent Joe Za-
vala.

ABOARD OCEAN GLORY – Pictured from left aboard the Intrepid Personnel
and Provisioning ship in Richmond, California, in early March (photo below)
are SIU Oakland Port Agent J.B. Niday, AB Oliver Vickers and AB Steven
Sparenborg.



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 11

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
ABOARD GLOBAL SENTINEL – Pictured on the SubCom vessel are (from left) Bosun’s Mate Richard Molina Blackman,
AB/SJ Desmond Unutoa, AB/SJ Andre Barbary, GVA James Stanford, AB Jorge Alamo, AB Stokley Callender, GVA Darius
Harley, Recertified Bosun Lee Hardman and AB Kyle Kinsley.

A-BOOK IN GOLDEN STATE – QMED Yuri Hernandez
(left) receives his A-seniority book at the hall in Wilm-
ington, California. He’s pictured with SIU Patrolman
Jesse Sunga Jr.

WELCOME ASHORE IN HOUSTON – Seafarer James
Wilkison (right), a tugboat captain with G&H Towing, picks
up his first pension check at the hall. SIU Asst. VP Mike
Russo is at left.

ABOARD TAINO – Pictured in late March aboard the Crowley vessel in
San Juan, Puerto Rico, are (photo above, from left) Bosun Kemer Rojas,
Recertified Bosun Rafael Franco, Crowley Chief Port Engineer (and SIU
hawsepiper) Armando Garayua, Second Mate Germaine Williams and
ABM Raymond Maldonado (all from San Juan). In the photo immediately
below (also from left) are Chief Cook Yoaquin Gonzalez, Recertified Stew-
ard Kim Strate and ABM Victor Cortes, stripping and waxing galley decks.

ABOARD SEABULK ARCTIC – SIU Asst. VP Kris Hop-
kins (right in photo above) is pictured with Pumpman Jeff
Roddy aboard the Seabulk Tankers Inc. vessel, while
the snapshot below includes (from left) Chief Steward Al
Ramseur and Chief Cook George Burgos.

A-BOOK IN JERSEY – QEE Nicholas Pan-
agakos (right) picks up his A-seniority book.
He’s pictured at the Jersey City hall with SIU
Port Agent Ray Henderson.



12 Seafarers LOG May 2022

DEEP SEA

LILIA BARRACA
Sister Lilia Barraca, 65, began
her career with the SIU in 2001
when she sailed
aboard the Al-
legiance. She
sailed in both
the deck and
steward de-
partments and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on several oc-
casions. Sister
Barraca most recently shipped on
the Pacific Collector. She makes
her home in Kunia, Hawaii.

JOHN BENNETT
Brother John Bennett, 66, started
sailing with the Seafarers in

1978, initially
working for
States Steam-
ship. He was a
steward depart-
ment member
and upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Bennett

concluded his career aboard the
Lurline. He lives in Sacramento,
California.

ROBERT BROWN
Brother Robert Brown, 58,
donned the SIU colors in 1982
when he
shipped on the
Taurus. He
upgraded at
the Paul Hall
Center on nu-
merous occa-
sions. Brother
Brown was a
steward depart-
ment member and most recently
worked on the Cape Washington.
He calls Catonsville, Maryland,
home.

STEVEN BROWN
Brother Steven Brown, 67, began
his career with the Seafarers
International Union in 1975,
initially sailing aboard the Long
Lines. He upgraded at the Piney
Point school on multiple occa-
sions and shipped in the engine
department. Brother Brown’s
final vessel was the Tacoma. He
is a resident of Ashford, Wash-
ington.

GWENDOLYN CAMPBELL
Sister Gwendolyn Campbell,
66, joined the Seafarers in 1976.

She sailed in
the steward
department and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Sister
Campbell’s first
vessel was the
Santa Mariana;
her last, the El

Morro. She makes her home in

Bradenton, Florida.

JEFFRY CESVET
Brother Jeffry Cesvet, 66, signed
on with the SIU in 2005, first
sailing aboard
the RJ Pfeiffer.
He shipped
in the deck
department
and upgraded
at the union-
affiliated Piney
Point school on
several occa-
sions. Brother
Cesvet concluded his career on
the Green Cove. He resides in
Laguna Woods, California.

LESLIE CHOICE
Brother Leslie Choice, 65, started
sailing with the union in 1977,

initially working
for Dixie Carri-
ers. He primar-
ily sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded on
multiple occa-
sions at the Paul
Hall Center.
Brother Choice

last shipped on the OMI Star and
settled in Houston.

JAMES CLARK
Brother James Clark, 65, became
a member of the Seafarers Inter-
national Union in 1973 when he
shipped on the Transpanama. He
sailed in the engine department
and upgraded at the Paul Hall
Center in 1976. Brother Clark’s
final vessel was the Producer. He
resides in Port Charlotte, Florida.

KEVIN COMBS
Brother Kevin Combs, 66, em-
barked on his career with the
Seafarers in
1981, initially
sailing on the
Virgo. He was a
member of the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Piney
Point school
on numerous
occasions. Brother Combs most
recently shipped on the Maersk
Idaho and lives in Gainesville,
Florida.

JAMES DAVIS
Brother James Davis, 65, joined
the SIU in 1998 when he sailed
on the USNS American Osprey.
He sailed in the deck department
and upgraded often at the Paul
Hall Center. Brother Davis con-
cluded his career on the Maersk
Carolina and makes his home in
Norfolk, Virginia.

SAMUEL DAVIS
Brother Samuel Davis, 65, signed
on with the union in 1974. He
first sailed aboard the Baltimore
and worked in both the deck
and engine departments. Brother

Davis upgraded at the Piney
Point school on multiple occa-
sions. He last shipped on the
Seabulk Trader and is a resident
of Mobile, Alabama.

DANIEL DEAN
Brother Daniel Dean, 62, began
sailing with the Seafarers in
1978, initially
shipping on the
Columbia. He
sailed in the en-
gine department
and upgraded
at the Paul Hall
Center on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Dean
last shipped
aboard the Safmarine Mafadi. He
lives in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

MICHAEL FAY
Brother Michael Fay, 63, joined
the Seafarers International Union

in 1975 when
he shipped on
the Notre Dame.
He worked in
the engine de-
partment and
upgraded the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple oc-
casions. Brother
Fay was last

employed by Crowley. He lives
in Westmont, New Jersey.

VIRGILIO FUCANAN
Brother Virgilio Fucanan, 67,
donned the SIU colors in 2001.
He first sailed
aboard the
Chemical Pio-
neer and worked
in the deck
department.
Brother Fu-
canan upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
numerous occa-
sions. He most recently sailed on
the Charleston Express and is a
Houston resident.

FRANCISCO GAMBOA
Brother Francisco Gamboa, 70,
began his career with the SIU
in 1997. He shipped in both the
deck and engine departments
and initially sailed aboard the
Independence. Brother Gamboa
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
on multiple occasions. He last
shipped aboard the Puget Sound
and resides in Honduras.

RALPH GARNER
Brother Ralph Garner, 60, started
sailing with the union in 1986,
initially working on an OMI

ship. He sailed
in the engine
department and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Garner con-
cluded his ca-
reer aboard the

Cape Knox and settled in Panama
City, Florida.

GREGORY HAMILTON
Brother Gregory Hamilton, 66,
joined the union in 1972 and first
sailed aboard
the Fairland.
He was a mem-
ber of the deck
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions.
Brother Hamil-
ton last shipped
aboard the Alaskan Navigator.
He lives in Vista, California.

ROBERT IVANAUSKAS
Brother Robert Ivanauskas, 68,
embarked on his career with the

SIU in 1973
when he shipped
on the Brook-
lyn. An engine
department
member, he
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Ivanauskas most

recently shipped on the Integ-
rity. He calls Bel Air, Maryland,
home.

DONALD LUMPKINS
Brother Donald Lumpkins, 65,
became a member of the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 1992,
initially sail-
ing aboard the
Anders Maersk.
He worked in
the engine de-
partment and
upgraded often
at the Piney
Point school. Brother Lumpkins
last shipped on the USNS Stock-
ham. He resides in Goose Greek,
South Carolina.

GREGORY MCNIEL
Brother Gregory McNiel, 66,
signed on with the SIU in 2006.

He initially
shipped aboard
the Bonny and
was a stew-
ard depart-
ment member.
Brother McNiel
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Cen-
ter on numerous
occasions. He

most recently sailed on the Texas
and resides in Pompano Beach,
Florida.

DIANE MICHENER
Sister Diane
Michener,
65, joined the
union in 1979
when she sailed
aboard the El
Paso Southern.
She was a stew-
ard department

member and upgraded at the
Piney Point school on multiple
occasions. Sister Michener’s
final vessel was the Express. She
lives in Athens, New York.

CAROLYN MILSTEAD
Sister Carolyn Milstead, 65,
started her career with the SIU
in 2000, ini-
tially sailing
on the Patriot.
She worked
in the steward
department and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on numerous oc-
casions. Sister
Milstead most
recently shipped on the Inde-
pendence II. She calls Valdosta,
Georgia, home.

SCOTT OPSAHL
Brother Scott Opsahl, 63, started
his career with the Seafarers in

1980 and first
sailed aboard
the Oceanic In-
dependence. A
steward depart-
ment member,
he upgraded
often at the
Piney Point
school. Brother
Opsahl last

shipped on the Horizon Kodiak
and makes his home in Tacoma,
Washington.

DENNIS PICKERING
Brother Dennis Pickering, 65,
signed on with the union in
1978. He ini-
tially sailed on
the Aries and
worked in the
deck department.
Brother Picker-
ing upgraded on
numerous occa-
sions at the Paul
Hall Center. He
last shipped on
the Liberator and is a resident of
Harbor City, California.

ALBERTO SEMEDO
Brother Alberto Semedo, 69,
joined the SIU in 2001 and first

sailed on the
Kenai. He up-
graded at the
Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions
and shipped
in the engine
department.
Brother Sem-

edo most recently sailed on the
Ocean Jazz and makes his home
in Harbor City, California.

CHARLES SNEED
Brother Charles Sneed, 68,
signed on with the Seafarers
International Union in 2001.
He first shipped on the Over-

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 AshoreWelcome Ashore

Continued on next page



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 13

seas Marilyn
and sailed in
both the deck
and engine
departments.
Brother Sneed
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. He
concluded his
career aboard the Philadelphia
Express and calls Mobile, Ala-
bama, home.

ORLANDO SUAZO
Brother Orlando Suazo, 65,

began sailing
with the SIU
in 2002. He
sailed in the
steward depart-
ment and first
shipped on the
USNS Able.
Brother Suazo
upgraded

his skills at the Piney Point
school on multiple occasions.
He most recently sailed on the
Maersk Montana and lives in
New York.

LIONEL TAYLOR
Brother Lionel
Taylor, 73,
signed on with
the SIU in
1999, first sail-
ing aboard the
Independence.
He was an
engine depart-
ment member
and upgraded often at the Paul
Hall Center. Brother Taylor last
shipped on the Ocean Gladia-
tor. He resides in Brooklyn, New
York.

SANYBOY WHITING
Brother Sany-
boy Whiting,
60, joined the
union in 1990.
He was a deck
department
member and up-
graded on sev-
eral occasions at
the Piney Point

school. Brother Whiting’s first
vessel was the Independence;
his last, the Global Sentinel. He
makes his home in Ewa Beach,
Hawaii.

JAMES WILLIAMS
Brother James Williams, 69,
started sailing with the Seafarers
in 1978 when he
worked on the
Galveston. An
engine depart-
ment member,
he upgraded his
skills at the Paul
Hall Center in
2001. Brother
Williams con-
cluded his ca-
reer on the Horizon Pacific. He
lives in Dayton, Ohio.

TECUMSEH WILLIAMS
Brother Tecumseh Williams, 64,
embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in
1977, initially
sailing on the
USNS Potomac.
He primarily
sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded at
the union-affili-
ated Piney Point
school on multiple occasions.
Brother Williams last shipped
aboard the Maersk Ohio and
resides in Green Cove Springs,
Florida.

GREAT LAKES

JAN KAMINSKI
Brother Jan Kaminski, 66, em-
barked on his career with the
Seafarers in 1990. He initially
sailed on the St. Clair and was
a deck department member.
Brother Kaminski last shipped
aboard the Walter J. McCar-
thy and resides in Boca Raton,
Florida.

INLAND

LUIS ALVAREZ PAGAN
Brother Luis Alvarez Pagan, 65,
donned the SIU colors in 1983.
An engine department member,
he was employed by Crowley
Puerto Rico Services for his
entire career. Brother Alvarez
Pagan lives in Puerto Rico.

FRANCIS ARNONA
Brother Francis Arnona, 64,
embarked on his career with the

Seafarers in
1975. He was a
member of the
deck department
and worked for
Crescent Tow-
ing and Salvage
for the duration
of his career.
Brother Arnona

makes his home in Picayune,
Mississippi.

RAYMUNDO ESTAYA
Brother Raymundo Estaya, 66,
signed on with the union in 1990.
His first vessel
was the Sealift
Atlantic and he
sailed in the en-
gine department.
Brother Estaya
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on numerous oc-
casions. He last
sailed aboard
the Terrapin Island and settled in
Richmond, Texas.

CARL GEGENHEIMER
Brother Carl Gegenheimer, 65,

donned the SIU
colors in 1975.
A deck depart-
ment member,
he worked
for Crescent
Towing and
Salvage for the
duration of his
career. Brother
Gegenheimer is a New Orleans
resident.

ANGEL GONZALEZ
Brother Angel Gonzalez, 63,
started sailing with the Seafarers

in 1980. He was
a deck depart-
ment member
and upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Gonza-
lez worked for
G&H Towing
for most of his

career. He resides in League City,
Texas.

MARK HAYES
Brother Mark Hayes, 57, joined
the SIU in 2000, initially work-
ing on the Dodge Island. He
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
within his first year of member-
ship and was an engine depart-
ment member. Brother Hayes
concluded his career on the
Padre Island and settled in Vir-
ginia Beach, Virginia.

DALLAS HIGGINS
Brother Dallas Higgins, 62,
signed on with the union in 1978.
He first sailed
with Hvide
Marine and
was a member
of the deck
department.
Brother Higgins
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on numerous oc-
casions. He was last employed by
Seabulk Tankers Inc. and makes
his home in Nederland, Texas.

MARK LASKOWSKI
Brother Mark Laskowski,
62, started his career with the

Seafarers in
2006 when he
worked on the
Sound Reli-
ance. He sailed
in the engine
department and
upgraded at the
union-affiliated
Piney Point

school on several occasions.
Brother Laskowski’s final ves-
sel was the Pacific Reliance. He
lives in Vassalboro, Maine.

BOBBY MALONE
Brother Bobby Malone, 62,
joined the SIU in 1981. He
was first employed by Dravo
Basic Materials and sailed in
the deck department. Brother

Malone concluded his career
working for Martin Marietta
and resides in Poplarville, Mis-
sissippi.

FRANK MARTINE
Brother Frank Martine, 60,
donned the SIU
colors in 2003.
He was a mem-
ber of the deck
department and
first sailed with
Moran Tow-
ing of Texas.
Brother Martine
most recently
shipped with G&H Towing. He is
a resident of Livingston, Texas.

HAL OWEN
Brother Hal Owen, 65, embarked
on his career with the SIU in

1978 when he
sailed with In-
land Tugs. He
was a member
of the deck
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.

Brother Owen was last employed
by Crowley Towing and Trans-
portation. He makes his home in
Naples, Florida.

ASCENCION PASTOR
Brother Ascencion Pastor, 72,
joined the Seafarers International
Union in 2001
when he sailed
with Delta
Queen Steam-
boat Company.
He sailed in
the steward
department and
concluded his
career aboard
the Mississippi
Queen. Brother Pastor is a New
York resident.

JOHN PHILLIPS
Brother John Phillips, 65, started
his career with the SIU in 1977.

An engine
department
member, he
first sailed with
Dixie Carriers.
Brother Phillips
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. He
most recently
worked with

Crescent Towing & Salvage and
settled in Bay St. Louis, Missis-
sippi.

ORLANDO RODRIGUEZ
Brother Orlando Rodriguez, 66,
started sailing with the Seafar-
ers in 1977. He primarily sailed
in the steward department and
worked for Crowley Puerto Rico
Services for the duration of his
career. Brother Rodriguez makes
his home in Miami.

ERIC SHORT
Brother Eric Short, 62, signed on
with the union in 1979. A deck
department member, he upgraded
at the Piney Point school in 1981.
Brother Short worked with Cres-
cent Towing & Salvage for his
entire career. He resides in Cov-
ington, Louisiana.

MICHAEL STEPHENS
Brother Michael Stephens, 60,
joined the SIU in 1978, initially
working for
American Tow-
ing. He sailed
in both the deck
and engine de-
partments and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on numerous oc-
casions. Brother
Stephens most
recently shipped on the Resolve.
He lives in Cape May Court-
house, New Jersey.

JAMES TOMLINSON
Brother James Tomlinson, 64,

began his career
with the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 1999
when he worked
for Higman
Barge Lines.
A deck depart-
ment member,
Brother Tom-
linson was last

employed by Crowley in 2004.
He calls Trinity, Texas, home.

AUGUST WERDENBERG
Brother August Werdenberg,

62, signed on
with the SIU
in 1984. The
deck depart-
ment member’s
first vessel was
the Northerly
Island. Brother
Werdenberg last
shipped aboard
the Dodge Is-

land. He settled in Merritt Island,
Florida.

GRANT WILKINSON
Brother Grant Wilkinson, 65,
joined the Seafarers in 1990
when he sailed
on the Stephen
W. Pless. He
sailed in both
the deck and
engine depart-
ments and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
in 2014. Brother
Wilkinson was most recently em-
ployed with Crescent Towing &
Salvage. He lives in Mandeville,
Louisiana.

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 AshoreWelcome Ashore

Continued from Page 12



14 Seafarers LOG May 2022

DEEP SEA

THOMAS ALLEN
Pensioner Thomas Allen, 86, died
January 16. He signed on with the
Seafarers Inter-
national Union
in 2000. Initially
sailing aboard
the USNS Loyal,
Brother Allen was
a steward depart-
ment member.
He last shipped
aboard the
Cyprine and went
on pension in
2015. Brother Allen was a resident
of East Wareham, Massachusetts.

FRANK CASBY
Pensioner Frank Casby, 84, passed

away January
17. He donned
the SIU colors in
1979 and sailed in
all three depart-
ments. Brother
Casby’s first ves-
sel was the Cove
Engineer; his last,
the USNS Bel-
latrix. He became

a pensioner in 2007 and settled in
Franklinton, Louisiana.

JEFFREY CHAPPELOW
Pensioner Jeffrey Chappelow, 70,
died November 30. He began his
career with the
Seafarers in 2001
and first shipped
on the Paul Buck.
Brother Chap-
pelow worked in
the deck depart-
ment and last
sailed on the
Lightning. He
became a pen-
sioner in 2016 and lived in Ontario,
California.

JULIUS COPELAND
Pensioner Julius Copeland, 83,

passed away Janu-
ary 24. He joined
the union in 1972
and first sailed
aboard the Presi-
dent Fillmore. A
steward depart-
ment member,
Brother Copeland
last shipped on
the Achiever. He

retired in 2005 and made his home
in Clovis, California.

ROBERT DAVIS
Pensioner Robert Davis, 68, died
February 8. He started sailing with
the SIU in 1988.
Brother Davis was
a steward depart-
ment member and
first shipped on
the Independence.
He most recently
sailed aboard the
Liberty Promise
and went on pen-
sion in 2021.
Brother Davis resided in Montgom-
ery, Texas.

HYDEN ELWIN
Pensioner Hyden Elwin, 74, passed
away January 22. Born in Honduras,
he signed on with the Seafarers In-
ternational Union in 1968. Brother
Elwin initially sailed aboard the
Steel Flyer and was an engine de-
partment member. He last shipped
on the Overseas Arctic and became
a pensioner in 2012. Brother Elwin
called Petal, Mississippi, home.

BILLY HILL
Pensioner Billy Hill, 64, died Febru-
ary 26. He joined
the union in 1976
when he sailed
aboard the Tran-
seastern. Brother
Hill worked in the
deck department
and most recently
shipped on the
Maersk Califor-
nia. He retired in
2016 and lived in Livingston, Texas.

LESTER HOFFMAN
Pensioner Lester Hoffman, 78,
passed away March 7. Signing on

with the SIU in
1967, he was first
employed by Hud-
son Waterways.
Brother Hoffman
was a deck depart-
ment member.
He concluded
his career aboard
the USNS Algol
before retiring in

2005. Brother Hoffman resided in
Bay City, Michigan.

JULIUS KOTAN
Pensioner Julius Kotan, 80, died
December 10. He started sailing with
the union in 1965, initially working
for Sea-Land. Brother Kotan sailed
in the steward department. He last
shipped on the Wabash and became
a pensioner in 2006. Brother Kotan
lived in Daytona Beach, Florida.

PETE MACARAEG
Brother Pete MacAraeg, 92, passed
away January 12. He began his
career with the Seafarers in 1968.
Brother MacAraeg was a steward
department member and first worked
on the Santa Magdelena. He last
sailed aboard the Liberator in 1985
and was a San Francisco resident.

FRANK MARTIN
Pensioner Frank Martin, 68, died
January 4. He embarked on his
career with the
Seafarers in 1987
when he shipped
on the Kauai.
Brother Martin
worked in the
steward depart-
ment. He most
recently sailed
aboard the John
U.D. Page in
2019. Brother Martin became a pen-
sioner earlier this year and lived in
Jacksonville, Tennessee.

ODELL MURRAY
Pensioner Odell Murray, 81, passed

away January 30.
An engine depart-
ment member,
he started sailing
with the union
in 2001. Brother
Murray’s first ves-
sel was the Marine
Chemist; his last,
the Resolve. He

went on pension in 2011 and made
his home in Houston.

EDDY NEWMAN
Pensioner Eddy Newman, 66, died
February 17. He donned the SIU
colors in 1990.
Brother Newman
was a member of
the engine depart-
ment and first
shipped aboard
the USNS De
Steiguer. He last
sailed aboard the
Howard O. Loren-
zen before retiring
in 2019. Brother Newman resided in
Las Vegas.

JORGE OSORIO
Pensioner Jorge Osorio, 83, passed
away December 25. He embarked on
his career with the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union in 1960. Brother Osorio
initially sailed aboard the Titan.
He worked in the deck department
and last sailed on the J.E.B. Stuart.
Brother Osorio retired in 1996 and
lived in Costa Rica.

ISMAEL PURGANAN
Pensioner Ismael Purganan, 74, died

January 25. He
joined the SIU
in 1995 when
he sailed on the
Independence.
Brother Purganan
shipped in the
deck department
and concluded
his career on the
Horizon Kodiak.

He became a pensioner in 2017 and
resided in Renton, Washington.

JOSEPH QUITUGUA
Pensioner Joseph Quitugua, 73,
passed away
January 21. He
first sailed with
the SIU in 2001,
initially working
on the Patriot.
Brother Quitugua
shipped in both
the deck and en-
gine departments.
He last shipped on
the Dewayne T. Williams and retired
in 2019. Brother Quitugua lived in
Guam.

EDGARDO VAZQUEZ
Pensioner Edgardo Vazquez, 91,

died September
22. He embarked
on his career with
the Seafarers In-
ternational Union
in 1963 when he
worked with Wa-
terman Steamship.
A steward depart-

ment member, Brother Vazquez also
worked on shore gangs. He became
a pensioner in 2002 and made his
home in Brooklyn, New York.

EFREN VILLAROSA
Pensioner Efren Villarosa, 85, passed

away January 19.
He signed on with
the union in 1996
when he sailed on
the Independence.
An engine depart-
ment member,
Brother Villarosa
last sailed aboard
the Jack Lummus.
He became a pen-

sioner in 2015 and was a resident of
Honolulu.

SAMUEL WOOTEN
Pensioner Samuel Wooten, 83, died
February 13. He embarked on his
career with the
Seafarers Inter-
national Union in
1988, first sailing
aboard the USNS
Triumph. Brother
Wooten was a
deck department
member. He con-
cluded his career
aboard the Devel-
oper before retiring in 2005. Brother
Wooten called League City, Texas,
home.

JEFFREY YAP
Brother Jeffrey Yap, 61, passed

away January 1.
He started sailing
with the SIU in
1980. Brother Yap
was a deck depart-
ment member
and first shipped
on the Oceanic
Independence. He
last sailed aboard
the Jack Lummus

in 2009 and resided in Kaunakakai,
Hawaii.

GREAT LAKES

MUSAID ISMAIL
Pensioner Musaid
Ismail, 86, died
February 4. He
joined the SIU
in 1966 when he
sailed on the Reiss
Brothers. Brother
Ismail worked in
all three depart-
ments and last
shipped on the
John Boland. He retired in 2001 and
lived in Yemen.

INLAND

RODGER ALLBRITTON
Pensioner Rod-
ger Allbritton,
76, passed away
November 28. He
began his career
with the union
in 1976. Brother
Allbritton sailed

in both the deck and engine depart-
ments and worked for G&H Towing
for the duration of his career. He
became a pensioner in 2002 and re-
sided in Houston.

ACCURSIO BALBO
Pensioner Ac-
cursio Balbo, 89,
died February
2. He became a
member of the
SIU in 1980, ini-
tially sailing with
Gloucester Fish-
ermen. Brother
Balbo retired in
1997 and settled

in his hometown, Gloucester, Mas-
sachusetts.

WILLIAM BOBAC
Pensioner William Bobac, 99, passed
away February 17. He signed on
with the Seafarers
in 1956. Sailing in
the deck depart-
ment, Brother
Bobac first
worked for Arun-
del Corporation.
He was last em-
ployed by McAl-
lister Towing of
Baltimore before
going on pension in 1984. Brother
Bobac was a Baltimore resident.

NMU

JOHN MURRAY
Pensioner John Murray, 96, died

January 15. Born
in Philadelphia,
he sailed with the
NMU prior to the
2001 merger with
SIU. Brother Mur-
ray went on pen-
sion in 1968. He
was a New York
resident.

In addition to the foregoing individu-
als, the following union members
have also passed away. Insufficient
information was available to develop
summaries of their respective careers.

NAME AGE DOD
Anderson, Admiral 89 02/28/2022
Batista, Ricardo 88 03/16/2022
Bazile, George 94 03/13/2022
Brenton, Michael 89 07/28/2021
Calderon, Jose 92 02/15/2022
Cardinale, Orazio 96 01/04/2022
Cardriche, Jules 97 02/05/2022
Carpio, Federico 84 01/28/2022
Chaves, Antonio 87 02/23/2022
Fafard, Alfred 74 01/29/2022
Ford, Frank 96 11/29/2021
Hernandez, Luis 77 02/18/2022
Hobbs, Henry 96 02/15/2022
Katz, John 97 01/25/2022
Kerns, James 82 02/22/2022
Kranz, Herbert 96 12/19/2021
Lewis, Marvin 94 01/18/2022
Martinez, Juan 87 12/31/2022
Martins, Carlos 89 01/29/2022
Perez, Juana 97 02/26/2022
Rodriguez, Alexander 95 12/31/2021
Santiago, Jose 91 01/14/2022
Tanner, Samuel 88 01/20/2022
Townsend, John 95 02/17/2022
Vaneckelen, Emanuel 95 02/06/2022
Wallace, Clarence 68 01/17/2022

Final Final
DeparturesDepartures



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 15

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
District are administered in accordance with
the provisions of various trust fund agree-
ments. All these agreements specify that the
trustees in charge of these funds shall equally
consist of union and management representa-
tives and their alternates. All expenditures and
disbursements of trust funds are made only
upon approval by a majority of the trustees.
All trust fund financial records are available
at the headquarters of the various trust funds.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s ship-
ping rights and seniority are protected exclu-
sively by contracts between the union and
the employers. Members should get to know
their shipping rights. Copies of these 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 con-
tracts are available in all SIU halls. These
contracts specify the wages and conditions
under which an SIU member works and lives
aboard a ship or boat. Members should know
their contract rights, as well as their obliga-
tions, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the
proper sheets and in the proper manner. If,
at any time, a member believes that an SIU
patrolman or other union official fails to pro-
tect their contractual rights properly, he or she
should contact the nearest SIU port agent.

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
contracts which the union has negotiated
with the employers. Conse quently, no mem-
ber may be discriminated against because of
race, creed, color, sex, national or geographic
origin.

If any member feels that he or she is de-
nied 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 American
merchant marine with improved employment
opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the
advancement of trade union concepts. In con-
nection with such objects, SPAD supports and
contributes to political candidates for elective
office. All contributions are voluntary. No con-
tribution may be solicited or received because
of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal,
or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of
membership in the union or of employment. If
a contribution is made by reason of the above
improper conduct, the member should notify
the Seafarers International Union or SPAD by
certified mail within 30 days of the contribu-
tion for investigation and appropriate action
and refund, if involuntary. A member should
support SPAD to protect and further his or her
economic, political and social interests, and
American trade union concepts.

NOTIFYING THE UNION — If at any
time a member feels that any of the above
rights have been violated, or that he or she has
been denied the constitutional right of access
to union records or information, the member
should immediately notify SIU President 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 Know Your Rights

Digest of Shipboard Digest of Shipboard
Union MeetingsUnion Meetings

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.

USNS MONTFORD POINT
(Ocean Shipholdings Inc.), Jan-
uary 21 – Chairman Kenneth
Steiner, Secretary Jean Fa-
vreaux, Educational Director
Jose Encarnacion, Deck Dele-
gate Jason Bentz, Engine Del-
egate Robert Varney, Steward
Delegate Jose Sadaya. Crew
still needs email access. Satel-
lite phone is the only means
of communication. Next port
of call Suez Canal and over to
Greece to drop supplies. Fuel-
ing to take place in Spain for
trip to U.S. Ship scheduled for
ROS in Virginia. Thirty-day
stores received in Bahrain and
possibly will take on more
in Spain. BBQs will be held
while at sea per secretary’s
report. Educational director
reminded members to update
vaccine cards and to check re-
quirements before applying to
upgrade at the Paul Hall Cen-
ter. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew reviewed latest
COVID-19 guidelines and ROS
schedule. Ship in need of new
washer and dryers. Members
discussed 401K and pension
benefits.

LIBERTY PEACE (North Star
Shipping Company), Janu-
ary 23 – Chairman German
Nunez, Deck Delegate Ruben
Lopez, Engine Delegate
Lionel Alvarez Jr., Steward
Delegate Nikia Stripling.
Company still charging for
Wi-Fi access. Crew requested
more towels, wash cloths, fit-
ted sheets and refrigerators
in each room. Internet works
only half of the time. Educa-
tional director urged members
to upgrade whenever possible.

Deck delegate reminded crew
to check documents before ex-
piration. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Members plan
to include lobster and prime
rib in future Thanksgiving and
Christmas meals.

USNS WATERS (Ocean Shi-
pholdings Inc.), February
3 – Chairman Nagi Mihakel,
Secretary Charles Sassone,
Educational Director Randy
Slue. Members revisited
various topics from previous
meeting. Chairman discussed
overtime issues. Department
delegates should receive one
hour per meeting and mem-
bers should receive one hour
weekly for room sanitation.
Crew should receive penalty
pay for power washing or han-
dling chemicals. Issues from
last meeting are still ongoing.
Educational director reminded
crew to be mindful of internet
usage and encouraged them
to upgrade at the Piney Point
school. Members requested
equal internet accessibility,
company-provided TVs, new
mattresses and better pillows.

MAERSK DENVER (Maersk
Line, Limited), February 6
– Chairman James Walker,
Secretary Ronaldo Torres,
Educational Director Her-
man Castro, Engine Delegate
Reynaldo Lacayo-Bermudez.
Shipyard period postponed to
June. Secretary reminded mem-
bers to get COVID-19 vaccine
booster to ship out. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Mem-
bers requested increases in re-
tirement as well as prescription
eyeglass coverage.

MAERSK KINLOSS (Maersk
Line, Limited), February 13 –
Chairman Ion Boros, Secretary
Caezar Mercado, Educational
Director Tijani Rashid. Chair-
man praised steward depart-
ment for serving delicious
meals and for their profession-
alism. Crew discussed safety
protocols and requirements
for attending courses at Paul
Hall Center. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Members
requested increases to the food
budget, higher vacation pay,
better internet connectivity, and
the return of annual medical re-
quirements. Next port: Newark,
New Jersey.

MAERSK KENSINGTON
(Maersk Line, Limited), Feb-
ruary 20 – Chairman Hussein
Mohamed, Secretary Arlene
Thomas, Educational Direc-
tor George Bieselin, Deck
Delegate Yamira Colon Del
Moral, Engine Delegate Juan
Rochez, Steward Delegate
Frederick Conroy. Crew dis-
cussed possibility of acquir-
ing larger TV and hopes for
better reception and Wi-Fi.
Chairman encouraged crew to
renew documents as early as
six months in advance. Vote
of thanks given to steward de-
partment for working hard and
serving good food. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Big
washing machine needs to be
fixed. Crew offered input on
future contract negotiations.
Members asked for 18 for 30
vacation days and a day off
every 30 days. Crew requested
30-minute coffee time and a
pay increase to reflect cost of
living expenses.

EDWARD A. CARTER, JR.
(Sealift, Inc.), February 27
– Chairman Daron Tinney,
Secretary Janelle Harper,
Educational Director Joshua
King. Crew reviewed old busi-
ness including Wi-Fi “vouch-
ers” and satellite phones in
lounge. Chairman mentioned
the possibility of losing Wi-Fi
and/or cell capabilities during
March 14-March 18 exercise.
No beefs or disputed OT re-
ported. Members discussed
ship-joining procedures and
quarantine protocol. Ship gym
in need of floor padding, new
treadmill, equipment repairs
and overall updating. Crew
lounge couches need to be re-
placed. Next port: Jinhae-gu,
South Korea.

MAERSK DETROIT. (Maersk
Line, Limited.), February 27
– Chairman William Barrett,
Deck Delegate John Walsh.
Educational director recom-
mended members to upgrade
at the union-affiliated Piney
Point school. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Members
requested heaters, and TV
repairs. Crew asked for 100%
dental coverage, 30 for 30 va-
cation, pension eligibility after
20 years and an increase to
food budget.

MIDNIGHT SUN (TOTE
Services), February 27 – Chair-
man Thomas MacGregor,
Secretary Dennis Skretta,
Educational Director Sutthi-
pong Ticer, Deck Delegate
Bakr Saber Elbana. Ship re-
strictions still in effect. MMC
and medical certificates can be
renewed online per chairman.

Educational director advised
crew to get the LNG endorse-
ment to work on the North
Star and Midnight Sun. He re-
minded everyone to check the
Seafarers LOG and union por-
tal for class dates and informed
them of the latest COVID-19
vaccination requirements. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Crew discussed watch-standing
scenarios and wiper wages.
Members suggested a supply
of personal hygiene products
in the slop chest. With ship
restrictions they are not able
to go ashore to purchase their
own.

USNS WATERS (Ocean
Shipholdings Inc.), March
4 – Chairman Nagi Mihakel,
Secretary Charles Sassone,
Educational Director Randy
Slue. Members continue to
ask for internet access. Cap-
tain unwilling to approve any
overtime over four hours per
day. All previous overtime is-
sues remain. Secretary asked
crew to be mindful of dispos-
able items and cleaning-supply
usage. Keeping ship stocked is
very challenging due to com-
pany budget cuts. Members
were reminded to clean up
after themselves. Educational
director encouraged crew to
upgrade at the Paul Hall Center
and to look out for one another.
Engine department asked why
there is no class to upgrade
from QMED to 3AE. Company
has allowed ship to order new
linens but has deducted the
cost from the consumable bud-
get. Members requested new
mattresses, better pillows, and
company-provided TVs.



16 Seafarers LOG May 2022

UPGRADING APPLICATION

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

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

Social Security #_______________________ Book # _________________________________
Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________
Home Port____________________________________________________________________
E-mail_______________________________________________________________________
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program?  Yes No
If yes, class # and dates attended __________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes 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 Train-
ing and Education Admissions Office, Email:upgrading@seafarers.org Mail: 45353 St.
George’s Ave., Piney Point, MD 20674 Fax: 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.
5/22

The following is a list of courses that currently are scheduled to be held at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Maryland
during the next several months. More courses may be added. Course additions and
cancellations are subject to change due to COVID-19 protocols. All programs are
geared toward improving the job skills of Seafarers and promoting the American
maritime industry.

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

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Gap Closing Courses

MSC Ship Clip June 6 June 17

MSC Supply Configuration Management May 23 June 3

Deck Department Upgrading Courses

Able Seafarer-Deck May 23 June 10
August 29 September 16
October 17 November 4
November 28 December 16

Lifeboat/Water Survival June 6 June 17
August 1 August 12
August 29 September 9
September 26 October 7
October 24 November 4
November 21 December 2

Fast Rescue Boat June 20 June 24
August 22 August 26

RFPNW June 27 July 15
July 25 August 12
September 26 October 14

Leadership and Management Skills August 8 August 12

Advanced Shiphandling August 22 September 2

Advanced Meteorology September 12 September 16

Advanced Stability September 5 September 9

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

RFPEW July 25 August 19
September 26 October 21
November 14 December 9

FOWT June 13 July 8
August 29 September 23

Junior Engineer July 11 September 2

Marine Electrician May 16 June 17

Marine Refer Tech September 19 October 28

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

Advanced Refer Containers July 18 July 29

Welding June 6 June 24
July 11 July 29

Engineroom Resource Management August 1 August 5

Steward Department Upgrading Courses

Certified Chief Cook May 30 July 1
July 11 August 12
August 15 September 16

ServSafe Management May 23 May 27
July 4 July 8
August 8 August 12

Advanced Galley Operations June 20 July 15
August 15 September 9
October 10 November 4

Chief Steward July 18 August 12
September 12 October 7
November 14 December 9

Safety/Open Upgrading Courses

Combined Basic/Advanced Firefighting September 19 September 23

Medical Care Provider September 26 September 30

Basic Training June 6 June 10
August 8 August 12

Basic Training Revalidation June 3 June 3
June 10 June 10
July 8 July 8
July 11 Juy 11

Basic Training/Adv. FF Revalidation August 29 September 2
December 12 December 16

Government Vessels June 13 June 17
June 27 July 1
July 18 July 22
August 1 August 5
August 15 August 19

Tank Ship-DL (PIC) October 24 October 28

Tank Ship Familiarization DL June 27 July 1
October 24 October 28

Tank Ship Familiarization LG May 23 May 27
August 15 August 19
October 31 November 4

Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course DatesPaul Hall Center Upgrading Course Dates



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 17

Important Notice
To all Students

Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover - for whatever
reason - that they can’t attend, should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students
take their places.

Paul Hall Center ClassesPaul Hall Center Classes

Apprentice Water Survival Class # 880 – Graduated March 25 (above, in alphabetical order): Dale Armstrong III, Jonathan Cordova-Alonso, Kaylah Hill, Jerome Johnson Jr., Jacob
Kitten, La’Terri Kohn, Samuel Lambert, John Rapoza, Felix Manuel Rivera Rodriguez, Dean Schrantz, Blake Seele and Brittney Sharp.

Deck Operations (Phase III) – Graduated March 25 (above, in alphabetical order): Donovan Armstrong, Seth James, Bryce Kennebeck, Colin Sabitsky, Jesse Schecher, Kyle Smith,
Alec Stensaa, Stuart Waite and Jason White. Their instructor, Dominic Hix, is second from the right. Upon the completion of their training, each plans to work in the deck depart-
ments aboard SIU-contracted vessels.



18 Seafarers LOG May 2022

Paul Hall Center ClassesPaul Hall Center Classes

Students who have reg-
istered for classes at
the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Train-
ing and Education,
but later discover -
for whatever reason
- that they can’t at-
tend, should inform
the admissions depart-
ment immediately so
arrangements can be
made to have other stu-
dents take their places.

Important
Notice To

All Students

Medical Care Provider – Graduated February 18 (above, in alphabetical order): Kristopher Bechtel II, Steven Benavides Jr., Christian Bryant, Aaron Burnett, Kenneth Cabrera, Carlos
Mohler Vega, Patrick Montgomery, Karl Morrow Jr., and Kareem Walters.

Combined Basic & Advanced Firefighting – Graduated February 11 (above, in alphabetical order): Kristopher Bechtel II,
Steven Benavides Jr., Christian Bryant, Carlos Mohler Vega, Patrick Montgomery, Michael Norman and Kareem Walters.

Government Vessels – Grad-
uated February 25 (photo at
right, in alphabetical order): Ki-
erra Bradley, Patrick Montgom-
ery, Karl Morrow Jr., Eric Van
Mose, Gajatri Normatovea,
Andrew Palmer, Blair Royal,
Ronald Sease and Jamika
Thomas.

Basic Training (Basic Firefighting) – Graduated
March 11 (above, in alphabetical order): Tyson
Broussard and Mark Edgell Jr.



May 2022 Seafarers LOG 19

Paul Hall Center ClassesPaul Hall Center Classes

FOWT – Graduated February 18 (above, in alphabetical order): Freeman Adamson, Cody Carroll, Nikita Feather-
ston, Dennison Forsman, Anson Johny, Jacob Massie, Eriv Van Mose, Jose Pena, Tyson Richardson and Michael
Taylor.

Basic Training (Basic Firefighting) – Graduated February 4
(above, in alphabetical order): Alexander Benjamin Capellan
Almonte and Joseph Smith.

Basic Training (Advanced Firefighting Revalidation) – Graduated March 11 (above, in alphabetical order): Robert Boomer, Kelly Doyle, Charles Drumm, Edward Mateo Galbis,
Matthew Gillespie, Alonzo Griswell, Noel Lau, Kelsey Longhi, Louis Alberto Valencia and Liberato Zacarias Viray.

Certified Chief Cook – Graduated March 18 (above, in alphabetical order): Munassar Mohamed Ali, Charlene Briggs,
Keshyra Armani Brinkley, Paul Erickson Jr., Ahmed Mohamed Hussain, Mery Sofia Koch Lupa and Kristyn White.

Chief Steward – Loretta Stewart, above, graduated
from this course March 25



20 Seafarers LOG May 2022

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

MAY 2022 VOLUME 84, NO. 5
Paul Hall CenterPaul Hall Center

Class PhotosClass Photos
Pages 17-19Pages 17-19

The head of a major coalition recently
pushed back against unfounded commentary
about the domestic maritime industry.

Ku’uhaku Park is president of the Ameri-
can Maritime Partnership (AMP), a group
whose members include the SIU along with
representatives from every component of the
industry. In late March, he posted an edito-
rial under the headline: “American Maritime
Serves Nation In Face of Baseless Criti-
cisms.”

Park began, “There is an old yet familiar
saying in politics that you should ‘never let a
good crisis go to waste.’ As such, it has been
no surprise to see the anti-Jones Act activ-
ists come out of the woodworks – yet again
– as energy prices have increased around the
globe in the wake of the war in Eastern Eu-
rope.

“The anti-Jones Act ideologues and oil
trader opportunists, ever predictably, are now
calling for waivers to undermine America’s
cornerstone maritime law,” he continued.
“They claim that the Jones Act is respon-
sible for the increased price at the pump
across America. Not only are they wrong on
the facts but doing away with the Jones Act
could have severe unintended consequences
for our nation’s national security, homeland
security, and economic security.”

He explained that gas prices have “sky-
rocketed in recent months in part due to
uncertainty in global energy markets as Rus-
sia’s war in Ukraine continues.”

However, Park noted, “The fact of the
matter is that, according to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration, the price con-
sumers face at the pump is directly correlated
to the cost of crude oil – a global commodity.

The fundamental relationship between crude
oil price and gasoline price is consistent
and fluctuates upwards and downwards in
tandem. Similarly, when the price of wheat

changes, so does the price of bread. They’re
intertwined.”

In February and March, Park said, crude
oil prices increased by almost 57%. Given
that the cost of crude correlates to around
56% of at-the-pump gasoline prices, “it’s
clear what is actually responsible for the
increased cost of gasoline. By contrast, the
incremental increase in transportation costs
during this same time period due to rising
fuel prices has been minuscule. In general,
the cost of transportation is a small fraction
of the delivered cost of gasoline.”

He then turned to a question often asked

by other U.S.-flag advocates: Who might
benefit from waiving the nation’s freight
cabotage law?

“The main group of people looking to
line their pockets with a Jones Act waiver for
gasoline would be oil traders,” Park wrote.
“In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a
reporter for Reuters coined the phrase ‘disas-
ter arbitrage’ to describe situations where oil
traders use broad Jones Act waivers to pocket
millions of dollars. Under a broad Jones Act
waiver, oil is transported on foreign vessels
that pay no U.S. taxes, employ foreign mari-
ners at substandard wages, and avoid other
U.S. laws even when American vessels are
standing by and available to transport the
goods. ‘The traders pocket the difference,’
Reuters said, never passing along any sav-
ings to consumers. Despite the Jones Act ex-
emptions, gas prices remained high only to
the benefit of a select group of profiteering
fuel brokers.”

While a waiver wouldn’t appreciably
affect gasoline prices, it “could potentially
have devastating consequences for our na-
tion’s security, especially at a time of uncer-
tainty around the world,” Park asserted. “If
nothing else, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
underscores the importance of ensuring our
nation’s ability to protect our economic and
homeland security at home and to support
our national security interests around the
world. The Jones Act ensures that we have a
domestic shipbuilding base as well as a pool
of mariners to draw upon during cases of na-
tional emergency.”

He pointed out that the domestic maritime
industry “has kept our nation supplied during
the pandemic and the resulting supply chain

crisis with consistent, reliable service,” and
called it “an insult … to take jobs away from
these Americans now, at a time of rising in-
flation and global uncertainty.”

Park concluded, “While it has become re-
flexive for some to point to the Jones Act in
every crisis, waiving this law simply would
not have an impact on lowering the price of
gas. However, it would put money in the
pockets of oil traders and foreign interests
at the expense of American national security
and American workers.”

AMP: Industry Delivers AMP: Industry Delivers
Despite ‘Baseless Criticism’Despite ‘Baseless Criticism’

AMP President Ku’uhaku Park

“While it has become reflexive
for some to point to the Jones Act in
every crisis, waiving this law sim-
ply would not have an impact on
lowering the price of gas. However,
it would put money in the pockets
of oil traders and foreign inter-
ests at the expense of American
national security and American
workers.”---Ku’uhaku Park, president,
American Maritime Partnership

The Tennessee General Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution
supporting the Jones Act, America’s freight cabotage law.

Text of the resolution follows.

WHEREAS, Tennessee’s 950-mile-long network of navigable water-

ways, including access to two of the nation’s largest rivers in the Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee rivers, makes it a critical hub in the nation’s
transportation system; and

WHEREAS, the current global pandemic has demonstrated the critical
importance of maintaining resilient domestic industries and transportation
services for the citizens and workforce of Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act
and codified in Title 46 of the United States Code, requires that vessels
carrying cargo between locations in the United States be owned by Ameri-
can companies, crewed by American mariners, and built in American ship-
yards; and

WHEREAS, America’s ability to project and deploy forces globally and
supply and maintain military installations domestically depends on the
civilian fleet of Jones Act vessels and mariners; and

WHEREAS, mariners aboard Jones Act vessels strengthen America’s
homeland security as added eyes and ears monitoring the nation’s 95,000
miles of shoreline and 25,000 miles of navigable inland waterways; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee is home to 20,630 maritime jobs supported by
the Jones Act, the eighth highest per capita among all states, which jobs
generate $1.24 billion in worker income; and

WHEREAS, maritime industry jobs create ladders of opportunity
through high-paying, family-wage careers that offer significant career ad-
vancement without generally necessitating advanced formal education and
extensive student loans; and

WHEREAS, the more than 40,000-vessel-strong Jones Act fleet sup-
ports nearly 650,000 family-wage jobs and more than $154 billion in eco-
nomic output nationally and $4.5 billion to Tennessee’s economy; now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED
TWELFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE,
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCURRING, that this body affirms its resolute support for the Jones
Act and celebrates the centennial anniversary of the Jones Act and its im-
portant role in fostering a strong domestic maritime industry that is criti-
cal to Tennessee’s and the nation’s economic prosperity and to national
security.Tennessee State Capitol

General Assembly Adopts Resolution
Tennessee Backs Jones ActTennessee Backs Jones Act