Vince O’Halloran Awarded 2015 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award

Seattle Maritime business and community leaders have awarded Vince O’Halloran, Seattle Branch Agent of the Sailor’s Union of the Pacific (SUP), with the 2015 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award.

O’Halloran received the award on June 1st at the annual Seattle Maritime Festival Luncheon aboard Holland America Lines' ms Statendam at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. The luncheon is co-sponsored by Vigor Industrial and the Seattle Propeller Club.

David Freiboth, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council, in presenting the award, noted that, in addition to his position at the SUP, O’Halloran also serves the local maritime community in many important capacities, including:

• President of Puget Sound Ports Council, Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
• Executive board member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council
• A Washington state labor council representative
• A US Coast Guard port sound area maritime security committee representative
• The labor representative on the Puget Sound harbor safety committee
• A board member of the Marine Exchange on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Seawall replacement program north portal working group

 On accepting the award, O’Halloran said, “Being part of the Puget Sound Maritime community is a great honor.” He also said it was a great privilege to work with the US Coast Guard, who risk their lives to protect mariners. O’Halloran also thanked the Port of Seattle staff and commissioners and the members of the industry, both management and labor, for their efforts.

“I’m humbled and honored and quite surprised,” he said. “May we keep going and be very strong in our efforts to move onward and upward to Alaska.”

“Vince demonstrates the true spirit of this award through his tireless efforts on numerous maritime and safety-related boards and work to promote the interests of his members and maritime sector in the broader community,” said Rich Berkowitz, who is Director of Pacific Coast Operations for the Transportation Institute and spearheads the nomination process for the Seattle Propeller Club.

The SUP is a union of unlicensed sailors that work in the deck, engine, and steward's departments on U.S.-flag vessels under contract to the Union. The SUP also has collective bargaining agreements with U.S.-flag companies where licensed personnel are also represented.

The Puget Sound Maritime Press Association began bestowing the honor to individuals in 1951 to recognize long and distinguished careers and specific achievements benefiting the local maritime community. Propeller Club Seattle has presented the award annually since 1984.