Volume 32… Number 40, Oct. 13, 2026
STORIES COVERED
In This Issue:
- Maritime Industry Tells Congress: “Privatizing VTS Would Put Mariners at Risk”
- Chief Mate Unjustly Imprisoned for Three Years for Smuggling Drugs
- AMP on President Trump’s Jones Act Waiver: “It’s Like the Wild West”
- Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association 2027 Entrance Examination
- Coast Guard News: USCG May Drop Six STCW Training Requirements for Some MMCs
Mark Your Calendar:
Job Opportunities:
And:
“PRIVATIZING VTS WOULD PUT MARINERS AT RISK”
The American maritime industry is expressing “unequivocal opposition to any attempt to privatize Coast Guard vessel traffic service centers (VTS).”
“[A]ny plan to force the critical VTS service into a commercial, for-profit framework introduces unacceptable risks to our waterways, our mariners, our marine environment, and our coastal communities,” maritime industry leaders told members of key House and Senate committees in an Oct. 8 letter.
The signatories to the letter were MM&P President Don Josberger, American Pilots’ Association President Jorge Viso, and the presidents of the American Association of Port Authorities, the American Waterways Operators, the Chamber of Shipping of America, the Passenger Vessel Association and the Waterways Council.
“In some ways, VTS centers function as the ‘air traffic control’ of our nation’s most congested and complex waterways,” they wrote.
“VTS centers are a critical component of the overall maritime transportation system.
“Operating such a component requires absolute trust, standardized training, clear legal authorities, and objective decision-making unclouded by commercial pressures.
“Privatization, even partial, introduces a profit motive into a system that must prioritize public and navigation safety above all else.”
In the letter, the maritime industry leaders said private management could entail cost-cutting measures leading to understaffing, degraded technology investment, and a reliance on lower-skilled, high-turnover contract labor… which could dramatically increase the risk of catastrophic vessel collisions, groundings, and environmental disasters.
Privatization would also sever the direct chain of command with the Captain of the Port.
“A defining strength of the current VTS system is its seamless integration into the Coast Guard’s federal chain of command and its critical statutory Captain of the Port authorities,” they wrote.
“In moments of crisis, such as severe weather events, national security threats, or critical infrastructure failures, the COTP can instantly exercise federal authority through the VTS center to direct vessel movements and enforce safety zones.
“A private contractor lacks federal law enforcement authority and creates
an artificial, fractured layer of communication that will cripple real-time incident response and tactical coordination.”
They cited a number of additional concerns, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities and commercial data conflicts.
VTS centers process immense amounts of highly sensitive, proprietary data, including real-time vessel positions, hazardous cargo manifests, and commercial transit schedules.
A commercial VTS operator, they wrote, could share proprietary information with a third-party corporation with business ties to competitors.
“The US marine transportation system… is a highly interconnected network where a single operational failure can close a strategic port, disrupt the global supply chain, and endanger thousands of lives,” they said.
“The safety and security of these waterways should never be treated as a commoditized service or outsourced to the lowest bidder.”
The signatories to the letter urged Congress to use its oversight authority to safeguard America’s marine infrastructure by expressly prohibiting funding or administrative actions that would privatize Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service centers, in whole or in part.
The letter was sent to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) chair, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) ranking member, of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) chair, and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) ranking member, of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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AMP ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S JONES ACT WAIVER: “IT’S LIKE THE WILD WEST”
Foreign ships failing to register their waiver voyages, no discernible impact on gas prices at the pump, no evident link to national security, lack of transparency: this is the assessment of the American Maritime Partnership on President Trump’s Jones Act waiver, which is now scheduled to last until Nov. 15.
The unprecedented waiver, which allows foreign-flag ships to move commodities between American ports, was first instituted by the administration in March and has now been extended twice.
It initially covered more than 600 products.
The administration has said that rather than proceeding under blanket exemptions, individual voyages granted under the waiver will now be subject to review by the Pentagon and the Maritime Administration and will focus on energy and agricultural commodities.
“President Trump’s decision to require a case-by-case review before allowing foreign vessels to carry domestic maritime commerce is an improvement over the previous blanket Jones Act waiver, which took work from American mariners and shipbuilders and froze investment in the maritime industrial base,” the American Maritime Partnership said when the most recent extension was announced.
“However, we are disappointed that the waiver has been extended when the public record is clear: it has not lowered fuel prices for American consumers and has been used to increase oil traders’ margins, not meet military needs.”
AMP issues periodic reports on waiver voyages and the impact of the waiver on the American maritime industry.
In its Oct. 5 report, it said: “The Administration has not provided a complete public accounting of which requests were approved, denied, withdrawn, or ultimately completed, preventing any evaluation as to whether the case-by-case process is functioning as represented.
“The newest requests continue to resemble recurring commercial programs rather than isolated movements responding to an immediate adverse effect on military operations.
“Foreign operators continue to request commercial activity irrelevant to national security such as recurring movements in a single request, transshipments through the Dominican Republic, and standard Jones Act movements from the Gulf Coast to Atlantic.
“The published reports should explain what immediate adverse effect on military operations each movement addressed as these appear to be commercial movements and not an emergency response to an immediate adverse effect on military operations.”
“Waiver cargoes have benefited vessels tied to Chinese builders, owners, and managers.
“A policy justified in the name of national defense should not expand the role of the Chinese maritime industrial base in protected domestic commerce.”
AMP also said that foreign operators are not complying with statutory reporting requirements, turning the waiver into “the Wild West, with unprecedented access and zero accountability.”
The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots strongly opposes the administration’s decision to again extend the unwarranted and failed waiver of the Jones Act.
AMP, of which MM&P and MIRAID are members, has called on the administration to end the waiver as quickly as possible.
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CHIEF MATE UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED FOR THREE YEARS FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS
Ali Albokhari, a Finnish-Syrian national who served as chief mate aboard the Panama-flag bulk carrier Phoenician M, is still in prison in Turkey three years after cocaine was found hidden in a load of coal in a cargo hold aboard his ship.
He and the Croatian master of the vessel, Marko Bekavac, were sentenced by a Turkish court to 30 years in prison for smuggling.
There is no evidence linking him or any member of the crew to the drugs: The conviction, his lawyer says, “rests on speculation rather than proof.”
The court has not set a date to hear his appeal.
The case began in October 2023 when the Phoenician M arrived in the Turkish port of Ereğli from Barranquilla, Colombia.
The captain testified later in court that before the vessel docked in Colombia, he had contacted ship management to say the Phoenician M did not have the resources necessary to guarantee the security of the loading operation.
He asked for additional security, including cameras, but management did not follow up.
Police searched the vessel before it left Barranquilla and found a small amount of cocaine hidden in the aft peak tank.
When the Phoenician M was unloaded in Ereğli, a much larger stash of cocaine—more than 100 kg—was found by cargo handlers and the authorities under a pile of coal.
The captain, Chief Mate Albokhari and eight other members of the crew were arrested.
The eight crewmembers were acquitted at trial in September 2024 but the captain and chief mate were sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Turkey released the captain in August 2025 for reasons that are still unclear.
Chief Mate Albokhari is still in prison. His lawyer has filed for an appeal, but the court has not yet agreed to hear it.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation and Nautilus have been working for many years to ensure that seafarers are treated fairly.
Improvements to the original guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers were ratified at the end of 2024 by the International Labor Organization and the International Maritime Organization.
“With the growing problem of seafarers being detained—for example, when smuggled drugs are found hidden on their ships—the guidelines are now more important than ever,” says Fabrizio Barcellona of the ITF.
MM&P is an affiliate of both the Nautilus Federation and the ITF.
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SOUTHEAST ALASKA PILOTS’ ASSOCIATION 2027 ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
The Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association (SEAPA) is accepting applications from qualified mariners for its 2027 marine pilot trainee selection examination.
Candidates who successfully complete the examination and evaluation process may be placed on a waiting list for entry into SEAPA’s pilot training program as positions become available.
The application deadline is Jan. 19, 2027. Applications must be received by email.
The remotely proctored, computer-based written exam will take place on March 15.
The simulator evaluation will take place April 19–25 at the University of Alaska Southeast, Ketchikan.
The written exam will be conducted on the Surpass platform and may be taken from a suitable location, including aboard a vessel, provided remote-proctoring requirements are met.
Candidates advancing through the written and simulator stages will be considered for the training program.
Successful completion of pilot training is required to qualify for a State of Alaska pilot license.
Application details and qualifications: https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=www.seapa.com/becoming-a-southeast-alaska-marine-pilot/&g=MTVjOTljMTk0YjMxM2JlOQ==&h=NjA2Yzk5NDdhNWZlZjZkYTVhNTIxN2ZmOWYzNTJjMjFkYjhjODNjNmU3OWUxNmJkNmEyYzkzZGE2MTczNWIxYg==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOjhlODRmY2MzYmU5NTgwNmRlMGYyZjNkMDkzMjVlNzM2Ojc6dDpU
Examination questions: seapa.exam@gmail.com
Please direct examination inquiries to the email above rather than to SEAPA’s main office.
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USCG MAY DROP SIX STCW TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME MMCS
The Coast Guard is proposing to eliminate six STCW training and competency requirements for certain merchant mariner credential endorsements.
The proposed changes are outlined in a notice of proposed rulemaking that was published in the Oct. 1 Federal Register.
They would affect masters and officers-in-charge of a navigational watch serving on vessels of less than 500 gross tons in near-coastal waters.
They would also affect some engineering officers, designated duty engineers and electro-technical ratings.
The requirements that the Coast Guard is proposing to eliminate are:
— leadership and managerial skills training for masters of vessels under 500 GT operating in near-coastal waters;
— bridge resource management training and leadership and teamworking competency requirements for certain officers of a navigational watch;
— engineering terminology and shipboard operations training for officers in charge of an engineering watch and designated duty engineers; and
— computer systems and maintenance and high voltage power systems training for electro-technical ratings.
The agency says the training requirements covered in the proposal are not required under US law or minimum international STCW standards and are unnecessary for the safe operation of the covered vessels.
For deck officers serving aboard vessels under 500 GT in near-coastal waters, the Coast Guard said that bridge teams generally consist of a single credentialed mariner who may simultaneously serve as officer-in-charge of a navigational watch, helmsman and lookout.
Because manning is limited, the agency said the additional bridge resource management and team-based leadership requirements provide little safety benefit.
The agency said the training requirements would remain in place for deck officers serving aboard vessels of 500 GT or more and those operating on ocean routes.
For engineering officers, the Coast Guard said the engineering terminology and shipboard operations course duplicates knowledge already gained through broader engineering training, onboard service and exams.
It offered similar reasoning for eliminating computer systems and maintenance and high voltage power systems training requirements for electro-technical ratings.
The agency said an average of about 825 mariners per year would benefit from the changes.
Comments on the proposal are due by Dec. 30.
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Mark Your Calendar:
OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE HONOLULU HALL ON MONDAY, OCT. 19
There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the MM&P Honolulu Hall on Monday, Oct. 19.
The meeting will take place after the 1000 job call.
MM&P President Don Josberger and Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca will attend the meeting.
The MM&P Honolulu Hall is located at:
521 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste 254
Phone: 808-523-8183
All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS
BUCHANAN MARINE
1) Mate/Captain – MMC with a Mate of Towing, Near Costal or Oceans
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 website.
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 website.
If you have any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org
MARINE OIL SERVICE
1) Tankerman PIC – MMC tankerman (PIC) with DL (required)
If you are interested, please fill out an application online
or email the company at careers@marineoilservice.com
If you have 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 this position, 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
CIRCLE LINE
1) Tour Guide
If you are interested in this position, please email Nicole Estevez at NEstevez@nycl.com
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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: 11/30/26, 03/08/27, 04/12/27
FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-Day): 01/25/27, 05/17/27
FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 11/30/26
MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 11/02/26, 03/15/27
MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/12/26*, 11/30/26, 01/18/27, 02/22/27, 04/19/27
MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/09/26, 11/16/26, 01/04/27, 02/11/27, 05/06/27
MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day):
10/17/26, 11/15/26, 12/05/26, 01/06/27, 01/23/27, 02/13/27, 02/27/27, 04/24/27, 05/09/27
[STCW LICENSE & RADAR RENEWAL Courses]
Revalidations (REV): You have 360+ days of sea time in the last 5 years
BT-REV (2-day): 10/26/26*, 12/07/26, 02/08/27, 03/22/27, 05/03/27
FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 10/28/26*, 12/09/26, 02/10/27, 03/24/27, 05/05/27
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, 02/08/27
FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 10/29/26, 12/10/26, 02/11/27
ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/28/26, 12/09/26, 02/10/27
[CMM – CHIEF MATE & MASTER UPGRADE Courses]
ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 10/05/26, 12/07/26
ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 11/30/26
CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled
LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 04/12/27
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: 12/14/26, 02/01/27
MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled
SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: Not Currently Scheduled
SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 10/12/26*, 11/02/26, 11/30/26, 01/18/27, 03/08/27, 03/29/27, 05/03/27, 06/07/27
WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled
[AB TO MATE UPGRADE Courses]
ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/09/26, 02/08/27, 05/03/27
CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 11/09/26, 02/08/27, 03/08/27, 05/10/27
CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 11/30/26, 02/22/27, 05/24/27
ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 11/16/26, 02/15/27, 05/10/27
FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): 10/08/26
GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): 10/12/26, 03/01/27,04/19/27
LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 01/04/27, 03/15/27
LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 10/02/26, 11/13/26
ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 10/26/26, 02/01/27, 04/26/27
SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 10/05/26, 01/11/27, 02/22/27, 04/26/27
SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 11/30/26, 01/04/27
STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 10/26/26, 02/01/27, 03/01/27, 05/03/27
TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 10/05/26, 01/04/27, 04/05/27
WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 02/15/27, 03/29/27
WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 11/16/26, 01/18/27, 04/12/27, 06/28/27
[MSC – MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Courses]
MSC-ATO-I – Anti-Terrorism Officer (Online): Contact Admissions
MSC-ATO-II – Anti-Terrorism Officer: Level 2: 03/22/27
MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 11/05/26, 01/07/27, 03/11/27,05/06/27,06/10/27
MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 11/06/26, 01/08/27, 03/12/27, 05/07/27, 06/11/27
MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 11/06/26, 01/08/27, 03/12/27, 05/07/27, 06/11/27
MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 10/12/26, 11/09/26, 12/07/26, 01/11/27, 02/08/27, 03/15/27, 04/12/27, 05/10/27, 06/14/27
MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 11/07/26, 01/09/27, 03/13/27, 05/08/27, 06/12/27
MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 11/08/26, 12/06/26, 01/10/27, 02/07/27, 03/14/27, 04/11/27, 05/09/27, 05/12/27, 06/13/27
MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 11/13/26, 01/15/27, 03/19/27, 05/14/27, 06/18/27
[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): 10/26/26*, 10/29/26*
NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 02/02/27*, 02/04/27 Contact Admissions@MITAGS.org to Register
SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 10/26/26*
WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 10/03/26, 12/05/26
[Other MITAGS COURSES]
AB – Able Seaman: 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: 11/30/26
VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 11/09/26
[CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOPS – NOT COVERED BY THE MATES PROGRAM]
Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 10/07/26
Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: Not Currently Scheduled
MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES
FOR REGISTRATION CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT 866.656.5568 OR admissions@mitags.org
October 2026
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.
For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.
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