Seafarers Log: Vol. 84 No. 3 (2022-03-01)

MARCH 2022 VOLUME 84, NO. 3

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

Report Backs Unions
Page 5

Unions Slam Proposed Open Register
Pages 2, 3

ARC Reflags 2 Vessels for MSPARC Reflags 2 Vessels for MSP
SIU members are sail-
ing aboard two recently
reflagged vessels: the
ARC Commitment (back-
ground photo) and the
ARC Defender. Ameri-
can Roll-on Roll-Off Car-
rier added the ships to
its U.S.-flag fleet. Both
vessels are operated by
SIU-contracted TOTE
Services. Page 3. (Photo
courtesy ARC)

Seafarers Crew Up ARC Defender, ARC Commitment

Hands-on instruction has been a staple of the SIU-affili-
ated school in Piney Point, Maryland, throughout the fa-
cility’s nearly 55-year history. A student is pictured at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education
earlier this year, participating in an engine-department
upgrading class. Page 10.

Paul Hall Center Paul Hall Center
Provides Abundance Provides Abundance
Of Practical TrainingOf Practical Training

Operation Deep Freeze ResumesOperation Deep Freeze Resumes
The SIU-crewed Maersk Peary and Ocean Giant mobilized for the resumption of Operation Deep Freeze, the normally-
annual resupply mission to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Because last year’s iteration was cancelled due to the pandemic,
this year’s deliveries are nearly double the usual amounts. The Peary, for example, offloaded nearly nine million gallons
of fuel in early February. SIU and AMO members are pictured on deck: reclining in front, Chief Mate Trevor Fouhey and
SA Lakeeba Bazemore; kneeling, Bosun Damon Zschoche, 1st Eng. Paul Styx, Recertified Steward Tony Spain, 3rd Mate
Gemma Nguyen, 3rd Asst. Eng. Caleb Linder, Wiper Laith Ali, ABM Roni Castillo, 2nd Eng. Phillip Ianozi, ABW Derek Willis
and QMED Lateef Sanusi; standing, Chief Cook Osmar Ramos, Capt. Everett Hatton, ABM Edward Majesky, Pumpman
Rickey Yancey, 2nd Mate Samuel Este, Chief Eng. Dimiter Mitev, ABW Joshua Gail, 3rd Mate John McMonagle and ABW
Marie Acosta. For a photo of the Peary (from a unique perspective), see Page 2.

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2 Seafarers LOG March 2022

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Capital Gateway Drive; Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG,
5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo;
Assistant Communications Director & Managing Editor/
Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Nick Merrill;
Administrative Support, Jenny Stokes. Copyright ©
2022 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.

Volume 82 Number 3 March 2022
The SIU online: www.seafarers.org

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

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

Fourth Arm of Defense

President’s ReportPresident’s Report

At press time, much of the world seemed on edge due to a potential
invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

While it goes without saying that the hope here is for a diplomatic so-
lution, our job in the SIU is to always be ready to support our troops. The

current situation involving Russia is a reminder
of one reason why we need a U.S. Merchant
Marine and why the SIU constantly advocates
for the laws and programs that help maintain
American crews and American sealift capacity.

If and when the balloon goes up (not just
in this current circumstance), it’s always a
moment of truth for American maritime’s cen-
turies-old role as our fourth arm of defense. In
those instances, while there never has been and
never will be any hesitation by our mariners to
answer the call, we’ve got to have the personnel
and the ships in the first place.

This is why, when the SIU advocates for the
Jones Act, cargo preference laws, the Maritime
Security Program, domestic shipbuilding, and
newer tools such as the Tanker Security Pro-

gram and Cable Security Fleet, we’re really pushing to boost national,
economic and homeland security. It’s no secret that our industry, like
many others, faces a manpower shortage. High-ranking military officials
have openly stated as much in recent years. One way to alleviate that defi-
ciency and bring more people into the industry is by maintaining, growing
or establishing policies and programs that back the U.S. Merchant Marine.

For anyone new to maritime, you may not know that in times of crisis,
most U.S. military cargoes are carried by civilian-crewed ships. During
Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, for example, the U.S.
Merchant Marine transported more than 90 percent of the materiel sup-
porting our troops. This has been the case in virtually every conflict since
our nation’s founding, most prominently during World War II.

There’s simply no debate about the vital importance, time-tested reliabil-
ity, and ongoing need for a strong U.S. maritime industry. Collectively, we
as a nation must continue taking steps to support and revitalize it.

An Ill-Conceived Proposal
The men and women who serve aboard U.S.-flag merchant vessels

answer the call not just during mobilizations for national defense but also
when aid is needed for victims of natural disasters, as seen in recent years
when hurricanes and earthquakes rocked Puerto Rico.

American merchant mariners are the gold standard for the world in
terms of safety and training. And they always deliver – from iron ore for
steel mills along the Great Lakes to food aid to hungry citizens in Africa,
and from materiel for American armed forces stationed around the world
to vital household goods at domestic ports.

For generations, foreign interests and their allies have tried to find
ways to circumvent U.S. labor and tax laws to take good jobs away from
hard-working Americans. The latest effort, announced last month, calls
for the creation of a so-called open registry for the U.S. Virgin Islands
(USVI). As outlined, this initiative would take away cargo from U.S.-flag
vessels, crewed by American citizens, and place it on ships that do not use
American crews, do not pay American taxes and do not meet American
safety and labor standards.

This attempt to create a flag of convenience using the USVI is wrong
and harmful to American workers.

The SIU has joined with allies from throughout maritime labor in call-
ing upon the Biden Administration, the Congress, the Department of De-
fense and the Maritime Administration to reject any effort that USVI-flag
vessels be treated as if they are the same as U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed ships
for any purpose or for any program. At the same time, we reiterate our
commitment to work with the Biden Administration and the Congress to
achieve a more robust, commercially viable U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed fleet
that will continue to protect America’s economic, military and homeland
security.

Michael Sacco

Effective immediately, due to changing circum-
stances and the widely increased availability of
COVID tests, the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Education will not re-
quire booster shots in order for students (upgraders
and apprentices) to attend classes.

The school still requires that students be vaccinated
either with the two-shot regimen from Moderna or
Pfizer, or the single dose from Johnson & Johnson.

Please note that if an incoming student hasn’t
received a booster, he or she must present a nega-
tive COVID test result that was received within the

48-hour period prior to the Friday before arrival at
the school. If the student will be on campus longer
than a week, he or she must take a rapid COVID
test once a week. Those students should bring a suf-
ficient amount of their own rapid test kits to last for
the duration of their respective stays. (This testing
will not be required of any student who has received
a booster, nor will it be required of anyone who’s
ineligible for a booster.)

Please direct questions to the school’s admis-
sions department: (301) 994-0010 (option 2), ad-
missions@seafarers.org

Editor’s note: This article is provided by the Sea-
farers Health and Benefits Plan. It’s available on
the SIU website.

All participants in the Seafarers Health and Ben-
efits Plan (SHBP), except Medicare-eligible pen-
sioners, have access to free or low-cost at-home
COVID-19 test kits. If you are currently eligible
for benefits from the SHBP, you and each eligible
member of your family are eligible for up to eight
COVID-19 tests per month. Please note, these limits
do not apply to PCR tests conducted by a laboratory.

This benefit is not available to SHBP pensioners
who receive their prescription benefits from Retiree
Rxcare.

Tests at No Cost to You
If you get home COVID tests at an in-network

pharmacy, they will be covered under your prescrip-
tion benefit, and there is no cost to you. Currently,
Walgreens, Kinney Drugs, Rite Aid and Walmart
are the only in-network pharmacies providing this
at-home COVID test kit benefit. We expect that ad-
ditional pharmacies will be added to this list in the
near future. Although the SHBP generally does not
pay for prescriptions purchased at Walmart, we are
making an exception for at-home COVID test kits
only, until additional pharmacies in the Optum net-
work offer this benefit.

You must get the test kits at the pharmacy, using
your OptumRx card. The deductible does not apply
to this benefit. You can also order the tests by mail
order at www.optumrx.com with no copayment or
deductible.

Other Sources of Free Tests

Each household in the U.S. is eligible to re-
ceive four free at-home COVID tests from the U.S.
government. You can order these tests through the
following website: www.covidtests.gov. The tests
will be mailed to your home via USPS. In addition,
free test kits are being distributed at many librar-
ies, health and community centers throughout the
country. You may wish to check your local news for
other sources of free test kits in your area.

Reimbursement for Tests at $12 Per Test
You can also purchase at-home COVID tests

anywhere you wish (in a store, or from an online re-
tailer) and the SHBP will reimburse you $12 per in-
dividual test. There is usually more than one test per
box. The deductible does not apply to this benefit.
You can either request this reimbursement from Op-
tumRx electronically at the following link (https://
covidtest.optumrx.com/covid-test-reimbursement);
or you can apply for reimbursement by mailing a
form to OptumRx. The form is available on the SIU
website, in the SHBP section.

The form is called OptumRx COVID-19 Test Kit
Reimbursement Request From. You may also request
this form from OptumRx directly, or from the SH-
BP’s Member Assistance Program at (800) 252-4674,
Option 2, or from your local hiring hall. You’ll need a
receipt for your purchase to apply for reimbursement,
and proof of the number of tests in the box.

Check Expiration Dates
We suggest that you check the expiration date

when you purchase at-home COVID tests. Many of
these tests are only good for a short period of time.
For this reason, it is best to only purchase tests that
you plan to use within the next month or so.

SHBP Provides Updates on Free
And Low-Cost COVID Test Kits

The SIU-crewed Maersk Peary, seen from the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, docks
at McMurdo Station for the annual resupply mission known as Operation Deep Freeze. In early Feb-
ruary, the Peary supplied the National Science Foundation outpost (near the South Pole) with an
estimated nine million gallons of fuel to keep the research center running until resupplying again in
Operation Deep Freeze 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero)

Seafarers Deliver in Operation Deep Freeze

Updates Announced For Paul Hall
Center Vaccination Requirements

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 3

A member of congress recently hit the
deck to salute the Seafarers-crewed Ho-
rizon Reliance.

On Feb. 1, U.S. Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele
(D-Hawaii) gave a speech on the floor
of the House of Representatives about
a rescue performed by the ship’s crew.
He named all three shipboard unions in-
volved, including the SIU.

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor
the men and women of the crew of the
U.S.-flag commercial ship Horizon Reli-
ance, sailing out of Honolulu and oper-
ated by third-generation, family-owned
Pasha Hawaii,” Kahele said. “On the eve-
ning of November 6, 2020 – over 1,000
miles northeast of O’ahu – a private
turbo-prop plane with two individuals
on board was en route from California to
Honolulu before suffering an engine ca-
sualty. As a pilot myself – with thousands
of hours logged in both military and com-

mercial passenger aircraft – believe me
when I say that this is the worst possible
scenario in aviation: to be in the middle
of the ocean, 1,000 miles from the clos-
est land, in the middle of the night when
your one and only engine fails.”

The congressman continued, “As
water rapidly filled the cabin, the two
pilots managed to escape the aircraft,
clambering into their life raft and called
the Honolulu Coast Guard Search and
Rescue center via satellite phone. “With
8-10-foot seas and 30-knot winds on
scene, the Coast Guard realized the
gravity of the situation and quickly dis-
patched a mayday alert calling out for
volunteer commercial ships to lend aid,
as the distance from shore prevented a
search-and-rescue helicopter operation.
Due to the hazardous conditions, the
first ship to arrive on scene was unable
to rescue the desperately heaving life

raft, but was able to remain on scene
rendering a glimmer of hope for the
crash survivors.”

The Horizon Reliance arrived soon
thereafter and “expertly commenced
a small-boat operation to retrieve the
survivors,” Kahele said. “Cautiously
maneuvering the vessel under arduous
conditions, the men and women of the
Horizon Reliance – union members of
the Masters, Mates and Pilots; Marine
Engineers’ Beneficial Association; and
Seafarers International Unions – recov-
ered the pilots aboard the vessel and
brought them to safety.”

He concluded, “I cannot overstate
how truly close this incident came to
tragedy; the lives of these two aircraft
crash survivors, their families and friends
were forever changed due to the actions
of the crew of the Horizon Reliance that
fateful evening. It speaks even more to
the dedication and devotion to duty of
the mariners of the U.S. merchant fleet
– the brave men and women who carry
goods across the globe in support of the
U.S military, as well as humanitarian
food-aid, research cargo to Antarctica
and countless other missions in support
of our country.”

The Horizon Reliance also received
accolades last year during the annual
Admiral of the Ocean Sea event in New
York, conducted by the United Seamen’s
Service.

Rep. Kahele Applauds
Horizon Reliance Crew

U.S. Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele
(D-Hawaii)

ARC Adds New Tonnage to MSP Fleet
Seafarers are sailing aboard two modern

vessels that recently reflagged under the Stars
and Stripes.

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC)
added the ARC Commitment and ARC De-
fender to its U.S.-flag fleet. The ships hoisted
the American flag during separate proceedings
with the U.S. Coast Guard in Jacksonville,
Florida, in December 2021 and January 2022.
Both ships are operated by SIU-contracted
TOTE Services for ARC.

The vessels are enrolled in the U.S. Mar-
itime Security Program (MSP), one of the
staples of the U.S. Merchant Marine and a
key component of the nation’s sealift capa-
bility.

“The SIU applauds ARC for its ongo-
ing dedication to our industry, including our
mariners,” said SIU Vice President Contracts
George Tricker. “As always, I am 100 percent
confident in the Seafarers who are currently
sailing aboard the Defender and the Commit-
ment, as well as those who will sail aboard
them in the future.”

In announcing the flag-ins, ARC said
the two ships “are among the most capable
and militarily useful vessels in the U.S.-flag

commercial fleet, able to carry tracked and
wheeled vehicles, helicopters, and other high
and heavy project cargoes.”

Built in 2011, the ARC Commitment is 747
feet long. The ARC Defender, meanwhile, was
constructed in 2008. The ship is 656 feet long.

“These tremendously capable and flexible
U.S.-flag assets stand ready to support Amer-
ica’s national defense and economic security
through trade, and further strengthen ARC’s
position as the leading U.S.-flag Ro-Ro car-
rier” said ARC President and CEO Eric Ebel-
ing. He added that the company has re-flagged
seven vessels into the MSP fleet (and U.S. reg-
istry) since 2016.

Among the first SIU members to sail
aboard the ARC Commitment are Bosun An-
thony Newbill, ABs Yassid Laboriel Lalin
and Kenneth Townsend, OSs Jashawn
Dixon and Nicholas Keating, Oilers John
Albritton, Jalen Denson and Seth Schrader,
Steward/Baker Reshawn Solomon, Chief
Cook Ricardo Petilo and SA Samone Alston.

The Defender’s first crew included Bosun
Bobby Brown, ABs Jon Mark Newman,
Michael Otwell and Carlos Williams, OSs
Michael Reardon and Orlando Rosa Agu-

irre, Oilers Nicholas Chiappini and Gha-
dir Sarkis, Steward/Baker Torrika Devine,
Chief Cook Sherron Decoteau and SA Joe
Rogers.

Established in 1996, the MSP ensures that
the Defense Department has access to a fleet
of militarily useful, U.S.-crewed, U.S.-flag
vessels in times of war or national emergency.

Companies whose ships are enrolled in the
program also make sure their infrastructure
is available. In return, the federal government
provides an annual stipend through the MSP.
Experts have estimated it would cost the gov-
ernment billions of dollars to replicate what
the MSP (and its related Voluntary Intermodal
Sealift Agreement) provides.

The former Tomar now sails under the U.S. flag as the ARC Defender.

Unions Slam Proposed USVI Open Registry
The SIU and other maritime labor organi-

zations wasted no time blasting a prosed open
registry in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

Even before a sparsely attended media
event had begun Feb. 1 in the nation’s cap-
ital to announce the proposal, American
maritime labor circulated a joint statement
making clear the scheme’s pitfalls. (De-
spite some online news reports, the US-
VI’s open register is a proposal, not a done
deal.) The message came from the SIU;
the Seafarers-affiliated American Maritime
Officers; the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial
Association; the International Organization
of Masters, Mates and Pilots; the Sailors’
Union of the Pacific; the Marine Firemen’s
Union; the Maritime Trades Department,
AFL-CIO; and the Transportation Trades
Department, AFL-CIO.

Collectively, those organizations said
that on behalf of U.S. mariners “who have
proudly and without fail served our country
since its founding, we oppose in the stron-
gest possible terms the (proposed) creation
of an open registry in the Virgin Islands, a
territory of the United States. Open regis-

tries exist so that shipowners can increase
their profits by avoiding the same rules,
regulations, tax obligations and manning
requirements that attach to a national flag
fleet. This latest effort is nothing more than
an exercise in labor arbitrage designed to
generate registry fees and to enrich foreign
shipowners at the expense of American
workers and America’s national interests.”

They continued, “The proposed U.S.
Virgin Islands flag of convenience open
registry will not benefit the United States
nor America’s maritime industry, any more
than any other second or open registry
benefits a national flag country. In fact,
the establishment and growth of second
registries by other industrialized nations
has done little more than decimate their
national flag fleets to the point that they
are no longer able to provide the requisite
military security and logistical support to
their flag nations.”

The unions and AFL-CIO departments
said the proposal to allow for the opera-
tion of vessels with foreign mariners under
a United States open registry “is an af-

front to the American mariners who have
always put themselves in harm’s way
whenever called upon by our nation. Their
service, most recently recognized by Con-
gress with the awarding of a Congressio-
nal Gold Medal to World War II American
merchant mariners, demonstrates a clear
and unwavering commitment on the part of
American merchant mariners to supply and
support American troops deployed around
the world, with no regard for their own
safety. American mariners believe that our
servicemen and women and their families
deserve no less.”

More than one observer expressed puz-
zlement at the pro-open-registry faction’s
suggestion that such a system would ben-
efit American security. The joint statement
noted, “The military security of the United
States will not be strengthened by relying
on foreign-owned and foreign-crewed ves-
sels. The safety of American troops de-
ployed overseas and the success of their
mission must not be put in jeopardy by a
reliance on a flag of convenience open reg-
istry scheme that utilizes foreign crewed

vessels to deliver what our servicemen and
women need to do their job in our behalf.

“Finally, if the supply chain crisis
has taught us anything it is that we, as a
country, must begin to reverse the danger-
ous reliance we have on foreign sources
for goods and for shipping services,”
the statement concluded. “Increasing
America’s dependence on foreign-owned
and foreign-manned vessels will exac-
erbate the current situation and will not
somehow magically enhance America’s
maritime posture. We call upon the De-
partment of Defense, the Maritime Ad-
ministration, the Biden Administration
and the Congress to reject any sugges-
tion that United States Virgin Islands-flag
vessels be treated as if they are U.S.-flag
and U.S.-crewed vessels for any purpose
or for any program. At the same time, we
reiterate our commitment to work with the
Administration and Congress to achieve
a more robust, commercially viable U.S.-
flag, U.S.-crewed fleet that will continue
to protect America’s economic, military
and homeland security.”

Joint Statement Makes Claim That Recommended Scheme is Riddled With Pitfalls

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4 Seafarers LOG March 2022

Longtime SIU Port Agent Jeff Turkus
summarized his career with the union in a
short but appreciative sentence: “It’s been a
long run and it’s been a great run.”

Turkus, most recently the union’s port
agent in Wilmington, California (since 2008),
retired at the end of January. He capped a ca-
reer that began in 1978 and included many
years of sailing (deck department) and a five-
year stint as the union’s port agent in Guam,
along with work at the Wilmington hall.

SIU Vice President West Coast Nick
Marrone stated, “It has been a real pleasure
to work with Jeff for nearly 20 years. Jeff
has remained steadfast in his commitment
to represent this membership, from his days
sailing as bosun and then carrying out port-
agent duties in Guam and Wilmington. Jeff
was a seafarer through and through, from his
Navy days and then into the U.S. Merchant
Marine.”

Marrone added, “Jeff was very sincere when
representing his fellow mariners and always re-
membered his origins. He carried himself as a
working man’s man and that is what made him
popular with the membership he served. I wish
Jeff a very enjoyable retirement.”

Gerret Jarman, Turkus’ successor as Wilm-
ington port agent, said, “Jeff has been a great
mentor. He shared a lot of useful information
and knowledge. He knows the area and has
run this hall really well for a long time. I ap-
preciate his help and wish him all the best.”

Though he ended up spending much of
his adult life in the maritime industry, Turkus
almost chose a different path. He was an
accomplished high school baseball player –
good enough to earn a scholarship offer from
Arizona State. The speedy, strong-armed
center fielder strongly considered accept-

ing it, but instead joined the Navy, where he
served from 1973-77.

After receiving an honorable discharge,
he unwound for a while – and then, by
chance, he learned about the SIU in 1978.

“I was in Class 250B in Piney Point
(Maryland) a few months later,” Turkus
recalled. “I had a great time there and then
shipped out.”

While the work itself agreed with him,
Turkus found that it wasn’t always easy to
land a job.

“Particularly in the early to mid-1980s, it
was difficult to ship,” he said. “All the A-se-
niority guys were grabbing the jobs. I took a
break for a while and became a plumber, but
got antsy and came back in 1990 and went
back out to sea.”

He continued sailing for a dozen years,
then accepted an opportunity to work as a
patrolman in Wilmington. Approximately a
year later, he became the port agent in Guam.

The relocation provided an unanticipated
benefit: Turkus met his future wife during his
Guam years. They married in 2008, and have
a nine-year-old daughter.

Reflecting on his work history, Turkus
candidly said he occasionally second-guesses
passing up the baseball scholarship – but he
considers his time with the union, both at sea
and ashore, as completely fulfilling. He is
equally open about growing up poor, which
he said made him value the opportunities he
found with the SIU.

“I want to make sure that the union knows
I appreciate them giving me the ability to
have a career, raise a family, buy a house. I
appreciate the SIU 100 percent and always
will. The SIU benefits are awesome,” Turkus
said.

Asked what he enjoyed most about sailing,
he replied, “Just the camaraderie back then. I
mostly worked tankers, and enjoyed the travel.
I spent a lot of time in Alaska but also saw
Korea and Japan. Plus, the kind of money we
were making – especially having just gotten out
of the Navy – made for a lot of fun.”

Regarding his time as a port agent,
Turkus said he liked “fixing things, helping
our members and making life a lot easier for
them. I was one of them, so we communi-
cated well. And regardless of the task, my
father always told me to do the job to the
best of your ability. If you don’t like it, keep
your mouth shut and go do something else. I
very much enjoyed it and that’s why I stuck
around.”

Nevertheless, Turkus said that, at age 67,
he’s ready to “relax, enjoy time with my family
and get back in shape again.” (He had shoulder
surgery that has curbed his workouts.)

A California native who resides in Los
Alamitos, he also plans to work with seg-
ments of the Veterans Administration to help
with suicide prevention and other issues.

“It feels like the right time,” he con-
cluded.

Port Agent Turkus Retires

Jeff Turkus

Union Mourns Passing of Chief Bosun Natoli
When John Natoli first sailed with the

SIU – in 1964, as a messman aboard Water-
man’s City of Alma – he probably couldn’t
have imagined he’d continue his career with
the union for nearly six decades.

Natoli sailed in both the deck and stew-
ard departments, on ships operated by Rye
Marine, Intercontinental Bulk Corp., Sea-
Land, Saphire Steamship Lines, Alcoa
Steamship, and Marine Carriers Corps. He
came ashore in 1971 and started a long run
working on the shore gang in Elizabeth,
New Jersey. From 2011 to 2021, he served
as chief bosun on that shore gang.

Following a brief illness, Natoli passed away
Jan. 25 in a Florida hospital. He was 79.

“John was unique,” said SIU Executive
Vice President Augie Tellez, a close and
longtime friend. “He was a Brooklyn street
kid that got his slice of the American Dream
because of the SIU. He never forgot that,
and it made him a staunch SIU man who
always looked out for the little guy.”

Tellez added, “John was a true and loyal
friend. If he was your friend, he always had
your back. To me, he was family, and I’ll
miss him terribly every day.”

SIU Vice President Joseph Soresi knew
Natoli “my entire life,” and worked for him
on the shore gang in the early 1990s.

“I have so many great memories of John,
they’d be too long to share,” Soresi said.
“He was a hard worker but he also had a
great sense of humor and could make the
most boring situation seem fun. He cared
deeply about the union and about his fellow
members, and he definitely will be missed.”

SIU pensioner John Cain, who worked for
many years as a lead bosun, commended Na-
toli for his effectiveness on the job.

“He was good to me and good for the
shore gang,” Cain stated. “I knew him since
1984, when I came ashore from the ships.
His word was good and he always looked
out for the members. He knew how to han-
dle the company and how to get along with

the other people on the shore gang. John re-
ally was an icon in that job. He was also
a good family man; he would always talk
about his family.”

Longtime labor relations official Tony
Naccarato said he considered Natoli more
than a friend.

“He was my brother,” Naccarato said.
“His tragic, untimely passing is a loss to the
entire industry and to all who loved him.
John was a family man, and a committed
union worker who was loved and respected
by all his peers for his many years of ser-
vice.”

He added, “John also loved to enjoy
himself, with his family and friends, during
his leisure time. He had a terrific sense of
humor, and his detailed, enthusiastic stories
always lifted your spirits when you spoke
to him. He loved good food and cooking. I
remember him calling my wife, Mary, more
than once to get a recipe for Puerto Rican
steak and onions. Getting it ‘right’ was very

important to him.”
Naccarato said he and Natoli spoke at the

beginning of the year and made plans for a
family get-together.

“He was telling me about how much he
loved his condo and that he would help me
find a rental at his condominium next year,”
Naccarato recalled. “He was very excited
that we would spend time together.”

He concluded, “The best nights were
us celebrating Christmas at Tavern on the
Green in Central Park, and then taking a
horse and buggy ride. It was an annual event
with our families that we looked forward to
all year long. A small piece of trivia: John’s
mother’s maiden name was Naccarato, al-
though we were not related. John will al-
ways be remembered by everyone that knew
him, especially by those who were privi-
leged to get to know him well.”

A graveside service took place Feb. 2
at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta,
Florida.

Lifelong Seafarer John Natoli supported the maritime industry in many ways,
including through participation at Maritime Trades Department gatherings. In
photo above, he’s at far left, with SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi (center)
and labor relations stalwart Tony Naccarato in 2015. The photo at right, taken in
the early 2000s, includes (from left) SIU VP Contracts George Tricker, Natoli, SIU
Executive VP Augie Tellez and the late SIU Chief Bosun Tommy Soresi.

The effectiveness of booster shots wanes some-
what after four months but still provides substan-
tial protection against hospitalization, a new study
shows.

The study, released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) last month, found
that booster shot effectiveness against hospitaliza-
tion with the omicron variant was 91 percent after
two months, but waned to 78 percent after four
months.

Protection against emergency department or
urgent care visits declined from 87 percent to 66
percent after four months. It was just 31 percent
after at least five months, though the study cau-
tioned that finding was “imprecise because few
data were available.”

Vaccine effectiveness was always higher after
three doses than after two, so people are still urged
to get a booster shot.

The finding of some waning immunity could
inform discussions of the possible need for addi-
tional shots.

COVID Booster Shots
Provide Substantial
Protection, CDC Says

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 5

Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) has
informed both the union and the Seafarers Plans
that the company recently “was the target of a
cyber intrusion” that may have involved current
and former SIU members’ personal information.

CHS is mailing a letter to all potentially af-
fected Seafarers. Key points from that letter in-
clude the following:
n There is no evidence that anyone’s per-

sonal information has been used inapproriately.
n As a precaution, CHS will offer free credit

monitoring and identity protection services to
members who receive the letter and choose to
enroll.
n CHS has taken extensive action to hold the

perpetrator(s) accountable, including working
with law enforcement.
n The company has implemented correc-

tive and preventive measures that were recom-
mended by cybersecurity experts specifically
working on this incident.
n The records that may have been compro-

mised are from prior to the year 2019.
Another vital excerpt from the letter points

out: “Neither CHS nor the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union will contact you to confirm any
personally identifiable information. If you are
contacted by anyone purporting to represent
CHS or the Seafarers International Union
and asking you for your information, do not
provide it.”

The letter goes into greater detail about the
original incident, the steps taken for mitigation,
and how to enroll in the complimentary indi-
vidual data protection services. An enclosure
with the CHS letter spells out additional steps
that may be taken to further protect individual
information.

If any updates are available, they’ll be posted
on the SIU website and published in the Seafar-
ers LOG.

BLS Releases its Annual Report
On U.S. Union Membership Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) has released its annual report on
union membership, but the findings may
not tell the whole story, according to some
who reviewed it.

Overall membership dropped in 2021
by approximately 241,000, meaning that
around 14 million people belonged to
unions. The report also found that union
members, on average, earn $10,000 more
per year than their unrepresented counter-
parts.

The AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is af-
filiated, looked beyond the raw data.

“The BLS annual report on union mem-
bership makes it clear that American labor
laws are unquestionably broken,” the fed-
eration said in a written statement. “While
the report indicates a 0.5% drop in union
membership from 2020–2021, the data
is not representative of the greater union
trends taking place across the country.
These statistics highlight the urgent need
for the passage of the Protecting the Right
to Organize (PRO) Act and the Public Ser-
vice Freedom to Negotiate Act.”

“In 2021, workers forcefully rejected
low-wage, thankless jobs after a year of
being called essential,” said AFL-CIO
President Liz Shuler. “In light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is clearer now
than ever that our labor laws are designed
to make joining a union as difficult as
possible. Across this country, workers
are organizing for a voice on the job and
millions of Americans are standing in
solidarity with union members on strike.
If everyone who wanted to join a union
was able to do so, membership would sky-
rocket. The PRO Act and the Public Ser-
vice Freedom to Negotiate Act are how we
get there.”

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a
nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created
in 1986 to include the needs of low- and
middle-income workers in economic pol-
icy discussions, also released their analy-
sis of the data. The organization noted,
“To understand what happened to union-
ization in 2021, it is crucial to recall what
happened in 2020. In 2020, the number
of union workers declined substantially
as the pandemic caused massive job loss
for both union and nonunion workers.
However, unionization rates – the share
of the workforce that is unionized – in-
creased substantially because union work-
ers lost fewer jobs during the first year of
the pandemic than nonunion workers did.
The lower job loss among the unionized
workforce was due in no small part to a
‘pandemic composition’ effect – the fact
that the industries that got hit hardest by
the pandemic (such as leisure and hospi-
tality) are less likely to be unionized than
industries that were more sheltered from
the pandemic, and this change in the com-
position of the workforce raised unioniza-
tion rates mechanically. Put another way,
jobs in less unionized industries were lost
at a higher rate, so unionization rates went
up.”

The EPI continued, “In 2021, that dy-
namic happened in reverse as jobs were
added in the recovery. The ‘trampoline’
effect – the fact that the jobs that come
back in a recovery tend to look pretty
much like the jobs that were lost – means
that the jobs that came back in 2021 were
concentrated in industries (such as leisure
and hospitality) that have low unionization
rates. This contributed to the substantial
decline in the unionization rate in 2021,
undoing the 2020 increase.

In a similar vein as the AFL-CIO’s
comments, the EPI also pointed out, “The
share of workers who do not but would
like to have a union at their workplace is
far higher than the share who had union
representation in 2021 (11.6%). While
more recent data are unavailable, an anal-
ysis of 2017 survey data showed almost
half of nonunion workers polled (48%)
said they would vote to create a union in
their workplace tomorrow if they could.
That figure is up substantially from about
one-third (32–33%) of nonunion, nonman-
agerial workers asked similar questions in
1977 and 1995.”

According to the BLS report, in 2021,
the union membership rate was 10.3 per-
cent (the same in 2019). The rate is down
from 10.8 percent in 2020.

In addition, nonunion workers had me-
dian weekly earnings that were 83 percent
of earnings for workers who were union
members ($975 versus $1,169), and the
union membership rate of public-sector
workers (33.9 percent) continued to be
more than five times higher than the rate
of private-sector workers (6.1 percent).

The AFL-CIO concluded by saying,
“The BLS report also shows promis-
ing data for communities of color. Black
workers continued to have the highest
unionization rate in 2021, with 12.9%
membership…. Black union workers are
paid 13.7% more than their nonunion-
ized peers. According to a 2021 Gallup
poll, union approval is at its highest level
in over 50 years, with 68% of Americans
supporting organized labor, including 77%
of young people. An MIT study found that
60 million Americans would join a labor
union if they could, underscoring the need
for changes to labor laws.”

The Biden Administration more than
once has declared that it fully intends to
be the most union- and worker-friendly
executive branch in history. Its latest
action towards achieving that objective
came Feb. 7 when the White House re-
leased a report prepared by its Task Force
on Worker Organizing and Empower-
ment.

A 43-page document, the report is the
result of a series of task force meetings
that were conducted to gather informa-
tion and ideas for possible executive
actions and statements. The group is
chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris
and vice-chaired by Secretary of Labor
Marty Walsh, a longtime trade union
member and leader.

The task force was created in April
2021 when President Biden – operat-
ing under the conviction that increasing
worker organizing and empowerment
is critical to growing the middle class,
building an economy that puts workers
first, and strengthening our democracy –
issued Executive Order 14025. Its focus
is to “assess the available tools and de-
termine how to employ them to remove
barriers to worker organizing and collec-
tive bargaining.”

The report offers 70 recommenda-
tions that would “position the federal
government as a model actor; use the
federal government’s authority to sup-
port worker empowerment by providing
information, improving transparency,
and making sure existing pro-worker
services are delivered in a timely and
helpful manner; [and] use longstanding
authority to leverage the federal govern-
ment’s purchasing and spending power to
support workers who are organizing and
pro-worker employers.”

The report said, “The recommenda-
tions were developed in collaboration
with the over 20 executive agencies, de-
partments and White House offices that
are members of the task force. This work
has been guided, too, by workers’ voices,
many of whom the Vice President and
Secretary of Labor met in their travels
across the country.”

Among the recommendations that
could impact maritime unions is the
elimination of barriers so organizers may
talk with federal employees and private-
sector workers of federal contractors on
federal property about the benefits of
joining a union. It also listed recommen-
dations pertaining to four federal agen-
cies, including the Defense Department,
which would help ensure federal con-
tract dollars are not spent on anti-union
campaigns and that anti-union campaign
activities by federal contractors are pub-
licly disclosed.

In addition, the Military2Maritime
program for men and women who are
leaving the armed services to become
merchant mariners would benefit from a
stated recommendation to “work with the
Union Veterans Council to help service
members, military spouses, and veterans
transition into good union jobs.” (The
SIU is affiliated with the council via the
Maritime Trades Department.)

“The Biden-Harris Administration
delivered another victory for working
people today with the release of the first
report,” stated AFL-CIO President Liz
Shuler. “This unprecedented report rec-
ognizes the critical role that unions play
in creating a fairer economy. By taking
steps to give more workers the right to
organize and bargain collectively, the ad-
ministration is once again demonstrating

that it is committed to using its power to
support unions.”

The AFL-CIO noted the report calls for:
nEnsuring workers know organizing

and bargaining rights;
nEstablishing a resource center on

unions and collective bargaining;
nProtecting workers who organize

from illegal retaliation;
nExposing employers’ use of anti-

union consultants;
nAddressing equity across under-

served communities; and
nSharing the positive impact unions

have on all workers and the U.S. econ-
omy.

Shuler said the AFL-CIO is “commit-
ted to working with the administration to
implement these recommendations.” But
she also called upon Congress “to pass
both the Protecting the Right to Organize
(PRO) Act and the Public Service Free-
dom to Negotiate Act, which will ensure
that every worker who wants to join a
union may freely do so.”

The report noted that Biden often
points out “unions built the middle class
and lift up workers, both union and non-
union.” Given this position, the adminis-
tration – at its core – believes that unions
benefit everyone, according to the report,
which also reminds readers that unions
have fought for and helped win many as-
pects of American’s work lives perhaps
taken for granted today, like the 40-hour
work week and the weekend, as well as
landmark programs like Medicare.

According to the report, unions con-
tinue their fight for higher wages, greater
job security, safety and health protections,
health insurance and retirement plans,
and protections from discrimination and
harassment for all workers. Researchers

have found that today’s union households
earn up to 20% more than non-union
households, with an even greater union
advantage for workers with less formal
education and workers of color.

Research has also shown that grow-
ing economic inequality, growing pay
gaps for women and workers of color,
and declining voice in our democracy for
working class Americans are all caused,
in part, by the declining percentage of
workers represented by unions.

The National Labor Relations Act, en-
acted in 1935, noted that it is the policy
of the United States to encourage the
practice and procedure of collective bar-
gaining, and to protect the exercise, by
workers, of their full freedom of asso-
ciation. Unfortunately, according to the
task force report, the federal government
has not always done its part to turn this
policy into action. In fact, in some cases
government has actively undermined
worker organizing, unions, and collec-
tive bargaining.

While some past administrations have
taken individual actions to empower
workers and strengthen their rights, the
report stated that the Biden-Harris admin-
istration will be the first to take a com-
prehensive approach to doing so with the
existing authority of the executive branch.
The administration’s goal is not just to fa-
cilitate worker power through executive
action; it is to model practices that can be
followed by state and local governments,
private sector employers and others.

Biden has directed the task force to
continue its work, provide an update on
actions taken, and offer further recom-
mendations in six months.

The full report is linked on the SIU
website.

CHS Notifies Union,
Seafarers Plans

Of Security Incident

Report Calls for Boosts to Organized Labor
Pro-Union Update Includes 70 Recommendations

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6 Seafarers LOG March 2022

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

WELCOME ASHORE IN PINEY POINT – Longtime Seafarer Mike Fay (second from right) picked
up his first pension check at the February membership meeting in Piney Point, Maryland. He started
sailing with the union in 1975 (engine department) and most recently worked for Crowley at the Penn
Terminal in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Also pictured are (from left) SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph
Soresi, SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. The son of the
late SIU Executive VP John Fay, Mike also occasionally teaches at the union-affiliated Paul Hall
Center, and he plans to continue doing so.

LABOR SECRETARY VISITS NEW ORLEANS – SIU Port Agent Chris
Westbrook represented the union Feb. 7 during a workforce development
town hall in the Crescent City, featuring U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty
Walsh, Deputy Secretary Julie Su and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-Louisiana).
Westbrook is at left in the photo above with Carter, while Walsh has the
microphone in the snapshot at right.

WELCOME ASHORE FROM OLD SHIPMATES – Recertified Bosun Ahmed
Mihakel (center), whose SIU career began in 1978, recently retired. He’s pic-
tured at the Wilmington hall with former shipmates Port Agent Gerret Jarman
(right) and Patrolman Jesse Sunga Jr. They sailed together in 2011 on the
Horizon Spirit – Mihakel as bosun, Jarman and Sunga as ABs.

WITH SIU BOATMEN
– SIU Port Agent J.B.
Niday (right) is pictured
with SIU boatmen and
company officials from
Starlight Marine after
a joint labor relations
committee meeting at
the company’s office in
Oakland, California.

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 7

WELCOME ABOARD – AB Scott Jones (second from right), who’ll be sailing with SIU-contracted
Crowley Towing and Transportation, recently joined the union. He’s pictured at the Oakland, Cali-
fornia, hall with (from left) SIU Representative Kathy Chester, SIU Port Agent J.B. Niday and Ad-
ministrative Assistant Dylan Rivera. Scott is holding a copy of the contract.

A-BOOK IN WILMINGTON – ACU Philip Valentine (left) receives his A-seniority
from SIU Port Agent Gerret Jarman.

At Sea and Ashore with the SIU

READY TO SAIL – After numerous trips as an AB, SIU
member Kemer Rojas (right) is ready to ship out as a
bosun. He’s pictured at the San Juan hall with SIU Asst. VP
Amancio Crespo.

ABOARD MAHIMAHI – Pictured aboard the Matson ves-
sel are Chief Cook Ron Williams (left) and Recertified
Steward Frank Ramones. Thanks to SIU Representative
Kathy Chester for the photo.

WELCOME ASHORE IN HOUSTON – Electrician Jack
Croft (left), who’s pictured outside the Houston hall with
SIU Asst. VP Mike Russo, recently retired. Croft started
sailing with G&H Towing in 1981 and stayed there until
2005, when he switched to the deep-sea division. He
wrapped up his career aboard the USNS Pollux.

ABOARD ISLA BELLA – Recertified Bosun Brian
Guiry submitted these snapshots from the TOTE
ship, which sails in the Jones Act trade. Pictured
at the immediate right are AB Rahsean Lillard, AB
Cortney Smith and Guiry, running deck crawlers.
ABM Gary Boyd (far right, bottom), paints a hatch
while ABW Ron McCray (far right, top), runs a nee-
dle gun. The photo above includes the bosun and
Electrician Danielle Smith.

READY FOR FIRST AB JOB – Paul
Hall Center graduate Jessina Fernan-
dez reports for her first tour as an AB,
aboard the Florida (Intrepid Person-
nel and Provisioning) in Hawaii.

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8 Seafarers LOG March 2022

Spotlight on Mariner HealthSpotlight on Mariner Health

Healthy Recipe

Editor’s note: This article is provided
by the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan
Medical Department.

At various stages of the COVID-19
global pandemic, coronavirus variants
have emerged and caused additional prob-
lems.

The delta variant is believed to have
been the primary reason behind increased
infection rates a little more than a year
ago. Currently, the omicron variant is
thought to be highly infectious and easily
transmissible.

Unlike with the delta variant, omicron
infections typically have been milder –
but they’re also four times more transmis-
sible than delta. The incubation period for
time of exposure to symptom onset also
is shorter for omicron (around three days)
as compared to delta (four to five days).

Omicron patients describe a scratchy
or sore throat as early symptoms. They
may experience a loss of taste or smell,
a fever, other flu-like symptoms, muscle
or body aches, headaches and abdominal
issues including nausea, vomiting and di-
arrhea.

These same symptoms may occur with
the delta variant, but they’re likely to hap-
pen later in the infection process and can
be more severe.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test-
ing allows identification of the viral or-
ganisms that otherwise are difficult to
detect. Medical professionals consider it
as the gold standard of testing; results can
take four to six days.

Rapid antigen tests often are done at
home, and the turnaround time is brief.
However, many false negatives have been
reported with this type of test. A positive
test result usually is detected quickly,
often during the first 10 to 15 minutes.

Testing may be done through any
health department, doctor’s offices, some
hospitals and some pharmacies. Rapid
tests can be mail-ordered.

Preventive measures haven’t changed
and include regular hand-washing, so-
cial distancing, wiping home and work-
place surfaces with disinfectants, wearing
masks, and receiving vaccines and booster
shots as recommended by the U.S. Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).

Reporting on variants, the CDC re-
cently noted, “SARS-CoV-2, the virus
that causes COVID-19, is constantly
changing and accumulating mutations in
its genetic code over time. New variants
of SARS-CoV-2 are expected to continue
to emerge. Some variants will emerge and
disappear, while others will emerge and
continue to spread and may replace previ-
ous variants.”

As of early February, there had been at
least 880,000 COVID-19-related deaths in
the United States. More than 75 million
cases in all 50 states, U.S. territories and
Washington, D.C., had been reported.

Globally, there had been more than 381
million cases and more than 5.68 million
deaths confirmed. Additionally, more than
10.1 billion vaccine doses have been ad-
ministered worldwide.

Coronavirus Variants
Prolong Pandemic Servings: 25

Ingredients
8 pounds pork tenderloin, diced small
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/4 teaspoons black pepper, ground
1/2 cup olive oil
2 1/2 cups yellow onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup garlic, minced
1/3 cup light brown sugar
5 teaspoons oregano, ground
5 teaspoons ancho chili powder
2 1/2 teaspoons cumin, ground
1 1/4 cups orange juice
5 whole lime slices
25 corn tortillas, 6”
5 cups avocado, diced small
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation
Cut up the pork tenderloin into small bite-sized pieces and season with salt and

pepper; set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
Add diced onions to the heated oil and cook fer 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and

cook for 15 seconds.
Add pork to the skillet; season with brown sugar, oregano, chili powder, and

cumin. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until pork is cooked
through.

Stir in orange juice; continue to stir and scrape up the browned bits from the
bottom of the pan. Add lime juice and continue to cook for 2 more minutes.

Remove from heat. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly. Serve in
heated tortillas with chopped avocado and cilantro.

Nutrition Information
Per serving (excluding unknown items): 340 Calories; 15g Fat (38.2% calories

from fat); 33g Protein; 20g Carbohydrate: 3g Dietary Fiber; 94mg Cholesterol;
307mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain (Starch); 4 1/2 Lean Meat: 1/2 Vegetable; 0
Fruit; 2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

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

Pork Carnitas Tacos

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

Scholarships totalling $132,000 are available under the 2022 Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Scholarship Program. The grants are available to Seafarers and their dependents
looking to continue their education. Allocations for each category will be as follows:

Dependents ScholarshipsDependents Scholarships

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

Seafarers ScholarshipsSeafarers Scholarships

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

Please send me the 2022 SHBP Scholarship Program Booklet which contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and a copy of
the application form.

Name...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Street Address....................................................................................................................................................................................................
City, State, Zip Code.........................................................................................................................................................................................
Telephone Number ( ) .................................................................................................................................................................................
This application is for (circle one): Self Dependent
Mail this completed form to: Scholarship Program, Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746 3/22

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

Although the booklet says 2021, all information is still current for the 2022 SHBP Scholarships.

2022 Health and Benefits Plan Scholarship Program

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 9

“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from Jan. 14 - Feb.15. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of Feb.15.
Total Registered Total Shipped Registered on Beach

All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Port A B C A B C Reliefs A B C

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep SeaDispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea

Piney Point..........................................Monday: March 7, April 4
Algonac..............................................Friday: March 11, April 8
Baltimore.....................................Thursday: March 10, April 7
Guam..........................................Thursday: March 24, April 21
Honolulu...........................................Friday: March 18, April 15
Houston.........................................Monday: March 14, April 11
Jacksonville.................................Thursday: March 10, April 7
Joliet............................................Thursday: March 17, April 14
Mobile......................................Wednesday: March 16, April 13
New Orleans..................................Tuesday: March 15, April 12
Jersey City.........................................Tuesday: March 8, April 5
Norfolk.............................................Friday: March 11, April 8
Oakland.........................................Thursday: March 17, April 14
Philadelphia.................................Wednesday: March 9, April 6
Port Everglades............................Thursday: March 17, April 14
San Juan.......................................Thursday: March 10, April 7
St. Louis.................................Friday: March 18, April 15
Tacoma............................................Friday: March 25, April 22
Wilmington.................................Monday: March 21, April 18

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

March & AprilMarch & April
Membership MeetingsMembership Meetings

Following a series of actions taken in the wake of allegations of sex-
ual assault and sexual harassment (SASH), the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy (USMMA) – in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard and the
Maritime Administration as well as other public maritime schools – has
announced the “Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture” (EMBARC)
program. The program aims to protect academy cadets while at sea as
part of their Sea Year, and U.S.-flag vessel operators must adhere to the
new EMBARC Standards, according to public announcements from the
government.

“The plan we are launching represents the collective commitment
of DOT, MARAD, USMMA, and the six State Maritime Academies to
strengthen safety for cadets aboard commercial vessels, and to support
an inclusive culture that prioritizes preventing sexual assault and harass-
ment and supporting survivors,” said Acting Maritime Administrator
Lucinda Lessley. “The plan is an initial step, and all parties are com-
mitted to continuing to review this program frequently, and to make
improvements whenever needed to ensure the safety and success of
cadets.”

As stated in the policy documents, “The EMBARC Standards out-
line policies and procedures that seek to prevent, respond to, and redress
incidents of SASH and foster a safe and supportive environment. The
following core tenets frame the EMBARC Standards, which call on U.S.-
flag shipping companies as well as educational institutions, labor, and
mariners to:
n Build and maintain a shipboard culture of inclusion and respect.
n Establish zero tolerance policies for SASH, harassment, and hostile

work environment, zero tolerance for retaliation against anyone who re-
ports assault or harassment, and proportionate responses to policy infrac-
tions.
n Eliminate the barriers that survivors, witnesses, and bystanders face

in reporting SASH incidents.
n Support survivors, witnesses, and bystanders who report SASH

incidents.
n Promptly address any report of behavior that is inconsistent with

EMBARC Standards, using every available resource.
n Review all company and vessel policies and procedures to ensure

such policies fully support a work environment in which assault, harass-
ment, and retaliation against those who report assault or harassment is
not tolerated.
n Implement SASH best practices and commit to adopting updates

when such practices are promulgated by MARAD.
n Incorporate SASH prevention, response, and reporting procedures

into the Company and Vessel Safety Management Systems.
According to the DOT, vessel operators will be responsible for des-

ignating a qualified person ashore to be the primary contact for all issues
with SASH on a vessel, and for ensuring that any cadets aboard the ves-
sel have met that individual, either in person or virtually. In addition to
many wide-ranging policy changes, the operators must update rules and
regulations concerning cadet staterooms and open-door workplaces while
onboard vessels.

With the launch of the EMBARC program, the DOT also announced
the anticipated lifting of the Sea Year pause. According to a related let-
ter addressed to the Midshipmen, “Initial cadet embarkations will be on
Federal vessels and training vessels. Embarkations on commercial vessels
will resume as operators enroll in the EMBARC program and affirm their
compliance with the program’s new safety requirements.”

The announced date to resume Sea Year embarkations was Dec.
22, 2021, but as of press time, the program had not yet been re-
started.

Academies Announce
New Program Aimed
At Promoting Safety

Deck Department
Algonac 23 3 2 9 2 0 4 31 5 3
Anchorage 2 3 0 0 2 0 1 2 4 0
Baltimore 5 2 0 1 0 0 1 6 2 0
Fort Lauderdale 24 6 5 16 8 1 4 41 20 6
Guam 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 3 1 0
Harvey 10 7 2 10 3 2 4 17 7 3
Honolulu 6 4 0 7 1 0 2 6 6 0
Houston 28 12 9 33 19 3 12 58 23 13
Jacksonville 46 29 9 19 23 2 17 61 38 9
Jersey City 39 13 4 19 7 3 9 47 18 7
Joliet 1 5 0 1 2 0 0 3 4 0
Mobile 9 2 1 5 3 2 1 9 6 3
Norfolk 24 18 4 11 14 2 9 29 16 5
Oakland 10 6 2 7 3 1 1 20 5 2
Philadelphia 1 3 2 1 0 1 0 3 5 1
Piney Point 1 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 3 0
Puerto Rico 6 3 1 5 3 0 3 14 2 0
Tacoma 8 6 3 14 7 2 5 22 5 5
St. Louis 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 1
Wilmington 33 15 1 18 6 0 8 54 17 3
TOTALS 280 141 45 181 105 19 83 434 189 61

Engine Department
Algonac 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 7 3 0
Anchorage 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Baltimore 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 0
Fort Lauderdale 3 2 0 8 5 0 4 9 5 0
Guam 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Harvey 2 1 2 2 5 1 4 2 2 1
Honolulu 1 3 0 2 1 0 1 5 6 1
Houston 19 12 2 14 7 2 4 20 14 1
Jacksonville 19 11 4 18 8 0 8 26 19 5
Jersey City 10 5 0 8 5 0 4 10 8 1
Joliet 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2
Mobile 3 1 0 2 1 0 1 6 3 0
Norfolk 8 10 6 7 6 3 2 9 12 4
Oakland 6 6 1 3 3 0 2 10 10 2
Philadelphia 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0
Piney Point 2 3 1 0 3 0 1 3 3 1
Puerto Rico 5 6 0 2 2 0 2 7 4 0
Tacoma 7 4 2 6 8 1 6 16 4 0
St. Louis 5 1 1 1 1 0 1 5 2 1
Wilmington 11 7 1 4 6 1 5 24 10 1
TOTALS 111 77 20 81 64 8 47 167 108 20

Steward Department
Algonac 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 7 1 0
Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Baltimore 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0
Fort Lauderdale 11 6 2 9 5 1 5 10 7 1
Guam 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 1
Harvey 5 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 0
Honolulu 5 1 0 6 2 0 3 7 2 0
Houston 15 8 0 15 7 2 6 25 6 0
Jacksonville 19 22 2 11 6 2 11 29 25 2
Jersey City 13 4 0 5 3 0 3 19 8 0
Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1
Mobile 5 2 0 2 4 0 1 9 2 0
Norfolk 19 12 0 8 10 0 5 28 12 2
Oakland 12 6 1 6 5 1 2 22 6 1
Philadelphia 1 1 1 3 1 0 2 1 1 1
Piney Point 2 1 4 1 0 3 4 4 2 1
Puerto Rico 2 7 0 1 6 0 2 5 2 2
Tacoma 7 3 1 12 4 0 4 12 6 1
St. Louis 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
Wilmington 13 5 1 11 5 0 8 31 8 1
TOTALS 137 81 14 94 61 10 56 223 91 14

Entry Department
Algonac 1 10 7 1 2 1 1 0 16 8
Anchorage 0 4 2 0 2 2 2 1 4 1
Baltimore 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1
Fort Lauderdale 0 2 3 0 2 4 3 0 4 4
Guam 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
Harvey 1 2 0 1 3 1 0 0 1 0
Honolulu 0 3 2 0 2 7 0 0 7 6
Houston 3 11 10 0 9 7 3 7 14 18
Jacksonville 0 27 59 1 11 27 8 3 36 77
Jersey City 0 13 19 1 10 10 5 1 16 22
Joliet 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Mobile 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 2
Norfolk 0 11 20 0 9 14 2 0 14 24
Oakland 0 7 6 0 5 3 3 0 13 5
Philadelphia 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Piney Point 0 1 16 0 1 14 4 0 0 12
Puerto Rico 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
Tacoma 6 5 15 4 8 4 5 7 13 15
St. Louis 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1
Wilmington 1 8 8 2 12 4 7 2 19 10
TOTALS 12 108 175 10 76 105 45 23 160 209

Grand Total: 540 407 254 366 306 142 231 847 548 304

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10 Seafarers LOG March 2022

People in search of pathways for rewarding
careers as mariners need look no further
than the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center

for Maritime Training and Education (PHC) in
Piney Point, Maryland.

An ultramodern vocational school, the PHC
opened as a bare-bones facility in 1967. Since
those modest beginnings, the maritime train-
ing and education hub has enjoyed more than a
half-century of steady growth and has developed
into a cutting-edge school with wide-ranging
curriculums for entry-level students and for ex-
perienced mariners.

One thing that hasn’t changed from the
start is the center’s emphasis on practical
training. Hands-on instruction is featured in
virtually every one of the school’s 70-plus
U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses. Many
classes are department-specific (deck, en-
gine, or steward), while numerous others
provide comprehensive safety training for
the entire crew. This is the case both in the
entry-level instruction for those just embark-
ing on their respective maritime careers and

in the upgrading coursework for experienced
Seafarers.

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

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

The photos on this page show a small
sample of practical coursework that is of-
fered in Piney Point. Complete information
about the school is available in the Paul Hall
Center section of the SIU website. To ac-
cess it, go to www.seafarers.org click on the
Training and Careers tab, then navigate to
Paul Hall Center.

Hands-On Training: A Piney Point Staple

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 11

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center issued the
following announcement on Jan.
24. It’s also available on the SIU
website.

Top Five Awaiting Information
Reasons for Merchant Mariner
Credential Applications in 2021

The National Maritime Center
(NMC) receives more than 50,000
applications annually from mari-
ners applying for Merchant Mariner
Credentials (MMCs). On average,
more than 50 percent of those appli-
cations are incomplete or missing
information, which cause delays in
processing and frustration for mari-
ners.

A total of 66,796 awaiting informa-
tion (AI) reasons were issued in 2021
for MMC applications. Many MMC
applications have multiple AI rea-
sons. The five most common reasons
a mariner will receive an AI letter are:

Certificates and Documents are
Missing or Incorrect
n Missing training/qualification

certificates: Most commonly proof
of required training was missing.
The most common certificates miss-
ing were First Aid/CPR, Firefighting,
and Radar Certificates. Also, many
certificates did not have the Coast
Guard course approval number on
them, which is required. Other docu-
mentation often missing includes a
copy of the TWIC, Evidence of Suit-
ability, Round Trip documentation,
and STCW Assessments.
n Missing proof of citizenship:

Passport, Alien Registration Card, or
Permanent Residence Card was not
provided.
n Unacceptable certificates or

documents: Most commonly these
certificates or documents are out-
dated, unreadable, or missing signa-
tures.
n Suspended or revoked driver’s

licenses: If the applicant’s driver’s
license is suspended or revoked, the
NMC will look at all National Driver
Registry records.

Incomplete/Incorrect Application
n Signature and date problems:

The application often is missing the
mariners’ signature or the date put
on the application is date of birth

rather than date signed.
n Checkboxes on application

not completed: Most common er-
rors are missing National Driver
Registry consent, missing best
methods of contact, and missing
type of credential requested. These
boxes must be checked by the ap-
plicant.
n Oath not taken or missing sig-

natures: Section 4 of the application
contains the oath and certifications by
the mariner applicant. Section 5 must
contain the applicant’s signature and
date signed. Also, for applicants seek-
ing their first MMC, the oath must be
taken and certified by an individual
authorized to administer the oath.
n Application unclear regard-

ing which credential is sought:
Documentation provided does not
match what the application says
or description of endorsements de-
sired is not a listed endorsement in
46 CFR. Applicants must specify
what endorsements they want to be
evaluated for.

Sea Service Documentation/Re-
cency of Service
n Sea Service Letters: The em-

ployers have not signed, dated, or iden-
tified the waters operated upon. Also,
applicants are commonly missing ser-
vice time or do not meet the require-
ments for the credential requested.
n Small Vessel Sea Service

form: The form often has the incor-
rect addition of hours/days, or proof
of vessel ownership is not provided.
n Tankerman: Proof of Trans-

fers/Service/Recency:   Documen-
tation submitted does not meet the
requirements for amount of time,
correct position, or dates performed.
n Rating Forming Part of an

Engineering Watch (RFPEW) and
Rating Forming Part of a Naviga-
tional Watch (RFPNW) Service
while in Training: Applicants are
missing seagoing service that in-
cludes training and experience
associated with engine room or
navigational watchkeeping func-
tions under the supervision of an
engineer officer, or, for Naviga-
tional, a master, mate, or qualified
STCW deck rating.
n Tonnage/Horsepower: Ap-

plicants are missing evidence of
meeting the tonnage and horse-
power requirements in order to

qualify for certain credentials.

Fees
n Fees not paid or incorrect:

Issuance fees must be paid in order
for a credential to be issued and
evaluation fees must be paid in
order for an application to be re-
viewed. Other common problems
include the Military-to-Mariner
fee waiver request not completed
properly, the total paid is less than
required, insufficient funds pro-
vided, improperly written checks,
and no tax ID number on business
checks.

Drug Tests
n Missing drug screen from the

application package: A drug test is
required for all transactions except
endorsements, documents of conti-
nuity, duplicates, and STCW certifi-
cates.
n Incomplete documentation: Ex-

amples include missing collection
date, missing Medical Review Officer
Information, and an unsigned drug test
result/random drug screen program
letter.
n Incorrect drug screen used: The

drug screen must be a Department of
Transportation five-panel drug test
from a Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration ac-
credited lab.
n Drug screen too old: It must

be within 6 months of the date of the
application.

What can you do to prevent delays
in issuance?

Apply at least 90 days in ad-
vance. Remember, for renewals you
can apply up to 8 months early with
no change between your expiration
and renewal dates.

Use the Regional Exam Centers
and Monitoring Units to review your
application before submission. They
are available for appointments in
person or over the phone.

Use the tools and resources
on the NMC website. The appli-
cation acceptance checklist and
evaluator checklists are valuable
tools.

For general questions, contact
the NMC Customer Service Center
by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil
or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-
5662).

NMC Offers Application Pointers State Department Posts
Update, On Passport

Services for Mariners
The U.S. Department of State posted the following news

item earlier this year. Please keep an eye on their website
(https://www.state.gov/) and on the SIU site for the latest de-
velopments.

Updated Notice To Mariners With International Voyages
To better serve mariners during this time we are updating our

temporary provisions. These provisions are subject to change
once operations are on a more normal footing.

Instructions for Urgent Assistance with Applying for a Pass-
port:

Qualifications
n Be a credentialed merchant mariner;
n Be eligible to apply on a DS-82 application for passport

renewal. (Check eligibility at https://travel.state.gov/content/
travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html); and
n Have a current passport that is expired or expiring in 7 months

or less.

Application and Mailing Instructions
Applicants must submit the following:
n DS-82 application completed, signed, and dated;
n Passport photograph taken within the past six months;
n Current passport;
n Copy of Merchant Mariner Credential (MCC), front and

back.
n A check or money order in the amount of $208.32

made payable to U.S. Department of State if applying for a
passport book only. If applying for both the passport book
and card, the total fee is $238.32. This amount includes the
passport fee, expedite fee, and 1–2-day delivery fee (for in-
formation regarding passport fees, please visit travel.state.
gov).
n Letter from supervisor on company letterhead or your U.S.

mariner’s union.
The supervisor letter should include the following details:
n Applicant’s full name;
n Printed name and title of applicant’s supervisor or mari-

ners’ union representative;
n Supervisor’s or union representative’s signature; and
n Date the letter was issued.
Applications must be sent by traceable overnight delivery

service to:
El Paso Passport Agency
303 N. Oregon St., Suite 700
El Paso, TX 79901
Attention: Mariner Program

Service Expectations
Completed passports will be mailed using a 1–2-day deliv-

ery service. Please be sure the application includes a physical
U.S. mailing address and not a P.O. Box.

Every effort will be made to process the passport application
in about one week of receipt. For instance, applications received
on Monday may be completed and sent out by Friday of the
same week.

Requesting a Second Passport
Mariners may wish to apply for a second limited validity

passport (4 years). Second passports provide greater flexibility,
particularly if mariners need to apply for visas when traveling
domestically and overseas. For more information, please see:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-
passport/second-passport-book.html.

Below are the two options for applying for a second pass-
port:

Option 1: Requesting a Second Passport when Renewing a Pass-
port

To apply for a second passport, applicants must also include:
n A second DS-82 application (with photograph) com-

pleted, signed, and dated;
n Signed statement describing the need for a second pass-

port. (This is required in addition to the company letter authoriz-
ing use of these special procedures); and
n Include payment for both applications in a single check

totaling $416.64 ($208.32 per application).

Option 2: Requesting a Second Passport without Submitting a
Current Valid Passport

If mariners need to use their current (10-year) passport while
applying for their second passport, they can apply at a passport
acceptance facility using a DS-11 form. They can expect to re-
ceive the second passport within the expedited timeframe posted
at travel.state.gov. To apply at a passport acceptance facility, ap-
plicants need:
n Completed (not signed) DS-11 application;
n Passport photograph;
n Photocopy of their 10-year passport data page;
n Signed statement of need for a second passport as outlined

on our website;
n Payment of $208.32 to the U.S. Department of State, which

includes $60 for expedite service and the additional $18.32 for 1-2-
day return delivery; and
n Additional payment of $35 to the passport acceptance fa-

cility to execute the application.
To locate the nearest passport acceptance facility, see https://

iafdb.travel.state.gov. Please note that many passport acceptance
facilities require customers to schedule an appointment ahead
of their visit.

Mariners’ continued understanding abd patience is appreci-
ated.

By Ian Adrian Millar
In memory of the gallant heroes of the
S/S HENRY BACON

Sit down friend and pause a bit,
And I’ll tell you of a famous ship.
Her crew were heroes brave and bold,
Her story was not often told.

They were sailing back from Russian
shore,

The numbing cold hard to ignore.
Across a vast engulfing sea,
The BACON sailed for liberty.

They left their cargo at old Mur-
mansk,
Those men were up to any task.
They carried on as seamen do,
To bring the BACON to Loch Ewe.

The Germans found them broken down,
An ugly duckling homeward bound.
Her crew had fought the raging sea,
And bombing by the enemy.

Burbine, Reed, Tatosky too,
Heroes all of World War Two.
They did not shirk or hesitate,
Ask them of Bosun Lammon’s fate.
Today some sleep beneath the wave,
Aboard the ship they fought to save.
A few came home again to sail,
With men like these we could not fail.

(The writer is the son of a World War
II mariner, a longtime advocate for
securing veterans’ status for those
mariners, and a U.S. Coast Guard
veteran.)

Log-A-Rhythm

Henry Bacon

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12 Seafarers LOG March 2022

Michael Sacco, President

Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer

George Tricker, Vice President Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters

Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast

Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Nicholas Celona, Vice President Government
Services

HEADQUARTERS
5201 Capital Gateway Drive

Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675

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

(810) 794-4988

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

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

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

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

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

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

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 281-2622

JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306

(201) 434-6000

JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 444-2360

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

(215) 336-3818

PINEY POINT
45353 St. George’s Avenue, Piney Point, MD

20674
(301) 994-0010

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

(954) 522-7984

SAN JUAN
659 Hill Side St., Summit Hills

San Juan, PR 00920
(787) 721-4033

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

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

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

(310) 549-4001/4002

Seafarers International Seafarers International
Union DirectoryUnion Directory Inquiring SeafarerInquiring Seafarer

This month’s question was asked of students at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Maryland.

Question: What advice would you give to someone who’s just entering the industry?

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

Salman Alhobabi
SA

Just get it started. Start working. I
brought my two brothers in after me,
and that’s all I had to tell them, be-
cause they saw how much my life had
changed.

Shayanna Freeman
Oiler

Stay focused on your main
goals, and be prepared to work.
Mind your business, that’s the
main thing.

Godofredo Milabo
Bosun

Best advice is to stick with
upgrading courses here at Piney
Point. Always listen to the infor-
mation that’s presented at union
meetings, because if you’re not
paying attention, that’s on you.

Luzern Hawkins
Junior Engineer

I’d tell them to upgrade, stay
working and stay busy. Safety is
important, and do what you’re told
to do. Do your job.

James Jones
OS

Patience is going to win, above
everything else. You’re going to go
through it, so put in the time, get as
many endorsements as you can, and
you’ll do great. Only person stopping
you is you.

Reynard Gibbs
Steward

Eliminate as many distractions as
you can. Be patient, remember why
you started, and look forward to the
outcome. Listen, stay positive, and
don’t be afraid to accept help.

Pic From The Past Pic From The Past

This snapshot first ran in the March 4, 1949 edition of the LOG. A standalone item, it carried the all-caps headline, “AND WITH-
OUT OVERTIME, TOO,” along with this caption: “SIU member Tom Connors demonstrates the work technique that brings a
rosy glow to the stony hearts of Cities Service officials. The ‘loyal employee’ act was photographed by Gene Ceccato aboard
the Logans Fort, a Cities Service ship.”

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 13

DEEP SEA

SOTERO BERAME
Brother Sotero Berame, 69,

began sailing with the SIU in
2001. An engine department
member, he
first sailed
aboard the
Overseas New
York. Brother
Berame up-
graded at the
Paul Hall Cen-
ter on several
occasions. He
most recently sailed aboard the
Cape Intrepid and lives in Van-
couver, Washington.

EARL CASTAIN
Brother Earl Castain, 57,

joined the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union in 1988, initially

sailing with
Delta Queen
Steamboat
Company.
He upgraded
at the union-
affiliated Piney
Point school
on numerous
occasions and

shipped in the steward depart-
ment. Brother Castain’s final
vessel was the Overseas Los
Angeles. He is a resident of Lex-
ington Park, Maryland.

JULIO CILIEZAR
Brother Julio Ciliezar, 71,

signed on with the SIU in 1998,
first sailing
aboard the
Global Mariner.
He shipped in
the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Paul Hall
Center in 2000.
Brother Ciliezar
last sailed on the Ocean Gladi-
ator and resides in Miramar,
Florida.

ARMANDO CORTEZ
Brother Armando Cortez, 66,

became a member of the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 2005.
He worked in
the engine de-
partment and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school within
his first year of
membership.

Brother Cortez sailed aboard the
Pride of America for the dura-
tion of his career. He is a Las
Vegas resident.

ROLLIN CRUMP
Brother Rol-

lin Crump, 68,
embarked on
his career with
the Seafarers in
2003, initially
sailing on the
Bonny. He was

a member of the engine depart-
ment and upgraded often at the
Paul Hall Center. Brother Crump
last shipped on the Alaskan
Navigator and makes his home
in Ward Cove, Alaska.

THOMAS GINGERICH
Brother Thomas Gingerich,

62, signed on with the union in
1989, initially
shipping on the
Independence.
He sailed in
the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on mul-
tiple occasions.
Brother Gingerich last shipped
aboard the Florida. He lives in
Sparks, Nevada.

PETER GLENNON
Brother Peter Glennon, 65,

started sailing with the union in
1978, initially shipping on the
Overseas Ulla. A deck depart-
ment member, Brother Glennon
upgraded at the Paul Hall Center
on numerous occasions. He
concluded his career aboard the
Voyager and lives in Mechanics-
ville, Maryland.

DAVID HAWKINS
Brother David Hawkins,

71, joined the union in 1990
and first sailed
aboard the Del
Valle. He sailed
in the deck
department
and upgraded
often at the
union-affiliated
Piney Point
school. Brother

Hawkins last shipped on the
Philadelphia Express and re-
sides in Llano, Texas.

ALVIN JACKSON
Brother Alvin Jackson, 66,

began his career with the SIU in
1989. A deck
department
member, he
initially sailed
aboard the Em-
pire State II.
Brother Jackson
upgraded at
the Paul Hall
Center on sev-
eral occasions.
He concluded his career aboard
the Maersk Chicago and makes
his home in East Orange, New
Jersey.

WILLIAM KELLEY
Brother Wil-

liam Kelley, 65,
embarked on
his career with
the SIU in 1995
when he sailed
with Delta
Queen Steam-
boat Company.
He shipped in

the engine department and up-

graded at the Piney Point school
on multiple occasions. Brother
Kelley concluded his career on
the Matej Kocak and settled in
Senatobia, Mississippi.

DANIEL LAMBERT
Brother Daniel Lambert, 68,

became a member of the Sea-
farers International Union in
1980. He initially sailed aboard
the Manhattan and worked in
the engine department. Brother
Lambert’s final vessel was the
Stuyvesant. He calls La Center,
Washington, home.

MARC MARCUS
Brother Marc Marcus, 70,

started his career with the Sea-
farers in 1971
and first sailed
aboard the Hal-
cyon Panther.
He sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Paul
Hall Center on
numerous oc-
casions. Brother Marcus last
shipped aboard the Sunshine
State. He makes his home in
Jacksonville, Florida.

OLORUNTOLA OBILANA
Brother Oloruntola Obilana,

66, signed on with the SIU in
2001. He ini-
tially shipped
aboard the St.
Louis Express
and was a
deck depart-
ment member.
Brother Obilana
upgraded at
the Piney Point

school on multiple occasions.
He most recently sailed on the
Delaware Express and resides in
Sugarland, Texas.

EMMA PORTER
Sister Emma Porter, 65,

donned the SIU colors in 2001.
She first sailed
on the Cape
Domingo and
worked in both
the deck and
engine depart-
ments. Sister
Porter upgraded
often at the Paul
Hall Center. She
concluded her career aboard the
Cape Douglas and is a resident
of Ridgeville, South Carolina.

NEONITO SODUSTA
Brother Neonito Sodusta,

64, joined the Seafarers in 1994
when he shipped aboard the
Independence. He was a mem-

ber of the deck
department
and upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
multiple occa-
sions. Brother
Sodusta most
recently sailed

aboard the USNS Fisher and
resides in Las Vegas.

TIMOTHY STAGG
Brother Timothy Stagg, 64,

signed on with the union in
1976, initially sailing aboard the
USNS Potomac. He sailed in the
engine department and upgraded
on several occasions at the Paul
Hall Center. Brother Stagg last
shipped on the John Paul Bobo
and settled in Virginia Beach,
Virginia.

ONA WHITAMORE
Sister Ona Whitamore, 70,

became a member of the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 2005
when she sailed
aboard the
Green Point.
She worked in
the deck de-
partment and
concluded her
career aboard
the Dewayne T. Williams. Sister
Whitamore makes her home in
Manchester, New Hampshire.

ROBERT WILCOX
Brother Robert Wilcox, 63,

embarked on his career with the
SIU in 1990, initially sailing

on the USNS
Bellatrix. He
was a member
of the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on nu-
merous occa-
sions. Brother

Wilcox most recently shipped
on the Isla Bella and makes his
home in Niceville, Florida.

GREAT LAKES

JAMES TANNER
Brother James Tanner, 65,

signed on with
the SIU in 1974.
He initially
shipped aboard
the J.B. Ford
and sailed in
both the deck
and steward
departments.
Brother Tan-
ner upgraded at the Piney Point
school in 1987. He last sailed on
the JAW Iglehart and resides in
Alpena, Michigan.

INLAND

JERRY JENKINS
Brother Jerry Jenkins, 65,

donned the SIU colors in 1979.
A deck department member, he
first shipped aboard the Point
Julie. Brother Jenkins concluded
his career working for Crowley
Towing and Transportation. He
is a resident of Rialto, Califor-
nia.

NILS JERNSTROM
Brother Nils Jernstrom, 67,

embarked on
his career with
the Seafarers in
1997 when he
shipped with
American Ma-
rine Corpora-
tion. He was a
member of the
deck depart-
ment and upgraded at the Piney
Point school in 2001. Brother
Jernstrom remained with the
same company for the duration
of his career. He resides in San
Pedro, California.

JEFFREY PARKIN
Brother Jeffrey Parkin, 65,

signed on with the union in
1973. A deck department mem-
ber, he initially sailed aboard the
Overseas Ulla. Brother Parkin
upgraded on multiple occasions
at the Paul Hall Center. He was
last employed by Moran Towing
of Philadelphia and settled in
Bellmawr, New Jersey.

RANDY ROGERS
Brother Randy Rogers, 62,

joined the Seafarers Interna-
tional Union in 1976 when he
sailed with G&H Towing. He
was a member of the engine
department and upgraded at
the Piney Point school in 1981.
Brother Rogers concluded his
career with Moran Towing of
Texas and lives in Livingston,
Texas.

JERRY VANDERBURG
Brother Jerry Vanderburg, 62,

started sailing with the Seafar-
ers in 1982.
He sailed in
both the deck
and engine
departments
and worked for
G&H Towing
for the duration
of his career.
Brother Van-

derburg resides in Aransas Pass,
Texas.

DALE WILSON
Brother Dale Wilson, 64,

signed on with the union in 1983,
initially working
for Tampa Bay
Pilots. He sailed
in the deck de-
partment and
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center
on several occa-
sions. Brother
Wilson’s final
vessel was the Gulf Reliance.
He makes his home in Tampa,
Florida.

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

Welcome AshoreWelcome Ashore

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14 Seafarers LOG March 2022

DEEP SEA

SOFRONIO ADENIC
Pensioner Sofronio Adenic, 91, died
November 26. He
joined the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 1988 and
first shipped on
the Independence.
Brother Adenic
sailed in the deck
department and
concluded his
career aboard the
USNS Invincible.
He became a pensioner in 2001 and
settled in Kansas City, Missouri.

MIKE BUBAKER
Pensioner Mike Bubaker, 79, passed

away November
20. He began his
career with the
Seafarers in 1979
when he sailed
aboard the Inger.
Brother Bubaker
was a steward de-
partment member.
He last sailed on
the Great Land

before retiring in 2008. Brother
Bubaker resided in Dearborn, Michi-
gan.

WILLIAM BUNCH
Pensioner William Bunch, 73, died
October 31. He joined the SIU in
1991, initially
shipping aboard
the Bonny.
Brother Bunch
was a member
of the steward
department and
last sailed aboard
the USNS Pili-
laau. He became
a pensioner in
2013 and settled in Fredericksburg,
Virginia.

STANLEY CASTRO
Pensioner Stanley Castro, 67, passed

away November
13. He signed on
with the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 1992. An
engine department
member, Brother
Castro first sailed
on the Indepen-
dence. He con-
cluded his career

aboard the Gem State in 2014 and
went on pension in 2019. Brother
Castro made his home in Tacoma,
Washington.

RICHARD CASUGA
Pensioner Richard Casuga, 81, died
November 5.
He joined the
SIU in 1963 and
first sailed with
States Steamship.
Brother Casuga
was a steward
department mem-
ber. He last sailed
on the Defender
before becoming
a pensioner in 2002. Brother Casuga
called Hayward, California, home.

HERBERT DANIELS
Pensioner Herbert Daniels, 74,
has passed away. He joined the
union in 1998
when he was
employed by
Moran Tow-
ing of Texas.
Brother Daniels
sailed in both
the deck and
engine depart-
ments and most
recently shipped
aboard the Achiever. He went on
pension in 2013 and was a resi-
dent of Louisville, Kentucky.

ALBERT GUTIERREZ
Pensioner Albert
Gutierrez, 70,
died December
31. He donned
the SIU colors
in 1978 and first
sailed aboard the
Borinquen. An
engine depart-
ment member,
Brother Gutierrez

last shipped on the Horizon Chal-
lenger. He retired in 2012 and made
his home in Houston.

JAMES JACKSON
Pensioner James Jackson, 75, passed
away December
18. He signed on
with the union in
1963, first sailing
aboard the Marga-
ret Brown. Brother
Jackson shipped
in the steward
department and
most recently
sailed aboard the
Atlantic Forest. He began collecting
his pension in 2014 and resided in
New Orleans.

AGUILIO LLORENTE
Pensioner Aguilio Llorente, 89, died

October 21. He
began shipping
with the Seafar-
ers International
Union in 1989,
initially sailing
with Crowley
Towing & Trans-
portation. Brother
Llorente worked
in both the deck
and engine de-

partments. He last sailed on the El
Morro and went on pension in 2007.
Brother Llorente resided in Tampa,
Florida.

FRANK MICHALSKI
Brother Frank Mi-
chalski, 70, passed
away November
27. He donned
the SIU colors
in 2001 and first
shipped on the
Maersk Alaska.
Brother Michalski
was a member
of the engine de-
partment. He last sailed aboard the
USNS Roy M. Wheat and lived in
Kansas City, Kansas.

CHARLES RHYNES
Pensioner Charles Rhynes, 86, died
December 18. He joined the union
in 1987 when
he sailed on the
Baldomero Lopez.
Brother Rhynes
shipped in the
deck department
and concluded
his career on the
William R. But-
ton. He retired in
2003 and made his
home in Forsyth, Missouri.

WINTON RICH
Pensioner Winton Rich, 72, passed

away September
30. He signed
on with the SIU
in 1990 and first
shipped on the
USNS Bellatrix.
A deck depart-
ment member,
Brother Rich most
recently sailed on
the Pride of Amer-

ica. He went on pension in 2019 and
settled in Houston.

JOSE RIVERA
Pensioner Jose Rivera, 88, died
December 22.
He started sailing
with the Seafarers
in 1953 and was a
member of the en-
gine department.
Brother Rivera’s
first vessel was
the Salem Mari-
time; his last, the
Golden Monarch.
He retired in 1990
and was a Puerto Rico resident.

ALVIE RUSHING
Pensioner Alvie Rushing, 91, passed

away December
11. He signed on
with the SIU in
1959, initially
working on the
Timber Hitch.
Brother Rushing
was a deck depart-
ment member.
He last shipped
on the Overseas

Valdez and went on pension in 1995.
Brother Rushing lived in Santa Fe,
Texas.

JIM SAXTON
Pensioner Jim Saxton, 82, died
December 10.
He joined the
union in 1969. A
steward depart-
ment member,
he first shipped
with Pacific
Far East Lines.
Brother Saxton
last shipped on the
Defender before
retiring in 2005. He resided in Lath-
rop, California.

LARRY VIOLA
Pensioner Larry Viola, 66, passed
away December 20. He signed on
with the Seafarers International

Union in 1973
and first sailed
with Seatrain
Lines. A deck
department mem-
ber, Brother Viola
last sailed aboard
the Greendale in
2009. He began
collecting his
pension in 2021
and made his home in Sayre, Okla-
homa.

GEORGE WHITING
Pensioner George Whiting, 77, died

October 11. He
joined the SIU in
1973 and initially
sailed aboard the
Santa Magdelena.
Brother Whiting
was a steward de-
partment member
and concluded his
career on the Mat-
sonia. He became
a pensioner in

2009 and settled in Las Vegas.

BRUCE WRIGHT
Pensioner Bruce Wright, 77, passed
away November 26. He embarked
on his career with
the Seafarers in
1961 and was an
engine department
member. Brother
Wright first sailed
aboard the Steel
Record. He last
shipped on the
Alaskan Fron-
tier and went on
pension in 2007.
Brother Wright was a resident of
South San Francisco, California.

GREAT LAKES

RICHARD GIMPEL
Pensioner Richard Gimpel, 92, died
December 8. He signed on with the
SIU in 1961 when he sailed with

Dunbar and Sul-
livan. Brother
Gimpel worked in
the deck depart-
ment and was
last employed by
Great Lakes Tow-
ing. He became a
pensioner in 1995
and resided in Per-
rysburg, Ohio.

INLAND

DENNIS BLACKMAN
Pensioner Dennis Blackman, 65,
passed away November 30. He em-
barked on his career with the SIU
in 2002 when he
worked with Penn
Maritime. Brother
Blackman was
a deck depart-
ment member.
He most recently
sailed aboard
the Achievement
before retiring
in 2018. Brother
Blackman made his home in Thom-

asville, Georgia.

DALTON DESLATTE
Pensioner Dalton Deslatte, 82, died
December 24. He became a member
of the Seafarers International Union
in 1989 and sailed
in both the deck
and engine depart-
ments. Brother
Deslatte sailed
with Moran Tow-
ing of Texas for
the duration of his
career. He began
collecting his pen-
sion in 2005 and
resided in Port Arthur, Texas.

DEXTER MOORE
Pensioner Dexter Moore, 81, passed
away December 9. He donned the
SIU colors in 1961 and initially

sailed with Gulf
Atlantic Transport.
Brother Moore
was a member of
the deck depart-
ment and was
last employed by
Allied Transporta-
tion. He became a
pensioner in 1999
and settled in Pi-

netown, North Carolina.

JOHN PAYNE
Pensioner John Payne, 90, died
October 18. He embarked on his
career with the union in 1973 when
he worked for Puget Sound. Brother
Payne sailed in the deck department
and was last employed by Crowley
Towing and Transportation. He
retired in 1994 and lived in Jackson-
ville, Florida.

GOLDIE THOMAS
Pensioner Goldie Thomas, 73,
passed away
August 29. She
joined the SIU in
1995. A steward
department mem-
ber, Sister Thomas
worked for Orgulf
Transport for her
entire career. She
began collecting
her pension in
2009 and called East Prairie, Mis-
souri, home.

NMU

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

NAME AGE DOD
Baez, Casimiro 95 12/28/2021
Chavana, Maria 84 12/21/2021
Connor, John 90 11/28/2021
Diaz, Benjamin 98 12/26/2021
Foster, Iva 88 01/17/2022
Gonzales, Joe 89 08/24/2021
Gorrer, Jessie 85 01/09/2022
Keeling, John 94 01/14/2022
Palmer, Leroy 82 01/14/2022
El Rowmeim, Eli 88 01/05/2022
Woods, Wade 96 01/13/2022

Final Final
DeparturesDepartures

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 15

FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitu-
tion of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and In-
land Waters District makes specific provision
for safeguarding the membership’s money
and union finances. The constitution requires
a detailed audit by certified public accoun-
tants every year, which is to be submitted to
the membership by the secretary-treasurer.
A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file
members, elected by the membership, each
year examines the finances of the union and
reports fully their findings and recommenda-
tions. The annual financial committee will be
elected during the April 4 headquarters mem-
bership meeting to review the 2021 records.
Members of this committee may make dis-
senting reports, specific recommendations and
separate findings.

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

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

peals Board by certified mail, return receipt
requested. The proper address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746

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

CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU con-
tracts are available in all SIU halls. These
contracts specify the wages and 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 overtime
(OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper
manner. If, at any time, a member believes
that an SIU patrolman or other union offi-
cial fails to protect their contractual rights
properly, he or she should contact the near-
est SIU port agent.

EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEA-
FARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG tradi-
tionally has refrained from publishing any
article serving the political purposes of any
individual in the union, officer or member.
It also has refrained from publishing articles
deemed harmful to the union or its collec-
tive 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
consists of the executive board of the union.
The executive board may delegate, from
among its ranks, one individual to carry out

this responsibility.

PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies
are to be paid to anyone in any official ca-
pacity in the SIU unless an official union
receipt is given for same. Under no circum-
stances should any member pay any money
for any reason unless he is given such re-
ceipt. In the event anyone attempts to re-
quire any such payment be made without
supplying a receipt, or if a member is re-
quired to make a payment and is given an of-
ficial receipt, but feels that he or she should
not have been required to make such pay-
ment, this should immediately be reported
to union headquarters.

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

EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are
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 fur-
ther its objects and purposes including, but not
limited to, furthering the political, social and
economic interests of maritime workers, the
preservation and furthering of the American
merchant marine with improved employment
opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the
advancement of trade union concepts. In con-
nection with such objects, SPAD supports and
contributes to political candidates for elective
office. All contributions are voluntary. No con-
tribution may be solicited or received because
of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal,
or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of
membership in the union or of employment. If
a contribution is made by reason of the above
improper conduct, the member should notify
the Seafarers International Union or SPAD by
certified mail within 30 days of the contribu-
tion for investigation and appropriate action
and refund, if involuntary. A member should
support SPAD to protect and further his or her
economic, political and social interests, and
American trade union concepts.

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

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

Know Your Rights Know Your Rights

Digest of Shipboard Digest of Shipboard
Union MeetingsUnion Meetings

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

Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requir-
ing attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships’ minutes.
The minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication.

AMERICAN PRIDE (Intrepid Per-
sonnel and Provisioning), October 2
– Chairman Felsher Beasley, Secretary
Richard Jones, Educational Direc-
tor Charlie Wescott, Deck Delegate
Harold Borden, Steward Delegate
Adolfo Bermudez. Chairman encour-
aged members to get vaccinated as soon
as possible. Secretary reminded crew
to continue following CDC guidelines.
Educational director urged members to
upgrade at the Piney Point school. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Members
reviewed current Seafarers LOG and
discussed questions concerning upcom-
ing contract. Crew plans to continue
working towards acquiring Wi-Fi on
ships. Next port: Port Arthur, Texas.

ALASKAN EXPLORER (Alaska
Tanker Company), October 3 – Chair-
man Jose Loureiro, Secretary Ingra
Maddox, Educational Director Tristan
Brand, Deck Delegate Charles Ford,
Steward Delegate Roberto Martinez.
Members discussed Wi-Fi capabilities
that would allow crew to text at sea.

Chairman discussed UA changes at
Paul Hall Center. Educational director
reminded members to start renewing
documents early because of potentially
long wait times. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. “Good food makes a
happy crew.”

AMERICAN FREEDOM (Intrepid
Personnel and Provisioning), October
31 – Chairman Joshua Mensah,
Educational Director Felix Garcia,
Steward Delegate Carlos Diaz. Dryer
has been fixed. Educational director
recommended crew to upgrade at the
union-affiliated Piney Point school.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members requested coffee grinders,
refrigerators in each room, increases
to retirement benefits and Wi-Fi ac-
cess.

AMERICAN PRIDE (Intrepid Person-
nel and Provisioning), November 22
– Chairman Felsher Beasley, Secretary
Richard Jones, Educational Director
William Mercer, Deck Delegate Vic-

tor Chevalier, Steward Delegate San-
tiago Amaya. Members reviewed old
business including Wi-Fi access and
discussed new jobs. Educational direc-
tor reiterated importance of checking
dates on documents as well as renew-
ing ahead of time. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew discussed AB
watch-standing at anchor and related
contractual wages. Members also dis-
cussed upcoming standard agreements.
New mattresses needed. Next port: Port
Everglades, Florida.

MISSOURI EXPRESS (Marine Per-
sonnel and Provisioning), December
5 – Chairman Jose Jimenea, Secretary
John Stephens, Educational Direc-
tor Jimmie Williams, Deck Delegate
Willie Myrick, Engine Delegate
Ernest Smith, Steward Delegate
William White. Members reported
issues receiving cash from captain for
payoff. Chairman announced payoff
in Charleston, South Carolina. Educa-
tional director advised crew to attend
upgrading courses at the Paul Hall

Center and to make sure documents
are up to date. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Crew motioned for inclu-
sion of 30 for 30 vacation pay in next
contract. More linens, pillow cases and
towels needed aboard ship. Next port:
Jacksonville, Florida.

AMERICAN PHOENIX (Phoenix
Crew Management), December 26
– Chairman Charles Hill, Secretary
Johnnie McGill, Educational Director
Juan Castillo, Deck Delegate Ali Al
Kassemi, Steward Delegate Hyey-
oung Forrer. Ship sailing smoothly.
Stores will be at next port as reported
by secretary. Educational director re-
minded crew to upgrade at the Piney
Point school. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. New refrigerators were re-
quested where needed.

AMERICAN LIBERTY (Intrepid
Personnel and Provisioning), Janu-
ary 24 – Chairman Ryan Legario,
Secretary Nadine Butler, Educational
Director Frederick Williams, Deck

Delegate Mapalana Gamage, Engine
Delegate Arsenio Jenkins, Steward
Delegate Kenneth Kelly. Chairman
oversaw discussion regarding current
and upcoming collective bargaining
agreements. Vote of thanks given to
the deck department for working hard
and staying safe. Engine and steward
departments were commended for jobs
well done. Members were reminded of
new vaccination and booster require-
ments to attend courses at the Piney
Point school. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Crew suggested inclusion of
adequate Wi-Fi access in next contract
as well as increased wages and vaca-
tion benefits. Members requested a
decrease in age and sea time require-
ments for retirement. Crew would like
company-paid travel from their homes
to work, rather than from union hall
to airport since some members live
hundreds of miles away. Members
sought clarification for vision/eyeglass
benefits and for prescriptions outside of
home state. Next port: Marcus Hook,
Pennsylvania.

Editor’s note: The U.S. Coast Guard’s Na-
tional Maritime Center issued the following
notice on Feb. 14. It’s available on the agency’s
website and on the SIU website.

The National Maritime Center (NMC) receives
more than 50,000 applications annually from U.S.
Merchant Mariners applying for medical certifi-
cates.  On average, over 10 percent of those applica-
tions are missing information, which causes delays
in processing and frustration for mariners.  As a
reminder, the NMC previously published Common
Errors Mariners Make When Submitting CG-719K
(04/17), which remains valid, and will not accept in-
complete medical certificate applications.

A total of 7,882 awaiting information (AI) rea-
sons were issued in 2021 for medical certificate
applications.  Below are the general and specific
reasons that mariners will receive an AI letter for
medical certificate applications:

General Reasons:
Top reasons include:
n Visual acuity does not meet regulations

as listed in Merchant Mariner Medical Manual,

Commandant Instruction Manual (COMDTINST
M16721.48), Chapter 5.

Additional tests not provided when there is an
abnormal vision exam.
n Conditions listed in COMDTINST

M16721.48, Chapters 8, need further documenta-
tion. This requires a current written report from your
treating provider documenting the current status of
the condition, history of the condition, frequency
and severity of symptoms, treatment plan with all
medications/side effects, ability to perform all tasks
as listed in Chapter 8, and prognosis for performing
safety sensitive merchant mariner duties.
nCommon conditions needing further docu-

mentation are:
nDiabetes
nSleep Apnea
nSubstance Abuse
nHeart Condition
nSeizure Disorder.

Specific Reasons:
NOTE:  All section and page information in this

section is referring to form CG-719K.
nRequired tests are incompletely documented

on Page 7.
nMedications/Conditions are not explained or

commented on Page 5.
nResponse not provided for Food Handler Cer-

tification (Section II, Page 3).
nYES or NO response not provided for each

condition listed (Section III (a), Page 4).
n Incomplete details (date of onset/condition/

treatment/status/limitations) of conditions identified
on Page 4 (Section III (b), Page 5).
nNo response or incomplete response to medi-

cation section (Section IV, Page 6).
nMissing height, weight, pulse rate, and/or

blood pressure (Section V, Page 6).
nNORMAL or ABNORMAL response not

provided for each system/organ identified (Section
V, Page 6).
nMissing uncorrected vision (Section VI (a),

Page 7).
nUncorrected vision tests with corrective lenses

(Section VI (a), Page 7).
nMissing field of vision (Section VI (a), Page 7).
n Inappropriate color vision testing method,

number of errors omitted, or determination not indi-
cated (Section VI (b), Page 7).

NOTE:  If color vision testing failed, to avoid
processing delay, put handwritten note in this section
that indicates the applicant’s ability to distinguish
red, green, blue, and yellow; and by which method.
nHearing not marked as normal, abnormal, or

hearing aid required (Section VII, Page 7).
nMissing Physical Ability Results (Section

VIII, Page 8).
nProof of identity not checked (Section IX (a), Page

9).
n Certification recommendations (Recom-

mended, Not Recommended, or Needs Further Re-
view) not checked (Section IX (b), Page 9).
nSignificant risk of sudden incapacitation (Yes,

No, or Needs Further Review) not checked (Section
IX (c), Page 9).
n If entry-level – Medical condition aggravated by

service at sea (Yes, No, or Needs Further Review) for
entry level rating not checked (Section IX (c), Page 9).
n Provider failed to sign/date the form and/or

provide license number (Section IX (e), Page 9).
nMissing signature of Applicant (Section X, Page 9).
Those having questions regarding completion of

the CG-719K, may contact the NMC Help Desk at
1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

NMC Explains Why Mariners’ Medical Certificates Are Delayed

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16 Seafarers LOG March 2022

SIU-MM-2-4-2022

Mortgages designed
for union families

The Union Plus Mortgage Program
with financing from Wells Fargo Home

Mortgage or Union Plus Mortgage

Company provides benefits you can’t get

anywhere else, including competitive rates,

mortgage assistance and gift awards.

Learn more at: unionplus.org/mortgage
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for providing
agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit
your home financing needs.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2022 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
NMLSR ID 399801
Union Plus Mortgage Company has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for provid-
ing agreed upon services.
Union Plus Mortgage Company NMLSR 156182

SIU-MM-2-4-2022

Mortgages designed
for union families

The Union Plus Mortgage Program
with financing from Wells Fargo Home

Mortgage or Union Plus Mortgage

Company provides benefits you can’t get

anywhere else, including competitive rates,

mortgage assistance and gift awards.

Learn more at: unionplus.org/mortgage
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for providing
agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit
your home financing needs.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2022 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
NMLSR ID 399801
Union Plus Mortgage Company has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for provid-
ing agreed upon services.
Union Plus Mortgage Company NMLSR 156182

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 17

UPGRADING APPLICATION
Name_________________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________
Date of Birth___________________________________________________________________
Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o Inland Waters Member o

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

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

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

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

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

____________________________ _______________ ________________________

LAST VESSEL: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________

Date On: _______________________________ Date Off:____________________________

SIGNATURE ____________________________________ DATE______________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if
you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any
questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are
reimbursable. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Train-
ing and Education Admissions Office, Email:upgrading@seafarers.org Mail: 45353 St.
George’s Ave., Piney Point, MD 20674 Fax: 301-994-2189.

The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits stu-
dents, who are otherwise qualified, or any race, nationality or sex. The school complies with
applicable laws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or
activities.
3/22

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

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

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Gap Closing Courses

MSC Storekeeper Basic May 2 May 20

MSC Ship Clip June 6 June 17

MSC Supply Configuration Management May 23 June 3

Deck Department Upgrading Courses

Able Seafarer-Deck April 4 April 22
May 23 June 10

Lifeboat/Water Survival March 14 March 25
April 11 April 22
May 9 May 20
June 6 June 17

Fast Rescue Boat June 20 June 24

RFPNW April 25 May 13
June 27 July 15

Celestial Navigation August 22 September 16

Leadership and Management Skills August 8 August 12

Advanced Shiphandling August 22 September 2

Advanced Meteorology September 12 September 16

Advanced Stability September 5 September 9

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

RFPEW April 25 May 20

FOWT June 13 July 8

Junior Engineer July 11 September 2

Marine Electrician May 16 June 17

Marine Refer Tech April 4 May 13

Advanced Refer Containers July 18 July 29

Machinist March 14 April 1

Pumpman April 4 April 8

Title of Start Date of
Course Date Completion

Engine Department Upgrading Courses

Welding April 25 May 13
June 6 June 24

Engineroom Resource Management August 1 August 5

Steward Department Upgrading Courses

Certified Chief Cook March 21 April 22
April 25 May 27
May 30 July 1
July 11 August 12

Advanced Galley Operations April 4 April 29
June 20 July 15

Chief Steward May 9 June 3

Safety/Open Upgrading Courses

Combined Basic/Advanced Firefighting April 4 April 8

Medical Care Provider April 11 April 15

Basic Training April 4 April 8
June 6 June 10

Basic Training Revalidation March 21 March 21
March 25 March 25
April 4 April 4
April 22 April 22
May 6 May 6

Government Vessels March 14 March 18
April 11 April 15
April 25 April 29
May 9 May 13
June 13 June 17
June 27 July 1

Tank Ship-DL (PIC) March 14 March 18

Tank Ship Familiarization DL April 4 April 8
May 2 May 6
June 27 July 1

Tank Ship Familiarization LG May 9 May 13
May 23 May 27

Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course DatesPaul Hall Center Upgrading Course Dates

Important Notice to all Students
Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime

Training and Education, but later discover - for whatever reason - that they can’t
attend, should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can
be made to have other students take their places

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18 Seafarers LOG March 2022

Paul Hall Center ClassesPaul Hall Center Classes

Apprentice Water Survival Class #877 – Graduated December 31 (above, in alphabetical order): Spencer Bailey, Jacob Burleson, Elijah Courtney, Tyler Dreschel, Robert Freer III,
Juliette Mandal, Dion Martin, Joseph McCrea, Shawnique Morris, Daquan President, Stephanie Vidrio, James Walker and Landon Williams.

Government Vessels – Graduated
January 28 (photo at right, in alphabeti-
cal order): Diana Alicea-Hughes, Kevin
Barry, James Brown, Joseph Burke,
Andrew Cosgrove, Alexander Hunting,
Fredy Segura and Michael Tinkel.

Government Vessels – Graduated January 21 (above, in alphabetical order): Larry Bachelor, Tyebreyell Bray, Henry Brown, Johnnie Carswell, Randy Corey, Mohamed Abdul Rahman
Gazaly, Terry Jackson, Bernard Mainor, Emmanuel De Gracia Matias, Julius Binaluyo Morala, Robert Noble, Daniel Joshua Ramos Resultan, Antoinette M. Rivera, Adrian Schubert,
Joseph Smith, Julius Thomas and Mario Yancey.

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March 2022 Seafarers LOG 19

Paul Hall Center ClassesPaul Hall Center Classes

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

Important Notice
To All Students

Government Vessels (Phase 1)
– Graduated January 21 (photo at
left, in alphabetical order): Noah
Hepburn, Maurice Kent Jr., and
Walter Lewis.

Engineroom Resource Management – Upgrader Austin Anderson (above) graduated from this
class December 10.

Water Survival – Terence Pitts (above) completed the enhancement of his
skills in this course and graduated January 28.

Advanced Galley Operations –
Graduated December 10 (photo
at left, in alphabetical order):
Drushelia Finney, Reynard Gibbs,
Dustin Haney, Joseph Huls and
Dindo Prellagera Reforsado.

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20 Seafarers LOG March 2022

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

Union Leaders Hail Biden’s Pro-PLA OrderUnion Leaders Hail Biden’s Pro-PLA Order
Editor’s note: This article was written by

Mark Gruenberg of Press Associates, Inc.
It has been lightly edited for style. Project
labor agreements are vitally important to
America’s working families.

Union officials applauded President Joe
Biden’s Feb. 7 executive order man-
dating that federally funded construc-

tion projects worth at least $35 million must
be built by workers using project labor agree-
ments (PLA).

“Just remember, it ain’t labor – it’s
unions” that built the country and will do so
again, Biden declared to a union crowd at the
Ironworkers Local 5 hall in Upper Marlboro,
Maryland, not far from SIU headquarters.

Sean McGarvey, president of North
America’s Building Trades Unions (a labor
federation), spoke for others – including
Local 5 members at Biden’s signing cer-
emony – in declaring how the president’s
order would improve workers’ wages, work-
ing conditions and health and safety.

“Project labor agreements are often ef-
fective in preventing problems from devel-
oping” on construction sites “because they
provide structure and stability to large-scale
construction projects,” Biden’s order ex-
plains.

That’s “welcome news for all workers,
union and nonunion,” McGarvey pointed
out. “Project labor agreements address
labor supply, secure workers’ classification,
set good wages, promote strong health and
safety standards, and ensure large-scale proj-
ects are completed on time, with the highest
degree of quality, efficiency, and safety.”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, an Elec-
trical Worker, added in an e-mail: “President
Biden’s signing of an executive order requir-
ing project labor agreements for all federal
construction projects over $35 million en-
sures the $262 billion in federal construc-
tion contracting will use high-skilled union
labor, create a more efficient approach to the
work and will use our tax dollars to create
high-quality jobs. Thanks to this agreement,
200,000 union members will make sure
America’s infrastructure is built.”

McGarvey added PLAs not only create
well-paying jobs for construction workers,

but promote local hiring, increase well-
trained (union-trained) apprentices and can
let “women, people of color and veterans
access construction career pathways. As a
result, these agreements are proven to boost
local economies, address inequities and up-
lift marginalized communities, and achieve
substantial, direct cost savings by standard-
izing contract terms among various crafts.”

Biden’s order stressed the benefits of
PLAs. They “avoid disruptions on projects
by using dispute-resolution processes to re-
solve worksite disputes and by prohibiting
work stoppages, including strikes and lock-
outs. They secure commitment of all stake-
holders on a construction site the project will
proceed efficiently without unnecessary in-
terruptions.”

In return for higher wages and guaranteed
due process on the job, workers and contrac-
tors get stability and quality work that lasts,
the president said at the ceremony.

“I tell you who built America: the middle
class,” he explained. “And the people who
built the middle class are organized labor:
unions. Unions did it. That’s not hyper-
bole. That’s a fact. That’s a straight fact.”

Biden said his order will “help ensure we
build a better America, we build it right, and
we build it on time…. The executive order is
making sure federal construction projects get
completed on time and under budget, sav-
ing taxpayers money, clearing construction
zones quickly, and ensuring everything the
federal government signs to contract to build
is built to last.”

Biden’s order covers not just work on
roads, bridges, subways and airports, but
all types of infrastructure. He specifically
singled out improving U.S. ports and water-
ways.

Such maritime improvements, in the
“hard” infrastructure law Biden signed in
December, include at least two which PLAs
would cover, according to a recent statement
from the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Depart-
ment: a new larger Soo Lock between Lake
Superior and the other Great Lakes, costing
$470 million, and $69 million “to improve
navigation and expand capacity” at the Nor-
folk, Virginia, harbor, where container traffic
has risen 67% in 10 years.

Biden’s order has some limited excep-
tions, but even when agencies want to invoke
them to avoid PLAs, a “senior official” must
sign off on that decision, and justify the ex-
ception.

The allowances include projects of short
duration, that use only one construction
craft, that are “of compelling urgency that
... makes a project labor agreement imprac-
tical” or those where a PLA requirement
would “substantially reduce the number of
potential bidders so as to frustrate full and
open competition.”

Numerous studies have pointed out the
benefits of PLAs, disclosing how those proj-
ects come in on time and often under budget.
That hasn’t stopped anti-worker organiza-
tions from trying to outlaw them.

PLAs “standardize working conditions
across a project and ensure that all working
people receive fair wages, benefits, and safe
working conditions,” said Painters President
Jimmy Williams Jr.

“PLAs were utilized when Operating
Engineers built the Grand Coulee Dam, the

interstate highway system,” and space facili-
ties, added IUOE President James Callahan.
“As we embark upon building modern and
more resilient infrastructure for our future,
these agreements will help employ thousands
of skilled tradespeople and pay wages that
sustain families and lift local economies.”

Biden’s order “shows what the American
worker has to gain by having a pro-labor

president in the White House,” said U.S.
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-New Jersey), who
is also a former president of the South Jersey
Building and Construction Trades Council.
“Requiring PLAs on federal construction
projects will improve job quality for nearly
200,000 workers. PLAs also help ensure the
responsible stewardship of tax dollars by
pre-negotiating wages and benefits – mean-
ing workers can spend more time working
and less time haggling over work conditions.
Additionally, workers under a PLA are more
likely to have health care, a benefit that has
always been important in demanding con-
struction jobs but even more so during the
pandemic.”

Thanks to vessel master Capt. Francisco Sousa (an SIU hawsepiper) for this photo from the recently reflagged SubCom vessel. Pictured with the captain (second from left)
are GVA Angel Palacios, OMU Kasim Ahmed, Splicer Toby Malone, Chief Cook Pedro Maysonet, OMU Joshua Glancy, 3AE Sean Kirby, 2M John Fendl, Chief Electrician Igor
Yakunkov, OMU Gregory Attawora, ET Tony Monica, 2AE Pete Barrow, ABSJ Julian Dingzon, 2AE Joe Osiak, 1AE Greg Thomas, ABSJ Raul Morales Vargas, Chief Engineer
Jeff McCarthy, GVA Tremere Manning, GVA Ryeasha Powell, OMU Xyla Jimenez, 1/O Manny Reyes, 3AE Jewel McLain, 2M Jordan Scherling, 3M Greg Tronti, Bosun Emilio
Abreu, Chief Mate Steve Vogler, and Coast Guard representatives Dan Mochen and Todd Michel.

President Biden signs an executive order calling for project labor agreements, which
will all but ensure the use of union labor. Among those attending the ceremony in Upper
Marlboro, Maryland, are Vice President Kamala Harris (third from left) and U.S. Secretary
of Labor Marty Walsh (left). (Photo courtesy Ironworkers)

Aboard the CS DecisiveAboard the CS Decisive

MARCH 2022 VOLUME 84, NO. 3

Paul Hall CenterPaul Hall Center
Class PhotosClass Photos
Pages 18-19Pages 18-19

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