Seae4rers#Log Official Organ of the Seafarers Interwationai
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SEAE4RERS#LOG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERWATIONAI. UNION » ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT « AFL-CIO I PHS Hospitals in Jeopardy See Pages 3-7, 10 See Pages 12-13 Maritime Unity What's it all About? The president of the National Maritime Union, Joseph Curran, recently launched a propaganda barrage aimed, in his words, at achieving "mari time unity." Because of the potential impact of these pro posals on Seafarers and their union, this issue of the Log carries a special four-page supplement which examines not only Mr. Curran's proposals but also some of the reasons behind them. The supplement also contains the historical record of past efforts to work with the National Maritime Union in achieving common objectives. All Seafarers are urged to give special atten tion to the material in this supplement, so that they will be fully informed on the issues which "[:• young trainees at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship have received their high school equivalency diploma through the GED program administered by the academic staff at HLSS. Mrs. Doro are involved. thy Forte, a member of the academic staff, is shown preparing trainees for the GED examination. /I I 200 Seafarers 'f Confer March 1 Two hundred rank-and-file cards extended for the period Seafarers—elected by their fel of their attendance at the Con low members—are scheduled to ference. ^ take part in a two-week Educa Participating in the orga tional Conference at the Harry nizing and administering of the Lundeberg School of Seaman Conference are the Seafarers ship, Piney Point, Md., as part Welfare Plan, Seafarers Pension of the SIU's continuing effort Plan, Seafarers Vacation Plan, to keep the membership in Harry Lundeberg School of formed on union and industry Seamanship, and the Seafarers activities. International Union of North Delia Steanisliip Lines, Inc., has announced its intention to con;itruct from one to six of these new LASH/ Special meetings will be held America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes Container cargo vessels which will be manned by SIU members.^^\ch ship would be 772 feet long and would in all AGLIWD ports at 11 & Inland Waters District. haul 64 barges or 1,500 containers—or a^Smbination of both. a.m., Feb. 26, for the purpose The purpose of the confer of electing delegates, with the ence is to inform and advise the conference scheduled to open members on: at Piney Point on Mar. 1. • The various aspects, rules, Delta Lines Announces Plan (See back page for details.) regulations, responsibilities and To assure the greatest parti issues of the Seafarers Welfare cipation by interested members, Plan, Seafarers Pension Plan and to defer in part the cost to and Seafarers Vacation Plan. To Construct Six Vessels them for such attendance, the • The inter-relationship of New Orleans to carry up to 64 barges, or, clude the Caribbean ports. Educational Conference will each of these plans with the un Delta Steamship Lines, Inc., alternatively, a maximum of Delta's application requests provide for transportation, ion. an SlU-contracted operator, has 1,500 containers or a combina specifically that the company be board and housing for all parti • The union's operations and called-upon U.S. shipyards on tion of both. Management re granted permission to ship to cipants and will provide them functions. the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific ported that the vessel design and from all U.S. ports from with, the sum of $8 per day to • Contracted management coasts to submit bids on the contains "highly flexible provi Key West, Fla., to the Mexican cover their other expenses for and its functions. construction of one to six com sions"' for bulk liquids, dry border and the foreign ports in each day of attendance. • The maritime industry in bination LASH/C o n t a i n e r bulk cargoes, refrigerated the Gulf of Mexico, the Carib In a further effort to as general, with particular em cargo vessels. cargoes and heavy lifts. bean Sea and the Guianas. The sure maximum membership phasis on its problems and Delta's design specifications Asks Route Extension range would include the Virgin participation, the union has re future prospects. call for a vessel with an over Delta, which services the Islands, the West Indies, Mex quested the contractually pro In short, the Conference will all length of 772 feet and a East Coast of South America ico, the Venezuelan ports and vided Seafarers Appeal Board be designed as a complete edu displacement of 32,650 tons. and the West Coast of Africa the East Coast Colombian ports. to adopt a temporary rule pro cational program, review, dis Powering each vessel will be a to and from ports in the Gulf It would not include Panama. viding that members elected to cussion and recommendations— turbine propulsion system of Mexico, has also filed an Delta now services Puerto Rico participate at the Educational all of them focused on how all capable of providing a maxi application with the Maritime and Barbados. Conference who are registered of these activities apply to the mum service speed of 24 knots. Administration to extend the The company operates a fleet for shipping shall have their rank-and-file member. Each of the ships will be able company's trade routes to in of 12 cargo vessels. THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT Goals for a New Era by PAUl HAU '^or Seafarers and their industry, 1971 marks a year too prevalent policy of sending cargoes in foreign under the 1936 Act, we must promote safeguards to F of change from the narrow, unjust policies of the bottoms when U.S.-flag ships are readily available. protect unsubsidized vessels from the unfair competi past to a broad-based, hope-generating program that In addition, it is time for U.S. maritime officials to tion of ships already constructed with government has become available through the Merchant Marine start getting tough with government bureaucrats who help. Act of 1970. have consistently ignored the order and intent of Con Maritime Administrator (now Assistant Secretary A severe mistake was made in 1936 when Con gress when it passed laws demanding that a mini of Commerce for Maritime Affairs) Andrew E. Gib gress restricted federal support for the merchant mum of 50 percent of all U.S. cargo be shipped in son acknowledged in Congressional testimony that marine to 14 berthline operators. It took us a third American-flag vessels. Even this minimum of 50 per special attention should be given the unsubsidized of a century to develop the new concepts of the cent has too often bee i ignored at a time when the fleet in the carriage of government cargoes when he Merchant Marine Act of 1970—concepts that make very survival of the An:r.r«iari merchant marine has said, in answer to a question from Rep. Thomas M. it possible for the entire maritime industry, and espe heen at stake. Pelly (R.-Wash.): cially the previously unsubsidized bulk fleet, to share The new Act provides a system to end this abuse "... I certainly agree with your concern that in the nation's plan of help for its merchant marine. of Congressional intent by giving the Secretary of during the transition ... a great deal of care has to While we now have legislation to supply a method Commerce full power to regulate federal shipping prac be taken by the Administration so that there is no undue harm done to those operators who have built to protect seafaring jobs and create new opportunities tices. With this authority, the Secretary of Commerce bulk carriers today without any subsidy." for Seafarers and ship operators, our problems are can maximize U.S.-flag carriage of government cargo. far from, being solved. e will be working to convince the government n addition to establishing shipping priorities and Best estimates indicate that it will take a full five I protecting the unsubsidized fleet, we will use our years before any major impact is felt from the pro W that, as the nation's largest shipper, it should have as its goal the placement of 100 percent of all influence to promote a balanced shipbuilding pro gram outlined in the Merchant Marine Act of 1970— gram. five years before we will be called upon to man any cargoes aboard American-flag ships. By establishing this goal, the government would be setting an example The American-flag dry-bulk fleet is in trouble. Its of the 30 new vessels a year called for in the Act. ships are old, and many are being scrapped. And while During that time, we'll have to keep pressing for of support for the U.S. merchant marine for private shippers to follow. our domestic tanker fleet is in good shape, the Ameri additional laws and policies that will fully utilize the can-flag tanker fleet in the foreign trade is virtually present fleet, and build and protect the cargo rights Second preference could be given to the ships of extinct. of ships yet to hit the waves. nations receiving assistance cargoes from the Agency This is of major importance since the overwhelming To take one example, we are going to need a large for International Development and the Department of majority of worldwide oceanbome cargoes is being measure of hard work to convince government Agriculture. The propaganda value of sending U.S. carried aboard bulk carriers and tankers. If we are to agencies that American-flag operators should receive assistance cargoes in U.S. bottoms—or in the ships be competitive, we will have to develop a crash pro a far greater share of federal government exports.