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 a wide variety of 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. A key to meeting that standard is the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. The center is a vocational training facility operated by an SIU-affiliated entity.
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 ever-changing needs of the industry.
