Wheelhouse Weekly, Oct. 21, 2025

Volume 31… Number 42, October 21, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• MM&P Licensed Deck Officers Take Command of CMA-CGM PHOENIX
• New USCG Update on NMC Efforts to Mitigate Impact of Government Shutdown
• Members of Congress Call for Reconstitution of Safety Advisory Boards
• International Carriers React to China’s Reciprocal Port Fees
• MM&P Expresses Solidarity With the ITF, Along With Support for Every ITF Employee’s Right to Equitable Treatment
• Please Respond to the Survey: Why Are Workers in the Maritime Industry Still Dying in Enclosed Spaces?

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in Miami/Fort Lauderdale Hall on Oct. 30
• 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:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

MM&P LICENSED DECK OFFICERS TAKE COMMAND OF CMA-CGM PHOENIX

MM&P licensed deck officers are in the process of taking the conn of APL’s CMA-CGM PHOENIX.

Following MM&P’s victory in its jurisdictional dispute before the AFL-CIO, MM&P dispatched a full complement of officers to join the PHOENIX on its arrival in New York on October 18.

Master Julien Maurel joined the newly reflagged vessel as expected in New York.

APL, however, deferred boarding of Chief Mate Ben Day, Second Mate Tyler Nemsdale and Third Mate Nathaniel Gass to the vessel port call in Norfolk later in the week.

MM&P has objected to the delay in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and will be seeking damages for these members in arbitration.

MM&P also dispatched Port Relief Officers to the vessel in New York, which the company refused. MM&P will also seek damages for those LDOs in arbitration.

At 9,300 TEU capacity, the CMA-CGM PHOENIX—a Neo-Panamax vessel—is the largest ever US commercial containership.

It measures approximately 1,079 feet long and 151 feet wide, with a gross tonnage of 110,000 and a deadweight capacity of about 130,000 tons.

MM&P defended our members’ employment jurisdiction aboard the ship in a successful AFL-CIO Article XX hearing and appeal that took place this summer and was concluded in September with MM&P’s victory.

Additionally, MM&P took a grievance to arbitration challenging APL’s refusal to honor MM&P’s contractual jurisdiction aboard the vessel.

That grievance is currently in arbitration.

The Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP) and the Marine Firemen’s Union (MFOW) also filed grievances against APL for similar violations of their contractual jurisdiction.

“From the beginning, MM&P made it clear to APL and anyone refusing to respect our contractual jurisdiction that we would not rest until our members’ rights were vindicated,” said MM&P President Don Josberger.

“MM&P’s efforts, and those of the SUP and the MFOW, are the reason we are back where we belong.”

The ship is scheduled to serve in the company’s India America Express (INDAMEX) service connecting the US East Coast to South Asia.
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NEW USCG UPDATE ON NMC EFFORTS TO MITIGATE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

The Coast Guard has released the following update on actions it is taking to mitigate the impact of the 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;

— Merchant Mariner Credentials (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates (National and Pilot expiration dates only) that expire in October 2025 remain valid until Dec. 31, 2025.

Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential AND a copy of the attached letter while sailing under the authority of those credentials.

The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs or Medical Certificates reflecting the extension.

Additional information letters, approval to test letters, and mariner training course completion certificates that expire in October 2025 are extended until Dec. 31, 2025. The NMC will not issue updated letters reflecting the extension.

Qualified assessor and designated examiner certification letters and course approvals that expire on Oct. 31, 2025, are extended until Feb. 28, 2026.

The NMC will not issue updated certificates/letters reflecting the extension.

Mariner Examinations

Mariners who began but did not complete all modules of an examination prior to October 1, 2025, 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, 2025, and will restart upon reopening. Contact the NMC regarding waivers due to sea service.

For questions regarding credentialing issues related to National Defense, marine employers are advised to contact the NMC Customer Service Center.

For updates on NMC and REC operating status, please monitor the NMC website.

For questions, contact our Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

The NMC says that it understands that the shutdown will affect industry customers and stakeholders, and it apologizes for any potential inconvenience.
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MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL FOR RECONSTITUTION OF SAFETY ADVISORY BOARDS

A group of 46 Democratic legislators is urging the administration to reconstitute the Department of Transportation safety advisory committees that it eliminated earlier this year.

The safety advisory committees are made up of subject matter experts drawn from labor, the private sector and government, who work together to draft new regulations and proposals.

MM&P members, including MITAGS instructors, have served on the maritime safety advisory committees over the years.

Efforts in Congress to convince the administration to reconstitute the committees are being led by Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and the Congressional Labor Caucus.

The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, of which MM&P is a member, is also advocating for the reconstitution of the advisory boards.

“We urge DOT to swiftly reconvene these committees and restore membership to all labor representatives,” says TTD President Greg Regan.

“Federal agencies are responsible for setting a high bar for safety, and it’s crucial that the workers who are directly affected by safety issues have a voice in the process.”
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INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS REACT TO CHINA’S RECIPROCAL PORT FEES

China launched its own port fee program on Oct. 14 and announced soon afterwards that it would ban Chinese companies from dealing with South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean.

Beijing says the measures are in response to the port fees that have just been introduced in the US by the Trump administration on ships with ties to China.

Some international shipping companies are diverting their US-flag or US-built ships from Chinese routes, while others are reportedly paying substantial port fees.

Maersk advised customers last week that it would be making changes to the TP7 rotation “to make sure your supply chains continue to run as smoothly as possible….”

The company said that in some cases, cargo bound for China is being discharged in South Korea and will be delivered to its final destination by the Maersk network.

Repercussions from the imposition of the fees are being felt in both the US and in China, with shipping companies caught in the middle of the dispute.

China’s Commerce Ministry also said last week that it is launching its own investigation into the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 probe into Chinese dominance in world shipbuilding.

Beijing said that Hanwha Ocean had been involved in the US probe and that China would impose retaliatory measures against Hanwha and its five subsidiaries, including banning Chinese companies from doing business with them.
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MM&P EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH THE ITF, ALONG WITH SUPPORT FOR EVERY ITF EMPLOYEE’S RIGHT TO EQUITABLE TREATMENT

The International Transport Workers’ Federation is a democratic association of transportation labor organizations that fights for the rights of transport workers around the world.

MM&P is an affiliate of the ITF.

Through the ITF, we are able to advocate to an international audience in coordination with other unions to advance issues that are important to maritime workers, such as work/rest hours, the transition to greener fuel, equal opportunity for all workers, and the threats that automation may pose to some jobs in the industry.

MM&P has become aware of internal matters within the ITF that are not in alignment with the guiding principles of MM&P or the ITF.

As the ITF fights to improve all workers’ lives, it must apply the same guiding principles inside its own organization.

We stand with our sisters and brothers within the ITF who work every day to elevate workers around the world.

Those workers deserve a meaningful and actionable review of internal practices at the ITF, as well as accountability from those who have breached the ITF’s policies and principles.

Within MM&P, we will continue to be guided by our equity policy, as set forth in our publication Your Shipmates are Counting on You and the input of the MM&P’s Women’s Caucus Committee.
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WHY ARE WORKERS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY STILL DYING IN ENCLOSED SPACES?

The International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA) has asked MM&P to encourage all working mariners who receive The Wheelhouse Weekly to respond to a new survey on enclosed space fatalities.

The survey was developed by InterManager, which represents ship managers that together manage more than 7,500 ships and employ more than 330,000 seafarers.

Almost 5,000 industry professionals responded to the survey in 2018, the first time it was conducted.

The goal this time is to improve the data by gathering an even higher number of responses.

Please respond to the survey and share the link widely with other working mariners and maritime industry professionals.

MM&P is an affiliate of The International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations, which represents the interests of serving shipmasters in international forums, including the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE HALL ON OCT. 30

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Hall on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 1200.

The Miami/Fort Lauderdale Hall is located at:

3081 E. Commercial Blvd Suite 100

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

954-946-7883

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

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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: 02/02/26, 03/16/26, 09/07/26, 11/30/26

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting: Not Currently Scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 02/02/26, 03/16/26, 09/07/26, 11/30/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 01/26/26

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): 11/12/25, 01/19/26, 03/30/26, 05/15/26, 09/14/26, 09/28/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 11/14/25, 01/21/26, 04/01/26, 05/20/26, 09/16/26, 09/30/26, 10/28/26

Refreshers (REF): You have less than 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REF (3-day): 11/12/25, 01/19/26, 03/30/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 11/10/25, 01/22/26, 04/02/26, 10/29/26

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): 02/23/26

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 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: 03/16/26

[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): 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): 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

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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

September 2025

October 2025

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.

For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.