Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific Volume LXX No. 5 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, May 25, 2007 Mississippi Voyager joins Chevrons U.S.-flag fleet with Sailors Union aboard in all unlicensed departments The Mississippi Voyager is pictured on May 3 departing the Richmond Long Wharf enroute on her maiden voyage to Barbers Point, Oahu. In the background are Angel Island to the left and the Tiburon Peninsula to the right separated by Racoon Strait. The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco can be seen in the far distance. Photo courtesy of Chevron Shipping Company. nding more than thirty sented by the SUP in all three to symbolize the confident re- yard. The so- Eyears of declining ton- unlicensed departments. surgence of the Chevron U.S.- phisticated nage under its house Chevron took official delivery flag Jones Act qualified tanker multi-pur- flag, Chevron Shipping Com- of the ship on March 10 in Cas- fleet, and a new found dedica- pose tanker is pany embarked on a new era in cade General Shipyard in Port- tion to the trade and its mari- designed to its long history as its newest land. After an extensive retro- ners. Those of us who have carry a broad tankship the Mississippi Voy- fit, which included major engi- been around awhile, said Capt. range of spe- ager loaded refined product at neering repairs, the ship arrived Walter Eaton, take consider- cialty chemi- Richmond Long Wharf and in San Francisco on May 1 for able pride in the colors on that cals, crude sailed for Barbers Point, a renaming ceremony, sparkling stack. and/or re- Hawaii. The ship, like all U.S.- with entirely new coatings, rig- The Mississippi Voyager (ex- fined petro- AB and delegate Earl Eastmark, AB Jennifer Corner flag Chevron ships, is repre- ging, and gear. A redesigned SeaBulk Mariner) is a 46,069 leum prod- and AB David Ibarra at San Franciscos Pier 80 on the boat deck of the Mississippi voyager. company logo, long absent from deadweight-ton Double Eagle ucts. Because Chevron ships, was boldly class double hull tanker, built in of its double painted on her stack. It seemed 1998 in Newport News Ship- hull, she has no retirement date under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Initially, she will carry refined product from the Non-resident foreigners allowed companys Richmond and El Second class postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) (USPS CA Francisco, San at paid postage class Second Segundo refineries for Hawaii to work on Hawaii cruiseships via Barbers Point offshore mooring. provision in the massive lication of an Interim Rule by the on documented vessels of the The ship is the first of four ANational Defense Authori- U.S. Coast Guard in the April 24 United States must be of the fol- double-hulled tankers to come zation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 issue of the Federal Register. lowing status: citizens of the under a long-term bareboat char- passed in the dying days of the The Interim Rule amends Sec- United States; lawful permanent ter under a deal with SEACOR Republican-controlled 109th tion 8103 of Title 46 (United residents of the United States; Holdings, the parent company Congress, has capsized nearly or foreign nationals enrolled at States Code), allowing NCLA of SeaBulk. The Seabulk Pride, a century of maritime law re- a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based the United States Merchant Ma- Seabulk Artic, and Seabulk En- garding citizenship requirements Star Cruises Ltd.to employ rine Academy (Kings Point). ergy are all slated to join the for merchant mariners in U.S.- non-resident aliens in the No more than 25 percent of such Chevron U.S-flag fleet over the flag vessels. stewards department in the three unlicensed seamen may be law- next three years. At 14,000 The special interest legislation large passenger vessels it oper- ful permanent residents. promulgated by Norwegian ates in the Hawaii cruise trade. horsepower, these double-hull Under the defense bill, also tankers deliver an impressive Cruise Line America (NCLA) Current law under Title 46 operational speed of 17 knots. saw the light of day with the pub- requires that unlicensed seamen continued on page 3 ESU News: Pages 6 & 7 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 25, 2007 SUP Quarterly Finance Committee Report SUP QUARTERLY FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Flowers ..................................................................................................... 289.80 FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 Subscription ........................................................................................... 3,588.46 Total Expense: ............................................................................. $313,600.98 The Quarterly Finance Committee, duly authorized to act by the regular meeting at Headquarters on April 11, 2007, hereby submits the following report: BUILDING CORPORATION Income: SUMMARY OF CASH AND INVESTMENTS Assessments ....................................................................................... $3,060.00 General Fund ........................................................................................ $941,114.31 Rents ................................................................................................. 116,311.56 Political Fund ............................................................................................ $2,585.64 Bldg. Utilities & Service Reimbursement ............................................ 2,274.00 Strike Fund ........................................................................................ $1,293,730.99 Total Income: ............................................................................... $121,645.56 Total Cash & Investments 1st Qtr. 2007 ....................................... $2,237,430.64 Expense: GENERAL FUND Building Services & Utilities .............................................................. $31,578.03 Income: Repairs & Maintenance ............................................................................ 192.28 Dues, Initiation, Assessments .......................................................... $105,388.15 Salaries & Payroll Taxes...................................................................... 13,262.99 Interest .................................................................................................. 27,615.81 Pension ..................................................................................................... 122.13 Donations - West Coast Sailors ............................................................. 3,745.40 Legal ......................................................................................................... 870.00 Tanker & Joint Committee, Hiring Hall ................................................. 71,604.01 Filing & License Fees ............................................................................... 455.00 Advertising & Promotion............................................................................ 675.00 Insurance .............................................................................................. 5,078.39 Miscellaneous Income, Reimbursements, Fines ................................... 1,358.26 Total Expense: ............................................................................... $51,558.82 Reimbursed Administrative Expenses ................................................... 7,999.97 Field Expense ............................................................................................ 331.59 Contributions - General Fund ................................................................ 2,060.00 POLITICAL FUND Total Income: ................................................................................ $220,778.19 Income: Contributions ....................................................................................... $4,650.00 Expenses: Interest ......................................................................................................... .54 Auto & Travel ........................................................................................... $347.00 Total Income ................................................................................... $4,650.54 Accounting (Audit) .................................................................................. 2,000.00 Rent ...................................................................................................... 16,101.46 Expense: Postage, Printing & Office ...................................................................... 7,895.61 Contributions ....................................................................................... $4,700.00 Telephone & Telegraph ........................................................................... 3,966.24 Office .......................................................................................................... 0.00 West Coast Sailors Publishing Expense ................................................ 8,794.49 Total Expense: ................................................................................. $4,700.00 Per Capita ............................................................................................. 17,030.65 Salaries & Payroll Taxes..................................................................... 204,937.59 Net Income 1st qtr. ............................................................................. $(22,785.51) Office Workers Pension ......................................................................... 7,098.00 Insurance .............................................................................................