Wheelhouse Weekly, August 30, 2022

Volume 28… Number 35, Aug. 30, 2022

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• New Study Shows Jones Act Provides Substantial Benefits to Puerto Rico
• Dock Workers’ Unions Stand United Behind the ILWU
• Labor Department Opens New Resource Center To Promote Unions
• Military Sealift Command Inactivates Fleet Ocean Tug USNS APACHE
• Swedish Ferry Safely in Port After Fire on Vehicle Deck

Watch:

• See Aging Panama Canal Tug Careen Into Locomotive

Reminder:

• The MM&P Norfolk Hall Has Moved!

Mark Your Calendar:

• MM&P Closed for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 5

Job Opportunities:

• MM&P and Washington State Ferries Announce New Pilotage Program for Mates
• Job Openings on the Great Lakes
• Offshore Jobs Available!

And:

• Covid-19 Vaccination Required for All MITAGS Students; MITAGS Requires Negative Test for Unvaccinated Students Who Have Received Exemptions
• MITAGS East Academic Notes
• MITAGS West Academic Notes

NEW STUDY SHOWS JONES ACT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO PUERTO RICO

A study conducted by multinational professional services firm Ernst & Young has found that the Jones Act provides affordable and reliable shipping, along with substantial economic benefits, to residents of Puerto Rico.

The Jones Act requires that goods transported between US ports be shipped on vessels that are US built, owned, operated and crewed.

The Ernst & Young study was commissioned by the Transportation Institute, a Washington, DC-based non-profit working to strengthen and preserve the American maritime industry.

The researchers compared the Jones Act trade serving Puerto Rico to non-Jones-Act operations on comparable international routes in the Caribbean (such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic).

They looked at freight rates, container availability, port congestion, and carrier performance and compared variables for Jones Act and non-Jones Act service to global averages.

To capture data from the Covid-19 pandemic, which was characterized by significant freight movement volatility, they focused on the period between January 2019 and December 2021.

Shippers overwhelmingly reported that Jones Act carriers delivered better service, leading to both stability and security.

In terms of economics, the researchers concluded that the Jones Act supports more than 2,000 jobs, $96 million in wages, and $221 million in annual gross economic output.

“Jones Act carriers are dedicated to Puerto Rico and help local businesses make goods more affordable and the supply chain more reliable compared to our global competitors,” said TI Chairman and President James L. Henry in announcing the study’s results.

“While the entire global supply chain was disrupted during the pandemic, our Jones Act carriers proved to be 27 times more affordable and eight times more reliable than non-Jones Act carriers.”

The findings of the new study were in many respects similar to those of a 2013 analysis conducted by the Government Accountability Office.

That study also concluded that Jones Act carriers provide Puerto Rico with regularly scheduled and reliable container service, together with a host of other significant economic benefits.
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DOCK WORKERS’ UNIONS STAND UNITED BEHIND THE ILWU

Leaders of longshore unions and international labor federations traveled to San Francisco last week to demonstrate their support for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which is engaged in contract negotiations with the Pacific Maritime Association.

The delegation included leaders of the ILA, the Maritime Union of Australia, the ITF and the International Dockworkers Council, as well as ILWU divisions in Canada, Alaska and Hawaii.

The ILWU’s negotiations on behalf of 22,000 workers at all 30 West Coast ports are being closely followed by shippers and maritime operators worldwide.

“Dockers face the same challenges the world over and often they’re employed by the same multinational companies,” says ITF President and ITF Dockers’ Section Chair Paddy Crumlin.

“That’s why it’s critical to show all employers that dockers speak with one collective voice—that we have each other’s backs.”

“The longshore workers of the world have been on the front lines, doing the heavy lifting, throughout Covid-19 and the sharp economic upturn that followed,” Crumlin says.

“Shipping giants and global network terminal operators are making record profits, while workers’ wages slide backwards against surging inflation.”

“Once again, it’s time to show the power of a collective voice in negotiations and the strength of our conviction that dockworkers deserve decent pay and conditions.”

“History has shown what a mistake it can be to take on the commitment and solidarity of the world’s dockworkers.”
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LABOR DEPARTMENT OPENS NEW RESOURCE CENTER TO PROMOTE UNIONS

More than half of American workers say they would join a union if they had the opportunity to do so.

But they face significant obstacles, including from employers who violate labor laws—one reason that today only 12 percent of American workers enjoy the benefits of union membership.

Now the Labor Department, under the leadership of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, is launching a new resource center to promote unions and collective bargaining.

It will serve as a hub for information on the benefits of union membership, not only for working people and their families, but also for communities, industries and the country as a whole.

“The Labor Department is in a unique position to house this resource center because of its mission to foster, promote and develop the welfare of workers,” Walsh said in announcing the initiative last week during the AFL-CIO’s Labor Day Kickoff webinar.

Walsh, himself a longtime union member, added that he sees it as his role to help grow union power in the United States.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler has described the establishment of the new Labor Department resource center as evidence “of why elections matter—and what we can achieve with pro-labor elected officials in office.”
Masters, Mates & Pilots is one of the 57 affiliates of the AFL-CIO.
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MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND INACTIVATES FLEET OCEAN TUG USNS APACHE

Military Sealift Command hosted a pier-side ceremony on Aug. 26 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story to mark the inactivation of the Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug USNS APACHE.

APACHE was crewed by Civil Service mariners, including licensed deck officers represented by the MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group.

It is equipped with diving equipment and spill equipment, as well as a crane to lift large objects onto its deck.

It was used to tow Navy vessels, aid in salvage operations, fight fires, and assist in special missions such as data collection.

APACHE sometimes carried Navy divers to assist in the recovery of downed aircraft, and stranded or grounded ships.

Over its more than four decades of service, it towed ships that included the battleship ex-USS IOWA, the Sherman-class destroyer ex-USS BARRY and, more recently, two Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships.

APACHE and its Civil Service mariner crews were the recipient of MSC Maritime “E” for out-performing two other fleet ocean tugs in 2020, by demonstrating day-to-day excellence in providing the highest degree of operational readiness, performance, efficiency and safety standards.

With APACHE’s inactivation, MSC still operates one of the original seven Powhatan-class fleet ocean tugs, USNS CATAWBA.

MSC’s remaining fleet ocean tug and two rescue and salvage ships, USNS GRASP and USNS SALVOR, are scheduled to be replaced by the Navy’s new USNS Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ships.
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SWEDISH FERRY SAFELY IN PORT AFTER FIRE ON VEHICLE DECK

The STENA SCANDIA arrived in the port of Nynashamn, Sweden, this morning after losing power in rough seas in the Baltic following a fire on the vehicle deck.

The 17-year-old ferry was sailing between the Swedish port of Norvik and Ventspils, Latvia, with 241 passengers and 58 crewmembers on board.

After the fire was reported yesterday at mid-day, the ferry lost power and began drifting in rough seas in the direction of the Swedish island of Gotland at a speed of about 2 to 3 knots.

Passengers donned lifejackets, moved to the outdoor top deck and rescuers began an emergency evacuation by helicopter.

The fire was extinguished with no injuries to passengers or crew and engineers were able to restart two of the engines.

A spokesperson said Stena believes the fire began in the refrigeration unit of a truck on the vehicle deck.
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SEE AGING PANAMA CANAL TUG CAREEN INTO LOCOMOTIVE

MM&P affiliate Unión de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta, which represents tug captains and associated vessel personnel on the Panama Canal, has warned canal management of the risks of using obsolete, unreliable equipment.

The video shows an aging tug lose steering and propulsion in the Miraflores locks and strike one of the locomotives that run on tracks along the walls of the chambers to position transiting vessels.

The Panama Canal Administration says it has 46 tugs, but many of them are so old that spare parts are no longer available.

What’s more, the ACP is reportedly not following either manufacturers’ instructions or maintenance schedules set by regulation.

“[The tugs] are not being serviced,” says a UCOC member. “Only emergency repairs [are carried out] now.”

“Lack of maintenance has reached a crisis point.”

Many thanks to Nautilus International for posting this video on TikTok!
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THE MM&P NORFOLK HALL HAS MOVED!

As previously announced, the MM&P Norfolk Union Hall moved on Aug. 22.

The new address is:

6353 Center Drive, Suite 200, Building 8

Norfolk, VA 23502

The phone number is the same as before: 757-489-7406.
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MM&P AND WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ANNOUNCE NEW PILOTAGE PROGRAM FOR MATES!

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 just announced 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” at $41.00/hour.

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.

If you are interested in this program, contact MM&P Pacific Maritime Region Vice President Dan Twohig: dtwohig@bridgedeck.org or 206-390-9907.
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JOB OPENINGS ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are jobs for licensed and unlicensed personnel at Grand River Navigation and jobs for licensed officers at Key Lakes.

If you are interested, please contact MM&P Vice President Great Lakes & Gulf Region Vice President Tom Bell, tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE!

Fully MSC trained LDO’s, all levels, needed for the Watson Class fleet. Jobs available today!

Tanker Chief Mates and 2nd mates needed with and without MSC Classes or Security Clearance.

Any Member or Applicant who already has a valid security clearance and is interested in taking the MSC courses required for Patriot Watson Class and Chesapeake Crewing vessels but does not have training eligibility to take the courses, please email Jeremy Hope, VP of Gulf Ports and Gov’t Contracts, at jhope@bridgedeck.org  with the words “MSC Training” in the subject line.

There is an immediate need for a 1/AE on the SLNC Corsica to join in Singapore.

Vacation: 28/30.

Contract pays into the Pension and all the fringe benefits.

Wage estimate for six months of work is approximately $165,000.

There is a company bonus of $500 for each 15-Day period served on board paid upon sign-off. There is no COVID vaccine requirement for this job.
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COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR ALL MITAGS STUDENTS; MITAGS REQUIRES NEGATIVE TEST FOR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED EXEMPTIONS

Full COVID vaccination is mandatory for everyone attending training on campus at MITAGS East and MITAGS West.

In addition, for unvaccinated participants who have received exemptions only, MITAGS requires a negative test within 72 hours of attendance and masks must be worn.

Contact MITAGS for information about exemptions.

Scans, photocopies, or electronic images of your Covid-19 vaccination cards (records) or certification by a medical provider are acceptable.

We appreciate your cooperation during these very trying times.
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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): Not currently scheduled
AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC (4-Day) – Automated Radar Plotting Aids: 9/27/22

AZIPOD (2-Day) –9/12/22

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

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): 9/20/22, 11/14/22 Online: Not currently scheduled

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 9/14/22

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day) : Not currently scheduled

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 9/12/22

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) –9/26/22, 10/17/22, 11/14/22, 12/19/22

BT-Refresher (3-day) –9/26/22, 11/14/22, 12/19/22

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): 9/12/22

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 10/24/22, 12/19/22

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 10/17/22, 12/12/22

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/31/22

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations – Week 1 (5-Day): 12/5/22

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/12/22

CM-OPS 2 APL – Chief Mate Operations II APL Specific – Not currently scheduled

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 10/10/22

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 11/14/22

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 9/19/22

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SEC-APPS – Practical Defense Tactics: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 9/26/22

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 10/3/22, 10/17/22, 11/7/22, 12/5/22

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 10/10/22, 10/24/22, 11/14/22, 12/12/22

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

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 10/3/22

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

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) – Not Currently Scheduled

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 (15-Day) – Celestial Navigation: 10/31/22

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

CY-MAR – Cyber-Skilled Mariner (5-Day) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – Not currently scheduled

Cyber-MAR-ONL – Cyber Skilled Mariner, Management of Information & Systems Security (Online Seminar) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – Not Currently Scheduled

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day) – 11/16/22

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 11/28/22

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

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 9/12/22

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 9/28/22, 10/19/22, 11/16/22, 12/21/22

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 9/29/22, 11/17/22, 12/17/22

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): 9/20/22

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): 9/12/22, 12/12/22

IEN – Integrated Electronic Navigation (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/17/22

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): 9/21/22, 11/14/22

LNG-TPIC (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): 9/26/22

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments not included): 12/5/22

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/3/22*, 12/5/22

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/28/22

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 09/19/2022, 10/3/22*

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 9/26/22, 10/8/22, 10/17/22, 11/17/22, 12/10/2022, 12/23/22

–

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 9/14/22, and 11/5/22

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 9/16/22, 11/4/22

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day) –11/3/22

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day) –9/12/22

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 9/19/22, 11/7/22

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour) –9/17/22, 11/4/22

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day) –9/18/22, 11/6/22

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day) – 9/23/22, 11/11/22

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): 8/31/22, 10/05/2022, 12/19/2022, 12/21/2022

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (5-Day) – Contact Admissions

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day) – 10/3/22

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): 9/20/22, 9/28/22

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: Not Currently Scheduled

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 9/7/22

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 9/12/22*, 12/5/22

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day) – 11/28/22

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: Not Currently Schedule

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

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Schedule

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): 11/16/22

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

VPDSD – Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 9/7/22

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 9/19/22
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MITAGS WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

2022 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
September 2022

6-8 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

9th Flashing Light

12-23 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

26-30 Basic Shiphandling

October 2022

3-7 ECDIS

10-14 Advanced Stability

10-28 Celestial Navigation

17-21 Advanced Shiphandling I

24-28 Advanced Shiphandling II

31-4 Advanced Meteorology

November 2022

1-4 ARPA

7-10 Advanced Firefighting

7-11 Leadership & Managerial Skills

14-16 Search & Rescue

17th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

28-9 GMDSS

December 2022

12-16 Tankerman Person-In-Charge
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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©2021. 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 or to MM&P headquarters, e-mail communications@bridgedeck.org. Back issues of The Weekly are posted on www.bridgedeck.org