MarAd Contracts Awarded SIU Members Will Sail...

Volume 67, Number 9 September 2005

SIU Members Will Sail Aboard

Ready Reserve Force Ships

MarAd Contracts Awarded

The U.S. Maritime Administration recently announced the award of operating contracts for the U.S. Ready Reserve Force(RRF)—a development that helps ensure the job security of Seafarers for years to come. Seafarers-contracted companies willoperate all 54 ships in the RRF fleet, including the Cape Vincent, pictured above at anchor in the harbor off Souda Bay, Crete,Greece. The decks of the ship are loaded with heavy military equipment to supply troops mobilizing in support of the continuingwar on terrorism. Page 3.

Convention also HighlightsNeed for Labor SolidarityGuest speakers at the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO 2005quadrennial convention July 21-22 in Chicago offered passionate wordsof support for U.S. maritime labor and also stressed the importance ofsolidarity throughout the union movement. Pictured at right (from left) areMTD and SIU President Michael Sacco, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer RichTrumka and MTD Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex. Some of the delegatesand guests are pictured above. Pages 3, 11-14.

Maritime ProgressSpotlighted by MTD

Federation VowsTo Persevere

Page 2

Ships ActivatedDue to Hurricanes

Page 4

Recertified StewardsShare Many Insights

Page 7 2

Members of the union’s GovernmentServices Division recently participat-ed in separate rescues at sea. Above,a rescue boat from the Seafarers-crewed Military Sealift Commandcombat stores ship USNS San Joseretrieves a Pakistani fishermanstranded off the coast of the UnitedArab Emirates. Seafarers from theOscar Sette later were involved in arescue in Hawaii. Pages 4, 5.

CIVMARS Save Lives in Separate Incidents

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2 Seafarers LOG September 2005

United WWe SStandJohn Sweeney said it best. When it comes to division within

the labor movement, only our enemies are rejoicing.Sweeney, the president of the AFL-CIO,

made that comment just before three majorunions left the federation in late July. Thedepartures of the Service Employees, Teamstersand United Food and Commercial Workerscoincided with the AFL-CIO convention inChicago.

In the wake of their leaving, media typesacross the country—many of whom don’t under-stand or could care less what unions

do—offered lots of talk about what it all means for the AFL-CIO,for rank-and-file union members and for working families in gen-eral. Some said there may be a silver lining, in that the divisioncould spur changes in the approach to organizing campaigns thatlead to growth in union membership. Others said it might signalthe beginning of the end of the union movement in the UnitedStates. Still others took a more cautious view, acknowledging thatno one knows for sure what it’ll mean in the long run.

For the time being, I think it’s clearly a step in the wrongdirection. Solidarity is such a fundamental concept in the labormovement, I’m skeptical that anyone honestly views disaffilia-tions as a positive step for any union or for any worker.

But I’m equally confident that this won’t be a fatal blow to ourmovement. Unions have come and gone throughout America’shistory. The American Federation of Labor can trace its roots tothe 1880s. In fact, as many of you know, the American Federationof Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations weren’teven in the same federation for about 20 years, from the mid-1930s until 1955. The CIO started out as a splinter group from theAFL.

Eventually, the officials and members of that day relearned theold lessons of solidarity, and the AFL-CIO was formed. I don’tknow how long it will take this time, but there’s no reason whywe cannot reunite somewhere along the line. After all, the work-ing people in the grocery stores, or moving cargo on trucks, orcleaning the floors are still union members—like us, fighting forbetter conditions for all.

In the SIU, we know all about the benefits of unity and thedrawbacks of standing apart. We learned a hard lesson for 40-some years fighting the old NMU. Employers enjoyed pitting usagainst each other. All of that changed when the NMU mergedinto the SIU four years ago. I don’t know anyone who could saywith a straight face that we’re not stronger today than we werebefore merger. It’s really very simple: In unity, there is strength.

I remain on record as fully supporting John Sweeney alongwith AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka and AFL-CIOExecutive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson. I believe theyhave done outstanding jobs under extremely challenging circum-stances. They are friends to our union and, more importantly, theyare hard-working, effective people of integrity.

Along those lines, I deeply feel that our union is stronger as anaffiliate of the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO is the greatest friend ofAmerica’s working families. I’m proud that the SIU is part ofsuch an organization.

In fact, among all the words written and said about organizedlabor during the AFL-CIO convention, I was pleased to see adecent amount of acknowledgment of just how much unions havedone for American workers. Like the ad says, the labor movementbrought workers the weekend. We’re also the folks who broughtpensions, overtime, vacations, health insurance, safe work rulesand many, many other benefits to the people who form the back-bone of the United States: the rank-and-file workers.

The things that have always been good and important aboutunions remain good and important today. We absolutely have anongoing vital role to play in today’s society, and we will continueto meet that obligation, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

Regardless of the actions of any other union, we in the SIUwill survive and move forward.

Michael Sacco

President ’s Report

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthlyby the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakesand Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 AuthWay; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to theSeafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746.Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; ManagingEditor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, JimGuthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, MistyDobry.Copyright © 2005 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWDAll Rights Reserved.


The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

Sweeney: Federation Will PersevereAFL-CIO President John Sweeney—despite the

July defections of three major unions and resultingloss of more than 3 million members—has vowed tohold the federation together and continue to guideits crusade for the future of America’s working fam-ilies.

The ditching of the federation by theInternational Brotherhood of the Teamsters, ServiceEmployees International Union and United Foodand Commercial Workers coincided with the labororganization’s convention in Chicago July 25-28.During that conference, which marked the 50th

anniversary of the federation’s formation, Sweeneyand members of his team (Secretary-TreasurerRichard Trumka and Executive Vice PresidentLinda Chavez-Thompson) were reelected as theAFL-CIO’s top leaders. They initially were electedto their respective offices in 1995.

Sweeney learned that the defectors formally hadquit the federation just prior to the delivery of hiskeynote address to the convention delegates. Hepulled few punches on how he viewed the actions ofthe rebel unions. He also left little doubt about howhe viewed the federation’s future. In part, the AFL-CIO president said, “One of my greatest responsi-bilities as your president is to be honest with youwhen things go wrong, and this morning is one ofthose times. Despite the best efforts of a lot of goodpeople, several of our largest unions have decidednot to join us at this historic convention—this cru-cial convention. I am deeply disappointed my ownunion is among them.

“One of the film clips you saw in the preamblepresentation was from the 1936 strike that launchedmy union—SEIU Local 32BJ in New York City.Those men and women literally had to kick theirway into the AFL—the federation didn’t want thembecause they were only lowly janitors and elevatoroperators. They got a charter, but the AFL revokedit after their first organizing campaign failed. Butwith the help of the typographers and the garmentworkers and dozens of other unions, they won ahuge strike for recognition. Within 10 years theyhad 40,000 members and they became the flagshipof SEIU—a sturdy financial and spiritual base forthe leaders who followed.

“After that history of struggle to get into theAFL, pulling out of our convention dishonors thefounders and the members of my union.”

Sweeney described the fractures as “a tragedy forworking people. Because at a time when our corpo-rate and conservative adversaries have created themost powerful anti-worker political machine in thehistory of our country, a divided movement hurts thehopes of working families for a better life.

“And that makes me very angry. The labor move-ment belongs to all of us—every worker—and ourfuture should not be dictated by the demands of anygroup or the ambitions of any individual.

“But it is also my responsibility to hold ourmovement together, because our power is vested inour solidarity. So I want you to know I will over-come my own anger and disappointment and doeverything in my power to bring us back where webelong—and that’s together…”

Two weeks after the convention, during anappearance before the delegates and guests of the67th Convention of the AFL-CIO Building andConstruction Trades Department in Boston,Sweeney stated, “We don’t have time to wring ourhands in anguish over the internal difficulties we’refacing because the external challenges we’re con-fronting grow more urgent every day. So when itcomes to the unions that have disaffiliated, let meparaphrase an old labor challenge. Let’s pause andsay a prayer for the dead, but let’s get back up andput on the armor of solidarity and keep fighting likehell for the living.”

Sweeney and members of his team developed aplan to improve the ability of the union movement atall levels to organize and mobilize its members forpolitical action. The team’s plan, adopted by AFL-CIO convention delegates, calls for major structuralchanges in the federation to better enable the unionmovement to fight back against 30 years of corporateassault, abetted by lawmakers who frequently do thebidding of big business and compounded by massiveglobal economic changes. It also provides extensivenew resources for organizing and creates a year-round political mobilization.

Delegates approved raising the per capita tax foreach national and international union and organizingcommittee to 65 cents per member per month, upfrom 53 cents. They supported convention action onResolution 61, which establishes a special fund toprovide emergency support to state and central laborbodies, to combat raids by disaffiliating unions andto assist trade and industrial departments.

The high cost of health careand inadequate health insurancecoverage are undermining thefinancial security of millions ofAmericans, says a new study byThe Commonwealth Fund.

According to a report fromthat organization, nearly two offive adults ages 19 and older inthe U.S.—an estimated 77 mil-lion people—struggle with med-ical bills and have recent oraccrued medical debt, or both.Sixty-three percent of thosereporting medical bill problemsor medical debt went withoutneeded care due to cost, com-pared with 19 percent of adultswithout medical bills or debt. Thestudy further revealed that eventhose who have health insuranceare not immune: three of five (62percent) working-age adults wereinsured at the time their medicalbill or debt problem occurred.

The study, Seeing Red:Americans Driven into Debt byMedical Bills, by CommonwealthFund staff members Michelle M.Doty, Jennifer N. Edwards, andAlyssa L. Holmgren, is a newanalysis of data from the organi-zation’s Biennial Health Insur-ance Survey. It sheds light on thehealth care experiences of bothinsured and uninsured adults.

“We are beginning to see inthe United States that, for some,

it’s becoming harder and harderto distinguish the insured fromthe uninsured,” Doty said lastmonth during an interview. Sheadded that the trend toward high-deductible health plans may meanmore people who have insurancewill face increased medical debts.

Companies throughout thecountry over the past two yearshave been using plans that requireemployees to pay higher de-ductibles and more out-of pocketcosts to help combat rising healthpremiums. These costs may surgeby 11 percent next year, a surveyby PriceWaterhouseCoopers said.Doty added that the year “2003was just the beginning of thetrend of high-deductible plans.We suspect it will be worse in ournext survey.”

Insured adults with less com-prehensive coverage are morelikely to face medical bill or debtproblems than those with morecomprehensive coverage, accord-ing to the report. Nearly half (48percent) of insured working-ageadults whose insurance does notinclude prescription drug cover-age reported medical bill or debtproblems, compared to one-thirdwith prescription drug coverage.Nearly two-thirds of working-ageadults who reached the limit ofwhat their insurance plan wouldpay for a specific treatment or ill-

ness experienced medical billproblems, medical debt, or both,compared to 30 percent of thosewho did not reach their insurancelimit.

“The trend toward higherdeductibles in employer plansmay have gone too far,” saidCommonwealth Fund PresidentKaren Davis. “Greater careshould be taken to ensure thathealth care is affordable forlower-wage workers if allAmericans are to get the care theyneed and preserve savings theywill need in retirement.”

“We should be concerned notonly about growing numbers ofuninsured Americans, but theunderinsured—those who areinsured but still lack financial andhealth security,” said Doty, senioranalyst at the Fund and leadauthor of the report. “Facingunmanageable medical bills anddebt, and forgoing medical carebecause of cost defeats the pur-pose of health care coverage.”

Other findings of the studyinclude:� Americans over 65 are better

protected against medical billproblems than working-ageadults. A wide majority—71out of the 77 million report-ing medical bill problems ordebt problems—are ages 19to 64. Two of five (41 per-cent) adults ages 19 to 64report medical bill and/ordebt problems, compared

Report: 77 Million AmericansStruggle with Medical Bills

Continued on page 6

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September 2005 Seafarers LOG 3

SIU to Sail Aboard 54 RRF ShipsIn an announcement that helps

ensure job security for SIU mem-bers for years to come, the U.S.Maritime Administration (Mar-Ad) in late July announced theaward of operating contracts forthe U.S. Ready Reserve Force(RRF).

Seafarers-contracted compa-nies will operate all 54 ships inthe RRF fleet. On 43 of those ves-sels, SIU members (includingmembers of the old NMU) willfill all of the unlicensed positions.On the other 11 ships, SIU mem-bers exclusively will sail in thesteward department.

“The MarAd announcementsays a lot about the reliability ofboth SIU members along with theunion’s contracted operators,”stated SIU President MichaelSacco. “The new contracts are agreat opportunity for Seafarers,and I know that the RRF crewswill continue doing an excellentjob as part of our nation’s fourtharm of defense.”

MarAd announced that mostof the new ship management con-tracts “are built on a four-yearbase period and include twothree-year extension options thatwill be based on the company’sperformance.”

The contract awards for themilitary support ships are as fol-lows:� Crowley Liner Services, Inc.

(11 ships)—Cape Washing-ton, Cape Wrath, Wright,

Cape Taylor, Cape Texas,Cape Trinity, Cape Intrepid,Cape Island, CapeInscription, Cape Isabel,Curtiss

� Pacific Gulf Marine (10ships)—Diamond State,Cape Henry, Cape Horn,Cape Hudson, KeystoneState, Gem State, GrandCanyon State, Alatna,Chattahoochee, Nodaway

� Patriot Contract Services,LLC (8 ships)—AdmiralWilliam M. Callahan, CapeOrlando, Cape Gibson, CapeGirardeau, Cape Fear, CapeFlorida, Cape Flattery, CapeFarewell

� Keystone Shipping Services,Inc. (7 ships)—Cape Race,Cape Rise, Cape Ray, CapeVictory, Cape Vincent, CapeKennedy, Cape Knox

� Marine Transport Lines (6ships—Cape Edmont, CapeDucato, Cape Decision, CapeDouglas, Cape Diamond,Cape Domingo

� Interocean American Ship-ping Corp. (5 ships)—Gopher State, FlickertailState, Cornhusker State,Petersburg, Chesapeake

� Matson Navigation Com-pany (3 ships)—Comet,Meteor, Cape Jacob

� Ocean Duchess, Inc. (2ships)—Cape May, CapeMohican

� Horizon Lines, Inc. (2

ships)—Cape Lambert, CapeLobos

Seafarers will sail in the stew-ard department aboard theMatson and Patriot ships.

MarAd estimated the totalvalue of the contracts at $1.9 bil-lion over 10 years.

“We have seen firsthand thatthe Ready Reserve Force pro-vides a vital link to the men andwomen of the armed services bycarrying thousands of militaryvehicles, aircraft and othermateriel to support operations inAfghanistan and Iraq,” U.S.Transportation Secretary NormanMineta said. “This is an extreme-ly cost-effective and well-runprogram that keeps us prepared torapidly respond to the military’sneeds.”

As of late July, there had been91 RRF ship activations sinceDecember 2002. According toMarAd, those vessels have car-ried nearly 15 million square feetof cargo, or roughly the equiva-lent of 310 football fields ofmaterial.

“The Ready Reserve Force hasmoved an extraordinary amountof cargo over the past severalyears and our nation’s maritimeindustry has kept this fleet ingood working order and workeddiligently to show its value,”Acting Maritime AdministratorJohn Jamian said.

The agency further noted that

RRF ships “are kept in a highstate of readiness at fifteen portslocated on the Atlantic, Pacific,and Gulf coasts of the UnitedStates. Some ships also are keptin a prepositioned status over-seas.”

The RRF wasestablished in1976 and was sig-n i f i c a n t l ystrengthened afterthe Gulf War in1991 in order toensure the mili-

tary’s continued access to cargocapacity. Many of the ships haveunique capabilities and have beenused for humanitarian missionssuch as carrying aid to Haiti andparticipating in the December2004 tsunami relief efforts.

Guest speakers at the MaritimeTrades Department, AFL-CIO2005 quadrennial conventionoffered strong words of supportfor U.S. maritime labor and alsoemphasized the crucial need forsolidarity throughout the unionmovement.

In order of appearance, the fol-lowing individuals addressed theconvention, which took place inChicago July 21-22: John Sween-ey, president, AFL-CIO; MargaretBlackshere, president, IllinoisAFL-CIO; Richard Trumka, sec-retary-treasurer, AFL-CIO; ColinVeitch, president and CEO, Nor-wegian Cruise Line; CaptainMichael Seifert, chief of staff,U.S. Military Sealift Command;Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.); Linda Chavez-Thompson,executive vice president, AFL-CIO; Dave Meehan, presidentand CEO, Kvaerner PhiladelphiaShipyard; and Chris Koch, presi-dent and CEO, World ShippingCouncil.

Convention delegates re-elect-ed MTD President Michael Saccoto a four-year term. They also re-elected MTD Vice PresidentErnie Whelan and MTD Execu-tive Secretary-Treasurer FrankPecquex.

The MTD is composed of 24international unions and 24 portmaritime councils in the UnitedStates and Canada representingmillions of working men andwomen.

In his opening remarks, Sacconoted the U.S. maritime indus-

try’s considerable progress sincethe prior convention four yearsearlier. That sentiment was con-sistent with the convention’stheme: Blueprints to Blue Seas, areflection of the numerous newU.S.-flag ships that have beenchristened since 2001.

“When you reflect on the lastfour years, it’s no stretch at all tosay we’ve made a number of sub-stantial gains,” the MTD presi-dent stated. “American commer-cial shipbuilding has been mov-ing forward—and most of it is inunion shipyards. Members ofMTD unions have built new con-tainerships, new tankers, newATBs and other vessels. More areon the way.

“Earlier this year, the union-ized Philadelphia-Kvaerner Ship-yard announced that 10 new U.S.-flag tankers will be built there.Ten! If that’s not proof that we’reheaded in the right direction, I

don’t know what is.”He also noted both

the rebirth of the deepsea U.S.-flag passenger shipindustry—a development thatmeans thousands of jobs for our

members—and the enactment ofthe new Maritime SecurityProgram that expands the U.S.-flag MSP fleet from 47 to 60ships.

Turning his attention towardthe U.S. Merchant Marine’s roleas part of America’s fourth arm ofdefense, he observed, “We’veanswered our nation’s call inOperations Enduring Freedomand Iraqi Freedom. As I’ve statedbefore, regardless of anyone’sindividual feelings about the waritself, the bottom line is that manyof our members are in Iraq andAfghanistan and elsewhere, doingtheir jobs and making sacrificesto protect our freedom. We sup-port them and we support ourtroops.”

Besides hearing from the guestspeakers, convention delegatespassed a number of resolutionsdesigned to help map out thedepartment’s agenda for the nextfour years. Those topics includedhealth care, the Employee Free

Choice Act, retirement security,towing vessel inspections, theMaritime Security Program,dredging, dock worker safety andmore.

Additionally, they passed astatement titled “Standing withTransportation Workers” that wasintroduced in the wake of theattacks in London.

“The Maritime Trades De-partment, AFL-CIO, its affiliatesand its Port Maritime Councilssalute the transportation workersof the world and mourn the lossof each and every innocent lifefrom these cowardly attacks,” theresolution read in part.

U.S. Maritime Industry’s ProgressHighlighted at MTD ConventionSpeakers also Emphasize Need for Labor Solidarity

The Gopher State(above) and CapeDiamond (left) aretwo of the 54Seafarers-con-tracted ships inthe U.S. ReadyReserve Force.

Delegates and guests listen to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich during the MTD convention’s opening day.

MTD PresidentMichael Sacco (left)welcomes ChrisKoch, head of theWorld ShippingCouncil, to thedepartment’s con-vention July 22 inChicago.

For complete

coverage of the

MTD convention,

see pages 11-14.

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The presidents of two SIU-contracted companies recentlythanked Seafarers and SIU offi-cials for quickly and efficientlycrewing up nine vessels that weremobilized because of hurricanes.

SIU members turned to aboardseven ships operated by Ameri-can Overseas Marine (AMSEA)because of Hurricane Dennis inearly July, then crewed up twovessels operated by 3PSC underthe threat of Hurricane Irene inAugust.

AMSEA President PeterLawrence wrote in a letter to SIUPresident Michael Sacco, “Iwould personally like to thank theSeafarers International Union forcrewing three of the LMSR andfour of the fast sealift vessels thatwere layberthed in the NewOrleans area during the HurricaneDennis sortie. We received thecall at noon on Wednesday, July 6and in less than 36 hours the ves-sels were crewed and commencedsailing on Friday morning, July8…. The task required tremen-dous cooperation and organiza-tion to accomplish such an expe-ditious crewing effort.

“AMSEA would like to

express our appreciation and aheartfelt well-done to the SIUteam.”

Lawrence also specificallycredited SIU New Orleans PortAgent Steve Judd and the rest ofthe officials and staff at the NewOrleans hall along with the SIUcrew members.

The following vessels weremobilized from New Orleans:USNS Bellatrix, USNS Altair,USNS Algol, USNS Brittin, USNSBob Hope, USNS Pollux and theUSNS Fisher.

3PSC President Gary King,writing to SIU Vice PresidentContracts Augie Tellez about the

activations of the USNS Gordonand USNS Gilliland fromNorfolk, Va. on August 11 noted,“Both ships were fully mannedless than 55 hours later, achievingFOS status at 1600 on August13th. I would like to thank andcongratulate the SIU for theircontribution to our success in thisactivation. With the Norfolk hallin the lead, we were also directlysupported by the Jacksonville,New Orleans, Piney Point,Tacoma and Wilmington portagents and dispatchers. On ourfirst occasion of activating bothships simultaneously, we werevery gratified to know that wecan count on the SIU to supportus when ‘the chips are down.’”

King added, “We would like toparticularly acknowledge the sig-nificant contribution made bySam Spain and Georg Kenny inthe Norfolk hall.”

SIU Credited for Quick,Smooth Activations2 Hurricanes Prompt Many Mobilizations

Seafarers recent-ly mobilized theUSNS Fisher andother vessels tosail away frompotential harmcaused by hurri-canes along theGulf and Atlanticcoasts.

BP, Crowley HonoredBP Shipping, Inc. and Crowley Marine Services

were presented with the prestigious 2005 LegacyAward at the annual meeting of the PacificStates/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, heldJuly 27 in Anchorage, Alaska.

The Task Force gives Legacy Awards for pro-jects, accomplishments or leadership that demon-strate innovation, management commitment andimprovements in oil spill prevention, preparednessor response resulting in enhanced environmentalprotection.

The 2005 Annual Legacy Award was given to BPShipping, Inc. in acknowledgment of its “sustainedsuperior performance in the prevention of petroleumspills along the West Coast,” according to thePacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill TaskForce. BP Shipping is involved in operating SIU-

crewed tankers that carry Alaska crude oil to WestCoast refineries; oil spill prevention is a daily andcentral aspect of their business practices.

Crowley received the award specific to theiroperation their Seafarers-contracted subsidiaryMarine Transport Corporation (MTC), which oper-ates a fleet of four articulated tug and barges (ATBs)transiting Alaska, Hawaii and the North AmericanPacific Coast. MTC has loaded and discharged morethan 44 million barrels of oil in 1,031 transfers inthe TAPS trade without a single oil spill.

According to the Oil Spill Task Force, theLegacy Award Program began in 1999. The TaskForce has since given awards in the following cate-gories: tanker operators, cargo vessel operators, tugand barge operators, oil spill response organizations,public interest organizations, state agencies, federalagencies, private citizens, public agency employees,response industry employees, and government/industry teams.

Seafarers aboard a NationalOceanic Atmospheric Admin-istration (NOAA) vessel recentlycame to the aid and assistance of23 sailors whose vessel ranaground in the NorthernHawaiian Islands (NWHI).

The Oscar Elton Sette—crewed by members of theunion’s Government ServicesDivision—on July 3 rescued thecrew and passengers from the145-foot American-flagged Casitas,which, one day earlier and forreasons unknown, had runaground some 86 miles fromMidway Island on Pearl andHermes Atoll, Hawaii. The atollis located or about 1,000 milesnorthwest of Honolulu.

No one was injured when theaccident occurred, but the Casitassustained major damage to itshull. Crew members loaded them-selves into small boats and waitedfor assistance. They later wereextracted from the sea by thecrew from the Sette.

In addition to the ship’s seven-member crew, 16 divers—scien-tific personnel—from the NOAA/University of Hawaii JointInstitute for Marine and Atmo-spheric Research also wereaboard the Casitas. All 23 initial-ly were transported to MidwayAtoll aboard the Sette. On July 5,they were flown to Oahu, Hawaiiaboard a U.S. Coast Guard C-130Hercules aircraft.

The unlicensed crew aboardthe Sette during the rescue includ-ed Kenneth Motoyama, Jona-than Saunders, Bruce Mokiao,Kevin Sund, Huntly Brownell,James McDade, James Scott Jr.and Isreal Caldwell.

At the time of the grounding,the Casitas was laden withapproximately 30,000 gallons ofdiesel fuel, 3,000 gallons of gaso-line, 200 gallons of lube oil, and14 metric tons of marine debrison board. Because of this cargo,steps were taken by the appropri-ate authorities to manage any

potential spill.Immediately following the

accident, U.S. Coast Guard air-craft continually monitored thesituation via flights over thescene. A dive company conductedhull assessments on the groundedship and shipboard assessmentswere initiated by the Coast GuardNational Strike Force Team—ateam specializing in marine envi-ronmental response. The CoastGuard Cutter Walnut, which isequipped with a spill recoverysystem, also was dispatched toassist in cleanup efforts shouldthe need arise.

In the days that followed, mostof the potential environmentalpollutants were transferred fromthe Casitas to a barge. TheCasitas on Aug. 4 successfullywas removed from the reef whereit had rested for more than amonth. The vessel—owned andoperated by Seattle, Wash.-basedF/V Northwind Inc and valued at$1.2 million—was judged by res-

cue crews to be too damaged tosalvage. It therefore was scuttledat sea. Equipment and personalgear were removed from theCasitas prior to sinking. Becauseof safety concerns, however,some 15 tons of marine debris

and other trash were left aboardthe vessel but stowed in sealed,double-hulled holds. The Casitaswas sunk in 7,200 feet of waterabout six miles north-northwestof its grounding.

NOAA had chartered theCasitas to assist in the removal ofmarine debris in the remote islandchain. Reports say the membersof the vessel’s crew were pickingup fishing nets and other debriswhen the mishap occurred.

NOTICEElectrical Maintenance Course Offered

The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Educationis offering a new two-week course titled Marine ElectricalMaintenance Refresher. This class is open to QMED-AnyRatings and those possessing an electrician’s endorsement.Please note that the class cannot be used to raise an individ-ual’s QMED classification rating.

The course’s purpose is to enhance the electrical skills andeducation of those individuals interested in sailing as electri-cians. The class will focus on hands-on electrical trainingwith a minimum of classroom sessions. Students will reviewthe most common electrical troubleshooting, maintenanceand repair techniques required to successfully perform theduties of a marine electrician on the latest shipboard equip-ment.

Upcoming course dates are as follows:

October 3-14

October 17-28

October 31-November 11

November 28-December 9

Each course is limited to a maximum of 10 students. Foradditional information please contact the Paul Hall Centeradmissions office at (301) 994-0010, extension 5210 between8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. U.S. East Coast time.

It is the instructors’ intent that at the end of the course eachstudent will satisfactorily be able to:

� Troubleshoot and replace bad florescent fixture ballasts

� Replace burned-out florescent lamps

� Install new florescent lighting fixtures

� Perform handheld equipment cord and plug maintenance

� Perform motor resistance to ground (megger) checks andrecord properly

� Locate and replace blown fuses

� Locate and correct loose electrical connections

� Locate and properly wire a three-phase motor for correctdirection of operation

� Replace motor bearings

� Troubleshoot and repair/replace bad switches.

CIVMARS Rescue 23 in HawaiiOscar Sette Picks up Sailors after Mysterious Grounding

Photo courtesy of NOAAThe Oscar Sette, crewed by members of the union’s GovernmentServices Division, rescued 23 people whose vessel had run aground inthe Northern Hawaiian Islands.

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A United States senator andeight U.S. Congressional represen-tatives recently urged U.S. Secre-tary of Defense Donald Rumsfeldto exclude civilian mariners fromall provisions of the new De-partment of Defense (DoD)National Security PersonnelSystem (NSPS).

“The existing civilian marinerssystem has served this nation well,and including these individuals inthe NSPS may have the unintendedconsequence of impairing our mil-itary sealift capability,” wroteSenator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in aletter dated July 26.

A month earlier, the followingCongressional representatives ex-pressed similar sentiments in ajoint letter to Rumsfeld: JimSaxton (R-N.J.), Don Young (R-Alaska), Chris Smith (R-N.J.),Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Candice

Miller (R-Mich.), Charles Bou-stany (R-La.), Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) and Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.).

“CIVMARS have played a crit-ical role as an adjunct and aresource to our Nation’s war fight-ers by placing themselves inharm’s way while serving on U.S.Military Sealift Command ammu-nition ships, combat stores ships,hospital ships and ocean tugs aswell as U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers’ vessels and Navy pilotvessels,” the representatives notedin their communication to Rums-feld. “The existing CIVMAR sys-tem has a proven record of provid-ing the DoD with a ready pool ofwell-trained, highly skilled, experi-enced U.S. seafarers who are ableto achieve cost and operationalefficiencies through innovativecommercial crewing models. Butthat could change dramatically” if

they are included in the new NSPS.The representatives hit on a key

element of this situation when theypointed out, “Many of those direct-ly involved have serious concernsthat the introduction of the NSPSwill cause a disconnect betweenCIVMARS and the commercialmaritime industry leading to areduced pool of qualified CIV-MARS, and potentially impairingDoD’s ability to crew ships in timeof need or national emergency.

“Given the potential conse-quences to our military sealift andour CIVMARS, particularly at atime when we are relying heavily onsealift to support our troops world-wide, we would strongly encourageDoD to seriously consider excludingCIVMARS from the NSPS.”

Santorum observed that due totheir “unique circumstances,”civilian mariners “have historical-

ly been treated differently underDoD personnel rules, most notablyas legally exempted serviceemployees. The Department hasacknowledged this uniqueness,saying that civilian mariners’working conditions more closelyresemble those of active duty mil-itary personnel than most otherFederal employees….”

There is extremely urgent con-cern throughout the labor move-ment regarding the new and pro-posed personnel rules. Unions havefiled lawsuits in federal court to

block implementation of the NSPSand Department of HomelandSecurity personnel regulations.

On August 12, a federal judgerendered a decision regarding theDepartment of Homeland Securitynew personnel system regulations.These regulations are similar tothose issued by DoD for the newNSPS. The decision was 57 pagesin length.

The judge held that the HR sys-tem does not lead to enforceablecontracts because the DHS secre-tary can unilaterally declare con-tracts null and void without priornotice to the unions or employees.The court also found that the regu-lations unlawfully changed thefunctions of the Federal LaborRelations Authority.

A lawsuit is expected to be filedconcerning the NSPS. Visit united-dodworkerscoalition.org for moreinformation.

CIVMAR-CrewedUSNS Bridge DeliversIn War on Terrorism

It has been slightly more than ayear since the combatant U.S.Navy ship USS Bridge trans-formed into the fast combat sup-port ship USNS Bridge—a vesselcrewed by members of the SIU’sGovernment Services Division.

The ship changed a great dealto prepare for its new job with theU.S. Military Sealift Command(MSC). It spent several months inthe shipyard getting ready for anew crew. Weapons were re-moved, a new navigation suite wasinstalled, and the cargo fuel sys-tem was upgraded.

In early May 2005, the Bridgedeployed with a carrier strikegroup for the first time as a non-combatant.

“The Supply-class fast combatsupport ships are the only logisticssupport ships that can keep pacewith the strike groups, makingthem ideal for deployment,” saidAl Edkins, a representative fromMSC’s Naval Fleet AuxiliaryForce Program.

The Bridge and its sister ships—the USNS Arctic, USNS Supplyand USNS Rainier, also crewed bySIU CIVMARS—have a topspeed of 25 knots. A fast combatsupport ship is a “triple product”ship carrying fuel, ammunitionand stores. MSC describes the fastcombat support ships as beingideal for strike group operationsbecause, by delivering multipleproducts, they reduce the overallnumber of ships needed to supportthe strike group.

The Bridge deployed with theUSS Nimitz carrier strike group inMay to conduct operations in thecentral and western Pacific Oceanas well as in the Persian Gulf insupport of the global war on ter-rorism. During the first twomonths of its deployment, theBridge delivered more than 10million gallons of fuel and more

than 75,000 square feet of sup-plies.

The Bridge will continue to re-supply the Nimitz and the otherfour ships in the strike group—destroyers USS Higgins and USSChafee, cruiser USS Princeton andsubmarine USS Louisville—aswell as other coalition ships duringthe remainder of the current six-month deployment.

Although this is its first officialdeployment, the Bridge has beensupporting the fleet since it com-pleted its modifications in lateFebruary. It has participated inanti-submarine exercises and shipboarding operations and has pro-vided logistical support to severaldifferent fleet components alongthe way.

The Bridge’s first deploymentis a landmark for MSC in morethan one sense. In addition to sup-porting its first strike group as anoncombatant, the agency reportsthat the Bridge also is the firstMSC ship to carry UnitedKingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliaryofficers as part of a pilot officerexchange program between theRFA and MSC. The two com-mands have had an exchange pro-gram on the headquarters levelsince the 1980s, but the Bridgebrought the program to the ship-board level this year.

According to MSC, the RFAofficers were placed on a Supply-class ship because MSC’s fastcombat support ships operate thesame way the U.K. Navy wouldlike their future ships to operate. Inexchange, an engineering officerfrom MSC will spend time onboard an RFA Wave Knight-classtanker to gain experience in dieselelectric propulsion systems andprocedures—a system that will beused on board MSC’s new Lewisand Clark-class dry cargo/ammu-nition ships.

The keen eyesight of a navalaviation electronics technicianand a ship lookout, complementedby the swift response of the crewfrom an SIU-contracted MilitarySealift Command (MSC) vessel inJune fused to save the life of anArab fisherman on the high seas.

The USNS San Jose, crewed bymembers of the SIU’s Govern-ment Services Division, on June25 had just departed its home portin Apra Harbor, Guam for its fifthfleet deployment in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom.Shortly after noon, AT2 ScottLattin from the San Jose’sembarked helicopter detachment,reported sighting black smoke offthe ship’s starboard quarter. JustinGriffin, the mate on watch, afternotifying the ship’s master, Capt.Steven M. Perdue, reversedcourse to close in on what laterwas identified as an ablaze fishingvessel.

Capt. Perdue brought the SanJose close to the boat, which nowwas engulfed in flames and bil-lowing a large amount of blacksmoke. As the San Jose rapidlyapproached, the captain orderedthe vessel’s rescue boat to launchand search for survivors.

Shortly thereafter, the SanJose’s lookout reported sightingan object in the water some 100yards upwind of the smokesource. The vessel’s rescue boatcrew sped toward the object. Asthey got closer, they discoveredthat the object was, in fact, a manclinging to a blue plastic contain-er.

The rescue boat then darted inand recovered the lone survivor—later identified as Pakistan nation-al Mamad Ali—from the ocean.Meanwhile, the burnt hulk of Ali’sfishing boat slowly began itsplunge beneath the waves.

After being taking aboard theSan Jose, Ali was examined byAaron Jackson, the ship’s medicalservices officer. The rescued fish-erman later was given food, waterand dry clothes. Senior ChiefPetty Officer Art Jocson and ChiefMate Jim Moree attempted tointerview the survivor who spokevirtually no English. After Moreesaid the names of several coun-

tries which were geographicallylocated in the area, the fishermanidentified himself as a Pakistani.

“I had to say my name a fewtimes to him and placed my handover my chest until he finally gotit,” said Jocson. “He then said hisname was Mamad Ali.”

Supply Utility KatherineSpohn gave Ali a San Jose poloshirt and ball cap. “He lookedfrightened and confused,” saidSpohn. “I just wanted to let himknow that he was amongstfriends.”

Crew members later learnedthat the vessel they watched sinkin fact was the very same craftthey had happened upon the previ-ous night while off the coast ofFujairah, United Arab Emirates.Ali had been shining lights at theship and in the water around hisfishing boat in what San Jose hadassumed was an attempt to makethe presence of fishing nets in thearea known. In response, the SanJose steered clear of the area toavoid running over the nets.

Ali, who did not know anyinternational distress signals,spent another night aboard hisbroken-down boat. The nextmorning, in an act of desperation,he lit his boat on fire in an attemptto draw attention to his plight. TheSan Jose got the message andresponded immediately. Fromstart to finish, it took the San

Jose’s crew less than 14 minutesto complete the operation andrecover the wayward sailor.

When asked about the rescue,Able Seaman German Garciasaid, “As a crew member of USNSSan Jose and team member of theship’s rescue boat, I’m very proudto have helped save a man’s life.When we saw the man drowning,immediately we made all possibleefforts to save him. He wasextremely lucky because therewere no other ships around but usfor as far as the eye could see. Hewas truly given a second chance atlife.”

“I didn’t know what to thinkuntil I saw him clinging to a bluefive-gallon plastic can, his onlymeans of flotation,” said rescueboat crew member, Able SeamanFranklin Finona. “From thatpoint on we did everything wecould to get him to safety.”

The next day when San Josepulled into port, Ali was met by anembassy official who took him tothe Pakistan Consulate Office. Asthe rescued fisherman walkeddown the ship’s ladder, he turnedaround, gave a big wave andsmiled.

In a message to the ship, Capt.Thomas D. Goodwin, comman-der, Task Force 53, said, “Yourcan-do attitude, enthusiasm andsuperb flexibility guaranteed mis-sion success.”

Legislators Cite Civilian Mariners’Unique Role in National DefenseSenator, Congressional Reps Urge Exclusion from NSPS

Crewed bymembers of theunion’sGovernmentServicesDivision, theUSNS Bridge(right) conductsa replenishmentoperation along-side the nuclear-powered aircraftcarrier USSNimitz.

CIVMARS Save Fisherman

Photo courtesy MSCThe Seafarers-crewed Military Sealift Command combat stores shipUSNS San Jose retrieved a Pakistani fisherman stranded off the coastof the United Arab Emirates.

Photo courtesy MSC

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with 17 percent of adultsages 65 and older.

� African-Americans are athigh risk for medical bill anddebt problems. Half ofAfrican-American working-age adults have medical billproblems, compared withone-third of Hispanics and28 percent of whites ages 19to 64.

� Working-age women aremore likely to report medicalbill problems than men ages19 to 64 (39 percent vs. 25percent).

� Two-thirds of insured adultswith annual premiums thatare 10 percent or more oftheir income reported bill ordebt problems, comparedwith about one-third of thosewith comprehensive benefits.

The self-stated mission of TheCommonwealth Fund is to pro-mote a high-performing healthcare system that achieves betteraccess, improved quality, andgreater efficiency, particularly forsociety’s most vulnerable, includ-ing low-income people, the unin-sured, minority Americans,young children, and elderlyadults. The organization carriesout this mandate by supportingindependent research on healthcare issues and making grants toimprove health care practice andpolicy.

Report onMedical BillsContinued from page 2

Seafarer’s Shipboard Snapshots

GUDE John Cooper (leftin photo at left) recentlysent in these photosfrom two voyages earlierthis year. At left, he ispictured with UnlicensedApprentice JimmieWilliams aboard the ElMorro in Jacksonville,Fla. in late May. At right,pictured aboard theMaersk Integrity back inMarch are Chief CookSaundra Leonard (left)and Recertified StewardStephanie Sizemore.

Federation Posts Labor Day Q&AThe AFL-CIO recently posted

the following “Q&A” on its website, www.aflcio.org. It offersgeneral information and back-ground about Labor Day.Additional information is avail-able on the federation’s web site.

The SIU, an affiliate of theAFL-CIO, normally participatesin Labor Day events throughoutthe country.

Q: When is Labor Day?A: Labor Day is celebrated

on the first Monday inSeptember. For 2005, LaborDay falls on Sept. 5.

Q: Why do we celebrateLabor Day?

A: Labor Day is the one daythat honors the contributions ofworking men and women toAmerica’s social and economiclife.

Q: When was Labor Day firstcelebrated in the United States?

A: On Sept. 5, 1882, when

about 20,000 working peoplemarched in New York City todemand an eight-hour workdayand other labor law reforms. In aparade up Broadway, sponsoredby New York’s Central LaborUnion, they carried bannersreading, “Labor Creates AllWealth” and “Eight Hours forWork, Eight Hours for Rest,Eight Hours for Recreation.”About a quarter million NewYorkers turned out to watch.

Q: When did Labor Daybecome a national holiday?

A: After the first Labor Dayin New York City, celebrationsbegan to spread to other statesas workers fought to win work-place rights and better workingconditions and wages at a timewhen they had little power. In1893, New York City workerstook an unpaid day off andmarched around Union Squarein support of a national LaborDay. The following year, 12,000federal troops were called intoPullman, Ill., to break up a huge

strike against the Pullman rail-way company and two workerswere shot and killed by U.S.deputy marshals. In what mosthistorians call an election yearattempt to appease workers afterthe federal crackdown on thePullman strike, shortly after thestrike was broken, PresidentGrover Cleveland signed legisla-tion making the first Monday inSeptember Labor Day and a fed-eral holiday. Cleveland lost theelection.

Q: Who founded Labor Day?A: That’s a matter of dispute

among historians. Some sayPeter J. McGuire, general secre-

tary of the Brotherhood ofCarpenters and Joiners and aco-founder of the AmericanFederation of Labor, first sug-gested a day to honor workers.Others credit Matthew Maguire,a machinist who served as secre-tary of the Central Labor Unionin New York.

Q: Is Labor Day just aboutunions?

A: No. The U.S. Departmentof Labor describes Labor Daythis way: “It is a creation of thelabor movement and is dedicatedto the social and economicachievements of American work-ers. It constitutes a yearly

national tribute to the contribu-tions workers have made to thestrength, prosperity and well-being of our country.”

Q: What international holidayis Labor Day’s closest relative?

A: May Day. In 1889, a work-ers’ congress in Paris voted tosupport the U.S. labor move-ment’s demand for an eight-hourworkday. It chose May 1, 1890,as a day of demonstrations infavor of the eight-hour day.Afterward, May 1 became a hol-iday called Labor Day in manynations. It resembles theSeptember holiday in the UnitedStates.

The U.S. Coast Guard has posted the following“Top Ten Reasons Coast Guard LicensingApplications are Delayed.” Avoid these pitfallsand follow the tips listed below to help facilitatethe application process. (This information is listedon the agency’s web site at http://-www.uscg.mil/STCW/new_top-ten-reasons.htm).

1. Applications—If the application is not com-pleted, it will be returned for correction. Three sig-natures are mandatory: Section III (“Have youever...?” questions), Section V (consent ofNational Driver Registry check), and Section VI(application certification). When the “Applyingfor:” block is left blank or is incomplete, the RECis left to guess what you want.

2. Drug Screen—A drug screen is often reject-ed because it does not contain the Medical ReviewOfficer’s (MRO) signature, it is a photocopy, or acompany compliance letter is not written to meetthe requirements of the Code of FederalRegulations, Title 46, Part 16, Section 220.

3. Photographs—Merchant Mariner’s Docu-ments (MMDs) and STCW certificates cannot beprinted without a photograph. Two passport-sizephotos are needed when applying for an MMD orSTCW.

4. Physical Exam—If the Merchant MarinePersonnel Physical Examination/CertificationReport is not complete, it will be returned for cor-rection. Particular attention is paid to the “compe-tent,” “not competent,” and “needs further review”boxes, which are frequently blank. Often, the typeof color vision exam given in Section IV is notindicated. or mariners who wear glasses and/orcontacts submit exams without their uncorrectedvision listed in Section III.

5. Original Certificates—Photocopies ofessential documents, even if notarized, are notaccepted. Only original signatures, those docu-ments signed by the issuing authority (e.g., coursecompletion certificates) or official custodian (e.g.,birth certificates) are acceptable. Original certifi-cates will be returned when the evaluation is com-

pleted and the REC mails the newly issued cre-dentials to the applicant.

6. User Fees—No or incorrect fees are includ-ed with the application. Licensing user feeschanged as of Oct. 4, 1999. Current fees are pub-lished in the most recent Code of FederalRegulations, Title 46, Part 10, Section 109 and onthe web at: http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/l-user-fees.htm.

7. Current or Past License, Document,and/or STCW—A mariner who is holding, or hasheld, a license, MMD and/or STCW certificatewho does not indicate it in the history (Section IIof the application) or does not include a copy oftheir credentials (front and back) with the applica-tion package. This especially applies for renewalsand mariners with past transactions at other RECs.

8. Sea Service—Missing or conflicting infor-mation on the sea service letter (e.g., not includingtonnage or horsepower, the position listed does notagree with other documents in the applicationpackage, or conflicting waters). Service should bedocumented with discharges, letters from marineemployers, or small boat sea service forms. If asmall boat service form is used, it must be certifiedand signed by the owner or proof of individualownership is required.

9. Written Statement—If an applicant marks“Yes” in any block of Section III, a written state-ment is required. Note that all questions beginningwith “Have you ever...” include all past convic-tions, even ones that may have already been dis-closed. Simply stating “on file” will not suffice,statements should include the what, when, where,and penalties assessed for each incident, if it hasalready been disclosed to the REC, and whetherthere have been any new incidents. The applicantmust sign and date the statement.

10. Medical Condition—Additional med-ical information is required whenever a medicalcondition is identified on the Merchant MarinePersonnel Physical Examination Report.

NOTICECoast Guard Offers PointersTo Avoid Application Delays

MSC AAwards CContractTo OOcean SShipholdings

SIU-contracted Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. recently was awarded anagreement by the U.S. Military Sealift Command to continue operat-ing four T-5 tankers for the agency.

The award, a small business set-aside charter, means that SIUmembers will continue sailing aboard the USNS Paul Buck, USNSLawrence Giannella, USNS Richard Matthiesen and USNS SamuelCobb.

New MMatson AAgreementFeatures MMany GGains

Seafarers recently approved a new three-year contract coveringsteward department mariners sailing aboard vessels operated byMatson Navigation. The agreement, retroactively effective July 1,calls for annual wage increases and also boosts monthly pension rates.

Additionally, the pact calls for yearly increases into the SeafarersMoney Purchase Pension Plan, including a 6 percent increase the firstyear. It also maintains Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan coverage atthe Core Plus level.

Intrepid AATB PPactIncreases WWages

Seafarers sailing aboard articulated tug-barge units (ATBs) operat-ed by Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning recently okayed a newthree-year contract. Ratified in mid-July, the agreement is retroactiveto April and applies to four ATBs—the Sea Reliance, Ocean Reliance,Coastal Reliance and Sound Reliance.

The contract calls for annual wage increases in addition to othergains. It also provides for Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan coverageat the Core Plus level, the top level available under the SHBP.

SIU Contract Briefs

29230_P01,2,6.qxd 8/26/2005 9:47 AM


The climb up the culinarydepartment ladder has been oneof hard work and many sacrifices,but it recently paid off for nineSeafarers who, at the Augustmembership meeting in PineyPoint, Md., were rewarded withgraduation certificates for com-pletion of the steward recertifica-tion program.

As their names were read,Mohamed Abdelfattah, BarryAlviso, Louins Johnson, How-ard Lewis, George Monseur,Ernest Polk, John Rapoza,Glenn Taan and Terry Whiteeach approached the podium tosay a few words to the union’sofficials, representatives, fellowSeafarers, instructors and assem-bled guests. Each also had a bit ofwisdom to impart to the currentgroup of unlicensed apprenticespresent at the meeting who, oneday, may find themselves in asimilar position of havingreached the highest level of train-ing within their chosen depart-ment offered at the Paul HallCenter.

Some of the graduating stu-dents joined the union in theirteens; others joined much later.But all have witnessed thechanges, not only in themselvesas they worked hard to get wherethey are today, but also in theSeafarers International Union asit continues to evolve in order tocontinue providing the besttrained seafarers in the world.

Born in Egypt, MohamedAbdelfattah joined the SIU in1978. He credits PresidentMichael Sacco and Vice Presi-dent Contracts Augie Tellez, aswell as the late Executive VicePresident Joe Sacco, with encour-aging him to learn cooking fromthe bottom up. And, he believes,he owes his life today to theirfriendship and concern.

Abdelfattah, who has upgrad-ed his skills at the Paul HallCenter 10 times previously, statedthat each course has helped himbecome a better seaman. Heencouraged the trainees to takeadvantage of the school to get abetter education and also remind-ed them of the importance of con-tributing to SPAD for their ownjob security.

Barry Alviso joined the SIU in1987 in Honolulu. He had no ideawhen he first started workingaboard the SS Independence thatit was the start of his career (andof his married life, since he methis wife—a passenger—in 1991aboard that vessel).

His first goal was to be a bar-tender, which he achieved afterworking as an assistant waiter,waiter and cocktail server. Hethen upgraded to assistantcook/baker and chief cook, even-tually becoming a chief cook andsteward.

Alviso, who ships from theport of Wilmington, Calif., saidthat seafaring life is probably notfor everyone, but those who dofind they like the work havemany opportunities available tothem at the school. This was hisfourth visit to the facility toupgrade his skills, and he particu-larly enjoyed learning about thepolitical activities of the union aswell as the many demonstrationsput on by the culinary staff.

During the last 10 days of hissteward recertification training,Alviso was joined by his wife,Machele, and daughters Hannahand Christa.

Louins Johnson, who joinedthe union in 1989 in New Orleansand who continues to sail fromthat port, said that joining the SIU

was one of the best moves he evermade. It has allowed him to trav-el the globe and see places thatsome people will never visit in alifetime, and it has “made me abetter man,” he said.

“Nothing in life comes easy,”Johnson admitted. And by return-ing to the Paul Hall Centernumerous times and learning dif-ferent aspects to the job, he hasworked his way up to recertifiedsteward.

He recommended that theunlicensed apprentices studyhard, listen to their instructors,learn from the more seasonedmembers and be team playerswhen they work aboard a ship.

Howard Lewis joined theNMU in 1995 and is now “proudto be a part of the SIU member-ship.” He sails from the port ofWilmington, Calif.

His career as a seaman hastaken him to all parts of theworld, he stated, but one of themost memorable trips was earlythis year to Mozambique (see boxbelow).

Lewis has attended upgradingclasses at the school before butfound this time particularly inter-esting, especially learning aboutnew standards for sanitation andcooking temperatures as well asthe important role that the unionplays in the political arena.

He told the trainees that byreturning to the school toupgrade, “everyone comes out awinner—you, your family, theunion.”

Lewis thanked his wife,Susan, “for being there for meand understanding my not beinghome six to eight months a year.”Susan was able to spend sometime with Howard at the schoolbefore his graduation.

George Monseur began sailingwith the SIU more than 20 yearsago. He has upgraded from 3rd

cook to 2nd cook/baker to chiefcook and chief steward and nowto recertified steward. He thankedthe staff and instructors at the

school for helping him achievehis education. “They have adapt-ed to the changing needs of theindustry, as we all have,” henoted.

Monseur, who sails fromPhiladelphia, said that being amember of the SIU has affordedhim the opportunity to visit andlive in many places, includingHawaii, California and Florida.

He told the trainees that astheir journey with the SIU begins,the most important idea theyshould take with them is torespect themselves, and “let thatoverflow in how you respect yourshipmates and supervisors.” Headvised them to get all the educa-tion the school has to offer.

Sometimes, the seafaring lifeis in one’s blood. Ernest Polkjoined the SIU in New Orleans in1968 as a young man of 17. Aftertwo years, he decided to tryworking on the beach. “That was-n’t a good experience,” he said.“That’s when I knew where myheart lay: at sea.”

Polk, who ships from the portof Wilmington, has always sailedin the steward department, start-ing at the bottom as a GSU andmoving up to chief cook and nowto recertified steward. He still hasan original pay voucher from1968, which reminds him of howmuch stronger the union hasbecome over the years.

He thanked the union and itsofficers as well as the Paul HallCenter staff and instructors.“Without them,” he said, “noneof this would be possible.”

Polk went on to say that beinga member of the SIU has affectedhis life in a positive way. It hasenabled him to provide well forhis family, purchase a home andsend some of his children to col-lege—all thanks to the SIU.

“Ask a lot of questions at sea,”he told the trainees. “Study hard,listen and learn, and work togeth-er as a team.”

“The sky’s the limit when youcontinue upgrading,” said John

Rapoza, who joined the SIU in1986 in Honolulu.

Rapoza, who has attendedupgrading classes at the school anumber of times, said that theinformation he will take awayfrom his studies in the stewardrecertification class will be put togood use aboard ship.

Being a member of the SIUhas been a very gratifying experi-ence, and he has enjoyed his trav-els around the world. Now sailingfrom the port of San Francisco,Rapoza urged the unlicensedtrainees to work and study hardand to take advantage of all theopportunities they have as mem-bers of the union.

Originally from the Philip-pines, Glenn Taan joined the SIUin 1983 in the port of Honolulu.Through hard work and manysacrifices, Taan said that his lifehas changed for the better. “Withthat in mind, I thank and appreci-ate what our president, MikeSacco, is doing to protect our jobsas the number-one maritimeunion in the world.”

He urged his fellow Seafarersto continue contributing to SPADfor the sake of job security. Andto the trainees, “who are thefuture of the SIU,” he asked thatthey do a good job when they getaboard a vessel. “Learn the thingsyou need to know, observe, anddon’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Starting as a pot washer at theage of 18 aboard the SS Mon-terey, Terry White has worked hisway up with the help of the train-ing he received at Piney Point andby learning from some of the old-timers with whom he has sailed.

Recertified StewardsWork Hard to AdvanceTo Top Galley Rating

Lewis’s Rewarding ExperienceHoward Lewis has been sailing for 10 years, but his most mem-

orable experience occurred in January of this year in Maputo,Mozambique (on the southeastern coast of Africa).

He was aboard the SS Chilbar as it was being taken to India tobe scrapped. When the vessel stopped in Mozambique, the ship wasstill loaded with stores and galley equipment that would no longerbe needed. So with the captain’s permission, Chief Steward Lewisdonated many items to an orphanage there on behalf of KeytoneShipping.

The recertified steward notedthat it was the most rewardingexperience of his lifetime as hewatched the smiles on the facesof the children as they receivedthe goods.

Included in the gift to theorphanage were coffee mugs,assorted cereals and cookies,brooms, bread boxes, muffinpans, roasting pans, sponges,cranberry sauce, jams and jellies,mattresses, scrub pads, mixingbowls, in addition to other food-stuffs and cleaning material.

Following the graduation ceremony, the nine new recertified stewards and some family members joined SIUofficials on stage for a group photo. From the left are SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, George Monseur, SIUSecretary-Treasurer David Heindel, Mohamed Abdelfattah, Louins Johnson, Glenn Taan, SIU PresidentMichael Sacco, Terry White, John Rapoza, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan, Machele Alviso (with daughtersHannah and Christa), Barry Alviso, Ernest Polk, Susan Lewis, Howard Lewis and Assistant VP ContractsGeorge Tricker.

Continued on page 9

Recertified stewardstake turns with a chain

saw, pick and othercarving tools, turning asolid block of ice into a

decorative scupture.Howard Lewis will never forgetthe smiles on the faces of theorphans in Mozambique whenthey received the ship’s extrastores.

Barry Alviso stirs up a sauce tocomplement his baked entrée.

Mohamed Abdelfattah adds a lit-tle seasoning to the dish he’spreparing.

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Mississippi QueenStops Off in Alton

The SIU-crewed MississippiQueen stopped off at the river townof Alton, Ill. July 8 on a cruise fromSt. Louis to St. Paul.

The majestic sternwheeler dockedalong the riverbank just downstreamfrom the SIU/ SEATU-contractedArgosy riverboat casino, the AltonBelle.

While in the historic port, locatedsome 30-odd miles upriver from St.Louis, passengers disembarked for aday of tours, museum-going andshopping. Crew members took theopportunity to visit with the union’sbusiness rep, Kevin McDonald, and

also had time left over for somesightseeing.

The Mississippi Queen and its sis-ter ship, the Delta Queen, are sched-uled for several more visits to theAlton riverfront during the summer.(The other vessel in the Delta QueenSteamboat Co. fleet, the AmericanQueen, primarily makes round tripsfrom New Orleans.)

The city of Alton has plans toredevelop the riverfront park, includ-ing an amphitheater and improveddocking facilities, which will betteraccommodate these large and historicpaddlewheelers.

Left: The MississippiQueen rounds the bend,in sight of the SIU/SEATU-crewed AltonBelle riverboat casino.

Right: A deckhandfrom the Mississippi

Queen totes a line upthe rocky bank inAlton to tie up the

paddlewheeler.

Crew members aboard the Mississippi Queen include (clockwise, from top left): Oiler AllanBigner, Porter David Williams, Oiler Arturo Martinez and Waitress Shelia Beauchamp.

Passengers from the SIU-crewed Mississippi Queen disembark in Alton,Ill. for a day of tours and sightseeing.

Working Aboard the Bonnyman

The 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman, one of the Military SealiftCommmand’s roll-on/roll-off containerships, is crewed by SIUmembers, including members of the union’s GovernmentServices Division. It was one of the civilian-crewed MSC fleetvessels that earlier in the year supported a 10-day U.S. reliefeffort in the Republic of Maldives for victims of the earth-quake and resulting tsunamis that struck in Asia and Africa.

The 755-foot vessel is prepositioned in the Guam/Saipanarea, where these photos were taken.

AB Mitchell Gately has safety in mind as heworks high above the ship’s deck.

QEE Sean J. Jones

ABs Jesse A. Toves and Edward A. Mitchellwork in tandem to keep everything aboard theBonnyman in proper working order.

Bonnyman crew membersare ready to go ashore.

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 3:18 PM


(Editor’s note: The SeafarersLOG reserves the right to edit let-ters for grammar as well as spaceprovisions without changing thewriter’s intent. The LOG welcomesletters from members, pensioners,their families and shipmates andwill publish them on a timelybasis.)

Retiree RRemembersPaul HHall, PPiney PPoint

On August 20, all SIU membersand headquarters and Piney Pointpersonnel will celebrate the 91st

birthday of one of the greatest lead-ers in the American labor move-ment: our Paul Hall. This holidayalso includes those membersaboard ships at sea and in ports allaround the world.

We should never permit thememory of this great man to be for-gotten.

I am enclosing a clipping of anarticle that I wrote to the LOG 27years ago. I have read it manytimes because I was proud of whatI had written and that it was print-ed. Only a longtime friend and for-mer shipmate, Red Campbell, out-did me, I believe. I am hoping youwill agree that it is fitting for thisclipping to appear in the next issueof the LOG, in honor of Paul’slegacy.

There have been many changesat our school since the year I wrotethis article. Even the name has beenchanged. It has been greatlyenlarged, and many new courseshave been added. This school justkeeps getting bigger and so muchbetter for those beginners to takeadvantage of.

But all of this is Paul’s way ofdoing things. I feel certain that ashe is looking down on what he leftfor us, he must feel very pleased atwhat he sees, and he must feel cer-tain that the leadership that hastaken over has fulfilled his wishes.

With my very best wishes andkindest regards to all. Support yourunion—it will never let you down.Charles LeeCamp Verde, Ariz.

Brother Lee’s original letterfrom 1978, which discusses the lateSIU President Paul Hall, follows:

Pensioner IIs SSIUTop tto BBottom

Two years ago I received a letterwhich I believe was to be the mostimportant letter I have everreceived in all my life. Had I beentold 40 years ago that someday Iwould get a letter like this, I surelywould have believed that someonewas trying to play a cruel joke onme. It just didn’t seem possibleback in those days that someday aseaman would be able to retire witha pension.

This very important letter wasfrom the Board of Trustees of theSeafarers Pension Plan informingme that my application for a pen-sion had been approved.

During the past two years of myretirement, many of my eveningshave been occupied with memoriesof my seagoing days. And whatfond memories these are. Believeme, it wasn’t easy trying to liveashore in one place day in and dayout after having spent more than 40years of my life knocking aroundthis world. But what I found to beeven more difficult was having toadmit to myself that I shall neveragain be able to go back to any oneof theses places that I had been toand seen. Therefore, I must findcontentment in my memories.

What better place is there to cel-ebrate my first two years of retire-ment than at this beautiful andpeaceful setting on the shores of thePotomac River in Maryland whichall of us Seafarers know as PineyPoint. Seven years ago I promisedmyself that before I die I mustcome back to this place and stay afew days in these peaceful sur-roundings. I am a most fortunateman indeed, as that promise hasnow been fulfilled.

Seven years ago I came here asa delegate from the port of NewOrleans to attend an educationalconference. I was very impressedwith all that I saw and learned here.But what impressed me most of allwas listening to those speeches ofour president, Paul Hall. I had noidea that this man was such a greatspeaker as this was my first oppor-tunity to hear him speak before anaudience. So every morning Iwould look forward to listening tohim talk to us at our afternoon ses-sions. I also learned that this manhas many other fine qualities abouthim besides being a great speaker.

Of all the men in the history oforganized labor in these UnitedStates, Paul Hall certainly standsout as one of the most dedicated tothat which he represents, the mar-itime industry. This man for manyyears has given so much of histime, so much of himself in thefight to make a better way of lifefor those of us who go to sea. Andhe has succeeded. His recordspeaks for itself.

The speeches that this man hasmade on our behalf in Congress, atlabor conventions and before manyother gatherings of people wouldfill volumes of books. We pension-ers, active Seafarers and especiallythose young men who are nowcoming up, are very fortunateindeed in having Paul Hall at thehelm of our organization, alwayssteering on a course to higherachievements and toward a moresecure future. Unfortunately therehave always been and still are those(and too many of them) inWashington who always make itquite difficult for him, but that hasnever discouraged him. On the con-trary, he comes back fighting hard-er for us.

I believe that the HarryLundeberg School of Seamanshipmust be the greatest of his manyachievements and I feel certain thatthere must be countless others whofeel the same. This place shallalways remain a legacy to thoseyoung men in the future who willcome here to begin their seagoingcareers, and to those who sail onthe Great Lakes and inland water-ways.

The many courses for advance-ment to better-paying jobs, whichare available in all three depart-ments along with the most up-to-date equipment, and most impor-tant of all, a staff of instructors andall of the other personnel here whoare completely dedicated to theirprofessions and students have noequal in any other school any-where.

This school can very well becompared to an institution of high-er learning due to the advanced andspecialized training it offers for thehighly skilled jobs aboard thesenew automated ships today. In thisunion, any member is welcome,and encouraged, to come here, atno cost to him, learn what he camehere to learn, and leave here withthe assurance that his training hasqualified him for a better-payingjob, thereby assuring him of a bet-

ter way of life for himself and hisfamily. I ask you, where else can aman get a better shake than this?

So in conclusion let me just saythis: that most men’s greatness isnot acknowledged in their lifetime,but only after they are gone. PaulHall is fortunate, and deservinglyso, that he is today a living part ofhis many achievements and dreamswhich have become a reality. Andhis greatest accomplishment isright here in Piney Point. Thisplace shall be a living monument tohim always, not only as that of aman whose life was dedicated tothe betterment of those men who godown to the sea in ships, but also toa truly great fighter in the long andturbulent history of the maritimeunions in their long struggle forsurvival and for a better way of lifefor their members, the Americanseamen. Therefore, I should like totitle this effort of mine: SomeWords of Tribute to a Great LaborLeader. Written on this 23rd day ofAugust 1978 in Piney Point, Md.

Retiree PPoints OOutHealth CCare OOption

This is an open letter to all SIUpensioners who live in Louisiana.

My name is Paul Lightell. I’m aretired deep sea member. I sailedfor 40 years and I’m grateful for allthe union has done for me. I’mhoping that this information I’msupplying will help give somethingback to the union and help my fel-low retirees at the same time.

I became aware of a medicalplan for individuals who are 65 orolder. It’s called Tenet Choice 65and it is available to Louisiana res-idents. The program works likethis: The amount that comes out ofyour Social Security check that isearmarked for Medicare goesdirectly to Tenet Choice 65. This isthe total you pay. There is a $5-$10copay for generic drugs and thedoctor’s copay is also $5.

My wife signed up for this planmore than seven years ago. She hadthree surgeries and they all were100 percent covered. I just recentlyjoined, and it only took five daysand I was in the system.

So now the Seafarers Health andBenefits Plan receives no medicalbills or prescription bills regardingme or my wife. This works out wellfor all.

I urge all retirees living inLouisiana to contact Tenet Choice65 at (504) 461-9800 or 1-800-631-8443 and request the information.You won’t regret it.Paul LightellMetairie, Louisiana

Lupinacci’s FFamilyOffers NNote oof TThanks

Dear President Sacco,Executive Staff, Don Nolan, PortAgents and friends of Romeo V.Lupinacci:

Your kind expressions of sym-pathy on the death of our father andbeautiful floral arrangements weremost appreciated.

You were my father’s homeaway from home and were closestto him for many years. A good por-tion of Romeo’s life and some ofhis greatest achievements hap-pened there at the LundebergSchool, where he dedicated his lifeto his work. We hope you all hold aspecial spot in your hearts inremembrance of him. He trulyloved you all!

A special thanks of appreciationto John (Hetmanski) and the foodservice staff who made a specialtrip to visit Romeo’s grave.Sincerely,The families of Ronald Lupinacciand Roseann Davis

(The letter is printed here attheir joint request.)

Seafarer GGarrett HHas FFondMemories oof CChef RRomeo

My name is Samuel Garrett. Iam an A seniority member in goodstanding.

It hurt my heart to read aboutChef Romeo Lupinacci’s untimelydeath. I know he touched thousandsof people’s hearts.

I met Chef Romeo in 1992while upgrading at the training cen-ter. He walked up to me, said helloand asked how I was doing, all witha larger-than-life smile on his face.My very first thought was that thisis a good feeling when a person ofhis status stops to say hello. ChefRomeo told me he had been aroundfor a while and enjoyed helping atthe school.

On many occasions I sat downwith him and listened, learningmore about how to conduct myselfaboard a vessel. He became one ofthe people that I wanted to belike—true friend, big brother,father figure to those members whoneeded it.

I can remember going to hishouse to watch sports, eatingsnacks that he had made for theupgraders, and during the breakssharing his sea stories and life sto-ries. Every time I came back to theschool he guided me through anyrough patches I was having in life.I truly believe that without his sup-port, loyalty, great friendship andtrue kindness, that many of thethings I achieved would have takenme a lot longer to attain.

One thing that I regret is that inall the many years I got to knowChef Romeo, I never took a picturewith or got a picture of that oneperson who did so much for me.

My family’s prayers are withhim on his great journey to heaven.My heartfelt prayers go out toloved ones and family. His moralfiber, strength, character and forcewill always be within each of usthat knew his heart.Samuel GarrettJacksonville, Fla.

Veteran UUrges SSupportFor ‘‘Belated TThank YYou’

I am a U.S. Army veteran ofWorld War II and an SIU recertifiedsteward, and I’m writing about theBelated Thank You to the Merchant

M a r i n e r sof World

War II Act of 2005.The purpose of this bill is to

compensate the WWII MerchantMarine veterans who were deniedtheir rights under the G.I. Bill,given to other veterans. That wasn’tfair. During the war, the marinersrisked their lives for the welfare ofthe United States, just like anyother veterans who fight for thiscountry.

May our Good Lord bless ourmerchant marine veterans andguide our senators and congress-men to cosponsor the bills, S. 1272and H.R. 23 and have the majorityof both houses pass them.

I urge all SIU brothers and sis-ters to contact their own senatorsand congressional representativesto cosponsor this legislation.Pablo LopezSeattle, Washington

Looking aat PPicturesBrings BBack MMemories

I stopped going to sea years agoin 1985 and settled down in myhomeport of Massachusetts.

Reading about the HarryLundeberg School and looking atthe pictures of the school bringsback a lot of old and fun memories.

The training I received there asa trainee and upgrader (FOWT,QMED and Third AssistantEngineer) proved to be valuable tomy career both at sea and on land.

Even today, I still miss the seaand at times I wish I could jumpback aboard a ship. There are timeswhen, if it weren’t for my two sons,I would go back to sea, but I don’tthink they would like that toomuch.

I would like to thank the SIU forthe opportunity to go to sea and tothe Harry Lundeberg School for thetraining I received there.Lee CookWest Yarmouth, Mass.

Letters to the Editor

Now shipping from the port ofTacoma, Wash., White joined theSIU on Dec. 7, 1976 in SanFrancisco.

“I love the union and the sea,”he told those assembled at themeeting, and the upgradingcourses he has taken at the PaulHall Center, “have helped me tobecome a better cook and stew-ard and help in the way I commu-nicate with people. I am proud tobe a Seafarer.”

Throughout White’s 29-yearseafaring career, he has beenaround the world 17 times andseen many changes over theyears.

He told the trainees that afterworking aboard their first ship,they will know whether or notthey are cut out for the life of aSeafarer. And if they are, he said,the sky’s the limit. They can goas far as they want with the train-ing they will continue to receiveat the Paul Hall Center.

In additional to their culinary

training over the month-longcourse, which consisted ofdemonstrations and hands-ontraining in the culinary lab(sauces, garde mange, ice sculp-ture, cake decorating, nutrition in2005, menu planning, pulledsugar, bread demo, etc.), the ninerecertified stewards attendedclasses on alcohol and drugawareness, communication andleadership, computer labs, unioneducation, first aid/CPR, galleyfire training, as well as studyskills. They also traveled to theheadquarters building in CampSprings, Md. to listen to presen-tations from the plans, vacation/records and pension departmentsas well as from the Trans-portation Institute and theSeafarers LOG. They particularlyenjoyed their opportunity to sitdown and talk with PresidentSacco and VP Contracts Tellezand learn firsthand about theworkings of the union and howthe support of the membershiphelps them protect the jobs of theunion’s members.

An olderphoto ofPabloLopez

Nine Stewards CompleteRecertification ProgramContinued from page 7

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Aboard Penn Maritime’s Tug Victory

On the Job in Illinois

Good Shipmate Award

Working for Maritime

A Well-Deserved Retirement

These photoswere sent tothe LOG byOS LarryWilliams ofOdessa, Fla.

Above: OS Ardale Crim, Chief Mate Don Walsh and OS LarryWilliams get ready to go on the tow wire. Below left: OS LarryWilliams hones his navigation skills with help from Capt. PatDavid. Below right: AB/Tankerman Leo Batiste poses with the“catch of the day.”

The “Seafarers 2005 Good Shipmate Award” is pre-sented to Cadet Rolando Dawang by SIU HonoluluPort Agent Neil Dietz during June 12 graduation cer-emonies at the Campbell High School MaritimeAcademy. Cadet Dawang, who has participated intraining exercises held at the Seafarers TrainingCenter in Hawaii, is the first recipient of what is to bean annual award. He was selected by students andstaff for the honor. Campbell High School is locatedat Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Left: Andrew Linares (left), SIU safety director in theport of Wilmington, Calif., is sworn in as a representa-tive of labor on the Port Hueneme Harbor SafetyCommittee. The committee, whose members reflectthe makeup of the local maritime community, is man-dated to prepare a harbor safety plan for the safe navi-gation and operation of tank ships, barges and othervessels within its harbor.

SeafarersAt Sea

andAshore

Chad Partridge (right), safety director in the port ofJoliet, visits with Assistant Engineer AndreaCarpiere on board the Winstar, a gaming boatoperated by Resorts Casino in East Chicago.

The two photos above and one below left are of SIU officers on board the Alton Belle Casino II, a riverboat casinoin Alton, Ill. The captains and chief engineers have been with the SIU since 1991 when the Alton Belle I first opened.Since then, the business has changed and the vessel no longer cruises the Mississippi River, but it still holds a U.S.Coast Guard certificate of inspection and maintains a marine crew.

Capt.Dave Wendle

Chief EngineerDan Smith

Capt. FrankBock (left)comes aboardthe Alton BelleCasino II torelieve Capt.Dave Wendleand take chargeof the crew forthe night shift.

After 27 years of faithful service toExpress Marine, Inc., SIU memberJesse Gardner (right) finally calledit quits. His last day of work wasJune 22, 2005. Donald R. Ivins,vice president of fleet operations atExpress Marine, presented Gard-ner with a plaque on which is a pic-ture of the tug Russell B. Murray.Gardner also was given a ship’sclock with a plaque, thanking himfor his hard work over the years.

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 4:19 PM


Kvaerner Philadelphia, NCL AmericaHighlight U.S. Fleet’s Growth, PotentialAnyone who doubts the

growth potential of theU.S.-flag fleet should have

listened to the heads of KvaernerPhiladelphia Shipyard (KPS) andNCL America, respectively, asthey addressed the MaritimeTrades Department convention.

KPS CEO and President DaveMeehan and NCL AmericaPresident and CEO Colin Veitchrelated separate accounts of twodifferent segments of the maritimeindustry and two different compa-nies. But the bottom line is thesame for both. Working with mar-itime labor, which provided askilled manpower pool and criti-cally important political support,two businesses invested in theU.S. maritime industry and won.

In the process, they createdemployment opportunities fornearly 30,000 American workers,generated hundreds of millions ofdollars worth of federal and statetax revenues and added billionsmore to the national economy.

Both speakers praised theskilled, unionized U.S. workerswho helped make it all possible.

MTD President Michael Saccocited both businesses as primeexamples of the excellent progressthat has been made since the pre-vious convention four years earli-er.

Kvaerner recently announced itwill build 10 SIU-contracted dou-ble-hulled tankers for the JonesAct fleet with an option for twomore such vessels. The five-yeareffort, known as the ProductTanker Program, is estimated tobe worth at least $1 billion.According to recent studies, it willmaintain some 800 shipyard jobsat Kvaerner over the next fiveyears and create at least 6,000related jobs in Philadelphia andnearby communities.

The Product Tanker Programcomes in the wake of the threecontainerships that Kvaerner hasbuilt for Matson (a fourth is on theway).

According to Meehan, the pro-ject wouldn’t have been possiblewithout the political support ofmaritime labor.

By working with maritimelabor and Pennsylvania politicianslike then-Governor Tom Ridge(R) and then-Philadelphia MayorEd Rendell (D), Kvaerner revivedthe historic Philadelphia NavalShipyard, which had shut its doorsin 1986 at the loss of more than8,000 local jobs.

Meehan stressed that Kvaernerwas willing to take this riskbecause it knew that as long as theJones Act, the nation’s freight cab-otage law, was on the books, there

would be commercial opportuni-ties.

“Like you, we share a strongbelief in the Jones Act as an essen-tial part of our nation’s security,and my job and the jobs of those800 men and women employed atthe shipyard depend on the contin-ued existence of the Jones Act inits present form,” he stated.

He also credited all concernedwith focusing on their goals ratherthan on obstacles. “The KPSIstory has truly been a joint effortof labor, management and govern-ment parties simply refusing tolisten to the naysayers, the criticsand the prophets of doom,” hesaid. “As recently as last year at

this time, the predictions of ourdemise were widespread in theindustry and certainly throughoutthe media. And yet, today we findourselves turning the corner in ourjourney to long-term stability.”

Half a world away, in Hawaii,there has been a remarkablerevival of the U.S.-flag deep seapassenger vessel industry.

Speaking of the recent chris-tening of NCL-America’s SIU-crewed Pride of America, Veitchobserved, “This is the revival ofthe sector of the merchant marinethat was completely dead afterSeptember 11th. There wasn’t asingle U.S.-flag deep sea passen-ger ship left in existence.”

The 81,000-ton Pride ofAmerica is NCL-America’s sec-ond U.S.-flag ship, joining thePride of Aloha, which began inter-island Hawaii cruising in July2004. The company also plans toadd a third vessel to the Hawaiitrades starting in 2006.

According to Veitch, therestoration of this industry wasmade possible by the enactment oflegislation introduced by Sen.Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), theHawaii Cruise Ship Initiative.Veitch told delegates to the MTDconvention that the project is offto a great start “because we have apartnership” with maritime labor.“We have approached this partner-ship knowing that if it doesn’twork for you, it won’t work forus.”

Thanking MTD PresidentMichael Sacco and others, Veitchsaid that the three new U.S.-flagcruise ships mean jobs.

“The [shipboard union] mem-bership will have been expandedsignificantly; but also shore-sideunionized employment will havebeen expanded,” he observed.“The bulk of new employmentfrom this venture is not on ships.It’s on shore with taxi drivers,hotel workers, tour guides, airportworkers, dockworkers—the kindsof people that support the opera-tion of a ship and entertain travel-ers when they come to take ourcruises.”

He also pointed out that NCLAmerica’s parent company isaccustomed to working with orga-nized labor. “We have an entirelyunionized international fleet,” henoted. “We have had ITF agree-ments on all of our ships fordecades, and so we are not one ofthe foreign-flag, flag-of-conve-nience, run-away-from-organized-labor shipping operations. Fromthe outset this is a responsible,upstanding company.”

Additionally, he credited theSIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center forMaritime Training and Educationfor helping provide vital prepara-tion and schooling for NCLAmerica crews, and further notedthat those crews help strengthenU.S. national defense.

“There are not only peopleserving cocktails and making bedson these ships,” Veitch said.“There are literally hundreds andhundreds of deck and engine offi-cers and ratings. The ready reserveof our nation is significantlystrengthened by having that kindof workforce trained and in ser-vice.”

Maritime labor’s impres-sive gains over the pastfour years are a reminder

of what can be accomplished bygetting the basics right.

That was the assessment of thetop leaders of the AFL-CIO, whoaddressed the Maritime TradesDepartment’s 2005 convention inChicago July 21-22. All three—President John Sweeney, Execu-tive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson and Secretary-Treasur-er Richard Trumka—singled outsolidarity, organizing, politicalaction and progressive leadership.

“Most of our maritime unionshave your primary jurisdictionshighly organized, and our uniondensity is probably greater than in

any other industry,” Sweeneysaid. “Members of maritimeunions are working steadily andenjoying very good pay, definedbenefit pensions and fully paidhealth care. And there’s moreunion and American shipbuildinggoing on right now than in many,many years.

“But I remind you that theseadvantages exist because of thecharacter of your leadership andthe power of your solidarity.”

Citing a spate of new ship-building projects, preservation ofthe vitally important Jones Actand the reauthorization andexpansion of the Maritime Secur-ity Program, Chavez-Thompsonnoted, “The Maritime Trades

Department is exactly what theunion movement is all about.”

Fifty years after the historicmerger between the AmericanFederation of Labor and theCongress of Industrial Organiza-tions, organized labor stands at acrossroads, said Trumka.

The solution? Solidarity.“What we’ve built together

needs to be strengthened and notweakened,” he stated. “I think thatwhat we’ve built together is worthnot just maintaining, but defend-ing. And I’m especially proud ofwhat we’ve done to strengthen ourmovement” in the past 10 years.”

He recalled in detail the nation-al labor federation’s numerousaccomplishments during PresidentSweeney’s tenure, and then turnedhis focus toward the challengescurrently facing America’s work-ing families.

If left unmet, those challenges“truly threaten our future…. Wecan’t let any employer, any politi-cian or anybody else tear downwhat we’ve built…. What wemust do instead is to keep stand-ing up together, keep fightingtogether—all of us together. Ourobligation as trade unionists in theyear 2005 is to take up the fightfor every last man, woman andchild, and we do that best whenwe’re united and fighting togeth-er. That is what we shall do—fighttogether and win together in2005.”

American workers are con-fronted with a different world anddifferent challenges than their par-ents and grandparents faced,Sweeney observed. As a result,the federation—at its own con-vention the following week—

adopted a series of reforms thatwill lead to a restructuring of thelabor movement. According toSweeney, there will be a renewedemphasis on political action andorganizing.

For the first time in its history,the AFL-CIO will rebate part ofits dues to unions that devisestrategic plans for organizing.Also, it will be “building a year-round, year-in, year-out grassrootsmembership mobilization for leg-islation and politics.”

American workers are worriedabout their economic future, saidChavez-Thompson. While theyrealize that “one of the very bestpaths to the middle class is unionmembership,” they haven’t joinedup more numbers “because theirfreedom to join has been compro-mised.”

Trumka said that organizedlabor will fight for enactment ofthe Employee Free Choice Act tohelp correct the situation, and forother pro-worker issues, includingbetter health care and retirementsecurity.

AFL-CIO OfficersPoint to MaritimeAs Model of Success

AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Convention

MTD and SIU PresidentMichael Sacco

NCL America President/CEOColin Veitch

Kvaerner Philadelphia ShipyardPresident/CEO Dave Meehan

AFL-CIO Executive VPLinda Chavez-Thompson

AFL-CIO Secretary-TreasurerRichard Trumka

AFL-CIO PresidentJohn Sweeney

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 3:19 PM


MTD Honors CWA President BahrThe MTD honored retiring CWA President and MTD Executive Board

Member Morton Bahr at the department’s 2005 convention.“When Morty announced his retirement from the labor movement,

there was a sense that an era was passing. Here is a man who embodiesall of the old virtues, most notably loyalty and commitment. Yet he’s mar-ried those qualities to build a new vision of the future,” said MTDPresident Michael Sacco.

Bahr, who is the last member of the AFL-CIO executive council tohave sailed during World War II, couldn’t attend because of family med-ical needs.

Accepting the award on his behalf, CWA Political Director Mike Gracenoted, “This award is special because it represents a time when he, likemany of (today’s civilian mariners), put his life on the line in the defenseof our country.”

MTD President Michael Sacco (left) and MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex (right) present an engraved ship’s wheel and“Battlin’ Pete” World War II-era patch to CWA Political Director Mike Grace,accepting on behalf of CWA President Morton Bahr.

AFL-CIO Maritime TradesDelegates to the 2005 Maritime

Trades Department, AFL-CIOconvention called on Congress

and the administration to support a strongU.S. Merchant Marine along with work-ers’ rights. They also noted the U.S.-flagfleet’s many accomplishments duringthe past four years. Those accomplish-ments are captured in the image at left,which shows the convention’s theme:Blueprints to Blue Seas. MTD andSIU President Michael Sacco (secondfrom left, photo at far right) chairedthe conference, which took place July21-22 in Chicago. The MTD consistsof 24 affiliated international unionsand a network of 24 port maritimecouncils in the United States andCanada. The main purpose of theMTD is to stand up for the workingpeople of the U.S.-flag andCanadian-flag maritime industry—from the shipbuilders to themariners to the longshoremen to

all of their suppliers and associates.Coverage of the convention begins on page 3and continues on pages 11-14. Many delegatesand guests are pictured on these two pages.

Mike GoodwinPresident

OPEIU

Capt. Tim BrownPresident

MM&P

Bob ScardellettiPresident

TCU

Ron DavisPresident

MEBA

John ConleyPresident

ITPE

Richard Hughes, Vice and

John Bowers, Pres

Kermett MangramVice President

SIU

Paul BoothAsst. to President

AFSCME

Jerry AbellVP, Local 25

Operating Engineers

Howard RandolphSecretary-Treasurer

TCU

Richard LanniganVice President

OPEIU

George TrickerAsst. Vice President

SIU

Augie Tellez, Vice PresidentDavid Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer

SIU

Dewey GarlandDirector, Railroad

and Shipyard Dept.SMWIA

Elizabeth Brown,Asst. VP, SEATU

Todd BrdakRepresentative, SIU

Bill EllisVice President

UIW

Jim McGee, VP, SIUand SIU Port AgentsSteve Judd, Ed Kelly

and Kenny Moore

Nick CelonaAsst. VP

SIU

B

Anthony PoplawskiPresidentMFOW

Dan SmithVice President

AMO

JoPo

Lynn Tucker, General VP, IAMWarren Mart, Sec-Treasurer,

Machinists

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 4:27 PM


s Department Convention

Taking the oath of office following their respective re-elections are (from left, starting second fromleft) MTD President Michael Sacco, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex and VicePresident Ernie Whelan.

Mike McKayPresident

AMO

John RyanPresident

GMP

Stuart Applebaum, President,Jack Wurm, Secretary-Treasurer

RWDSU/UFCW

Roman GralewiczPresident

SIU of Canada

Vice President, ILAndPresident, ILA

James Williams, President, PaintersVincent Bollon, Sec-Treas., Fire Fighters

Harold Schaitberger, President, IAFF

Charles StewartVice President

SIUNA

Bill LucySecretary-Treasurer

AFSCME

Dean CorgeyVice President

SIU

Tom OrzechowskiVice President

SIU

Mike GracePolitical Director

CWA

Nicholas MarroneVice President

SIU

Ron CarverNat’l Port Coord.

Teamsters

Joseph ThibodeauxExecutive VP

BCTGM

Bernie HosteinAsst. to Pres.

USWA

Eugene IrishAsst. Vice President

UIW

Herb PerezVice President

UIW

Ambrose CucinottaAsst. VP

SIU

Walter WiseTreasurer

Ironworkers

Don Marcus, VP, MM&PGunnar Lundeberg, President, SUP,

Bud Jacque, VP, MEBA

Don Nolan, Vice President,Paul Hall Center

Bryan Powell, Port Agent, SIU

John CoxPort Agent

SIU

Chico McGillBusines Manager

IBEW

John SpadaroNational Director

UIW

David DurkeeSecretary-Treasurer

BCTGM

John FayExecutive VP

SIU

René LioeanjieVice President

SIUNA

Robert RoachGeneral VP

IAM

Sam DavisSecretary-Treasurer,

Local 1458, ILA

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 4:13 PM


AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department ConventionMSC Official Credits Mariners, Predicts Substantial Job GrowthOutlining the critical role

that the American mar-itime industry has played

in the war against terror and prais-ing the support that U.S. civilianmariners have given the military’shumanitarian relief efforts inareas like Southeast Asia, a high-ranking representative of the U.S.Military Sealift Command (MSC)used the Maritime TradesDepartment’s 2005 convention inChicago to thank maritime laborfor its hard work, professionalismand “can-do” spirit.

Noting that MSC is part of themilitary responsible for globalwaterborne logistics, Capt.Michael Seifert, MSC’s chief ofstaff, praised maritime labor andpredicted substantial job growth

for unionized civilian marinersover the next few years.

Specifically mentioning SIUPresident Michael Sacco, MEBAPresident Ron Davis, MM&PPresident Tim Brown, AMOPresident Michael McKay andILA President John Bowers byname, Seifert said, “When youlook at the MSC, you’re lookingat America’s unions. That is ourstrength, and that is why you arepart of the national defense team.

“Without the mariners, boiler-makers, sheet metal workers, ship-ping company clerks, longshore-men, truck drivers and all the otherhighly skilled workers who bringthe industry to life, the MSCcouldn’t complete our mission.”

Seifert explained that MSC isthe largest single employer ofcivilian American mariners.

Since September 2001, U.S.civilian mariners have delivered77 million square feet of vehicles,helicopters, supplies and muni-tions to U.S. forces in the MiddleEast.

Seifert was impressed with theway that U.S. civilian marinershandled themselves during thetsunami relief efforts. “We sup-plied medical care and services,fresh water and a can-do volun-teer attitude that helped the vic-tims in the area begin to rebuild

their homes, businesses, hospitalsand roads,” he said.

Outlining a number of newmissions and projects that MSCwill be involved in, includingoperating Navy salvage ships,Seifert predicted that the agencywill see significant growth. “Infact, by 2009 our afloat civil ser-vice workforce alone will grow by55 percent,” he observed. “That’smore than 1,200 new jobs thatwill be filled by men and womenrepresented by the MaritimeTrades Department.”

Seifert relayed that the U.S.military is looking into ways ofmaking greater use of preposi-tioned MSC vessels. Unlike sup-plies stored at foreign land-basedfacilities, prepositioned MSCships give the military immediateaccess “without (the need for) apermission slip,” he said.

He concluded, “The bottomline here is we’re committed toproviding more jobs for Americanmaritime workers. We are grow-ing, and we want you to growalong with us. The future of MSCand our Maritime Trades partnersis bright. Together, we are build-ing a stronger, more resilientAmerica, one that can respond toany crisis or contingency and staystrong, committed and ready.

“Every time we’re told ‘Well

done’ by anyone, from the chief ofnaval operations, to the secretaryof the Navy, secretary of Defense

or even the president, it’s a tributeto you at the Maritime TradesDepartment as well.”

During the MTD convention,Illinois Gov. Rod Blago-jevich and Margaret

Blackshere, president of the mil-lion-member Illinois AFL-CIO,offered numerous examples fromtheir own state as to why grass-roots political action remains vital-ly important to union membersacross the country.

Despite major challenges facedby labor organizations throughoutthe United States, Blackshere andBlagojevich outlined the pro-worker progress that has beenmade in Illinois over the past fewyears.

Citing hard work, perseveranceand solidarity as the cornerstonesof an effective grassroots strategy,Blackshere explained how therights, wages and benefits of pub-lic employees have been protectedat a time when the state has beentrying to reduce a $5 billiondeficit. She discussed improve-ments in health care, prescriptiondrug coverage, education andlabor protections, including long-overdue adjustments to the state’sminimum wage rate and enact-ment of state laws shieldingIllinois workers from changes inthe nation’s overtime regulations.

Acknowledging that “theymake decisions in Washington thatwe can’t affect,” Blackshere saidtrade union activists can make adifference at the state and locallevels. And, in Illinois, to a largeextent they have succeeded.

She gave a great deal of credit toBlagojevich, a three-term congress-man who has carried his passion forworkers’ issues, especially health

care, to the governor’s office.Noting that his parents were

immigrant workers who foundmiddle-class respectability throughthe trade union movement, Blago-jevich stressed, “Now that I’mgovernor of Illinois, I think abouttheir challenges and their struggles,and I try to make decisions thatwould make the lives of people likemy parents better.”

Blagojevich addressed a majorobstacle facing today’s workerswhen he pointed out, “Unlike thelabor movement more than 100years ago, nowadays the jobs ofhard working people in this coun-try are being shipped and exportedto places where they don’t paypeople fair wages. And while wehave policies that come fromWashington that are unfair to thelabor movement and unfair toworking people, in Illinois I’mproud to say we’ve gone in anoth-er in direction.”

He added that people who careabout working families must domore than simply electing pro-worker representatives. “You needto have organizations across thecountry that are strong, that fightthe fight for men and women whodo the work of the world. That’swhy supporting labor has been abig priority of this administration.My mother and father were able toraise their kids in a family wherethey could afford to one day sendthem to college, because whatevermoney they earned and put asideand saved, they were able to do itbecause they had benefits and theyhad wages that were fair. And theyhad those things because they had

labor unions that fought for them.”The MTD executive board also

heard updates about the depart-ment’s own grassroots successes,including securing the go-aheadfor port modernization projects inNew York, gaining local supportfor non-contiguous Jones Act pro-tections in Hawaii and workingwith local politicians and leadingcommunity figures to preservejobs at the Kvaerner PhiladelphiaShipyard.

Shipping Council President:U.S. Port Security Improving,But Still Needs Enhancement

Two weeks before the Mari-time Trades Departmentmet for its 2005 convention,

a series of bombings hit theLondon transit system. It was avivid reminder that terrorismremains one of the central issuesof our time.

The MTD took up the subjectof terrorism at its convention,expressing its admiration and sup-port for the people of London andpassing a resolution aimed atenhancing safety in the maritimesector.

One of the guest speakers tothe convention was Chris Koch,president and CEO of the WorldShipping Council (WSC), whichis an association of 40 liner com-panies. Koch also serves as chair-man of the National MaritimeSecurity Advisory Committee, agroup appointed by the U.S.Department of Homeland Secur-ity. He outlined the progress thathas been made in the maritimesector since September 11.

Since that tragic day, the U.S.Coast Guard has taken the lead indrawing up a series of securityplans. According to Koch, “Today,any ship above 100 gross tonscoming into the United States hasto have an approved and effectivevessel security plan.”

Koch also said that under fairlynew domestic and internationalsecurity regulations, U.S. person-nel “travel around the world toports that send vessels to the U.S.to monitor how those ports aredoing” in terms of combating ter-rorism. Congress passed the

Maritime Transportation SecurityAct, which, among other things,requires the Department ofHomeland Security to issue trans-portation workers identificationcards.

Despite this progress, Kochbelieves that U.S. ports remainhighly vulnerable, especially sincemore than 10 million containersare imported into the UnitedStates each year and the nation hastens of thousands of square milesof inland waterways.

Koch believes that technologycan make a big difference. He saidwe may not be too far away fromthe day when U.S. ports will beable to scan every vessel.Unfortunately, nowadays fewerthan five percent of all containersare being inspected.

Moreover, he predicts that theDepartment of Homeland Securitysoon will enhance inspection re-quirements on all ocean carriersthat load containers in foreignports.

Praising maritime labor for allit has done to enhance maritimesecurity, Koch outlined whereNorth Americans stand today.“We’re caught with this interest-ing dynamic our generation is fac-ing for the first time, which is thisglobal terrorist threat. We knowour vulnerability. We know wehave to address it.”

He concluded, “We’re makingreally good progress. We are moresecure today than we were lastyear and certainly more securethan we were on 9/11. But a can-did reflection would say we aren’twhere we need to be. So we haveto keep moving ahead…. Themaritime industry and maritimelabor community are very muchon the same page when it comes toenhancing maritime security. Weboth want to see a more effectivecargo security regime so we canbe confident that our ships, ourseafarers and the legitimate cargoon those ships are protected.”

In a similar vein, the MTDpassed a resolution on port securi-ty calling for more federal fund-ing. Over the past three years, air-ports have received more than $18billion to combat terrorism.

Mariners Deliver … and DeliverIn describing the amount of materiel transported aboard U.S.-flag ships

since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom, MSC Chief of Staff Capt.Michael Seifert put it in easily understandable terms.

The 77 million square feet of cargo carried to U.S. war fighters in theMiddle East “equates to about 812,000 SUVs,” Seifert explained. “If we placedthem bumper to bumper on America’s highways, they would stretch fromWashington, D.C. to Chicago, Illinois, and from here on to Boise, Idaho, allwith union drivers behind the wheel, of course.

“At the same time, you’ve helped us deliver more than 7.3 billion gallons offuel for our war fighters. That much fuel would fill the Empire State Buildingmore than 26 times or it would make a swimming pool almost 2 miles on a sideand 10 feet deep. That’s the visualization of the combat cargo your unionmembers have helped us deliver for the war on terrorism—no small job and ajob that couldn’t have been done without you.”

MSC Chief of StaffMichael Seifert

World Shipping CouncilPresident Chris Koch

Illinois AFL-CIO PresidentMargaret Blackshere

Illinois GovernorRod Blagojevich

Governor, State Fed PresidentEmphasize Grassroots Action

29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/29/2005 10:56 AM


October & November 2005Membership Meetings

Piney Point .............Monday: October 3, November 7

Algonac ..................Friday: October 7................................Monday: November 14*................................(*change created by Veterans Day holiday)

Baltimore ................Thursday: October 6, November 10

Boston.....................Friday: October 7................................Monday: November 14*................................(*change created by Veterans Day holiday)

Duluth .....................Wednesday: October 12, November 16

Guam ......................Thursday: October 20................................Friday: November 25*................................(*change created by Thanksgiving Day holiday)

Honolulu .................Friday: October 14, November 18

Houston ..................Monday: October 10, November 14

Jacksonville ............Thursday: October 6, November 10

Joliet .......................Thursday: October 13, November 17

Mobile ....................Wednesday: October 12, November 16

New Orleans ...........Tuesday: October 11, November 15

New York................Tuesday: October 4, November 8

Norfolk ...................Thursday: October 6, November 10

Philadelphia ............Wednesday: October 5, November 9

Port Everglades.......Thursday: October 13, November 17

San Francisco .........Thursday: October 13, November 17

San Juan..................Thursday: October 6, November 10

St. Louis..................Friday: October 14, November 18

Tacoma ...................Friday: October 21, November 25

Wilmington ...............Monday: October 17, November 21.................................

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

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep SeaJULY 16 — AUGUST 15, 2005

*TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACHAll Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C Reliefs Class A Class B Class C

Port DECK DEPARTMENTAlgonac 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 5 3Anchorage 0 8 2 0 3 0 0 0 10 4Baltimore 6 6 2 2 4 0 3 13 9 3Fort Lauderdale 12 12 3 6 1 2 0 6 11 1Guam 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 6 2Honolulu 10 6 3 8 5 1 3 15 13 4Houston 29 23 22 22 14 11 14 46 37 34Jacksonville 32 26 6 27 18 3 22 53 62 21Joliet 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0Mobile 8 9 5 13 9 2 7 11 8 8New Orleans 23 15 8 14 11 6 15 27 25 14New York 18 22 18 22 17 5 15 49 36 26Norfolk 16 19 8 16 18 5 7 28 27 11Philadelphia 5 3 1 2 4 1 1 8 5 0Piney Point 2 12 1 0 13 0 3 2 12 1Puerto Rico 6 12 0 5 6 0 4 17 13 1San Francisco 17 7 6 14 11 3 11 31 9 9St. Louis 0 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 13 1Tacoma 22 30 14 16 23 5 25 62 50 25Wilmington 16 18 6 6 13 5 7 42 34 20Totals 224 241 108 175 173 51 137 414 387 188

Port ENGINE DEPARTMENTAlgonac 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 3Anchorage 0 5 5 0 1 6 0 0 4 2Baltimore 2 2 1 3 4 0 0 2 0 1Fort Lauderdale 1 5 3 1 2 2 0 0 3 1Guam 1 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 2 1Honolulu 6 5 2 7 4 0 3 10 10 2Houston 11 11 8 10 6 4 5 20 15 11Jacksonville 14 18 8 12 15 4 8 35 36 13Joliet 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0Mobile 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 4 2New Orleans 6 11 2 7 6 0 3 17 8 6New York 14 11 8 8 10 2 9 21 11 12Norfolk 7 12 8 8 10 7 6 9 14 7Philadelphia 0 1 1 3 2 1 2 4 3 0Piney Point 3 4 0 2 3 0 1 2 7 2Puerto Rico 3 5 1 3 5 1 3 8 3 1San Francisco 12 7 2 10 7 2 6 21 10 4St. Louis 1 4 0 1 2 2 0 1 5 0Tacoma 11 18 5 11 11 3 8 16 32 8Wilmington 7 11 4 4 10 4 9 17 10 12Totals 104 137 63 95 106 44 67 190 179 88

Port STEWARD DEPARTMENTAlgonac 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 1Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Baltimore 2 4 0 0 4 0 1 5 3 0Fort Lauderdale 5 7 2 3 2 1 1 2 5 1Guam 2 0 1 0 3 1 0 2 2 0Honolulu 10 4 1 12 3 0 2 16 8 1Houston 7 7 3 4 3 2 6 25 6 4Jacksonville 17 10 6 11 5 0 6 34 18 10Joliet 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1Mobile 4 3 2 6 1 2 2 7 8 0New Orleans 7 3 4 6 2 1 1 17 6 6New York 7 7 1 9 4 1 7 29 7 3Norfolk 10 9 5 6 8 3 7 11 18 4Philadelphia 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 2 0Piney Point 1 3 0 0 3 0 2 6 4 0Puerto Rico 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 3 1San Francisco 19 2 1 19 3 1 8 37 6 1St. Louis 0 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1Tacoma 17 8 4 12 8 3 12 33 11 6Wilmington 23 10 4 14 8 2 10 38 17 7Totals 138 81 36 107 58 19 67 271 129 47

Port ENTRY DEPARTMENTAlgonac 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 6Anchorage 0 1 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 4Baltimore 0 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 3Fort Lauderdale 0 4 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 4Guam 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 7Honolulu 1 7 8 3 5 2 0 4 12 11Houston 2 12 20 2 9 6 0 7 26 36Jacksonville 3 23 12 1 5 5 0 6 33 40Joliet 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0Mobile 0 5 2 0 6 0 0 1 8 3New Orleans 0 7 11 5 4 3 0 1 13 17New York 2 28 23 3 19 4 0 3 58 58Norfolk 0 8 18 0 2 13 0 0 13 22Philadelphia 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2Piney Point 0 4 14 0 7 4 0 0 16 26Puerto Rico 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 2 2San Francisco 7 11 10 2 5 4 0 11 20 10St. Louis 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4Tacoma 3 16 19 6 12 7 0 9 28 38Wilmington 3 5 7 1 2 5 0 4 17 18Totals 22 139 161 23 81 59 0 48 259 311

Totals AllDepartments 488 598 368 400 418 173 271 923 954 634

*“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.

Challenges for Seafarersby BR Natarajan

Latitudes to goLongitudes to come

Straits to passOceans to cross

Ships to operateTankers to control

Cargoes to loadGlories to unload

Miles to log before you anchorNautical miles to log before you anchorO cadet, go and conquer.

(Dr. Natarajan is a professor and dean of distance learningprograms at BITS Pilani (Rajasthan), India. He wrote thispoem and recited it at an awards ceremony at the TolaniMaritime Institute in Induri, India in August of last year.).

LOG-A-RHYTHM

If you have written any storiesor poems or kept a diary ofyour life at sea that you thinkother Seafarers would beinterested in reading, sendthem along. Photogaphs (digi-tal or prints) of shipboard lifealso would be welcomed.Send your items to:Seafarers LOG, 5201 AuthWay, Camp Springs, MD20746.

29230_P3,4,5,15,16.qxd 8/23/2005 7:54 PM


Seafarers International UnionDirectory

Michael Sacco, President

John Fay, Executive Vice President

David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer

Augustin Tellez, Vice President Contracts

Tom Orzechowski,Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters

Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast

Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast

Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast

Kermett Mangram,Vice President Government Services

René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large

Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large

HEADQUARTERS5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746

(301) 899-0675

ALGONAC520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001

(810) 794-4988

ALTON325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002

(618) 462-3456

ANCHORAGE721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 561-4988

BALTIMORE2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224

(410) 327-4900

BOSTONMarine Industrial Park/EDIC

27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210(617) 261-0790

DULUTH324 W. Superior St., Suite 705, Duluth, MN 55802

(218) 722-4110

GUAMP.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242

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

(671) 647-1350

HONOLULU606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206

(904) 353-0987

JOLIET10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432

(815) 723-8002

MOBILE1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605

(251) 478-0916

NEW ORLEANS3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 328-7545

NEW YORK635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232

(718) 499-6600Government Services Division: (718) 832-8767

NORFOLK115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-1892

PHILADELPHIA2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148

(215) 336-3818

PINEY POINTP.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674

(301) 994-0010

PORT EVERGLADES1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

(954) 522-7984

SAN FRANCISCO350 Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 543-5855Government Services Division: (415) 861-3400

SANTURCE1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16

Santurce, PR 00907(787) 721-4033

ST. LOUIS4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116

(314) 752-6500

TACOMA3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 272-7774

WILMINGTON510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744

(310) 549-4000

NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration ReportJULY 16 — AUGUST 15, 2005

TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED REGISTERED ON BEACHAll Groups All Groups Trip All Groups

Group I Group II Group III Group I Group II Group III Reliefs Group I Group II Group III

Port DECK DEPARTMENT

Boston 8 1 2 7 1 2 1 8 1 0

Houston 5 3 2 10 1 3 4 35 6 4

Jacksonville 7 0 8 7 0 9 4 11 7 5

New Orleans 5 0 8 3 1 3 5 18 8 20

New York 16 2 2 19 4 2 16 28 12 2

Norfolk 1 0 2 2 0 3 1 3 0 0

Tacoma 0 1 4 1 0 4 2 1 1 4

Wilmington 3 0 4 1 0 4 4 12 5 0

Totals 45 7 32 50 7 30 37 116 40 35

Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT

Boston 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 0 0

Houston 5 1 0 7 2 0 2 14 4 5

Jacksonville 5 4 6 3 2 6 3 6 9 5

New Orleans 2 2 5 0 0 1 0 6 3 12

New York 1 2 2 1 1 2 0 15 10 0

Norfolk 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 1

Tacoma 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

Wilmington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0

Totals 19 10 13 14 5 9 7 55 28 24

Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT

Boston 6 3 0 2 3 0 0 6 2 0

Houston 2 1 0 2 1 0 1 11 8 3

Jacksonville 1 3 2 3 5 1 6 7 4 1

New Orleans 1 1 4 3 0 1 0 5 2 10

New York 3 4 2 4 1 2 0 10 14 0

Norfolk 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1

Tacoma 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2

Wilmington 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 4 2 1

Totals 13 12 11 15 10 7 11 44 32 18

Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Houston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jacksonville 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

New Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

New York 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tacoma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wilmington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals AllDepartments 77 29 56 79 22 46 55 215 100 77

PICS-FROM-THE-PASTThese photos were sent

to the Seafarers LOG byAndrew Boney of SouthHill, Va. The ship is theKeystone State during mil-itary J-LOTS exercises offthe coast of Norfolk, Va. in1984; the other photo is ofthe first deck departmentaboard that vessel (whichalso worked together onother crane ships for nineyears).

Accompanying the pho-tos was a copy of a letter from formerSIU President Frank Drozak, thankingBoney and the rest of the crew for the“excellent manner in which you repre-sented the profesionalism and experi-ence of SIU crews” during the exer-cise.

From the left (standing) are AndrewBoney, Dave Novogratz, Paul Lewisand (seated) Lou Fladge. Boney, now77, sailed as a recertified bosun, lastworking in 1990 aboard the CapeFlattery.

If anyone has a vintage union-relatedphotograph he or she would like to

share with the LOG readership,please send it to the Seafarers LOG,5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD

20746. Photographs will be returned,if so requested.

29230_P3,4,5,15,16.qxd 8/23/2005 7:59 PM


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

working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland 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.

DEEP SEAJOHNNYCRINER, 65,became anSIU memberin 1986 in theport ofNorfolk, Va.His first shipwas the USNS

Assurance. Brother Crinerupgraded in 2001 at the Paul HallCenter for Maritime Training andEducation in Piney Point, Md.The steward department mem-ber’s most recent voyage wasaboard the USNS Impeccable.Born in Haskell, Okla., BrotherCriner resides in Norfolk.

JOHN FUNK, 62, joined theSeafarers in 1964 in the port ofNew York after serving in theU.S. Navy. Brother Funk initiallyshipped on the Sea Pioneer as amember of the engine depart-ment. He was a frequent upgraderat the union-affiliated school inPiney Point, Md. Brother Funkwas born in New York. His lastship was the Cape Trinity.Brother Funk is a resident ofLaporte, Texas.

BILLY HILLIARD, 66, wasborn in Louisiana. He began hisseafaring career in 1967 when hesailed on the Halcyon Panther.Brother Hilliard worked in theengine department and enhancedhis skills in 2000 and 2004 at thePaul Hall Center. Brother Hilliardlast shipped aboard the HorizonReliance. He makes his home inMadera, Calif.

KEITHO’BRYAN,50, joined theSIU in 1973 inPiney Point,Md. BrotherO’Bryan’sfirst voyagewas on theSea-Land Market. Born inRichland, Wash., he sailed in thedeck department. BrotherO’Bryan most recently workedaboard the Atlantic. He attendedthe Paul Hall Center on numerousoccasions to upgrade his skills.Brother O’Bryan calls St. Peters-burg, Fla. home

FRANKSISON, 66,started ship-ping with theSeafarers in1970 from theport of Seattle.Brother Sisonfirst sailed

aboard a Michigan Tankers ves-sel. He was born in Washingtonand worked in the steward depart-ment. Brother Sison upgraded hisskills on several occasions at theSeafarers-affiliated school inPiney Point, Md. His last shipwas the Maj. Bernard F. Fisher.Brother Sison lives in his nativestate.

INLANDROBERT ALBURTUS, 68,joined the union in 1987. Duringhis seafaring career, BoatmanAlburtus was employed by NY

Waterway.The deckdepartmentmember wasborn in NewJersey andresides inToms River,N.J.

JOHNDANIELS,62, embarkedon his SIUcareer in 1961in the port ofPhiladelphia.BoatmanDaniels initial-

ly worked in the deck departmentaboard an Interstate Oil Transportvessel. He was born in NorthCarolina. Boatman Daniels is aresident of Belhaven, N.C. Hislast voyage was aboard a Mari-trans vessel.

JOHNKAHRIGER,62, is a nativeof Penn-sylvania.BoatmanKahrigerbegan ship-ping with theSeafarers in 1962 from the port ofPhiladelphia. He first workedaboard a Moran Towing vessel.Boatman Kahriger shipped in thedeck department. He last sailedon a Taylor Marine Towing Co.vessel. Boatman Kahriger makeshis home in Laurel Springs, N.J.

ERNESTLARSEN, 70,joined the SIUin 1967 in theport ofNorfolk, Va.He enhancedhis skills atthe union-

affiliated school in Piney Point,Md. The Texas native first sailedwith Steuart Transportation. Priorto retiring, Boatman Larsenshipped aboard a Penn Maritimevessel. He calls Jasper, Texashome.

RICHARD SIMON, 65, wasborn in New York. BoatmanSimon launched his career withthe SIU in 1977 in the port ofNorfolk, Va. He primarilyshipped aboard Moran Towing ofVa. vessels. Boatman Simon is aresident of Urbana, Va.

GREAT LAKESCLEYONDART, 65,began his sea-faring careerin 1967 in theport of St.Louis. Born inWisconsin,Brother Dartworked in the engine department.His first ship was the John RoenIV. Brother Dart lives in SturgeonBay, Wis.

ANTHONY WILLOUGHBY,59, became a Seafarer in 1968.Brother Willoughby initiallyshipped on a Zenith Dredge Co.vessel. He was born in Duluth,Mich. and resides in Superior,

Mich. Brother Willoughby lastworked on a Great Lakes TowingCo. vessel.

Editor’s Note: The followingbrothers, all former members ofthe National Maritime Union(NMU) and participants in theNMU Pension Trust, recently wenton pension.

HERBERTADOLPH,68, joined theNMU in 1989.During hisseafaringcareer, BrotherAdolphworked in

both the steward and enginedepartments. He was born in NewOrleans.

FRANKCOLON, 64,became amember of theunion in 1967,initially ship-ping from theport of SanJuan. BrotherColon sailed in the stewarddepartment. The Puerto Rico-born mariner last shipped aboardthe Cape Vincent.

FRANKDEMETRO,56, began sail-ing with theNMU in 1965.BrotherDemetro’s firstship was theAmerican

Veteran. He was born inPhiladelphia. During his seafaringcareer, Brother Demetro workedin all three departments. He is aveteran of the U.S. Army and lastsailed on the Cape Henry.

NED Mc-WILLIAMS,55, startedshipping withthe NMU in1977, initiallysailing fromSan Pedro,Calif. BrotherMcWilliams’s first voyage wason the Texaco Florida. He is anative of Mexia, Texas.

LUIS SANTI-AGO, 67,hails fromPuerto Rico.BrotherSantiagojoined theNMU in 1967.The steward

department member initiallyshipped from the port ofBaltimore. Brother Santiago’smost recent trip to sea was aboardthe Cape Decision.

EDWARDWALLACE,63, com-menced hiscareer withthe union in1969 inNorfolk, Va.BrotherWallace was born in Lumberton,N.C. and shipped in the stewarddepartment. His first ship was theExport Courier; his last was theCape Rise.

SALIHYAFAI, 75,joined theNMU in 1964.Born inYemen,Brother Yafaiworked in theengine depart-

ment. He most recently sailedaboard the Export Patriot.

Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG.

1944One of the most modern union halls in the countrywas officially opened last week by the SIU. The six-story building at 51 Beaver Street will house boththe New York Branch and the Atlantic & GulfDistrict offices. The union occupies the top fivefloors with the shippinghall taking the entire sec-ond floor. The lounge,complete with card andwriting tables, takes thethird floor. The stewards’offices and the baggageroom, which offers freebaggage checking formembers in good stand-ing, are on the fourth floor, and branch offices,including the office of the Seafarers LOG, take upthe fifth floor. Atlantic & Gulf District headquar-ters comprises the top floor.The reaction of the membership to their new homehas been very favorable. Commenting on the newbuilding, one Seafarer said, “From now on wedon’t have to take off our hat to nobody.”

1961On the eve of the expiration of an 80-day Taft-Hartley Injunction, the Alcoa Steamship Companyreached agreement with the SIU on outstandingcontract issues. The agreement on September 21

averted a strike against the company’s 13 vessels ascant few hours before the expiration of the “cool-ing off” period, set as a result of a federal courtinjunction on July 3.Alcoa was the only major SIU-contracted operatorwhich was unsigned when the injunction was issued.The SIU had signed most of its contracted opera-

tors before the June 15strike deadline, but ship-ping was tied up for 18days by strikes of otherunions involved before theinjunction was issued.

1995Seafarers, pensioners, their

families and friends are plunging into the fight byurging Congress to enact maritime revitalization leg-islation. Through letters, telephone calls, petitionsand personal meetings, union members, retirees andothers are telling members of the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate to pass legislationthat would provide funds to help operate up to 50militarily useful U.S.-flag containerships over thenext 10 years.At hearings in both the House and Senate, the SIUhas stated its support for maritime revitalization leg-islation. Meanwhile, SIU members have found otherways to let Congress know the importance of theU.S.-flag merchant marine.

This Month

In SIU History

With Seafarers on the Sulphur Enterprise

SIU Representative Kevin Marchand (standing, far left) submit-ted this photo taken after a recent meeting aboard theSeafarers-crewed Sulphur Enterprise in Tampa. During the Aug.1 meeting, crew members discussed the importance of ship-board safety, the ongoing need for political action and the SIU’srole as part of America’s fourth arm of defense. Pictured withMarchand are (standing, from left) Seafarers Larry Griffin,Stefon Otey, Sonny Pinkham, Kenny Roetzer, (front) CarlosColon and Anthony Grant.

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Final DeparturesDEEP SEA

JOSEPH ARCHPensionerJoseph Arch,90, passedaway May 18.Brother Archwas born inHonduras andjoined the SIUin 1951. Hefirst sailed on

the Jefferson City Victory. A memberof the deck department. BrotherArch retired in 1978. He calledChalmette, La. home.

ALBERT BLAZIOPensionerAlbert Blazio,85, died May28. BrotherBlazio becamea Seafarer in1945 in the portof Baltimore,Md. His firstship was the

Alcoa Pennant; his last was theRobert E. Lee. Brother Blazioworked in the steward department.He began receiving his pension in1982. Brother Blazio was born inNew Orleans and made his home inMetairie, La.

JOSEPH CASTELLANOSBrother Joseph Castellanos, 69,passed away March 31. He startedhis seafaring career in 1978 in SanFrancisco, initially sailing on theSanta Maria. Born in California,Brother Castellanos shipped in thesteward department. His last voyagewas aboard the Kauai. BrotherCastellanos made his home in LaHabra, Calif.

MILTON COXPensionerMilton Cox, 76,died May 27.Born inMississippi,Brother Coxjoined the SIUin 1951 in NewYork. He was aveteran of the

U.S. Army and sailed as a memberof the steward department. His lasttrip to sea was aboard the FalconChampion. Brother Cox resided inGulfport, Miss. and went on pensionin 1991.

ROMOLO DeVIRGILEOPensioner Romolo DeVirgileo, 80,passed away April 22. BrotherDeVirgileo joined the SIU ranks in1949 in New York, first sailing on aSprogue Steamship Co. vessel. Thedeck department member lastworked aboard the Sea-LandIntegrity. Brother DeVirgileo wasborn in Brooklyn, N.Y. He startedcollecting his retirement pay in1989. Brother DeVirgileo resided inhis native state.

RAUL FIOLBrother Raul Fiol, 73, died May 4.He embarked on his seafaring careerin 1970 in the port of San Franciscoafter serving in the U.S. Army.Brother Fiol’s first trip to sea was onthe Santa Maria. The Puerto Rico-born mariner worked in the stewarddepartment. Brother Fiol lastshipped on the President Roosevelt.He was a resident of San Francisco.

LEO GILLIKINPensioner Leo Gillikin, 78, passedaway May 16. Brother Gillikinbegan his employment with theSeafarers in 1944 in the port ofNorfolk, Va. A member of the deckdepartment, Brother Gillikin wasborn in North Carolina. His final tripto sea was aboard the SugarIslander. Brother Gillikin began

receiving his retirement compensa-tion in 1982 and called MoreheadCity, N.C. home.

JERRY GLOVERBrother Jerry Glover, 78, died April24. He joined the Marine Cooks &Stewards (MC&S) in San Francisco.Brother Glover was born in Cali-fornia and shipped in the stewarddepartment. He resided in his nativestate.

SCOTT HUNGBrother Scott Hung, 79, passed awayMarch 22. He joined the MC&S inthe port of San Francisco, workingin the steward department. Born inChina, Brother Hung made his homein San Francisco.

HOLGER JENSENBrother HolgerJensen, 82, diedApril 8. Born inDenmark, hebegan sailingwith the MC&Sfrom the port ofSan Francisco.Brother Jensenwas a steward

department member and a residentof Carson City, Nev.

HENRY JONES JR.PensionerHenry Jones Jr.,69, passed awayMay 31.Brother Jonesstarted shippingwith the SIU in1964 in the portof San Fran-cisco. He first

sailed on the Del Sol, where heworked in the steward department.Brother Jones was a native ofJonesville, La. Brother Jones, wholast sailed on the LNG Leo, went onpension in 2000. He lived in Seattle,Wash.

WILLIAM MORRIS JR.PensionerWilliam MorrisJr., 81, diedMay 24.Brother Morrisjoined the unionin 1943 in theport of Balti-more, Md. Bornin Tennessee, he

sailed in the deck department.Brother Morris was born inTennessee. Before retiring in 1986,he shipped on the Overseas NewYork. Brother Morris called Crosby,Texas home.

LEO PARADISEPensioner LeoParadise, 78,passed awayMay 18.Brother Para-dise embarkedon his seafaringcareer in 1947in New York.Born in Fall

River, Mass., Brother Paradiseworked in the deck department. Hislast voyage was on the Duchess.Brother Paradise retired in 1992 andmade his home in New Hampshire.

SHERMAN PHILLIPSPensionerShermanPhillips, 89,died May 20.Brother Phillipsjoined the SIUin 1955 in NewOrleans.Brother Phillipswas born in

Texas and sailed in the stewarddepartment. He last sailed aboard theLeader. Brother Phillips began

receiving his retirement compensa-tion in 1982. He was a resident ofBakersfield, Calif.

NEMESIO QUINONESPensionerNemesioQuinones, 78,passed awayMay 9. BrotherQuinones joinedthe Seafarers in1951 in hisnative PuertoRico after serv-

ing in the U.S. Army. The stewarddepartment member last sailed onthe Empire State. Brother Quinones,who called Bronx, N.Y. home, wenton pension in 1988.

MANUEL RIALPensionerManuel Rial,87, died April20. Brother Rialbegan his SIUcareer in 1943in New York,sailing as amember of theengine depart-

ment. He was born in Spain andlived in Brooklyn, N.Y. Brother Rialwent on pension in 1984.

ANTHONY SKILLMANPensionerAnthonySkillman, 85,passed awayJune 2. BrotherSkillman wasborn inBrooklyn, N.Y.and joined theunion in 1944

in the port of Baltimore, Md. Hefirst shipped in the deck departmentaboard the Elizabeth. BrotherSkillman was a veteran of the U.S.Army. His last trip to sea was on theGallaway. Brother Skillman residedin Wyoming and started collectinghis retirement pay in 1978.

THOMAS SNEADPensioner Thomas Snead, 74, diedDec. 22. Brother Snead became anSIU member in 1964 in NewOrleans after serving in the U.S.Army. Prior to retiring in 1988, theGeorgia native worked on theHorizon Producer. He made hishome in New Orleans.

MAURICE STOVERPensionerMaurice Stover,88, passed awayApril 13.Brother Stoverlaunched hisseafaring careerin 1968 in theport of Seattle,Wash. His first

voyage was aboard the Falmouth. Anative of Berkeley, Calif., BrotherStover was a member of the enginedepartment. He was a resident ofShelton, Wash. and retired in 1982.

ULUS VEACHPensioner UlusVeach, 74, diedMarch 25.Brother Veachbegan sailingwith the SIU in1948 in NewYork. The deckdepartmentmember was

born in North Carolina. BrotherVeach’s first trip to sea was aboard aTranseastern Shipping Co. vessel;his last was on the LNG Taurus. Helived in his native state and went onpension in 1995.

SADAK WALAPensioner Sadak Wala, 76, passedaway April 27. Brother Wala joined

the ranks of theSIU in 1953 inNew York. TheIndonesian-bornmariner shippedin the enginedepartment, ini-tially aboard theFairland.Before his

retirement in 1989, Brother Walaworked on the Kaimoku. He calledBrooklyn, N.Y. home.

INLAND

MICHAEL FALCONEPensionerMichaelFalcone, 95,died April 20.BoatmanFalcone joinedthe union in1967 in the portof Norfolk, Va.He worked in

the engine department and beganreceiving compensation for hisretirement in 1974. BoatmanFalcone resided in New York.

BERNARD FREBURGER JR.PensionerBernardFreburger Jr.,82, passed awayApril 2.BoatmanFreburgerbecame aSeafarer in1957 in

Baltimore, Md. after serving in theU.S. Navy. He worked in the deckdepartment, primarily aboardMcAllister Towing of Baltimore ves-sels. Boatman Freburger was born inMaryland and called Glen Burnie,Md. home. He went on pension in1984.

BENJAMIN GRIGGS JR.PensionerBenjaminGriggs Jr., 83,died Feb. 1.BoatmanGriggs startedhis SIU careerin 1963 in PortArthur, Texas.His first ship

was the Seabulk Tanker. A veteran ofthe U.S. Marine Corps, BoatmanGriggs shipped in the deck depart-ment. He was born in Knight, La.and made Kirbyville, Texas home.He retired in 1983.

SIDNEY GUIDRYBoatman Sidney Guidry, 62, passedaway Dec. 25. A native of Louisiana,he commenced his seafaring careerin 1990 in New Orleans. BoatmanGuidry was a member of the stewarddepartment. He last sailed aboard theDodge Island. He made his home inhis native state.

RAYMOND HUDSONPensionerRaymondHudson, 80,died Jan. 22.Boatman Hud-son joined theSeafarers in1957 in the portof Philadelphia.The U.S. Navy

veteran shipped in the deck depart-ment. Born in Pennsylvania, he lastsailed with Moran Towing ofPhiladelphia. Boatman Hudsonretired in 1984. He was a resident ofSalisbury, Md.

LEON MACH SR.Pensioner Leon Mach Sr., 77, passedaway Dec. 15. Boatman Mach begansailing with the SIU in 1957 in theport of Baltimore. He worked pri-

marily on vessels operated byMcAllister Towing of Baltimore.Boatman Mach was a native ofMaryland and shipped as a memberof the deck department. He calledBaltimore home.

JAMES MARTINPensionerJames Martin,70, died Feb. 4.Born inLouisiana,BoatmanMartin firstdonned the SIUcolors in 1960in New

Orleans. He went on pension in1996 and resided in his native state.

PEDRO MORETPensioner PedroMoret, 65,passed awayFeb. 22. Boat-man Moretjoined the unionin 1976 in hisnative PuertoRico. Heworked in the

deck department, shipping primarilyon Crowley Towing and Trans-portation vessels. He continued tolive in Puerto Rico and beganreceiving his retirement stipends in1998.

MARION PEOPLESPensionerMarion Peoples,62, died Feb.22. BoatmanPeoples joinedthe SIU in 1988in the port ofHouston. Bornin Texas, helived in Fulton,

Ky. Boatman Peoples retired in 2004.

WILLIAM PETTISBoatmanWilliam Pettis,53, passedaway Dec. 27.He became anSIU member in1975 in NewOrleans. Boat-man Pettisworked in the

deck department. A native ofWiggins, Miss., he resided in Gretna,La.

JAMES SEBASTIANBoatman James Sebastian, 61, diedDec. 10. Born in Ocean Port, N.J.,he started sailing with the Seafarersin 1994 in the port of Mobile, Ala.Boatman Sebastian was a member ofthe deck department and worked pri-marily aboard Alabama Pilot vessels.He called Mobile, Ala. home.

Editor’s Note: The following broth-ers, all former members of theNational Maritime Union (NMU) andparticipants in the NMU PensionTrust, have passed away.

MELVIN BELLAMYPensionerMelvinBellamy, 80,passed awayFeb. 9. BrotherBellamy joinedthe NMU in1943 initiallysailing from theport of New

York. He first went to sea aboard theChristy Payne. Brother Bellamy wasborn in Baltimore and shipped in thesteward department. His last voyagewas on the Independence. BrotherBellamy began collecting his retire-ment pay in 1967.

Continued on page 20

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CLEVELAND (Sealift), June 12—Chairman Fareed Khan, SecretaryMiguel E. Vinca, EducationalDirector Victorino G. Labrilla,Deck Delegate Leon Curtis,Steward Delegate Ruben C. Ong.Chairman thanked deck depart-ment members for great job clean-ing cargo hold and expressedappreciation to all departments forjob well done. Secretary askedthose members departing ship toclean rooms for next person andalso requested everyone separateplastic items from regular trash.Educational director stressedimportance of upgrading skills atPaul Hall Center for MaritimeTraining and Education in PineyPoint, Md. No beefs or disputedOT reported. Vote of thanks givento steward department for goodfood and barbecue. Next port:Houston, Texas.

BRENTON REEF (Seabulk),June 22—Chairman Thomas W.Lasater, Secretary Norman A.Jackson, Educational DirectorCharles H. Kennedy, DeckDelegate Joseph S. Merri-weather, Engine Delegate RonWesterfield, Steward DelegateNorman A. Jackson. Chairmanlead discussion on job security andimportance of SPAD as well aschanges to health benefit plan. Headvised Seafarers to keep duespaid up and notify headquarters ofaddress and/or dependent changes.Educational director urged crew toupgrade at Paul Hall Center. Nobeefs or disputed OT reported.Suggestions made to reduceseatime requirements for full pen-sion benefits and raise monthlypension amounts. Bosun praisedall hands for working well togeth-er. Mariners were reminded toclean lint filter in dryer due topotential fire hazard. Crewrequested e-mail access. Nextports: Los Angeles and SanFrancisco, Calif.

HORIZON SPIRIT (HorizonLines), June 30—ChairmanHoward W. Gibbs, SecretaryEdgardo G. Ombac, EducationalDirector Roger M. Wasserman,Engine Delegate Thomas V.Hastings, Steward DelegateHenry J. Commanger. Chairmanannounced payoff at sea. He statedhe would discuss medical benefitchanges with patrolman in nextport, Tacoma, Wash. and reportback to them. He thanked every-one for following safety proce-dures during trip. Secretary report-ed new coffee machine, dryer andpillows to arrive in Tacoma. Foodstores will be received in Oakland,Calif. Educational director remind-ed crew to keep movie cabinetlocked while in port. He advisedthem to check document expirationdates and upgrade at union-affiliat-ed school in Piney Point. Treasurerstated $233 in movie fund; newmovies to be purchased in Tacoma.No beefs or disputed OT reported.Steward department was praisedfor good food, lots of cookies andputting on a great BBQ. Nextports: Oakland; Honolulu; Guam;Hong Kong.

LIBERTY GLORY (LibertyMaritime), June 19—ChairmanTimothy J. Jackson, SecretaryMatthew Scott, Educational

Director Mike Kifle, DeckDelegate Zinnonnon Jackson,Steward Delegate Joel P. Crow.Chairman announced payoff July 1in Houston. He thanked crewmembers for a smooth voyage.Secretary urged Seafarers to applymonths in advance for MMDs.Educational director encouragedupgrading skills at Piney Point as“the way to go.” No beefs or dis-puted OT reported. Galley dish-washer and ice machine are to befixed in next port. Suggestionmade to reduce age requirementsfor full retirement benefits andincrease wages across the board.Crew thanked Bosun Jackson andSteward Scott for displaying greatleadership skills on this trip.

OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (OSGShip Management), June 19—Chairman Clyde C. Smith,Secretary George Quinn, DeckDelegate George A. Giraud,Engine Delegate John R. Bodden,Steward Delegate Charles Atkins.Chairman announced ship to dockin Houston on June 20; payoff totake place next morning. Ship willremain in Houston approximatelysix days before next voyage.Secretary thanked crew membersfor helping keep mess and loungeclean. No beefs or disputed OTreported. Phone service aboardvessel in need of repair.Suggestions made regarding low-ering age and seatime require-ments for full pension benefits.Crew requested new dryer in laun-dry room. Next port: Massawa,Ethiopia.

PATRIOT (Maersk Line Limited),June 14—Chairman George B.Khan, Secretary Robin D.Ballard, Educational DirectorPhilip A. Curtis, Deck DelegateChad Chivrell, Engine DelegateSjarifudin Noor, StewardDelegate Carmelo B. Dela Cruz.Chairman announced reflagging ofvessel to take place Aug. 19. Henoted that relief list was e-mailedto Wilmington hall. Secretaryreminded crew members to helpkeep ship neat and clean.Educational director let marinersknow that class schedules forcourses available at Paul HallCenter are listed in monthlySeafarers LOG. No beefs or disput-ed OT reported. Discussion heldpertaining to letter from headquar-ters regarding staying aboard ship.Next port: Ensenada, Mexico.

PERSEVERANCE (Maritrans),June 27—Chairman Thomas R.Temple, Secretary Louie L. Perez,Educational Director Leonel S.Lazo, Deck Delegate David R.Harvey, Engine Delegate GermanC. Valerio, Steward DelegateWilliam B. Young. Chairmanadvised mariners to start sixmonths in advance when renewingz-cards. Pay raise announcedeffective June 1. No beefs or dis-puted OT reported. Discussionheld about new memorandum ofunderstanding and about changesto payroll agreement. Next ports:Galveston and Houston.

QUALITY (Maersk Line Limited),June 26—Chairman John J.Williamson, Secretary AlexanderBanky, Educational DirectorTimothy E. Pillsworth, Engine

Delegate Lawrence Banks.Chairman announced July 2 payoffin Newark, N.J. Secretary request-ed cardiovascular gym equipmentbe moved to central location for allcrew members to use. Educationaldirector talked about the opportu-nities available at Paul Hall Centerto upgrade skills. Treasurer stated$1,300 in ship fund. No beefs; dis-puted OT reported in deck depart-ment. Discussion held about week-ly drill and training issues. Nextports: Norfolk, Va.; Charleston,S.C.; Freeport and Houston, Texas.

USNS DAHL (Maersk LineLimited), June 27—ChairmanHerman L. Reynolds, SecretaryJames H. McLeod, EducationalDirector Alexander Zharkoff,Deck Delegate Harry C. Downey,Engine Delegate Keith A. Bailey,Steward Delegate Abraham A.Mills. Chairman announced June27 arrival of ship in Sasebo, Japanand several days later will leavefor Saipan. He reminded crewmembers to stay in good standingby keeping dues paid up and mak-ing sure all documents are current.Secretary reported smooth tripfrom Charleston, S.C to Sasebo.He congratulated ship’s crew onsuccessful sanitary inspection.Special thanks to bosun and deckdepartment for always lending ahelping hand. Educational directorstressed importance of educationand spoke about opportunitiesavailable at Piney Point school. Heencouraged everyone to attendupgrading classes and remindedthem that course dates are listed inSeafarers LOG. No beefs or dis-puted OT reported. Discussionheld about benefits of investing inSeafarers Money Purchase PensionPlan (SMPPP). Crew requestedmore information on Coast Guardand STCW status as well as aboutchanges made to Seafarers Healthand Benefits Plan. Crew voted topurchase new barbecue grill forcookouts. Recommendation madeto purchase fishing gear (rods,reel, tackle) for recreational pur-poses. DVD player and DVDs forcrew lounge should arrive soon.Steward department was recog-nized for professionalism whilepreparing and serving food. Nextport: Sasebo.

WILLIAM B. BAUGH (MaerskLine Limited), June 6—ChairmanRalph F. Schneider, SecretaryWilliam H. Kane, EducationalDirector Louis A. Santiago, DeckDelegate Howard A. Arrington,Engine Delegate Justin L. Bing,Steward Delegate Sheng-JenHsieh. Secretary reminded crew ofchange in medical benefits plan.Educational director encouragedSeafarers to upgrade skills at PaulHall Center. No beefs or disputedOT reported. Moment of silencewas observed for departed unionbrothers and sisters. Washingmachine in need of repair. Thanksgiven to everyone for helping keepmesshall, house and lounge areasclean, along with special thanks tosteward department for bakinggreat cheesecakes. Next ports:Malta, Spain, Italy and Greece.

CHEMICAL PIONEER (USSTransport), July 10—ChairmanKelvin S. Cherington, SecretaryRonald D. Jones, EducationalDirector Terry T. Smith, DeckDelegate Francis W. Dover,Engine Delegate Antonio F.Simon. Chairman talked aboutchanges to medical plan and urgedSeafarers to become familiar withthem. He also spoke about renew-ing shipping documents and/orpassports as well as about newtools for deck department and howto maintain them. Secretarythanked crew for keeping ship neatand tidy. He said it was a pleasureworking with them for 60 days asa relief, however permanent stew-ard to return in next port.

Educational director encouragedeveryone to take advantage ofSeafarers-affiliated school in PineyPoint. Treasurer stated $260 inship’s fund, in which $40 was usedto purchase CD player for gym.No beefs or disputed OT reported.Suggestions made to reduce seatime needed for full retirement andincrease monthly pension.Clarification requested on shuttleservice to and from ship. Nextport: Bayonne, N.J.

EXPLORER (Maersk LineLimited), July 3—Chairman DoyleW. Ellette, Secretary William R.Burdette, Educational DirectorEugene T. Bedard, Deck DelegateThomas W. Walker, EngineDelegate Gerardo A. Vega,Steward Delegate RobertSutherland Jr. Chairman verifiedrumors about reflagging, which isto take place Aug. 8 in Hong

Kong. The scheduled run is toMexico and Panama and thenHong Kong via Chiwan, China. Henoted all previous safety itemshave been taken care of. Any newitems should be reported rightaway. Those persons getting offvessel should get clean linen fornext person. Secretary advisedSeafarers to check crew list to con-firm name and book number arecorrectly typed. Treasurer stated$220 in ship fund. No beefs; dis-puted OT reported in deck depart-ment. Recommendations maderegarding wording of freightshipagreement. Next ports: Ensenadaand Lazardo Cardenas, Mexico.

HORIZON CHALLENGER(Horizon Lines), July 11—Chair-man William J. Card, SecretaryDonald B. GaNung, EducationalDirector Hiawatha J. Williams.Chairman stated payoff to takeplace when cleared by patrolman.He warned crew to expect any-where from two to six monthswhen renewing MMDs.Educational director stressedimportance of staying educated inmaritime field and by attending

upgrading classes at Paul HallCenter. No beefs or disputed OTreported. Treasurer stated morethan $200 in ship’s fund. Threenew chairs have been ordered forcrew mess hall. Bosun remindedmembers contract negotiations arecoming up soon and now would begood time to make any recommen-dations they may have.Suggestions made regarding pen-sion plan. Next ports: Jacksonville,Fla.; San Juan, P.R.

LIBERATOR (Maersk LineLimited), July 17—Chairman JoseF. Caballero, Secretary BrandonD. Maeda, Educational DirectorMichael S. Kirby, Deck DelegateEdwin Ortega, Engine DelegateJeffrey E. Roddy, StewardDelegate Sukirman B. Suraredjo.Chairman announced July 20 pay-off in Newark, N.J. He reportedenjoyable voyage, with excellent

crew. Educational director advisedcrew members to contribute toSPAD. Bosun to speak to patrol-man at payoff concerning moneyin crew’s fund. No beefs or disput-ed OT reported. Chairman urgedcrew to read Seafarers LOG to getbetter understanding of what’shappening in maritime industry.Next port: Newark; Baltimore;Newport News, Va.; Charleston,S.C.

MAERSK CAROLINA (MaerskLine Limited), July 3—ChairmanKadir P. Amat, Secretary JamesH. Rider, Educational DirectorMohamed Y. Abdullah, DeckDelegate Abdul Q. Gharama,Engine Delegate Adam M. Noor.Chairman encouraged all marinersto read president’s report in eachissue of Seafarers LOG, enhancetheir skills at Piney Point facilityand donate to SPAD. No beefs ordisputed OT reported. Recom-mendations made regarding retire-ment requirements. Thanks givento steward department for job welldone. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.;Norfolk, Va.; Elizabeth, N.J.

Digest of ShipboardUnion Meetings

The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboardminutes as possible. On occassion, because of space

limitations, some will be omitted.

Ships minutes first are reviewed by the uniion’s contract department.Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union

uupon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The minutes are then forwardedto the Seafarers LOG for publicatiion.

Meeting aboard the USNS Hayes

SIU RepresentativeKevin Marchand sub-mitted these photos ofSeafarers aboard theUSNS Hayes. Thephotos were taken lastmonth in CapeCanaveral, Fla. TheHayes is an acousticsurvey ship that is partof the U.S. MilitarySealift Command fleet.

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Know Your RightsFINANCIAL REPORTS. The

Constitution of the SIU Atlantic,Gulf, Lakes and Inland WatersDistrict/NMU makes specific provi-sion for safeguarding the member-ship’s money and union finances. Theconstitution requires a detailed auditby certified public accountants everyyear, which is to be submitted to themembership by the secretary-treasur-er. A yearly finance committee ofrank-and-file members, elected bythe membership, each year examinesthe finances of the union and reportsfully their findings and recommenda-tions. Members of this committeemay make dissenting reports, specificrecommendations and separate find-ings.

TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds ofthe SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes andInland Waters District/NMU areadministered in accordance with theprovisions of various trust fundagreements. All these agreementsspecify that the trustees in charge ofthese funds shall equally consist ofunion and management representa-tives and their alternates. All expendi-tures and disbursements of trust fundsare made only upon approval by amajority of the trustees. All trust fundfinancial records are available at theheadquarters of the various trustfunds.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’sshipping rights and seniority are pro-tected exclusively by contractsbetween the union and the employers.Members should get to know theirshipping rights. Copies of these con-tracts are posted and available in allunion halls. If members believe therehave been violations of their shippingor seniority rights as contained in thecontracts between the union and theemployers, they should notify theSeafarers Appeals Board by certifiedmail, return receipt requested. Theproper address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, ChairmanSeafarers Appeals Board

5201 Auth WayCamp Springs, MD 20746

Full copies of contracts as referredto are available to members at alltimes, either by writing directly to theunion or to the Seafarers AppealsBoard.

CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIUcontracts are available in all SIUhalls. These contracts specify thewages and conditions under which anSIU member works and lives aboarda ship or boat. Members should knowtheir contract rights, as well as theirobligations, such as filing for over-time (OT) on the proper sheets and inthe proper manner. If, at any time, amember believes that an SIU patrol-man or other union official fails toprotect their contractual rights prop-erly, he or she should contact thenearest SIU port agent.

EDITORIAL POLICY — THESEAFARERS LOG. The SeafarersLOG traditionally has refrained frompublishing any article serving thepolitical purposes of any individual inthe union, officer or member. It alsohas refrained from publishing articlesdeemed harmful to the union or itscollective membership. This estab-lished policy has been reaffirmed bymembership action at the September1960 meetings in all constitutionalports. The responsibility for Sea-farers LOG policy is vested in an edi-torial board which consists of theexecutive board of the union. Theexecutive board may delegate, fromamong its ranks, one individual tocarry out this responsibility.

PAYMENT OF MONIES. Nomonies are to be paid to anyone in

any official capacity in the SIU unlessan official union receipt is given forsame. Under no circumstances shouldany member pay any money for anyreason unless he is given such receipt.In the event anyone attempts torequire any such payment be madewithout supplying a receipt, or if amember is required to make a pay-ment and is given an official receipt,but feels that he or she should nothave been required to make such pay-ment, this should immediately bereported to union headquarters.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTSAND OBLIGATIONS. Copies ofthe SIU Constitution are available inall union halls. All members shouldobtain copies of this constitution soas to familiarize themselves with itscontents. Any time a member feelsany other member or officer isattempting to deprive him or her ofany constitutional right or obligationby any methods, such as dealing withcharges, trials, etc., as well as allother details, the member so affectedshould immediately notify headquar-ters.

EQUAL RIGHTS. All membersare guaranteed equal rights inemployment and as members of theSIU. These rights are clearly set forthin the SIU Constitution and in thecontracts which the union has negoti-ated with the employers. Conse-quently, no member may be discrimi-nated against because of race, creed,color, sex, national or geographic ori-gin.

If any member feels that he or she isdenied the equal rights to which he orshe is entitled, the member shouldnotify union headquarters.

SEAFARERS POLITICALACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD.SPAD is a separate segregated fund.Its proceeds are used to further itsobjects and purposes including, butnot limited to, furthering the political,social and economic interests of mar-itime workers, the preservation andfurthering of the American merchantmarine with improved employmentopportunities for seamen and boat-men and the advancement of tradeunion concepts. In connection withsuch objects, SPAD supports andcontributes to political candidates forelective office. All contributions arevoluntary. No contribution may besolicited or received because of force,job discrimination, financial reprisal,or threat of such conduct, or as a con-dition of membership in the union orof employment. If a contribution ismade by reason of the above improp-er conduct, the member should notifythe Seafarers International Union orSPAD by certified mail within 30days of the contribution for investiga-tion and appropriate action andrefund, if involuntary. A membershould support SPAD to protect andfurther his or her economic, politicaland social interests, and Americantrade union concepts.

NOTIFYING THE UNION—If atany time a member feels that any ofthe above rights have been violated,or that he or she has been denied theconstitutional right of access to unionrecords or information, the membershould immediately notify SIUPresident Michael Sacco at headquar-ters by certified mail, return receiptrequested. The address is:

Michael Sacco, PresidentSeafarers International Union

5201 Auth WayCamp Springs, MD 20746.

CHESTER DUGARPensionerChester Dugar,79, died April25. BrotherDugar startedhis seafaringcareer in 1967,shipping firstfrom Galveston,Texas on the

R.E. Wilson. The steward depart-ment member was born in Texas.Before retiring in 1986, BrotherDugar worked aboard the ShirleyLykes.

JOHN MARKOVICPensioner JohnMarkovic, 81,passed awayApril 10.BrotherMarkovicbecame anNMU memberin 1943 in NewYork. His first

vessel was the Markay. BrotherMarkovic was born in New Yorkand sailed in the engine department.He last shipped on the Leslie Lykes.Brother Markovic started receivinghis pension in 1985.

BERNARD TORPensioner Bernard Tor, 77, diedApril 30. Brother Tor first donnedthe NMU colors in 1963 in the portof Jacksonville, Fla. His first voyage

was aboard theTwin FallsVictory. BrotherTor was amember of thesteward depart-ment. His lastvoyage was onthe AustralRainbow.

Brother Tor went on pension in1983.

JOSEF WALTERSPensioner JosefWalters, 77,passed awayApril 27.Brother Walterswas born inGermany. Hebegan his sea-faring profes-sion in 1962 in

New York. His first ship was theAtlantic. A member of the stewarddepartment, Brother Walters lastsailed on the Puritan. He began col-lecting his retirement compensationin 1988.

EMANUEL WEAVER JR.Pensioner Emanuel Weaver Jr., 83,died April 30. Brother Weaver beganshipping with the NMU in 1944. Hisfirst ship was the Alexander. Born inNew Orleans, which is also wherehe joined the union, Brother Weaverlast sailed on the Thompson Lykes.He retired in 1988.

Editor’s Note: In addition to the indi-viduals listed above, the followingNMU members, all of whom werepensioners, passed away on the datesindicated.

NAME AGE DODAlexander, Frank 88 May 31

Artis, William 75 May 8

Brown, James 75 March 19

Buffham, Ernest 82 Dec. 28, ’04

Carmona, Juan 93 June 18

Cizewski, Walter 87 June 20

Dinko, Andy 80 April 17

Ewens, Ralph 77 Feb. 13.

Felt, Eddie 79 May 28

Filas, Frank 83 May 21

Freeman, Richard 70 June 2

Frenette, Joseph 87 May 7

Galamb, Michael 86 May 26

Gant, Henry 83 March 26

Garza, Ricardo 81 May 20

Goodson, Ralph 61 June 3

Jackson, Henry 73 March 26

King, Alcee 84 April 2

Lacayo, Isidoro 70 May 12

Moore, Max 86 June 1

Morena, Antonia 86 May 23

Oakes, Douglas 78 April 19

Price, William 76 June 2

Ramos, Herminio 89 Feb. 19

Ramos, Miguel 88 June 15Rivers, Reno 76 June 4

Roberts, Edward 72 April 14

Ruble, Cleva 84 April 12

Ryan, Walter 75 March 28

Sandoval, Joseph 80 May 14

Seaton, Charles 81 May 26

Shepherd, Donald 77 Feb. 3

Snowden, Arthur 88 May 5

Stejr, Dennis 62 June 2

Threatt, Dudley 77 May 23, ’03

Tirzo, Pablo 81 May 26

Wiltshire, William 62 April 7

Wyman, Howard 85 June 2

Final DeparturesContinued from page 18

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SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTERUPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE

The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for MaritimeTraining and Education in Piney Point, Md. through the end of this year. All pro-grams are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote theAmerican maritime industry.

Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the mem-bership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security.

Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday beforetheir course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on themorning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reserva-tions should be made for Saturday.

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

Deck Upgrading CoursesStart Date of

Course Date Completion

Able Seaman October 3 October 28

November 14 December 9

Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* October 24 October 28

(ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited)

GMDSS (Simulator) October 31 November 11

Lifeboatman/Water Survival September 19 September 30

October 29 November 11

Radar October 10 October 19

Radar Renewal (1 day): October 31

Steward Upgrading CoursesGalley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week.Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginningSeptember 5, 2005.

Engine Upgrading CoursesStart Date of


FOWT September 19 November 11

Welding October 24 November 11

Safety Specialty CoursesStart Date of


Government Vessels September 26 September 30

October 31 November 4

November 14 November 18

Tankerman Familiarization/

Assistant Cargo (DL)* September 26 October 7

(*must have basic fire fighting)

Tankerman (PIC) Barge* October 17 October 21

(*must have basic fire fighting)

Academic Department CoursesGeneral education and college courses are available as needed. In addition,basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year,one week prior to the AB, QMED Junior Engineer, FOWT, Third Mate,Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to comput-ers course will be self-study.

UPGRADING APPLICATIONName ________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________ Date of Birth ______________________

Deep Sea Member Lakes Member Inland Waters Member

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

Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________

Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________

U.S. Citizen: Yes No Home Port _____________________________

Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No

If yes, class # __________________________________________________________

Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes No

If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________

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

Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No

Primary language spoken ________________________________________________

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 dateyour class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indi-cating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it isCoast Guard tested. All OL, AB, JE and Tanker Assistant (DL) applicants must submit a U.S.Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a moneyorder only, payable to LMSS.

BEGIN ENDCOURSE DATE DATE

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

____________________________ _______________ _______________

LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________

Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________

SIGNATURE __________________________________ DATE ________________

NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if youpresent original receipts and successfully 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 andEducation 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.

9/05

Look for additional

upgrading course dates

in an upcoming issue

of the Seafarers LOG.

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P a u l H a l l C e n t e r C l a s s e s

Advanced Fire Fighting — With their instructor, Joe Zienda (far right), areupgrading Seafarers who completed the advanced fire fighting course May 27. They are(in no specific order) Miguel Rivera, Jeff Hawkins, Mark Hummel, Roland Guity, WilliamParker, Seth Rockwell, Thomas Burke, Lawrence Soulier, Darrel Koonce Jr., Jason Lee,Paul Kucan II, John Barnard III, Robert Lee and Gary Ranne.

Marine Electrician — Successfully complet-ing the marine electrician course June 10 are (inalphabetical order) Philip Ayotte, Daniel Borden,David Castro, Alfonza Davis, Milan Dzurek, StanleyGolden, Sammy Montana, Matthew Redlinger,Albert Riollano, Neil Warren and Quincy Wilson.Their instructor, Jay Henderson, is second fromright.

Fast Rescue Boat — Graduating from this course June 10under the instruction of Stan Beck (far left) are (in no specificorder) Vess Dyoulgerov, Lindsey Sikora, Alvin Moore, JasonVarner, Rodolfo Antonio, Willie Jones, Antoine Jennings andJames Buckowski.

Medical Care Provider — June 3 was graduationday for students in the medical care provider course.They are (in alphabetical order) Weston Beres, ThomasBurke, William Farmer, Robert Lee, Paul Lind, MarcMarcus, Gary Ranne, Miguel Rivera and John Zabielski.Their instructor, Mark Cates, is at far left.

FOWT— Completing theFOWT course May 20 are (inno specific order) Kyle Byron,Rodolfo Cunanan, BernardCorbett, Lawrence Guerrero,Carlo Johnson, MichaelAlexander, Darryl Churchill,Clinton Betties, Alex Rhodes,Nicholas Doffoh, TravisZeller, Chris Burke, PaulaGomez, Daniel Gaffney,Dameon Cooler, RyanNeathery, Ernie Smith andHashiem Pittman. Theirinstructor, Eric Malzkuhn, isat left in the back row.

Galley Ops — Working their way up the culinary ladder arestudents in the galley ops course that ended June 10. From theleft are Thurman Johnson, Robert Brown, Ed Graver, FatirMohammed, Chef Robert Johnson and Michael Munoz.

Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 664 — Graduating from thewater survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 664. Kneeling (from left) areKevin Tyson, Alexander Ward, Stephon Thompson and Terrance Dunn. Standing areRobert Hayes, Richard Wright, William Clifton, Brandon Tanton, Robert Newcomb II,Elmer Marko, Ricardo Nuño, Dustin Schultz, Philip Smith, Daniel Manning, StravonJordan, Sterling Cox, Willie Frink and Ismael Garayua.

Computer Lab Classes

May 27 — From left: Instructor Rick Prucha,Latoya Nix, Michael Smorowski, BenjaminMedrano, Michael Ratigan and DarrylChurchill.

Left: May 13 — (from left) Gary Ranne,Sean Farra, Instructor Rick Prucha andGerry Davis.

Below: June 3 — (standing, from left)Thomas Leong, Darrel Koonce Jr.,Instructor Rick Prucha, Alexander Rhodes,(seated) Fred Forsythe and William Britton.

Congratulations to all thestudents who recentlyreceived certificates ofachievement for complet-ing various computercourses offered at thePaul Hall Center.

Left: May 20 —(from left) YamilSanchez,Instructor RickPrucha, DavidGarcia and DanielFields.

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P a u l H a l l C e n t e r C l a s s e s

Basic Safety Training Classes

STCW — NCL, May 13: Arnulfo Aguilar, MarioAlfaro, Melanie Allen, Nicolas Ayala, ChristopherBaird, Zach Balise, Brian Barnetti, Ellen Barriga,Carl Bost, Anthony Brost, Jamion Brunsting, DionBuford, John Burleson, Ronald Calimlim, SalvadorCardenas, Melissa Carpenter, Brent Clayton, MarkConnolly and Cody Cousins.

STCW — NCL, May 27: Stephanie Maddox, SusanaMartinez, Keith Maxey, Brittany McCormick, Joel McLean,Meredith McNutt, KaSondra Middleton, Daren Mitchell,Terence Moe, Matthew Molesky, Robert Niccum, MiguelOlvera, Fabielle Orta, Lyudmila Puchalsky, Rosss Ramsey,Phillip Reed, Lindsy Roberson, Elizabeth Robertson,George Rodrigues, Yael Roller, Christopher Romero,Amanda Rowe, Carlos Saldana Jr., Gerard Schuler Jr.,Lawrence Guerrero and Michael Ratigan.

STCW — NCL, May 27: Bethany Seay, Roosevelt Sellars,Julie Shanley, Claudia Silver, Michael Simpson, Brian Smith,Corey Splonick, Garrett Stephens, Steven Stewart, RobertSumner, Melissa Swift, Jonda Tanner, Vanessa Thompson,Svetlin Vajarsky, Heather Van Til, Richard Venair, IreneVolonakis, Seth Walker, Star Walters, Derome Washington,Brian Weeks, Andrew Wells, Sheila Winslow, AndrewWiseman, Denise Wright, Tom Posely and Ibrahim Yahya.

STCW — NCL, June 3: Bernardine Lazaro, Ryan Lefever, Michael McWilliams,Maureen Mikan, Jessica Neville, Laralynne Olayiwola, William Owens III, David Petty,Carl Reaves, Melissa Roberson, Steven Robinson, Daniel Rohdenburg, SupakitSakarindr, David Savage, Sean Singleton, Cristina Slagter, Sonja Staves, StephanieStockwell, Justin Talbert, Rebecca Tomak, Harold Valderama, Maryana Vardanyan,Robert West, Christopher Williams and Jill Williamson.

Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo(DL) — May 13 graduates of this course are (in nospecific order) Philandar Walton, Andre Anderson,Richard Gonzalez, Randon Robinson, William Price,Sherrod Cutter, Travis Kirkland, Ian Chin, Kemer Rojas,Luis Segui, Abraham Straughter, Jeffery Griffin, John Yi,Tiimothy Eide, Edward Johnson and Oscar Pena.

Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) —Another group of May 13 graduates of this course are (in no specificorder) Thomas Guthrie IV, Scott Jones, Damaine Thorne, RemingtonAldrete, Kathy Lakoduk, Michael Moerbeek, Alexander Hil, KendrickMincey, Healther Buskey, Marc Maffia, Geoff Hall, David Spangler,Danny Faidley, Josh Sypolt, Kyle Parson, Kenny Potts, DavidSpaulding and Samuel Thatcher.

STCW — NCL, May 27: Joseph Freddie III, Robert Fries, Robert Frye,Kenneth Gielda, George Gooden, Karen Gordon, Heather Gray, RobertHacker, Karen Harley, Anissa Harvey, Judy Hatfield, Lora Hendrickson, JefferyJarvis, Kyle Jensen, Jarrad Johnson, Tenea Jones, Kevin Kelly, MatthewKoresko, John Korhel, Linda Koyama, Jason Kuhn, Deleandre Leandre,Cathy Lenihan, Rembo Li, Kristin Lodginski and Bernard Corbett.

STCW — NCL, May 13:Jay Woodward, Mark

Putnam, Melody Rathbun,Michael Spinks, TroySpinner, Christopher

Pérez, Shelley Renfro,Carol Poulton, Joseph

Reid, Rachael Williams,Philip Redmond,

Cassondra Ott, StephenPettit, Alicia Saunders,Rene Pugh, John Ray,

Matthew Phillips, ArmintaThompson, Adrienne

Taylor, Zachery Olsen andJulie Sidor.

STCW — NCL, May 27:Minerva Adams, GaryAragon, Humberto BadilloIII, Sara Beedy, RobertBell, Jay Biggerstaff,Barbara Boyd, CarrieBradfute, AndrzejBrzozowski, CarolynCarlock, Sean Castiglione,Melanie Cole, AlbertCrawford, Casey Cronin,Teodoro Cuyugan, BrianDana, Polly Daugherty,Mindy Delagrange, RichardDoral, Benjamin Dugas,Jonathan Ebbs, JohnEisner and Dana Freddie.

Welding — Graduation certificates for comple-tion of the welding course were given May 27 to(in alphabetical order) William Boyd, WilliamBritton, Scott Heginbotham, Michael Kirby, EricMentzer, Jerry Naya and Rick Worthington. Theirinstructor, Buzzy Andrews, is second from right.

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September 11, 2001

We willnever forget.

You probably missed it in the rush of news lastweek, but there was actually a report thatsomeone in Pakistan had published in a news-

paper there an offer of a reward to anyone who killed anAmerican, any American.

So I just thought I would write to let them know whatan American is, so they would know when they foundone.

An American is English . . . or French, or Italian,Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. AnAmerican may also be African, Indian, Chinese,Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian or Arab, orPakistani or Afghan.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, orBuddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims inAmerica than in Afghanistan. The only difference isthat in America they are free to worship as each of themchooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. Forthat, he will answer only to God, not to the governmentor to armed thugs claiming to speak for the governmentand for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in thehistory of the world. The root of that prosperity can befound in the Declaration of Independence, which rec-ognizes the God-given right of each man and woman tothe pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped outjust about every other nation in the world in their timeof need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Sovietarmy 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and sup-plies to enable the people to win back their country. Asof the morning of September 11, Americans had givenmore than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

An American does not have to obey the mad ravingsof ignorant, ungodly cruel, old men. American men willnot be fooled into giving up their lives to kill innocentpeople, so that these foolish old men may hold on topower. American women are free to show their beauti-

ful faces to the world, as each of them chooses.An American is free to criticize his government’s offi-

cials when they are wrong, in his or her own opinion.Then he is free to replace them, by majority vote.

Americans welcome people from all lands, all cul-tures, all religions, because they are not afraid. They arenot afraid that their history, their religion, their beliefs,will be overrun, or forgotten. That is because they knowthey are free to hold to their religion, their beliefs, theirhistory, as each of them chooses.

And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy thebest that everyone has to bring, from all over the world.The best science, the best technology, the best products,the best books, the best music, the best food, the bestathletes.

Americans welcome the best, but they also welcomethe least. The national symbol of America [the Statue ofLiberty] welcomes your tired and your poor, thewretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless,tempest tossed.

These, in fact, are the people who built America.Many of them were working in the twin towers themorning of September 11, 2001, earning a better life fortheir families.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitlerdid. So did General Tojo and Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung,and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world.

But in doing so, you would just be killing yourself.Because Americans are not a particular people from aparticular place. They are the embodiment of the humanspirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit,everywhere, is an American.

So look around you. You may find more Americans inyour land than you thought were there. One day theywill rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tiredtyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands,too, will join the community of free and prosperousnations.

And America will welcome them.

Editor’s note: This article first was published September 25, 2001 by the National Review—two weeks after the terroristattacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. In light of the recent attacks in London, and subsequent threats againstthe U.S., the article once again seems timely. The author, Peter Ferrara, is the general counsel and chief economist forAmericans for Tax Reform, which describes itself as the nation’s largest grassroots taxpayer advocacy group. He gave theLOG his permission to reprint this piece.


29230_P7_14,17_24.qxd 8/22/2005 6:03 PM

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