Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG.1946
Voting on the ships of the Isthmian Steamship Company in the National Labor Relations Board election commenced on March 29. The first ship to be voted was the SS Mobile City, in New Orleans on March 29.
Within a few days, ballots were cast on the Wm. N. Byers in Galveston, the Nicaragua Victory and the Mandan Victory in Baltimore, the Thomas Cresap in New York and the Marine Fox in Seattle. All reports indicated a favorable SIU vote.
1957
The 43-man crew of a Liberian tanker was rescued by the SIU-manned Claiborne after a fire and two explosions flooded the vessel, causing her to sink in the Gulf of Mexico. The tanker Perama had reported that she was sinking fast after an explosion in her pumproom on March 18, some 150 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Fla. The tanker was en route from Thomas Haven, England to Galveston, Texas with a cargo of soybean oil….
The Waterman freighter Claiborne went to the aid of the stricken vessel and picked up her crew. Members of the Claiborne gang manned a lifeboat and succeeded in attaching a towline to the sinking ship. However, the line later broke and further attempts to salvage the quickly sinking vessel and her cargo had to be abandoned.
1968
SIU President Paul Hall was named “Man of the Year” by the Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai B’rith at a testimonial dinner conducted in New York City on March 21. The presentation to Hall was “in recognition of his devoted efforts and leadership in helping to build a world of freedom, equality and justice.”
Joseph Kahn, chairman of the board of SIU-contracted Seatrain Lines, in presenting the award to the SIU president, cited his contributions to organized labor as well as his efforts in furthering the brotherhood of man.
Honorary chairman of the presentation ceremonies was AFL-CIO President George Meany.
1997
The U.S. Coast Guard in March formally gave its consent for the use of the training record books (TRB) developed recently by the SIU and the Paul Hall Center for issuance to all deep sea, Great Lakes and inland Seafarers. The books are scheduled to be printed in April and will be distributed by the Paul Hall Center’s admissions office….
In a letter verifying the agency’s acceptance of the TRB, the Coast Guard pointed out that an interim final rule is due in April that will require the use of such credentials. “I am impressed that you have not let the rulemaking process discourage you from working with the companies that have contracts with the SIU to develop a TRB which will not only meet STCW requirements but will be useful for other purposes,” wrote Coast Guard Captain R.L. Skewes in the letter of acceptance to the center.
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