Examining a host of important issues that affect Seafarers, SIU safety directors last month met at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md.The five-day session marked the fifth annual conference of the union’s safety directors.
“It gave all the representatives the opportunity to compare situations in various ports, and that really helps us be in a better position to address the needs of the membership,” said Joe Mieluchowski, the union’s safety director for the port of Philadelphia. “Port security obviously is an issue of great importance, and that was one of the main topics we discussed.”
The typically full agenda included tours of the school’s simulator complex, admissions office, manpower department, small arms range and Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. The safety directors also revisited STCW issues, effective communication and more. Additionally, they welcomed safety presentations from SIU-contracted Crowley Marine Services and Dyn Marine.
“It was great, very informative,” stated SIU New York Safety Director Joe Baselice. “We covered so much—interaction with the companies, port security procedures, the (impending) new ID cards, STCW…. Basically, what to look out for and what’s ahead.”
Archie Ware, SIU safety director in San Francisco, said the communications lessons proved especially useful, as did the meetings with SIU headquarters officials and representatives.
Safety directors who participated were Mieluchowski, Baselice, Ware, Amancio Crespo (Puerto Rico), David Heindel Jr. (Houston), Steve Ruiz (Jacksonville), Samuel Spain (Norfolk), Jeff Turkus (Wilmington, Calif.), Chris Westbrook (New Orleans) and Chad Partridge (Algonac, Mich.).
Company representatives who addressed the group included Cole Cosgrove and Dominic LaSenna from Crowley Marine Services and Jake Jacobs and Anthony Williams from Dyn Marine.
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