[Frank X. Prudent]

The PRIDE OF ALOHA, which is crewed by The Seafarers International Union will be taken out of the weekly Hawaiian Island trade this May. She will be reflagged from the American flag to one of convenience and will no longer require an American crew. These American jobs will be lost, but it will not be Congress' fault.

The U.S.Congress can not stop this, but we all know of an American flag vessel that Congress can ensure operates past this year. If the DELTA QUEEN is not granted another exemption from SOLAS, and American jobs are lost, that blame can be laid at Congress' doorstep.