Wheelhouse Weekly, Aug. 15, 2023

Volume 29… Number 33, August 15, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Maui Wildfire Response: MM&P Employee Assistance Program Offers Crisis Support Hotline
• Maui Wildfire Response: AFL-CIO Union Community Fund Collecting Donations for Maui Residents
• Maui Wildfire Response: Matson Navigation and Pasha Hawaii Assisting in Relief Efforts
• Also in This Issue: U.S.-Led Coalition Urges Ships To Avoid Iranian Waters
• Many Respondents to Norwegian Seafarers’ Survey Report Bullying, Harassment
• And: National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee Seeks To Fill Two Vacancies

Attention All Mariners:

• Well-Paying Jobs Offering Permanent Employment Are Available With MM&P on the Great Lakes and in Coastal Waters!

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Engineering Jobs Available Offshore and on the Great Lakes

And:

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

MM&P EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OFFERS CRISIS SUPPORT HOTLINE

In the wake of the Maui wildfires, the MM&P Employee Assistance Program reminds members that its crisis support hotline is available 24/7.

MM&P members, employees, and their families can reach the hotline by calling 1-877-757-7587.

“We are here to offer support as everyone tries to process this event,” the EAP says.

Callers will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources.

You can also find support on the web, at https://go.lifeworks.com/we-are-here-to-help, on topics that include:

— managing feelings of fear and anxiety;

— supporting your child; and

— taking care after a traumatic event.

The Employee Assistance Program is a CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE provided by the MM&P Health & Benefit Plan.

The EAP is offered by TELUS Health, formerly LifeWorks.

EAP advisors can also help with family problems, marital concerns, financial and legal matters, stress, depression, and other issues.

You can call the EAP’s regular service line toll free at 877-234-5151 or 888-732-9020 (en español).

If asked for your organization or employer, just say Masters, Mates & Pilots.
Back to Stories Covered

---

AFL-CIO UNION COMMUNITY FUND COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR MAUI RESIDENTS

One way to help people affected by the Maui wildfires is by donating to the Union Community Fund.

Credit card contributions can be made at: go.aflcio.org/relief.

Those who prefer can mail a check made payable to the Union Community Fund and note in the memo line: “Disaster Relief Efforts.”

Send checks by mail to: 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MATSON NAVIGATION AND PASHA HAWAII ASSISTING IN RELIEF EFFORTS

Matson Navigation and Pasha Hawaii are providing relief and support in the wake of the wildfires that devastated parts of Maui last week.

Both companies report they are working closely with federal, state, and county emergency response agencies to prioritize the movement of emergency equipment and relief supplies.

Cargo operations at Maui’s Kahului Harbor have been unaffected by the wildfires and continue uninterrupted.

Matson’s barge HALEAKALA arrived at Kahului on Aug. 11 with 160 containers onboard.

The company said it has chartered an additional barge which will be standing by.

Besides its regular twice-weekly sailings, Matson has scheduled one extra Maui sailing, on Sunday, Aug. 20, and is considering additional sailings to Maui should they be needed.

Nonprofit organizations needing assistance in getting relief goods to Maui are asked to apply for such assistance on the company’s website at Matson.com/Community.

Pasha Hawaii has enacted its Emergency Response Plan, which includes prioritizing emergency rations, foodstuffs, and medical supplies with its available barge capacity to Maui and its direct vessel roll-on/roll-off service.

The company operates two fixed-day direct vessel calls per week from the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii, with twice-weekly connections into Maui for the container business, and direct mainline vessel calls into the port of Kahului.

Pasha has also announced a $25,000 donation to the non-profit Hawaii Community Foundation.

The company is encouraging those who want to support Maui communities to consider a monetary donation to HCF, which will apply 100 percent of the donations received to assist those in need.

You can make an online donation by going to Maui Strong – Hawaii Community Foundation.
Back to Stories Covered

---

U.S.-LED COALITION URGES SHIPS TO AVOID IRANIAN WATERS

The U.S.-led naval coalition in the Gulf is warning ships to stay away from Iranian waters to avoid possible seizure.

Media outlets have reported that a U.K.-based security firm was warned over the weekend that an assault on a foreign-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz could come within the next 72 hours.

The coalition is advising vessels to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible.

The advisories came a week after the U.S. completed the deployment of 3,000 additional Navy sailors and marines to the region.

The U.S. was expected to offer onboard protection to U.S.-flagged ships, to ships carrying crews that include U.S. citizens, and to ships bringing cargo to or from the U.S.

While their mission would be defensive, the marines would have the right to defend themselves as necessary, a Department of Defense spokesperson said.

It is unclear how many marines would be aboard each vessel or what type of weapons they would be equipped with.

Because the marines would be deployed aboard commercial vessels, they would have to be requested by individual shipping companies or ship operators.

About a fifth of the world’s crude oil and oil products pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Gulf.

Iran attempted to seize two commercial oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in July, opening fire on one of them.

In May, Iran seized two merchant ships in a single week.

It is hoped that a pending deal to release U.S. citizens from Iranian prison and allow them to return to the U.S. would relieve some of the pressure between Washington and Tehran.

As part of the agreement, the U.S. would release some Iranians from U.S. prisons.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MANY RESPONDENTS TO NORWEGIAN SEAFARERS’ SURVEY REPORT BULLYING, HARASSMENT

A survey commissioned by the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union has found that a significant percentage of respondents say they have been bullied or harassed at work in the past three to four years.

The findings of the survey, which was conducted earlier this year, have been distributed to ITF affiliate unions by the ITF Seafarers’ Section.

The NSU called the results “very concerning,” adding, “We believe that the results would be similar in other countries and regions, so we are sharing them with you here.”

The anonymous survey was completed by 1130 NSU members. Among the findings:

— 25 percent of respondents said they had been bullied or harassed in the workplace in the past three to four years;

— the percentage rose to 68 percent when specific behaviors were listed, such as unpleasant teasing or joking, or threats of violence;

— 39 percent said they had witnessed others being bullied or harassed based on age, gender, ethnicity, or gender expression;

— 9 percent reported they had been sexually harassed;

— the percentage rose to 31 percent when specific behaviors were listed, such as comments on appearance, bodily appearance or clothes, being told sexual jokes or stories or being forced into sexual acts or into having sex/intercourse without consent;

— 68 percent said they had observed others being sexually harassed or knew of others who had been sexually harassed.

Significantly more women than men answered in the affirmative to the question about whether they had experienced bullying or harassment: 53 percent of women compared to six percent of men.

People under the age of 30 were more likely to report that they had experienced bullying or harassment.

Those under 40 years of age were more likely to report having been sexually harassed.

Thirty-nine percent said bullying or harassment had a large negative impact on their work.

Twenty-nine percent said their work had been negatively affected by sexual harassment.

Almost one in three respondents said they had experienced “negative consequences” after reporting objectionable behavior that had affected them personally.

Two out of 10 said they had experienced “large or very large” negative consequences from reporting objectionable behavior affecting others.

“Harassment appears to correlate with age, short length of time in maritime, and lack of experience,” the researchers noted.

The survey is posted online.
Back to Stories Covered

---

NATIONAL MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKS TO FILL TWO VACANCIES

The Coast Guard seeks to fill two vacancies on the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee.

One is for a professional mariner who has expertise, knowledge, and experience in occupational requirements for mariners.

The other is for a health care professional who has expertise regarding the medical examinations of merchant mariners.

The committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the Coast Guard Commandant on medical certification determinations for the issuance of licenses, certification of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents, medical standards, and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research.

Applications should include a cover letter expressing interest in an appointment to the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, a résumé detailing the applicant’s relevant experience (including the mariner reference number for the credentials held for professional mariner applicants), and a brief biography.

Applications should be submitted via email with subject line ‘‘Application for NMEDMAC’’ to pamela.j.moore@uscg.mil.

Each member of the committee must have experience on matters relating to:

— medical certification determinations for the issuance of licenses, certification of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents;

— medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels;

— medical examiner education; and

— medical research.

Completed applications should reach the Coast Guard on or before Sept. 12, 2023.

For further information, contact Pamela Moore, Alternate Designated Federal Officer of the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee by phone at (202) 372-1361 or via email to pamela.j.moore@uscg.mil.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MM&P AND WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES’ NEW PILOTAGE PROGRAM FOR MATES IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The MM&P and Washington State Ferries’ new Pilotage Program for Mates is now
accepting applications.
Click here to apply. Click here for more information. Or read on.
Washington State Ferries is seeking deckhands and mates. The minimum license
requirements are an Inland Mate (unlimited) with Federal Pilotage for all ferry routes in
Puget Sound.
MM&P and WSF have begun a program that will allow deck officers from both inside
and outside the agency who do not currently hold the pilotage to be employed by WSF as
“Mates in Training.”
This program is now accepting applications!
Candidates are paid at approximately $41/hour, with the possibility of some local travel
reimbursements (mileage) within the Puget Sound region.
With the implementation of the 2023–25 MM&P contracts on July 1, 2023, it is
anticipated that the rate of pay should be increased by 6 percent, to $43.46.
Mates in Training can ride the ships for up to a year to obtain the pilotage endorsements
necessary to get on the MM&P seniority list.
The first cadre of pilotage riders (internal) has completed the program and are being
deployed to the fleet as fully qualified Chief Mates. The second internal cadre has begun
the program.
To apply, click here. For more information, click here.
Back to Stories Covered

---

WELL-PAYING JOBS OFFERING PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ARE AVAILABLE WITH MM&P ON THE GREAT LAKES AND IN COASTAL WATERS!

The MM&P United Inland Group has jobs available with Grand River Navigation, Weeks Marine, Cetacean Marine, and Key Lakes.
At Grand River Navigation on the Great Lakes, there are:

— licensed deck jobs for those with Great Lakes pilotage;

— jobs for open water mates with a Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR);

— licensed engineering jobs.

GRN now offers a signing/retention bonus of $3,000 to all mates and assistant engineers who complete the 2023 sailing season and return for the 2024 sailing season.

At Cetacean Marine, there are licensed and unlicensed engineering jobs.

At Weeks Marine, there are licensed and unlicensed engineering jobs aboard their growing fleet of dredges.

Cross-shipping rights for Offshore applicants/members are available for licensed personnel, with sea time and points counting towards upgrading Offshore membership.

Key Lakes is looking for a mate with Great Lakes pilotage and an open-water mate.

The regular relief is for 30 days but could be modified if mutually agreed on.

These are long-term, permanent jobs.

For more information, go to the Jobs page on bridgedeck.org.

If you are interested, please contact UIG Vice President Tom Bell at tbell@bridgedeck.org or 216-776-1667 with any questions.
Back to Stories Covered

---

OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

Tanker CM, 2M and 3M’s needed.

LDO’s urgently needed for Watson Class fleet.

ROS CM and 3M jobs available.
Back to Stories Covered

---

ENGINEERING JOBS AVAILABLE OFFSHORE AND ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are openings for engineers in the MM&P Offshore fleet and the Great Lakes & Gulf Region.

For engineering jobs in the Offshore Group, contact Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin, tlarkin@bridgedeck.org, or 201-963-1900.

For engineering jobs on the Lakes, contact MM&P Great Lakes & Gulf Region Vice President Tom Bell, tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
Back to Stories Covered

---

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): Not currently scheduled

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

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/13/23

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): 10/09/23

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): Not currently scheduled

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 09/10/23 (Sunday-Thursday)

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 09/26/23, 10/16/23, 11/13/23

BT-Refresher (3-day): 09/26/23

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 10/09/23, 12/18/23

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 12/11/23

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/16/23

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 11/27/23

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/04/23

CM-OPS 2 APL – Chief Mate Operations II APL Specific (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 12/11/23

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/14/23, 11/13/23

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 10/02/23

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 11/06/23

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 09/11/23, *10/02/23, *10/30/23, 12/04/23

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 08/21/23, 09/18/23, 10/09/23, *11/06/23, /12/11/23

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

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 12/18/23

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 09/25/23

WX-HW-ATL – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Atlantic Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-IND – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Indian Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) –12/02/23

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

Online: Not Currently Scheduled

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

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

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): 11/27/23

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

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 09/10/2023 (Sunday-Thursday)

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 09/27/23, 10/18/23, 11/15/23

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 09/29/23

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): 09/11/23, 11/16/23

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/16/23

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): Not currently scheduled

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): *09/06/23, *09/25/23, *10/16/23, 11/13/23

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

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments not included): 12/04/23

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 08/21/23, *10/02/23, 12/04/23

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/27/23

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 08/21/23, *10/02/23

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 08/26/23, 09/24/23, 10/07/23, 10/15/23, 11/16/23, 12/09/23

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 09/07/23, 10/26/23

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 09/08/23, 10/27/23

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 09/09/23, 10/28/23

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

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 09/11/23, 10/30/23

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 09/09/23, 10/28/23

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 09/10/23, 10/29/23

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 09/15/23, 11/03/23

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): 11/06/23*, 11/08/23*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/18/23

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 09/21/23

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): Upon Request

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 11/16/23

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 10/23/23

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

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): *08/28/23, 10/16/23, 11/13/23, 12/18/23

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: 09/11/23

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 09/11/23, 11/13/23

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): 10/11/23

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 12/04/23

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not Currently Scheduled
Back to Stories Covered

---

MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

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

August 2023
21-25 Basic Meteorology

28-31 Advanced Firefighting

28-1 Leadership & Managerial Skills

September 2023

5-6 Basic Training Revalidation

5-7 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

7th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

11-15 Medical Care Provider

11-22 Medical Person-In-Charge

18-29 GMDSS

October 2023

2-3 Basic Training Revalidation

2-6 ECDIS

4th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

9-12 Advanced Firefighting

9-13 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

16-20 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

23-27 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

30-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

30-3 Basic Training

30-10 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

31-3 ARPA

November 2023

6-7 Basic Training Revalidation

6-10 Medical Care Provider

6-10 Leadership & Managerial Skills

13-15 Search & Rescue

16th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

17th Flashing Light Assessment

27-30 Advanced Firefighting

27-15 Celestial Navigation

December 2023

7-8 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

9-10 Basic Training Revalidation

9-11 Basic Training Refresher

11th Radar Renewal

11th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

11-15 Basic Training
Back to Stories Covered

---

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.