Seafarers Log: Vol. 64 No. 4 (2002-04-01)

Seafarers
Crew Up
New Dredge

Seafarers are sailing
aboard the new
dredge Liberty Island,
which is in service
near Palm Beach, Fla.
Page 3.

MTD Executive Board Meetings

Powerful Case
Made for Extending,
Expanding Maritime
Security Program
Port, Shipboard Security
Among Other Key Topics

Members of Congress and the administration voiced

strong bipartisan support for the American maritime

industry when they addressed the AFL-CIO Maritime

Trades Department (MTD) executive board Feb. 21-22

in New Orleans. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard

Trumka (top photo, second from right) also expressed

the federation's backing for the U.S. fleet. Greeting

Trumka are (from left) MTD VP Ernie Whelan, MTD

Pres. Michael Sacco and MTD Executive Sec.­

Treasurer Frank Pecquex. In the other photo (from left),

SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, U.S. Rep.

David Vitter (R-La.) and SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean

Corgey discuss the U.S. Merchant Marine's role in

national defense. Pages 3, 6, 7.

Volume 64, Number 4

THE SIGN displayed by Secretary of the
Interior Gale Norton (top photo) says it all:
Safe development and exploration of Alaska's

Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge (ANWR) will
create good jobs for
Americans. Part of
the president's pro­
posed energy plan,
ANWR exploration
also will lessen the

nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Seafarers took that message to Washington,
D.C. last month, where they were joined at
demonstrations by (among others backing the
plan) President Bush (pictured at left, greeting
SIU Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel), U.S.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas)
(lower left, with Unlicensed Apprentice Felipe
Zepeda) and U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski
(R-Alaska) (lower right, with more appren­
tices, including some from his state). Page 3.

Supporting Steelworkers
Dozens of Seafarers turned out Feb. 28 for a massive rally near the White House
supporting the U.S. steel industry. Days later, President Bush enacted interim tariffs
ranging from 8 to 30 percent on most varieties of steel imported into the United
States from Europe, Asia and South America. Page 2.



President's Report
Bonus Is Well-Deserved

Last month, I had a chance to spend time at the Paul Hall Center
with a number of SIU pensioners and other retirees from the industry

who were involved in meetings of the American
Merchant Marine Veterans.

What a terrific group! Chatting with the AMMV
members reminded me of catching up with retired
Seafarers at our various union halls throughout the
country. By and large, those union brothers and sis­
ters are bright, funny and engaging. Sure, some of
them may have tough exteriors-but, once the ice
is broken, they're as friendly and helpful as anyone

Michael Sacco you'll ever meet.
That's one reason why I'm so pleased with the

announcement that eligible SIU pensioners this month will receive a
bonus check for $1,000. Talk about Christmas in April! In past years
when bonuses have been approved, they usually have been sent around
the end of the year. I trust that no one will mind the early "present"
this time. And I'm hopeful and confident the pension plan will contin­
ue its successful performance at levels which, at least periodically, per­
mit bonuses in future years.

Speaking of SIU pensioners, here's something else I've noticed:
They stay involved with their union long after retiring. They care
about this organization. They care about their country and the U.S.
Merchant Marine. Without a doubt, their presence at the halls-and
their willingness to pitch in with whatever project is next-has helped
the SIU remain strong, despite the serious challenges confronting our
industry.

So I thank our retired brothers and sisters, and I strongly encourage
their continued involvement. Their experience and knowledge are
assets we cannot afford to waste.

Along those lines, I recommend to our younger members that you
take advantage of the chances to learn from more experienced
Seafarers, both active and retired. Whether you're on a ship or at a hall
or at Piney Point, get to know the people who helped lay the ground­
work for many of the opportunities and benefits you now enjoy. Ask
questions, and soak up as much of their wisdom as you can.

Strength Through MTD
This issue of the LOG contains several articles about the recent

meetings of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive
board. The topics covered at those meetings should greatly interest
Seafarers because they directly impact your livelihood.

Naturally, one of the main themes involved new security measures
for ensuring protection at U.S. ports and aboard vessels entering the
country. It is, to say the least, a giant task. It's also being duly recog­
nized on Capitol Hill and in the press (including a segment last month
on "60 Minutes") as an urgent matter which requires decisive, thor­
ough action.

The SIU is working with the Coast Guard and its National
Maritime Center, the Maritime Administration, the National Defense
Transportation Association, the U.S. Transportation Command and
other segments of the industry to help ensure that realistic, effective
steps are taken to improve port and shipboard security. This is a huge
issue for our entire nation, not just our industry. The SIU will continue
to work as a part of the solution.

Another major theme at the MTD meetings was the need to expand
and extend the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP). Although it
contains the word "security," the MSP predates America's war on ter­
rorism by five years. Nevertheless, the MSP specifically was designed
with U.S. national and economic protection in mind. It was crafted to
help ensure that America could call upon U.S. crews and U.S.-flag
vessels to carry out its missions, whether in peacetime or in times of
conflict.

In the tragic circumstances of September 11, and to some extent
during the ensuing months, we as a nation were reminded that we can­
not automatically rely on support from others. We'd better be prepared
to stand alone, if necessary. As noted by many of the MTD speakers, a
strong U.S. fleet is a vital part of our arsenal.

It's worth remembering that the SIU's affiliation with the MTD sig­
nificantly boosts our capacity to promote an effective U.S. fleet.
Altogether, MTD affiliate unions represent about 7 .5 million members.
When so many voices unite behind a cause, they cannot be ignored.

With that in mind, I ask the membership to participate in local
MTD port councils. It's a great way to learn more about the U.S. mar­
itime industry and to help advance not only the merchant marine, but
also related industries including shipbuilding, steel, stevedoring and
others.

Volume 64, Number 4 April 2002

The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published month­
ly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201
Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301)
899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern
Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POST­
MASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG,
5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing
Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim
Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne
Textor.
Copyright © 2002 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved.

2 Seafarers LOS

Pensioners Get $1,000 Bonus
Eligible SIU pensioners will

receive a bonus check of $1,000
this month. The Seafarers
Pension Plan Board of Trustees
recently approved the payment
after union representatives to the
group recommended the bonus.

This bonus check will be sent
to all SIU pensioners who cur­
rently receive monthly benefit
checks for normal, early normal
or disability pensions from the
Seafarers Pension Plan.

The board of trustees, consist­
ing of representatives from the
SIU and its contracted compa­
nies, decided to issue the bonus
after reviewing the plan's suc­
cessful investment performance.

"They're really taking care of
the retired people," stated SIU
pensioner Gerard Cifarelli, who
lives in Baltimore. "I don't know
of another union that would do
something like this bonus. It feels
really good."

Cifarelli sailed in the inland
and coastwise trades for 33 years,
both in the deck and engine
departments. He said the bonus is
just the latest example of "how
the union has done wonders for
me. I can't say enough good
things about the SIU."

More information about the

Retiree Gerard Cifarelli (top photo, second from left) said the bonus is
an unexpected but welcome surprise. He is pictured with {from left) SIU
President Michael Sacco, SIU Sec-Treasurer David Heindel and SIU
Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz.

bonus or the pension plan in gen­
eral may be obtained by contact­
ing any union hall or by calling a
plan representative at l-800-
CLAIMS4. Members and pen­
sioners also may write to the plan
at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs,
MD 20746.

Right: SIU President Michael
Sacco (right) is thanked by pen­
sioner Gerard Cifarelli for the
bonus checks being sent to all eli­
gible SIU retirees.

Steel Industry Receives Some Relief
Seafarers Support USWA at Massive Demonstration

President Bush on March 5 enacted interim tar­
iffs ranging from 8 to 30 percent on most varieties
of steel imported into the United States from
Europe, Asia and South America.

The tariffs- some of which were scheduled to go
in effect March 20--will last for three years and are
intended to afford the ailing American steel industry
an opportunity to modernize operations and halt lay­
offs. Since Dec. 31, 1977, 31 U.S. Steel companies
have filed for bankruptcy protection, 16 companies
have closed down and nearly 47,000 steelworkers
and iron ore miners have lost their jobs.
Bush ruled that the tariffs would start March 20 on
many steel products. The nations expected to be
most affected by the new taxes are Japan, South
Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany and Brazil. There
will be no duties on steel from Mexico, Canada and
developing nations.

According to a release by the United Steel
Workers of America (USWA), steel imports subject
to the tariffs include flat steel, semi-finished steel,
hot and cold bar steel and some tubular steel and
specialty steel.

SUPPon '

CJn1tQ11
StceJwork

Among the SIU members who supported their fellow
union brothers and sisters during the rally were (fore­
ground, from left) Leticia Perales, James Willey,
Veronika Cardenas, Ed Tully and Rolando Lopez.

The president referred to the levy measures as
"temporary safeguards to help give the steel indus­
try and its workers a chance to adapt to the large
influx of foreign steel. This relief will help steel

Continued on page 4

Financial Committee
Okays 2001 Records

increase day-to-day efficiency of
our operation."

Article X, Section 15 of the
SIU Constitution stipulates the
use of an annual financial com­
mittee. It reads: "The Annual
Financial Committee shall make
an examination for each annual
period of the finances of the
Union and shall report fully on
their findings and recommenda­
tions."

Seven Seafarers serving on the
union's annual financial commit­
tee have reviewed the SIU's
financial records for the year
2001 and found them in good
order.

The committee of rank-and­
file members, elected by their fel­
low Seafarers at the March mem­
bership meeting in Piney Point,
Md., consisted of John Bukow­
sky, Patrick Farley, James Kidd
Jr., John Smith, Edward Tully,
Gregory White and Cecil
Williams.

"We have examined the proce­
dure for controlling the funds of
the union and have found that the
system of internal control is ade­
quate to safeguard them proper­
ly," the committee noted in its
report. "We find that the head­
quarters of the union is taking all

steps possible to safeguard union
funds and to see that the disburse­
ments of the union are in accor­
dance with the authority delegat­
ed to them and that, at the same
time, there is a striving effort to

Reviewing the union's financial records for 2001 are (from left) Pat
Farley, James Kidd Jr., SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, John
Smith, Gregory White, Ed Tully, C.J. Williams and John Bukowsky.

Apdl 2002



War on Terrorism Heightens
U.S. Merchant Marine's Value
National Defense Role Emphasized to MTD

With the war on terrorism
accentuating the merchant
marine's vital role in national
defense, the executive board of
the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades
Department (MTD) during its
winter meetings spelled out strate­
gies to strengthen the U.S. fleet.

Members of Congress and the
administration also voiced strong

U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt.
William Schubert (left) and Vice
Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.),
who served as head of MarAd
during the Clinton administration,
both called for an extended, e~­
panded Maritime Security Pro­
gram.

bipartisan support for the
American maritime industry
when they addressed the board
Feb. 21-22 in New Orleans.

Throughout the sessions
numerous speakers stressed the
need to immediately extend and
expand the U.S. Maritime
Security Program (MSP). Ship­
board and port security also were
prime topics.

MTD President Michael
Sacco, who also serves as presi­
dent of the SIU, opened the meet­
ings by urging all concerned to
advance the industry's causes as
well as those of all working fam­
ilies as the nation regroups from
the economic hardships caused
by September 11.

"As we move further along in
the year 2002, I think we're com­
ing out of our mourning period, to
some extent," he stated. "Obvi­
ously, we'll never forget what
happened. And clearly, our nation
has changed in more ways than
we could have imagined.

"But it's time to roll up our
sleeves and move forward," he
continued. "We owe it to all con­
cerned, especially those who have

The Liberty Island is the newest dredge in the SIU-contracted fleet.

New Dredge Joins SIU Fleet
Seafarers are sailing aboard the newly built Liberty Island, the

eighth hopper dredge in the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. fleet.
Touted by the company as "the most efficient dredge of its kind in

operation in the United States," the new addition is in service near
Palm Beach, Fla. with a crew of 16.

"The Liberty Island is a state-of-the-art vessel signifying new jobs
for SIU members," said SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "It
is a welcome addition."

According to the company, the Liberty Is land "can dispose of mate­
rial by bottom-dumping, and can also discharge material through its
on-board bow pump-out system. The dredge is well-suited to work in
harbors and inland waterways as well as offshore. Her maneuverabili­
ty and hopper capacity make her an efficient and flexible dredging tool
for both capitaJ and maintenance projects involving excavation with
disposal either at sea or ashore."

The dredge's potential uses include harbor development, channel
maintenance and beach replenishment, among others.

Manufactured by Bay Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the
Liberty Island is 315 feet long, with a beam of 59 feet and a 25.5-foot
draft. The vessel's total horsepower is listed as 16,566.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock reports that the Liberty Island is clas­
sified as an ABS@Al Dredger, ACCU, and can carry 5,000 m3 of
dredged material.

Other SIU-crewed dredges in the company's fleet include the Long
Island, Northerly Island, Padre Island, Manhattan Island, Sugar
Island, Dodge Island and Victoria Island

Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all
SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, May 27,

2002 for the observance of Memorial Day (unless
an emergency arises). Normal business hours will

resume the following workday.

Apri/2002

suffered through the economic
decline that is gripping this coun­
try. As our good friend and leader,
AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney put it: Let us pay tribute
to our heroes, but also let us forge
a memorial to their sacrifice by
translating our grief and anger
into action."

Board members, representing
the 30 unions and 24 port mar­
itime councils that compose the
MTD, approved 11 policy state­
ments covering subjects includ­
ing the MSP, the fight against ter­
rorism, shipbuilding, cabotage
laws, runaway flags, port and
shipboard security, organizing
and other labor issues.

Addressing the executive
board were (in alphabetical order)
CFDT Maritime Union of France
Secretary General Jean Marc
Barrey, Louisiana AFL-CIO
President John "Red" Bourg, U.S.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), for­
mer Maritime Administrator Vice
Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.),
U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D­
La.), U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
(D-La.), U.S. Coast Guard Port
Security Director Capt. Tony

Regalbuto, U.S. Maritime
Administrator Capt. William
Schubert, Norwegian Oil and
Petrochemical Workers Union
Vice President Torbjom Teigland,
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Richard Trumka and U.S. Rep.
David Vitter (R-La.).

Jefferson, in remarks echoed
by others during the meetings,
stated that the MSP "has deliv­
ered for our nation by keeping the
U.S. flag on the high seas and
helping maintain a presence in
international commerce while
strengthening our pool of skilled
marine workers and marine
crews. I want to make sure that it
is not only extended, but it is also
expanded-that it gets extended
perhaps not just for 10 years but
for a longer period. That includes

SIU Hits the Hill
For Energy Plan

MTD Pres. Michael Sacco

more ships and more workers and
a more secure nation for us in the
future."

SIU members and officials took part in rallies at
the White House and at Teamsters headquarters
March 7 in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their
support for a national energy plan that includes the
safe exploration and development of Alaska's
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Listening to President Bush during a March 7 gath­
ering at the White House are (from left) Secretary of
Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of Energy Spencer
Abraham, SIU Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel and
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

Immediately after the rallies, Seafarers individ­
ually delivered letters on Capitol Hill to senators
from their respective states, asking them to support
such an energy plan. The letters pointed out that
safe development of ANWR will mean good news
for the U.S. Merchant Marine by helping "provide
strong, good-paying job opportunities aboard new
double-hulled tankers for people like me to sup­
port a family in years to come. I would appreciate
your support for this important issue for America's
future and mine."

remarks by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R­
Texas ), Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Frank
Murkowski (R-Alaska) as well as Laborers
President Terence O'Sullivan.

The Senate is considering passage of the presi­
dent's energy plan, which includes provisions for
exploring ANWR.

President Bush spoke at the White House rally,
which also featured Secretary of Labor Elaine
Chao, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton,
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and White
House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.

The event at Teamsters headquarters included

White House
Chief of Staff
Andrew Card

Laborers Pres.
Terence

O'Sullivan

U.S. Senator
Rick Santorum

(R-Pa.)

Soresi Appointed SIU Atlantic District VP
The union's executive board

recently approved SIU President
Michael Sacco's recommendation

Joseph Soresi

that Joseph Soresi become the
vice president of the SIU's
Atlantic District.

The appointment was made in
accordance with Article X of the
union's constitution. It followed
the retirement last year of Jack
Caffey, who had served as
Atlantic District vice president
since 1988.

Soresi had been the SIU's port
agent in Philadelphia since 1996.
He worked as a patrolman in
Philadelphia in l 993, then was
active in organizing campaigns in
Missouri, Illinois and Indiana
involving the SIU-affiliated
Seafarers Entertainment and
Allied Trades Union (SEATU).

Soresi, 32, is a native of Staten

Island, N.Y. He joined the SIU in
1990 and sailed until March
1993, when he signed off the !TB
Groton. An AB, he upgraded sev­
eral times at the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and
Education, located in Piney Point,
Md.

Beyond his work with the SIU,
Soresi has been active in other
parts of the labor movement. He
is a vice president of the Penn­
sylvania AFL-CIO and serves on
the executive board of the
Philadelphia Central Labor
Council. He also is the secretary­
treasurer of the Delaware Valley
and Vicinity Port Council of the
AFL-CIO Maritime Trades
Department.

Seafarers LOii 3



U.S. Steel Industry Gets Relief
Continued from page 2

workers , commumttes that
depend on steel and the steel
industry adjust without harming
our economy," he said.

Reactions to the president's
decision generally have been
mixed. For the most part,
Americans backed the action as
being an appropriate and long­
overdue relief for the steel indus­
try. Abroad, however, reaction
was harsh with many nations
billing the Bush decision as a set­
back to so-called free trade.

Steel Industry Grateful
U.S. Steel industry manage­

ment, union officials and politi­
cians from steel-producing states
by and large applauded the chief
executive's action despite the fact
that it fell short of what they
wanted ( 40 percent tariffs had
been asked for). Bush 's move
was the most forceful taken by
the executive branch to shield a
domestic industry from unfair
imports since the Reagan admin­
istration levied restraints on steel
imports in the mid-1980s.

USWA President Leo W.
Gerard said the president's deci­
sion "raises our hopes that
America's steel industry can be
saved and set the stage for legis­
lation necessary to protect the
health care benefits of 600,000
steelworker retirees whose bene­
fits remain at risk.

"While the decision is not as
comprehensive as we hoped," he
continued, "it certainly is the first
time we've seen some light at the
end of a long dark tunnel."

Gerard attributed the presi­
dent's action to grassroots
activism, noting, "Literally tens
of thousands of citizens from
steel communities throughout the
nation's industrial heartland
made it crystal clear that the day
is done when American workers
will stand for being victimized by
violations of our trade laws. We
congratulate President Bush for
hearing that urgent message and
on taking another crucial step
toward leveling the playing field
in steel trade."

Members of the Lake Carriers'
Association partly were pleased
with the president's plan, but
were disappointed that it did little
to address the import of steel
slabs. The association represents
12 American corporations that
operate 58 U.S.-flag vessels
exclusively on the Great Lakes.
These vessels-many of which
are crewed by Seafarers-and

others on the Great Lakes were
carrying about 125 million tons
of cargo each navigation season
before the dumping of foreign
steel and declining water levels
slashed cargo totals. Last year,
U.S.-flag carriage totaled 102.02
million net tons of dry-bulk car­
goes.

"Every ton of slabs imported
into this country takes cargo off
the Great Lakes," said George l
Ryan, president of the associa­
tion. "The production of one ton
of raw steel in a blast furnace
requires 1.3 tons of iron ore, plus
quantities of flux stone and cok­
ing coal."

Ryan continued, "The presi­
dent's plan not only allows
imports of slabs to stay at their
current high level, but also actu­
ally permits increased imports in
the second and third years of the
tariff program and reduces the
tariff in those years for imports in
excess of the quota."

Ryan said the association sup­
ports efforts to return America's
steel industry to profitability and
sanctions the tariffs imposed on
various steel imports, "but we
feel our valid concerns were not
addressed. It is doubtful that the
president's plan will increase
Great Lakes iron ore shipments."

International Reaction
Elected representatives from

around the world-many of them
U.S. allies-have taken turns
voicing what they regard as
Bush's employment of double
standards by mandating the tar­
iffs. The U.S. 's largest trading
partner-Europe-has threatened
retaliation by imposing its own
tariffs. Choosing not to be left out
of the trade brawl that's brewing,
Japan, Australia, South Korea
and Brazil all have stated their
intentions to seek legal action
against the United States. The
Geneva-based World Trade
Organization likely will act as
judge during the proceedings,
should they occur.

Bush signed the memorandum
sanctioning the tariffs on the
heels of a Feb. 28 massive rally at
the Ellipse on the south side of
the White House. Forty-two Sea­
farers were among the estimated
crowd of30,000 steelworkers and
their union supporters from
around the country.

Upgraders attending the rally
-all recertified stewards- were
Veronika Cardenas, Darryl
Goggins, McKinley Jones,
James Kidd Jr., Rolando Lopez,
Thomas Milovich, Nelson
Morales, Leticia Perales, John

Notices
NMU Vacation Apps
As of April 1, there is a new vacation application for the NMU vaca-
tion plan that includes authorizations for working dues and the vol~
untary Seafarers Political Activity Donation (SPAD). Members who
were in the NMU when that union merged into the SIU last year,
now are eligible for the first time to participate in SPAD.
The authorizations need only be signed once each. Additional SPAD
contributions also may be authorized by the individual member. (For
more on SPAD, see page 11 of this issue of the LOG.)

Registration. Manpower Offices
As of April 1, members who sait under the NMU shipping rules will
register electronically and be integrated into the SIU system. This is
expected to result in quicker registration and better record-keeping.
NMU shipping rules and separate SIU shipping rules will continue.
Additionally, the NMU manpower office will move from Washington,
D.C. to Piney Point, Md. The move will further ensure that the union
can answer the call to surge sealift.

4 Seafarers L06

Platts, Edward Tully and James
Willey.

Other students who participat­
ed were Daniel Amesbury,
Austin Ayers, Christopher Bar­
tholmey, Jade Belt, Jonathan
Carter, Trevor Cohn, Shareef
Dahlan, Beato Diaz, Raul Duar­
osan, Harold Gerber, Javier
Gonzalez, Robert Grable, James
Grasseth, Larry Howard,
Autumn Kippen, Thomas Lo­
vern, Aaron Matuszny, Brian
McAllister, Joshua McDaniel,
Jill McGeorge, Gregory Mc­
Kinon, Antonio Mendez-Cruz,
Brent Midgette, Lon Molnar,
Jayson Ray, Jerry Solangon,
Ahsha Staiger, Kevin Steen,
Kenneth Taylor, Jeffrey
Thomas and Demorio Wilcox.

Unlicensed Apprentices Beato Diaz, left, and Antonio Mendez-Cruz
proudly display the American flag during the rally.

Several of the Seafarers shared
their impressions about the plight
of the Steelworkers and what
attending the rally meant to them.
"I participated to demonstrate
support for my fellow union
brothers and sisters," said Kidd
who sails out of the port of
Baltimore. "I'm a union man
through and through, and I think
it's good for unions to unite
behind a common cause to show
those in power that we mean
business.

"As a union member, I person­
ally am affected by the plight of
the Steelworkers," the Seafarer of
10 years added. "They, like us, are
trying to keep our jobs here in the
United States ... . It's really kind of
funny when you think if it.
Politicians always want our sup­
port for one thing or another, but
when we as unions need theirs .. .
it takes rallies like this to get their
attention." -

New Jersey native Tully
shared Kidd's sentiments. "I felt
good supporting the Steelworkers
and really hope the president
signs the legislation they want.
The rally made me realize how
foreign companies are coming
into the U.S., adversely affecting
the economy and taking away
jobs," he said.

"The bottom line is that if they
[the administration] don't defend
our industries, we're all in trouble

because that opens the door for
foreign countries to come in and
make huge profits at the expense
of American workers. We all
know that foreign labor is cheap­
er and some companies get richer
because they take advantage of it.
Look at the companies who are
going with foreign crews under
FOCs. They do it because they
can get off without paying us the
wages we demand when sailing
under the American flag," Tully
concluded.

"This whole situation should
teach us that we have to stay
strong as a union," offered
Kippen, an unlicensed appren­
tice. "That way we'll be in a bet­
ter position to protect our inter­
ests if confronted by similar cir­
cumstances."

The 20-year old native
Hawaiian has experienced first­
hand what it's like to be laid off.
"I used to work on a cruise ship
(the Patriot), but was laid off fol­
lowing the events of Sept. 11 ,"
she said.

Gerber, a 26-year old appren­
tice from Port St. Lucie, Fla., also
supported the Steelworkers'
cause. "This rally was my first,
but I really wanted to take part so
I could experience what it's like
when unions come together and
show their strength," he said.
"Our presence as Seafarers
showed the Steelworkers as well
as other unions that we are behind
them.

"Without their steel, we can't
build our double-hull vessels, we

Arnold, Luedtke Seafarers
Approve New Contracts

"Significant strides were
made in providing the highest
benefit levels to members on the
Great Lakes," noted Tom
Orzechowski, SIU vice president
Lakes and Inland Waters, in
announcing the recently
approved contracts with Arnold
Transit Co. and Luedtke
Engineering Co.

The three-year agreement
with Arnold Transit Co. (which
operates the second oldest ferry
company in the United States)
runs from Feb. 1, 2002 through
Jan. 31 , 2005.

Ratification of the pact, which
was negotiated by Orzechowski
and SIU Rep Todd Brdak, was
unanimous. Highlights include
an increase in wages for each
year of the contract, a raise in the
health and benefit plan level, and
maintenance of the uncapped
wage-related pension plan contri­
butions. Additionally- and for
the first time-contributions
were secured to allow SIU mem­
bers to attend training and

upgrading courses at the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education in Piney
Point, Md.

"The Seafarers Harry Lunde­
berg School of Seamanship was
an issue for the members as well
as the company," noted Orze­
chowski, "due to increased regu­
lations that may soon apply to the
Great Lakes. Training at the
school will keep Arnold Transit
Co. one of the safest and most
efficient passenger ferry compa­
nies in the United States."

The three-year pact with
Luedtke Engineering Co. , which
performs dredging and marine
construction, runs from Jan. 1,
2002 through Dec. 31, 2004. A
number of gains were negotiated
by Orzechowski and SIU
Algonac Port Agent Don Thorn­
ton. Seafarers will see a 3 percent
wage increase for each year of
the contract as well as a raise in
the level of their health and ben­
efit plan.

"Luedtke Engineering, work-

can't ship our cargo, our contain­
ers, fuel, etc.," Gerber said. "That
all translates into my not having a
job as well as them not having
their jobs. So their standing up
for themselves really means that
they are standing up for us all as
union members."

The Feb. 28 event also was
Grable 's first rally. The 29-year­
old trainee participated "because
it was for a good cause: support­
ing our brothers and sisters of the
United Steelworkers. The last
time I was home in East Pawas,
Mich. , I saw a lot of Steelworkers
picketing on the Sinclair River
because 50 percent of their jobs
had been cut. The cause the
Steelworkers currently are fight­
ing for definitely is good because
it will create more jobs for us and
them in that area," he explained.

"A lot of the steel that I will be
working with in the future will be
shipped on the Great Lakes," he
added. "My presence at the rally
made a difference because mine
was another voice, my sign
another sign, and my face was
another face. And that's what its
about- power in numbers."

"I was proud to read in the
papers that the bill has passed and
that the Steelworkers at least got
some of what they wanted,
"Grable concluded. "It made me
feel good that I was there, a part
of what was going on and that the
president heard our words of
protests and took positive
action."

Keith Dufton is a pilot aboard the
Straits Express, an Arnold Transit
Co. passenger ferry, which runs
between Mackinaw City and
Mackinac Island, Mich.

ing in a specialized industry,"
stated Orzechowski, "sees the
benefit of utilizing all aspects of
the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship to keep
Luedtke Engineering ahead of
the curve in the industry."

Apri/ 2002



Container Security, Employee IDs
Receive Congressional Attention

Passed by the Senate in
January, the Port and Maritime
Security Act of 2001 was sched­
uled for mark-up by a House of
Representatives panel late last
month.

Meanwhile, representatives
from the White House, transporta­
tion industry and labor are contin­
uing their march forward address­
ing concerns about the protection
of America's maritime assets from
terrorist attacks. Transportation
employee credentials and marine
container security were the focus
of three recent congressional hear­
ings in which representatives from
this consortium participated.

The House Subcommittee on
Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation on Feb. 13 investi­
gated the implementation of a
nationwide security system which
requires transportation workers to
hold secure identity cards. U.S.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.)
chaired the proceedings.

Secure Credentials
"Our goal is to fashion a

nationwide transportation worker
identification solution that verifies
the identity of transportation
workers, validates their back­
ground information, assists trans­
portation facilities in managing
their security risks, and accounts
for personnel access to transporta­
tion facilities and activities of
authorized personnel," U.S. Coast
Guard Rear Adm. James
Underwood told the subcommit­
tee as he gave details on the

administration's objectives. Un­
derwood serves as director of the
Office oflntelligence and Security
for the U.S. Department of
Transportation.

The Senate-approved Port and
Maritime Security Act also man­
dates investigations and criminal
history checks of certain individu­
als and prohibits a person from
being employed in a security-sen­
sitive position at a waterfront
facility if previously convicted of
certain crimes during a specific
period.

John Bowers, president of the
International Longshoremen's
Association (ILA), told the gath­
ering that his union supports
increased security on the water­
front, but cautioned against mea­
sures that would harass or harm
innocent, honest employees.

"The overwhelming majority
of ILA-represented longshoreper­
sons are hard-working, responsi­
ble family members and loyal cit­
izens," he testified. "The stan­
dards for restricting access to
facilities in this as in other indus­
tries must not be crafted in terms
of any prior run-ins with the law
that in essence have no realistic
relationship to an individual's pro­
clivities for committing terrorism
or crimes of opportunity on the
waterfront."

The Senate Judiciary Com­
mittee's Subcommittee on Tech­
nology, Terrorism, and Govern­
ment Information's Feb. 26 hear­
ing explored waging war against
terrorism by pre-screening marine

'Emp/Oyinent Report
Sends Mixed Signals
AFL-CIO President Sweeney Cites
'Contradictory Economic Reality'

containers at foreign ports of ori­
gin rather than at destination
ports.

Committee Chairwoman Sen­
ator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
voiced concerns that bribes
accepted abroad could invalidate
the prescreening process at non­
U. S. ports. "Our protection lies in
our own port structure," she said.

U.S. Maritime Administrator
Capt. William Schubert endorsed
origin-point prescreening as an
avenue for preventing destructive
devices from reaching ports in the
U.S.

"We are working jointly with
U.S. Customs, exporters, im­
porters, carriers and governments
to establish business and security
practices which will push the
nation's virtual borders outward to
the point of loading of the con­
tainers," Schubert said. "Security
must be established before the
vessel carrying the container or
cargo begins its international trav­
el."

Bonni Tischler echoed Captain
Schubert's position on origin­
point prescreening during her
address to the committee. Tischler
is assistant commissioner of the
U.S. Customs Service.

"As the primary agency for
cargo security, I believe U.S.
Customs should know everything
there is to know about a container
headed for this country before it
leaves a foreign port . . . for an
American port," she said.
"Customs wants that container
prescreened there, not here."

Several other officials from
different segments of the industry
also testified.

More on Containers
The House Subcommittee on

the Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation heard further con­
tainer security testimony March
13.

Photo by James R. Tourtellotte

Containerships account for almost one-third of the estimated 60,000
annual U.S. port calls.

World Shipping Council
President Christopher Koch told
the committee that there must be a
unified, coordinated strategy to
address container security. The
real challenge with container
security, he said, is to build on the
efforts of the Coast Guard and
Customs Service in the post­
September 11 environment to cre­
ate a more complete, unified and
permanent set of security proce­
dures and systems that can better
ensure the safety of America's for­
eign trade.

Koch said America should lead
the way in building a permanent
system but of course cannot
extend security to foreign ports
and places without the participa­
tion and agreement of other

nations.
Concurring with Koch, Brian

Maher told the committee, "The
best method of achieving better
container security is to have the
port of origin or shipper certify the
contents of the container before it
is loaded on a ship bound for the
United States." Maher is president
of Maher Terminals, which repre­
sents the National Association of
Waterfront Employers and the
United States Maritime Alliance.

"In return," he continued, "this
country would have to implement
a similar system for our cargo des­
tined for foreign markets." The
involvement of shippers, marine
terminals or other designated enti­
ties may be required for this type
of arrangement, he testified.

The head of the AFL-CIO said
that the U.S. employment report
issued March 8 is a mixed bag.

no jobs are available went up as
well. And manufacturing contin­
ued its abysmal decline-1.3 mil­
lion manufacturing jobs lost from
a year ago."

Adm. Collins Cont irmed to Direct USCG
The document "continues to

show the contradictory economic
reality for working families,"
stated AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney. "There is good news in
the drop in the February jobless
rate to 5 .5 percent and the slight
rise in payroll employment. But
the number of part-time workers
who would rather work full time
but cannot find full time jobs
went up. The number of discour­
aged workers who stopped look­
ing for work because they believe

AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney
says the nation's workers do not
yet have confidence in an
employment recovery.

Sweeney added that other
recent economic news has "paint­
ed a similarly mixed picture.
Some indicators show a turn­
around, such as a reduction in the
pace of announced layoffs, rising
factory orders, and a [slight
increase] in construction spend­
ing. On the other hand, consumer
confidence has dipped even with
these reports."

The federation president noted
that the true measure of econom­
ic recovery is good jobs that pay
enough to support families-jobs
that provide stable benefits and
promote economic security.

"For families out of work or
struggling to find full-time work,
abstract indicators do not decree
a real economic or employment
recovery," he concluded. "Those
workers need a reversal in the
decline in manufacturing, an
increase in the minimum wage, a
national budget that improves
worker protections and benefits,
a functioning unemployment
insurance system and affordable
health care. The recession will be
over for them when they feel it on
the job and in the pocketbook,
and when politicians put working
families first."

Vice Admiral Thomas H.
Collins has been chosen to
become the next commandant of
the U.S. Coast Guard. President
Bush on Feb. 6 revealed the nom­
ination, and Collins last month
was confirmed by the Senate. He
becomes the 22nd individual to
occupy the Coast Guard's highest
post.

Collins, who had his confir­
mation hearing March 19 in the
Senate, served as the agency's
vice commandant, a position he
has held since June 2000.
Previously, the Stoughton, Mass.
native worked for two years as
the agency's commander of both
the Pacific Area and the Eleventh
Coast Guard District in Alameda,
Calif.

Secretary of Transportation
Norman Mineta applauded the
nomination. "Admiral Collins
reflects the best leadership traits
of the dedicated men and women
of the United States Coast Guard.
He is the right person to lead the
modern Coast Guard through
today's challenges to tomorrow's
promise of a safer, more secure
American coastline and maritime
transportation system," Mineta
stated.

"Tom Collins brings a combi­
nation of scholarly intelligence,

practical experience at sea, and
Washington policy expertise to
the critical job of commandant at
a time when the Coast Guard is
facing a host of new missions,"
Secretary Mineta continued. "I
look forward to working with
h. " lill.

Collins will relieve the current
commandant, Adm. James M.
Loy, who has served in the post
since May 1998. A change-of­
command ceremony is planned
for May 30 in Washington, D.C.
Loy-a 42-year Coast Guard vet­
eran-plans to officially retire
during the ceremony.

Collins graduated from the
Coast Guard Academy, New
London, Conn., in 1968 and
served as a faculty member there
from 1972-76. He earned a mas­
ter of arts degree from Wesleyan
University in 1972 and a master
of business administration from
the University of New Haven,
Conn., in 1976.

The admiral began his Coast
Guard career in 1968. During his
first assignment, he was a deck
watch officer and first lieutenant
aboard the Coast Guard Cutter
Vigilant. Later, he completed a
two-year tour as commanding
officer of the patrol boat Cape
Morgan in Charleston, S.C.

Coast Guard Vice Admiral
Thomas H. Collins

From 1980-83, Collins served
as deputy group commander in
St. Petersburg, Fla., and he was
captain of the port, Long Island
Sound, from 1987-90. Collins
served as chief of the office of
acquisition at Coast Guard head­
quarters from 1994-96.

The admiral's military decora­
tions include the Distinguished
Service Medal, the Legion of
Merit (three awards), the
Meritorious Service Medal (two
awards), and the Coast Guard
Commendation Medal (three
awards).

Seafarers LOS 5



MlETRADESDEPARlMENf

Key Support Voiced
For MSP, Jones Act

Members of Congress and the
administration, expressing strong
backing for the U.S. maritime
industry, described the merchant
marine as practical and vital to
national defense.

During the AFL-CIO Mari­
time Trades Department execu­
tive board meetings in New
Orleans, U.S. Reps. William Jeff­
erson (D-La.) and David Vitter
(R-La. ), Maritime Administrator
Capt. William Schubert and for­
mer Maritime Administrator Vice
Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.)
explained how the nation benefits
from a strong U.S. fleet. They
particularly were adamant about
the need to extend and expand the
Maritime Security Program
(MSP), which helps ensure avail­
ability of militarily useful U.S.­
flag commercial vessels in times
of war or national emergency.

'The Maritime Security Pro­
gram has been a success," stated
Jefferson. "MSP has delivered for
our nation by keeping the U.S.
flag on the high seas and helping
maintain a presence in interna­
tional commerce while strength­
ening our pool of skilled marine
workers and marine crews. I want
to make sure that it is not only
extended, but it is also expanded
-that it gets extended perhaps
not just for 10 years but for a
longer period. That includes more
ships and more workers and a
more secure nation for us in the
future."

Jefferson also focused on the

U.S. Rep. David Vitter
(R-La.)

6 Seafarel'S LOB

need "to make sure that our tax
laws that pertain to U.S.-flag
commercial vessels are modern­
ized and rationalized and that
they give opportunity for U.S.
crews and the U.S. merchant fleet
to be competitive." Among other
steps, he supports "granting
American merchant mariners
working on U.S.-flag vessels in
the foreign trade the same exclu­
sion from taxation on the first
$80,000 of income as is available
to every other U.S. citizen work­
ing overseas."

Jones Act, 11lle XI
Other maritime agreements

also are valuable for our nation,
noted Vitter, including the Title
XI shipbuilding loan guarantee
program and the Jones Act, which
requires that goods transported
between domestic ports are car­
ried aboard vessels that are built,
flagged, crewed and owned U.S.

"The Jones Act is important on
the economic side, but it is also
vitally important for national
defense because we need to main­
tain that industrial base," Vitter
stated. "It allows us to maintain,
throughout peace time, that key
industrial base which we need in
times of crisis like today. It also
bas a positive national economic
benefit of over $15 billion annu­
ally (contributed to the econo­
my)."

Title XI, he said, has received
undue criticism. "The program
has a very strong financial
record," Vitter pointed out. "It

Former Maritime Administrator
Vice Adm. Al Herberger

(USN-ret.)

has one of the lowest default rates
of any government loan program:
3 percent. It is a tremendous help
to the maritime industry and mar­
itime workers, and it's crucial for
small and medium-size ship oper­
ating companies to secure com­
mercial financing on reasonable
terms."

He reported that applications
are pending for six double-hull
tankers and a chemical tanker,
and described "potential for 20 to
40 double-hull offshore shuttle
tankers, along with many, many
other opportunities that · signifi­
cantly depend on the Title XI pro­
gram.

"Since fiscal year 1993, over
$4 billion in commercial ship
construction has been generated
through commercial loan guaran­
tees under Title XI," he conclud­
ed. "It's vital to helping preserve
the industrial base which we
need, even in peace time, in case
we need it in war time for nation­
al defense."

Jet-Fuel Inell nfty
Schubert illustrated the chal­

lenge of revitalizing the U.S.
fleet. During America's current
military engagement in Afghan­
istan, foreign-flag tonnage bas
been chartered to carry jet fuel
ultimately bound for American
military planes "because there
weren't any product tankers
available in that part of the world.
We're talking about moving jet
fuel into some of the most secure
places in the world on foreign­
flag ships with unknown crew
members on board, in terms of
where they came from."

Citing the security risk,
MarAd and the Coast Guard
"worked together, and we're
going to be announcing, very
soon, steps to make it a lot less
bureaucratic and less expensive

MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (left) welcomes Maritime Administrator Capt.
William Schubert to the MTD executive board meetings last month in
New Orleans. Schubert said U.S. maritime unions provide "a key voice
in the industry."

to reflag some ships to fill that
gap," Schubert said.

Sizing up the U.S. fleet, he
stated, "We cannot change the
worldwide shipping recession
facing fleets across the globe, but
we can help to level the playing
field for our U.S.-flag operators
so that we can encourage the
profitability of our fleet."

The maritime administrator,
who described U.S. maritime
unions as "a key voice in the
industry," said that while extend­
ing the MSP is important, "we
also need to address the manpow­
er issues that could potentially
cripple a large-scale, sustained
overseas conflict like the Persian
Gulf War. Addressing this prob­
lem is one of my highest priori­
ties and we boperto soon release
more comprehensive and fully
accurate databases of licensed
and unlicensed mariners."

Equal Treatment
Herberger served as maritime

administrator during the Clinton
administration, and since then has
remained an ardent backer of the
nation's merchant marine.

Last month, he said the mar­
itime industry deserves greater
support in Washington.

"We are a proven defense
industry. We should get the same
attention that some of the others
get," he stated. "There's little hes­
itation to continue subsidies for
the farmers, airlines, other
defense industries. But we start

talking about the maritime indus­
try, and somebody pops up and
says, 'That's corporate greed.'
Nobody looks behind it to see
how valuable it is in terms of our
ability to stay both in the eco­
nomic and in the defense arena."

Herberger also reminded the
audience that America's national
defense requires maintaining a
strong U.S. fleet, because "there
will not be time to build addition­
al ships, recruit and train mariners
or shipyard workers or skilled
dockworkers" in times of conflict.

"The success of future battles
or campaigns will depend upon
the U.S. capability to project
major military forces, just as it
has been throughout our history,"
be contin~ed. "The lJ1§ ~e~- j
chant Manne-all parts o It -Is
the fourth arm of defense. That
title was given by General
Eisenhower himself, right after
the World War II victory in
Europe, and it still applies today."

He added that America needs
"a new and larger MSP. The com­
mercial fleet portion of our strate­
gic sealift is the only element that
can provide, in an efficient and
cost-effective way, the sustain­
ment capability [required for mil­
itary success]. And it's also the
only element that provides the
most important element: the
skilled mariner manpower. There
are no other sources for that. It's
just so apparent to me that the
value is there."

The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department con­
sists of 30 affiliate unions (including the SIU) rep­
resenting an estimated 7 .5 million members.
Those unions participate in 24 port maritime
councils located throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The articles on this page and page 7 are based
on remarks presented Feb. 21-22 during the MTD
executive board meeting in New Orleans.

Apri/2002



< ........... ES DEPARTMENT

Port, Shipboard Security
Take on New Urgency

MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (left) greets Coast Guard Port Security
Director Capt. Tony Regalbuto.

It has been said again and
again that "everything changed"
on September 11, and while the
literal application of that two­
word phrase is open to quibbling,
there's no doubt that the maritime
industry faces major shakeups.

In broad terms, the task is to
ensure security in U.S. ports,
including aboard the vessels that
account for approximately 60,000
annual port calls in this country.

Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation-because certain
provisions fall within their
respective jurisdictions.

He said that the bill seemingly
would improve communication
between the many maritime enti­
ties. "We've got a hundred differ­
ent Washington and federal agen­
cies to deal with maritime, in one
way or the other, plus the state,
plu~_the port, plus the local agen­
cies," Brady stated. t 'This bill sets
up port security committees to

coordinate better between all
these agencies. These committees
would hopefully help everyone
work together better."

Another key component of the
legislation, he said, "would man­
date that all ports have a compre­
hensive security plan. It requires
that ports limit access to security­
sensitive areas and that includes
an evacuation plan and back­
ground checks on everyone that
works in those areas.

"It also requires ships to elec­
tronically send their cargo mani­
fest to port before they gain clear­
ance to enter and prohibits
unloading of improperly docu­
mented cargo," he continued.
"The bill improves the reporting
of crew members, passengers and
imported cargo to better track
suspicious activity. It creates a
sea marshal program that more
specifically .authorizes the Coast
Guard to board and deter hijack­
ings and other terrorist threats. It
directly grants about $700 million
to help the ports build new infra­
structure [and gain] new inspec­
tors, agents, screening and detec­
tion equipment."

U.S. Coast Guard Director of
Port Security <;apt. Tony R~gal­
buto detailed his agency's actions

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
(D-La.)

since Sept. 11 aimed at improving
security. They included requiring
longer advanced notice of ship
arrivals and more information
about crews, as well as imple­
menting boarding parties, among
many other steps.

Regalbuto said that it will take
international cooperation to
effectively address maritime
security. "We want to work in
partnership in developing regula­
tions throughout the world. We're
going to have better success in
some parts of the world than oth­
ers, but if they don't set the bar
high enough, internationally, then
we will unilaterally do the right
thing for our country."

He referred to newspaper
reports which estimate that al
Qaeda is operating anywhere
from 13 to 20 ships, yet "interna­
tionally, we don 't have a good

-. ~ al6rtg i appen 1s both com­
plex and urgent, according to sev­
eral speakers at the AFL-CIO
Maritime Trades Department
executive board meetings in New
Orleans.

"It doesn't take a lot of imagi­
nation to think what could happen
with the kinds of materials that
we know come in and out of our
ports in thousands and thousands
of ways, through containers as
well as other ways," stated ·u.s.
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).
"Our technology has not really
caught up yet, nor has, I think,
our political will or our vision
with meeting that challenge."

Emphasis on Organizing

Landrieu urged the MTD and
its affiliates to" stay involved in
the process of identifying and
implementing new security meth­
ods-an undertaking that began
almost immediately after the
attacks on America. "There are
challenges as well as opportuni­
ties for this industry in this post
9-11 world, with security front
and center on all our minds," she
noted. "I hope that this industry
and all of you-the labor leaders
and other leaders who understand
the maritime industry- will real­
ize that there are some tremen­
dous opportunities (for input with
the government). And I am going
to do my very best to make sure
that whatever decisions are made,
you all have a seat at the table and
your voice is heard."

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R­
Texas) pointed out that port secu­
rity legislation already has passed
in the Senate and is being consid­
ered in the House. The Port and
Maritime Security Act has been
referred to three House commit­
tees- Armed Services; Trans­
portation and Infrastructure; and

Apri/2002

Gulf Campaign Illustrates Importance, Challenge
Delivered in a region that is

home to an intense campaign
involving "oil patch" mariners,
labor officials ' comments about
organizing and solidarity seemed
especially resonant during the
MTD meetings in New Orleans.

Echoing the need to organize
were AFL-CIO Secretary-Treas­
urer Richard Trumka; Louisiana
AFL-CIO President John "Red"
Bourg; Torbjorn Teigland, vice
president of the Norwegian Oil
and Petrochemical Workers
Union; and Jean Marc Barrey,
secretary general of the CFDT
Maritime Union of France.

"I commend you for your
efforts," Trumka said to those
involved in the Gulf mariner
campaign, including U.S. mar­
itime unions and delegations

Jean Marc Barrey,
secretary general, CFDT
Maritime Union of France

Louisiana AFL-CIO Pres. John "Red" Bourg (right) had a simple mes­
sage: "Organize, organize, organize!" MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (cen­
ter) and MTD VP Ernie Whelan applaud his arrival.

from overseas. "I think you have
done a marvelous, marvelous job.
It's hard work. There's no short­
cut to it. It costs literally tons of
money. And you're up against
some of the nastiest anti-union
companies and anti-union law
firms anywhere in the world."

Teigland and Barrey said the
Gulf mariners who are seeking
union representation can count on
their continued support. "We
share our solidarity with your
struggle for trade union rights,"
stated Teigland. "Trade unions
have long traditions of giving
support to each other across the
seas and national borders. We
would like to build on those long
traditions and underline the
importance of stronger interna-

tional trade union ties and soli­
darity in a world that becomes
smaller and smaller."

Barrey noted that, during a
tour of Houma, La. the previous
day, the foreign group was
"shocked'' by anti-union bill­
boards "saying that unions are the
source of all evil .... Simply, you
should know that on an interna­
tional level, the organization I
represent stands by you in this
campaign."

Bourg's colorful speech in­
cluded a recap of the long, ulti­
mately successful fight to orga­
nize workers at Avondale Ship­
yard in New Orleans. Though the
latest effort began in the early
1990s, other attempts date much
further back. "The first project I

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady
(R-Texas)

indicator as to who is the owner
and (front) operator of those
ships. Ideally, what we want to do
is link the people, the cargo and
the vessels, and even the ship­
pers, back to terrorist groups and
criminal activity."

Nevertheless, Regalbuto un­
derscored the need for strong
efforts beginning in the U.S.
"Fourteen out of every 15 ships
coming into the United States are
foreign flag. So, in my mind that
raises some concerns right off the
bat," he said. "Because we really
don't know about the people, the
cargo and the vessels that are
coming into our country.

"We need everybody to be a
sensor out there and to report any
suspicious behavior. This is not
one person's job, it is every­
body's job in the United States."

Torbjorn Teigland, VP,
Norwegian Oil and

Petrochemical Workers Union

had as a staff member of the state
AFL-CIO was to organize
Avondale. That was in 1967,"
Bourg said.

The triumphant outcome pro­
vides hope for those involved in

Continued on page 10

Seafarers LOS 7



Coming Full Circle

What a Difference 15 Years Makel
Like many high school graduates, Chris Fox

headed straight for college. But after hearing from
a couple friends who had been through the trainee
program at Piney Point, Fox suspended his studies
and headed for the southern Maryland training
facility. It was there, in 1979, that he graduated
from class 293.

He was scheduled to catch his first ship in
January 1980. But one month before that- Dec.
16, 1979, to be exact-there was a GSU opening
out of Boston. The ship was the LNG Virgo, and
Fox was on it.

For the 19-year-old native of Waltham, Mass.,
working in the galley wasn't his idea of a real
good time. A rotation in the deck department, how­
ever, changed all that, and Fox was hooked on the
life of a Seafarer.

He took advantage of the upgrading opportuni­
ties available at Piney Point and completed his AB
endorsement and then, in 1988, got his third mate's
license. He credits Bobby Selzer (now New York
port agent) with always being there to help and
point him in the right direction, even after he got
his license.

After his SIU days were over, he joined the
American Maritime Officers union and worked as
a third mate, second mate or chief mate aboard
tankers. In 1994, after only 15 years in the indus-

try, Fox captained his first vessel, the Cove
Trader.

"It's good to be king," Fox kidded, when asked
how it felt to captain his first ship. But having
worked his way up from the bottom, he knows
both sides of shipboard life. "Everybody has a job
to do," he stated, "but we try to have fun, too."
Fun includes such things as organized softball
games with the crew members of other vessels in
the Indonesia-to-Japan run.

Just recently, Fox, now 42, was captain aboard
the LNG Virgo, the very ship on which he made his
first voyage. It used to be operated by Energy
Transportation Corp. and is now operated by
Pronav- but the vessel is the same. After a short
vacation of skiing and relaxing on Cape Cod, Fox
will rejoin the LNG Virgo or the LNG Libra in
Indonesia.

Fox is grateful to the SIU for opening the door
to his seagoing career. He is proof of the results of
the excellent programs available to all Seafarers at
the Paul Hall Center and urges SIU members to
take advantage of the school every chance they
get.

"We must all keep a close watch on American
shipping," the captain stated, "as we are being
attacked from all angles. American seamen are the
best in the world, and we should be proud of it."

Deter1nined Seafarer
Earns Mate's License

Earning a mate's license is a notable accom­
plishment, but it is particularly worth mentioning
in the case of one Philadelphia Seafarer who
recently passed the test.

That's because, in securing her license, Stella
Zebrowski joined a select few women who have
advanced that far in the merchant marine.

"There are some female mates, but not too
many," notes Zebrowski, a 1982 graduate of the
trainee program at the Paul Hall Center in Piney
Point, Md. "It's a small percentage, though it's
starting to grow. And there certainly are more
women in the industry, compared to when I started.
It's not uncommon now to have two or three
women sailing on a ship."

Zebrowski has sailed in both the inland and
deep sea divisions, including time working for
Maritrans, Crowley and McAllister. She has
upgraded numerous times at the Paul Hall Center
(including all of the prep work for the mate's
exam) and plans to stick with the SIU, sailing
inland.

SIU Retiree Stanley Zebrowski, Stella's father,
also sailed in the union's deep sea and inland divi­
sions for more than 30 years, from the early 1950s
until 1983. He is understandably pleased by his
daughter's most recent accomplishment and her
overall career.

"I'm very proud of her, so proud. She learned
more than I ever did," Stanley Zebrowski, 80, said
with a chuckle. "If the opportunity is there, you
might as well take advantage. I know the school
has good teachers, and you can learn anything you
want to."

Stella Zebrowski says she has stuck with her
chosen profession "because of the money and the
benefits, and the opportunities to upgrade and
advance. The opportunities are there-the union

B Seafarers LOB

gives them to you, and the school gives them to
you."

Studying at Piney Point for the mate's license
reinforced her already strong belief in the school.
"It was tough, but the instructors helped me a lot.
They do a really good job."

She adds that she hopes her experience may
give confidence to other women as they enter the
industry. "I've advanced, and I know other women
can do it, too. It may be a little intimidating, but
you've got to put your mind to it.

"I'd also like to thank (SIU President) Mike
Sacco for having faith in me," Zebrowski adds.
"He motivated me, and without him I wouldn't be
where I am today."

Stella Zebrowski has advanced from trainee to mate.
"I know other women can do it, too," she says.

Captain Chris Fox (right) accepts the gift of a lucky doll from a
Japanese representative after taking the LNG Virgo into the port of
Kawagoe, Japan for the first time in the history of the LNG vessels. A
reception on the bridge helped commemorate the new port of call.

Recertified Steward
Gamen New Honor,
Credits Piney Point

As Recertified Steward Bran­
don Maeda steadily climbs up­
ward on the culinary ladder, he
appreciates more and more the
steadying influence of the Paul
Hall Center for Maritime Train­
ing and Education.

Augmenting his vocational
training with the SIU, Maeda
recently earned recognition from
the highly regarded American
Culinary Federation (ACF) as a
certified chef de cuisine. This is
believed to be the first time that
the ACF awarded such an en­
dorsement to a mariner working
solely on commercial cargo ves­
sels.

In any case, Maeda says the
support he has received from
Paul Hall Center instructors­
particularly Chef Ed White­
greatly aided him throughout the
long process of becoming acer­
tified chef.

"Using the tools and

opportunities provided

by this union to construct

a better life for myself

and family has been

the greatest

reward."

"His support was invaluable,"
Maeda said of White, who ini­
tially encouraged the Seafarer to
join the ACF in 1992. "There
were college-level books, exams
to study for, and of course the
big 'C.C.C.' test itself. Chef
White was always there to coach
and assist me whenever it was
necessary."

The hard work paid off.
Using a shared system that
essentially functions as a ranking
mechanism, culinary associa­
tions assign a wide range of cat­
egories for chefs and cooks.
Experience, skill and knowledge
are factors in attaining the vari­
ous designations (such as third
cook, specialty chef, executive
chef, etc.). Certified chef de cui-

Recertified Steward Brandon
Maeda (right) credits Chef Ed
White, a Paul Hall Center instruc­
tor, with helping prepare him to
earn the certified chef de cuisine
credentials displayed in this photo.

sine, the rank achieved by
Maeda, is one of the uppermost
titles.

Maeda notes that he is hardly
the only Seafarer to secure certi­
fication through ACF or through
other professional culinary asso­
ciations. "Many come into the
SIU with certifications, and still
more earn them on cruise ships.
Still, I'm happy to finally get
this little piece of paper."

While Maeda sets his sites on
another goal-becoming certi­
fied as an executive chef--even
as he continues sailing with the
SIU, he remains thankful for the
times he has upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center, based in Piney
Point, Md. "All of the instructors
have my undying respect and
gratitude," he declares. "They
are a credit to their profession.

"I have always thought highly
of the school and its purpose for
being," he continued. "Mainly,
training and educating those who
would otherwise have no such
opportunities. For myself, using
the tools and opportunities pro­
vided by this union to construct
a better life for myself and fami­
ly has been the greatest reward.
We should all keep learning,
growing and upgrading."

The ACF was founded in
1929 in New York City. It is a
non-profit association which
bills itself as "the largest and
most prestigious organization
dedicated to professional chefs
in the United States today."

April2002



Diverse Group Discovers
Common Path to Success
Stewards Say Union, School Are Winning Combo

One by one, the union's
newest class of recertified stew­
ards accepted their graduation
certificates at the March 4 mem­
bership meeting in Piney Point,
Md.

As they addressed their fellow
Seafarers, the graduates de­
scribed how they had seized the
career opportunities available
through the SIU and the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education. Diverse in many
ways, the group nonetheless
shared the belief that the union
and the school offer viable means
to worthwhile vocations at sea.

Successfully completing the
one-month course were Veronika
Cardenas, Darryl Goggins, Mc­
Kinley Jones, James Kidd Jr.,
Rolando Lopez, Thomas Milo­
vich, Nelson Morales, Leticia
Perales, John Platts, Edward
Tully and James Willey (who
provided several photos accom­
panying this story).

The class is the Paul Hall
Center's top curriculum for mem­
bers of the steward department. It
includes fire fighting and basic
safety training, a range of lessons

in the galley facilities, meetings
with SIU department representa­
tives, and other studies.

Turning Point
Tully, who sails from the port

of Baltimore, said that joining the
school's unlicensed appretice
program in 1992 marked a turn­
ing point for him.

"Before then, I was lost in life,
had no job and no future," he
recalled. ''Now I have a new car,
a house and other things. The SIU
helped me get where I am today,
and I give thanks for it."

For Perales (port of Houston),
sailing has been a good fit from
the beginning. A 1979 graduate of
the trainee program, Perales sum­
marized her time with the union
this way: "It's been fun, it's been
great, I have no complaints!"

She also noted the numerous
improvements at the school that
have taken place throughout the
years.

Addressing the membership
next was Morales (San Juan,
P.R.), a Seafarer for the past 28
years. He complimented the Paul

Hands-on training is a
key part of most Paul
Hall Center courses,
including steward
recertification. In
these three photos,
students hone their
skills at the fire fight­
ing and safety school,
in the galley and in
the computer lab.

Hall Center staff, and described
the overall facilities as "among
the best in the world. My experi­
ence in Piney Point was good and
very interesting."

Jones (Norfolk, Va.) described
himself as "living proof that this
is the best school in the nation."
He said he has upgraded six times
in a 14-year career, "and each
time I'm here, there's something
new, whether it's the fire fighting
school, the new hotel (annex) or
some other improvement."

Like Morales, Jones also
urged his fellow Seafarers to con­
tribute to SPAD.

1Great Organlzatien'
Cardenas (Tacoma) began

sailing in 1983. "It has been a
pleasure to work for this great
organization," she stated. "Our
union will be even greater with
the hard work we must put into it.
As for the school, it is wonderful,
and everyone helps a lot."

Goggins (Jacksonville, Fla.)
said he especially enjoyed the
computer classes and learning
more about the SIU. A frequent
upgrader and 22-year Seafarer,
Goggins said the Paul Hall
Center "is a great school for mar­
itime and for young people. I def­
initely would recommend it."

Lopez (San Francisco), a
Navy veteran, said the recertifica­
tion class "made me more aware
of the inner workings, how the
SIU functions-everything from
contracts to the health, vacation
and pension programs. It also
made me more knowledgeable
about dealing with shipboard
emergencies."

He added that Piney Point
"offers a relaxed environment.
It's a good place to get away from
the rigors of sea life. The facility
and the curriculum are all excel­
lent."

Platts (Jacksonville) went
more than 30 years between visits
to Piney Point, but he, too, said
the initial trip helped put him on
the right course.

"I came to this school in the

The union's newest class of recertified stewards joins SIU officials after
last month's membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. (top photo) and,
earlier in the course, takes a quick pause in the lecture/demonstration
galley (below).

late 1960s, and I was a bad boy
then," he said. "Before, I was
always in trouble. Now, I have a
family and I'm doing just great. I
thank the SIU and the school offi­
cials and staff. The union truly
helped me change my life."

Encouraging Words
Nearly all the stewards direct­

ed some of their respective com­
ments toward the unlicensed
apprentices in attendance, en­
couraging them to stick with the
program. The remarks of Willey
(Tacoma) were representative of
the others'. "This is the greatest
opportunity for you to go as far
and as high as you set your sights
in this industry," he declared.
"From OS to captain, from wiper
to chief engineer. Study hard, ask
questions when you are at sea
during phase II-and if you don't
understand the answer, ask

again."
He added, "The union has

always been there for me, and I
have always had a job. I thank the
SIU, its officers, the school and
its staff for their efforts."

Also addressing the appren­
tices, Milovich (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
stated, "Remember that this is a
union-a whole from the sum of
its parts. The SIU is a testament
to strength and diversity, and the
school has been the biggest part
of my success. I appreciate all the
opportunities and thank our offi­
cials for looking out for our best
interests."

Wrapping up the graduation
was Kidd (Baltimore), who com­
pleted the trainee program in
1993. Speaking to today's
apprentices, he said, "Listen to
your supervisors, do the best job
you can and ask questions. And
then get back here and upgrade."

Finding time to support fellow trade unionists, James Willey (center, with sign above head) and other
Seafarers demonstrate in Washington, D.C. for Steelworkers.

Apri/2002 Seafarers LOS 9



Merchant Mariners Included in Veterans History Project expand the Library's Veterans
History Project initiative.

• To create a comprehensive,
searchable national catalog of all
oral histories and other documen­
tation collected as a result of this
project.

The varied contributions of
thousands of U.S. Merchant
Mariners, including those chroni­
cled by multitudes of veterans
from the armed forces during our
nation's wars, soon will be given
the praise they merit, thanks to an
endeavor led by the U.S. Library
of Congress.

War. It will include representa­
tion for all participants of those
hostilities-men and women,
civilian and military.

"We are pleased to endorse the
Veterans History Project and
become a partner with the Library
of Congress and its American
F olklife Center in this important
effort," Maritime Administrator
Capt. William G. Schubert said.
"It is important to all veterans,
but especially so to merchant
marine veterans of World War II
whose heroic service is too often
overlooked."

ences of war veterans while they
are still alive, the United States
Congress on Oct. 27, 2000 unan­
imously passed legislation to cre­
ate the Veterans History Project.

• To stimulate opportumt1es
for public learning, by inviting,
advising, and supporting individ­
uals and groups as participants in
the Veterans History Project.

U.S. Secretary of Transporta­
tion Norman Mineta serves on the
Veterans History Project's Five­
Star Council, a group of promi­
nent leaders invited by the
Librarian of Congress James H.
Billington to provide counsel to
the Veterans History Project and
bring it increased visibility
nationwide.

• To engage veterans associa­
tions, military organizations,
institutions of higher learning,
historical societies, civic groups,
and ongoing veterans' oral histo­
ry projects as partners in the
effort to identify, interview, and
collect documents from war vet­
erans and their supporters.

Hailed as the Veterans History
Project, the effort's aim is to
afford veterans-and those who
served in support of them and
with them- the recognition they
are due by creating a lasting lega­
cy of their wartime service, mem­
ories, accounts and documents
for future generations. The U.S.
Maritime Administration (Mar­
Ad) on Feb. 12 became part of
the venture.

The project will cover World
Wars I and II, the Korean War,
Vietnam and the Persian Gulf

Including merchant mariners,
there are 19 million war veterans
living in the United States today,
according to the Department of
Veterans' Affairs . Every day,
however, 1,500 of them die.
Motivated by the urgent need to
collect the stories and experi-

Public Law 106-380-spon­
sored by Representatives Ron
Kind (D-Wis. ), Amo Houghton
(R-N.Y.) and Steny Hoyer (D­
Md.) in the House of Rep­
resentatives and Senators Max
Cleland (D-Ga.) and Chuck
Hagel (R-Neb.)-charged the
American Folklife Center at the
Library of Congress to collect
and preserve audiotaped and
videotaped oral histories, along
with documentary materials such
as letters, diaries, maps, pho­
tographs and home movies, of
America's war veterans and those
who served in support of them.

According to the Library of
Congress, the goals of the project
are:

• To preserve and present the
collected materials to the public,
through the National Digital
Library Program, exhibitions,
publications, and public pro­
grams.

• To identify existing and
ongoing veterans' oral history
programs and archives, and rec­
ognize and work with them to

MarAd will send information
about the Veterans History
Project to maritime unions, muse­
ums, industry associations, edu­
cational institutions and merchant
marine veterans' organizations.
The agency also will post infor­
mation on its web site and pro­
vide a link to the Library of
Congress site.

Offices (OCMI) International Solidarity Voiced to MTD First-Time MMD Applicants
Must Take Oath in Person

First-time applicants for merchant mariner's
licenses and merchant mariner's documents
(MMDs) now must be sworn in before a designat­
ed U.S. Coast Guard official before being issued
their credentials.

• Commissioned and warrant officers of the
U.S. Coast Guard assigned to duty in a regional
examination center, and

Continued from page 7

the current drive, Bourg noted.
Avondale workers secured union
representation in December
2000, and early this year "54 peo­
ple who had been fired because
of union activity were put back
on the payroll with back pay," he
said.

succeed, we're going to have to
bring in almost a million mem­
bers every single year."

According to Coast Guard Policy Letter 05-02
dated Jan. 14, this new requirement became neces­
sary in light of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Individuals must appear in person for validation of
their identity. The guidance emphasized that the
change applies only to applicants seeking MMDs
or licenses for the first time. Oaths are not required
for renewals or upgrades.

• Other officials employed by the Coast
Guard, either civilian or military, who are autho­
rized in writing by the OCMI to administer such
oaths. Included are Coast Guard auxiliary person­
nel while they are engaged in official Coast Guard
duties.

First-time applicants for MMDs must swear
oaths in the presence of:

• OCMis, or

• Commissioned officers of the U.S. Coast
Guard authorized to administer oaths under the
United States Code, or

"If we're going to move this
state in the right direction, we
have got to organize, organize,
organize!" Bourg added.

Trumka pointed out that
despite increased emphasis on
organizing by the AFL-CIO and
many of its affiliates, "we're still
barely holding our own as a per­
centage of the American work­
force. The truth is, we need big­
ger numbers if we're going to
help workers speak with a
stronger and stronger voice. To

Trurnka said that the way to
advance working families' agen­
da "is with the clout that comes
with far more members working
harder, and not just at their jobs
but in the legislative and political
arenas. The way to slow the tide
of good jobs leaving our shore is
with the increased clout that it
takes to enact trade laws that
respect the rights of workers
instead of protecting the profits
of business. And the way to stop
the union-busting tactics of busi­
ness, to protect workers' pensions
from more Enrons, to secure the
right of every worker to health
care is by mobilizing our num­
bers and putting in public office
people who understand the needs
of working people."

In another change, certified notary publics no
longer may administer the required oaths for orig­
inal licenses or certificates of registry.

Oaths to applicants for licenses and certificates
of registry may be administered by:

• Officers m charge, Marine Inspection

• Other officials employed by the Coast
Guard, either military or civilian, who are autho­
rized to administer oaths.

The foregoing modifications will be incorporat­
ed into the Marine Safety Manual.

NOnCE TO INTERESTED PARTIES NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES
I. Notice to: All Participants of the Pension Fund ("the

Fund")

An application is to be made to the Internal Revenue
Service for an advance determination on the quallfica.
tion of the Restated Plan of the following pension ben­
efit plan:

2. Name of Plan: MCS Supplementary Pension Plan
3. Plan Number: 001

4. Name and Address of Applicant:
Board of Trustees
MCS Supplementary Pension Plan
520 l Autb. Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

5. Applicant EIN 51-6097856

6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator:
Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator
MCS Supplementary Petision Plan
520 l Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

7. The application will be filed before February 28, 2002
with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue
Service, at:

EP Determinations
Internal Revenue Service
:P.0.Box 192
Covington, KY 41012-0192

For an advance detennination as to whether the plan
meets the qualification requirements of section 401 (a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to
the plan's qualification.

8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan
are: All employees working in job clas ifications for
which contributions are required to be made to the Fund
pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

9. The Internal Revenue Service bas previously issued a
determination letter with respect to the qualification of
this plan.

RIQll1'S OF INYERESTED PAR11ES

10. You have the right to submit to the EP Determinations,
at the above address, either individually or jointly with
other interested parties, your comments as to whether
this pl.an meets the qualification requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code.

io

You may instead, individually or jointly with other
interested parties, request the Department of Labor to
submit., on your behalf, comments to the Key District
Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the
Department declines to comment on all or some of the

Seafarers LOS

matters you raise, you may, individually, or jointly if
your request was made to the Department jointly, sub­
mit your comments on these mauers directly to the Key
District Director.

REQUESTS AIR wans " THE DEPAR1llEll1' OF LAIOB

11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf
of the interested parties wi.less requested to do so by the
lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees
who qualify as interested parties. The number of per­
sons needed for the Department to comment with
respect to this plan is JO. If you request the Department
to comment, your request must be in writing and must
specify lhe matters upon which comments are request­
ed, and must also include:

(a) the information contained in items 2 through 5 of
this Notice; and

(b) the number of persons needed for the Department to
comment.

A request to the Department to comment should be
addressed as follows:

Deputy Assistant Secretary
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
ATTN: 300 l Comment Request
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

COMMENTS TO 111£ lffTERllAL REVEJIUf SERVICE

12. Comments submitted by you to the EP Determinations
must be in writing and received by him by April 15,
2002. However, if there are m11tters that you request the
Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf,
and the Department declines, you may submit com­
ments on these matters to the Key District Director to
be received by him within 15 days from tb.e time the
Department notifies you that it will not comment on a
particular matter. or by April 15, 1995, whichever is
l11ter. but not after May 1. 2002.

ADDmoNAL INFORMATION

Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notifi­
cation of interested parties may be found in Revenue
Procedure 2001-6. Additional infonnation concerning this
application (including, where applicable, an updated copy
of the plan and related trust; the application for determina­
tion; any additional documents dealing with the application
that was submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue
Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund,
during the hours of9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inspection and
copyirtg. (There is a nominal fee for copying and/or mail­
ing.)

1. Notice to: All Participants of the Pension Fund ("the
Fund")

An application is to be made to the Internal Revenue
Service for an advance determination on the qualifica­
tion of the Restated Plan of the following pension ben­
efit plan:

2. Name of Plan: Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension
Plan

3. Plan Number: 001

4. Name and Address of Applicant:
Board of Trustees
Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

S. Applicant EIN 13-1953878

6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator:
Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator
Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

7. The application will be filed before February 28, 2002
with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue
Service, at:

EP Determinations
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 192
Covington, KY 41012-0192

For an advance determination as to whether the plan
meets the qualification requirements of section 40J(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to
the plan 's qualification.

8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan are:
All employees working in job classifications for which
contributions are required to be made to the Fund pur­
suant to a collective bargaining agreement.

9. The Internal Revenue Service has previously issued a
determination letter with respect to the qualification of
this plan.

RIGHTS OF INIEREmD PARTIES

l 0. You have the right to submit to the EP Determinations,
at the above address , either individually or jointly with
other interested parties, your comments as lo whether
this plan meets the qualification requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code.

You may instead, individually or jointly with other
interested parties, request the Department of Labor to
submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District
Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the

Department declines to comment on all or some of the
matters you raise, you may, individually, or jointly if
your request was made to the Department jointly, sub­
mit your comments on these matters directly to the Key
District Director.

REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS BY THE DEPARtllEllT OF LABOR

11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf
of the interested parties unless requested to do so by the
lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees
who qualify as interested parties . The number of per­
sons needed for the Department to comment with
respect to this plan is 10. If you request the Department
to comment, your request must be in writing and must
specify the matters upon which comments are request­
ed, and must also include:

(a) the information contained in items 2 through S of
this Notice; and

(b) the number of persons needed for the Department to
comment.

A request to the Department to comment should be
addressed as follows:

Deputy Assistant Secretary
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
ATIN: 3001 Comment Request
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

COMMENTS TU THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

12 . Comments submitted by you to the EP Determinations
must be in writing and received by him by April 15,
2002 . However, if there are matters that you request the
Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf,
and the Department declines, you may submit com­
ments on these matters to the Key District Director to be
received by him within 15 days from the time the
Department notifies you that it will not comment on a
particular matter, or by April 15, 1995, whichever is
later, but not after May 1, 2002.

ADDmONAL INFORMATION

Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notifica­
tion of interested parties may be found in Revenue Procedure
2001-6. Additional information concerning this application
(including, where applicable, an updated copy of the plan
and related trust; the application for determination; any addi­
tional documents dealing with the application that was sub­
mitted to the IRS ; and copies of Revenue Procedure 2001-6)
are available at the offices of the Fund, during the hours of
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inspection and copying. (There is
a nominal fee for copying and/or mailing.)

Apri/2002



.,.

'

rtOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES
1. otlce to: All Participants of lhe Ptnsion Fund ("the

Fund")

An application is to he made to the Internal Revenue
Service for: an advance deter:mination on the qualifica­
tion of the Restated Plan of the following pension ben­
efit plan:

matters you raise, you may, individual ly. or jointly if
your request was made to the Department jointly, sub­
mit your comments on these matters directly to the Key
District Director.

Arrests Made in Alaska Pollution Case
Involving Two Runaway-Flag Vessels

2. Name of Plan: Sea.farer& Money Purchase Pension
Plan

3. Plan Number. 001

4. Name and Address of Applicant:
Board of Trustees
Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

5. Applicant EIN 52-1994914

6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator:
Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator
Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

7. The application wiU be filed before February 28, 2002
with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue
Service, at:

EP Determinations
Internal Revenue Service
P,O.Box 192
Covington, KY 41012--0192

For an advance determination as to whether the plan
meets the qualification requirements of section 401(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to
the plan's qualification.

8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan
are; All employees working in job classifications for
which contributions are required to be made to the Fund
pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

9. The Internal Revenue Service has previously issued a
deteanination letter with respect to the qualification of
tbisplan.

RIGHIS OF llTEllES'l'ED PARYIES

10. You have the rigbt to submit to the EP Determinations,
at the above address, either individually or jointly with
other interested parties, your comments as to whether
this plan meets the qualification requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code.

You may instead, individually or jointly with other
interested parties, request the Department of Labor to
submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District
Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the
Department declines to comment on all or some of the

REQUESTS FOR COMMQTS BY 1HE DEPAR'IMENT OF LABOR

11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf
of the interested parties unless requested to do so by the
lesser of JO employees or 10 percent of the employees
who qualify as interested parties. The nwnber of per­
sons needed for the Department to comment with
respect to this plan is 10. If you request tbe Department
to comment, your request must be in writing and must
specify the matters upon which comments are request­
ed, and must also include:

(a) the information contained in items 2 through 5 of
this otice: and

(b) the number of persons needed for the Department to
commenl

A request to the Department to comment should be
addressed as follows:

Deputy Assistant Secretary
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
ATTN: 300 l Comment Request
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

COMMfliTS 10 m UMRllAL REVENUE Si8VICE

12. Comments submitted by yon to the EP Determinations
must be in writing and received by him by Apri.l 15,
2002. However, if there are matters that you request the
Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf,
and the Department declines, you may submit com­
ments on these matters to the Key District Director to
be received by him within 15 days from the time the
Department notifies you that it will not comment on a
particular matter, or by April IS, 1995, whichever is
later, but not after May I, 2002.

ADDmOIAl INfORMATIOlt

Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notifi­
cation of interested parties may be found in Revenue
Procedure 2001-6. Additional information concerning this
application (including, where applicable, an updated copy
of the plan and related trust; the application for determina­
tion; any additional documents dealing with the application
that was submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue
Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund,
during the hours of9:-0Q a.m. to ~,:OOp.m. for inspection and
copying. (There is a nominal fe~ for copying and/or mail­
ing.)

The U.S. Department of Justice last
month announced that a ship captain and
chief engineers of two runaway-flag ves­
sels have been arrested and charged with
keeping false log books to conceal the
dumping of waste oil and sludge from two
ships; obstructing a Coast Guard investiga­
tion; and obstruction of justice for alleged­
ly telling crew members to lie to a federal
grand jury.

The arrests, supported by criminal com­
plaints, were announced March 14 by
Timothy M. Burgess, United States attor­
ney for Alaska, and Thomas L. Sansonetti,
assistant attorney general for the environ­
ment division of the Department of Justice.

The defendants are Doo Hyon Kim,
captain of the Norwegian-owned, Pana­
manian-flagged M/V Khana; In Ho Kim,
chief engineer of the Khana; and Min
Gwen Go, chief engineer of the Pana­
manian-flagged, Korean-owned MIV
Sohoh.

According to the criminal complaints
filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage,
the Khana and Sohoh are freighters operat­
ed by a Korean company (Boyang, LTD)
that carries frozen seafood to Asia. In
February, the U.S. Coast Guard detained
the Khana, the Sohoh, and two other
freighters under common management, in
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for possible viola­
tions of the Act to Prevent Pollution from
Ships.

During Coast Guard inspections, agency
officials found oil-laden bypass hoses on
the two ships which they believed were

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

1 . Notice to: All Participants of the Pension
Fund ("the Fund")

An application is to be made to the
Internal Revenue Service for an advance
determination on the qualification of the
Restated Plan of the following pension
benefit plan:

your request was made to the Department
jointly, submit your comments on these
matters directly to the Key District
Director.

REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS BY
TIIE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Selecting a
SPADSlogan

2. Name of Plan: Seafarers Pension Plan

3. Plan Number: 001

4. Name and Address of Applicant:
Board of Trustees
Seafarers Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

5. Applicant EIN 13-6100329

6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator:
Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator
Seafarers Pension Plan
5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

7. The application will be filed before
February 28, 2002 with the Key District
Director, Internal Revenue Service, at:

EP Determinations
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 192
Covington, KY 41012-0192

For an advance determination as to
whether the plan meets the qualification
requirements of section 40l(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with
respect to the plan's qualification.

8. The employees eligible to participate
under the plan are: All employees working
in job classifications for which contribu­
tions are required to be made to the Fund
pursuant to a collective bargaining agree­
ment.

I 1. The Department of Labor may not com­
ment on behalf of the interested parties
unless requested to do so by the lesser of
10 employees or 10 percent of the employ­
ees who qualify as interested parties. The
number of persons needed for the
Department to comment with respect to
this plan is 10. If you request the
Department to comment, your request
must be in writing and must specify the
matters upon which comments are
requested, and must also include:

(a) the information contained in items 2
through 5 of this otice; and

(b) the number of persons needed for the
Department to comment.

A request to the Department to comment
should be addressed as follows:

Deputy Assistant Secretary
Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration
ATTN: 3001 Comment Request
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, .W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

COMMENTS TO TIIE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE

In the March issue of the Seafarers LOG, we
announced the start of a contest being conducted
to come up with a new catch-phrase that signifies
the importance of SPAD to the SIU membership.

This new slogan, similar to the "Politics is
Porkchops" of the past, will be printed on T­
shirts. (Details on the shirts' availability will
appear in future issues of the LOG.)

But first, we need a slogan to put on the T­
shirts. Some very good entries already have been
received, but we welcome even more.

This contest is limited to active and retired
Seafarers, who may submit up to three slogans.
Entries must be received no later than June 10,
2002 for consideration. The judges' decision will
be final. In case the same slogan is submitted and
selected for the new SPAD T-shirt, the entry with
the earliest postmark will be declared the winner.

The winner will receive an SIU jacket, an SIU
cap and an SIU shirt. That individual, along with
the winning entry, will be announced in a subse­
quent issue of the LOG.

To enter, please complete the form printed
below and mail it to the address indicated.

used to circumvent the oil-water separator,
a required pollution-prevention device. Oil
was found by the Coast Guard in the over­
board discharge valve where only clean
water would ordinarily be located.

Special agents from the Coast Guard,
Environmental Protection Agency and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation subse­
quently executed search warrants on the
ships, according to court documents.

According to the criminal complaint,
not only was oil-contaminated bilge waste
and sludge dumped overboard without the
use of the separator, but the captain and
chief engineers of the two ships conducted
meetings at which the lower level crew
members were told to lie. This allegedly
took place even after the crew members
had been served with grand jury subpoe­
nas. Crew members on both ships identi­
fied rubber hoses with metal fittings
attached on each end that were used to
bypass the oil-water separator. The crimi­
nal complaints further allege that the
defendants maintained false oil record
books, a required log in which all over­
board discharges are to be recorded and
which are relied upon by the Coast Guard.

If convicted, the defendants could face
up to five years in prison and up to a
$250,000 criminal fine for the alleged
false statements and obstruction of an
agency proceeding. The alleged obstruc­
tion of justice by ordering subpoenaed
crew members to testify falsely, known as
witness tampering, carries a maximum
term of 10 years.

r------- - ----------- -------- - - - - --- - - - ----- - - - -- - ---- ------ - - -------- ---- ---- , 9. The Internal Revenue Service has previ­
ously issued a determination letter with
respect to the qualification of this plan.

12. Comments submitted by you to the EP
Determinations must be in writing and
received by him by April 15 , 2002.
However, if there are matters that you
request the Department of Labor to com­
ment upon on your behalf, and the
Department declines, you may submit
comments on these matters to the Key
District Director to be received by him
within 15 days from the time the
Department notifies you that it will not
comment on a particular matter, or by
April 15, 1995, whichever is later, but not
after May I, 2002.

NAME THAT T-SHIRT CONTEST

RIGHTS Of
lfflHEmD PARTIES

10. You have the right to submit to the EP
Determinations, at the above address,
either individually or jointly with other
interested parties, your comments as to
whether this plan meets the qualification
requirements of the Internal Revenue
Code.

You may instead, individually or jointly
with other interested parties, request the
Deparunent of Labor to submit, on your
behalf, comments to the Key District
Director regarding qualification of the
plan. If the Department declines to com­
ment on all or some of the matters you
raise, you may, individually, or jointly if

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Detailed instructions regarding the require­
ments for notification of interested parties may
be found in Revenue Procedure 2001-6 .
Additional information concerning this appli­
cation (including, where applicable, an updat­
ed copy of the plan and related trust; the appli­
cation for determination; any additional docu­
ments dealing with the application that was
submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue
Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices
of the Fund, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. for inspection and copying. (There is
a nominal fee for copying and/or mailing.)

Here are my ideas for a new SPAD slogan: (You may submit up to three ideas)

1.

2.

3.

Name:

Address:

Telephone Number:

D I am an active Seafarer

D I am a retired Seafarer
Send completed form to SPAD Slogan Contest,

Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746.

-- --- ---- ---------------------- ----------------------------- - -- - ----- ------- ~

April2002 Seafarers LOS 11



The Moira Smith (above) is one
of three new passenger ferries
recently christened for the SIU­
contracted NY Waterway fleet.
Attending the ceremony in New
York are (from left) SIU Rep Ed
Pulver; SIU President Michael
Sacco; Joseph Soresi, vice
president Atlantic Coast; and
Don Nolan, vice president Paul
Hall Center. The boat was
named in memory of Police
Officer Moira Smith and all her
colleagues who perished Sept.
11 , 2002.

At the stern of the Sea/and Florida, AB Sirio Centino (left)
gives the hull a coat of paint. Above, AB Shaib Juma (left)
and Bosun Jerry Borucki perform some maintenance work
on the anchor. Borucki sent these two photos to the LOG.

AB Joseph Carrillo (below) has a new-found
respect for the jobs performed by engine depart­
ment members. When he recently joined the
Sea/and Florida (USSM) for a 35-day riding gang
assignment, he fully expected to do some painting
and chipping, but instead was told to report to the
first engineer. Along with Wiper Jeremy Duncan
(left) and AB Kenneth Carruth (not pictured) , he set
to work spray-painting the bulkheads, rolling out the
decks, and painting the emergency generator
room, as well as the C02, incinerator and purifier
rooms. "You have to be tough to withstand the heat
in the engine room," he acknowledged.

When the Chemical Pioneer
(Maritime Transport Lines)
stopped off in the port of
Philadelphia recently, the
crew members were met by
SIU Rep Joe Mieluchowski
(signing papers) . With him are
Pumpman Utility Floyd Ell is
(left) and AB Carl Motley.

STONEWALL JACKSON

Recertified Steward Albert Fretta
takes inventory aboard the
Stonewall Jackson.

Meals are delicious aboard ship,
states QMED Ace Kirksey.

12 Seafal'el'S LOB

~--· · ,- - -

1.

Chief Cook
Fernando Guity
(who sent these

photos to the
LOG) rides the

launch ashore to
do some shopping . :

Posing on the deck of the Waterman
Steamship Corp. vessel are deck
department members (from left) DEU
Brendan Malone, AB Ato Aikins, AB
Finn Jakobsen, Bosun David Leachman
and AB Joel Carlson .

SA Abdul Saleh (left) cleans the mess hall before the next meal
while SA Bon Vannaxay prepares ingredients for a salad.

QMED Julius
Williams rolls up
the hose following
a boat drill on the
Stonewall
Jackson. The ves­
sel was en route
to the Suez Canal
from a Far East
run .

April 2002



Dilf&St of SlliPboard­
g.,ion Meetings

'
Tile Seafatel$LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard '

minutes as possible. On occasion~ because of space
limitations, some will be omitted.

Ships minutes"first are reviewed by the union's contract department
Those Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union

upon receipt ~f the ships' minutes. The minutes are then forwarded
;:\to the Seafarers LOG tor publlcation.

CLEVELAND (Sealift, Inc.), Dec.
30--Chairman Fareed A. Khan,
Secretary Miguel E. Vinca, Edu­
cational Director Rahul Bagchi,
Deck Delegate James Browne,
Steward Delegate Donald Sneed.
Chairman thanked everyone for
great job cleaning cargo hold.
Secretary added his thanks to all
for helping keep mess hall clean.
He asked that rooms be left in
good order for next person and that
plastic refuse be separated from
regular trash. Educational director
stressed importance of upgrading
skills at Paul Hall Center in Piney
.Point, Md. and reminded crew
members of Feb. 1, 2002 deadline
for compliance with STCW train­
ing regulations. No beefs or disput­
ed OT reported. Clarification
requested on company hiring of
Polish nationals aboard ship. Vote
of thanks given to steward depart­
ment for job well done, especially
Thanksgiving and Christmas
meals. Next port: New Orleans.

ITB BALTIMORE (Sheridan
Transportation Corp.), Dec. 26-­
Chairman Jeffrey H. Kass,
Secretary Mohamed Nour, Edu­
cational Director Brandon T.
Purcell, Deck Delegate Allen C.
Davis, Engine Delegate Ahmed
Salim, Steward Delegate Yussuf
Ussi. Chairman reminded crew
members about upcoming STCW
training deadline, about importance
of contributing to SPAD and
upgrading at Piney Point. He added
that passageways should be kept
quiet and that shower shoes are not
appropriate attire for mess hall or
galley. He also encouraged separa­
tion of plastic items, batteries and
paper from regular trash. Educa­
tional director stated that facilities
at Piney Point are for all Seafarers
and that they should take advan­
tage of that benefit. Treasurer
announced $200 each month for
the movie fund (use it or lose it).
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
TV reception now excellent, fol­
lowing captain's purchase and
installation of new television
antenna and coaxial cable. Follow­
ing reading of president's report
from LOG, discussion ensued on
legislation associated with ANWR.
Steward department thanked for
excellent job, especially for
Christmas dinner. Next ports: Port
Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash.;
Portland, Ore.

MAERSK ALASKA (Maersk
Line, Ltd.), Dec. 29-Chairman
Juan Castillo, Secretary Ronald J.
Davis, Educational Director Ralph
S. Baker. Chairman talked about
smooth voyage to and from Beirut.
In the wake of Sept. 11 , he didn't
know what to expect, but every­
thing went well. Educational direc­
tor advised crew members to
upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Communications from headquar­
ters read regarding importance of
complying with STCW training.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for job well done-and
best wishes for Merry Christmas
and happy new year to all Sea­
farers and staff. Next port: Gal­
veston, Texas.

SEABULK TRADER (Seabulk
Tankers, Inc.), Dec. 30-Chairman
Christopher J. Kicey, Secretary

Aprl/2002

Kenneth Whitfield. Bosun report­
ed payoff Dec. 31 in Lake Charles,
La. Crew members will find out
more about new contract at that
time. Educational director remind­
ed Seafarers of STCW training
deadline and suggested they
upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Report from captain that DirecTV
channel will be back on line in Fort
Lauderdale. New mattresses
received; captain will put them in
rooms needing them most. Special
thanks given to steward department
for super Christmas dinner.

USNS POMEROY (Maersk
Lines), Dec. 13--Chairman Mark
A. Coleman, Secretary Waymond
H. Watson III, Educational
Director Roy Zanca, Deck Dele­
gate Kenneth L. Cuffee, Steward
Delegate Lewis E. Johansen.
Chairman talked about fantastic
performance of ship's crew during
docking and loadout-57 minutes
for docking and three days to load.
Secretary added his thanks to stew­
ard department for great job in
Charleston, S.C. loading stores and
consumables virtually alone since
deck department was busy else­
where. Educational director re­
minded crew members about
STCW training deadline and
importance of upgrading skills and
ratings at Piney Point facility. Beef
reported in deck department; no
disputed OT reported. Bosun led
discussion about massive U.S. lay­
offs but that SIU continues to pro­
vide jobs for its members. He stat­
ed importance of contributing to
SPAD to help in that effort. Every­
one advised to keep safety in mind
at all times, especially on "B" deck
with fork truck tines. "Tremendous
vote of thanks" given to steward
department for wonderful job and
variety of menus. Next port: Diego
Garcia.

USNS STOCKHAM (American
Overseas Marine), Dec. 21-
Chairman William L. Bratton,
Secretary Sergio Castellanos,
Educational Director Richard A.
Sargent, Deck Delegate Martha
A. Wall, Engine Delegate Alan H.
Nelson, Steward Delegate Vicki L.
Holloway. Chairman led discus­
sion on various aspects of ship­
board living. Educational director
stated that crew members need to
work 60 days before they can get a
vacation check. He encouraged
everyone to take advantage of
upgrading opportunities available
at Piney Point. Secretary an­
nounced $1 ,025 in ship 's fund.
Suggestions on ways to spend it
are welcome. Christmas dinner will
be held ashore at one of the parks
(in Diego Garcia). No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Communi­
cations received from headquarters
state that members may be asked at
payoff to update their dues-so all
were advised to keep dues current.

- ENDURANCE (USSM), Jan.
22--Chairman Romeo L. Lugtu,
Secretary Russell B. Beyschau,
Educational Director Tesfaye
Gebregziabber. Chairman report­
ed smooth voyage with payoff
scheduled Jan. 22 in Long Beach,
Calif. He urged crew members to
upgrade at Paul Hall Center and
stay current with latest regulations.
He also wished nice vacation to

departing crew. Secretary stressed
importance of union involvement
aboard ship and ashore. He thanked
all departments for teamwork dur­
ing voyage. It reminded him of
when he was a trainee in 1984. He
also advised everyone that upgrad­
ing skills is the key to a secure
future. Educational director talked
about necessity of upgrading and
of importance of contributing to
SPAD. With SPAD donations, the
SIU can work hard on Capitol Hill
to secure jobs for the future. Beef
reported in engine department per­
taining to clothing allowance; oth­
erwise, everything running well.
Steward reported new chairs for
messhall and lounge are due in
Long Beach. Crew is looking into
some new gym equipment. Vote of
thanks given to steward department
for great job during voyage.

INDEPENDENCE (USSM), Jan.
3--Chairman Jay C. Dillon,
Secretary Alan E. Hollinger,
Educational Director Donald D.
Williams Jr., Deck Delegate
Stephen R. Garay. Chairman stat­
ed year-end payoff went smoothly.
He noted that with Chinese New
Year coming up, flight delays to be
expected. Secretary and education­
al director talked of need to take
advantage of upgrading opportuni­
ties at Piney Point and get neces­
sary STCW training. Treasurer
announced $120 in crew fund. No
beefs; some disputed OT reported
in deck department. Suggestion
made to streamline contracts to
make them easier for members and
officials to understand. Everyone
asked to comply with vessel's
smoking policy. Request made for
launch service. Vote of thanks
given to steward department, espe­
cially for delicious Christmas meal.
Next ports: Singapore and Hong
Kong.

MAERSK TENNESSEE (Maersk
Line, Ltd.), Jan. 6--Chairman
James J. Keevan, Secretary
Leoncio A. Castro, Educational
Director Peter G. Murtagh,
Steward Delegate Carlos A.
Rosales. Chairman noted several
crew members getting off in
Balboa, Panama, and he welcomed
new GVA, Daniel Beshears from
Louisiana, on board. He also said
ship is awaiting copies of new con­
tract. Educational director recom­
mended everyone comply with
STCW training requirements by
Feb. 1,2002. Treasurer announced
$600 in ship 's fund. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Suggestion
made to lower retirement age to
50; also to have patrolman in
Panama stay with crew members at
airport until departure to pay travel
taxes.

MAERSK TEXAS (Maersk Line,
Ltd.), Jan 23--Chairman John M.
Zepeda, Secretary Donna M.
DeCesare, Educational Director
Oscar A. Palacios, Deck Delegate
Shawn Williams, Steward Dele­
gate Malcolm C. Holmes. Chair­
man stressed that Maersk Texas is a
union ship and everyone should
follow union shipping rules.
Educational director talked about
need to upgrade at Paul Hall
Center. Treasurer announced $265
in ship 's fund. No beefs or disputed
OT reported. Requests made for
new VCR for crew lounge as well
as stereo and satellite TV. Would
also like to have a couple SIU unli­
censed apprentices on board. Sug­
gestions made to increase retire­
ment and health benefits. Vote of
thanks to steward department,
especially to Chief Cook Holmes
and GVA Manuel Daguio for
excellent jobs.

MOTIVATOR (USSM), Jan. 14-
Chairman Norman K. Armstrong,
Secretary Richard E. Hicks,
Educational Director Prescilo P.
Zunige, Engine Delegate Sheldon
S. Greenberg. Chairman
announced payoff Jan. 16 upon

arrival in Houston. Secretary
thanked crew for helping keep ship
clean. Educational director remind­
ed everyone of upgrading opportu­
nities at union's Piney Point facili­
ty and of upcoming deadline for
STCW training. No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Matter of chief
mate not signing off on TRBs to be
taken up with boarding patrolman.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for excellent Christmas
dinner.

PERFORMANCE (USSM), Jan.
5--Chairman Ross F. Lyle,
Secretary Thomas W. Milovich,

union agent upon arrival in Tacoma
and to leave room clean and with
fresh linen for next person.
Secretary advised members to
upgrade at Piney Point and take
advantage of all the courses they
have to offer. He also reminded
them to help clean ship and keep
all documents up to date.
Educational director expressed
importance of keeping abreast of
union and industry business.
Reading LOG is good way to get
that news. Treasurer announced
$256 in cookout fund. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. Members
who signed on June 16 requested

Keeping Current on the Perseverance

Tacoma SIU Port Agent Bryan Powell (second from right) reviews
STCW training requirements with crew members aboard the
Perseverance (Maritrans) in San Pedro, Calif. He also stressed the
need for Seafarers to write their elected officials in support of an
energy policy that includes development of ANWR, which would
create a substantial number of jobs in the maritime sector.

Educational Director Nicholas A.
Vieira, Deck Delegate Edwin
Ortega. Chairman, secretary and
educational director spoke about
need to upgrade skills at Piney
Point and get STCW training.
Treasurer announced $140 in ship's
treasury. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Dryer has been replaced
in crew laundry. Suggestion made
concerning procedure for room
inspections/searches. Steward
department thanked for job well
done. Next ports: Newark, N.J.;
Houston.

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
(ATC), Jan. 20--Chairman Al L.
Caulder, Secretary Gregory G.
Keene, Steward Delegate Lucille
Ryan. Chairman stated Port Agent
John Cox visited ship in Long
Beach, Calif He brought new
tanker agreements on board and
explained some contract changes.
Crew members advised that ship's
chairman is an elected position and
not automatically the role of the
bosun. Bosun suggested everyone
work together for stronger ship and
stronger union and keep ship 's
business down below, first taking
any problems to department dele­
gates. Secretary talked about
upcoming STCW training deadline.
No disputed OT reported; beef
noted in steward department. Deck
delegate reminded everyone to get
letter from captain for extra day's
vacation. Complaint made that
prices at Paul Hall Center slop
chest are too high. Bosun to dis­
cuss disbursement of monies from
ATC safety fund with captain.
Thanks-and job well done-given
to steward department for excellent
Christmas meal. Next port: Cherry
Point, Wash.

PACIFIC (CSX Lines), Jan. 6-­
Chairman Rufino J. Giray,
Secretary Robert P. Mosley,
Educational Director Frank J.
Bakun, Engine Delegate Knolly T.
Wiltshire, Steward Delegate Cecil
R. Husted. Chairman read letter
from headquarters answering many
questions previously posed by crew
members. He also talked about
importance of contributing to
SPAD and how that donation bene­
fits the membership. Bosun
advised crew to check in with cus­
toms and immigration and with

clarification as to whether they are
under old or new contract. Clari­
fication also requested on reliefs
and tours of duty. Crew members
gave vote of thanks to steward
department for job well done.
Steward department, in tum,
thanked deck department for their
help and assistance. Next ports:
Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif;
Hawaii; Guam, Hong Kong.

SEALAND PRIDE (USSM), Jan.
19--Chairman Robert B.F.
Lindsay Jr., Secretary Roderick
K. Bright, Educational Director
Ronald M. Pheneuf. Chairman
announced payoff Jan. 21 in port of
Houston. New SPAD poster
received from headquarters to be
put in crew lounge. Educational
director talked about need for
STCW training by Feb. 1, 2002.
Bosun announced $90 in ship's
fund. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Suggestion made for
USSM to return to old rules
regarding transportation. Vote of
thanks given to steward department
for good food and service. Before
heading to Rotterdam, ship will
stop in Houston; Savannah, Ga.;
and Norfolk, Va.

SPIRIT(CSX Lines), Jan. 13-
Cbairman Howard W. Gibbs,
Secretary Edgardo G. Ombac,
Educational Director Roger D.
Phillips. Chairman announced pay­
off Jan. 19 in Tacoma, Wash. He
stated that noise heard at night
when ship rolls will be fixed in
port. He thanked crew for good trip
and for following safety procedures
and reminded them to read presi­
dent's report in LOG each month.
Secretary stated new mattresses
should be on board next trip.
Educational director talked about
12-week QMED course for quali­
fied members available at Paul Hall
Center. He also reminded them of
upcoming STCW compliance dead­
line. Treasurer announced $530 in
ship's fund and $140 in video fund.
Plans may include purchase of larg­
er TV and build cabinet to store TV,
VCR and DVD equipment. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Chairman to talk to patrolman
about getting copies of new con­
tract. Thanks given to steward
department for good food and clean
messhall. Next ports: Tacoma;
Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam.

Seafal'fll'S LOS 13



J

The Piney Point Lighthouse is known as the
Lighthouse of Presidents because, beginning
with our fourth commander-in-chief, James

Madison, many presidents and other notables of
American history spent their summers in Piney
Point, Md., away from the stifling heat of
Washington.

It's too bad they didn't have the fantas­
tic facilities available to them that today's
SIU members have, namely, the Paul
Hall Center.

Each summer, a number of rooms in
the training and recreation center are set
aside for vacationing SIU members and
their families.

Ideally situated on the banks of the
St. George's Creek in Southern
Maryland, the Paul Hall Center is the
perfect place from which to base a fam­
ily vacation.

The center, which houses the largest
training facility for deep sea merchant
seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in
the United States, is composed of a number
of administrative and educational buildings
as well as a library and maritime museum and
a six-story training and recreation center on
more than 60 acres of waterfront property.

The rooms are comfortable and well equipped, and
there are certainly enough amenities and activities to
keep everyone in the family happy.

At the center, you will find a picnic area with grills and tables,
outdoor tennis and basketball courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a
health spa (including Nautilus, free weights, universal gym, sauna and
steamroom) and plenty of space for walks or jogs on the beautifully land­
scaped grounds.

This peaceful setting provides opportunities for both water- and land­
based expeditions. The center has a marina where vacationers may take a
boat out for the day to sail around the region or look for a good fishing
spot. With 400 miles of waterline surrounding St. Mary's County, water­
borne activities are abundant.

But there is plenty to do outside the gates of the Paul Hall Center as
well. A drive of less than two hours will bring you into the nation 's capi­
tal and all it has to offer- a fabulous zoo as well as museums and monu-

' ' '
ments galore, just for starters.

Or you can catch an Orioles' ball game at Camden
Yards in Baltimore.

But you don't even have to go that far. History
is just down the road.

The Piney Point Lighthouse- the oldest of
four lights on the Potomac River- is locat­
ed 14 miles upstream from its mouth at the
Chesapeake Bay.

It was built in 183 6 by John Donohoo
of Havre de Grace, Md. and was in oper­
ation until 1964 when it was retired by
the Coast Guard.

The unique brick tower is 35 feet tall
and is painted white with a red lantern.
Upon its completion, a fixed white light
was installed, which was visible for 11
miles. A Fresnel lens was installed in
1855 (it has since been removed).

In 1880, a fog bell tower was con­
structed next to the lighthouse tower. The

bell, which was operated mechanically,
sounded every 20 seconds on foggy nights.

The bell was replaced in 1936 with the
installation on the lighthouse tower of a reed

horn. The tower was severely damaged in a
storm in the mid 1950s and was dismantled soon

after. In 1980, the Coast Guard transferred owner­
ship to the St. Mary's County Department of

Recreation and Parks.
The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum is housed in a sepa-

rate building. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a stroll along the
boardwalk to view exhibit panels on the history of the area. The grounds
of this six-acre park are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset,
and the museum offers exhibits related to the history of the lighthouse and
of area life in the early 1900s.

There are lots of places of historical significance as well as other attrac­
tions nearby, including seafood festivals, art exhibitions, antique and craft
shows and theater productions. The choices are unlimited, depending on
your interests. And the Paul Hall Center is the link to all of them.

Your stay at Piney Point, which can last up to two weeks per family,
also includes three delicious meals each day. To take advantage of this
unique benefit to SIU members and their families, send in your reserva­
tion form now.

• • • ·The Vacation Spot o Presidents
PAUL HALL CENTER TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER

Vacation Reservation Information

Name:

Social Security number: _________ _ Book number:

Address:

Telephone number:

Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: ______________ _

Date of arrival: 1st choice: 2nd choice: __ _ 3rd choice: __ _
(Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks)

Date of departure: ___ ________ _ 4/02

Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075.

UNION MEMBER
VACATION RATES

A vacation stay at the Paul Hall
Center is limited to two weeks per
family.

Member $40.00/day

Spouse $10.00/day

Child $10.00/day

Note: There is no charge for chil­
dren 11 years of age or younger.
The prices listed above include all
meals but do not include tax.

·--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~

· 14 -Seafarers LOG Apri/2002



Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2002

*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

Port
Algonac
Baltimore
Guam

1
g

2
Honolulu 5

Houston 25
Jacksonville 3 5
Mobile 13
New Orleans 15
New York 23
Norfolk 10
Philadelphia 5
Piney Point l
Puerto Rico 5
San Francisco 16
St. Louis 1
Tacoma 30
Wilmington 25
Totals 220

Port
Algonac
Baltimore 7
Guam
Honolulu 3
Houston 15
Jacksonville 19
Mobile 8
New Orleans 10
New York 9
Norfolk 6
Philadelphia 2
Piney Point 3
Puerto Rico 3
San Francisco 13
St. Louis 1
Tacoma 12
Wilmington 10
Totals 123

Port
... Algonac ·

Baltimore
Guam
Honolulu
Houston
Jacksonville
Mobile
New Orleans
N~wYork

12
13
18

7
14

14
Norfolk 10
Philadelphia 5
Piney Point 3

·. Puerto: Rico ~ o
San Francisco 24
St Louis 0
Tacoma 19
Wilmington 20
Totals 163

Port
Algonac 0
Baltimore 0

~· 9u~m 0
Honolulu 4
Houston 2
Jacksonville 3
Mobile 0
New Orleans 2
New York 4
Norfolk 0
Philadelphia 1
Piney Point 0
Puerto Rico 3
San Francisco 3
St. Louis 0
Tacoma 6
Wilmington 5
Totals 33

Totals All
Departments 539

3
6
0
6

1
3
2

16 12
19 8
6 8

IO 5
9 18

12 14
3 1
2

8 2
11 4
6 5

18 11
10 10

145 106

1
5 0
0 1
3 2
7 12

21 4
6 3
3 1

10 6
8

5 0
2 1
8 6

l .-~---
7 11

14 3
102 54

4
5
5

6
l
5
9
0

7
0
3
0
1
4

53

0
2
2

13
16
17
9
7

34
7
1

16
4

16
2

19
9

174

5
5

10

3
t
5
2
1
0

·o
3
0
0

0
36

l
8
7

30
23
34
2

12
36
12
0

11
4

10
1

17
11

219

474 415

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

DECK DEPARTMENT

Trip
Reliefs

0 2 0 0
5 3 1 0
2 2
7

17
20
8

16
16
9
8
0
8

20

31
18

3
8

21
6

12
8
7
l
0
5
3
3

13
8

2

6
7
8
1
7
7
0

0
0
3
2
7
5

7

6
2
5
7

3
3

0
6
6
0
9
9

186 104 58 65

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0 0 1 0
7
0
7
7

14
4

5
6
6

2
0
8
0

I
0
3
3

18
1
9
7
2

1
3
7
1

l
2
2
4

2
0
0
3
2
0

0
0
1
1

1
2
1
3

13
I
3

4
0
0
2
4
0

8 5 5 7
2 7 1 4

77 69 25 36

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
"Jr Q'

3 0
0 0
7
9

16

2
~
9

3
0
2

1
7
2

1
2
2

0
1
2

0
5

11
0
4
0

9 1 4 4
1 0 0 1
2 1 0 0
0 0 0 0

20 4 1 4
l 1 0 0

15 3 3 13
20 4 0 4

119 31 16 48

ENTRY DEPARTMENT
0 0 l 0
0 3 7 0
0 2 0 0
5 9 2 0
0 9 3 0
2 11 10 0
0 2 1 0
2
3
0

0
0
1
0

5
2

21

403

2
14
3
0
9
3

11
0

11
1

90

294

5
9
4

1
19
4
6
0

4
2

78

177 159

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

3
13

1
12
47
55
25
30
37
19

8

14
36

48
48

398

2
7
1
8

25
29
15
17
21

8
4

5
6

12

17
16

194

17
18
27
13 .

17
22

2
6
0

2
4

10 4
22 20
35 11
15 6
19 13
17 22
20 16

4 2
4 2

14 3
17 4
5 5

23 14
19 19

232 148

3 0
5 0
0 0
8 6

12 17
29 14

8 3
6 4

17 12
20 4

6 2
9 1
3 2
8 7
3 0

14 15
16 7

167 94

8
7
6
6
3
8--

16
5

13 19

14
4
3
7
3
I
1
0
2

5 0
5 12
3 ' ~~ &.f~

38 6
0 o:

38 1
33 9

253 87

0 2
0 5
0 3
8 36
4 25
3 23
0 17
2 19

12 60
0 18
0 3
0 25
7 8
6 25
0 3

10 32
8 20

60 324

905 810

1~~-~1
1
2

61

3
4

11
58
40
56
2

25
77
21

0
17
10
18
I

39

31
413

716

*"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

.April 2/JIJ2

May & June 2002
Membership Meetings

Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters
Piney Point ............. Monday: May 6, June 3

Algonac .................. Friday: May 10, June 7

Baltimore ................ Thursday: May 9, June 6

Boston ..................... Friday: May 10, June 7

Duluth ..................... Wednesday: May 15, June 12

Honolulu ......... ........ Friday: May 17, June 14

Houston ........ ... ....... Monday: May 13, June 10

Jacksonville ............ Thursday: May 9, June 6

Jersey City .... .......... Wednesday: May 22, June 19

Mobile ..... ..... ... ....... Wednesday: May 15, June 12

New Bedford ........ .. Tuesday: May 21. June 18

New Orleans .. ....... .. Tuesday: May 14, June 11

New York ................ Tuesday: May 7, June 4

Norfolk ................... Thursday: May 9, June 6

Philadelphia ............ Wednesday: May 8, June 5

Port Everglades ....... Thursday: May I 6, June 13

San Francisco ......... Thursday: May 16, June 13

San Juan ... ............... Thursday: May 9, June 6

St. Louis .... ........ .. ... Friday: May 17, June 14

Savannah ............ .. .. Friday; May 10, June 7

Tacoma ................... Friday: May24, June 21

Wilinin&IDn ................ Mon~ay: May 2?• June 17

Eat:ll port's llllldng starts at 10:30 a.m.

Personals

JAMES C. DAVIS
Please contact Harry McDaniel at 18

Cottonwood Lane, Merrimack, NH 03054; or tele­
phone (603) 424-9483.

GLENN BAKER JR.
Please get in touch with your friend from 10

years ago, Misty Daubert. You may write her at
6318 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205; or tele­
phone (904) 693-3204.

CAPE FAREWELL REUNION
Retired Seafarer Chuck Klim is helping coordi­

nate what hopefully will be a reunion of the break­
out and first replacement crew of the SS Cape
Farewell from the Persian Gulf War. For more
information, please contact Klim at:

Chuck@DragonAdventures.com.
Klim sailed with the SIU from 1963-69 and

again from 1990 until 2000.

Seafarers LOG 15



.-

Seafarers International Union
Directory

Michael Sacco, President

John Fay, ExecutNe Vice Pre..sident

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer

A1Jgttstin Tellez, Vice ]',resident Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,
J!Jce President Lakes and Inland Waters

" J)e~Q Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vwe President West Coast

Jo$eplt T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Kermett Mangram,
Vice President Government Services

Ren~ Lioea.njie, Jlice President at Large

Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large

• •
HEADQUARTERS

5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs. MD 20746
(301) 899--0675

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

(SJ 0) 7944988

ALTON
325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002

(618) 462-3456

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

(907) 5614988

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 3274900

BOSTON
520 Dorchester Ave., Boston. MA 02127

(617) 269-7877

DULUTH
705 Medical Arts Building, Duluth, MN 55802

(218) 722--4110

GUAM
P.O. Box 23127, Barrigada, Guam 96921

125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E
Tun Jesus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 96911

(671) 647-:1.350

HONOLULU
696 Ka1ihi St., Honolulu, H1 ~6819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002

(713) 659-5152

~· ~APJ:{SQN)71J,LJ! _ f~ . ms Liberty St., J'ack;0:nvllle, p-ift3z206· ·;;
(904) 3:53-0987

JE..RSEY CITY
Q9 Montgotfiery St.1 Jersey City, NJ 07302

(201) 435-9424

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-091Q

NEW BEDFORD
48 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740

(5-08) 997-5404

NEW ORLEANS
39ll. upalco Blvd., l:Iarvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NEWYO.RK
6~S Fourth Ave,, 8rooklyn, NY 1123:2

(7 I 8) 499-6600

NORFOLK
115 Third-St., Norfolk, VA ~3510

(757) 622-1892

PHlLADELJ>IDA
2604 S. 4 St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

(215) 336-3818

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

(3-0l) 994-0010

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

(954) 522-7984

SAN FRANCISCO
350 Frt!mont St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 543-5855
Govetn:tnent Services Division: ( 4 L5) 861-3400

SANT UR CE
1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16

Santurce, PR 00907
(787) 721-4033

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

(314) 752.-6500

SAVANNAH
2220 Bull St-. Savannah, GA 31401

(912) 238-4958

TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

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

(3.10) 549-4000

16 Seafarers LOS

N1'111 Monthly Shipping • Registration Report

Port

Boston
Houston
Harvey, LA
New York
Norfolk
San Pedro
Savannah
Tacoma
Totals

TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

Group I Group II Group III

8
8
7

12

6
11

2

55

3
1
0
1

0
0
0

0

5

0
0
0
2
0
0
0

3

FEBRUARY 2002

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

Group I Group II Group III

DECK DEPARTMENT

5 0 0
6 0 0
3
5

4

4

2
30

0

0

0
0
0

0

0

0
0
0
0
0

0

0

ENGINE DEPARTMENT

A 0 -0

Trip
Reliefs

5
5
0

12

0
7
0

5
34

Port

Boston
Houston
Harvey, LA

New York
Norfolk
San Pe<lro
Savannah
Tacoma
Totals

2

4

2
4

0
6
2

0
1
0

0
0
1
0
1

3

0

1 ~~~~- 2 ~=O~."""""..-..--~

21

l
0

<t
0

0

2

2

0

2
3
2

16

0
0
0

0
2

0

0
0

0

0

Port

Boston
Houston
Harvey, LA

New York
Norfolk
San Pedro
Savannah
Tacoma
Totals

STEWARD DEPARTMENT

6 0
0
1

0
0

0

tt
0

4 0 0

1 Q .d~L,.O, .
0 0 0

5

2

3
3

1
0
0
0

0
1

3 0 0
1 0 0

~.-..-~~~~---9 o~ o

22 4

0
0

13

0

0
0

0

0

0

Port

Boston
Houston
Harvey, LA
New York
Norfolk
San Pedro
Savannah
Tacoma
Totals

ENTRY DEPARTMENT

0
2
2
2

1

4
4

1
6

0
1
3

1

0
6
3
3
0
0
0

0

0 0 0

~
1

0
10

Totals All
Departments 108

20

32

12

18

I
0

2

1
0
1
0

5

64

Pl CS-FROM-THE-PAST

0
0
0

0
0
0

0
0

2

These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner
Gordon P. Driscoll of Warren, Ore.

Driscoll has many memories-and a few photos-of his 33 year
career at sea. In the far right photo, taken in 1949 aboard the SS
Sonoma, he is making friends with Maggie, one of a load of camels
being shipped from Australia bound for Los Angeles. He was just 22
at the time. With him is another
crew member, Jack Smith. The
young boy looking on was one
of the passengers aboard the
vessel .

In the near right photo,
Driscoll, now 75, poses at
home with his wife, Betty, and
dog, Ginger. The large garden,
he notes, "keeps the old man
going."

Driscoll keeps abreast of SIU
activities by reading the
Seafarers LOG. He is some­
times amazed at all the
advances that have been made
since he last sailed.

"Would you believe that a trip to Australia on a C-2 cargo ship took
four months," he stated in a letter accompanying these photos. And
he notes that the training he received on the SS Mariposa in the gal­
ley "was a great education."

0
0

0

0
0
0

0

0

9

4
4

23

0

2

9

3

3

0
2
0
0

10

76

REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Group I Group II Group ID

25

17
50

4
19
5
9

130

5
11

79

5
3

0

45

17
7

21

0

3
2

70

324

3
3
1
8
0

10

2

28

2

11
0

19
2
1

36

0
1
2

3
0

2

1
11

4
16

7

41

0
14
8

41

131

206

0
3

5

0

0

11

0
4

0
9
1
0

18

0
0
0

2
0

13
0

0

15

4

12
97

141

Apri/2002



A captain, two recertified
bosuns and one recertified
steward are among the 13

Seafarers announcing their retire­
ments this month. Captain
Harald Sevland worked at the
helms of inland vessels for more
than 20 years. Bosuns James L.
Camp and Edwin G. Gambrel
completed bosun recertification
programs at the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Educa­
tion in Piney Point, Md. This pro­
gram is the highest level of train­
ing available to members who
sail in the deck department. Chief
Steward Kenneth D. Rosieck
completed the equivalent program
for steward department members.

Including Camp, Gambrel and
Rosieck, eight of the retirees
sailed in the deep sea division.
Four others, including Seveland,
navigated the inland waterways
and one plied the Great Lakes.

Six of the retirees worked in
the deck department, three
shipped in the engine department
and four sailed in the steward
department.

On this page, the Seafarers
LOG presents brief biographical
accounts of the retiring Seafarers.

DEEP SEA

JAMESE.
BILLING­
TON, 68,

» started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1976 in the
port of
Jacksonville,

Fla. Brother Billington served in
the U.S Army from 1950 to 1961.
He worked in the SIU's deep sea
as well as inland divisions, first
sailing aboard a Crowley Towing
& Transportation Co. vessel. The
New Jersey native upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
in Piney Point, Md. in 1985 and
1986. Brother Billington shipped
in the steward department and
last went to sea on Maersk's
USNS Charlton. He is a resident
of St. Augustine, Fla.

JAMESL.
BROCK, 57,
joined the SIU
in 1967 in the
port of Balti­
more. The
Tennessee­
born mariner
served in the
U.S. Air Force from 1962 to
1966. He first sailed on an
Isthmian Lines vessel. Brother
Brock worked in the engine
department and upgraded his
skills often at the Seafarers
school in Piney Point. His last
ship was Waterman Steamship
Corp.'s Major Steven W Pless.
Brother Brock makes his home in
Jacksonville, Fla.

CAMILO
CAMA­
RENA, 65,
hails from
Texas. Brother
Camarena
began his SIU
career in 1981
in the port of

Houston. His initial voyage was
aboard Delta Steamship Lines'

Apri/2002

Del Sol. The steward department
member last worked on the Sea­
Land Discovery. Brother
Camarena lives in Houston.

JAMES L. CAMP, 61, was born
in North Carolina. He started his
career with the Seafarers in 1968
in the port of New York. Brother
Camp served in the U.S. Army
from 1956 to 1959. The deck
department member upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
on five occasions. He completed
bosun recertification training in
1979. Brother Camp last sailed
aboard the Chemical Explorer.
He calls Mooresboro, N.C. home.

ROBERT
ENKE, 65,
began his SIU
career in 1978
in the port of
New Orleans.
Brother Enke
first sailed on
the Walter
Rice, a Reynolds Metal Co. ves­
sel. Born in Brazil, the deck
department member upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers training
school in 1982 and 1984. His last
voyage was on the Overseas New
Orleans. Brother Enke is a resi­
dent of Kenner, La.

EDWIN G. GAMBREL, 48,
started his career with the
Seafarers in 1973 in the port of
Houston. Brother Gambrel
worked in both the inland and
deep sea divisions. The deck
department member upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers training
school and completed bosun
recertification training in 1998.
Brother Gambrel last went to sea
aboard the Liberty Wave, a
Liberty Maritime Corp. vessel.
The Alabama-born mariner lives
in his native state in the city of
Mobile.

GUADA­
LUPEN.
GARCIA, 71,
hails from
Mexico. He
joined the
Seafarers in
1978 in the
port of

Wilmington, Calif Brother
Garcia first went to sea aboard
Delta Steamship Lines' Santa
Mercedes. The steward depart­
ment member last worked on the
Independence, an American
Hawaii Cruise Lines vessel.
Brother Garcia makes his home
in Honolulu.

KENNETH
D.ROSIECK,
65, began his
SIU career in
1975 in San
Francisco. A
native of
Pennsylvania,
he first
shipped on the Santa Magdalena,
a Delta Steamship Lines vessel.
The steward department member
upgraded his skills at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in 1986
and completed the steward recer­
tification program in 1987.
Brother Rosieck, who lives in
Sparks, Nev., last sailed aboard

Welcome Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their

working lives to sailing aboard US.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways 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.

the Tyco-operated Globe Senti­
nel.

INLAND

GEORGEM.
1 COLLIER,

56, is a native
of Pasadena,
Texas.
Boatman
Collier started
his SIU career

L---~~ .......... -,.___j in 1963 in the
port of Houston. He worked in
the deep sea as well as the inland
divisions, initially sailing aboard
Isthmian Liness Steel Rover. A
member of the deck department,
Boatman Collier last worked on a
G&H Towing Co. vessel. He
makes his home in Cisco, Texas.

LEWISS.
FARROW,
62, began his
career with the
Seafarers in
1972 in the
port of
Norfolk, Va.
Boatman
Farrow was born in North
Carolina and sailed in the engine
department. He worked primarily
aboard vessels operated by Cape
Fear Towing Co. Boatman
Farrow still resides in his native
state in the city of Wilmington.

HARALD SEVLAND, 65, start­
ed his SIU career in 1979. Born
in Germany, he shipped in the
deck department as a captain.
Boatman Sevland, who resides in
Lake Worth, Fla., worked primar­
ily aboard Crowley Towing &
Transportation Co. vessels.

HOMERL.
SIDPES, 62,
joined the Sea­
farers in 1965
in the port of
Houston. A
native of
Georgia,
Boatman

GREAT LAKES

NORMAN
FITTAHEY,
61, hails from
Yemen.
Brother Fitta­
hey joined the
Seafarers in
1965 in
Detroit. He

Shipes served in the U.S. Navy
from 1956 to 1960. The deck de­
partment member upgraded his
skills at the Paul Hall Center Last
year. He worked primarily aboard
Crowley Towing & Transporta­
tion Co. vessels. Boatman Shipes
is a resident of Odum, Ga.

sailed as a member of the engine
department. Brother Fittahey last
went to sea on the H Lee White,
an American Steamship Co. ves­
sel. He lives in Detroit.

AMMV Visits Piney Point

Members of chapters composing the Valley Forge Region of the
American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) conducted meet­
ings last month at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and
Education, located in Piney Point, Md. SIU President Michael
Sacco (top photo, right) addressed the group of approximately 75
AMMV members, officials and their families. Valley Forge Region
VP Don Trimbath (left) presented Sacco with an AMMV jacket
March 12. The garment features a remake of the World War II-era
"Battlin' Pete" merchant marine patch. In photos below, Sacco is
joined by other AMMV members as well as other officials from the
union and the school.

Seafarers LOG 17

)



DEEP SEA

PIOBLANKAS
Pensioner Pio
Blankas, 82,
died Nov. 12.
Born in the
Philippines,
Brother Blank.as
joined the
Marine Cooks
& Stewards
(MC&S) in

1955 in San Francisco. The steward
department member worked primari­
ly aboard American President Lines
vessels during his career. He began
receiving his pension in 1981 and
made his home in Seattle.

STEPHEN BORESKI

lllmll!Cl Pensioner
Stephen
Boreski, 79,
passed away
Aug. 9. He
joined the
Seafarers in
1961 in San
Francisco.
Brother Boreski

served in the U.S. Navy from 1939
to 1945. The engine department
member initially shipped aboard the
Eagle Traveler, a Sea Transport
Corp. vessel. He last worked on the
Sea-Land Boston. Brother Boreski
began receiving compensation for
his retirement in 1987. He lived in
Las Vegas.

ERNEST CANTU
Brother Ernest Cantu, 74, died Dec.
17. The California native joined the
Seafarers in 1988 in the port of
Wilmington, Calif. He served in the
U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952.
Brother Cantu's initial SIU voyage
was aboard the USNS Kane, operat­
ed bY'Lavino Steamship Co. The ·
deck department member last
worked on the USNS Harkness. El
Paso, Texas was his home.

FRANK CATCHOT
Pensioner
Frank Catchot,
92, passed
away Jan. 10.
Brother Catchot
started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1951 in the port

...__ _________ __. of Mobile, Ala.
A native of Mississippi, he first
sailed on Bloomfield Steamship
Co. 's Lloyd S. Carlson. The engine
department member last worked
aboard Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. 's
Del Mexico. Brother Catcbot began
receiving compensation for his
retirement in 1975. He was a resi­
dent of Mobile.

EDDIE CHANG
Pensioner Eddie Chang, 88, died
Oct. 22. Brother Chang started his
career with the MC&S. The steward
department member sailed primarily
aboard American President Lines
vessels. He started receiving his
pension in 1978 and lived in
Honolulu.

PHILIP CHOO
Pensioner
Philip Choo,
82, passed away
Dec. 9. The
Hawaiian-born
mariner started
his career with
the MC&S in
1958 in San
Francisco.

Brother Choo served in the U.S.
Army Air Corps from 194 5 to 194 7.
He worked primarily aboard Matson
Navigation Co. vessels, including
the Lurline and the Manukai.
Brother Choo shipped in the steward

18 Seafarers LOS

department and started receiving his
pension in 1985. Honolulu was his
home.

EDUARDO COLMENERO
Pensioner
Eduardo
Colmenero, 87,
died Dec. 4. He
joined the SIU
in 1961 in the
port of
Baltimore. Born
in Florida, he
first sailed on

the Alamar, operated by Calmar
Steamship Corp. A member of the
engine department, he last went to
sea on the Bayamon, a Puerto Rico
Marine Management, Inc. vessel.
Brother Colmenero began collecting
compensation for his retirement in
1982. He lived in Jefferson, La.

JAMES H. COLWELL
Pensioner
James H.
Colwell, 65,
passed away
Dec. 14.
Brother Colwell
began his career
with the
Seafarers in

' 1967 in San
Francisco. The Pennsylvania native
served in the U.S. Amiy from 1955
to 1957. Brother Colwell's initial
SIU voyage was on an Isthmian
Lines, Inc. vessel. A member of the
deck department, he last sailed
aboard the USNS Regulus, operated
by Bay Ship Management, Inc.
Brother Colwell started receiving his
retirement stipend last year. He was
a resident of Snug Harbor, N.C.

KENNETH CRAFf
Pensioner

J(eoneth Craft,
61, died Jan.
21 . Brother
Craft served in
the U.S. Navy
from 1957 to
1963. He joined
the SIU in 1969
in Seattle.

Brother Craft first sailed aboard the
Raleigh, a Crest Overseas Shipping
Co., Inc. vessel. The North Dakota
native sailed in the deck department
and last worked aboard the Sea­
Land Innovator. Brother Craft began
receiving his pension in 1999 and
lived in Winterhaven, Calif.

MALCOLM CROSS
Pensioner
Malcolm Cross,
86, passed away
Dec. 18. Born
in Minnesota,
he served in the
U.S. Army from
1938 to 1941.
Brother Cross
started his

career with the Seafarers in 1944 in
the port of New York. His initial
voyage was aboard Waterman
Steamship Corp. 's Yaka. The deck
department member, who sailed as a
bosun, last went to sea on a
Michigan Tankers, Inc. vessel.
Brother Cross started collecting pay­
ments for his retirement in 1979. He
made his home in Torrance, Calif.

GUYDEBAERE
Pensioner Guy
Debaere, 77,
died Jan 24. He
began his career

, with the Sea­
farers in 1958
in San Fran­
cisco. Brother
Debaere's first
voyage was

aboard a Pennsylvania Transport Co.
vessel. Born in France, he shipped in
the steward department. Brother

Debaere's last trip at sea was on
Energy Transportation Co. 's LNG
Gemini. He started receiving his
pension in 1986 and was a resident
of Bergenfield, N.J.

FESTUS DeLEON
1--;;pl!!'l"ll'•~--i Pensioner

Festus DeLeon,
96, passed away
Jan. 12. Born in
Jamaica, he
started his
career in 1939
as a charter
member of the
SIU. Brother

DeLeon shipped in the steward de­
partment and began receiving com­
pensation for his retirement in 1971 .
He made his home in Baltimore.

RICHARD GAMBLE
Pensioner
Richard
Gamble, 74,
died Nov. 20.
Brother Gamble
started his SIU
career in 1954
in Seattle. He
worked primari­
ly aboard ves­

sels operated by American President
Lines, including the President
Harrison and President Madison.
Born in Kansas City, Kan., Brother
Gamble shipped in the steward
department. He started receiving his
pension in 1993 and called Seattle
home.

CLODUALDO GOMEZ
Pensioner
Clodualdo
Gomez, 67,
passed away
Nov. 24. He
began his career
with the Sea­
farers in 197 4
in San Fran­
cisco. Brother

Gomez first went to sea on the Santa
Maria, a Delta Steamship Lines, Inc.
vessel. He was born in the Philip­
pines and shipped in the steward
department. He last worked ~m Bay
Ship Management's USNS Chesa­
peake. Brother Gomez began receiv­
ing compensation for his retirement
in 1999 and made his home in San
Francisco.

ELLIOTT GORUM
Pensioner
Elliott Gorum,
83, died Dec.
27. Brother
Gorum started
his SIU career
in 1942, joining
in the port of
New Orleans.
The Louisiana

native first shipped on Waterman
Steamship Corp. 's Hastings. Brother
Gorum worked in the steward
department and last went to sea on
the Sea-Land Express. He began
receiving his retirement stipend in
1985 and lived in Bronx, N.Y.

MAYNARD JONES
Pensioner Maynard Jones, 92, passed
away Dec. 28. Brother Jones began
his career with the MC&S. The stew­
ard department member started
receiving his pension in 1978. He
was a resident of Carson, Calif.

RICHARD KIM
Pensioner Richard Kim, 83, died
Nov. 8. Born in Hawaii, Brother
Kim started his career with the
MC&S. The steward department
member began receiving compensa­
tion for his retirement in 1969. He
made his home in Sacramento, Calif.

JOHN LASKY
Pensioner John Lasky, 74, passed
away Jan 4. He served in the U.S.

Navy from
1945 to 1946.
Brother Lasky
began his career
with the Sea­
farers in 1950 in
the port of New
York. Brother
Lasky was born
in New York

and shipped in the engine depart­
ment. He last worked on the Sea­
Land Value. Troy, N.Y. was his
home.

DOUGLAS LAUGHLIN
Pensioner
Douglas
Laughlin, 69,
died Dec. 7.
Brother
Laughlin served
in the U.S. Air
Force from
1950to 1953.
The Mississippi

native started his SIU career in 1967
in the port of Houston. He first
sailed aboard an Interocean
Management Corp. vessel. The
engine department member last
worked on the Sea-Land
Commitment. He started receiving
his pension in 1995 and called
Jacksonville, Fla. home.

ENGELBERT LENZ
Pensioner Engelbert Lenz, 60,
passed away Nov. 11. Brother Lenz
joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the
port of New York. The German-born
mariner shipped in the deck depart­
ment and sailed in both the deep sea
and inland divisions. He last worked
aboard the Sea-Land Innovator.
Brother Lenz, who started collecting
stipends for his retirement in 1993,
lived in Las Vegas.

lj !1 _ I, J ~1 ·• ~

ESKOMAKILA
Pensioner Esko
Makila, 70,
died Dec. 20.
He started his
SIU career in
1946 in the port
of New York.
Brother Makila
first shipped
aboard the

Ponce. Born in Finland, he sailed in
the deck department. His final SIU
voyage was on the Sea-Land Patriot.
Brother Makila began receiving his
pension in 1988 anp was a resident
of Kissimmee, Fla.

AMBROSIO MARTIN
Pensioner
Ambrosio
Martin, 85,
passed away
Jan. 2. Brother
Martin started
his career with
theMC&S in
San Francisco.
The Philippine­

bom mariner shipped in the steward
department. He started receiving his
pension in 1970 and made his home
in San Francisco.

MICHAEL MOORE
Brother
Michael Moore,
48, died Jan.
20. He joined
the SIU in 1979
in the port of
Piney Point,
Md. Brother
Moore's initial
voyage was

aboard the Sea-Land Atlantic. The
New Jersey native shipped in the
deck department. He last worked
aboard the Northern Lights, an
Interocean Ugland Management ves­
sel. Brother Moore lived in Pauls­
boro, N.J.

ALFREDO MORA
Pensioner
Alfredo Mora,
82, passed away
Jan. 4. Brother
Mora started his
career with the
MC&S. The
steward depart­
ment member

L.L.--_............._~-""'=.....L..-l began receiving
compensation for his retirement in
1972. Brother Mora was born in
Puerto Rico, but called Bronx, N.Y.
home.

THOMAS H. O'BRIEN
Pensioner
Thomas H.
O'Brien, 80,
died Dec. 27.
Born in New
Jersey, he
served in the
U.S. Army from
1939 to 1962.

~~~~LJ Brother O'Brien
started his SIU career in 1970 in San
Juan, P.R. He first sailed aboard the
Mayaguez, a PRMMI vessel. The
steward department member last
shipped on the Sea-Land Pittsburgh.
Brother 0 'Brien started receiving
his pension in 1986 and lived in
Luquillo, P.R.

WILLIE ORR
Brother Willie Orr passed away Oct.
31. He worked in all three divisions
during his career. His initial voyage
was aboard a Michigan Tankers ves­
sel. The steward department member
last worked on the President Truman,
an American Ship Management, LLC
vessel. Brother Orr was a resident of
San Pedro, Calif.

LAWRENCE PORCHE

awrence
Porche, 50, died
Dec. 15. He
joined the
Seafarers in
1972 in the port
of Piney Point,
Md. Brother
Porche's initial

voyage was aboard the Carrier
Dove, a Waterman Steamship Corp.
vessel. The Louisiana native shipped
in the engine department. His final
trip was aboard the Overseas Arctic.
Brother Porche lived in Baton
Rouge, La .

RAFAEL RAMOS
Pensioner
Rafael Ramos,
87, passed away
Nov. 6. Brother
Ramos started
Ills career with
the Seafarers in
1942 in the port
of New
Orleans.

Brother Ramos' initial voyage was
aboard an A.H. Bull Steamship Co.
vessel. Born in Puerto Rico, he
shipped in the engine department.
He last worked on NPR's Arecibo.
Brother Ramos started receiving his.
pension in 1978. He was also a vet­
eran of the U.S. Navy. Brother
Ramos resided in his native com­
monwealth.

ALFONSO RIVERA
Pensioner
Alfonso_ Rivera,
70, died Nov.
14. He started
his SIU career
in 1951 in the
port of New
York. Brother
Rivera initially
went to sea

aboard the Dorothy, an A.H. Bull
Steamship Co. vessel. A member of

Continued on page 19

April2002



Continued from page 18

the deck department, he sailed as a
bosun. Brother Rivera last worked
aboard PRMMI's San Juan. He
started receiving stipends for his
retirement in 1986 and lived in
Bayamon, P.R.

STANLEY SAKUDA
Pensioner Stanley Sakuda, 82;
passed away Dec. 28. Brother
Sakuda started his career with the
MC&S. The steward department
member began collecting payments
for his retirement in 1969. Brother
Sakuda made his home in San
Francisco.

JAMES SINIARD
Pensioner
James Siniard,
78, died Oct.
22. Brother
Siniard started
his career with
the Seafarers in
1951 in San
Francisco. He
served in the

U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945.
Brother Siniard's first SIU voyage
was aboard Isco, Inc. 's Steel
Architect. The North Carolina-born
mariner shipped in the deck depart­
ment. He last worked on the Sea­
Land Defender. Brother Siniard start­
ed receiving his pension in 1983. He
made his home in Reno, Nev.

ADOLF STAHL
Pensioner Adolf Stahl, 96, passed
away Dec. 19. Brother Stahl started
his career with the MC&S. A mem­
ber of the steward department, he
began receiving compensation for
his retirement in 1970. Brother Stahl
made his home in San Francisco.

FIDEVTHOMA
Brother Fidel Thomas, 51, died Nov.
3. He joined the Seafarers in 1990 in
the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother
Thomas first sailed aboard American
Hawaii Cruises' Independence. Born
in Honduras, he shipped in the stew­
ard department. He last worked on
the HM! Astrachem. Brother Thomas
was a resident of Jacksonville.

NATHANIEL THOMAS
Pensioner
Nathaniel
Thomas, 66,
passed away
Dec. 4. Brother
Thomas started
his career with
the MC&S in
San Francisco
in 1958. The

U.S. Army veteran first shipped
aboard American President Lines'
President Johnson. Brother Thomas
worked in the steward department,
last sailing on the Maui, operated by
Matson Navigation Co. He started
receiving his retirement income in
1992 and lived in San Francisco.

GABIER VARGAS
Pensioner Gabier Vargas, 70, died
July 22. Brother Vargas started his
career with the MC&S and shipped
in the steward department. He
resided in Maywood, Colo. and
began receiving his pension in 1978.

DOROTHY WILLIAMS
Pensioner Dorothy Williams, 74,
passed away Dec. 24. Sister
Williams started her career with the
MC&S. A member of the steward
department, she began receiving
compensation for her retirement in
1976. Sister Williams lived in
Freemont Calif.

JOERG WITTE
Brother Joerg Witte, 65, died Jan.
28. He started his SIU career in

Apl'i/2002

1976 in the port
of Jacksonville,
Fla. Brother
Witte worked in
the deep sea as
well as inland
divisions during
his career, first

~-··J sailing aboard a • Dixie Carriers
vessel. The deck department mem­
ber last sailed aboard the Sea-Land
Developer. Brother Witte called
Seminole, Fla. home.

INLAND

RUFUS ATWOOD
Boatman Rufus
Atwood, 58,
passed away
July 15. He
started his SIU
career in 1974
in the port of
New Orleans.
Born in
Louisiana,

Boatman Atwood worked primarily
aboard Crescent Towing & Salvage
Co. Inc. vessels. The engine depart­
ment member was a resident of
Loranger, La.

JOSEPH BROOKS
Pensioner
Joseph Brooks,
78, died Jan.
21. Boatman
Brooks joined
the SIU in 1963
in the port of
Norfolk, Va.
Born in
Matthews, Va.,

he shipped in the deck department
and last worked on an Interstate Oil
Transportation Co. vessel. Boatman
Brooks began receiving his retire­
ment stipend in 1985. He lived in his
native state.

HENRY COLLINS
Pensioner Henry Collins, 70, passed
away Dec. 23. He began his career
with the Seafarers in 1963 in Port
Arthur, Texas. The deck department
member was last employed on a
Higman Barge Lines, Inc. vessel.
Boatman Collins, who started col­
lecting compensation for his retire­
ment in 1988, called Orange, Texas
home.

WILLIAM DANIEL
Pensioner
William Daniel,
59, died Dec. 7.
Boatman Daniel
launched his
SIU career in
1967 in the port
ofNorfolk, Va.
He first worked

""""""~_......__........:::.ll on a Steuart
Transportation Co. vessel. A member
of the deck department, the Virginia­
bom mariner shipped as a captain.
Boatman Daniel last sailed aboard a
vessel operated by Allied Towing
Co. He started receiving his pension
in 1998 and lived in Chesapeake, Va.

RAYMOND DEHON

Pensioner Raymond Dehon, 80,
passed away Oct. 3. Boatman Dehon
served in the U.S. Army from 1941
to 1945. He started his career with
the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of
New Orleans. The Louisiana native
first worked for the SIU aboard a
Crescent Towing & Salvage Co. Inc.
vessel. He shipped in the engine
department and last sailed aboard an
American Barge Lines Co. vessel.
Boatman Debon started receiving his
retirement stipend in 1983. He lived
in his native state.

CYRUS FERREE III
Boatman Cyrus Ferree Ill, 46, died

Dec. 9. He joined the Seafarers in
1978 in the port of Piney Point, Md.
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., he
shipped in the deck department.
Boatman Ferree last worked on a
vessel operated by Orgulf Transport
Co. He lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

CHARLES HERBERT
Pensioner
Charles
Herbert, 73 ,
died Jan 19.
The Maryland
native served in
the U.S. Army
from 1950 to
1953. Boatman
Herbert joined

the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of
Baltimore. A member of the deck
department, he worked primarily
aboard vessels operated by Maritrans
Operating Partners, L.P. Boatman
Herbert started receiving his pension
in 1990. He made his home in
Pasadena, Md.

MICHAEL O'DONNELL
Pensioner
Michael
O'Donnell, 58,
passed away
Dec. 3. He start­
ed his SIU
career in 1963
in Detroit.
Boatman
O'Donnell also

served in the U.S. Army. Born in
Cleveland, he shipped in the deck
department and last worked on a
vessel operated by Great Lakes
Towing. Boatman O'Donnell started
receiving retirement payments in
2000. He lived in Cleveland.

GREAT LAKES

BERT CHAPMAN
Pensioner Bert
Chapman, 97,
died Jan. 27.
Brother Chap­
man began bis
career with the
Seafarers in
1959 in Detroit.
Born in
Fairport

Harbor, Ohio, he worked primarily
aboard vessels operated by Gartland,
including the Sullivan Brothers and
the JC. Miller. The engine depart­
ment member began receiving
stipends for his retirement in 1970.
He made his home in Ishpeming,
Mich.

LEONARD CLARK
Pensioner Leonard Clark, 85, passed
away Dec. 28. Brother Clark joined
the Seafarers in 1961 in Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich. Born in Montana, the
deck department member worked
primarily aboard Great Lakes
Dredge and Dock Co. vessels,
including the Lemmerhirt. ·He began
receiving his pension in 1978 and
resided in Bonita Springs, Fla.

HARRYKAWKA
Pensioner Harry Kawka, 77, died
Oct. 31 . He began his SIU career in
1968 in Chicago. Brother Kawka
served in the U.S. Navy from 1941
to 1946. He first sailed aboard the
Southdown Challenger, operated by
Cement Transport Co. The New
York native worked in the deck
department and sailed in both the
Great Lakes and inland divisions. He
last worked on American Steamship
Co. 's Charles E. Wilson. Brother
Kawka started collecting his retire­
ment in 1990. He made his home in
Roosevelt Island, N. Y.

LAWRENCE McCOY
Brother Lawrence McCoy, 67,

passed away Oct. 13. The deck
department member worked primari­
ly aboard vessels operated by
Luedtke Engineering Co.

ROBERT MELWING
Brother Robert Melwing, 81, died
Sept. 13. He served in the U.S. Navy
from 1940 to 1945. Brother
Melwing joined the Seafarers in

1980 in Long Beach, Calif. and
sailed in both the Great Lakes and
inland divisions. He first worked
aboard a Crowley Towing &
Transportation-Wilmington/Long
Beach vessel. A member of the deck
department, the Canton, Ohio native
last sailed on the Indiana Harbor, an
American Steamship Co. vessel.
Brother Melwing resided in Ruskin,
Fla.

Editors Note: The following brothers and sisters, all members of the NMU
and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, passed away during 1001.
Their names .appear alphabetically and according to the month in which
NMU Pension Trust administrators were notified of their deaths.

August 2001
Felix Alicea
Michael Allen
George Anderson

DATE OFl>EATH

July5
June 21
June 19
May17
July 12
Juty24
Juae21

9

J"
July; 19
Ju~17
July 1g­
June 30
July 9
July 25
July 15
June 13

M15
""" 2

May7
Aug 8
July 23

Osvaldo Baetancourt Aug 11
Jose Barahona Aug4
Joseph Bird Aug 2
John Blount June 21
Theodore Bratsos July 24
Ernest Clark Aug 20
Mack Cosby July 25
Ernest Curry Aug 20
Melvin Evens Aug 18
Jose Garcia Aug 12
Luis Gatoux Aug.12
Joseph Giaccone Aug 12
Robert Gill Aug 8
James Gillespie Aug 4
Manuel Goncalves Aug_14
Alfred Gottschalk Aug.10
August Harmel July 27
Albert Harris Aug.18
Forest Harris Aug_9
Homer Kinman July 30
Roland Kirby July 8
Louis LaPlace July 17
Clifton Lee June 24
T. Lopez July 15
George Martell Aug. 10
Esteban Melendez July 20
Stafford Mosley Aug. 7
Epifania Nolberto July 23
Thomas Puharic Aug.17
Francisco Ramos April 13
Collins Redmond Aug.3
Herbert Reeves Aug.11

October 2001
Estanistao Abayan
Helge Abrahamson
Oelane Atkinson
Francis Banks
William Beasley
Ronald Bender
Willie Bergans
Zenon Bonilla
Robert Boyd
Vann Bridgeford
Edward Broaster
John Broddie
Charles Bugelli
David Buren
Pedro Casco
John Crimmins
Arthur Cyprien
C. Dameron
Peter Daraio
Harry DeMarco
Constantine

DeRousset
Margarito Estrada
Dallas Ford
Andrew Gardner
Valenti Gowlash
William Harper
Eddie Johnson
John Jones
John Khan
James King
Antero Lopes
Jose Luna
William Mauri
Joseph Mazzei
John McDougall
Norton Mitchell
George Ortiz
Pedro Pabon
Remi Rosario
Albert Seiden
Floyd Steele
William Thomas
Donald Vargas
Marvin Venable
Oscar Vidal
Willtam Warbington
Earl West
John Wisecup

DATE OF DEA'llt
Aug.6
Aug. 7
Aug.14
Aug.16
June4
Aug.3
July22
Aug.2
June 15
JUiy 27
July 25

Aug. 11
Sept4
Oct.1

·oct.23
Oct.8
Oct.6
Oct.13
Sept.20
Oct.5
Oct. 17
Sept.5
Sept. 23
Oct. 18
Sept. 21
Sept. 28
Sept 15
Sept 29
Oct.25
Sept. 28
Aug.20

Oct. 19
Sept. 22
Sept. 7
Oct.9
Aug.20
Oct. 20
Oct.1
Oct.20
Sept. 10
May 1
Sept. 11
Oct 16
Oct.17
Sept 17
Oct. 10
Oct.13
Sept 26
Oct.3
Oct. 22
Oct. 12
Sept26
Sept. 7
~pt.19
Oct. 22
Feb. 1
Sept. 27
Oct.4
Sept. 25

Seafarers LOG 19

..

.,

>



Letters to the Editor
(Editors note: the Seafarers

LOG reserves the right to edit let­
ters for grammar as well as space
provisions without changing the
writers intent. The LOG wel­
comes letters from members, pen­
sioners, their families and ship­
mates and will publish them on a
timely basis.)

SIU Formed Foundation
For Good Life at Sea

This letter of appreciation is 30
years overdue.

I joined the SIU in 1967. From
that period on, my life would never
be the same.

My life took on a very positive
approach, not only financially, but
also it gave me a sense of adventure
that is lacking in most professions
today.

The men I met aboard ship
became my teachers, not only in sea­
manship, but also in life -men like
John Ibraham, Phil Roshee, Gene
Nichelson-sailors of distinction.
Men like Bosun Scotty Burn and Bill
Mortier, who could splice wire like it
was string.

Many people were led to believe
that seamen were ill-mannered and
illiterate. But they were wrong. They
didn't know that reading was proba­
bly the favorite pastime aboard ship.
Most seamen could converse on a
variety of topics.

The financial benefits of being a
seaman were overshadowed by the
sense of adventure.

I left the SIU in 1977 after getting
my mate's license, but it was the
foundation of my years with the SIU
that made me a sailor in the old tradi­
tion.
Samuel P. Lesko
Sarasota, Fla.

(Editors note: Samuel Lesko
retired from the MM&P in 1999.)

•strong U.S. Fleet
Yitai to America'

This headline, from the January
LOG, reminds me of Yogi Berra's
"deja vu all over again." The vision
of a strong U.S. fleet has been seen
for so many years that some people
believe it will happen if they think
about it long enough. This headline
came right on the heels of laying up
our last oceangoing passenger ship
and adding more foreign-built vessels
to our Maritime Security Program.

President Eisenhower said the
U.S. never again should be caught
relying on foreign shipping.
President Johnson made an inaugural
pledge to draft a realistic policy to
revitalize America's merchant
fleet. . . . President George W. Bush
said, "I will seek to provide the con­
ditions under which the American
maritime industry can compete and
grow in the 21'' century."

These are just a few quotes from
the top guys. Many lesser politicians
have all had their say about a "strong
U.S. fleet." It simply ain't gonna hap­
pen unless dedicated people get to the
bottom of the problem and rebuild
our maritime industry along econom­
ic lines.

Next year we will read in your
paper: "AFL-CIO Maritime Trades
Department: Strong U.S. Fleet Vital
to America."
Cal Bourke
Walnut Creek, California

JFK and the
Twin Towers

(Editors note: The writer is the
medical director at Occupational
Health Services in Brooklyn, NY., a
facility utilized by SIU members.)

20 Seafarers LOS

The event will be remembered
better than the date. It will be a date
in history like November 22, 1963.
Everyone remembers what they were
doing and where they were when
they heard the NEWS. On that date,
John F. Kennedy was shot. I was in
the library at Henry Grady High
School in Atlanta. Everyone was cry­
ing, and th~ country was thrust into a
state of shock.

This time it was different. Not
only one person was brutally mur­
dered on September 11 , 2001. On this
ignoble date, thousands were mur­
dered amid airplane crashes, crum­
bling buildings and shattered lives.
No one would have believed the story
the preceding day. Two ordinary air­
planes could topple the Twin Towers
of the World Trade Center and a third
airline could crash into the Pentagon.
We would all say, "IMPOSSIBLE!"

It happened. I heard the news
while listening to the "eye in the sky"
traffic report on the way to work
shortly before 9:00 a.m. The heli­
copter reporter interrupted his report
to exclaim, "There appears to have
been an explosion at the north tower
of the World Trade Center." That this
was not an accident was confirmed
when about 20 minutes later a second
plane crashed into the south tower.
Shortly thereafter a third plane
crashed into the Pentagon, and a
fourth plane crashed in a rural area
near Pittsburgh.

I am a physician in Brooklyn,
New York. When I reached my
office, the staff was listening to the
radio and the patients were no longer
interested in their medical appoint­
ments. Several of us went to the roof
of the building to witness a scene of
horror. The first plane appeared to
have struck one of the buildings at
about the 80th floor and the other at
about the 60th floor. Plumes of fire
and smoke were billowing from the
site. I reached for my camera only to
learn of its dead battery. While on the
street returning with my new battery,
people started shouting on the street
and from surrounding buildings.
There was crying and successive "Oh
my God!" "Oh my God!" When I
reached my perch on the roof of the
building, I saw only a column of
smoke and dust where the south
tower formerly stood. I thought only
the floors above the crash site toppled
over. The news on the radio was
unimaginable-the entire 110 stories
of the World Trade Center lay in
ruins. About an hour later the twin lay
next to its mirror image. UNBE­
LIEVABLE!

I heard the call for physicians to
report to St. Vincent's Hospital to aid
in treating thousands of expected
injuries. As I am a runner and have
jogged to the World Trade Center
round trip from my office, it was dif­
ficult to rationalize the "I can't get
there" excuse. I packed up two back­
packs of medical supplies including
surgical masks for the incredible
amount of dust and smoke I could see
from about three miles away. I then
called my wife to advise her of my
plans. She only voiced a religious
objection to my excursion and made
me promise that I, a descendent of the
priestly family of Aaron (brother of
Moses) who should not be in contact
with bodies, would call our Rabbi
and ask bis opinion. I did call the
Rabbi's office; the secretary said he
was not in. I was now in compliance
with my spouse's wishes.

I then went to the fire station next
to my office only to find nobody
home. Every available squad in the
city bad been called to the scene.
Next I went into Dixon•s Bike Shop
and requested a bike, lock and helmet
as I was going to the disaster to ren­
der medical aid. These items were
happily supplied, despite my admoni­
tion of possibly not returning them.
"Just go," I was advised. I loaded up
my gear and took off for the
Brooklyn Bridge. As my bike left the

curb, my bookkeeper, a recent
refugee from Croatia to the freedom
of America, accosted me with tears in
her eyes, "We are with you and
appreciate what you are doing. Good
luck."

People covered with white dust
and ash were coming from the city as
I approached the bridge. I was direct­
ed to a bus transporting medical per­
sonnel at the foot of the bridge. Most
of the people on this bus were attend­
ing a convention for emergency med­
ical responders at the Brooklyn
Marriott Hotel. They were from
Canada, Iowa, North Carolina,
Vermont and other serene sounding
places. "Welcome to New York," I
said.

The other side of the bridge was a
war scene. Ash and dust two inches
thick was scattered about the streets
for blocks. Papers and building detri­
tus turned the city streets into a giant
junkyard.

We were transported to the court­
yard of the Solomon Smith Barney
Building on Greenwich Street, about
four blocks from Building 7 of the
World Trade Center complex. About
six hours later, I watched as this
building also collapsed to the ground,
a victim of the twin tower collapse
and uncontrolled fires. We had every­
thing we needed at our critical care
site. Our "MASH" unit included
tables to use as beds, police tape tied
to building columns for IV poles,
Oxygen cylinders, bandages, bum
dressings, and a large array of sup­
port personnel, including clergy and
crisis counselors. There was only a
shortage of survivors. Our critical
care area did not have a single
patient. More than 25 ambulances
were waiting to transport our patients
who never materialized. The city sent
electricians to provide floodlights for
our medical unit. Bottled water by
the case was donateq along with fresh
deli. The facilities of the Smith
Barney building were available for
our use. An elderly neighborhood
lady came to us with her combination
shopping cart/walker to donate clean
towels. Our medical unit remained
puzzled. Where were all the sur­
vivors going?

After being "ready" for about
eight hours, I was now ready to leave.
I grabbed my now empty backpacks
and rode my commandeered moun­
tain bike back to Brooklyn over the
Manhattan Bridge. The news reports
answered my questions about sur­
vivors. There were very few present­
ing themselves four hours after this
terror first struck. St. Vincent's
Hospital, the primary designated
receiving area, only reported two
new patients from l 0:00 p.m. the
evening of the disaster to 4:00 a.m.
the next morning.

The following day I learned
that 12 firemen from the fire station
next to my office were among the
300 missing fire fighters. I watched
the horror on TV with the rest of the
country. People plunging 80 floors to
their deaths. Live video of both
planes crashing into the Towers.
What a nightmare! Five thousand
people missing and presumed dead.
Particularly disheartening was the
interview with the CEO of Cantor
Fitzgerald, a firm that lost 700
employees. The 1,500 children of this
firm want to know where their dad­
dies are. The wives want to know
where the next paycheck is coming
from. Now it is personal.

The country wants to know why.
JFK advises, "Ask not what your
country can do for you, but what you
can do for your country." And the
collective conscience of the country
sings "God Bless America."

Arnold Berlin, MD FACP
Clinical Assistant Professor of
Medicine
Weill Medical College of Cornell
University

Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The

Constitution of the SIU Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters
District makes specific provision for
safeguarding the membership's
money and union finances. The con­
stitution requires a detailed audit by
certified public accountants every
year, which is to be submitted to the
membership by the secretary-trea­
surer. 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 recommen­
dations. Members of this committee
may make dissenting reports, specif­
ic recommendations and separate
findings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of
the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District are adminis­
tered in accordance with the provi­
sions 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 representatives 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 mem­
ber's shipping rights and seniority
are protected exclusively by con­
tracts between the union and the
employers. Members should get to
know their shipping rights. Copies of
these contracts are posted and avail­
able 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 employers; they
should notify the Seafarers Appeals
Board by certified mail, return
receipt requested. The proper
address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Auth Way
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 Seafarers Appeals
Board.

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

EDITORIAL POLICY - THE
SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers
LOG traditionally 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 collective membership. This
established policy has been reaf­
firmed by membership action at the
September 1960 meetings in all con­
stitutional 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 capacity 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 receipt. In the event any­
one attempts to require any such
payment be made without supplying
a receipt, or if a member is required
to make a payment and is given an
official receipt, but feels that he or
she should not have been required to
make such payment, this should
immediately be reported to union
headquarters.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of
the SIU Constitution are available in
all union halls. All members should
obtain copies of this constitution 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 obligation
by any methods, such as dealing with
charges, trials, etc., as well as all
other details, the member so affected
should immediately notify headquar­
ters.

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 Constitution and in
the contracts which the union has
negotiated with the employers.
Consequently, 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 segregat­
ed fund. Its proceeds are used to fur­
ther its objects and purposes includ­
ing, but not limited to, furthering the
political, social and economic inter­
ests of maritime workers, the preser­
vation and furthering of the
American merchant marine with
improved employment opportunities
for seamen and boatmen and the
advancement of trade union con­
cepts. In connection with such
objects, SPAD supports and con­
tributes to political candidates for
elective office. All contributions are
voluntary. No contribution may be
solicited or received because of
force, job discrimination, financial
reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or
as a condition of membership in the
union or of employment. If a contri­
bution is made by reason of the
above improper conduct, the mem­
ber should notify the Seafarers
International Union or SPAD by cer­
tified mail within 30 days of the con­
tribution for investigation and appro­
priate action and refund, if involun­
tary. 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 violat­
ed 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 Michael Sacco at
headquarters by certified mail, return
receipt requested. The address is:

Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Aprll2002



SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER
UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE

The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. from May through December 2002. All pro­
grams are geared to improve the job skiJls of Seafarers and to promote the American
maritime industry.

Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the
maritimeindustry and- in times of conflict-the nation's security.

Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their
course's start date. The courses listed here wrn begin promptly on the morning of the
start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for
Saturday.

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

Course

Deck Upgrading Courses
Arrival Date

Able Seaman

Automatic Radar Plotting Aids*
(*mUJ1 have radar uttlimited)

Bridge Resource Management
(BRM) ~ Inland

·• Bridge Resource Management
(BRM)- Unfunited*
(*prereqJtiSµe r~uired)

GMl>ss'/simulator)

· .·;~ffeboaiman/Water Survival

. Radar

May 13
September 30
October28

June24
July 15
August 19
September 23
October 14

Julyl
September 30
October 21
November 11
December9

May6
August26

May20
July8
October7

· ·November4
December 2

May13
September 16
October 14

June 10
July 15
August 19
September 36
October 28

Steward Upgrading Courses

Date of Completion

June7
October 25
November 22

June 28
July 19
August23
September 27
October 18

July5
October4
October 25
November 15
Decemberl3

May IO
August 30

May31
July 19
October 18 ~
No~~mberlS
December 13

:May24
September 27
October 25

June14
July
Augnst23
October4
November 1

JuneJ9
August 14

June7

Galley Operations/Advanced Galley O~erations modules start ~ eYery week beginni11g
~~nuary 7. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning
Jan'!~!~. 1.

Recertification
Bosun October 7 November 1

August 2 Steward July 8

Engine Upgrading Courses
Course Arrival Date Date of Completion

Oiler September 16
November 11

October 25
December 20

QMED - Junior Engineer September 30 December 20

Welding May 6 May24
June 28 June 10

July 1
August 19
September 23
October 21
November 18

July 19
September 6
October 3
Novembers
December 6

Marine Electrical Maintenance I June 17 July26

Course

Advanced Firefighting

Government Vessels

Tanker Familiarization/
Assistant Cargo (DL)*
(*must have basic fire fighting)

Tankerman (PlC) Barge~
(*must have basie fire fighting)

Basic Fire Fighting!STCW

Safety Specialty Courses
Arrival Date

May6
October 7
December 2

May27
July8
September 23

July 15
December 2

August 5
September 23
October 28

Date of Completion

May17
October 18
December 13

June 14
July 26 ·
October 11

July 26
December 13

August 9
September 27
November 1

May:.:t3 May 17
May20 May24
May27 M.-y,31
.June 3 · June 7 .
June 17 June 21
June 24 June 28

. July :1 Ju~<S
July 8 July l2
July 15 July 19
August S ;\.ug.~st .9 ·
August 12 · _ August 16
(more will be announced next month)

STCW Medical Care Provider May20
August 12
October 21

May24
August 16
October 25

Academic Department Courses
General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocation­
al support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB,
. .. QMED, ,£0WT,. Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction
t~ compl!~~r.s co~rse will be self-study.

-···-~£:..:· . : .......... -·-·-·-·-: -·-·-·-·-~-·-·-·-·-··-··-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·:_ .,_.-..._,_ .,_._,_~·-·-·---·~·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-
UPGRADING APPLICATION

Telephone _ _ ________ _ Date of Birth ________ _

Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D

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

Social Security# _________ _ Book# _________ _

Seniority ________ _____ Department

U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port

Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _______ ___ _ ___ _

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? DYes DNo

If yes, class# _________________________ _

Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? DYes DNo

If yes, course(s) taken --- - - - ----- -----------­

Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement?

D Yes D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes DNo

Primary language spoken

Apri/2002

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent_· One hundred and twenty
(120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the
date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book
indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is
Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and QMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard
fee of $280 with their application. The Payment should be made with a money order only.
payable to LMSS.

COURSE

LAST VESSEL:

Date On:

BEGIN
DATE

----------------

Date Off:
-----------~

SIGNATURE _____________ DATE

END
DATE

Rating: ____ _

NOTE.- Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you
present original receipts and successfally complete the course. If you have any ques­
tions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point.

RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education,
Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189.

The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and
Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qual­
ified, of 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. 4102

Seafarers LOG 21



Paul Hall Center Classes

Able Bodied Seaman - Seafarers who successfully completed the AB course
March 1 are (in alphabetical order) Jeff Bruton, Bernard Clark, Mark Cooper, Hector
Cumba, John Daunoras, Christopher Dunn, Trevorous Ellison, Sean Farra, Kenney
Gaston, Willie Harrington, Travis Hosea, Harlan Hulst, Ronnie Jackson, Michael
Knitter, David Lund, David Martz, Abraham Medina, James Morris, Isaac Spencer,
Michael Thomas and Joseph Tier.

Able Bodied Seaman - Also in the course which graduated March 1 are (in alpha­
betical order) Jess Chalker, Christopher Dionio, Paul Gohs, James Hall, Jason Hudkins,
Uverna Johnson, William Jordan, Anthony Lieto, Cesar Lopez, Keolamauloaohawaiiloa
Mowat, Robert O'Neal, Anthony Pace, Robert Stellon, Gary Toomer, Zachary Toye, Bruce
Weathers and Jomo Young.

Third Mate - Upgrading Seafarers completing the third mate course in April are
(from left, kneeling) Christopher Kalinowski, Eddie Townsend, (standing) John Shivers,
Lee Gulley, Mark Stabler, Frank Gray, Stephen Blanchard, Stacy Harris (instructor),

Government Vessels - Graduating from the government vessels course Feb. 22
are (in no particular order) Andy Cukasiewicz, Richard Gould, Niven Hurlston, George
Gauggel, Darnell O'Hara, Leander Garrett, Geoffrey Denesse, Mihail Bruck, Tavis Almer,
Matthew Kloxin, Anthony Jones, Melvin Espaillat, Jose de Souza Jr., Sidnei Barboza,
David House, Dain Medow, Thomas Almodovar, Roger Abramson, Marvin Smith, David
Wakeman, Brian Robison, Vicente Magbanua, Charles Lewis, Theresa Ballard, Barry

Edward Hervias, David
Hawkins and William Buhrig.

Mccaslin II, Samuel Garrett, Alex Przytulski, Edward Hoover, David Henson, Justo
Lino, Erik Lingren and Randall Kramer.

ARPA- Upgrading SIU
members who enhanced

their skills in automatic
radar and plotting aids in
the course, which ended

March 1, are (from left,
front row) Phillip Inman,
Stella Zebrowski, James
Dixon, (standing) William
Heu, Lee Henry and Bill

Harvell.

Any student who has registered for a class and finds-for whatever
reason-that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admissions

department so that another student may take that place.

Computer Lab Classes

22 Seafanus LOS

Recent graduates of the computer lab at the Paul
Hall Center pose with their certificates.
In the photo at left are (from left, front row) Phillip
Wright. a deck department member who sails from
Port Everglades, Fla. and Brian Robison, an
engine department member from Hawaii. In the
back row are their instructor, Rick Prucha, and
steward department member Gerhard Schwarz
from New York. Both Wright and Schwarz mas­
tered the Computer Basics course as well as
Windows 95. Robison completed Windows 95 and
Beginning Excel.
Also with instructor Rick Prucha in the photo at
right are (seated from left) Earl Hicks, who ships
from Algonac, and Walter Napper, who sails from
San Francisco. Both received certificates for com­
pletion of Windows 95 and Computer Basics.

Welding­
Instructor Buzzy
Andrews is flanked
by his students in
the welding class,
which graduated
Feb. 22. They are
Jessie Bongolan
(left) and Salvador
Baclayon.



Paul Hall Center Classes

Amado Abaniel, Hanif Abdul-Hakeem, Mohamed Abdullah,
Robyn Anderson, Robert Arana, John Bennifield, Joseph Brown,
Richard Cavalier, Robert Coleman, Juan Colon, Angel Corchado,
Emilio Cordova, Denis Cossio, Daniel Crawford, Douglas Davies,
Ervin Davis, Richard Davis and Geoffrey Denesse.

Sjamsidar Madjidji, Ruben Manalansan, Adolfo Maramba, Louis
Mastrototaro, Michael McWilliams, Kevin Nolan, John Palmer, Norberto
Prats, Hasan Rahman, Reyes Ramos, Ronnie Richardson, Jayson
Rosario, Anthony Lenard, Frederick Saffo, Joseph Saxon, Kevin
Shelby, Marcio Silva , Phillip Sistrunk, Celedonia Roman, John Nelson
and Kaare O'Hara. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

Basic Safety
Training Classes

Gavina Octaviano, Lester
Pace, Jeffrey Parsley,
Emmanuel Paul, Roger
Phelps, William Powell ,
Osvaldo Ramos, Samuel
Reed 111, Philip Reynolds,
Franklin Robertson , Roy
Robinson Jr., Jimmie
Robles, Gincezar Relogo,
Luiz Ruiz, Allen Runnion,
Hector Sanchez, Walter
Schoppe IV, Cecil Scipio
and Mark Smith. (Note: Not
all are pictured.)

James Doyle, Jorge Ellis, James Fisher, Hector Ginel, Tawny
Herron, Arthur Horner, Gregory Jackson, Paul Jagger, Claudia
Kammeyer, Peter Littman, Warren Lombard, Harvey McClung,
Michael McNally, Gloria Melluish , Ali Mohamed, Ramli
Mohamed, Abdul Muflihi, Tracey Newsome, Charles Gooch and
Thomas Kingsbury. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

Jonny Cruz, Abraham Daif, John Dassel , Sam Fusco. Cristobal Garcia,
Michael Gay, Hugh Gibbs, Robert Hardin, Samuel Harris, Jason Haase,
John Hayes, Robert Henriquez, Ricardo Hernandez, Joseph Jenkins
Jr., Harry Kimble Jr. and Abraham Lagasca.

Toney Smith, Will ie Smith ,
William Synan 111 , Jeffrey
Treadwell , Bradley
Troutner, Jorge Turcios,
Rene Turcios, Stephen
Valencia, Michael Warren ,

~ Billy Watson, Taylor
Watson, Lauren Welch ,
Kevin Williams, Harry
Williams Jr., Franz Winiker,
Stanley Vane and David
Gordius.

Ahmed Abdullah, Mousa Ali, Frank Anonsen, Guadalupe Banda, Joseph Barry 11, Jon
Beard, William Belcher, Donald Benjamin, Joseph Brown, Carlos Cacho, Eric Campbell,
Jerry Chelle, Harry Claar II, Brett Clark, Charles Collier Jr., Bruce Collins, Charles Dail,
Earl Dail, Donald Davis, William Davis Jr. and David Gordius. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

Thomas Smith, Jerry Squires, Chris Stearns, John Stolberg, Douglas Swets, Eric Taylor,
James Tolan Jr., Luis Valerio, Ernesto Villanueva, Michael Vogell , Vernon Wallen, Deralle
Watson, Jimmy White Jr., Stanley Williams, Wilbert Wood Jr., Kadatema Yague, Dean
Yannuzzi and Kevin Young. (Note: Not all are pictured.)

Seafarers LOG 23



. -

•

When you're feeling hungry, these are the men to see
aboard the Liberty Wave: (from left) Steward/Baker
Joseph S. Smith, Chief Cook Jorge Bernardez and
Unlicensed Apprentice John Jackson.

Crew members from the Cape Horn and Cape
Hudson joined forces for a shipboard union meeting.
From the left (standing) are SIU Rep Archie Ware,
Electrician John Ropp, SIU Rep Isaiah William,
Steward Cordell Braxton, Utility Messman Kenneth
Huddleston, (kneeling) Utility Messman Edison
lnuman, Chief Steward Clarke William and DMAC
Eddie Harrison .

Working aboard deck on the Coast Range are AB
Bernard (left) and Bosun John Mossburger.

e
Since the Gold Rush days of the 1800s, the

San Francisco Bay area has continued to expand
its varied operations to the point where, today, it
can handle just about any type of cargo.

During a recent visit to a number of SIU-con­
tracted ships, both in the port of San Francisco,
itself, as well as across the bay in Stockton and
Richmond, this diversification was in evidence.

SIU representatives met with crew members
aboard the Admiral William M Callaghan,
the Cape Horn and the Cape Hudson (all

Captain Peter Grealy (left)
poses with SIU Rep Isaiah
William aboard the William
M. Callaghan.

Right: Lowell
Lemm (standing)
is the electrician

on the William
M. Callaghan.

With him is the
2nd engineer .

Bosun Rudy A. Santos (left) , just joined the Liberty Wave
and is getting a tour of the Liberty Maritime vessel from the
departing bosun, Jim Saunder.

Pension Fund Notlftcatlons:
MCS Supplementary Pension Plan - p. 10

Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan - p. 10

Seafarers Pension Plan - p. 11

Seafarers Moaey Purchase Peaslon Plan - p. 11

ea
vehicle cargo ships in the Ready Reserve Force),
the Liberty Wave (a grain carrier) and the Coast
Range (a tanker).

Shipboard union meetings and payoffs pro­
vided a good forum for Seafarers to be brought
up to speed on the latest news from within the
union and the maritime industry.

These photos highlight a few of the activities
on board those vessels.

Above: Bosun Paul Borg
makes repairs to a block
on the boom of the
William M. Callaghan.

Below: Phillip W.
Widmer, an unlicensed
apprentice aboard the
Liberty Wave, over­
hauls the steam line.


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