Wheelhouse Weekly, July 8, 2025

Volume 31… Number 27, July 8, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Middle East Conflict: ITF Seeks “Warlike Operations Area” Designation for Militarized Waterways
• Crew Abandons Liberian-Flagged Bulker Attacked by Houthis in the Red Sea
• Unions Oppose White House Nominee to Key Labor Department Post: “His Confirmation Would Put the Rights of Millions of Workers at Risk”
• Coast Guard Ends Use of Numbered Districts
• Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS POINT LOMA

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Familiarization Course in Newark Hall on July 16 and 17
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Newark Union Hall on July 17

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

• MITAGS-East Academic Notes
• MITAGS–West Academic Notes

ITF SEEKS “WARLIKE OPERATIONS AREA” DESIGNATION FOR MILITARIZED WATERWAYS

The International Transport Workers’ Federation is urging the maritime employers that belong to the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) to designate the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and Israeli ports as Warlike Operations Areas (WOA).

Designating these zones as WOAs would mean that seafarers who refuse to travel through them would have the right to be safely repatriated. It would also give them access to risk pay.

The ITF has reaffirmed its willingness to continue its dialogue with the employer group—which has so far refused to act—but has also stressed that safety must come first.

“We’ve heard directly from crew members and shipping companies that merchant ships are becoming targets,” says Neven Melven, president of the Seafarers’ Union of Croatia.

“The use of missiles and drones in the vicinity of Israeli ports and along key shipping lanes reflects the asymmetric nature of modern conflict—and it puts civilian seafarers at risk.”

Marine insurers have already classified the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and Israeli ports as high-risk zones.

“It’s highly significant that major maritime insurers have already listed these waters as war-risk zones,” says Mark Dickinson, general secretary of the Nautilus Federation and vice chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section.

“If insurers recognize the threat, so should shipowners.

“And let’s be honest: if the region wasn’t dangerous, there wouldn’t be a large and sustained military presence, armed ships, and naval convoys.

“Declaring these areas as Warlike Operations Areas—or at least High-Risk Areas—gives seafarers the right to say ‘no’ without repercussion.

“We hope employers reconsider their position in the spirit of shared responsibility,” Dickinson added.

“In the meantime, we will continue to advocate for seafarers’ rights, safety, and dignity—because no one should be forced to risk their life without having a choice.”

MM&P and the Seafarers’ Union of Croatia are both affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the Nautilus Federation.
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CREW ABANDONS LIBERIAN-FLAGGED BULKER ATTACKED BY HOUTHIS IN THE RED SEA

The crew of the Liberian-flagged MAGIC SEAS abandoned ship on Sunday night following a series of attacks that set it ablaze.

As of 1500 UTC on Sunday, the cargo was reportedly on fire and the ship was taking on water.

The crew decided to abandon ship at about 1545 and were rescued by a passing merchant vessel.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier, which was traveling southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen, when it was hit.

The private security firm Ambrey said the MAGIC SEAS had been “attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea.”

Ambrey later said two drone boats had struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels in the region with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four mariners.

They had paused their attacks for several months beginning in March, when ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas were underway and the US had struck multiple Houthi targets in Yemen.

The Houthis have taken control of most of Yemen over the past decade.

They launched more than a year of attacks on shipping after the events of Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the start of Israel’s war with Hamas.

In related news, intense levels of GPS jamming continue to hinder navigation throughout the region.

Security consultants Windward reported at the end of June that GPS jamming had surged by 60 percent, affecting crude oil tankers, product tankers, large container ships and LNGCs.
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“JONATHAN BERRY’S CONFIRMATION WOULD PUT THE RIGHTS OF MILLIONS OF WORKERS AT RISK”

MM&P has joined the rest of the AFL-CIO unions in expressing their opposition to the nomination of Jonathan Berry to serve as Solicitor of Labor at the US Department of Labor.

His confirmation “would put the rights and protections of millions of workers at risk,” they wrote in a June 25 letter to the leadership and members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

The Solicitor of Labor helps decide how the nation’s labor and employment laws are enforced.

Berry was the lead author of the labor chapter of Project 2025, which outlined a plan to roll back essential worker protections, limit equal opportunity and workers’ bargaining power, and undermine the fundamental right of workers to form and join free and independent labor unions.

It called for:

— allowing states to ban unions;

— taking away overtime protections;

— eliminating all public employee unions; and

— opening dangerous jobs to minors.

“Mr. Berry’s Project 2025 ideas should be kept far away from the agency whose mission is to promote the rights and welfare of working people,” the unions wrote.

“This is especially concerning because, despite publicly disavowing Project 2025, the Trump administration has been advancing this anti-worker and anti-union agenda in earnest.”

Examples are the elimination of bargaining rights for federal workers, underfunding the National Labor Relations Board and firing NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox.

The NLRB—the independent agency tasked with protecting the rights of working people—has been unable to rule on any cases since Wilcox was fired because it no longer has a quorum.

The Berry chapter also calls for pursuing Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, which lower training standards and undermine union efforts to ensure apprentices obtain good, family-supporting jobs.

“Workers deserve a Solicitor of Labor who will uphold the law as enacted by Congress, enforce protections equitably, and serve all working people,” the unions wrote.

“Mr. Berry’s Project 2025 proposals and his answers at his [confirmation] hearing indicate he will do otherwise.

“We urge you to reject Jonathan Berry’s nomination.”
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COAST GUARD ENDS USE OF NUMBERED DISTRICTS

The Coast Guard announced last week that it will replace the numerical designations of its operational districts with geographic names.

The renaming, which was ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in May, is intended to make the Coast Guard’s regional divisions easier to communicate to the public.

Under the new naming convention, going forward, the nine districts will have names like Northeast, Southeast, and Arctic.

The new names are posted on the USCG site.

The numerical system was established when the Coast Guard was transferred to the Navy during World War II and matched the Navy’s practice in the World War II era.

After the Coast Guard returned to civilian control following the war, it maintained the numbered districts, long after the Navy had abandoned the practice.

The new naming convention is intended to facilitate communications with the maritime industry and the public and improve coordination with other federal agencies.

The name changes will not affect day-to-day operations or alter existing district boundaries.

Many of the names already existed informally alongside the district numbers (for example, Coast Guard Heartland for District 8).

The boundaries and responsibilities of each district remain the same.
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NAVY ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF USNS POINT LOMA

The Navy has accepted delivery of USNS POINT LOMA, the second of the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport Flight II vessels.

Flight II EPFs have enhanced medical capabilities, including advanced secondary health care, an intensive care unit, ward beds, and limited diagnostic services.

Their catamaran design ensures stability, making their onboard operating suites suitable for performing medical procedures at sea.

Their configuration also improves support for V-22 flight operations and includes facilities for launching and recovering 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats.

The Navy accepted delivery of the first Flight II EPF, USNS CODY, in January.

The future USNS LANSING, the final EPF in the Flight II series, is under construction at Austal USA.

The EPFs are owned and operated by Military Sealift Command.

MM&P represents the LDOs, Pursers and MSOs aboard all MSC CIVMAR manned ships.
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE IN NEWARK HALL ON JULY 16 AND 17

The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in person in the MM&P Newark Hall on Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17.

There is no sea-time requirement to take the course.

All Offshore applicants, potential transferees from other membership groups and other interested Offshore members are encouraged to take the course as soon as possible.

If you are interested in participating in the course, please contact Ana Victorio at avictorio@bridgedeck.org.

Here is the schedule:

— Day 1, July 16, from 0930 to 1500;

— Day 2, July 17, from 0930 to 1100;

— Day 2 July 17, from 1100 to 1330 Membership Meeting

The Newark Hall is located at:

570 Broad Street, Suite 701

Newark, NJ 07102

The phone number is 201-963-1900.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE NEWARK UNION HALL ON JULY 17

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Newark Union Hall on Thursday, July 17, at 1100.

The Newark Hall is located at:

570 Broad Street, Suite 701

Newark, NJ 07102

201-963-1900

All Offshore members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS

Buchanan is looking for two Mates with a Mate of Towing in Inland Waters Endorsement.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website Buchanan Marine LP. Click on “Careers” and scroll down to “Apply Online.”

If you have questions, please send an email to: ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org

Reinauer Transportation is looking for a Mate with a 500 Ton license with a near coastal and TOAR.

If you have questions, please contact Keith Poissant at 973-420-0492 or kpoissant@bridgedeck.org

Staten Island Ferry is looking for Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED.

If you are interested, please go to this link to fill out an application:

https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-27357

If you have questions, please send an email to: ATurzio@bridgedeck.org

Statue City Cruises is looking for Deckhands, and Mates and Captains with a 100-ton license.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website Statue of Liberty Tickets & Tour Experiences – Statue City Cruises.

Click on “Careers” on the bottom right.

Once you do that, please contact Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

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OFFSHORE JOBS

Senior LMSR positions available.
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GREAT LAKES & GULF JOBS

Immediate openings in the Great Lakes region for the following permanent jobs:

Grand River Navigation MATES and CAPTAINS (28/28 Rotation)

Grand River Navigation ASSISTANT ENGINEERS – 1st, 2nd, 3rd or DDE (28/28 Rotation)

Weeks Marine QMED – Must have STCW documents: AS-E, VPDSD, RFPEW (21/21 Rotation)

Great Lakes Towing CAPTAINS – Must live within one hour of Ports; Detroit, Toledo, Chicago, Duluth, Cleveland, Buffalo

If you’re interested in applying or want more information, please contact MM&P GL&G Vice President Ed Lulko, elulko@bridgedeck.org.
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MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

For registration contact our Admissions Department: 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

Classes are 5-day unless otherwise noted

Class dates followed by an * are full
AB – Able Seaman (5-Day): 09/22/25, 01/26/26

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): Not currently scheduled

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): 08/04/25, 03/23/26, 06/08/26

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 10/20/25, 10/27/25

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 09/08/25

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 09/22/25, 10/20/25, 11/12/25

BT-Refresher (3-day): 09/22/25

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): Not Currently scheduled

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 08/04/25, 10/13/25, 12/08/25, 02/16/26, 04/20/26, 06/08/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 07/28/25, 09/29/25, 12/01/25, 02/09/26, 04/27/26, 06/01/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/20/25, 02/23/26

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 08/18/25, 01/12/26, 05/11/26

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 8/25/25, 01/19/26, 05/11/26

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (5-Day): 10/06/25, 12/15/25

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/15/25

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 09/22/25, 03/09/26

NOTICE

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (Week 1) (5-Day) and

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (Week 2) (5-Day)

have been combined into a single 2-week (10-day) course.

Moving forward, these courses will only be offered as one comprehensive course.

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 07/14/25*, 08/11/25, 09/15/25, 10/06/25, 11/03/25, 12/01/25, 01/12/26, 02/06/26, 03/02/26, 04/06/26, 05/11/26, 06/15/26

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 03/16/26

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day): 08/02/25, 08/23/25, 11/01/25, 12/06/25

CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **

Online: 08/13/25

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): TBD – May 2026

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): Not currently scheduled

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 09/08/25

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 09/24/25, 11/22/25, 11/14/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 09/18/25, 11/10/25

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 07/21/25, 10/27/25

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/21/25, 10/20/25

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross

Ton License (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 08/18/25*, 08/21/25, 10/01/25, 10/15/25, 12/15/25

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 09/01/25, 10/06/25, 12/08/25, 02/02/26, 04/06/26, 05/11/26

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/04/25, 11/17/25, 01/05/26, 04/27/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 07/12/25, 08/09/25, 09/06/25, 10/11/25, 11/16/25, 12/13/25, 01/10/26, 02/07/26, 04/11/26, 05/02/26, 05/16/26

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (MSC-ATO-III included) (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer (5-Day): 07/21/25 – **NEW SESSION**

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 08/07/25, 09/11/25, 11/16/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 08/08/25, 09/12/25, 11/07/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 08/10/25, 09/14/25, 11/09/25

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 07/14/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25, 10/14/25, 11/10/25, 12/09/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 08/09/25, 09/13/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 07/13/25, 08/10/25, 09/14/25, 10/13/25, 11/09/25, 12/08/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 08/15/25, 09/19/25, 11/14/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 08/26/25*, 08/28/25*, 09/30/25*, 10/02/25*, 12/02/25, 12/04/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/15/25, 01/19/26, 04/20/26

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 09/25/25

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): 09/19/25

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 09/24/25, 11/11/25

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: Not currently scheduled

SAR – Search & Rescue (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 07/28/25*, 08/11/25, 09/08/25*, 11/17/25, 12/15/25, 01/26/26, 04/20/26

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: Not currently scheduled

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 08/11/20

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program: 09/15/25 @ Offsite at Seattle Maritime Academy. Contact Admissions

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 08/18/25

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not currently scheduled
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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

2024 Fall/Winter

SCHEDULE OF COURSES – (Please also see our schedule and enroll online at www.mitags.org)

FOR REGISTRATION CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT 866.656.5568 OR admissions@mitags.org

July 2025
14-15 Basic Training Revalidation

14-16 Basic Training Refresher

16th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

17-18 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-1 Terrestrial Navigation

21-24 Advanced Firefighting

28-29 Basic Training Revalidation

30th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

August 2025
4-8 Radar Observer Unlimited

4-8 Basic Training

11-14 Advanced Firefighting

18-22 Medical Care Provider

25-29 ARPA

September 2025

3-5 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

8-12 ECDIS

9-12 Advanced Firefighting

15-19 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

15-26 GMDSS

22-23 Basic Training Revalidation

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-26 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

29-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

29-3 Leadership & Managerial Skills

29-3 Meteorology – Operational Level

29th MSC – Security Watchstander Advanced

30-3 MSC – Small Arms

October 2025
6-9 Search & Rescue

7-10 Advanced Firefighting

9th Flashing Light

10th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

13-17 Basic Training

13-17 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

13-24 Watchkeeping – Operational Level

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

20-22 Basic Training Refresher

20-24 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-23 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

27-30 ARPA

27-31 Medical Care Provider

27-31 Basic Shiphandling

27-7 Medical Person-In-Charge

November 2025
3-5 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

3-7 Leadership & Managerial Skills

10-12 Search & Rescue

10-13 Advanced Firefighting

17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

December 2025</strong?

1-2 Basic Training Revalidation

1-3 Basic Training Refresher

1-12 GMDSS

3rd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

4-5 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

8-12 Basic Training

15-18 Advanced Firefighting

15-19 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

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The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, 700 Maritime Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973. All rights reserved. The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly©2023. Articles can be reprinted without prior permission if credit is given to The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly.

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