COVID-19 Safety Updates

Coast Guard Aims to Assist with Crew Changes

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the following Marine Safety Information Bulletin. It's available on the agency's website HERE. COVID-19 Crew Change Issues  The COVID-19 pandemic has significant impacts on the U.S. Marine Transportation System, the Global shipping industry and on seafarers themselves. Travel restrictions imposed by governments around the world have created significant hurdles…

Federal Committee: Prioritize Mariners for Vaccines

The United States Committee on the Marine Transportation System is calling for U.S. mariners to be reclassified to Phase 1(b) when it comes to prioritizing them for COVID-19 vaccination. The committee is a federal interagency coordinating group chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. They have published a “white paper” that’s linked HERE and that…

Notice to Seafarers Concerning Timing of Vaccines, TB Tests

The CDC recently issued guidance indicating that COVID-19 vaccines should not be delayed because of testing for TB infection. Testing for TB infection can be done before or at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccination. If it is not done at the same time, the TB test should be delayed for at least four…

SecDef: Vaccines ‘Safe and Effective’

The Defense Department has posted a video of DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin discussing COVID-19 vaccines. The video is available here: https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Video/videoid/784646/ As provided by DOD, this is the text of the video: Hello there, I’m Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense. I wanted to speak with you today about the coronavirus … and about how we…

SIU Working with Gov’t, Companies on Mask Order Clarifications

The recent executive order concerning masks on public vessels and the related CDC guidance has caused some confusion in the industry. While vessel operators are within their rights to require masks to be worn at all times aboard their vessels, a number of our contracted companies are awaiting clarification from the federal government regarding the…

CDC Encourages ‘Prevention Tools’ Including Vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted the following information. For a PDF version, click HERE. To access the COVID-19 section of the CDC website, click HERE. Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. To stop this pandemic, we need to use all of our…

Survey Aims to Benefit Mariners

Seafarers are asked to consider participating in an anonymous survey (“Mariner Mental Health Needs during COVID-19”) conducted by the University of Washington. As noted on the landing page: “Results from this survey will be used by federal agencies, vessel owners/operators, mariner unions, maritime training institutions, seafarer welfare organizations and MTS stakeholders to develop effective solutions…

CDC: ‘Vaccines Safe, Effective’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted the following information. For a PDF version, click HERE. To access the COVID-19 section of the CDC website, click HERE You can help stop the pandemic by getting a COVID-19 vaccine. To stop this pandemic, we need to use all our prevention tools. Vaccines are…

Reminders Concerning Recent Marine Safety Info. Bulletins

The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center recently circulated multiple Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIB) that are relevant to many SIU members. Updates from those bulletins follow. TWIC Extension As laid out in Maritime Safety Information Bulletin number 13-20, “For mariners already holding a Merchant Marine Credential (MMC), if their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)…

Gov’t to Require Negative Test When Arriving in U.S.

U.S. Maritime Alert 2021-002A Threat Type: Upcoming Mariner Travel Requirements Change Geographic Area: Worldwide (for all air passengers entering the United States) Retransmittal of State Department COVID-19 Traveler Information dated January 12, 2021: “Effective January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers arriving in the United States (including…
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Wilmington Hall Update (July 13, 2020) (message HERE)

Message from Maritime Union Presidents (July 10, 2020) (message HERE)

Delay in Reopening of Houston Hall (July 9, 2020) (message HERE)

Regional Examination Center Closure Update (July 8, 2020) (message HERE)

Hiring Hall Updates and Reminders (July 8, 2020) (message HERE)

Wilmington Hall Closing (July 2, 2020) (message HERE)

Jersey Hall Reopening July 6 (message HERE)

Maersk Idaho Update (June 26, 2020) (message HERE)

Houston Hall Closing (June 26, 2020) (message HERE)

Important Message to Seafarers Concerning SIU Election (June 24, 2020) (message HERE)

Message to Seafarers Concerning Recent COVID-19 Cases, Ongoing Need for Vigilance (June 23, 2020) (message HERE)

Jersey City Hall Closing (June 22, 2020) (message HERE)

July Meetings Cancelled (message HERE)

Paul Hall Center Reopens August 1 (message HERE) (PHC Health Questionnaire/Acknowledgement form HERE)

COVID-19 Pre-Entry Questionnaire Posted (message HERE, direct link to questionnaire HERE)

Hiring Halls to Reopen June 15 (June 4, 2020) (message HERE)

USCG: Extension of MMC Endorsements, Certificates (June 4, 2020) (message HERE)

Unions Call for Immediate Assistance with Overseas Crew Changes (May 28, 2020) (message HERE)

Updates on Crew Changes, June Meetings and More (May 27, 2020) (message HERE)

USNS Grumman News Plus Other Updates (May 14, 2020) (message HERE)

SHBP Brief (May 5, 2020) (message HERE)

Message to Seafarers Concerning Larger-Scale Resumption of Crew Changes (April 30, 2020) (message HERE)

NMC: Renewal Exams by Email (April 23, 2020)

SIU Election Message to All Members (April 17) (message HERE)

Message to Seafarers Concerning Upcoming Crew Changes (April 16, 2020) (message HERE)

TWIC Expiration Dates Extended (April 16, 2020) (article HERE)

State Department Passport Notice (April 14, 2020)

Seafarers 401(K) Plan adopts changes to help participants (article HERE)

The SIU’s May membership meetings have been cancelled (brief announcement HERE)

USCG: COVID-19 TWIC Operations

For an update from Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (April 2), click HERE

USCG: Essential Maritime Workers

USCG: COVID-19 Drug Testing Compliance

National Maritime Center Update (March 30, 2020)

Important Mariner Credentials Update (March 30, 2020)

American Steamship Company’s restriction-to-ship communication is located HERE.

A message from SIU President Michael Sacco to Seafarers is available HERE

A detailed update (originally posted March 20) from the SIU is located HERE.

For the latest guidance and news from the U.S. Coast Guard, click here.