Seafarers International Union
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The Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, AFL-CIO, represents professional United States merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea, Great Lakes, and inland trades.
SIU members sail in the three shipboard departments: deck, engine, and steward. They work aboard various vessels, including commercial containerships and tankers, military support ships, tugboats and barges, passenger ships, gaming vessels, and many more.
Chartered in 1938, the SIU prides itself on representing the best-trained, most efficient crews in the world. The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is key to meeting that standard, located in Piney Point, Md. The center is a vocational training facility operated by an SIU-affiliated entity. (Full details about the center appear elsewhere on this site.)
Today, the SIU is the largest North American union representing merchant mariners. It is a dynamic, politically active organization dedicated to protecting the membership’s job security by constantly staying a step ahead of the industry's ever-changing needs. Source
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| Scope | International |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesWaiver Has Failed America
The American Maritime Partnership, to which the SIU is affiliated, recently posted the following news item: American Maritime Partnership President Jennifer Carpenter’s Letter to the Editor to the Washington Post was published online on July 6, 2026. Read the full letter: After more than 100 days, ships using the Jones Act waiver moved only about 32 million barrels of petroleum. That is roughly 1.5 percent of U.S. petroleum consumption during that same period.
China First?! | Seafarers International Union
Union Exposes Waiver’s Shameful Impact The once-unthinkable sight of a Chinese ship sailing in the U.S. domestic maritime trade has become reality – and SIU members are making sure people know about this dangerous, job-killing development.
ITF Starts Emergency Fund for Venezuelan Workers
From the International Transport Workers’ Federation, to which the SIU is affiliated: In Solidarity with the People of Venezuela The ITF expresses its deep solidarity with the people of Venezuela at a time of great sorrow and desperation in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 24 June 2026.
Republican Legislators to Trump: Do Not Extend Waiver
The following news item has been issued by the office of U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky): WASHINGTON—Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Republican lawmakers today urged the Trump Administration to allow the current Jones Act waiver to expire as scheduled, and to take additional policy steps to safeguard American shipbuilding and the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. maritime industry.
'Waiver Failed Americans' | Seafarers International Union
The American Maritime Partnership, to which the SIU is affiliated, has released the following news item: Navigistics Consulting Releases ‘Jones Act 2026 Waiver After Action Report’ WASHINGTON — Navigistics Consulting, a Maritime industry consulting and market analysis firm, examined the real-world effects of the current (150-day) blanket Jones Act waiver – put in place by the Trump Administration – on the U.S. economy, energy security, and domestic maritime workforce.
Union Yard Delivers Vessel to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
Hanwha Philly Shipyard, a union facility, has issued the following news item. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is an SIU-contracted company. PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2026) — Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI) today announced the successful delivery of Acadia, a Subsea Rock Installation Vessel (SRIV), to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC (Great Lakes). Acadia is the first SRIV of its kind to enter the market, marking a significant milestone for both organizations and the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Waiver Jeopardizes U.S. Maritime Careers
From the American Maritime Partnership, to which the SIU is affiliated: Over 1,250 Graduates of U.S. Maritime Academies Enter Industry as Jones Act Waiver Puts U.S. Maritime Careers at Risk WASHINGTON, DC — The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, proudly congratulates the more than 1,250 graduates from America’s maritime academies who make up the Class of 2026.
AFL-CIO Releases Labor Movement Agenda
The following news release was issued by the SIU-affiliated AFL-CIO on June 23.
Jones Act Front and Center at MTD Convention
America’s freight cabotage law has protected U.S. national, economic and homeland security for more than a century, and it currently helps support more than 650,000 jobs across the country. But the Jones Act is under attack, and the fight to preserve it was a main topic at the quadrennial convention of the Maritime Trades Department (MTD), which took place June 4-5 in Minneapolis.
SIU President Recognized as Global Maritime Leader
SIU President David Heindel is included in a newly posted list of “50 Influential Leaders in Maritime Transportation Globally.” In part, Heindel was chosen because “The alignment between labor, academic, and policy perspectives on what the revitalization of American commercial shipping requires has given him a voice that extends well beyond the traditional maritime union space.” The full piece is available HERE.