News

The SIU and the American Maritime Association (AMA, representing companies that are signatory to the standard freightship and tanker agreements) recently signed off on a number of coronavirus protection protocols that are listed below. These measures are for SIU-crewed vessels calling on ports in China. Implementation in other ports will…

The following news release was issued by the American Maritime Partnership, to which the SIU is affiliated. ICYMI: New Study Details Importance of American Maritime Industry to National Security  Report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) highlights importance of the Jones Act to America’s Defense Maritime Industrial…

Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently expressed his backing of America’s freight cabotage law, the Jones Act. His remarks came Feb. 26 during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. The hearing’s main subject was the Fiscal 2021 budget request…

The U.S. Coast Guard recently posted additional information about new regulations covering mariner access to shore-side facilities. As noted in the introduction below, the new content is posted first, and is followed by a complete FAQ which the agency first published last summer. To access this information on the Coast…

Frank Pecquex, retired executive secretary-treasurer of the Maritime Trades Department and former SIU legislative director, passed away Feb. 15 at age 75. The following article has been posted on the MTD website. Retired MTD S/T Frank Pecquex Passes Away at 75 The MTD is sad to report the passing of…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently posted the following news item and accompanying photos. To access the post on the NOAA website, click HERE. NOAA crews include members of the SIU Government Services Division. Two new oceanographic vessels will join the NOAA fleet NOAA is in the process of…

The U.S. Maritime Administration issued the following notice on Feb. 13: U.S. Maritime Alert 2020-003A Threat Type: Mines in the Water Geographic Area: Southern Red Sea, Maritime Boundary between Saudi Arabia and Yemen A maritime threat has been reported in coastal waters between Midi, Yemen and Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The…

The following advisory was issued by the U.S. Coast Guard on February 10. Potential for Positive Drug Test Result from Use of Hemp-Plant Products This Marine Safety Advisory is to ensure that mariners, marine employers, and sponsoring organizations are aware that some products marketed as hemp or cannabidiol (CBD) may…

The U.S. Coast Guard issued the following advisory on Feb. 8: U.S. MARITIME ADVISORY 2020-005 Threat Type: Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Geographic Area: Global This revised advisory updates and cancels U.S. Maritime Advisory 2020-004 1. References: (a) U.S. Maritime Alert 2020-002A (b) U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) 02-20…

The AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated, has issued the following news item: PRO Act Passage, a Giant Step Toward Leveling Playing Field for Working People  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the House passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 2474): I applaud the U.S.…