Seafarers Log: Vol. 85 No. 3 (2023-03-01)

MARCH 2023 VOLUME 85, NO. 3

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

Heindel is New SIU President
Page 2

MTD Coverage
Pages 4-9

A Lifetime of Union Leadership
Sacco Retires Following 35 Years at SIU Helm
SIU President Michael Sacco (pictured directly below and throughout the rest of this page) re-
cently announced his retirement following more than six decades of association with the union.
His farewell column appears on page 2, while additional coverage appears on page 3. Caption
information for the photos on this page is available on page 3.

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2 Seafarers LOG March 2023

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Capital Gateway Drive; Camp Springs, MD 20746.
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Assistant Communications Director & Managing Editor/
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Administrative Support, Jenny Stokes. Copyright ©
2023 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.

Volume 85 Number 3 March 2023
The SIU online: www.seafarers.org

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

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

Truly, It Has Been My Honor

President’s Report

Whether you navigated to this column in print or online,
you undoubtedly already know that I recently stepped down
as president of the SIU. I just celebrated my 86th birthday
(on Valentine’s Day), and while I’m happy to report that I am

still in good health, it’s time. So, this is
my farewell column, even though I’ll
remain available to help whenever and
wherever needed.

When I became involved with the
union back in the late 1950s, I never
would have believed I’d stick with it
this long. But, as many of you know,
this organization and this industry can
get into your blood. It’s easy to get fired
up about trade unionism and the U.S.
Merchant Marine. Now, looking back, I
wouldn’t trade the experience for any-
thing. It has been an honor and (mostly)
a joy to work with the people who really

became my extended family, and who I love so much.
Long before I became president in 1988, our officials and

our members collectively had a dream. From extremely hum-
ble beginnings, we wanted to make the SIU the number one
maritime union in the United States. We worked together and
supported each other – and we achieved our goal.

I fully believe that our members and our officials have
a very good future ahead of you. Our executive board will
deliver, and we’ll become even better than we are today. We
have a tremendous organization that’s built on trust and re-
spect for one another and support for each other. We deliver
for this membership, and we’ll continue doing so as the indus-
try inevitably changes. The keys will include recruiting and
upgrading.

Another key will be continued political action. If there’s
one insight I’d offer to our rank-and-file members as I head
out the door, it’s that we have to fight pretty much every day
just to keep this industry alive. Don’t get me wrong – I genu-
inely believe we have a bright future in the SIU and in Ameri-
can maritime overall. But I also know, without a doubt, that
if we look away or otherwise let down our guard, foreign-flag
interests will wipe us out. That’s never going to happen, and
your ongoing support of SPAD is a big reason why I’m opti-
mistic.

We’ve all heard some variation of the saying, “Leave it
better than you found it.” I have a very deep, sincere respect
for the work done by our founders. I also feel proud that I am
leaving this organization in excellent shape and in the best
possible hands. I have the utmost confidence in all of you.
Just remember that we must change in order to meet the needs
of the industry.

After so many decades with the SIU, there’s no way I’m
going to fall into the trap of naming names in order to say
thank you. I wouldn’t know where to stop, which is a tribute
to our union and to our affiliated school in Piney Point. With
that in mind, I’ll simply say to all Seafarers past and pres-
ent, thank you for all you’ve done to make the SIU what it is
today, and thanks for all you’ve done to make my job easier.
Always remember where you came from.

God bless you and your families. God bless the SIU.

Michael Sacco

Following unanimous approval
of the SIU Executive Board, David
Heindel became the union’s fourth
president, effective Feb. 14.

The board convened Feb. 13
near Orlando, Florida. SIU Presi-
dent Michael Sacco announced
his retirement and then nominated
Heindel (who has served as the
union’s secretary-treasurer since
1997) as his successor. SIU Execu-
tive Vice President Augie Tellez
seconded the nomination; the
unanimous vote followed.

Subsequently, the board unani-
mously approved the respective
appointments of Tom Orzechowski
as secretary-treasurer and Bryan
Powell as vice president of the
SIU’s Great Lakes and Inland
Waters sector. Orzechowski had
served as Lakes vice president
since 2003; Powell had been an as-
sistant vice president since 2007.

“Dave will do a great job and
he has my complete confidence,”
Sacco stated. “He has proven
himself throughout his lifetime
of service to the SIU. We are also
fortunate to have outstanding lead-
ership throughout our executive
board, and I know this will be a
seamless transition.”

“Dave and I have worked well
together for many years and will
continue doing so,” Tellez said.
“He’s well-qualified for the job
and I’m excited about this next
chapter of SIU history. The new
administration is well-positioned
to meet the challenges ahead.”

Heindel began his career with
the SIU in 1973, when he gradu-
ated from the program for entry-
level mariners conducted at the
union’s affiliated training facil-
ity in Piney Point, Maryland. He
primarily sailed aboard deep-sea
vessels as a member of the engine
department before coming ashore
in 1980 to work as a patrolman in
his native New Orleans.

Among the other jobs he has
held with the union are patrolman
at the SIU halls in Philadelphia and
Baltimore, port agent at the Phila-
delphia hall, and assistant vice
president of the SIU’s Gulf Coast
region.

Heindel also formerly served as
a vice president of the Pennsylva-
nia State AFL-CIO and the Phila-
delphia Central Labor Council.
He also was secretary-treasurer of
the Delaware Valley and Vicinity
Maritime Port Council of the AFL-
CIO’s Maritime Trades Depart-
ment.

In August 2002, he was elected
vice chairman of the International
Transport Workers’ Federation’s
(ITF’s) Seafarers’ Section. Since
then, he extensively has worked
– both domestically and as part of
U.S. delegations in international
forums – with the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, the Interna-
tional Labor Organization and the
International Maritime Organiza-
tion on shipboard and port-security
issues as well as the international
project for a new Seafarers Iden-
tity Document. He helped protect
mariners’ rights under the Inter-
national Ship and Port Facility
Security Code (which took effect
July 2004), and he helped secure
a new agreement for tens of thou-
sands of mariners worldwide under
the ITF’s International Bargaining
Forum.

During the ITF Congress in
August 2006, he was elected to a
four-year term as first vice chair of
the Seafarers’ Section. At the ITF
Congress in August 2010, he was
elected chair of the ITF’s Seafar-
ers’ Section, thereby becoming
only the second American ever to
hold that post. He was re-elected at
the ITF Congress in August 2014,
then re-elected again in October
2018.

In 2015, he was appointed to
the U.S. Labor Advisory Com-
mittee for Trade Negotiations and
Trade Policy. He was reappointed
to that position in 2017.

Orzechowski graduated in 1991

from the trainee program in Piney
Point. He sailed in the deck depart-
ment, both in the deep sea and in-
land divisions.

Orzechowski came ashore in
1996, when he was elected port
agent at the SIU hall in St. Louis.

Two years later, in 1998, he
was elected vice president of
the SIUNA-affiliated Seafarers
Entertainment and Allied Trades
Union (a position he still holds).
In 2000, he was elected to the
SIU executive board as vice
president of the union’s Lakes
and Inland Waters sector. He was
re-elected in all subsequent elec-
tions and also serves as a vice
president on the Seafarers Inter-
national Union of North America
Executive Board.

Additionally, for the past sev-
eral years, he has served as act-
ing vice president of the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education.

Powell launched his career with
the SIU via the apprentice program
in 1993. He then came ashore in
1999 to work as a union official.
Since then, while actively working
on organizing and start-up projects
nationally, Powell has served in
several locations, including Bal-
timore; St. Louis; Camp Springs,
Maryland; Piney Point; Houston;
Jacksonville, Florida; Wilming-
ton/Los Angeles; Seattle/Tacoma;
Oakland, California; Mobile, Ala-
bama; Honolulu; and Algonac/
Detroit.

Heindel Takes Helm as SIU President

SIU President David Heindel, photo above. Pictured
from left at the conclusion of last month’s Maritime
Trades Department meeting (photo at right) are SIU
Exec. VP Augie Tellez, SIU President Emeritus Michael
Sacco, and SIU President David Heindel.

Executive Board Approves Several Appointments

Tom Orzechowski
SIU Secretary-Treasurer

Bryan Powell
SIU VP Great Lakes

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March 2023 Seafarers LOG 3

Michael Sacco, the longest-serving
president in Seafarers International Union
history, has retired.

“I am in good health and good spirits,”
he stated. “But I have often heard that you
simply know when it’s time to retire, and
this is the time.”

Sacco, 86, formalized his plan Feb. 13
during a meeting of the SIU Executive
Board near Orlando, Florida.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said,
“Mike Sacco’s distinguished career in
trade unionism is an inspiration to all of
us. Mike’s leadership at the Seafarers In-
ternational Union benefited generations
of merchant mariners and all working
people. Mike led his union with integ-
rity and a fighting spirit that he learned
as a rank-and-file member. It’s been an
honor to have him serve on the AFL-CIO
Executive Council for more than three
decades, always quick to offer sage ad-
vice and guidance about the future of our
movement. We wish Mike nothing but the
best in retirement and know he’ll always
be ready to take up any fight that boosts
working people.”

SIU President David Heindel – unani-
mously approved to that post by the
union’s executive board – described

Sacco as “an inspiration to members and
officials alike. Under Mike’s leadership,
the SIU has become a respected power-
house in maritime circles around the globe.
We’ve been together since I was a trainee
back in the early 1970s, and I know Mike
has dedicated his whole life to the SIU. We
all owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Heindel added, “On behalf of the entire
organization, I also thank Mike’s family,
and in particular his wife, Sophie, for their
sacrifices and support of his time that was
required to foster the SIU’s growth. It has
been great working with Mike over the
years. And while he may be dropping an
anchor, he has agreed to continue to be
an advisor as President Emeritus. Here’s
to a well-deserved and happy retirement,
Chief!”

Sacco served as president of the SIU’s
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters
(AGLIW) for nearly 35 years, beginning

in June 1988. He also worked as presi-
dent of both the Seafarers International
Union of North America (a federation of
autonomous unions that includes the SIU
AGLIW) and the Maritime Trades Depart-
ment (MTD) throughout the same period.

Moreover, in November 1991, at its
19th Biennial Constitutional Convention,
Sacco was elected a vice president of the
AFL-CIO, the federation of 60 national
and international unions representing
more than 14 million workers in the United
States. He eventually became the senior
vice president of the AFL-CIO Executive
Council as its longest-serving member.

A protege of the late SIU President
Paul Hall, Sacco from 1980 to 1988 di-
rected the SIU AGLIW’s Great Lakes and
Inland Waters division as vice president.
Based in St. Louis, he served as secre-
tary-treasurer of the Greater St. Louis
Area and Vicinity Port Council (an MTD-

chartered organization) and as an execu-
tive board member of the Missouri State
AFL-CIO.

Sacco also was vice president of the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Sea-
manship from 1968 to 1979. The school,
located on the grounds of the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and Educa-
tion in Piney Point, Maryland, prepares
men and women for a career aboard U.S.-
flag commercial vessels and provides up-
grading opportunities to active members.

He became associated with the SIU in
1958 and shipped aboard U.S.-flag mer-
chant vessels until he came ashore during
the 1960s to serve the SIU in a succession of
union posts, including those of patrolman,
port agent and headquarters representative.

A native of Brooklyn, New York,
Sacco served in the U.S. Air Force from
1954 to 1958.

SIU President Michael Sacco Retires

At the SIUNA convention in 2007, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney (left) addresses the audience as SIU
President Mike Sacco listens. After taking office in 1988, SIU President Mike Sacco (right) chats with SIUNA
VP Buck Mercer. SIU President Mike Sacco (right) and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler are pictured at an
AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in 2022 in the nation’s capital.

Pictured at a building dedication in 1983 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, are (photo at left,
from left) SIU Houston Port Agent Gene Taylor, then-SIU VP Mike Sacco, U.S. Sen. Rus-
sell Long (D-Louisiana) and Crowley VP Randy Collin. In photo above, SIU President
Mike Sacco participates in Solidarity Day in Washington, D.C. in 1991.

Additional coverage of President
Sacco’s career will appear in upcom-
ing editions of the Seafarers LOG. If
you’d like to share a sentiment for
possible publication, please email
editorial@seafarers.org

From left to right, top to bottom, on page 1: President Sacco at last year’s MTD convention; with newly elected AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler (left) and AFL-CIO Secretary-
Treasurer Fred Redmond in June 2022, after he officiated the election; with longtime friend Rich Trumka, late president of the AFL-CIO; with former Secretary of Transportation
and Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, a steadfast advocate of the U.S. Merchant Marine; with the late NMU President Rene Lioeanjie, during the SIU-NMU merger of 2001;
with Crowley Maritime President/CEO Tom Crowley at a building dedication in Piney Point, Maryland; with rank-and-file upgraders at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education; with President Clinton and Sophie Sacco, Mike’s wife, at the White House; with President George W. Bush in Piney Point; with President Obama in the nation’s
capital; with then-Vice President Biden, also in Washington, D.C.

On the Front Cover

“Mike Sacco’s distinguished career in trade unionism is an
inspiration to all of us. Mike’s leadership at the Seafarers In-
ternational Union benefited generations of merchant mari-
ners and all working people.”
- - -AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

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4 Seafarers LOG March 2023

February 2023 Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

The most recent Maritime Trades Depart-
ment (MTD) Executive Board meeting proved
historic, as longtime President Michael Sacco,
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Duncan
and Eastern Area Board Member Jim Given
announced their respective retirements.

Following unanimous approval by the board,
they were succeeded by (in the same order)
David Heindel, Mark Clements and Chris Given.
SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, who
also serves as an MTD board member, spoke in
support of Heindel’s nomination.

While the appointments provided a grand
finale, the rest of the meetings – which took
place Feb. 16-17 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
– also featured plenty of other riveting mo-
ments. They included remarks from (in chron-
ological order) U.S. Maritime Administrator
Ann Phillips; U.S. Export-Import Bank Board
of Directors member Owen Herrnstadt; TOTE
Services Chair and CEO Tim Nolan; U.S. Gen.
Jacqueline Van Ovost, commanding officer of
the U.S. Transportation Command (via video);
Union Veterans Council Executive Director
Will Attig; Darrell Connor on behalf of Great
Lakes Dredge & Dock Senior Vice President
Bill Hanson; AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Fred Redmond; and International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF) General Secretary
Steve Cotton.

MTD board members approved numerous
statements mapping out the organization’s
strategies. Statement topics on the first day in-
cluded safe workplaces, the Jones Act, the Ex-
port-Import Bank, hurricane relief, legislative
wins for maritime, supporting our troops and

veterans, and America’s maritime highways
and infrastructure. On the gathering’s second
day, the board approved statements covering
wind energy, labor solidarity, recruiting and
organizing, protecting the National Labor Re-
lations Board, and cargo preference.

In his opening remarks, Sacco said that,
as usual, “we’ve got a mix of good news and
serious challenges to talk about. That’s life,
period, but it definitely applies to us in the
maritime industry and the labor movement.”

He continued, “Many of you saw the num-
bers from this year’s government report on
union membership in the United States. Col-
lectively, we gained more than 200,000 mem-
bers…. While it’s a modest gain overall, it still
beats a loss, and it really does give me hope
for the future of organized labor.”

Sacco said that current future jobs in the
wind-energy sector also look promising.

“Wind energy is here, it’s here to stay, and
unions have been at the forefront of making
sure workers have a seat at the table regarding
these new jobs,” he stated.

Turning toward politics, Sacco said, “De-
pending on your political views, you may see
the results of last November’s elections as pos-
itive or negative. From an MTD perspective,
I’d say it was a mixed bag, but not because of
anything to do with party affiliation. We lost
some really good friends either to retirement
or to the election results themselves, but we
also won more than our share of the races. And
as always, we didn’t waste any time getting to
work with the new Congress. That’s something
else that never changes.”

He said manpower is among the larg-
est challenges facing unions and businesses
throughout the nation.

“You’ve probably seen the data about
millions of unfilled jobs across the country,”
Sacco noted. “At some point that’ll change,
but for right now, employers – and unions –
are feeling the strain.”

The MTD, which recently unveiled a sub-
stantially updated website, is a constitutionally

mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The de-
partment’s network of 21 port maritime councils
has given maritime workers a formidable grass-
roots presence in port and coastal cities across
the nation. Representing a wide array of work-
ers, the councils have given the department’s 23
affiliates (including the SIU) a mechanism to
pool their resources on a wide range of issues
and projects. Those affiliates collectively repre-
sent more than five million members.

MTD Elects New Leaders, Several Officials Retire

Outgoing MTD President Michael Sacco (above) opens the
meeting. Taking the oath for their respective positions within
the MTD (photo at right, from right) are President David Hein-
del, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark Clements and East-
ern Area Board Member Chris Given. General Counsel Leslie
Tarantola is at left, administering the oath.

Board Hears from Array of Dynamic Speakers

Attendees pack the meeting room.

The commanding officer of the United States Transporta-
tion Command (USTRANSCOM) recently provided a pow-
erful, detailed description of why the nation must maintain a
strong U.S. Merchant Marine.

Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost gave her remarks via recorded
video that was shown Feb. 16, during the first day of the winter
meeting of the Maritime Trades Department (MTD) Executive
Board meeting near Orlando, Florida. She briefly reviewed the
American maritime industry’s centuries-old reliability before
underscoring the ongoing need to boost the mariner pool and
U.S. shipbuilding capacity.

The video also included remarks from U.S. Army Gen.
Christopher G. Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe,
and from Ukrainian government official Oleksandra Azarkh-
ina (the nation’s deputy administrator of infrastructure). Both
thanked MTD-affiliated unions for their support.

Van Ovost said that USTRANSCOM leaders “recognize
that your success drives our own.”

She continued, “Our country’s heritage as a maritime
power has endured since the very founding of this great union.
Our ability to protect our coasts, sustain our industries, sup-
port our allies, and project power abroad is a national strength
built on the water. Because it wasn’t just the conveyances that

enabled our increased integration with the world; it was due in
large part to the companies, unions, and workers who created
a thriving maritime ecosystem.”

The general noted the wartime service of civilian mari-
ners throughout the country’s history along with their ongo-
ing service in times of peace. “This is the legacy that your
organization carries forward – one of dedication, hard work,
professionalism, and patriotism,” she stated. “This remains
true today as your efforts continue to support commercial part-
ners’ ships and those of the Maritime Administration that US-
TRANSCOM employs to fulfill our global mission. Deterring
potential adversaries and projecting America’s military power
abroad just isn’t feasible without you.”

After describing the U.S. Merchant Marine’s service in
“every major operation or humanitarian event [which] enabled
the achievement of our national objectives” since the middle of
the last century, she underscored the reduced number of domes-
tic shipyards and the drop in shipboard manpower. Van Ovost
summarized the situation with this stark comment: “From the
supply chain to the dry docks, we have reduced the margins
of monetary risk at the cost of our national security.”

Gen. Van Ovost addresses the MTD audience via a re-
corded video that was extremely well-received.

USTRANSCOM Leader: ‘Your
Success Drives Our Own’

Continued on Page 9

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March 2023 Seafarers LOG 5

February 2023 Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

Maritime Administrator Praises Industry
The leader of the U.S. Maritime

Administration (MARAD) recently
provided a detailed overview of the
agency’s goals and its vision for the
industry’s future.

Maritime Administrator Rear Adm.
(Ret.) Ann Phillips addressed the
Maritime Trades Department Execu-
tive Board and other attendees Feb.
16 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. She
commended the work of mariners, the
unions that represent them, and U.S.-
flag vessel operators.

“On behalf of the Maritime Admin-
istration and Transportation Secretary
Pete Buttigieg, I am honored to join you
to talk today about my priorities as the
Maritime Administrator,” said Phillips.
“As a retired surface warfare officer, I
can tell you that, from the perspective
of the Maritime Administration, our en-
during commitment to historic naval el-
ements – deterrence, sea control, power
projection and maritime security – are
and remain essential to our national se-
curity strategy today.”

She continued, “The only way we
can achieve these results is the efforts
that both you and your members con-
tribute to our sealift enterprise. You are
an essential part of the team, whether
sailing on ships, building them or re-
pairing them. It all depends on you,
and we need your continued steward-
ship in this regard. I’ll do all I can,
while I’m serving as administrator, to
support the men and women you repre-
sent, because they are the backbone of
our nation’s strength.”

Reflecting on the recent past, she
said, “A lot has changed in the past
three years, since the COVID-19 pan-
demic wracked the world. Outside of
the medical community, there was no
group of workers more affected than
the transportation industry, and our
transportation industry workforce.
Mariners and transportation workers
did not get to telework from home to
move vital supplies and keep our supply
chains open and moving, even though
they were strained by unprecedented
demand. Instead, they came to work in
person, answering the call, working the
ships, the ports and the shipyards, to
keep us healthy, fed, and secure.

“Today, I know, the workforce is
dealing with new challenges,” she con-
tinued. “Everywhere I go, everyone I
talk to, everyone who comes to see me,
wants to discuss their challenges in
recruiting and retaining talent. This is
a top concern of MARAD, and we are
working with industry, management,
and across government and with labor,
to better understand the challenges and
determine where we can lean in to help
change the course with the tools that
we have.”

She stated, “The Administration is
unwavering in its support for the Jones
Act. It is essential to maintaining our
national security by ensuring sealift
capability, and it supports well-paying
union jobs.”

Phillips then spoke on the recently
passed National Defense Authorization
Act, explaining, “… the FY23 NDAA
made numerous changes to the Jones
Act process. Specifically, it requires
the president, rather than the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, to make
determinations as to whether a waiver
is in the best interest of national de-
fense. It requires the Department of
Homeland Security to publish when a

request for a waiver is received, and
prohibits the issuance of waivers until
48 hours have elapsed after the publi-
cation of the initial request. It also pro-
hibits MARAD from conducting any
retroactive surveys, and it prohibits the
issuance of waivers for cargoes that
are already laden. Taken as a whole,
the NDAA changes make it clear that
waiver requests are to be considered on
a case-by-case basis, as we have done
throughout this administration.

“I can assure you, we will continue
to enforce the Jones Act in accordance
with federal law,” Phillips said, to re-
sounding applause.

Later, she also spoke of the po-
tential challenges that await new and
current mariners, before stating, “We
must be able to meet this potential
challenge, and to do that, it is critical
to recognize that there is an essential
interdependence between commercial
and military elements of the maritime
industry. A healthy commercial indus-
try is critical to support the DOD’s
force mobilizations – and, I would add
as an aside, the Ready Reserve Fleet is
responding to some of those requests
as we speak.”

She continued, “Further, the size of
our commercial fleet determines the
number of billets available to sealift-
qualified mariners, both officers and
ratings, to meet our sealift sustainment
needs. MARAD works at the overlap-
ping intersections to strengthen our
sealift enterprise, by administering
commercial sealift programs, managing

the operations of our Ready Reserve
Force, and helping to train the next
generation of mariners.”

She summarized, “Without mari-
ners, there would be no ships. That’s
the bottom line.”

After speaking at length on mariner
safety and wellbeing, Phillips turned to
the Maritime Security Program, which
“maintains a fleet of 60 modern, pri-
vately owned, U.S.-flag vessels active
in international commercial trade, and
available on-call to meet DOD contin-
gency requirements. The current fleet
now provides cargo capacity that ex-
ceeds 3.4 million square feet, the high-
est level in the program’s history.”

Phillips also noted that the agency
is working with “the Biden/Harris
Administration’s Made in America
office, to help agencies understand
cargo preference requirements – and,
by understanding, comply. I have also
written to all federal departments and
agencies, explaining how MARAD can
help them ensure they meet their ob-
ligations under cargo preference laws
and regulations.”

She concluded, “Our merchant
marine constitutes the nation’s fourth
arm of defense. It has been historically
organized, trained and equipped to
perform these three essential functions:
sea control, power projection and
maritime security. We at the Maritime
Administration are working to ensure
our mariners have the ships, the train-
ing and the resources that they need to
meet our evolving sealift needs.”

Phillips Stresses U.S. Merchant Marine’s Sealift Role

MTD President Michael Sacco (right) thanks Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips for her remarks to the board.

Ann Phillips
U.S. Maritime Administrator

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023_X.indd 5 2/27/23 10:17 PM



6 Seafarers LOG March 2023

Maritime Trades Department Board Members, Friends & Guests

Adam Vokac
President

MEBA

Brian Schoeneman
Political Director

SIU

Eric Bunn
Sec.-Treasurer

AFGE

Brian Sanson
Sec.-Treasurer

UMWA

Tom Orzechowski
Sec.-Treasurer

SIU

Michael Russo
AVP
SIU

Anthony Poplawski
President
MFOW

James Callahan
President

Operating Engineers

Dave Connolly
President

SUP

Paul Doell
President

AMO

Eric Dean
President

Ironworkers

David Heindel
President

SIU

Lisa Bolton
VP

CWA

Peter Clark
VP
ILA

Don Josberger
Sec.-Treasurer

MM&P

Arthur Maratea
President
TCU/IAM

Michael Vigneron
President

Atlantic Gulf Coast
District, ILA

Bob Rice
Sec.-Treasurer

AMO

Roland Rexha
Sec.-Treasurer

MEBA

Jimmy Hart
President

Metal Trades Dept.

Mike Given
President

SIU of Canada

Jeanette Bradshaw
Michigan

Port Maritime Council

Robert Howard
Chicago Port

Maritime Council

Patrick Dolan
UA

Dan Duncan
Sec.-Treas. (Ret.)

MTD

Mark Clements
Sec.-Treasurer

MTD

Augie Tellez
Exec. VP

SIU

Jim Given
President Emeritus

SIU of Canada

George Tricker
VP
SIU

Dean Corgey
VP
SIU

Nick Marrone
VP
SIU

Kris Hopkins
AVP
SIU

Pat Vandegrift
AVP
SIU

Joseph Soresi
VP
SIU

Amancio Crespo
AVP
SIU

Karen Horton-Gennette
National Director

UIW

Nicholas Celona
VP

SIU Govt Svs

Bryan Powell
VP
SIU

Joe Vincenzo
AVP

SIU Govt Svs

Maggie Bowen
Plans Administrator

Seafarers

Bernie Hostein
Steelworkers

David Woods
Sec-Treasurer

BCTGM

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 6 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 7

February 2023 Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

The head of the International Trans-
port Workers’ Federation (ITF) recently
offered valuable insights about the
maritime labor shortage, the importance
of cabotage laws, and how decarboniza-
tion will affect transportation employees
worldwide, among other key topics.

ITF General Secretary Steve Cotton also
praised the career of outgoing SIU/MTD
President Michael Sacco when he spoke to
the Maritime Trades Department Executive
Board Feb. 17 near Orlando, Florida.

The SIU is affiliated both with the ITF
and the MTD.

Cotton stated, “On behalf of the 20
million transport workers affiliated with
the ITF, we recognize Mike Sacco’s
contributions – not just to the maritime
trades, but to the labor movement….
I can say on behalf of the hundreds of
thousands of seafarers Mike and the SIU

have helped by being a guiding light for
democracy, many (foreign) unions visited
the SIU. They’ve built their constitutions
around the democracy that North Amer-
ica represents. That’s Mike’s commitment
to the international movement. He’s not
just the dean of the AFL-CIO; he’s the
dean of the world.”

Cotton then congratulated new SIU
President David Heindel, who also has
served as an ITF official for many years.
“On behalf of the ITF, we’ll be by your
side, all the way,” Cotton said.

After updating attendees about the
federation’s ongoing efforts to protect
workers from COVID-19, Cotton talked
about the “global impact” of the labor
shortage, not just in the transportation
trades but in virtually every industry.

He stated, “Many people are looking
at how they work and where they work.

For us in transportation, because we’ve
been squeezed and squeezed, many of
our jobs are no longer attractive. We have
to rebuild confidence and secure jobs.
Whether it’s a Filipino or a North Ameri-
can, we need to guarantee that we can
[fill] all of the transport jobs. We need po-
litical support, we need financial backing,
and we need to upskill the jobs.”

With that in mind, Cotton said the ITF
is “looking at how we can do that. We’ve
signed partnership agreements with the
leading global employer bodies…. We have
nearly 14,500 ships under contract. That’s
because of the support that you’ve built.”

He added that it’s critical “that we con-
tinue to collaborate at the highest levels.”

Cotton then noted that 2023 marks
the seventy-fifth year of the federation’s
campaign against so-called flag-of-conve-
nience (FOC) or runaway-flag shipping.

He said FOC operators “would love to
be on the United States’ coasts. They’d
love to be in Canada. But because you’ve
stayed strong … we see new (pro-cabo-
tage) legislation in Australia. We’ve been
able to defend cabotage in Brazil and
Argentina. We believe there will be more
opportunities to build cabotage in the
post-pandemic period.”

Cotton said a big reason for those pros-
pects is the standard set by defenders of the
Jones Act, America’s freight cabotage law:
“You led from the front and you fought tire-
lessly in all of the political arenas.

“For me, cabotage and the Jones Act is
the maritime industry’s holy grail,” he con-
tinued. “It must be defended at all costs.”

After pledging the federation’s ongo-
ing support, he discussed the phase-in
period for decarbonization in maritime.
Although it’ll be a decades-long under-
taking, the effects will be substantial.
Maritime labor already is working to
ensure that workers’ voices are heard and
that mariners and others get the training
needed for evolving jobs.

“It doesn’t matter where you fit in
the global supply chain,” he explained.
“Whether it’s the dockers, the railway
workers, the truck drivers, we have to
make sure our folks are skilled and in-

vested, to handle these new [jobs].”
Cotton noted that he and Heindel have

helped lead the ITF’s efforts on this front,
and added, “The reality is, we have to be
greener…. This is an issue that concerns
working men and women on the ships
today. What new skills will they need?
Workers should have a say.”

Like other speakers, Cotton also
touched on current and future job op-
portunities in the wind-energy sector. He
said the federation already is working to
help ensure that those are well-paying,
union jobs.

“When we approach those foreign
companies that build wind farms, they
(must) understand that the moment it
touches American waters, it should be on
American ships … constructed by Ameri-
can workers, and then taken out to sea and
maintained forever by American workers.”

He also provided an update on the ITF’s
respective efforts to assist Ukraine and the
earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey.

“The hard work that you do
every day makes a difference to
everybody,” he concluded. “You in-
spire other nations and other trade
unions.”

ITF Leader Addresses Manpower, Cabotage

Steve Cotton
ITF General Secretary

SIU President David Heindel (left) and ITF General Secretary Steve Cotton are longtime
colleagues in the global effort to protect mariners’ rights.

When longtime International Association
of Machinists (IAM) Chief of Staff Owen
Herrnstadt received U.S. Senate confirma-
tion last summer to serve at the U.S. Export-
Import Bank, he realized it didn’t quite sound
like the culmination of a childhood dream.

But it’s truly a great fit, Herrnstadt told
the Maritime Trades Department (MTD) Ex-
ecutive Board during a Feb. 16 speech near
Orlando, Florida.

Believed to be the first person from the
labor movement to be appointed to the bank’s
board of directors, Herrnstadt said colleagues
expressed surprise that he wanted the job.

“But if you look closer at the actual mis-
sion of Ex-Im, it’s easy to see why someone
like me – someone who was raised in and
by the labor movement – would want a posi-
tion at the bank,” he explained. “The bank’s
explicit mission (is) to support U.S. jobs. Our
congressional charter says, the Export-Import
Bank … objectives and purposes shall be to
aid in financing and to facilitate the exports
of goods and services between the United
States and any foreign country, and in doing
so shall be to contribute to the employment
of U.S. workers. We take that mission very,
very seriously.”

He said one way the bank fulfills its mis-
sion is by supporting “the U.S. maritime
industry and U.S. maritime workers that

make the industry so great.” He added that
the rationale for the laws reserving Ex-Im
cargoes for U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed ships is
straightforward: “In times of vulnerable sup-
ply chains and economic insecurity, these
rules are critical for our nation’s economic
and physical security, which depend on the
U.S. maritime industry, U.S. maritime work-
ers, and, of course, U.S. maritime unions.”

He continued: “This is especially true in
the past few years in the wake of increasing
global competition as other countries con-
tinue to utilize robust industrial policies that
support their own industries, including their
own maritime industries; accelerating com-
petition from countries that don’t always play
by the rules – like China – and expanding
global supply chains in off-shoring that has
exposed the vulnerability of our nation’s eco-
nomic security, which has been highlighted
during the pandemic. That is why Ex-Im is
one of the core players in the Biden adminis-
tration’s efforts to rebuild manufacturing and
bring supply chains home.”

Immediately prior to Herrnstadt’s re-
marks, the MTD adopted a statement sup-
porting the bank. In part, the statement reads
as follows:

Sometimes overlooked and often misun-
derstood, the U.S. Export-Import Bank nev-
ertheless is a crucial source of good jobs for

American workers. It’s also a money-maker
for the government, which is among the rea-
sons it has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan
support.

While the lender has experienced
issues recent ly with funding and
director vacancies , the Ex-Im Bank
has been able to reach a quorum of
board members s ince May 2019. In
that time, the bank has resumed its primary
duty: backing low-interest loans for the ex-
port of U.S.-made goods. As we all know, the
goods generated by the bank are carried on
American-flag ships, which means jobs for

mariners, and support for the nation’s cargo
preference laws.

Founded in 1934, the bank helps maintain
good American jobs, and generates significant
money for the U.S. Treasury. It’s an indepen-
dent federal agency which, according to its
mission statement, “promotes and supports
American jobs by providing competitive and
necessary export credit to overseas purchasers
of U.S. goods and services. A robust Ex-Im
can level the global playing field for U.S.
exporters when they compete against foreign
companies that receive support from their
governments. Ex-Im also contributes to U.S.
economic growth by helping to create and sus-
tain hundreds of thousands of jobs in export-
ing businesses and their supply chains across
the United States. In recent years, 90 percent
of the total number of the bank’s authoriza-
tions has directly supported small businesses.
Since 2000, Ex-Im has provided $14.8 billion
to the U.S. Treasury after paying for all of its
administrative and program expenses.”

The U.S. is not alone in providing export
credit to domestic shipping companies:
More than 60 other nations use similar in-
stitutions to promote their goods for export
around the world. But as with other political
scrapes involving laws and programs that
boost the U.S. Merchant Marine, our work
in raising awareness on the vital nature of
the Ex-Im Bank is never finished.

As stated by Jeffrey D. Gerrish, former
Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President, “With
Ex-Im restored to full functionality, our
exporters again have a fighting chance to
win export sales on the fair basis of quality
and price instead of on the availability of
government-backed financing.”

Ex-Im Bank Dedicated
To Supporting U.S. Jobs

Owen Herrnstadt explains how the U.S.
Export-Import Bank benefits the nation.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023_X.indd 7 2/27/23 10:17 PM



8 Seafarers LOG March 2023

February 2023 Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

Jones Act is ‘Core’ to Dredging Industry
America’s freight cabotage law remains

crucial for the dredging industry, and it
also plays a vital role as the nation expands
into the wind-energy sector.

Those were among the key points offered
by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) Se-
nior Vice President William Hanson Feb. 17
at the Maritime Trades Department (MTD)
Executive Board meeting near Orlando,
Florida. Although an emergency prevented
Hanson from attending the gathering, Darrell
Conner, a government affairs specialist from
the law firm K&L Gates, delivered the full
address.

GLDD has contracts with several
unions, including the SIU. Seafarers sail
aboard the company’s hopper dredges.

“For those not familiar with Great
Lakes Dredge & Dock, it is the nation’s
largest dredging company, with a large di-
verse fleet – a fleet in which they continue
to invest,” Conner said. “Their specialty is
the large deepening and widening projects
like the first phase of the Port of Houston’s
Project, which was just completed last
week. But they also have worked in and
expanded every major port in the country
during their 131-year history.

“They also bring special expertise to
coastal projects that protect our nation’s
coasts, and have worked on virtually every
beach or coastal project in the country, typ-
ically pumping sand from offshore borrow
areas to beach fronts,” he continued. “The
Jones Act and the Dredging Act are core
to their industry, ensuring their vessels are
U.S.-crewed, U.S.-built, and U.S.-owned.
And [GLDD] currently has more than $300

million of new equipment under contract,
including two new hopper dredges under
construction now that will give us the most
modern fleet in the U.S.”

After emphasizing the company’s
unwavering focus on workplace safety,
Conner noted that despite the dredging
market being “flush with funding … the
dredging industry is finding it challenging
to get projects out to bid. Agencies are un-
derstaffed to deal with the increased level
of funding. While we usually say thanks
for any infrastructure spending, [GLDD]
believes that more consistent annual fund-
ing can be more beneficial than one big
funding bill…. As an example, Great Lakes
suffered one of its worst financial years on
record because the Corps of Engineers was
unable to get major deepening projects out
to bid last year.”

Conner also pointed out that GLDD
is believed to be “the first private U.S.
maritime company to jump into the U.S.
offshore wind market, making a major in-
vestment in a Jones Act-compliant rock in-
stallation vessel. This vessel is being built
in a U.S. shipyard, the Philly Shipyard, by
U.S. union workers; will be crewed by U.S.
union labor; and will be owned by a U.S.
company. This $250 million investment
demonstrates to the Biden administration
that their efforts to support the Jones Act
and create new markets for American com-
panies and American labor is working.

It also shows the European developers
that U.S. industry will build to meet the
demand, and shows [GLDD] European
competitors that the Jones Act is the law

and their days working in U.S. waters with
foreign-flag vessels are numbered!”

Conner described the high levels of
interest in the wind sector from governors
and other state politicians. “It is accompa-
nied by interest in helping with the train-
ing and education of the union workforce
to crew our new vessel,” he continued,
again on behalf of Hanson. “Of course,
that ship is but one of many U.S.-flag ves-
sels, crewed by American workers, that
will need to be built to satisfy this market.
That’s opportunity.”

He concluded by describing the MTD
and its affiliates as “great allies in the fight
for more funding and policies to keep U.S.
workers fully engaged in the maritime in-
dustries.”

Darrell Conner from K&L Gates conveys
pro-Jones Act, pro-labor messages from
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Senior Vice
President William Hanson.

William Hanson
GLDD VP

Redmond Reiterates AFL-CIO Support
For Strong American Maritime Industry

Fred Redmond left no doubt about the
AFL-CIO’s ongoing support for the U.S. Mer-
chant Marine when he spoke to the Maritime
Trades Department (MTD) Executive Board
on Feb. 17 near Orlando, Florida.

Redmond, elected last year as the federa-
tion’s secretary-treasurer, stated, “A first-class
maritime industry is so important to the eco-
nomic health and security of this nation. And
having highly skilled, U.S. citizen union mari-
ners and shipyard workers is absolutely essen-
tial. The entire labor movement has stood with
you to reject flag-of-convenience schemes and
fight back attacks on cargo preference laws.
And we will stand with you again to protect
these labor standards, and for the enforcement
of the Jones Act. That’s our promise.”

Redmond began by thanking SIU/MTD
President Michael Sacco for his years of hard
work and dedication to the federation and the
labor movement as a whole.

“For those of you who don’t know, Mike
is currently the longest-serving member of the
AFL-CIO Executive Council. He’s the Dean
of the Executive Council,” said Redmond,
before congratulating Sacco on his retirement.
He then saluted newly elected SIU President
David Heindel on his position, before congrat-
ulating MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Daniel Duncan on his retirement.

“But most of all I want to thank all of you,”
he said, addressing the labor leaders sitting
in the room. “Because the work that you do
every day is critically important in the lives
of working people. To the labor movement,
to our economy, and to the future of our de-
mocracy, and democracies everywhere. I want
to thank you, on behalf of myself and (AFL-
CIO) President (Liz) Shuler, for your dedica-
tion, because through every challenge thrown
your way, you have been able to adapt and
advocate for workers at a time when workers
needed us the most.”

He spoke on the importance of grassroots
politics and a continued need to organize and
help working people across the country. He
then mentioned the recently passed bipartisan
infrastructure bill, saying it’s “a good example,

and it’s already launching projects across the
country, and creating jobs in new communi-
ties. This bill alone … will put half a trillion
dollars of federal funding in clean energy over
the next 10 years. This piece of legislation
alone will create 1.5 million new jobs in in-
frastructure, manufacturing, construction and
transportation. And it’s our goal that we want
every one of these jobs to be a good union
job.”

He then discussed the challenges pertain-
ing to the maritime industry, saying, “We’re
going to keep up our collective work with the
Biden Administration, and get their help to
bolster our domestic supply chain. We need
their help to get employers to the table, and
make sure that employers are signing PLAs
(project labor agreements) and supporting reg-
istered apprenticeships.

“The kind of opportunities a union appren-

ticeship can offer, how it can be a first step in
not just a job, but a lifechanging career,” he
continued. “The Maritime Trades is providing
the next generation of workers the tools they
need to have a successful entry into the [indus-
try]. But it can only open that door if people
know about it, and a lot of folks don’t realize
this path to a good union job is available to
them.”

He added, “You know, I’m a proud trade
unionist, just like everyone else in this room.
And nothing makes me more proud than
when the good union members and leaders of
the Maritime Trades took action, before the
devastating hurricanes even hit Puerto Rico
and Florida last year. Our movement came
together, and it was the Maritime Trades who
displayed the best of our labor movement. You
knew the storm was coming, and you were
prepared. You had containers of critical relief
and emergency supplies at the ready in the
port cities, all across the Eastern Seaboard and
the Gulf. And you had U.S.-crewed ships, tugs
and barges, prepared to bring and offload the
supplies. That’s a testament to you, and our
labor movement.

“And just as you did in the aftermath of
Hurricane Maria (in 2017), it was the largest
sea-bridge operation of federal disaster aid in
FEMA’s history,” he said. “And yet, the same
anti-union opportunists tried to take advantage
of these disasters for their own gain. They said
the Jones Act kept aid away from Puerto Rico
and Florida. They said they were just look-
ing out for the security, safety and wellbeing
of our fellow Americans. We all know it was
a bunch of s*** and a pack of lies. But you
stayed focused to your mission, and you saved
people’s lives. And you made our labor move-
ment proud.”

Redmond also discussed in detail the
power of, and ongoing need for union mem-
bers to be active in grassroots political ac-
tion. He emphasized that labor should back
pro-worker candidates, regardless of politi-
cal party, and he talked about numerous
wins by such candidates in the most recent
elections.

Fred Redmond
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 8 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 9

February 2023 Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Orlando, Florida

Nevertheless, current developments have returned a spot-
light to maritime’s importance.

“Recent global events have once again invigorated the
focus and support for the business of deployment, sustain-
ment, and maneuver that only you can provide, and together
we deliver,” Van Ovost said. “This includes our current en-
deavors to support our NATO allies and supply Ukraine with
the materials needed to defend their country against Russia’s
unprovoked war. With your help, we’ve delivered millions
of pounds of ammunition, weapons, vehicles, and artillery
systems at a volume that only surface shipping can facilitate.
Ukraine’s success on the battlefield is a direct reflection of

your support and something we’ll need even more in the
future.

“In the complexities of today’s global competition, the
fundamental need to retain this advantage has not changed,”
she continued. “Neither has the impact of those who labor to
ensure its vitality. I argue their importance has only grown,
which is why I am such a strong advocate for those involved
with the maritime industry…. This is something we cannot
afford to get wrong; the stakes are too high and countries like
China are leveraging their capacity to produce all manner of
ships to erode our once-clear strategic advantage.”

She then pointed out recent components of the National
Defense Authorization Act that support the Jones Act, the
new Tanker Security Program and other maritime staples

that signal “positive changes…. This focus on your industry
is a renewed recognition of just how critical your contribu-
tions are to the success of our nation. They also represent
an increased opportunity for employment, growth for our
economy, and decreased risk to national security.”

Finally, she thanked outgoing SIU/MTD President Mi-
chael Sacco for his many years of dedicated, effective leader-
ship and support.

Immediately after the video was shown, Sacco recalled
the SIU’s involvement with USTRANSCOM’s earliest oper-
ations after its founding in 1989. He credited SIU Executive
Vice President Augie Tellez for his work with the agency.

He concluded, “This is how we do business. We’re here to
serve our country.”

Gen. Van Ovost Emphasizes Nation’s Reliance on U.S. Merchant Marine
Continued from Page 4

Executive Dubs Mariners as ‘Unsung Heroes’
The top executive at a major, Seafarers-

contracted maritime company recently
spelled out the consistent reliability and
outstanding performances of U.S. mariners
and the U.S.-flag industry as a whole.

TOTE Maritime President and CEO
Tim Nolan addressed the Maritime Trades
Department (MTD) Executive Board Feb.
16 near Orlando, Florida. He repeatedly
praised U.S. crews (including SIU mem-
bers) for their efforts during the pandemic
as well as during various disaster-relief
missions. Nolan also noted that while
supply-chain problems grabbed headlines
during the pandemic, the Jones Act fleet
remained on schedule.

He said that when the pandemic began,
U.S. mariners “answered the call and they
stood watch to ensure that the communi-
ties that depend on us, and the country
that depends on us – they were there to
serve…. This was another one of those
proud moments. There was a lot of public-
ity out there for the transportation industry.
You want to talk about unsung heroes? It’s
our U.S. mariners.”

He added that, particularly in 2021, “we
saw congestion at the ports. We saw ships
out at anchor. We saw congestion on the
railroads…. One thing we didn’t see were
those same problems (in the Jones Act
trade). Why? The Jones Act (fleet), with
U.S. ships and U.S. flags and U.S. mari-

ners, were ready to deliver. They provided
the same reliable, on-time, week-in, week-
out service to each one of those places,
without delays. They weren’t at anchor
for weeks at a time. They weren’t lack-
ing equipment. They had everything they
needed to provide reliable service.”

Nolan described his company’s “pride
of being a Jones Act operator. We are very
proud to be part of the American maritime
industry – an industry that provides for
over 650,000 jobs; an industry that has
built over 40,000 vessels; an industry that
provides $41 billion in labor compensa-
tion; and an industry that provides $154
billion in annual economic impact. That’s
some industry.

“We’re also an industry that leads from
the front,” he continued. “When you talk
about innovation, the U.S. maritime in-
dustry is the first to develop and deliver

an LNG-powered containership, back in
2015. These are still the most environmen-
tally friendly ships in the world.”

Those aren’t the only investments
made by TOTE or other companies. Nolan
pointed out there are five multi-mission
vessels being built at Philly Shipyard, and
that wind energy opportunities are “actu-
ally being implemented as we speak, with
assets being built and ships soon to be
deployed.”

“But the most important of that rein-
vestment is from our labor partners: back
into our mariners,” he said. “Educating
them to ensure we have the best and
brightest in the world to crew and manage
our ships, on behalf of the companies and
the U.S. government as a whole.”

He then recapped the industry’s disas-
ter-relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the
Gulf during the last five years. Nolan said
in particular that the collective response by
maritime labor and Jones Act carriers fol-
lowing Hurricane Maria in 2017 was “one
of the proudest moments in my career….
It was the Jones Act vessels, manned by
U.S. crews, that came in with the needed
support. Labor, both shore-side and on the
ships, worked 24/7 to provide.”

Nolan wrapped up his remarks by
stressing the need for safety, quality of life
aboard ship, inclusion, and training. On
the latter point, he said there is “no bet-
ter example than Piney Point,” referring
to the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education, based in
southern Maryland.

He concluded, “The U.S. maritime in-
dustry will always be ready to answer the
call.”

TOTE Maritime President and CEO Tim Nolan

Attig Underscores the Union Difference

Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig addresses the MTD on Feb. 16.
He updated attendees on the council’s various activities promoting good jobs for U.S.
military veterans, including grassroots political action. Attig, a combat veteran and
union member, pointed out that veterans who belong to unions earn (on average)
$12,000 a year more than their unrepresented counterparts. He described union jobs
as “a pathway to the American dream.” Board members and guests listen to a presentation.

Soaking it all in

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 9 2/27/23 7:40 PM



10 Seafarers LOG March 2023

New jobs are on the way for mem-
bers of the SIU Government Services
Division following the Jan. 21 christen-
ing of the USNS Earl Warren at General
Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego.

Built by union members, the Warren
is the third ship in a fleet oiler program
for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift
Command (MSC).

“Without question, MSC can count
on the typical, reliable professionalism
of SIU CIVMARS who’ll sail aboard
this new ship,” stated SIU Vice Presi-
dent Government Services Nicholas Ce-
lona. “We welcome the new tonnage and
the opportunities that come with it.”

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro
served as the principal speaker at the
ceremony, which also featured remarks
from NASSCO and other U.S. Navy rep-
resentatives. Following brief comments,

the ship’s sponsor, U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Elena Kagan, christened the ship
with the traditional champagne bottle-
break alongside the hull.

“Along with its namesake, this majes-
tic vessel will be instrumental in shaping
the future of our nation. The shipbuilders
of NASSCO are proud to have ensured
Earl Warren’s legacy will live on in this
ship,” said David Carver, president of
General Dynamics NASSCO. “On behalf
of the 4,800 employees of General Dy-
namics NASSCO, I am proud to present
the USNS Earl Warren for christening to
our sponsor….”

The ship honors Earl Warren, four-
teenth chief justice of the Supreme
Court. During his 16 years as chief jus-
tice, a period of time when the Supreme
Court was known as the “Warren Court,”
civil rights and civil liberties were dra-

matically expanded, marking this period
as one of the most important periods in
the history of American constitutional
law, according to many pundits.

“Indeed, the ship’s motto could not
be more appropriate: ‘I Will Find a Way
or I Will Make One,’” said Del Toro.
“That’s exactly what a young Earl War-
ren did when he overcame obstacles to
joining the Army during the First World
War, and that’s what he continued to do
in the fight for equality, democracy, and
social justice throughout his life.”

General Dynamics NASSCO was
awarded a Navy contract to design and
build the first six ships for the next
generation of fleet oilers, the John
Lewis-class, in 2016. In 2022, the Navy
awarded NASSCO with a contract mod-
ification for the construction of two ad-
ditional John Lewis-class fleet oilers,

with the option for the Navy to procure
an additional oiler, which was included
in the 2023 defense budget.

According to NASSCO, “In addition
to the christening of this ship, two ships
in the T-AO class fleet oiler program for
the U.S. Navy – the future USNS Robert
F. Kennedy and the future USNS Lucy
Stone – are currently under construc-
tion. The second ship, the future USNS
Harvey Milk will be delivered to the
Navy later this year. The lead ship, the
USNS John Lewis was delivered to the
Navy in 2022.”

The 742-foot-long oilers are de-
signed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy car-
rier strike group ships operating at sea
and have the capacity to carry 157,000
barrels of oil, a significant dry cargo ca-
pacity, aviation capability and up to a
speed of 20 knots.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (above) does the honors. The
vessel (photo at right) is christened in San Diego. (Photos courtesy Gen-
eral Dynamics NASSCO)

Warren Christening Signals New CIVMAR Jobs

Checking In from Maersk Kensington

AB Waleed Mohsin submitted these photos from the Maersk Kensington, taken during the vessel’s shipyard period
in Bahrain. He’s at right in photo at left, with AB Pascal Masanilo. Fellow Seafarers are among those included in
the photo above.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 10 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 11
SIU-MORT-WFM-2-17-2023

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unionplus.org

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who had the best rates, but I wanted to
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— union member

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financial benefit for providing agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to
ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit your home financing needs.
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79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 11 2/27/23 7:40 PM



12 Seafarers LOG March 2023

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

PROMOTING MARITIME CAREERS – SIU Hawaii Port Agent Hazel Galbiso (left) and SIU Bosun James Reynolds (second
from left) hit the recruiting trail for a career fair at a high school in Honolulu. Those at right are from the local non-profit organi-
zation Marimed Foundation.

RECRUITING IN GULF – SIU Houston Safety Di-
rector Kevin Sykes mans an SIU/Paul Hall Center
booth at a career fair hosted by Milby High School.
The union and school have ramped up their recruit-
ing efforts.

WITH CIVMARS IN NORFOLK – SIU Government Services Division
Representative Sam Spain (right) conducts part of a new-employee ori-
entation class at Naval Station Norfolk (Virginia).

ABOARD OCEAN GRAND – Recertified
Bosun Lech Jankowski (left) and AB Josh
Maughon pause for a photo aboard the In-
trepid Personnel and Provisioning vessel in
Corpus Christi, Texas.

BOOK SECURED IN ALGONAC – GUDE Mohamed
Saeed (right) receives his B-book at the hiring hall. He’s
pictured SIU Algonac Safety Director Ryan Covert.

TEAMING UP IN NEW ORLEANS – The union and the Louisiana Workforce Commission on Jan. 30 jointly hosted a maritime
career fair at the hiring hall. Among those pictured during the event are SIU VP Government Services Nicholas Celona (fourth from
left) and SIU New Orleans Port Agent Chris Westbrook (fourth from right).

A-BOOK IN SAN JUAN – Engine-department
Seafarer Alejandro Cintron (left) picks up his A-
seniority book at the hiring hall. He’s pictured with
SIU Asst. VP Amancio Crespo.

CERTIFICATES GALORE – SIU members
(photo at right) answered the call last Sep-
tember when the Gem State (Pacific Gulf
Marine) was activated in Oakland, Califor-
nia. They returned in late January with a
figurative boatload of certificates, as fol-
lows: Order of the Rock (for transit through
the Straights of Gibraltar); Shellback (for
crossing the Equator); Persian Excursion
(for service in the Persian/Arabian Gulf);
Domain of the Golden Dragon (for cross-
ing the 180th Meridian, also known as the
International Date Line); Order of the Ditch
(for transiting the Panama Canal); Safari
to Suez (for transiting the Suez Canal);
Order of Magellan (for circumnavigation
of the globe). Displaying some of the cer-
tificates aboard the vessel are (seated,
from left) Electrician Sukhbir Bains, Oiler
Lorenz Grice, QMED Lamonte McKinnon,
(standing) ABM Luis Garcia, FOWT Reny
Arzu, OS Brandon Bradley and Oiler Corey
Chandler.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 12 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 13

JOB WELL DONE – SIU officials recently celebrated the career of longtime Philadelphia
Central Labor Council President Pat Eiding (second from right), who has retired from his
post after more than 20 years of service. The union presented him with a ship’s wheel dur-
ing a retirement dinner on Jan. 21. Pictured from left are SIU Jersey City Port Agent Ray
Henderson, future Seafarer Tommy Soresi, SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi, Eiding,
and SIU Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Baselice.

ABOARD PELICAN STATE – Pictured aboard the Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning
vessel in Houston are (from left) SA Henry Gonzalez, Chief Cook Lea Ramos, QEP
Ricky Pettaway, SIU Patrolman Kelly Krick, Steward/Baker Sulay Martinez, Recertified
Bosun Glenn Christianson, QMED Luis Sepulveda and ABM Walid Nasser.

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

WELCOME ABOARD – SIU Jersey City Safety
Director Jose Argueta (right) congratulates Ga-
briel Veras-Conde on his acceptance into the
apprentice program at the union-affiliated Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education.
They’re pictured at the hiring hall in New Jersey.

ABOARD MILLVILLE – Pictured aboard the Key Marine vessel in
Beaumont, Texas, are (from left) Recertified Bosun/Tankerman Billy
Yurick, SIU Houston Patrolman Kelly Krick and A/E Pat Burchill.

READY TO JOIN – After hearing about the Paul Hall
Center’s apprentice program from a friend who’s an SIU
member, James Fuller III (left) visited the Oakland, Cali-
fornia, hiring hall to get started with the application. He’s
pictured with SIU Port Agent J.B. Niday.

HELPING HANDS – OS Stephanie Vidrio pro-
vides water to Cuban nationals who recently were
rescued by the SIU-crewed Sagamore (Sealift).
Coverage of the rescue appeared in the February
LOG and is posted on the SIU website.

ABOARD SBX – These photos were taken during the TOTE
vessel’s recent shipyard period in Hawaii. Pictured from left in
photo at the immediate right are SIU Honolulu Safety Director
Amber Akana, Bosun Jumar Rapuet and vessel master Capt.
David Baker.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 13 2/27/23 7:40 PM



14 Seafarers LOG March 2023

David Heindel, President

Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President

Tom Orzechowski, Secretary-Treasurer

George Tricker, Vice President Contracts

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

Bryan Powell, Vice President Lakes and Inland
Waters

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
111 Mill Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake, VA 23323

(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
Union Directory Inquiring Seafarer

This month’s question was answered by members aboard the Subcom-operated cable ship Decisive in Balti-
more.

Question: What are some things you like about working aboard a cable ship?

Eric Mose
OMU

You get to learn a lot that you
don’t do every day on other ships.
It’s kind of unique. This is my second
year on a cable ship, but I’ve been
going to sea for 30 years.

Anthony Johnson
OS

This is my first time on a cable
ship, but since I’ve been here,
it’s good. Everybody gets along
with each other and we work well
together.

Yan Paing
MDR

I like the crew and I like the
food. We get along well and
they’ve taught me a lot. I’d never
worked on a ship before and I’m
learning all the time..

Habash Ahmed
OS

You experience many different
things daily. You learn a lot. We
have a lot of good mates on here.
We have a good time and you
walk out with a lot of knowledge.
It’s great here. I love it.

Levi Gorokhovsky
OS

We connect the world with these
cables. It’s quite amazing. They run
all over the world, and we can get
fast, high-speed internet to many
countries. When we finish a project,
it’s very satisfying.

Darius Parker
OS

Learning every day. You get new
experiences. There are a lot of things
I enjoy. I especially love the opera-
tions when we’re moving..

Pic From
The Past

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

This 1955 snapshot, taken at the
union’s headquarters building in
New York, includes Oiler Richard
Toler (right) and his son, Richard,
who doesn’t seem to be buying into
the encouraging words about his
haircut.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023_X.indd 14 2/27/23 10:17 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 15

“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from Jan. 15, 2023- Feb. 15, 2023. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of Feb. 15, 2023.
Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach
All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

March & April
Membership Meetings

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

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

Editor’s note: The U.S.
Coast Guard’s National Mari-
time Center issued the follow-
ing announcement Jan. 23. It
is posted on the SIU website.

In keeping with our goal to
continuously improve our ser-
vices to mariners, the National
Maritime Center (NMC) will
now accept electronic signa-
tures (e-sign) on all CG-719
series forms and all support-
ing documentation therein for
merchant mariner credentials
(MMCs), medical certificates,
and course approvals. Mari-
ner applicants may e-sign
applications and supporting
documentation using soft-
ware-generated electronic sig-
natures (e.g., Microsoft Word,
Adobe Acrobat, etc.) on the
CG-719 series of forms and
other supporting documenta-
tion to include, but not limited
to, sea service, assessments,
mariner training documenta-
tion, and qualified assessor
and designated examiner re-
quests. However, any submis-

sion missing signatures will
be returned to the mariner or
course provider.

Requirements to e-submit
your MMC application to a
regional examination center,
or to MEDAIP@uscg.mil for
medical certificate applica-
tions, have not changed.

E-mailing your applica-
tion and e-signing your docu-
ments is the preferred method
for submission. Please note:
While the Coast Guard can
accommodate e-mails with at-
tachments up to 35MB in size,
verify any size restrictions
your e-mail provider may
have prior to sending. Miss-
ing information will cause
applications to be delayed or
rejected.

If you have any questions,
please contact the NMC
Customer Service Center
by e-mailing IASKNMC@
USCG.mi l , by ca l l ing
1 -888- IASKNMC (427-
5662), via our online chat
system or by visiting the
NMC website.

National Maritime Center
Now Accepts Electronically
Signed Forms, Documents

Effective immediately,
CVS retail stores are no longer
in-network with Cigna for vac-
cine administration (including
Covid-19 vaccines and boost-
ers). This means that if you
have any type of a vaccine at a
CVS retail store, you will have
a higher copayment.

As confusing as it may
sound, CVS MinuteClin-
ics and CVS HealthHubs
are still in-network. CVS
MinuteClinics are located in
select CVS and Target stores,
are clearly marked, and offer
a variety of medical services
(including urgent care for
minor illnesses and health
screenings). CVS Health-
Hubs are located in select

CVS stores, and offer even
more services than Minute
Clinics.

Many other retail phar-
macies are in-network with
Cigna, including: Walgreens,
Publix, RiteAid, Safeway,
United Super Markets and oth-
ers throughout the U.S. If you
are looking for an in-network
vaccine location, you can call
the phone number on the back
of your ID card, or search in
www.mycigna.com under
“Find Care and Costs” to find
providers near you.

If you received a vaccine at
CVS in the month of January
2023, please contact Member-
ship Services at 1-800-252-
4674.

Important Notice to Seafarers
Regarding Vaccines at CVS

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 15 2/27/23 7:40 PM



16 Seafarers LOG March 2023

Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted
their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland water-
ways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members
who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those
members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days
ahead.

Welcome Ashore

DEEP SEA

EMMANUEL ADEOTI
Brother Emmanuel Adeoti, 67,
started his career with the union
in 2001. He first
shipped on the
Navigator and
sailed in the en-
gine department.
Brother Adeoti
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. He most
recently sailed
on the William R. Button and
makes his home in Richmond,
Texas.

DENNIS ADJETEY
Brother Dennis Adjetey, 65,
joined the Seafarers International

Union in 1996,
initially sail-
ing aboard the
Cape Bon. He
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions
and shipped
in the engine
department.

Brother Adjetey’s final vessel
was the Horizon Kodiak. He is a
resident of Tacoma, Washington.

APOLINARIO AGUIRRE
Brother Apolinario Aguirre, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 1987
when he sailed
on the Charles
L. Brown. He
shipped in both
the deck and
engine depart-
ments and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
in 1995. Brother
Aguirre’s final vessel was the
Horizon Tiger. He resides in Daly
City, California.

MICHAEL ALATAN
Brother Michael Alatan, 63,
joined the union in 1989, initially

sailing on the
Independence.
He worked in
the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Alatan

last shipped on the SBX and
makes his home in Honolulu.

KADIR AMAT
Brother Kadir Amat, 65, started
sailing with the SIU in 1975 and
first worked
on the Pacer.
He shipped in
the deck de-
partment and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Cen-
ter on numer-
ous occasions.

Brother Amat’s final vessel was
the Maersk Idaho. He resides in
Ocala, Florida.

ROBYN ANDERSON
Sister Robyn Anderson, 75,
became a member of the union
in 1999. A
steward depart-
ment member,
she first sailed
aboard the Wil-
son. Sister An-
derson upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
multiple occa-
sions. She last
sailed on the John Chapman and
lives in Hull, Massachusetts.

JERRALD BELCARIES
Brother Jerrald Belcaries, 69,
embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in 2001. He initially
sailed on the Marine Chemist and
was a member of the deck depart-
ment. Brother Belcaries upgraded
at the Paul Hall Center on mul-
tiple occasions. He most recently
shipped on the Magnolia State
and lives in Miami.

RICHARD BENOIT
Brother Richard Benoit, 63,
donned the SIU colors in 1981

when he sailed
aboard the Ex-
plorer. He was a
deck department
member and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Benoit last
shipped on the

Great Republic. He is a resident
of Dayton, Texas.

ROBERT BROWN
Brother Robert Brown, 67, joined
the union in 1980 and sailed in
both the deck and engine depart-
ments. He first shipped on the
Santa Barbara and upgraded at
the Piney Point school in 1991.
Brother Brown last sailed on the
Baltimore. He resides in New Ro-
chelle, New York.

THOMAS DECARLO
Brother Thomas DeCarlo, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 1997.
He first sailed
aboard the
USNS Altair
and worked in
the deck depart-
ment. Brother
DeCarlo up-
graded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple
occasions. He
last shipped on the USNS Soder-
man and is a resident of El Paso,
Texas.

EDWARD ENGLISH
Brother Edward English, 68,
joined the Seafarers in 1995

and first sailed
aboard the
USNS Loyal. He
upgraded often
at the Piney
Point school
and primarily
sailed in the
steward depart-
ment. Brother
English most recently shipped
aboard the Maersk Chicago.
He makes his home in Norfolk,
Virginia.

JANICE GABBERT
Sister Janice Gabbert, 73, started
her career with the union in

2003, initially
sailing aboard
the Cape Flor-
ida. A steward
department
member, she
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Cen-
ter on numer-
ous occasions.

Sister Gabbert last shipped on
the John Paul Bobo. She lives in
Titusville, Florida.

JOHN GILSTON
Brother John Gilston, 66, became
an SIU member in 1979 when
he sailed on
the Monticello.
He upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions
and worked
primarily in the
deck depart-
ment. Brother
Gilston’s final
vessel was the Maersk Missouri.
He is a resident of Saratoga
Springs, New York.

WAYNE GONSALVES
Brother Wayne Gonsalves, 66,
began his career with the Sea-
farers International Union in

1980, initially
sailing on the
Leo. He was
a member of
the engine de-
partment and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Gonsalves last

shipped on the Richard G. Mat-
thiesen and calls Leonardtown,
Maryland, home.

KEVIN HALL
Brother Kevin Hall, 55, started
sailing with the SIU in 1989, ini-
tially shipping
on the Indepen-
dence. He sailed
in the engine
department and
upgraded often
at the Piney
Point school.
Brother Hall
concluded his
career aboard the Louisiana and
settled in Humble, Texas.

SANDY KILLIAN
Brother Sandy Killian, 65,
joined the union in 1978 when
he sailed on the
Philadelphia.
He shipped in
the deck de-
partment and
upgraded at the
union-affiliated
Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Killian
concluded his career aboard the
Horizon Kodiak. He makes his
home in Federal Way, Washing-
ton.

VICTOR KISTANOV
Brother Victor Kistanov, 69,
signed on with the SIU in 2002.

He first sailed
aboard the
Global Mariner
and worked in
the deck depart-
ment. Brother
Kistanov up-
graded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple oc-
casions. He most

recently shipped on the Oregon
and is a resident of Fort Lauder-
dale, Florida.

SERGEY KURCHENKO
Brother Sergey Kurchenko,
66, became a
member of the
Seafarers Inter-
national Union
in 2003, initially
sailing aboard
the Wilson. He
worked in the
deck depart-
ment and up-
graded often at
the Piney Point school. Brother
Kurchenko’s final vessel was
the Maersk Utah. He resides in
Largo, Florida

JOSE LOUREIRO
Brother Jose Loureiro, 66, began
sailing with the Seafarers in

1991, initially
working aboard
the Overseas
Alaska. He
sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions.
Brother Loureiro

last shipped on the Alaskan Ex-
plorer. He lives in San Diego.

HILARIO MARTINEZ
Brother Hilario Martinez, 62,
donned the SIU colors in 1989.
He first sailed aboard the Inde-
pendence and worked primarily
in the engine department. Brother
Martinez upgraded at the Paul
Hall Center on multiple occa-
sions. He most recently sailed on
the Alliance Fairfax and resides
in Houston.

CLARENCE POMPEY
Brother Clarence Pompey, 65,
became a member of the SIU
in 1978. He initially sailed with
Asbury Steamship and worked
in both the deck and engine de-
partments. Brother Pompey last
shipped on the Wabash and is a
Houston resident.

ARTHUR PRICE
Brother Arthur Price, 71, joined
the SIU in 1989 and first sailed
with Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
He upgraded at the Piney Point
school on multiple occasions and
shipped in the deck department.
Brother Price most recently sailed
on the American Endurance
and makes his home in LaPlace,
Louisiana.

ARSENIO PURGANAN
Brother Arsenio Purganan, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 2001.

He sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
multiple occa-
sions. Brother
Purganan’s first
vessel was the
Cape Douglas;
his last, the Gro-

ton. He makes his home in Kent,
Washington.

ELORDE RAMOS
Brother Elorde Ramos, 66, began
sailing with the Seafarers in
1988. He sailed
in the deck de-
partment and
first shipped
on the USNS
Altair. Brother
Ramos upgraded
his skills at the
Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions. He most recently
sailed on the Maersk Columbus
and lives in Piscataway, New
Jersey.

PEDRO SANTIAGO
Brother Pedro Santiago, 66,
joined the union in 1973 and

first sailed
aboard the
Transpanama.
He was a mem-
ber of the en-
gine department
and upgraded
often at the Paul
Hall Center.
Brother San-

tiago last shipped on the Over-
seas Martinez. He lives in Ocala,
Florida.

DONALD SPANGLER
Brother Donald Spangler, 68,
donned the SIU colors in 1978
when he sailed aboard the Za-
pata Rover. He upgraded often

Continued on next page

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 16 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 17

Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted
their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland water-
ways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members
who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those
members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days
ahead.

Welcome Ashore

at the Paul Hall
Center and
worked in the
steward depart-
ment. Brother
Spangler most
recently shipped
on the Lurline.
He resides in
Keaau, Hawaii.

DORKUCHO TANIHU
Brother Dorkucho Tanihu, 66,
became an SIU member in 2001.

He was a deck
department
member and up-
graded on multi-
ple occasions at
the Piney Point
school. Brother
Tanihu’s first
vessel was the
Roy M. Wheat;

his last, the Jack Lummus. He
makes his home in Brighton,
Massachusetts.

ROSE WARD
Sister Rose Ward, 65, embarked
on her career with the Seafarers
in 2007 when
she shipped
on the Pride.
She sailed in
the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions.
Sister Ward’s final vessel was
the Overseas Nikiski. She is a
Houston resident.

BILLY WATSON
Brother Billy Watson, 62,
started sailing with the union

in 1991, ini-
tially shipping
on the Sealift
Indian Ocean.
He sailed in
the deck de-
partment and
upgraded at the
union-affiliated
Piney Point

school on multiple occasions.
Brother Watson concluded his
career aboard the Ocean Jazz
and calls Port Arthur, Texas,
home.

GABRIEL WILLIAMS
Brother Gabriel Williams, 65,
joined the union
in 1991 when
he sailed aboard
the USNS
Wyman. He
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Cen-
ter on several
occasions and
worked in the
engine depart-
ment. Brother Williams’ final
vessel was the Grand Canyon
State. He lives in Mobile, Ala-
bama.

GREAT LAKES

KEVIN KELLEY
Brother Kevin Kelley, 62, began
sailing with the Seafarers Inter-
national Union
in 1979. He ini-
tially sailed with
Quality Quar-
ries and was a
deck department
member. Brother
Kelley upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
multiple occa-
sions. He last shipped with Great
Lakes Towing and resides in
Allen Park, Michigan.

DALE LEONARD
Brother Dale Leonard, 63, signed
on with the SIU in 1991. He was

employed by
Luedtke Engi-
neering for the
duration of his
career and sailed
in the deck
department.
Brother Leonard
upgraded on
numerous occa-

sions at the Piney Point school.
He settled in Benzonia, Michi-
gan.

MICHAEL TANNER
Brother Michael Tanner, 65,
started his ca-
reer with the
Seafarers in
1977 when he
shipped on the
McKee Sons.
A deck depart-
ment member,
Brother Tanner
last shipped
aboard the Alpena. He makes his
home in Alpena, Michigan.

INLAND

RICKY BRINSON
Brother Ricky Brinson, 62,
donned the SIU colors in 1984.
A deck department member, he
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
within his first year of member-
ship. Brother Brinson was em-
ployed by Crowley Towing and
Transportation for most of his
career. He a resident of Brandon,
Florida.

ODELL CHESTANG
Brother Odell Chestang, 67, em-
barked on his career with the Sea-
farers in 1974 when he shipped
with Dravo Basic Materials. He
was a member of the deck depart-
ment and remained with the same
company for the duration of his
career. Brother Chestang lives in
Semmes, Alabama.

CARL COUSIN
Brother Carl Cousin, 63, signed

on with the union in 2006. He
sailed in the deck department and
worked with Westbank Riverboat
Services for his entire career.
Brother Cousin makes his home
in Gretna, Louisiana.

MELVIN DIBIASI
Brother Melvin Dibiasi, 72,
joined the Seafarers in 1971 when
he sailed on the
Keva Ideal. A
deck depart-
ment member,
he upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Dibi-
asi last worked
aboard the
Sugar Island. He resides in San
Pedro, California.

NEAL DOUCET
Brother Neal Doucet, 62, became
a member of the union in 1988.

He sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Paul Hall
Center on sev-
eral occasions.
Brother Doucet
worked for
Crowley Towing
and Transporta-
tion for most of

his career. He calls Star, North
Carolina, home.

SCOTT FLETCHER
Brother Scott Fletcher, 62, began
sailing with the SIU in 2008.
He was a deck
department
member and
first worked
for Crowley
Towing and
Transportation.
Brother Fletcher
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on multiple oc-
casions. He concluded his career
aboard the Legend and settled in
Key Largo, Florida.

FRED FORSYTHE
Brother Fred Forsythe, 62, signed
on with the union in 1983. He

first sailed with
Higman Barge
Lines and was
a member of
the deck depart-
ment. Brother
Forsythe up-
graded at the
Piney Point
school on sev-
eral occasions.

He last sailed on the Trafalgar
and makes his home in Sabine
Pass, Texas.

THOMAS JARRELL
Brother Thomas Jarrell, 62,
started his career with the SIU
in 1992, initially working with
Moran Towing of Texas. He

shipped in the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Paul
Hall Center on
numerous occa-
sions. Brother
Jarrell was last
employed with
Crowley Towing

and Transportation. He lives in
Lillian, Alabama.

MANUEL LIBA
Brother Manuel Liba, 67, joined
the Seafarers International Union
in 2006 when he worked for Port
Imperial Ferry. He sailed in the
deck department and upgraded at
the union-affiliated Piney Point
school in 2019. Brother Liba
continued working with the same
company for his entire career. He
resides in Cliffside Park, New
Jersey.

GERALD MCDEVITT
Brother Gerald McDevitt, 66,
donned the SIU colors in 1978.
A deck department member, he
was first employed with Dixie
Carriers. Brother McDevitt last
worked with Christiana Marine
Service Corporation. He is a
resident of Williamstown, New
Jersey.

JERRY MERCER
Brother Jerry Mercer, 63, be-
came a member of the Seafarers
International
Union in 1991
when he worked
with OSG Ship
Management.
A deck depart-
ment member,
Brother Mercer
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on several occasions. He
was most recently employed by
Penn Maritime and settled in
Coats, North Carolina.

LEON MORVANT
Brother Leon Morvant, 62, em-
barked on his career with the SIU
in 1988. He was a member of the
deck department and worked for
Higman Barge Lines for the dura-
tion of his career. Brother Mor-
vant lives in Erath, Louisiana.

TIMOTHY PETROFF
Brother Timothy Petroff, 62,

signed on with
the union in
1992. He sailed
primarily in
the engine de-
partment and
worked for
G&H Towing
for his entire
career. Brother
Petroff makes

his home in Kaufman, Texas.

EDWARD PIZZITOLA
Brother Edward Pizzitola, 62,

began sailing with the Seafarers
in 1979. He worked in the deck
department and was employed by
G&H Towing for his entire ca-
reer. Brother Pizzitola resides in
Santa Fe, Texas.

DOUGLAS QUILL
Brother Douglas
Quill, 62, joined
the SIU in 2012.
He upgraded at
the Paul Hall
Center on mul-
tiple occasions
and was an en-
gine department
member. Brother
Quill worked for
Crowley Towing and Transporta-
tion for the duration of his career.
He resides in Bullhead City,
Arizona.

FRANCIS REGAN
Brother Francis Regan, 62,
became a member of the SIU
in 1979, initially working with
G&H Towing. A deck depart-
ment member, he upgraded on
multiple occasions at the Piney
Point school. Brother Regan last
shipped on the Leader. He makes
his home in Indialantic, Florida.

FRANKLIN RIMMER
Brother Franklin Rimmer, 63,
started his career with the Seafar-
ers in 1977. He shipped in the
deck department and worked for
the Association of Maryland Pi-
lots for his entire career. Brother
Rimmer calls Norfolk, Virginia,
home.

RONALD WILLIAMS
Brother Ronald Williams, 62,
donned the SIU colors in 1978
when he worked with Mobile
Towing. He shipped in both the
deck and engine departments and
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
on numerous occasions. Brother
Williams last sailed with Cres-
cent Towing & Salvage. He lives
in Mobile, Alabama.

DANNY WOODS
Brother Danny Woods, 65, joined
the union in 1977. He worked in
the deck department and was em-
ployed with Dravo Basic Materi-
als for his entire career. Brother
Woods settled in Vicksburg, Mis-
sissippi.

Continued from Page 16

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 17 2/27/23 7:40 PM



18 Seafarers LOG March 2023

DEEP SEA

GREGORIO ABALOS
Pensioner Gregorio Abalos, 66,
passed away December 11. He
joined the SIU in 1990 when
he sailed with
Crowley Towing
and Transporta-
tion. Brother
Abalos was a
member of the
engine depart-
ment and also
worked on shore
gangs. He was
last employed by World Crane
Services in 2002. Brother Abalos
became a pensioner in 2021 and
made his home in Seal Beach,
California.

MICHAEL ASKINS
Brother Michael Askins, 59, died
January 10. Born in New Or-

leans, he began
his career with
the Seafarers in
1987. Brother
Askins first
shipped on the
Louis J. Hauge
Jr. and sailed
in the steward
department. He

last sailed aboard the Liberty
Grace and resided in Jefferson,
Louisiana.

LAWRENCE CROFT
Pensioner Lawrence Croft, 61,
passed away January 25. He be-
came a member
of the union in
1981, initially
sailing with
G&H Towing.
Brother Croft
worked in the
engine depart-
ment. He last
sailed on the
USNS Pollux in 2021 before re-
tiring the following year. Brother
Croft lived in Dickinson, Texas.

SAMUEL DAVIS
Pensioner Samuel Davis, 66,
died January 30. Sailing first
aboard the Baltimore, he donned
the SIU colors in 1974. Brother
Davis worked in all three depart-
ments. He last shipped on the
Seabulk Trader in 2003. Brother
Davis began collecting his pen-
sion in 2022 and was a resident
of Mobile, Alabama.

NORMAN JOHNSON
Pensioner Nor-
man Johnson,
82, passed away
January 19. He
signed on with
the Seafarers in
1970. A stew-
ard department
member, he

first shipped on the Maunalei.
Brother Johnson last sailed on
the Kauai in 2001. He became a
pensioner in 2006 and settled in
Apache Junction, Arizona.

ALFRED RAGAS
Pensioner Alfred Ragas, 77, died
January 7. He embarked on his
career with the SIU in 1964,
initially sailing
aboard a Calmar
Steamship ves-
sel. Brother
Ragas worked
in the engine
department and
also worked on
shore gangs.
He concluded
his career working with World
Crane Services and retired in
2002. Brother Ragas made his
home in New Orleans.

W.D. RANDLE
Pensioner W.D. Randle, 88,
passed away January 12. He
joined the union in 1965 and first

shipped aboard
the Santa Maria.
Brother Randle
worked primar-
ily in the stew-
ard department.
He last sailed
aboard the Ho-
rizon Spirit in
2003. Brother

Randle became a pensioner the
following year and settled in
Pittsburg, California.

VIRGILIO RIVERA
Pensioner Virgilio Rivera, 85,
died January 8. He became a
member of the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union in
1972. Brother
Rivera’s first
vessel was the
Longview Vic-
tory. He sailed
mostly in the
steward depart-
ment and last
shipped on the
Hawaii. Brother Rivera went
on pension in 1999 and lived in
Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

PEDRO RODRIGUEZ
Pensioner Pedro Rodriguez, 89,
has passed away. He joined the

SIU in 1967,
initially sail-
ing aboard the
Coe Victory.
Brother Ro-
driguez sailed
in the steward
department. He
went on pension
in 2003 after
concluding his

career on the Guayama. Brother
Rodriguez lived in Davenport,
Florida.

SUKIRMAN SURAREDJO
Pensioner Sukirman Suraredjo,
75, died Decem-
ber 2. A steward
department
member, he first
sailed with the
SIU in 1979,
initially aboard
the Montpelier
Victory. Brother
Suraredjo’s final
vessel was the
Overseas Tampa. He retired in
2016 and resided in Indonesia.

WILBERT WILLIAMS
Pensioner Wilbert Williams,
76, passed away January 11.
He signed on with the union

in 1969 when
he sailed with
Alcoa Steam-
ship. Brother
Williams sailed
in all three de-
partments. He
concluded his
career aboard
the Chemical

Pioneer, before going on pension
in 2005. Brother Williams made
his home in New Orleans.

ROBERT WOBIL
Pensioner Robert Wobil, 70, died
January 20. He became a mem-
ber of the SIU
in 1994 when
he sailed aboard
the USNS Bel-
latrix. Brother
Wobil worked
in the deck de-
partment and
last shipped on
the Overseas
Marilyn in 2007. He became a
pensioner in 2022 and settled in
Gulfport, Mississippi.

GREAT LAKES

AHMED KAID
Pensioner Ahmed Kaid, 72,
passed away January 13. He

joined the Sea-
farers in 1968
and first worked
with Buckeye
Steamship
Company. A
steward depart-
ment member,
Brother Kaid
last sailed
aboard the

Indiana Harbor. He became a
pensioner in 2010 and settled in
Dearborn, Michigan.

INLAND

GLENN DUPREE
Brother Glenn Dupree, 46, died
November 8. Signing on with the

union in 2000, he sailed in the
deck department. Brother Du-
pree was employed with Moran
Towing of Texas for the duration
of his career. He was a resident
of Beaumont, Texas.

MAXIMO GABINO
Pensioner Maximo Gabino,
94, passed away January 1. He
joined the SIU
in 1969. Brother
Gabino worked
in both the deck
and engine de-
partments and
was employed
with Red Circle
Transport for the
duration of his
career. He began
collecting his pension in 1993
and made his home in Plant City,
Florida.

CARROLL TRAHAN
Pensioner Carroll Trahan, 69,
died January 28. In 2005, he
became a member of the Seafar-
ers International Union. Brother
Trahan was a deck department
member and sailed with Moran
Towing of Texas for his entire
career. He became a pensioner
in 2016 and called Nederland,
Texas, home.

NMU

MARCOS ALINDATO
Pensioner Marcos Alindato, 88,
passed away January 5. Brother
Alindato sailed in the deck
department and concluded his
career aboard the Enterprise.
He retired in 1998 and made his
home in Puerto Rico.

WILLIAM DAVIS
Pensioner William Davis, 90, died
January 14. A steward depart-
ment member, Brother Davis last
shipped on the Mallory Lykes. He
became a pensioner in 1989 and
lived in Washington, D.C.

JAMES LILLEY
Pensioner James Lilley, 74,
passed away December 14.
Brother Lilley worked in the
deck department. He sailed
aboard his final vessel, the Tillie
Lykes, in 1995. Brother Lilley
went on pension in 2013 and
called Upton, Massachusetts,
home.

HARRIS MOORE
Pensioner Harris Moore, 90,
died January 16. Brother Moore
last sailed with Woods Hole
Shipping. He began collecting
his pension in 1987 and made
his home in Mashpee, Massa-
chusetts.

AGUSTIN RAMOS
Pensioner Agustin Ramos, 82,
passed away
January 14.
Brother Ramos
sailed in both
the deck and
engine depart-
ments, most
recently aboard
the Alliance
Norfolk. He
became a pen-
sioner in 2008 and settled in Wa-
terbury, Connecticut.

HAROLD SPILLE
Pensioner Harold Spille, 79, died
December 29. Brother Spille
worked in the deck department.
He retired in 2000 after conclud-
ing his career aboard the Endur-
ance. Brother Spille resided in
Englishtown, New Jersey.

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

NAME AGE DOD
Lozada, Ramon 96 01/31/2023
Saunders, Francis 95 01/02/2023

Final
Departures

Have You Missed
An Issue of the Seafarers Log?

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tion are available
at seafarerslog.org

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79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 18 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 19

Digest of Shipboard
Union 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.

HUDSON EXPRESS (Marine
Personnel & Provisioning), June
19 – Chairman Zeki Karaahmet,
Secretary Shari Hardman, Edu-
cational Director Alton Hickman,
Engine Delegate Matthew Wright,
Steward Delegate Dominique
McLean. Upper deck door has
been replaced and faulty mooring
line fixed. Steward department was
thanked for a job well done. New
mattresses delivered. Chairman
handed out tour of duty, vacation
and upgrading applications. Gal-
ley door and cabinets in need of
repair. Educational director en-
couraged crew to upgrade at the
union-affiliated Piney Point school
and to keep documents up to date.
Engine delegate reported overtime
beef involving wiper. Steward del-
egate reminded everyone to pick up
after themselves. Crew requested
an increase in vacation. Members
expressed their disappointment with
Sysco supply in South Carolina.
Crew requested additional TVs and
DVD players. Pest control supplies
needed. Next port: Charleston,
South Carolina.

TEXAS (Intrepid Personnel & Pro-
visioning), October 30 – Chairman
Burkley Cooper, Secretary Ron-
ald Davis, Educational Director
Melvin Ratcliff. Payoff to occur in
Long Beach, California. Chairman
reminded members to keep rooms
clean for oncoming crew. Secretary
advised everyone to keep paper-
work current. Educational director
encouraged members to obtain
higher wages by upgrading at the
Paul Hall Center. No beefs or dis-
puted OT reported. Crew discussed
food budget and requested Wi-Fi.
Next port: Long Beach, California.

HUDSON EXPRESS (Marine Per-
sonnel & Provisioning), November
21 – Chairman Zeki Karaahmet,
Secretary Richetta Jackson,
Educational Director Francois
Doucet, Deck Delegate Jonathan

Eitz, Engine Delegate James Van
Dyke, Steward Delegate Atrenique
Deamus. Issues with washing
machine have been resolved. Vote
of thanks given to steward depart-
ment for keeping common areas
nice and clean. Members are get-
ting along well. All new Paul Hall
Center courses have been released
on the website. Bosun must attend
alongside members when they
go to captain, per deck delegate.
Engine delegate reported overtime
beef in engine department. Steward
delegate thanked crew for their
patience. Members asked for more
apprentices and new helpers for all
departments, particularly steward
department. Crew discussed con-
cerns with air conditioning ventila-
tion.

CORPUS CHRISTI (USS Trans-
port) November 27 – Chairman
Michael Todman. New contract
to be negotiated at the end of the
year. No beefs or disputed OT re-
ported. Members acknowledged
the challenges of a one-man stew-
ard department on an ATB vessel.
Crew voiced similar thoughts for
members working as ABs and made
suggestions about rotation and sea-
time credit.

WASHINGTON (Intrepid Per-
sonnel & Provisioning), January
2 – Chairman Modesto Rabena,
Secretary Fakhruddin Malahi,
Educational Director Harold Ger-
ber, Deck Delegate Carlo Gentile,
Steward Delegate Abdul Qwfan.
Chairman advised members to keep
documents current and to take LG
upgrading courses at the Piney
Point school. He encouraged mem-
bers to contribute to SPAD (Seafar-
ers Political Activity Donation), the
union’s voluntary political action
fund, and to support the Jones Act.
Chairman also advised crew to read
the Seafarers LOG each month.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Tanker fleet is expanding from 10

to 20 ships by 2024, according to
terms of the new Tanker Security
Program. Crew requested small
refrigerators for each room. Next
port: Valdez, Alaska.

CALIFORNIA (Intrepid Personnel
& Provisioning), January 8 – Chair-
man Kenneth Abrahamson, Sec-
retary Gerald Kirtsey, Educational
Director Larry Locke, Deck Dele-
gate Osei Baffoe, Engine Delegate
Raymond Roldan, Steward Del-
egate Andrea Sharpe. Members
discussed Wi-Fi and data access.
Chairman went over new standard
tanker agreement. Educational
director urged crew to upgrade at
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education, located in
Piney Point, Maryland. No beefs
or disputed OT reported. Members
requested new mattresses and for

physicals to only be required once
per year. Crew reported difficulty
getting reliefs. Members asked for
increases in vacation pay and pen-
sion pay for retirees. Vote of thanks
given to steward department for all
the good meals, particularly around
the holidays. Next port: Long
Beach, California.

EMPIRE STATE (Intrepid Per-
sonnel & Provisioning), January
13 – Chairman Abdulkarim Mo-
hamed, Secretary Hussein Hus-
sein, Educational Director Mohsen
Mohamed, Deck Delegate Angel
Nunez, Engine Delegate Mark
Canada, Steward Delegate Mo-
hamed Noman. Wi-Fi update in
progress, just need bandwidth and
wires. Wi-Fi should be running
by first quarter of 2023. Chair-
man asked members to be patient

with reliefs as there is a fleetwide
shortage, especially with deck
department. He reminded crew to
keep documents up to date. Edu-
cational director advised crew to
upgrade at the Piney Point school.
New workout equipment and new
TV ordered for crew lounge. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members discussed the importance
of the U.S. maritime industry as it
pertains to national, economic and
homeland security. Crew requested
one day of pay for every 30 days
in lieu of a day off. Upcoming
collective bargaining agreement
was discussed. Members asked
that it be matched with the stan-
dard contract and for 401k to be
matched. Steward department was
thanked for a job well done. Crew
requested the ability to register by
phone rather than in person.

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. The annual financial committee will
be elected during the April 3 headquarters
membership meeting to review the 2022 re-
cords. 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 represen-
tatives and their alternates. All expenditures
and disbursements of trust funds are made
only upon approval by a majority of the trust-
ees. All trust fund financial records are avail-
able 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 con-
tained in the contracts between the union and

the employers, they should notify the Seafar-
ers Appeals Board by certified mail, return
receipt requested. The proper address for this
is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746

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

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

EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEA-
FARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG tradition-
ally has refrained from publishing any article
serving the political purposes of any individual
in the union, officer or member. It also has re-
frained from publishing articles deemed harm-
ful to the union or its collective membership.
This established policy has been reaffirmed
by membership action at the September 1960
meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon-
sibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an
editorial board which consists of the executive
board of the union. The executive board may
delegate, from among its ranks, one individual

to carry out this responsibility.

PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are
to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in
the SIU unless an official union receipt is given
for same. Under no 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. Consequently, 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 Ameri-
can merchant marine with improved employ-
ment opportunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD sup-
ports and contributes to political candidates
for elective office. All contributions are vol-
untary. No contribution may be solicited or
received because of force, job discrimination,
financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct,
or as a condition of membership in the union
or of employment. If a contribution is made
by reason of the above improper conduct,
the member should notify the Seafarers In-
ternational Union or SPAD by certified mail
within 30 days of the contribution for inves-
tigation and appropriate action and refund, if
involuntary. A member should support SPAD
to protect and further his or her economic,
political and social interests, and American
trade union concepts.

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

David Heindel, President
Seafarers International Union
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746

Know Your Rights

With Seafarers Aboard ATB Commitment

Pictured from left aboard the Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning vessel in Martinez, California, are
Assistant Engineer Stephen Owczarski, SIU Oakland Port Agent J.B. Niday, Chief Engineer Manuel
Torres, Captain Tyler Perry, Second Mate Kelsey Longhi, Assistant Engineer Edward Schlueter, and SIU
Patrolman Dylan Rivera.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 19 2/27/23 7:40 PM



20 Seafarers LOG March 2023

Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Dates

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

LAST VESSEL: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________

Date On: _______________________________ Date Off:____________________________

SIGNATURE ____________________________________ DATE______________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you
present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any ques-
tions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are reim-
bursable. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training 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.
3/23

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

Deck Department Upgrading Courses

Able Seafarer-Deck April 10 April 28
June 5 June 23

Lifeboat/Water Survival March 13 March 24
April 10 April 21
May 8 May 19

RFPNW March 20 April 7
May 1 May 19

Fast Rescue Boat July 17 July 21

Leadership & Management Skills June 19 June 23

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

RFPEW May 15 June 9

FOWT April 3 April 28

Junior Engineer Program March 27 May 19
June 5 July 28

Marine Electrician April 24 May 26

Marine Refer Tech March 13 April 21

Advanced Refer Containers April 10 April 21

Machinist March 13 March 31

Pumpman April 3 April 7

Welding March 20 April 7
May 8 May 26

Engineroom Resource Management June 12 June 16

Steward Department Upgrading Courses

Certified Chief Cook March 27 April 28
May 1 June 2
June 5 July 7
July 10 August 11

ServSafe Management March 20 March 24
April 24 April 28
May 29 June 2

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Steward Department Upgrading Courses

ServSafe Management July 3 July 7
August 7 August 11

Advanced Galley Operations March 13 April 7
May 22 June 16

Chief Steward April 17 May 12
June 26 July 21

Safety/Open Upgrading Courses

Combined Basic/Advanced Firefighting June 5 June 9

Basic Training April 17 April 21

Basic Training Revalidation March 20 March 20
March 24 March 24
April 7 April 7
April 17 April 17
April 21 April 21
May 1 May 1
May 5 May 5
May 22 May 22
June 2 June 2
June 19 June 19

Basic Training/Adv. FF Revalidation May 15 May 19

Government Vessels March 13 March 17
March 20 March 24
April 10 April 14
April 24 April 28
May 8 May 12
May 22 May 26
June 5 ` June 9

Tank Ship Familiarization DL May 22 May 26

Tank Ship Familiarization LG May 15 May 19

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 immedi-
ately so arrangements can be made to
have other students take their places

Important Notice
To All Students

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 20 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 21

Paul Hall Center Classes

RFPNW (Phase III) – Graduated December 9 (above, in alphabetical order): Alexander Bennett, Matthew Epstein, Omar Fahmie, Jonah Makanaakua Ganzagan, La’Terri Iman Kohn,
Caleb Miller, Kelvin Oliver Jr., Jack Pier, Cody Quinn, Dean Schrantz, Jose Ivan Soto-Ortiz, Rosa Wilson and Michael Wilt. Upon the completion of their training, each plans to work
in the deck departments aboard SIU-contracted vessels.

Apprentice Water Survival Class #890 – Graduated December 30 (above, in alphabetical order): John Bayonne III, Coleman Brewer, Nailah Cundiff, Jackson Freitas, Robert Gal-
lardo, Anthony Harrell Jr., Justin Jacobs, Delmus James, Jayline Johnson, Jylnn LeCounte, Keith Martin Jr., Mario Martin, Kevin R. Menendez Barrales, James Stamper, Randeisha
Stone, Stephen Swaby, Ian Tarwater, Alexis Walker and Christian Westcott.

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 21 2/27/23 7:40 PM



22 Seafarers LOG March 2023

Paul Hall Center Classes

RFPEW (Phase III) – Gradu-
ated December 9 (photo at
right, in alphabetical order):
Jahnia Cain, Peter Krsna Katha
Espinosa, Shailyn Ka Mea I O
Makamae Guillory, Alton Simp-
son, Dennis Smith Jr., Alexia
Villaescusa and Nashell Wil-
liams. Each plans to work in
the engine departments aboard
union-crewed vessels upon the
completion of their training.

UA to Able Seafarer-Deck – Graduated December 16 (above, in alphabetical order): Donovan Armstrong, Joseph Bates, Martin Cox, Robert Cruz, Matthew Justin De Maria, Nathaniel
Howard, Alexander Jackson, Cordera Looney, Daniel Moran, Noah Pittman, Colin Sabitsky, Stuart Waite and Jason White.

Government Vessels – Graduated December 9 (above, in alphabetical order): James Abilad, Edwin Alcantara Abueg Jr., Stephan Beckford, Steven Joseph Benavides Jr., Brian
Cushing, Semere Teweide Debas, Adam Soliman Mohamed Elemam, Donald Hatch, Jessica Hilles, Igor Kozenko, Eric Lund, Patrick McCarthy, Jon Newman, Clint Young Omisong,
Christopher Perry, Anthony Roman, Luis Enrique Santiago Sotero, Terrance Stevens, Danielle Waddy and Elizabeth Williams. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 22 2/27/23 7:40 PM



March 2023 Seafarers LOG 23

FOWT – Graduated November 18
(photo at left, in alphabetical order):
Michael Casas Jesse Kleinfelter,
Wilson Onixon Montero Centeno,
Chukwuka Henry Nkwor, Peter Paul
Pancipanci, Kameron Sims, Christo-
pher Skinner and Darrell Whitaker.
(Note: Not all are pictured.)

Basic Training (Advanced
Firefighting Revalidation)
– Graduated December 16
(photo at right, in alphabeti-
cal order): Rohmy Butler,
Todd Kasler, Andrew Scal-
ice, Mark Stabler and Brad-
ley Staudt.

Small Arms – Graduated
November 3 (photo at left,
in alphabetical order): Rick
James, Jamison McIntyre,
Nakesha Miller, John Ten-
nyson and Lucas Sagan
Tiderman. (Note: Not all
are pictured.)

RFPEW – Graduated December 9 (above, in alphabetical order): Kyree Donovan Evans
Carter, Jermaine Hayes and Willie Moreland.

Chief Steward – Graduated December 9 (above, in alphabetical order): Cole Hans-
Albert Briggs, Torrika Devine, Daniel Miller, Ashley Khuyen Nguyen, Tania Ramirez-
Diego and Dindo Prellagera Reforsado. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

Students who have reg-
istered for classes at the
Paul Hall Center for Mari-
time Training and Educa-
tion, but later discover - for
whatever reason - that they
can’t attend, should inform
the admissions depart-
ment immediately so ar-
rangements can be made
to have other students take
their places.

Important Notice
To All Students

79202_SEAFARERSLOG_MARCH_2023.indd 23 2/27/23 7:40 PM



24 Seafarers LOG March 2023

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

MARCH 2023 VOLUME 85, NO. 3

Paul Hall Center
Class Photos
Pages 21-23

Paul Hall Center Maintains
Hands-On Training Tradition

The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for
Maritime Training and Education (PHC)
in Piney Point, Maryland, offers a path-
way to success for people seeking reward-
ing careers in the maritime industry.

Initially launched as a bare-bones fa-
cility in 1967, the once-modest maritime
training and education hub has enjoyed
more than 55 years of steady growth and
innovation. And thanks to the visionary
leadership of the union’s trustees and top
officials, the PHC has transformed into an
ultramodern vocational school with cut-
ting-edge technology. It currently features
wide-ranging curriculums for entry-level
students as well as experienced mariners.

One thing that hasn’t changed from the
start, however, is the center’s emphasis
on practical training. Hands-on instruc-
tion is featured in virtually every one of
the school’s 70-plus U.S. Coast Guard-ap-
proved courses. Many classes are depart-
ment-specific (deck, engine, or steward),
while numerous others provide compre-
hensive safety training for the entire crew.
This is the case both in the entry-level

instruction for those just embarking on
their respective maritime careers and in
the upgrading coursework for experienced
Seafarers.

Some hands-on segments take place
aboard the modern training vessel Freedom
Star, one of the most visible parts of the
campus’ waterfront. Many also happen at
the nearby Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and
Safety School, located on a satellite cam-
pus just a few miles from the main base.

While the PHC mainly is known for
vocational training – including its highly
regarded apprentice program, which is reg-
istered with the U.S. Department of Labor
– it also offers academic support along with
separate programs for earning a high school
diploma and a two-year college degree.

The photos on this page show a small
sample of practical coursework that is of-
fered in Piney Point. Complete informa-
tion about the school is available in the
Paul Hall Center section of the SIU web-
site. To access it, go to www.seafarers.org
and look at the content under the Training
and Careers menu.

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