42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 4/28/2007 11:23 AM Page 1

Volume 69, Number 5 May 2007

The SIU-contracted Horizon Lines fleet recently added three new ships: the Horizon Hawk, Horizon Hunter and Horizon Eagle. Two more new vessels (the Horizon Falcon and Horizon Tiger) are scheduled to join the fleet this month.

New Vessels Join Horizon Lines Fleet

Pictured clockwise from upper left: Part of the Horizon Hawk’s engine room; the Horizon Hawk in Guam; AB Ali Saeed aboard the Horizon Hunter on the West Coast; (from left) SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone, Recertified Bosun Barry Hamm and SIU Asst. VP Nick Celona on the Horizon Hawk; and Retired General John Handy (left), now executive vice president at Horizon Lines, with SIU Port Agent Jeff Turkus at a ceremony in Guam for the Horizon Hawk. Page 3.

Seafarers-Crewed Ships Load U.S. Army Cargo

Three SIU-crewed ships last month took on Vessels Headed for Iraq U.S. Army cargo in Savannah, Ga. for trans- in Support of U.S. Troops port to Iraq. The American Tern (operated by Osprey Ship Management) and the USNS Watson and USNS Charlton (both operated by Maersk Line, Limited) loaded materiel belonging to the Third Infantry Division’s SIU Welcomes Second Brigade Combat Team and Combat Aviation Brigade of Ft. Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., which will deploy to Iraq later Yorktown Express this year. At left, the Charlton loads a Bradley fighting vehicle. Above, a Chinook helicopter The upgrading of the U.S. Maritime Security is lifted aboard the Watson. Page 4. Program (MSP) fleet continued last month as the SIU-crewed Yorktown Express joined it. Pictured aboard the vessel are (from left) QEE Niles Jacobsen, DMAC Christopher Zaucha and DMAC Mohammad Kahn. Page 3.

Pride of Hawaii News Summary from NMU Plans CIVMARS Honored Page 2 Page 6 Page 7 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 5/1/2007 11:52 AM Page 2

President’s Report Pride of Hawaii Scheduled for Still Proud—And Still Optimistic Temporary Move to Europe There’s a lot to digest with last month’s announcement about the temporary re-flagging of NCL America’s SIU- NCL Emphasizes Ship’s Withdrawal Is Interim crewed Pride of Hawaii starting early next Emphasizing long-range optimism about its ward pricing pressure in the Hawaii market follow- year (see story, this page). American-flag component, NCL Corporation—par- ing the addition of Pride of Hawaii to the fleet last And while there’s no use in sugarcoating ent company of SIU-contracted NCL America—on summer, and the steep increase in the amount of for- any of it, when I look at the big picture April 10 announced the temporary withdrawal of eign-flag competition entering the Hawaii market involving the NCL America fleet, I know the Seafarers-crewed Pride of Hawaii from the from the West Coast.” Hawaii market effective February 2008. The ship there is well-founded cause for optimism. According to Veitch, NCL America has grown will be deployed to Europe for the summer of 2008 very quickly over three years, and its competitors If you’re new to our union or for some as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s foreign fleet, in have also surged, starting in 2006. “Clearly we are Michael Sacco other reason are unfamiliar with the NCL an effort to offset financial losses. victims of our own success,” Veitch stated. “We America ships, here’s the short version. Our While the move is a setback to the U.S. fleet and have demonstrated that Hawaii is a highly attractive country went from having no deep sea U.S.-flag cruise ships in to NCL America’s contracted unions (the SIU, the cruise destination and Hawaii now has four times as Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union, much capacity serving it in 2007 as it did in 2004 the wake of September 11, 2001 to adding three new and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association), when we started NCL America. American-flag vessels under the NCL America banner, begin- the company stressed its continued commitment to “We are now very hopeful that this latest mea- Pride of Aloha ning in 2004. It took a lot of work to make that happen, and it its other American-flag vessels— and sure will make the critical difference in ensuring the Pride of America —along with plans to return the success of this important venture. We continue to took cooperative efforts from maritime labor, the company, Pride of Hawaii to U.S. registry. supporters in Congress and others. have a vision of a strong domestic cruise industry in For crew members, the news certainly wasn’t all Hawaii and firmly believe that the combination of As expected, there were growing pains, both for the compa- bad. During shipboard meetings April 10 in Hawaii steps we have now taken will result in a strong NCL ny and its contracted unions, including the SIU. But by early conducted by union officials and company execu- Pride of Hawaii America delivering the best cruise itinerary any- 2006, with the Pride of Aloha and Pride of America in service tives, mariners were assured that where in the world with the very highest standard of continued employment opportunities will be avail- service at sea,” Veitch concluded. and the Pride of Hawaii almost ready to sail, we had turned a able aboard the two remaining U.S.-flag ships as U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), a key corner. Customer satisfaction was up. Bookings were solid. well as (for those interested) on the rest of the NCL fleet. They also were informed that the unions and figure in the rebirth of the deep sea U.S.-flag cruise Crew turnover on the hotel side was stabilizing. (Turnover industry, said, “I am proud of the great strides made, generally has never been a problem on the marine side.) The NCL America have agreed to “stay-on bonuses” for crew members aboard the Pride of Hawaii on or through the robust growth of a cruise ship sector, to NCL America ships were having a major, positive impact on before April 10 (and also for eligible mariners on further diversify Hawaii’s tourism industry, making the economy, particularly in Hawaii. leave or vacation at that time). our island state the fastest growing domestic cruise Pride of Hawaii NCL President and CEO Colin Veitch said of the destination in North America. Since NCL America’s Things changed when the joined the fleet in entrance into the market in 2004, Hawaii’s cruise 2006. An unexpected surge in foreign-flag competition and a withdrawal, “We take this action with regret, but sure in the knowledge that a temporary retrench- capacity has quadrupled. There is no doubt that I am general downturn across the entire cruise-ship industry played ment is the right thing to do for the good of the busi- disappointed with NCL’s announcement to tem- key parts in the company’s financial losses for last year. ness and the good of Hawaii in the long run. We porarily withdraw the Pride of Hawaii from Hawaii In fairness, those weren’t the only issues. While operations remain committed to building a strong U.S.-flag waters. It was a very difficult decision that President and CEO Colin Veitch had to make for the good of were proceeding relatively smoothly with two ships, the jump cruise business home ported in Hawaii, and we need to make sure that our other two ships are able to the overall company as he and his corporate team to three vessels probably spread certain resources a little too achieve acceptable profitability before we can con- work to further grow demand in the Hawaii market. thin. Again, we’ve been down this road before, and I know we fidently reintroduce Pride of Hawaii.” I respect his decision and look forward to the day have what it takes to succeed in the long run. As we learned In a news release, the company pointed to its that we will be able to welcome the Pride of Hawaii with the so-called white ships in Hawaii many years ago (the “substantial” monetary losses in 2006 (reported ear- back to Hawaii’s shores, hopefully in the not too lier this year) which “have been caused by down- distant future.” old Independence and Constitution), it takes time to build up a steady manpower pool in this segment of the industry. But it can and will be done. As you can imagine, the decision concerning the Pride of Union Submits More Comments Hawaii led to an intense series of meetings and phone calls, both internally for the SIU and with us and NCL America. About TWIC, MMC Programs What I took from those meetings is this: We all agree that too The union last month contin- much work went into this program to simply give up. We all ued gathering information and agree that eligible crew members who want to continue work- making its voice heard on both the Transportation Worker Identi - ing for NCL will be given that opportunity—almost certainly fication Credential program aboard the other Pride ships. And we all agree that it is com- (TWIC) and the Merchant Mari - pletely realistic to believe that NCL America will succeed as a ner Qualification Credential two-ship fleet in the short run and then as a larger fleet over (MMC). The SIU on April 10 hosted a the long haul. meeting at its headquarters fea- Speaking for every SIU official, I can promise our member- turing a presentation by represen- ship we’re not going to stand around and do nothing. We’ve tatives from Deloitte & Touche, a already intensified our efforts to continue to keep this fleet a Lockheed Martin subcontractor responsible for parts of the TWIC success, and we will exhaust every resource if that’s what it program. An extensive question- Some of the participants are pictured at the April 10 TWIC meeting at takes. and-answer session immediately SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. “Aloha” means both hello and goodbye. We said an aloha followed. Representatives from greeting last year to the Pride of Hawaii, and we’ll say a tem- several other U.S. maritime valid merchant mariner document won’t be implemented until late unions and from their respective along with a second form of iden- summer or fall, when it was sup- porary aloha farewell to the ship early next year. I already look associated schools also participat- tification to meet the require- posed to have begun by last forward to once again saying a great big “Aloha!” when we ed in the meeting, as did officials ments of the TWIC law (which month. welcome her back into the U.S.-flag fleet. from the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall stem from both the Maritime In its testimony for that same Center Transportation Security Act of Senate hearing, the SIU reiterated Two days later, the union sub- 2002 and the SAFE Port Act). its position that where U.S. sea- Volume 69, Number 5 May 2007 mitted testimony to the Senate It is anticipated that the final farers are concerned, a relatively The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org Committee on Commerce, Sci- rulemaking on the MMC won’t simple modification to the current ence and Transportation, which take effect until approximately mariner credential would fulfill The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published month- conducted a hearing on TWIC August 2008. Initial issuance of federal mandates without any ly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes implementation. that credential will continue over compromise whatsoever to ship- and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Later in the month, the SIU a five-year period starting around board or port security. “The com- Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899- and five other maritime unions that same time in 2008. plicated and burdensome process 0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland jointly submitted comments Meanwhile, the initial roll-out finalized by the agency is both 20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the responding to a supplementary of the TWIC program has been unnecessary for merchant Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. notice of proposed rulemaking plagued by delays and technical mariners and may essentially Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing covering the MMC—a credential problems. At the Senate commit- prove disruptive to maritime Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim eventually intended to replace the tee hearing on April 12, lawmak- commerce,” the union stated. “As Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty current merchant mariner docu- ers admonished representatives we have repeatedly advocated, Dobry. ment/z-card. from the Transportation Security the SIU strongly recommends Copyright © 2007 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD Seafarers will be required to Administration (TSA) for missed that the current merchant mariner All Rights Reserved. carry a TWIC by Sept. 25, 2008, deadlines; it now appears likely but in the meantime may use their that the program’s initial phase Continued on page 7 2 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 5/1/2007 12:05 PM Page 3

Horizon Lines Adds New Vessels Fleet Revamp Means Net Gain of at Least 1 Ship

New tonnage and job security their voyages from the Far East. order to replace and add to the for Seafarers both received a The third vessel, the Horizon platforms already in its current boost recently with the entry of Eagle, entered service April 10. fleet. All five of the Hunter class three U.S.-flag vessels into the The remaining two vessels, the vessels are of proven internation- SIU-contracted Horizon Lines Horizon Falcon and the Horizon al design and have a service speed fleet. Tiger, are slated to enter service of 23 knots. The vessels—each a Two of the vessels, the by the end of this month. 2,824 TEU (20-foot equivalent Horizon Hawk and the Horizon Horizon last year chartered the unit) containership—were built Hunter, called on the port of five U.S.-flag vessels for 12-year by South Korea-based Hyundai Tacoma, Wash. March 30 and terms from subsidiaries of Ship Mipo Dockyard. April 6, respectively, following Finance International, Ltd in The maiden voyage of the Hawk in March officially launched Horizon’s enhanced Transpacific-1 (TP1) service between the mainland United States, Guam, Micronesia and The Horizon Hunter is part of an influx of new vessels. Asia. This new tonnage upgraded the carrier’s previous TP1 com- and dry-dock needs, as well ponent that served the lane with as to respond to potential five Jones Act-qualified vessels. new opportunities such as (The Jones Act covers ocean coastwise container services. cargo services to and from Once all of the new ton- Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, nage is in place (expected by as well as cargo moving between this July), Horizon Lines will other U.S. origin and destination be operating at least 17 Pictured in the crew mess aboard the Horizon Hunter are (from left) ports, ensuring those cargoes are Seafarers-crewed vessels—a Recertified Bosun Loren Watson, QEE Joseph Egan, QMED Stephen carried on vessels crewed, built, net gain of one ship, accord- Roberts, Recertified Steward Jennifer Jim, SA Steven Wasch, AB flagged and owned American.) ing to a Horizon Lines Stephen Czaple and Recertified Bosun Glenn Christianson. Redeploying the carrier’s spokesman. The company Jones Act vessels from previous added that the possibility TP1 service to trade routes that exists that they will find This is a ballast water control console require the U.S.-built vessels pro- business for one or more aboard the Horizon Hawk. New ATB Freeport vides additional capacity and ade- ships currently scheduled for quate ships to meet the future lay-up. Oakland, Hawaii, Guam, Hong needs of Horizon Lines’ cus- By July, Horizon Lines’ ships Kong and Kaohsiung); two will Welcomed by SIU tomers well into the future, a com- are slated to be deployed as fol- sail from California to Hawaii; pany news release said. The intro- lows: Two will sail from Tacoma one will sail from Elizabeth, N.J. More employment opportuni- locked together in a rigid connec- duction of this new tonnage also to Hawaii; four will sail from to San Juan; two will sail from ties for Seafarers recently pre- tion and became one unit for allows the company’s other Jones Tacoma to Alaska; five (the Jacksonville to San Juan; and one sented themselves as SIU-con- practical purposes, the ATB has Act vessels to be available as newest ships) will sail on the will sail from Houston to San tracted U.S. Shipping Partners LP an articulated or “hinged” con- reserve capacity to meet seasonal Transpacific route (Tacoma, Juan. (USS) put its newest articulated nection system between the tug tug-barge (ATB)—the Freeport and barge, which allows move- —into operation. ment in one axis, or plane in the The new double-hulled plat- critical area of fore and aft pitch. Yorktown Express form will be used in the USS USS also has nine 49,000 dwt domestic coastwise trade in double-hulled petroleum product refined petroleum products and tankers on order at General Joins U.S. MSP Fleet chemicals. Dynamics National Steel and The modernization of the SIU- SIU Port Agent Georg Kenny The Freeport is the first in a Shipbuilding Company (NASS- crewed U.S. Maritime Security represented the union and joined series of four ATBs which USS CO) in San Diego, Calif. De- Program (MSP) fleet continued other industry representatives has committed to building over livery of the first ship in the series on schedule last month as the during the April 9 ceremony in the next three years. The vessels is expected in the second quarter containership Yorktown Express Norfolk, Va. in which the vessel will be constructed by Mani- of 2009. The tankers also will be became part of it. officially took its place in the towoc Marine Group (barge com- manned in all unlicensed posi- MSP flotilla. Operated by ponent) of Marinette, Wis. and tions by the SIU and be time- Seafarers-contracted Marine Per - Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. chartered to U.S. energy firms for sonnel and Provisioning for (tug component) of Panama City, periods of three to 10 years, Hapag-Lloyd USA, the Yorktown Fla. Upon completion, each ATB according to USS. Express replaced the Livorno ABs Michael Weber and Vernon will feature a flexible cargo sys- The company currently oper- Express Goddard perform preventive tem capable of carrying a broad ates the ITBs Baltimore, Groton, . It became the fourth of five vessels slated to flag maintenance aboard the York - spectrum of refined petroleum Jacksonville, Mobile, New York town Express. products and chemicals, a fuel- and Philadelphia. USS also oper- American and enter service under efficient main engine and hull ates the tankers Chemical this phase of an MSP moderniza- design which will allow service Pioneer, Charleston, Houston tion program which commenced registered tonnage of 40,146. USNS Gus Warren last year. The MSP has been a key ele- speeds generally in excess of (formerly the Philadelphia standard ATB designs. All four Darnell, a T-5 replacement tanker Previously, the ment of America’s economic and Express, St. Louis Express and defense security since its enact- vessels will have carrying capaci- that had operated for many years Washington Express ties of approximately 160,000 under Military Sealift Command) each flagged ment in 1996. The original 10- Sea Venture U.S. in exchange for older plat- year program provided limited barrels, be operated by USS and and the —all of Charleston Express manned in all unlicensed posi- which are under SIU contract. forms. The funding for 47 U.S.-flag commer- next month is slated to join the cial vessels, particularly contain- tions by members of the SIU. U.S. Shipping Partners is a AB Richard O’Brien is on gang- Each platform carries a price tag leading provider of long-haul MSC fleet as a replacement for erships and roll-on/roll-off ves- way watch. CP Navi- of about $65 million. marine transportation services, the aging sels, which were available to the gator. An ATB consists of a tank ves- principally for refined petroleum Department of Defense in times Yorktown sel (barge) and a large, powerful products, in the U.S. domestic The of war or national emergency. Express tug that is positioned in a notch in coastwise trade. The company is is 798 feet A 10-year extension of the the stern of the barge. The tug also involved in the coastwise long with a beam of MSP was signed into law in late propels and maneuvers the barge. transportation of petrochemical 105 feet, 8 inches. It 2003 with the expanded program Unlike an integrated tug-barge and commodity chemical prod- was built in 2002, starting as the old one expired in (ITB) where the tug and barge are ucts. delivered in early October 2005. Among other 2003 and is enhancements, the current MSP equipped with four increases the number of partici- Please be advised the SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring cargo cranes. Like pants to 60 ships and provides its sister ships, it can financial assistance to construct halls will be closed on Monday, May 28 for the observance sail at greater than five tankers in the United States of Memorial Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal 21 knots, has a TEU that are capable of carrying mili- capacity of 3,237 tary petroleum products during a business hours will resume the following workday. Steward/Baker Margie Leite, Chief Cook John Plakas and boasts a gross war. May 2007 Seafarers LOG 3 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:38 PM Page 4

SIU Ships Head for Iraq In Support of U.S. Troops Three SIU-crewed vessels last three shipboard cranes to load of dry cargo and 10 billion gal- month loaded U.S. Army cargo in 550 items consisting mostly of lons of fuel—more than 90 per- Savannah, Ga. for transport to 20-foot containers. The large, cent of all military cargo Iraq. medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off deployed in support of the global The American Tern (operated ships USNS Watson and USNS war on terrorism, according to the by Osprey Ship Management) Charlton loaded helicopters, agency. Much of that materiel has and the USNS Watson and USNS Humvees, tanks, trucks and more. been delivered by Seafarers- Charlton (both operated by According to MSC, the ships are crewed ships. Maersk Line, Limited) took on moving enough equipment to fill Numerous military officers materiel from April 3 through nine football fields. have commended the U.S. Mer- April 13. The cargo belongs to the “We are able to load these chant Marine’s role in Operations Third Infantry Division’s Second LMSRs so quickly because we Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Brigade Combat Team and Com- have a precisely coordinated plan Freedom. Among the most recent bat Aviation Brigade of Ft. for maneuvering tanks, trucks and such comments were remarks by Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, other rolling stock through the Gen. Norton Schwartz, comman- Ga., which will deploy to Iraq system of internal ramps linking der, U.S. Transportation Com- Photos by Tom D’Agostino, MSC later this year. the ships’ seven wide-open cargo mand, and Lt. Gen. Robert Dail, A Blackhawk helicopter is loaded onto the USNS Watson. Altogether, the Seafarers- decks,” said Tom D’Agostino, the head of the Defense Logistics crewed vessels loaded approxi- MSC representative who over- Agency. mately 3,500 pieces of cargo. The sees such operations at three Addressing the AFL-CIO containership American Tern, a major ports on the East Coast. Maritime Trades Department privately-owned ship under long- Since Sept. 11, 2001, MSC has executive board meetings in term charter to MSC, utilized transported 95 million square feet March, Schwartz said that troop support is “all about charter- The American ing the direct Tern docks at the course to deliv- ocean terminal in er military Savannah, Ga. to power in the take on cargo. quickest, most efficient, most businesslike manner wher- The American Tern’s shipboard cranes were utilized to load containers. ever and when- ever the nation —to make that projection of maritime capabilities “are critical calls on us to American pow er possible. The to our national defense and secu- serve. I’m tak- vast majority of how we get rity. I have seen the trust and con- ing no chances things done is through sealift.” fidence that is built between our at all by telling Dail said he has seen firsthand nation and our troops, knowing you that we’re the materiel delivered to U.S. that wherever they are, we will going to contin- troops overseas that moved by deliver the goods to them and we ue to depend on ship, and those sights helped rein- will get them there and bring you—all of you force his belief that America’s them home.” Bill Introduced to Improve U.S. Mariner Credentialing Legislation aimed at improving the licensing and  Prohibits the Department of Homeland credentialing process for merchant mariners was Security from fingerprinting an individual sep- introduced in the House of Representatives on arately for both the merchant mariner creden- March 20 by U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R- tial and the Transportation Worker Identity Ohio), ranking Republican on the House Coast Credential (TWIC). Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.  Allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and U.S. Rep. With the battleship USS New Jersey in the background, the new grant a one-year extension on credentials to SIU-crewed tugboat Duty is shown sailing between Philadelphia Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) also immediately spon- help the Coast Guard address any backlog cre- and Camden, N.J. sored the legislation. ated by the process of consolidating records at The Merchant Mariner Credentials Improvement the National Maritime Center and the new Act of 2007 includes provisions identified by ship- requirements for physical examinations. Express Marine’s Newest pers, merchant mariners and other maritime workers  intended to help ensure greater efficiency and elim- Allows new mariners on offshore supply ves- Addition Is Tugboat ‘Duty’ inate unnecessary and redundant procedures in the sels and towing vessels to work on a temporary basis while approval of a mariner credential Seafarers-contracted Express Marine recently added the new existing credentialing process administered by the Duty application is pending, but only after the DHS tugboat to its fleet. U.S. Coast Guard. The boat is crewed by SIU members as well as members of the “It is apparent that the evaluation process for determines that the worker does not pose a safety and security risk. American Maritime Officers. mariner credential applications has become unnec- According to the company, the Duty is a general purpose tug essarily elaborate and time-consuming for all  Requires a report to: (1) expand a pilot pro- with wide-ranging capabilities. The boat may be used for harbor involved,” said LaTourette. “This bill will stream- gram which helped mariners complete applica- docking as well as coastal and deep sea towing. The tug also is line the existing credentialing process to minimize tion forms, (2) simplify the application process designed to handle inland and coastal barges “on hip, by wire or procedural errors that prevent merchant mariners so that errors occur less frequently, (3) provide notch towing.” It also can go offshore “in notch or wire-tow from carrying on with their important work and to mariners with a notice of status of their appli- mode.” Duty allow the Coast Guard to improve its capabilities to cations, and (4) require documentation to be The will be based in Philadelphia and will handle tows manage the program.” stored in electronic format. from the Hampton, Va. area north to New England. Built in Pensacola, Fla., the Duty was delivered to Express The bill contains the following provisions:  Requires a report on ways to address the pro- Marine in December 2006. The boat is 102 feet long and 32 feet  Remedies the problem of “license creep” by jected future shortage in merchant mariners. wide, with a depth of 14 feet, 9 inches and a draft of 13 feet. The making all renewals effective on the date that  Requires a report on altering merchant mariner company lists the boat’s bollard pull at 83,000 pounds and its “free the previous license expires. documents to make them TWIC- and running speed” at 12 knots. Following are some additional specifications on the tug pro-  Prohibits the Coast Guard from charging a fee International Labor Organization-compliant, vided by Express Marine: for any credential that is not issued within 30 including adding a biometric identifier to the Continued on page 9 days after the application is complete. card. 4 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 5/1/2007 11:59 AM Page 5

Free Choice Act Introduced in Senate Sen. Kennedy Articulates Need to Strengthen, Protect Workers’ Rights Senator Edward M. Kennedy however, he said that household them, and discriminate against against these union-busting tac- ticket into a middle class lifestyle (D-Mass.), chairman of the income has declined and the them. They shut down whole tics that now are all too familiar with a decent standard of living Health, Education, Labor and wages of working Americans departments—or even entire in the workplace. “It’s time to lis- and the ability to provide for your Pensions Committee, on March have been stagnant. plants—to avoid negotiating a ten to the voice of America’s family,” stated the labor federation 29 introduced the Employee Free “Six million have lost their union contract. It’s illegal and working men and women, and president. “But for too long now, Choice Act (EFCA) in the U.S. health insurance,” Kennedy said. unacceptable, but it happens give them what they want and working people have been denied Senate. “Their retirement is uncertain as every day.” deserve—a fair voice in the the opportunity to have a union The bill, S. 1041, is the well—only one in five workers The senator told his colleagues workplace and a fair chance at the because corporations flagrantly Senate’s companion to HR 800. today has a guaranteed pension. that the current system clearly is American dream,” he said. and routinely violate workers’ Regarded by some as the most In short, working families are broken. “It can’t stop these ille- Concluding his remarks, freedom to form unions, and the important labor law reform legis- finding that the American dream gal, anti-worker, anti-labor, anti- Kennedy noted, “This essential law is helpless to stop them.” lation to come on the radar in is beyond their reach. This injus- union tactics that take place every legislation will strengthen protec- Meanwhile, support for the more than 70 years, the legisla- tice is worsening each year, and it day. The penalties are so minor tions for workers’ freedom to legislation is growing among tion on March 1 passed the House is time for Congress to deal with that employers treat them as just choose union representation. It elected officials. According to the of Representatives by a vote of it.” another cost of doing business. will restore their democratic right AFL-CIO, almost 20 municipali- 241-185. It then moved to the The senator suggested that the “Even when workers succeed to join together for better wages, ties, counties and state legislative Senate where it was twice read best way to ensure that employ- in forming a union, they often better benefits, and better work- bodies already have approved before committee. As of press ees receive their fair share of can’t obtain a first contract ing conditions. It will help mil- resolutions supporting the legisla- time for this edition of the America’s prosperity is to give because management stonewalls lions of working men and women tion, including state houses in Seafarers LOG, however, the bill them a stronger voice in the them and refuses to negotiate,” to build a better life for them- Kentucky, Michigan and West has been idle. workplace. “Unions were funda- Kennedy said. “Half of all cases selves and a better future for their Virginia, the Minnesota Senate The Senate on April 16 mental in building America’s alleging that employers refused to children.” and the Democratic Non-Partisan returned to work from Easter middle class, and they have a bargain are filed during first-con- Elsewhere, AFL-CIO Presi- League caucuses in both houses recess but so far has not acted on vital role today in preserving the tract negotiations—and in most dent John Sweeney said that with of the North Dakota legislature. the measure which would American dream for working of those cases the National Labor the EFCA, the Senate has “a his- In addition, supportive resolu- strengthen the middle class by families,” Kennedy said. Relations Board finds an unfair toric chance to make sure that tions are still pending in 13 states, giving workers the freedom to “Unions can make all the dif- labor practice.” America works the way it should three counties in Maryland and in choose union representation. The ference between an economy The senator said that year after for everyone. Los Angeles, Southfield, Mich., legislation also would rein in the that’s fair, and an economy where year, Congress has refused to act “A union card is the straightest and Albuquerque. employer harassment, intimida- working people are left behind,” tion and anti-worker tactics that he continued. “Union wages are tens of thousands of workers 30 percent higher than non-union encounter every year when they wages. Eighty percent of union Congressional Hearing Examines try to form unions. workers have health insurance, In introducing the legislation compared to only 49 percent of to the full Senate, Senator non-union workers. Union mem- Dangers on Foreign-Flag Cruises Kennedy told his colleagues that bers are four times more likely to A gigantic number of peo- various foreign countries and fly cruise ship than in the average the EFCA is essential to help have a secure, guaranteed pen- ple—more than 12 million world- so-called flags of convenience. American city. working families get their fair sion.” wide by some estimates—annual- Of the more than 125 vessels In hearings that took place in share of our economic prosperity. Senator Kennedy said that in ly take to the high seas aboard operating in the lucrative cruise early 2006, Dr. James Fox told During his opening statement, the view of the state of affairs, it is foreign-flag cruise ships in search industry, only a few currently fly the subcommittee that the rate of senior senator from Massa- small wonder that most American of carefree vacations. the U.S. flag. sexual assault on cruise ships is chusetts said in part, “For far too workers want union representa- All too often, though, a signif- Between the years 2000 and 17.6 per 100,000 passengers. Fox long, we’ve acquiesced in a lop- tion. “The question is why don’t icant number of these passengers 2005, the FBI investigated more was hired by the cruise lines to sided economy that benefits more of them have it?” he said. experience serious problems, as than 300 violent crimes aboard develop crime rates for the March wealthy individuals and corpora- He told those in the Senate cham- detailed in a recent spate of media foreign-flag cruise vessels—but 7, 2006 Congressional hearings. tions, but not America’s working ber that “the reason is clear. In coverage. Some have endured less than 15 percent of the cases Klein’s testimony, however, indi- families. Tens of millions of our 2005 alone, more than 30,000 degrading or otherwise distress- resulted in successful prosecu- cated that the actual crime rate for men and women are working workers were illegally fired or ing incidents up to and including tion, according to the bureau’s sexual assaults aboard cruise harder than ever, but they aren’t retaliated against for attempting sexual assault and rape. Others data. Criminal convictions were ships nearly triples Fox’s esti- receiving their fair share of the to exercise their right to have a have been involved in accidents secured in only seven percent of mates at 48.065 per 100,000. economy they helped do so much union in their workplace. Every which resulted in debilitating 135 rape cases, 20 percent of 64 According to Klein’s findings: to create and sustain.” 17 minutes, a worker is fired or injuries. Then there are those who non-sexual assault cases, and 16  The annual rate of all sex- Kennedy told his colleagues punished in some illegal way for disappeared or became murder percent of 25 murder cases inves- related shipboard incidents that over the past six years, cor- supporting a union. Unscrupulous victims. tigated by the FBI during the (per 100,000) was 161.996. porate profits have increased 65 employers routinely break the Today nearly all the ocean five-year period. No convictions  Incidents of sexual assaults percent and productivity is up 18 law to keep unions out—they cruise lines employ passenger were won in 30 missing person (per 100,000) was 48.065 percent. During the same period, intimidate employees, harass ships registered under flags of cases.  Although the foregoing num- The rate for sexual assaults in bers are far from epidemic, they are U.S. cities (per 100,000) was Employees at other Northrop shipyards along considerable enough to potentially 32.200. Shipyard Workers the Gulf Coast in Gulfport, Miss., and in Avondale generate a sense of uneasiness In elaborating on the implica- and Tallulah, La. approved labor contracts earlier among potential passengers as tions of his findings, Klein told this year. well as stakeholders in the multi- the subcommittee, “The numbers Ratify Contract The month-long Pascagoula strike is the longest billion dollar cruise industry. The indicate that the cruise industry More than 6,000 members from 15 unions on work stoppage at the plant in more than seven incidents also have incited hear- has a problem and they (cruise April 5 started returning to their jobs at the Ingalls years. ings in the halls of the U.S. line officials) appear either un - Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. after being on strike “We are proud of the solidarity and commitment Congress where representatives willing or unable to deal with it.” for more than three weeks. that the workers put on the line to bring about the are considering legislation that The professor’s subsequent testi- The work stoppage at the Northrop Grumman kind of agreement that both the union and the com- would require cruise ships that mony provided evidence to sup- Ship Systems yard ended following the workers’ pany can be proud of,” said Ron Ault, president of dock in the United States to port the prevailing belief that for- ratification of the terms—by a 3 to 2 margin—of a the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department. “The immediately notify local law eign-flag cruise ship passengers new three-year agreement. Published reports indi- workers won additional security against the volatil- enforcement officials of any in fact are ill served, sometimes cated that metal trades workers approved the con- ity of the Gulf’s economy. The company will bene- crimes that occurred aboard the fatally so, by the current security tract with a 60 percent vote, while 67 percent of fit from increased productivity, efficiency and ship or any instances of passen- efforts of some cruise lines. electrical workers voted yes. enhanced morale.” gers going overboard. Committee Chairman Rep. The workers, many of them still struggling to “Our members, who are still suffering from the The latest of the hearings (one Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) at the recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have stood up and also was conducted last year) outset of the latest hearing told Katrina, went on strike March 8 after rejecting two refused to be victims any longer,” says IBEW took place March 27 in Wash - his colleagues that most previous offers from Northrop Grumman. They International President Ed Hill. ington, D.C. During those pro- Americans don’t understand the were demanding greater wage increases with no Among the pact’s highlights are base wage ceedings before the House legal complexities that are con- hikes in health care premiums. They walked out increases amounting to $3.78 per hour over the life Transportation maritime subcom- nected to prosecuting crimes that after twice decisively voting down contract propos- of the agreement; shift premiums of 80 cents an mittee, Ross Klein, a Canadian happen on cruise ships outside of als from the company. The last offer shortened the hour; attendance bonuses with the potential to earn university professor of social the U.S. territorial limits. Cum- term of the contract from four to three years but still an additional $1,040 annually; cost-of-living work who has written extensively mings was alluding to the fact would have raised wages by only $2.50 an hour by allowances in the second and third year; fixed on the cruise industry, told those that many crimes are committed 2009 and would have increased health care premi- health care premiums in the third year of the con- in attendance that one’s risk of on cruises while the ships are ums by 50 percent while still leaving workers with- tract; increases in pension benefits; and additional being sexually assaulted is as traveling outside the 20-kilome- out dental or vision coverage. vacation and holidays. much as 50 percent higher on a Continued on page 9 May 2007 Seafarers LOG 5 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 5/1/2007 12:06 PM Page 6

Commendation Given to Participants in Alaska’s Hiring Program Notice/Reminder The Seafarers International Union was Anthrax Immunization specifically mentioned in a formal certifi- cate of commendation recently issued by the Program Resumption th 25 Alaska State As previously announced, the by their chain of command if the Legislature in honor of th U.S. Military Sealift Command shots are required. Navy medical the 10 anniversary of (MSC), at the direction of the personnel will give the vaccina- Alaska’s Jones Act- Department of Defense, has tions either aboard MSC ships, in Local Hire Initiative. resumed the Anthrax Vaccine MSC workspaces or at military Nearly 400 Alaskan Immunization Program for indi- medical treatment facilities.” residents, including dis- viduals in high-risk areas and per- Additional information is placed fishermen and forming certain roles. available on line at: veterans, have been able According to the directive www.anthrax.mil to take advantage of signed by the undersecretary of Among many other items, that some part of this initiative defense, civilian and contract site contains a government to provide them with qual- mariners sailing aboard MSC brochure (in PDF format) cover- ity training and jobs in the ships in the Central Command ing some of the basics about maritime industry. area of responsibility or the anthrax, the vaccine, possible The SIU and its contract- Korean Peninsula for 15 or more side effects, categories of eligibil- ed companies in the Jones consecutive days are required to ity and more. The link for that Act trade—including Alaska resume anthrax immunizations, brochure is: Tanker Company, Crowley except as provided under applica- http://www.anthrax.mil/docu- Marine, Horizon Lines, ble medical and administrative ments/996AvipTrifold.pdf Totem Ocean Trailer exemption policies. Additionally, Copies should be available at Express and Seabulk, according to MSC, “Any mariner all SIU halls. Inc.—have helped provide not subject to the mandatory pro- Seafarers may contact their steady employment opportu- gram who has received at least port agent for more information. nities aboard Jones Act and one dose of anthrax vaccine in the Also, CIVMARS may contact other U.S.-flag vessels to past will be allowed, if desired, to Navy Ensign Robert Hicke at voluntarily complete the six-shot [email protected] or (757) those in Alaska’s Department anthrax vaccination series and 443-5769. All other mariners may of Labor training programs. receive any boosters as required contact MSC Force Surgeon Their success has led to addi- by the Food and Drug Admin- Capt. Dwight C. Fulton at tional initiatives and partner- istration-approved dosing sched- [email protected] or (202) ships focused on providing ule. Individuals will be notified 685-5135. training grants, college scholarships and As noted in the above commendation, apprenticeships to Alaskan natives this “public/private/labor partnership that throughout the state, including the endow- has evolved into the Ketchikan-based SEAFARERS APPEALS BOARD ACTION #435 ment of a $2 million scholarship fund by a SeaLink, Inc. has among the highest place- Effective March 1, 2007, Seafarers Appeals Board Action #435 Ketchikan resident for Ketchikan high ment and graduation rates of any Alaska amended the shipping rules to mandate seamen permanently employed school graduates who wish to pursue a Depart ment of Labor training program in must complete the specialty course for their specific rating in order to maritime career. our state.” retain their permanent position. Specialty courses required for the ratings of Chief Electrician, QMED Electrician, QMED/Electrician relief, Electrician, and Engine Maintenance/Electrician Relief are affected by this Action as follows. 1. The specialty courses required for the ratings of Chief Electrician, NMU PENSION, ANNUITY & 401(K) PLANS QMED Electrician, QMED/Electrician Relief, Electrician, and Engine Maintenance/Electrician Relief shall be defined as Marine Electrical AND NMU VACATION PLAN Maintenance and Refrigerator Container Advancement Maintenance Trustee, Administration Specialty Course. and 2. Effective March 1, 2007, seamen awarded any of the above men- Summary of Material Modifications for the Year 2006 tioned positions must have successfully completed (at any time) these specialty courses in order to be considered in compliance with this Rule. 3. Seamen currently employed in any of the above mentioned ratings THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES – Co-Chairmen in a permanent capacity shall be required to have successfully complet- ed the specialty courses identified above by July 1, 2009 in order to EMPLOYER TRUSTEES UNION TRUSTEES retain their permanent assignment, provided such courses are offered. Thomas Murphy David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer Marine Personnel & Provisioning, Inc. Seafarers International Union of N.A. AGLIWD/NMU 1083 N. Collier Blvd, PMB #387 5201 Auth Way Yearly Statements Mailed Marco Island, FL 34145 Camp Springs, MD 20746 (941) 393-0435 (301) 899-0675 To SMPPP Participants AMENDMENTS & OTHER ITEMS The mailing of annual state- checks sent directly to the Plan. ments from the Seafarers Money The SMPPP is completely sep- NMU Pension Plan, Annuity Plan and 401(k) Plan: Purchase Pension Plan (SMPPP) arate from a member’s defined to Plan participants was completed benefit pension. Under the During 2006, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments of significant importance to the mem- last month, according to SMPPP SMPPP, members who became bership and the Plans. Generally the amendments: Administrator Margaret Bowen. participants on or after July 1, 1. Adds Eligibility of a deferred vested pension to the Reciprocal Agreement with the Seafarers Based on year-end reports 2006 and who have completed at Pension Plan. received from Morgan Stanley least three years of service have a 2. Provides for the changes in the regulation promulgated by the Department of Treasury. Dean Witter, SMPPP investment right to a percentage of their 3. Provided for a change in the name of the Plan to NMU Pension Plan, NMU Annuity Plan and manager, the Plan continues to “Employer Contribution Account” Seafarers 401(k) Plan effective January 1, 2007. perform well despite ongoing mar- as follows: three years of service ket volatility. Interest earned on equals 50 percent; four years of NMU Vacation Plan: the accounts during 2006 was service equals 75 percent; five or 1. Provides for a change in the entitlement to vacation benefits (i.e. those with thirty days or more of 10.16 percent; the total amount in more years of service equals 100 Covered Employment) shall forfeit such benefits unless an application to collect such benefits is all accounts was more than $49.6 percent. Participants are immedi- made within two years or on December 31, 2008, whichever is later. million. ately vested for the employee con- 2. Provides for the Merger of the NMU Vacation Plan into the Seafarers Vacation Plan as of January 1, The SMPPP originated in 1996, tribution segment of their respec- 2007. as the SIU successfully negotiated tive accounts as soon as the first the new benefit into the standard such contribution is made. Those ADMINISTRATOR freightship and tanker agreements. who became participants before Miriam Bove The SMPPP subsequently has July 1, 2006 were vested from the NMU Benefit Plans been included in other SIU con- first day money was received on 5201 Auth Way tracts. their behalf. Camp Springs, MD 20746 Approved by the Internal Unlike the Seafarers Pension Revenue Service, the SMPPP is an Plan, there is no minimum amount A LOS QUE HABLAN ESPANOL individual interest-earning invest- of sea time needed to receive the Esta noticia contiene informacion importante sobre sus derechos como marinero bajo los planes del Plan ment account funded by a daily money from an SMPPP account. NMU Pension, Annuity, y Vacation Plan. Si tuviera usted dificultades para comprender alguna parte de contribution made by an SIU-con- Seafarers can collect the funds esta noticia se la explicara la misma en espanol. Esta ayuda podra recibirla en persona en la oficina prin- tracted company on behalf of a from their SMPPP account when cipal del Plan, ubicada en el numero 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Las cartas en espanol Seafarer who is working for that they reach retirement age, become deberan ser dirigidas a la oficina del Plan de Maryland. Las llamadas telefonicas para solicitar ayuda en employer. SIU members may totally and permanently disabled, espanol deberan tambien ser hechas a la oficina del Plan en Maryland, cuyo numero de telefono es: 1- make voluntary contributions to or leave the industry. Widows/wid- 301-899-0675. their respective accounts through a owers may collect the funds in the Vacation Plan deduction or via event of their spouse’s death. 6 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 4/28/2007 11:31 AM Page 7

from 1995 to 1998, who was a catalyst in improving all aspects SIU CIVMARS Win of the food service operations aboard MSC ships. According to Roberta Jio, Food Service Awards chief of MSC’s food service poli- Members of the SIU Govern - approximately 5,000 civil service cy and procedures, competition ment Services Division recently mariners hinges in large part on for the award was intense. “The were recognized by the U.S. the quality of the meals prepared problem in selecting the best was Military Sealift Command (MSC) for them by their ship’s food ser- compounded by the fact that all of for outstanding work in the stew- vice team.” our food service teams are good,” ard department. Accepting the awards this year said Jio. “But to be the best The fleet replenishment oilers on behalf of their ships were means that the winning teams USNS Laramie and USNS Yukon Tyrone Trotman, supply officer really had to exhibit stellar per- received MSC’s Capt. David L. aboard the Laramie, and Victor - formance in their food service Cook Awards “for exceptional ino Damasco, chief steward programs.” food service,” according to the aboard the Yukon. To win the annual award, MSC agency. The awards were present- Damasco, a Seafarer who has civil service mariner-crewed ships ed March 31 during festivities in sailed with MSC since 1994, had submitted a nomination package CIVMARS Victorino Damasco (center) and Tyrone Trotman (right) Kansas City, Mo. CIVMARS and 28 years of prior food service describing its food service pro- accept the Capt. David L. Cook Awards for food service excellence on hundreds of military guests experience in the U.S. Navy. behalf of fellow crew members from the USNS Yukon and USNS grams to a Military Sealift Fleet Laramie, respectively. Presenting the awards March 31 in Kansas City, attended. “During all my years in the Support Command committee. Laramie Mo. is Navy Capt. William Brown, Fleet Forces Command director of The was selected Navy, none of my ships ever won Once the nominations were logistics. from MSC’s “large ship East the Navy’s food service excel- reviewed, MSFSC sent five nom- Coast” category while the Yukon lence award,” said Damasco. inations to a team of judges. This determine the winner. The judges In addition to the public recog- was chosen from the “large ship “My first objective when I joined year’s judges—Jio, International spent a full day on each of the nition received during the awards West Coast” field. MSC was to win its award—and Food Service Executive ships, looking at food preparation, ceremony, winning food service In announcing the recognition, now we have!” Association Executive Chef administration, management, teams will receive cash bonuses MSC noted, “The food service The award is named for the Nydia Eckstrom and Navy safety, facilities, equipment and and will have the opportunity to award is an important one. The late Navy Capt. David L. Cook, Medical Officer Lt. Mary Graves utensils, training, sanitation and participate in advanced culinary health and morale of MSC’s former MSC director of logistics —then visited the finalists to shipboard waste management. training.

service mariners and a military Environmental Awards program Calif. Grocery Negotiations Resume More Kudos detachment of 23 active-duty recognizes Navy and Marine Navy sailors—was cited for its Corps individuals, teams, ships Despite anti-worker tactics by some of its contracted companies crew’s work in preventing pollu- and installations for exceptional in Southern California, the United Food and Commercial Workers For Ericsson tion, ensuring readiness in environmental stewardship. International Union (UFCW) is trying to secure a fair labor agree- responding to environmental In a congratulatory message to ment for tens of thousands of members employed at California’s big The fleet replenishment oiler Ericsson USNS John Ericsson, crewed by issues, conserving resources and the crew, Assistant three grocery chains. As this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press, the UFCW was members of the SIU Government complying with environmental Secretary of the Navy for negotiating a new contract with Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons that Services Division, has received regulations. Installations and Environment B.J. While the ship voluntarily met Penn said, “Your accomplish- would govern pay and benefits for 65,000 grocery workers at 785 the 2006 Secretary of the Navy stores from Bakersfield, Calif. to the Mexican border. The same three Environmental Quality Small Ship standards stricter than required by ments are outstanding in their own the Navy, it also ensured that each right and exemplify the De- chains were involved in the 140-day strike and lockout that idled award, the U.S. Military Sealift more than 70,000 union workers from October 2003 to February Command (MSC) an nounced. mariner received special training partment of the Navy’s commit- Ericsson in environmental management, ment to environmental steward- 2004. The bitter strike was first called against Safeway’s Vons stores, The earlier this year and then Ralphs and Albertsons locked out their union workers. The had earned an environmental used environmentally friendly ship.” The award will be presented chemicals and conducted monthly at a ceremony in June in Wash - trouble was triggered mostly by health care issues, which still agitate award from the Chief of Naval the industry. Operations. That honor made the spill drills. As a result, in two ington, D.C. years, the Ericsson transferred The Ericsson is one of 14 fleet Three years ago UFCW union members eventually voted to vessel eligible for the more recent accept a contract that restructured wages and health benefits for new award. almost 82 million gallons of fuel replenishment oilers that provide in 353 separate fuelings at sea fuel to Navy combat ships and jet hires. Now, more than half the local workers at Albertsons, Ralphs The 678-foot ship—recently and Vons are on the new, lower tier of wages, which tops out at operating out of Pearl Harbor, without a significant mishap. fuel for aircraft aboard aircraft The Secretary of the Navy carriers. $15.10 an hour, compared to $17.90 an hour for workers on the high- Hawaii, and crewed by 81 civil er tier. Most of the second-tier workers don’t get health insurance through their employer. mentation of the MMC for at This contract expired March 5 but has been extended twice. Info Gathered on TWIC, MMC least one year after TWIC imple- Negotiations broke down April 4 in the midst of growing tensions mentation. over the threat of a strike by the union and an employee lockout by Continued from page 2 implementation process as enun- “We also recommend that the the companies. UCFW members in March voted to strike Albertsons. Labor offi- ciated in its final rule.” MMC as proposed should be document be altered or modified In response to the supplemen- cials did not set a date for any job action but indicated they wanted redesigned to include a biometric to give negotiations more time. The grocery chains countered by to include an encoded biometric, tary notice about the MMC, the identifier so as to become compli- to be used as a biometric trans- signing an anti-labor pact in which they agreed to lock out union SIU submitted joint comments ant with all relevant international portation security card in lieu of employees within 48 hours of a strike against any one of the compa- along with the American Mari - conventions, especially Inter - the TWIC, especially since the time Officers; Marine Engineers’ nies. The anti-worker agreement also called for the chains to provide national Labor Organization Coast Guard recognizes the Beneficial Association; Marine financial assistance to any of the companies struck by the union. Convention No. 180 (ILO C- “The supermarkets are up to their old tricks,” said UFCW MMD as an identity document. Firemen’s Union; Masters, Mates 185). Such a modification would International Vice President and Region 8 Director Shaun Barclay. We question the need for yet & Pilots; and Sailors’ Union of allow the MMC to serve as the “This pact fits the same pattern of their actions three years ago when another document that the mer- the Pacific. Those comments read chant mariner must obtain and Seafarers Identity Document they forced UFCW members and their families into the streets and in part, “The Coast Guard should disrupted shoppers for nearly five months in a grab to end meaning- carry when the current and time- not lose sight of the fact that this under ILO C-185, important to tested merchant mariner docu- U.S. mariner shore leave in for- ful health care coverage for employees.” rulemaking comes in the context The union pointed out that Stater Bros. and Gelson’s—two small- ment may be adapted to encapsu- of serious new challenges for eign ports and for which the late an encoded biometric. TWIC will not suffice. We agree er Southern California regional chains—and the UFCW have mariner recruitment, training and reached model agreements, providing wage increases, the end to sec- with the MERPAC (Merchant “The SIU believes that with a retention. Regulatory changes ond-class status for new workers and a return to providing afford- security vetting process (threat related to the International Stan- Marine Personnel Advisory able, quality health coverage for all employees. assessment), preferably initiated dards of Training, Certification, Committee) recommendation of a Supervalu, Kroger and Safeway all enjoy annual sales that are 10 by the Coast Guard, the biometric and Watchkeeping (STCW) have passport-style MMC with a page to 20 times bigger than Stater Bros. and Gelson’s, the UFCW noted. MMD would adequately respond stressed the skilled labor pool, dedicated to the Seafarers The smaller chains don’t have the economies of scale in their ware- to the mandate of the MTSA for a and the future impact of the Identity Document and conform- housing and distribution networks, nor do they have the clout with biometric transportation security TWIC and the Coast Guard’s new ing with ILO requirements.” major manufacturers and vendors that the national chains command, card, given the fact that the Coast physical evaluation standards are As previously reported, the the union reported. And they face the same non-union competition in Guard advises that a security likely to put further pressure on SIU will publicize information on the Southern California market that is overwhelmingly unionized. assessment is not required for the available supply of qualified the TWIC and MMC as it is “Given that the big grocers say they want to ‘serve the interests of mariner population who have an mariners. Since the TWIC is a released by the various agencies our employees, customers, and companies,’ it’s a no-brainer for these MMD issued after Feb. 3, 2003, pre-requisite for the MMC, we involved, including the firm national companies to reach a settlement along the lines of the Stater implying that those mariners have think SNPRM’s expected August details of when, where and how Bros. and Gelson’s agreements,” said Barclay. “They’re making undergone a full security vetting 2008 effective date is too soon. At to apply for a TWIC. Meanwhile, record profits and hold dominant positions in markets across the by the Coast Guard and therefore minimum, it should become questions about the TWIC may country where they operate.” need not undergo a TWIC securi- effective only after the TWIC be emailed to the Coast Guard at He continued, “But forming this (anti-labor) pact speaks louder ty assessment. The SIU urges the implementation is complete in [email protected]. than words. It certainly appears that the big grocers have no interest committee to consider this sim- September 2008. But since the The phone number for the TSA’s in recognizing UFCW members for their partnership in the impres- sive success of their companies. It seems they have no interest in the plified approach for merchant full effect of the TWIC on the TWIC help desk is 877-687- effects their position will have on employees, families, shoppers and mariners who are required to hold regulated population might not be 2243, and the TSA’s TWIC web merchant mariner documents communities.” felt for many months, we urge the site is located at http:// Negotiations resumed April 16. instead of acceding to the TSA Coast Guard to delay the imple- www.tsa.gov/. May 2007 Seafarers LOG 7 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19x:2007-May 5/1/2007 12:01 PM Page 8

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Reaches More Milestones Union-contracted Aker Phila - Ltd., which extended the provi- additional six tankers, which mir- delphia Shipyard, Inc. during the sions of an existing agreement. rors an agreement in principle for last few months has been in the Included in the updated arrange- additional charters with Sea - headlines and making industry ment are not only additional farers-contracted Overseas Ship - news about new builds and agree- tankers but also possibilities for holding Group, Inc. (OSG) that ments for additional construction. building containerships. Aker American Shipping an - That noteworthy trend contin- Under an agreement signed in nounced in February, as well as ued March 28 as the yard an- 2004, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard exclusive rights for container- nounced the signing of another (HMD) has been providing ships. significant pact. The state-of-the- design and procurement services “With our first product tanker art shipyard, through its sub- for a series of ten 46,000 dwt delivered and four more already sidiary Aker American Shipping, tankers currently being construct- under construction, our shipyard U.S.-flag vessels are being built in Philadelphia for Seafarers-contract- on that date signed an accord with ed at the shipyard in Philadelphia. is planning for the future,” said ed OSG. Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. The new agreement covers an President and CEO of Aker American Shipping Dave Mee - market and shipbuilding expertise Additionally, steel cutting han. “We have agreements in in the United States.” recently began for Hull 009, the place for a series of up to 16 prod- Meanwhile, Aker on March 23 fifth vessel in the series, marking uct tankers and are preparing for announced two other milestones start of production on that ship. the possibility of returning to in its tanker program. Hull 006, With two other tankers also in another arena where we have the second product tanker in the production, the yard now once proven ourselves—container ves- series, has been floated from its again has four of the 600-foot sels. berth in the yard’s building dock. long MT 46 Veteran Class tanker “As with the product tankers, The ship is scheduled for comple- vessels under construction. we will continue to apply flexibil- tion this summer. ity and creativity in vessel owner- ship,” Meehan added. “Hyundai Mipo Dockyard has been an excellent partner and is a premier provider of vessels in their mar- ket. Likewise, Aker American Shipping is determined to The second tanker in become a premier player in the OSG’s Aker U.S. Jones Act market, and, Philadelphia Hull number 007, which will be the third tanker in the series, is quickly working together, we are series is trans- taking shape. strengthening both the Jones Act ferred from the building dock. Pride of Aloha Snapshots

Chief Carpenter Dennis Remetio sent this collection of pictures from the Pride of Aloha, one of the Seafarers- crewed cruise ships operated by NCL America. “I encour- age all SIU members in their work and send regards to everybody in the union,” he wrote. Kudos for Seabulk Challenge Seafarers At right is 1st Asst. Carpenter Jose Dizon (left) and Chief Carpenter Dennis Remetio.

AMO Captain Kelly Sweeney recently submitted these photos taken aboard the tanker Seabulk Challenge back around the turn of the year. During the voyage, “I was, as always, impressed with the professionalism and hard work of my ship- mates,” Sweeney noted. Pictured are (top photo) AB John Yi (several hundred miles from arrival at Barber’s Point, Hawaii); (below left) DEU “MoMo” Mohamed, whom shipmates credited Chief Carpenter Dennis Remetio (in photo with an excellent job keeping the engine room clean; and above and kneeling in the photo at right) Sweeney, who in addition to making a living at sea is scheduled helps repair the flooring with some of the to write a regular column in Professional Mariner magazine assistant carpenters aboard ship. starting in August. He concluded: “I hope to keep in contact with all of you through my writing or at captsweeney@professional- mariner.com.”

Left: Assistant carpen- ters gather inside the carpentry shop afer a fire drill.

Right: Bosun Renato Govico works with an OS in refinishing the floors.

8 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 4/28/2007 11:52 AM Page 9

USNS Stockham Rescues 20 Helicopters Save Aid Workers from Stranded Freighter Helicopters from the Seafarers- the tsunami that struck the region thy. The Gizo port authority crewed prepositioning vessel April 2. requested that Stockham provide USNS Fred W. Stockham rescued Earlier in the week, the helicopter assistance to rescue the 20 people from a Taiwanese- Stockham was directed to the aid workers and one severely flagged vessel that ran aground on Solomon Islands to prepare for injured crew member. a coral reef near the Gizo harbor in support operations assisting relief “When the distress call was the Solomon Islands in the late efforts on the ground. The crew made, the ship’s crew and military hours of April 12, according to the received a distress call from the detachment were quick to respond U.S. Military Sealift Command Gizo port authority requesting and well prepared to handle the (MSC). they provide assistance to a 200- crisis,” said the Stock ham’s civil- Most of those rescued were foot freighter named Yun Fa. After ian master, Capt. Perry Seyler. New Zealand Red Cross and aid running aground, the vessel was “I’m very proud of the ship’s sur- U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Meyers workers who were in the area to foundering in nearly 12-foot geon and the members of the heli- A Taiwanese vessel is shown stuck on a reef in the waters around the provide assistance to victims of waves and had become unseawor- copter detachment, who put them- Solomon Islands, after her crew was rescued the night before by a U.S. selves in harm’s way to rescue the Navy helicopter deployed aboard the USNS Stockham. aid workers and the crew mem- ber.” Operated by Seafarers-con- Electrician Robert Ott, Chief The Stockham’s surgeon tracted Keystone Shipping for Storekeeper Bennie McKnight, departed on the ship’s seven-pas- MSC, the Stockham is a govern- QMEDs Alan Nelson, Robert senger HH-60 helicopter within an ment-owned, roll-on/roll-off and Lee, Ernesto Acosta and Philip hour of the distress call, and min- containership crewed by civilian Zalewski, Chief Steward Robert utes later arrived in the vicinity of mariners. When the rescue took Easley, Chief Cook Vernon the Yun Fa. He treated injuries, place, the ship also was carrying Thibodeaux, Assistant Cooks and the 20 people were brought more than 100 military personnel. Robert Brooks Jr. and Saleh aboard the helicopter using the SIU members sailing aboard Sewileh, SAs Mahmood Monas - helicopter’s external hoist. The the Stockham during the rescue sar, Saleh Omar and Breon helicopter then flew to Gizo, were: Bosun Neil Sullivan, ABs Saunders, GVAs Charles Parker, where the passengers were met by Ira Thomas Jr., Frank Guido, Michael Sivells and Harrison The SIU-crewed USNS Stockham, part of MSC’s prepositioning fleet, Guy Butler Jr., Munassar Hawkins Towfiek recently saved 20 people from a stranded vessel in the Solomon local police and medical personnel and GUDE Islands. to receive further assistance. Ahmad and Robert Butler, Ahmed.

tain the merits of the voluntary attacker as a ship janitor who also Foreign-Flag Cruise Dangers Examined agreement. At the conclusion of was working as a security guard, that time period, another hearing the man continued to work on the Continued from page 5 evidence can deteriorate or be issue is very tricky and a tangled will take place. ship. “The feeling was like compromised in the interim. web,” Salvador Hernandez, a Besides testimony from nobody was helping me. ter-wide U.S. territorial limits. In addition, the FBI’s jurisdic- deputy assistant director at the experts, cruise industry stake- Everything was slow-motion and Since the vast majority of ships tion is limited because the ships FBI, told the subcommittee. holders, the FBI and U.S. Coast they were trying to figure out how fly under foreign flags—such as are not registered in the United In acknowledging the difficul- Guard, members of the subcom- to protect themselves,” she said. the Bahamas or Panama—they States. The FBI can investigate if ties formerly cited, cruise ship mittee listened to accounts from Gary Bald acknowledged are not under U.S. jurisdiction a cruise ship crime involves a operators who appeared during cruise ship victims. problems in the company’s once they leave U.S. waters. U.S. citizen or if the ship is leav- the hearing announced a new vol- One victim, 36-year-old response to Dishman and said the To make matters worse, the ing or entering a U.S. port when untary agreement with the FBI Laurie Dishman, a resident of business has improved security FBI says that for several reasons, the incident occurs. When crimes and U.S. Coast Guard that would Sacramento, Calif., was over- and has taken steps to ensure that cruise ship crimes are difficult to occur on the high seas, however, improve and standardize crime come by tears time and again as in the future, victims are given prosecute. Evidence and testimo- jurisdiction falls most often to reporting. Under the agreement, she recounted how she last year better information and support ny is hard to gather in cruise ship authorities in the nearest foreign cruise lines would immediately was raped by a cruise ship and crime scenes are secured. crime cases because, while the port of call. report violations of U.S. laws tak- employee while aboard a Royal Bald is senior vice president of vessels carry security crew mem- Furthermore, officers and ing place outside of U.S. waters. Caribbean cruise to the Mexican global security for Royal Carib- bers, they do not have law crew members aboard foreign- Several lawmakers lauded the Riviera. “The terror of that expe- bean Cruises Ltd. “It was our enforcement professionals and flag cruise ships hail from many effort but suggested that crime rience still overwhelms me,” she intention and desire to assist her crime scene technicians aboard. foreign countries that often shield reporting should be mandatory, said, but the events that later tran- An investigation cannot begin them from prosecution by U.S. not voluntary. Officials from the spired were almost as bad. in every way we could,” Bald until the ship reaches port, and authorities. “The jurisdiction FBI and Coast Guard also Dishman testified that the cruise said. “I feel we accomplished that applauded the new steps but said line did virtually nothing to in some respects but in others I there are still complex jurisdic- respond to her situation. She was feel we came up short.” Tugboat Duty Added to Fleet tional problems to overcome. given a garbage bag and told to After the ship docked in Los Cummings said that the sub- collect evidence from the scene— Angeles, the FBI presented Dishman’s case to the U.S. attor- Continued from page 4 Navipilot 4000 Autopilot with committee would give the cruise including giving herself a “rape Navigat X MK1 gyro compass industry and federal law enforce- kit” exam. ney, who chose not to prosecute system, two Furuno 25 kW BB ment agencies six months from According to several sources, for lack of evidence. Dishman is Engines—Two Cat 3512B radars and MX Marine Model the date of the hearing to ascer- even after Dishman identified her suing Royal Caribbean. turbo charged marine diesels, MX420/2 DGPS system. 1,500 hp each @ 1,600 rpm. According to the company, Propulsion—Two SteerProp great attention was paid to “crew Important Notice—SHBP Model SP 14 Azimuth Propulsors comfort and safety features” (Z-Drive) with Model HJ 3-5 including an engine room fire- Switching to CIGNA Kort Nozzles turning 1.9 meter suppression system and emer- Effective July 1, the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan best of both worlds: better and wider coverage for diameter four-blade nickel/alu- gency tow pin release system (SHBP) will switch to a new affiliation with CIGNA Seafarers and their families, and cost-savings for the minum propellers featuring Centa designed to prevent deckhands HealthCare, replacing the current affiliation with First SHBP,” said Seafarers Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen. composite shafting. from being exposed to heavy seas Health Network. “Also, individual savings should be realized because of the Towing if they have to quickly discon- The move follows an exhaustive search by the SHBP larger network and related discounts that might be offered —At stern, JonRie Trustees to improve network access, enhance access to by a particular physician.” Series 500 Single Drum Towing nect. Headquartered in Camden, state-of-the-art programs and ensure that quality service Seafarers may check with their respective health care Winch with 2,200 feet of two will be provided to Seafarers and their families. providers to determine if they are in the CIGNA network, or inch tow wire, 82,500 pounds, 60 N.J., Express Marine is family- owned and has been in business Additional details will be published in upcoming editions may go on line for that information. A link to CIGNA’s web feet per minute, brake load of the Seafarers LOG and also will be included in letters site with access to a current list of providers may be found for more than 100 years. It has a 275,000 pounds. Electric/ scheduled to be mailed beginning in May to all SHBP par- at www.seafarers.org/members/. A toll-free phone number fleet of eight tugs and 30 barges, hydraulic winch powered from ticipants. New enrollment cards also will be mailed to par- with access to provider information is being established and specializes in coal tows to one of the generator diesels. ticipants in time to make the switch. and will be included in future communications. The correct power plants along the Northeast Tanks—43,700 gallons diesel The new affiliation with CIGNA does not change CIGNA web address is http://www.cigna.com/SA-PP02 Coast. The company also pro- Seafarers’ benefits and for the most part is expected to be Please note that the second-to-last letter in the fuel, 2,400 gallons combined vides ship docking and general seamless. CIGNA is a larger network than First Health, but CIGNA web address is the capital letter “O” rather lube and hydraulic oils, 4,900 towing, both coastal and offshore. many health care providers participate in both networks— than a zero, and also note that the web address is gallons potable fresh water. Another new tug is being built meaning the vast majority of Seafarers won’t need to case-sensitive. To avoid confusion, Seafarers are Wheelhouse—Conventional in Pensacola for Express Marine change doctors in order to remain in the SHBP-affiliated urged to type in the entire web address rather than wheelhouse equipped with cus- and is slated for delivery later this network. For example, approximately 90 percent of the going to the CIGNA home page, partly because CIGNA tom-made, closed-circuit TV sys- year. It is slightly smaller than the SHBP claims processed in 2006 came through medical has different networks within its organization. Or, they tem for tug security and safety. Duty but will have many of the offices affiliated with CIGNA. may simply access the link through: Also equipped with Sperry same features. “The Plan anticipates that the new affiliation will be the www.seafarers.org/members/ May 2007 Seafarers LOG 9 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 10:51 AM Page 10

Around the Port of Jacksonville

Left: Seven Seafarers were sworn in at a recent membership meeting in the port of Jacksonville. SIU Patrolman Randy Senatore (standing left) delivered the oath to GUDEs George Pobee, Anthony Sumlar, Wade Jordan, Stephen Jenkins; and OMUs Florencio Marfa, Nat Lamb and Danilo Martin.

Crew members aboard the Crowley tug Centurion

Alfred G. Lane receives his first pension check from Safety Director Thornton Elliott on March 13. Lane, who retired in February, Thornton Elliott (left), safety director in the port of Jacksonville, sailed in the engine department. takes an order for additional manpower while Patrolman Randy Crew members aboard the Crowley tug Sentry Senatore ships AB Michael J. Pockat II to the Cleveland. What’s Happening in Philly?

A Well-Deserved Retirement Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Mieluchowski (right in both pho- tos) presents Phil Yaros (in photo at left) and Rufus Pritchett with their first pension checks. Yaros sailed as an AB in the deep sea division while Pritchett sailed inland in the deck department. STOS Norman Dize loads stores onto the tug Sentry with a forklift truck.

Walking in Solidarity Wearing their union colors (and white caps), Seafarers in the port of Philadelphia joined with other unions March 15 in support of IBEW Local 614’s rally for a fair contract with Exelon/PECO. PECO, a unit of Exelon Energy Delivery, is Penn sylvania’s largest utility operator of electric and nat- ural gas. Frank Kuders, The tugs Sentry and Ensign are tied up alongside each other. president and business manager for Local 614, stat- ed, “We’ve actually been in negotiations with Exelon/PECO for two years . . . and we feel that it’s been going on for entirely too long.” The employees represent- ed by Local 614 say that Exelon’s business plan is cutting corners for short- term profits by reducing the payroll (and thereby jeopar- dizing reliable service and employee safety) and reduc- ing the benefits. Employees currently pay 20 percent of their medical costs and up to 100 percent for other ben- efits. Crew members aboard the Crowley tug Ensign

10 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 11:03 AM Page 11

May 2007 Seafarers LOG 11 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/29/2007 11:58 AM Page 12

Seafarers Participate in Operation ‘De

The SIU-crewed vessels USNS Paul Buck and American Tern, Polar Sea and Swedish icebreaker Oden had begun work in both part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet, December to break a channel through 18 miles of ice that sepa- recently participated in Operation Deep Freeze, the annual resup- rated the open water from the pier. ply mission to the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Corl said that the day they left McMurdo, it was -23 degrees Station in Artarctica. F, with a 17-knot wind. “Thank God and Ocean Ships for the The USNS Paul Buck, a tanker operated by Ocean insulated suits and little chemical hand warmers that were hand- Shipholdings, Inc., arrived Feb. 1 and pumped off 162,000 bar- ed out,” he said. rels of fuel for equipment ranging from generators to helicopters. He also noted that it was so cold that one of the main ballast Once the Paul Buck departed, the American Tern, operated by line valves froze in the closed position and had to be replaced. Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management, docked at McMurdo’s ice “Not a job for the weak of heart,” he said, “but the operation pier to deliver 29,000 tons of equipment, food and other sup- itself went flawlessly.” plies—the life-sustaining cargo for McMurdo’s research scien- MSC has participated in Operation Deep Freeze every year tists and residents. since the station was established in 1955. This was summer in Antarctica, so there was continuous sun- light for the around-the-clock operations. Phil Corl, the bosun aboard the Buck (who sent these photos to the Seafarers LOG), noted that it was much colder this trip than the previous one in 2005. Both ships encountered severe weather, rough seas, high winds and small icebergs en route to McMurdo, but both made it on time. Two icebreakers, the U.S.Coast Guard’s

The icebreaker Polar Sea pulls up alongside the Paul Buck.

The men in the engine room (from left) DEU Wally Kassem, QMED Orlando Pajarillo and DEU Dave Ruggirello had to make an impromptu grappling hook (right) to pull big chunks of ice from between the ship and the ice pier before they could dock.

It was so cold that one valves froze and h AB Carlos Machado-Gomez

AB Adam Riley

Chief Cook Wally Saul Jr. helped keep the crew’s morale AB Carlos Machado-Gomez up with his gourmet meals and positive attitude.

12 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/29/2007 11:59 AM Page 13

Deep Freeze’

Posing on the deck of the USNS Paul Buck after completion of a successful mission are (from left) AB Derik Rye, SA Ramon Hernandez, Steward Asha Stryker, AB Carlos Machado-Gomez, QMED Orlando Pajarillo, UA Chris Caporale, DEU Wally Kassem, QMED Jonathan Miller, AB Adam Riley, GVA Al Young, Bosun Phil Corl, AB Al Wambach, DEU Dave Ruggirello, Chief Cook Wally Saul Jr., Pumpman Arthur “We traveled pretty much around the world to deliver the Hurd and AB Stag Rye. load,” noted Bosun Phil Corl. The map, above, shows the exact route.

k.

The scenery of Antarctica from the ship was spectacular.

Nobody can say that QMED Jonathan Miller was never in Antarctica! Here’s the proof.

“After all the travel and adventure, we found it heartwarm- ing to see the U.S. Coast Guard ship one of the main ballast line (icebreaker) and all and had to be replaced. of the good things that it represented to us,” stated Bosun Philip Corl. After tying up to the ice pier, the crew put fenders in place to accommodate the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea, coming alongside.

The USNS Paul Buck is tied up at the ice pier.

AB Derik Rye

AB Stag Rye

May 2007 Seafarers LOG 13 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:40 PM Page 14

Recollections of the Merchant Marine in World War II Editor’s note: The first installment of across and 250 to 300 feet long. The deck crew who usually knew first where undershirts. The tide information was just retired Seafarer Albert Stimac’s experi- engineroom was out of the 1920s with they thought we were headed and what the opposite of what the men were told. ences in the merchant marine appeared in huge double-ended fire-tube boilers. This we carried for transport. And so the best laid plans of mice and last month’s Seafarers LOG. He wrote means that at 10 feet in diameter, the They were topside all the time and had men often go astray. It was amazing how about his training, his first ship and then flames of fire went through the tubes and closer contact with the officers, purser, quickly we got our needed parts for joining the SIU. Following is a continua- heated the water into steam. radioman and cooks. All of them had big engine repair and sailed out of the harbor. tion of his experiences, beginning with the The newer boilers had water tubes with ears and watchful eyes on everything. We Made it to Panama OK and unloaded job call in the union hall. the fire cell around them. You had to be also had “sea lawyers” just like in prison our ship. Not having badly needed war They are the best recollections of his careful with these because if the boiler with their “jail-house lawyers.” They gave materiel, it took about five days. I forget training and sea time from the end of 1943 tubes ran dry, you could melt one and out lots of information freely. Most of it which one of the small countries around to late 1946, so any inaccuracies in the blow up your boiler. They also were quick was just their opinion and half-true at Panama we were headed to next. Anyway, details need not be brought to his attention. to heat up and raise steam so you could best. they had a revolution going on. Somebody sail in a few hours. The fire-tube ones Sitting there, doing nothing, I found out got hold of some army trucks and Some [of the ships requesting crews at with all that water in them took at least 24 just how devious the human mind can be. machine guns and took over. Somebody the job call] were old rust buckets, as they hours to get 200 pounds of steam up. It Somebody had figured out the cargo code said they had a revolution every 30 days were called, from World War I or got hot in the engineroom! We stood of what we were carrying. The most star- in this area, and it was no big deal. We before—all the way up to high-speed tur- under a 6-foot diameter flue that picked tling was a locked container area that was made it back to New York with not too bines that had 600 pounds dry super-heat- up air from the deck as you went along supposed to have watches and jewelry in many problems. ed steam. The word dry was used because and was supposed to cool us down. it. Then, next thing I knew, I was being After I got paid, I took a trip home as I if there was a leak in the line somewhere, Each boiler had three burners on each offered the opportunity to buy cigarettes hadn't been there for six months. you couldn’t see the steam coming out. It end, so you had to change 12 burners —by the gross (144 cartons to the box), After three weeks at home, I headed could cut off your arm or hand if you every watch (four hours). You took the Arrow undershirts and shorts as well as back to New York City to grab another extended it to try and feel the hot steam. nozzle off and wire-brushed the carbon socks. I didn’t smoke, so I refused the cig- ship. Since I had a lot of shore time, I got So a pine stick was used instead, and the deposits and shined them up and then arettes, and none of the underwear fit me. to pick out a ship right away and signed sap would boil out of it if it was hit by the on as an oiler. We were in port another steam. week or so before sailing out to join up Because of the war effort, you had no with a small convoy. We knew then we idea of what type of ship you picked out. were going to the European war zone as A fireman and Only numbers were allowed on the cargo watertender aboard we headed toward Newfoundland. This they carried. They gave us no hint where a Liberty ship had was a Liberty ship and, besides the holds we were going, either, but somebody usu- to adjust numerous being full, we carried different trucks up ally knew the number codes and designa- valves and watch on deck, on the covers of the cargo holds. tions because they had had the same code many gauges, So we sat pretty low in the water. on a previous ship. because boilers Being the oiler on a Liberty ship was a I was in the black gang and always allowed to run dry pretty easy job. Your biggest responsibili- would explode. tried to sign on with the highest rating I ty was to see that none of the bearings got could. Watertender was lower than an hot. The vessel had a triple expansion oiler and got paid less. A junior engineer steam engine. You oiled the top of the had more responsibility and got still more crankshafts every 20 minutes. Your oil pay. So one picked what class he could Official training aid photo, U.S. Maritime Service, Sheepshead Bay, NY can was just the ordinary kind that held hold. If you were the first one to sign on, about a quart of oil and had a long spigot and got there first, you got the single cleaned out the hole in the nozzle head. At the time, I did not know that ciga- on it. To oil, you held the can in the palm bunk. The other side had two The hottest we got was 168 degrees. rettes were a chief barter item around the of your hand with the spigot between your bunks—upper and lower. The second guy So you tried to stay under the air vent all world. We could buy them for 60 cents a fingers. The crankshafts would come up aboard usually took the bottom bunk, and the time and drink boiling hot tea, which carton and sell them overseas for $2 or and down at a maximum of 78 times a the third guy got the top bunk. The same felt cool. When we went between the boil- more per carton. Even a single cigarette minute. So you had to get the rhythm to went for which watch you worked. A ers to change burners, we really moved! was of value. Everybody wanted follow up the crank and then squirt the oil watch was considered a four-hour period Maximum was about seven minutes to American cigarettes. They were better into an open wick oil cup. Five or six of time worked. It was four hours on and shut off the burner, pull it out, stick in a than the foreign currency and more stable. squirts and on to the next crank. eight hours off. The best watch was 8:00 new one and secure it, then back through Later, I would buy my one carton a week There were three crankshafts with a cup to 12:00. Then 12:00 to 4:00 and 4:00 to the boilers to the air vent. allotted me on the ship, so I always had on each side. We cut the nozzle short to 8:00. You worked two, four-hour watches We found out we were going to go to five or six cartons I could use for barter about four inches long. Originally, it was in a 24-hour period. the Panama area to one of the small instead of cash. eight inches long or so and tapered, the The deckhands slept three in a fo’c’sle banana belt countries. We sailed down the American money was also better than smallest part on the end. The further down (room), and the black gang did likewise. East Coast and then into the Caribbean. If any foreign monies. Another good item we cut it, the more oil came out on each There were three watertenders in one I remember correctly, we broke down was booze. You could buy name brands in squirt. This was done on the top grate. On room and three oilers in another. Once in about 20 or 25 times. Sometimes for just the States from $3 to $5. GIs overseas the lower grate or deck, you felt the bear- a while, on new ships, they carried a one-half hour or so, and other times for paid up to $30 per bottle. I didn’t care to ings that were connected to the driveshaft. junior engineer. They were classified as two or three hours. get involved in that business. The cranks sat in an open oil pan and officers, so they slept on the main deck We made it pretty smoothly to the tip But . . . back to the ship’s activities. In contained about 50 gallons of oil. We area. of Florida and then really got in trouble one day, many of the crew had underwear, would mix it half and half with just plain Anyway, I needed to grab another ship sailing toward Cuba. Had bad engine trou- socks and cigarettes under bunks or water. As the cranks turned, they made an because of lack of money. I could have ble and had to pull into Guantanamo stuffed in their lockers. Nobody found any emulsion that was a good enough lubricant stayed on the same ship if I wanted to, but Harbor in Cuba. That was a two-week jewelry or watches. The boom came down to oil the bearings—and saved a lot of I wanted to get a better and newer ship. stay until we got parts from the States. when the captain found out about the money. One just took one’s chances. We were not allowed to go ashore, but break-in and looting. Had us all on deck To feel the bearings, you waited for the After I sailed three or four trips, I the captain and officers went ashore every and raised Cain, hollering and shouting. crank to come around. You would put your learned all the tricks employed in getting night in the captain’s launch. This made Said if it wasn’t all put back by the next hand between the crank and the piston rod. the better ships to sign up on. The most for a lot of hostility with the ordinary sea- morning, the FBI, CIA, Army Intelligence Your hand had to remain flat and your arm obvious ones were the Liberty ships built men. The captain warned us about swim- was coming aboard for a search. And if in rhythm with the crank coming around. by Kaiser Shipyards. They all had a per- ming or going ashore in a makeshift con- anything was found on us or we were After you missed the slot of where to stick son’s name, like the SS John Henry, SS traption. Said the bay was full of sharks. involved in any way, it was BIG TROU- your hand a couple times, you learned real William Smith, etc. These were the most So to test this out, the deckhands got BLE. Our papers would be pulled, and we quick how to do it properly. simple ships made. It was like a barge some meat from the cooks and tied it to a would serve time. The only place one got a little nervous 3 with a bow on the front of it. Made of ⁄4- meat hook (usually used to hang quarters The word got out around the ship about was going down the shaft alley to check inch steel plate, built in sections and then of meat or half a pig). They used a winch the tides—when it would be high tide and the bearings. The driveshaft was about 16 welded together. Each had a simple triple with a steel cable and dropped the bait. It when it would be low tide. Nobody was inches or so in diameter and was made up expansion steam engine for power. On a took about two minutes before the sharks stupid enough to return the goods because of sections. There were about three or good day, it could get up to 76 revolutions smelled the blood and fresh meat. they all knew the officers would be on four bearings and they were immersed in per minute and go about 6 or 7 knots They got one—about five feet long— alert. And once they got one guy, he oil in a bearing case. The shaft alley was- loaded. That’s with the wind and seas at and winched it up on deck. The deck- would readily name others to save his n’t very big. Just long. From the engine- your back. hands tried to kill it with a hatchet, to no own butt. So the word was, toss every- room to the propeller in the stern, maybe I threw in my card for the first black avail. Finally, an officer who had to stay thing overboard after 10 o’clock when the seven feet or so high and six feet wide. gang opening the next day. The best I aboard and watch the crew took out a 45 tide was at its highest. Then, when the With huge bearing cases to hold the shaft, could get after sitting around all day was pistol and shot it. A knife would not cut tide went out, it would wash all the con- one didn’t have too much to do, and one as a fireman/watertender. If I thought I the skin. Finally, we got a fire axe and traband out of the harbor and into the sea. did not want to be caught in there if an was going to improve my lot on my next chopped it up and had lots of fun feeding Everyone went to bed well pleased by accident happened. ship, I was in for a big surprise. This one it to the other sharks. Nobody ever made getting rid of the evidence. But as things was worse and older than my first ship. I an attempt to swim ashore while we were go sometimes, you are misinformed or found out it originally had a teakwood there. given poor information. We got both. Brother Stimac’s wartime deck, and when it was taken out of stor- But human nature being what it is, When we looked over the side, the whole recollections will continue in a age, they put on a steel deck. It was a some of the crew found other ways to bay was filled with cartons and boxes of very narrow ship, maybe 25 feet or so occupy their time. Basically, it was the cigarettes and Arrow shorts, socks and future edition of the Seafarers LOG.

14 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:43 PM Page 15

Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea June & July 2007 MARCH 16 — APRIL 15, 2007 Membership Meetings *TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups All Groups Trip All Groups Piney Point ...... Monday: June 4, July 2 Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C Reliefs Class A Class B Class C Port DECK DEPARTMENT Algonac ...... Friday: June 8, July 6 Algonac 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 7 8 2 Anchorage 0 8 1 0 4 0 1 1 11 2 Baltimore...... Thursday: June 7, July 5 Baltimore 6 5 2 5 4 0 5 10 8 3 Fort Lauderdale 10 11 7 3 5 3 5 18 27 15 Boston ...... Friday: June 8, July 6 Guam 2 5 5 1 2 0 0 2 9 7 Honolulu 8 10 1 4 8 1 0 15 9 2 Guam ...... Thursday: June 21, July 19 Houston 53 27 7 31 21 3 31 83 54 17 Jacksonville 29 19 2 18 17 2 9 57 40 7 Honolulu...... Friday: June 15, July 13 Joliet 0 2 0 1 2 1 0 0 3 1 Mobile 14 14 1 8 5 0 4 23 23 1 Houston ...... Monday: June 11, July 9 New Orleans 14 4 1 7 8 0 5 26 16 4 New York 44 29 4 31 16 4 22 83 43 10 Norfolk 9 14 6 8 8 5 8 24 31 12 Jacksonville ...... Thursday: June 7, July 5 Oakland 21 10 2 19 8 2 7 40 22 4 Philadelphia 7 5 2 2 1 1 3 9 8 1 Joliet ...... Thursday: June 14, June 12 Piney Point 1 4 0 0 13 0 0 1 7 0 Puerto Rico 9 7 0 4 7 0 2 15 14 2 Mobile ...... Wednesday: June 13, July 11 St. Louis 0 7 0 2 5 0 2 2 9 1 Tacoma 32 36 4 27 18 2 24 63 68 15 New Orleans...... Tuesday: June 12, July 10 Wilmington 20 18 5 20 10 4 12 40 33 12 Totals 283 236 51 191 163 28 140 519 443 118 New York ...... Tuesday: June 5, July 3 Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 Norfolk ...... Thursday: June 7, July 5 Anchorage 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Baltimore 9 2 0 1 1 0 0 11 7 2 Oakland ...... Thursday: June 14, July 12 Fort Lauderdale 8 7 6 4 3 0 2 9 9 7 Guam 2 5 2 2 2 0 1 1 5 2 Philadelphia...... Wednesday: June 6 Honolulu 5 4 0 7 5 0 3 13 4 1 ...... Thursday: July 5* Houston 16 10 4 10 7 2 12 32 19 6 ...... (*change created due to Independence Day) Jacksonville 20 18 4 14 9 2 10 36 37 4 Joliet 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 Port Everglades ....Thursday: June 14, July 12 Mobile 6 5 0 6 3 1 1 13 8 0 New Orleans 3 5 0 5 2 0 5 8 10 1 San Juan ...... Thursday: June 7, July 5 New York 16 14 3 15 4 0 7 31 22 4 Norfolk 3 6 3 7 7 1 10 10 14 5 Oakland 9 4 1 5 6 2 0 15 14 3 St. Louis ...... Friday: June 15, July 13 Philadelphia 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 1 2 1 Piney Point 1 4 0 2 3 0 0 1 3 0 Tacoma ...... Friday: June 22, July 20 Puerto Rico 4 4 0 1 2 0 2 5 8 0 St. Louis 2 2 0 1 1 2 2 2 6 1 Wilmington...... Monday: June 18, July 16 Tacoma 20 14 6 7 16 1 8 27 28 9 Wilmington 7 7 8 6 6 4 2 15 14 11 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Totals 133 115 38 97 79 16 67 231 213 59 Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Baltimore 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 8 2 1 Personals Fort Lauderdale 6 12 1 1 7 0 2 16 12 2 Guam 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 3 0 Honolulu 8 5 0 4 3 0 0 12 9 0 NEFDALI COLON Houston 19 6 0 11 3 2 6 42 15 3 Your friends Wilson Garcia and Nefdali Santana Jacksonville 18 4 3 11 6 1 4 29 22 4 would like to hear from you. You may call Wilson at Joliet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (787) 370-3239 or Nefdali at (787) 836-4449. Mobile 3 3 1 5 3 2 3 9 7 1 New Orleans 6 3 1 4 3 0 6 11 9 1 New York 19 8 4 13 2 1 11 33 10 7 Norfolk 7 8 4 5 5 2 4 9 15 5 Oakland 15 5 0 17 3 0 7 39 5 0 New Orleans-Area REC Philadelphia 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 Piney Point 4 1 0 1 0 1 1 5 3 0 Moves to Mandeville Puerto Rico 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 3 0 St. Louis 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 2 0 The U.S. Coast Guard’s New Orleans regional Tacoma 20 7 2 8 4 2 6 31 16 3 Wilmington 19 5 1 16 4 1 8 38 13 1 examination center (REC) recently relocated. The Totals 155 70 18 97 45 12 62 294 147 29 new REC address and phone number follow: Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 7 USCG Regional Examination Center Anchorage 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 1 Baltimore 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 4250 Hwy 22, Suite F Fort Lauderdale 0 7 7 0 0 1 0 0 14 18 Mandeville, LA 70471 Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Phone: (985) 624-5700 Honolulu 1 6 5 1 1 2 0 2 14 12 Houston 4 21 11 3 9 6 0 10 38 17 Fax: (985) 624-5757 Jacksonville 4 6 14 1 4 6 0 8 30 24 Joliet 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 REC staff email addresses are the same as before. Mobile 1 6 3 1 5 1 0 1 5 8 Since Hurricane Katrina destroyed the New New Orleans 1 8 6 0 5 3 0 4 10 6 New York 3 37 23 4 16 3 0 15 71 41 Orleans East REC facility, the REC staff worked Norfolk 0 16 15 0 6 11 0 0 20 18 from temporary locations in Morgan City and Oakland 5 13 8 2 9 4 0 9 22 22 Metairie, La.; Houston; and Memphis, Tenn. Philadelphia 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 Piney Point 0 2 26 0 6 26 0 0 19 14 According to the agency, the new REC is easy to Puerto Rico 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 1 reach from Interstate 12 or Interstate 10 via the St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Causeway Bridge, Causeway Blvd., US-190 exits. Tacoma 4 14 5 3 8 3 0 6 27 13 Wilmington 2 9 8 1 6 3 0 2 18 18 The REC’s hours of operation in Mandeville are Totals 27 155 134 16 77 70 0 59 314 225 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Friday. The office will Totals All Departments 598 576 241 401 364 126 269 1,103 1,117 431 remain open for limited services during lunch hour. Testing will be conducted during the same hours, but *“Total Registered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. the latest time to start a new exam is 2:30 p.m. **“Registered on Beach” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. Monday through Thursday, and noon on Friday.

May 2007 Seafarers LOG 15 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:51 PM Page 16

Seafarers International Union home or small business loans, ‘Belated Thank You’ Legislation priority for postwar jobs and Directory medicare care for disabilities. Michael Sacco, President Perhaps the most valuable of Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President Reintroduced in House and Senate the denied rights was the free college education, which the David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D- Dec. 7, 1941 and Dec. 31, men and women serving in U.S. Department of Commerce George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Calif.) on Jan. 4 introduced a 1946. This is the same period World War II, the numbers of has valued at $300,000 in Tom Orzechowski, bill (H.R. 23) before the House as all other veterans’ benefits, merchant mariners were small, increased lifetime earnings. Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters of Representatives in the 110th from which merchant mariners but their chance of dying dur- Filner pointed out that when Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Congress to amend title 46, were excluded until 1988. The ing service was extremely merchant mariners were not Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast United States Code, and title II bill also stipulates that any sur- high. Enemy forces sank more included in the GI Bill of of the Social Security Act. A viving wife of a qualified vet- than 800 ships between 1941 Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Rights, “The merchant marine similar bill (S.961) was pre- eran also shall be eligible to and 1944 alone. Kermett Mangram, became the forgotten service.” Vice President Government Services sented to the Senate on March receive the same benefit as the Merchant mariners remained He said, “The fact that mer- 22 by Senators Ben Nelson (D- veteran. in war zones long after the René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large chant seamen had borne arms Neb.), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) When he first brought the fighting troops came home to Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large during wartime in the defense and Sam Brown back (R-Kan.) bill before the House of Repre- enjoy the benefits of the GI of their country did not seem to H.R. 23 had been intro- sentatives in 2004, Filner noted Bill, which was signed by matter.” HEADQUARTERS duced in the 109th Congress as that World War II Merchant President Franklin D. Roose - Many WWII mariners final- 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 well, but no action was taken Mariners suffered the second- velt in 1944. At that time the ly received veterans’ recogni- (301) 899-0675 before adjourning for the year. highest casualty rate of any of president said, “I trust Congress tion in 1988, along with access Titled the “Belated Thank the branches of service while will soon provide similar ALGONAC to what Filner described as a You to the Merchant Mariners they delivered troops, tanks, opportunities to members of the 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 “watered-down” GI Bill. It of World War II Act of 2007,” amphibious craft, airplanes, merchant marine who have (810) 794-4988 took another 10 years to extend H.R. 23 directs the Secretary of jeeps, ammunition, PT boats, risked their lives time and time the cutoff date for recognition ANCHORAGE Veterans Affairs to pay a gasoline, aviation fuel, trucks, again during the war for the of mariners as veterans so it 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 monthly benefit of $1,000 to medicines and food rations to welfare of their country.” But matched the date utilized by (907) 561-4988 certain honorably-discharged every theater of the war from when he died, mariners were the military. veterans of the U.S. Merchant Normandy to Okinawa. Com- denied their benefits, including BALTIMORE The pending bill will try to Marine who served between pared to the large number of unemployment, education, 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 rectify some of these shortcom- (410) 327-4900 ings. As a member of the U.S. BOSTON Meetings in the Port of Houston Marine Industrial Park/EDIC House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Filner observed back 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 in 2004—and it still holds true (617) 261-0790 today—“While it is impossible GUAM to make up for over 40 years of P.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242 unpaid benefits, I propose a bill Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B that will acknowledge the ser- 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 vice of the veterans of the U.S. (671) 477-1350 Merchant Marine and offer HONOLULU compensation for years and years of lost benefits. The aver- 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 age age of (World War II) mer- (808) 845-5222 chant marine veterans is now HOUSTON 81. Many have outlived their 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 savings. A monthly benefit to (713) 659-5152 compensate for the loss of JACKSONVILLE nearly a lifetime of ineligibility for the GI Bill would be of 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 comfort and would provide (904) 353-0987 Above: SIU Vice President Dean Corgey (standing some measure of security for JOLIET fourth from left) addresses a December 2006 veterans of the U.S. Merchant 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 meeting of the Houston Chapter of the American Marine.” (815) 723-8002 Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) to update The list of supporters of them on current affairs in the Merchant Marine and H.R. 23 continues to grow at a MOBILE U.S.-flag maritime industry. The group meets 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 rapid pace. There are now 84 monthly at the Port of Houston Seamen’s Center cosponsors of the bill. (251) 478-0916 and includes retired WWII merchant marine vets As chairman of the House NEW ORLEANS as well as retired licensed and unlicensed Committee on Veterans’ Af - mariners. Any retired members interested in join- 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 ing their local AMMV should contact their port offi- fairs, Filner held a hearing (504) 328-7545 cials for additional information. April 18 to receive additional NEW YORK testimony on this important 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 Left: At a recent membership meeting in and long-overdue legislation. (718) 499-6600 Houston, VP Dean Corgey is flanked by Bosun Seafarers are encouraged to write to their U.S. senators and Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 Monte Pereira (left) and shoregang Bosun John Cain. representatives asking for their NORFOLK support of H.R. 23 and S.962. 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND PIC-FROM-THE-PAST 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by retired SIU 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 Robert S. Gordy (215) 336-3818 member of Owings Mills, Md. PINEY POINT It was taken April 22, 1967 P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 aboard Curtis Bay Towing’s tug (301) 994-0010 Kings Point. PORT EVERGLADES From the left are Mate Norman 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Pokrywka, Capt. Edward Brom - (954) 522-7984 well, Deckhands Robert S. Gordy SANTURCE and John Carr, and Engineer 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 “Reds” Forrester. All of the crew Santurce, PR 00907 were charter members of the (787) 721-4033 SIU-IBU. The “V” is for victory after a six- ST. LOUIS/ALTON month strike was settled. The 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 strike was led by Earl “Bull” (314) 752-6500 Shepard, the port agent in TACOMA Baltimore, and was backed by 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 the entire SIU until victory was (253) 272-7774 declared. WILMINGTON The Kings Point, a 2,400 hp 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 tug, was part of Curtis Bay’s Blue (310) 549-4000 Diamond Fleet.

16 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 1:41 PM Page 17

Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland 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 SEA ed his skills on two occasions at Brown’s first voyage was on the Va. He first Brother Gullette most recently the Paul Hall Center. Brother Mayo Lykes. He was born in sailed aboard shipped on the Intrepid. JAMES China Sea BALL Shannon’s most recent voyage Meridian, Miss. Prior to retiring, the . , 66, was aboard the Sirius. He resides Brother Brown shipped aboard Before retir- TORBIO began sailing in Dickinson, Texas. the Lykes Liberator. ing, Brother MENDOZA, with the SIU Gaffney 66, began his in 1970 from PABLO VAZQUEZ, 65, joined BELL worked on the NMU career the port of San the SIU in 1966. His first ship COLOMBO, Alaskan in 1960 in the Francisco. was the Western Hunter. Brother 71, was born Navigator. port of Brother Ball, Vazquez shipped in the engine in the Houston. who was born Dominican JESUS GARCIA Brother in Wyoming, worked in the stew- department. A native of Puerto , 61, embarked Rico, he upgraded his skills in Republic. on his seafaring career in 1965 in Mendoza first ard department. He first shipped Keystoner 2000 at the union-affiliated Brother the port of New York. Brother sailed on the . The aboard a vessel operated by Colombo steward department member, who Michigan Tankers Inc. In 2000 school in Piney Point, Md. Garcia first worked aboard the Brother Vazquez most recently began sailing Mormac Rio was born in Texas, most recently and 2001, Brother Ball upgraded . The Puerto Rico Cape Vincent. worked aboard the Horizon with the NMU in 1969. His first native most recently shipped on worked aboard the his seafaring skills at the Paul Producer vessel was the American Liberty; Hall Center for Maritime Training . He continues to live in the Enterprise. Puerto Rico. his most recent was the GEORGIAN- and Education in Piney Point, Nebraska. NA YOUNG, Md. His most recent voyage was JOHN Grand Canyon State PHILLIP 61, joined the on the . YAROS RIZAL GEEDMAN, NMU in 1979 Brother Ball calls Seattle home. , 65, began ship- COLON, 68, 65, joined the in the port of ping with the launched his NMU in 1975, Mobile, Ala. PAUL initially sail- CHARLEY Seafarers in NMU career Sister Young , in 1963 in San ing from the sailed as a 66, began his 1991. The Pennsylvania Juan, P.R. port of New member of the seafaring Brother Colon York. Born in steward department. She is a career in native first sailed aboard first shipped Bayonne, N.J., native of Alabama. 1966. Born in Cape Nome. aboard the Brother Geedman first worked Alabama, he the He most recently Export Bay worked on the USNS Mendonca. USNS Mission Santa Ynez. The aboard the as a mem- In addition to the individuals listed first sailed ber of the deck department. above, the following NMU pension- Del Brother Yaros attended classes at New York native worked in the aboard the engine department. Brother Colon ers retired on the dates indicated. Mar. Brother Charley upgraded the Piney Point school on three occasions. He makes his home in most recently sailed on the WILLIAM GULLETTE, 66, his skills often at the SIU-affiliat- Maersk Alabama. NAME AGE EDP ed school in Piney Point, Md. He Erma, N.J. donned the NMU colors in 1969 2nd in the port of Mobile, Ala. Antonio Beof 67 March 1 most recently worked on the DENNIS GAFFNEY, 57, joined Lt. John Paul Bobo. Brother Brother Gullette’s first voyage Kenneth Bunn 55 May 1 INLAND the NMU ranks in 1981 in the was aboard the Leslie Lykes. Born Charley makes his home in Joseph Hirtle 56 Jan. 1 ERNEST BRYAN, 68, joined the port of San Francisco. Brother in Alabama, he sailed as a mem- Mobile, Ala. Gaffney was born in Staunton, SIU ranks in 1996. Boatman ber of the steward department. Frank Papez 71 Jan. 1 THOMAS Bryan shipped primarily on ves- LASATER, sels operated by Crowley Liner Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. Senators Vance Hartke, Ted Kennedy and 56, joined the Services. Born in New Jersey, he Daniel Inouye also called for a stronger SIU in 1969. calls Hazelton, Pa. home 1945 American-flag merchant fleet in speeches Brother NEW YORK, May 14 – Victory in Europe before the convention. Lasater first VIRGINIA MILLER, 69, start- will have no immediate effect on shipping, and sailed aboard ed sailing with the SIU in 1995. any future falling off will be gradual, govern- Mobilian the Sister Miller was a member of the ment authorities said today. The demand for 1977 as a member steward department. She shipped space to move personnel and cargoes will con- A new age in American merchant shipping will of the deck department. He primarily on board Orgulf tinue, and a natural increase in transport to be born in the weeks ahead at a sprawling upgraded on numerous occasions Transport Company vessels. shipyard in the old New England town of at the SIU-affiliated school in the Pacific was developing, that will require all Sister Miller calls Paducah, Ky. the tonnage that can be spared from the Quincy, Mass. where SIU members will crew Piney Point, Md. Brother Lasater, home. who was born in California, most Atlantic. up the first liquefied natural gas carrier ever recently worked on the Brenton It was announced built in the Western Reef. He resides in Downington, recently that Europe This Month Hemisphere. This Pa. Editor’s note: The following would require some 12 incredible ship, named brothers and sister, all former million tons of food ANTONIO MARTES, 65, after the zodiac sign members of the National Maritime alone in the next year. In SIU History joined the SIU in 1967. Brother Union (NMU) and participants in Aquarius, marks the This was more than a Martes was born in Puerto Rico. the NMU Pension Trust, recently advent of a new breed Steel third of the total dry He first sailed aboard the went on pension. of U.S.-flag sailing ves- Scientist cargo export from this . His most recent voyage sel and a new trend in was on the Express. Brother country in the last peace year, 1939. Not WILLIAM merchant shipping that may someday change Martes was a member of the BIONDIE only will cargo ships be needed, but personnel , the entire makeup of the American merchant engine department. He makes his transport requirements will increase rather 64, joined the fleet. home in Brooklyn, N.Y. NMU in 1966. than diminish, it was said. The War He first The 936-foot Aquarius is the first of 12 U.S.- ANTONIO RIOS Department will be depending upon merchant , 50, embarked shipped from shipping, including SIU-manned vessels, to flag LNG tankers scheduled to be built at the on his seafaring career in 1982. the port of move millions of men from Europe to the General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy. She Brother Rios first sailed aboard New York as a has a 25-year charter to haul liquefied natural the Del Sol. The steward depart- Pacific theatre, to ship out fresh troops, to member of the return home from the battlefields discharged gas from Indonesia to Osaka, Japan. ment member attended classes steward department aboard the frequently at the Piney Point Constitution. Brother Biondie is a and furloughed servicemen and the wounded. school. Brother Rios, who was native of Dayton, Ohio. He most 1997 born in Puerto Rico, worked recently sailed on the Endurance. 1965 The SIU’s newest hall officially opened on aboard the Alliance New York The 12th biennial convention of the Seafarers May 20 when President Michael Sacco and prior to retiring. He is a resident RICHARD Executive Vice President John Fay toured the of Carolina, P.R. BOYD, 67, International Union of North America was conducted in Washington from May 26 facility in Anchorage, then attended a shore- became an side reception to launch the union’s newest FREDER- NMU member through June 1. The highlight of the conven- ICK SHAN- in 1963. Born tion’s first day came when AFL-CIO President initiative in Alaska. NON, 65, in Charleston, George Meany pledged that the federation “We are opening this hall in Anchorage to donned the S.C., Brother would go “down the line” and support mar- show how committed the SIU is to Alaska and SIU colors in Boyd first itime labor’s fight to preserve American ships, its growing maritime industry,” Sacco noted. 1998. Brother worked manned by American seamen at American “With this facility, we can help members and Metapan Shannon first aboard the in the stew- wage levels. He laid the responsibility for the their families who live in this state with any sailed as a ard department. decline of U.S. maritime at the door of the questions they may have concerning their ben- member of the efits. This hall will also help us in another AVELL BROW Departments of Agriculture, Defense and deck department aboard the N, 61, started his way—recruiting young Alaskans who want to Franklin T. Phillips. He was born State, whose policies weaken rather than help seafaring career in 1979 in the join the SIU and the U.S. Merchant Marine.” in Texas City, Texas and upgrad- port of Mobile, Ala. Brother American shipping. May 2007 Seafarers LOG 17 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:21 PM Page 18

Final Departures

DEEP SEA sailed on board a Sprogue Steamship 1983, Brother Williams sailed on the GREAT LAKES THOMAS KANE Long Island vessel. Brother MacDonald was a . He lived in Brook - Pensioner JOHN ASHLEY member of the deck department. His haven, N.Y. HOMER BUCK Thomas Kane, last voyage was aboard the Pensioner John Innovator Pensioner 81, died June . Brother MacDonald 16. Brother Ashley, 76, retired in 1988. He was a resident of KIRBY WRIGHT Homer Buck, passed away Kane embarked Las Vegas. Pensioner Kirby 73, died Oct. 8. on his seafaring Sept. 10. Wright, 80, died Brother Buck Brother Ashley career in 1965, VINCENTE ORTIZ Aug. 23. embarked on initially sailing launched his Brother Wright his SIU career seafaring career from the port of Pensioner became an SIU in 1961, joining San Francisco. in 1964. The Vincente Ortiz, member in 1947 New York-born in the port of His first ship was the American 79, passed away in the port of Detroit. He was Contractor. Brother Kane, who was mariner initially Sept. 8. Brother Norfolk, Va. sailed in the engine department of a a native of born in Sacramento, Calif., last Ortiz com- His first ship Altoona, Pa. and worked in the deck shipped aboard the Admiralty Bay. CSX Lines vessel. Brother Ashley Steel menced his sea- was the department. Brother Buck first sailed He retired in 1987. retired in 1995; he last shipped faring career in Survey. Brother Wright, who worked aboard the Achiever. He called aboard an American Steamship 1958. His first in the deck department, last sailed on Company vessel. His last voyage Houston home. ship was the the Voyager. He resided in his native VINCENT MEDEIROS was aboard the Saint Clair. Brother Santa Maria; state of North Carolina and began Samuel L. Cobb Buck started collecting his pension Pensioner ROCCO CARUSO his last was the . receiving his retirement pay in 1985. Vincent Brother Ortiz, who was born in in 1996. He lived in Cleveland. Pensioner Medeiros, 84, Puerto Rico, worked in the steward passed away Rocco Caruso, department until 1993, when he went INLAND PAUL CREGUER 83, died Sept. June 26. on pension. He lived in West Palm Brother 10. Brother Beach, Fla. ROBERT HIEL Pensioner Paul Caruso joined Creguer, 81, Medeiros was the union in Pensioner passed away born in Hawaii 1948 in the port ANTHONY PALINO Robert Hiel, 70, Sept. 12. and joined the passed away NMU in 1941, of New Pensioner Brother Creguer Orleans. His Sept. 1. joined the union first shipping on the Ivy Harbor. He Anthony Palino, Boatman Hiel went on pension in 1978. first ship was 79, died Aug. 7. in 1965 in the the John B. Waterman. Brother started his sea- port of Fort Brother Palino faring career in Caruso was born in Italy and sailed was a native of Lauderdale. He YU TANG in the deck department. He last 1978 in Detroit. was born in New Jersey. He He sailed in Pensioner Yu worked aboard a Michigan Tankers became a mem- Elkton, Mich. and worked in the Inc. vessel. Brother Caruso went on both the inland deck department. Brother Creguer Tang, 81, died ber of the SIU and Great Lakes divisions. Boatman Huron Portland June 15. pension in 1979. He lived in in 1947 in the first sailed on the Baltimore. Hiel’s first ship was the Niagara. Cement. His last voyage was aboard Brother Tang port of Born in Detroit, he was a member of J.A.W. Iglehart donned the Baltimore. Brother Palino’s first the . Brother Creguer Steel Navigator. the steward department. Boatman became a pensioner in 1990. He NMU colors in JAMES GARD voyage was on the Hiel most recently shipped on an 1963, first sail- He sailed in the deck department, made his home in Oscoda, Mich. Pensioner OLS Transport vessel. He retired in ing aboard the most recently aboard the Horizon Hope James Gard, 78, Trader. 2002 and made his home in Punta . He was Brother Palino called Fort Gorda, Fla. STEVEN LUKOWSKI born in China. passed away Lauderdale, Fla. home. He started Sept. 21. Brother Steven During his seafaring career, Brother collecting compensation for his Tang worked in the steward depart- Brother Gard, retirement in 1991. CLAUDIE JONES Lukowski, 48, who was born died July 20. ment. His last voyage was on the in Fort Pierce, Pensioner Claudie Jones, 64, died He joined the American Marketer. Brother Tang Fla., began sail- HERIBERTO VAZQUEZ Aug. 3. Boatman Jones donned the SIU in 2001 in began receiving his retirement pay in SIU colors in 1967. His first trip was Detroit. Brother 1986. ing with the Pensioner on a Dixie Carriers vessel. Boatman Lukowski’s first SIU in 1946 in Heriberto the port of Baltimore, Md. Brother Jones was a member of the deck ship was the Vazquez, 77, department. He was born in North Richard J. ARCHIBALD TROTT Gard’s first voyage was on a passed away Carolina and made his home in Reiss. He was a Pensioner Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Aug. 19. Leesburg, Ga. Boatman Jones went member of the steward department. Archibald Trott, The steward department member’s Brother Horizon on pension in 1997. Brother Lukowski most recently 98, passed away last voyage was aboard the Vazquez began Crusader shipped aboard the Adam E. June 28. . Brother Gard became a his seafaring Cornelius. He was a resident of Brother Trott pensioner in 1988. He resided in his career in 1957. JOHN NOLDE native state. Alpena, Mich. joined the His first trip to Pensioner John NMU in 1947 sea was on the Banner, where he Nolde, 82, GEORGE MILLER in the port of HARRY JONES sailed in the engine department. passed away New York. His Brother Vazquez’s last voyage was Aug. 18. Born Pensioner first trip to sea Pensioner Harry aboard the Carolina. He was a resi- Jones, 67, died in Penn - George Miller, was on the Lady Somers. Brother dent of his native Puerto Rico and sylvania, 78, passed away Trott was born in the West Indies Aug. 21. became a pensioner in 1994. Brother Jones Boatman Nolde July 2. Brother and shipped in the steward depart- started sailing joined the union Miller was born ment. Prior to retiring in 1972, he with the Marine JOHN WALKEN in 1943 in the in Lewistown, sailed aboard the Mormac Sky. port of New Pa. and began Cooks and Pensioner John Stewards in York. He initially shipped on the sailing with the Walken, 93, Southern District. Before retiring in union in 1963 JAMES WHITFIELD 1962 in the port died Sept. 8. of San 1982, he worked aboard an Interstate in the port of Pensioner Brother Walken Oil Transport Co. vessel. Boatman Detroit. Brother Miller initially James Francisco. He was born in Tennessee joined the SIU and worked in the steward depart- Nolde was a resident of worked aboard a Rockport Whitfield, 80, in 1951 in the Philadelphia. Steamship Company vessel. The died June 16. ment. Brother Jones last worked on port of New the President Roosevelt. He made his deck department member last Brother York. He first JOSEPH PULLEN shipped on the American Mariner. Whitfield home in Randallstown, Md. and sailed aboard an began receiving his pension in 1997. Brother Miller retired in 1992. He became an A.H. Bull Pensioner Joseph Pullen, 83, died called Mifflin, Mass. home. NMU member Steamship Company vessel in the Aug. 2. Boatman Pullen launched his in 1944 in the TIMOTHY LARUE deck department. Brother Walken, SIU career in 1951 in the port of port of New who was born in Germany, last New Orleans. His first voyage was Editor’s note: The following brothers, York. The New Haven, Conn. native Brother Timothy Larue, 47, passed shipped on board the Resource. He aboard the Zane Grey. Boatman away Aug. 3. He joined the SIU in all former members of the National worked in the engine department. lived in Howell, N.J. and went on Pullen last sailed on a Gulf Canal Maritime Union (NMU) and partici- Brother Whitfield last worked on the 1979. Brother Larue’s first voyage pension in 1979. Lines vessel. Boatman Pullen, who was aboard the Boston. He worked pants in the NMU Pension Trust have Santa Cruz. He began collecting his called Westwego, La. home, started passed away. pension in 1970. as a member of the deck department. collecting his pension in 1989. Brother Larue most recently shipped Atlantic WILLIAM WILLIAMS on the . The West Virginia- JOSE ALVARADO born mariner made his home in Pensioner FRANK THEILER Jacksonville, Fla. William Pensioner Frank Pensioner Jose Williams, 85, Theiler, 73, Alvarado, 93, CHARLES MacDONALD passed away passed away passed away Sept. 28. Sept. 27. June 18. Pensioner Brother Boatman Brother Charles Williams was Theiler was a Alvarado joined MacDonald, 79, born in Texas native. the NMU in died July 1. Virginia. He He began sail- 1945 in the port Brother embarked on ing with the of Baltimore, MacDonald his seafaring career in 1947 in the SIU in 1962. Md. The Puerto joined the SIU port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Boatman Theiler shipped primarily Rico-born mariner first sailed on the in 1953. The Williams initially shipped aboard the on vessels operated by Galveston Lincoln Steffen. Brother Alvarado, Canadian-born Sandchief. He was a member of the Wharves. He retired in 1998 and who last sailed on a Mormac Isle mariner initially deck department. Prior to retiring in made his home in Rural, Texas. vessel, became a pensioner in 1967. 18 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p1,2,5,7,8,9,18,19:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:30 PM Page 19

disputed OT reported. Vote of MAERSK NEBRASKA (E- standardize all contracts. Bosun thanks to chief steward and his Ships), March 19—Chairman reminded crew of SIU’s tradition- Digest of Shipboard galley gang. Next ports: Frederick L. Gathers, Secretary al mess room courtesies: no hats, Jacksonville; San Juan, P.R.; Luis A. Caballero. Chairman tanks tops or flip flops. Next Union Meetings Elizabeth, N.J. expressed need to retain copy of ports: Texas City, Texas; Port SIU minutes and standard Everglades, Fla.; Charleston, S.C. The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard HORIZON HAWK (Horizon freighter agreement aboard ship. minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space Lines), March 26—Chairman Educa tional director urged crew QUALITY (Maersk Line limitations, some will be omitted. Steven L. Bush, Secretary to read Seafarers LOG to find out Limited), March 30—Chairman Donald C. Spangler, Engine information about courses offered William M. Richards, Secretary Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Delegate Samuel Garrett, at Piney Point. Beefs and disputed Franklyn J. Cordero, Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union Steward Delegate Kenneth E. OT reported in deck department. Educational Director Rudolph C. upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The minutes are then forwarded Huddleston. Chairman reported Crew requested clarification on Maycock. Chairman announced to the Seafarers LOG for publication. dryer was out of order and there transportation to and from vessel. New Jersey payoff along with a are no spare parts. Electrician is Request made for new DVD play- crew change. He thanked all working on problem, and it will er in crew lounge and new refrig- departments for safe trip and for CHEMICAL TRADER (Intrepid ship is due for layup in May. Two be brought to captain’s attention. erator for pantry. helping keep rooms and main Ship Management), March 27— new ships have joined the fleet, Secretary welcomed everyone house clean. Secretary reminded Raymond A. Tate Horizon Hawk Horizon MAERSK VERMONT (E-Ships), Chairman , the and aboard ship’s first crossing and March 25—Chairman Jim Joyce, departing members to leave Secretary Rocel C. Alvarez, Deck Hunter. Secretary advised crew to thanked them for working so hard Robert J. Bostick. rooms clean and supplied with Hawk Secretary Delegate Francis Johnson, have books ready for patrolman to bring into service. Chairman encouraged Seafarers to fresh linen for next person. He Engine Delegate Carlos Ventura, upon arrival in Oakland and to Educational director advised contribute to SPAD. No beefs or also advised everyone to check Steward Delegate Manes Sainvill. read Seafarers LOG to keep Seafarers to stay up to date on disputed OT reported. Crew mem- expiration dates on all documents. Chairman announced April 1 pay- informed of union and maritime upgrading opportunities available bers expressed concern over the Educational director noted the off in Lake Charles, La. Secretary issues. Educational director at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or condition of rooms at payoff. importance of upgrading skills at expressed gratitude for help in encouraged mariners to upgrade disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to have vacation Piney Point and contributing to keeping mess hall and house skills at Paul Hall Center and Recommendation made to have checks sent home and to increase SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT clean. Educational director keep all paperwork in order. No option of direct deposit for vaca- pension payments. Next port: New reported. Steward department encouraged mariners to contribute beefs or disputed OT reported. tion pay as well as numerous sug- York. thanked for excellent meals. to SPAD and upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, LIBERTY (Interocean American Md. He also discussed new ID Aboard the Global Patriot Shipping), April 1—Chairman cards (TWIC). No beefs or disput- Erik P. Penia, Secretary Stephen ed OT reported. Letter read from A. Bird, Deck Delegate Paul M. Port Everglades patrolman per- McDonell, Engine Delegate taining to vacation policy. Next Bernard Corbett, Steward The Seafarers pictured Raford Nixon. ports: Tampa, Fla.; Lake Charles. here were aboard the Delegate Chairman spoke about how ARC GALENA BAY (OSG Ship Global Patriot when union representatives and Interocean American Management), March 27— Shipping have grown in recent Al Caulder from the port of Norfolk Chairman , Secretary serviced the vessel years—a positive sign. Secretary Fausto D. Aranda, Educational requested information about sta- Mark E. Sawin March 14 in Sunny Director . Point, N.C. tus of new contract and discussed Chairman announced arrival in Oiler Jeffrey Murray need for continual upgrading of Tampa, Fla. and expected union skills to keep up with ever-chang- representative to come aboard. ing industry. Treasurer noted Secretary thanked DEUs for job arrival of two new pieces of gym well done. Educational director equipment. The gym is looking requested clarification regarding good, and the crew is reaping the cost of living increases for pen- rewards. No beefs or disputed OT sion benefits. He also stressed reported. Request made that laun- importance of upgrading skills at dry machines be fixed or replaced Piney Point school. No beefs or and that transformers be installed disputed OT reported. Steward in each cabin so crew can use department was thanked for great Oilers Spencer Reed and Bentley Arrundell their 110v gear. Bosun thanked food. galley gang for good food and GLOBAL SENTINEL (Trans - keeping up morale. Next port: oceanic Cable Company), March Baltimore, Md. Timothy B. Fogg 6—Chairman , MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Secretary Shawn R. Fujiwara, Lothar ABs Steven Kroner, Rotilio Alvarez Line Limited), April Educational Director and Arnel Resurreccion 1—Chairman Felix A. Santiago, Wick, Deck Delegate David L. Billy Gigante Parks Gary M. Secretary , , Engine Delegate Educational Director Hiawatha Bartlett, Steward Delegate James J. Williams Paul M. Callahan , Deck Delegate . Chairman talked I. Castillo, Steward Delegate about the upcoming MARS cable Brian T. McEleney. Chairman installation project. He also read reported good voyage with good report from headquarters pertain- crew and announced April 2 pay- ing to sleep deprivation and off in Elizabeth, N.J. Educational reminded all Seafarers to get director encouraged members to proper amount of rest. Educational director urged take advantage of educational Seafarers to check document expi- opportunities available at Paul ration dates. He noted it is taking Hall Center. No beefs or disputed Bosun John Habib and AB James Ray OT reported. Vote of thanks given 4-6 months to renew documents, QEE Terry Wilcox sometimes longer. Mariners can to steward department for job renew documents one year in well done. Next ports: Elizabeth; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C. advance. Treasurer stated $3,500 Crew members were thanked for gestions for improvements as ship OVERSEAS HOUSTON (OSG in ship’s fund. Cigarettes will be smooth and safe trip. Next ports: settles into a routine. SEABULK ARCTIC (Seabulk sold only when ship is at sea (per Ship Management), March 4— International), April 4—Chairman Oakland; Los Angeles; Honolulu. Timothy D. Koebe directive of captain). No beefs or HORIZON PRODUCER Chairman l, Juan Castillo, Secretary Allan disputed OT reported. (Horizon Lines), March 2— Secretary Ekow Doffoh, W. Bartley, Educational Director HORIZON HAWAII (Horizon Joseph R. Colangelo Edward Communications were posted as Lines), March 18 – Chairman Chairman , Educational Director Salome Castro, Deck Delegate William J. Bunch Self Paul they were received. Suggestions Antonio M. Mercado, Secretary Secretary , , Deck Delegate Steven E. Dubley, Engine Angel S. were made concerning contract Joseph J. Gallo Jr., Educational Educational Director Hackney, Engine Delegate Delegate Melgar D. Daguio, Hernandez and lowering retirement age. Director Roy S. Frett Jr., Deck , Deck Delegate Anjwar Brooks, Steward Steward Delegate Enrico S. Cleofe B. Castro Members also requested clarifica- Delegate Isaac Vega-Mercado, . Chairman Delegate Hayes Johnson. LaMarca. Chairman discussed tion on manning scale for crew Engine Delegate Mohamed M. informed crew payoff would take Chairman stated captain will pur- new contract, which will be when ship goes out on projects. Hadwan, Steward Delegate Jorge place after union meeting. Ship chase adapters (not converters) for retroactive to Oct. 1, 2006. With such a large crew, members R. Salazar. Chairman thanked has just returned from foreign 220 outlets. E-mail will come Secretary thanked crew for help- were asked to help keep areas everyone for working together as articles and must clear customs online March 5 and there is now a ing keep mess hall clean. He also clean, especially laundry room a team and announced April 6 and immigration in San Juan praised Chief Cook LaMarca for and crew lounge. Next ports: San proper mailing address. He also payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. He before they can go ashore. great meals and GVA for keeping Francisco; Portland, Ore. let crew know that e-deposits are asked crew to have union books Educational director encouraged available and gave steps to follow house so clean. Educational direc- HORIZON CONSUMER and dues ready for boarding members to contribute to SPAD to initiate it. Mariners were asked tor asked everyone to check docu- (Horizon Lines), March 25— patrolman and also warned and renew documents before they to refrain from talking in hall and ment dates and renew early, not Chairman Lawrence L. Kunc, Seafarers to keep MMDs and expire. Treasurer stated $6,186.85 playing TVs or music at high vol- when they are just about to expire. Secretary Terry L. Allen, passports current or chance losing in ship’s fund. No beefs or disput- ume from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Educational Director Charles L. a job. Secretary thanked fellow ed OT reported. Recommenda - Educational director discussed Mariners requested new washer Wharton Sangie tions were made to increase pen- , Deck Delegate crew members for smooth, safe TWIC information from February and dryer combo in crew laundry. Mohamed sion and medical benefits. , Steward Delegate voyage and reminded them to “Be Seafarers LOG. No beefs or dis- Members were asked to return Enrique A. Garrido. Chairman alert; don’t get hurt.” Educational Request made for new chairs in DVDs when finished viewing crew lounge and crew mess as puted OT reported. Suggestions announced March 27 payoff director advised mariners to made to increase medical benefits, them. Next ports: Port Angeles before arrival in Oakland, Calif. upgrade skills at the SIU-affiliated well as box springs in crew reinstitute penalty meal hours and and Anacortes, Wash.; Valdez, He informed crew members that school in Piney Point. No beefs or rooms. Alaska. May 2007 Seafarers LOG 19 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 5/1/2007 12:09 PM Page 20

Letters to the Editor Know Your Rights

Editor’s note: The Seafarers pied by a U.S. Navy base, and even told we were welcome to FINANCIAL REPORTS PAYMENT OF MONIES LOG reserves the right to edit let- . The . No they had a clothing store there attend the annual employee Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, monies are to be paid to anyone in ters for grammar as well as space that furnished clothes for the appreciation party where the Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters any official capacity in the SIU unless provisions without changing the Navy personnel. So, our management arranging the out- District/NMU makes specific provi- an official union receipt is given for writer’s intent. The LOG wel- “wardrobes” consisted of Navy sourcing (and so proud of the job sion for safeguarding the member- same. Under no circumstances should comes letters from members, pen- outfits in various sizes and ranks. we were doing) attended. We ship’s money and union finances. The any member pay any money for any sioners, their families and ship- We had quite a hilarious time or endured people from India wan- constitution requires a detailed audit reason unless he is given such receipt. mates and will publish them on a two when we would be mistaken dering around the office while by certified public accountants every In the event anyone attempts to timely basis. for Navy officers and get saluted. employees were told to teach year, which is to be submitted to the require any such payment be made Later we were flown back to them their jobs. membership by the secretary-treasur- without supplying a receipt, or if a Memories from Tampa by the steamship compa- “Morally bankrupt” is such an er. A yearly finance committee of member is required to make a pay- 1943 Voyage ny, paid off and returned to our appropriate term in describing rank-and-file members, elected by the ment and is given an official receipt, membership, each year examines the but feels that he or she should not The following story (and home port of Mobile. There, we outsourcing. registered at the SIU hall and finances of the union and reports fully have been required to make such pay- many others) was told to me by Meanwhile, the replacements their findings and recommendations. ment, this should immediately be my late husband, Milton sailed on another trip out. from India just weren’t “getting Members of this committee may reported to union headquarters. Robinson, who was an SIU sea- There was never a time in my it” and still needed to be trained. make dissenting reports, specific rec- CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS man. He joined the SIU in 1941 life that was fearful of the sea, or Some database management per- ommendations and separate findings. AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of and retired in 1969. He was very regretted my service as a mer- sonnel stayed behind and some of TRUST FUNDS chant mariner. In fact, even dur- . All trust funds of the SIU Constitution are available in proud of the SIU because he was the employees scheduled to be the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and ing times of war, I still loved the all union halls. All members should “in” on the early days. Of course, laid off March 9 were asked to Inland Waters District/NMU are open seas. The foreign countries obtain copies of this constitution so as during that time, many labor stay and help finish the training. administered in accordance with the to familiarize themselves with its unions were formed for the work- and the many interesting people I It’s one thing when you are told provisions of various trust fund contents. Any time a member feels ing men and women of the day. met were unforgettable. that you must train a replacement agreements. All these agreements any other member or officer is As told by Milton Robinson Shipwrecked and you do it because you don’t specify that the trustees in charge of attempting to deprive him or her of To his wife of 64 years, Doris want to be let go without that sev- these funds shall equally consist of any constitutional right or obligation I signed on to the Liberty ship Robinson erance package. It’s another thing union and management representa- by any methods, such as dealing with SS James Withycombe Mobile, Alabama as boat- to smile and go out to lunch with tives and their alternates. All expendi- charges, trials, etc., as well as all swain in Mobile, Ala. on Nov. 16, tures and disbursements of trust funds SIU President’s Column your replacement while they’re other details, the member so affected 1943 along with other guys mak- stealing your job. are made only upon approval by a should immediately notify headquar- ing up the crew from Mobile. She Hits Mark majority of the trustees. All trust fund ters. The article mentioned America financial records are available at the was loaded with cargo. Thank you for the wonderful, West and U.S. Airways. My con- EQUAL RIGHTS. All members We sailed south from Mobile headquarters of the various trust straightforward article on the cern is this: Why did they really are guaranteed equal rights in employ- toward the Panama Canal en funds. condition of America and out- bring reservations back to the ment and as members of the SIU. route to a port in the Far East. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s sourcing (President’s column, U.S.? If it’s the language barrier, These rights are clearly set forth in the Approaching the Canal was a shipping rights and seniority are pro- April 2007 issue). what is to prevent management SIU Constitution and in the contracts stretch of seas marked “shallow” tected exclusively by contracts which the union has negotiated with After seven years as a reserva- from considering Canada in the and “not navigable.” We became tions agent in a call center spe- between the union and the employers. the employers. Conse quently, no future? It’s still cheap labor but too close to these waters during a cializing in the hospitality indus- Members should get to know their member may be discriminated against now you have people who speak terrible storm and unfortunately try, the reservations department shipping rights. Copies of these con- because of race, creed, color, sex, the English language and can be were grounded. We were to be where I worked was let go due to tracts are posted and available in all national or geographic origin. rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. the outsourcing of our jobs to understood. union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping If any member feels that he or she is The order came: “Abandon New Brunswick, Canada. The Where do we go from here? or seniority rights as contained in the denied the equal rights to which he or ship!” The Coast Guard was Companies are importing foreign database department was out- contracts between the union and the she is entitled, the member should standing by very shortly and sourced to India. As a result, labor illegally and American jobs notify union headquarters. are being exported. employers, they should notify the threw us ropes, buoys and other approximately 120 American Seafarers Appeals Board by certified SEAFARERS POLITICAL equipment for the rescue. We jobs are gone. The company start- I boycott American-based ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD companies that outsource their mail, return receipt requested. The . could take nothing with us except ed to push for outsourcing about proper address for this is: SPAD is a separate segregated fund. reservations/customer service the clothes on our backs. five years ago and sent other Its proceeds are used to further its The last to leave the ship were clients up to Canada for reserva- departments. The conflict with Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board objects and purposes including, but the captain, first mate and me. tions. At that time there were no American-based hotels is that not limited to, furthering the political, they do employ American work- 5201 Auth Way There was no thought of anything layoffs but still the jobs are sit- Camp Springs, MD 20746 social and economic interests of mar- but getting off the dangerous ves- ting in Canada. ers—union and non-union. itime workers, the preservation and sel that was being battered by the We were given a 60-day All Americans owe a debt to Full copies of contracts as referred furthering of the American merchant wind against the rocks and the notice. We were continually all true, strong and upstanding to are available to members at all marine with improved employment treacherous seas. being thanked for the great job union members. times, either by writing directly to the opportunities for seamen and boat- we had done—in writing and Fran Codispoti union or to the Seafarers Appeals men and the advancement of trade The Coast Guard let us off at Board. the nearest island that was occu- with a catered lunch—and were Scottsdale, Arizona union concepts. In connection with CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU such objects, SPAD supports and con- contracts are available in all SIU tributes to political candidates for Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? halls. These contracts specify the elective office. All contributions are wages and conditions under which an voluntary. No contribution may be SIU member works and lives aboard solicited or received because of force, In order to help ensure that each active SIU be mailed (unless otherwise specified). a ship or boat. Members should know job discrimination, financial reprisal, member and pensioner receives a copy of the If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG their contract rights, as well as their or threat of such conduct, or as a con- Seafarers LOG every month—as well as other delivered to you, if you have changed your address, obligations, such as filing for over- dition of membership in the union or important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and or if your name or address is misprinted or incom- time (OT) on the proper sheets and in of employment. If a contribution is health insurance checks and bulletins or notices—a plete, please fill out the form and send it to: the proper manner. If, at any time, a made by reason of the above improp- correct home address must be on file with the union. Seafarers International Union member believes that an SIU patrol- er conduct, the member should notify If you have moved recently or feel that you are Address Correction Dept. man or other union official fails to the Seafarers International Union or not getting your union mail, please use the form on 5201 Auth Way protect their contractual rights prop- SPAD by certified mail within 30 this page to update your home address. Camp Springs, MD 20746 erly, he or she should contact the days of the contribution for investiga- Your home address is your permanent address, nearest SIU port agent. tion and appropriate action and and this is where all official union documents will or e-mail corrections to [email protected] refund, if involuntary. A member EDITORIAL POLICY — THE should support SPAD to protect and SEAFARERS LOG Seafarers . The further his or her economic, political HOME ADDRESS FORM 5/07 LOG traditionally has refrained from and social interests, and American publishing any article serving the trade union concepts. (Please Print) political purposes of any individual in NOTIFYING THE UNION the union, officer or member. It also —If at Name: ______has refrained from publishing articles any time a member feels that any of deemed harmful to the union or its the above rights have been violated, Phone No.: ______collective membership. This estab- or that he or she has been denied the lished policy has been reaffirmed by constitutional right of access to union Address: ______membership action at the September records or information, the member should immediately notify SIU ______1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Sea farers President Michael Sacco at headquar- LOG ters by certified mail, return receipt Social Security No.: ______/ ______/ ______Book No.: ______policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the executive requested. The address is:  Active SIU  Pensioner  Other ______board of the union. The executive Michael Sacco, President board may delegate, from among its Seafarers International Union This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. ranks, one individual to carry out this 5201 Auth Way This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. responsibility. Camp Springs, MD 20746. 20 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/28/2007 12:33 PM Page 21

FOWT June 18 July 13 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER August 13 September 7 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE October 8 November 2 Junior Engineer July 16 September 7 The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Machinist June 18 July 6 Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for most of 2007. All programs are geared July 9 July 27 to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the Marine Electrician September 24 November 16 maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Pumpman* July 9 July 20 Saturday before Students attending any of these classes should check in the their (*must have tankerman familiarization/ July 30 August 10 course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the assistant cargo (DL) AND machinist) start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Advanced Refrigerated Container May 21 June 15 Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Welding May 7 May 25 Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. June 11 June 29 August 6 August 24 October 1 October 19 Deck Upgrading Courses October 29 November 16 Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman May 28 June 22 Safety Specialty Courses July 9 August 3 Course Start Date Date of Completion August 20 September 14 Advanced Fire Fighting July 9 July 20 October 1 October 26 Fast Rescue Boat May 21 May 25 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* June 18 June 22 June 25 June 29 (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) October 22 October 26 July 23 July 27 August 27 August 31 Celestial Navigation July 9 August 3 Basic Safety Training Classes are conducted weekly GMDSS August 13 August 24 Government Vessels May 14 May 18 Lifeboatman/Water Survival May 14 May 25 May 28 June 1 June 25 July 6 June 25 June 29 August 6 August 17 July 16 July 20 September 17 September 28 August 6 August 10 October 29 November 9 September 17 September 21 November 5 November 9 Radar June 4 June 15 October 8 October 19 Medical Care Provider July 23 July 27 Radar Renewal (one day) June 25 Tankerman Familiarization/ June 4 June 15 October 29 Assistant Cargo (DL)* September 24 October 5 (*must have basic fire fighting) November 26 December 7 Tankerman (PIC) Barge* June 4 June 8 Steward Upgrading Courses (*must have basic fire fighting) August 13 August 17 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning April Recertification 30, 2007. Bosun October 8 November 5 Steward July 9 August 6 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Academic Department Courses Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops May 21 June 15 General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic July 16 August 10 vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks September 10 October 5 prior to the beginning of a vocational course. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. 

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty- UPGRADING APPLICATION five (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Name ______Coast 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 money Address______order only, payable to LMSS. BEGIN END ______COURSE DATE DATE 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 be ______processed. ______Social Security # ______Book # ______Seniority ______Department ______U.S. Citizen: Yes  No  Home Port ______Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held ______LAST VESSEL: ______Rating: ______

______Date On: ______Date Off: ______Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program?  Yes  No SIGNATURE ______DATE ______If yes, class # ______NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses?  Yes  No present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any ques- tions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. If yes, course(s) taken ______Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189.

 Yes  No Firefighting:  Yes  No CPR:  Yes  No The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise quali- fied, of any race, nationality or sex. The school complies with applicable laws with regard to admission, access Primary language spoken ______or treatment of students in its programs or activities. 5/07 May 2007 Seafarers LOG 21 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24:2007-May 4/30/2007 3:38 AM Page 22

Paul Hall Center Classes

Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 684 — Graduating from the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from class 684. They include (in alphabetical order) Diego Barbosa, Patrick Brill, Theodore Butler, William Cruz, Felix AB — Receiving certificates for completion of the AB course March 30 are (in no specif- DeArmas, Dante DeMcCutae, Jarrod Fluitt, Fred Green, Daniel Griffin, Anthony Hill, ic order) Rolando Salamat, Raul Vargas, Algernon Reed, Dominic Gilmartin, Kevin Stehlik, Joseph Jacobs, Arthur Jones, James Knute, Clarence Lee Jr., Clayton Lupton, Jeffery Griffin, Michael Moody, Steven Blair, Maxine Howard, Samuel Thatcher, James Christopher McAfee, Joshue McAtee, David McRoy, Pascal Moise, Travis Moody, Alaniz, Ian Chin, Marvin Herman III, Christen Christensen, Joseph Brown, Nicasio Arzu, Walter Nordora, Vivian Norfleet, Gil Quinones, Ronaldo Quinones, Junior Tanaka, Juan Ortiz and Richard Perez. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. David Weeks and Dominique Wilson.

Cargo Handling — Students in the mates program recently completed cargo handling as well as coastal navigation. They are (in no specific order) FOWT — Adam Emanuel, Robert Stone, Philip Wright, David Lane II, Darrel Konce, Upgrading Seafarers who completed the FOWT course March 23 are (in no specific Clyde McNatt, Joey Lupton, Jay Templet, Scott Chew, Kesse Kesse and order) Nicholas Bridges, Nicholas Gattuso, Drew Barth, Edwin Feliciano, Derek King, Christina James Raney. Their instructor, Stacey Harris, is second from left. Earhart, Jimmie Williams Jr., Theo Martin, Antoine Best, Jeffery Novak, Mervin Cruzat, Marion Cruzat, Catherine Clark, Lee Patrick, Dallon Garnett, Richard DeLaCruz, Timothy Hetz, Michael Lais, Reginald Miller, LeGarrius Jones, Jamal Ricks, Melvin Ratcliff Jr., David Grasso, Peter McGlow and Peter Garwood.

Z-Drive — Under the direction of Mike Smith (far left) are boatmen from Express Marine who graduated from the Z- drive training March 9. They are (from the left) Doug Covil, Gil Pruitt, Jonathan West, Keith Kirkeide, Jeffrey Fackett and Capt. Greg Brooks (who also instructed the course).

STCW — Seafarers completing the STCW course March 20 are (in alphabetical order) Yunlay Bridges, Larry Florip, Christopher Follmar, Arthur Computer Lab Classes Horner, Getolio Medallo, Abraham Mills and Jessie With instructor Parente. Rick Prucha (back row,cen- Welding — ter) are students Under the who recently instruction of Buzzy completed com- Andrews (fourth from puter classes at right) are March 2 gradu- the Paul Hall ates of the welding class Center. Showing (in alphabetical order) their certificates Muniru Adam, Roger of achievement Dillinger Jr., Nicholas are (from left, Dippel, Lawrence seated) Paul Amato, Emilia Guerrero, Cynthia Harris, Woodin and Mark Kane, Stephen Muniru Adam and (from left, standing) Stephen Riccobene and Riccobene and William Roger Dillinger Jr. Scott. 22 Seafarers LOG May 2007 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24x:2007-May 5/1/2007 12:56 PM Page 23

Paul Hall Center Classes

Chief Cook — Students who completed the course for chief cooks in May are (from the left) Abdmutaali Muhammad, Luisa Oben, Robeson Carrier, Benny Samosan, Cynthia Espinda, Instructor/Chef John Dobson, Ismael Garayua, Alyxsi Alexander and Javier Delosreyes.

Radar — G&H Towing boatmen who completed the radar course March 16 under the instruction of Herb Walling (far right) are (in no spe- cific order) William Riggs, Jonathan Batten, Sean Lafrage, Albert Tircuit III, Matthew Hargrove IV and Lionel Hall.

Junior Engineer — With their instructor Jay Henderson (far left) are Seafarers who completed the junior engineer course March 2. They are (in no Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Two classes of Phase II apprentices specific order) Robert Bruning II, Orlando Herrera, Stephen Riccobene, graduated March 16 from tankerman assistant courses. They are (in no specific order) Gillis Angeron Antoine Rainey, Brandon Granger, Greg McKinnon, Reginald Glover, James III, Sheldon Brittain, Dante McCutac, Ronaldo Quinones, Charles Naze, Paul San Nicolas, David Oling, Muniru Adam, Daryl Thomas, Jim Brown, Jerome Culbreth, Nicholas Weeks, James Knute, Kendra Gardner, Patrick Brill, Destinie LeBlanc, Peter Dudoit III, Hussein Collins, Cynthia Harris, Scott Spilman, James McDade, Lon Molnar, Yuriy Mohsen, Awal SyiaFullah, Travis Moody, Ekedra Turner, Quintonio Walden, Arthur Doherty, Pascal Khitrenko, Roger Dillinger Jr., Anthony Alibah, Reginald Colbert, Terrance Moise, Jojuan Carey, Jason Devine, Anson John, David McRoy Jr., Junior Tanaka, Clarence Lee Jr., Colbert and Antonio Watson. Joseph Jacobs, Christopher McAfee, Quince Harrington, Theodore Butler, Edward Kelly, Jesse Lewis, Fred Green, Bradley Wade, Nick Johnston, Gil Quinones, Walter Nodora, Vivian Norfleet, Joel Marcano, Catherine Jones, William Cotea and SIU upgrader Reynaldo Bangcot.

STCW — NCL, March 20: Brittney Coursey, Sterling Cuffee, Lee Eliason, Nakethia Evans, William Frazelle, Jacquelyn Fulton, Paul Gerischer, Stefanie Glidden, Heriberto Graniela, Scott Hake, Monica Hanks, Mackenze Harris, Sharnon Harris, Allison Haynes, STCW — NCL, March 20: Natalie Acosta, Daniel Armendariz, La’Triva Ashe, Brock Andrew Houser, Llamar Jackson, Paul Janusky, Kelly Jendeski, Curtis Johnson, Kenyatta Johnson, Elizabeth Jones and George Kauffman. Aston, Jennifer Baltes, Matthew Bendus, Edward Bersamin, Juan Bishaw, Carly Black, Rikki Bowers, Karen Bowman, Meg Brigowatz, Janine Bryant, Christopher Budding, Justin Bultz, John Casey, Amanda Chedester, Darnita Clonts, Grant Coates, Jay Cole, Cristin Collier and Andreas Corbett.

STCW — NCL, March 20: Robin Kent, Kate Krieg, Anthony Kupkowski, Roxie Lara, Joseph Lewis, Karen Limpert, Sherian Lutton, Ryan MacDonald, David McCollum, Peter Medellin, STCW — NCL, March 20: Nancy Chapman, Abigail Coleman, Whitney Edghill, Chaunci Peeples, Brenda Pettit, Kenneth Porter, Reba Repinski, Desirae Rhoads, John Darlene Labrador, Joseph Mauro, Kathy Sandrock, Quae Simpson, Dawn South, Richardson, Shanna Richardson, Christopher Riess, Danny Rios, Stephanie Robinson and Brandon Stone, Tiffany Stone, Brandice Sykes, Matthew Toves, Donald Voss and Jeffrey Roloff. Krystal Walters. Their instructor, Mike Daras, is at far left. May 2007 Seafarers LOG 23 42208p3,4,6,10_17,20_24x:2007-May 5/1/2007 1:42 PM Page 24

Volume 69, Number 5 May 2007 National Maritime Day May 22, 2007 In memory of American seafarers who lost their lives in service to their country. Smooth Sailing Aboard USNS Loyal SIU-Crewed Surveillance Ship Bolsters MSC Special Mission Fleet

he SIU-crewed USNS Loyal is an and hard-working SIU crew. Everyone did oceanographic surveillance vessel their jobs with the professionalism that’s Tthat is part of the U.S. Military Sealift expected of us. It was smooth sailing all the Command’s Special Mission Ships way.” Program. According to MSC, the Loyal is one of SA John Seibel recently submitted the five oceanographic surveillance vessels in photos accompanying this story, following a the agency’s 23-ship Special Mission voyage aboard the Loyal, which is operated Program. Altogether, those ships “provide for MSC by SIU-contracted Maersk Line, operating platforms and services for unique Limited. He noted that due to the nature of U.S. military and federal government mis- some of the assignments given to surveil- sions. Oceanographic and hydrographic sur- lance ships, crew members discuss few if veys, underwater surveillance, missile flight any specific details of those missions. data collection and tracking, acoustic sur- However, he did say that during the recent veys and submarine support are just a few voyage, which included stops in Okinawa of the specialized services this program sup- and Yokohama, Japan, “we had a very good ports. Special mission ships work for sever- al different U.S. Navy customers, including the Naval Sea Systems Command and the The Seafarers-crewed USNS Loyal Oceanographer of the Navy.” MSC further notes that ships in the Special Mission Program average 25 days at sea and five days in port each month. Survey ships including the USNS Loyal “study the world’s oceans using multi-beam, wide-angle, precision hydrographic sonar systems to collect bathymetric data” and lis- ten for undersea threats. The Loyal is 235 feet long and has a beam of 93 feet, 6 inches. The ship has a 25-foot draft and a displacement of slightly less than 3,400 long tons. Its speed is list- Bosun Denyse Sineath handles the ship’s ed at 9.6 knots. Oilers Robert Scott (left) and Noland Earl crane during a loading operation.

Chief Steward Natalie Nunes whips up a fine breakfast for the hungry crew.

Chief Cook Velicia Williams prepares a veg- Oiler Pete Gerber etable dish for the lunch crowd.

SA John Seibel

Taking a quick break are (from left) AB Beverly Williams, Bosun Denyse Sineath and OS Dan Stavron.

Seafarers secure the gangway in the port of Naha, Okinawa.

Cheerfully waiting in the chow line are Navy Master Chief Johnson (left) and Navy Technician Mica Ingram (right) along with Chief Mate Stephen Reynolds.