The following news release was recently issued by American Maritime Voices. WA State Senate Calls Jones Act ‘Critical’ to State’s Prosperity and Security On February 2, the Washington State Senate passed a resolution, which recognizes the vital role of the Jones Act in the state’s economy and national security. The…
Mar
22
Mar
21
The following news release was issued by the National Maritime Center on March 20. Credentials Lost in the Mail The National Maritime Center (NMC) mails completed credentials via standard USPS mail, which does not include a means of tracking, and delivery can take up to 21 days. In some cases,…
Mar
15
The union is mourning the loss of retired SIU Assistant Vice President Chester “Chet” Wheeler, who passed away March 10 in California at age 77. He had had been battling cancer. Chet Wheeler Wheeler retired in 2019, following 22 years of service as an official. Previously, he sailed with the…
Mar
09
Rescues at sea are nothing new for longtime SIU member AB Donnie Collins, but that doesn’t mean he takes them lightly. That point was reinforced March 1 when Collins and his fellow Seafarers aboard the Crowley-operated ATB Legacy saved eight Cuban migrants who’d been stranded at sea aboard a makeshift…
Mar
06
The following news release was recently issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. This MSIB supersedes the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy’s MSIB 11-21 “Reporting Sexual Assaults on U.S. Vessels” issued on December 16, 2021. The Coast Guard is committed to investigating and pursuing appropriate enforcement actions for all reports of…
Mar
01
The following notice was issued by the U.S. Department of State. UPDATED NOTICE TO MARINERS WITH INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES To ensure timely service for mariners, Passport Services provides the following streamlined passport renewal provisions. These provisions are subject to change. Qualifications Be a credentialed merchant mariner; Be eligible to apply on…
Feb
27
Nolan Underscores Maritime Industry’s Reliability The top executive at a major, Seafarers-contracted maritime company recently spelled out the consistent reliability and outstanding performances of U.S. mariners and the U.S.-flag industry as a whole. Tim Nolan TOTE Maritime President and CEO Tim Nolan addressed the Maritime Trades Department (MTD) Executive Board…
Feb
24
Fred Redmond left no doubt about the AFL-CIO’s ongoing support for the U.S. Merchant Marine when he spoke to the Maritime Trades Department (MTD) Executive Board on Feb. 17 near Orlando, Florida. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond Redmond, elected last year as the federation’s secretary-treasurer, stated, “A first-class maritime industry is…
Feb
23
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to which the SIU is affiliated, has issued the following news item, dated Feb. 23. ITF Seafarers’ Trust Chair David Heindel, quoted in the article, also serves as president of the SIU. ITF Seafarers’ Trust pledges continued support for Ukrainian seafarers and their families…
Feb
22
Phillips Stresses U.S. Merchant Marine’s Sealift Role The leader of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently provided a detailed overview of the agency’s goals and its vision for the industry’s future. Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. (Ret.) Ann Phillips addressed the Maritime Trades Department Executive Board and…