Seafarers Log: Vol. 87 No. 11 (2025-11-01)

SEAFARERS LOG
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION — ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS, AFL-CIO

NOVEMBER 2025 VOLUME 87, NO. 11

Waterman Contract Features Waterman Contract Features
Significant Wage IncreasesSignificant Wage Increases

Seafarers Crew Up New Dredge
The union recently welcomed new job opportunities as SIU-contracted Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) took delivery of the
hopper dredge Amelia Island. The Jones Act-compliant vessel is almost 350 feet long and boasts state-of-the-art technologies.
Page 3.

Seafarers have ratified a new three-
year agreement with Waterman
Transport highlighted by major wage
increases on the four ships the
company operates for U.S. Ocean.
Well-received by the membership,
the pact covers the car carriers Green
Delta, Green Wave, Green Ocean, and
Green Bay. This photo, taken aboard
the Green Ocean, includes (from left)
Safety Director Kevin Sykes, Steward/
Baker Elijah Boson, ABM Joe Rogers,
and SIU Houston Port Agent J.B.
Niday. Page 3.

M A J O R C A B O TA G E S T U D Y R E L E A S E D • PA G E 2 / / S C U L P T O R R E F L E C T S O N R E C E N T P R O J E C T • PA G E 6

Seafarers Crew Up New DredgeSeafarers Crew Up New Dredge

SIU Observes SIU Observes
10th Anniversary of 10th Anniversary of
El Faro TragedyEl Faro Tragedy
In a series of recent gatherings, the union solemnly honored
the memories of those lost aboard the El Faro in 2015. The SIU
hosted a ceremony at the hiring hall in Jacksonville, Florida,
on Sept. 30 and then participated in a nearby event the next
day hosted by TOTE. In the photo at right, SIU Secretary-
Treasurer Tom Orzechowski (second from left), SIU President
David Heindel (standing next to Orzechowski) and SIU Gulf
Coast Vice President Dean Corgey (second from right) lead
a moment of silence for the departed brothers and sisters.

Additionally, observances took place during and immediately
following the October 6 membership meeting in Piney Point,
Maryland. Page 4



A newly released study by Seafarers Rights Interna-
tional (SRI) finds that cabotage laws now exist on 85%
of the world’s coastlines, are growing in number at an
unprecedented pace, and are increasingly essential to
national security, economic stability and maritime
resilience.

The Cabotage Laws of the World (2025) report, com-
missioned by the International Transport Workers’
Federation (ITF), compares nations in their enforce-
ment of cabotage laws, which restrict the waterborne
transportation of goods or passengers between two
points within the same country to domestic carriers.
This ensures that critical services remain reliable
within a country in times of crisis.

The number of countries with cabotage laws has
increased from 91 in 2018, when the report was last
conducted, to 105 in 2025. While changes between 2018
and 2025 were expected, according to the report, “cabo-
tage laws were found to have spread around the world
faster than ever before in the centuries-long history of
cabotage.”

“Countries appear no longer to be viewing cabo-
tage as merely economic policy, but also as essential

to national security and strategic autonomy in an
increasingly unstable geopolitical environment,” said
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, co-author of the report and exec-
utive director of SRI. “These 105 nations represent a
remarkably diverse group controlling 85% of the global
coastline. We are proud that interest in our first report
appears to have translated into concrete action, with
nations strengthening maritime strategies for a world
grown more uncertain since the pandemic.”

For the United States, maritime cabotage is gov-
erned by the Jones Act, a cornerstone law passed
in 1920 that ensures America’s domestic shipping
is strengthened by requiring vessels transporting
cargo between U.S. ports to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned,
U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed. Similar laws exist for
airplanes, trains and trucks transporting cargo in the
country.

SIU President David Heindel, who also serves as
Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, stated, “This report
provides a compelling and independent affirmation of
what the maritime community has long recognized:
The Jones Act serves the best interests of the United
States, its mariners, and our economic and national
security. The United States remains the global bench-
mark for strong cabotage and maritime policy, and it
is no surprise that nations confronting today’s geopo-
litical challenges are reinforcing their own cabotage
frameworks to preserve sovereignty and safeguard
critical maritime infrastructure.”

American Maritime Partnership President Jennifer
Carpenter said, “The United States must take the lead
in securing our own maritime border and domestic
supply chain and not let foreign governments or for-
eign carriers decide our fate. Just as we wouldn’t allow
foreign airlines to transport passengers between U.S.
cities or foreign trucks to ply U.S. highways, the same
principle has long applied for maritime. We are grate-
ful that President Trump and a strong bipartisan
majority in Congress understand the importance of
putting America First and preserving U.S. control over
our waterways.”

The Jones Act supports an estimated 650,000
jobs and contributes $150 billion to the U.S. economy
annually. This law also undergirds the strategic sealift
capacity needed for America’s armed forces.

As the international community increasingly turns
toward cabotage to safeguard its maritime sectors and
“contest the emergence of the new global geopolitical
order,” according to study authors, the United States
stands not only as a leader but as a model, with approx-
imately 40,000 vessels in the Jones Act fleet.

Additional nations with strong cabotage laws simi-
lar to the United States’ Jones Act include South Korea,
Japan, Israel, Brazil, Turkey and even China, among
many others.

President’s Report

While the overall U.S.-flag maritime industry
faces plenty of challenges, the domestic component
remains vibrant, with more than 650,000 jobs
supported across the country (both shipboard and
shore-side). The secret to this success is strong
cabotage laws, which are increasingly being
emulated worldwide.

As I noted in a very recent op-ed that I co-authored
with Jennifer Carpenter, the president of the
American Maritime Partnership, the backbone of the
successful American domestic maritime industry is
the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the
Jones Act. Seasoned Seafarers know that the Jones
Act specifies the only vessels that can transport

cargo from point to point in the United States are American-built, American-
owned, and American-crewed.

As reported below, based on updated research from Seafarers Rights
International (SRI), cabotage laws like the Jones Act are spreading in popularity
around the world. This independent study, originally published in 2018, sets
a standard definition of “cabotage laws” and then does a deep dive on nations
worldwide to determine which states have policies that meet their definition.
They found that cabotage is expanding. In 2018, there were 91 nations with such
laws. Today, 105 countries – constituting more than 85% of the world’s coastline
– are governed by cabotage.

It is easy to understand why the number is growing. Cabotage laws ensure
a nation’s access to the movement of commerce on their own domestic
waterways, give priority to their own citizens for job opportunities, and can
have serious national and homeland security benefits.

The SRI also examined reasons nations have cabotage laws. Those include
“maintain national security; promote fair competition; develop human capacity;
transfer maritime knowledge and technology; create jobs for nationals;
increase ships on the national register; promote ship ownership, building and
supply services; promote safety and security of ships in port; enhance marine
environmental protection; encourage transportation by sea; and provide public
services.… In some States, cabotage is now being expressly used to contest the
emergence of the new global geopolitical order.”

What makes the United States’ cabotage law unique and so successful is
its strong history. One of the first laws passed by the first Congress was a form
of cabotage, which signaled our nation’s commitment to ensuring Americans
on American vessels work on America’s waterways. As recently as the FY2021
bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, Congress reaffirmed its support
for the Jones Act, stating that it is the sense of Congress that “United States
coastwise trade laws promote a strong domestic trade maritime industry, which
supports the national security and economic vitality of the United States and
the efficient operation of the United States transportation system; and a strong
commercial maritime industry makes the United States more secure.”

This strong, bipartisan support creates the stability necessary for innovation
in the maritime sector – everything from larger containers to innovations in
fuel technology. And it ensures our fellow Americans in Hawaii, Alaska, and
Puerto Rico are not dependent on unreliable or unfriendly foreign powers for
American goods. In return, they can reliably ship their manufactured goods and
agricultural products back to the mainland.

Our national leaders are increasingly attuned to the importance of the
maritime sector following the pandemic and subsequent supply-chain crisis.
A new executive order and bipartisan legislation in Congress are centered
around growing American maritime strength. They understand that America is
a maritime nation, with our national security and economic prosperity tied to
trade on our waters.

At the same time, there are foreign interests that seek to throw away the
Jones Act and are enlisting the support of Americans to do it. All the while,
many EU members maintain their own policies to prioritize their national
fleets! A March letter from U.S. Congressional leaders castigated the European
Union for engaging in a secretive influence campaign to undermine America’s
cabotage laws. We thank them for their continued leadership.

The People’s Republic of China has made it clear that its maritime policy
is to achieve global dominance of the entire maritime sector and to be the
only source for shipbuilding and shipping worldwide. The PRC’s behavior
has obviously spooked other nations, and they are making policy decisions
to preserve their own shipping and commercial independence via cabotage
laws. They have drawn the same, obvious conclusion that we have: Cabotage
laws are the best way to preserve a nation’s maritime interests. The first step in
defending ourselves from dependence on China is to champion our cabotage
laws. It is clear from this study that the rest of the world is making that same
decision.

2 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

David Heindel

Cabotage is Good, Popular Policy

ITF-Commissioned Report Finds More Countries Implementing Cabotage Laws

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers
International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, AFL-
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Communications Director: Jordan Biscardo
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Copyright © 2025 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights Reserved.

The SIU engaged an
environmentally
friendly printer for
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The SIU online: www.seafarers.org
Volume 87 Number 11 November 2025Seafarers LOG

The updated report is 113 pages long.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 3SEAFARERS LOG • 3NOVEMBER 2025

Major Wage Increases Highlight New Waterman ContractMajor Wage Increases Highlight New Waterman Contract
SIU members have overwhelmingly

approved a new three-year agreement with
Waterman Transport featuring significant
wage increases on the four vessels the com-
pany operates for U.S. Ocean.

“This contract raises wages and overtime
to the point that it’s among the highest-pay-
ing collective bargaining agreements in the
fleet,” stated SIU Vice President Contracts
George Tricker. “We secured other gains as
well, including increases to Seafarers Vaca-
tion Plan and Seafarers Money Purchase
Pension Plan-related wages, and continued
health benefits at the Core Plus Level (the top
one available to Seafarers).”

Tricker was joined by SIU Assistant Vice
President Michael Russo for the negotiations,
which lasted several months. The contract
applies to the car carriers Green Delta, Green
Wave, Green Ocean, and Green Bay.

Steward/Baker Dequan Smith stated, “The
new contract is the best decision that could’ve
been made. I thoroughly enjoyed working for
Waterman a few years ago, but this is a big
improvement and will make for a really good
experience.”

“The wage increases are historically sig-
nificant,” said SIU Assistant Vice President
Warren Asp. “We met with crew members to

explain the new agreement and record their
votes, and it was unanimous.”

SIU Tacoma Port Agent Danielle Wood-
ward added, “The crews also seemed pleased
with the new wages, and our veteran mem-
bers were happy to see that car carrier wages
have come up so high.”

Kevin Langford, vice president of human
resources and labor relations for Waterman’s
parent company, U.S. Ocean, said that the
union’s input helped them realize contractual
improvements were needed.

The tone of the negotiations was a collabo-
rative one,” Langford said. “In the six months
I have been with U.S. Ocean, George and the
SIU leadership team have been fantastic to
work with. The union negotiated with the
best interest of the mariners in mind, and
advised where we should best focus our
efforts to meet their needs and desires.”

He continued, “This contract is truly a
win for both sides. We believe that by mak-
ing such a significant financial commitment
to the Seafarers, combined with the culture
on board our vessels, we will see a greater
continuity in our crews, which will further
improve the safety, conditions and life on our
vessels…. Solidifying this contract reaffirms
our commitment to be an employer that the
mariners want to return to again and again.”The SIU-crewed Green Delta is one of four vessels covered by the new agreement.

SIU Patrolman Kirk Pegan (fourth from left) and Capt. David Fitzgibbons (second from left) are pictured along with
the crew of the Amelia Island and a couple of shipyard welders off the coast of Freeport, Texas. Among those also
pictured are AB Brandon Bortolan, Mate Bud Khuth, Chief Engineer Alex Roel, 1st Assistant Engineer Grant Hager,
AB ZaKeria Johnson, Jonmark Newman, Engineer Andrew Fabiano, SA Kanish Johnson, QMED Nelson Pangod,
Electronics Technician Carl Ray, and AB Jason “Shane” Cloud.

SIU members are sailing aboard the new hop-
per dredge Amelia Island, an addition to the Great
Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) fleet.

GLDD took delivery of the Jones Act-compli-
ant vessel in late August.

Built at Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, Loui-
siana, the dredge “supports the company’s vision
of continued modernization and diversification
of our fleet,” GLDD said in a news release. “The
Amelia Island is specially designed for efficient
and safe operations along shallow and narrow

waters throughout all U.S. coastlines. The ves-
sel is approximately 346 feet in length, 69 feet in
breadth, 23 feet in depth with 16,500 total horse-
power installed. The dredge features two 800mm
trailing suction pipes capable of dredging depths
up to 100 feet…. These vital capabilities of the
Amelia Island position it at the forefront of
modern dredges, allowing it to execute projects
along all U.S. coasts, ports, channels, and coastal
developments.”

Capt. David Fitzgibbons, a 10-year SIU mem-
ber, stated, “I’ve sailed on all the dredges in the
Great Lakes fleet, and it’s interesting to see the
progression, not just with the vessels but also the
SIU guys. It’s definitely exciting with these new
boats, and the Amelia Island is fantastic.”

GLDD President and CEO Lasse Petterson said,
“The delivery of our sixth hopper dredge, the

Amelia Island marks a significant milestone as
our dredging newbuild program is now complete,
leaving us with the largest and most advanced
hopper fleet in the United States. Engineered
with a high level of automation, this vessel is
well-suited for diverse operations such as beach
renourishment, coastal protection, channel
deepening, and maintenance dredging. Already
with a full schedule for 2025 and 2026, the dredge
will be going immediately to work.”

The Amelia Island joins its sister ship, the SIU-
crewed Galveston Island, which GLDD described
as “another modern dredge built to enhance vital
maritime infrastructure nationwide and reaf-
firm[ing] our commitment with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and our dedication to the U.S.
dredging industry.”

Amelia Island
Delivered to Great
Lakes Dredge & Dock

Showing their support for the new contract are (clockwise, starting in front) Chief Cook
Tekeisha Brown, Bosun David McRoy, SA Nooreddin Abdullah, Steward/Baker Dequan
Smith, Recertified Bosun Joseph French, STOS Ruby Jones, and Recertified Bosun
Gregory Jackson aboard the Green Delta. (Jones’ arm is mostly obscured but she voted
in favor of the contract.)

SIU Asst. VP Warren Asp (standing)
discusses the three-year collective
bargaining agreement with crew members
including Recertified Bosun Gregory
Jackson (left) and Chief Cook Tekeisha
Brown (facing away from camera).

Aboard the Green Ocean, SIU Port Agent J.B. Niday (left in photo above,
left) reviews some of the contract’s highlights with ABM Generoso
Jagolino. In the remaining photo, SA Brian Bayron-Ortiz (left) signals
his enthusiasm for the contract, as does SIU Asst. VP Joe Zavala.

SIU members crewed up the new dredge earlier this year. (Photo by RWolfe)



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 44 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

On Oct. 1, 2015, 33 lives were lost as the El Faro sank
near the Bahamas. Ten years later, the SIU remembered
their lives through multiple memorial services, taking
place in both Jacksonville, Florida, and at the Paul Hall
Center in Piney Point, Maryland.

The first ceremony took place on Sept. 30 at the
Jacksonville hiring hall, and was attended by SIU
executives, members and their families, friends and
guests. SIU President David Heindel, SIU Secretary-
Treasurer Tom Orzechowski and SIU Gulf Coast Vice
President Dean Corgey took part in the gathering,
among other SIU officials and maritime industry
partners.

Heindel addressed the crowd, saying in part: “We
gather today to honor the 33 lives lost aboard the El
Faro 10 years ago. Though a decade has passed, the
sorrow of that day remains close, and so too does our
duty to remember. The El Faro was more than a vessel—
she was a community at sea. Her crew were parents,
children, friends, and shipmates. They lived with
courage and worked with quiet dedication, serving a
profession that asks much and is often unseen by the
public. When the storm claimed them, it left behind
grief and questions that reshaped our industry. From
their loss came stronger protections and a renewed
commitment to safety.”

Following the ceremony at the hall, a second event
took place the next day at vessel operator TOTE’s El
Faro memorial in nearby Dames Point Park. Many of
the same guests attended, including the SIU officials.

Heartfelt observances also took place in conjunction
with the October membership meeting in Piney Point,
featuring the sounding of Eight Bells and a ceremonial
wreath laid at the El Faro memorial on the campus of
the Paul Hall Center.

The names of those lost were read out at each
memorial service:

The SIU members were Bosun Roan Lightfoot, ABs
Carey Hatch, Jackie Jones, Jack Jackson, Brookie
Davis and Frank Hamm, QEE Sylvester Crawford, RE1
Louis Champa, OMUs Anthony Thomas, German Solar
Cortes and Joe Hargrove, GUDEs Mariette Wright,
James Porter and Roosevelt Clark, Steward/Baker
Theodore Quammie, Chief Cook Lashawn Rivera and
SA Lonnie Jordan.

The AMO members were Capt. Michael Davidson,
Chief Mate Steven Shultz, Second Mate Danielle
Randolph, Third Mate Jeremie Riehm, Chief Engineer
Jeffrey Mathias, Chief Engineer Richard Pusatere, First
Assistant Engineer Keith Griffin, Second Assistant
Engineer Howard Schoenly, Third Assistant Engineer
Michael Holland, Third Assistant Engineer Mitchell
Kuflik and Third Assistant Engineer Dylan Meklin.

The Polish riding gang consisted of Piotr Krause,
Marcin Nita, Jan Podgorski, Andrzej Truszkowski and
Rafal Zdobych.

Guests in attendance at TOTE's El Faro memorial for the ceremony.
TOTE President and CEO Tim Nolan (left) met with family members of the lost
mariners at the Jacksonville hall. Retirees QMED David Terry & QMED Aaron Thaxton

From left to right: TOTE Group President and CEO
Tim Nolan, Mrs. Hargrove (widow of the late Joe
Hargrove), SIU President Dave Heindel and Mrs.
Hamm (widow of the late Frank Hamm).

10 Years: Remembering the El Faro Crew10 Years: Remembering the El Faro Crew

Among those pictured above at the El Faro memorial on the campus of the Paul Hall Center (from left to right): SIU Plans
Administrator Margaret Bowen, VP Contracts George Tricker (head bowed), Manpower Director Mark von Siegel, AVP Michael
Russo, President David Heindel, EVP Augustin Tellez, Secretary-Treasurer Tom Orzechowski, VP Government Services Sam
Spain (behind Orzechowski) and VP Pat Vandegrift.

From left to right: Secretary-Treasurer Tom Orzechowski, SA Gionet
Dennis, VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey and CC Tamara Russ.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 5SEAFARERS LOG • 5NOVEMBER 2025

Agency Aims to Modernize Credentialing Systems
The U.S. Coast Guard recently announced that

it is investing tens of millions of dollars in an
overdue effort to upgrade its mariner credentialing
technology.

The agency reported on September 12 that it had
awarded a “blanket purchase agreement to Stealth
Solutions Inc.” to modernize the Coast Guard’s
mariner credentialing program (MCP) information
technology system “and support revitalization of
the maritime workforce and industry.”

In its formal announcement, which did not
specify target dates, the Coast Guard noted, “The
MCP is essential to vetting and denying criminals
access to critical maritime infrastructure and
supporting the marine transportation system. The
National Maritime Center processed nearly 75,000
credential requests and 66,000 medical certificate

applications in 2024. These actions underscore
the Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to
facilitating commerce through operations to
control, secure, and defend ports, waterways, and
shipping in the physical and cyber domains, and to
restore U.S. maritime dominance.”

The blanket purchase agreement, with a total
potential value of $49.6 million and a five-year
period of performance, will include comprehensive
efforts to update and streamline the merchant
mariner credentialing process and other mariner
credentialing requirements, the Coast Guard
reported.

Concurrent with the award, the Coast Guard
issued a $3.8 million order for development of
the first release of NAVITA, a modernized system
for issuing merchant mariner credentials and

medical certificates to U.S. Merchant Mariners.
This new system will replace the current labor-
intensive manual process with a modern, user-
friendly automated system, making the application
process faster and more efficient, the agency
announced. Mariners will have access to online
applications, mariner profiles, and self-service
features supporting the timely issuance of mariner
credentials.

Rear Adm. Way ne A rg uin, Assistant
Commandant for Prevention Policy, stated, “The
NAVITA system represents a transformative leap
forward in supporting America’s maritime industry,
providing our merchant mariners – who are vital
to our nation’s economy and security – with a
streamlined process to receive their credentials
with speed and focus.”

ITF Inspectors Unite in Cyprus to Defend Mariners’ Rights
More than 130 inspectors from the International

Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) met in
Limassol, Cyprus, Sept. 22-25 for a seminar aimed at
supporting and enhancing their work.

SIU President David Heindel, who also chairs
the ITF Seafarers’ Section, addressed the gathering
of inspectors from across the globe. SIU Secretary-
Treasurer Tom Orzechowski also took part in the
event.

The seminar, conducted once every five years,
“is the single most important gathering of ITF
inspectors – the frontline defenders of seafarers’
rights in ports around the world who police
agreements struck by the ITF and its affiliated
maritime trade unions around the world,” the
federation reported.

The SIU is a longtime ITF affiliate.
In promoting the seminar, the federation noted,

“ITF inspectors are vital to defending and advancing
the rights of some of the most marginalized and
isolated workers in the world. From enforcing
collective agreements to rescuing crew abandoned
without pay or food, their daily work is critical to
protecting seafarers – now acknowledged as key
workers by the International Labor Organization
and ensuring that their rights are more than just
words on paper.

“But the maritime world is changing fast – with
new technologies, environmental standards, and
shifting global trade routes reshaping the industry,”
the ITF continued. “At this year’s seminar, the focus
is on ensuring inspectors are ready to adapt and
meet these challenges head-on – making sure that,
no matter how the industry evolves, seafarers’ rights
are properly upheld and enforced. This includes
strengthening collaboration with port state control
authorities and flag states.”

Sessions throughout the meeting covered a
wide range of pressing issues, including closer
cooperation with port state control regimes such
as the Paris MOU, whose secretariat presented
to inspectors; dialogue with flag states; the
role of environmental, social, and governance
standards and human rights due diligence in the
maritime sector, with inspectors deepening their
understanding of how these frameworks can be
leveraged to protect mariners; addressing violence
and harassment at sea, with renewed calls for full
ratification and enforcement of ILO Convention 190;
and tackling abandonment, with updated reporting
processes and strategies to ensure no seafarer is left
stranded without pay, provisions, or a way home.

On World Maritime Day (Sept. 25), ITF General
Secretary Stephen Cotton praised the inspectors’
work and underlined the importance of the seminar.

“The ITF Inspectorate is nothing short of
incredible,” he said. “Every day, in every port, our
inspectors stand up for seafarers who are too
often left abandoned, exploited, or denied their
most basic rights. This seminar is about focusing
– and refocusing – our efforts, especially in the
flag-of-convenience campaign, which remains the
backbone of our fight for justice at sea.

“Seafarers deliver 90% of the world’s trade,”
Cotton continued. “They deserve more than empty
promises. ITF inspectors will not take no for an
answer when it comes to dignity, respect, and rights.
On World Maritime Day, it’s time for the global
industry to do better for the seafarers who keep our
world moving forward.”

ITF President Paddy Crumlin stated, “For more
than half a century, the ITF Inspectorate has been

the beating heart of our global union – the living
embodiment of solidarity. Inspectors are the
ones who make sure that our agreements and our
words translate into real change for seafarers. This
seminar is about renewing our commitment to
seafarers everywhere and ensuring that the flag-of-
convenience campaign continues to deliver dignity,
fairness, and justice on every ship, under every flag.”

SIU President David Heindel (at podium), who also serves as chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, addresses the conference.

International Transport Workers’ Federation inspectors gather in Cyprus for a quinquennial conference.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 66 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

When the year 2025 started,
artist Kelly Micca not only had no
connection with the SIU, she’d never
even heard of it.

Now, she’s got a permanent and
esteemed place in the union’s history.

Micca sculpted the bronze busts of
the late SIU President Michael Sacco
that were unveiled in Maryland in
June – one at the union’s headquarters
in Camp Springs, the other at its
affiliated school in Piney Point. She
also created three smaller, bronze
sculptures of the longest-serving
president in SIU history, who passed
away in late 2023.

“I loved the entire experience,” said
Micca (pronounced mik'-a), a graduate
of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine
Arts who’s currently studying for a
master’s degree in New York. “I spent
four months of solidly working on this
project (the larger bronze busts) every
day, 30 to 40 hours a week, and then it
was taken to the bronze foundry to be
cast. In the meantime, I worked on the
miniatures myself, which took three
months to cast.” (Micca did the bronze
castings for all three of the smaller
versions.)

Her interactions with personnel
from the SIU and the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Education,
particularly during the dedication
ceremony June 17 in Piney Point,
proved very positive.

“Everyone was so nice and kind,
but also badass,” said the 27-year-old
native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The pleasantness may have been
partly attributable to the outstanding
finished products, which were
universally well-received, including
by President Sacco’s family.

SIU Vice President Pat Vandegrift,
who oversaw the union’s side of the

commissioning, stated, “Kelly was a
pleasure to work with. She was totally
professional and she’s obviously very,
very talented.”

Meant to Be
Despite the aforementioned

unfamiliarity with the SIU, Micca’s
work on the sculptures included a
number of “small world” moments.
Her grandfather, in addition to being
a U.S. Navy veteran, also sailed as a
purser with the U.S. Military Sealift
Command for more than 20 years.

Additionally, she has completed
numerous paintings of the famed SS
United States (which was docked near
her prior residence for years) – and
was pleasantly surprised to see a
large model of the vessel at the Paul
Hall Center. The National Maritime
Union, which merged into the SIU in
2001, represented some of the crew
members on the United States.

Perhaps most notably, though, she
made a connection with the family
who produced all of the other bronze
busts of prior SIU presidents. When
Vandegrift contacted that family, he
learned the original artist (Tylden
Streett) had passed away, and that his
successor’s (daughter Ferebe Streett)
location and circumstances precluded
her from taking on the task. She did
recommend Micca, though.

If it hadn’t been for a spur-of-the-
moment sculpture of an animal, the
connection probably wouldn’t have
happened. Micca had worked with an
older couple that owns a landscape
painting residency, which is basically
a training ground for artists. She
sculpted one of their dogs and gave
them the new art. One of their friends
saw it – and that gentleman happened
to be dating the daughter of the

original SIU-commissioned sculptor.
After several ensuing

conversations and a long drive to and
from Piney Point, Micca knew she
wanted the job. She quickly produced
what amounts to a rough draft of one
of the smaller sculptures of President
Sacco, and her work essentially
secured the commission.

Labor-Intensive Work
As an undergraduate student,

Micca majored in painting, but she
also completed sculpture classes that
included bronze casting. So, when she
landed the Seafarers gig, she knew
that a heavy workload awaited her.

Creating a bronze bust (or two)
is time-consuming and potentially
dangerous. It also requires a nearly
excruciating level of attention to
detail; one misstep can significantly
set back if not derail a project.

In layman’s terms, the work begins
with casting or molding in silicone
– five separate layers altogether. A
“mother mold” then is placed on
the silicone, and when the mold
eventually is removed, the artist
basically fills it with wax, though the
process is quite complicated.

Subsequent steps involve ceramic
coatings, burning off some of the
wax, melting bronze, pouring it into a
ceramic shell, and then smashing off
the shell.

“It gets heavy and there’s lots of
handling very hot material,” Micca
said. “It’s very dangerous. You also
have to chisel out the ceramic shell
parts that are left, which is tedious,
and then sandblast.”

Some of the later-stage steps
involve usage of grinders, cutters, and
blowtorches.

“At every single step, you can’t
afford to mess it up,” Micca said. “It’s
super detail-oriented work.”

Nevertheless, the challenges

proved rewarding.
“I love it all – the puzzle of it,” Micca

said. “It’s a miraculous process, seeing
it happen in front of your own eyes,
and every single step affects the next
step. The enjoyment is the struggle.”

Heavyweight Additions
There’s no chance of anyone

casually wandering off with the
larger busts of President Sacco. The
(relatively) lighter one weighs 300
pounds, while the other is 390. The
variation is due to a thicker wax
application on the bigger one. The
miniature busts weigh around 40
pounds apiece.

The bigger busts are approximately
three feet tall and three feet wide, but
that’s not counting the bases, which
are significantly bigger. One is located
in the lobby at headquarters, while
the other stands near the entrance
of the Michael J. Sacco Media Center,
dedicated earlier this year (see the
July LOG for full coverage of the
ceremony).

For the SIU, these additions
continued the union’s tradition of
honoring past presidents. Sacco’s
busts have taken their respective
places near the ones of Harry
Lundeberg, Frank Drozak and Paul
Hall.

For Micca, they signified a
launching point of sorts. She already
had been an accomplished artist,
winning high-level competitions and
exhibiting her work in shows across
the country, but this was her first
commission for extensive bronze
work.

“This was a beautiful introduction
to the world of bronze commissions,”
she said. “The entire experience was
enjoyable, and I’m grateful to have
learned about President Sacco and the
SIU community.”

‘I Loved the Entire Experience’

Artist Kelly Micca is pictured with an in-progress version of one of the larger bronze busts of the late SIU President Michael Sacco and then at the dedication ceremony in Piney Point, Maryland.

Sculptor Delivers Stunningly Accurate Depictions of SIU Icon



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 7SEAFARERS LOG • 7NOVEMBER 2025

Pic from the Past

Seafarers Isaac Brown and Anebal Albe are pictured aboard the Seatrain San Juan in 1967 in New York.

Inquiring SeafarerDavid Heindel, President
Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President

Tom Orzechowski, Secretary-Treasurer
George Tricker, Vice President Contracts
Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Joe Vincenzo, Vice President West Coast
Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Sam Spain, Vice President Government Services
Bryan Powell,

Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
Pat Vandegrift, Vice President
Hazel Galbiso, Vice President

HEADQUARTERS
5201 Capital Gateway Drive

Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675

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

(810) 794-4988

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

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

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

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

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

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

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 281-2622

JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306

(201) 434-6000

JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NORFOLK
115 Third Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 444-2360

PHILADELPHIA
2800 S. 20th Street, Building 12B, Suite A

Philadelphia, PA 19145
(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) 549-4000

SIU DirectorySIU Directory

This month’s question was answered by Seafarers on August 12, immediately after the monthly membership
meeting at the New Orleans hall. In the case of Paul Hall Center Apprentice Cedricka Banks, who already had
spent time aboard the Decisive as part of her training, the question was modified along the lines of, “What do

you anticipate enjoying about this field?”

Question: What are some things you like about your line of work?

Jurgen Gottschlich
Electrician

I joined in 1987. I used to work
eight or nine months a year (at
sea) but started working ROS in
2004 and haven’t changed. This
allowed me to own restaurants and
purchase homes, because I was
able to go home at night and on the
weekends while still working on a
ship. I have almost 12,000 days of
sea time.

Jermaine Robinson
Recertified Steward

I love cooking for the other mari-
ners, all the time. That’s the best
thing – having them enjoy a great
meal. You can be having a hard day,
but when you come inside to get
a really great meal from me, that
makes me happy.

Cedricka Banks
Apprentice

I love the people and I love the
workmanship and the encourage-
ment. It’s just so amazing to work
as a seaman. Especially on my ship
(Decisive), they help me grow and
are always checking on me, making
sure I take breaks and have what-
ever is needed. They are so open
and welcoming.

Stanley Daranda
Recertified Bosun

My journey has been real strong.
I started in New York more than
45 years ago. It’s a career, it’s
not a job. We’re still strong, and
the fundamentals of being able
to travel and experience different
cultures always kept it positive for
me. Plus there was always a job.

Robert Crain
Oiler

I really enjoy the fact that you get
as much work as you want and
you can take time off as needed.
Also, I like that you get to travel a
lot, and I enjoy the hands-on work
in the engine room. You definitely
get to learn a lot.

Charles Frisella
Bosun

It’s very interesting. I’ve gotten to
see lots of places and different
cultures over the years. It’s been
very exciting. I was in Class 412
and started sailing in June of
1987. The benefits and the money
are great, and the upgrading
keeps you busy.



8 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 88 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

Deck Department
Algonac 13 10 3 14 8 1 4 22 11 5
Anchorage 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0
Baltimore 4 5 0 3 3 0 3 6 2 2
Fort Lauderdale 19 8 7 12 6 3 9 22 11 7
Guam 3 2 0 3 2 0 0 8 2 2
Harvey 6 4 7 6 5 4 3 8 5 10
Honolulu 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 8 3 2
Houston 27 16 16 21 15 1 9 48 20 26
Jacksonville 24 23 7 24 21 4 18 52 45 18
Jersey City 19 21 4 16 9 3 8 35 15 5
Joliet 2 3 0 0 2 1 1 3 5 1
Mobile 3 2 3 8 2 1 2 6 6 8
Norfolk 17 18 9 19 12 2 8 31 27 14
Oakland 7 0 4 8 1 1 5 11 1 4
Philadelphia 3 3 0 2 1 0 1 4 3 2
Piney Point 0 3 0 1 3 0 1 2 2 0
Puerto Rico 7 2 1 2 1 0 1 10 2 1
St. Louis 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 1
Tacoma 13 4 3 15 4 2 6 23 7 3
Wilmington 26 10 2 14 6 0 6 51 11 6

TOTAL 202 136 69 170 102 24 86 357 183 117

Engine Department
Algonac 1 4 0 4 3 0 3 5 5 0
Anchorage 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
Baltimore 1 2 0 0 4 0 1 5 1 0
Fort Lauderdale 7 4 5 5 2 1 2 12 6 6
Guam 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1
Harvey 1 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 3 1
Honolulu 5 2 2 1 0 0 0 10 2 3
Houston 9 8 3 6 5 3 3 12 12 8
Jacksonville 15 19 5 17 11 2 9 24 25 8
Jersey City 7 3 4 5 4 1 5 11 3 5
Joliet 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 0
Mobile 3 4 1 2 2 1 1 4 5 2
Norfolk 9 15 4 5 17 4 5 16 15 6
Oakland 1 3 1 0 3 0 1 5 4 1
Philadelphia 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 1
Piney Point 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Puerto Rico 3 1 0 4 0 1 2 3 2 0
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0
Tacoma 8 5 0 9 6 0 5 9 5 1
Wilmington 8 5 1 4 1 2 3 13 6 3
TOTAL 83 84 26 70 63 15 42 141 102 46

Steward Department
Algonac 5 0 1 3 1 0 1 6 0 1
Anchorage 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 1 1
Baltimore 0 4 1 0 3 0 2 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 6 3 1 8 3 1 3 6 5 0
Guam 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 0
Harvey 2 4 0 2 3 0 1 1 4 0
Honolulu 4 1 1 5 1 0 0 6 2 1
Houston 13 15 1 14 6 1 6 16 21 3
Jacksonville 17 14 2 12 12 1 4 28 19 5
Jersey City 9 8 1 8 4 0 6 8 5 1
Joliet 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0
Mobile 4 1 0 1 1 0 1 8 1 0
Norfolk 18 12 8 8 5 2 2 25 17 11
Oakland 15 4 1 9 2 0 4 13 5 1
Philadelphia 3 1 0 2 0 1 1 3 1 0
Piney Point 2 4 1 5 2 0 2 3 3 1
Puerto Rico 1 5 0 1 5 0 2 3 8 0
St. Louis 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Tacoma 8 0 2 8 0 0 6 10 4 4
Wilmington 16 7 2 22 2 0 7 29 15 5
TOTAL 128 85 22 111 57 6 50 169 115 35

Entry Department
Algonac 1 6 8 0 4 2 3 2 7 20
Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3
Baltimore 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Fort Lauderdale 0 7 12 0 2 6 1 2 7 17
Guam 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 4
Harvey 0 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 5 5
Honolulu 0 0 2 0 1 3 0 0 1 6
Houston 3 8 11 2 9 5 1 8 34 32
Jacksonville 1 28 30 0 15 8 4 1 39 100
Jersey City 1 21 12 0 8 4 1 3 29 19
Joliet 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
Mobile 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Norfolk 0 11 31 0 9 22 3 0 8 58
Oakland 0 10 18 0 7 6 4 0 9 25
Philadelphia 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 1 2
Piney Point 0 2 1 0 2 1 4 0 1 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tacoma 1 3 5 2 5 2 3 5 10 11
Wilmington 2 16 14 0 11 8 4 2 16 38

TOTAL 9 119 154 4 75 72 28 26 175 349

GRAND TOTAL 422 424 271 355 297 117 206 693 575 547

“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from September 14 - October 14, 2025.
“Registered on the Beach” data is as of October 15, 2025.

Meeting date changes due to holidays


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

Total Registered
All Groups

A B C

Trip
Reliefs

Total Shipped
All Groups

A B C

Registered on Beach
All Groups

A B CPort

Piney Point Monday: Nov. 3, Dec. 8
Algonac Thursday: Nov. 13, Dec. 18
Baltimore Thursday: Nov. 6, Dec. 11
Guam Thursday: Nov. 20; Friday: Dec. 26
Honolulu Friday: Nov. 14, Dec. 19
Houston Monday: Nov. 10, Dec. 15
Jacksonville Thursday: Nov. 6, Dec. 11
Joliet Thursday: Nov. 13, Dec. 18
Mobile Wednesday: Nov. 12. Dec. 17
New Orleans Wednesday: Nov. 12; Tuesday: Dec. 16
Jersey City Tuesday: Nov. 4, Dec. 9
Norfolk Friday: Nov. 7, Dec. 12
Oakland Thursday: Nov. 13, Dec. 18
Philadelphia Wednesday: Nov. 5, Dec. 10
Port Everglades Thursday: Nov. 13, Dec. 18
San Juan Thursday: Nov. 6, Dec. 11
St. Louis Friday: Nov. 14, Dec. 19
Tacoma Friday: Nov. 21, Dec. 26
Wilmington Monday: Nov. 17, Dec. 22

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

November & December
Membership Meetings



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 9SEAFARERS LOG • 9NOVEMBER 2025

At Sea & Ashore with the SIU

B-BOOK OBTAINED ‒ AB Antonio
Gonzalez Esteves (left) receives his
full book at the hall in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. He’s pictured with
Safety Director Ricky Rivera.

ABOARD ALPENA ‒ Pictured from left aboard the Inland Lakes Management vessel in the three-person photo above, left are Safety Director Jason Brown, Second Mate Isaac Pennock, and SIU
Asst. VP Todd Brdak. It’s the same lineup in the other three-person pic except that’s AB Tom Martin in the middle. The remaining outdoor photo includes AB Salem Suwalieh (left) and Brdak. Pictured
with the AVP in the engine room are (above, second from left) Seafarer Matrik Stein and (remaining photo) QMED Preston Eiland.

REMEMBERING BOSUN DAVID JAMES ‒ The LOG office was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Recertified Bosun Charles David James, who passed away Sept. 25 following a battle
with cancer. He was 65. “He always talked about how he loved the SIU and sailing bosun,” recalled his brother, retired Recertified Bosun Rick James. “I got him into the union in 1997. Right up until
his last days, he talked about how much the union meant to him and how he loved working on the ships.” In the individual photo, David is shown aboard the Mendonca in 2010. He’s standing second
from left in the outdoor photo, a 2021 upgrading class pic from Piney Point, Maryland. He’s at right in the remaining photo, with Rick (center) and their sister, Mary.

ABOARD CAPE SAN JUAN ‒ Handling mooring lines aboard the Intrepid ship are ABs Tyrone Leonard and Steven Whiting. In the outdoor photo are (from left) ACU Rodolfo Ludovice, AB Alan
Boiser, AB Mohsen Ahmed, AB Bobby Belches, Recertified Bosun Ritche Acuman, Oiler Samuel Ayers, Chief Mate Wayne Sumner, AB Fadel Mohamed, Third Engineer Scott Spilman, and Chief Cook
Al Yandoc. The remaining group photo, taken after work as mariners gathered to watch a televised boxing match, includes (from left) Second Engineer Mark Cayabyab, Chief Cook Al Yandoc, First
Engineer Ted Yap, AB Bobby Belches, ACU Rodolfo Ludovice, and Recertified Bosun Ritche Acuman.

PRO-MARITIME CHAT ‒ SIU Asst. VP Chris
Westbrook (right) and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R)
meet in New Orleans on Oct. 2. The governor voiced his
support for port expansion, the growth of the U.S.-flag
industry, and the Jones Act.

WELCOME ASHORE IN HOUSTON ‒ AB Jose Garcia (left) picks up his first pension
check at the hiring hall. Garcia started sailing with the SIU in 1994. Congratulating
him is Safety Director Kevin Sykes.



10 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 202310 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

At Sea & Ashore with the SIU

STEPPING UP FOR SPAD ‒ SIU
Pensioner Justin White (left, with SIU
Asst. VP Chris Westbrook) attended
the September membership meeting
in New Orleans, and he spoke about
the importance of the union’s voluntary
political action fund. He backed it up
by making a $1,000 contribution to the
Seafarers Political Activities Donation,
better known as SPAD.

APPRENTICES COMMENDED
‒ Pictured aboard the Capt. David
Lyon (Sealift) are (from left) Paul Hall
Center Apprentices/Wipers Stevenjohn
Eustaquio and David Clark, 1E John
Nelson, and CE Greg Brooke. Nelson
recently praised the “hard work,
reliability and can-do attitude” of both
Eustaquio and Clark.

PROMOTING MARITIME ‒ These photos were taken in late September at a Maryland Democrats gathering. SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez is in the
middle of the three-person photo, with U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (left) and U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth. SIU Asst. VP Michael Russo is in both of the remaining
photos, with Rep. Hoyer and Gov. Wes Moore. During informal visits, the SIU officials reiterated the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine to
America’s national, economic and homeland security.

ABOARD PADRE ISLAND ‒ These photos are from a recent servicing of the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock hopper dredge. At the helm (wearing a cap) is Third Mate Sean Fogarty. AB/Dragtender
Wilmer Herrera is in the other individual photo. The large (informal) group photo shows people gathering for a union meeting, while the remaining non-vessel pic includes AB Roger Utter (right) and
Safety Director Kevin Sykes.

ABOARD LONE STAR STATE ‒ Pictured during a late
September visit to the Intrepid ship in the Gulf Coast are
(from left) Recertified Steward Abraham Mills and Chief
Cook Chad Sikorski.

ABOARD MATSON KODIAK ‒ Pictured from left aboard the ship on Sept. 4 in the Pacific Northwest are ABM Allan Makiling, QE3 Marcus Brown,
QEE David Watkins, Recertified Bosun Darryl Smith, and ABM Sherwin James.

MILESTONE IN TEXAS ‒ Chief Cook
Marcel Jubert (center) receives his
A-seniority book at the Houston hall.
He’s pictured with SIU Patrolmen Kirk
Pegan (left) and Anthony Jacobson.

SOLIDARITY IN SAN JUAN ‒ The SIU on Sept. 18 hosted a meeting at the
hiring hall focused on creating an AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation in the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Pictured at the planning session are (clockwise, starting at far left) Nelly
Ayala, President of FTPR AFL-CIO; Pablo De Leon from the South Florida AFL-CIO;
Nadry Martinez, General Secretary, FTPR; Yafet Torres, President, USW Puerto Rico;
Charlie Ramos from the CWA; SIU Asst. VP Amancio Crespo; Neftali Nieves from
IATSE; John Vigueras from the IAM; Hector Reyes from the IBEW; and Samuel A.
Hernandez from the APWU.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 11SEAFARERS LOG • 11NOVEMBER 2025

At Sea & Ashore with the SIU

ABOARD PACIFIC COLLECTOR ‒ This snapshot was taken
in early September aboard the TOTE vessel. In the back row,
from left, are OL John Steeber, OL Cody Higgs, OL Masaddiq
Walton, Recertified Bosun Kenneth Steiner, ABM Richard Stanley,
OS Anthony Wallace, WI Carlos Noriega Mancilla, MDR Ninia
Mendoza. Pictured in the front row, also from left, are ABM
William McIntyre, QE2 Davon Brown, SA Michael Fincannon, SA
Laura Davies.

SEAFARERS CONDUCT CONSOL ‒ The SIU-crewed Allied
Pacific (Patriot) (right) on Sept. 18 conducted a consolidated
cargo replenishment (CONSOL) at sea with the Republic of
Korea’s (ROK) Cheonji-class fast combat support ship ROKS
Daecheong (AOE-58) in support of Freedom Edge 25. According
to the U.S. Department of Defense, “Freedom Edge highlights
trilateral defense cooperation between the United States, Japan,
and the Republic of Korea, demonstrating their ability to achieve
peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and across the
Indo-Pacific.”

Navigating Recovery at Sea: An Introduction to SARC
Editor's Note: The following article was submitted

by Seafarers Addiction and Rehabilitation Center
(SARC) Director Chris Leeman, LCMFT, LAC, SAP.

The maritime profession demands physical
endurance, long hours, and extended periods
away from home—factors that can contribute
to increased vulnerability to substance use and
mental health challenges. Recognizing the unique
struggles faced by merchant mariners, the Seafarers
Addiction Rehabilitation Center (SARC) was
founded to provide targeted, compassionate care
that restores not just sobriety, but dignity, purpose,
and professional standing.

Located in Valley Lee, Maryland, SARC is a
federally recognized inpatient facility designed
specifically for maritime professionals. Our 30-
day residential program offers an intensive and
supportive environment that emphasizes safety,
structure, and confidentiality. At the heart of our
mission is the belief that mariners deserve the
chance to heal and return to their vital roles at sea—
stronger, healthier, and fully prepared for long-term
recovery.

What sets SARC apart is our commitment to
holistic, evidence-based care tailored to each
individual. Our program includes U.S. Coast
Guard-compliant SAP evaluations, individual and
group counseling, relapse prevention training,
and comprehensive continuing care planning. Our
licensed clinicians and SAP-certified professionals
utilize proven therapeutic modalities such as

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical
Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing
(MI), and 12-Step Facilitation. Trauma-informed care
is embedded into every aspect of treatment.

SARC serves maritime personnel, specifically
merchant mariners (union members from the
SIU.) We collaborate with maritime employers, the
U.S. Coast Guard, legal systems, and self-referred
individuals to ensure timely, coordinated treatment
that aligns with both personal recovery goals and
professional requirements.

Our program is more than treatment—it is a
pathway back to purpose. SARC helps mariners
reclaim their credentials, reconnect with family,
and rebuild the personal and professional lives
they’ve worked hard to achieve. By focusing on
accountability, resilience, and continuing support,
we offer our clients the tools they need to maintain

sobriety and success long after discharge.
If you or someone you know in the maritime field

is struggling with substance use, SARC is here to
help. Recovery and restoration is not only possible—
it’s the first step toward a safer, stronger future at
sea.

WELL-EARNED RECOGNITION ‒ Bosun Munassar Ahmed (individual photo) received the Crowley/Intrepid monthly
safety award for the Evergreen State for September, while Chief Cook Carlos Gomez Hernandez (left in remaining photo)
did the same for the American Energy. He is pictured with Safety Director Ricky Rivera at the hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

ABOARD EL COQUI ‒ Pictured aboard the Intrepid
vessel are (from left) Electrician Rodney Passapera, ABM
Yancy Cabarrubias, Recertified Steward Jesus Pacheco,
Recertified Bosun Victor Nunez, Safety Director Ricky
Rivera, and ABM Edgardo Martinez.

BACKING JONES ACT IN PUERTO RICO ‒ As
part of an ongoing effort to promote the Jones
Act and the U.S. maritime industry in the territory,
the SIU recently hosted a gathering at the hiring
hall in San Juan. Pictured from left are SIU Asst.
VP Amancio Crespo; Lymaris Otero, corporate
consultant; TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico Senior
Human Resources Manager Ana Medellin; and
Safety Director Ricky Rivera. Among other topics,
they discussed providing educational resources for
local high school students who may be interested in
exploring maritime careers.

Scan the code above to contact Chris Leeman at the SARC.



12 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 202312 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

We pay tribute to our brothers and sisters of the SIU who
have recently retired. THANK YOU for a job well done and
we wish you fair winds and following seas.Welcome Ashore!

DEEP SEA
ION BOROS
Brother Ion Boros, 70, joined the
union in 2005, initially sailing
aboard the Green Lake. He worked
in the deck department and
upgraded at the Piney Point school
on several occasions. Brother
Boros last shipped on the Maersk
Hartford and lives in Canteleu,
France.

LARRY BRADLEY
Brother Larry Bradley, 66, started sailing with the
SIU in 1980 and first worked on
the Connecticut. He shipped in the
deck department and upgraded
at the Paul Hall Center on numer-
ous occasions. Brother Bradley
concluded his career aboard the
Green Cove. He resides in Norfolk,
Virginia.

STEVEN BYERLEY
Brother Steven Byerley, 65, became a member of the
union in 1978 when he sailed aboard the Portland.
An engine department member, he upgraded at the
Piney Point school on multiple occasions. Brother
Byerley’s last vessel was the Endurance. He makes his
home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

KENNARD CAMPBELL
Brother Kennard Campbell, 62,
signed on with the SIU in 1991.
He first sailed aboard the Sealift
Indian Ocean and worked in the
deck department. Brother Camp-
bell upgraded at the Paul Hall
Center on numerous occasions. He
most recently shipped on the Mar-
iner and is a resident of Mobile, Alabama.

FRANKLIN COBURN
Brother Franklin Coburn, 67, joined
the Seafarers International Union
in 1983 and first sailed aboard the
Aries. He upgraded at the Piney
Point school on several occasions
and sailed in the engine depart-
ment. Brother Coburn last sailed
aboard the Decisive and settled in
Baltimore.

JIOIA DE LEON
Sister Jioia De Leon, 72, embarked
on her career with the SIU in 1989
when she sailed on the Indepen-
dence. She shipped in the steward
department and upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center on numerous
occasions. Sister De Leon con-
cluded her career aboard the Cape
Intrepid and lives in Tacoma, Washington.

JAMES DEMOUY
Brother James DeMouy, 60, signed
on with the union in 1990, initially
sailing aboard the Aquarius. He
worked in the engine depart-
ment and upgraded often at the
union-affiliated Piney Point
school. Brother DeMouy most
recently shipped on the Cape Dia-
mond and is a resident of Portland, Oregon.

RICARDO DUCAY
Brother Ricardo Ducay, 65, started
sailing with the SIU in 2006 when
he shipped on the Sagamore. He
sailed in the engine department
and upgraded at the Paul Hall
Center on multiple occasions.
Brother Ducay’s final vessel was
the Maersk Saratoga. He makes his
home in Pinellas Park, Florida.

JOZEF DUDAS
Brother Jozef Dudas, 65, began his career with the
Seafarers International Union in 1992. A deck depart-
ment member, he first sailed aboard the Producer.
Brother Dudas upgraded at the Piney Point school on
multiple occasions and last shipped on the Alliance
Fairfax. He is a resident of Jacksonville, Florida.

STEVEN HOSKINS
Brother Steven Hoskins, 61, began
sailing with the Seafarers in 1988
and first worked aboard the Long
Lines. He upgraded on several
occasions at the Paul Hall Center
and shipped in the engine depart-
ment. Brother Hoskins most
recently sailed on the Savannah
and makes his home in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

KENNETH JOHNSON
Brother Kenneth Johnson, 66,
began sailing with the Seafarers
in 1979. He was a deck depart-
ment member and first shipped
on the Newark. Brother Johnson
upgraded his skills at the Piney
Point school on multiple occa-
sions. He last sailed on the Green
Cove and lives in New Orleans.

WILLIAM JOHNSON
Brother William Johnson, 70,
joined the union in 1997 and first
sailed aboard the JEB Stuart.
Brother Johnson was a member
of the deck department and most
recently shipped on the Green
Bay. He resides in Udon Thani,
Thailand.

EDUARDO JORGE
Brother Eduardo Jorge, 69, donned
the SIU colors in 2006 when he
sailed aboard the Manukai. He
upgraded on multiple occasions at
the Paul Hall Center and primarily
worked in the deck department.
Brother Jorge concluded his career
aboard the Alaskan Navigator. He
resides in Cerritos, California.

MARTIN JOSEPHSON
Brother Martin Josephson, 57,
became an SIU member in 1989.
He was a deck department mem-
ber and upgraded on multiple
occasions at the Piney Point
school. Brother Josephson’s first
vessel was the Lawrence Gianella;
his last, the ARC Honor. He makes
his home in Fairview, North Carolina.

MOHAMED KAMER
Brother Mohamed Kamer, 65, started sailing with
the union in 1997, initially working aboard the Inde-
pendence. He sailed in the steward department and
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center on multiple occa-
sions. Brother Kamer concluded his career aboard
the Maersk Virginia. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

VICTOR KELSEY
Brother Victor Kelsey, 65, joined
the union in 1978. He first shipped
on the Cove Leader and sailed in
the deck department. Brother
Kelsey upgraded at the union-af-
filiated Piney Point school on
multiple occasions and last sailed
aboard the Guayama. He resides in
Washington, D.C.

NOEL MAGBITANG
Brother Noel Magbitang, 65,
embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in 2003. He first sailed
aboard the Endurance and worked
in the engine department. Brother
Magbitang upgraded at the Piney
Point school on multiple occa-
sions. He last sailed aboard the
Stena Polaris and makes his home in Bonney Lake,
Washington.

ABDULJABBAR QURAISH
Brother Abduljabbar Quraish, 45,
signed on with the SIU in 2001
when he sailed on the Patriot. He
shipped in the deck department
and upgraded at the Paul Hall Cen-
ter on multiple occasions. Brother
Quraish’s final vessel was the Alli-
ance Norfolk. He resides in Canton,
Michigan.

MANUEL RODRIGUEZ MALDONADO
Brother Manuel Rodriguez Mal-
donado, 60, began sailing with the
Seafarers in 1999. A deck depart-
ment member, he first sailed
aboard the Eric G. Gibson. Brother
Rodriguez Maldonado upgraded at
the Piney Point school on several
occasions. He concluded his career
aboard the Perla Del Caribe and settled in Rio Grande,
Puerto Rico.

IRVING RUEDA
Brother Irving Rueda, 73, donned
the SIU colors in 2001. He worked
as a deck department member, ini-
tially aboard the Patriot. Brother
Rueda upgraded on multiple
occasions at the Paul Hall Center.
He most recently shipped aboard
the Maersk Durban and settled in
Houston.

CARLOS SUAZO-FLORES
Brother Carlos Suazo-Flores, 65,
started sailing with the union
in 1992, initially working aboard
the Sam Houston. He sailed in the
steward department and upgraded
his skills at the Piney Point school
on multiple occasions. Brother
Suazo-Flores last shipped on
the Overseas Houston and makes his home in Mel-
bourne, Florida.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 13

Personal

SEAFARERS LOG • 13NOVEMBER 2025

Welcome Ashore!
TIMOTHY TIERNEY
Brother Timothy Tierney, 71, joined the SIU in
1979 and first shipped on the James. He worked in
the deck department and upgraded on multiple
occasions at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Tierney
last shipped on the Ranger. He resides in Roxbury,
Connecticut.

PETER WESTROPP
Brother Peter Westropp, 65,
embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in 1991. A deck depart-
ment member, he first sailed
aboard the Cape May. Brother
Westropp upgraded at the Piney
Point school on several occasions
and concluded his career aboard
the Alliance Fairfax. He lives in Vermilion, Ohio.

JOSEPH WHITE
Brother Joseph White, 65, became
a member of the union in 1988. He
worked in the deck department
and upgraded often at the Paul
Hall Center. Brother White’s first
vessel was the USNS Triumph; his
last, the National Glory. He resides
in Galveston, Texas.

DONALD WILLIAMS
Brother Donald Williams, 65,
joined the Seafarers International
Union in 2001 and first sailed
aboard the Independence. He
upgraded at the Piney Point school
on multiple occasions and worked
in the engine department. Brother
Williams concluded his career
aboard the USNS Fred W. Stockham. He makes his
home in The Villages, Florida.

JOHN WORAE
Brother John Worae, 65, donned
the SIU colors in 2006. He first
sailed aboard the Cleveland and
was a deck department member.
Brother Worae upgraded his skills
at the Piney Point school on sev-
eral occasions and last shipped
aboard the Maersk Denver. He lives
in the Bronx, New York.

JOSEF WOUTHUYZEN
Brother Josef Wouthuyzen, 67,
signed on with the union in
1989 and initially sailed aboard
the Independence. He worked
in the steward department and
upgraded on several occasions at
the union-affiliated Piney Point
school. Brother Wouthuyzen most
recently shipped on the President Carter and is a resi-
dent of Long Beach, California.

ROMAN ZARKIEWICZ
Brother Roman Zarkiewicz, 67,
started sailing with the SIU in
1991 when he shipped on the Inde-
pendence. An engine department
member, Brother Zarkiewicz con-
cluded his career aboard the Green
Delta. He makes his home in Las
Vegas.

INLAND
JEFFREY ALTZNER
Brother Jeffrey Altzner, 67, signed
on with the union in 2011. He
sailed in the engine department
and upgraded his skills on multi-
ple occasions at the Piney Point
school. Brother Altzner was
employed with Penn Maritime
for the duration of his career. He
resides in Melbourne, Florida.

BRIAN BASCOM
Brother Brian Bascom, 67, donned
the SIU colors in 2003. He was an
engine department member and
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
on multiple occasions. Brother
Bascom worked with Penn Mar-
itime for his entire career. He is
a resident of Santa Rosa Beach,
Florida.

PEPE CARUMBA
Brother Pepe Carumba, 70, began sailing with the
Seafarers International Union in 1998, initially
working aboard the Franklin J. Phillips. He was a
deck department member and upgraded his skills on
multiple occasions at the Piney Point school. Brother
Carumba was last employed with Port Imperial Ferry
and settled in Newburgh, New York.

LYNN HALL
Brother Lynn Hall, 70, joined
the SIU in 1995, first sailing with
Crowley Puerto Rico Services.
Brother Hall sailed in the deck
department and upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center in 1996. He last
sailed with Crowley Towing &
Transportation and resides in
Jacksonville, Florida.

STEVEN HOPKINS
Brother Steven Hopkins, 65, embarked on his career
with the Seafarers in 1980 when he was employed
with Maritrans. He sailed in both the deck and
engine departments. Brother Hopkins last shipped
with OSG Ship Management and lives in Aurora,
North Carolina.

DAYTON LEAZENBY
Brother Dayton Leazenby, 64, signed on with the
union in 1996. He sailed in all three departments.
Brother Leazenby was employed with Delta Queen
Steamboat Company for the duration of his career.
He makes his home in Jackson, Missouri.

CHRISTOPHER MINTON
Brother Christopher Minton, 62,
signed on with the SIU in 1996.
He primarily sailed in the deck
department and upgraded his
skills on multiple occasions at the
Paul Hall Center. Brother Minton
worked with G&H Towing for his
entire career. He resides in Alvin,
Texas.

ANTHONY MURPHY
Brother Anthony Murphy, 73, became a member of
the union in 1969, initially shipping with G&H Tow-
ing. Brother Murphy worked in the deck department
and upgraded at the Piney Point school on multiple
occasions. He was last employed by Crowley Towing
and Transportation and settled in Azle, Texas.

MICHAEL NANCE
Brother Michael Nance, 61, signed
on with the union in 1980. He
sailed in the deck department,
working with Crescent Towing
and Salvage for the duration of his
career. Brother Nance makes his
home in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

RONALD NELSON
Brother Ronald Nelson, 65, donned the SIU colors in
1982 when he worked for Moran Towing of Maryland.
He was a deck department member and upgraded at
the Paul Hall Center on multiple occasions. Brother
Nelson last shipped with McAllister Towing of Balti-
more and is a Baltimore resident.

LESTER PACE
Brother Lester Pace, 65, began
sailing with the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union in 1993. He worked in
the deck department and initially
sailed aboard the Courier. Brother
Pace upgraded at the Piney Point
school on multiple occasions. He
concluded his career with Crowley
Towing and Transportation and lives in Lake Charles,
Louisiana.

ROBERT RICH
Brother Robert Rich, 66, joined the SIU in 1970, first
sailing with Michigan Tankers Inc. Brother Rich
worked in the deck department. He last sailed with
Mariner Towing and resides in Brooksville, Florida.

GLEN STAUB
Brother Glen Staub, 65, embarked on his career with
the Seafarers in 2000. He sailed in the deck depart-
ment and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center
on multiple occasions. Brother Staub worked with
Penn Maritime for the duration of his career. He calls
Silverhill, Alabama, home.

NMU
MICHAEL COGGIO
Brother Michael Coggio, 65, signed on with the union
during the 2001 SIU/NMU merger. He shipped in the
engine department and concluded his career aboard
the Mormac Star. Brother Coggio lives in Richmond,
Vermont.

Attn: Ole Olsen, Tony Perez

Your old shipmate Harry Oglesby would like
to reconnect. He can be reached via email at
harry.oglesby78@yahoo.com or by phone at
(937) 505-7678.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 1414 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

OCEAN FREEDOM (Patriot Ship-
ping, LLC), June 10 – Chairman
Robert Mack, Secretary Julio
Marcone, Educational Director
Kenneth Kauffman, Engine Del-
egate Danny Challenger, Steward
Delegate Tahisha Watson. Chair-
man encouraged crew to stay safe
during operations. Educational di-
rector urged members to upgrade
at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education, located in Piney Point,
Maryland, and to keep documents
up to date. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew requested new pil-
lows and linens.

MAERSK PITTSBURGH (Maersk
Line, Limited), August 24 – Chair-
man Roy Madrio, Secretary Mi-
chael Carello, Deck Delegate
Alfonso Marin, Steward Delegate
Mark Keller. Crew reviewed letter
from SIU Vice President Contracts
George Tricker acknowledging
previous ship minutes. Chairman
thanked all departments for their
excellent work. Secretary praised
crew for a wonderful trip and en-
couraged everyone to attend shore-
side union meetings. Educational
director advised members to take
advantage of upgrading opportu-
nities at the Piney Point school. No

beefs or disputed OT reported. New
linens to be supplied next voyage.
Shower curtains ordered. Mem-
bers were encouraged to use social
media responsibly and to take care
of their shipmates. Crew requested
more vacation days and clarifica-
tion on pay for days off. Next port:
Newark, New Jersey.

OREGON (Fairwater Tanker Man-
agement), August 25 – Chairman
Burkley Cooper, Secretary Eric
Cloter, Educational Director Eric
Guzman, Engine Delegate Kes-
hawn Webster, Steward Delegate
Ashley Castillo. Members asked
for captain to check rooms during
crew changes. Crew was reminded
to keep rooms and galley clean for
next relief. No beefs or disputed OT
reported.

DELAWARE EXPRESS (Marine
Personnel & Provisioning), August
31 – Chairman Linnell Coleman,
Secretary Dylan Faile, Educational
Director Ralph Garner, Steward
Delegate Karrington Plummer.
Chairman thanked crew for a safe
and peaceful trip. He encouraged
members to renew documents four
months in advance and led discus-
sion about possible options for new
contract. Secretary reminded crew

of tour of duty letters. Educational
director recommended members
upgrade at the union-affiliated
Paul Hall Center. Crew would like
an increase to daily contribution
rate for money purchase plan and
for dependents of pensioners to
also receive health insurance.
Dryer in crew laundry needs to be
repaired or replaced. Ice machine
still needed.

HORIZON KODIAK (Horizon
Lines, LLC), August 31 – Secretary
Bob Tuilaepa, Engine Delegate
Marcus Brown. Chairman dis-
cussed ship schedule and upcom-
ing payoff on Sept. 3. Educational
director advised crew to upgrade
at the union-affiliated Piney Point
school and to stay proactive with
all credential and endorsement
renewals. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Members would like eli-
gibility requirements for vacation
checks to be 30-45 days or to make
all relief jobs 60 days to receive a
vacation check. Crew requested 21
for 30 vacation. Next port: Tacoma,
Washington.

MISSOURI EXPRESS (Marine Per-
sonnel & Provisioning), September
5 – Chairman Allan Coloyan, Sec-
retary Moses Scott, Educational

Director Cirico Geonanga, Deck
Delegate Anthony Heck, Steward
Delegate Vanessa Warren. Chair-
man went over ship schedule and
daily events in port. Educational
director urged crew to upgrade at
the Paul Hall Center and to make
sure documents are up to date.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members requested 20 for 30 va-
cation. Crew discussed possible
discrepancy in apprentice pay and
is seeking corrective action. Next
port: Los Angeles.

MAERSK DETROIT (Maersk Line,
Limited), September 23 – Chairman
Philip McGeoghegan, Secretary
Robert Seim, Educational Director
Ashely Burke. Crew discussed old
business topics including tariffs
and cargo shipment. Chairman
read president’s report from re-
cent edition of Seafarers LOG, the
union’s official publication, which
is available in print and online.
Towels, linens and pillows needed
aboard vessel. Members would like
increases in vacation and upgraded
bandwidth. Vote of thanks given to
steward department for great food,
and entire crew was commended
for good teamwork. Next port:
Newark, New Jersey.

Know Your Rights

Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space
limitations, some will be omitted. Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requiring
attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The minutes are then forwarded to the
Seafarers LOG for publication.

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

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

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s ship-
ping rights and seniority are protected ex-
clusively by contracts between the union
and the employers. Members should get
to know their shipping rights. Copies of
these contracts are posted and available
in all union halls. If members believe
there have been violations of their ship-
ping or seniority rights as contained 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:

George Tricker, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Spr ings, MD 20746

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

CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU con-
tracts are available in all SIU halls. These
contracts specify the wages and condi-
tions under which an SIU member works
and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members
should know their contract rights, as well
as their obligations, such as filing for over-
time (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 con-
tractual rights properly, he or she should
contact the nearest SIU port agent.

EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFAR-
ERS 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 refrained from pub-
lishing articles deemed harmful 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
responsibility for Seafarers LOG policy is
vested in an editorial board which con-
sists 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 ca-
pacity in the SIU unless an official union
receipt is given for same. Under no cir-
cumstances 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 mem-
ber 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 immedi-
ately 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
constitution so as to familiarize them-
selves with its contents. Any time a mem-
ber feels any other member or officer is
attempting to deprive him or her of any
constitutional right or obligation by any
methods, such as dealing with charges,
trials, etc., as well as all other details, the
member so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.

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

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

SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY
DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate
segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to
further its objects and purposes includ-
ing, but not limited to, furthering the po-
litical, social and economic interests of
maritime workers, the preservation and
furthering of the American merchant
marine with improved employment op-
portunities for seamen and boatmen and
the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD
supports and contributes to political
candidates for elective office. All contri-
butions are voluntary. No contribution
may be solicited or received because of
force, job discrimination, financial re-
prisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a
condition of membership in the union or
of employment. If a contribution is made
by reason of the above improper conduct,
the member should notify the Seafarers
International Union or SPAD by certified
mail within 30 days of the contribution for
investigation and appropriate action and
refund, if involuntary. A member should
support SPAD to protect and further his
or her economic, political and social inter-
ests, 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 David Heindel at headquar-
ters by certified mail, return receipt re-
quested. The address is:

David Heindel, President
Seafarers International Union

5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 15SEAFARERS LOG • 15NOVEMBER 2025

Final Departures In solemn remembrance, we honor the legacies of these union
members who have crossed the final bar. May they rest in peace.

DEEP SEA
JAMES BATES
Pensioner James Bates, 70, passed
away September 5. He began his
career with the Seafarers in 1977,
initially sailing with Dravo Basic
Materials. Brother Bates worked in
the engine department. He most
recently sailed on the USNS Pililaau
and retired in 2024. Brother Bates
lived in Mobile, Alabama.

JAMES BRINKS
Pensioner James Brinks, 85, died
August 11. He joined the union in
1963 and first shipped with Inter-
ocean American Shipping. Brother
Brinks worked in the deck depart-
ment. He last sailed aboard the
Stonewall Jackson before becoming
a pensioner in 2001. Brother Brinks
made his home in Picayune, Mississippi.

QUINTON CARUTHERS
Pensioner Quinton Caruthers, 85,
passed away August 6. He signed
on with the SIU in 1987 when he
shipped on the USNS Chauvenet.
Brother Caruthers worked in the
deck department and last sailed
aboard the Rover. He started col-
lecting his pension in 2012 and
settled in Oakland, California.

CHRISTEN CHRISTENSEN
Pensioner Christen Christensen,
74, died August 22. He joined the
SIU in 2004 and first sailed aboard
the Virgo. Brother Christensen
worked in the deck department
and last sailed on the Horizon
Kodiak. He went on pension in 2018
and made his home in Petersburg,
Alaska.

RONALD FLUKER
Pensioner Ronald Fluker, 75,
passed away July 30. He became
a member of the Seafarers Inter-
national Union in 1968 when
he shipped on the Jacksonville.
Brother Fluker was a steward
department member. He last
sailed aboard the USNS Capella and
became a pensioner in 2013. Brother Fluker was a res-
ident of Oakland, California.

RONALD OWENS
Pensioner Ronald Owens, 67, died
July 26. He began his career with
the Seafarers International Union
in 1988, initially sailing aboard the
Ranger. A deck department mem-
ber, he last shipped on the Maersk
Illinois in 2014. Brother Owens
began collecting his pension in
2023 and was a resident of Sugarland, Texas.

DAVID PARK
Pensioner David Park, 78, passed
away August 6. He donned the SIU
colors in 1987. A deck department
member, Brother Park first shipped
on the USNS Bartlett. He last
sailed aboard the John U.D. Page
and became a pensioner in 2012.
Brother Park made his home in
Leesburg, Virginia.

ALFRED PORCARI
Pensioner Alfred Porcari, 95, died
January 4. He became a member
of the SIU in 1953 when he sailed
aboard an Isco vessel. Brother Por-
cari worked in the deck department
and last shipped aboard the Seal-
and Motivator. He retired in 1991
and lived in Howard Beach, New
York.

JUAN ROCHEZ
Pensioner Juan Rochez, 84, passed
away July 22. He signed on with
the union in 1990. Brother Rochez
first shipped on the Independence
and was a member of the steward
department. He last sailed aboard
the Overseas Philadelphia and went
on pension in 2006. Brother Rochez
resided in the Bronx, New York.

JOSE ROMAN
Brother Jose Roman, 57, died June 30. He donned
the SIU colors in 1999 and first shipped on the USNS
Antares. A member of the steward department,
Brother Roman last sailed aboard the Calvin P. Titus.
He lived in the Bronx, New York.

ROBERTO SABIO RUIZ
Brother Roberto Sabio Ruiz, 67,
passed away July 26. He became a
member of the union in 2005 when
he sailed aboard the Pride of Amer-
ica. Brother Sabio Ruiz worked in
the engine department. He most
recently sailed aboard the Seabulk
Challenge and lived in Miami Gardens, Florida.

JOHN SMILARI
Pensioner John Smilari, 66, died
August 5. He joined the Seafar-
ers International Union in 1977
and first sailed aboard the Mary.
Brother Smilari was a deck depart-
ment member. He concluded
his career aboard the Overseas
Harriette in 2002. Brother Smilari
became a pensioner in 2024 and lived in Kalispell,
Montana.

RALPH THOMAS
Pensioner Ralph Thomas, 77,
passed away August 22. Sailing
first aboard the Cape Mohican,
he donned the SIU colors in 1988.
Brother Thomas worked in the
steward department and last
shipped on the USNS Algol. He went
on pension in 2013 and resided in
New Orleans.

GREAT LAKES
ROBERT BROOKS
Pensioner Robert Brooks, 81, died August 22. He
joined the SIU in 1970, initially sailing with Michigan
Interstate Railway. Brother Brooks was an engine
department member. He last worked on the St. Clair
and began collecting his pension in 2009. Brother
Brooks made his home in Lauderhill, Florida.

INLAND
MARTIN BEAUVAIS
Brother Martin Beauvais, 63, passed away July 26.
He began sailing with the Seafarers in 2018 when he
worked with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. Brother
Beauvais sailed in the engine department. He was
last employed with Crowley Towing and Transporta-
tion and lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

ELADIO MORALES
Pensioner Eladio Morales, 88, died
August 7. He embarked on his
career with the union in 1985 when
he worked with Crowley Puerto
Rico Services. Brother Morales
sailed in both the steward and deck
departments. He was last employed
with Crowley Towing and Trans-
portation before retiring in 2002. Brother Morales
resided in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

NMU
JAMES HILL
Pensioner James Hill, 81, passed away July 8. Brother
Hill worked in both the deck and engine depart-
ments. He was last employed with Marine Personnel
and Provisioning before retiring in 2004. He lived in
San Francisco.

WILLIAM JARAMILLO
Pensioner William Jaramillo, 88,
died July 12. He started sailing in
1962, initially aboard the Consti-
tution. Brother Jaramillo worked
in the deck department and last
shipped on the Green Lake. He
retired in 1992 and settled in Boca
Raton, Florida.

AMANCIO OLANO
Pensioner Amancio Olano, 92, passed away July 13.
Brother Olano sailed in the steward department. He
concluded his career aboard the Galveston Bay and
began collecting his pension in 1995. Brother Olano
lived in Spain.

TEODORO VALENTIN
Pensioner Teodoro Valentin, 79,
passed away August 7. He began
sailing in 1968, first aboard the
United States. Brother Valentin was
an engine department member.
He concluded his career aboard
the Harry Martin and became a
pensioner in 2004. Brother Valentin
resided in the Bronx, New York.



Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Dates

UPGRADING APPLICATION
Name_ _________________________________________________________________________
Address_ _______________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)______________________________ (Cell)____________________________
Date of Birth_ ___________________________________________________________________
 Deep Sea Member   Lakes Member   Inland Waters Member 

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

Social Security #_________________________________ Book #_________________________
Seniority_______________________________________ Department_ ___________________
Home Port______________________________________________________________________
E-mail _ ________________________________________________________________________
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_ ____________________________________________
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program?  Yes   No 
If yes, class # and dates attended___________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses?  Yes   No 
_______________________________________________________________________________

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five (125) days seatime
for the previous year, MMC, TWIC, front page of your book including your department and seniority and qual-
ifying 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 application, 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 origi-
nal receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent
before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are reimbursable. Return completed application to:
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, Email:upgrading@seafar-
ers.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 students, 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.

Printed below are dates for courses scheduled to take place at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Maryland. The QR code connects to a web page with the latest course
dates (they may differ from what’s printed here, though in most cases the only changes are additions that haven’t yet
made it into the LOG). Seafarers are welcome to contact the admissions office with questions about upgrading courses:
(301) 899-0657, admissions@seafarers.org

Latest Course Dates

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

DECK DEPARTMENT UPGRADING COURSES

Able Seafarer - Deck Dec. 1 Dec. 19

ENGINE DEPARTMENT UPGRADING COURSES

ARCM Dec. 1 Dec. 12

STEWARD DEPARTMENT UPGRADING COURSES

Certified Chief Cook Nov. 24 Jan. 30, 2026

Galley Operations Dec. 1 Dec. 26

ServSafe Management Nov. 17 Nov. 21

Chief Steward Dec. 8 Jan. 2, 2026

OPEN/SAFETY UPGRADING COURSES

Basic Training Revalidation Dec. 8 Dec. 8
Dec. 12 Dec. 12

Government Vessels Nov. 17 Nov. 21
Dec. 8 Dec. 12

16 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 1717 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 SEAFARERS LOG • 17NOVEMBER 2025

Paul Hall Center Class Photos

APPRENTICE WATER SURVIVAL CLASS #924 – Recently graduated: Michael Akers, John Baltazar, Jonathan Caballero Jr., Isaiah Chase, Seth Daniel, Traynard Davis, Dickson Ellington Jr., Mike
Estrada, Teneka Farris, Samuel Hawley, Garrett Jackson, Bryant Jenkins, Joshua Jones, Jeanette Kaldawi, Tyler Kissick, Keywan Law, Jacqueline Patterson, James Petrick, Richard Price, Charles Ramos,
Richard Richmond Jr., Harrison Wistock and Damita Wooten.

BASIC TRAINING (FIRST AID) – Graduated August 1: Lorenzo Allen Jr., Abdul Bah, David Cipriano,
Bianca Clark, Rubert Johnson Jr., Louis Levasseur, Vincent Levin Jr., Hilton McCants, Douglas McHale,
Lawrence Neloms, Misael Orlando Pizarro, Richard Peek, Jezhra Santos, Kadeem Swenson, Arielle Taylor,
Alexi Vasquez, Andres Vasquez and Jadelyn Watling.

GOVERNMENT VESSELS – Graduated September 5: Reginald Addison, Larry
Bachelor, Christopher Bean, John Cedeno Jr., Dominador Diaz, Simon Eady, Gary
Ford Jr., Cedric Griffin, Ja'von Harvey, Joshua McDaniel, Dennis McLean III, Andrew
Miller, Ethan Nichols, Jason Pierce, Jose Sadaya, Nagi Said, Gerald Viray, Kojo
Ware, Grandvil Whitsett III, Jovan Williams, Lafonso Williams and Antonio Zorrilla.

TANK SHIP FAMILIARIZATION (LG) – Graduated August 22: Lorenzo Allen Jr., David
Cipriano, Bianca Clark, Oscar Diviny, Rubert Johnson Jr., Corey Keys, Louis Levasseur,
Vincent Levin Jr., Douglas McHale, Lawrence Neloms, Misael Orlando Pizarro, Richard Peek,
Jezhra Santos, Kadeem Swenson, Arielle Taylor, Alexi Vasquez, Andres Vasquez and Jadelyn
Watling.

GALLEY OPS – Graduated August 29: Traynard Davis, Teneka Farris, Bryant Jenkins, Jacqueline
Patterson and Damita Wooten.

BASIC SHIPHANDLING & STEERING – Graduated September 5: Sean Jones, Arron Millar, Daniel
Moran, Dwuan Reed, Venise Spears, Arielle White and Mackenzie Wincelowicz.

GOVERNMENT VESSELS – Graduated recently: Dantley Bramble, Stuart Casal, Roger
Cray Jr., Charlie Flynn, Joshua Gadbois, Patrick Hamilton, Nathaniel Harris, Nathaniel
Hart, Stephen Langdon, Dylan Levine, Orion Lloyd, Kainoa MacKenzie, Mitchell
Mangold, Jhon-Paul Manzanares, Preston Mizer, Paul Rocha, Jonathan Saili, Ameera
Shakeel-Haadee, Michael Sterling, Ethan Sutton, Peter Tago and Elijah Wailehua.



18 SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 202318 • SEAFARERS LOG NOVEMBER 2025

Paul Hall Center Class Photos

APPRENTICE WATER SURVIVAL CLASS #925 – Recently graduated: Dantley Bramble, Stuart Casal, Roger Cray Jr., Charlie Flynn, Joshua Gadbois, Patrick Hamilton, Nathaniel Harris, Nathaniel
Hart, Stephen Langdon, Dylan Levine, Orion Lloyd, Kainoa MacKenzie, Mitchell Mangold, Jhon-Paul Manzanares, Preston Mizer, Paul Rocha, Jonathan Saili, Ameera Shakeel-Haadee, Michael Sterling,
Ethan Sutton, Peter Tago and Elijah Wailehua.

CERTIFIED CHIEF COOK – Graduated September 12: Lorraine Champagne, Gennaro
Dimatteo, Mario Fletcher, Nathaniel Gasparini, Susan Kennedy, Levi Moore, Herbie Soliveres,
Nathan Tissaw and Mohamed Zain.

GOVERNMENT VESSELS – Graduated August 29 (not all are pictured): Samuel Abrams, Jordan
Alejo, Hyjalun Burch, Diamond Chism Sr., Erik Dankwardt, Victor Dixon, Scott Furtney, Corneshia
Harris, Lincoln Jensen, John Karafanda, Luke Langston, Johnasha Manning, Kevin Martinez,
Michael McLaughlin, Joelle Quenga, Gianfranco Rodriguez Torres, Jesse Sanchez, Wynton Smith,
Michaela Townsend and Tiana White.

ABLE SEAFARER - DECK – Graduated September 19: Eric Amy, Maximilian Bates, Raekwon Brooks, Tyler Brown, Julian Cortes Aviles, Reyes Gonzalez Jr., Kevin Hopkins, Nicholas Howard, Jayline
Johnson, Jalen Jones, Nathan Laverdure, Jock Litzinger, James Mihay, Kevin O'Lone, Mario Odom Jr., Joseph Paulin, Orlando Quirantes, Isaiah Riascos, Jonathan Schmitt, Sarah Silverleaf, Connor
Stratton, Wolsey Thomas Jr., Tevin Toliver and Raymond Winter.

BASIC TRAINING (FIRST AID) – Graduated September 26: Alexander Bennett, Joseph
Dupre Castillo, Rolando Guity, Darryl McCoy and William Mercado Ramos. GALLEY OPS – Graduated September 26: Jaclyn Kaluhiwa, Brya Sparks and William Watts III.



SEAFARERS LOG • OCTOBER 2023 19SEAFARERS LOG • 19NOVEMBER 2025

Paul Hall Center Class Photos

TANK SHIP FAMILIARIZATION (LG) – Graduated recently (not all are pictured): Glenard
Chaney Jr., Timothy Cooper, Dean Diaz Sr., Basil Dsouza, Kalvin Dunnigan, Michael Eaton, Brian
Gauntt, Kyle Gibson, Jerry Gilligan, Daryl Hicks, Timothy Kauble, Levi Moore, George Vanover
and Montiesha Wilcox.

RFPNW – Graduated September 19 (not all are pictured): John Baltazar, Stuart Casal, Roger
Cray Jr., Charlie Flynn, Joshua Gadbois, Nathaniel Harris, Nathaniel Hart, Garrett Jackson,
Stephen Langdon, Dylan Levine, Orion Lloyd, Paul Rocha, Jonathan Saili, Ameera Shakeel-
Haadee, Ethan Sutton and Peter Tago.

RFPEW – Graduated September 26: Talib Aekins Jr. and Charles Mkingwa.

TANK SHIP FAMILIARIZATION (LG) – Graduated recently (not all are pictured): Jordan
Alejo, Diamond Chism Sr., Victor Dixon, Lincoln Jensen, John Karafanda, Luke Langston,
Kevin Martinez, Joelle Quenga, Gianfranco Rodriguez Torres, Jesse Sanchez, Wynton Smith,
Michaela Townsend and Jeffery Vega.

SERV SAFE – Graduated September 5: Samuel Abrams, Erik Dankwardt, Scott Furtney,
Corneshia Harris, Johnasha Manning and Tiana White.

GOVERNMENT VESSELS – Graduated September 19: Lorenzo Allen Jr., David Cipriano,
Bianca Clark, Oscar Diviny, Rubert Johnson Jr., Corey Keys, Louis Levasseur, Vincent Levin
Jr., Douglas McHale, Lawrence Neloms, Misael Orlando Pizarro, Richard Peek, Jezhra Santos,
Kadeem Swenson, Arielle Taylor, Alexi Vasquez, Andres Vasquez and Jadelyn Watling.

JUNIOR ENGINEER (REFRIGERATION) – Graduated September 26: Brianna Ashley,
Keondre Bell, Abubakar Bockarie, Micko Cercado, Dominic Jones, Nesta Pafford, Timothy
Resultan, Deroyce Roquemore, Seth Schrader, Ian Tarwater and Ronald Von Kaenel. At far
right is instructor Jaime Nunez.

TANK SHIP FAMILIARIZATION (DL) – Graduated September 12 (not all are pictured):
Blake Anthony, Monique Banks, Israel Castillo-Martinez, Logan Collins, Nicholas Copp, Adriel
Cotto, Wesley Cueto, Mark Estigoy, Justice Fila, Alexis Fultz, William Geno, Leroyal Hester III,
Naija Hoy, Brandon Kallas, Sean Lavelle, Tong Lu, Francisco Maldonado, Alexie Pankratov,
Desmond Percy, Alex Sanchez, Dakota Snow, Austin Sumner and Mikhaela Wilcox.



OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION — ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS, AFL-CIO

SEAFARERS LOG
NOVEMBER 2025 VOLUME 87, NO. 11

The SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point,
Maryland, has gone through enough changes
throughout its 58-year history to fill a book.
However, one of its constants has always been an
emphasis on practical instruction.

Originally named the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship (in honor of
the founder of the Seafarers International Union
of North America), the facility opened in bare-
bones fashion in 1967. Today, it’s a world-class,
comprehensive institution offering more than 70
U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses. Virtually all
of those curriculums include hands-on training.

The overall campus was renamed in 1991 as
the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and
Education (after the first president of the SIU
A&G District, who also founded the school).
The school boasts a highly regarded apprentice
program that is certified by the U.S. Department
of Labor. It also serves up wide-ranging, useful
classes for individuals sailing in all three
shipboard departments, along with safety
training for all mariners.

The school’s picturesque setting is conducive
to learning, and the campus itself features
modern simulators and classrooms, a fully
operational training vessel, and other high-tech
equipment that’s utilized by apprentices and
upgraders. This includes a well-equipped marine
firefighting school located on a nearby satellite
campus.

The photos on this page depict students
taking various classes at the PHC in 2025.
For more information about the school, visit
the SIU website (www.seafarers.org) and/or
MyMaritimeCareer.org.

Practical Training: A Piney Point Tradition for 58 Years