As previously reported, 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…
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Mar
26
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphatically voiced his backing of America’s freight cabotage law – and U.S. mariners – during a recent hearing on Capitol Hill. Buttigieg spoke March 25 as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee conducted a hearing titled,…
Mar
25
The International Chamber of Shipping, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Intertanko and the International Maritime Health Association have teamed up to publish “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccination for Seafarers and Shipping Companies: A Practical Guide.” The document – available in PDF form HERE and also linked on the ITF website HERE…
Mar
25
A new resolution in the state senate of West Virginia strongly supports the nation’s freight cabotage law. The concurrent resolution backing the Jones Act was introduced and adopted earlier this month. Text of the document follows. SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20 (By Senators Nelson, Azinger, Martin, Phillips, Takubo, Weld, Stollings, Maroney,…
Mar
25
The hiring hall in Norfolk, Virginia, has reopened as of this morning (Thursday, March 25). The hall had been closed for precautionary reasons. ###
Mar
24
The U.S. Coast Guard recently issued the following update to Marine Safety Information Bulletin 02-21. For a PDF copy, click HERE. Both of the following links appear in the MSIB, but Seafarers are encouraged to check out the related Coast Guard FAQ HERE and the related CDC FAQ HERE. The…
Mar
23
From the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO: A card-carrying trade unionist is the new U.S. Labor Secretary following Senate confirmation on March 22. Laborer Marty Walsh has taken the helm of the federal department that oversees workplace health and safety, labor law enforcement, and wage-and-hour protection, among other issues. [caption id="attachment_713742"…
Mar
23
After many arduous sessions of hard bargaining between the union and company over a nine-month period, on March 9, 2021 the SIU reached a tentative agreement with American Steamship Company (ASC) on a new four-year contract (2021-2025), which was subsequently ratified by the SIU membership employed by ASC. The union…
Mar
23
The hiring hall in Norfolk, Virginia, is closed until further notice (effective Tuesday morning, March 23), for precautionary reasons. Members can still reach the hall and conduct business by phone at (757) 622-1892. We’ll post an update when one is available. ###
Mar
22
The International Maritime Organization recently posted this update on the global crew-change crisis. It's available on the IMO website HERE. Crew change crisis is far from over and issues around vaccination need to be resolved. The crew change crisis caused by COVID-19 restrictions continues to cause challenges, despite some improvement…