For the SIU — and the whole U.S. maritime industry, for that matter — any examination of 2002 arguably must begin with September 11, 2001. Among myriad other effects, the terrorist attacks almost immediately prompted a massive examination of U.S. port and shipboard security which extended throughout the past year. The attacks also spurred separate congressional hearings in 2002 on the security threat posed by runaway-flag ships and the merits of extending and expanding the U.S. Maritime Security Program (enacted in 1996).
Further, they led to extensive forums conducted in 2002 through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)—discussions designed to protect mariners’ rights while bolstering port and shipboard security.
Throughout those considerable undertakings both here and abroad, the SIU not only participated, but often provided a leading voice for U.S. mariners. Among other efforts to protect mariners while helping ensure security, SIU officials—including President Michael Sacco, Executive Vice President John Fay, Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel and Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez—testified on Capitol Hill, took part in the IMO meetings, and attended several high-level security conferences, including the National Defense Transportation Association’s (NDTA) forum last fall.
Of course, the attacks also resulted in Operation Enduring Freedom — America’s war against terrorism. That fight, already supported by Seafarers and other U.S. mariners, threatens to escalate in the Middle East. If and when such acceleration occurs, Seafarers will be called upon to support our armed forces via sealift—just as the SIU has done throughout its 64-year history.
As 2002 gave way to the new year, the threat of war with Iraq was palpable.
New Jobs for Seafarers
While Operation Enduring Freedom and its offshoots rightfully commanded much attention throughout the year, the SIU remained busy and successful in securing new shipboard employment opportunities for its members.Late in 2002, Seafarers crewed the newly reflagged prepositioning ship William H. Pitsenbarger and the brand new oceanographic survey ship USNS Mary Sears. Then, Seafarers rang in the new year by sailing aboard the reflagged cable shipAtlantic Guardian, which entered service on New Year’s Eve 2001.
The trend continued throughout 2002. Seafarers crewed up the Industrial Challenger, a heavy lift ship that reflagged U.S. They welcomed a number of new NY Waterway passenger ferries, including the Austin Tobin, Father Mychal Judge, Moira Smith, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Fred V. Morrone and Enduring Freedom.
SIU-contracted Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. added the hopper dredge Liberty Island. Seafarers signed on aboard the roll-on/roll-off vessel USNS Soderman, a new ship with a previously used name.
The month of May brought some of the year’s best news, and again it had roots in September 11. SIU members recrewed the Delta Queen river cruise fleet — dormant since parent company American Classic Voyages filed for reorganization following the attacks — after Delaware North Companies Inc. purchased the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen at auction. Delaware North also bought the Delta Queen brand name.
SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Ltd. generated some of the biggest headlines of 2002. First, the Norfolk, Va.-based company announced plans to “flag in” a tanker to the U.S. fleet. Then, in August, the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) announced that Maersk Line, Ltd. won a five-year operating contract for eight LMSR vessels. Later, Maersk revealed it was purchasing four G-class vessels to replace for older ships in the MSP—resulting in more jobs for SIU.
Seafarers also crewed up new ATBs for Intrepid, including the Ocean Reliance, the Sea Reliance and the Sound Reliance.
TOTE’s new cargo ship Midnight Sun was christened in San Diego; it is scheduled to sail early this year.
A Waterman LASH ship reflagged U.S., and Osprey Ship Management won the contract for the ice-class ship American Tern to be used in resupplying McMurdo station in Antarctica and Thule Air Force Base in Greenland.
Matson ordered two containerships from Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard.
Additionally, the union’s Government Services Division welcomed the USNS Arctic, which transferred from a military-crewed combatant ship to a civilian-crewed, noncombatant ship supporting MSC.
New Contracts
Seafarers approved new contracts at Arnold Transit Co., Luedtke Engineering Co., Crowley Liner Services (at Petty’s Island, N.J.), Twin Rivers Towing and Matson. Also, more than 200 Lakes mariners unanimously approved the new multiyear standard contract.Rescues
Upholding the finest traditions of the Brotherhood of the Sea, SIU members from the following vessels performed at-sea rescues in 2002:
- Four members from Higman Barge Lines rescued two men whose skiff capsized near the Grand Lake Bridge.
- Seafarers on the Maritrans tug Liberty saved a man who had fallen overboard from a foreign-flag ship.
- The SIU-crewed Innovator aided a boater and his wife and daughter, who were stranded on a disabled boat.
- Seafarers on the SP5 Eric G. Gibson helped save two dogs who had been left aboard a disabled sailboat.
- The SIU-crewed tanker Perseverance rescued five people.
Obituaries
The union mourned the final departures of too many friends in 2002. The list included SIU Honolulu Safety Director Jim Storm, who died Dec. 15, 2001 at age 60; retired SIU Tacoma Port Agent George Vukmir, 54; SIUNA Vice President Ed Pulver, 78, who also headed the SIU’s office in Jersey City, N.J.; retired SIU Mobile, Ala. Port Agent Robert Jordan, 81; Willie Zenga, 79, retired Maritime Trades Department vice president and business manager of Operating Engineers Local 25; Bob McMillen, 67, co-chair and CEO of Saltchuk Resources, Inc. (parent company of TOTE); and Retired NMU Port Agent Gordon Humphrey, 80.Paul Hall Center
No stranger to progressive change, the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education offered a typical array of significant stories. More than a dozen courses at the Piney Point, Md. facility received U.S. Coast Guard approval, swelling the overall list of approved courses to nearly 50.The school added fast rescue boat training, a Coast Guard-approved curriculum.
Work was completed on the new hotel near the Paul Hall Memorial Library — an eagerly anticipated development that permits upgraders to have their own single-occupancy rooms.
The school’s deep sea and inland advisory board — a powerful body composed of representatives from throughout maritime labor, business and government — tackled issues that will affect training techniques and requirements.
And, the school finalized plans to announce new career tracks and new courses for students in the deck and engine departments.
Other Headlines
In chronological order, some of the other top stories were:SIU President Sacco was reelected as a vice president of the AFL-CIO executive council.
The long-awaited STCW deadline arrived Feb. 1, but not without confusion surrounding an IMO request to ask port state control officers for an unofficial six-month extension before detaining ships for lack of certification of merchant mariner training standards
SIU ITF inspectors aided crew members on the cargo ship MV Ismael Express.
The union offered wide-ranging assistance to Seafarers who were laid off because of the American Classic Voyages reorganization.
Eligible pensioners received a $1,000 bonus from the Seafarers Pension Plan.
Joseph Soresi was appointed the union’s Atlantic Region vice president.
The 40th anniversary of SPAD, the union’s voluntary political action fund, brought with it a new promotional program for participants.
The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan awarded scholarships to five Seafarers and five dependents for $130,000.
SIU ITF inspectors secured back pay for crew members of the tanker Bregen.
The Seafarers Pension Plan issued check No. 1 million.
Heindel testified June 13 before the Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine, part of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, on FOCs and how they threaten America’s security.
Before the same panel, Sacco led the union delegation testifying about the Maritime Security Program on July 16.
The SIU continued supporting the organizing campaign involving Offshore Mariners United.
The union’s Government Services Division and MSC agreed on a labor relations strategy for negotiating a new contract.
SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Co. received several prominent awards for safe operations, including the State of Washington Department of Ecology’s prestigious Exceptional Compliance Program Award.
SIU-contracted NY Waterway distinguished itself by continuing to go “above and beyond” any Coast Guard training requirements for its shipboard personnel.
At the SIUNA convention, conducted once every five years, delegates unanimously reelected Sacco as president and unanimously elected Heindel as secretary-treasurer. Guest speakers from Congress, the administration, labor and management all stated the need for a strong U.S. Merchant Marine.
Mariners from the SIU-crewed Cornhusker State were honored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration for service in Operation Enduring Freedom.
For the year, SIU ITF inspectors collected more than $550,000 in back wages for crews on runaway-flag ships
The union launched a revamped web site at www.seafarers.org.
President Bush signed separate legislation concerning port security and the establishment of the new Department of Homeland Security.
Coming full circle, the last crews from American Classic donated to a 9/11 fund operated by the Fraternal Order of Police and arranged to donate an equal amount to a fund run by the International Association of Fire Fighters.
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