Wheelhouse Weekly, June 30, 2026

Volume 32… Number 26, June 30, 2026

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Strait of Hormuz Evacuation Plan on Hold as US and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes
• International Shortage of Ships’ Officers May Top 100,000 by 2030
• House Passes Faster Labor Contracts Act
• Great Lakes Towing Company Christens New Tug Puerto Rico
• Four Indian Seafarers Repatriated From Abandoned Ship After 10 Months
• One-Minute Anonymous Survey on Bridge Officer’s Mental Workload

Mark Your Calendar:

• MM&P Holiday Closing Schedule

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes & Gulf Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

STRAIT OF HORMUZ EVACUATION PLAN ON HOLD AS US AND IRAN TRADE FRESH STRIKES

With negotiators for the US and Iran set to meet in Doha on Tuesday, new attacks by both sides have once again put the peace framework governing Strait of Hormuz transits in doubt.

The new wave of hostilities began with a June 27 Iranian drone strike on a Panama-flag oil tanker, the Kiku, that damaged the vessel’s bridge.

The crew was reported safe and no environmental damage was reported.

Two days earlier, the Singapore-flag Ever Lovely was targeted by a drone as it passed through the strait’s southern shipping corridor.

US Central Command responded with strikes on Iranian military targets including surveillance and air defense infrastructure and drone storage facilities.

Iran retaliated with a joint missile and drone operation against eight US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, in which no US casualties were reported.

It also hardened its position on the strait, warning that any attempt by ships to bypass Iran’s preferred routing corridor near its own shores would “increase tensions” and delay the reopening of the waterway.

The International Maritime Organization said vessels should remain in their current positions and wait to be contacted as it slowly moves forward with its plan to begin evacuating more than 11,000 seafarers who have been trapped in the region for months amid missile and drone attacks.

Oman will be taking the lead with the IMO monitoring and providing daily updates on the number of vessels departing the region.

It will still be up to the individual ship and its operators, but once they have been given their assigned day, they can move to a designated waiting area in international waters.

Masters can opt for either the northern route through Iranian territorial waters or a southern route through Omani territorial waters.

Vessels are instructed to contact the coastal state on their selected route to confirm that traffic conditions permit them to proceed.
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INTERNATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SHIPS’ OFFICERS MAY TOP 100,000 BY 2030

The maritime industry is facing a growing shortfall in the number of qualified ships’ officers, according to a report released last week.

By 2030, more than 113,000 additional STCW-certified officers will be needed to operate the expanding world merchant fleet, according to the latest seafarer workforce report published by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping.

The 2026 Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that 2.57 million seafarers currently serve in the international merchant fleet: they include approximately 1.05 million officers and 1.52 million ratings.

“The headline concern is the mismatch between officer supply and demand,” writes Sam Chambers in the June 25 edition of Splash247.

The report, which is published every five years, estimates a current shortfall of 39,100 officers, compared with a surplus of 56,890 ratings.

By 2030, the demand for officers is expected to reach 1.16 million, which means an additional 22,747 officers must enter the workforce each year.

The demand for STCW-certified seafarers has increased by 35 percent since the last report was issued in 2021.

The researchers who conducted the survey attribute the surge to the full recovery of shipping activity after the pandemic and the 14 percent increase in the size of the world’s merchant fleet.

Without sustained recruitment, improved retention, better cadet pathways and stronger maritime education capacity, the officer gap will widen, the researchers said.

A significant threat to efforts to increase the number of qualified ships’ officers is the serious work-life imbalance reported by industry participants.

A landmark study published by World Maritime University earlier this year found that nearly half of today’s seafarers plan to quit within five years.

The ratio was even higher for American officers, with more than 50 percent saying they plan to leave in five years’ time.

That survey, commissioned by the Officers’ Union of International Seamen, of which MM&P and MEBA are members, drew on responses from 4,372 seafarers—including 500 Americans—to paint an alarming picture of a workforce under severe strain.

The report, In Search of a Sea-Life Balance in an Adverse Environment, found seafarers working an average of 71 hours per week globally, a number that rose to 79 hours per week for US seafarers.

The WMU called for urgent, evidence-based action to cut administrative burdens, enforce realistic manning and rest standards, and embed human-factors science in regulation.
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HOUSE PASSES FASTER LABOR CONTRACTS ACT

The House of Representatives on June 9 passed a bill introduced by Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) to speed up the process of finalizing a first contract between a newly certified union and an employer.

Norcross brought the bill to the House floor by means of a discharge petition, a parliamentary tool that allows representatives to force a vote on legislation as long as a majority of House members agree.

The House passed the Norcross legislation by a vote of 230–193, with 20 Republicans voting in favor of the bill.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate, but there is no indication of when or if it will move forward.

According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for unions and employers to reach a first contract, and roughly a third of workers are forced to wait more than three years.
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GREAT LAKES TOWING COMPANY CHRISTENS NEW TUG PUERTO RICO

Great Lakes Towing Company christened its newest tugboat, Puerto Rico, on May 28 at Collision Bend Brewing Company on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland.

Members of the MM&P Great Lakes & Gulf Region operate the GLT tugs.

The ceremony brought together employees, customers, industry partners and friends to commemorate the newest addition to the company’s fleet.

Puerto Rico is the tenth and final tugboat in Great Lakes Towing Company’s fleet renewal, a major investment program focused on modernizing the fleet with safer and more efficient vessels.

Built in Cleveland to Damen Stan Tug 1907 ICE design by GLT sister company Great Lakes Shipyard, the Puerto Rico joins the company’s fleet of state-of- the-art harbor tugs engineered to provide reliable ship assistance, towing, and icebreaking services throughout the Great Lakes region.

The tugs provide improved performance, enhanced crew accommodations, increased efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.

Great Lakes Towing says the christening of the new tug also celebrates the company’s continued relationship with the broader US maritime industry, in that it highlights the shared commitment among maritime organizations to strengthen American shipping, support the Jones Act, and promote the future of the domestic maritime workforce.
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FOUR INDIAN SEAFARERS REPATRIATED FROM ABANDONED SHIP AFTER 10 MONTHS

Four Indian seafarers stuck on an abandoned cargo ship for 10 months were able to return to their homes three weeks ago.

The vessel, the Mongolia-flag Azra C, had arrived in Turkey in July of last year, ostensibly for a planned dry-docking.

The shipowner initially assured the authorities—who had cited the vessel for 54 deficiencies—that it was awaiting repairs and that the back pay owed to the crew would be given to them in 15 days.

But as time passed and supplies on board dwindled, the International Labor Organization determined the Azra C and its crew had been abandoned.

Desperate to return home, the crew reached out to the International Transport Workers Federation, India’s Directorate General of Shipping, the port state, the flag state, the harbor master, the vessel’s insurers and the government of Turkey.

Efforts to resolve the situation came to an abrupt halt in January when the shipowner was arrested in the waters off the Canary Islands for drug smuggling.

In March, the crew reported they were down to 800 liters of diesel and 20 days of drinking water.

At that point, labor organizations and the authorities repatriated most of the crew, leaving four behind to comply with international safety regulations.

By May the four reported they were down to 30-40 liters of diesel fuel.

At this point, the government of Turkey arranged for coastal safety authorities to take control of the ship and the four men were removed aboard its lifeboat.

Last week, after their 10-month ordeal, they finally arrived at the Indian consulate for repatriation.

The ITF reports that 2025 was a record year for abandonments, with 410 ships abandoned and 6,233 seafarers affected.

Turkey was the worst country for abandonment, with 61 cases last year.

So, far in 2026, an additional 151 cases of abandoned ships have been reported, the ITF told the French news agency AFP.

MM&P is one of the 670 transport unions in 147 countries that belong to the ITF, which represents almost 18 million workers worldwide.
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ONE-MINUTE ANONYMOUS SURVEY ON BRIDGE OFFICER’S MENTAL WORKLOAD

The International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations, of which MM&P is a member, has asked us to circulate a short questionnaire.

The researcher advises that it should only take one minute to complete.

Here is a description of the survey, in the researcher’s own words.

Dear IFSMA Team,

I am a Brazilian Nautical Science student currently working on my undergraduate thesis, that is focused on OOW Cognitive Load and Bridge Automation.

My research aims to investigate the impact of modern bridge systems (ECDIS, AIS, ARPA) and alarm management on the officer’s mental workload during watches.

The goal is to objectively evaluate whether the maritime industry genuinely requires a system to filter information, or if current bridge designs are sufficient and such systems are unnecessary.

I would be extremely grateful if your union could help me distribute a brief, anonymous academic survey to your members (particularly Officers of the Watch, Chief Mates, and Masters).

It consists of only five short, scale-based questions (1 to 5), with one optional question to describe a situation that happened to the seafarer.

It takes less than one minute and is completely anonymous.

Link: https://forms.gle/pXzbBgR8VXRwQPgc7

Hearing from experienced mariners from the global fleet is critical to ensure this thesis reflects the reality of the bridge, rather than just theoretical tech assumptions.

Thank you very much for your time, support, and dedication to protecting seafaring professionals.
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Mark Your Calendar:

MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE
All MM&P union halls, MM&P headquarters, the MM&P Plan Office, and the MM&P Federal Credit Union will be closed on Friday, July 3, for Independence Day.

MM&P headquarters, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, Atlantic Ports union halls, Pacific Mainland union halls, and the Tampa Hall will be closed on Monday, July 6, for Bloody Thursday.
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS

Buchanan Marine

1) Mate – MMC with a Mate of Towing within Inland Waters

2) Captain – MMC with a Master of Towing within Inland Waters

If you are interested in any of the above positions, please fill out an application on the company’s website first.

Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.”

Then email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call Paulina at 973-495-9377

Staten Island Ferry

1) Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s web-site. https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-36530 Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org

2) Deckhand with an AB

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s web-site. https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/deckhand-in-staten-island-jid-36197

Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org

Poling & Cutler

1) Mate with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR

2) Captain with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR

If interested in any of the above positions, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call Paulina at 973-495-9377.

Marine Oil Service
1) Tankerman PIC – MMC tankerman (PIC) with DL (required)

If you are interested, please fill out an application online https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=https%3A//marineoilservice.com/careers/&g=ZTI2ZjJkOTljODYzYjliYg==&h=OTNiOGYzYTQwMmQzOTNlMjg2N2ZiZTY2YTU4ZGFjYzc2YTI0MzNiYzhjNTczOWM2ZTllNDFkYjFkOWJiNTQwMg==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOjc2OTE2OWVlODk1YTQ0YzA0NGRhNWY5NmZhMjJjMzVkOjc6dDpU or email the company careers@marineoilservice.com

Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org

Reinauer
1) Mate with a 500-ton masters or mate near coastal but will accept 200-ton masters or mate near coastal

If you are interested in either of the above positions, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Keith at kpoissant@bridgedeck.org.

If you have any questions, please call Keith at 973-420-0492
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GREAT LAKES & GULF MARITIME REGION JOBS

— Unlimited Masters with Great Lakes Pilotage needed for 28/28 rotation – Self Unloading Vessels

— Unlimited Mates with Pilotage needed for 28/28 rotation – Research Vessel and Self Unloading Vessels

— QMED with STCW (RFPW and Able Seafarer-Engine) 21/21 rotation needed for Hopper Dredges

— 2nd Cook needed May through October aboard R/V Lake Guardian operating in the Great Lakes

Email resumes and MMC to elulko@bridgedeck.org
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OFFSHORE JOBS

Senior LMSR positions available.
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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: 09/07/26, 11/30/26

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-Day): 09/28/26, 01/25/27 FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 09/07/26, 11/30/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 11/02/26, 11/09/26 MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 07/13/26, 10/12/26, 11/30/26

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/10/26, 11/16/26

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 07/18/26, 08/15/26, 10/17/26, 11/15/26, 12/05/26

[STCW LICENSE & RADAR RENEWAL Courses]

Revalidations (REV): You have 360+ days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REV (2-day): 09/14/26, 10/26/26, 12/07/26 FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 09/16/26, 10/28/26, 12/09/26

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

BT-REF (3-day): 10/26/26, 12/07/26 FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 10/29/26, 12/10/26

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/28/26, 12/09/26

[CMM – CHIEF MATE & MASTER UPGRADE Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 08/24/26, 10/05/26, 12/07/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 08/17/26, 09/28/26, 11/30/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 09/21/26

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: 07/20/26, 09/21/26, 12/14/26

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 09/14/26, 10/12/26, 11/02/26, 11/30/26 WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled

[AB TO MATE UPGRADE Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 08/10/26, 11/09/26

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 08/17/26, 11/02/26, 02/08/27

CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 08/24/26, 11/30/26

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 08/17/26, 11/16/26

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): 08/06/26, 10/08/26

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): 10/12/26, 03/01/27

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 08/24/26, 01/04/27, 03/15/27

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 10/02/26, 11/13/26

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 08/03/26, 10/26/2026

SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 08/03/26, 10/05/26, 01/11/27

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 07/13/26, 11/30/26, 01/04/27

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 08/10/26, 10/26/26, 02/01/27

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 07/13/26, 10/05/26

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 07/20/26, 09/14/26, 02/15/27

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 07/06/26, 11/16/26, 01/08/27

[MSC – MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Courses]

MSC-ATO-I – Anti-Terrorism Officer (Online): Contact Admissions

MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 08/06/26, 09/17/26, 11/05/26

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 08/07/26, 09/18/26, 11/06/26 MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 08/07/26, 09/18/26, 11/06/26

MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 07/13/26, 08/10/26, 09/21/26, 10/12/26, 11/09/26, 12/07/26

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 08/08/26, 09/19/26, 11/07/26

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 08/09/26, 09/20/26, 11/08/26, 12/06/26 MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 08/14/26, 09/25/26, 11/13/26

[MM&P COMPANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Courses]

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations: Not Currently Scheduled

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – CM Operations II Maersk Specific: Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3-Day): 07/27/26*, 07/30/26*, 10/26/26, 10/29/26

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 09/01/26*, 09/03/26 Scheduled – Contact Admissions to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 07/20/26*, 07/27/26*, 10/26/26*

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 08/22/26, 10/03/26, 12/05/26

[OTHER MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 09/14/26, 12/07/26

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: Not Currently Scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials: 12/14/26 Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 7/6/26, 8/31/26

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 08/17/26

[CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOPS – NOT covered by the MATES Program]

Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 08/12/26

Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: Not Currently Scheduled

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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

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 2026

13-31 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

28-31 Advanced Firefighting

August 2026

3-4 Basic Training Revalidation

3-7 Meteorology (Operational Level)*

3-7 Radar Observer Unlimited

5th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-14 Radar Observer Unlimited

10-14 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

17-20 ARPA

17-21 Basic Training

24-27 Advanced Firefighting

24-28 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

31-4 ECDIS

31-1 Basic Training Revalidation

September 2026

2nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

8-11 Advanced Firefighting

14-18 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

14-25 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

21-25 Cargo Handling & Stowage

21-25 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

21-2 Medical Person-In-Charge

28-30 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

28-9 GMDSS

October 2026

5-8 Advanced Firefighting

5-9 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Basic Training

12-16 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

16th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19-23 Basic Training

19-23 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

19-23 Cargo Handling & Stowage

26-30 Medical Care Provider

26-30 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

27-30 ARPA

November 2026

2-4 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

2-5 Advanced Firefighting

2-6 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

9-11 Search & Rescue

12-13 Basic Training Revalidation

14th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

16-20 Basic Training

16-20 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

16-20 Basic Shiphandling

December 2026

30-4 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

30-11 Medical Person-In-Charge

30-18 Celestial Navigation

1-4 Advanced Firefighting

7-8 Basic Training Revalidation

7-9 Basic Training Refresher

7-18 GMDSS

9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-11 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-18 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

14-18 Basic Training
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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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