Many of the speakers
at the SIUNA convention addressed the critical
importance of maintaining a viable U.S. Merchant
Marine—including the need to extend and expand the
Maritime Security Program; maintain the nation's
cabotage laws; and curb flag-of-convenience ship
registries. They noted that when U.S. mariners answered
the call following the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001, it reaffirmed the need to maintain a pool of
well-trained civilian mariners ready to crew the
nation's military support ships that are so vital to any
war effort.
David Cockroft, general secretary of the
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF),
stated that after the events of September 11, 2001,
"things changed a great deal," including within the
transportation industry. The federalization of security
at airports and the testing of shipping containers in
port are but two of the great number of modifications
taking place in the United States and throughout the
world.
Cockroft noted that the ITF is particularly concerned
with the FOC scam, which dominates much of the world's
shipping. He said his organization has succeeded in
eliminating a few small flags, like that of the country
of Tonga and soon, Cambodia, and is now working hard to
get rid of the Liberian registry. He acknowledged that
the Paul Hall Center has a good infrastructure to keep a
strong U.S. Merchant Marine going and that the ITF "is
deeply involved in everything you're doing to defend the
U.S. fleet."
The ITF also is concerned with strong and effective
security in the maritime industry, including the need
for real identity documents and acknowledgement aboard
each ship as to who actually owns and controls it,
Cockroft added.
Captain William Schubert, head of the U.S. Maritime
Administration, stated that the one-year anniversary of
the terrorist attacks is a time to reflect on the
horrific events of the past year as well as a day to
celebrate the accomplishments of the SIUNA. He said he
recently attended the christening of the Enduring
Freedom, the latest of six new SIU-crewed NY
Waterway ferries, and that there could be "no greater
tribute to the thousands of innocent Americans who lost
their lives on that day." (Operation Enduring Freedom
also is the name of the U.S. war against terrorism.)
Schubert spoke about the close cooperation and
tradition of working together enjoyed by MarAd and the
SIU to create a strong merchant marine and a strong
U.S.-flag fleet. In that vein, he stated his top
priority as maritime administrator is the
reauthorization of the MSP program. "This is not a
political agenda," he said. "We won't have a voice
unless we have a U.S.-flag fleet."
Another strong supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine
is John Reinhart, chief executive officer at Maersk
Line, Ltd., which is a major carrier for the Department
of Defense. He confirmed that Maersk has 54 ships under
the U.S. flag—27 operated with pride by the Military
Sealift Command (MSC) and 27 in the commercial trade,
and that his company will continue to invest in others,
like the recently converted Maersk Rhode Island.
Reinhart spoke about the rich tradition of the U.S.
Merchant Marine and expressed his belief that with
strong leadership and cooperation, "we can create
opportunities." He stated that many people are trying to
tear down the U.S.-flag fleet, but that with a common
vision, the future of the industry will be bright. That
vision includes expanding and extending the MSP.
"I want to work with you to make a future better for
the U.S. Merchant Marine," he said. Though the industry
is threatened, Reinhart asserted that with one voice,
"we will make the flag stronger."
The MSC is one of the SIU's best partners and is the
world's largest employer of U.S. Merchant Mariners. Rear
Admiral David L. Brewer III, commander of MSC, said
there are currently 3,800 civilian merchant mariners
(CIVMARS) and 1,200 "contract jobs," and that his goal
is to increase that number over the next five years.
He spoke about Operation Enduring Freedom and the
work done by CIVMARS as well as other mariners,
including members of the SIU, in that action—including
pumping fuel, delivering ammunition and cargo, carrying
a fleet hospital to Guantanamo, Cuba, and getting the
USNS Comfort ready for aid in the rescue
activities in Manhattan.
Brewer added that the MSC also is sailing tugboats
and small harbor craft, piloting commercial helicopters,
helping the Marine Corps in their movements and sailing
combat stores ships to all parts of the world.
In closing, Brewer spoke about the Navy Jack, the
flag that was flown by Commodore Hopkins in the
Continental Navy in 1775, on which is written "Don't
Tread on Me." He said our enemy should heed those words,
and noted that the U.S. Merchant Marine is delivering
more than logistics. "They are delivering freedom."
Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland State
and District of Columbia AFL-CIO, acknowledged that the
U.S. depends on foreign countries for the steel that "is
so vital to producing the arms that we need in order to
be able to defend ourselves against even greater
attacks," as well as the automobiles we drive. Flags of
foreign registry carry these goods to us, and that, in
itself, is a threat to national security, Mason stated.
He said there is a lack of transparency in
registering ships and that America needs to know which
flags are carrying the goods necessary for our daily
living as well as for our continued security. Mason
declared that this is a challenge for the entire labor
movement—and for the whole country. "Seafarers demand
and the citizens of this country demand a vital,
energized U.S. maritime fleet."
As former deputy maritime administrator, Labor
Secretary Elaine L. Chao has a strong affinity with
maritime unions. She said that President George W. Bush
agrees that the Jones Act must be maintained at all
costs, calling it "an essential element of U.S. policy
that provides important economic and national security
benefits to the nation, such as, among other things,
maintenance of a labor base of skilled mariners."
Chao presented Sacco with a framed copy of a Maritime
Day Proclamation, recognizing and remembering the role
merchant mariners have played in our country—and will
continue to play.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, lieutenant governor of
Maryland, cited the critical role played by merchant
mariners to keep trade routes flowing as well as moving
troops and supplies following the terrorist attacks of
last year. But the terrorists also taught us that we
have to protect ourselves, she said. "You truly are our
fourth arm of defense."
In her closing remarks, Townsend quoted from her
uncle, John F. Kennedy:
I really don't know why it is that all of us are
so committed to the sea, except I think it's because the
light changes, and ships change, it's because we all
came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological
fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same
percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the
ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, our
sweat, and in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And
when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to
watch it, we are going back from whence we came.
"Each of you is tied to the sea," she said. "You are
tied to the change of life, you are tied to the fact
that nothing remains the same, except our values, which
is to fight for working men and women . . . which is to
protect our country in times of need. You do that;
nobody does it better."
Ernie Whelan, vice president of the AFL-CIO Maritime
Trades Department and business manager of local 25 of
the Operating Engineers, stressed the need to "train and
educate our members for today's ever-changing times."
Very little progress, he said, would have been made in
the area of education without cooperative efforts
between management and unions.
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