U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao joined SIU President Michael Sacco, SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, officials from SIU-contracted American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) and others May 26 for a tour of the Seafarers-crewed Patriot in Baltimore (scroll down for images).A longtime friend of the SIU and a solid supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine, Chao chatted with several Seafarers aboard the ship. One of them, Unlicensed Apprentice Kyle Pillsworth, is enrolled in the entry training program at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. – a program endorsed by Secretary Chao and the Labor Department in 2003.
“It’s going real good – better than I expected,” said Pillsworth, who is in Phase II of the three-part curriculum. “I’ve learned a lot. Shipboard work is tough, but the crew is good and you learn every day.”
The Patriot, operated by Pacific-Gulf Marine for ARC, was loading tractors, trucks, cars and other vehicles when the tour took place. The ship sailed for Antwerp, Belgium later that day.
Others who welcomed the secretary included SIU Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz, ARC Executive Vice President and COO Jim Wells, ARC Vice President Steve Gill, Port of Baltimore Executive Director Jim White, and Maryland Port Commissioner Tom Koch.
This wasn’t Chao’s first time aboard an SIU ship. Two years ago in New Orleans, she visited the fast sealift vessel USNS Bellatrix and also stopped by the local SIU hall.
As was the case two years ago, the May 26 visit was successful, noted Sacco. “Secretary Chao was very interested in the ship but also in the crew members and their jobs,” he observed. “She was extremely gracious, as always, and remains a true supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine.”
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