Seafarers Log
Although the COVID-19 global pandemic is far from finished as of this writing in mid-December, I extend one last 2020 “thank you” to all Seafarers and their families for a job well done in the face of unprecedented challenges. Your work has never been more important, and you consistently have…
Seafarers Log
The United Seamen’s Service (USS) 51st annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award was presented virtually for the first time, in a Dec. 9 ceremony that highlighted the work of the entire American maritime community. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao accepts this year’s…
Seafarers Log
U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia recently awarded SIU-contracted Crowley Maritime the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Platinum Medallion for its exemplary success recruiting, employing and retaining U.S. military veterans. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program,…
Seafarers Log
The SIU’s political department has completed its review of the results of Election 2020. The findings show overwhelming success for candidates supported by the SIU. Unlike most federal political action committees, the Seafarers Political Activities Donation – SPAD, the union’s voluntary fund – is bipartisan, and the union contributes to…
Seafarers Log
A year of unprecedented challenges nevertheless contained some potentially fantastic news for the United States maritime industry. On Dec. 3, the House and Senate Armed Services committees released the conference report agreement for the William M. “Mac” Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. At press time,…
Seafarers Log
Seafarers came to the rescue after a small plane went down in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On Nov. 7, SIU members working aboard the Horizon Reliance (Sunrise Operations) helped rescue the crew of the downed aircraft, adrift in a life raft roughly 1,000 nautical miles from Honolulu. “We…
Seafarers Log
Identifying a given year’s top story – good or bad – sometimes may be difficult, but that’s certainly not the case when reviewing 2020. The COVID-19 global pandemic impacted virtually all aspects of life around the world. By mid-December, the novel coronavirus had claimed 1.55 million lives worldwide (more than…
Seafarers Log
SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) knows that its crews made plenty of sacrifices in 2020, and the company recently said “thank you” in a big way. In mid-December, MLL sent $10,000 to each of its American-flag vessels, to be used for crew welfare. Additionally, all mariners in good standing who…
Seafarers Log
Recertified Steward Just B. Self isn’t the type to seek publicity, but when he recently saw an opportunity to help showcase the U.S. Merchant Marine, he readily agreed. Self launched his maritime career in 1991 after graduating from the Treasure Island…
Seafarers Log
Presented with the sizable task of describing some of the more significant challenges facing the maritime industry, SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel opened with what’s arguably the runaway leader in that category: crew-change crises across the globe. Besides his role with the SIU,…