Wheelhouse Weekly, Aug. 22, 2023

Volume 29… Number 34, August 22, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• U.S.-Flag Coalition Comes Out in Force in Support of Cargo Preference
• Seafarers on FOC Ships Report Growing Discontent Over Workloads, Lack of Shore Leave
• Derelict Yemeni Oil Tanker Has Been Emptied
• Crew of USNS MILLINOCKET Aids Vessel in Distress
• MV OCEAN GIANT Returns to Norfolk From Greenland Resupply Mission

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in MM&P Newark Hall
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Miami/Port Everglades Hall

National Maritime Center Updates:

• Mariner Credentials Lost Due to Hawaii Wildfires
• Merchant Mariner Examination Working Group 2024 Schedule
• Sending Faxes to the National Maritime Center

Also:

• MM&P Tampa Hall Resumes Normal Hours
• MM&P Closed for Labor Day

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

Plus:

• Union-Made Mediterranean Diet Shopping List

And:

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

U.S.-FLAG COALITION COMES OUT IN FORCE IN SUPPORT OF CARGO PREFERENCE

Supporters of the American Merchant Marine and American agriculture came together on Aug. 15 in Longview, Wash., to demonstrate their support for cargo preference laws and the Food for Peace Program.

In the Senate, a bill has been introduced that would eliminate the requirement that at least 50 percent of international food aid cargoes be carried on U.S.-flag ships.

In the House of Representatives, pending bills would slash funding for food aid programs that provide critical support to the American Merchant Marine.

Supporters of the U.S.-flag fleet have joined forces to defeat these attacks.

MM&P Pacific Maritime Region Vice President Dan Twohig and PMR Regional Representative Nick Sorber were among those who attended the Aug. 15 event in Longview.

“As America’s flagship international food aid program, Food for Peace has provided wholesome American-grown commodities to feed those in need across the globe for the past 70 years,” the organizers of the event said in a statement.

“American farmers, millers, port workers, longshoremen, and mariners sailing under the U.S. flag are proud of their role in combating world hunger through the support and execution of this life-saving program.”

Speakers discussed a bill—the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023—that would ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are directed towards purchasing food from domestic sources rather than international competitors.

The drastic reduction of cargoes for U.S.-flag shipping and the lowering of the food aid cargo preference level from 75 percent to 50 percent in 2012 exacerbated the drop in the number of U.S.-flagged ships and worsened the shortage of qualified American mariners needed to meet Department of Defense sealift requirements.

“A reduction of cargo would further endanger the jobs of civilian merchant mariners and create the distinct possibility that there will not be enough mariners to meet military surge and sustainment requirements for future military conflicts,” TTD President Greg Regan says.

MM&P is one of the 37 unions, representing millions of transportation workers nationwide, who belong to the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.
Back to Stories Covered

---

SEAFARERS ON FOC SHIPS REPORT GROWING DISCONTENT OVER WORKLOADS, LACK OF SHORE LEAVE

Mariners aboard flag-of-convenience ships who responded to the most recent Mission to Seafarers quarterly “happiness survey” say that excessive workloads and limited access to shore leave are continuing to take a significant toll on their quality of life.

The latest survey showed that “overall happiness” fell from 7.1 to 6.77. Worsening conditions were reported in all areas, including crew change, wages, and access to shore leave.

Respondents reported “unmanageable workloads,” limited internet access, and inadequate gym facilities.

Although the Maritime Labor Convention requires signatory countries to ensure that potable water is available, water shortages are a major concern for many seafarers aboard FOC ships.

Rising global food prices have also had a negative impact, with some seafarers reporting that companies have cut meal budgets, in many cases dramatically.

Lack of access to shore leave was cited by many as a cause of increased mental health challenges and decreased job satisfaction.

“It is extremely disappointing to read of contracts being altered or disregarded, leading to payment issues, salary cuts, rising taxes, and increased living costs, as well as declines in fundamental requirements such as good quality meals, access to shore leave and manageable workloads,” said Rev. Canon Andrew Wright, secretary general of The Mission to Seafarers.

“All seafarers are fully entitled to expect fair compensation for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to keeping international shipping moving.”
Back to Stories Covered

---

DERELICT YEMENI OIL TANKER HAS BEEN EMPTIED

UN officials said last week that salvors had removed as much crude oil as possible from the tanks of FSO SAFER, the derelict oil tanker positioned off the coast of Yemen.

Operations aboard the SAFER stopped eight years ago due to the civil war, and only a skeleton crew, with limited resources, remained on the vessel.

The United Nations Development Program, which has been overseeing the lightering operation, said in a statement that approximately 1.1 million barrels of light crude were successfully transferred in the ship-to-ship transfer that began on July 25, and that less than two percent of the original oil cargo, mixed with sediment, remains on board.

The salvage effort had been years in the making. It was funded by individuals and governments trying to avert a catastrophic environmental disaster in the Red Sea.

“There is still work to be done, but today we can say with confidence that the immediate threat of a spill has been averted,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner in a statement.

The next step is for salvors to clean the tanks to remove as much of the residue as possible.

The plan calls for the vessel to remain off the coast of Yemen while salvors prepare it for green recycling under the responsibility of the UN.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken released a statement calling the operation a strong model for future international coordination and cooperation.

“While the immediate crisis has been averted, the full operation, including safe removal of the SAFER, is not yet finished,” he said.

“The UN urgently needs the international community and private sector’s financial support to fill the remaining $22 million funding gap necessary to finish the job and address all remaining environmental threats.”

A video produced by the UN shows the condition of the vessel when the salvage team arrived last month.
Back to Stories Covered

---

CREW OF USNS MILLINOCKET AIDS VESSEL IN DISTRESS

Military Sealift Command’s expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS MILLINOCKET rendered assistance to a distressed small leisure boat in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, on Aug. 8.

MILLINOCKET was operating in the area in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023.

“MILLINOCKET responded to a distress signal from a small leisure craft,” said Captain Erwin F. Lao, USNS MILLINOCKET’s master.

“We were in transit when we received the distress message about four miles away from our position while underway.”

“The location of the distressed boat was about 35 miles off the coast, northeast from Port of Darwin.”

The signal was initially received by the Australian harbor patrol.

MILLINOCKET responded since it was only four nautical miles from the signal.

The Civil Service mariners aboard MILLINOCKET maneuvered the Navy ship closer to the distressed craft and then launched the fast rescue boat.

They provided the five occupants of the small craft with fuel and remained in the vicinity until the Australian authorities arrived

USNS MILLINOCKET is a 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran designed for rapid inter-theater troop transport and sea basing.

The ship can transport about 600 tons of military troops, supplies and equipment for 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots on jet propulsion.

MM&P represents the LDOs, pursers and MSOs aboard all MSC CIVMAR manned ships.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MV OCEAN GIANT RETURNS TO NORFOLK FROM GREENLAND RESUPPLY MISSION

The MSC-chartered heavy lift container ship MV OCEAN GIANT, with MM&P licensed deck officers in the wheelhouse, concluded its two-day retrograde offload in Naval Station Norfolk on Aug. 12.

The offload was part of MSC’s annual Operation Pacer Goose resupply mission to Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Force Base, in Greenland.

Operation Pacer Goose, now in its 71st year, occurs annually in July and August.

Its mission is to re-supply the base with life-sustaining supplies for the next 365 days and remove waste materials, including non-reparable equipment.

Due to environmental factors and based on historic ice patterns, the month of July is the best time of year for OCEAN GIANT to resupply Pituffik Space Base.

This year, Ice Class Tanker MT STENA POLARIS and Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker TERRY FOX provided escort support.

According to Captain William B. Sullivan, MV OCEAN GIANT’s master, escort support typically commences and ends between Nuuk Greenland and Disko Island, where sea ice conditions tend to persist, thus, requiring icebreaker escort to ensure safe transit.

“During this summer season, sea ice persisted across Baffin Bay, making the escort operation more critical than in year’s past,” he said.

“It was vital that both the escort tanker and OCEAN GIANT completed their resupply missions in July,” after the bay ice had melted and before the bay froze over again in the fall.

Sullivan said he was very proud of the work performed by the crew.

“This mission required a real team effort, and I could not have picked a better team,” he said.

MSC first began supporting the resupply mission in the 1960s.
Back to Stories Covered

---

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN MM&P NEWARK HALL

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Newark Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 1100.

Please email avictorio@bridgedeck.org or call the hall if you plan on attending.

The Newark Hall is located at:

570 Broad Street, Suite 701

Newark, NJ 07102

201-963-1900

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Please call or email the hall for a head count.

MM&P International President Don Marcus and Secretary Treasurer Don Josberger will participate in the meeting.

Following the membership meeting, we will hold a memorial gathering for our departed Brother Jay Tripaldi.

If you would like to submit a story or fond memory of Jay to be posted in the hall, please email tlarkin@bridgedeck.org.
Back to Stories Covered

---

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN MIAMI/PORT EVERGLADES HALL

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the Miami/Port Everglades Hall on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 1100.

Please email pompano@bridgedeck.org or call the hall if you plan on attending.

The Miami/Port Everglades Hall is located at:

3081 East Commercial Blvd, Suite 100

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308

954-946-7883

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting. Please call or email the hall for a head count.

MM&P International President Don Marcus and Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will participate in the meeting.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MARINER CREDENTIALS LOST DUE TO HAWAII WILDFIRES

In accordance with federal regulations, duplicate merchant mariner credentials may be issued free of charge to mariners whose credentials were lost or destroyed because of wildfires in Hawaii.

Affected mariners should follow the steps below to obtain an expedited replacement credential.

Provide a statement of loss to the National Maritime Center via fax at (304) 433-3412 or via email at IASKNMC@uscg.mil.

The statement should contain all the following:

— Mariner’s full name

— Mariner’s date of birth

— Mariner’s reference number—if you don’t know the MRN, include the last four digits of the Social Security number

— Mariner’s current mailing address

— Mariner’s current phone number and/or email address

— Description of circumstances surrounding the loss/destruction of the credential.

Unless otherwise requested, any duplicate MMCs issued per the request process above will include a corresponding duplicate medical certificate, if previously issued.

NMC says it will make every effort to have duplicate credentials mailed out the next business day.

Alternatively, mariners may submit form CG-719B, Application for Merchant Mariner Credential, along with the information above, to one of the Regional Exam Centers.

If your credential is unserviceable due to damage or a lost credential is subsequently found it should be mailed to the NMC.

If you have questions or feedback regarding duplicate credentials, please contact the NMC via the Online Chat or Ticketing System, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling (888) IASKNMC (427-5662).
Back to Stories Covered

---

MERCHANT MARINER EXAMINATION WORKING GROUP 2024 SCHEDULE

Section 315 of the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act requires the Coast Guard to commission a working group to review existing and new examination questions for accuracy and availability of examination references.

Participation in examination question review working groups is an opportunity to help the National Maritime Center and your fellow mariners make long-term improvements to the knowledge examination system.

NMC needs your expertise. Let your voice be heard.

The schedule and process for requesting participation in a working group can be found on the Examinations page of the NMC website.

Once on the Examinations page, click “Working Group” to access this information.

Requests may be submitted at any time.

If you would like to participate in any session, please follow the application instructions.

Once NMC reviews your request, you will be contacted to discuss further details and confirm the session(s) you wish to attend. Continue to check the website for updates.

If you have any questions, please use the email address on the Examinations page or contact NMC Customer Service Center by using the online chat system, emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
Back to Stories Covered

---

SENDING FAXES TO THE NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER

As of Aug. 25, Regional Exam Centers will no longer maintain separate fax lines.

In accordance with 46 CFR 10.217(a), the Coast Guard is designating the following fax numbers as locations to which an applicant may submit application information.

To fax information to the National Maritime Center, please use the fax number associated with the categories of documentation below.

— Documentation related to the processing of a Merchant Mariner Credential application [including CG-719B forms and supporting documents, MMC Awaiting Information (AI) submissions, and duplicate requests] should be sent to (304) 433-3416.

— Any information related to an application for a Medical Certificate (including CG-719K/KE forms and medical AI submissions) should be sent to (304) 433-3407.

— Documentation related to the processing of mariner training course approvals/renewals, designated examiners, and Qualified Assessors should be sent to (304) 433-3408.

— Documentation and AI submissions related to safety and suitability screening (including court documents, TWIC information, citizenship documents, and proof of residency) should be sent to (304) 433-3411.

— General inquiries, mariner record requests, and World War II record requests should be sent to (304) 433-3417.

Please note that the preferred method for submitting the documentation listed above is via email.

More information regarding the specific email address to use for each category of documentation can be found on the NMC Website.

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback, contact the NMC Customer Service Center by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
Back to Stories Covered

---

MM&P TAMPA HALL RESUMES NORMAL HOURS

The MM&P Tampa Hall will resume normal hours, 0900-1400, starting Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MM&P CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY

All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, for Labor Day.
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.

WMI is offering a $3,000 new hire sign-on bonus. It is payable in three payments of $1,000 each, the first $1,000 after the successful completion of the second hitch, the second $1,000 upon successful completion of the third hitch, and $1,000 upon successful completion of the fourth hitch.

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 (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

---

UNION-MADE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SHOPPING LIST

The Mediterranean diet is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.

Here’s a list of union-made brands that offer typical Mediterranean diet staples, like yogurt, nuts, vegetables, and cheese.

Yogurt: Danone’s Yogurt (BCTGM); Dannon (IBT); Yoplait (IBT)

Eggs: Alta Dena (IBT); Eco (USW); Clover Sonoma (IBT)

Nuts: Planters (IBT, UFCW)

Cheese: Cracker Barrel (UFCW); Kraft (IBT, UFCW)

Wine: C.K. Mondavi (UFW); Chateau Ste. Michelle (UFW); Gallo of Sonoma (UFW, IBT); Turning Leaf (IBT)

Vegetables: Andy Boy (UFW); Birds Eye Vegetables (UFCW, IBT); Dole (IBT, UFCW); Fresh Express Salads (IBT); Healthy Choices (UFCW); Monterey Mushrooms (UFW, IBT); Ore-Ida (IBT, UFCW); Overhill Farms (UFCW); Sunripe Brands Tomatoes (UFW, IBT)

Meats: Butterball (UFCW, IBT); Empire Kosher (UFCW); Foster Farms (UFCW); Nature Raised Farms (UFCW); Rogers Poultry (UFCW); Smithfield (UFCW, IBT); Star Ranch Angus (UFCW); Tyson (UFCW); Valley Fresh Chicken (UFCW, IBT); Zwiegle’s Meats (UFCW)

Union grocery stores: Albertsons (UFCW); Giant Eagle (UFCW); Kroger’s (UFCW); Ralph’s (UFCW); Shoprite (UFCW); Tops (UFCW)

To view more union-made products, visit the Labor 411 online directory.
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): 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): 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): *10/02/23, 12/04/23

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

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

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 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
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.