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…
Feb
19
Feb
18
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…
Feb
14
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…
Feb
14
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…
Feb
11
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…
Feb
08
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…
Feb
07
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.…
Feb
07
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to which the SIU is affiliated, has issued the following news item. To access the article on the ITF website, click HERE SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel testified at the senate hearing in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Among other points, Heindel – who also chairs the…
Feb
06
The SIU is mourning the passing of retired Port Agent Ed Kelly, who died of natural causes Feb. 3 in Houston. He was 78. Kelly, who came from a long line of Seafarers (including his father and five uncles, one of whom was a charter member), began working for the…
Feb
04
The following release was issued by the U.S. Coast Guard on February 2. Novel Coronavirus This MSIB cancels MSIB 01-20 “Novel Coronavirus Precautions”, dated January 24, 2020. An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) may affect mariners and maritime commerce. 2019-nCoV was first detected in Wuhan,…