From:

Captain Joseph Dady

Founder of United Mariner

These are challenging times for the men and women who earn their living upon the waterways of this nation.  Mariners find themselves burdened with a shortage of manpower and what seems to be a constant change in regulation.  As these changes influence our industry, our licensing and documentation, we ourselves must modify how we interact with our regulating authority, the United States Coast Guard. 

Young men and woman entering our industry today are finding that the new requirements for advancement are not worth the rewards.  More and more are seeking careers elsewhere.   Senior mariners are realizing that new medical standards now in place by our “Medical Review Board” and the damage done by the physical demands of twenty years aboard a UTV may leave them beached.  If you can read this you may not need a waver at your next renewal!

 Most mariners have no pension and know little about their 401K.  The smaller towing companies 401K plans are insurance products that do not fall under laws that limit fees and charges. 401K insurance retirement plans of this type are usually poor earners.  Its pretty easy to find plans that have been charging excessive fees through third parties claiming their services are “free” or “negligible” when they are simply passing along their fees to participants in the form of higher annual expenses on funds within your 401K.  Other types of 401k plans are simply not available to the smaller companies because their 401K accounts are not large enough.

A solution to the retirement and new disability problem would be to lobby for a “Bill” that would protect mariners.  Parallel to the Rail Road Workers ACT.  It is just an idea that will not be realized unless mariners stand up for themselves.  Only together as a force to be reckoned with can mariners demand fair treatment from their government and employer. It is more likely that many of us will find ourselves victims of a failed experiment.

As I talk to the men and women throughout our industry, I find that their concerns and priorities differ only slightly, when asked about safety, health, manning and security.  These differences are certainly to be expected, but it is clear that everyone understands their importance and the need for finding viable solutions to them.   If you would like to support a lobbying effort for a Merchant Marines Disability Act please place your name in the comments.

Thank You

Captain Joseph Dady