http://www.seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/9cd87c7200bad5c994d8a05ee0db8be0.pdf df67c7abb728702bac0aa8ba615d0c5e PDF Text Text Volume 61 Number 10 October 1999 .. d r Starry Greetings from Russia I c -Jan ar 31 SIU Crews Green Dale New Car Carrier Launches in Japan Recertified Bosun Ramon Castro sent these photos to the Seafarers LOG, showing crew members at work aboard the Liberty Star in Russia. Pictured above (from left) are AB Israel Castillo, Unlicensed Apprentice Chris Green, Deck Maintenance Ed Nelson and Bosun Castro. Below, left: Castillo chips to keep the vessel clean. Below, right: Castro stays on top of the deck duties. Members Discuss Benetits of Upgrading - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PagesB, 9 Sealarers Now Eligible For More Scholarships _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Pages4, 14 �President's Report A New Era We are preparing to enter a new era in the history of the U.S. merchant marine. In this month's issue of the Seafarers LOG as well as the latest edition of the NMU Pilot is a resolution for you, the rank-and-file member, to consider bringing the National Maritime Union into the ranks of the SIU. This proposed merger is offered in the best interests of the members from both unions. Since the NMU became an autonomous affiliate of the SIUNA last year, representatives from both unions have been meeting to see if a merger is viable. Both unions have watched how SIU and NMU members have studied side-by-side at the Paul Hall Center with respect for one Michael Sacco another and friendships developing. Both unions have seen how the Alaska Tanker Company agreement has been implemented-the first covering SIU and NMU members working for the same firm. The committee looking into the merger has discussed seniority and job security concerns, among other issues. The officials serving on the committee believe merging the NMU into the SIU is workable, feasible and needed to ensure the job security of all American merchant mariners into the next century. When the SIU was established in 1938, we immediately went head-to-head and toeto-toe with the NMU for new contracts. For more than 60 years, our two unions have expended untold amounts of money and blood to gain an upper hand on the other. Instead of working together to build up the U.S.-flag fleet, our unions battled to tear each other down. If we are to continue the revitalization of the U.S.-flag fleet that started this decade,· we can no longer maintain a feud that helps no one. The U.S.-flag merchant fleet is growing. It seems each month we are announcing a new vessel breaking out or a new ship being built. When is the last time you can remember seeing stories on passenger ships, tankers, tugs, dredges, prepositioning vessels, car carriers and other bottoms all coming out like they are now?! The fleet is growing because maritime has been speaking with one unified voice on issues vital to all of us. That is how legislation allowing the export of Alaskan North Slope oil passed in 1995. That is how the Maritime Security Program became law a year later. That is how the Jones Act retains its solid support on Capitol Hill. None of this could have happened if one side was attacking the other. Maritime unity was required and is still needed. Our union's history is filled with mergers-actions that have made us stronger. The first one took place in 1940. When the SIU came into being, it had three separate districts that operated independently- the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes. In a short time, deep sea members realized having separate Atlantic and Gulf districts was a hindrance. Rather than putting up with jurisdictional disputes, the Seafarers of that era decided to merge the districts and consolidate their ocean-going efforts. This allowed the union to grow as one for deep sea members- setting the course for more organizing, benefits, training and other opportunities. In 1958, the next merger took place. The separate Great Lakes District joined with the Atlantic and Gulf. The union's constitution was amended by membership vote in 1960 to reflect the change. The decade of the 1970s saw further growth in the SIU. Both the SIUNA-affiliated Inland Boatmen's Union and the Atlantic Fishermen's Union came within the AGLIWD. However, the biggest merger of the decade occurred in 1978 when the Marine Cooks & Stewards merged into the district. This marked the first time ever that an unlicensed maritime union had jurisdiction from coast to coast. SIU President Paul Hall explained to the membership his reasons for merging the MC&S into the SIU: "All segments of the American labor movement will experience mergers of similar unions with similar interests for the overall purpose of providing better representation and protection to their memberships." His words from the March 1977 Seafarers LOG still ring true today. Why were all of these mergers performed? For the same reason the NMU merger with the SIU makes sense today. Job security, strengthening the U.S.-flag merchant fleet, solid contracts, consolidation of resources, maritime unity. Take your pick. The SIU has been looking ahead to capture the opportunities that await our members in the 21st century. We are growing-from the new vessels coming on line to the expansion of the Paul Hall Center's curriculum. We have not and will not stand still. We want to commit our resources to bringing new jobs and new ships to all of our members. In order for the U.S.-flag fleet to maintain the revitalization course charted earlier this decade, we cannot afford to be deterred. It would not only harm the SIU, ~ but all American mariners. That is why we have reached this crucial point in U.S. maritime history. It is time for the SIU and NMU to put a formal end to an unproductive feud. Recent history has shown that maritime labor will need to speak with one voice in the 21st century to ensure the necessary gains that will promote and protect our members. That is why the time has come to welcome the NMU into the ranks of the SIU. Doubling of Vessel Traffic in U.S.? ITF Officials Meet at Paul Hall Center DOT Report Offers Ways to Handle the Increase SIU President Michael Sacco (speaking above) welcomes the members of the ITF Task Force on Ratings to Piney Point, Md. Delegates from the United Kingdom , France, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Japan, Australia and New Zealand participated in the two-day meeting. Listening above (from left) are ITF Official Steve Cotton, SIU Exec. VP and ITF Seafarers' Section Chair John Fay and ITF Official Jean Yves Legouas. Below, the delegates tour the center's Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. Volume 61, Number 10 October 1999 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 520 I Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo ; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright © 1999 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Facing a projected doubling of waterborne commercial vessel traffic in the United States during the next 20 years, the Department of Transportation (DOT) last month submitted a report to Congress outlining recommendations to meet the expected increase. In presenting the report, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater noted, "This nation was built on its waterways and ports. We must make certain they are ready to compete, and win, in the global economy of the 21st century." Maritime Administrator Clyde J. Hart and Admiral James M. Loy, Commandant of the U .S. Coast Guard, cochaired the national task force which produced the report. Representatives of vessel operators, shippers, ports, recreational boaters, environmentalists, shipyards, labor and other organizations were among those composing the task force. Representatives of local, state and regional governments, as well as numerous federal agencies also participated. Officially titled "An Assessment of the U.S. Marine Transportation System" (MTS), the report includes the following recommendations: • Creation of an MTS national advisory council to "provide a structured approach for non.federal stakeholders to provide input" on national issues. • Adopting a systematic approach to MTS safety and environmental protection. Managers, operators and users of the waterways and facilities, the shoreside transportation system, environmental interests and the public all must be involved via local committees or planning groups, states the report. • Better coordination and development of adequate financing mechanisms to ensure the growth of seaports, waterways and their intermodal links. • Improved efficiencies in the movement of people and cargo, including "one-stop shopping" for federal inspection and reporting, improved landside access to ports, a national cooperative MTS research program and more reliable traffic forecasting. • Establishment of information management systems and infrastructure supportive of the MTS, including development of better hydrographic and weather information; improved vessel, cargo and passenger tracking methods; and better waterway traffic management information for mariners and ports. Public comments on the DOT report are requested by November 18. The full report may be accessed via the internet at http://www.dot.gov/mts or http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m. Besides the recommenda- tions, the report offers some interesting data. For instance, it states, "More than 1,000 harbor channels and 25,000 miles of inland, intracoastal, and coastal waterways in the United States serve over 300 ports, with more than 3,700 terminals that handle passenger and cargo movements. The waterways and ports link to 152,000 miles of rail, 460,000 miles of pipelines, and 45,000 miles of interstate highways .... The MTS also contains shipyards and repair facilities crucial to maritime activity." .It also notes that the U.S. marine transportation system annually: • moves more than 2 billion tons of domestic and international freight; • imports 3.3 billion barrels of oil to meet U.S . energy demands; • transports 134 million passengers by ferry; • serves 78 million Americans engaged in recreational boating; • hosts more than 5 million cruise ship passengers; and • supports 110,000 commercial fishing vessels and recreational fishing that contribute $111 billion to state economies. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 1999 for the observance of Veterans' Day and Thursday, November 25 for Thanksgiving Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. October 1999 �Voting Starts December 1 On SIU-NMU Merger SIU members will begin voting December 1 on a referendum to determine if the union should proceed with merging the National Maritime Union (NMU) into the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (SIU). The resolution asks Seafarers if the union should bring the NMU into the SIU. At the same time Seafarers are voting, members of the NMU will be casting ballots at their halls to determine if the NMU should merge into the SIU. If approved by the membership of both the SIU and NMU, members of the two unions' executive boards would start implementing the merger. The process being used is similar to the one implemented during 1977-78 when the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) merged into the SIU. At that time, the MC&S was an autonomous union within the parent Seafarers International Union ofNorth America. Officers from the SIU and MC&S entered into preliminary discussions about merging the MC&S into the SIU. They then presented a resolution of merger to each membership in spring 1978. After getting approval from the members of both unions, the officers ironed out the specifics of the merger which were implemented in the SIU constitution through amendments approved in a 1980 membership referendum. Like the MC&S was in 1977, the NMU is an autonomous union within the SIUNA. A committee consisting of officials from the SIU and NMU have been meeting since June to see if a merger would be feasible. The committee determined a merger of the NMU into the SIU would benefit the members of both unions in order to build a stronger U.S.-flag merchant fleet. Thus, it decided to recommend a merger to both memberships and drafted the resolution that is being presented. Seafarers learned of the voting in a letter from SIU Secretary- Treasurer David Heindel dated September 27: "Please be advised that a merger referendum between the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFL-CIO and the National Maritime Union of America, AFL-CIO is being proposed. "Balloting will commence on December 1, 1999 and continue through January 31, 2000. For the purpose of securing ballots, the ports shall be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. This will be a mail referendum. You will sign the 'roster sheet,' pick up your ballot, mark it, place it in the inner (BALLOT) envelope, and then place it in an outer envelope which is stamped and addressed to the bank depository. "In addition, you may request an absentee ballot if you are working aboard a union-contracted vessel or are a patient in an accredited hospital during the voting period. If you think you may need an absentee ballot, instructions are enclosed along with this ballot. (Editor's note: instructions for an absentee ballot appear to the right.) "Following the balloting, a Union Tallying Committee consisting of six full book members, two from each of the three departments of the Union will be elected at the Headquarters membership meeting on February 7, 2000 to count the ballots and prepare a report to the membership." Should the members of both unions accept the resolution, the merger committee would continue its work to draft the specifics regarding seniority, job security, training and other topics. As noted in the text of the resolution (printed below), the merger would require changes in the SIU constitution. These amendments would be presented to the membership during the regularly scheduled officers' election in late 2000. SAMPLE BALLOT of SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District VOTING PERIOD DECEMBER 1, 1999 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2000 MERGER SIUNA-AGLIWD AND NATIONAL MARITIME UNION OF AMERICA INSTRUCTION TO VOTERS - Vote either YES or NO on the following proposition below by marking a cross (X) in the appropriate box. Do not use lead pencil in marking the ballot. Ballots marked with lead pencil will not be counted. Mark your ballot with pen, ink or indelible pencil. Do not put any other marking on this ballot. RESOLUTION Be it resolved that a merger of the National Maritime Union (NMU) into the Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD (SIU) shall take place. This merger, if approved by the membership of both unions, would take effect on the earlier of March 1, 2001 or as soon thereafter as the Executive Board deems appropriate. If this merger is approved by a majority of SIU members who chose to vote on this proposal, the SIU Executive Board would then begin the process of implementation. Resolutions would be prepared during the year, 2000, to amend the Constitution to add the NMU's name and to expand the SIU's Executive Board by adding new Vice-President positions. These resolutions would then be voted on in conjunction with the SIU's next regularly scheduled election for Officers during the year 2000. In addition, a vote to approve this merger proposal entails granting to the SIU Executive Board the time and discretion to study in detail issues such as finances, seniority and shipping rules to devise methods to ensure that the job security and membership rights of all SIU members will be fully protected throughout this entire process. Following this time period, once the Executive Boards of both unions have reached an agreement as to how best to protect their respective memberships, a merger agreement will be drafted which will contain the specifics of the merger and this agreement will then be put to a vote of the membership at a regular membership meeting. I APPROVE OF THIS MERGER BETWEEN THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT AND THE NATIONAL MARITIME UNION OF AMERICA, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE? DYES ONo Seafarers Crew New Car Carrier Green Dale Seafarers climbed the gangway of a newly built car carrier, the Green Dale, last month in the port of Toyohashi, Japan. Operated by Waterman Steamship Company of New Orleans, the Green Dale is about 590 feet long with a 106-foot width. The vesse1's first sailing will take it across the Pacific to Tacoma, Wash. Its itinerary will take the ship worldwide, including ports in Europe and the Caribbean, depending on contracts picked up by its charterer, NYK. "The Green Dale represents the union's continuing effort to gain new jobs for our October 1999 members," stated SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "This is a brand new vessel to the U.S.flag fleet with a longstanding SIU-contracted company. Because Seafarers have proven themselves through the years with Waterman, the Green Dale shows the company remains committed to ensuring a strong U.S.-flag presence in the next century." Besides providing more jobs for Seafarers, the Green Dale also will benefit the nation's armed forces by being available to help fulfill the military's need for roll- on/roll-off vessels. It will be included in VISA (Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement), a 1995 federal program designed to make intermodal vessels and services available to the Defense Department in times of war or national emergency. "The launching of the Green Dale shows that new tonnage continues to come into the U.S.-flag fleet, one of the goals set forth by the 1996 Maritime Security Program," Tellez added. The Green Dale can transport approximately 4, 100 vehicles. The Seafarers LOG will publish photos of the crew and the vessel as soon as they become available. INSTRUCTIONS For Voting by Absentee Ballot In SIU, AGLIWD-NMU Merger Full book members may request and vote an absentee ballot under the following circumstances: while such member is employed on a Union contracted vessel and which vessel's schedule does not provide for it to be at a Port in which a ballot can be secured during the time and period of this election or is in an accredited hospital any time during the first 10 days of the month of December of the election. An absentee ballot may be requested by registered or certified mail. Such request shall contain a designation as to the address to which such member wishes his absentee baJlot returned. The request shall be postmarked no later than 12:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December 1999, shall be directed to the SecretaryTreasurer at Headquarters, and must be delivered no later than the 24th of December 1999. The Secretary-Treasurer shall determine whether such member is eligible to vote such absentee ballot. The Secretary-Treasurer, if he determines that such a member is so eligible, shall by the 30th of December send by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the address so designated by such member, a "Ballot," after removing the perforated numbered stub together with the hereinbefore mentioned "Ballot" envelope, and mailing envelope addressed to the depository, except that printed on the face of such mailing envelope shall be the words "Absentee Ballot" and appropriate voting instructions shall accompany such mailing to the member. If the Secretary-Treasurer determines that such member is ineligible to receive such absentee ballot, he shall nevertheless send such member the aforementioned ballot with accompanying material except that the mailing envelope addressed to the depository shall have printed on the face thereof the words "Challenged Absentee Ballot." The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep records of all of the foregoing, including the reasons for determining such member's ineligibility, which records shall be open for inspection by full book members and upon the convening of the Union Tallying Committee, presented to them. The SecretaryTreasurer shall send to all Ports the names and book numbers of the members to whom absentee ballots were sent. All ballots to be counted must be recetved by the depository no later than February 5, 2000 and must be postmarked no later than 12 midnight January 31, 2000. Seafarers LOG 3 �Union Privilege to Award $200,000 in Scholarships SIU Members Eligible for Grants, Other Benefits Union Privilege, a non-profit organization founded by the AFL-CIO, recently announced that the Union Plus Credit Card scholarship program again will honor "deserving students" with $200,000 in scholarships next year. Seafarers and their dependents are eligible to apply for the scholarships, regardless of whether they carry the Union Plus/SIU credit card. The application deadline is January 31, 2000. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May. (See box below for information on securing an application.) The AFL-CIO (the national federation of trade unions) started Union Privilege in order to utilize the collective purchasing power of America's union families. In essence, Union Privilege secures consumer benefits for union members and their dependents at Getting an Application By mail, send a postcard with return address, telephone contact information and international union name clearly printed on it to: Union Plus Scholarship Program P.O. Box 34800 Washington, D.C. 20043-4800 Via the internet, go to: http://www.unionpriv.org/news/2000scholarinfo.htm to download a pdf version of the application. lower rates than one typically could gain on their own. The SIU subscribes to several Union Privilege programs, including the SIU/UIW MasterCard (through which the scholarship program is conducted). There is no charge to the SIU for this participation, though individuals, of course, must pay to enroll in whichever programs they choose. In promoting the scholarship program, Union Privilege pointed out that earlier this year, 120 students representing 32 AFL-CIO unions were selected to receive approximately $200,000 in Union Plus grants. "The recipients were chosen in part for their academic achievements and in part for their appreciation and understanding of labor, and their efforts in bettering society," the organization noted. Overall, 16 students attending four-year colleges and universities were honored with the program's top award of $4,000; Union Privilege Phone Numbers (These are the programs for which SIU members are eligible) General Information 1-800-452-9425 Credit Card Applications (English) 1-800-522-4000 Credit Card Applications (Spanish) 1-800-651-5108 Cardholder Customer Service 1-800-622-2580 another 85 received awards ranging from $500 to $3,000; and 18 community college students and one trade school student received scholarships ranging between $500 and $1,000. The upcoming scholarships will mark the program's ninth year. Already, more than $1.1 million in scholarships have been awarded to union members and their families through Union Privilege. The competition typically is stiff. Two years ago, for instance, Life Insurance 1-800-899-2782 Dental Program 1-800-257-8352 Legal Service 1-800-452-9425 Health Savings 1-800-228-3523 For more information, contact Union Privilege at the "general information" number listed above. more than 7,000 people applied for scholarships. In addition to the Union Privilege scholarships, the Seafarers Welfare Plan is offering three scholarships in the year 2000 to SIU members and four scholarships to spouses and dependents of Seafarers. See page 14 for additional information. Hurricane Floyd Pounds U.S. Shipping Disrupted as Storm Hits Eastern States Hurricane Floyd swept over the Eastern United States September 16-17, causing massive damage and dozens of fatalities while prompting the largest evacuation in America's history. Shipping was disrupted from Florida to New York as residents took precautions against the storm. SIU halls were closed for about 24 hours in Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and in Norfolk, Va., though none of those halls sustained noteworthy damage. The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md., was not as forWipespread damage was caused by Hurricane Floyd all along the East Coast, including (counter-clockwise from top left) at the Charleston (S.C.) Marina, in Stevensville, Md., in Whitpain Township, Pa. (the children aboard the bus were rescued), and in Longport, N.J. tunate. Flooding occurred in the training and recreation center, a number of trees were downed, and the library's archives sustained water damage. Classes, however, were conducted as scheduled. Among SIU-crewed ships affected by Hurricane Floyd were the USNS Pollux and USNS Soderman in Norfolk; the HMI Dynachem in Ft. Lauderdale; and the JE.B. Stuart, Fisher, Sea-Land Producer and El Yunque in Jacksonville. Some left port to avoid the hurricane, while others were delayed coming in. The Soderman remained in port and reflected Floyd's fury when it parted a steel line. Also, as reported by several newspapers, helicopters from the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy rescued all eight mariners who were stranded in 30-foot seas as their ocean-going tug sank 300 miles east of Jacksonville. The non-union tug went down when Floyd arrived off the coast September 15. Early overall damage estimates for the hurricane in the U.S. already exceed $1.3 billion, and that figure undoubtedly will increase. Generally, people in Florida and the northeast expressed relief that the storm did not strike harder (though it still caused plenty of damage, including widespread water pollution and lengthy power outages). By contrast, North Carolina bore Floyd's full brunt, and residents in the Norfolk-Newport News area also were severely impacted. More than 40 stormrelated fatalities were reported in North Carolina and five in Virginia. At press time, approximately 10,000 North Carolinians remained in shelters. In several eastern North Carolina towns, caskets were floating in the floodwaters, having been raised by the storm. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy 4 Seafarers LOG AP Photo/Chris Polk October 1999 �Avondale Fight Continues Ex-Boss Still Hasn't Said He's Sorry The AFL-CIO's "Justice at Avondale Campaign" is calling on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to proceed with "extraordinary remedies" it had recommended against the New Orleans shipyard in 1997, and to add a few more which would address the company's illegal acts since the first order. In 1997, an NLRB administrative law judge said that thenAvondale CEO Al Bossier should be required to personally call an all-employee meeting and read a "cease and desist" order with regard to the company's "outrageous and pervasive number and nature of unfair labor practices." The AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department reports the directive has never been carried out because it was appealed by Avondale. The NLRB judge who issued the ruling singled out Bossier as the key figure in the company's campaign against union representation for the employees because testimony revealed that Bossier played a personal and active role in engineering the company's response. "Until [Avondale] employees are effectively given assurance that Albert Bossier knows that they have rights that are protected by law, the atmosphere of intimidation that he created will never be dispelled. Only when Bossier signs the notice and reads it to the employees will that assurance be effectively given," the judge declared. On August 19-citing the July 7, 1999, 5th Circuit Court decision vacating the June 1993 NLRB election-the Metal Trades filed a brief with the board judge who is hearing the second trial covering additional numerous unfair labor practices alleged to have been committed by Avondale. The department is asking that in addition to the remedies contained in the 1997 order, Avondale should also grant the union reasonable access to company bulletin boards and to employees in the shipyard during non-working hours, and allow the union the opportunity to present a 30-minute speech to all employees on working time prior to any NLRB election which might be scheduled. The department's petition also urges the NLRB to require Avondale to reimburse both it and the board for all costs associated with its organizing expenses as well as legal costs involved in investigating the company's illegal behavior. "In exceptional cases, such as this, where there is a history of flagrant disregard of the National Labor Relations Act, such awards have been granted," the union filing points out, adding that Avondale conducted its illegal anti-union campaign with the help of a $5.4 million reimbursement for legal fees by the U.S. Navy. AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department Attorney Bill Lurye said that these and other extraordinary remedies would be necessary in order ·to establish a level playing field. Lurye pointed out that Bossier AFL-CIO Launches Ad Campaign To Boost Medicare, Add Rx Benefit The AFL-CIO last month The cost of the tax breaks will launched new television and explode from $792 billion in the radio ads urging members of first 10 years to $2.6 trillion dolCongress to strengthen Medicare lars by 2019-just as Medicare and add a prescription drug bene- becomes insolvent, Social fit for seniors. The ad campaign Security surpluses begin to disapalso takes them to task for voting pear and the "baby boomers" to spend the federal budget sur- start to retire, according to the plus on a $792 billion tax cut for group. the wealthy instead. The national federation of The ads, which ran in the dis- trade unions, to which the SIU is tricts of 13 House members and affiliated, said that the proposed four senators, told members of tax package "rests on assumpCongress to "put working fami- tions that extraordinarily deep lies first" by securing Medicare funding cuts-up to 43 percent, for the future and extending the according to the Center on program to help senior citizens Budget and Policy Prioritiespay for their prescriptions. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney stated, "Congress needs to seize the opportunity to invest in the issues that really matter to working families-like strengthening Medicare-rather than wasting what little time is left in this session of Congress on goThe chairman of the House nowhere issues like huge tax cuts Transportation and Infrastructure for big business and the rich. Committee is calling for action to "While seniors all over the be taken to keep America's port country struggle to choose between paying for groceries and facilities from falling behind paying for their prescriptions, it's those in neighboring Canada and outrageous that Congress is vot- the Bahamas. Following a series of meetings ing to give corporate fat-cats a with transportation officials from $3.8 billion tax write-off," Europe and the Middle East, Rep. Sweeney continued. The tax cut primarily benefits Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) returned to America's wealthy, with 70 per- the United States urging his felcent of the tax cut benefits going low legislators to address the to the wealthiest 10 percent of problem of making American taxpayers. Taxpayers with in- ports ready for the vessels that comes of $301,000 or more get will handle international commerce in the next century. 42 percent of the tax cut. "Our harbors need to be According to Citizens for Tax dredged, and our terminals and Justice, a non-profit group that intermodal connections to trucks has analyzed the proposed cuts, the richest one percent would and rails need to be modernized," receive the equivalent of $885 Shuster said last month. "Not every week, while the average only are American port jobs in family would get three dollars a jeopardy, but the increased cost week under the tax cut plan of shipping U.S. products overseas puts all our export-related passed by Congress. will be made in programs like education and training, worker protections, and housing." Although President Clinton has promised to veto the tax plan, some members of Congress have indicated that they will continue to push for the tax cuts next year. Strengthening Medicare and prescription drug coverage for seniors is a top priority for the AFL-CIO and its unions. The AFL-CIO has launched a grassroots program to mobilize and educate union members from the 68 affiliated unions about the battle over Medicare. House Transportation Chair Calls for Action to Upgrade Maritime Infrastructure October 1999 jobs at risk." The Pennsylvania congressman was part of a 14-person bipartisan delegation seeking to learn more about how other countries are implementing changes to accommodate the maritime and aviation infrastructures. In a statement he released in mid-September, Shuster noted the growth of the global economy requires America to be ready in all transportation sectors to handle the adjustments. He pointed out the U.S. container trade has almost tripled in the last 20 years and is expected to double from today's figures during the next 20 years. "Thousands of American jobs now depend upon that trade," the chairman stated. "Our prosperity is tied to our ability to transport our products efficiently and economically to their destinations. Our maritime transportation system moves over two billion tons played a pivotal role in the company's anti-union strategy. According to testimony by Bossier during a second NLRB trial, he had received management reports of the names of employees whom they suspected or knew to be union supporters. "Bossier set the tone for his superintendents, meeting with them at the beginning of the campaign and telling them that the company would be less competitive, lose work and eventually close if the union prevailed in its campaign," Lurye said. The board's 1997 action included an order to re-hire 28 employees who had been fired for alleged union activity, and to make whole dozens more who had been suspended, disciplined or otherwise harassed in retribution for their pro-union sentiments. In all, NLRB Judge David Evans found the company had violated the law in more than 100 separate instances. Notice Seafarers who have sailed aboard vessels operated by V. Ships Marine, Ltd. (formerly International Marine Carriers) are receiving EPA allocation checks for a 2.3 percent pay increase that is retroactive to October 1996. Vessels covered by this agreement include the following: Beaver State Cape Farewell Cape Fear Cape Flattery Cape Florida Gem State Grand Canyon State Green Mountain State Keystone State If a Seafarer sailed on one of those vessels since October 1996 and has not received the EPA allocation, he or she may contact the company at (516) 741-2700. Coastal Enforcement Zone Doubles The United States is doubling the area within which the Coast Guard and other federal authorities may board foreign vessels to enforce U.S. laws. Vice President Al Gore last month announced that the U.S. contiguous zone formally has expanded from 12 to 24 miles off the coast. This extension complies with a United Nations treaty ratified in 1982. "With this new enforcement tool, we can better protect America's working families against drug trafficking, illegal immigration and threats to our ocean environment," the vice president said. "We are putting would-be smugglers and polluters on notice that we will do everything in our power to protect our waters and our shores." The 24-mile limit also applies to the waters around Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the North Mariana Islands. Before the 1980s, America's territorial limit extended just three miles from the coast. of foreign and domestic cargo annually, contributing $742 billion to our economy and generating 13 million jobs. "The great containerships of the world each carry over 6,000 20-foot containers, requiring ports with depths of about 50 feet. Yet, six of America's 10 largest container ports, which handle 80 percent of the U.S. container traffic, have depths of less than that. "They cannot handle the giant ships which increasingly are diverting to ports in Nova Scotia, Canada and the Bahamas. Our harbors need to be dredged, and our terminals and intermodal connections need to be modernized. Not only are American jobs in jeopardy, but the increased cost of shipping U.S. products overseas puts all our export-related jobs at risk." Shuster also called for action to upgrade the navigable system of rivers and lakes. "Likewise, the products flowing through our inland waterways -our rivers, lakes and canalsmany on their way to be loaded onto ocean carriers for shipment overseas, suffer from both our outdated ports and harbors, and an antiquat~d system of locks and canals. · "Barges move 800 million tons of cargo on these waterways each year, representing 15 percent of the ton's freight for less than 2 percent of the nation's total freight cost. Yet, over half of the 270 locks making navigation possible are antiquated, well beyond their 50-year design lives. "A 15-barge grain tow moves the equivalent of 870 trucks or 225 railroad cars, but because of outmoded locks, must be broken apart to pass in smaller clusters, raising the cost of shipping and slowing deliveries," the chairman stated. "Without modern navigation systems-such as electronic charting and transponders-the vessels on our inland waterways are needlessly unsafe." Shuster concluded by saying "it is time to. begin the battle to rededicate our harbors and inland waterways trust funds so they can be used for their intended purpose to help rebuild the nation's maritime and river systems." Seafarers LOG 5 �- - - - -- - - - - - - -- Safety Directors.Scrutinize Latest Industry Happenings SIU safety directors and representatives from ports throughout the nation met last month at the Paul Hall Center and at union headquarters to tackle many of the latest issues affecting Seafarers. During the four-day conference, the officials covered myriad topics. Subjects included safety courses available at the Paul Hall Center; implementation of the 1995 amendments to the STCW convention; the center's Coast Guard-accepted training record book (TRB); shipboard inspection techniques; activities of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), and much more. Participants also met with representatives of the SIU's various departments to review key procedures that impact the individual Seafarer's interactions with headquarters and the ports. Taking part in the meetings were the following safety directors and representatives: Vince Coss (San Francisco), Amancio Crespo (Puerto Rico), Frank Gill (Wilmington, Calif.), Ed Kelly (Houston), Dennis Metz (Baltimore), Joe Mieluchowski (Philadelphia), Kenny Moore (Houston), Jamie Overby (Tacoma, Wash.), Steve Ruiz (Piney Point), Armando Salazar (Jacksonville, Fla.), Jack Sheehan (New York), Becky SleeperManion (St. Louis), James Storm (Honolulu), Don Thornton (Algonac, Mich.), Pat Vandergrift (Norfolk, Va.) and Chris Westbrook (New Orleans). Paul Hall Center Health and Safety Director Jim Hanson (center in photo above and far right in photo below) leads a tour of the new Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. All participants earned certificates, including (from top, down, with SIU President Michael Sacco) Vince Coss, James Storm and Chris Westbrook. Safety directors and representatives taking part in the seminar meet inside a classroom at the new fire fighting school. The agenda included questionand-answer sessions with representatives of the SIU's various departments at headquarters. Left: SIU Controller Maggie Bowen (who oversees union financial records) responds to a question while Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel listens. Right (from left, facing camera): SIU Plans Administrator Lou Delma, Management Information Systems Director Wally Schmidt and Supervisor of Pension and Death Benefits Paula Werfel meet with the attendees. 6 Seafarers LOG October 1999 �~---------~------- -- - - - - -- What You Need to Know About STCW Certificates The information on this page is reprinted from previous issues of the Seafarers LOG in order to clarify which unlicensed mariners need an STCW certificate, the differences between 1978 and 1995 certificates, and how to obtain them. Who is required to carry an STCW certificate right now? Any mariner sailing in international waters who is required to hold a lifeboatman's endorsement. Any rating forming part of a navigational watch. All tanker personnel who are assigned cargo duties (such as ABs and pumpmen, for instance). Whether they carry a 1978 certificate or a 1995 certificate depends on when they entered the industry and when they may have upgraded. Who is required to carry an STCW certificate as of February 1, 2002? The main change as of that date is that watchstanding members of the engine department are required to carry a 1995 STCW certificate (as of February 1, 2002). So, the requirements apply to all watchstanding personnel (including engine department members), all tanker personnel who are assigned cargo duties, and all lifeboatmen on passenger vessels (that is, those crew members who are required to hold a lifeboat endorsement). Also, the 1978 certificate is obsolete as of February 1, 2002. If I currently must carry an STCW certificate, which one should I possess? It depends on when you began sailing and when you may have upgraded your rating. Mariners who started their sea service or training before August 1, 1998 must meet the requirements of the 1978 convention. Those individuals may carry the 1978 certificate, which expires on February 1, 2002 (regardless of when it was issued). Mariners who began their sea time or training after August 1, 1998 must meet the requirements of the 1995 STCW amendments-and, therefore, must carry a 1995 certificate. One potentially confusing issue is that it is permissible for mariners who began sailing or training before August 1, 1998 to carry a 1995 certificate, even though it's not presently required. For those individuals, the 1995 certificate supersedes the 1978 document. In other words, there is no reason to carry both. However, the 1995 document is not considered superior or more desirable for those mariners. Either one satisfies current regulations for affected ratings. Keep in mind that the 1978 certificate cannot be used on or after February 1, 2002. What if I upgraded after August 1, 1998? If you began both the required sea time for the upgrade and also the training itself after August 1, 1998, then you need a 1995 certificate . If any of the required sea time or training took place prior to August 1, 1998, then you only are required to have a 1978 certificate (though, again, you may apply for a 1995 document, provided you meet the Chapter VI requirements) . What if I applied for my first z-card after August 1, 1998 and had no prior sea time or training? You need a 1995 certificate, which would have been issued when you acquired your z-card if you satisfied the requirements of STCW Chapter VI: Basic Safety Training. How do I get an STCW certificate? Through Coast Guard regional exam centers (RECs). To get a 1995 certificate, Seafarers must present evidence of meeting the requirements of STCW Chapter VI: Basic Safety Training. These requirements are for documentation of training and assessment for personal survival techniques, fire fighting and fire prevention, elementary first aid and personal safety/social responsibility. Mariners also may apply by mail to the REC that issued their license or document. The 1995 certificate expires on the same date as the individual's z-card, regardless of when the certificate is issued. With that in mind, mariners may want to October 1999 - ~--~ United States of America l!NDORSEM!!NT ATil!S'JlNG 'IHE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER 'IHE PROVISIONS OF 'IHE IN'IERNATIONAL a>NVl!N110N ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, Cl!RTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPINO FOil SEAFAIU!llS, 1978 ~==~of the Unital Statea of America =ti&s tbot Certillcale No.wllo,.......,...bla-,,beal,--fmmd,--,...,dul...,..y-qu-,alified=· ~ill ~'":'~= ~~ JMfuJ'.Jm iDdKiiCd oltbe above eoavaiticn,"' - ill ~:x=~D:.V::..."!:..~...:~~~=~=-~fje~ LIMITATIONSAn'LYlllG lll'AMYJ CAPACll'Y consider timing their application for the 1995 certificate so it coincides with renewal of their z-card. By doing so, the 1995 certificate will be valid for five years. Rating form1ng part of 11 navigational watch Proficient in the use of survival craft What if I am an AB sailing on a tanker in international waters, but currently don't have an STCW certificate? "THIS CERTIFICATE EXPIRES 31 JANUARY 2002." No one fitting that description is supposed to sail. If you were unaware of the requirement (which dates to 1996) and somehow "slipped through the cracks," then you should immediately make arrangements to acquire your STCW certificate. What's the difference between the two certificates? 18 APR 1997 Dole of iuue ofthil endonement: The main differences are that the 1995 certificate has a space for a passport-size photo (the 1978 certificate does not); and the 1995 certificate uses descriptions that are germane to particular countries, instead of wider-ranging terminology from the International Maritime Organization. An example of the terminology differences: Under the "capacity" description, the 1995 certificate may say, "Able seaman, any waters, lifeboatman," whereas the 1978 document says "Rating forming part of a navigational watch" and "Proficient in the use of survival craft." It's also worth noting that the 1995 certificate features spaces marked "function," "level" and "limitations applying (if any)." However, these areas intentionally are left blank. They were added to the certificate solely to aid port state control officials by providing some uniformity between U.S. certificates and those used in other signatory nations. 25 AUG 1945 Dol<ol_ot ......... ot . . . . . - -.r.i.i,-- L. M. HYMAN Sipa_or,..-.or,.....DEl'T. OF TJWIS.. CO-S601 (~ sample of a 1978 certificate United States of America ENDORSEMENT ATIESTING THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978, AS AMENDED IN 1995 Tho Govenvnent of the Urited States of AmOl1ca clftilles IN! Clftiftcole No.(s) hes been issued to - - - - - -- -- who has bMn tound ciJly quollfled In IOCGOl'dance with the provisions of regulation(s) V I I 2 of the above Convention, to serve in the capacity 0t capacities Qsted below. st.Cject to any Imitations lndcaled unti _,l'-'J=UN=Ec....:2=00=3_ _ _ _ _ _. How did this all start? And why is it so confusing? This endotsement Is not valid unless acccmparied by1 valid U.S. Men:1'"'11 Mainer's llc:ensecrdocunlent. LEVEL FUNCTION STCW stands for International Convention on Standards of Training , Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners. The original STCW convention, ratified in 1978, is a multi-national agreement which sets minimum standards for certification, training and skills needed by deep-sea mariners worldwide. The U.S . didn't sign onto the original convention until 1991. At that time, the U.S. was given five years to reach total compliance. Here's where things became more complicated: In 1995, more than 100 nations-including the U.S.ratified amendments to the original convention . In some cases, the dates for compliance with the original pact and the amendments overlapped. Essentially, that is how the U.S. ended up with two different STCW certificates (not to mention other requirements). Tho lawfU holder of U"is ~ent may ssve in CAPACITY the fellowing capacity arcapacities ._;fled. LIMITATIONS APPLYING (IF ANY) ABLE SEAMAN, AN Y WATERS LIE'EBOATMAN BASIC SAFET Y TRAINING ,AN D INSTRUCTION COMPL ET E D 11 DECEMBER 19 98. Endorsement No.: issued on l 7 FEBRUARY 1999 U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 455 Commercial Street Boston , MA 02109-1045 Phone: (617) 223-3040 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center _ __ photo C J B IDWEL L (Embo5$0fftdolSealabovettnline. Contact your nearest REC, your port agent or the Paul Hall Center. You also may check the Coast Guard's STCW web site, located at: http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/ U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center U.S. Custom House 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: (410) 962-5132 _ DEPT. OF TRANS .• CG 561 1 (10-96) I have more questions. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 510 L Street, Suite 100 Anchorage, AK 99501-1946 Phone: (907) 271-6736 at =HO~ US~ TO~N_ 22 NOVE MBE R 5 3 OateotbUtholtheholderoftheCf1111ficate Signature of ca1ifiall• - U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center Bldg. 14, Rm . 109, Coast Guard Isl. Alameda, CA 94501-5100 Phone: (510) 437-3092 LIMITATIONS APPLYING (IF ANY) T) sample of a 1995 certificate with space for photo U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers (Updated as of 9/30/99) 196 Tradd Street Charleston , SC 29401-1899 Phone: (843) 724-7693 U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 433 Ala Moana Blvd . Honolulu, HI 96813-4909 Phone: (808) 522-8264 U.S. Coast Guard Reg ional Examination Center 8876 Gulf Freeway, Suite 200 Houston , TX 77017-6595 Phone: (713) 948-3350 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center 2760 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A Juneau, AK 99801-8545 Phone: (907) 463-2458 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Ofc Regional Examination Center 165 N. Pico Avenue Long Beach , CA 90802 Phone: (562) 980-4485 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Memphis Regional Examination Center 200 Jefferson Ave., Suite 1302 Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 544-3297 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center Claude Pepper Federal Building 51 SW. 1st Ave , 6th Floor Miami, FL 33130-1608 Phone: (305) 536-6548/6874 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 9820 Lake Forest Blvd, Suite P New Orleans, LA 70127-3077 Phone: (504) 589-6183 U.S. Coast Guard Activities New York Regional Examination Center Battery Park Building New York, NY 10004-8545 Phone: (212) 668-7492 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 6767 North Basin Avenue Portland, OR 97217-3992 Phone: (503) 240-9346 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety office Regional Examination Center 1519 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA 98134-1192 Phone: (206) 217-6115 U.S . Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 8.104E St. Louis, MO 63103-2835 Phone: (314) 539-3091 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center Federal Building , Room 501 234 Summit Street Toledo, OH 43604-1590 Phone: (419) 259-6395 Seafarers LOB 7 �Conveyorman Comse Highlights Paul Hall Center's Adaptability Seafarer Norman Guild Creates Specialty Class The Paul Hall Center's adaptability and a Seafarer's drive were highlighted earlier this year by a special conveyorman course conducted at the Piney Point, Md. campus. Longtime SIU member and conveyorman Norman Guildsupported by school and union officials and representatives from SIU-contracted American Steamship Company (ASC}created and taught the three-week class. Eight students who sail on the Great Lakes completed it. Paul Hall Center representatives point to the course, which took place in March, as illustrating how the school routinely offers specially designed training for specific ratings and SIU-contracted companies throughout the industry. Since it opened in 1967, the center has offered numerous on-site and specialty courses. Recent examples include safety training aboard the passenger vessels SS Independence and Mississippi Queen, and on Great Lakes Towing tugboats; tankerman training for Crowley boatmen in Jacksonville, Fla.; and a special AB course in Piney Point for Great Lakes members. The school this year also has produced numerous ship-specific safety videotapes to help SIUcontracted vessels in the U.S. Military Sealift Command fleet in complying with various new regulations. "Specialty courses and on-site training are big parts of what the school offers," noted Don Nolan, vice president of the Paul Hall Center. "We constantly encourage SIU members and contracted companies to take advantage of those opportunities." Guild, who joined the SIU in 1972, took it a step further. When he first noticed a need for additional relief conveyormen on the Lakes, "my first inclination, like anybody else, was, 'Why don't they find somebody? Whose responsibility is it?'" Seeing an opportunity for formal training that would benefit all concerned, Guild tackled the issue. He suggested the class to ASC and the SIU, then meticulously developed the curriculum during the ensuing 15 months. Altogether, he wrote and compiled a half-dozen instructional manuals for the class, totaling nearly 1,000 pages. He also utilized instructional videotape that he shot while sailing aboard ASC vessels as well as videotapes already available at the Paul Hall Center. "I remembered some important things from the first time I went to the school, which was 1984, on a towboat operator's scholarship," recalled Guild, who most recently sailed on ASC 's H. Lee White. "They offered a developmental studies course that taught people how to study, how to take notes, how to use resources in the library. That gave me the basis for putting together my books for the conveyorman 's course. "I also remember in 1984 feeling overwhelmed at first, because there was so much material. But something I learned then, still holds true: You might not need every last bit of information in a manual, but the most important information you need is probably in there somewhere." The wide-ranging duties of a conveyorman necessitated a broad curriculum that included Upgrader Touts School Agugliaro Cites Center's 'Positive Impact' Editors note: John Agugliaro recently upgraded at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. He offered the following thoughts on his time at the school. Upon recently upgrading at the Paul Hall Center, I found that not only does our membership upgrade, but our programs do as well. The SIU and the school continue to meet the challenges of new standards for today's mariners. I completed the certified chief cook course. It benefited me and undoubtedly can assist any member interested in attaining that endorsement. The program is taught by a team of chefs. Each individual offers something special and unique toward our training. At the helm is John Hetmanski. He covers leadership skills as well as proper galley operations. Chef John Dobson is the lab instructor, focusing on the fundamentals of cooking, combined with practical cooking skills. Chef Shannon Twigg also teaches in the practical setting of the galley operation, specializing in proper cooking techniques and recipes. Combined, they form a balanced team that always is available for instruction and guidance. B Seafarers LOG As students, we are privileged to also have available to us a "hall of fame" chef-Romeo Lupinacci. Under Chef Romeo's tutelage, we learn the finer points of culinary skills. Chef Romeo's availability is unwavering toward the students, whether we seek instruction or brotherhood. Without a doubt, all the instructors help us become the best-trained cooks in the maritime industry. The school's facilities are nothing short of state-of-the-art. At the culinary lab, substantial investment has been made to ensure that students have an equal balance of classroom accommodations as well as individual, fully equipped cooking stations. The classroom looks like a college setting, with overhead mirrors to enhance cooking demonstrations. And, the galley has the most modem equipment available, with plenty of preparation space. Altogether, the facilities are very conducive to cooking and learning. The curriculum is fundamentally sound. There are six modules of training, covering all aspects of shipboard cooking -including the very important sanitation module. SIU member Norman Guild (left) makes a point to fellow member Andrew Nowak during the conveyorman course. Guild wrote the curriculum and taught the three-week class at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. hands-on training, he explained. "In that job, you have to be ready 24 hours a day. You maintain all of the ship's loading equipment, you keep log books for maintenance and payroll records. Every day it's a different "How many other schools offer people an almost immediate chance to significantly increase their income?" -Seafarer Norman Guild thing- working on winches, greasing equipment, measuring and laying out wear-plates, cleaning the boat. ... "Your ship may go from hauling coal to inspected stone, which is going from black to brilliant white," he continued. "If you don't have clean cargo spaces, a contaminated load potentially exists, and a great expense to the company. To that end, the machinery requires extremely careful maintenance and monitoring." The topics in the three-week class reflect that diversity. They included everything from convey- One overall lesson I learned is that proper care and appreciation of food will yield a good product. It's important to note that the Paul Hall Center offers additional educational assistance to anyone who is interested. The instructors are available to students after class, every day. The Paul Hall Memorial Library contains videotapes of all lesson plans that may be viewed in the privacy of our rooms. And the academic department offers tutoring and responds to students' special needs. Overall, the extended educational assistance offered by the staff reveals a committed group that is dedicated to the success of all students. During my studies, I met the new graduates of the most recent recertified steward program. They shared their experiences and encouraged us to move up the ladder in the steward department. They also shared their philosophy of teamwork and brotherhood. Collectively, they said that if you are willing to work hard and learn, you will be successful. I think they are an excellent example of professionalism, brotherhood and the value of upgrading. In summary, the certified chief cook program is on course to meet the new challenges and requirements for mariners interested in a career with the steward department. It has had a positive impact on me, and I look forward to using this newly acquired knowledge in my job. or system components to limited welding, and from electrical troubleshooting to hatch crane maintenance and much more. Students reacted positively to the class, as did ASC. Guild received the company's first "innovator" award based in part on his initiative with the course. "But whatever credit there is, it should be spread around," Guild insisted. "Everyone at the school bent over backwards to help me, especially Jane LesCallett in the print shop. The company also provided tools to make this happen, and I got a lot of support from (SIU Port Agent) Tim Kelley and (SIU Representative) Don Thornton in Algonac (Mich.). They had faith and trust that I could put this together." Guild also credited the late conveyorman Luciene Landerville, who created special tools that were used in the class. Overall, Guild said his most recent experience at Piney Point reinforced his belief that upgrading is essential for SIU members. "The frrst time I went, it was a nine-week course," he pointed out. "That took a commitment, but it was an opportunity to advance and a great value. It was geared toward teaching me what I need to know to improve my lot in life, and it's the same way today. "How many other schools offer classes that give people an almost immediate chance to significantly increase their income?" Certified Chief Cook John Agugliaro recommends upgrading at the Paul Hall Center. My time at the school also gave me the confidence that I can be efficient as a newly certified chief cook. Completing the class broadened my horizons for better opportunities at sea. I highly recommend this course to all my brothers and sisters interested in achieving success in the steward department. I would like to give special thanks to Don Nolan, vice president of the school, for his support of the students and the program. I also thank the team of chefs and Chef Romeo Lupinacci. October 1999 �Be All That You Can Bel Upgrade! Editors' note: Henry W. Gamp has been a member of the SIU since 1974 and a frequent contributor to the Seafarers LOG. He wrote this article last month with the hope that it will inspire some of the union s younger members to keep upgrading and improving their fatures. My thoughts are primarily directed toward you younger men and women searching for your career path through the maze we call the Maritime Industry, be it deep sea or inland. As we look around, we see all types of changes taking place. It is essential that we upgrade, train and keep pace with these changes if we wish to hold onto the better jobs to provide financial security for our families and ourselves. Just to cite a few examples of change: I began working on tugboats in 1970 as a deckhand. Believe it or not, tugboat operators weren't required to hold USCG licenses at that time. Whistle signals were used, and the VHF radio and channel 13 bridge-to-bridge communications were not yet mandatory All tugboats carried a cook, except for a few harbor boats. Many harbors had a light sheen of oil floating on the surface, and ships routinely "butterworthed" their tanks, pumping the residue overboard on coastwise runs. Let me tell you how important upgrading has been in my life and career: In 1974, I attended the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. for the first time. I enrolled in a course for a limited master's license with an oceans endorsement. At the time, I was supporting my mother and two children. To make it financially feasible, I made a few sacrifices. I took my vacation time to correspond with the course schedule and went to the bank to borrow additional money. I was treating my education as an investment in my future, and believe me, it paid off many times over! Within a year of acquiring my master's license, I found ajob as a mate with a major shipdocking company in Baltimore, nearly doubling my previous salary. Most tugboat captains/mates held only a "grandfathered" tugboat operators license. I now held a superior license to more than 90 percent of my contemporaries. Only two months after changing jobs, there was a strike that lasted more than two months. I took advantage of this "dead" time and went back to the union's school again. This time I was self-studying for my first class pilot's license for Baltimore Harbor. When the strike was over, I was a licensed federal pilot. The following summer, when vacation time came around, the company was short on By Captain Henry W. Gamp In the early 1980s, Gamp pilots a 791-foot RO/RO into Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore, Md. captains (in Baltimore at that time, tug captains also served as docking pilots). I was able to fill in, and this eventually doubled my salary again! Due to another strike, my job in Baltimore was eliminated. At that time, working within a few square miles day after day, I never would have imagined that someday I would be sailing as mate aboard a 586-foot articulated tug barge unit which operated anywhere between Venezuela and Canada. However, by preparing, studying and upgrading, I had qualified myself to move into this and other related jobs. I currently have 279 charts to keep corrected, so a good bit of my time is spent with charts. I work up passage plans, ETAs and noon reports. Also, for those areas on which I hold pilotage, I frequently serve as pilot, saving my company this expense. When in port, while the tankermen are loading or discharging cargo and the engineer is fueling the tug, I might sign a DOI and fuel the barge or relieve the tankerman in order for him to take a break. Other times, I might prepare a meal. When I am not docking or sailing the unit, I sometimes go on deck to operate the bow thruster or give a hand with lines. Other times, I help with maintenance. The duties of a mate or captain have greatly expanded over time and the paperwork trail grows longer. With reduced crew sizes, it is easy to see that every- one needs to pitch in from time to time and have the knowledge and understanding of all shipboard jobs. Had I not taken the time to go to the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School back in 1974, I would be working as a deckhand today- an honorable and necessary profession- but I would have missed out on many exciting and financially rewarding adventures, not to mention a certain freedom and flexibility to pick those opportunities I chose to experience. Over the years, I have continued attending various schools to improve my skills and, at the same time, upgrade my license and endorsements. So often you hear from negative people who refuse to "pull" themselves up and don't want you to get ahead of them! Ignore them and be all that you can be, make the most of yourself. The Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School is a valuable resource. Smooth sailing! Calm winds with a following sea! Sailing as chief mate, Gamp helps the deck crew paint portions of the vessel. As a pilot, Gamp uses skills he learned at Piney Point: working at the chart table in the wheelhouse (left) and (above) checking the radar screen to acquire a distant target using the ARPA feature . Capt. Gamp pilots a Venezuelan training ship, the Simon Bolivar, during "Operation Sail 1986." October 1999 In 1974, Gamp attended the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School for the first time, completing the limited masters of oceans course. On a training ship at the school are, from left, David Domac, Henry Gamp, Lesley Collier, Mike Dourty, Al Dourty and CDR John Lykes (instructor). AB Jeffrey A. Lagana is the first Seafarer to earn his Nautical Science Technology Certificate from the Paul Hall Center after successfully completing a series of job-related and academic courses. The cer.. tificate is issued to those ' who want to continue their education but have not decided to proceed to an associate's or bachelor's degree. SIU President Michael Sacco presents Lagana with his certificate. With the pair are (from the left) Instructor Peggy Densford, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan, Allan Lagana (Jeff's father) and Academic Dept. Coordinator Ed Fitzgerald. Seafarers LOG 9 �Paul Hall Center Takes Fire Fighting on the River With the Delta Queen Steamboat Company vessel in the background, crew members take turns extinguishing different types of fires. Above: Eric Morgan puts out a flammable liquids blaze. Below: Under the guidance of Alan K. Johnson, first mate on the Mississippi Queen, the emergency squad prepares to enter the "fire area." On-site training is a big part of what the Paul Hall Center offers its members and contracted companies. In New Orleans, for example, Delta Queen Steamboat Co. takes advantage of the school's onsite educational opportunities several times a year for its boats (Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen) in fire fighting, first aid, CPR and damage control. Paul Hall Center instructor Anthony Hammett recently conducted fire fighting training for the deck crew aboard the Mississippi Queen. The week-long course covered the theory of fire, fire prevention, different types of fires and methods to extinguish them, as well as the use of breathing apparatus and protective clothing. Seasoned crew members as well as new hires alike had plenty of hands-on practice, as the accompanying photos illustrate. Above: Robert Deluca (left) and Danny Engle, deckhands aboard the Mississippi Queen, "gear up" for a fire drill conducted during recent training aboard the paddlewheeler. Crew Sees the World Aboard S-L Innovator From Long Beach, Calif. back to Long Beach is a 70day voyage for the crew of the Sea-Land Innovator. Calling on ports in the Far East such as Shanghai, China; Yokohama, Japan; and Pusan, South Korea, the containership also travels through the Panama Canal to Freeport, Bahamas and then to the Gulf and East Coasts before returning to Long Beach. For the crew members who sail the Sea-Land Innovator, it is a great opportunity to see the world! GSU Fernando Onativia (left) and DEU Jose Gamboa enjoy the camaraderie aboard the Sea-Land containership. 10 Seafarers LOB Unlicensed Apprentice Eric Fowler gets his taste of shipboard life. While traversing the Panama Canal, AB Dave Brown continues his maintenance tasks. Antonio Pizzuto, chief cook aboard the Sea-Land Innovator, knows the importance of a wellfed crew on these long voyages. October 1999 �SIU waiters and waitresses aboard the SS Independence anticipate every dining need at a gala luncheon celebrating the vessel's 1,oooth sailing last August. Included in this photo are Reynaldo Ricarte, Josie Barcelo, Curtis Pollard, Stephanie Agena, Speros Mookas and Roy Martinez. The OM/ Columbia gets a fresh coat of paint by members of the deck department. Above left is AB Kathy Chester; above right are ABs Stephen Votta (left) and Randy Senatore. It's payoff day aboard the Perseverance in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. Smiling faces abound among these crew members on the lnterocean Ugland Management tanker. From left are ABs Roy Rivera, Luis Escalante and Gregorio Ortiz. When a ship crosses the equator, a shellback initiation is held for Unlicensed Apprentice Martin all first-time crossers (polywogs). Such was the case aboard the Vargas has --already worked in USNS Gilliland on July 16. A good time was had by all, including the deck and engine departthe polywogs who were inducted into the realm of King Neptune. ments. Here, aboard the El Posing for a group photo are (from left, kneeling) LSI contractor Morro, he gets his hands wet on Jeff Miller, Chief Cook Wadsworth Jarrel, OS Ahmed Sultan , (sechis last rotation in the steward ond row) QMED John Fernandez, Wiper Korron Richardson, LSI department. contractor Harry Averill, AB James Orlanda, OS Martha Wall and Second Mate Mike Novak. ~~...---.............:--."7:'17-r------......---cr:-r-~..,.,.....~~ I. • f I"' •••1 The Liberty Spirit was fortunate to have two unlicensed apprentices aboard recently, doing their rotation in the deck department. Manuel Oliveras (above) and Alvin Clark both seemed to enjoy their tasks. The appearance of the engine room aboard the Sea-Land Discovery has improved dramatically in the last five months, according to the ship's first engineer, Nicholas Priscu, and is due almost entirely to the efforts of Oiler Ricky Arroyo, Oiler Mark Failauga, Oiler Michael Wilkerson , Engine Maintenance Mel Sison and Wiper Luke Failauga. "Working with professionals is a privilege and a pleasure," he told the Seafarers LOG. October 1999 Seafarers LOG 11 �Delta Queen Named 'Ship of the Year' By Historical Society The SIU-crewed Delta Queen, a National Historic Landmark, has been named "Ship of the Year" by the Steamship Historical Society of America. "The Delta Queen is the last operating steamboat of her era and is one of the most historic vessels in the world," said William duBarry, president of the society. ''No other vessel that is still operating in the United States is as historically important as she is. Our members appreciate the commitment that The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. has made in preserving her for the enjoyment of current and future passengers." The Delta Queen was launched on the Sacramento River in 1927 and offered overnight service between Sacramento and San Francisco until 1940. When the Great Depression brought an end to her trips, the U.S. Navy leased the Delta Queen as a troops barracks and then a shuttle for servicemen traveling to and from ships in San Francisco Bay. At the war's end, the Delta Queen was auctioned to Captain Tom Greene, president of Cincinnati's Greene Line Steamers (now The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. of New Orleans). In 1947, he brought the Delta Queen on a 5,200-mile journey from the West The SIU-crewed Delta Queen, an authentic steam paddlewheeler which was launched on the Sacramento River in 1927, was named "Ship of the Year" by the Steamship Historical Society of America. Coast to the Mississippi River system, where she resumed service as a vacation boat. Today, the authentic steam paddlewheeler and her newer 1 Loya/1 Crew Helps Navy Aboard T-AGOS Ship Smooth sailing aboard the SIU-crewed USNS Loyal was reported when the oceanographic surveillance ship recently paid off in Portsmouth, Va. (only days before Hurricane Floyd pounded that area). The 235-foot vessel, operated by Maersk Line Limited, is part of a "special missions program" conducted by the U.S. Military Sealift Command. The data it gathers is used to aid the U.S. Navy. "The collected data helps to improve technology in undersea warfare and enemy ship detection," notes MSC. "The oceanographic and hydrographic survey ships' multi-beam, wide-angle precision sonar systems make it possible to continuously chart a broad strip of ocean floor." Taking care of business on the deck are (from left) Pat Vandergrift, SIU safety director in the port of AB Sofronio Adenic, OS Ivan Boyd, AB Steven Norfolk, provided the accompanying photos. Thomas, OS Louis Creekmur and Bosun C.E. Brady. SIU-crewed sisters, the Mississippi Queen and the American Queen, visit the nation's heartland and the Old South on three- to 14night cruises. For more information, call The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. tollfree at 800-543-1949 or visit the company's web site at: www. deltaqueen.com. Are You ReceivinLfl Your Important · ? In order to ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month-as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices-a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 r---------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM 10199 (Please Print) Name: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone No.: _(.:..___ _c_)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address: Social Security No.: Pictured in the galley are (photo above left) Steward/Baker Peter Francisco (left) and Chief Cook John Agugliaro, and (above right) Francisco with SA Mario Ordonez. At right is Bosun C.E. Brady. Book No.: D Other _ _ _ __ D Active SIU D Pensioner This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me pf!rsonally. L---------------------------------~ ITF Ship Welcomes Visitor No. 500,000 Global Mariner Continues Worldwide Voyage; ITF Sets European Action vs. Runaway Flags The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) exhibition ship Global Mariner, entering the final quarter of its 20-month worldwide voyage, recently welcomed aboard visitor number 500,000. The vessel calls attention to the ITF's campaign against runaway-flag shipping. "The ITF has been overwhelmed by the number of people coming on board to visit the exhibition. The success of the Global Mariner has exceeded all expectations," said Mark Dickinson, ITF assistant general secretary. "However, the campaign's success is not judged by numbers alone," he continued. "The ship's presence creates an indelible impact which gives a tremendous boost to the work of national unions." The 500,000th visitor, a teenager, and her family were presented with gifts from the Global Mariner in Mumbai, India on September 19. 12 Seafarers LOG Composed of more than 500 transportrelated unions worldwide, including the SIU, the ITF also recently announced "a week-long assault on flags of convenience and substandard shipping" in Europe, scheduled for September 27 to October 1. Boycotts and demonstrations are planned, along with ITF inspectors "boarding any vessel they believe to be operating outside the law." The organization noted that, in a similar action two years ago, almost 600 vessels were checked by ITF inspectors across the continent-and more than $1.5 million in back pay owed to mariners was recovered. "The campaign is designed not only to draw attention to the evils of the (runawayflag) system, which allows unscrupulous shipowners to pay low wages, ignore health and safety standards and avoid taxes, but also to provide essential practi- cal assistance to mariners who may have been abandoned thousand of miles from home, may be owed wages or are working on unsafe ships," Dickinson explained. "Substandard shipping costs lives, and vessels registered under runaway flags account for the lion's share of shipboard accidents, environmental pollution and losses at sea." Seafarers visited the ITF Global Mariner earlier in its tour, when the vessel docked in San Juan, P.R. Among those pictured on deck are Clive Steward, Sabino Pacheco, Ramon Ayala, Angel O'Neill, Eusebio Gonzalez, George Koulouris, Hector Sanchez, Rodney Passapera, Ruben Velez, Jorge Soler, Jose Canales, Roberto Candelario, Guillermo Grajales, Steven De Jesus, Roberto Lopez, Reinaldo Roman, Antonio De Jesus, David Gordius, Carlos Parrilla Sr., Claudio Del Carmen, Carlos Sanchez, Tony Rosa, Carlos Parrilla Jr., SIU Port Agent Victor Nunez, SIU Safety Director Amancio Crespo and SIU Representative Steve Ruiz. October 1999 �-_..._~. The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md., offers a wide range of vocational studies as well as academic courses. Featuring everything from entry-level training to the most advanced curriculums, the school welcomes Seafarers from all segments of the industry. This summer, the Paul Hall Center celebrated the opening of the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School-a unique, state-of-the-art facility located near the main campus. The new school replicates shipboard conditions, including various types of blazes that are germane to vessels. This helps provide students with realistic training. Additionally, the Paul Hall Center, which opened in 1967, has a proud history of offering basic academic support for students who choose to utilize it. Collegelevel studies also are available. For a list of upcoming classes at the Paul Hall Center, please see page 21. Additional information about the courses and the school is featured on the internet at: http://www.seafarers.org LEFT AND ABOVE: The Hagglund crane offers valuable hands-on training for students at the Piney Point, Md. facility. The crane is used in several classes. TOP: During the damage control portion of the government vessels course, students learn effective emergency repair techniques. MIDDLE: Delving into the code of federal regulations covering LNG ships are Seafarer John Thompson (left) and instructor Russ Levin. BOTIOM: Taking advantage of the GED program are Seafarers (seated, from left) Saundra Leonard and Shannon Bonefont. Standing are instructors Peggy Densford (left) and Joan Miles. Professional interaction between steward department upgraders such as Dang Rashidi (right) and galley instructors like John Hetmanski helps Seafarers maximize their learning experience. Ot:tober 1999 A major addition to the Paul Hall Center is the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, which opened this summer. Among the courses taught at the new school are basic and advanced fire fighting, confined space safety training, first aid and CPR and others. ABOVE AND INSET: Students in the AB course get valuable time at the wheel aboard the training vessel Osprey, one of several instructional boats located at the school. Sometimes hands-on training takes place beyond the campus. Here, unlicensed apprentices learn aboard the SIU-crewed USNS Capella while the vessel was docked in Baltimore. Seafarers LOG 13 �Good Net111s In Y2K. • • 0 American Home Foods Mapo; Wbeat.eena General Mills Basic 4 Corn Flakes; Boo Berry; Bran Chex; Quaker Raisins, Low Fat Granola, Low Fat Granola with Raisins, Muselix Raisin & Almond Crunch. Tuasted Brown Sugar Squares); Just Right (fruit & nut and with Crunch Nuggets); Marshmallow Blasted Froot Loops; Nut & Honey Crunch; Nut & Honey Crunch O's: Nutrl-Grain (Almond Raisin, Golden Wheat, Golden Wheat & Raisin); Product 19; Raisin Bran; Raisin Bran Crunch; Raisin Squares Mini-Wheats ; Rice Krisples (plain , frosted , Apple Cinnamon. Treats) ; Smacks; Smart Start; Snack Pack ; Special K; Strawberry Squares; Strawberry Squares Mini-Wheats Gralnfield's: Wbeetabix Nabisco Miscellaneous , Cheerios; (plain, Apple Cinnamon. Honey Frosted, Honey Nut. and MultiGrain); Cinnamon Toast Crunch; Clusters; Cocoa Puffs; Cookie Crisp; Count Chocula; Country Corn Flakes; Corn Chex; Fiber One; Frankenberry; Golden Grahams; Kaboom; Klx; Lucky Charms; Raisin Bran Nut; Rice Chex; Tutal (regular, raisin bran and corn flakes); Trix; Wheat Hearts hot cereal; Wheat Cbex; Wheaties (frosted and plain) Cream of Wheat Kellog gs Post All-Bran (plain, Bran Buds, Extra Fiber); Apple Jacks; Apple Cinnamon Squares Mini-Wheats ; Blueberry Squares; Breakfast Mates; Cocoa Frosted Flakes; Cocoa Krlsples; Complete Bran Flakes; Complete Oat Bran Flakes; Complete Wheat Bran Flakes; Corn Flakes; Corn Pops; Cracklln' Oat Bran; Crispix; Froot Loops; Frost.ed Flakes; Frosted MiniWh ea ts (regular and bite size) ; Healthy Choice (Almond Crunch with Alpha-Bits (plain and marshmallow); Blueberry Morning; Bran Flakes; Fruit n' Fibre; Fruity Pebbles; Grape Nuts; Great Grains; Honey Bunches of Oats (plain, with Almonds and with Graham); Honeycomb: Oreo Os; Post Tuastles; Super Golden Crisp Apple Zaps: Cap·n Crunch; Cinnamon Toasted Oatmeal Squares: Cocoa Blast; Fruitangy Obs; Harvest Oat Flakes (plain and with apples); Honey Dlpps; Honey Graham Ohs ; King Vitamin: Life; Marshmallow Safari ; Oatmeal; Quaker 10096 Natural Cereal: Quaker 10096 Low Fat Natural Cereal; Quisp; Sweet Crunch; Tuasted Oatmeal (plain, honey and nut); Tuasted Oatmeal Squares Wheetabix Betty Crocker Muffin Mixes; Betty Crocker Pancake Mix; Betty Crocker Special Muffin Mixes; Carnation breakfast bars; Washington Pancake Mix; Raga Muffins; Indian Head Cornmeal; Mrs. Crutchfield Muffin Mix; Lender's bagels; Nutri-Graln cereal bars (all navors); Rice Krisples Treats (squares and Chocolate Chip Squares); Pop-Tarts; Eggo Frozen Waffles (all flavors and configurations); Chewy Granola Bars (all ftavors); Pop-Tarts (all ftavors and configurations); Quaker Oats Rice Cakes; Menu Magic Instant breakfast; Brooklyn Bagel; Cbex Mixes (Tradlt.ional, Cheddar, Bold, Hot'N Spicy) Per5onal Greeting5 for Holiday /55ue of the LOG As has been done in past years, this December's edition of the Seafarers LOG will include the everpopular holiday greetings from active and retired Seafarers and their fam ilies to other members of the seafaring community and their families. To ensure that your holiday message is published, please follow the instructions below: D PRINT or TYPE (in 25 words or less) the message in the space provided. Photographs also are welcome. (Please print-if we cannot read your message, it will not be included.) D Be sure your greeting is in the holiday spirit. D Do not send more than three entries per person. (This form may be reproduced.) D Be sure to include your name as well as the name of the person to whom you are sending the greeting. (Your name is necessary since the notices are listed alphabetically by the sender's last name.) Include your phone number in case there are any questions. D The holiday greetings must be received no later than Monday, November 15, 1999. D Send your entries to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. You also may FAX copies directly to the LOG at (301) 702-4407. Additionally, forms may be filled out in any union hall and turned in to the official at the counter-or may be given to the boarding patrolman during a vessel's payoff. The holiday greetings section of the December LOG is a favorite feature for many, so be sure to get your message in on t ime. HOLIDAY MESSAGE (Please Print) To: From: Sender's Telephone Number: of Seaccording to farers. provided by T h e Department of Edu$15 , 000 cation, more than 12 million college students enrolled in undergrad- ~==111 scholarships uate studies in the 1996-97 will be paid school year. And the cost per year of at a rate of$ 3,750 per year over attending college was anywhere a four-year period. The $6,000 from $2,257 for a two-year pub- awards are paid at a rate of lic school to $22,533 for a four- $3,000 per year. The first stop in finding out year private institution. Now, two years later and more about the scholarship proalmost into the new millennium, gram and application process is those figures continue to in- to send away for the Seafarers crease. Competition remains Scholarship Program booklet. great, but the financial outlay The booklet contains all the necinvolved is exorbitant and way essary information a prospective student will need to complete the out of the reach of many. The Seafarers Welfare Plan application. To receive a copy of understands that education this guide, fill out the coupon at should be made available to the bottom of this page and return everyone to pursue their goals. In it to the address listed on the 1952, it established a scholarship form. Once the scholarship booklet program to help qualified members and their dependents finance has been received, applicants their college and vocational edu- should then check the eligibility cations. This program continues information and, if they are eligito thrive and is now taking appli- ble, should start collecting other cations for the 2000 program, paperwork which must be subwhich will award seven monetary mitted along with the full appligrants to three SIU members and cation by the April 15, 2000 four dependents. All Seafarers deadline. These items include tranand their spouses and children scripts and certificates of graduawho plan to attend college are encouraged to complete a schol- tion, letters of recommendation, a arship application. The deadline photograph of the applicant and a for submission of all required certified copy of his or her birth certificate. paperwork is April 15, 2000. Since the scholarship awards Of the seven scholarships, three are reserved for SIU mem- are made primarily on the basis bers. One is in the amount of of high school grades and the $15,000 to be used to help cover scores of either College Entrance the costs of attending a four-year, Examination Boards (SAT) or college-level course of study. The American College Tests (ACT), other two are for $6,000 each and arrangements should be made to are intended as two-year awards take these exams no later than for study at a post-secondary February 2000 to ensure the vocational school or community results reach the scholarship selection committee in time to be college. Four scholarships are awarded evaluated. Let the Seafarers Welfare Plan in the amount of $15,000 to the spouses and dependent children help you make the most of Y2K. A _.j r--------------------------------------------------, lease send me the 2000 SIU Scholarship Program booklet Message: P which contains eligibility information, procedures for applying and a copy of the application form. Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ Mariner's Social Security Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Street Address City, State, Zip Code _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Telephone Number Check the block which describes your status with the SIU: D Active Seafarer 0- Retired Seafarer D D Family Member of Active Seafarer Family Member of Retired Seafarer Other:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~10/99 This application is for: D Self D Dependent Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 10/99 L---- - -------------- - - - -- - --- - --------------- - -----~ 14 Seafarers LOS October 1999 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea AUGUST 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Totals 26 16 6 15 6 7 6 1 3 8 5 8 9 5 9 13 6 15 8 9 18 31 2l 26 6 18 9 14 18 8 3 12 6 22 9 13 32 l 2 2 9 2 9 4 12 3 9 6 5 1 233 144 9 4 Totals 15 0 5 4 7 3 19 12 9 15 6 5 11 1 11 4 3 8 5 8 14 5 Totals 3 183 116 **REGISTERED ON BEACH AU Groups Class A Class B Class C 4 10 2 12 5 8 4 0 3 3 3 3 15 3 I 0 0 4 4 1 2 0 75 5 8 28 l3 51 21 12 5 lO 31 11 3 37 49 19 15 13 0 8 18 11 13 Mobile .................... Wednesday: November 17, Dec. 15 3 2 10 3 New Bedford ..........Tuesday: November 23, December 21 172 106 8 4 1 10 4 3 59 71 383 0 3 0 0 4 2 0 4 1 8 3 4 7 5 3 9 5 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: November 17, Dec. 15 Honolulu ................. Friday: November 19, December 17 Houston .................. Monday: November 15, December 13 Jacksonville ............Friday: November 12* (*change creaJed by Veterans Day holiday) Thursday, December 9 Jersey City .............. Wednesday: November 24, Dec. 22 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: November 16, December l 4 New York. ...............Tuesday: November 9, December 7 Norfolk ...................Friday: November 12* (*change created by Veterans Day holiday) 23 l 6 9 14 11 25 22 13 22 15 2 3 9 8 11 18 9 10 9 5 9 8 2 5 0 0 4 2 5 6 Thursday: December 9 Philadelphia ............ Wednesday: November 10, Dec. 8 San Francisco .........Thursday: November 18, December 16 San Juan .................. Friday: November 12* (*change created by Veterans Day holiday) Thursday, December 9 1 3 3 St. Louis ................. Friday: November 19, December 17 Tacoma ................... Friday: November 26, December 24 1 0 38 188 121 36 Personals STEWARD DEPARTMENT 14 6 0 4 0 1 5 0 0 22 5 5 10 I 0 I 0 4 GUILLERMO PEDROZA 2 8 0 5 4 2 3 1 2 3 0 8 6 16 0 11 16 9 19 1 9 8 3 2 1 0 0 31 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 5 I 3 1 0 0 139 58 0 30 2 0 113 34 5 1 0 25 l 4 0 0 16 4 8 2 5 0 2 4 2 0 2 1 5 0 7 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 10 5 0 0 0 19 42 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 7 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 3 ] 7 4 5 1 0 4 3 21 9 ] 3 8 13 4 72 4 l 15 10 3 4 7 5 ] 0 14 1 0 17 12 12 2 34 12 0 10 0 13 16 44 178 168 531 476 323 4 0 0 0 0 7 0 10 2 7 2 2 3 34 32 38 55 2 I 0 0 0 31 5 0 96 102 0 0 0 421 321 211 151 9 8 1 3 0 2 3 9 3 6 0 0 3 0 234 86 32 13 47 2 4 21 11 14 28 40 2 0 6 8 5 22 3 2 8 0 Marie Wood-Barker would like to hear from David Williams, whose ship was in drydock in Savannah, Ga. from September 1981 to February 1982. Please call her in Savannah at (912) 352-0109. Correction An article and corresponding photo caption on page 6 of the August issue of the Seafarers LOG should have stated the following: The American Council on Education (ACE) on June 22 evaluated courses offered by the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. This evaluation was for ACE college credit recommendations, but was not a quality standard system (QSS) review. 9 16 15 5 97 11 1 18 81 271 256 886 650 430 0 - DAVID WILLIAMS Notice 24 6 18 11 Please get in touch with your sister, Luz Fisher Pedroza, at 72 Gouverneur St. , New York, NY 10002; or telephone (212) 693-0697. 0 0 21 19 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. 15 2 16 9 13 3 0 2 3 50 Wilmington ...............Monday, November 22, December 20 0 17 1 2 0 0 2 6 8 7 3 I 20 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 4 4 0 9 0 0 0 12 3l 0 1 8 7 6 0 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. October 1999 (*change created by Veterans Day holiday) Thursday: December 9 2 2 2 5 0 O 9 3 7 Baltimore ................ Friday: November 12* 17 13 17 0 0 2 2 4 6 6 9 0 19 14 2 6 4 5 5 7 20 48 2 0 5 5 8 4 2 2 0 2 7 3 4 0 94 18 2 2 11 4 0 32 8 10 1 96 1 0 22 0 115 0 4 8 45 6 8 8 19 2 5 1 16 17 18 22 1 10 7 8 8 5 6 3 2 4 2 5 0 7 2 0 0 3 3 6 19 6 4 8 6 4 ]1 4 3 5 3 Piney Point ............. Monday: November 8, December 6 Algonac .................. Friday: November 12, December IO 6 2 4 4 0 1 4 3 7 1 2 3 7 2 2 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 2 9 10 1 0 5 8 6 5 7 10 1 93 1 16 3 8 11 2 Port Totals All Departments 20 2 New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 23 17 16 9 6 2 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac 29 10 2 7 15 4 13 14 2 0 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac SEPTEMBER 15, 1999 November & December 1999 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters FLU SHOTS SET FOR OCTOBER 22 IN TACOMA Virginia Mason Clinic will again offer free flu shots this year to members, dependents and retirees who qualify under the rules of the Seafarers Welfare Plan. The inoculations will be given at the Tacoma hall after the October membership meeting on Friday, October 22, 1999, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. The address is 3411 South Union Avenue. In order to expedite the necessary paperwor~ it is requested that any member, dependent or retiree intending to receive a flu shot call the hall one week prior to October 22. The telephone number is (253) 272-7774. Seafarers LOG 15 - �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarel'S lntetnational Union Directory AUGUST 16 - Michael Sacco President CL - John Fay Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Contracts Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone Vice President West Coast Kermett Mangram Vice President Government Services ~ )Ir HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac L-Lakes Company/Lakes 0 22 15 0 7 8 0 4 4 0 22 18 NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer SEPTEMBER 15, 1999 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 8 8 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 5 6 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 4 0 1 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 12 8 0 0 14 7 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 10 10 26 0 29 23 0 45 0 55 Totals All Depts *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 22 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 72 l Sesame St., # l C Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters AUGUST 16 - BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd. Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499~6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PffiLADELPHIA 2604S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEYPOJNT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (30 l) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16V2 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 1. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals 0 2 43 4 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 4 9 0 0 28 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 24 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 SEPTEMBER 15, 1999 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 5 0 0 21 0 0 7 10 1 12 31 1 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 15 0 2 16 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 I 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 11 0 5 16 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 22 8 32 0 0 . 13 2 2 64 15 54 1 11 0 Totals All Depts 101 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 19 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Neal S. Cairns of Toms River, N.J. The picture was snapped aboard the SS LaSalle , which sailed between New York and Europe carrying general and military cargo. Cairns (who sailed as an AB) is at bottom right. Next to him is AB Ralph Denayer and (far right, standing) is Bosun Arne Bjorrsen, who went on to get his captain's license. Also in the photo is Rich Rundblad. Cairns joined the SIU in 1947. In 1953 he went to work for his local township (East Orange, N.J .) and became a special police captain. Upon his retirement from that career, he moved to Tom's River. October 1999 �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. oining the growing number of SIU pensioners this month are 19 members who have retired after many voyages on the world's oceans, waterways and lakes. Among the retirees, 10 sailed in the deep sea division, six shipped in the inland division, and three plied the Great Lakes. Nine of those signing off their ships for the last time sailed in the deck department, eight shipped in the engine department, and two were members of the steward department. This month's pensioners are scattered across the country: seven have retired to the East Coast, six make their homes in the Gulf states, three reside on the West Coast, two live in the Midwest, and one person calls Puerto Rico home. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. J DEEP SEA EARL ADAMS, 53, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1966 and joined the Seafarers in the port of San Francisco. His first ship was the Ames Victory. A native of Mobile, Ala., Brother Adams worked in the engine department and upgraded at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. During his career, he also attended educational conferences at the school. He last sailed aboard the HMI Astrachem, operated of lnterocean Ugland Management. Brother Adams makes his home in Mobile. ....----==:-------. BENJAMIN BALERIO, 65, started his career with the SIU in 1968 in the port of Houston. His first ship was the Midlake, operated by American Bulk Carrier. Born in Texas, Brother Balerio worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Overseas Alaska. Dayton, Texas is where he calls home. ERNEST J. COX, 56, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1969 aboard the Halcyon Panther. A native of Pennsylvania, he worked in the engine department and upgraded at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Prior to his retirement, Brother Cox sailed aboard the Courier, an Intrepid Ship Management vessel. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Navy. He makes his home in New York. JUANITO P. FIEL, 63,joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) in 1965. His first ship was the President Cleveland, an American President Line vessel. Brother Fiel worked in the steward department, most recently in 1998 aboard the Mokihana, oper- October 1999 ated by Matson Navigation Co. Tracey, Calif. is home to Brother Fiel. EVANS R. GATEWOOD, 82, started his career with the Seafarers in 1973 in Yokohama, Japan, first sailing aboard the Gateway City, a Sea-Land Service vessel. Born in Missouri, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the union's training facility in Piney Point, Md. Brother Gatewood last sailed in 1992 aboard the Sea-Land Spirit. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. military from 1935 to 1945. He makes his home in Oakland, Calif. JOHN McLAIN, 54, graduated from the Seafarers Harry ~ Lundeberg School in 1968 and joined the SIU in the port of Philadelphia. He first sailed aboard the Columbia Banker. A native of Pennsylvania, he started in the deck department and upgraded at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. He later transferred to the steward department, last sailing aboard the Cape Johnson, an American Overseas vessel. Brother McLain has retired to Philadelphia. JAMESJ. MATES, 69, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1960. Brother Mates worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. He last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Innovator. Born in Pennsylvania, he makes his home in San Francisco. JOHNP. REAMS, 66, joined the SIU in 1969, first sailing aboard the Penn Ranger. During his ........---_J career, he worked in all three departments and upgraded his skills at the union's school. Brother Reams last sailed in the engine department aboard the Stonewall Jackson, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. From 1953 to 1968, he served in the U.S. Navy. New Orleans is where be calls home. ANTHONY RIPOLL, 65, started his career with the Seafarers in 1986 in the port of New Orleans. His first ship was the USNS Pollux, a Bay Tankers vessel. A native of Louisiana, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Prior to his retirement, he signed off Waterman Steamship Corp's Stonewall Jackson. Brother Ripoll makes bis home in Kenner, La. From 1951to1955, he served in the U.S. Navy. RAUL RIVERA, 63, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1962 '-------"'--------' and joined the SIU in the port of New York. His first ship was the Transglobe, a Hudson Waterways Corp. vessel. Born in Puerto Rico, he worked in the deck department. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the SeaLand Producer. Brother Rivera has retired to Bayamon, P.R. INLAND CLYDE L. ALBAUGH JR., 66, began sailing with the SIU in 1962 from the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Albaugh, worked as a captain, last sailing aboard the tug McGraw, operated by Taylor Marine Towing Co. During his career, he upgraded at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. Born in Pennsylvania, he has retired to Wenonah N.J. EUGENED. BRADSHAW, 62, started his career with the Seafarers in 1979 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He first sailed aboard the Holly S. The Virginia native worked as a captain, most recently aboard the M Jean Dudley, operated by Piney Point Transportation. Boatman Bradshaw makes his home in Onley, Va. PATRICK T. CARSON, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1979 from the port of Tampa, Fla .. He first ~~---~ worked aboard the deep sea vessel Cantigny as a member of the deck department and later transferred to the inland division. Born in Canada, Boatman Carson worked as a captain, most recently in 1989 aboard the Sea Hawk, a Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. vessel. He has retired to Tampa, Fla. Co. vessel. He makes his home in Orange, Texas. -=--~____, CHARLES W. EGAN, 63, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1981 from the port of Norfolk, Va. During his career, he sailed in both the deck and engine departments and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Boatman Egan sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Allied Towing Co. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the Sea Hawk. Boatman Egan makes his home in Elizabeth City, N.C. JEROME PELLEGAL, 66, started his career with the SIU in 1967. A native of Louisiana, he sailed in the deck department. Boatman Pellegal last sailed in 1979 aboard a Southern Ohio Towing Co. vessel. He has retired to Vicksburg, Miss. LEROY WELCH,62, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1961. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, he worked as a captain. Boatman Welch last sailed aboard a Moran Towing Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG 1939 On Wednesday, October 2, 1939 in Savannah, Ga., delegates from the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Districts met for the purpose of drafting a constitution for the Seafarers International Union. In addition to the basic constitution, issues to be voted on included the shipping rules, hospital and strike assessments, and a constitutional amendment that provided that in order to become a member, a man must be a citizen. The constitution was adopted by a vote of 1,225 in favor and 180 opposed. The votes on the constitutional amendment, the shipping rules and the assessments likewise carried by large majorities. GREAT LAKES DAVIDB. GRANN, 53, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Detroit. Born in North .___.__ _ _ ____,Dakota, he sailed in both the engine and steward departments. Brother Grann last sailed aboard the J. J. Boland, an American Steamship Co. vessel, as a member of the steward department. He has retired to Duluth, Minn. GERALDM. NOKLAND, 55, started his career with the SIU in 1963 in Alpena, Mich. Brother Nokland worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Paul H. Townsend, operated by Inland Lakes Management. From 1965 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Navy. He makes his home in Hubbard Lake, Mich. VICTORF. WEBER, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1987 in the port of Algonac, Mich. Born in Illinois, he worked in the deck department and upgraded at the union's school. From 1954 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Prior to retiring, he signed off the Presque Isle, a Great Lakes Corp. vessel. Brother Weber has retired to South Williamsport, Pa. ping unless shipping companies join with their workers and the unions to combat such incursions. During his appearance at a joint labormanagement session, Hall also warned the operators that Great Lakes shipping can only survive in an atmosphere of healthy, responsible collective bargaining. THI O TH J ltJ HJSTO Y 1959 Speaking at the 3 3rd annual convention of the Propeller Club in Detroit, SIUNA President Paul Hall challenged American-flag ship companies on both the Great Lakes and in offshore trade to join the maritime unions to fight the threat of runaway-flag shipping. He told 2 50 management representatives that the Great Lakes will become a home for foreign-flag ship- 1985 The battleground was the floor of the House of Representatives. The weapon was the House version of the 1985 Farm Bill. The stakes were cargo preference. And when the debris of hours-long debate was finally cleared, all anticargo preference amendments were defeated. The result means that Seafarers can count on their rightful share of government-impelled cargo and the jobs and job security that go along with it. The floor fight over cargo preference issues was the culmination of a year-long effort by anti· maritime, agribusiness interests to strip the U.S. merchant marine of a vital asset: government cargo, one of the few government support programs left to the U.S. merchant fleet. But a concentrated educational and lobbying effort led by the SIU during the past several months stopped the anti-merchant marine forces dead in the water. Seafarers LOG 17 �final Departures DEEP SEA ANIBAL ALBE Pensioner Anibal Albe, 75, passed away August 9. A native of Puerto Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1944 in the port ofNew York. He worked in the steward department as a chief cook, last sailing aboard the Caguas, operated by Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. A resident of Puerto Rico, he began receiving his pension in May 1989. MARIANO ARRUA Pensioner Mariano Arrua, 87, died June 16. Born in France, he started ills career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) in 1938 in the port of San Francisco. His first ship was the Matsonia, a Matson Navigation Co. vessel. The steward department member last sailed aboard American President Line's President Cleveland. Brother Arrua retired in January 1969 and made his home in San Francisco. BALLARD C. BROWNING Pensioner Ballard C. Browning, 72, passed away August 29. He joined the Seafarers in 194 5 in the port of New York. Born in Kentucky, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1975. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. Prior to his retirement in January 1990, Brother Browning signed off the Overseas Ohio. He was a resident of Vidor, Texas. TERRILL G. CLARK Pensioner Terrill G. Clark, 68, died August 28. A native of Mobile, Ala., he started his career with the SIU in 1951 in the port of ...........~'""""--' Mobile. His first ship was the North Platte Victory. Brother Clark sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. Prior to his retirement in December 1987, he sailed aboard the OMJ Hudson, operated by OMI Corp. He was a resident of Mobile. ISIDORE C. DONGEN Pensioner Isidore C. Dongen, 85, passed away August 23. Born in Surinam, Dutch Guiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1948 in the port of New York. He worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Oakland, a Sea-Land Service vessel. A resident of Mobile, Ala., Brother Dongen started receiving his pension in December 1980. ELDON A. FROESE Pensioner Eldon A. Froese, 76, died August 29. Brother Froese began his 18 Seafarers LOG SIU career in 1947 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Born in Kansas, he sailed as a member of the deck departL...:.-..iL.:...:.:....-_.:_.:!llD..__J ment. Brother Froese was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1946. He made his home in Pearland, Texas and retired in June 1988. LOUIS GREEN Louis Green, 51, passed away August 30. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1997 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Green sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the union's school in Piney Point, Md. He was a resident of Harvey, La. ROBERT G. HUBBS Pensioner Robert G. Hubbs, 84, died August 2. A charter member of the Seafarers, he started his career with the union in 1938 in the port of New Orleans. A native of Louisiana, he sailed in the deck department. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. Brother Hubbs was a resident of Kenner, La .. He began receiving his pension in March 1971. JAMES KOUVARDAS Pensioner James Kouvardas, 73, passed away July 27. Born in Massachusetts, he began sailing with the SIU in 1942 '------...z.....--l from the port of New York. He worked in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. Brother Kouvardas was a resident of Reno and retired in May 1982. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. ORLAN MIDKIFF .,...,.._ _ Pensioner Orlan Midkiff, 85, passed away July 24. He started his career with the SIU in 1967 in the port of Houston. Born in Texas, he worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Port, an Asbury Steamship Co. vessel. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. Brother Midkiff retired in April 1979. He was a resident of Jasper, Texas. JACK A. MORGAN Pensioner Jack A. Morgan, 65, died May 23. Brother Morgan first sailed with the Seafarers in 1952. During his career, he sailed in both the steward and deck departments. He last sailed in 1993 aboard the Sea-Land Hawaii and began receiving his pension in November 1998. He lived in Wilmington, Calif. ARNOLD MUNTER Pensioner Arnold Munter, 87, passed away August 1. Born in Estonia, he joined the SIU in 1953 in the port of Baltimore. His first ship was the Hastings, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. He sailed in the engine department and retired in August 1977. Brother Munter made his home in Long Beach, Calif. LLOYD Y. NIKAIDO Pensioner Lloyd Y. Nikaido, 79, died July 27. A native of Hawaii, he started his career with the MC&S in 1954 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed in the steward department and started receiving his pension in January 1981. Brother Nikaido was a resident of Honolulu. JACK A. RANKIN Pensioner Jack A. Rankin, 73, ' passed away ... August 16. Brother Rankin joined the Seafarers in 1951. A native of Alabama, he sailed as a chief cook. Prior to his retirement in December 1992, he sailed aboard the Gulf Trader, operated by All Marine Services. From 1944 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Mobile, Ala. WILLIAM RAWLUK Pensioner William Rawluk, 69, died August 22. He graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1962 and joined the SIU in the port of New York. His first ship was the Bradford Island, operated by Cities Service. Born in Canada, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harrry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. He last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Defender. A resident of Seattle, Brother Rawluk retired in June 1992. JOHNM. YORK John M. York, 41, died August 10. Brother York graduated from the entry level training program at the Seafarers Harry Lunde berg -.:i-.....__......==----1 School of Seamanship in 1978 and joined the SIU in the port of Piney Point, Md. His first ship was the Long Lines, operated by Transoceanic Cable Ship Co. Born in Pennsylvania, he worked in both the deck and steward departments, last sailing in 1981 aboard a Sea-Land Service vessel. He later joined the U.S. Coast Guard and made his home in Wilmington, N.C. INLAND MELODY N. COMPTON Melody N. Compton, 62, passed away July 24. Sister Compton first sailed with the SIU in 1987. Born in West Virginia, she sailed in the steward department, primarily aboard Delta Queen Steamship Co. vessels. She was a resident of Wichita Falls, Texas. SAMMY M. EVANS Pensioner SammyM. Evans, 74, died July 21. Born in North Carolina, he joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Evans graduated from the towboat operator program in 1973 at the union's training facility in Piney Point, Md. He sailed as a tugboat captain and started receiving his pension in March 1988. He made his home in Brooklet, Ga. JAMES E. JONES Pensioner James E. Jones, 65, passed away August 22. A native of Kentucky, he started his career with the SIU in 1964 in the port of St. Louis. Boatman Jones worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Robert Kenokee, an American Commercial Barge Line vessel. A resident of Flatwoods, Ky., he retired in May 1996. Ohio, he began his career with the SIU in 1961 in the port of Cleveland. Brother Gunn sailed in the deck department. Prior to '----~.....;__L___J his retirement in July 1986, he signed off a vessel operated by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. From 1945 to 1947, Brother Gunn served in the U.S. Army Air Force. He made his home in Coconut Creek, Fla. WILLIAME.LASHARE Pensioner William E. Lashare, 77, died August 26. Brother Lashare started his career with the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of Duluth, Minn. During his career, he sailed in both the engine and steward departments. A native of West Virginia, he retired in January 1987 to Moundsville. From 1948 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy. DONALD 0. NELSON Pensioner Donald 0. Nelson, 73, passed away August 17. A native of Minnesota, he joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of Detroit. Brother Nelson worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Sam Laud, operated by American Steamship Co. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. He was a resident of Conneaut, Ohio, and started recei ing his pension in November 1991. RAILROAD MARINE JEROME ABRAMOWITZ Pensioner Jerome Abramowitz, 72, passed away July 22. Born in New Jersey, he began his career with the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. He worked in the de department. Brother Abramowitz last sailed aboard a Penn Central Railroad Co. vessel. He made his home in Patterson, N.J. and began receiving his pension in April 1989. WILLIAM F. LARY HERMAN E. AHRENS Pensioner William F. Lary, 74, died July 31. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1963 after a 20-year career with the U.S. Army. Boatman Lary sailed as a member of the steward department and started receiving his pension in June 1990. He was a resident of St. Louis. Pensioner Herman E. Ahrens, 99, died August 25. A native of New Jersey, he began his career as a deckhand in 1917 with .........._____,.oc...__.._....... the marine division of the Erie-Lackawana Railroad Co. and joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of New York. During his career, he earned his masters license. Brother Ahrens was a resident of Union City, N.J. He retired in February 1965. HAROLD E. McCOY Pensioner Harold E. McCoy, 80, passed away July 29. A native of Virginia, he joined the SIU in 1971 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard a Curtis Bay Towing Co. vessel. Boatman McCoy retired in March 1988 and made his home in Richmond, Va. PHILIP RUBISH NICK SCOPOLITES ----=,...-----, Pensioner Philip Rubish, 72, passed away July 29. Born in West Virginia, he first sailed with the Seafarers in 1950. He worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the union's school, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1983. His last ship was the OMI Champion, and he began receiving his pension in August 1996. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. avy from 1943 to 1946. Brother Rubish made his home in Jacksonville, Fla. Pensioner Nick Scopolites, 86, died July 29. He joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native worked llL--"""""".......~~_...:i in the steward department as a chief cook. Prior to his retirement in December 1982, he last sailed aboard a Red Circle Transportation Co. vessel. Boatman Scopolites was a resident of Mobile. GREAT LAKES WALTER F. GUNN Pensioner Walter F. Gunn, 72, passed away August 11. Born in AnANTIC FISHERMEN SAM JOSEPH LOIACANO Pensioner Sam Joseph "Tuni" Loiacano, 81, passed away July 28. A native of Massachusetts, he joined the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1939 in the port of Boston, before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. A resident of Gloucester, Mass., Brother Loiacano began receiving his pension in May 1981. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 194 5. October 1999 �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contract department. Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships' minutes. The minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Sulphur Carriers), May 30Chairman Marvin Zimbro, Secretary Nee Tran, Educational Director William Coffy. Chairman requested everyone use scoop when getting ice-not glasses or big cups. He also asked that washing machine contain full load, not just one or two items. Secretary reminded crew members to clean room and get clean linen for next person. Some disputed OT reported in deck department; no beefs or disputed OT noted by engine or steward delegates. GLOBAL LINK (Tyco), June 25-Chairman Jose Gomez, Secretary Lanette Lopez, Educational Director Peter Littman, Deck Delegate Melvin L. Singletary, Engine Delegate William H. Young, Steward Delegate Radames Toro. Chairman reported Coast Guard inspection went well; crew did outstanding job. Galley heads fixed by electrician and crew ready to transfer cable. Treasurer announced $2,200 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND ANCHORAGE (Sea-Land Service), June 16Chairman Terry Murphy, Secretary Harry Lively, Educational Director Charles Wharton, Deck Delegate Sandy Killian, Engine Delegate Craig M. Knorr, Steward Delegate Christine Short. Chairman announced ship arriving in Tacoma, Wash. for payoff and urged everyone to contribute to SPAD for job security. Secretary commended Steward Jim Wright for tremendous job keeping ship clean. Educational director advised everyone to utilize facilities at Piney Point, especially new fire fighting school. He noted Coast Guard is now mandating some courses-like fire fightingand mariners are urged to take these as soon as possible. Some disputed OT reported in deck and steward departments. Crew asked Paul Hall Center to look into child care facility for upgrading parents. Next ports: Tacoma; Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor, Alaska. SEA-LAND CRUSADER (SeaLand Service), June 17Chairman Eric J. Perez, Secretary Joseph P. Emidy, Deck Delegate Angel R. Camacho, Steward Delegate Luis A. Lopez. Chairman reported everything going well. He advised crew to keep up with requirements for STCW. Bosun is willing to assist members in getting endorsements stamped. Secretary encouraged crew members to read Seafarers LOG and keep abreast of changes in union and industry. Educational director echoed sentiments of all members in thanking SIU leadership for new fire fighting school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked rest of crew for helping keep mess hall and pantry clean and for cooperation in setting up cookouts. They, in turn, were thanked for fine meals and service, especially for popular cookouts Ot:lober 1999 and clambakes. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), June 27Chairman Theodore Doi, Secretary Alan E. Hollinger, Educational Director Ray Chapman, Deck Delegate Manolo V. Delos Santos, Engine Delegate Kenneth Harder, Steward Delegate Romeo Manansala. Chairman reported arrival of new mattresses; old ones to be replaced as needed. He also announced contracted raise kicks in as of July 1. Educational director stressed importance of attending upgrading classes at Piney Point and taking advantage of new fire fighting school there. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), June 20Chairman Norberto Prats, Secretary Edgar Vazquez, Educational Director Oswald Bermeo, Steward Delegate Michael A. Harris. All running smoothly, according to chairman. Secretary urged crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and support SPAD. Educational director also advised everyone to enroll in upgrading classes and get STCW endorsements. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman read president's report from recent LOG. Crew very happy with opening of new Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. Vote of thanks given to all hands for keeping ship in top condition. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (SeaLand Service), June 6-Chairman Raymond Yager, Secretary William Burdette, Educational Director Ramona Gayton, Deck Delegate James C. Henry, Engine Delegate Clifford L. Miles, Steward Delegate Amin A. Mohamed. Chairman announced vessel en route from Pusan, South Korea to Long Beach, Calif. and then to East Coast. He thanked everyone for great trip, with "two thumbs up" to steward department. Educational director urged crew members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $1, 150 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made for purchase of new video rewinder in crew lounge and for resolving tiling problem in electrician's room. Next ports: Long Beach and Panama. SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land Service), June 14--Chairman Billy Hill, Secretary Michael F. Hammock. Chairman noted payoff scheduled for June 14 in Elizabeth, N.J. He proudly announced total compliance with company safety rules and environmental laws. Educational director talked about importance of attending classes at new Joseph Sacco fire fighting school in Piney Point and of upgrading skills for better jobs in future. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made and forwarded to contracts department to procure transportation for Seafarers returning to ship after short layup period. Reminder given to crew members leaving vessel to have rooms clean and new set of linen ready for next person. Steward department given vote of thanks for job well done. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (SeaLand Service), June 20Chairman Werner Becher, Secretary Lynn McCluskey, Educational Director Kevin L. DeSue, Deck Delegate Erowin C. Udan, Engine Delegate James B. Spranza, Steward Delegate Glenn A. Taan. Chairman reported, weather permitting, vessel will be on schedule for arrival in Tacoma, Wash. He reminded crew to keep doors locked while in port and leave cabin clean with set of fresh linen for next person. Steward reported change in food supply company. Educational director urged members to attend classes at Piney Point facility. No beefs or disputed OT reported. President's report from recent LOG read at meeting. Crew noted groundwork laid by SIU in past 10 years paying off with new vessels and jobs for Seafarers. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food-especially for preparing fresh tuna in Guam. Next ports: Tacoma and Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), June 20Chairman Roan Lightfoot, Secretary David A. Cunningham, Educational Director Keith Jordan Sr., Deck Delegate Daniel W. Miller, Engine Delegate Victor L. Sapp, Steward Delegate Clifford B. Elliott. Chairman announced payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. June 22. That date also marks start of vessel's new Caribbean service. He welcomed two unlicensed apprentices aboard and expressed ho es they would like it at sea. Chairman reminded everyone of new way of collecting plastics for disposal and noted that tomorrow's jobs will be around if members upgrade today. Educational director echoed that theme, stating there is always something new to learn about your job or union. Fire fighting school is now open and all hands should take advantage of opportunity to take classes there (including first aid and CPR) since accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere. Treasurer asked for support for ship's fund which helps pay for rental movies. No beefs or disputed.OT reported. Suggestion made and forwarded to headquarters regarding lowering of retirement age and seatime required for pension eligibility. Also requested change in time on and off vessels to three months on and two months off. That still requires sailing eight months a year but is perceived to be less stressful. Bosun thanked steward department for terrific culinary talents. Steward department thanked deck department for keeping ship looking great, and deck department thanked engine department for keeping vessel going. Pantryman also given vote of thanks for keeping messhalls and living areas in tip-top condition. Chief steward congratulated Chairman Lightfoot on his bosun recertification. Next port: Jacksonville. SEA-LAND TA COMA (SeaLand Tacoma), June 21Chairman Joseph Artis, Secretary Lincoln E. Pinn Jr., Steward Delegate Amanda F. Suncin. Chairman announced payoff scheduled June 22 in Tacoma, Wash. He read portions of June LOG, including president's report, an interesting article on meanings of some nautical terms and opening of world-class fire fighting school in Piney Point. Educational director welcomed unlicensed apprentice aboard ship and spoke of training possibilities at Paul Hall Center and job security it provides. Treasurer announced $1,231 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reminded to donate to SPAD. announced $50 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. USNSPERSEVERANCE (IOUM), July 28-Chairman Thomas W. Lasater, Secretary George Monseur, Deck Delegate Joseph A. Osorio, Engine Delegate Tesfaye Gebregziabher, Steward Delegate Keith Nixon. Chairman announced arrival at The "Three Amigos" Bosun Wilfredo Rice (left) and AB Arthur Machado (center) believe OS Willard Bell will make a good AB once he completes upgrading classes at the Paul Hall Center. Bell started working on the river 2% years ago, He then sailed aboard the USNS Regulus, where he was GSU for a year, before joining the deck department under the guidance and support of his more seasoned crew mates. (Bell graduated from the AB course on August 6 - see page 21 .) HM/ ASTRACHEM (IOUM), July I-Chairman Stanley Duranda, Secretary Luis Escobar, Deck Delegate Michael Edwards. Chairman noted ship to lay up at end of July. Educational director advised crew members to take time to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Steward delegate thanked his department for job well done; rest of crew also thanked steward department for great meals and excellent work. Next ports: St. Croix, USVI and Guayama, PR. MAERSK TENNESSEE (Maersk Line), July 6Chairman Kyle F. Shultz, Secretary Dwight E. Wuerth, Educational Director· Peter G. Murtagh, Deck Delegate Timothy J. Fitzgerald, Engine Delegate Jean C. Horne, Steward Delegate Earl R. Castain. Chairman read president's report from recent LOG and thanked crew for great voyage. Will ask union for verification of increase in pay and extra day's pay at end of rotation. Suggestion also made to have union look into feasibility of lowering number of days required for retirement regardless of age. Secretary thanked crew members for participation in shipboard barbecues and for good trip. Educational director urged everyone to attend upgrading classes at Paul Hall Center and check maritime documents to be sure they are in good order. Treasurer announced $219 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Refrigerator needed in crew's lounge. Next ports: Freeport, Bahamas; Miami, Fla.; Panama; and Charleston, S.C. SEA-LAND CONSUMER (SeaLand Service), July 6-Chairman Francis Adams, Secretary Richard A. Seligman, Educational Director Howard Hendra. Chairman noted great crew this voyage and thanked everyone. He led discussion of money purchase plan; most crew members still have not gotten statements regarding their accounts. Secretary urged members to write congressional representatives for support in saving Jones Act. Educational director stressed need for upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer Marcus Hook, Pa. night of July 1 with payoff scheduled next day. Voluntary contributions for satellite dish accepted at payoff. He reminded crew members to keep current on all union matters through LOG and union meetings. No beefs or disputed OT. Suggestion made and sent to headquarters requesting vacation be lowered to 90 days and pension rates be raised. Everyone asked to be mindful of next person when using dryer (clean lint screen after use and remove clothing when dry). Vote of thanks given to steward department for fine job. Next ports: Marcus Hook; Savannah, Ga.; Yabucoa, P.R.; Sun Terminal, Texas. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), August 8-Chairrnan Ramon Castro, Secretary Lee N. Frazier, Educational Director Michael Birke, Deck Delegate Willie Chestnutt, Engine Delegate Charles E. Bibbs Ill, Steward Delegate Romalies J. Jones. Chairman noted installation of new ice machine, dryer and reefer box for crew mess. He thanked everyone for good work and reminded them of importance of contributing to SPAD. Secretary stated payoff scheduled for August 13 in Houston. He noted seas were calm entire voyage from St. Petersberg, Russia. Educational director advised crew to upgrade at Piney Point and get endorsements needed for STCW compliance. Treasurer announced $195 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department given vote of thanks for fine work. LNG CAPRICORN (PRONAV), August 15-Chairman Charles Kahl, Secretary Dana Paradise, Educational Director John Knott, Deck Delegate William Soto Jr., Engine Delegate Rene R. Rosario, Steward Delegate Glen Williams. Chairman relayed captain's thanks for job well done by all hands. Secretary stated all union forms available from him. Educational director urged crew members to get TRB and STCW endorsements. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications regarding severance package read and posted. Vote of thanks to steward department for good meals and clean ship. Next ports: Bontang, Indonesia and Osaka, Japan. Seafarers LOG 19 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes Deck Engine Utility - Students in Phase 3 of the unlicensed apprentice program are (from left, front row) Roosevelt Clark, Lisa Ruiz, Heather Frizzelle, Johanna Saul , Manuel Oliveras, Alvin Clark, (second row) Daniel Bratta, Jonathan Buffington , Jason Foster, Jevon Vontoure, Anderson Saco, (third row) Daniel Borden , Michael Bragdon , Justin Germain , Todd Conley, Chad Schultz and Carey Foster Jr. Certified Chief Cook - Working in the steward lab are (from left) Chef John Dobson (instructor), John Agugliaro , Robert Knight, Jesus Herrera, Erik Marlowe, Warporn Kirdngern , Jann Noel, Mutee Zindani and Joseph Packnett. STCW Basic Safety - Upgrading Seafarers who on July 30 successfully completed the basic safety class necessary fo~ thei~ ST~W endorsements are (from left, front row) Kenneth Bayle, hristopher Corpuz, Suhermadhy Gham, Felipe Jimenez, Saleh Ahmed, Darren Bates, Richard Oliva , Muthana Koraish, · liam Jones, Mike Leo (instructor), (second row) William Feazel, Allen Davis, Pete Lopez, Nasser Hasson, Abdullah Saleh , Jerome Wong , Ernest Polk, William Churney and Felix Marco. Advanc~d Fire Fighting - Pictured above are members of the advanced fire fighting class who completed .their course work on August 13 at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. From the left (kneelhng) are Ab~ullah Saleh , ~ey Gabaylo, Bruce Childers, Paul Szalus, Allan Bright, John Glenn, (second row) Jorge B~nelh , John Kol?dz1eJ , Saundra Leonard, John Favero, Oscar Angeles, Richard Oliva , Stanley Golden, Neomto Sodusta , (third row) Rodney Aucoin , Roderick Clay, Michael Scinto, John Smith (instructor) , Paul Dellorso and Christine Short. STCW Safety & Fire Fighting - Upgrading SIU and NMU graduates of the STCW safety and fire fighting course are (from left, front row) Freddy Arriola , Richard L. Blakey, John H. Barkhouse, Feliciano Gabino, Frank Monteiro, (second row) Rally M. Espiritu , Eugene James Smith Jr., Hector ·Guity, Gerry Davis, (third row) Stormie Combs (instructor), Jose Vazquez and Dana Washington . Vessel Operations - With instructor Casey Taylor (seated center) are members of Unlicensed Apprentice class 591 who completed the vessel operations course. They are Adam Williams, Romel Holland, Miles Ireland Jr., Brandon Scalzo, Brandon Mines, Jeremy Sutton and Bobby Ellis Jr.. 20 Seafarers LOG Certified Chief Cook - Completing one of the required modules in the chief cook course are (from left) Janusz Smolik, Dana Washington, Chef John Hetmanski (instructor), Fernando Lopes and Wayne Howard. October 1999 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes Tankerman (PIC) Barge Course - -- Galley Operations - Finishing one of the required two-week modules in the galley operations curriculum are (from left) Ed White (instructor), Rashidi Dadang, Monty Smith, Kyotaro Lopez, James Kidd Jr., Wardell Paze, Herman Stith, Mohamed Quraish and John Palughi. Boatmen completing the tankerman (PIC) barge course on July 30 are (from left) Ken Grayhill, Larry Barron, Manny Miranda, James Elbe, Marc Delgadillo, Randy McKenzie, William Smith, Robert Burns and Mitch Oakley (instructor). Basic Fire Fighting - Graduating from the basic fire fighting class on August 6 are (from left) Rick Redmond (instructor), Joe Brown, Wade Rudolph, Robert lvanauskas, Richard Provost, Robert Burns, John Shivers, Muthana Koraish , Green Hoskins and Sam Meyers (instructor). HAZWOPER - Part of the tanker familiarization course includes a 16-hour class on worker health and safety (HAZWOPER). Successfully completing that part of the curriculum are (from left) Mark Jones (instructor), Greg Pattison, Rick Woodburn, Clarence Jones, Mark Culbert, Rodney Garrett, Ronald Lauer, Jessie Higgs and Jason Long. Able Seaman Basic Fire Fighting - Completing their basic fire fighting requirements are members of Unlicensed Apprentice class 592. From the left (front row) are Anthony Hammet (instructor), Michael Spacek, Europa Tuivaiti, Shannon Miranda, Lyndon Ferreira, Tyler Laffitte Jr., (second row) Erik Nappier, Joshua Walker, Shannon Bonefont, Dwayne Brock and Keolamauloaohawaiiloa Mowat. Upgrading .graduates of the AB class on August 6 are (in no particular order) Almus Allen, Wiiiard Bell, Keith Bitran, George Bixby, Robert Bradberry, Eric Bridges, Reuben Brown, Edsel Dearce, Carlos Dominguez, John Eaton, Daniel Englund, Gregory Gallagher, Philip Gibson, Theodore Hale, Janaro Jackson, Gaston Lane, Matthew Laughter, Franklin Legore, Harold Lewis, William Maggio, Peter Malone, Charles Mann, Ahmed Mohamed, Duane Reeder, Kathryn Rivera, Morris Robinson, William Schuppman and Thomas Tobin. Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL) - Earning their graduation certificates for completion of the tanker familiarization/assistant cargo (DL) course on August 20 are (in no particular order) James C. Anderson, Guy Butler Jr., Allen Davis, Felipe Jimenez, Christopher Corpuz, Jason Foster, Carey Foster Jr., Anderson Saco, Roosevelt Clark, Justin Germain, Daniel Borden, Manuel Oliveras, Chad Schultz, Michael Bragdon, Alvin Clark, Jevon Vontoure, Heather Frizzelle, Daniel Bratta, Todd Conley, Paul Weil, Scott Seiler, Johanna Saul, Jonathan Buffington, Paul Weil, Ernest Polk, Nasser Hasson, Marc Delgadillo, Lisa Ruiz, Emmanuel Rezada, Noel Camacho, Michael Gomes, Mark Wain, Edward Stoelzer, Marco Felix and Thomas Kreis. October 1999 Seafarers LOG 21 _,.. �Latters to the Edhor Know Your Rights Whooo's In Charge? (Editors note: the Seafarers LOG resel'Ves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writers intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) Captain Sets Great Example We would like to take this opportunity to give our heartfelt appreciation and acknowledgment of a job well done to Captain John Torjusen. I sailed with Capt. Torjusen aboard the MIV American Merlin, and Bosun Lindsay and I both sailed with him aboard the SS Osprey. During our voyages aboard the Osprey, we were faced with many adversities while transiting the Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea to the Ukraine. Capt. Torjusen handled everything that the elements, fate and the often corrupted hands of man threw at him in a professional and focused manner. He sets a fine example for any mariner to follow, and we would be truly proud to serve with him aboard any vessel, even a rowboat adrift in the southern ocean. Steven M. Dickson, Chief Steward Robert Lindsay, Bosun aboard the LTC Calvin P. Titus Cherlye Mix, an OS aboard the USNS Sumner, makes her morning visit to Ospho's cage to change his bath water. Ospho is an owl who flew onto the ship about a hundred miles offshore in the Sea of Japan and showed no interest in leaving. The owl, who was named for the rust-busting solvent used aboard ship, has been taken topside several times and placed on a handrail, but when crew members returned an hour or so later, the owl was still there and willingly returned to his/her cage. Ospho is extremely tame and routinely sits on crew members' fingers and does not bite, even though the beak is quite powerful. He (or she, no one onboard is exactly sure how to determine this) is fed a daily diet of raw beef. The owl has yet to sign articles but has become a well-known member of the crew aboard the Sumner. The USNS Sumner is operated for the Military Sea lift Command by Dyn Marine Services of Virginia and conducts surveys, primarily in the western Pacific, Sea of Japan, East China Sea and South China Sea. Attention Seafarers: SPAD Is the Key to Job Security FARMLAND DAIRY • Milk sold under the Farmland Dairy label in stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York .... Teamsters MT. OLIVE PICKLE CO. Pickles and relishes sold under the Mt. Olive and other labels, including the Food Lion and Harris Teeter supermarket "house· labels .... Farm Labor Organizing Committee FURNITURE STRAITS FURNITURE CO. Jackson, Miss., manufacturer of entertainment centers, dining- room and bedroom furniture. Brands include: Canbrough Oak Collection, Downing Street Collection, Cherry Creek Collection, Hood, Straits .... Electronic Workers, Furniture Workers Division SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS ALITALIA AIRLINES Air transport for passengers and freight .... Machinists BROWN & SHARPE MFG. CO. BEST WESTERN-GROSVENOR RESORT Measuring, cutting and machine tools and pumps .... Machinists Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; located at Disney World, but separately owned and operated .... Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees JET EQUIPMENT & TOOLS, INC. Auburn, Wash., distributor of "JET" brand metal- and wood-work· ing power and hand tools for home and commercial use .... Teamsters SOUTHWIRE CO. Commercial and industrial wire and cable; DoltYourself brand homewire . .... Electrical Workers MASTER APPAREL Men's and boys' trousers. Labels include Hills and Archer, and Ivy Hill .... Electronic Workers ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION BET cable television, Action payperview, BET on Jazz .... Electrical Workers REGAL CINEMAS Chain of 250 movie theaters: "Regal Cinemas• & "Cobb Theaters" .... Stage Employees & Moving Picture Technicians FOOD/BEVERAGES CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES Table grapes that do not bear the UFW label on their carton or crate . .... Farm Workers Gasoline sold at Crown, Fast Fare and Zippy Mart stations and convenience stores .... Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Hotel in Waterbury, Conn. .... Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Hotel in Kapaa, Hawaii .... Longshore & Warehouse Union NEW OTANI HOTEL & GARDEN Hotel in downtown Los Angeles .... Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees OTHERS CF&I STEEL and OREGON STEEL MILLS, INC. Steel, including rod, bar, rail, pipe and steel plate .... Steelworkers WELLS FARGO and NORWEST BANKS Wells Fargo has branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington; Norwest has branches in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, W1SCOnsin and Wyoming .... Steelworkers R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. DIAMOND WALNUT CO. Diamond brand canned.and bagged walnuts and walnut pieces .... Teamsters UNION CROWN CENTRAL PETROLEUM TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agreements. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds shall equally consist of union and management representatives and their alternates. All expenditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copie of these contracts are posted and available in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. HOLIDAY INN SUNSPREE HOTEL CLOTHING 22 TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the membership's money and union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by the secretary-treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file members, elected by the membership, each year examines the finances of the union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate findings. LABEL Seafarers LOG AND SERVICE Cigarettes: Best Value, Camel, Century, Doral, Eclipse, Magna, Monarch, More, Now, Salem, Sterling, Vantage, and Winston; plus all Moonlight Tobacco products .... Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers TRADES DEPARTMENT, AFL-CIO EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the executive board of the union. The executive board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in the SIU unless an official union receipt is given for same. Under no circumstances should any member pay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he or she should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to union headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are available in all union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to deprive him or her of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods, such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the union has negotiated with the employers. Consequently, no member may be discriminated against because of , color, sex, national or geographic ongm. If any member feels that he or is denied the equal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLIT ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are u further its ob· urposes mc:lwjmg, ut not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, job discrimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a condition of membership in the union or of employment. If a contribution is made by reason of the above improper conduct, the member should notify the Seafarers International Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should support SPAD to protect and further his or her economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. NOTIFYING THE UNION-If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she has been denied the constitutional right of access to union records or information, the member should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is: Michael Sacco, President Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. October 1999 �------------------------- -- SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER 1999 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule for classes from September through the end of the year at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Allprograms are geared 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 maritime industry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday be/ore their course's start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Radar Observer/Unlimited October 4 October 15 Radar Recertification (one day) October 15 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) October 18 - Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL) November 1 November 19 Basic Firefighting October 18 October 25 November 22 October 22 October 29 November26 Advanced Firefighting November 8 November29 November19 December 10 Government Vessels November 1 Novembers November 29 November 19 November 26 December 17 Lifeboatmao/Water Survival October 4 November 1 November29 October 15 November 12 December 10 STCW Basic Safety (refresher) October 25 November 1 Novembers November22 November29 December 13 October 29 Novembers November 12 November26 December3 December 17 Tankerman (PIC) Barge October 18 October 22 Welding October4 October 22 October 23 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Firemao/Watertender & Oiler October 11 November 19 Refrigeratipn Systems Maintenance November 8 December 17 Welding October 2 October 23 November 13 October 22 November 12 December 3 Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic .v ocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. Steward Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Galley Operations/ Adv need Galley Operations (Every week) October 4, 11, 18, 25 November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 December 6, 13, 20, 27 Certified Chief Cook/ Chief Steward (Every other week) October 4, 18 November 1, 15, 29 December 13, 27 UPGRADING IS A KEY TO YOUR FU URE. REVIEW THE COURSE SCHEDULE AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE A CLASS SOON. THE EARLY 2000 SCHEDULE SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. THE STAFF AT THE PAUL HALL CENTER IS CONTINUALLY UPDATING THE COURSE CON· TENTS TO KEEP ABREAST OF CHANGES IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. ----~-------------------------------------------- ----- ---- ---- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty UPGRADING APPLICATION (120) days seatimefor the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date Name - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Address- - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - your class starts, USMMD (z -card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All FO WT. A B and OMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $135 with their application. The pavment should he made with a mone.y order onlv. payable to LMSS. BEGIN DATE COURSE END DA TE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D Date of Birth - - - - - -- -Inland Waters Member D Lakes Member D If the fo llowing ieformation is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ __ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ LAST VESSEL: _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Rating: _ _ __ Date On: Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? DYes D No If yes, class # - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes D No If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes D No Primary language spoken _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ October 1999 SIGNATURE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DATE NOTE: Transportation will be p aid in accordance with the scheduling letter only ifyou present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your p ort agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Admissions Office, PO. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes - - - - - - - -- - - - Date Off: The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Traini ng and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of any race, nationality or sex. The school complies with applicable laws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or activities. 10199 Seafarers LOS 23 �Thinking About College? lhe Seafarers Welfare Plan is offering seven scholarships in 2000 to three Seafarers and four dependents of SIU members. See page 14 for additional information. Global Ma1·iner Back in Action Replacing tile inside the vessel is AB Nestor Agcaoili. Keeping a close eye on his work is AB Kevin Bowden. After a brief stay this summer in a South Carolina shipyard, the SIUcrewed cable ship Global Mariner recently returned to its home port of Baltimore. "We're doing routine maintenance and remaining on stand-by for assignment," noted Recertified Bosun Jeremiah Harrington, a 20-year Seafarer whose father, Recertified Bosun Arthur Harrington, also sailed with the SIU. "Sometimes our missions are scheduled, while other times it's a surprise assignment. We're ready no matter what." Launched in 1992, the Global Mariner is loaded with state-of-the-art equipment. The 4 78-foot vessel features "dynamic positioning" which "coordinates the ship's main propulsion power and the twin bow and stem thrusters for precision maneuvering and station keeping," notes the vessel operator, Tyco Submarine System Ltd. The Global Mariner can store and haul more than 3 ,200 nautical miles of fiber-optic cable and travels at a top speed of 13.8 knots. In July, the ship underwent routine repairs at Detyen Shipyard in Charleston, S.C. During a subsequent visit by a Seafarers LOG reporter to the vessel in --·---·---O~.,re Seafarers mentioned that camara erie rew extends from ship to shore. "We enJO"~~.... n each other on and off the ship," said Chief Cook Anna Alexander. One crew member, OS Randy Diaz, completed the unlicensed apprentice program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education earlier this year. He said his experience aboard the Global Mariner has reinforce he made a good cdJ.'"--·HIU " ' qmte an experience so far," Diaz stated. "It's been pretty good, really." Recertified Bosun Jeremiah Harrington describes the crew as dedicated and hardworking. AB Kevin Young masters his brush stroke on the deck. Pictured in the engine room are Recertified Bosun Jeremiah Harrington (left) and Chief Electrician Gregory Thomas. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource October 1999 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES DOUBLING OF VESSEL TRAFFIC IN U.S.? VOTING STARTS DECEMBER 1 ON SIU-NMU MERGER HURRICANE FLOYD POUNDS U.S. AVONDALE FIGHT CONTINUES EX-BOSS still hasn’t said he’s sorry AFL-CIO LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN TO BOOST MEDICARE, ADD RX BENEFIT COASTAL ENFORCEMENT ZONE DOUBLES HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR CALLS FOR ACTION TO UPGRADE MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY DIRECTORS SCRUTINIZE LATEST INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS CONVEYORMAN COURSE HIGHLIGHTS PAUL HALL CENTER’S ADAPTABILITY SEAFARER NORMAN GUILD CREATES SPECIALTY CLASS UPGRADER TOUTS SCHOOL PAUL HALL CENTER TAKES FIRE FIGHTING ON THE RIVER DELTA QUEEN NAMED ‘SHIP OF THE YEAR’ BY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ‘LOYAL’ CREW HELPS NAVY ABOARD T-AGOS SHIP ITF SHIP WELCOMES VISITOR NO. 500,000 GLOBAL MARINER BACK IN ACTION Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 10/01/1999 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. 61, No. 10 1999 Periodicals Seafarers Log