Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG1954
BALTIMORE – Seafarers from the crew of the SS Bull Run (Petrol Tankers) have been manning a 24-hour seagoing picket line around the ship here since Sunday, as the company continues its refusal to renew its full work agreement with the SIU. The vessel, which arrived late Saturday under tow from Norfolk, had been covered by an SIU contract for several years. Members of the crew originally left the ship in the Virginia port after the union acted on prior strike authority voted by the membership and called the crew out on strike.
1964
The battle of the SIU and other segments of maritime to extend the Food for Peace program under Public Law 480 without any crippling amendments added on came to a successful conclusion last week when President Johnson signed the bill extending the law for two more years. As a result of the victory a substantial number of American seamen’s jobs have been saved.
The fight to extend the law had been marked by attempts to whittle down the role of U.S. ships in carrying P.L. 480 cargoes. These provisions were beaten down through the efforts of the SIU and other maritime groups. The union intends to keep a watchful eye on the administration of the bill in order to make certain that American-flag ships get their fair share of P.L. 480 cargoes.
1974
Seafarer Leo Moval, 57, recently became the first SIU pensioner to receive his high school diploma through the GED program offered at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Born in Aland Island, a possession of Finland, Brother Moval went to sea for the first time at the age of 13. The story of his career is typical of the great heroism shown by the brothers of the SIU during the Second World War.
He was one of four survivors from a tanker that hit a mine in the Bordeaux Harbor in 1940. He was later captured by the German army and placed in a prison camp in France. His third escape attempt was successful….
After joining the SIU in 1942, Brother Moval’s first ship took him to the invasion of Casablanca. He returned to the U.S. and immediately shipped out again, this time as a chief steward. He served in the D-Day invasion of Anzio Beach and the invasion of Okinawa….
“The GED program is great, and the teachers are outstanding,” he said.
1984
Another newly converted RO/RO ship has been added to the SIU-contracted fleet. Bringing in more jobs for SIU members is the Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. which is being operated by a privately owned company for the Military Sealift Command. This 755-foot long vessel is part of the U.S. military’s Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MPS) program.
During her conversion, the ship was lengthened by a 157-foot mid-body section and was fitted with a semi-slewing stern ramp, side port doors and ramps, and three twin-tandem heavy-lift cranes. A helicopter pad and quarters for military personnel were also added.
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