Volume 31… Number 41, October 14, 2025
STORIES COVERED
In This Issue:
- Stand With MM&P! Tell OSG and ATC to Respect the Union Rights of MM&P Licensed Deck Officers
- MSC Awards Civilian Service Achievement Medal to MM&P Member Nicholas Rossi
- Coast Guard Update on NMC Efforts to Mitigate Impact of Government Shutdown
- Watch: Interview With Rep. Salud Carbajal on Defending the Jones Act
- NJ Governor Signs Bipartisan Bill Ensuring Students Learn About Unions
- MSC Security Watchstander Advanced and Small Arms Training at MITAGS
Mark Your Calendar:
- Membership Meeting in San Francisco/Oakland Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21
- Membership Meeting in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22
- Offshore Familiarization Course in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall, Oct. 22-23
- Membership Meeting in the Houston Hall, Oct. 29
- Offshore Familiarization Course in the Houston Hall, Oct. 28-9
- Offshore Membership Meeting in the Honolulu Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13
Job Opportunities:
And:
TELL OSG AND ATC TO RESPECT THE UNION RIGHTS OF MM&P LICENSED DECK OFFICERS
For nearly a year, Overseas Shipping Group and Alaska Tanker Company—both subsidiaries of Saltchuk—have refused to come to the bargaining table to negotiate a first contract with licensed deck officers and the union they have chosen to represent them, Masters, Mates & Pilots.
“OSG has been using this kind of stalling tactic for years,” says MM&P President Don Josberger.
“But our commitment to our members is steadfast, and we will never falter in the battle to defend their rights.”
Now a petition signed by over 1,000 licensed deck officers and their supporters, including lawmakers and other labor organizations, is being delivered to managers at the two companies, urging them in the strongest possible terms to stop the delays.
“Now that your employees have voted to unionize, it’s time to come to the table and negotiate a fair labor agreement,” one MM&P licensed deck officer says.
Fifteen lawmakers, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents the district that includes Saltchuk headquarters in Seattle, have sent letters to the companies urging them to come to the bargaining table.
So have labor organizations representing over 1.25 million workers.
“We’re always open to meet,” says MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin.
“All that the companies have to do is respect the democratic process and come to the table to bargain a fair contract in good faith.”
Please lend your voice to our campaign by joining over 1,000 licensed deck officers and supporters who have already signed on to our petition!
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MSC AWARDS CIVILIAN SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL TO MM&P MEMBER NICHOLAS ROSSI
Nicholas Rossi, second officer aboard fleet replenishment oiler USNS EARL WARREN, has been awarded MSC’s prestigious Civilian Service Achievement Medal.
Rossi received the award for professional contributions during a temporary assignment to USNS GUADALUPE.
The second officer position aboard GUADALUPE was gapped when Rossi was deployed to the ship.
His person-in-charge (PIC) license endorsement allowed him to facilitate petroleum, oil and lubricants transfer operations, making it possible for the ship to assign crew members to the job of tank cleaning at the pier, saving MSC nearly $1 million.
“Transferring tank washings and facilitating their safe offload to contractor tank trucks shoreside was an assignment that involved long hours on deck and required keen attention to detail to ensure the safety of the ship and its crew,” MSC noted in a statement.
“It is always great to be able to come out to the ships and meet with the CIVMARs and to recognize a job well done,” said MSC Commander Philip Sobeck, who awarded Rossi the Civilian Service Achievement Medal at a ceremony in San Diego.
“It is especially great to be able to recognize Mr. Rossi who not only stepped up for the good of MSC, but who also sets an example for all of us when it comes to being a member of the team. Well done!”
MM&P represents the LDOs, Pursers and MSOs aboard all MSC CIVMAR-manned ships.
MSC directs and supports operations for approximately 140 civilian-crewed ships that replenish US Navy ships at sea, conduct specialized missions, perform a variety of support services, and move military equipment and supplies to deployed US forces.
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COAST GUARD UPDATE ON NMC EFFORTS TO MITIGATE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The National Maritime Center and all regional examination centers remain closed.
Customer walk-in service at the RECs is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are cancelled.
To mitigate the impact of the government shutdown, NMC says that it has implemented the following measures:
— email submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active and processing will resume once appropriations are restored;
— additional information letters sent to mariners, training providers, designated examiners, and qualified assessors that expire on or after Oct. 1, 2025, will be extended from the date funding is restored for a period equal to the duration of the shutdown;
— approval to test letters, drug test letters, and mariner training course certificates that expire on or after Oct. 1 will be extended from the date funding is restored for a period equal to the duration of the shutdown.
Mariner Examinations
Mariners who began but did not complete all modules of an examination prior to Oct. 1 may resume testing without penalty once the NMC reopens.
Testing should be completed within 60 days of reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.
Ninety-day retest periods are paused beginning on Oct. 1 and will restart upon reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.
For updates on NMC and REC operating status, the agency asks that you monitor the NMC website.
For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
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INTERVIEW WITH REP. SALUD CARBAJAL ON DEFENDING THE JONES ACT
California Congressman Salud Carbajal sat down with Jennifer Carpenter of the American Maritime Partnership to talk about why the Jones Act is so important to the United States.
He outlines his legislative priorities—including passage of the SHIPS for America Act and the modernization of the maritime credentialing system—and describes how bipartisan cooperation in Washington is helping to keep the nation’s focus on maritime.
Watch the interview. (The discussion of the congressman’s legislative priorities begins at the three-minute mark.)
MM&P and MIRAID are both members of AMP, a coalition working to defend the Jones Act and support and strengthen the domestic maritime industry.
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NJ GOVERNOR SIGNS BIPARTISAN BILL ENSURING STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT UNIONS
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed several noteworthy pieces of pro-worker legislation as his final term in office winds down.
One requires that social studies classes for students in grades 6-12 include lessons on the American labor movement.
The new law requires that students learn about the history of organized labor, strikes, the right to organize, collective bargaining, and important measures that have been enacted with the support of unions such as paid family leave, workers compensation and health and safety protections.
“New Jersey is now one of a handful of states that has passed legislation that advances students’ understanding of the importance of the labor movement,” said Charles Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.
“As a result of this law, many of the students who will soon enter the workforce will be knowledgeable about how and why unions are formed and are necessary.
“They will also understand the social and economic issues that unions fight for to improve not only the lives of workers, but society as a whole.”
A second bill that the governor recently signed bans employers from mandating that workers attend anti-union meetings during working hours.
Captive audience meetings, as they are called, are used to intimidate employees and spread misinformation: workers can be fired for failing to attend the meetings or for asking questions.
The New Jersey law requires that employers clearly communicate that attendance at such meetings is voluntary and that employees who choose not to attend are protected from retaliation.
“Governor Murphy has signed a significant amount of pro-labor legislation into law over the past seven and a half years, and the addition of these two laws further illustrates his commitment to working families and unions,” Wowkanech said.
Legislation banning mandatory anti-union meetings has also been passed in Illinois, California and six other states.
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MSC SECURITY WATCHSTANDER ADVANCED AND SMALL ARMS TRAINING AT MITAGS
The most recent edition of the MSC Mission Assurance Newsletter contains the following important information for mariners who need Small Arms and Security Watchstander Advanced (SW-ADV) training.
SW-ADV Requirement
OPNAV 5530 and SECNAV 5500 require all personnel who will be armed in the performance of their duties to complete annual non-lethal weapons training.
For MSC, this training is conducted during SW-ADV, typically before the Small Arms course.
Certificates for weapons qualifications are no longer issued without completion of SW-ADV.
To comply with the guidance from MSC headquarters, SW-ADV is required for all personnel who will be armed, including masters/captains and others who are issued firearms for self-defense only.
Without a current SW-ADV qualification, weapons qualifications are considered null and void.
Given this announcement, effective immediately, MITAGS will only assign seats in Small Arms classes with enrollment in that week’s SW-ADV class.
Small Arms certificates will not be issued until SW-ADV is completed.
For CONMARs, the Security Watchstander BASIC (SW-BAS) course is normally required only once in the mariner’s career, although some contracts may have a different periodicity.
The SW-BAS training requirement can only be met in an approved course, which MITAGS offers.
If you have specific questions regarding MSC Small Arms and Security Watchstander courses at MITAGS, please contact Sean Riley at samuraisecops@gmail.com or 302-753-2255.
The MITAGS course schedule can be accessed online and is also published in The Wheelhouse Weekly.
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND HALL ON THURSDAY, OCT. 21
There will be a membership meeting in the San Francisco/Oakland Hall on Thursday, Oct. 21, immediately after job call.
All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
The contact information for the hall is:
315 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-808-7068
MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22
There will be a membership meeting in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22, immediately after job call.
All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
The contact information for the hall is:
533 N. Marine Ave., Ste A
Wilmington, CA 90744-5527
Phone: 310-834-7201
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL, OCT. 22-23
The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23.
The schedule for the course is 0930-1530 and you must attend both days.
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 Wendy Karnes, wkarnes@bridgedeck.org.
The contact information for the hall is:
533 N. Marine Ave., Ste A
Wilmington, CA 90744-5527
Phone: 310-834-7201
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING, HOUSTON HALL, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
An Offshore Membership Meeting will be held in the Houston Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 1100, immediately following job call.
MM&P International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting.
The address of the Houston Hall is:
13850 Gulf Freeway
Ste 250
Houston, TX 77034
All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE, HOUSTON HALL, OCT. 28-9
The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in the MM&P Houston Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 28-9, from 0830-1630 each day.
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.
Please RSVP by calling or emailing the hall at 281-464-9650 or Houston@bridgedeck.org.
The address of the Houston Hall is:
13850 Gulf Freeway
Ste 250
Houston, TX 77034
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE HONOLULU HALL ON THURSDAY, NOV. 13
There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the MM&P Honolulu Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13.
The meeting will take place after 1000 job call.
Pacific Ports Vice President Mellany Velleca and Honolulu Representative Randy Swindell will attend the meeting and give their reports.
The MM&P Honolulu Hall is located at:
521 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste 254
Phone: 808-523-8183
Honolulu@bridgedeck.org
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS
— BUCHANAN MARINE is looking for a Mate: MMC with a Mate of Towing with Inland Waters
— BUCHANAN is looking for a Deckhand – MMC with an OS.
If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website.
Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.”
If you have questions, please contact Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org or 973-495-9377.
— — MORAN is looking for a tankerman: MMC with a PIC, preferably with an AB and STCW but will work with an OS.
If interested, please email your resume to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call at 973-495-9377.
— POLING & CUTLER is looking Mates & Captains with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR.
If interested, please email your resume to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call at 973-495-9377.
— REINAUER is looking for a Mate – MMC with 500-ton license and TOAR.
If interested, please email Keith at kpoissant@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:
— Great Lakes Towing CAPTAINS – Must live within one hour of Ports; Detroit, Toledo, Chicago, Duluth, Cleveland, Buffalo – Start Date Immediately
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
[STCW, MEDICAL & SAFETY Courses]
BT – Basic Safety Training: Not Currently Scheduled
FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting: Not Currently Scheduled
FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: Not Currently Scheduled
MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 01/05/26, 03/09/26
MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 12/08/25, 02/02/26
MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/17/25, 01/05/26
MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day):
11/18-19/25 (Evening Session), 12/13/25, 01/10/26, 02/07/26
[STCW LICENSE & RADAR RENEWAL Courses]
Revalidations (REV): You have 360+ days of sea time in the last 5 years
BT-REV (2-day): 10/20/25, 11/12/25, 12/08/25
FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 10/22/25, 11/14/25, 12/10/25
Refreshers (REF): You have less than 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years
BT-REF (3-day): 11/12/25
FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 11/10/25
ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 11/11/25
[CMM – CHIEF MATE & MASTER UPGRADE Courses]
ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 12/08/25, 02/16/26
ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 12/01/25, 02/09/26
CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): 10/20/25, 02/23/26
LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/20/25, 04/13/25
LAP Testing Notice: Due to changes at the Baltimore REC, LAP courses no longer include priority testing. Seating is limited to 6 students. All testing now requires a scheduled appointment and an approval letter.
LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills: 12/15/25, 02/16/25
MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled
SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: Not Currently Scheduled
SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 11/03/25*, 12/01/25, 01/12/26, 02/06/26, 03/02/26
WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled
[AB TO MATE Upgrade Courses]
ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/10/25, 02/09/26*
CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 01/19/26, 03/23/26
CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 12/01/25
ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 11/17/25, 02/23/26*
FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day) 02/13/26, 02/20/26
LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 03/23/26
LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 02/12/26, 02/19/26
ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 02/02/26*
SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 02/09/26, 02/16/26, 03/02/26
SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 02/02/26*
STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 01/12/26, 03/16/26
TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 10/20/25, 01/05/26*
WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 02/23/26, 03/30/26
WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 02/16/26
[MSC – MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Courses]
MSC-ATO-I – Anti-Terrorism Officer (Online): Contact Admissions
MSC-ATO-II – Anti-Terrorism Officer II (MSC-ATO-III included): 01/26/26
MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 11/16/25, 01/08/26, 03/12/26
MSC-CBRD-OFF – Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer: 03/23/2026, 06/22/2026
MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 11/07/25, 01/09/26, 03/13/26
MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 11/09/25, 01/09/26, 03/13/26
MSC-SMA – Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 11/10/25, 12/09/25, 01/12/26, 02/09/26, 03/15/26, 04/13/26
MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 11/08/25, 01/10/26, 03/14/26
MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 11/09/25, 12/08/25, 01/11/26, 02/08/26, 03/15/26, 04/12/26
MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 11/14/25, 01/16/26, 03/20/26
[MM&P COMPANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Courses]
CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations: 01/12/26
CM-OPS 2 Maersk – CM Operations II Maersk Specific: 01/19/26
LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3-Day): 10/15/25*, 02/02/26, 02/05/26
NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 12/02/25*, 12/04/25* – Contact Admissions to Register
SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 11/17/25*, 01/26/26
WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 11/15/26, 12/06/25
[Other MITAGS Courses]
AB – Able Seaman: 02/16/26
BRM – Bridge Resource Management: 03/23/26
GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 02/13/26
LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 02/16/26
HAZ – Hazardous Materials: 11/03/25
Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions
RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-Day): Not currently scheduled
TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 11/10/25
VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled
[Continual Improvement Workshops – NOT covered by the MATES Program]
Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 11/05/25
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: Not Currently Scheduled
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
September 2025
October 2025
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
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.
For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.
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