David Heindel, the President of the Seafarers International Union, stated that media, particularly maritime media, poses a threat by providing information about vessels in a manner reminiscent of the World War II motto "Loose Lips Sink Ships"
Upon being questioned about clarification regarding "Loose Lips Sink Ships," Heindel said, "There’s been quite a bit; obviously, it’s very much in the news today. The media is covering it all, and specifically, the maritime media is covering it heavily. If you happen to look at some of the issues, it’s practically daily. I should say the coverage that they are putting out there is showing vessels, where they are, tracking these vessels; it’s almost, as I said, real-time. Perhaps it may be a few hours old, it may be a day old, but the fact is that if the media is covering it to such a degree and putting this information out there, it’s not healthy. It is not healthy for mariners. It is not healthy for the vessels that we are sailing on."
American Experienced Maritime Journalist John Conrad shared that speech on his X page and said, “So what’s the second biggest danger to ships in the Red Sea? According to congressional testimony from the president of the largest maritime union in America the it’s OSINT accounts and maritime journalists”
David Heindel has been the President of the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters since February 2023. He also serves as president of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, having been elected to that post in February 2023 as well.