Wheelhouse Weekly, April 22, 2025

Volume 31… Number 16, April 22, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Shipping Industry Recognizes Seafarers as “Key Workers”
• Nautilus Federation Study Explores Recruitment and Retention Problems in Maritime
• UN Warns of Growing Risks of Jamming and Spoofing
• MSC Ships Will Be Outfitted With Security Cameras as Sexual Assault Deterrent
• USACE Partners With Kings Point on Campus Renovation
• Free Legal Help for Federal Workers Whose Jobs Are Affected by Administration’s Actions
• The Death of Pope Francis, an Advocate for Workers

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in Seattle Hall on Wednesday, April 23
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Charleston Hall on April 30
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Boston Hall on Thursday, May 15

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

SHIPPING INDUSTRY RECOGNIZES SEAFARERS AS “KEY WORKERS”

Measures aimed at strengthening legal protections for the world’s seafarers, including recognizing their role as “key workers,” were adopted by the shipping industry during meetings in Geneva earlier this month.

Four hundred delegates representing seafarers, shipowners and governments advanced the new measures in the form of amendments to the Maritime Labor Convention–2006 (MLC).

The MLC has been ratified by 97 countries, which together represent over 97 per cent of global shipping.

Although the Convention has not been ratified worldwide (the United States, for example, is not a signatory), vessels from non-signatory states which attempt to enter the ports of signatory states may face penalties for non-compliance.

Many of the issues discussed during the Geneva meetings emerged during the pandemic, when crew change broke down and mariners were trapped at sea for long periods of time.

The new measures include provisions that aim to:

— protect seafarers from violence and harassment aboard ship;

— guarantee visa-free access to shore leave;

— improve repatriation procedures, in particular during crises such as pandemics and international conflict;

— fight criminalization by ensuring that seafarers are treated fairly after maritime accidents or when criminal allegations have been made;

— require that all ships carry the latest medical information and guidance.

“[The outcome of these meetings] demonstrates that tripartite dialogue and multilateralism work and deliver effective solutions to global challenges,” said Corinne Vargha, director of the International Labor Organization Department of Standards.

“These amendments… will make a positive difference in the daily life of seafarers and shipowners.”

The amendments will be presented to the International Labor Conference during its next session, June 2-13.

If they are approved, as expected, they should take effect by December 2027.

This timeframe allows enough time for countries that have ratified the Maritime Labor Convention to update their own laws and regulations to reflect the changes.
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NAUTILUS FEDERATION STUDY EXPLORES RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROBLEMS IN MARITIME

Efforts to address the problems of recruitment and retention in the global maritime industry have been ongoing for decades.

“The shipping industry knows it has a recruitment and retention crisis,” says Nautilus Federation Director Mark Dickinson.

“The signs were there before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the way maritime professionals were treated as the world went into lockdown severely impacted the attitudes of many seafarers about continuing to work at sea.”

A study commissioned by the Nautilus Federation has found that despite the amount of attention devoted to recruitment and retention over the past 20 years, little progress has been made.

The study found the following factors are paramount in seafarers’ decisions on whether to remain in the industry—or enter it in the first place:

— opportunity for career progression;

— good working conditions;

— respect, involvement and commitment shown by employers; and

— adequate communication facilities.

A fundamental problem that has consistently emerged from the research on workplace satisfaction is the negative impact of the industry’s failure to enforce existing work/rest hour rules, which leads to overwork, stress and fatigue.

Nautilus Federation affiliates, the study concludes, “want to continue working together to resolve the deep-seated and systemic issues within the shipping industry, transforming it into one in which current and future maritime professionals want to develop long and prosperous careers.”

“We can quickly agree, as we have in the past, on what actions are needed, but the time for action is now.”

“Without action, the recruitment and retention crisis will continue.”

MM&P is one of the 22 maritime labor unions that belong to the Nautilus Federation.
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UN WARNS OF GROWING RISKS OF JAMMING AND SPOOFING

UN agencies have warned governments to take urgent action to protect the frequency bands allocated to radio navigation satellite services from jamming and spoofing.

The International Maritime Organization and two other specialized UN agencies say a sharp increase in incidents of interference with aviation, maritime and other satellite telecommunications services is cause for “grave concern.”

They issued a statement at the end of March calling on governments to urgently enhance protection of the critical radio-frequency bands used by radio navigation satellite services like GPS and Galileo.

At least one accident, the grounding of the MEGHNA PRINCESS on Dec. 29, 2024, has been attributed to GPS jamming.

The Bangladeshi-owned and -crewed bulker struck a rock while sailing in the Baltic from St. Petersburg to Ust-Luga because incorrect position signals generated by a jamming operation went undetected by the crew.

“The safety of seafarers and shipping relies on the resilience of systems to support safe navigation and communication,” said IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez.

“Interference with global navigation satellite systems poses a serious risk to shipping activities, which could cause collisions and grounding.”

“I urge all member states to act to protect these critical systems.”

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee has urged member states to “minimize interference coming from their territory,” or at least to issue warnings to ships about any planned time periods and areas affected by “known interferences.”

Satellite signal jamming also affects airborne navigation, often at different times and locations than surface-level GNSS jamming, indicating different settings, techniques or equipment for high-altitude effects.

Jamming and spoofing operations are most frequently reported in the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the South China Sea and the Western Pacific.
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MSC SHIPS WILL BE OUTFITTED WITH SECURITY CAMERAS AS SEXUAL ASSAULT DETERRENT

The Navy will begin installing security cameras in passageways outside crew staterooms aboard 100 Military Sealift Command ships in June, according to an article by Caitlyn Burchett in the April 4 edition of Stars and Stripes.

The plan was detailed in a March 27 memo, “Safer Seas Act Implementation,” which was sent to masters, chief engineers and shoreside staff.

The Safer Seas Act created new reporting procedures for owners and operators of US-flag vessels and authorized the Coast Guard to revoke or suspend the credentials of anyone found guilty of sexual misconduct.

Installation of the cameras, according to the March 27 memo, is “intended to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment in the US maritime industry.”

Three ships a month will be outfitted with the cameras, starting with the USNS GUADALUPE and the USNS ARCTIC.

Beginning in August, the number of installations will increase to six ships per month.

The installation program is expected to be completed by July 2028 at the latest.

Priority will be given to the ships housing the most mariners, according to a memo that Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, the commander of Military Sealift Command, sent to the fleet in December.
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USACE PARTNERS WITH KINGS POINT ON CAMPUS RENOVATION

The US Merchant Marine Academy and the New York District of the US Army Corps of Engineers have entered into a 10-year agreement covering the renovation of the academy’s campus.

“The health of the maritime industry is of vital national security and economic interest, and the US Army Corps of Engineers is proud to lend our team’s expertise to the revitalization efforts at USMMA,” said Brig. Gen. John Lloyd, USACE North Atlantic Division commander and division engineer.

“The future mariner leaders who come through this campus will be charged with protecting our nation’s critical interests, and it is imperative that their education is supported by world-class facilities and infrastructure equipped for the modern learning environment.”

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pledged to help find the resources needed to restore Kings Point’s systems and buildings—most of which are more than 80 years old—during a speech to the midshipmen earlier this month.

“Merchant marine cadets have answered the call to serve our country, and it’s our duty to deliver an institution worthy of their sacrifice,” Duffy said.

Kings Point trains licensed merchant marine officers who work in commercial and military transportation and serve as a vital link in America’s defense and supply chain.

Graduates must fulfill a service obligation of five years in the US maritime industry, along with an eight-year military reserve officer obligation.

Alternatively, graduates may serve for five years on active military duty in any branch of the armed services.
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FREE LEGAL HELP FOR FEDERAL WORKERS WHOSE JOBS ARE AFFECTED BY ADMINISTRATION’S ACTIONS

Unions and civil rights groups have established a nationwide network of lawyers offering free legal services to federal workers whose jobs have been lost or are threatened by actions taken by the Trump administration.

On Wednesday, the AFL-CIO, along with civil rights groups and several other unions, announced the formation of Rise Up: The Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.

The initiative involves more than 1,000 lawyers in 42 states who have completed the training necessary to provide free help to federal workers targeted by recent administration actions.

“Since January, thousands of federal workers have been abruptly fired and thrown out of jobs that their families and communities rely on,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“They have an urgent need for legal support, which will escalate throughout the spring as ‘reduction in force’ plans go into effect.”

The leader of another participant in the pro bono network, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, agrees.

“We will not remain silent, and we will not stand by while this administration—or anyone else—violates the civil and constitutional rights of the people who keep our communities and our country functioning,” said the group’s president and CEO, Maya Wiley.

Several federal employee unions have already challenged the administration in lawsuits that are moving through the courts.

But individual workers affected by the firings and layoffs also need legal advice and representation.

For more information on the initiative, visit workerslegaldefense.org.

Federal workers seeking free legal support can begin the process here.

If you are a lawyer interested in joining the Legal Defense Network, click here.

MM&P is one of the 61 AFL-CIO affiliates, which together represent more than 15 million working Americans.
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THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS, AN ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS

Working people around the world are among those mourning the passing of Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88.

“His was a courageous voice for justice, dignity, and peace,” said Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

“He reminded us at every encounter that the fight for workers’ rights is a fight for human rights.”

“We are proud to have stood beside him.”

The ITF worked with Pope Francis and the Vatican on initiatives to advance decent working conditions, confront exploitation, and uphold the dignity of workers across global supply chains.

In June 2020, during the pandemic, Francis released a video statement in which he paid tribute to seafarers and fishers, hundreds of thousands of whom were stranded at sea with no access to shore leave or crew change.

“You have had to make, and are continuing to make, many sacrifices,” the Pope said.

“Long periods spent aboard ships without being able to disembark, separation from families, friends and native countries, fear of infection …All these things are a heavy burden to bear, now more than ever.”

MM&P is an ITF affiliate.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN SEATTLE HALL ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Seattle Union Hall on Wednesday, April 23, immediately after the 1100 job call.

If you have items you wish to have placed on the agenda, and/or questions that may require research, please email them to Melany Velleca at mvelleca@bridgedeck.org or call the Seattle Hall at 206-441-8700.

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

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. South

Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98188
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN CHARLESTON HALL ON APRIL 30

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin will convene an Offshore membership meeting in the Charleston Union Hall on Wednesday, April 30, at 1100.

International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting and give his report.

Please contact John Livingston at charleston@bridgedeck.org for a head count.

The address of the Charleston Hall is:

1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd, Suite 2C

Charleston, SC 29407

The phone number is: 843-766-3565.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN BOSTON HALL ON MAY 15

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin will convene an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Boston Union Hall on Thursday, May 15, at 1200.

International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting and give his report.

The Boston Hall is located at:

12 Channel Street, Suite 606-A

Boston, MA 02210-2333

Phone: 617-671-0769

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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AMG Jobs

Buchanan Marine is looking for a permanent Deckhand with an OS.

Buchanan is also looking for a Mate 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@bridegeck.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 fill out an application with the attached link

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

If you have questions, please send an email to: Aturzio@bridegeck.org

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OFFSHORE JOBS

CM needed for Haina Patriot. TPIC required.

LMSR positions available.

Numerous ROS CM jobs.
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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): 04/28/25, 09/22/25

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/03/25

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

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

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

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 05/05/25, 06/09/25, 09/22/25, 10/20/25, 11/12/25

BT-Refresher (3-day): 05/05/25, 09/22/25

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 04/28/25, 06/09/25, 08/04/25

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 06/02/25, 07/28/25

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

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

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

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 11/10/25

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (5-Day): 06/23/25

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

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 05/05/25*, 06/09/25, 07/14/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 05/12/25, 06/16/25, 07/21/25, 08/18/25, 09/22/25

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

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day): 08/02/25

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

Online: 05/14/2025

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/05/25, 12/01/25

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

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

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-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: 05/07/25, 06/11/25, 09/24/25, 11/22/25, 11/14/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 05/08/25, 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

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

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

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

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): 06/03/25

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 06/04/25*, 08/18/25*, 10/15/25, 12/15/25

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

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): Not Currently Scheduled

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 05/12/25, 07/07/25

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 04/28/25, 08/04/25

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

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 05/03/25, 05/17/25, 07/12/25, 08/09/25

[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): Not currently scheduled

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 05/08/25, 06/12/25, 08/07/25, 09/11/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 05/09/25, 06/13/25, 08/08/25, 09/12/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 05/11/25, 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 05/12/25, 06/16/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 05/10/25, 06/14/25, 08/09/25, 09/13/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 05/11/25, 06/15/25, 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 05/13/25, 06/20/25, 08/15/25, 09/19/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 04/29/25*, 05/01/25*, 07/08/25*, 07/10/25, 08/26/25*, 08/28/25, 09/30/25*, 10/05/25, 12/02/25, 12/04/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/15/25

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

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

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 05/07/25, 09/24/25, 11/11/25

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 11/03/25

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

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

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 06/23/25, 07/28/25, 09/08/25

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

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 07/28/25

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not currently scheduled

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program: Not currently scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 05/14/25, 08/18/25

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 09/15/25

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
April 2025

28-9 GMDSS

May 2025

5-9 Basic Training

5-16 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

12-15 Advanced Firefighting

12-30 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

19-20 Basic Training Revalidation

21st Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

June 2025

2-6 Radar Observer Unlimited

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

2-6 Basic Training

9-13 Med PIC Refresher

9-13 Advanced Shiphandling I

16-17 Basic Training Revalidation

16-20 Advanced Shiphandling II

18th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

23-26 Advanced Firefighting

23-27 Advanced Stability

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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.