Security Efforts, New Shipboard Jobs Dominate Headlines
2002 — The Year in Review
For the SIU — and the whole U. S. maritime industry, for that matter — any examination of 2002 arguably must begin with September 11, 2001. Among myriad other effects, the terrorist attacks almost immediately prompted a massive examination of U. S. port and shipboard security which extended throughout the past year. The attacks also spurred separate congressional hearings in 2002 on the security threat posed by runaway-flag ships and the merits of extending and expanding the U. S. Maritime Security Program (enacted in 1996). January 2003

For the SIU — and the whole U. S. maritime industry, for that matter — any examination of 2002 arguably must begin with September 11, 2001. Among myriad other effects, the terrorist attacks almost immediately prompted a massive examination of U. S. port and shipboard security which extended throughout the past year. The attacks also spurred separate congressional hearings in 2002 on the security threat posed by runaway-flag ships and the merits of extending and expanding the U. S. Maritime Security Program (enacted in 1996).

Further, they led to extensive forums conducted in 2002 through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)—discussions designed to protect mariners’ rights while bolstering port and shipboard security.

Throughout those considerable undertakings both here and abroad, the SIU not only participated, but often provided a leading voice for U. S. mariners. Among other efforts to protect mariners while helping ensure security, SIU officials—including President Michael Sacco, Executive Vice President John Fay, Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel and Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez—testified on C