Wheelhouse Weekly, April 16, 2024

Volume 30… Number 16, April 16, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• U.S.-Flag Fleet Goes to Capitol Hill to Advocate for American Ships and Crews
• Maritime Coalition Honors Friends of the Merchant Marine in Congress
• FBI Opens Criminal Investigation Into Crash That Brought Down Baltimore Bridge
• Also: April 28 Is Workers Memorial Day
• Flag State Looks the Other Way as FOC Shipowner Abandons Crews
• Iran Seizes Portuguese-Flagged Containership in the Strait of Hormuz

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Seattle Hall on April 24
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Boston Hall on May 15

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available

And:

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

U.S.-FLAG FLEET GOES TO CAPITOL HILL TO ADVOCATE FOR AMERICAN SHIPS AND CREWS

Representatives of the maritime labor unions, U.S.-flag shipping companies, the maritime academies, and allied groups spent a day on Capitol Hill last week, advocating for the U.S.-flag fleet and the men and women who crew American vessels.

They asked members of Congress to increase the number of jobs available to American merchant mariners and the share of cargo carried aboard U.S.-flag vessels.

The occasion was the “Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In,” now in its 12th year.

The Sail-In is an occasion to consolidate relationships with members of Congress who stand with maritime labor in defense of the U.S.-flag fleet.

It is also an opportunity to establish ties with legislators who may have only a moderate awareness of the role that American ships and crews play in the U.S. economy, national security, and national defense.

This year, 122 people who work in the American maritime industry took part in the Congressional Sail-In. Collectively, they had 126 meetings with members of Congress and their staffs.

The participants included:

— MM&P and other major U.S. seafaring unions;

— Jones Act companies and organizations;

— state maritime academies;

— the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department; and

— the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department.

MM&P was represented by: President Don Marcus; Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger; Gulf Ports & Government Contracts Vice President Jeremy Hope; Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin; Western Great Lakes Pilots Association President Christopher Edyvean; MIRAID President Jim Patti; MIRAID Counsel Steve Wines; and MIRAID Legislative Representative James Patti.

Participants in the Sail-In met with members of Congress and their staffs to emphasize the importance of supporting American mariners and the U.S.-flag shipping industry, in particular as China expands its domination of global shipping and world supply chains.

The discussions focused specifically on the need to assure that:

— the Maritime Security Program is fully funded at the Congressionally authorized level;

— the Tanker Security Program is fully funded at the Congressionally authorized level.

In addition, Sail-In participants urged Congress to:

— increase funding for international food aid programs, such as PL-480 Food-for-Peace;

— support state maritime academy funding for training ship infrastructure, fuel, and student scholarships; and

— support capital improvement funding for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
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MARITIME COALITION HONORS FRIENDS OF THE MERCHANT MARINE IN CONGRESS

The 2024 Maritime Industry Sail-In provided an opportunity for the USA Maritime Coalition to present its first-ever Maritime Leadership Award to Congressman Rob Wittman in recognition of his longstanding, vigorous support for the U.S.-flag fleet operating in the foreign trades.

MM&P and MIRAID are members of USA Maritime, a coalition of ship operators, unions and related associations working to educate policymakers, the media, and the public about the U.S. merchant marine and the importance of the U.S. maritime industry to the military, economy, and homeland security of the United States.

Throughout his career in the House of Representatives, and in his numerous leadership positions on the Committee on Armed Services, Wittman has worked tirelessly to ensure that our country has the U.S.-flag commercial sealift readiness capability and American mariners needed by the Department of Defense in time of war or national emergency.

“The U.S.-flag deep sea fleet and its cadre of American mariners have no better friend and stronger supporter than Congressman Rob Wittman,” said USA Maritime Chair Chris Johnsen in presenting Wittman with the award.

During the Sail-In, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow was honored with the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force’s first lifetime achievement award.

Stabenow was recognized for her dedication to safeguarding the Great Lakes Navigation System and bolstering American jobs in the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry.

“The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force is grateful for Senator Stabenow’s service to our country, the Great Lakes Region, and the State of Michigan,” said Jim Weakley, vice president of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force and president of the Lake Carriers’ Association.

“She is truly a champion for the Great Lakes watershed and the healthy marine transportation system it supports.”

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FBI OPENS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO CRASH THAT BROUGHT DOWN BALTIMORE BRIDGE

The FBI said Monday it has opened a criminal investigation into the March 26 accident involving the MV DALI, the Singapore-flag containership that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month, causing it to collapse.

“The FBI is present aboard the cargo ship Dali conducting court authorized law enforcement activity,” the agency said in a Monday morning statement, without providing additional information.

According to an article in The Washington Post, the investigation will focus in part on whether members of the crew were aware that the vessel was experiencing systems problems while it was still in port.

The Post said the article was based on information supplied by government sources who asked not to be identified.

The FBI’s criminal investigation is separate from the probe that the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting to determine the cause of the crash.

During an April 10 hearing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy gave members of Congress an account of the board’s investigation.

She said that the NTSB would issue a preliminary report of its findings during the first week of May, adding that the Office of Highway Safety is conducting a parallel examination of pier protection measures that includes how the collapsed bridge would have been constructed differently under today’s standards.

“Our investigation is ongoing, and we have a significant amount of work ahead,” she said.

“While we have already learned much, we remain committed to thorough and comprehensive investigative processes and are happy to provide further information as needed.”

The Unified Command—which includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the state of Maryland—is removing containers from MV DALI and clearing wreckage at the accident site.

The group has set the goal of reopening the port by the end of May.

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APRIL 28 IS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

On April 28 each year, labor unions around the world observe Workers Memorial Day in remembrance of workers killed or injured on the job or sickened by conditions at work.

Every day in the United States, 340 workers die and more than 6,000 are injured or made ill because of their jobs.

The 2024 Workers Memorial Day theme is “Good Jobs. Safe Jobs. Protect Our Rights,” a message that builds on the labor movement’s long history of fighting for safe jobs.

“Safety at work is at the top of the list of why workers join unions, and we must protect those rights everywhere, from the shop floor to the halls of government,” says AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“Our workplace safety and health rights are not freely given.”

“Anti-regulatory attacks have put our working conditions in danger. There are threats that would remove protections we take for granted.”

“A safe job is a fundamental right,” Shuler says.

“We must protect the rights we have won and keep fighting for safer working conditions.”

The AFL-CIO is a democratic, voluntary federation of American labor unions.

MM&P is one of the 60 AFL-CIO affiliates, which together represent more than 12.5 million working Americans.

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FLAG STATE LOOKS THE OTHER WAY AS FOC SHIPOWNER ABANDONS CREWS

The International Transport Workers’ Federation has accused the owner of a flag-of-convenience fleet of abandoning the seafarers who crew its vessels, in some cases without adequate supplies of food and water.

The ITF says it has received numerous reports of pay being withheld for up to five months by Saudi shipowner Hadi H Al Hammam Establishment.

It says one report cites “dangerously low levels” of food, water, and fuel.

The company’s website lists a fleet of 35 vessels, including OSVs, utility and maintenance craft.

“With so many vessels from the same company involved, it seems likely that the owners are in some sort of financial difficulty,” said ITF Inspectorate Coordinator Steve Trowsdale.

“But it’s not acceptable for them to use seafarers’ pay to juggle their spreadsheets. These are people’s lives they’re playing with.”

Under the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006, seafarers should be paid at least monthly.

Crews are considered abandoned if they are owed two or more months of wages or have been left aboard vessels that lack food, water, or fuel.

Hadi H Al Hammam’s vessels are flagged in Bahrain, which is not a signatory to the MLC.

The ITF says that the authorities in Bahrain “have taken no practical action to bring the owners to account.”

“Bahrain is responsible for the ships it registers, including for the wages, working conditions in general, and the welfare of the crew,” says Mohamed Arrachedi, the ITF Flags of Convenience Network Coordinator for the Arab World and Iran.

“They have the power to hold this company to account, yet they’ve done nothing to help.”

The ITF is exploring whether it can work through the fleet’s insurers to activate a financial security guarantee that could be used to pay the seafarers up to four months in lost salary and cover their repatriation costs.

Last year, ITF inspectors reported 117 cases of abandoned ships and a total of 1,795 abandoned seafarers.

MM&P is one of the 740 transport unions in 147 countries that belong to the ITF.

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IRAN SEIZES PORTUGUESE-FLAGGED CONTAINERSHIP IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Iran seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with ties to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13.

Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, reported that Revolutionary Guard commandos had boarded the ship, the MSC ARIES, and taken it into Iranian waters.

Video on Iranian news channels showed a person rappelling onto the ship from a helicopter.

Vessel operator MSC confirmed that Iran had seized the ship and said it was working for its safe return and to protect the wellbeing of its 25-person crew.

MSC leases the ARIES from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

A spokesperson for Zodiac Maritime said the ARIES is fully operated by MSC.

The seizure of the vessel is being seen as part of Iran’s retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on its consulate in Syria’s capital Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE SEATTLE HALL ON APRIL 24

MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Lars Turner has scheduled an Offshore membership meeting in the Seattle Hall on Wednesday, April 24 at 1100, following job call.

MM&P President Don Marcus will participate and give his report.

There will also be a presentation by a representative of the Washington Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program and the Washington College Savings Plan (529s).

The Washington GET and the Washington 529 programs help families save for future higher education expenses.

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

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. S, Ste. 100

Seattle, WA 98188-2318.

The phone number is: 206-441-8700.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE BOSTON HALL ON MAY 15

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Boston Union Hall on Wednesday, May 15, at 1200.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will participate and give his report.

The Boston Hall is located at:

12 Channel Street Suite 606-A

Boston, MA 02210-2333

The phone number is: 617-671-0769

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

CM needed for Cape Horn FOS ASAP. PRO CARD and Early Return from vacation! Vessel underway.

CM Needed for Cape Henry ROS, PRO CARD and Early Return from vacation.

Master USNS Pililaau needed.

CM’s Needed for LMSR’s, please email jhope@bridgedeck.org with any questions or visit any Offshore Hall.

2M needed for PAX.

1AE SLNC Goodwill.

3AE SLNC Star.
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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): 06/10/24, 09/16/24

AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 08/12/24, 11/04/24

AZIPOD (2-Day): Contact Admissions

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

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day): Contact Admissions

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 05/06/24, 09/09/24

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 04/22/24*, 06/10/24, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

BT-Refresher (3-day): 04/22/24*, 06/10/24, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 04/29/24, 06/24/24, 10/07/24, 12/09/24

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 04/22/24, 06/17/24, 09/23/24, 12/16/24

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/14/24

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 07/08/24, 12/09/24

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 07/15/24, 12/16/24

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/11/24

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/18/24

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/30/24

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 10/28/24

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 05/06/24*, 06/03/24*, 07/08/24, 08/05/24*, 09/09/24, 09/30/24, 11/04/24, 12/02/24

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 05/13/24*, 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24*, 09/16/24, 10/07/24, 11/11/24, 12/09/24

**SHS-ADV-I & II are now approved to include SAR-CMM assessments at MITAGS**

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 11/04/24

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 09/16/24

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 05/11/24, 07/27/24, 11/16/24

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

Online: 05/15/24

CIW-SMS – Continual Improvement Workshop: Successful Safety Management (2-Day) – Online: Not Currently Scheduled

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/06/24

CRISIS-COMMS – Crisis Communications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CRSMGT – Crisis Management and Human Behavior (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CDMGT – Crowd Management (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE – Confined Space Entry (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE-AWR – Confined Space Entry Awareness (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

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

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

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 12/09/24

ADV-FF – Advanced Fire-Fighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 05/06/24, 09/09/24

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 04/24/24, 06/12/24, 10/02/24, 10/30/24

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 04/25/24, 06/13/24, 10/03/24

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

Online: Not currently scheduled

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

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 05/06/24, 08/26/24, 12/02/24

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/22/24, 10/07/24

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): 06/03/24

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 05/20/24, 06/17/24, 10/21/24

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

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 12/02/24

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 05/13/24, 08/19/24, 09/30/24

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 05/06/24, 07/29/24, 11/18/24

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 05/13/24, 07/08/24, 08/19/24

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 05/05/24, 05/18/24, 07/13/24, 08/03/24, 08/24/24, 10/05/24, 11/17/24

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 08/19/24

MSC-ATO-III – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer III (1-Day): 08/23/24

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer (5-Day): 07/08/24

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 05/09/24, 06/07/24, 08/08/24, 09/12/24, 10/31/24

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 05/10/24, 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 05/10/24, 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 05/13/24, 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24, 09/16/24, 11/04/24

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 05/11/24, 06/08/24, 08/10/24, 09/14/24, 11/02/24

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 05/12/24, 06/09/24, 07/14/24, 08/11/24, 09/15/24, 11/03/24

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 05/17/24, 06/14/24, 07/19/24, 08/16/24, 09/20/24, 11/08/24

NDMS-ENAV – Navigational Decision Making Series – Best Practice in eNav (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 05/15/24*, 05/17/24*, 08/19/24*, 08/21/24*, 12/09/24, 12/11/24

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 06/17/24, 09/23/24

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 04/18/24, 06/06/24, 09/26/24

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

ROR-1 – Radar Observer Renewal (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 04/24/24, 06/12/24

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 08/05/24, 10/28/24

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 04/29/24, 07/22/24

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 07/22/24, 10/14/24, 12/16/24

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

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Scheduled

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program **: Not Currently Scheduled

VPDSD – Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties: Not Currently Scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 05/31/24, 08/26/24, 12/04/24

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 04/22/24, 07/29/24

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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

You can enroll online at www.mitags.org or contact our Admissions Department 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

April 2024

22-23 Basic Training Revalidation

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

May 2024

6-10 Basic Training

13-17 Medical Care Provider

13-24 Medical Person-In-Charge

20-22 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

30-31 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

June 2024

1-2 Basic Training Revalidation

1-3 Basic Training Refresher

3rd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

3-7 Basic Training

3-21 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

24-25 Basic Training Revalidation

26th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
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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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